Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Review Of Ear Health And Hearing Among Indigenous Peoples, Jane Burns, Neil Thomson

Research outputs pre 2011

This review of ear health and hearing among Indigenous Australians has been prepared by the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet as a part of our contributions to ‘closing the gap’ in health between Indigenous people1 and other Australians. The aim is to make relevant, high quality knowledge and information easily accessible to policy makers, health service providers, program managers, clinicians, researchers and the general community. The review is an example of the HealthInfoNet’s translational research, defined as ‘comprehensive applied research that strives to translate the available knowledge and render it operational’

The main purpose of the review, which follows the model of …

New Lexicon And Criteria For The Diagnosis Of Alzheimer's Disease, Hamid Sohrabi, Michael Weinborn, Johanna Badcock, Kristyn A. Bates, Roger Clarnette, Darshan Trivedi, Giuseppe Verdile, Tom Sutton, Nat P. Lenzo, Samuel Gandy, Ralph Martins

Research outputs pre 2011

No abstract provided.

Genetic Factors In Metastatic Progression Of Cutaneous Melanoma: The Future Role Of Circulating Melanoma Cells In Prognosis And Management, A Ireland, M Millward, R Pearce, M Lee, Mel Ziman

Research outputs pre 2011

The greatest potential for improvement of outcome for patients with Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma lies in the prevention of systemic metastasis. Despite extensive investigation, current prognostic indicators either alone or in combination, although related to melanoma progression, are not sufficient to accurately predict the pattern of progression and outcome for any individual patient. Metastasis related death has been recorded in patients initially diagnosed with early stage tumour as well as in patients many years after initial tumour removal. The trouble finding a predictable pattern in the puzzle of melanoma progression may be linked to the fact that most of the material …

The Relationship Between A Teacher Check List And Standardised Tests For Visual Perception Skills: A South African Remedial Primary School Perspective, Janet Richmond, K Holland

Research outputs pre 2011

Occupational therapy in remedial education settings has been questioned by the South African Government as they see occupational therapy as a costly service and thus has challenged occupational therapy clinicians’ approach to assessment. This study was undertaken to establish whether the results of standardised tests of visual perception skills, relate to teachers’ observations in respect of primary remedial school age children (six to eleven years) attending a short term remedial school because of low scholastic achievement despite having average or above intellectual ability. The Test of Visual Perceptual Skills – Revised, the Developmental Test of Visual Perception-2, the Jordan Left-Right …

Calcium Intake In Elderly Australian Women Is Inadequate, Xingqiong Meng, Deborah A. Kerr, Kun Zhu, Amanda Devine, Vicky Solah, Colin W. Binns, Richard L. Prince

Research outputs pre 2011

The role of calcium in the prevention of bone loss in later life has been well established but little data exist on the adequacy of calcium intakes in elderly Australian women. The aim of this study was to compare the dietary intake including calcium of elderly Australian women with the Australian dietary recommendation, and to investigate the prevalence of calcium supplement use in this population. Community-dwelling women aged 70–80 years were randomly recruited using the Electoral Roll for a 2-year protein intervention study in Western Australia. Dietary intake was assessed at baseline by a 3-day weighed food record and analysed …

Differences In Satiety Effects Of Alginate- And Whey Protein-Based Foods, Vicky A. Solah, Deborah A. Kerr, Cynthia D. Adikara, Xingqiong Meng, Colin W. Binns, Kun Zhu, Amanda Devine, Richard L. Prince

Research outputs pre 2011

Satiety is important in regulating food intake and has important public health significance in the control of obesity. Food containing protein and non-starch polysaccharides provides a satiety effect through various mechanisms but a comparison of the satiety effect on each has not previously been investigated. This study compared the satiety effect or reduction of hunger after consumption of (i) a whey proteinbased drink versus an alginate-based drink of the same viscosity where only the protein content differed, (ii) two alginate-based drinks differing in alginate type and viscosity, and (iii) a whey protein-based drink versus an alginate-based drink differing in protein …

Vision Self-Mmanagement For Older Adults: A Randomised Controlled Trial, Sonya Girdler, Duncan P Boldy, Satvinder S Dhaliwal, Margaret Crowley, Tanya L Packer

Research outputs pre 2011

Background/aims Ageing of the population will result in unprecedented numbers of older adults living with age-related vision loss (ARVL). Self-management models improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs; however, the principles have rarely been applied in low vision services. Methods A two-armed randomised controlled trial of older adults (n=77) with ARVL compared ‘usual care’ provided by a not-for-profit community agency with an extended model of care (usual care+self-management group intervention). The primary outcome variable (participation in life situations) was measured using the Activity Card Sort. Secondary outcome measures examined general health and vision-specific domains. Results The intention-to-treat analysis demonstrated that …

Extensive Proteomic Screening Identifies The Obesity-Related Nyggf4 Protein As A Novel Lrp1-Interactor, Showing Reduced Expression In Early Alzheimer's Disease, Yuji Kajiwara, Sonia Franciosi, Nagahide Takahashi, Lisa Krug, James Schmeidler, Kevin Taddei, Vahram Haroutunian, Ulrik Fried, Michelle Ehrlich, Ralph Martins, Samuel Evans Gandy

Research outputs pre 2011

Background The low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein 1 (LRP1) has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) but its signalling has not been fully evaluated. There is good evidence that the cytoplasmic domain of LRP1 is involved in protein-protein interactions, important in the cell biology of LRP1. Results We carried out three yeast two-hybrid screens to identify proteins that interact with the cytoplasmic domain of LRP1. The screens included both conventional screens as well as a novel, split-ubiquitin-based screen in which an LRP1 construct was expressed and screened as a transmembrane protein. The split-ubiquitin screen was validated in a screen using …

Sources Of Variability In Iso-Inertial Jump Assessments, Kristie-Lee Taylor, John Cronin, Nicholas Gill, Dale Chapman, Jeremy Sheppard

Research outputs pre 2011

Purpose: This investigation aimed to quantify the typical variation for kinetic and kinematic variables measured during loaded jump squats. Methods: Thirteen professional athletes performed six maximal effort countermovement jumps on fouroccasions. Testing occurred over 2 d, twice per day (8 AM and 2 PM) separated by 7 d, with the same procedures replicated on each occasion. Jump height, peak power (PP), relative peak power (RPP), mean power (MP), peak velocity (PV), peak force (PF), mean force (MF), and peak rate of force development (RFD) measurements were obtained from a linear optical encoder attached to a 40 kg barbell. Results: A …

A Study Of Clinical Behaviour In Intensive Care Unit, Vivienne-Marie Smith

Research outputs pre 2011

In order to support the needs of the staff working in discrete areas of nursing, the attitudes, behaviors and needs of the group must first be articulated. Unfortunately, there has been little research conducted to understand the culture of what it is that health care workers think and feel and why they make the choices they do in their working environment and also why they chose to leave the environment. Specifically, what do intensive care clinicians think about the work they do when managing end-of-life care in this technical, highly skilled environment. The focus of an ethnographic study conducted in …

Skill Acquisition In Skin Cancer Detection, Craig Speelman, Katie Martin, Steven Flower, Terry Simpson

Research outputs pre 2011

Previous research has shown that the ability to detect potentially dangerous skin lesions is not improved by viewing a pamphlet describing the characteristic features of such lesions. A different approach to improving this skill was investigated in this study. 100 student recruits were tested to investigate the effect of practice at distinguishing between dangerous and nondangerous skin lesions. Around 30 minutes of such practice, viewing 360 pictures of skin lesions, provided a significant advantage in making decisions about a target set of dangerous and nondangerous lesions, compared to no practice or practice with a filler task. Viewing a skin cancer …

The Impact Of Nurses On Patient Morbidity And Mortality - The Need For A Policy Change In Response To The Nursing Shortage, Diane Twigg, Christine Duffield, Peter L. Thompson, Pat Rapley

Research outputs pre 2011

Context. Workforce projections indicate that by 2012 there will be a shortfall of 61 000 registered nurses in Australia. There is a growing body of evidence that links registered nurse staffing to better patient outcomes. Purpose. This article provides a comprehensive review of the research linking nurse staffing to patient outcomes at a time of growing shortages, highlighting that a policy response based on substituting registered nurses with lower skilled workers may have adverse effects on patient outcomes. Method. An electronic search of articles published in English using the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Journals @ …

Examining Pacing Profiles In Elite Female Road Cyclists Using Exposure Variation Analysis, Chris Abbiss, Leon Straker, Marc Quod, David Martin, Paul Laursen

Research outputs pre 2011

Objective In this study, the amplitude and time distribution of power output in a variety of competitive cycling events through the use of a new mathematical analysis was examined: exposure variation analysis (EVA). Design Descriptive field study. Setting Various professional road cycling events, including; a 5-day—eight-stage tour race, a 1-day World Cup event and the Australian National Individual Time Trial Championships. Participants 9 elite female cyclists (mean (SD), mass = 57.8 (3.4) kg, height = 167.3 (2.8) cm, Vo2peak = 63.2 (5.2) ml kg−1 min−1). Interventions None. Main outcome measurements The variation in power output and the quantification of the …

Pax3 Expression In Normal Skin Melanocytes And Melanocytic Lesions (Naevi And Melanomas), Sandra Medic, Mel Ziman

Research outputs pre 2011

Background Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer, arising in cutaneous melanocytes. The transcription factor PAX3 regulates melanocyte specification from neural crest cells during development but expression in differentiated melanocytes is uncertain. By contrast it is frequently found in melanomas and naevi and is a marker for melanoma staging and detection. In this study we analysed the expression of PAX3 across the spectrum of melanocytic cells, from normal melanocytes to cells of benign and malignant lesions to better assess its function in these various tissues. Pax3 and PAX3 (italicized) refer to the mouse and human gene, respectively; …

The Use Of Narrative Fiction To Spread Hiv Information In Papua New Guinea, Trevor Cullen, Ruth Callaghan

Research outputs pre 2011

The nature of media coverage of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) needs to vary in order to be sustained by newspapers—writing the same message, however worthy, loses impact over time. So an interesting innovation in the 2010 cover­age of HIV in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is the publication of a serialised fiction story in the Post-Courier . It is the story of Vavine, a young girl infected with HIV , who is forced to leave her village after her parents' deaths from AIDS . She keeps her infection secret but because of her circumstances, she is forced to work in a …

The Impact Of The Nursing Hours Per Patient Day (Nhppd) Staffing Method On Patient Outcomes: A Retrospective Analysis Of Patient And Staffing Data, Diane Twigg, Christine Duffield, Alex Bremner, Pat Rapley, Judith Finn

Research outputs pre 2011

In March 2002 the Australian Industrial Relations Commission ordered the introduction of a new staffing method – nursing hours per patient day (NHPPD) – for implementation in Western Australia public hospitals. This method used a ‘‘bottom up’’ approach to classify each hospital ward into one of seven categories using characteristics such as patient complexity, intervention levels, the presence of high dependency beds, the emergency/elective patient mix and patient turnover. Once classified, NHPPD were allocated for each ward. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of implementing the NHPPD staffing method on 14 nursing-sensitive outcomes: central nervous system …

The Impact Of Consanguinity On Neonatal And Infant Health, Alan H. Bittles, Michael L. Black

Research outputs pre 2011

Marriage between biological relatives is widely popular in many parts of the world, with over 1000 million people living in countries where 20–50+% of unions are contracted between couples related as second cousins or closer. Consanguinity is, however, a controversial topic, in part due to public misunderstanding, complicated by often exaggerated past estimates of the adverse health outcomes. While some consanguineous couples are at high risk of conceiving a child with a genetic disorder, they are a small minority. Thus a multi-population meta-analysis has indicated an excess infant death rate of 1.1% in the progeny of first cousins, and even …

Lactate Dyscrasia: A Novel Explanation For Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Sivan Vadakkadath Meethal, Craig Atwood

Research outputs pre 2011

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; Lou Gehrig’s disease) is a progressive debilitating neurodegenerative disease with no cure. We propose a novel molecular model for the pathogenesis of ALS that involves an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent muscle neuronal lactate shuttle (MNLS) at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) to regulate the flow of lactate from muscle to neurons and vice versa. Failure of the MNLS due to respiratory chain dysfunction is proposed to result in lactate toxicity and degeneration of nerve endings at the NMJ leading to nerve terminus dysjunction from the muscle cell. At a critical threshold where denervation outpaces reinnervation, a vicious cycle …

A Leadership Program In An Undergraduate Nursing Course In Western Australia: Building Leaders In Our Midst, Joyce M. Hendricks, Vicki C. Cope, Maureen Harris

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper discusses a leadership program implemented in the School of Nursing at Edith Cowan University to develop leadership in fourth semester nursing students enrolled in a three year undergraduate nursing degree to prepare them for the dynamic ‘changing world’ environment of healthcare. Students were invited to apply to undertake the program in extracurricular time. Nineteen students applied to the program and ten were chosen to participate in the program. The numbers were limited to ten to equal selected industry leader mentors. The leadership program is based on the belief that leadership is a function of knowing oneself, having a …

Adult Outcomes Of Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury, Miriam Beauchamp, Julian Dooley, Vicki Anderson

Research outputs pre 2011

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most common causes of acquired disability during childhood. While the majority of such injuries are mild, and result in few, if any, functional sequelae, children sustaining more significant insults may experience permanent cognitive and behavioral deficits. Clinical reports indicate residual impairments in a range of skills, particularly information-processing, attention, memory, learning, social function and behavior. These deficits impact on a child's capacity to interact with the environment effectively, resulting in lags in skill acquisition, and increasing gaps between injured children and their age peers, as they move through childhood and into adulthood. …

A Practical Approach To Assess Depression Risk And To Guide Risk Reduction Strategies In Later Life, Osvaldo Almeida, Helman Alfonso, Jane Pirkis, Ngaire Kerse, Moira Sim, Leon Flicker, John Snowdon, Brian Draper, Gerard Byrne, Robert Goldney, Nicola Lautenschlager, Nigel Stocks, Marcia Scazufca, Martijn Huisman, Ricardo Araya, John Pfaff

Research outputs pre 2011

Background: Many factors have been associated with the onset and maintenance of depressive symptoms in later life, although this knowledge is yet to be translated into significant health gains for the population. This study gathered information about common modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for depression with the aim of developing a practical probabilistic model of depression that can be used to guide risk reduction strategies. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken of 20,677 community-dwelling Australians aged 60 years or over in contact with their general practitioner during the preceding 12 months. Prevalent depression (minor or major) according to the Patient …

Predicting Memory Decline As A Risk Factor For Alzheimer's Disease In Older Post-Menopausal Women: Quod Erat Demonstrandum?, Mark Rodrigues, Jonathan Foster, Giuseppe Verdile, Karen Joesbury, Richard Prince, Amanda Devine, Pankaj Mehta, John Beilby, Ralph Martins

Research outputs pre 2011

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the major form of age-related dementia worldwide, accounting for more than two-thirds of all dementia cases. The disease is characterized by a progressive loss of cognitive and intellectual functioning (Gilman, 1997). A number of risk factors for AD have been identified. The prevalence of AD increases with age, diabetes, depression, family history of Parkinson's disease and following head injury or exposure to solvents (Jorm et al., 1991; van Duijn et al., 1991; Ott et al., 1995; Yoshitake et al., 1995; Devanand et al., 1996). Published research further suggests that low education levels are associated with increased …

Testing An Exergame For Effectiveness And Attractiveness, Jeffrey Ronald Sinclair, Philip Hingston, Martin Masek, Kazunori Nosaka

Research outputs pre 2011

In this paper, we report on an experimental study in which we investigated the use of feedback mechanisms in exergames. We based the study around the Dual Flow model for exergame design, using biophysical feedback to control exercise intensity, and player performance feedback to control gameplay challenge. We found good success in controlling exercise intensity to achieve an effective workout, while controlling gameplay challenge to improve enjoyment and attractiveness was problematic. We offer some possible reasons for this, suggesting the need for further investigation.

Aging, The Urban-Rural Gap And Disability Trends: 19 Years Of Experience In China - 1987 To 2006, Xiaoxia Peng, Shige Song, Sheena Sullivan, Jingjun Qiu, Wei Wang

Research outputs pre 2011

As the age of a population increases, so too does the rate of disability. In addition, disability is likely to be more common in rural compared with urban areas. The present study aimed to examine the influence of rapid population changes in terms of age and rural/urban residence on the prevalence of disability. Data from the 1987 and 2006 China Sampling Surveys on Disability were used to estimate the impacts of rapid ageing and the widening urban-rural gap on the prevalence of disability. Stratum specific rates of disability were estimated by 5-year age-group and type of residence. The decomposition of …

A Zebrafish Melanophore Model Of Amyloid (Beta) Toxicity, Morgan Newman, Lachlan Wilson, Esther Camp, Giuseppe Verdile, Ralph Martins, Michael Lardelli

Research outputs pre 2011

Reliable animal models are required to facilitate the understanding of neurodegenerative pathways in Alzheimer’s disease. Animal models can also be employed to search for disease-modifying drugs. The embryos and larvae of zebrafish are particularly advantageous for this purpose. For Alzheimer’s disease, drugs that can ameliorate amyloidb (Ab) toxicity have therapeutic and=or prophylactic potential. We attempted to generate a zebrafish model of Ab toxicity that would be viable and fertile but have a highly visible pigmentation phenotype in larvae. The larvae could then be arrayed in microtiter plates to screen compound libraries for drugs acting to reduce Ab toxicity. We used …

The Mds Mortality Risk Index: The Evolution Of A Method For Predicting 6-Month Mortality In Nursing Home Residents, Davina Porock, Debra Parker-Oliver, Gregory F. Petroski, Marilyn Rantz

Research outputs pre 2011

Accurate prognosis is vital to the initiation of advance care planning particularly in a vulnerable, at risk population such as care home residents. The aim of this paper is to report on the revision and simplification of the MDS Mortality Rating Index (MMRI) for use in clinical practice to predict the probability of death in six months for care home residents.

Factors Influencing Overweight Children's Commencement Of And Continuation In A Resistance Training Program, Melanie Pescud, Simone Pettigrew, Michael R. Mcguigan, Robert Newton

Research outputs pre 2011

Background: In light of the child overweight and obesity problem in Australia, resistance training programs have been trialled as an innovative way of assisting children increase lean body mass and reduce body fat. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing overweight children's participation in a resistance training trial program.

Method: Parent-child pairs who participated in the trial program were invited to take part in a follow-up individual interview to discuss their program experiences. In total, 22 semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 parent-child pairs.

Results: The factors found to be most relevant to program commencement among …

Inhaled Methoxyflurane And Intranasal Fentanyl For Prehospital Management Of Visceral Pain In An Australian Ambulance Service, Steven Johnston, Gary Wilkes, Jennifer Thompson, Melanie Ziman, Richard Brightwell

Research outputs pre 2011

Objective This study analysed the analgesic effect and changes in vital signs associated with administration of inhaled Methoxyflurane (MTX) and/or intranasal Fentanyl (INF) for prehospital management of visceral pain. Method A retrospective, observational study reviewing 1024 randomly selected records of patients with presumed visceral pain administered MTX (465), INF (397) or both (162) by the Western Australian Ambulance Service between January 2004 and February 2006. Clinical variables assessed included systolic blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration rate and Glasgow Coma Scale score. Pain was assessed utilising Visual/Verbal Analogue Scale pain scores. Results Overall effects on vital signs appeared favourable 5 min …

The Pregnancy Hormones Human Chorionic Gonadotropin And Progesterone Induce Human Embryonic Stem Cell Proliferation And Differentiation Into Neuroectodermal Rosettes, Miguel Gallego, Prashob Porayette, Maria Kaltcheva, Richard Bowan, Sivan Vadakkadath Meethal, Craig Atwood

Research outputs pre 2011

Introduction: The physiological signals that direct the division and differentiation of the zygote to form a blastocyst, and subsequent embryonic stem cell division and differentiation during early embryogenesis, are unknown. Although a number of growth factors, including the pregnancy-associated hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are secreted by trophoblasts that lie adjacent to the embryoblast in the blastocyst, it is not known whether these growth factors directly signal human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Methods: Here we used hESCs as a model of inner cell mass differentiation to examine the hormonal requirements for the formation of embryoid bodies (EB’s; akin to blastulation) …

Living Well With Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial Of A Telephone-Delivered Intervention For Maintenance Of Weight Loss, Physical Activity And Glycaemic Control In Adults With Type 2 Diabetes, Elizabteh Eakin, Marina Reeves, Alison Marshall, David Dunstan, Nicholas Graves, Genevieve Healy, Jonathan Bleier, Adrian Barnett, Trisha O'Moore-Sullivan, Anthony Russell, Ken Wilkie

Research outputs pre 2011

Background By 2025, it is estimated that approximately 1.8 million Australian adults (approximately 8.4% of the adult population) will have diabetes, with the majority having type 2 diabetes. Weight management via improved physical activity and diet is the cornerstone of type 2 diabetes management. However, the majority of weight loss trials in diabetes have evaluated short-term, intensive clinic-based interventions that, while producing short-term outcomes, have failed to address issues of maintenance and broad population reach. Telephone-delivered interventions have the potential to address these gaps. Methods/Design Using a two-arm randomised controlled design, this study will evaluate an 18-month, telephone-delivered, behavioural weight …