Digital Commons Network^™

Australasian Malignant Pleural Effusion (Ample)-3 Trial: Study Protocol For A Multi-Centre Randomised Study Comparing Indwelling Pleural Catheter (±Talc Pleurodesis) Versus Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery For Management Of Malignant Pleural Effusion, Deirdre B. Fitzgerald, Calvin Sidhu, Charley Budgeon, Ai Ling Tan, Catherine A. Read, Benjamin C.H. Kwan, Nicola Ann Smith, Edward T. Fysh, Sanjeevan Muruganandan, Tajalli Saghaie, Ranjan Shrestha, Arash Badiei, Phan Nguyen, Andrew Burke, John Goddard, Morgan Windsor, Julie Mcdonald, Gavin Wright, Kasia Czarnecka, Parthipan Sivakumar, Kazuhiro Yasufuku, David J. Feller-Kopman, Nick A. Maskell, Kevin Murray, Y. C. Gary Lee

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) are common. MPE causes significant breathlessness and impairs quality of life. Indwelling pleural catheters (IPC) allow ambulatory drainage and reduce hospital days and re-intervention rates when compared to standard talc slurry pleurodesis. Daily drainage accelerates pleurodesis, and talc instillation via the IPC has been proven feasible and safe. Surgical pleurodesis via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is considered a one-off intervention for MPE and is often recommended to patients who are fit for surgery. The AMPLE-3 trial is the first randomised trial to compare IPC (±talc pleurodesis) and VATS pleurodesis in those who are fit for …

Feasibility And Acceptability Of A Remotely Delivered, Home-Based, Pragmatic Resistance ‘Exercise Snacking’ Intervention In Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial, Jackson J. Fyfe, Jack Dalla Via, Paul Jansons, David Scott, Robin M. Daly

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Very few older adults meet current muscle strengthening exercise guidelines, and several barriers exist to supervised, community-based resistance exercise programs. Older adults therefore require access to feasible resistance exercise modalities that may be performed remotely. This pilot study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of undertaking a four-week home-based resistance ‘exercise snacking’ intervention (performed either once, twice, or thrice daily) when delivered and monitored remotely in older adults. Methods: Thirty-eight community-dwelling older adults [mean ± SD age 69.8 ± 3.8 y, 63% female] were randomised to complete resistance ‘exercise snacks’ (9-minute sessions) either once (n = 9), twice (n = …

Immunoglobulin G N-Glycan, Inflammation And Type 2 Diabetes In East Asian And European Populations: A Mendelian Randomization Study, Biyan Wang, Di Liu, Manshu Song, Wei Wang, Bo Guo, Youxin Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Immunoglobulin G (IgG) N-glycans have been shown to be associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its risk factors. However, whether these associations reflect causal effects remain unclear. Furthermore, the associations of IgG N-glycans and inflammation are not fully understood. Methods: We examined the causal associations of IgG N-glycans with inflammation (C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen) and T2D using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis in East Asian and European populations. Genetic variants from IgG N-glycan quantitative trait loci (QTL) data were used as instrumental variables. Two-sample MR was conducted for IgG N-glycans with inflammation (75,391 and …

Facilitation–Inhibition Control Of Motor Neuronal Persistent Inward Currents In Young And Older Adults, Lucas B. R. Orssatto, Gabriel L. Fernandes, Anthony J. Blazevich, Gabriel S. Trajano

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

A well-coordinated facilitation–inhibition control of motor neuronal persistent inward currents (PICs) via diffuse neuromodulation and local inhibition is essential to ensure motor units discharge at required times and frequencies. Present best estimates indicate that PICs are reduced in older adults; however, it is not yet known whether PIC facilitation–inhibition control is also altered with ageing. We investigated the responses of PICs to (i) a remote handgrip contraction, which is believed to diffusely increase serotonergic input onto motor neurones, and (ii) tendon vibration of the antagonist muscle, which elicits reciprocal inhibition, in young and older adults. High-density surface electromyograms were collected …

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor And The Risk Of Venous Thromboembolism: A Genetic Correlation And Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study, Qiaoyun Zhang, Xiaoyu Zhang, Jie Zhang, Biyan Wang, Qiuyue Tian, Xiaoni Meng, Jinxia Zhang, Mengyang Jiang, Yiqiang Zhang, Deqiang Zheng, Lijuan Wu, Wei Wang, Baoguo Wang, Youxin Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) has always been one of the concerns in the medical field. However, the causal inferences from published observational studies on this issue may be affected by confounders or reverse causality. We performed a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) to infer the associations between VEGF and VTE. Methods: Summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for VEGF and VTE were obtained from published meta-analysis studies and the FinnGen consortium, respectively. Independent genetic variables significantly associated with exposure were selected as instrumental variables. Linkage disequilibrium score …

Critical Thinking Development In Undergraduate Midwifery Students: An Australian Validation Study Using Rasch Analysis, Amanda G. Carter, Amanda Müller, Michelle Gray, Dianne Bloxsome, Kristen Graham, Dolores Dooley, Linda Sweet

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Well-developed critical thinking skills are required to provide midwifery care that is safe, evidence-based, and woman-centred. A valid, reliable tool to measure is required the application of critical thinking in midwifery practice. The Carter Assessment of Critical Thinking in Midwifery (CACTiM) has previously been psychometrically assessed using classical methods at a single site. This study aims to further evaluate the properties of CACTiM tools using Rasch analysis in a diverse group of midwifery students and preceptors. Methods: The CACTiM tools were completed by undergraduate midwifery students studying at three Australian universities and their preceptors. Midwifery students’ critical thinking was …

Fatigue Risk Management Systems Diagnostic Tool: Validation Of An Organizational Assessment Tool For Shift Work Organizations, Gemma Maisey, Marcus Cattani, Amanda Devine, Ian C. Dunican

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: This study aimed to determine and define the elements of an Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) diagnostic tool to assist an organization in systematically assessing its level of implementation of an FRMS. Methods: A modified Delphi process was used involving 16 participants with expertise in sleep science, chronobiology, and fatigue risk management within occupational settings. The study was undertaken in two stages 1) review of elements and definitions; 2) review of statements for each element. Each stage involved an iterative process, and a consensus rule of ≥ 60 % was applied to arrive at a final list of elements, …

Re-Imaging The Future In Urban Studies And Built Environment Discourse: A Neurourbanism Perspective, Emeka Ndaguba, Jua Cilliers, Sijekula Mbanga, Kerry Brown, Sumita Ghosh

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Neurological constructs are being applied in various fields; within urban studies and built environments, neurourbanism stands out. To understand this concept, this study seeks to conduct a scientometric analysis of the concept of neurourbanism. To do so, we gauged the intellectual structure and clarified the influencers and emerging themes while seeking to identify essential gaps in neurourbanism research in urban studies and the built environment. Data were sorted from Dimensions Artificial Intelligence platform because of its reliability in providing the needed dataset accurately, and the Citespace software was used to analyze the data. Our results suggest plurality in explaining the …

Physical And Technical Demands Of Offence, Defence, And Contested Phases Of Play In Australian Football, Christopher Wing, Nicolas H. Hart, Fadi Ma’Ayah, Kazunori Nosaka

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: This study compared the physical demands and effect of field location for different phases of play (offence, defence and contested), and examined the physical and technical demands of successful and unsuccessful phases of play during Australian Football matches. Methods: Global positioning system (GPS) and technical performance data were collected from 32 male Australian Football players in one club over 19 games in the 2019 season. The GPS data was aligned with phases of play acquired using Champion Data. Linear mixed models were used to detect differences between phases of play and field location which were further contextualized using Cohen’s …

A Qualitative Systematic Review On The Experiences Of Homelessness Among Older Adults, Phuntsho Om, Lisa Whitehead, Caroline Vafeas, Amanda Towell-Barnard

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Adults who experience homelessness for an extended period of time also experience accelerated ageing and other negative impacts on their general health and wellbeing. Homelessness amongst older adults is on the rise, yet there are few systematic reviews investigating their experiences. Thus, this review classifies and synthesises qualitative research findings of studies published between 1990 to 2020 that have examined the needs and challenges of homeless older adults to elucidate their journey of homelessness. Seven papers met the requirements for inclusion. Three main themes were identified in the review: - (1) Pathways to homelessness, (2) Impact of homelessness, and (3) …

The Impact Of Global Health Disparities On Atopic Dermatitis In Displaced Populations: Narrowing The Health Equity Gap For Patients With Skin Of Color., Sami Jelousi, Divya Sharma, Andrew Alexis, Jenny E Murase

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a relatively common inflammatory skin disease marked by eczematous lesions and pruritus often leading to significant morbidity and quality of life impairment for those affected. Recent studies have shown that patients with skin of color (SOC) carry a larger disease burden than patients of European descent. In the USA, these disparities are partly due to structural, environmental, and interpersonal racism. From a global perspective, there is a paucity of research on the burden of atopic dermatitis and other inflammatory skin diseases experienced by the record numbers of refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers around the world. Although …

Implementation Of A Virtual Nurse Residency Program For Public Health Nurses: A Pilot Study, Ashlie L. Pullen

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Implementation of a Virtual Nurse Residency Program for Public Health Nurses: A Pilot Study

Background: Nursing retention is a growing concern for many healthcare organizations. One of the Georgia Department of Public Health’s goals is to improve the recruitment and retention rates of public health nurses in the state. In this cohort study of nurses with less than 18 months of experience in public health, pre and post-tests were conducted to measure stress, confidence, job satisfaction, and public health core competencies.

Methods: The participants took part in asynchronous and synchronous online content led by public health professionals. These two modules …

Shifting Our Lens: Practical Trauma-Informed Approaches For Educators, Charity Garcia, Ingrid Weiss Slikkers, Tara Bailey

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Highlighting Excellence In Small Schools, Anneris Coria-Navia, Aimee Leukert, Jerome Thayer, Maria Bastien Valenca, Elissa Kido

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Comparative Genome Analysis Of Plant Ascomycete Fungal Pathogens With Different Lifestyles Reveals Distinctive Virulence Strategies, Yansu Wang, Jie Wu, Jiacheng Yan, Ming Guo, Lei Xu, Liping Hou, Quan Zou

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Background: Pathogens have evolved diverse lifestyles and adopted pivotal new roles in both natural ecosystems and human environments. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their adaptation to new lifestyles are obscure. Comparative genomics was adopted to determine distinct strategies of plant ascomycete fungal pathogens with different lifestyles and to elucidate their distinctive virulence strategies. Results: We found that plant ascomycete biotrophs exhibited lower gene gain and loss events and loss of CAZyme-encoding genes involved in plant cell wall degradation and biosynthesis gene clusters for the production of secondary metabolites in the genome. Comparison with the candidate effectome detected distinctive variations between …

Propranolol Modulates Cerebellar Circuit Activity And Reduces Tremor., Joy Zhou, Meike E Van Der Heijden, Luis E Salazar Leon, Tao Lin, Lauren N Miterko, Dominic J Kizek, Ross M Perez, Matea Pavešković, Amanda M Brown, Roy V Sillitoe

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Tremor is the most common movement disorder. Several drugs reduce tremor severity, but no cures are available. Propranolol, a β-adrenergic receptor blocker, is the leading treatment for tremor. However, the in vivo circuit mechanisms by which propranolol decreases tremor remain unclear. Here, we test whether propranolol modulates activity in the cerebellum, a key node in the tremor network. We investigated the effects of propranolol in healthy control mice and Car8^wdl/wdl mice, which exhibit pathophysiological tremor and ataxia due to cerebellar dysfunction. Propranolol reduced physiological tremor in control mice and reduced pathophysiological tremor in Car8^wdl/wdl mice to control levels. …

Kinesiology Major Graduates To Pursue Physical Therapy Dream, Brianna Hoge

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Appraisal Of Atp1b1 And Gstm3 Proteins As Freezability Factors In Buffalo Ejaculated Spermatozoa, Marvin Bryan Segundo Salinas, Thuchadaporn Chaikhun-Marcou, Phongsakorn Chuammitri, Anucha Sathanawongs

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Sperm cryopreservation intensifies the use of assisted reproductive technologies in food animals. However, variations in freezability confront frozen-thawed semen applications. Hence, this groundwork aimed to identify the fundamental differences between high (HF) and low freezability (LF) ejaculated spermatozoa in swamp buffaloes, which were limitedly described for this agricultural species. Twelve (12) different samples of bubaline semen were collected, cryopreserved and categorized into freezability phenotypes using post-thaw sperm motility as the basis. Sperm kinematics and functional plasma membrane integrity were evaluated in HF and LF samples using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and hypo-osmotic swelling test, respectively. The relative concentrations of some …

Impaired Cytokines Gene Expression By Diazinon And Its Relation With Blood Chemistry And Oxidative Stress Biomarkers In Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus), Mahmoud El Sebaei, Mohammad Shathele, Sabry Mohamed El-Bahr

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Diazinon (DZN) is a promising broad-spectrum organophosphorus insecticide. There is no evidence to support the hypothesis that DZN alters cytokine gene expression and that these modifications have an immediate impact on the histopathology, blood chemistry and oxidative stress in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Therefore, 225 fish were divided into one control group and four treatment groups (45 fish/group; 3 replicates/group; 15 fish/ replicate). Fish in the control group were supplied with water free of DZN. Fish in the treatment groups (T1-T4) were intoxicated with DZN at 0.28 mg/L for 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks, respectively. Activities of AST and …

Multiplex Sybr Green Real-Time Rt-Pcr Assays For The Improved Detection Of Viral Pathogens In Horses: Equine Infectious Anemia, West Nile And Japanese Encephalitis Viruses, Sunutcha Suntrarachun, Surasak Akesowan, Suchitra Khunsup

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), West Nile virus (WNV) and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) are mosquito-borne viruses that are of great concern for the equine industry worldwide. These viruses produce similar clinical signs and veterinarians need to be able to differentiate between them quickly. In this study, multiplex known as duplex and triplex SYBR Green real-time RT-PCR assays were developed to detect these three viruses and to discriminate between them based on differences in the melting temperatures (Tm) of their amplification products. Three melting peaks, generated simultaneously at temperatures of 78.5±0.5°C, 83.5±0.5°C and 85.0±1.0°C, indicated the presence of EIAV, JEV …

Effect Of Lameness On Daily Milk Yield In Dairy Cow, Piyanat Prasomsri

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Being aware of the impact of lameness on milk production is necessary to encourage farmers to pay more attention to this issue. Therefore, we need evidence that presents the production loss due to lameness. This can be applied to make the farmers realize the importance of lameness. This study aims to examine the impact of lameness on daily milk yield based on data obtained from cow level in a large dairy farm with 2 units in Thailand. The crossbred Holstein Friesian cows were evaluated for the degree of lameness by locomotion score (LS) monthly for 8 consecutive months. Cows were …

Unravelling The Productivity Rate Of Selective Media For Brucella Strains, Mustafa Sencer Karagul, Serkan Ikiz

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The aim of this study is to reveal the productivity rate of selective media for Brucella strains. Brucella selective media namely Farrell’s medium, CITA, Modified Thayer-Martin, Jones-Morgan medium and one additional medium including erythritol and antibiotics were compared within the scope of productivity rate and colony growth in time. The comparison was carried out using 14 strains including Brucella abortus biovars, S19 vaccine strain, Brucella suis biovars and Brucella ovis. Erythritol addition showed a positive effect on colony growth in time. In addition to differences between the productivity rates of the media; there was also some variation in the colony …

Novel Dnm1l Variants Impair Mitochondrial Dynamics Through Divergent Mechanisms, Jdc Pereira Baptista

Peninsula Medical School

Imbalances in mitochondrial and peroxisomal dynamics are associated with a spectrum of human neurological disorders. Mitochondrial and peroxisomal fission both involve dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) oligomerisation and membrane constriction, although the precise biophysical mechanisms by which distinct DRP1 variants affect the assembly and activity of different DRP1 domains remains largely unexplored. We analysed four unreported de novo heterozygous variants in the dynamin-1-like gene DNM1L, affecting different highly conserved DRP1 domains, leading to developmental delay, seizures, hypotonia, and/or rare cardiac complications in infancy. Single-nucleotide DRP1 stalk domain variants were found to correlate with more severe clinical phenotypes, with in vitro recombinant …

“An Exercise In International Extortion”: Operation “Intercept” And Nixon’S 1969 War On Drugs, Justin M. Reid

War, Diplomacy, and Society (MA) Theses

When the former senator and vice president assumed the Oval Office in January 1969, President Richard M. Nixon inherited a nation in crisis with drugs playing a central role. At a campaign stop a few months earlier, Nixon announced to a packed convention center in Anaheim, CA, that if elected president he would end the flow of the illicit drugs coming into the United States “decimating a generation of young Americans.”

True to his word, Nixon moved aggressively after his election victory to refocus the federal drug enforcement bureaucracy on drug source control, blaming Mexico as the main culprit. On …

An Empirical Study On The Types Of Consumers And Their Preferences For E-Waste Recycling With A Points System, Hua Zhong, Shan Zhou, Zhiyao Zhao, Hao Zhang, Jing Nie, Palizhati Simayi

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Improper disposal of electronical waste (e-waste) causes harm to both public health and the environment, and how to effectively recycle and reduce electronical waste has become a common concern around the world. This study focuses on the design of the points system to encourage consumer participation in e-waste recycling programs. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model, a semi-experimental design method was applied to influence consumer cognition and behavioral intention through information provision in survey design. Two surveys were conducted in two years apart to understand the temporal trend of consumer types and their preferences for the design …

Multi-Block Data Integration Analysis For Identifying And Validating Targeted N-Glycans As Biomarkers For Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus, Eric Adua, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah, Emmanuel Peprah-Yamoah, Enoch Odame Anto, Emmanuel Acheampong, Kwaafo Akoto Awuah-Mensah, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Plasma N-glycan profiles have been shown to be defective in type II diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and holds a promise to discovering biomarkers. The study comprised 232 T2DM patients and 219 healthy individuals. N-glycans were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The multivariate integrative framework, DIABLO was employed for the statistical analysis. N-glycan groups (GPs 34, 32, 26, 31, 36 and 30) were significantly expressed in T2DM in component 1 and GPs 38 and 20 were related to T2DM in component 2. Four clusters were observed based on the correlation of the expressive signatures of the 39 N-glycans across T2DM and controls. …

No Association Between Intravenous Fluid Volume And Endothelial Glycocalyx Shedding In Patients Undergoing Resuscitation For Sepsis In The Emergency Department, Stephen Macdonald, Erika Bosio, Nathan I. Shapiro, Lois Balmer, Sally Burrows, Moira Hibbs, Thomas Jowitt, Lisa Smart, Glenn Arendts, Daniel Fatovich

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Endothelial glycocalyx (EG) shedding is associated with septic shock and described following intravenous (IV) fluid administration. To investigate the possible impact of IV fluids on the pathobiology of septic shock we investigated associations between biomarkers of EG shedding and endothelial cell activation, and relationships with IV fluid volume. Serum samples were obtained on admission (T0) and at 24 h (T24) in patients undergoing haemodynamic resuscitation for suspected septic shock in the emergency department. Biomarkers of EG shedding—Syndecan-1 (Syn-1), Syndecan-4 (Syn-4), Hyaluronan, endothelial activation—Endothelin-1 (ET-1), Angiopoeitin-2 (Ang-2), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1(VEGF-1) and leucocyte activation/inflammation—Resistin, Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) and …

Association Of Leukocyte Telomere Length With Perceived Physical Fatigability, Rain Katz, Emma L Gay, Allison L Kuipers, Joseph H Lee, Lawrence S Honig, Kaare Christensen, Mary F Feitosa, Mary K Wojczynski, Nancy W Glynn, Llfs Research Group

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a potential genomic marker of biological aging, but its relation to fatigability, a prognostic indicator of phenotypic aging (e.g., functional decline) is unknown. We hypothesized shorter LTL would predict greater perceived physical fatigability, but that this association would be attenuated by adjusting for chronological age.

METHODS: Two generations of participants (N = 1997; 309 probands, 1688 offspring) were from the Long Life Family Study (age = 73.7 ± 10.4, range 60-108, 54.4 % women), a longitudinal cohort study of aging. LTL was assayed at baseline. Perceived physical fatigability was measured 8.0 ± 1.1 years …

Circulating Tumour Dna Characterisation Of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma In Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer, Andrew A Davis, Katherine Clifton, Whitney L. Hensing, Nusayba A. Bagegni, Foluso O. Ademuyiwa, Ron Bose, Cynthia X. Ma, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist to characterise molecular differences in circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) for patients with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). We analysed metastatic breast cancer patients with ctDNA testing to assess genomic differences among patients with ILC, invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and mixed histology.

METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 980 clinically annotated patients (121 ILC, 792 IDC, and 67 mixed histology) from three academic centers with ctDNA evaluation by Guardant360™. Single nucleotide variations (SNVs), copy number variations (CNVs), and oncogenic pathways were compared across histologies.

FINDINGS: ILC was significantly associated with HR+ HER2 negative and HER2 low. SNVs were higher in …

Research Methodology In Acupuncture And Moxibustion For Managing Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Scoping Review, Weiting Liu, Carol Chunfeng Wang, Khui Hung Lee, Xiaopeng Ma, Timothy Leen Kang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Acupuncture and moxibustion have promising effects in managing primary dysmenorrhea. However, some evidence from clinical trials remains controversial due to methodological flaws in study designs that involve acupuncture and its related modalities and require urgent attention and dialogue. Methods: Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), Cochrane Library, Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), PubMed, Web of Sciences, Chinese Biological Medicine (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals (VIP), and Wanfang database were searched from their inception to July 2021. Data were extracted based on the types of study design, primary outcome measures, adverse events (AEs), and …