Public Health Commons^™

Quality Assessment Of Hydroquinone, Mercury, And Arsenic In Skin-Lightening Cosmetics Marketed In Ilorin, Nigeria, Olasunkanmi David Bamidele, Blessing A. Kayode, Oluwasegun I. Eniayewu, Adebanjo J. Adegbola, Raphael S. Olatoye, Ngaitad S. Njinga, Sa’Ad T. Abdullahi, Moji T. Bakare-Odunola

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Hydroquinone, Mercury (Hg), and Arsenic (As) are hazardous to health upon long-term exposure. Hydroquinone, Hg, and As were analysed in skin-lightening cosmetics randomly purchased from different cosmetic outlets within the Ilorin metropolis, Nigeria. The amount of hydroquinone in the samples was determined using a UV-spectrophotometry method at 290 nm. Hg and As were quantified using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). UV-spectrophotometry method validation showed excellent linearity (r2 = 0.9993), with limits of detection (0.75 g/mL), limits of quantification (2.28 g/mL), relative standard deviation (0.01–0.35%), and recovery (95.85–103.56%) in the concentration range of 5–50 g/mL. Similarly, r2, LOD, and LOQ for Hg …

Influence Of Lifestyle On Suboptimal Health: Insights From A National Cross-Sectional Survey In China, Jie Wang, Yinghao Wang, Zheng Guo, Zi Lin, Xiangqian Jin, Hui Niu, Yibo Wu, Lihua Tang, Haifeng Hou

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Suboptimal health status (SHS) is a non-clinical or pre-disease state between optimal/ideal health and disease. While its etiology remains unclear, lifestyle is considered one of the most important risk factors. We aimed to examine the effects of lifestyles on SHS through a nationwide survey in China. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in 148 cities across China between 20 June and 31 August 2022, on 30 505 participants from rural and urban communities gathered through stratified quota sampling. We measured SHS with the Short-Form Suboptimal Health Status Questionnaire (SHSQ-SF). We gathered information on participants' lifestyles (ie, smoking, alcohol consumption, …

Call For Emergency Action To Restore Dietary Diversity And Protect Global Food Systems In Times Of Covid-19 And Beyond: Results From A Cross-Sectional Study In 38 Countries, Maha Hoteit, Reem Hoteit, Ayoub Aljawaldeh, Kathleen Van Royen, Sara Pabian, Paulien Decorte, Isabelle Cuykx, Lauranna Teunissen, Charlotte De Backer, Ina Bergheim, Raphaela Staltner, Amanda Devine, Ros Sambell, Ruth Wallace, Sabika S. Allehdan, Tariq A. Alalwan, Mariam A. Al-Mannai, Gaëlle Ouvrein, Karolien Poels, Heidi Vandebosch, Katrien Maldoy, Christophe Matthys, Tim Smits, Jules Vrinten, Ann Desmet, Nelleke Teughels, Maggie Geuens, Iris Vermeir, Viktor Proesmans, Liselot Hudders, Marcia D. De Barcellos, Cristina Ostermann, Ana L. Brock, Cynthia Favieiro, Rafaela Trizotto, Isadora Stangherlin, Anthonieta L. Mafra, Marco A. C. Varella, Jaroslava V. Valentova, Maryanne L. Fisher, Melanie Maceacheron, Katherine White, Rishad Habib, David S. Dobson, Berta Schnettler, Ligia Orellana, Edgardo Miranda-Zapata, Angela W. Y. Chang, Wen Jiao, Matthew T. Liu, Klaus G. Grunert, Rikke N. Christensen, Lucia Reisch, Meike Janssen, Victoria Abril-Ulloa, Lorena Encalada, Iman Kamel, Annukka Vainio, Mari Niva, Laura Salmivaara, Johanna Mäkelä, Kaisa Torkkeli, Robert Mai, Pamela K. Risch, Efthymios Altsitsiadis, Angelos Stamos, Andreas Antronikidis, Maeve Henchion, Sinead Mccarthy, Mary Mccarthy, Alessandra Micalizzi, Peter J. Schulz, Manuela Farisnosi, Hidenori Komatsu, Nobuyuki Tanaka, Hiromi Kubota, Reema Tayyem, Narmeen J. Al-Awwad, Nahla Al-Bayyari, Mohammed O. Ibrahim, Fadwa Hammouh, Somaia Dashti, Basma Dashti, Dhuha Alkharaif, Amani Alshatti, Maryam Al Mazedi, Rania Mansour, Elissa Naim, Hussein Mortada, Yareni Y. G. Gomez, Kelly Geyskens, Caroline Goukens, Rajshri Roy, Victoria Egli, Lisa T. Morenga, Mostafa Waly, Radwan Qasrawi, Motasem Hamdan, Rania A. Sier, Diala A. A. Halawa, Hazem Agha, María R. L. Domínguez, Lita Palomares, Grazyna Wasowicz, Hiba Bawadi, Manal Othman, Jaafar Pakari, Allam A. Farha, Rasha Abu-El-Ruz, Dacinia C. Petrescu, Ruxandra M. P. Mag, Felix Arion, Stefan C. Vesa, Majid M. Alkhalaf, Khlood Bookari, Jamila Arrish, Zackaria Rahim, Roy Kheng, Yandisa Ngqangashe, Zandile J. R. Mchiza, Marcela Gonzalez-Gross, Lisset Pantoja-Arévalo, Eva Gesteiro, Yolanda Ríos, Peter Yiga, Patrick Ogwok, Denis Ocen, Michael Bamuwamye, Haleama A. Sabbah, Zainab Taha, Leila C. Ismail, Ayesha Aldhaheri, Elisa Pineda, Marisa Miraldo, Dawn L. Holford, Hilde Van Den Bulck, The Corona Cooking Survey Study Group

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of the global food system, sending shockwaves across countries' societies and economy. This has presented formidable challenges to sustaining a healthy and resilient lifestyle. The objective of this study is to examine the food consumption patterns and assess diet diversity indicators, primarily focusing on the food consumption score (FCS), among households in 38 countries both before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 37 207 participants (mean age: 36.70 ± 14.79, with 77 % women) was conducted in 38 countries through an online survey administered …

Elearning Improves Allied Health Professionals' Knowledge And Confidence To Manage Medically Unexplained Chronic Fatigue States: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Matthew D. Jones, Sally M. Casson, Benjamin K. Barry, Sophie H. Li, Trinidad Valenzuela, Joanne Cassar, Camillo Lamanna, Andrew R. Lloyd, Carolina X. Sandler

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of eLearning by allied health professionals on improving the knowledge and confidence to manage people with medically unexplained chronic fatigue states (FS). Methods: Using a parallel randomized controlled trial design, participants were randomized 1:1 to a 4-week eLearning or wait-list control group. Knowledge and self-reported confidence in clinical skills to implement a therapeutic intervention for patients with FS were assessed at baseline, post-intervention and follow-up. Secondary outcomes (adherence and satisfaction with online education, knowledge retention) were also assessed. Data was analyzed using intention-to-treat. Results: There were 239 participants were randomized (eLearning n = 119, control …

Does Gender And Cultural Diversity Matter For Sustainability In Healthcare? Evidence From Global Organizations, Kylie De Klerk, Favil Singh

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Global healthcare organizations are fundamental in addressing the healthcare needs of local and global communities. This highly regulated sector means it is under constant scrutiny for health, safety, and ethical compliance risks by federal regulatory bodies. Despite higher monitoring, an increasing number of healthcare companies receive fines for their irresponsible practices, manifesting significant questions about their corporate governance and sustainability practices. Against this backdrop, this study examines the relationship between boardroom diversity on the sustainability performance of companies operating in healthcare. Utilizing a global sample of publicly listed healthcare companies, using panel regression data and the system-GMM estimator accounting for …

Sideffect Gameplan: Development Of An Alcohol And Other Drug Serious Game For High School Students Using A Systematic And Iterative User-Centred Game Development Framework, Joanna Nicholas, Brennen Mills, Sara Hansen, Stephen J. Bright, Joseph Scott, Imogen Ridout, Jess Watson, Heather Boyd, Luke Brook, Luke Hopper

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Serious games have shown to be effective in improving motivation to learn, knowledge and retention, thus are being increasingly used for alcohol and other drug (AOD) education. This paper outlines the development of an online AOD serious game for in-class use by Australian secondary school teachers for students in Years 9–10. Adapted from Edwards et al. (2018), the seven-step systematic and iterative user-centred development framework included: (1) Forming an expert multidisciplinary design team, (2) Defining the problem and establishing user preferences, (3) Incorporating the evidence base, (4) Serious game design, (5) Incorporating behavioural and psychological theory, (6) Developing a logic …

Differences In Femoral Neck And Trochanteric Structure In Elderly Women Prior To Hip Fracture: Role In Hip Fracture Prediction, Richard Prince, Benjamin Khoo, Keenan Brown, Joshua Lewis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

We examine the hypothesis that internal dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) structural variables measured at the femoral neck and trochanter cross sections will improve prediction of fractures at these sites in addition to areal BMD (aBMD). We present an analysis of the internal distribution of bone at the site of these fractures using baseline hip DXA measurement of 1151 participants, mean age (SD) 75 (3) years, in the 14.5-year Perth Longitudinal Study of Aging in Women. Structural differences at the femoral neck (FN) and trochanter (TR) cross sections were compared in 69 participants who went on to sustain femoral neck fracture …

Device Assessed Activity Behaviours In Patients With Indwelling Pleural Catheter: A Sub-Study Of The Australasian Malignant Pleural Effusion (Ample)-2 Randomized Trial, Carolyn J. Peddle-Mcintyre, Sanjeevan Muruganandan, Joanne Mcveigh, Deirdre B. Fitzgerald, Leon Straker, Robert U. Newton, Kevin Murray, Yun Chor Gary Lee

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and Objective: Device-assessed activity behaviours are a novel measure for comparing intervention outcomes in patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Australasian Malignant PLeural Effusion (AMPLE)-2 was a multi-centre clinical trial where participants with MPE treated with an indwelling pleural catheter were randomized to daily (DD) or symptom-guided (SGD) drainage for 60-days. Our aim was to describe activity behaviour patterns in MPE patients, explore the impact of drainage regimen on activity behaviours and examine associations between activity behaviours and quality of life (QoL). Methods: Following randomization to DD or SGD, participants enrolled at the lead site (Perth) completed accelerometry assessment. …

Mothers' Experiences Of A New Early Collaborative Intervention, The Eaci, In The Neonatal Period: A Qualitative Study, Charlotte Sahlén Helmer, Ulrika Birberg Thornberg, Thomas Abrahamsson, Evalotte Mörelius

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To explore mothers' experiences of the EArly Collaborative Intervention. Background: Preterm birth puts a considerable emotional and psychological burden on parents and families. Parents to moderate and late premature infants have shorter stays at the neonatal intensive care unit and have described a need for support. The EArly Collaborative Intervention was developed to support parents with preterm infants born between gestational Weeks 30 to 36. In this study, mothers' experiences of the new intervention were explored. Design: A qualitative design guided by a reflexive thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke. Interviews were individually performed with 23 mothers experienced …

Childhood Sleep Health And Epigenetic Age Acceleration In Late Adolescence: Cross-Sectional And Longitudinal Analyses, David Balfour, Phillip E. Melton, Joanne A. Mcveigh, Rae-Chi Huang, Peter R. Eastwood, Sian Wanstall, Amy C. Reynolds, Sarah Cohen-Woods

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: Investigate if childhood measures of sleep health are associated with epigenetic age acceleration in late adolescence. Methods: Parent-reported sleep trajectories from age 5 to 17, self-reported sleep problems at age 17, and six measures of epigenetic age acceleration at age 17 were studied in 1192 young Australians from the Raine Study Gen2. Results: There was no evidence for a relationship between the parent-reported sleep trajectories and epigenetic age acceleration (p ≥ 0.17). There was a positive cross-sectional relationship between self-reported sleep problem score and intrinsic epigenetic age acceleration at age 17 (b = 0.14, p = 0.04), which was …

Does Antibiotic Awareness Campaigns Exposure Decrease Intention To Demand Antibiotic Treatment? Testing A Structural Model Among Parents In Western Australia, Aaron Lapuz Alejandro, Wei Wei Cheryl Leo, Mieghan Bruce, Kaymart Gimutao

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the key public health concerns the world is facing today. The effect of antibiotic awareness campaigns (AACs) on consumer behaviour has been documented in the literature with mixed results. Understanding the mechanism for how AACs affect target populations is vital in designing effective and tailored campaigns. Using structural equation modelling our study examined the relationships among people's exposure to antibiotic awareness campaigns, knowledge of AMR prevention, AMR risk perception, and intention to seek antibiotic treatment. This study also tested the moderating effect of anxiety and societal responsibility on preventing AMR, and on their intention …

Klebsiella Aerogenes Adhesion Behaviour During Biofilm Formation On Monazite, Arya Van Alin, Melissa K. Corbett, Homayoun Fathollahzadeh, M. Christian Tjiam, Andrew Putnis, Jacques Eksteen, Anna H. Kaksonen, Elizabeth Watkin

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The adsorption behaviour of micro-organisms during the initial attachment stage of biofilm formation affects subsequent stages. The available area for attachment and the chemophysical properties of a surface affect microbial attachment performance. This study focused on the initial attachment behaviour of Klebsiella aerogenes on monazite by measuring the ratio of planktonic against sessile subpopulations (P:S ratio), and the potential role of extracellular DNA (eDNA). eDNA production, effects of physicochemical properties of the surface, particle size, total available area for attachment, and the initial inoculation size on the attachment behaviour were tested. K. aerogenes attached to monazite immediately after exposure to …

Analytical Methods For Allergen Control In Food Processing, Nanju Alice Lee, Andreas Ludwig Lopata, Michelle Lisa Colgrave

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Food allergy and food-related anaphylaxis have become a growing public health and food safety issue worldwide. The World Allergy Organization (WAO) estimated that 220–250 million people would live with food allergies, based on the reported prevalence of 5–8% in children and 1–2% in adults. Without a practical treatment and cure for food allergy currently available, the diligent avoidance of allergenic foods together with the prompt treatment of symptoms is the best management option available to allergic individuals. As a result, regulatory bodies in many countries mandate food allergen labelling to help allergic consumers to make informed food choices and avoid …

Combined Evaluation Of Arterial Stiffness And Blood Pressure Promotes Risk Stratification Of Peripheral Arterial Disease, Zhiyuan Wu, Yue Jiang, Qian Zhu, Haiping Zhang, Zhiwei Li, Jinqi Wang, Huiying Pan, Zheng Guo, Yulu Zheng, Xia Li, Lixin Tao, Bo Gao, Xiuhua Guo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Previous studies have reported the separate association of arterial stiffness (AS) and blood pressure with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the risk stratification capacity of AS on incident PAD beyond blood pressure status. Methods: A total of 8,960 participants from Beijing Health Management Cohort were enrolled at the first health visit between 2008 and 2018 and then followed until the incidence of PAD or 2019. Elevated AS was defined as brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity (baPWV) > 1,400 cm/s, including moderate stiffness (1,400 ≤ baPWV < 1,800 cm/s) and severe stiffness (baPWV ≥ 1,800 cm/s). PAD was defined as ankle-brachial index < 0.9. A frailty Cox model was used to calculate the HR, integrated discrimination improvement, and net reclassification improvement. Results: During follow-up, 225 participants (2.5%) developed PAD. After adjusting for confounding factors, the highest risk for PAD was observed in the group with elevated AS and blood pressure (HR: 2.253; 95% CI: 1.472-3.448). Among participants with ideal blood pressure and those with well-controlled hypertension, PAD risk was still significant for severe AS. The results remained consistent in multiple sensitivity analyses. In addition, baPWV significantly improved the predictive capacity for PAD risk beyond systolic and diastolic blood pressures (integrated discrimination improvement 0.020 and 0.190, net reclassification improvement 0.037 and 0.303). Conclusions: This study suggests the clinical importance of combined evaluation and control of AS and blood pressure for the risk stratification and prevention of PAD.

Identifying Occupational Health And Safety Risks Among Environmental Health Officers In Australia And New Zealand Through An Online Survey, Garry Dine, Sue Reed, Jacques Oosthuizen, Edmore Masaka

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

To identify the occupational health and safety (OHS) risks among environmental health officers (EHOs) in Australia and New Zealand. The objectives were to profile and compare OHS experiences from different countries and regions to gain a regional perspective on OHS hazards that impact EHOs. An online hazard exposure survey was conducted among 339 EHOs (Australia: n = 301, 88.8%; New Zealand: n = 38, 11.2%). The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare 2 ordinal data groups, the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for more than 2 ordinal groups, and the independent samples t test was used to compare the …

Factors Impacting Readiness To Perform Secondary Population-Based Triage During The Second Wave Of Covid-19 In Victoria, Australia: Pilot Study, Zachary B. Horn

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: Pandemics generate such a significant demand for care that traditional triage methods can become saturated. Secondary population-based triage (S-PBT) overcomes this limitation. Although the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic forced S-PBT into operation internationally during the first year of the pandemic, Australian doctors were spared this responsibility. However, the second wave of COVID-19 provides an opportunity to explore the lived experience of preparing for S-PBT within the Australian context. The aim of this study is to explore the lived experience of preparing to operationalize S-PBT to allocate critical care resources during Australia's second wave of COVID-19 in 2020. Methods: Intensivists …

Subjective Versus Objective Sleep Outcomes In Older Adults With And Without Uncoupled Sleep Following Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy For Insomnia, Yvonne Kutzer, Lisa Whitehead, Eimear Quigley, Shih Ching Fu, Mandy Stanley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Uncoupled sleep is a phenomenon characterised by a disconnect between sleep pattern and sleep complaint. This study examined the impact of uncoupled sleep on dysfunctional sleep beliefs and objective and subjective sleep outcomes in community-dwelling older adults following digitally delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) to assess how these groups respond to CBT-I. Methods: Objective sleep was measured using wrist actigraphy, subjective sleep quality via sleep diaries and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Dysfunctional sleep beliefs were assessed by the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep scale (DBAS-16). All measurements were taken prior to and following a …

Biomarkers Of Oxidative Stress And Its Nexus With Haemoglobin Variants And Adverse Foeto-Maternal Outcome Among Women With Preeclampsia In A Ghanaian Population: A Multi-Centre Prospective Study, Ganiwu Abdul, William Osei-Wusu, Gordon Akuffo Asare, Samira Daud, Stephen Opoku, Valentine Christian Kodzo Tsatsu Tamakloe, Joseph Frimpong, Benedict Sackey, Wina Ivy Ofori Boadu, Vivian Paintsil, Max Efui Annani-Akollor, Yaw Amo Wiafe, Enoch Odame Anto, Otchere Addai-Mensah

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction Haemoglobin variants and preeclampsia (PE) are associated with adverse fatal events of which oxidative stress may be an underlying factor. Oxidative stress (OS) among preeclamptic women with haemoglobin variants has been well established. It is, however, unclear whether haemoglobin variants induce OS to aggravate the risk of adverse foeto-maternal outcomes in pregnant women with preeclampsia. We measured the levels of OS biomarkers and determined the association between haemoglobin variants, and adverse foeto-maternal outcomes among pregnant women with PE. Methods This multi-centre prospective study recruited 150 PE women from three major health facilities in both Bono and Bono east regions …

Congenital Gastrointestinal Anomalies In Europe 2010–2019: A Geo-Spatiotemporal And Causal Inferential Study Of Epidemiological Patterns In Relationship To Cannabis- And Substance Exposure, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Congenital anomalies (CA’s) of most of the gastrointestinal tract have been linked causally with prenatal or community cannabis exposure. Therefore, we studied this relationship in Europe. Methods: CA data were from Eurocat. Drug-use data were sourced from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Income data were taken from the World Bank. Results: When countries with increasing rates of daily cannabis use were compared with those which were not, the overall rate of gastrointestinal CA’s (GCA’s) was higher in the former group (p = 0.0032). The five anomalies which were related to the metrics of cannabis exposure …

The Australian And New Zealand Society For Sarcopenia And Frailty Research (Anzssfr) Sarcopenia Diagnosis And Management Task Force: Findings From The Consumer Expert Delphi Process, Jesse Zanker, Marc Sim, Kate Anderson, Saliu Balogun, Sharon L. Brennan-Olsen, Elsa Dent, Gustavo Duque, Christian M. Girgis, Mathis Grossmann, Alan Hayes, Tim Henwood, Vasant Hirani, Charles Inderjeeth, Sandra Iuliano, Justin Keogh, Joshua R. Lewis, Gordon S. Lynch, Julie A. Pasco, Steven Phu, Esmee M. Reijnierse, Nicholas Russell, Lara Vlietstra, Renuka Visvanathan, Troy Walker, Debra L. Waters, Solomon Yu, Andrea B. Maier, Robin M. Daly, David Scott

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives:

To develop guidelines, informed by health-care consumer values and preferences, for sarcopenia prevention, assessment and management for use by clinicians and researchers in Australia and New Zealand.

Methods:

A three-phase Consumer Expert Delphi process was undertaken between July 2020 and August 2021. Consumer experts included adults with lived experience of sarcopenia or health-care utilisation. Phase 1 involved a structured meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Sarcopenia and Frailty Research (ANZSSFR) Sarcopenia Diagnosis and Management Task Force and consumer representatives from which the Phase 2 survey was developed. In Phase 2, consumers from Australia and New Zealand …

The Investigation Of Health-Related Topics On Tiktok: A Descriptive Study Protocol, Joelie Mandzufas, Jeremiah Ayalde, Daniel Ta, Emily Munro, Rigel Paciente, Emmanuel P. Pranoto, Kaelyn King, Kelly How, Alanna Sincovich, Mary Brushe, Nicole Wickens, Gabriella Wells, Alix Woolard, Melinda Edmunds, Hannah Thomas, Gina S. A. Trapp, Karen Lombardi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The social media application TikTok allows users to view and upload short-form videos. Recent evidence suggests it has significant potential for both industry and health promoters to influence public health behaviours. This protocol describes a standardised, replicable process for investigations that can be tailored to various areas of research interest, allowing comparison of content and features across public health topics. The first 50 appearing videos in each of five relevant hashtags are sampled for analysis. Utilising a codebook with detailed definitions, engagement metadata and content variables applicable to any content area is captured, including an assessment of the video’s overall …

Drivesafe Driveaware: A Systematic Review, Erin Vito, Anna Barkla, Linda Coventry

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: Driving is an activity of daily living that significantly affects independence, and driving cessation is associated with poor health, lower quality of life, cognitive decline and early entry into care facilities. There is no consensus regarding the best off-road tool to assess driving safety. Therefore, this review explored the diagnostic accuracy, reliability and clinical utility of DriveSafe DriveAware (DSDA) compared with an on-road driving assessment.

Methods: This review adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. Electronic databases for all English language articles published prior to December 2021 were searched. Studies were assessed for methodological quality and results were synthesised using a …

Associations Between The Human Immune System And Gut Microbiome With Neurodevelopment In The First 5 Years Of Life: A Systematic Scoping Review, Vincent O. Mancini, Juliet Brook, Christian Hernandez, Deborah Strickland, Claus T. Christophersen, Nina D'Vaz, Desiree Silva, Susan Prescott, Bridget Callaghan, Jenny Downs, Amy Finlay-Jones

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The aim of this review was to map the literature assessing associations between maternal or infant immune or gut microbiome biomarkers and child neurodevelopmental outcomes within the first 5 years of life. We conducted a PRISMA-ScR compliant review of peer-reviewed, English-language journal articles. Studies reporting gut microbiome or immune system biomarkers and child neurodevelopmental outcomes prior to 5 years were eligible. Sixty-nine of 23,495 retrieved studies were included. Of these, 18 reported on the maternal immune system, 40 on the infant immune system, and 13 on the infant gut microbiome. No studies examined the maternal microbiome, and only one study …

Patterns Of Cannabis- And Substance-Related Congenital General Anomalies In Europe: A Geospatiotemporal And Causal Inferential Study, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction:

Recent series of congenital anomaly (CA) rates (CARs) have showed the close and epidemiologically causal relationship of cannabis exposure to many CARs. We investigated these trends in Europe where similar trends have occurred.

Methods:

CARs from EUROCAT. Drug use from European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Income data from World Bank. Results: CARs were higher in countries with increasing daily use overall (p = 9.99 × 10⁻¹⁴, minimum E-value (mEV) = 2.09) and especially for maternal infections, situs inversus, teratogenic syndromes and VACTERL syndrome (p = 1.49 × 10⁻¹⁵, mEV = 3.04). In …

Models Of School Breakfast Program Implementation In Western Australia And The Implications For Supporting Disadvantaged Students, Susan M. Hill, Matthew F. Byrne, Elizabeth Wenden, Amanda Devine, Margaret Miller, Henrietta Quinlan, Donna Cross, Judy Eastham, Miranda Chester

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

A substantial body of literature points to the educational and social benefits of school breakfast programs. Most high-income countries provide free or subsidized school breakfasts to support disadvantaged children. Australia does not have a nationally-funded school meal program. Instead, charitable organizations offer school breakfast programs on a voluntary basis, often with funding support from state/territory governments. Decisions about participating in a school breakfast program (SBP), which students to support, and the degree of integration with other strategies to support disadvantaged students are made at the school level. This large-scale, multi-year study examined models of SBP implementation in Western Australian (WA) …

Would You Like Fries With That? Investigating Fast-Food Outlet Availability Near Schools In Perth, Western Australia, Gina S. A. Trapp, Paula Hooper, Wesley Billingham, Lukar Thornton, Ainslie Sartori, Kelly Kennington, Amanda Devine, Stephanie Godrich, Ros Sambell, Justine Howard, Alexia Bivoltsis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Issue addressed: Locating fast-food outlets near schools is a potential public health risk to schoolchildren, given the easy access and repeated exposure to energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods they provide. Fast-food outlet availability near schools has not been previously investigated in Perth, Western Australia. This study aimed to quantify fast-food outlet availability near Perth schools and determine whether differences in area-level disadvantage and school type exist. Methods: Fast-food outlet locations were sourced from Perth Local Governments in 2018/2019. All Perth Primary (n = 454), Secondary (n = 107) and K-12 (n = 94) schools were assigned an area-level disadvantage decile ranking based …

Calling An Ambulance For Non-Emergency Medical Situations: Results Of A Cross-Sectional Online Survey From An Australian Nationally Representative Sample, Brennen Mills, Michella Hill, Alecka Miles, Erin Smith, Eben Afrifa-Yamoah, David Reid, Shane Rogers, Moira Sim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective

To investigate the Australian general public's perception of appropriate medical scenarios that warrants a call to an emergency ambulance.

Methods

An online survey asked participants to identify the likely medical treatment pathway they would take for 17 hypothetical medical scenarios. The number and type of non-emergency scenarios (n = 8) participants incorrectly suggested were appropriate to place a call for an emergency ambulance were calculated. Participants included Australian residents (aged >18 years) who had never worked as an Australian registered medical doctor, nurse or paramedic.

Results

From a sample of 5264 participants, 40% suggested calling an emergency ambulance …

Clinical Epigenomic Explanation Of The Epidemiology Of Cannabinoid Genotoxicity Manifesting As Transgenerational Teratogenesis, Cancerogenesis And Aging Acceleration, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

As global interest in the therapeutic potential of cannabis and its’ derivatives for the management of selected diseases increases, it is increasingly imperative that the toxic profile of cannabinoids be thoroughly understood in order to correctly assess the balance between the therapeutic risks and benefits. Modern studies across a number of jurisdictions, including Canada, Australia, the US and Europe have confirmed that some of the most worrying and severe historical reports of both congenital anomalies and cancer induction following cannabis exposure actually underestimate the multisystem thousand megabase-scale transgenerational genetic damage. These findings from teratogenic and carcinogenic literature are supported by …

Australian Consumers’ Attitudes Towards Sustainable Diet Practices Regarding Food Waste, Food Processing, And The Health Aspects Of Diet: A Cross Sectional Survey, Janelle D. Healy, Satvinder S. Dhaliwal, Christina M. Pollard, Piyush Sharma, Clare Whitton, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Carol J. Boushey, Jane A. Scott, Deborah A. Kerr

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Environmentally sustainable diets are increasingly aspired to in food-based dietary guidelines across the world. However, little is known about consumer attitudes toward these diets when making food decisions. This study aimed to identify the demographic characteristics of Australian adults based on the level of attention they paid to the healthfulness of their diet, their consideration of the level of food processing, and their concern about household food waste and sustainable packaging disposal. Adults aged from 18 to over 75 years (n = 540) were surveyed online. Thirty-seven percent were concerned about sustainable food waste, 28 % considered the level of …

Geospatiotemporal And Causal Inferential Study Of European Epidemiological Patterns Of Cannabis- And Substance-Related Congenital Orofacial Anomalies, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction:

Since high rates of congenital anomalies (CAs), including facial CAs (FCAs), causally attributed to antenatal and community cannabis use have been reported in several recent series, it was of interest to examine this subject in detail in Europe.

Methods:

CA data were taken from the EUROCAT database. Drug exposure data were downloaded from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). Income was taken from the World Bank’s online sources.

Results:

On the bivariate maps of both orofacial clefts and holoprosencephaly against resin, the Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration rates of both covariates increased together in France, Bulgaria, and the …