Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

South West Food Community: How Government And Community Initiatives Are Supporting Systemic Change Towards Enhanced Food Security, Stephanie Louise Godrich, Melissa Stoneham, Melinda Edmunds, Amanda Devine

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objective: Food security refers to adequate physical, social and economic access to food and is regarded as a complex, ‘wicked’ issue. This research aimed to understand the perspectives of initiative leaders (stakeholders), regarding their project relating to food security and its possession of characteristics associated with system change to enhance food security. Methods: Stakeholders (n=51) participated in semi-structured interviews that evaluated initiatives (n=52) against 36 desirable characteristics for system change. Transcripts were analysed using QSR NVivo and Wicked Lab’s Tool for Systemic Change. Results: Community-based initiatives often harnessed the passion of local communities to enhance food security through awareness-raising activities …

Limitations Of The Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score (Diaas) And Choice Of Statistical Reporting. Comment On “A Comparison Of Dietary Protein Digestibility, Based On Diaas Scoring, In Vegetarian And Non-Vegetarian Athletes. Nutrients 2019, 11, 3106”, Angela Genoni, Joel C. Craddock, Emma Strutt

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Virtual Reality In Improving Health Outcomes For Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review, Gordana Dermody, Lisa Whitehead, Graham Wilson, Courtney Glass

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

Virtual reality (VR) delivered through immersive headsets creates an opportunity to deliver interventions to improve physical, mental, and psychosocial health outcomes. VR app studies with older adults have primarily focused on rehabilitation and physical function including gait, balance, fall prevention, pain management, and cognition. Several systematic reviews have previously been conducted, but much of the extant literature is focused on rehabilitation or other institutional settings, and little is known about the effectiveness of VR apps using immersive headsets to target health outcomes among community-dwelling older adults.

Objective:

The objective of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of VR …

A Randomised Controlled Crossover Trial Investigating The Short-Term Effects Of Different Types Of Vegetables On Vascular And Metabolic Function In Middle-Aged And Older Adults With Mildly Elevated Blood Pressure: The Vegetables For Vascular Health (Vessel) Study Protocol, Emma Connolly, Catherine P. Bondonno, Marc Sim, Simone Radavelli-Bagatini, Kevin D. Croft, Mary C. Boyce, Anthony P. James, Karin Clark, Reindolf Anokye, Nicola P. Bondonno, Richard Woodman, Amanda Devine, Seng Khee Gan, Carl J. Schultz, Richard F. Mithen, Joshua Lewis, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is recommended for cardiovascular health. However, the majority of Australians do not consume the recommended number of vegetable servings each day. Furthermore, intakes of vegetables considered to have the greatest cardiovascular benefit are often very low. Results from prospective observational studies indicate that a higher consumption of cruciferous vegetables (e.g. broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower) is associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk. This may be due to the presence of specific nutrients and bioactive compounds found almost exclusively, or at relatively high levels, in cruciferous vegetables. Therefore, the aim of this randomised controlled crossover trial …

Summary Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health Status 2019, Australian Indigenous Healthinfonet

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The Summary of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status 2019 (Summary) provides a brief and current overview of the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia in a plain language and visual style. The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet has prepared the Summary as part of our contribution to support those in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce and those participating in research and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities...

Integrating And Maintaining Automated External Defibrillators And Emergency Planning In Community Sport Settings: A Qualitative Case Study, Lauren V. Fortington, Sheree Bekker, Caroline Finch

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Introduction:

A voluntary State Government-led programme in Victoria, Australia ‘Defibrillators for Sporting Clubs and Facilities Program’ ran from 2015 to 2019, broadly aimed at increasing access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs), together with a greater number of community members trained for management of medical emergencies. This study aimed to understand whether participating sport clubs/facilities had successfully integrated an AED and medical planning with other club/facility safety practices, 12 months after delivery of the programme.

Methods:

This was a qualitative case study of 14 sport clubs/facilities in Victoria, Australia in 2017, underpinned by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. …

Objective Quantification Of Burn Scar Stiffness Using Shear-Wave Elastography: Initial Evidence Of Validity, Helen Dejong, Steven Abbott, Marilyn Zelesco, Katrina Spilsbury, Melanie Ziman, Brendan F. Kennedy, Lisa Martin, Fiona M. Wood

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Shear-wave elastography (SWE) is an ultrasound based technology that can provide reliable measurements (velocity) of scar stiffness. The aim of this research was to evaluate the concurrent validity of using both the measured velocity and the calculated difference in velocity between scars and matched controls, in addition to evaluating potential patient factors that may influence the interpretation of the measurements.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 32 participants, with 48 burn scars and 48 matched contralateral control sites were evaluated with SWE, the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) tactile sub-scores.

Results

Spearman’s rho …

Amylin And Beta Amyloid Proteins Interact To Form Amorphous Heterocomplexes With Enhanced Toxicity In Neuronal Cells, Prashant Bharadwaj, Tanya Solomon, Bikash Sahoo, Katarzyna Ignasiak, Scott Gaskin, Joanne Rowles, Guiseppe Verdile, Mark Howard, Charles S. Bond, Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy, Ralph Martins, Philip Newsholme

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Human pancreatic islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) and beta amyloid (Aβ) can accumulate in Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brains and evidence suggests that interaction between the two amyloidogenic proteins can lead to the formation of heterocomplex aggregates. However, the structure and consequences of the formation of these complexes remains to be determined. The main objective of this study was to characterise the different types and morphology of Aβ-hIAPP heterocomplexes and determine if formation of such complexes exacerbate neurotoxicity. We demonstrate that hIAPP promotes Aβ oligomerization and formation of small oligomer and large aggregate heterocomplexes. Co-oligomerized Aβ42-hIAPP mixtures …

Serum Hepcidin Levels In Cognitively Normal Older Adults With High Neocortical Amyloid-Beta Load, Pratishtha Chatterjee, Maryam Mohammadi, Kathryn Goozee, Tejal Shah, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Cintia B. Dias, Kaikai Shen, Prita R. Asih, Preeti Dave, Steve Pedrini, Nicholas J. Ashton, Abdul Hye, Kevin Taddei, David B. Lovejoy, Henrik Zetterberg, Kaj Blennow, Ralph Martins

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background/Objective:

Hepcidin, an iron-regulating hormone, suppresses the release of iron by binding to the iron exporter protein, ferroportin, resulting in intracellular iron accumulation. Given that iron dyshomeostasis has been observed in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) together with elevated serum hepcidin levels, the current study examined whether elevated serum hepcidin levels are an early event in AD pathogenesis by measuring the hormone in cognitively normal older adults at risk of AD, based on high neocortical amyloid-β load (NAL).

Methods:

Serum hepcidin levels in cognitively normal participants (n = 100) aged between 65–90 years were measured using ELISA. To evaluate NAL, all …

Relationships Between Plasma Lipids Species, Gender, Risk Factors And Alzheimer’S Disease, Wei Ling Florence Lim, Kevin Huynh, Pratishtha Chatterjee, Ian Martins, Kaushala S. Jayawardana, Corey Giles, Natalie A. Mellett, Simon M. Laws, Ashley I. Bush, Christopher C. Rowe, Victor L. Villemagne, David Ames, Brian G. Drew, Colin L. Masters, Peter J. Meikle, Ralph Martins, Australian Imaging, Biomarker & Lifestyle Research Group

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

Lipid metabolism is altered in Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, the relationship between AD risk factors (age, APOE ɛ4, and gender) and lipid metabolism is not well defined.

Objective:

We investigated whether altered lipid metabolism associated with increased age, gender, and APOE status may contribute to the development of AD by examining these risk factors in healthy controls and also clinically diagnosed AD individuals.

Methods:

We performed plasma lipidomic profiling (582 lipid species) of the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle flagship study of aging cohort (AIBL) using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Linear regression and interaction analysis were used to explore …

Role Of Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (Vegf) As A Potential Biomarker Of Response To Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy In Advanced Melanoma: Results Of A Pilot Study, Muhammad A. Khattak, Afaf Abed, Anna L. Reid, Ashleigh C. Mcevoy, Michael Millward, Melanie Ziman, Elin S. Gray

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

The development of biomarkers predictive of response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies in advanced melanoma is an area of great interest in oncology. Our study evaluated the potential role of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a predictive biomarker of clinical benefit and response to treatment with ICIs.

Methods:

Pre-treatment peripheral blood samples were obtained from advanced melanoma patients undergoing ICI therapy as monotherapy or in combination at two tertiary care hospitals in Western Australia. Serum VEGF levels were correlated with response to therapy and survival outcomes.

Results:

Serum VEGF samples were collected from a total of …

Summary Of Methamphetamine Use Among Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People, Australian Indigenous Healthinfonet

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The Summary of methamphetamine use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is a plain language publication that provides summarised and updated information from the Review of methamphetamine use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people(2019). It provides key information about methamphetamine use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a style that is easy to engage with. It is particularly useful for health workers and those studying in the field as a quick source of general information about:

• the physical and mental impacts of methamphetamine
• historical and social factors of use
• how common methamphetamine use is …

The Effects Of Vitamin K-Rich Green Leafy Vegetables On Bone Metabolism: A 4-Week Randomised Controlled Trial In Middle-Aged And Older Individuals, Marc Sim, Joshua R. Lewis, Richard L. Prince, Itamar Levinger, Tara C. Brennan-Speranza, Claire Palmer, Catherine P. Bondonno, Nicola P. Bondonno, Amanda Devine, Natalie C. Ward, Elizabeth Byrnes, Carl J. Schultz, Richard Woodman, Kevin Croft, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: High vegetable intake is associated with beneficial effects on bone. However, the mechanisms remain uncertain. Green leafy vegetables are a rich source of vitamin K1, which is known to have large effects on osteoblasts and osteocalcin (OC) metabolism. Objective: To examine the effects of consumption of two to three extra serves of green leafy vegetables daily on bone metabolism. Methods: Thirty individuals (mean age 61.8 ± 9.9 years, 67% male) completed three experimental phases in a randomised controlled crossover design, each lasting four weeks, with a washout period of four weeks between phases (clinical trial registration: ACTRN12615000194561). The three …

Cross-Sectional Survey Of Sleep Practices Of Australian University Students, Rachel Batten, Katrina Liddiard, Annette J. Raynor, Cary A. Brown, Mandy Stanley

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background and Aim: Sleep insufficiency is often associated with the life of a university student, yet it is well known that inadequate sleep can have a negative impact on physical and mental health and be detrimental to cognitive skills for learning. The aim of this study was to replicate a Canadian study to survey university student sleep practices, the way in which students address any sleep issues, and the students’ preferred method to receive targeted sleep information. Methods: An anonymous on-line survey was promoted to all enrolled students at one Australian University in August 2017. Results: In total, 601 students …

Cost-Effectiveness Of An Environmental Cleaning Bundle For Reducing Healthcare-Associated Infections, Nicole M. White, Adrian G. Barnett, Lisa Hall, Brett G. Mitchell, Alison Farrington, Kate Halton, David L. Paterson, Thomas V. Riley, Anne Gardner, Katie Page, Christian A. Gericke, Nicolas Graves

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain a significant patient safety issue, with point prevalence estimates being ~5% in high-income countries. In 2016–2017, the Researching Effective Approaches to Cleaning in Hospitals (REACH) study implemented an environmental cleaning bundle targeting communication, staff training, improved cleaning technique, product use, and audit of frequent touch-point cleaning. This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of the environmental cleaning bundle for reducing the incidence of HAIs. Methods: A stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial was conducted in 11 hospitals recruited from 6 Australian states and territories. Bundle effectiveness was measured by the numbers of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, Clostridium difficile infection, and vancomycin-resistant …

Can We Predict Expected Adenoma Weight Preoperatively With Reference To The Correlation Of Preoperative Biochemical Tests With Parathyroid Adenoma Weight?, David Chee Weng Leong, Johnny Lo, Hieu Nguyen, Simon Ryan

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Primary hyperparathyroidism is a prevalent disease with proven benefits for appropriately selected patients who undergo parathyroidectomy. The ability to accurately predict expected single adenoma gland weight as the cause based on preoperative biochemical tests could improve cure rates in a minimally invasive approach. Objective: To assess the correlation between parathyroid weight and preoperative parathyroid hormone and calcium levels in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism with a solitary adenoma and determine if these could be used to predict expected parathyroid weight. Methods: Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who underwent curative parathyroidectomy from 2013 to 2018 was retrospectively analysed. Results: There is a …

Dietary Inflammatory Index And The Aging Kidney In Older Women: A 10‑Year Prospective Cohort Study, Nicola P. Bondonno, Lauren Blekkenhorst, Anna L. Bird, Joshua R. Lewis, Johnathan M. Hodgson, Nitin Shivappa, James R. Hebert, Richard J. Woodman, Germaine Wong, Deborah A. Kerr, Wai H. Lim, Richard L. Prince

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose: Chronic inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of age-related renal disease and the diet can moderate systemic inflammation. The primary objective of this study was to examine the associations between a dietary inflammatory index ( DII®) score and renal function, the trajectory of renal function decline, and renal disease-related hospitalizations and/or mortality over 10 years.

Methods: The study was conducted in 1422 Western Australian women without prevalent chronic kidney disease and aged ≥ 70 years. Baseline dietary data, obtained from a validated food frequency questionnaire, were used to calculate a DII score for each individual.

Results: In this …

Blood Sampling Through Peripheral Intravenous Cannulas: A Look At Current Practice In Australia, Hugh Davies, Linda L. Coventry, Alycia Jacob, Laurita Stoneman, Elisabeth Jacob

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Sampling blood from a peripheral intravenous cannula offers an alternative to venepuncture. This practice can reduce frequency of venepuncture and patient discomfort. Opponents argue the practice increases the chance of haemolysis, risk of infection and device failure. Aim: To describe the prevalence and practice of blood sampling from peripheral intravenous cannulas by Australian nurses. Methods: This study used a descriptive cross-sectional design and data were collected using an electronic survey. The survey examined Australian nurses’ practice of sampling blood from peripheral intravenous cannulas. Quantitative descriptive data was analysed and presented as frequencies, percentages, medians and ranges. Findings: A total …

Causal Association Of Circulating Cholesterol Levels With Dementia: A Mendelian Randomization Meta-Analysis, Xiaoyu Zhang, Qiuyue Tian, Di Liu, Tao Geng, Xizhu Xu, Siqi Ge, Deqiang Zheng, Lijuan Wu, Manshu Song, Haifeng Hou, Wei Wang, Youxin Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Prospective studies have shown that abnormally circulating cholesterol is associated with the risk of dementia. However, whether the association is causal or not remains unclear. We attempt to infer the causal association in a MR meta-analysis by using ApoE gene polymorphisms as instrument variables. Studies with dementia risk (27 studies) or circulating lipid levels (7 studies) were included, with totally 3136 dementia patients and 3103 healthy controls. The analyses showed that carriers of ε2 allele significantly were of decreased risk of AD (OR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.58–0.84; P < 0.01), whereas carriers of ε4 allele were of increased risk of AD (OR = 3.62; 95% CI: 3.03–4.32; P < 0.05), compared to these of ε3 allele. Circulating TC was significantly reduced in carriers of ε2 allele (WMD = − 0.29 mmol/L; 95% CI: −0.54 to −0.03; P < 0.05) and increased in carriers of ε4 allele (WMD = 0.42 mmol/l; 95% CI: 0.001–0.84; P < 0.05). In addition, carriers of ε4 allele had reduction in circulating HDL-C (WMD = − 0.04 mmol/L; 95% CI: − 0.07 to −0.001; P < 0.05). In comparing allele ε2 with ε3, the predicted OR of having AD for 1 mg/dL increment in circulating TC was 0.97 (95% CI: 0.86–0.98; P < 0.05). Comparing allele ε4 with ε3, the predicted OR for a 1 mg/dL increment in TC was 1.08 (95% CI: 1.05–17.58; P < 0.05), and reduction in HDL-C was 2.30 (95% CI: 1.51–43.99; P < 0.05). Our findings demonstrate that high circulating TC and reduced HDL-C levels might be potential risk factors of the development of AD.

Flavonoid Intake And Its Association With Atrial Fibrillation, Nicola P. Bondonno, Kevin Murray, Catherine P. Bondonno, Joshua R. Lewis, Kevin D. Croft, Cecilie Kyro, Gunnar Gislason, Anne Tjonneland, Augustin Scalbert, Aedin Cassidy, Jonathan P. Piccini, Kim Overad, Johnathan M. Hodgson, Frederik Dalgaard

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background & aims: Primary prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) through behavioural and dietary modification is a critically important and unmet need. Flavonoids are bioactive dietary compounds with promising cardiovascular health benefits. Our aim was to investigate the association between flavonoid intake and clinically apparent AF. Methods: Baseline data from 55 613 participants of the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health Study, without AF, recruited between 1993 and 1997, were cross-linked with Danish nationwide registries. Total flavonoid and flavonoid subclass intakes were calculated from validated food frequency questionnaires using the Phenol-Explorer database. Associations between flavonoid intake and incident AF (first-time hospitalization or …

Modelling Biological Age Based On Plasma Peptides In Han Chinese Adults, Weijie Cao, Deqiang Zheng, Guohua Wang, Jie Zhang, Siqi Ge, Manjot Singh, Hao Wang, Manshu Song, Dong Li, Wei Wang, Youxin Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Age-related disease burdens increased over time, and whether plasma peptides can be used to accurately predict age in order to explain the variation in biological indicators remains inadequately understood. Here we first developed a biological age model based on plasma peptides in 1890 Chinese Han adults. Based on mass spectrometry, 84 peptides were detected with masses in the range of 0.6-10.0 kDa, and 13 of these peptides were identified as known amino acid sequences. Five of these thirteen plasma peptides, including fragments of apolipoprotein A-I (m/z 2883.99), fibrinogen alpha chain (m/z 3060.13), complement C3 (m/z 2190.59), complement C4-A (m/z 1898.21), …

"Ode To Confidence": Poetry Groups For Dysarthria In Multiple Sclerosis, Rebecca Balchin, Deborah Hersh, Jamaica Grantis, Maddie Godfrey

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose: Approximately 40–50% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have dysarthria impacting confidence in communication. This study explored how people with MS experienced a novel therapeutic approach combining dysarthria therapy with poetry in a group format. Method: Participants were recruited through MSWA (formerly known as the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Western Australia), a leading service provider for people living with all neurological conditions in Western Australia. They attended eight weekly sessions led by a speech pathologist and a professional poet. The study was co-designed and qualitative, using observational field notes recorded during sessions and semi-structured in-depth interviews with participants after …

Prevalence Of Somatic-Mental Multimorbidity And Its Prospective Association With Disability Among Older Adults In China, Haibin Li, Anxin Wang, Qi Gao, Xiaonan Wang, Yanxia Luo, Xinghua Yang, Xia Li, Wei Wang, Deqiang Zheng, Xiuhua Guo

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

We aimed to identify prevalent somatic-mental multimorbidity (SMM) and examine its prospective association with disability among a nationally representative sample. A total of 6728 participants aged 60 years and older in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were included. A total of 14 somatic or mental conditions were assessed in 2013. SMM was defined as any combination of two or more conditions in which at least one condition was somatic and at least one condition was mental. Disability risk was measured using the combined Activities of Daily Living (ADL)-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) index (range 0–11; higher index …

Is Dietary Vitamin A Associated With Myopia From Adolescence To Young Adulthood?, Fletcher J. Ng, David A. Mackey, Therese A. O'Sullivan, Wendy H. Oddy, Seyhan Yazar

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose: Potential links may exist between vitamin A intake and myopia via various pathways. In this study, we examined the association between dietary vitamin A intake during adolescence and myopia in early adulthood. Methods: We performed a prospective analysis utilizing data collected from participants of the Raine Study Gen2. Dietary vitamin A intake, determined via food frequency questionnaires completed at ages 14, 17, and 20 years, was compared with ophthalmic measurements collected at year 20. Low vitamin A levels were defined as <600 >µg/day. Regression models were used to adjust for ocular sun exposure level, educational level, and parental myopia as …

Absolute And Relative Strength, Power And Physiological Characteristics Of Indian Junior National-Level Judokas, Dale M. Harris, Kristina Kendall, G. Gregory Haff, Christopher Latella

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The physical qualities that underpin successful junior judokas requires continuing investigation. We investigated the physical and physiological characteristics of junior national level judokas. We tested 25 (15 male, 10 female) Indian judokas for absolute and relative strength (back-squat and bench-press one-repetition maximum (1RM) as well as isometric handgrip), aerobic (RAMP test) and lower-body anaerobic power (Wingate 6-s sprint and countermovement jump), change-of-direction (5-0-5 test) and speed (30 m sprint). Athletes were grouped according to national-level competition placing (gold-medal winners (GM; n = 8), all medal winners (MW; n = 13), non-medallists (NM; n = 12), and NM plus silver and …

The Acute Effects Of Whole Body Vibration On Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull Performance, W. Guy Hornsby, Mark A. South, Jason D. Stone, Hugh S. Lamont, G. Gregory Haff, Michael H. Stone

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the acute effects of whole body vibration (WBV) on isometric mid-thigh pull force–time curve (FTC) characteristics. Eleven recreationally trained subjects were randomly assigned to three treatment conditions: sham no vibration protocol (T1), vibration protocol 30 Hz 2–4 mm amplitude (T2), and vibration protocol 30 Hz 2–4 mm (T3). After completing a standardized warm-up, the subject stood on a vibration platform with the knee at a 120° angle and performed one of the three interventions. Each treatment condition required the subject to stand on the platform for thirty-second treatments, each separated by …

The Study Protocol For A Pseudo-Randomised Pre-Post Designed Controlled Intervention Trial To Study The Effects Of A 7-Week Cooking Program On Self-Efficacy And Biomarkers Of Health: The Ecu Lifestyle And Biomarkers Get Connected Study (Eculabjmof) Including The Jamie’S Ministry Of Food Wa Participant Experience, Joanna Rees, Claus C. Christophersen, Joshua R. Lewis, Johnny Lo, Ros Sambell, Leesa Costello, Cailyn Walker, Matt F. Byrne, Mary C. Boyce, Robert U. Newton, Amanda Devine

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Australia, like other nations, has experienced a shift in dietary patterns away from home cooking of nutritious foods, towards a reliance on pre-prepared convenience meals. These are typically energy-dense, nutrient-poor and contribute to the rising prevalence of obesity and chronic disease burden. The aims of this study were to evaluate whether a community-based cooking program instigated a change to participants’ skills, attitudes, knowledge, enjoyment and satisfaction of cooking and cooking confidence (self-efficacy). Methods: The pseudo-random, pre-post study design consisted of an intervention and a control group. Participant recruitment and group allocation was based on their program start dates. Intervention …

Informing Retention In Longitudinal Cohort Studies Through A Social Marketing Lens: Raine Study Generation 2 Participants’ Perspectives On Benefits And Barriers To Participation, Leesa Costello, Julie Dare, Manon Dontje, Leon Straker

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

Longitudinal cohort studies have made significant contributions to medical discoveries and provide the impetus for health interventions which reduce the risk of disease. Establishing and maintaining these cohorts is challenging and costly. While some attrition is unavoidable, maintaining a sufficient number of participants ensures that results remain representative and free from bias. Numerous studies have investigated ways to reduce attrition but few studies have sought to understand the experience of participants, and none have examined this through a social marketing framework. This first paper in a two part-series describes participants’ experiences according to: benefits, barriers, motivators and influencers. The …

The Relationship Between Lifestyle And Serum Neurofilament Light Protein In Huntington’S Disease, Travis Cruickshank, Danielle Bartlett, Andrew Govus, Anthony Hannan, Wei-Peng Teo, Sarah Mason, Johnny Lo, Mel Ziman

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objectives: Serum neurofilament light protein (NfL) is a promising marker of disease onset and progression in Huntington's disease (HD). This study investigated associations between lifestyle factors and NfL levels in HD mutation carriers compared to healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Materials and Methods: Participants included 29 HD mutation carriers and 15 healthy controls. Associations between serum NfL concentrations and lifestyle factors, including cardiorespiratory fitness, social network size and diversity, physical activity, cognitive reserve, smoking status, and alcohol consumption, were examined using a stepwise multivariable linear regression model. Results: Higher NfL levels were associated with lower cognitive reserve, social network size …

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation To Optimise Participation In Stroke Rehabilitation – A Sham-Controlled Cross-Over Feasibility Study, Christopher Etherton-Beer, Yee Lui, Miranda Radalj, Ann-Maree Vallence, Barby Singer

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Fatigue and attentional decline limit the duration of many therapy sessions in older adults poststroke. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may facilitate participation in rehabilitation, potentially via reduced fatigue and improved sustained attention poststroke. Objective: To evaluate whether tDCS results in an increase in the number of completed rehabilitation therapy sessions in stroke survivors. Methods: Nineteen participants were randomly allocated to receive 10 sessions of 2-mA anodal (excitatory) tDCS, or sham tDCS, applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for 20 minutes within 1 hour prior to the first rehabilitation therapy session of the day. After a 2-day …