Medical Specialties Commons^™

From Gd2o3suspension To Nanocomposite: Synthesis, Properties And Radiation Protection, Ly B. T. La

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study provides details for the design, preparation of an environmentally friendly, clinically safe and lightweight radiation protective shield made ofGd2O3/epoxy nanocomposite (Gd-nanocomposite) which is proposed as an alternative to traditional toxic lead (Pb)-based aprons for diagnostic X-ray protection. In theory, this particulate nanocomposite can possess significant features of both inorganic particles and organic polymeric matrices. However, in practice, its performance does not simply depend on the sum of the individual contributions of characteristics of the constituent phases but on the interaction of their inner interfaces and the homogeneous dispersion of inorganic particles in the polymer matrix.

The miniaturization of …

Reducing Barriers To Consulting A General Practitioner In Patients At Increased Risk Of Lung Cancer: A Qualitative Evaluation Of The Chest Australia Intervention, Sonya Murray, Yvonne Kutzer, Emily Habgood, Peter Murchie, Fiona Walter, Danielle Mazza, Shaouli Shahid, Jon D. Emery

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

Lung cancer has one of the lowest survival outcomes of any cancer because over two-thirds of patients are diagnosed when curative treatment is no longer possible, partly due to later presentation with symptoms to a healthcare provider.

Objective

To explore the theoretical underpinning of the Scottish CHEST intervention in participants randomized to the intervention group within the CHEST Australia trial.

Methods

A purposive maximum variation sample of participants who received the intervention in the CHEST trial in Perth, Western Australia (N = 13) and Melbourne, Victoria, (N = 7) were interviewed. Patients were asked about their experience …

Physical Activity And Survival Among Long-Term Cancer Survivor And Non-Cancer Cohorts, Anthony Gunnell, Sarah Joyce, Stephania Tomlin, Dennis Taaffe, Prue Cormie, Robert Newton, David Joseph, Nigel Spry, Kristjana Einarsdottir, Daniel A. Galvao

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Evidence suggests physical activity improves prognosis following cancer diagnosis; however, evidence regarding prognosis in long-term survivors of cancer is scarce. We assessed physical activity in 1,589 cancer survivors at an average 8.8 years following their initial diagnosis and calculated their future mortality risk following physical activity assessment. We also selected a cancer-free cohort of 3,145 age, sex, and survey year group-matched cancer-free individuals from the same source population for comparison purposes. Risks for cancer-specific mortality and all-cause mortality in relation to physical activity levels were estimated using Cox regression proportional hazard regression analyses within the cancer and non-cancer cohorts. Physical …

Effects And Moderators Of Exercise On Quality Of Life And Physical Function In Patients With Cancer: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis Of 34 Rcts, Laurien M. Buffart, Joeri Kalter, Maike G. Sweegers, Kerry S. Courneya, Robert U. Newton, Neil K. Aaronson, Paul B. Jacobsen, Anne M. May, Daniel A. Galvao, Mai J. Chinapaw, Karen Steindorf, Melinda L. Irwin, Martjin M. Stuiver, Sandi Hayes, Kathleen A. Griffith, Alejandro Lucia, Ilse Mesters, Ellen Van Weert, Hans Knoop, Martine M. Goedendorp, Nanette Mutrie, Amanda J. Daley, Alex Mcconnachie, Martin Bohus, Lene Thorsen, Karl-Heinz Schulz, Camille E. Short, Erica L. James, Ron C. Plotnikoff, Gill Arbane, Martina E. Schmidt, Karin Potthoff, Marc Van Beurden, Hester S. Oldenburg, Gabe S. Sonke, Wim H. Van Harten, Rachel Garrod, Kathryn H. Schmitz, Kerri M. Winters-Stone, Miranda J. Velthuis, Dennis Taaffe, Willem Van Mechelen, Marie-Jose Kersten, Frans Nollet, Jennifer Wenzel, Joachim Wiskemann, Irma M. Verdonck-De Leeuw, Johannes Brug

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This individual patient data meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of exercise on quality of life (QoL) and physical function (PF) in patients with cancer, and to identify moderator effects of demographic (age, sex, marital status, education), clinical (body mass index, cancer type, presence of metastasis), intervention-related (intervention timing, delivery mode and duration, and type of control group), and exercise-related (exercise frequency, intensity, type, time) characteristics.

Relevant published and unpublished studies were identified in September 2012 via PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL, reference checking and personal communications. Principle investigators of all 69 eligible trials were requested to share IPD from …

Kinematic Repeatability Analyses Of Multi-Segment Foot Motion In University-Level Ballet Dancers, Sarah Carter, Nahoko Sato, Luke Hopper

ECU Posters

Background:

Dancers are susceptible to overuse foot and ankle injuries, however there is a lack biomechanical studies examining foot mechanics to explain the causality of these injuries. The purpose of this study was to determine the intra and inter-assessor repeatability of a modified Rizzoli Foot Model (RFM) for ballet dancers.

Methods: Six university-level ballet dancers performed the following trials in randomized order, natural stance, turnout plié and stance, and two dynamic trials; turnout rise and flex-point-flex movement. A twelve-camera motion capture system were used to track fourteen reflective markers and one triad on the following segments: shank, entire foot, hindfoot, …

Lower Leg And Foot Contributions To Turnout In University-Level Female Ballet Dancers: A Preliminary Investigation, Sarah Carter, Alan R. Bryant, Luke Hopper

ECU Posters

Functional turnout in ballet involves maximal external rotation through the lower limb kinetic chain. Hip external rotation, is considered the primary contributor of functional turnout. However, dancers will tend to increase their functional turnout angle through additional tibiofemoral external rotation and pronation of the foot/ankle complex. Hip external rotation measures in functional turnout has received extensive examination in dance science. However, the relationship between the ‘below the hip' assessments with functional turnout is poorly understood. We hypothesis that dancers with greater passive external tibiofemoral rotation (pTFR) and/or pronated stance will have a greater functional turnout angle.

Nineteen female university-level classical …

Regulation Of Core Body Temperature And The Immune System Determines Species Longevity, Ian J. Martins

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The anti-aging gene Sirtuin 1 has now major relevance to genetics and the fields of pharmacology, toxicology, neuroscience, immunology, biochemistry and cell/molecular biology. Advances in anti-aging therapy are now essential to prevent mitochondrial apoptosis to promote longevity with the prevention of accelerated ageing. Calorie restriction that maintains the anti-aging gens changes the core body temperature and promotes species longevity. Stress and calorie consumption are sensitive to Sirt 1 function with relevance heat shock protein 70 metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis. Sirt 1 regulation of the circadian rhythm mediates melatonin effects on core body temperature regulation and immune responses. Diet and fat …

Improving Case Ascertainment Of Congenital Anomalies: Findings From A Prospective Birth Cohort With Detailed Primary Care Record Linkage, Chrissy Bishop, Neil Small, Dan Mason, Peter Corry, Roger C. Parslow, Alan H. Bittles, Eamonn Sheridan

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

Congenital anomalies (CAs) are a common cause of infant death and disability. We linked children from a large birth cohort to a routine primary care database to detect CA diagnoses from birth to age 5 years. There could be evidence of underreporting by CA registries as they estimate that only 2% of CA registrations occur after age 1 year.

Methods

CA cases were identified by linking children from a prospective birth cohort to primary care records. CAs were classified according to the European Surveillance of CA guidelines. We calculated rates of CAs by using a bodily system group for …

Altered Levels Of Blood Proteins In Alzheimer's Disease Longitudinal Study: Results From Australian Imaging Biomarkers Lifestyle Study Of Ageing Cohort, Veer B. Gupta, Eugene Hone, Steve Pedrini, James D. Doecke, Sid E. O'Bryant, Ian James, Ashley I. Bush, Christopher C. Rowe, Victor L. Villemagne, David Ames, Colin L. Masters, Ralph N. Martins

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Introduction

A blood-based biomarker panel to identify individuals with preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) would be an inexpensive and accessible first step for routine testing.

Methods

We analyzed 14 biomarkers that have previously been linked to AD in the Australian Imaging Biomarkers lifestyle longitudinal study of aging cohort.

Results

Levels of apolipoprotein J (apoJ) were higher in AD individuals compared with healthy controls at baseline and 18 months (P =.0003) and chemokine-309 (I-309) were increased in AD patients compared to mild cognitive impaired individuals over 36 months (P =.0008).

Discussion

These data suggest that apoJ may have potential in the context …

Pd-L1 Expressing Circulating Tumour Cells In Head And Neck Cancers, Arutha Kulasinghe, Chris Perry, Liz Kenny, Majid E. Warkiani, Colleen Nelson, Chamindie Punyadeera

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

Blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint pathway is emerging as a promising immunotherapeutic approach for the management and treatment of head and neck cancer patients who do not respond to 1st/2nd line therapy. However, as checkpoint inhibitors are cost intensive, identifying patients who would most likely benefit from anti PD-L1 therapy is required. Developing a non-invasive technique would be of major benefit to the patient and to the health care system.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 56 year old man affected by a supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). A CT scan showed a 20 mm right …

Insulin Resistance Is Associated With Reductions In Specific Cognitive Domains And Increases In Csf Tau In Cognitively Normal Adults, Simon M. Laws, Scott Gaskin, Amy Woodfield, Velandai K. Srikanth, David G. Bruce, Paul E. Fraser, Tenielle Porter, Philip N. Newsholme, Nadeeja Wijesekara, Samantha C. Burnham, Vincent Doré, Qiaoxin Li, Paul T. Maruff, Colin L. Masters, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Christopher C. Rowe, Olivier Salvado, Victor L. Villemagne, Ralph N. Martins, Giuseppe Verdile

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Growing evidence supports the hypothesis that type 2 diabetes (T2D) increases the risk of developing dementia. Experimental evidence from mouse models demonstrates that the induction of T2D/insulin resistance (IR) can promote the accumulation of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathological features. However, the association of T2D with pathological and clinical phenotypes in humans is unclear. Here we investigate the relationship of indices of IR (HOMA-IR) and pancreatic β-cell function (HOMA-B) with cognitive performance across several domains (Verbal/Visual Episodic Memory, Executive Function, Language and a measure of Global cognition) and AD biomarkers (CSF Aβ42, T-tau/P-tau, hippocampal volume and neocortical Aβ-amyloid burden). We reveal …

Amyloid Β–Associated Cognitive Decline In The Absence Of Clinical Disease Progression And Systemic Illness, Karra Harrington, Yen Lim, David Ames, Jason Hassenstab, Simon Laws, Ralph Martins, Stephanie Rainey-Smith, Joanne Robertson, Christopher Rowe, Olivier Salvado, Vincent Dore, Victor Villemagne, Peter Snyder, Colin Masters, Paul Maruff, Aibl Research Group

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Introduction

High levels of amyloid β (Aβ) are associated with cognitive decline in cognitively normal (CN) older adults. This study investigated the nature of cognitive decline in healthy individuals who did not progress to mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

Method

Cognition was measured over 72 months and compared between low (Aβ−) and high (Aβ+) CN older adults (n = 335) who did not progress to mild cognitive impairment or dementia and who remained free of severe or uncontrolled systemic illness.

Results

Compared to the Aβ− group, the Aβ+ group showed no cognitive impairment at baseline but showed substantial decline …

Effects Of Different Exercise Modalities On Fatigue In Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Androgen Deprivation Therapy: A Year-Long Randomised Controlled Trial, Dennis Taaffe, Robert Newton, Nigel Spry, David Joseph, Suzanne K. Chambers, Robert Gardiner, Brad Wall, Prue Cormie, Kate Bolam, Daniel A. Galvao

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

Physical exercise mitigates fatigue during androgen deprivation therapy (ADT); however, the effects of different exercise prescriptions are unknown.

Objectives

To determine the long-term effects of different exercise modes on fatigue in prostate cancer patients undergoing ADT.

Design, setting, and participants

Between 2009 and 2012, 163 prostate cancer patients aged 43–90 y on ADT were randomised to exercise targeting the musculoskeletal system (impact loading + resistance training; ILRT; n = 58), the cardiovascular and muscular systems (aerobic + resistance training; ART; n = 54), or to usual care/delayed exercise (DEL; n = 51) for 12 mo across university-affiliated exercise clinics …

Exercise Medicine For Advanced Prostate Cancer, Nicolas H. Hart, Daniel A. Galvao, Robert Newton

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose of review:

Exercise is a provocative medicine, known for its preventive, complimentary and rehabilitative role in the management of cancer. Impressively, exercise is also emerging as a synergistic and targeted medicine to enhance symptom control, modulate tumour biology and delay disease progression, with the potential to increase overall survival. Given the complex clinical presentation of advanced prostate cancer patients and their omnipresent comorbidities, this review describes the current and potential role of exercise medicine in advanced prostate cancer.

Recent findings:

Exercise has been shown to be safe, feasible and effective for advanced prostate cancer patients, inclusive of patients with …

Use Of Ultrasound By Registered Nurses—A Systematic Literature Review, Ulrich Steinwandel, Nicholas Gibson, James Charles Rippey, Amanda Towell, Johan Rosman

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

In Western Australia (WA), most stable patients undergoing haemodialysis receive treatment in a satellite setting where no doctors are on-site during treatment hours, so nurses must make critical decisions about fluid removal. Some patients regularly experience adverse events during dialysis (intradialytic), often due to excessive ultrafiltration goals, with intradialytic hypotension being particularly challenging. Ultrasound of the inferior vena cava has been previously demonstrated being a rapid and non-invasive method for volume assessment on haemodialysis patients, thus could hold valuable information for the treating nurse.

Aim:

This paper examines the existing literature in regards to the use of …

Circulating Tumour Dna (Ctdna) As A Liquid Biopsy For Melanoma, Leslie Calapre, Lydia Warburton, Michael Milward, Mel R. Ziman Dr, Elin S. Gray

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as a promising blood-based biomarker for monitoring disease status of patients with advanced cancers. In melanoma, ctDNA has been shown to have clinical value as an alternative tumour source for the detection clinically targetable mutations for the assessment of response to therapy. This review provides a critical summary of the evidence that gives credence to the utility of ctDNA as a biomarker for monitoring of disease status in advanced melanoma and the steps required for its implementation into clinical settings.

Population-Based Cohort Study In Outcome Of Phased Progression Of Atherosclerosis In China (Persuade): Objective, Rationale And Design, Dong-Kai Shan, Yong Zhou, You-Xin Wang, Xiang Gao, Wei Wang, Jun-Jie Yang, Yun-Dai Chen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The coronary artery calcification score and pericardial fat volume have recently been reported to be strongly associated with the severity and presence of coronary atherosclerosis. However, no studies have explored the outcome of phased progression of atherosclerosis by non-contrast computed tomography in asymptomatic people in China. The population-based cohort study in outcome of phased progression of atherosclerosis in China (PERSUADE), an observational, longitudinal and prospective cohort study in a target population of healthy subjects based in Jidong Oilfield (China), prospectively analyzes the outcome of phased progression of atherosclerosis by non-contrast computed tomography in healthy population. The results of this study …

Predictors Of Pneumococcal Carriage And The Effect Of The 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccination In The Western Australian Aboriginal Population, Deirdre A. Collins, Anke Hoskins, Thomas Snelling, Kalpani Senasinghe, Jacinta Bowman, Natalie A. Stemberger, Amanda J. Leach, Deborah Lehmann

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

The 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was introduced to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Western Australian (WA) Aboriginal people in 2001. PCV13 replaced PCV7 in July 2011, covering six additional pneumococcal serotypes; however, IPD rates remained high in Aboriginal people in WA. Upper respiratory tract pneumococcal carriage can precede IPD, and PCVs alter serotype distribution.

Methods

To assess the impact of PCV13 introduction, identify emerging serotypes, and assess risk factors for carriage, nasopharyngeal swabs and information on demographic characteristics, health, medication and living conditions from Aboriginal children and adults across WA from August 2008 to November 2014 were …

Serum Peptidome Profiling For The Diagnosis Of Colorectal Cancer: Discovery And Validation In Two Independent Cohorts, Hao Wang, Chenghua Luo, Shengtao Zhu, Honghong Fang, Qing Gao, Siqi Ge, Haixia Qu, Qingwei Ma, Hongwei Ren, Youxin Wang, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant neoplasms worldwide. Except for the existing fecal occult blood test, colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, no widely accepted in vitro diagnostic methods have been available. To identify potential peptide biomarkers for CRC, serum samples from a discovery cohort (100 CRC patients and 100 healthy controls) and an independent validation cohort (91 CRC patients and 91 healthy controls) were collected. Peptides were fractionated by weak cation exchange magnetic beads (MB-WCX) and analysed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDITOF MS). Five peptides (peaks at m/z 1895.3, 2020.9, 2080.7, 2656.8 and 3238.5) were …

Activity Behavior And Physiological Profile Of Advanced-Stage Ovarian Cancer Survivors, Christelle Schofield

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Background: Advanced-stage ovarian cancer survivors (OCS) often experience a multitude of disease symptoms and treatment-related side-effects. Additionally, most OCS are older, have comorbidities, are overweight or obese, and report being insufficiently physically active. Ovarian cancer survivors may benefit from exercise oncology interventions to reduce symptom-burden, manage comorbidities, minimize functional decline and maximize health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, current knowledge gaps regarding the physiological characteristics of OCS throughout the entire survivorship spectrum challenge the development of tailored exercise interventions.

Purpose: The overall purpose of this thesis was to provide a more comprehensive physiological and activity behavior profile of post-treatment advanced-stage …

Factors Influencing Resilience Among Haematological Cancer Survivors, Katherine S. Gallager

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Haematological cancers in bone marrow (leukaemia) and the immune system (lymphomas or myeloma) represent the sixth most common adult tumour group in Australia. These cancers often develop without warning and require intensive treatment regimes that last on average eight months, but may continue for a lifetime depending on the diagnosis. Encouragingly, advancing cancer treatments, a key accomplishment of cancer research over the past 40 years, have resulted in a growing community of cancer survivors. Approximately two in three adults diagnosed with haematological cancer (HC) can now expect to survive more than five years. However, they must attempt to navigate the …

The Role Of Simulation-Based Learning Environments In Preparing Undergraduate Health Students For Clinical Practice, Brennen Mills

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Experiential learning (EL), whereby students are able to integrate theory with practice, is an essential component of learning for health professionals. Traditionally, EL in the health education context has been achieved through clinical placements (CPs) that see students ‘apprentice’ in real clinical settings. The literature suggests there are a number of factors that diminish a student’s ability to learn in such environments, including limited opportunities to practice, being confined primarily to observation roles as opposed to participate in tasks, being exposed to skills/procedures outside their level of learning/understanding, and institutional learning objectives being secondary to workplace goals. Simulation-based learning environments …

An Algorithm For Extracting The Ppg Baseline Drift In Real-Time, Tuan Ngoc Nguyen

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Photoplethysmography is an optical technique for measuring the perfusion of blood in skin and tissue arterial vessels. Due to its simplicity, accessibility and abundance of information on an individual’s cardiovascular system, it has been a pervasive topic of research within recent years. With these benefits however there are many challenges concerning the processing and conditioning of the signal in order to allow information to be extracted. One such challenge is removing the baseline drift of the signal, which is caused by respiratory rate, muscle tremor and physiological changes within the body as a response to various stimuli.

Over the years …

Furthering The Quality Agenda In Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services: Understanding The Relationship Between Accreditation, Continuous Quality Improvement And National Key Performance Indicator Reporting, Beverly Sibthorpe, Karen Gardner, Daniel Mcaullay

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

A rapidly expanding interest in quality in the Aboriginal-community-controlled health sector has led to widespread uptake of accreditation using more than one set of standards, a proliferation of continuous quality improvement programs and the introduction of key performance indicators. As yet, there has been no overarching logic that shows how they relate to each other, with consequent confusion within and outside the sector. We map the three approaches to the Framework for Performance Assessment in Primary Health Care, demonstrating their key differences and complementarity. There needs to be greater attention in both policy and practice to the purposes and alignment …

Protocol Of The Australasian Malignant Pleural Effusion-2 (Ample-2) Trial: A Multicentre Randomised Study Of Aggressive Versus Symptom-Guided Drainage Via Indwelling Pleural Catheters, Maree Azzopardi, Rajesh Thomas, Sanjeevan Muruganandan, David C.L Lam, Luke Garske, Benjamin Kwan, Muhammad Redzwan S Rashid Ali, Phan Nguyen, Elaine Yap, Fiona Horwood, Alexander Ritchie, Michael Bint, Claire Tobin, Ranjan Shrestha, Francesco Piccolo, Christian De Chaneet, Jenette Creaney, Robert Newton, Delia Hendrie, Kevin Murray, Catherine Read, David Feller-Kopman, Nick Maskell, Y C Gary Lee

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Introduction

Malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) can complicate most cancers, causing dyspnoea and impairing quality of life (QoL). Indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) are a novel management approach allowing ambulatory fluid drainage and are increasingly used as an alternative to pleurodesis. IPC drainage approaches vary greatly between centres. Some advocate aggressive (usually daily) removal of fluid to provide best symptom control and chance of spontaneous pleurodesis. Daily drainages however demand considerably more resources and may increase risks of complications. Others believe that MPE care is palliative and drainage should be performed only when patients become symptomatic (often weekly to monthly). Identifying the …

Effects Of Exercise Interventions And Physical Activity Behavior On Cancer Related Cognitive Impairments: A Systematic Review, Philipp Zimmer, Freerk Baumann, Max Oberste, Peter Wright, Alexander Garthe, Alexander Schenk, Thomas Elter, Daniel A. Galvao, Wilhelm Bloch, Sven Hübner, Florian Wolf

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This systematic review analyzes current data on effects of exercise interventions and physical activity behavior on objective and subjective cancer related cognitive impairments (CRCI). Out of the 19 studies which met all inclusion criteria, five RCTs investigated rodents, whereas the other 14 trials explored humans and these included six RCTs, one controlled trial, two prospective noncontrolled trials, one case series, one observational study, and three cross-sectional studies. The results from animal models revealed positive effects of exercise during and after chemotherapy or radiation on structural alterations of the central nervous system, physiological as well as neuropsychological outcomes. The overall study …

Improving Access To Primary Care For Aboriginal Babies In Western Australia: Study Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Dan Mcaullay, Kimberley Mcauley, Rhonda Marriott, Glenn Pearson, Peter Jacoby, Chantal Ferguson, Elizabeth Geelhoed, Juli Coffin, Charmaine Green, Selina Sibosado, Barbara Henry, Dorota Doherty, Karen Edmond

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

Despite a decade of substantial investments in programs to improve access to primary care for Aboriginal mothers and infants, more than 50 % of Western Australian Aboriginal babies are still not receiving primary and preventative care in the early months of life. Western Australian hospitals now input birth data into the Western Australian electronic clinical management system within 48 hours of birth. However, difficulties have arisen in ensuring that the appropriate primary care providers receive birth notification and clinical information by the time babies are discharged from the hospital. No consistent process exists to ensure that choices about primary …

Socioeconomic, Bio-Demographic And Health/Behavioral Determinants Of Neonatal Mortality In Nigeria: A Multilevel Analysis Of 2013 Demographic And Health Survey, Emmanuel O. Adewuyi, Yun Zhao, Reeta Lamichhane

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

Nigeria ranks as one of the countries in the world with considerable burden of neonatal mortality. This study aims to investigate the association of socioeconomic, bio-demographic and health/behavioural factors with neonatal mortality in the country using the most current available evidence.

Methods:

The 2013 Nigeria demographic and health survey (NDHS) dataset was analyzed. Multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to identify determinants associated with neonatal mortality. The role of breastfeeding was examined by conducting analyses with and without adjustment for ‘breastfeeding status’. Complex sample analysis was used to control for the complex sampling design used in NDHS.

Results:

Neonatal …

Changes In The Plasma Proteome At Asymptomatic And Symptomatic Stages Of Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease, Julia Muenchhoff, Anne Poljak, Anbupalam Thalamuthu, Veer Gupta, Pratishtha Chatterjee, Mark Raftery, Colin Masters, John Morris, Randall Bateman, Anne Fagan, Ralph Martins, Perminder Sachdev

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The autosomal dominant form of Alzheimer's disease (ADAD) is far less prevalent than late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD), but enables well-informed prospective studies, since symptom onset is near certain and age of onset is predictable. Our aim was to discover plasma proteins associated with early AD pathology by investigating plasma protein changes at the asymptomatic and symptomatic stages of ADAD. Eighty-one proteins were compared across asymptomatic mutation carriers (aMC, n = 15), symptomatic mutation carriers (sMC, n = 8) and related noncarriers (NC, n = 12). Proteins were also tested for associations with cognitive measures, brain amyloid deposition and glucose …

Abcb5-Targeted Chemoresistance Reversal Inhibits Merkel Cell Carcinoma Growth, Sonja Kleffel, Nayoung Lee, Cecilia Lezcano, Brian Wilson, Kristine Sobolewski, Karim Saab, Hansgeorg Mueller, Qian Zhan, Christian Posch, Christopher Elco, Andrew Dorosario, Sarah Garcia, Manisha Thakuria, Yaoyu Wang, Linda Wang, George Murphy, Markus Frank, Tobias Schatton

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer with profound but poorly understood resistance to chemotherapy, which poses a significant barrier to clinical MCC treatment. Here we show that ATP-binding cassette member B5 (ABCB5) confers resistance to standard-of-care MCC chemotherapeutic agents and provide proof-of-principle that ABCB5 blockade can inhibit human MCC tumor growth through sensitization to drug-induced cell cytotoxicity. ABCB5 expression was detected in both established MCC lines and clinical MCC specimens at levels significantly higher than those in normal skin. Carboplatin- and etoposide-resistant MCC cell lines exhibited increased expression of ABCB5, along with enhanced ABCB1 and …