Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Evaluation Of A Theoretical And Experiential Training Programme For Allied Healthcare Providers To Prescribe Exercise Among Persons With Multiple Sclerosis: A Co-Designed Effectiveness-Implementation Study, Yvonne C. Learmonth, Georgios Mavropalias, Kym Wansbrough

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most prevalent neurological disorder in young adults, characterised by physical, psychological and cognitive dysfunction. Exercise training is a safe management strategy. Healthcare providers (HCPs) acknowledge deficiencies in awareness, counselling strategies, and resources that prevent them from promoting and prescribing this effective treatment. We implemented an online evidence-based educational programme and evaluated the effect, acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of the programme in improving HCP confidence, knowledge, and attitudes towards remote exercise prescription to persons with MS. Methods: Physiotherapists and exercise physiologists were recruited and received the educational programme (online theory and 16-week experience of prescribing …

Lower Limb Muscle Strength Matters: Effect Of Relative Isometric Strength On Countermovement And Rebound Jump Performance In Elite Youth Female Soccer Players, Jack Fahey, Paul Comfort, Nicholas Joel Ripley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Expression of maximal and rapid force in the hip, knee, and plantar flexors is important for athletic performance in female soccer. This study was designed to determine the effect of relative isometric strength in the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) on countermovement jump (CMJ) and rebound jump (CMJ-R) performance in female youth soccer players. Methods: Ninety-six female soccer players (age: 14.1 ± 2.3 years, height: 160.5 ± 9.7 cm, mass: 55.0 ± 10.3 kg) completed three trials of the IMTP, CMJ, and CMJ-R using force plates. Players were categorized as stronger (top quartile, n = 19) and weaker players (bottom …

The Luminos Project: Co-Designing A Short-Stay Suicide Support Model For Young People, Aims Hansen, Samantha Speirs, Kirsten Panton, Jacinta Freeman, Zrinka Highfield, Kieren Marshall, Eleanor Tighe, Laura Hemming, Bep Uink, Francis Mitrou, Vu Vuong, Ashleigh Lin

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Suicide was the leading cause of death among young Australians aged 15–24 years old in 2023, with 392 lives lost. The continued high numbers of youth suicide demand urgent exploration of alternative approaches to suicide intervention in this population. The United Kingdom-based suicide service Maytree offers an innovative short-term stay for people experiencing suicidal thoughts. Grounded by the Maytree model-of-care, the aim of the current study was to co-design a short-stay service responsive to the specific needs of suicidal young people. Methods: Semi-structured and focus group interviews with young people (n = 38), caregivers (n = 11) and key …

Treatment Of Cutaneous Collagenous Vasculopathy With Pulsed Dye Laser, Hannah L Hanania, Isabella Camacho-Hubbard, Zeena Y Nawas

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy (CCV) is a rare, idiopathic microangiopathy marked by widespread telangiectasias and histologic vessel wall thickening. Due to its rarity and clinical overlap with other vascular conditions, CCV poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This report highlights the successful use of pulsed dye laser (PDL) therapy in treating a case of extensive CCV.

Methods: A 40-year-old woman with a decade-long history of progressive telangiectasias involving the extremities, trunk, and forearms underwent treatment with a 595-nm PDL. Six treatment sessions were conducted over 14 months.

Results: The patient experienced significant improvement in erythema, telangiectasias, and associated discomfort, with sustained …

History Informing The Future Of Exercise Oncology, Daniel A. Galvão, Kerry S. Courneya, Alejandro Lucia, Anne M. May, Karen Mustian, Allison B. Warner, Wiskemann Joachim, Karen Wonders, Kathryn H. Schmitz, Robert U. Newton

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Exercise is increasingly recognized by patients, clinicians, and allied health professionals globally as an important component of cancer care. In this paper, we provide a viewpoint on developments in exercise oncology over the past 4 decades leading up to the creation of the International Society of Exercise Oncology (ISEO). We briefly review research in adult and pediatric cancers from early foundation studies to larger randomized controlled trials published in mainstream oncology journals alongside critical work undertaken in exercise and cancer biological mechanisms. We also discuss potential strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing ISEO in becoming a global forum for exercise …

Moderate Coffee And Tea Consumption Is Associated With Slower Cognitive Decline, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Kelsey R. Sewell, Belinda M. Brown, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Ralph N. Martins, Samantha L. Gardener

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Globally, coffee and tea are consumed extensively, potentially providing neuroprotection through anti-inflammatory and antioxidative stress effects. Objective: This study aimed to investigate associations between coffee and tea intake and cognitive function. Methods: In a longitudinal prospective cohort study, dementia-free (n = 8715; age range 60.0–85.2 years) older adults from the UK Biobank self-reported coffee and tea intake over the previous year; ‘never’, ‘moderate’ (1–3 cups/day), or ‘high’ (≥4 cups/day). Participants completed cognitive assessments at ≥2 timepoints (mean of 9.11 years). Results: Those ‘never’ consuming coffee and ‘moderate’ coffee consumers (β = 0.06, p = 0.005; β = 0.07, p <  0.001, respectively), as well as ‘moderate’ tea consumers and ‘high’ tea consumers (β = 0.06, p = 0.009; β = 0.06, p = 0.003, respectively) had slower fluid intelligence decline. Additionally, those ‘never’ consuming coffee and ‘moderate’ coffee consumers had a slower increase in pairs matching errors (β = −0.05, p = 0.022; β = 0.05, p = 0.013) compared to ‘high’ consumers. Conclusions: ‘Moderate’ coffee, and ‘moderate’ and ‘high’ tea intake may be a protective factor against cognitive decline. Randomized controlled trials are required to establish causal relationships leading to evidence-based recommendations regarding benefits of coffee and tea intake.

Socioeconomic Disadvantage, All-Cause And Cause-Specific Mortality In Patients Treated With Maintenance Dialysis: A Mediation Analysis Of Geographical Inequity And Multimorbidity, Farzaneh Boroumand, Wai H. Lim, Shuvo Bakar, Ryan Gately, Pedro Lopez, Dharshana Sabanayagam, Anita Van Zwieten, Lin Zhu, Germaine Wong, Armando Teixeira-Pinto

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Rationale & Objective: Social gradient in health (a “social gradient in health” refers to the observed pattern in which individuals with lower socioeconomic status typically experience poorer health outcomes than those with higher socioeconomic status. This indicates that health disparities exist across different social levels, with the most disadvantaged groups experiencing the worst health outcomes) is significant and established in patients with kidney failure, but the pathways of this relationship are unknown. We aimed to assess the mediating effects of multimorbidity and geographical remoteness in the socioeconomic status (SES)-death associations. Study Design: A cohort study. Setting & Participants: All patients …

Tissue-Specific Distribution Of Microplastics In Human Blood And Carotid Plaques: A Paired Sample Analysis, Cancan Cui, Zheng Guo, Yanxi Liu, Ning Han, Jiayin Song, Yuanmei Chen, Yulu Zheng, Chen Sheng, Lois Balmer, Haibin Li, Rui Liu, Lin Liu, Jianshi Du, Zhiyuan Wu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Backgrounds: Microplastics (MPs) have been increasingly detected in human tissues, raising concerns about their role in cardiovascular disease. However, their distribution in matched blood and vascular tissues, such as atherosclerotic plaques, remains poorly understood. Methods: Paired blood and carotid plaque samples were analyzed for 12 polymer types of MPs using pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry among twenty patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Results: The mean concentration of total MPs was 75.2 μg/g in blood and 432.9 μg/g in plaque. Polyethylene (PE) dominated blood samples (46.5 %), followed by polyvinyl chloride (PVC, 16.8 %) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR, 16.3 %). In plaques, MPs were …

A Systematic Review Using A Multi-Layered Criteria Framework For Assessing The Validity And Reliability Of Velocity Monitoring Devices In Resistance Training, Youssef J. Wannouch, Samuel R. Leahey, Rodrigo Ramírez-Campillo, Harry G. Banyard, Harry S. Dorrell, Steven Stern, Gordon J. Ross, Jason C. Laffer, Kelvin Y.H. Chua, Paul Comfort

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background Velocity-Based Training (VBT) is an emerging method in resistance training for objectively prescribing and monitoring training intensity and neuromuscular function. Given its growing popularity, assessing the validity and reliability of VBT devices is critical for strength and conditioning coaches. Objective The primary purpose of this review was twofold: (1) to identify and address methodological gaps in current assessments of VBT device validity and reliability, and (2) to propose and apply a novel, multi-layered, criterion-based framework—developed in collaboration with statisticians and domain experts—for evaluating these devices. Methods A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus following PRISMA guidelines, …

A Large-Scale Multi-Centre Study Characterising Atrophy Heterogeneity In Alzheimer's Disease, Vikram Venkatraghavan, Damiano Archetti, Pierrick Bourgeat, Chenyang Jiang, Mara Ten Kate, Anna C. Van Loenhoud, Rik Ossenkoppele, Charlotte E. Teunissen, Elsmarieke Van De Giessen, Yolande A.L. Pijnenburg, Giovanni B. Frisoni, Béla Weiss, Zoltán Vidnyánszky, Tibor Auer, Stanley Durrleman, Alberto Redolfi, Simon M. Laws, Paul Maruff, Neil P. Oxtoby, Andre Altmann, Daniel C. Alexander, Wiesje M. Van Der Flier, Frederik Barkhof, Betty M. Tijms

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Previous studies identified atrophy-based Alzheimer's disease(AD) subtypes linked to distinct clinical symptoms, but their consistency across subtyping approaches remains unclear. This large-scale study evaluates subtype concordance using two data-driven approaches. In this work, we analyzed data from n=10,011 patients across 10 AD cohorts spanning Europe, the US, and Australia, extracting regional volumes using Freesurfer. To characterize atrophy heterogeneity in the AD continuum, we developed a two-step approach, Snowphlake (Staging NeurOdegeneration With PHenotype informed progression timeLine of biomarKErs), to identify subtypes and atrophy-event sequences within each subtype. Results were compared with SuStaIn (Subtype and Stage Inference), which jointly estimates subtypes and …

Automated Instance Segmentation And Registration Of Spinal Vertebrae From Ct-Scans With An Improved 3d U-Net Neural Network And Corner Point Registration, James Hill, Muhammad Rizwan Khokher, Chuong Nguyen, Matt Adcock, Ron Li, Stuart Anderson, Thomas Morrell, Tim Diprose, Olivier Salvado, Dadong Wang, Guan K. Tay

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper presents a rapid and robust approach for 3D volumetric segmentation, labelling, and registration of human spinal vertebrae from CT scans using an optimised and improved 3D U-Net neural network architecture. The network is designed by incorporating residual and dense interconnections, followed by an extensive evaluation of different network setups by optimising the network components like activation functions, optimisers, and pooling operations. In addition, the network architecture is optimised for varying numbers of convolution layers per block and U-Net levels with fixed and cascading numbers of filters. For 3D virtual reality visualisation, the segmentation output of the improved 3D …

Generation Of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines (Rfsci003-A, Rfsci004-A) From Monozygotic Twins Discordant For Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Naresh Rajendran, Wendy Runyon, Sam Hu, Ajeet Singh, Rinki Ratnapriya, Ritu Kumar, Karl Csaky, Srinivasa R Sripathi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has significant genetic component, yet monozygotic twins frequently exhibit discordance in disease status, highlighting the role of non-genetic factors. To enable comparative studies of AMD pathogenesis, we generated two induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of a monozygotic twin pair discordant for AMD. These iPSC lines offer a unique genetically matched resource to investigate molecular differences between affected and unaffected twins, as well as their responses to genetic, epigenetic, and environmental contributors to AMD development.

Steroids For Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy Pain-A Prospective Multicenter Randomized Trial, Kevin D Pereira, Wiktoria A Gocal, Anna V Borodianski, Mary E Williamson, Hengameh K Behzadpour, Sonal Saraiya, Diego A Preciado, Amal Isaiah

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: To compare postoperative caregiver-reported pain control of two steroid regimens following pediatric adenotonsillectomy. Secondary objectives assessed differences in analgesic use, return to normal diet, caregiver calls, adverse effects, and emergency room (ER) visits.

Study design: Prospective randomized pragmatic trial.

Setting: Three academic tertiary care children's hospitals.

Methods: Healthy children aged 3 to 10 undergoing adenotonsillectomy were recruited and randomly assigned to receive either 0.6 mg/kg dexamethasone on postoperative day 3 or prednisolone 0.5 mg/kg days 1 to 3. Both groups continued standard weight-based regimens of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. A blinded research team member performed postoperative telephone surveys using the …

Optimal Head-Of-Bed Positioning Before Thrombectomy In Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Anne W Alexandrov, Anne J Shearin, Pitchaiah Mandava, Gabriel Torrealba-Acosta, Cheran Elangovan, Balaji Krishnaiah, Katherine Nearing, Elizabeth Robinson, Cara Guthrie-Chu, Matthew Holzmann, Bryan Fill, Dharti R Trivedi, Alicia Richardson, Sandy Middleton, Barbara B Brewer, David S Liebeskind, Nitin Goyal, James C Grotta, Andrei V Alexandrov

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: Small studies show that 0° head positioning of patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke improves penumbral blood flow and clinical stability. Understanding whether 0° head position maintains clinical stability would allow for optimal patient positioning before thrombectomy.

Objective: To determine superiority of 0° over 30° head positioning at maintaining clinical stability in patients with LVO before thrombectomy.

Design, setting, and participants: This was a prospective randomized clinical trial with blinding to study enrollment/end points conducted from May 2018 to November 2023. There were 3 planned interim analyses, and the study was conducted at certified thrombectomy hospitals in the …

Cognitive Performance In Early Neuronal Synuclein Disease With Hyposmia But Without Motor Disability: Association With Dopamine Deficiency And Isolated Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder, Daniel Weintraub, Anuprita R Nair, Ryan Kurth, Michael C Brumm, Christine Kohnen, Michele K York, Roseanne D Dobkin, Kenneth Marek, Caroline Tanner, Tanya Simuni, Andrew Siderowf, Douglas Galasko, Lana M Chahine, Christopher Coffey, Kalpana Merchant, Kathleen L Poston, Tatiana Foroud, Brit Mollenhauer, Ethan G Brown, Karl Kieburtz, Mark Frasier, Sohini Chowdhury, Roy N Alcalay, Aleksandar Videnovic, Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: To determine the impact of dopamine deficiency and isolated rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) on cognitive performance in early neuronal α-synuclein disease (NSD) with hyposmia but without motor disability.

Methods: Using Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative baseline data, cognitive performance was assessed with a cognitive summary score (CSS) derived from robust healthy control (HC) norms. Performance was examined for participants with hyposmia in early NSD-Integrated Staging System (NSD-ISS), either stage 2A (cerebrospinal fluid α-synuclein seed amplification assay [SAA]+, dopamine transporter scan [DaTscan]-) or 2B (SAA+, DaTscan+).

Results: Participants were stage 2A (n = 101), stage 2B (N …

A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial Of High-Frequency Electromagnetic Coupling Powered Permanent Peripheral Nerve Stimulator For The Treatment Of Chronic Craniofacial Pain, Salim M Hayek, Nameer Haider, Ashwin Viswanathan, Mehul Desai, Jeffrey Rosenberg, Niek E Vanquathem

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

than one-fifth of the US population. While various medications and conservative treatment modalities are available for this condition, many patients have refractory symptoms. These patients suffer from social impairment, reduced quality of life, and increased financial burdens.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the clinical outcomes of patients receiving a permanent, high-frequency electromagnetic coupling (HF-EMC) powered peripheral nerve stimulator (PNS) system for the treatment of chronic craniofacial neuropathic pain.

Study design: This study was a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial conducted under an investigational device exemption (IDE).

Setting: This study was conducted in 7 clinical sites in …

Corrigendum To "Validation Of An Assay For Ngal In A Pediatric Population" [Practical Laboratory Medicine, Plabm 486, E00486], Nazmin Bithi, Ridwan B Ibrahim, Estella Tam, Radwa Almamoun, Annett C Frenk Oquendo, Ayse Akcan-Arikan, Sridevi Devaraj

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This corrects the article "Validation of an assay for NGAL in a pediatric population", e00486.

Focal Adhesion Kinase Drives Rho/Rock And Mtor Signaling To Protect And Augment Aortic Dissections, Zhen Zhou, Pujun Guan, Ripon Sarkar, Yang Yu, Alexis Richard, Dar Weiss, Yuki Kawamura, Chen Zhang, Yanming Li, Tomas Vaisar, Daniel R Martin, L Maximillian Buja, Zhouxuan Li, Kartik Venkatachalam, Ying H Shen, Scott A Lemaire, Jay D Humphrey, Dianna M Milewicz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Dysfunctional mechanosensing via focal adhesions (FAs) significantly contributes to thoracic aortic dissection in the β-aminopropionitrile mouse model by triggering FA kinase activation and subsequent Rho/ROCK and mTOR signaling pathways. The present findings indicate that these signaling pathways play distinct roles in ascending vs descending dissections. Specifically, in the ascending aorta, smooth muscle cell FA kinase-Rho/ROCK signaling acts as a beneficial adaptive mechanism to prevent dissections, whereas mTOR signaling is pathogenic and contributes to dissections.

A Divergent Cyclic Nucleotide Binding Protein Promotes Plasmodium Ookinete Infection Of The Mosquito, Dominika Kwecka, Zhishuo Wang, Edvardas Eigminas, Lijia Liu, Jennifer C Regan, Choel Kim, Nisha Philip

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Colonisation of mosquitos by the malarial parasite is critically reliant on the invasive ookinete stage. Ookinete invasion of mosquito is coordinated by the apical complex, a specialised parasite structure containing components for secretion, attachment and penetration. While studies have investigated cytoskeletal and secretory elements, it is currently unknown if signalling modules are present or functional at the apical complex. Here we elucidate the role of a cryptic cyclic nucleotide-binding protein which we name CBP-O. PbCBP-O showed a marked localisation to the ookinete apex and disruption of the protein severely compromised ookinete invasion of mosquitos. Domain dissection analysis revealed that the …

Emergency Department Utilization Among Co-Residing Family Caregivers Of Persons Living With Dementia, Pei-Chun Cha, Craig Rothenberg, Anita N Chary, Justine Seidenfeld, Ula Hwang, Terri Fried, Joan K Monin, Arjun K Venkatesh, Cameron J Gettel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease In Gulf War Veterans In Relation To Deployment Exposures, Sarah T Ahmed, Ruosha Li, Lea Steele, Peter Richardson, Kellie Sims, Rachel Quaden, Kelly M Harrington, Vijay Nambi, John M Gaziano, Robert Morgan, George L Delclos, Drew A Helmer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Many 1990-1991 Gulf War Veterans (GWVs) were exposed to toxicants and environmental hazards during deployment, including oil well fire smoke, chemical/biological agents, pyridostigmine bromide (PB) pills, and pesticides. Multiple constituents of smoke are associated with increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD), and other toxic exposures have been associated with autonomic and lipid dysfunction. We used data from the Gulf War Era Cohort and Biorepository Study of veterans deployed to Gulf War in 1990-1991 (n = 942). We evaluated the association of deployment exposures (no, yes (1-6 days), (7-30 days), (31 + days), and not sure) with clinical risk factors …

Combining Lumipulse P-Tau217 And Aβ42/40 As Confirmatory Tests For Aβ Positivity Prior To Disease-Modifying Therapy, James D. Doecke, Ahmed Chenna, Mintzu Lo, Youssouf Badal, Brandon Yee, Robert Martone, Christos Petropoulos, Christopher J. Fowler, Simon Laws, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Ralph N. Martins, Christopher C. Rowe, Colin L. Masters, John Winslow

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: For a blood-based biomarker to be considered a confirmatory test for the detection of abnormal amyloid beta (Aβ) levels, the sensitivity and specificity must be equivalent to that of current cerebrospinal fluid tests. Methods: In the current study we assessed the ability of phosphorylated tau (p-tau)217 and Aβ42/40 from the Lumipulse G p-tau217 and β-amyloid ratio (1-42/1-40) tests, individually and combined, to predict Aβ positron emission tomography status in two sub-cohorts from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers, and Lifestyle Study of Ageing. Results: Testing an Alzheimer's disease continuum cohort, the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for …

Comparisons Between Different Methods Of Calculating Dynamic Strength Index: Effect On Training Recommendations, Nicholas Joel Ripley, Jack Fahey, Stuart Guppy, Paul Comfort

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

An impulse-based dynamic strength index (iDSI) that constitutes time-dependent force expression in contrast to the common peak force-based DSI (fDSI) may be more insightful when considering training recommendations. However, a limitation of the iDSI is that any change in countermovement jump (CMJ) propulsion phase duration could affect longitudinal comparisons. A fixed duration (e.g., 250ms) iDSI however could overcome this limitation. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of different methods of calculating DSI (fDSI, iDSI matched, iDSI fixed) on the DSI value and resultant training prioritization. Thirty-seven team sport athletes (female=13, male=25, age=22.2±2.8 years, height=174.4±6.0cm, mass=74.9±11.9kg) performed …

Management Of Atypical Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome With Triggers: Diagnostic And Treatment Algorithms From An Asia-Pacific Perspective, Hee Gyung Kang, Danny Hsu, Noritoshi Kato, Jin Seok Kim, Masayoshi Okumi, Min Hua Tseng, Kun Hua Tu, Desmond Yat Hin Yap, Wai H. Lim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Complement-amplifying events/conditions associated with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) include pregnancy/postpartum period, severe hypertension, autoimmune diseases, drug exposures, infections and organ transplantation. Some of these ‘triggers’ may exist comorbidly with atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS; a complement-mediated form of TMA), unmask previously undiagnosed aHUS, or occur secondary to aHUS, thus creating a considerable diagnostic challenge. A major goal in patients presenting with TMA is to differentiate complement-mediated aHUS from other causes of TMA such that appropriate targeted treatment with complement 5 (C5) inhibitors can be initiated rapidly to avoid irreversible end-organ damage. To this end, nephrologists and haematologists from Australia, Hong Kong, …

Muscle Creatine Levels And Sprint Performance In Young Adult Vegans And Vegetarians After 7 Days Of Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation, Thomas Christian Bonne, Valentina Arthemalle, Colin Stephen Doherty, Andreas Breenfeldt Andersen, Jacob Bejder, Thomas Ehlers, Henrik Holm-Sørensen, Nikolai Baastrup Nordsborg

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Athletes use creatine monohydrate (CM) to enhance high-intensity exercise performance by increasing creatine phosphate availability. While CM supplementation is known to raise muscle creatine levels in vegans and vegetarians, its impact on exercise performance remains uncertain. We examined the effects of CM supplementation on muscle creatine content and exercise performance in vegans and vegetarians. In a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled design, 15 healthy vegans and vegetarians consumed CM (0.3 g/kg/day, n = 7) or placebo (PLA, 0.3 g maltodextrin/kg/day, n = 8) four times a day for 7 days. Before and after supplementation, repeated sprint capacity was determined. Body mass and …

Work While You Learn: Evaluating A Paid Employment Model For Postgraduate Midwifery Students In Diverse Contexts, Sadie Geraghty, Kirstie Balding, Sheena Mcchlery, Sarah Hay

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Postgraduate midwifery student employment models are lacking robust evaluation of how the paid employment model serves as a workforce strategy in Western Australia. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate a paid employment model for postgraduate midwifery students, that was implemented in metropolitan, rural, and regional areas in a Western Australian context. Methods: A convergent parallel design collected both quantitative and qualitative data. This study used a survey design with quantitative and qualitative questions within a well-established process evaluation framework. Results: All midwifery students reported benefits of the paid model of employment, which included financial stability while …

Antimicrobial Resistance Of Clostridioides (Clostridium) Difficile In Cambodia, Lengsea Eng, Papanin Putsathit, Su Chen Lim, Jessica M. Chisholm, Deirdre A. Collins, Archie C.A. Clements, Kefyalew Addis Alene, Thomas V. Riley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a major topic of interest in infectious disease management. We studied AMR in Clostridioides difficile isolated in Cambodia. Methods: Agar dilution susceptibility testing was performed according to the CLSI guidelines to determine minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 10 antimicrobials for 192 isolates of C. difficile from four populations in Cambodia: hospitalised adults, hospitalised children, children from an outpatient department (OPD), and healthy adolescents in the community. Results: Using the CLSI MIC breakpoints for anaerobes and EUCAST breakpoints for C. difficile, all isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, metronidazole, fidaxomicin, and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and none were resistant …

Wound-Healing And Onboard Care During Long-Duration Human Deep Space Exploration From A Surgical Perspective Through The Lens Of A Scoping Review, Dora Babocs, Krishi Korrapati, Cooper Lytle, Monika L Gloviczki, Gustavo S Oderich, M Mark Melin, Rowena Christiansen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a bridge between the fields of aerospace medicine and vascular surgery, and to emphasize the need for leading experts in vascular medicine, interventional radiology, and surgery to address the critical human spaceflight research gaps highlighted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Methods: A scoping review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted on literature published between 2000 and 2024. A well-defined search strategy was employed for keyword searches across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, the NASA Life Science Data Archive, …

Optical Coherence Tomography Enables The Depth-Resolved Measurement Of Cilia Beat Frequency In Ex Vivo Human Fallopian Tubes, Dilara J Long, Tian Xia, Photini F Rice, Deirdre M Scully, Makayla Johnson, Ryan Mistifer, Andrea Aguirre, John M Heusinkveld, Irina V Larina, Jennifer K Barton

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: The movement of cilia in the fallopian tubes (FTs) facilitates important processes involved in fertility, and abnormalities in cilia function are linked with diseases including endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease. For the first time, we demonstrate the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to create depth-resolved mapping of motile cilia locations and quantify cilia beat frequency (CBF) in human FT samples ex vivo.

Methods: Segments of the FT ampulla were acquired from five patients following salpingectomy under an IRB approved protocol. The samples were longitudinally opened to expose the luminal surface for imaging. A sequence of at least 500 …

Parent Needs, Recommendations, And Systemic Challenges Affecting Pediatric Hypertension Detection, Abbas H. Zaidi, Erica D. Sood, Sarah De Ferranti, Samuel Gidding, Varsha Zadokar, Jonathan M. Miller, Anne E Kazak

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Pediatric hypertension (HTN) affects 3%-5% of children in the United States, yet only 25% are diagnosed and 60% lack recommended follow-up care. Skepticism about elevated blood pressure (BP) readings and reluctance to use antihypertensive medications by parents and clinicians highlight the need for stakeholder-informed strategies to address these challenges. This study examined parents' perceived needs, their recommended strategies to improve HTN detection, and contextual health system challenges. Parents and clinicians from 10 pediatric primary care clinics participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews. Only parents of children with documented stage 2 BP readings and a HTN diagnosis, but with gaps in care …