Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Risk Factors For Gut Dysbiosis In Early Life, Kimberley Parkin, Claus T. Christophersen, Valerie Verhasselt, Matthew N. Cooper, David Martino

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Dysbiosis refers to a reduction in microbial diversity, combined with a loss of beneficial taxa, and an increase in pathogenic microorganisms. Dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota can have a substantial effect on the nervous and immune systems, contributing to the onset of several inflammatory diseases. Epidemiological studies provided insight in how changes in the living environment have contributed to an overall loss of diversity and key taxa in the gut microbiome, coinciding with increased reports of atopy and allergic diseases. The gut microbiome begins development at birth, with major transition periods occurring around the commencement of breastfeeding, and the introduction …

Associations Between Genetic Variants In The Vitamin D Metabolism Pathway And Severity Of Covid-19 Among Uae Residents, Fatme Al-Anouti, Mira Mousa, Spyridon N. Karras, William B. Grant, Zainab Alhalwachi, Laila Abdel-Wareth, Maimunah Uddin, Nawal Alkaabi, Guan K. Tay, Bassam Mahboub, Habiba Alsafar

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Vitamin D has many effects on cells in the immune system. Many studies have linked low vitamin D status with severity of COVID-19. Genetic variants involved in vitamin D metabolism have been implicated as potential risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes. This study investigated how genetic variations in humans affected the clinical presentation of COVID-19. In total, 646 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were divided into two groups: noncritical COVID-19 (n = 453; 70.12%) and a critical group (n = 193; 29.87%). Genotype data on the GC, NADSYN1, VDR, and CYP2R1 genes along with data on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were …

Professional Fishing Industry Fatality, Incident And Injury Data Project, Greg Penney, Bill Byrne, Marcus Cattani

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Analysis of occupational injuries and fatalities within the wild-catch Australian Commercial Fishing Industry (ACFI) is complicated by fishing crew (masters, deckhands etc) classification as workers being dependent upon the applicable occupational health and safety, and worker’s compensation legislation of the relevant State or Territory. While fishing vessels are considered a workplace consistently across all State’s and Territories Work Health and Safety (WHS) / Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) jurisdiction’s legislation, the people who work on them may not be deemed to be workers or employees as per state and territory workers compensation legislation. The exclusion of fishing crew as workers …

Principle-Based Concept Analysis Methodology Using A Phased Approach With Quality Criteria, Stephanie Smith, Evalotte Mörelius

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The study aimed to provide a detailed description of a process to conduct a phased principle-based concept analysis and to introduce quality criteria assessment for a phased principle-based concept analysis. Concept analysis explores how a concept is described, used and measured in the literature. This conceptual understanding is important to guide translational research to direct the development of evidence-based practice. The principle-based concept analysis is one approach of concept analysis used in published work, but the literature is lacking in articles clearly describing how to conduct it in practice. This article provides a methodology utilising a phased approach and by …

Predictive Model And Feature Importance For Early Detection Of Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus, Eric Adua, Emmanuel A. Kolog, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah, Bright Amankwah, Christian Obirikorang, Enoch O. Anto, Emmanuel Acheampong, Wei Wang, Antonia Y. Tetteh

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Accurate prediction and early recognition of type II diabetes (T2DM) will lead to timely and meaningful interventions, while preventing T2DM associated complications. In this context, machine learning (ML) is promising, as it can transform vast amount of T2DM data into clinically relevant information. This study compares multiple ML techniques for predictive modelling based on different T2DM associated variables in an African population, Ghana. Methods: The study involved 219 T2DM patients and 219 healthy individuals who were recruited from the hospital and the local community, respectively. Anthropometric and biochemical information including glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, …

Atrophy Expansion Rates In Stargardt Disease Using Ultra-Widefield Fundus Autofluorescence, Rachael C. Heath-Jeffery, Jennifer A. Thompson, Johnny Lo, Tina M. Lamey, Terri L. Mclaren, Ian L. Mcallister, David A. Mackey, Ian J. Constable, John N. De Roach, Fred K. Chen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose To investigate atrophy expansion rate (ER) using ultra-widefield (UWF) fundus autofluorescence (FAF) in Stargardt disease (STGD1). Design Retrospective, longitudinal study. Participants Patients with biallelic ABCA4 mutations who were evaluated with UWF FAF and Heidelberg 30° × 30° and 55° × 55° FAF imaging. Methods Patients with atrophy secondary to STGD1 were classified into genotype groups: group A, biallelic severe or null-like variants with early-onset disease; group B, 1 intermediate variant in trans with severe or null-like variant; and group C, 1 mild variant in trans with severe or null-like variant or late-onset disease. The boundaries of definitely decreased autofluorescence …

Genome-Wide Association Study Of Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients In The United Arab Emirates, Mira Mousa, Hema Vurivi, Hussein Kannout, Maimunah Uddin, Nawal Alkaabi, Bassam Mahboub, Guan K. Tay, Habiba S. Alsafar

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: The heterogeneity in symptomatology and phenotypic profile attributable to COVID-19 is widely unknown. The objective of this manuscript is to conduct a trans-ancestry genome wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis of COVID-19 severity to improve the understanding of potentially causal targets for SARS-CoV-2. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 646 participants in the UAE that were divided into two phenotypic groups based on the severity of COVID-19 phenotypes, hospitalized (n=482) and non-hospitalized (n=164) participants. Hospitalized participants were COVID-19 patients that developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pneumonia or progression to respiratory failure that required supplemental oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation support …

Emergencies Within Hospital Wards: An Observational Study Of The Non-Technical Skills Of Medical Emergency Teams, Rosemary Saunders, Emma Wood, Adam Coleman, Karen Gullick, Renee Graham, Karla Seamon

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

Medical emergency teams are essential in responding to acute deterioration of patients in hospitals, requiring both clinical and non-technical skills. This study aims to assess the non-technical skills of medical emergency teams during hospital ward emergencies and explore team members perceptions and experiences of the use non-technical skills during medical emergencies.

Methods

A multi-methods study was conducted in two phases. During phase one observation and assessment of non-technical skills used in medical emergencies using the Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM™) was conducted; and in the phase two in-depth interviews were undertaken with medical emergency team members.

Results

Based on …

Cruciferous Vegetable Intake Is Inversely Associated With Extensive Abdominal Aortic Calcification In Elderly Women: A Cross-Sectional Study, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Marc Sim, Simone Radavelli Bagatini, Nicola P. Bondonno, Catherine P. Bondonno, Amanda Devine, John T. Schousboe, Wai H. Lim, Douglas P. Kiel, Richard J. Woodman, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Richard L. Prince, Joshua Lewis

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

We have previously shown higher intake of cruciferous vegetables is inversely associated with carotid artery intima-media thickness. To further test the hypothesis that an increased consumption of cruciferous vegetables is associated with reduced indicators of structural vascular disease in other areas of the vascular tree, we aimed to investigate the cross-sectional association between cruciferous vegetable intake and extensive calcification in the abdominal aorta. Dietary intake was assessed, using a food frequency questionnaire, in 684 older women from the Calcium Intake Fracture Outcome Study. Cruciferous vegetables included cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli. Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) was scored using the …

“You Felt Like A Prisoner In Your Own Self, Trapped”: The Experiences Of Aboriginal People With Acquired Communication Disorders, Elizabeth Armstrong, Juli Coffin, Deborah Hersh, Judith M. Katzenellenbogen, Sandra C. Thompson, Natalie Ciccone, Leon Flicker, Deborah Woods, Colleen Hayward, Catelyn Dowell, Meaghan Mcallister

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose:

Aboriginal Australians are under-represented in brain injury rehabilitation services despite a high incidence of both stroke and traumatic brain injury in this population. This study aimed to explore the experiences of Aboriginal Australian adults with acquired communication disorders (ACDs) after brain injury for the first time to inform the development of accessible and culturally secure service delivery models.

Methods and materials:

Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 32 Aboriginal people who had experienced a brain injury resulting in ACDs (aged 35–79 years) and 18 family members/carers across Western Australia. Thematic analysis identified common themes across participants.

Results:

Overall themes related …

Information, Communication, Advocacy, And Complaint: How The Spouse Of A Man With Aphasia Managed His Discharge From Hospital, Deborah Hersh, Elizabeth Armstrong

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

The impact of stroke and aphasia has been recognised as a family problem for many years with studies highlighting spouses’ need for information at different times along the recovery journey, for practical and emotional support, recognition, and respite. In particular, the decision-making around discharge from hospital, or planning for rehabilitation, is not always collaborative even though family involvement assists family members to plan and adjust to their new caring role.

Aims:

This study aims to explore how the wife of a man with aphasia managed his discharge from hospital in the acute phase post-stroke. It provides an opportunity for …

An Exploration Of Aphasia Therapy Dosage In The First Six Months Of Stroke Recovery, Emily Brogan, Natalie Ciccone, Erin Godecke

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Aphasia research uses the length of time within rehabilitation sessions as the main measure of dosage. Few papers detail therapeutic ingredients or outline the number of times these were delivered over the treatment period. The present observational study identified therapeutic ingredients in the Very Early Rehabiltiation in SpEech (VERSE) trial and explored the dosage provided using a model of cumulative intervention intensity (CII). Therapists video recorded one therapy session per week and 53 (12%) randomly selected therapy videos were analysed. The videos were coded for number of error productions, self-corrections and type and frequency of therapist cueing. The Western Aphasia …

Exercise Modulation Of Tumour Perfusion And Hypoxia To Improve Radiotherapy Response In Prostate Cancer, Oliver Schumacher, Daniel A. Galvao, Dennis Taaffe, Raphael Chee, Nigel Spry, Robert Newton

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

An increasing number of studies indicate that exercise plays an important role in the overall care of prostate cancer (PCa) patients before, during and after treatment. Historically, research has focused on exercise as a modulator of physical function, psychosocial well-being as well as a countermeasure to cancer- and treatment-related adverse effects. However, recent studies reveal that exercise may also directly influence tumour physiology that could beneficially affect the response to radiotherapy.

Methods

In this narrative review, we provide an overview of tumour vascular characteristics that limit the effect of radiation and establish a rationale for exercise as adjunct therapy …

A Survey To Evaluate The Association Of Covid-19 Restrictions On Perceived Mood And Coping In Australian Community Level Athletes, Caitlin Fox-Harding, Sarah A. Harris, Shane L. Rogers, Shayne Vial, Philipp Beranek, Mitchell Turner, Travis Cruickshank

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Australian community level athletes faced unprecedented changes to their training andcompetition options as the global COVID-19 pandemic took a stronghold. This disruptionwas predicted to have a negative impact on emotional well-being as communitiesbraced through periods of social isolation and physical distancing requirements. Thisstudy provides an Australian perspective on the emotional well-being of communitylevel athletes and the extent to which they coped during the COVID-19 pandemic.Emotional well-being and coping were measured using the Brief Emotional ExperienceScale and the 28-item Brief Cope Scale. Both instruments were administered alongwith other questions pertaining to participant demographics and training status via anonline survey between April …

Creating A Theoretical Framework To Underpin Discourse Assessment And Intervention In Aphasia, Lucy Dipper, Jane Marshall, Mary Boyle, Deborah Hersh, Nicola Botting, Madeline Cruice

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Discourse (a unit of language longer than a single sentence) is fundamental to everyday communication. People with aphasia (a language impairment occurring most frequently after stroke, or other brain damage) have communication difficulties which lead to less complete, less coherent, and less complex discourse. Although there are multiple reviews of discourse assessment and an emerging evidence base for discourse intervention, there is no unified theoretical framework to underpin this research. Instead, disparate theories are recruited to explain different aspects of discourse impairment, or symptoms are reported without a hypothesis about the cause. What is needed is a theoretical framework that …

Association Of Dementia With Immunoglobulin G N-Glycans In A Chinese Han Population, Xiaoyu Zhang, Hui Yuan, Jihui Lyu, Xiaoni Meng, Qiuyue Tian, Yuejin Li, Jie Zhang, Xizhu Xu, Jing Su, Haifeng Hou, Dong Li, Baoliang Sun, Wei Wang, Youxin Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) functionality can drastically change from anti- to proinflammatory by alterations in the IgG N-glycan patterns. Our previous studies have demonstrated that IgG N-glycans associated with the risk factors of dementia, such as aging, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ischemic stroke. Therefore, the aim is to investigate whether the effects of IgG N-glycan profiles on dementia exists in a Chinese Han population. A case–control study, including 81 patients with dementia, 81 age- and gender-matched controls with normal cognitive functioning (NC) and 108 non-matched controls with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was performed. Plasma IgG N-glycans were separated …

Risk Factors For Covid-19 Infection, Disease Severity And Related Deaths In Africa: A Systematic Review, Hailay Abrha Gesesew, Digsu Negese Koye, Dagnachew Muluye Fetene, Mulu Woldegiorgis, Yohannes Kinfu, Ayele Bali Geleto, Yohannes Adama Melaku, Hassen Mohammed, Kefyalew Addis Alene, Mamaru Ayenew Awoke, Mulugeta Molla Birhanu, Amanuel Tesfay Gebremedhin, Yalemzewod Assefa Gelaw, Desalegn Markos Shifti, Muluken Dessalegn Muluneh, Teketo Kassaw Tegegne, Solomon Abrha, Atsede Fantahun Aregay, Mohammed Biset Ayalew, Abadi Kahsu Gebre, Kidane Tadesse Gebremariam, Tesfaye Gebremedhin, Lemlem Gebremichael, Cheru Tesema Leshargie, Getiye Dejenu Kibret, Maereg Wagnew Meazaw, Alemayehu Berhane Mekonnen, Dejen Y. Tekle, Azeb G. Tesema, Fisaha H. Tesfay, Wubshet Tesfaye, Befikadu L. Wubishet, Berihun A. Dachew, Akilew A. Adane

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2020. Objective The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive evidence on risk factors for transmission, disease severity and COVID-19 related deaths in Africa. Design A systematic review has been conducted to synthesise existing evidence on risk factors affecting COVID-19 outcomes across Africa. Data sources Data were systematically searched from MEDLINE, Scopus, MedRxiv and BioRxiv. Eligibility criteria Studies for review were included if they were published in English and reported at least one risk factor and/or one health outcome. We included all relevant literature published up until 11 August 2020. Data extraction and …

Training In The Practice Of Noninvasive Brain Stimulation: Recommendations From An Ifcn Committee, Peter J. Fried, Emiliano Santarnecchi, Andrea Antal, David Bartres-Faz, Sven Bestmann, Linda L. Carpenter, Pablo Celnik, Dylan Edwards, Faranak Farzan, Shirley Fecteau, Mark S. George, Bin He, Yun-Hee Kim, Letizia Leocani, Sarah H. Lisanby, Colleen Loo, Bruce Luber, Michael A. Nitsche, Walter Paulus, Simone Rossi, Paolo M. Rossini, John Rothwell, Alexander T. Sack, Gregor Thut, Yoshikazu Ugawa, Ulf Ziemann, Mark Hallett, Alvaro Pascual-Leone

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 As the field of noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) expands, there is a growing need for comprehensive guidelines on training practitioners in the safe and effective administration of NIBS techniques in their various research and clinical applications. This article provides recommendations on the structure and content of this training. Three different types of practitioners are considered (Technicians, Clinicians, and Scientists), to attempt to cover the range of education and responsibilities of practitioners in NIBS from the laboratory to the clinic. Basic or core competencies and more advanced knowledge and skills are discussed, and recommendations offered regarding didactic and practical …

Low-Coverage Whole-Genome Sequencing Of Extracellular Vesicle-Associated Dna In Patients With Metastatic Cancer, Bella Nguyen, Nicholas C. Wong, Tim Semple, Michael Clark, Stephen Q. Wong, Connull Leslie, Bob Mirzai, Michael Millward, Katie Meehan, Annette M. Lim

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021, The Author(s). Low-coverage whole-genome sequencing (LC-WGS) can provide insight into oncogenic molecular changes. Serum extracellular vesicles (EV) represent a novel liquid biopsy source of tumoral DNA. This study compared copy number alteration (CNA) profiles generated from LC-WGS of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumoral DNA and EV-DNA obtained from cancer patients. Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the base of tongue (n = 3) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (n = 2) were included. LC-WGS (0.5-1X coverage) was performed on FFPE-DNA and serum EV-DNA. Similarity between CNA profiles was analysed using QDNAseq. FFPE samples had a mean CNA of 31 …

Psychological Distress In Men With Prostate Cancer Undertaking Androgen Deprivation Therapy: Modifying Effects Of Exercise From A Year-Long Randomized Controlled Trial, Daniel A. Galvão, Robert U. Newton, Suzanne K. Chambers, Nigel Spry, David Joseph, Robert A. Gardiner, Ciaran M. Fairman, Dennis R. Taaffe

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021, The Author(s). Objectives: To assess the long-term effects of various exercise modes on psychological distress in men with prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Patients and methods: 135 prostate cancer patients aged 43–90 years on ADT were randomized to twice weekly supervised impact loading and resistance exercise (ImpRes), supervised aerobic and resistance exercise (AerRes), and usual care/delayed supervised aerobic exercise (DelAer) for 12 months, and completed measures of psychological distress using the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18). BSI-18 provides three subscales for anxiety, depression, and somatisation, as well as the global severity index (GSI) where higher scores indicate …

Major Histocompatibility Complex (Mhc) Associations With Diseases In Ethnic Groups Of The Arabian Peninsula, Halima Al Naqbi, Aurélie Mawart, Jawaher Alshamsi, Habiba Al Safar, Guan K. Tay

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021, The Author(s). Since the discovery of human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), the function of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene families in a wide range of diseases have been the subject of research for decades. In particular, the associations of autoimmune disorders to allelic variants and candidate genes encoding the MHC are well documented. However, despite decades of research, the knowledge of MHC associations with human disease susceptibility have been predominantly studied in European origin, with limited understanding in different populations and ethnic groups. This is particularly evident in countries and ethnic populations of the Arabian Peninsula. Human MHC haplotypes, …

Opportunistic Premise Plumbing Pathogens. A Potential Health Risk In Water Mist Systems Used As A Cooling Intervention, Edmore Masaka, Sue Reed, Maggie Davidson, Jacques Oosthuizen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Water mist systems (WMS) are used for evaporative cooling in public areas. The health risks associated with their colonization by opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPPs) is not well understood. To advance the understanding of the potential health risk of OPPPs in WMS, biofilm, water and bioaerosol samples (n = 90) from ten (10) WMS in Australia were collected and analyzed by culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods to detect the occurrence of five representative OPPPs: Legionella pneumophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium avium, Naegleria fowleri and Acanthamoeba. P. aeruginosa (44%, n = 90) occurred more frequently in samples, followed by L. …

Effect Of Oral Rehydration Solution Versus Spring Water Intake During Exercise In The Heat On Muscle Cramp Susceptibility Of Young Men, Wing Yin Lau, Haruyasu Kato, Kazunori Nosaka

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

Muscle cramp is a painful, involuntary muscle contraction, and that occurs during or following exercise is referred to as exercise-associated muscle cramp (EAMC). The causes of EAMC are likely to be multifactorial, but dehydration and electrolytes deficits are considered to be factors. This study tested the hypothesis that post-exercise muscle cramp susceptibility would be increased with spring water ingestion, but reduced with oral rehydration solution (ORS) ingestion during exercise.

Methods

Ten men performed downhill running (DHR) in the heat (35–36 °C) for 40–60 min to reduce 1.5–2% of their body mass in two conditions (spring water vs ORS) …

Injury Deaths In Australian Sport And Recreation: Identifying And Assessing Priorities For Prevention, Lauren V. Fortington, Andrew S. Mcintosh, Caroline F. Finch

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Introduction

Sport and recreation is beneficial for health and wellbeing but comes with a probability of loss, including occasional fatal injuries. Following high-profile injury deaths in Australia, concerns are raised regarding the safety of sport participation. To understand the scale and scope of injury deaths, and identify potential prevention opportunities, the aim of this investigation was to describe the number and nature of fatal injuries in Australian sport and recreation.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study of injury deaths reported between 1 July 2000 to 31 December 2019 using data from the National Coronial Information System, Australia. Unintentional deaths …

Chronic Nitrite Treatment Activates Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase-Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Pathway In Human Aortic Endothelial Cells, Yang Liu, Kevin D. Croft, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Trevor Mori, Natalie C. Ward

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Endothelial dysfunction, with impaired bioavailability and/or bioactivity of the vasoprotective molecule, nitric oxide, appears to be a vital step in the initiation of atherosclerosis. Several studies have shown that dietary nitrate/nitrite can have significant benefits on human cardiovascular homeostasis. Although serum nitrite concentrations can reach micromolar levels, the physiological significance of nitrate/nitrite in normal tissues has not been fully elucidated. We investigated in vitro the chronic effects of nitrate/nitrite on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) to determine the potential vasoprotective effects of nitrate/nitrite and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Our results demonstrate the expression of phosphorylated eNOS at Ser1177 and phosphorylated …

Modulation Of Torque Evoked By Wide-Pulse, High-Frequency Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation And The Potential Implications For Rehabilitation And Training, Chris Donnelly, Jonathan Stegmüller, Anthony J. Blazevich, Fabienne Crettaz Von Roten, Bengt Kayser, Daria Neyroud, Nicolas Place

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for rehabilitation is proportional to the evoked torque. The progressive increase in torque (extra torque) that may develop in response to low intensity wide-pulse high-frequency (WPHF) NMES holds great promise for rehabilitation as it overcomes the main limitation of NMES, namely discomfort. WPHF NMES extra torque is thought to result from reflexively recruited motor units at the spinal level. However, whether WPHF NMES evoked force can be modulated is unknown. Therefore, we examined the effect of two interventions known to change the state of spinal circuitry in opposite ways on evoked torque and …

The Oncogene Aamdc Links Pi3k-Akt-Mtor Signaling With Metabolic Reprograming In Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer, Emily Golden, Rabab Rashwan, Eleanor A. Woodward, Agustin Sgro, Edina Wang, Anabel Sorolla, Charlene Waryah, Wan Jun Tie, Elisabet Cuyàs, Magdalena Ratajska, Iwona Kardaś, Piotr Kozlowski, Elizabeth K. M. Johnstone, Heng B. See, Ciara Duffy, Jeremy Parry, Kim A. Lagerborg, Piotr Czapiewski, Javier A. Menendez, Adam Gorczyński, Bartosz Wasag, Kevin D. G. Pfleger, Christina Curtis, Bum-Kyu Lee, Jonghwan Kim, Joseph Cursons, Nathan J. Pavlos, Wojciech Biernat, Mohit Jain, Andrew J. Woo, Andrew Redfern, Pilar Blancafort

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Adipogenesis associated Mth938 domain containing (AAMDC) represents an uncharacterized oncogene amplified in aggressive estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers. We uncover that AAMDC regulates the expression of several metabolic enzymes involved in the one-carbon folate and methionine cycles, and lipid metabolism. We show that AAMDC controls PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling, regulating the translation of ATF4 and MYC and modulating the transcriptional activity of AAMDC-dependent promoters. High AAMDC expression is associated with sensitization to dactolisib and everolimus, and these PI3K-mTOR inhibitors exhibit synergistic interactions with anti-estrogens in IntClust2 models. Ectopic AAMDC expression is sufficient to activate AKT signaling, resulting in estrogen-independent tumor growth. Thus, AAMDC-overexpressing …

The Health Of Older Western Australians: The Role Of Age, Gender, Geographic Location, Psychological Distress, Perceived Health, Tobacco And Alcohol, Celia Wilkinson, Kim Clarke, Ros Sambell, Julie Dare, Stephen J. Bright

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose: Rates of drinking- and alcohol-related harms among older adults are increasing in most developed nations. The purpose of this paper was to explore the relationship among at-risk alcohol use, smoking, gender, geographical location, self-reported health and psychological well-being among Western Australians aged 65 years and older. Design/methodology/approach: A secondary analysis was conducted of a cross-sectional survey that collected data from 7,804 West Australians aged 65 years and older between 2013 and 2015. Participants were categorised according to the following age groups: young-old (aged 65–74 years), older-old (aged 75–84 years) and oldest-old (aged 85+ years). Findings: Results from a multinomial …

Evaluation Of The Antimicrobial Activity Of Ridinilazole And Six Comparators Against Chinese, Japanese And South Korean Strains Of Clostridioides Difficile, Deirdre A. Collins, Yuan Wu, Kazuhiro Tateda, Hee Jung Kim, Richard J. Vickers, Thomas V. Riley

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

BACKGROUND: Clostridioides difficile is the most common cause of antimicrobial-associated diarrhoea in high-income countries. Fluoroquinolone resistance enabled the emergence and intercontinental spread of the epidemic ribotype (RT) 027 strain of C. difficile in the early 2000s. Despite frequent inappropriate antimicrobial use in Asia, RT 027 is rarely isolated in the region, but the often fluoroquinolone- and clindamycin-resistant RT 017 strain predominates. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of ridinilazole, a novel antimicrobial agent with highly specific activity for C. difficile, against clinical strains of C. difficile from Asia. METHODS: C. difficile strains from Japan (n = 64), South Korea …

The Role Of Sleep Curtailment On Leptin Levels In Obesity And Diabetes Mellitus, Maryam Mosavat, Mitra Mirsanjari, Diana Arabiat, Aisling Smyth, Lisa Whitehead

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Emerging evidence has identified sleep as a significant, but modifiable, risk factor for metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and obesity. Leptin, an adipocyte-derived peptide and a regulator of food intake and energy expenditure, has been shown to be associated with a short sleep duration in the pathophysiology of obesity and consequently type 2 diabetes. This review focuses on the current evidence indicating the effects of a short sleep duration on the regulation of leptin concentration in association with obesity and diabetes mellitus. In summary, the evidence suggests that sleep deprivation, by affecting leptin regulation, may lead to obesity and consequently development of …