Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Kinetics And Kinematics Of The Squat And Step-Up In Well-Trained Rugby Players, Brendyn B. Appleby, Robert U. Newton, Stuart J. Cormack

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The purpose of this study was to compare and contrast the kinetics and kinematics of squat and step-up performance in well-trained athletes. Triaxial ground reaction force (GRF) and 3D kinematic data were collected in 4 maximal effort repetitions each at 70, 80, and 90% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM) of squat and step-up. The difference in concentric phase kinetics and kinematics between the squat and step-up was compared using effect sizes (ES ± 90% confidence limits [CLs]) classified as: less than 0.2 as trivial; 0.2-0.6 as small; 0.6-1.2 as moderate; and 1.2-2.0 as large. Where the 90% CL crossed negative …

Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab Versus Chemotherapy As First-Line Treatment In Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer With High Tumour Mutational Burden: Patient-Reported Outcomes Results From The Randomised, Open-Label, Phase Iii Checkmate 227 Trial, Martin Reck, Michael Schenker, Ki Hyeong Lee, Mariano Provencio, Makoto Nishio, Krzysztof Lesniewski-Kmak, Randeep Sangha, Samreen Ahmed, Judith Raimbourg, Kynan Feeney, Romain Corre, Fabio Andre Franke, Eduardo Richardet, John R. Penrod, Yong Yuan, Faith E. Nathan, Prabhu Bhagavatheeswaran, Michael Derosa, Fiona Taylor, Rachael Lawrance, Julie Brahmer

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

BACKGROUND: In the phase III CheckMate 227 study, first-line nivolumab + ipilimumab significantly prolonged progression-free survival (co-primary end-point) versus chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and high tumour mutational burden (TMB; ≥10 mutations/megabase).

AIM: To evaluate patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in this population.

METHODS: Disease-related symptoms and general health status were assessed using the validated PRO questionnaires Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS) and EQ-5D, respectively. LCSS average symptom burden index (ASBI) and three-item global index (3-IGI) and EQ-5D visual analogue scale (VAS) and utility index (UI) scores and changes from baseline were analysed descriptively. Longitudinal changes were assessed …

Measuring Masculinity In Men With Chronic Disease, Stefano Occhipinti, Kirstyn Laurie, Melissa K. Hyde, Sean Martin, John Oliffe, Gary Wittert, Suzanne K. Chambers

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The Masculinity in Chronic Disease Inventory (MCD-I) is a new measure of internalized masculine beliefs previously validated in the context of prostate cancer. The present study assessed the validity of the MCD-I in men with other chronic diseases to explore its potential for wider application. A cross-sectional survey of 633 men aged 47–93 years old (M = 68 years), of whom 68% reported ≥2 chronic conditions, was conducted. Measures included the MCD-I and Erectile Function. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed followed by tests for discriminant validity. A five-factor structure was confirmed that explained 60% of the …

Low Vitamin D Status Is Associated With Impaired Bone Quality And Increased Risk Of Fracture-Related Hospitalization In Older Australian Women, Kun Zhu, Joshua R. Lewis, Marc Sim, Richard L. Prince

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The vitamin D debate relates in part to ideal public health population levels of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) to maintain bone structure and reduce fracture. In a secondary analysis of 1,348 women aged 70-85 years at baseline (1998) from the Perth Longitudinal Study of Aging in Women (PLSAW, a five-year calcium supplementation trial followed by two five-year extensions), we examined the dose-response relations of baseline plasma 25OHD with hip DXA BMD at year 1, lumbar spine BMD and trabecular bone score (TBS) at year 5, and fracture-related hospitalizations over 14.5 years obtained by health record linkage. Mean baseline plasma 25OHD …

Resistant Starch Is Actively Fermented By Infant Faecal Microbiota And Increases Microbial Diversity, Geetha Gopalsamy, Elissa Mortimer, Paul Greenfield, Anthony R. Bird, Graeme P. Young, Claus T. Christophersen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

In adults, fermentation of high amylose maize starch (HAMS), a resistant starch (RS), has a prebiotic effect. Were such a capacity to exist in infants, intake of RS might programme the gut microbiota during a critical developmental period. This study aimed to determine if infant faecal inocula possess the capacity to ferment HAMS or acetylated-HAMS (HAMSA) and characterise associated changes to microbial composition. Faecal samples were collected from 17 healthy infants at two timepoints: Preweaning and within 10 weeks of first solids. Fermentation was assessed using in vitro batch fermentation. Following 24 h incubation, pH, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production …

Overexpression Of Mirna-25-3p Inhibits Notch1 Signaling And Tgf-Β-Induced Collagen Expression In Hepatic Stellate Cells, Berit Genz, Miranda A. Coleman, Katharine M. Irvine, Jamie R. Kutasovic, Mariska Miranda, Francis D. Gratte, Janina E. E. Tirnitz-Parker, John K. Olynyk, Diego A. Calvopina, Anna Weis, Nicole Cloonan, Harley Robinson, Michelle M. Hill, Fares Al-Ejeh, Grant A. Ramm

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

During chronic liver injury hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the principal source of extracellular matrix in the fibrotic liver, transdifferentiate into pro-fibrotic myofibroblast-like cells - a process potentially regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs). Recently, we found serum miRNA-25-3p (miR-25) levels were upregulated in children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) without liver disease, compared to children with CF-associated liver disease and healthy individuals. Here we examine the role of miR-25 in HSC biology. MiR-25 was detected in the human HSC cell line LX-2 and in primary murine HSCs, and increased with culture-induced activation. Transient overexpression of miR-25 inhibited TGF-β and its type 1 receptor …

Local Challenges And Successes Associated With Transitioning To Sustainable Food System Practices For A West Australian Context: Multi-Sector Stakeholder Perceptions, Ros Sambell, Lesley Andrew, Stephanie Godrich, Justin Wolfgang, Dieter Vandenbroeck, Katie Stubley, Nick Rose, Lenore Newman, Pierre Horwitz, Amanda Devine

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Large-scale food system practices have diminished soil and water quality and negatively impacted climate change. Yet, numerous opportunities exist to harness food system practices that will ensure better outcomes for human health and ecosystems. The objective of this study was to consider food Production, Processing, Access and Consumption domains, and for each determine the challenges and successes associated with progressing towards a sustainable food system. A workshop engaging 122 participants including producers, consultants, consumers, educators, funders, scientists, media, government and industry representatives, was conducted in Perth, Western Australia. A thematic analysis of statements (Successes (n = 170) or Challenges (n …

Dietary Nitrate Intake Is Associated With Muscle Function In Older Women, Marc Sim, Joshua R. Lewis, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Catherine P. Bondonno, Amanda Devine, Kun Zhu, Peter Peeling, Richard L. Prince, Jonathan M. Hodgson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

In younger individuals, dietary nitrate supplementation has been shown to improve short‐term vascular and muscle function. The role of higher habitual nitrate intake as part of a typical diet on muscle function in ageing has not been investigated. A cross‐sectional study of relationships between dietary nitrate and measures of muscle function in older community‐dwelling Australian women (n = 1420, ≥70 years) was undertaken.

Methods

Participants completed a semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire assessing dietary intake over the previous year. Total nitrate from vegetables and non‐vegetable sources was calculated from a validated instrument that quantified the nitrate content of food …

Comt Val158met Is Not Associated With Aβ-Amyloid And Apoe Ε4 Related Cognitive Decline In Cognitively Normal Older Adults, Tenielle Porter, Samantha C. Burnham, Lidija Milicic, Greg Savage, Paul Maruff, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Madeline Peretti, Yen Ying Lim, Michael Weinborn, David Ames, Colin L. Masters, Ralph N. Martins, Stephanie Rainey-Smith, Christopher C. Rowe, Olivier Salvado, David Groth, Giuseppe Verdile, Victor L. Villemagne, Simon M. Laws

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), Val158Met within the Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene has been associated with altered levels of cognition and memory performance in cognitively normal adults. This study aimed to investigate the independent and interactional effects of COMT Val158Met on cognitive performance. In particular, it was hypothesised that COMT Val158Met would modify the effect of neocortical Aβ-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation and carriage of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele on cognition in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In 598 cognitively normal older adults with known neocortical Aβ levels, linear mixed modelling revealed no significant independent or …

Variables Associated With Successful Vascular Access Cannulation In Hemodialysis Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study, Linda L. Coventry, Jon M. Hosking, Doris T. Chan, Evelyn Coral, Wai H. Lim, Amanda Towell-Barnard, Diane E. Twigg, Claire M. Rickard

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

BACKGROUND: Successful vascular access (VA) cannulation is integral to the delivery of adequate dialysis, highlighting the importance of ensuring the viability of arteriovenous access in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Missed VA cannulation can lead to infection, infiltration, hematoma or aneurysm formation resulting in the need for access revision, central venous catheter (CVC) placement, or permanent loss of VA. Cannulation-related complications can also negatively impact on a patient's dialysis experience and quality of life. This study aimed to identify patient, VA and nurse factors associated with unsuccessful VA cannulations.

METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted in HD patients with a permanent …

The Current State Of Weight-Cutting In Combat Sports, Oliver R. Barley, Dale W. Chapman, Chris R. Abbiss

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

In combat sports, athletes are divided into categories based on gender and body mass. Athletes attempt to compete against a lighter opponent by losing body mass prior to being weighed (i.e., 'weight-cutting'). The purpose of this narrative review was to explore the current body of literature on weight-cutting and outline gaps for further research. Methods of weight-loss include energy intake restriction, total body fluid reduction and pseudo extreme/abusive medical practice (e.g., diuretics). The influence of weight-cutting on performance is unclear, with studies suggesting a negative or no effect. However, larger weight-cuts (~5% of body mass inh) do impair repeat-effort performance. …

Predominant Complications Of Type 2 Diabetes In Kumasi: A 4-Year Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study At A Teaching Hospital In Ghana, Max Efui Annani-Akollor, Otchere Addai-Mensah, Linda Ahenkorah Fondjo, Lorraine Sallah, Eddie-Williams Owiredu, Emmanuel Acheampong, Solomon Akamugri

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background and objectives: Diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) has been associated with several microvascular and macrovascular complications. However, studies regarding the predominant complications of T2DM in Ghana have not been conducted. This study evaluated the prevalence and predominant complications of T2DM and assessed the sociodemographic factors associated with the development of diabetes-related complications in Kumasi, Ghana. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana. A total of 1600 Ghanaian T2DM adults were included in this study. Patients’ clinical data from 2012 to 2016 were retrieved from the hospital’s archive. Results: …

Spatial Distribution Of Tuberculosis And Its Association With Meteorological Factors In Mainland China, Yingjie Zhang, Mengyang Liu, Samuel S. Wu, Hui Jiang, Junjie Zhang, Songwang Wang, Wei Ma, Qihuan Li, Yuan Ma, Yue Liu, Wei Feng, Endawoke Amsalu, Xia Li, Wei Wang, Weimin Li, Xiuhua Guo

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

BACKGROUND: The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) remains high worldwide. Current strategies will not eradicate TB by 2035; instead, by 2182 is more likely. Therefore, it is urgent that new risk factors be identified.

METHODS: An ecological study was conducted in 340 prefectures in China from 2005 to 2015. The spatial distribution of TB incidence was shown by clustering and hotspot analysis. The relationship between the distribution patterns and six meteorological factors was evaluated by the geographically weighted regression (GWR) model.

RESULTS: During the 11 years of the study period, TB incidence was persistently low in the east and high in …

Recursive Residuals For Linear Mixed Models, Ahmed Bani‑Mustafa, K. M. Matawie, Caroline F. Finch, Amjad Al‑Nasser, Enrico Ciavolino

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This paper presents and extends the concept of recursive residuals and their estimation to an important class of statistical models, Linear Mixed Models (LMM). Recurrence formulae are developed and recursive residuals are defined. Recursive computable expressions are also developed for the model’s likelihood, together with its derivative and information matrix. The theoretical framework for developing recursive residuals and their estimation for LMM varies with the estimation method used, such as the fitting-of-constants or the Best Linear Unbiased Predictor method. These methods are illustrated through application to an LMM example drawn from a published study. Model fit is assessed through a …

A 2-Year Prospective Study Of Injury Epidemiology In Elite Australian Rugby Sevens: Exploration Of Incidence Rates, Severity, Injury Type, And Subsequent Injury In Men And Women, Liam A. Toohey, Michael K. Drew, Caroline F. Finch, Jill L. Cook, Lauren V. Fortington

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

Injuries are common in rugby sevens, but studies to date have been limited to short, noncontinuous periods and reporting of match injuries only.

Purpose:

To report the injury incidence rate (IIR), severity, and burden of injuries sustained by men and women in the Australian rugby sevens program and to provide the first longitudinal investigation of subsequent injury occurrence in rugby sevens looking beyond tournament injuries only.

Study design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

Ninety international rugby sevens players (55 men and 35 women) were prospectively followed over 2 consecutive seasons (2015-2016 and 2016-2017). All medical attention injuries were reported irrespective …

In Vivo Safety Profile And Biodistribution Of Gmp-Manufactured Human Skin-Derived Abcb5-Positive Mesenchymal Stromal Cells For Use In Clinical Trials, Nils Tappenbeck, Hannes M. Schröder, Elke Niebergall-Roth, Fathema Hassinger, Ulf Dehio, Kathrin Dieter, Korinna Kraft, Andreas Kerstan, Jasmina Esterlechner, Natasha Y. Frank, Karin Scharffetter-Kochanek, George F. Murphy, Dennis P. Orgill, Joachim Beck, Markus H. Frank, Christoph Ganss, Mark A. Kluth

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background aims

Human dermal ABCB5-expressing mesenchymal stromal cells (ABCB5⁺ MSCs) represent a promising candidate for stem cell–based therapy of various currently uncurable diseases in several fields of regenerative medicine. We have developed and validated a method to isolate, from human skin samples, and expand ABCB5⁺ MSCs that meet the guideline criteria of the International Society for Cellular Therapy. We are able to process these cells into a Good Manufacturing Practice–conforming, MSC-based advanced-therapy medicinal product.

Methods

To support the development of ABCB5⁺ MSCs for potential therapeutic topical, intramuscular and intravenous administration, we have tested our product in a …

Genomic Analysis Of Circulating Tumor Dna Using A Melanoma-Specific Ultraseek Oncogene Panel, Elin S. Gray, Tom Witkowski, Michelle Pereira, Leslie Calapre, Karl Herron, Darryl Irwin, Brett Chapman, Muhammad A. Khattak, Jeanette Raleigh, Athena Hatzimihalis, Jonathan Cebon, Shahneen Sandhu, Grant A. Mcarthur, Michael Millward, Melanie Ziman, Alexander Dobrovic, Stephen Q. Wong

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The analysis of circulating tumor DNA provides a minimally invasive molecular interrogation that has the potential to guide treatment selection and disease monitoring. Here, the authors evaluated a custom UltraSEEK melanoma panel for the MassARRAY system, probing for 61 mutations over 13 genes. The analytical sensitivity and clinical accuracy of the UltraSEEK melanoma panel was compared with droplet digital PCR. The blinded analysis of 68 mutations detected in 48 plasma samples from stage IV melanoma patients revealed a concordance of 88% between the two platforms. Further comparison of both methods for the detection of BRAF V600E mutations in 77 plasma …

Online Video Instruction On Hand Expression Of Colostrum In Pregnancy Is An Effective Educational Tool, Therese A. O'Sullivan, Joy Cooke, Chris Mccafferty, Roslyn Giglia

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The use of antenatal colostrum expression in the weeks prior to birth may help improve long-term breastfeeding, but few large-scale studies exist. Typically, antenatal colostrum expression instruction relies on face-to-face education, making large interventions costly. We aimed to determine whether an expert online instructional video can improve knowledge and confidence around antenatal colostrum expressing. Pregnant women were asked to complete a questionnaire pre- and post-watching the instructional video online. Ninety five pregnant women completed both pre- and post-questionnaires. Total antenatal colostrum expression knowledge scores improved after watching the video, from a mean of 3.05 ± 1.70 correct out of a …

Evolutionary And Genomic Insights Into Clostridioides Difficile Sequence Type 11: A Diverse Zoonotic And Antimicrobial-Resistant Lineage Of Global One Health Importance, Daniel R. Knight, Brian Kullin, Grace O. Androga, Frederic Barbut, Catherine Eckert, Stuart Johnson, Patrizia Spigaglia, Kazuhiro Tateda, Pei-Jane Tsai, Thomas V. Riley

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Clostridioides difficile (Clostridium difficile) sequence type 11 (ST11) is well established in production animal populations worldwide and contributes considerably to the global burden of C. difficile infection (CDI) in humans. Increasing evidence of shared ancestry and genetic overlap of PCR ribotype 078 (RT078), the most common ST11 sublineage, between human and animal populations suggests that CDI may be a zoonosis. We performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) on a collection of 207 ST11 and closely related ST258 isolates of human and veterinary/environmental origin, comprising 16 RTs collected from Australia, Asia, Europe, and North America. Core genome single nucleotide variant (SNV) analysis identified …

Cross-Cultural Evidence Does Not Support Universal Acceleration Of Puberty In Father-Absent Households, Rebecca Sear, Paula Sheppard, David A. Coall

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Father absence in early life has been shown to be associated with accelerated reproductive development in girls. Evolutionary social scientists have proposed several adaptive hypotheses for this finding. Though there is variation in the detail of these hypotheses, they all assume that family environment in early life influences the development of life-history strategy, and, broadly, that early reproductive development is an adaptive response to father absence. Empirical evidence to support these hypotheses, however, has been derived from WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich and Democratic) populations. Data from a much broader range of human societies are necessary in order to properly …

The Food Literacy Action Logic Model: A Tertiary Education Sector Innovative Strategy To Support The Charitable Food Sectors Need For Food Literacy Training, Tanya Lawlis, Rosalind Sambell, Amanda Douglas-Watson, Sarah Belton, Amanda Devine

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Food literacy is seen as a key component in improving the increasing levels of food insecurity. While responsibility for providing training falls on the charitable service organizations, they may not have the capacity to adequately reach those in need. This paper proposes a tertiary education - (university or higher education) led model to support the food literacy training needs of the food charity sector. A cross-sectional study comprised of online surveys and discussions investigated food services offered by Western Australia (WA) and Australian Capital Territory (ACT) agencies, food literacy training needs for staff, volunteers and clients, and challenges to delivering …

Effectiveness Of An Adult Food Literacy Program, Andrea Begley, Ellen Paynter, Lucy M. Butcher, Satvinder S. Dhaliwal

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Nutrition education programs aim to improve food literacy domains covering the planning and management, selection, preparation and cooking and eating of healthy food. Reviews indicate programs are effective but acknowledge challenges with evaluation of community focused delivery. Food Sensations^® for Adults (FSA) is a free four-week nutrition and cooking program targeted at low-to-middle income Western Australians who would like to improve their food literacy. The aim of this research was assess how effective FSA is in changing food literacy and selected dietary behaviours. Statistical analysis identified a significant increase in postprogram scores for domains of planning and management, selection …

Abdominal Aortic Calcification, Bone Mineral Density And Fractures: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Protocol, Alexander J. Rodríguez, Kevin Leow, Pawel Szulc, David Scott, Peter Ebeling, Marc Sim, Germaine Wong, Wai H. Lim, John T. Schousboe, Douglas P. Kiel, Richard L. Prince, Joshua R. Lewis

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

INTRODUCTION: Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is associated with low bone mass and increased fracture risk. Two previous meta-analyses have investigated the association between AAC and fracture. However, these meta-analyses only identified articles until December 2016, undertook limited searches and did not explore potential sources of between-study heterogeneity. We aim to undertake a sensitive and comprehensive assessment of the relationship between AAC, bone mineral density (BMD) as well as prevalent and incident fractures.

METHODS: We will search MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science core collection and Google Scholar (top 200 articles sorted by relevance) from their inception to 1 June 2018. Reference …

Controlled Ecological Evaluation Of An Implemented Exercise-Training Programme To Prevent Lower Limb Injuries In Sport: Population-Level Trends In Hospital-Treated Injuries, Caroline F. Finch, Shannon E. Gray, Muhammad Akram, Alex Donaldson, David G. Lloyd, Jill L. Cook

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

OBJECTIVE: Exercise-training programmes have reduced lower limb injuries in trials, but their population-level effectiveness has not been reported in implementation trials. This study aimed to demonstrate that routinely collected hospital data can be used to evaluate population-level programme effectiveness.

METHOD: A controlled ecological design was used to evaluate the effect of FootyFirst, an exercise-training programme, on the number of hospital-treated lower limb injuries sustained by males aged 16-50 years while participating in community-level Australian Football. FootyFirst was implemented with 'support' (FootyFirst+S) or 'without support' (FootyFirst+NS) in different geographic regions of Victoria, Australia: 22 clubs in region 1: FootyFirst+S in 2012/2013; …

Prospective Study Of Glycated Hemoglobin And Trajectories Of Depressive Symptoms: The China Health And Retirement Longitudinal Study, Haibin Li, Anxin Wang, Wei Feng, Deqiang Zheng, Qi Gao, Lixin Tao, Jin Guo, Xiaonan Wang, Xia Li, Wei Wang, Xiuhua Guo

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The longitudinal association between glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) and different courses of depressive symptoms is understudied. This study aimed to identify different trajectories of depressive symptoms and investigate the relation of HbA_1c with the risk of increasing and high-stable depressive symptoms. In the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale in three visits (years: 2011, 2013 and 2015) among 9804 participants (mean age 60.0 ± 9.0 years). Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify trajectories of depressive symptoms. HbA_1c was measured at baseline and categorized five …

Blood-Based Molecular Biomarkers For Alzheimer's Disease, Henrik Zetterberg, Samantha C. Burnham

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

A major barrier to the effective conduct of clinical trials of new drug candidates against Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to identifying patients for receiving future disease-modifying treatments is the limited capacity of the current health system to find and diagnose patients with early AD pathology. This may be related in part to the limited capacity of the current health systems to select those people likely to have AD pathology in order to confirm the diagnosis with available cerebrospinal fluid and imaging biomarkers at memory clinics. In the current narrative review, we summarize the literature on candidate blood tests for AD …

Alternative Methods Of Determining Hamstrings-To-Quadriceps Ratios: A Comprehensive Review, Cassio V. Ruas, Ronei S. Pinto, Gregory Haff, Camila D. Lima, Matheus D. Pinto, Lee E. Brown

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The hamstrings-to-quadriceps muscle strength ratio calculated by peak torque has been used as an important tool to detect muscle imbalance, monitor knee joint stability, describe muscle strength properties and functionality, and for lower extremity injury prevention and rehabilitation. However, this ratio does not consider other neuromuscular variables that can also influence the antagonist to agonist muscle relationship, such as torque produced at multiple angles of range of motion, explosive strength, muscle size, muscle fatigue, or muscle activation. The aim of this study was to comprehensively review alternative methods of determining the hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratio. These include ratios calculated by angle-specific torque, …

Canadian Children From Food Insecure Households Experience Low Self-Esteem And Self-Efficacy For Healthy Lifestyle Choices, Stephanie L. Godrich, Olivia K. Loewen, Rosanne Blanchet, Noreen Willows, Paul Veugelers

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to: (i) determine whether there are differences in self-esteem and self-efficacy for healthy lifestyle choices between children living in food secure and food insecure households; and (ii) determine whether the association between household food insecurity (HFI), self-esteem and self-efficacy differs by gender. Survey responses of 5281 fifth-grade students (10 and 11 years of age) participating in the Canadian Children's Lifestyle and School Performance Study II were analyzed using logistic and linear regression. HFI status was determined by the six-item short-form Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM). Students from food insecure households had significantly …

Do Midwifery International Clinical Placements Influence Students' Practice And Employment Decisions?, Sadie Geraghty, Carol Davidson, Annemarie Deleo, Dianne Bloxsome

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate whether an International two-week clinical maternity placement enhances, and is beneficial, to midwifery students' future practice and employment decisions during the final year of an undergraduate degree.

BACKGROUND: International placements are common in undergraduate pre-registration nursing midwifery university curricula, with the emphasis on preparing students to work with diverse women in multicultural environments whilst incorporating cultural competence. However, little is known as to whether an International placement influences future graduate's work place choice.

METHODS: Using a qualitative approach, focus groups were undertaken with 16 final year midwifery students from a University …

Relationship Between Serum Osteocalcin/Undercarboxylated Osteocalcin And Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis Study Protocol, Yihui Liu, Xiaoying Liu, Joshua R. Lewis, Kaye Brock, Tara C. Brennan-Speranza, Armando Teixeira-Pinto

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

INTRODUCTION: The global burden of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is steadily increasing. Experimental studies have demonstrated that a novel hormone secreted by bone cells, osteocalcin (OC), can stimulate beta-cell proliferation and improve insulin sensitivity in mice. Observational studies in humans have investigated the relationship between OC and metabolic parameters, and T2DM. Importantly, few studies have reported on the undercarboxylated form of OC (ucOC), which is the putative active form of OC suggested to affect glucose metabolism.

OBJECTIVES: We will conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to: (1) compare the levels of serum OC and ucOC between T2DM and normal glucose-tolerant …