Diseases Commons^™

Pleural Fluid Investigations For Pleural Infections, Bapti Roy, Hui Juin Shak, Y. C.Gary Lee

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Over 1.5 million patients are admitted to hospital with pneumonia in the United States each year. Up to 50% of them can develop a parapneumonic effusion which is associated with higher mortality. The incidence of pleural infection continues to rise, particularly in the elderly and those with comorbidities. Parapneumonic effusions cover a spectrum of presentations from a free-flowing 'simple parapneumonic effusion' to a septated 'complicated parapneumonic effusion' (CPE) (usually from bacterial pleural invasion) and 'empyema' (presence of pleural pus). Pleural infection is defined as either CPE or empyema, and usually requires evacuation of the infected fluid. Laboratory investigations play an …

Acceptability And Preliminary Efficacy Of A Web-And Telephone-Based Personalised Exercise Intervention For Individuals With Metastatic Prostate Cancer: The Exerciseguide Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial, Holly E. L. Evans, Daniel A. Galvão, Cynthia C. Forbes, Danielle Girard, Corneel Vandelanotte, Robert U. Newton, Andrew D. Vincent, Gary Wittert, Ganessan Kichenadasse, Suzanne Chambers, Nicholas Brook, Camille E. Short

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Preliminary research has shown the effectiveness of supervised exercise-based interventions in alleviating sequela resulting from metastatic prostate cancer. However, many individuals encounter barriers that limit the uptake of face-to-face exercise. Technology-enabled interventions offer a distance-based alternative. This pilot study aimed to explore the acceptability, safety and preliminary efficacy of a web-based exercise intervention (ExerciseGuide) in individuals with metastatic prostate cancer. Forty participants (70.2 ± 8.5 years) with metastatic prostate cancer were randomised into the 8-week intervention (N = 20) or a wait-list control (N = 20). The intervention arm had access to a computer-tailored website, personalised exercise prescription and remote …

The Effect Of The Covid-19 Vaccine On Daily Cases And Deaths Based On Global Vaccine Data, Zhiwei Li, Xiangtong Liu, Mengyang Liu, Zhiyuan Wu, Yue Liu, Weiming Li, Mengmeng Liu, Xiaonan Wang, Bo Gao, Yanxia Luo, Xia Li, Lixin Tao, Wei Wang, Xiuhua Guo

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a global pandemic, has caused over 216 million cases and 4.50 million deaths as of 30 August 2021. Vaccines can be regarded as one of the most powerful weapons to eliminate the pandemic, but the impact of vaccines on daily COVID-19 cases and deaths by country is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between vaccines and daily newly confirmed cases and deaths of COVID-19 in each country worldwide. Methods: Daily data on firstly vaccinated people, fully vaccinated people, new cases and new deaths of COVID-19 were collected from 187 countries. First, we used …

Co-Design Of A Digital Dietary Intervention For Adults At Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes, Brenda S. J. Tay, Sarah M. Edney, Grant D. Brinkworth, David N. Cox, Bonnie Wiggins, Aaron Davis, Ian Gwilt, Annemien Haveman-Nies, Jillian C. Ryan

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background Co-design has the potential to create interventions that lead to sustainable health behaviour change. Evidence suggests application of co-design in various health domains has been growing; however, few public-facing digital interventions have been co-designed to specifically address the needs of adults at risk of Type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study aims to: (1) co-design, with key stakeholders, a digital dietary intervention to promote health behaviour change among adults at risk of T2D, and (2) evaluate the co-design process involved in developing the intervention prototype. Methods The co-design study was based on a partnership between nutrition researchers and designers experienced …

Association Of Genetic Variants With Prostate Cancer In Africa: A Concise Review, Emmanuel Acheampong, Evans A. Adu, Christian Obirikorang, George Amoah, Osei O. Afriyie, Joseph Yorke, Enoch O. Anto, Michael A. Gyamfi, Emmanuella N. Acheampong, Christian K. Gyasi-Sarpong, Francis A. Yeboah

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) has one of the highest heritability of all major cancers, where the genetic contribution has been documented, and knowledge about the molecular genetics of the disease is increasing. However, the extent and aspects to which genetic variants explain PCa heritability in Africa are limited. Main body: In this review, we summarize studies that highlight how identified genetic variants explain differences in PCa incidence and presentation across ethnic groups. We also present the knowledge gaps in PCa genetics in Africa and why Africa represents an untapped potential ground for genetic studies on PCa. A significant number of …

Functional Maturation Of Immature Β Cells: A Roadblock For Stem Cell Therapy For Type 1 Diabetes, Zi-Yi Sun, Ting-Yan Yu, Fang-Xu Jiang, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic autoimmune disease caused by the specific destruction of pancreatic islet β cells and is characterized as the absolute insufficiency of insulin secretion. Current insulin replacement therapy supplies insulin in a non-physiological way and is associated with devastating complications. Experimental islet transplantation therapy has been proven to restore glucose homeostasis in people with severe T1DM. However, it is restricted by many factors such as severe shortage of donor sources, progressive loss of donor cells, high cost, etc. As pluripotent stem cells have the potential to give rise to all cells including islet β …

Vegetable Nitrate Intake, Blood Pressure And Incident Cardiovascular Disease: Danish Diet, Cancer, And Health Study, Catherine P. Bondonno, Frederik Dalgaard, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Kevin Murray, Joshua R. Lewis, Kevin D. Croft, Cecilie Kyrø, Christian Torp-Pedersen, Gunnar Gislason, Anne Tjønneland, Kim Overvad, Nicola P. Bondonno, Jonathan M. Hodgson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Whether the vascular effects of inorganic nitrate, observed in clinical trials, translate to a reduction in cardiovascular disease (CVD) with habitual dietary nitrate intake in prospective studies warrants investigation. We aimed to determine if vegetable nitrate, the major dietary nitrate source, is associated with lower blood pressure (BP) and lower risk of incident CVD. Among 53,150 participants of the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Study, without CVD at baseline, vegetable nitrate intake was assessed using a comprehensive vegetable nitrate database. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using restricted cubic splines based on multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. During 23 years of …

Habitual Flavonoid Intake And Ischemic Stroke Incidence In The Danish Diet, Cancer, And Health Cohort, Benjamin H. Parmenter, Frederik Dalgaard, Kevin Murray, Aedin Cassidy, Catherine P. Bondonno, Joshua R. Lewis, Kevin D. Croft, Cecilie Kyrø, Gunnar Gislason, Augustin Scalbert, Anne Tjønneland, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Nicola P. Bondonno

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

Flavonoid-rich foods have antiinflammatory, antiatherogenic, and antithrombotic properties that may contribute to a lower risk of ischemic stroke.

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the relationship between habitual flavonoid consumption and incidence of ischemic stroke in participants from the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health Study.

Design

In this prospective cohort study, 55,169 Danish residents without a prior ischemic stroke [median (IQR) age at enrolment of 56 y (52–60)], were followed for 21 y (20–22). We used Phenol-Explorer to estimate flavonoid intake from food frequency questionnaires obtained at study entry. Incident cases of ischemic stroke were identified from Danish nationwide registries …

A Novel Augmented Deep Transfer Learning For Classification Of Covid-19 And Other Thoracic Diseases From X-Rays, Fouzia Atlaf, Syed M. S. Islam, Naeem K. Janjua

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Deep learning has provided numerous breakthroughs in natural imaging tasks. However, its successful application to medical images is severely handicapped with the limited amount of annotated training data. Transfer learning is commonly adopted for the medical imaging tasks. However, a large covariant shift between the source domain of natural images and target domain of medical images results in poor transfer learning. Moreover, scarcity of annotated data for the medical imaging tasks causes further problems for effective transfer learning. To address these problems, we develop an augmented ensemble transfer learning technique that leads to significant performance gain over the conventional transfer …

Effect Of Exercise Adjunct To Radiation And Androgen Deprivation Therapy On Patient-Reported Treatment Toxicity In Men With Prostate Cancer: A Secondary Analysis Of 2 Randomized Controlled Trials, Oliver Schumacher, Daniel A. Galvão, Dennis R. Taaffe, Nigel Spry, David Joseph, Colin Tang, Raphael Chee, Robert U. Newton

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose: Physical inactivity, in addition to clinical factors, has been associated with higher levels of late pelvic symptoms in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) after radiation therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a structured multicomponent exercise program comprised of aerobic and resistance training as well as impact loading on the prevalence and severity of symptoms commonly resulting from androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and pelvic radiation therapy. Methods and Materials: We performed a secondary analysis of pooled data from 2 randomized controlled trials that investigated the role of exercise on treatment-related side effects in patients …

Glycosylation Of Igg Associates With Hypertension And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Comorbidity In The Chinese Muslim Ethnic Minorities And The Han Chinese, Xiaoni Meng, Manshu Song, Marija Vilaj, Jerko Štambuk, Mamatyusupu Dolikun, Jie Zhang, Di Liu, Hao Wang, Xiaoyu Zhang, Jinxia Zhang, Weijie Cao, Ana Momčilović, Irena Trbojević-Akmačić, Xingang Li, Deqiang Zheng, Lijuan Wu, Xiuhua Guo, Youxin Wang, Gordan Lauc, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objectives: Hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus comorbidity (HDC) is common, which confers a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than the presence of either condition alone. Describing the underlying glycomic changes of immunoglobulin G (IgG) that predispose individuals to HDC may help develop novel protective immune-targeted and anti-inflammatory therapies. Therefore, we investigated glycosylation changes of IgG associated with HDC. Methods: The IgG N-glycan profiles of 883 plasma samples from the three northwestern Chinese Muslim ethnic minorities and the Han Chinese were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography instrument. Results: We found that 12 and six IgG N-glycan traits showed significant associations …

Supporting Patient-Clinician Interaction In Chronic Hiv Care: Design And Development Of A Patient-Reported Outcomes Software Application, Susan Herrmann, Brad Power, Amineh Rashidi, Mark Cypher, Frank Mastaglia, Amy Grace, Elizabeth Mckinnon, Pierre Sarrot, Christophe Michau, Matthew Skinner, Renae Desai, Martin Duracinsky

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: The consideration of health-related quality of life (HRQL) is a hallmark of best practice in HIV care. Information technology offers an opportunity to more closely engage patients with chronic HIV infection in their long-term management and support a focus on HRQL. However, the implementation of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures, such as HRQL in routine care, is challenged by the need to synthesize data generated by questionnaires, the complexity of collecting data between patient visits, and the integration of results into clinical decision-making processes. Objective: Our aim is to design and pilot-test a multimedia software platform to overcome these challenges …

Vitamin K Intake And Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease In The Danish Diet Cancer And Health Study, Jamie W. Bellenge, Frederik Dalgaard, Kevin Murray, Emma Connolly, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Catherine P. Bondonno, Joshua R. Lewis, Marc Sim, Kevin D. Croft, Gunnar Gislason, Christian Torp-Pedersen, Anne Tjønneland, Kim Overvad, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Carl Schultz, Nicola P. Bondonno

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background Dietary vitamin K (K1 and K2) may reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk via several mechanisms. However, studies linking vitamin K intake with incident ASCVD are limited. We aimed to determine the relationship between dietary vitamin K intake and ASCVD hospitalizations. Methods and Results In this prospective cohort study, participants from the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Study, with no prior ASCVD, completed a food‐frequency questionnaire at baseline and were followed up for hospital admissions of ASCVD; ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, or peripheral artery disease. Intakes of vitamin K1 and vitamin K2 were estimated from the food‐frequency questionnaire, …

Potential Role Of Exercise Induced Extracellular Vesicles In Prostate Cancer Suppression, Ying Zhang, Jin-Soo Kim, Tain-Zhen Wang, Robert U. Newton, Daniel A. Galvao, Robert A. Gardiner, Michelle M. Hill, Dennis Taaffe

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Physical exercise is increasingly recognized as a valuable treatment strategy in managing prostate cancer, not only enhancing supportive care but potentially influencing disease outcomes. However, there are limited studies investigating mechanisms of the tumor-suppressive effect of exercise. Recently, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been recognized as a therapeutic target for cancer as tumor-derived EVs have the potential to promote metastatic capacity by transferring oncogenic proteins, integrins, and microRNAs to other cells and EVs are also involved in developing drug resistance. Skeletal muscle has been identified as an endocrine organ, releasing EVs into the circulation, and levels of EV-containing factors have been …

Complete Genome Assemblies Of Three Highly Prevalent, Toxigenic Clostridioides Difficile Strains Causing Health Care-Associated Infections In Australia, Keeley O'Grady, Thomas V. Riley, Daniel R. Knight

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of life-threatening health care-related gastrointestinal illness worldwide. Phylogenetically appropriate closed reference genomes are essential for studies of C. difficile transmission and evolution. Here, we provide high-quality complete hybrid genome assemblies for the three most prevalent C. difficile strains causing CDI in Australia.

A Novel Boot Camp Program To Help Guide Personalized Exercise In People With Parkinson Disease, Josefa Domingos, John Dean, Travis M. Cruickshank, Katarzyna Śmiłowska, Júlio Belo Fernandes, Catarina Godinho

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Given the variety of exercise programs available for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), such individuals may struggle to make decisions about what exercise to perform. The objective of this study was to assess the usefulness, satisfaction, and preferences regarding participation in a PD-personalized educational and exercise boot camp program. Attendees participated in a four-day program consisting of exercise sessions, workshops, and social activities. We collected demographic and clinical information. We assessed satisfaction and preferences immediately after. At one-month follow-up, participants assessed usefulness and changes in exercise habits. Eight individuals diagnosed with PD, with a mean age of 59.5 ± 6.8 …

Potential Of Sorghum Polyphenols To Prevent And Treat Alzheimer's Disease: A Review Article, Nasim Rezaee, Warnakulasuriya Mary Ann Dipika Fernando, Eugene Hone, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Stuart K. Johnson, Stuart Gunzburg, Ralph Martins

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the excessive deposition of extracellular amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) and the build-up of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles containing hyperphosphorylated tau proteins. This leads to neuronal damage, cell death and consequently results in memory and learning impairments leading to dementia. Although the exact cause of AD is not yet clear, numerous studies indicate that oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction significantly contribute to its onset and progression. There is no effective therapeutic approach to stop the progression of AD and its associated symptoms. Thus, early intervention, preferably, pre-clinically when the brain is not significantly affected, is a …

The Psychosocial Impact Of Rare Diseases Among Children And Adolescents Attending Mainstream Schools In Western Australia, Esther A. Adama, Diana Arabiat, Mandie Foster, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah, K. Runions, R. Vithiatharan, A. Lin

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Living with a long-term medical condition is associated with heightened risk for mental health and psychosocial difficulties, but further research is required on this risk for children and adolescents with a rare disease in the educational setting. The aim of this study is to describe parents’ perceptions of the psychosocial impact of rare diseases on their school-aged children in Western Australia. A cross-sectional survey of 41 parents of school-aged children and adolescents diagnosed with a rare disease completed an online questionnaire. Questions related to their perceptions of health-related stigma, bullying, social competencies and mental health difficulties faced by their child. …

Epidemiological Overview Of Multidimensional Chromosomal And Genome Toxicity Of Cannabis Exposure In Congenital Anomalies And Cancer Development, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary K. Hulse

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Cannabis and cannabinoids are implicated in multiple genotoxic, epigenotoxic and chromosomal-toxic mechanisms and interact with several morphogenic pathways, likely underpinning previous reports of links between cannabis and congenital anomalies and heritable tumours. However the effects of cannabinoid genotoxicity have not been assessed on whole populations and formal consideration of effects as a broadly acting genotoxin remain unexplored. Our study addressed these knowledge gaps in USA datasets. Cancer data from CDC, drug exposure data from National Survey of Drug Use and Health 2003–2017 and congenital anomaly data from National Birth Defects Prevention Network were used. We show that cannabis, THC cannabigerol …

Bridging The Research To Practice Gap: A Systematic Scoping Review Of Implementation Of Interventions For Cancer-Related Fatigue Management, Oluwaseyifunmi Andi Agbejule, Nicolas H. Hart, Stuart Ekberg, Koczwara Bogda, Rahul Ladwa, Camilla Simonsen, Elizabeth P. Pinkham, Raymond Javan Chan

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common and distressing symptoms in people with cancer. Although efficacy of interventions for CRF have been extensively investigated, less has been done to ensure successful translation into routine clinical practice. The aim of this systematic scoping review was to synthesise knowledge surrounding the implementation of CRF interventions, summarise the processes and outcomes of implementation strategies used, and identify opportunities for further research. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE and CINAHL databases were searched (up to December 2020). The Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) Group taxonomy and the RE-AIM Framework …

Putative Factors Influencing Knowledge And Behavioural Practices Of Health Science Undergraduate Students Towards Covid-19 Infection Ahead Of Re-Opening Universities In Ghana, Emmanuel Acheampong, Evans Asamoah Adu, Enoch O. Anto, Yaa Obirikorang, Eric Adua, Sylvester Yao Lopko, Emmanuella Nsenbah Acheampong, Agartha Odame Anto, Vivian Baah, Christian Obirikorang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus is a global pandemic affecting daily activities and delaying the reopening of several institutions such as universities. As a result, precautionary and preventive measures are being implemented to curtail the spread of the virus. However, knowledge and compliance measures are essential for adequate preparedness to reopen the universities amidst the pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) along with factors influencing Health Science undergraduate students toward the COVID-19 infection pandemic in Ghana. A total of 606 students provided information regarding KAP of COVID-19 infection using an online questionnaire designed …

Maintaining Weight Loss In Obese Men With Prostate Cancer Following A Supervised Exercise And Nutrition Program—A Pilot Study, Rebekah L. Wilson, Dennis R. Taaffe, Robert U. Newton, Nicolas H. Hart, Philippa Lyons-Wall, Daniel A. Galvão

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Supervised exercise and nutrition programs can mitigate or reverse androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) induced fat mass (FM) gain, lean mass (LM) loss, and impaired physical function. It is unclear whether these benefits are retained following transition to self-management. This study examined the effect of a home-based weight maintenance program on body composition and physical function in obese men with prostate cancer (PCa) on ADT following a 12-week supervised weight loss intervention. Eleven obese PCa patients (74 ± 5 years, 40.0 ± 4.9% body fat) on ADT ( > 6 months) com-pleted a 12-week self-managed home-based weight maintenance program consisting of 150 …

Associations Of Physical Activity And Exercise With Health-Related Outcomes In Patients With Melanoma During And After Treatment: A Systematic Review, Brendan J. Crosby, Pedro Lopez, Daniel A. Galvao, Robert U. Newton, Dennis Taaffe, Tarek M. Meniawy, Lydia Warburton, Muhammad A. Khattak, Elin S. Gray, Favil Singh

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose:

Although exercise medicine is recommended to counter treatment-related side-effects and improve health-related outcomes of patients affected by different cancers, no specific recommendations exist for patients with melanoma. As a result, we systematically examined the current evidence regarding the effects of physical activity and exercise on objectively-measured and patient-reported outcomes among patients with melanoma.

Methods:

Searches were conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science databases. This review included published data involving physical activity or exercise and objectively-measured or patient-reported outcomes of patients with cutaneous melanoma. The quality of included studies was assessed using …

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, …

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 …

A Species-Wide Genetic Atlas Of Antimicrobial Resistance In Clostridioides Difficile, Korakrit Imwattana, César Rodríguez, Thomas V. Riley, Daniel R. Knight

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) plays an important role in the pathogenesis and spread of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), the leading healthcare-related gastrointestinal infection in the world. An association between AMR and CDI outbreaks is well documented, however, data is limited to a few ‘epidemic’ strains in specific geographical regions. Here, through detailed analysis of 10330 publicly-available C. difficile genomes from strains isolated worldwide (spanning 270 multilocus sequence types (STs) across all known evolu-tionary clades), this study provides the first species-wide snapshot of AMR genomic epidemiology in C. difficile. Of the 10330 C. difficile genomes, 4532 (43.9%) in 89 STs across clades …

Identifying Critical Features Of Type Two Diabetes Prevention Interventions: A Delphi Study With Key Stakeholders, Jillian C. Ryan, Bonnie Wiggins, Sarah Edney, Grant D. Brinkworth, Natalie D. Luscombe-March, Kristin V. Carson-Chahhoud, Pennie J. Taylor, Annemien A. Haveman-Nies, David N. Cox

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Aims This study aims to identify critically important features of digital type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM) prevention interventions. Methods A stakeholder mapping exercise was undertaken to identify key end-user and professional stakeholders, followed by a three-round Delphi procedure to generate and evaluate evidence statements related to the critical elements of digital T2DM prevention interventions in terms of product (intervention), price (funding models/financial cost), place (distribution/delivery channels), and promotion (target audiences). Results End-user (n = 38) and professional (n = 38) stakeholders including patients, dietitians, credentialed diabetes educators, nurses, medical doctors, research scientists, and exercise physiologists participated in the Delphi study. …

Patterns Of Immunotherapy-Induced Pneumonitis In Patients With Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Case Series, Sarah Picard, Desiree Goh, Ashley Tan, Nisha Sikotra, Eli Gabbay, Tim Clay

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Immunotherapy has become an efficacious option in the management of solid organ malignancies. Immune-related adverse events including pneumonitis are well described and may be particularly of concern in patients receiving immunotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer. Case presentations: In this paper, we describe three cases of immunotherapy-induced pneumonitis occurring in the management of lung malignancy. Our cases include a 54-year-old Caucasian woman with squamous cell lung cancer who was successfully rechallenged with immunotherapy after prior significant pneumonitis, a 65-year-old Caucasian man with metastatic squamous cell lung cancer who developed pneumonitis after multiple cycles of uneventful immunotherapy, and a 73-year-old Caucasian …

Effect Of Goji Berry On The Formation Of Extracellular Senile Plaques Of Alzheimer's Disease, Warnakulasuriya M. A. D. B. Fernando, Ke Dong, Rosalie Durham, Regine Stockmann, Vijay Jayasena

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and a major source of morbidity and mortality. Currently, no therapy nor drug can cure or modify AD progression, but recent studies suggest that nutritional compounds in certain foods can delay or prevent the onset of AD. Diets with high antioxidants is one of the examples which is believed to influence AD pathogenesis through direct effect on amyloid beta levels. Compared to other fruits and vegetables, goji berry (GB) has high levels of polyphenolic substances with antioxidant activities which have shown some positive effects on cognitive function while its mechanism …

Causal Inference Multiple Imputation Investigation Of The Impact Of Cannabinoids And Other Substances On Ethnic Differentials In Us Testicular Cancer Incidence, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Ethnic differences in testicular cancer rates (TCRs) are recognized internationally. Cannabis is a known risk factor for testicular cancer (TC) in multiple studies with dose-response effects demonstrated, however the interaction between ancestral and environmental mutagenic effects has not been characterized. We examined the effects of this presumed gene-environment interaction across US states. Methods: State based TCR was downloaded from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) website via SEERStat. Drug use data for cigarettes, alcohol use disorder, analgesics, cannabis and cocaine was taken from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health a nationally representative study conducted annually by …