Regulation of the rabbit's once-daily pattern of nursing : A circadian or hourglass-dependent process?
- Apel, Sabine, Hudson, Robyn, Coleman, Grahame, Rodel, Heiko, Kennedy, Gerard
- Authors: Apel, Sabine , Hudson, Robyn , Coleman, Grahame , Rodel, Heiko , Kennedy, Gerard
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Chronobiology International Vol. 37, no. 8 (2020), p. 1151-1162
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The European rabbitOryctolagus cuniculushas an unusual pattern of nursing behavior. After giving birth in a nursery burrow (or laboratory nest box), the mother immediately leaves the young and only returns to nurse for a few minutes once approximately every 24 h. It has been assumed this schedule, like a variety of other functions in the rabbit, is under circadian control. This assumption has been largely based on findings from mothers only permitted restricted access to their young once every 24 h. However, in nature and in the laboratory, mothers with free access to young show nursing visits with a periodicity shorter than 24 h, that does not correspond to other behavioral and physiological rhythms entrained to the prevailing 24 h light/dark (LD) cycle. To investigate how this unusual, apparently non-circadian pattern might be regulated, we conducted two experiments using female Dutch-belted rabbits housed individually in cages designed to automatically register feeding activity and nest box visits. In Experiment 1 we recorded the behavior of 17 mothers with free access to their young under five different LD cycles with long photo and short scotoperiods, spanning the limits of entrainment of the rabbit's circadian system. Whereas feeding rhythms were entrained by LD cycles within the rabbit's circadian range of entrainment, nursing visits showed a consistently shorter periodicity regardless of the LD regimen, largely independent of the circadian system. In Experiment 2 we tested further 12 mothers under more conventional LD 16:8 cycles but "trained" by having access to the nest box restricted to 1 h at the same time each day for the first 7 d of nursing. Mothers were then allowed free access either when their young were left in the box (n= 6), or when the litter had been permanently removed (n= 6). Mothers with pups still present returned to nurse them on the following days according to a similarly advancing pattern to the mothers of Experiment 1 despite the previous 7 d of "training" to an experimentally enforced 24 h nursing schedule as commonly used in previous studies of rabbit maternal behavior. Mothers whose pups had been removed entered the box repeatedly several times on the first day of unrestricted access, but on subsequent days did so only rarely, and at times of day apparently unrelated to the previously scheduled access. We conclude that the pattern of the rabbit's once-daily nursing visits has a periodicity largely independent of the circadian system, and that this is reset at each nursing. When nursing fails to occur nest box visits cease abruptly, with mothers making few or no subsequent visits. Together, these findings suggest that the rabbit's once-daily pattern of nursing is regulated by an hourglass-type process with a period less than 24 h that is reset at each nursing, rather than by a circadian oscillator. Such a mechanism might be particularly adaptive for rhythms of short duration that should end abruptly with a sudden change in context such as death or weaning of the young.
- Description: This work was supported by the Australian Federal Government via a Postgraduate PhD Scholarship for Sabibe Apel [APA SA 1].
- Authors: Apel, Sabine , Hudson, Robyn , Coleman, Grahame , Rodel, Heiko , Kennedy, Gerard
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Chronobiology International Vol. 37, no. 8 (2020), p. 1151-1162
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The European rabbitOryctolagus cuniculushas an unusual pattern of nursing behavior. After giving birth in a nursery burrow (or laboratory nest box), the mother immediately leaves the young and only returns to nurse for a few minutes once approximately every 24 h. It has been assumed this schedule, like a variety of other functions in the rabbit, is under circadian control. This assumption has been largely based on findings from mothers only permitted restricted access to their young once every 24 h. However, in nature and in the laboratory, mothers with free access to young show nursing visits with a periodicity shorter than 24 h, that does not correspond to other behavioral and physiological rhythms entrained to the prevailing 24 h light/dark (LD) cycle. To investigate how this unusual, apparently non-circadian pattern might be regulated, we conducted two experiments using female Dutch-belted rabbits housed individually in cages designed to automatically register feeding activity and nest box visits. In Experiment 1 we recorded the behavior of 17 mothers with free access to their young under five different LD cycles with long photo and short scotoperiods, spanning the limits of entrainment of the rabbit's circadian system. Whereas feeding rhythms were entrained by LD cycles within the rabbit's circadian range of entrainment, nursing visits showed a consistently shorter periodicity regardless of the LD regimen, largely independent of the circadian system. In Experiment 2 we tested further 12 mothers under more conventional LD 16:8 cycles but "trained" by having access to the nest box restricted to 1 h at the same time each day for the first 7 d of nursing. Mothers were then allowed free access either when their young were left in the box (n= 6), or when the litter had been permanently removed (n= 6). Mothers with pups still present returned to nurse them on the following days according to a similarly advancing pattern to the mothers of Experiment 1 despite the previous 7 d of "training" to an experimentally enforced 24 h nursing schedule as commonly used in previous studies of rabbit maternal behavior. Mothers whose pups had been removed entered the box repeatedly several times on the first day of unrestricted access, but on subsequent days did so only rarely, and at times of day apparently unrelated to the previously scheduled access. We conclude that the pattern of the rabbit's once-daily nursing visits has a periodicity largely independent of the circadian system, and that this is reset at each nursing. When nursing fails to occur nest box visits cease abruptly, with mothers making few or no subsequent visits. Together, these findings suggest that the rabbit's once-daily pattern of nursing is regulated by an hourglass-type process with a period less than 24 h that is reset at each nursing, rather than by a circadian oscillator. Such a mechanism might be particularly adaptive for rhythms of short duration that should end abruptly with a sudden change in context such as death or weaning of the young.
- Description: This work was supported by the Australian Federal Government via a Postgraduate PhD Scholarship for Sabibe Apel [APA SA 1].
Sleep and mental health among paramedics from Australia and Saudi Arabia : a comparison study
- Khan, Wahaj, Conduit, Russell, Kennedy, Gerard, Alslamah, Ahmed, Alsuwayeh, Mohammad, Jackson, Melinda
- Authors: Khan, Wahaj , Conduit, Russell , Kennedy, Gerard , Alslamah, Ahmed , Alsuwayeh, Mohammad , Jackson, Melinda
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Clocks & Sleep Vol. 2, no. 2 (JUN 2020), p. 246-257
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Paramedics face many challenges while on duty, one of which is working different types of shifts. Shift work has been linked to a number of health issues such as insomnia, depression, and anxiety. Besides shift work, Saudi paramedics, a group that has not been investigated for sleep or mental health issues previously, may be facing more demands than Australian paramedics due to lower numbers of paramedics in comparison to the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sleep and mental health disorders among paramedics in Saudi Arabia and Australia. Paramedics were invited to complete a survey to assess stress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, daytime sleepiness, insomnia, sleep quality, shift work disorder, obstructive sleep apnoea, fatigue, and general health. A total of 104 males Saudi paramedics (M age = 32.5 +/- 6.1 years) and 83 males paramedics from Australia (M age = 44.1 +/- 12.1 years) responded to the survey. Significantly higher rates of depression, PTSD, insomnia, and fatigue, along with significantly poorer physical functioning were observed among Saudi paramedics in comparison with Australian paramedics. However, Australian paramedics reported significantly poorer sleep quality and general health in comparison to Saudi paramedics. After removing the effect of driving and working durations, outcomes were no longer significant. The higher burden of depression and PTSD among Saudi paramedics may be explained by longer hours spent driving and longer work durations reported by this group. Taking into consideration the outcomes reported in this study, more investigations are needed to study their possible effects on paramedics' cognition, performance, and safety.
- Authors: Khan, Wahaj , Conduit, Russell , Kennedy, Gerard , Alslamah, Ahmed , Alsuwayeh, Mohammad , Jackson, Melinda
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Clocks & Sleep Vol. 2, no. 2 (JUN 2020), p. 246-257
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Paramedics face many challenges while on duty, one of which is working different types of shifts. Shift work has been linked to a number of health issues such as insomnia, depression, and anxiety. Besides shift work, Saudi paramedics, a group that has not been investigated for sleep or mental health issues previously, may be facing more demands than Australian paramedics due to lower numbers of paramedics in comparison to the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sleep and mental health disorders among paramedics in Saudi Arabia and Australia. Paramedics were invited to complete a survey to assess stress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, daytime sleepiness, insomnia, sleep quality, shift work disorder, obstructive sleep apnoea, fatigue, and general health. A total of 104 males Saudi paramedics (M age = 32.5 +/- 6.1 years) and 83 males paramedics from Australia (M age = 44.1 +/- 12.1 years) responded to the survey. Significantly higher rates of depression, PTSD, insomnia, and fatigue, along with significantly poorer physical functioning were observed among Saudi paramedics in comparison with Australian paramedics. However, Australian paramedics reported significantly poorer sleep quality and general health in comparison to Saudi paramedics. After removing the effect of driving and working durations, outcomes were no longer significant. The higher burden of depression and PTSD among Saudi paramedics may be explained by longer hours spent driving and longer work durations reported by this group. Taking into consideration the outcomes reported in this study, more investigations are needed to study their possible effects on paramedics' cognition, performance, and safety.
Social Phobia symptoms across the adult lifespan
- Miloyan, Beyon, Bulley, Adam, Pachana, Nancy, Byrne, Gerard
- Authors: Miloyan, Beyon , Bulley, Adam , Pachana, Nancy , Byrne, Gerard
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Affective Disorders Vol. 168, no. (2014), p. 86-90
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background This study investigated symptom patterns that might distinguish between individuals with and without a diagnosis of Social Phobia (SP) across the adult lifespan. Methods A sample of 5411 self-reported social worriers was derived from Wave 1 (2001 and 2002) of the U.S. National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). Participants were stratified into four age groups (18-29 years, 30-44 years, 45-64 years, 65-96 years), and further divided into two diagnostic groups (self-reported social worriers with and without a SP diagnosis). Results Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that a core set of symptoms was associated with SP across the adult lifespan. There were also successive reductions in the number of symptoms associated with SP in each age group, such that older adults endorsed numerically fewer SP symptoms. Limitations Though our sample size is smaller than ideal for the nature of our analyses, the NESARC represents one of the largest existing clinical datasets we know of. Conclusions Despite age-related reductions in symptom frequency, a core set of SP symptoms consistently distinguished between diagnostic groups, irrespective of age.
- Authors: Miloyan, Beyon , Bulley, Adam , Pachana, Nancy , Byrne, Gerard
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Affective Disorders Vol. 168, no. (2014), p. 86-90
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background This study investigated symptom patterns that might distinguish between individuals with and without a diagnosis of Social Phobia (SP) across the adult lifespan. Methods A sample of 5411 self-reported social worriers was derived from Wave 1 (2001 and 2002) of the U.S. National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). Participants were stratified into four age groups (18-29 years, 30-44 years, 45-64 years, 65-96 years), and further divided into two diagnostic groups (self-reported social worriers with and without a SP diagnosis). Results Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that a core set of symptoms was associated with SP across the adult lifespan. There were also successive reductions in the number of symptoms associated with SP in each age group, such that older adults endorsed numerically fewer SP symptoms. Limitations Though our sample size is smaller than ideal for the nature of our analyses, the NESARC represents one of the largest existing clinical datasets we know of. Conclusions Despite age-related reductions in symptom frequency, a core set of SP symptoms consistently distinguished between diagnostic groups, irrespective of age.
Differential associations of hypoxia, sleep fragmentation, and depressive symptoms with cognitive dysfunction in obstructive sleep apnea
- Alomri, Ridwan, Kennedy, Gerard, Wali, Siraj, Ahejaili, Faris, Robinson, Stephen
- Authors: Alomri, Ridwan , Kennedy, Gerard , Wali, Siraj , Ahejaili, Faris , Robinson, Stephen
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sleep Vol. 44, no. 4 (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete cessation of breathing during sleep and increased effort to breathe. This study examined patients who underwent overnight polysomnographic studies in a major sleep laboratory in Saudi Arabia. The study aimed to determine the extent to which intermittent hypoxia, sleep disruption, and depressive symptoms are independently associated with cognitive impairments in OSA. In the sample of 90 participants, 14 had no OSA, 30 mild OSA, 23 moderate OSA, and 23 severe OSA. The findings revealed that hypoxia and sleep fragmentation are independently associated with impairments of sustained attention and reaction time (RT). Sleep fragmentation, but not hypoxia, was independently associated with impairments in visuospatial deficits. Depressive symptoms were independently associated with impairments in the domains of sustained attention, RT, visuospatial ability, and semantic and episodic autobiographical memories. Since the depressive symptoms are independent of hypoxia and sleep fragmentation, effective reversal of cognitive impairment in OSA may require treatment interventions that target each of these factors. © Sleep Research Society 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Sleep Research Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail journals.permissions@oup.com.
- Authors: Alomri, Ridwan , Kennedy, Gerard , Wali, Siraj , Ahejaili, Faris , Robinson, Stephen
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sleep Vol. 44, no. 4 (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete cessation of breathing during sleep and increased effort to breathe. This study examined patients who underwent overnight polysomnographic studies in a major sleep laboratory in Saudi Arabia. The study aimed to determine the extent to which intermittent hypoxia, sleep disruption, and depressive symptoms are independently associated with cognitive impairments in OSA. In the sample of 90 participants, 14 had no OSA, 30 mild OSA, 23 moderate OSA, and 23 severe OSA. The findings revealed that hypoxia and sleep fragmentation are independently associated with impairments of sustained attention and reaction time (RT). Sleep fragmentation, but not hypoxia, was independently associated with impairments in visuospatial deficits. Depressive symptoms were independently associated with impairments in the domains of sustained attention, RT, visuospatial ability, and semantic and episodic autobiographical memories. Since the depressive symptoms are independent of hypoxia and sleep fragmentation, effective reversal of cognitive impairment in OSA may require treatment interventions that target each of these factors. © Sleep Research Society 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Sleep Research Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail journals.permissions@oup.com.
Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
- Abbafati, Christiana, Abbas, Kaja, Abbasi-Kangevari, Mohsen, Abd-Allah, Foad, Rahman, Muhammad Aziz
- Authors: Abbafati, Christiana , Abbas, Kaja , Abbasi-Kangevari, Mohsen , Abd-Allah, Foad , Rahman, Muhammad Aziz
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: The Lancet Vol. 396, no. 10258 (2020), p. 1204-1222
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: In an era of shifting global agendas and expanded emphasis on non-communicable diseases and injuries along with communicable diseases, sound evidence on trends by cause at the national level is essential. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) provides a systematic scientific assessment of published, publicly available, and contributed data on incidence, prevalence, and mortality for a mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive list of diseases and injuries. Methods: GBD estimates incidence, prevalence, mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) due to 369 diseases and injuries, for two sexes, and for 204 countries and territories. Input data were extracted from censuses, household surveys, civil registration and vital statistics, disease registries, health service use, air pollution monitors, satellite imaging, disease notifications, and other sources. Cause-specific death rates and cause fractions were calculated using the Cause of Death Ensemble model and spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression. Cause-specific deaths were adjusted to match the total all-cause deaths calculated as part of the GBD population, fertility, and mortality estimates. Deaths were multiplied by standard life expectancy at each age to calculate YLLs. A Bayesian meta-regression modelling tool, DisMod-MR 2.1, was used to ensure consistency between incidence, prevalence, remission, excess mortality, and cause-specific mortality for most causes. Prevalence estimates were multiplied by disability weights for mutually exclusive sequelae of diseases and injuries to calculate YLDs. We considered results in the context of the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator of income per capita, years of schooling, and fertility rate in females younger than 25 years. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were generated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered 1000 draw values of the posterior distribution. Findings: Global health has steadily improved over the past 30 years as measured by age-standardised DALY rates. After taking into account population growth and ageing, the absolute number of DALYs has remained stable. Since 2010, the pace of decline in global age-standardised DALY rates has accelerated in age groups younger than 50 years compared with the 1990–2010 time period, with the greatest annualised rate of decline occurring in the 0–9-year age group. Six infectious diseases were among the top ten causes of DALYs in children younger than 10 years in 2019: lower respiratory infections (ranked second), diarrhoeal diseases (third), malaria (fifth), meningitis (sixth), whooping cough (ninth), and sexually transmitted infections (which, in this age group, is fully accounted for by congenital syphilis; ranked tenth). In adolescents aged 10–24 years, three injury causes were among the top causes of DALYs: road injuries (ranked first), self-harm (third), and interpersonal violence (fifth). Five of the causes that were in the top ten for ages 10–24 years were also in the top ten in the 25–49-year age group: road injuries (ranked first), HIV/AIDS (second), low back pain (fourth), headache disorders (fifth), and depressive disorders (sixth). In 2019, ischaemic heart disease and stroke were the top-ranked causes of DALYs in both the 50–74-year and 75-years-and-older age groups. Since 1990, there has been a marked shift towards a greater proportion of burden due to YLDs from non-communicable diseases and injuries. In 2019, there were 11 countries where non-communicable disease and injury YLDs constituted more than half of all disease burden. Decreases in age-standardised DALY rates have accelerated over the past decade in countries at the lower end of the SDI range, while improvements have started to stagnate or even reverse in countries with higher SDI. Interpretation: As disability becomes an increasingly large component of disease burden and a larger component of health expenditure, greater research and developm nt investment is needed to identify new, more effective intervention strategies. With a rapidly ageing global population, the demands on health services to deal with disabling outcomes, which increase with age, will require policy makers to anticipate these changes. The mix of universal and more geographically specific influences on health reinforces the need for regular reporting on population health in detail and by underlying cause to help decision makers to identify success stories of disease control to emulate, as well as opportunities to improve. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Muhammad Rahman” is provided in this record**
- Authors: Abbafati, Christiana , Abbas, Kaja , Abbasi-Kangevari, Mohsen , Abd-Allah, Foad , Rahman, Muhammad Aziz
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: The Lancet Vol. 396, no. 10258 (2020), p. 1204-1222
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: In an era of shifting global agendas and expanded emphasis on non-communicable diseases and injuries along with communicable diseases, sound evidence on trends by cause at the national level is essential. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) provides a systematic scientific assessment of published, publicly available, and contributed data on incidence, prevalence, and mortality for a mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive list of diseases and injuries. Methods: GBD estimates incidence, prevalence, mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) due to 369 diseases and injuries, for two sexes, and for 204 countries and territories. Input data were extracted from censuses, household surveys, civil registration and vital statistics, disease registries, health service use, air pollution monitors, satellite imaging, disease notifications, and other sources. Cause-specific death rates and cause fractions were calculated using the Cause of Death Ensemble model and spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression. Cause-specific deaths were adjusted to match the total all-cause deaths calculated as part of the GBD population, fertility, and mortality estimates. Deaths were multiplied by standard life expectancy at each age to calculate YLLs. A Bayesian meta-regression modelling tool, DisMod-MR 2.1, was used to ensure consistency between incidence, prevalence, remission, excess mortality, and cause-specific mortality for most causes. Prevalence estimates were multiplied by disability weights for mutually exclusive sequelae of diseases and injuries to calculate YLDs. We considered results in the context of the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator of income per capita, years of schooling, and fertility rate in females younger than 25 years. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were generated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered 1000 draw values of the posterior distribution. Findings: Global health has steadily improved over the past 30 years as measured by age-standardised DALY rates. After taking into account population growth and ageing, the absolute number of DALYs has remained stable. Since 2010, the pace of decline in global age-standardised DALY rates has accelerated in age groups younger than 50 years compared with the 1990–2010 time period, with the greatest annualised rate of decline occurring in the 0–9-year age group. Six infectious diseases were among the top ten causes of DALYs in children younger than 10 years in 2019: lower respiratory infections (ranked second), diarrhoeal diseases (third), malaria (fifth), meningitis (sixth), whooping cough (ninth), and sexually transmitted infections (which, in this age group, is fully accounted for by congenital syphilis; ranked tenth). In adolescents aged 10–24 years, three injury causes were among the top causes of DALYs: road injuries (ranked first), self-harm (third), and interpersonal violence (fifth). Five of the causes that were in the top ten for ages 10–24 years were also in the top ten in the 25–49-year age group: road injuries (ranked first), HIV/AIDS (second), low back pain (fourth), headache disorders (fifth), and depressive disorders (sixth). In 2019, ischaemic heart disease and stroke were the top-ranked causes of DALYs in both the 50–74-year and 75-years-and-older age groups. Since 1990, there has been a marked shift towards a greater proportion of burden due to YLDs from non-communicable diseases and injuries. In 2019, there were 11 countries where non-communicable disease and injury YLDs constituted more than half of all disease burden. Decreases in age-standardised DALY rates have accelerated over the past decade in countries at the lower end of the SDI range, while improvements have started to stagnate or even reverse in countries with higher SDI. Interpretation: As disability becomes an increasingly large component of disease burden and a larger component of health expenditure, greater research and developm nt investment is needed to identify new, more effective intervention strategies. With a rapidly ageing global population, the demands on health services to deal with disabling outcomes, which increase with age, will require policy makers to anticipate these changes. The mix of universal and more geographically specific influences on health reinforces the need for regular reporting on population health in detail and by underlying cause to help decision makers to identify success stories of disease control to emulate, as well as opportunities to improve. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Muhammad Rahman” is provided in this record**
Data analytics identify glycated haemoglobin co-markers for type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosis
- Jelinek, Herbert, Stranieri, Andrew, Yatsko, Andrew, Venkatraman, Sitalakshmi
- Authors: Jelinek, Herbert , Stranieri, Andrew , Yatsko, Andrew , Venkatraman, Sitalakshmi
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Computers in Biology and Medicine Vol. 75, no. (2016), p. 90-97
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is being more commonly used as an alternative test for the identification of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or to add to fasting blood glucose level and oral glucose tolerance test results, because it is easily obtained using point-of-care technology and represents long-term blood sugar levels. HbA1c cut-off values of 6.5% or above have been recommended for clinical use based on the presence of diabetic comorbidities from population studies. However, outcomes of large trials with a HbA1c of 6.5% as a cut-off have been inconsistent for a diagnosis of T2DM. This suggests that a HbA1c cut-off of 6.5% as a single marker may not be sensitive enough or be too simple and miss individuals at risk or with already overt, undiagnosed diabetes. In this study, data mining algorithms have been applied on a large clinical dataset to identify an optimal cut-off value for HbA1c and to identify whether additional biomarkers can be used together with HbA1c to enhance diagnostic accuracy of T2DM. T2DM classification accuracy increased if 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OhdG), an oxidative stress marker, was included in the algorithm from 78.71% for HbA1c at 6.5% to 86.64%. A similar result was obtained when interleukin-6 (IL-6) was included (accuracy=85.63%) but with a lower optimal HbA1c range between 5.73 and 6.22%. The application of data analytics to medical records from the Diabetes Screening programme demonstrates that data analytics, combined with large clinical datasets can be used to identify clinically appropriate cut-off values and identify novel biomarkers that when included improve the accuracy of T2DM diagnosis even when HbA1c levels are below or equal to the current cut-off of 6.5%. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd.
Predicting cardiac autonomic neuropathy category for diabetic data with missing values
- Abawajy, Jemal, Kelarev, Andrei, Chowdhury, Morshed, Stranieri, Andrew, Jelinek, Herbert
- Authors: Abawajy, Jemal , Kelarev, Andrei , Chowdhury, Morshed , Stranieri, Andrew , Jelinek, Herbert
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Computers in Biology and Medicine Vol. 43, no. 10 (2013), p. 1328-1333
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a serious and well known complication of diabetes. Previous articles circumvented the problem of missing values in CAN data by deleting all records and fields with missing values and applying classifiers trained on different sets of features that were complete. Most of them also added alternative features to compensate for the deleted ones. Here we introduce and investigate a new method for classifying CAN data with missing values. In contrast to all previous papers, our new method does not delete attributes with missing values, does not use classifiers, and does not add features. Instead it is based on regression and meta-regression combined with the Ewing formula for identifying the classes of CAN. This is the first article using the Ewing formula and regression to classify CAN. We carried out extensive experiments to determine the best combination of regression and meta-regression techniques for classifying CAN data with missing values. The best outcomes have been obtained by the additive regression meta-learner based on M5Rules and combined with the Ewing formula. It has achieved the best accuracy of 99.78% for two classes of CAN, and 98.98% for three classes of CAN. These outcomes are substantially better than previous results obtained in the literature by deleting all missing attributes and applying traditional classifiers to different sets of features without regression. Another advantage of our method is that it does not require practitioners to perform more tests collecting additional alternative features. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.
- Description: C1
- Authors: Abawajy, Jemal , Kelarev, Andrei , Chowdhury, Morshed , Stranieri, Andrew , Jelinek, Herbert
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Computers in Biology and Medicine Vol. 43, no. 10 (2013), p. 1328-1333
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a serious and well known complication of diabetes. Previous articles circumvented the problem of missing values in CAN data by deleting all records and fields with missing values and applying classifiers trained on different sets of features that were complete. Most of them also added alternative features to compensate for the deleted ones. Here we introduce and investigate a new method for classifying CAN data with missing values. In contrast to all previous papers, our new method does not delete attributes with missing values, does not use classifiers, and does not add features. Instead it is based on regression and meta-regression combined with the Ewing formula for identifying the classes of CAN. This is the first article using the Ewing formula and regression to classify CAN. We carried out extensive experiments to determine the best combination of regression and meta-regression techniques for classifying CAN data with missing values. The best outcomes have been obtained by the additive regression meta-learner based on M5Rules and combined with the Ewing formula. It has achieved the best accuracy of 99.78% for two classes of CAN, and 98.98% for three classes of CAN. These outcomes are substantially better than previous results obtained in the literature by deleting all missing attributes and applying traditional classifiers to different sets of features without regression. Another advantage of our method is that it does not require practitioners to perform more tests collecting additional alternative features. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.
- Description: C1
Influenza A(H5N1) viruses with A(H9N2) single gene (matrix or PB1) reassortment isolated from Cambodian live bird markets
- Suttie, Annika, Karlsson, Erik, Deng, Yi-Mo, Horm, Srey, Yann, Sokhoun, Tok, Songha, Sorn, San, Holl, Davun, Tum, Sothyra, Hurt, Aeron, Greenhill, Andrew, Barr, Ian, Horwood, Paul, Dussart, Philippe
- Authors: Suttie, Annika , Karlsson, Erik , Deng, Yi-Mo , Horm, Srey , Yann, Sokhoun , Tok, Songha , Sorn, San , Holl, Davun , Tum, Sothyra , Hurt, Aeron , Greenhill, Andrew , Barr, Ian , Horwood, Paul , Dussart, Philippe
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Virology Vol. 523, no. (2018), p. 22-26
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Live bird market surveillance for avian influenza viruses in Cambodia in 2015 has led to the detection of two 7:1 reassortant influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.2.1c viruses. These reassortant strains, designated A/duck/Cambodia/Z564W35M1/2015 and A/chicken/Cambodia/Z850W49M1/2015, both contained a single gene (PB1 and matrix gene, respectively) from concurrently circulating A(H9N2) influenza viruses. All other viral genes from both isolates clustered with A(H5N1) clade 2.3.2.1 viruses. Continued and prolonged co-circulation of influenza A(H5N1) and A(H9N2) viruses in Cambodian live bird markets may present a risk for the emergence of novel influenza reassortant viruses with negative agricultural and/or public health implications. © 2018
- Authors: Suttie, Annika , Karlsson, Erik , Deng, Yi-Mo , Horm, Srey , Yann, Sokhoun , Tok, Songha , Sorn, San , Holl, Davun , Tum, Sothyra , Hurt, Aeron , Greenhill, Andrew , Barr, Ian , Horwood, Paul , Dussart, Philippe
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Virology Vol. 523, no. (2018), p. 22-26
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Live bird market surveillance for avian influenza viruses in Cambodia in 2015 has led to the detection of two 7:1 reassortant influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.2.1c viruses. These reassortant strains, designated A/duck/Cambodia/Z564W35M1/2015 and A/chicken/Cambodia/Z850W49M1/2015, both contained a single gene (PB1 and matrix gene, respectively) from concurrently circulating A(H9N2) influenza viruses. All other viral genes from both isolates clustered with A(H5N1) clade 2.3.2.1 viruses. Continued and prolonged co-circulation of influenza A(H5N1) and A(H9N2) viruses in Cambodian live bird markets may present a risk for the emergence of novel influenza reassortant viruses with negative agricultural and/or public health implications. © 2018
Reducing health inequities for asylum seekers with chronic non-communicable diseases : Australian context
- Nkhoma, Gloria, Lim, Chiao, Kennedy, Gerard, Stupans, Leva
- Authors: Nkhoma, Gloria , Lim, Chiao , Kennedy, Gerard , Stupans, Leva
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Primary Health Vol. 27, no. 2 (2021), p. 130-135
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Asylum seekers are susceptible to chronic non-communicable diseases pre- and post-arrival due to poor living conditions, unhealthy lifestyles and restrictive and poor access to health services. Despite their need for constant and continuous health care access due to poor health, they face healthcare services access restrictions dependent on their visa conditions in Australia. Some visas only allow access to hospital services with restrictions on primary health services access such as GPs and free or discounted pharmaceutical products. In comparison, disadvantaged host populations have access to free/discounted pharmaceutical products and unrestricted access to primary and secondary health care. Ten professionals who constantly engage with asylum seekers in three large asylum seeker centres in Melbourne were interviewed either face-to-face or over the phone. The interviews were essential to understand how health inequities may be addressed for asylum seekers. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic analysis framework. Their recommendations, based mainly on their experience and evaluation of programs, were: (1) cultural competence training (2) use of interpreters (3) free access to health services and medications (4) use of English learning to promote health literacy and community integration (5) robust chronic non-communicable diseases screening and (6) health promotion and accessible food programs. © 2021 La Trobe University.
- Authors: Nkhoma, Gloria , Lim, Chiao , Kennedy, Gerard , Stupans, Leva
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Primary Health Vol. 27, no. 2 (2021), p. 130-135
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Asylum seekers are susceptible to chronic non-communicable diseases pre- and post-arrival due to poor living conditions, unhealthy lifestyles and restrictive and poor access to health services. Despite their need for constant and continuous health care access due to poor health, they face healthcare services access restrictions dependent on their visa conditions in Australia. Some visas only allow access to hospital services with restrictions on primary health services access such as GPs and free or discounted pharmaceutical products. In comparison, disadvantaged host populations have access to free/discounted pharmaceutical products and unrestricted access to primary and secondary health care. Ten professionals who constantly engage with asylum seekers in three large asylum seeker centres in Melbourne were interviewed either face-to-face or over the phone. The interviews were essential to understand how health inequities may be addressed for asylum seekers. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic analysis framework. Their recommendations, based mainly on their experience and evaluation of programs, were: (1) cultural competence training (2) use of interpreters (3) free access to health services and medications (4) use of English learning to promote health literacy and community integration (5) robust chronic non-communicable diseases screening and (6) health promotion and accessible food programs. © 2021 La Trobe University.
Global burden of 87 risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019 : a systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2019
- Abbafati, Christiana, Abbas, Kaja, Abbasi-Kangevari, Mohsen, Abd-Allah, Foad, Rahman, Muhammad Aziz
- Authors: Abbafati, Christiana , Abbas, Kaja , Abbasi-Kangevari, Mohsen , Abd-Allah, Foad , Rahman, Muhammad Aziz
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: The Lancet Vol. 396, no. 10258 (2020), p. 1223-1249
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Rigorous analysis of levels and trends in exposure to leading risk factors and quantification of their effect on human health are important to identify where public health is making progress and in which cases current efforts are inadequate. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 provides a standardised and comprehensive assessment of the magnitude of risk factor exposure, relative risk, and attributable burden of disease. Methods: GBD 2019 estimated attributable mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years of life lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 87 risk factors and combinations of risk factors, at the global level, regionally, and for 204 countries and territories. GBD uses a hierarchical list of risk factors so that specific risk factors (eg, sodium intake), and related aggregates (eg, diet quality), are both evaluated. This method has six analytical steps. (1) We included 560 risk–outcome pairs that met criteria for convincing or probable evidence on the basis of research studies. 12 risk–outcome pairs included in GBD 2017 no longer met inclusion criteria and 47 risk–outcome pairs for risks already included in GBD 2017 were added based on new evidence. (2) Relative risks were estimated as a function of exposure based on published systematic reviews, 81 systematic reviews done for GBD 2019, and meta-regression. (3) Levels of exposure in each age-sex-location-year included in the study were estimated based on all available data sources using spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression, DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression method, or alternative methods. (4) We determined, from published trials or cohort studies, the level of exposure associated with minimum risk, called the theoretical minimum risk exposure level. (5) Attributable deaths, YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs were computed by multiplying population attributable fractions (PAFs) by the relevant outcome quantity for each age-sex-location-year. (6) PAFs and attributable burden for combinations of risk factors were estimated taking into account mediation of different risk factors through other risk factors. Across all six analytical steps, 30 652 distinct data sources were used in the analysis. Uncertainty in each step of the analysis was propagated into the final estimates of attributable burden. Exposure levels for dichotomous, polytomous, and continuous risk factors were summarised with use of the summary exposure value to facilitate comparisons over time, across location, and across risks. Because the entire time series from 1990 to 2019 has been re-estimated with use of consistent data and methods, these results supersede previously published GBD estimates of attributable burden. Findings: The largest declines in risk exposure from 2010 to 2019 were among a set of risks that are strongly linked to social and economic development, including household air pollution; unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing; and child growth failure. Global declines also occurred for tobacco smoking and lead exposure. The largest increases in risk exposure were for ambient particulate matter pollution, drug use, high fasting plasma glucose, and high body-mass index. In 2019, the leading Level 2 risk factor globally for attributable deaths was high systolic blood pressure, which accounted for 10·8 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 9·51–12·1) deaths (19·2% [16·9–21·3] of all deaths in 2019), followed by tobacco (smoked, second-hand, and chewing), which accounted for 8·71 million (8·12–9·31) deaths (15·4% [14·6–16·2] of all deaths in 2019). The leading Level 2 risk factor for attributable DALYs globally in 2019 was child and maternal malnutrition, which largely affects health in the youngest age groups and accounted for 295 million (253–350) DALYs (11·6% [10·3–13·1] of all global DALYs that year). The risk factor burden varied considerably in 2019 between age groups and locations. Among children aged 0–9 years, the three leading detailed risk factors for attributable DALYs were all related to malnutrition. Iron deficiency was the leading risk factor for those aged 10–24 years, alcohol use for those aged 25–49 years, and high systolic blood pressure for those aged 50–74 years and 75 years and older. Interpretation: Overall, the record for reducing exposure to harmful risks over the past three decades is poor. Success with reducing smoking and lead exposure through regulatory policy might point the way for a stronger role for public policy on other risks in addition to continued efforts to provide information on risk factor harm to the general public. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license
- Authors: Abbafati, Christiana , Abbas, Kaja , Abbasi-Kangevari, Mohsen , Abd-Allah, Foad , Rahman, Muhammad Aziz
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: The Lancet Vol. 396, no. 10258 (2020), p. 1223-1249
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Rigorous analysis of levels and trends in exposure to leading risk factors and quantification of their effect on human health are important to identify where public health is making progress and in which cases current efforts are inadequate. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 provides a standardised and comprehensive assessment of the magnitude of risk factor exposure, relative risk, and attributable burden of disease. Methods: GBD 2019 estimated attributable mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years of life lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 87 risk factors and combinations of risk factors, at the global level, regionally, and for 204 countries and territories. GBD uses a hierarchical list of risk factors so that specific risk factors (eg, sodium intake), and related aggregates (eg, diet quality), are both evaluated. This method has six analytical steps. (1) We included 560 risk–outcome pairs that met criteria for convincing or probable evidence on the basis of research studies. 12 risk–outcome pairs included in GBD 2017 no longer met inclusion criteria and 47 risk–outcome pairs for risks already included in GBD 2017 were added based on new evidence. (2) Relative risks were estimated as a function of exposure based on published systematic reviews, 81 systematic reviews done for GBD 2019, and meta-regression. (3) Levels of exposure in each age-sex-location-year included in the study were estimated based on all available data sources using spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression, DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression method, or alternative methods. (4) We determined, from published trials or cohort studies, the level of exposure associated with minimum risk, called the theoretical minimum risk exposure level. (5) Attributable deaths, YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs were computed by multiplying population attributable fractions (PAFs) by the relevant outcome quantity for each age-sex-location-year. (6) PAFs and attributable burden for combinations of risk factors were estimated taking into account mediation of different risk factors through other risk factors. Across all six analytical steps, 30 652 distinct data sources were used in the analysis. Uncertainty in each step of the analysis was propagated into the final estimates of attributable burden. Exposure levels for dichotomous, polytomous, and continuous risk factors were summarised with use of the summary exposure value to facilitate comparisons over time, across location, and across risks. Because the entire time series from 1990 to 2019 has been re-estimated with use of consistent data and methods, these results supersede previously published GBD estimates of attributable burden. Findings: The largest declines in risk exposure from 2010 to 2019 were among a set of risks that are strongly linked to social and economic development, including household air pollution; unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing; and child growth failure. Global declines also occurred for tobacco smoking and lead exposure. The largest increases in risk exposure were for ambient particulate matter pollution, drug use, high fasting plasma glucose, and high body-mass index. In 2019, the leading Level 2 risk factor globally for attributable deaths was high systolic blood pressure, which accounted for 10·8 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 9·51–12·1) deaths (19·2% [16·9–21·3] of all deaths in 2019), followed by tobacco (smoked, second-hand, and chewing), which accounted for 8·71 million (8·12–9·31) deaths (15·4% [14·6–16·2] of all deaths in 2019). The leading Level 2 risk factor for attributable DALYs globally in 2019 was child and maternal malnutrition, which largely affects health in the youngest age groups and accounted for 295 million (253–350) DALYs (11·6% [10·3–13·1] of all global DALYs that year). The risk factor burden varied considerably in 2019 between age groups and locations. Among children aged 0–9 years, the three leading detailed risk factors for attributable DALYs were all related to malnutrition. Iron deficiency was the leading risk factor for those aged 10–24 years, alcohol use for those aged 25–49 years, and high systolic blood pressure for those aged 50–74 years and 75 years and older. Interpretation: Overall, the record for reducing exposure to harmful risks over the past three decades is poor. Success with reducing smoking and lead exposure through regulatory policy might point the way for a stronger role for public policy on other risks in addition to continued efforts to provide information on risk factor harm to the general public. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license
Scarcity of ecosystem services : an experimental manipulation of declining pollination rates and its economic consequences for agriculture
- Sandhu, Harpinder, Waterhouse, Benjamin, Boyer, Stéphane, Wratten, Steve
- Authors: Sandhu, Harpinder , Waterhouse, Benjamin , Boyer, Stéphane , Wratten, Steve
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: PeerJ Vol. 2016, no. 7 (2016), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Ecosystem services (ES) such as pollination are vital for the continuous supply of food to a growing human population, but the decline in populations of insect pollinators worldwide poses a threat to food and nutritional security. Using a pollinator (honeybee) exclusion approach, we evaluated the impact of pollinator scarcity on production in four brassica fields, two producing hybrid seeds and two producing open-pollinated ones. There was a clear reduction in seed yield as pollination rates declined. Open-pollinated crops produced significantly higher yields than did the hybrid ones at all pollination rates. The hybrid crops required at least 0.50 of background pollination rates to achieve maximum yield, whereas in open-pollinated crops, 0.25 pollination rates were necessary for maximum yield. The total estimated economic value of pollination services provided by honeybees to the agricultural industry in New Zealand is NZD $1.96 billion annually. This study indicates that loss of pollination services can result in significant declines in production and have serious implications for the market economy in New Zealand. Depending on the extent of honeybee population decline, and assuming that results in declining pollination services, the estimated economic loss to New Zealand agriculture could be in the range of NZD $295-728 million annually. © 2016 Sandhu et al.
- Authors: Sandhu, Harpinder , Waterhouse, Benjamin , Boyer, Stéphane , Wratten, Steve
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: PeerJ Vol. 2016, no. 7 (2016), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Ecosystem services (ES) such as pollination are vital for the continuous supply of food to a growing human population, but the decline in populations of insect pollinators worldwide poses a threat to food and nutritional security. Using a pollinator (honeybee) exclusion approach, we evaluated the impact of pollinator scarcity on production in four brassica fields, two producing hybrid seeds and two producing open-pollinated ones. There was a clear reduction in seed yield as pollination rates declined. Open-pollinated crops produced significantly higher yields than did the hybrid ones at all pollination rates. The hybrid crops required at least 0.50 of background pollination rates to achieve maximum yield, whereas in open-pollinated crops, 0.25 pollination rates were necessary for maximum yield. The total estimated economic value of pollination services provided by honeybees to the agricultural industry in New Zealand is NZD $1.96 billion annually. This study indicates that loss of pollination services can result in significant declines in production and have serious implications for the market economy in New Zealand. Depending on the extent of honeybee population decline, and assuming that results in declining pollination services, the estimated economic loss to New Zealand agriculture could be in the range of NZD $295-728 million annually. © 2016 Sandhu et al.
High intensity interval training (HIIT) improves resting blood pressure, metabolic (MET) capacity and heart rate reserve without compromising resting myocardial function in sedentary aging men
- Grace, Fergal, Herbert, Peter, Elliott, Adrian, Beaumont, Alexander, Richards, Jo, Sculthorpe, Nicholas
- Authors: Grace, Fergal , Herbert, Peter , Elliott, Adrian , Beaumont, Alexander , Richards, Jo , Sculthorpe, Nicholas
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Experimental Gerontology Vol.109, no. (2018), p.75-81
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background This study examined a programme of pre-conditioning exercise with subsequent high intensity interval training (HIIT) on blood pressure, echocardiography, cardiac strain mechanics and maximal metabolic (MET) capacity in sedentary (SED) aging men compared with age matched masters athletes (LEX). Methods Using a STROBE compliant observational design, 39 aging male participants (SED; n = 22, aged 62.7 ± 5.2 yrs) (LEX; n = 17, aged = 61.1 ± 5.4 yrs) were recruited to a study that necessitated three distinct assessment phases; enrolment (Phase A), following pre-conditioning exercise in SED (Phase B), then following 6 weeks of HIIT performed once every five days by both groups before reassessment (Phase C). Hemodynamic, echocardiographic and cardiac strain mechanics were obtained at rest and maximal cardiorespiratory and chronotropic responses were obtained at each measurement phase. Results The training intervention improved systolic, mean arterial blood pressure, rate pressure product and heart rate reserve (each P < 0.05) in SED and increased MET capacity in both SED and LEX (P < 0.01) which was amplified by HIIT. Echocardiography and cardiac strain measures were unremarkable apart from trivial increase to intra-ventricular septum diastole (IVSd) (P < 0.05) and decrease to left ventricular internal dimension diastole (LVId) (P < 0.05) in LEX following HIIT. Conclusions A programme of preconditioning exercise with HIIT induces clinically relevant improvements in blood pressure, rate pressure product and encourages recovery of heart rate reserve in SED, while improving maximal MET capacity in both SED and LEX without inducing any pathological cardiovascular remodeling. These data add to the emerging repute of HIIT as a safe and promising exercise prescription to improve cardiovascular function and metabolic capacity in sedentary aging.
- Authors: Grace, Fergal , Herbert, Peter , Elliott, Adrian , Beaumont, Alexander , Richards, Jo , Sculthorpe, Nicholas
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Experimental Gerontology Vol.109, no. (2018), p.75-81
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background This study examined a programme of pre-conditioning exercise with subsequent high intensity interval training (HIIT) on blood pressure, echocardiography, cardiac strain mechanics and maximal metabolic (MET) capacity in sedentary (SED) aging men compared with age matched masters athletes (LEX). Methods Using a STROBE compliant observational design, 39 aging male participants (SED; n = 22, aged 62.7 ± 5.2 yrs) (LEX; n = 17, aged = 61.1 ± 5.4 yrs) were recruited to a study that necessitated three distinct assessment phases; enrolment (Phase A), following pre-conditioning exercise in SED (Phase B), then following 6 weeks of HIIT performed once every five days by both groups before reassessment (Phase C). Hemodynamic, echocardiographic and cardiac strain mechanics were obtained at rest and maximal cardiorespiratory and chronotropic responses were obtained at each measurement phase. Results The training intervention improved systolic, mean arterial blood pressure, rate pressure product and heart rate reserve (each P < 0.05) in SED and increased MET capacity in both SED and LEX (P < 0.01) which was amplified by HIIT. Echocardiography and cardiac strain measures were unremarkable apart from trivial increase to intra-ventricular septum diastole (IVSd) (P < 0.05) and decrease to left ventricular internal dimension diastole (LVId) (P < 0.05) in LEX following HIIT. Conclusions A programme of preconditioning exercise with HIIT induces clinically relevant improvements in blood pressure, rate pressure product and encourages recovery of heart rate reserve in SED, while improving maximal MET capacity in both SED and LEX without inducing any pathological cardiovascular remodeling. These data add to the emerging repute of HIIT as a safe and promising exercise prescription to improve cardiovascular function and metabolic capacity in sedentary aging.
Discovery of rare variants associated with blood pressure regulation through meta-analysis of 1.3 million individuals
- Surendran, Praveen, Feofanova, Elena, Lahrouchi, Najim, Ntalla, Ionna, Karthikeyan, Savita, Cook, James, Chen, Lingyan, Mifsud, Borbala, Yao, Chen, Kraja, Aldi, Cartwright, James, Hellwege, Jacklyn, Giri, Ayush, Tragante, Vinicius, Thorleifsson, Gudmar, Liu, Dajiang, Prins, Bram, Stewart, Isobel, Cabrera, Claude, Eales, James, Akbarov, Artur, Auer, Paul, Charchar, Fadi, Howson, Joanna, LifeLines Cohort, Study, Epic, C. V. D., Epic InterAct, Understanding Society Scientific, Group, Million Veteran, Program
- Authors: Surendran, Praveen , Feofanova, Elena , Lahrouchi, Najim , Ntalla, Ionna , Karthikeyan, Savita , Cook, James , Chen, Lingyan , Mifsud, Borbala , Yao, Chen , Kraja, Aldi , Cartwright, James , Hellwege, Jacklyn , Giri, Ayush , Tragante, Vinicius , Thorleifsson, Gudmar , Liu, Dajiang , Prins, Bram , Stewart, Isobel , Cabrera, Claude , Eales, James , Akbarov, Artur , Auer, Paul , Charchar, Fadi , Howson, Joanna , LifeLines Cohort, Study , Epic, C. V. D. , Epic InterAct , Understanding Society Scientific, Group , Million Veteran, Program
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nature Genetics Vol. 52, no. 12 (2020), p. 1314-1332
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Genetic studies of blood pressure (BP) to date have mainly analyzed common variants (minor allele frequency > 0.05). In a meta-analysis of up to ~1.3 million participants, we discovered 106 new BP-associated genomic regions and 87 rare (minor allele frequency ≤ 0.01) variant BP associations (P < 5 × 10−8), of which 32 were in new BP-associated loci and 55 were independent BP-associated single-nucleotide variants within known BP-associated regions. Average effects of rare variants (44% coding) were ~8 times larger than common variant effects and indicate potential candidate causal genes at new and known loci (for example, GATA5 and PLCB3). BP-associated variants (including rare and common) were enriched in regions of active chromatin in fetal tissues, potentially linking fetal development with BP regulation in later life. Multivariable Mendelian randomization suggested possible inverse effects of elevated systolic and diastolic BP on large artery stroke. Our study demonstrates the utility of rare-variant analyses for identifying candidate genes and the results highlight potential therapeutic targets. © 2020, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc. There are 286 authors of this articles not all are listed in this record.
- Authors: Surendran, Praveen , Feofanova, Elena , Lahrouchi, Najim , Ntalla, Ionna , Karthikeyan, Savita , Cook, James , Chen, Lingyan , Mifsud, Borbala , Yao, Chen , Kraja, Aldi , Cartwright, James , Hellwege, Jacklyn , Giri, Ayush , Tragante, Vinicius , Thorleifsson, Gudmar , Liu, Dajiang , Prins, Bram , Stewart, Isobel , Cabrera, Claude , Eales, James , Akbarov, Artur , Auer, Paul , Charchar, Fadi , Howson, Joanna , LifeLines Cohort, Study , Epic, C. V. D. , Epic InterAct , Understanding Society Scientific, Group , Million Veteran, Program
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nature Genetics Vol. 52, no. 12 (2020), p. 1314-1332
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Genetic studies of blood pressure (BP) to date have mainly analyzed common variants (minor allele frequency > 0.05). In a meta-analysis of up to ~1.3 million participants, we discovered 106 new BP-associated genomic regions and 87 rare (minor allele frequency ≤ 0.01) variant BP associations (P < 5 × 10−8), of which 32 were in new BP-associated loci and 55 were independent BP-associated single-nucleotide variants within known BP-associated regions. Average effects of rare variants (44% coding) were ~8 times larger than common variant effects and indicate potential candidate causal genes at new and known loci (for example, GATA5 and PLCB3). BP-associated variants (including rare and common) were enriched in regions of active chromatin in fetal tissues, potentially linking fetal development with BP regulation in later life. Multivariable Mendelian randomization suggested possible inverse effects of elevated systolic and diastolic BP on large artery stroke. Our study demonstrates the utility of rare-variant analyses for identifying candidate genes and the results highlight potential therapeutic targets. © 2020, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc. There are 286 authors of this articles not all are listed in this record.
- Knowles, Ann-Marie, Herbert, Peter, Easton, Chris, Sculthorpe, Nicholas, Grace, Fergal
- Authors: Knowles, Ann-Marie , Herbert, Peter , Easton, Chris , Sculthorpe, Nicholas , Grace, Fergal
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Age Vol. 37, no. 2 (2015), p. 25
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: There is a demand for effective training methods that encourage exercise adherence during advancing age, particularly in sedentary populations. This study examined the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise on health-related quality of life (HRQL), aerobic fitness and motivation to exercise in ageing men. Participants consisted of males who were either lifelong sedentary (SED; N = 25; age 63 +/- 5 years) or lifelong exercisers (LEX; N = 19; aged 61 +/- 5 years). [Formula: see text] and HRQL were measured at three phases: baseline (Phase A), week seven (Phase B) and week 13 (Phase C). Motivation to exercise was measured at baseline and week 13. [Formula: see text] was significantly higher in LEX (39.2 +/- 5.6 ml kg min(-1)) compared to SED (27.2 +/- 5.2 ml kg min(-1)) and increased in both groups from Phase A to C (SED 4.6 +/- 3.2 ml kg min(-1), 95 % CI 3.1 - 6.0; LEX 4.9 +/- 3.4 ml kg min(-1), 95 % CI 3.1-6.6) Physical functioning (97 +/- 4 LEX; 93 +/- 7 SED) and general health (70 +/- 11 LEX; 78 +/- 11 SED) were significantly higher in LEX but increased only in the SED group from Phase A to C (physical functioning 17 +/- 18, 95 % CI 9-26, general health 14 +/- 14, 95 % CI 8-21). Exercise motives related to social recognition (2.4 +/- 1.2 LEX; 1.5 +/- 1.0 SED), affiliation (2.7 +/- 1.0 LEX; 1.6 +/- 1.2 SED) and competition (3.3 +/- 1.3 LEX; 2.2 +/- 1.1) were significantly higher in LEX yet weight management motives were significantly higher in SED (2.9 +/- 1.1 LEX; 4.3 +/- 0.5 SED). The study provides preliminary evidence that low-volume HIIT increases perceptions of HRQL, exercise motives and aerobic capacity in older adults, to varying degrees, in both SED and LEX groups.
Spatial, temporal, and demographic patterns in prevalence of chewing tobacco use in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019 : a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
- Kendrick, Parkes, Reitsma, Marissa, Abbasi-Kangevari, Mohsen, Abdoli, Amir, Rahman, Muhammad Aziz
- Authors: Kendrick, Parkes , Reitsma, Marissa , Abbasi-Kangevari, Mohsen , Abdoli, Amir , Rahman, Muhammad Aziz
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: The Lancet Public Health Vol. 6, no. 7 (2021), p. e482-e499
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Chewing tobacco and other types of smokeless tobacco use have had less attention from the global health community than smoked tobacco use. However, the practice is popular in many parts of the world and has been linked to several adverse health outcomes. Understanding trends in prevalence with age, over time, and by location and sex is important for policy setting and in relation to monitoring and assessing commitment to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Methods: We estimated prevalence of chewing tobacco use as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 using a modelling strategy that used information on multiple types of smokeless tobacco products. We generated a time series of prevalence of chewing tobacco use among individuals aged 15 years and older from 1990 to 2019 in 204 countries and territories, including age-sex specific estimates. We also compared these trends to those of smoked tobacco over the same time period. Findings: In 2019, 273·9 million (95% uncertainty interval 258·5 to 290·9) people aged 15 years and older used chewing tobacco, and the global age-standardised prevalence of chewing tobacco use was 4·72% (4·46 to 5·01). 228·2 million (213·6 to 244·7; 83·29% [82·15 to 84·42]) chewing tobacco users lived in the south Asia region. Prevalence among young people aged 15–19 years was over 10% in seven locations in 2019. Although global age-standardised prevalence of smoking tobacco use decreased significantly between 1990 and 2019 (annualised rate of change: –1·21% [–1·26 to –1·16]), similar progress was not observed for chewing tobacco (0·46% [0·13 to 0·79]). Among the 12 highest prevalence countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Palau, Sri Lanka, and Yemen), only Yemen had a significant decrease in the prevalence of chewing tobacco use, which was among males between 1990 and 2019 (−0·94% [–1·72 to –0·14]), compared with nine of 12 countries that had significant decreases in the prevalence of smoking tobacco. Among females, none of these 12 countries had significant decreases in prevalence of chewing tobacco use, whereas seven of 12 countries had a significant decrease in the prevalence of tobacco smoking use for the period. Interpretation: Chewing tobacco remains a substantial public health problem in several regions of the world, and predominantly in south Asia. We found little change in the prevalence of chewing tobacco use between 1990 and 2019, and that control efforts have had much larger effects on the prevalence of smoking tobacco use than on chewing tobacco use in some countries. Mitigating the health effects of chewing tobacco requires stronger regulations and policies that specifically target use of chewing tobacco, especially in countries with high prevalence. Funding: Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license. . **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Muhammad Aziz Rahman" is provided in this record**
- Authors: Kendrick, Parkes , Reitsma, Marissa , Abbasi-Kangevari, Mohsen , Abdoli, Amir , Rahman, Muhammad Aziz
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: The Lancet Public Health Vol. 6, no. 7 (2021), p. e482-e499
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- Description: Background: Chewing tobacco and other types of smokeless tobacco use have had less attention from the global health community than smoked tobacco use. However, the practice is popular in many parts of the world and has been linked to several adverse health outcomes. Understanding trends in prevalence with age, over time, and by location and sex is important for policy setting and in relation to monitoring and assessing commitment to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Methods: We estimated prevalence of chewing tobacco use as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 using a modelling strategy that used information on multiple types of smokeless tobacco products. We generated a time series of prevalence of chewing tobacco use among individuals aged 15 years and older from 1990 to 2019 in 204 countries and territories, including age-sex specific estimates. We also compared these trends to those of smoked tobacco over the same time period. Findings: In 2019, 273·9 million (95% uncertainty interval 258·5 to 290·9) people aged 15 years and older used chewing tobacco, and the global age-standardised prevalence of chewing tobacco use was 4·72% (4·46 to 5·01). 228·2 million (213·6 to 244·7; 83·29% [82·15 to 84·42]) chewing tobacco users lived in the south Asia region. Prevalence among young people aged 15–19 years was over 10% in seven locations in 2019. Although global age-standardised prevalence of smoking tobacco use decreased significantly between 1990 and 2019 (annualised rate of change: –1·21% [–1·26 to –1·16]), similar progress was not observed for chewing tobacco (0·46% [0·13 to 0·79]). Among the 12 highest prevalence countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Palau, Sri Lanka, and Yemen), only Yemen had a significant decrease in the prevalence of chewing tobacco use, which was among males between 1990 and 2019 (−0·94% [–1·72 to –0·14]), compared with nine of 12 countries that had significant decreases in the prevalence of smoking tobacco. Among females, none of these 12 countries had significant decreases in prevalence of chewing tobacco use, whereas seven of 12 countries had a significant decrease in the prevalence of tobacco smoking use for the period. Interpretation: Chewing tobacco remains a substantial public health problem in several regions of the world, and predominantly in south Asia. We found little change in the prevalence of chewing tobacco use between 1990 and 2019, and that control efforts have had much larger effects on the prevalence of smoking tobacco use than on chewing tobacco use in some countries. Mitigating the health effects of chewing tobacco requires stronger regulations and policies that specifically target use of chewing tobacco, especially in countries with high prevalence. Funding: Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license. . **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Muhammad Aziz Rahman" is provided in this record**
Age-related changes in generalized anxiety disorder symptoms
- Miloyan, Beyon, Byrne, Gerard, Pachana, Nancy
- Authors: Miloyan, Beyon , Byrne, Gerard , Pachana, Nancy
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Psychogeriatrics Vol. 26, no. 4 (2014), p. 565-572
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- Description: Background: Little is known about the effects of age on the symptoms of anxiety disorder. Accordingly, this study sought to investigate age-related differences in the number and kind of symptoms that distinguish between individuals with and without a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Methods: A sample of 3,486 self-reported worriers was derived from Wave 1 of the National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), an epidemiological survey of mental health conducted in the USA in 2001-2002. Participants were stratified into the following age groups (18-29 years, 30-44 years, 45-64 years, 65-98 years), and then divided into diagnostic groups (GAD and non-GAD worriers). Results: Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that four distinct sets of symptoms were associated with GAD in each age group, and that numerically fewer symptoms were associated with GAD in older adults. Moreover, there were graduated changes in the type and number of symptoms associated with GAD in each successive age group. Conclusions: There are graduated, age-related differences in the phenomenology of GAD that might contribute to challenges in the detection of late-life anxiety. © International Psychogeriatric Association 2014.
Interval between infections and viral hierarchy are determinants of viral interference following influenza virus infection in a ferret model
- Laurie, Karen, Guarnaccia, Teagan, Carolan, Louise, Yan, Aada, Aban, Malet, Petrie, Stephen, Cao, Pengxing, Heffernan, Jane, McVernon, Jodie, Mosse, Jennifer, Kelso, Anne, McCaw, James, Barr, Ian
- Authors: Laurie, Karen , Guarnaccia, Teagan , Carolan, Louise , Yan, Aada , Aban, Malet , Petrie, Stephen , Cao, Pengxing , Heffernan, Jane , McVernon, Jodie , Mosse, Jennifer , Kelso, Anne , McCaw, James , Barr, Ian
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol. 212, no. 10 (2015), p. 1701-1710
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- Description: Background. Epidemiological studies suggest that, following infection with influenza virus, there is a short period during which a host experiences a lower susceptibility to infection with other influenza viruses. This viral interference appears to be independent of any antigenic similarities between the viruses. We used the ferret model of human influenza to systematically investigate viral interference. Methods. Ferrets were first infected then challenged 1-14 days later with pairs of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, influenza A(H3N2), and influenza B viruses circulating in 2009 and 2010. Results. Viral interference was observed when the interval between initiation of primary infection and subsequent challenge was <1 week. This effect was virus specific and occurred between antigenically related and unrelated viruses. Coinfections occurred when 1 or 3 days separated infections. Ongoing shedding from the primary virus infection was associated with viral interference after the secondary challenge. Conclusions. The interval between infections and the sequential combination of viruses were important determinants of viral interference. The influenza viruses in this study appear to have an ordered hierarchy according to their ability to block or delay infection, which may contribute to the dominance of different viruses often seen in an influenza season.
- Authors: Laurie, Karen , Guarnaccia, Teagan , Carolan, Louise , Yan, Aada , Aban, Malet , Petrie, Stephen , Cao, Pengxing , Heffernan, Jane , McVernon, Jodie , Mosse, Jennifer , Kelso, Anne , McCaw, James , Barr, Ian
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol. 212, no. 10 (2015), p. 1701-1710
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- Description: Background. Epidemiological studies suggest that, following infection with influenza virus, there is a short period during which a host experiences a lower susceptibility to infection with other influenza viruses. This viral interference appears to be independent of any antigenic similarities between the viruses. We used the ferret model of human influenza to systematically investigate viral interference. Methods. Ferrets were first infected then challenged 1-14 days later with pairs of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, influenza A(H3N2), and influenza B viruses circulating in 2009 and 2010. Results. Viral interference was observed when the interval between initiation of primary infection and subsequent challenge was <1 week. This effect was virus specific and occurred between antigenically related and unrelated viruses. Coinfections occurred when 1 or 3 days separated infections. Ongoing shedding from the primary virus infection was associated with viral interference after the secondary challenge. Conclusions. The interval between infections and the sequential combination of viruses were important determinants of viral interference. The influenza viruses in this study appear to have an ordered hierarchy according to their ability to block or delay infection, which may contribute to the dominance of different viruses often seen in an influenza season.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 5 (S1PR5) regulates the peripheral retention of tissue-resident lymphocytes
- Evrard, Maximilien, Wynne-Jones, Erica, Peng, Changwei, Kannourakis, George, Berzins, Stuart
- Authors: Evrard, Maximilien , Wynne-Jones, Erica , Peng, Changwei , Kannourakis, George , Berzins, Stuart
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Experimental Medicine Vol. 219, no. 1 (2021), p.
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- Description: Tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells provide long-lasting immune protection. One of the key events controlling TRM cell development is the local retention of TRM cell precursors coupled to downregulation of molecules necessary for tissue exit. Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 5 (S1PR5) is a migratory receptor with an uncharted function in T cells. Here, we show that S1PR5 plays a critical role in T cell infiltration and emigration from peripheral organs, as well as being specifically downregulated in TRM cells. Consequentially, TRM cell development was selectively impaired upon ectopic expression of S1pr5, whereas loss of S1pr5 enhanced skin TRM cell formation by promoting peripheral T cell sequestration. Importantly, we found that T-bet and ZEB2 were required for S1pr5 induction and that local TGF-β signaling was necessary to promote coordinated Tbx21, Zeb2, and S1pr5 downregulation. Moreover, S1PR5-mediated control of tissue residency was conserved across innate and adaptive immune compartments. Together, these results identify the T-bet-ZEB2-S1PR5 axis as a previously unappreciated mechanism modulating the generation of tissue-resident lymphocytes. © 2021 Evrard et al.
- Authors: Evrard, Maximilien , Wynne-Jones, Erica , Peng, Changwei , Kannourakis, George , Berzins, Stuart
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Experimental Medicine Vol. 219, no. 1 (2021), p.
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- Description: Tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells provide long-lasting immune protection. One of the key events controlling TRM cell development is the local retention of TRM cell precursors coupled to downregulation of molecules necessary for tissue exit. Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 5 (S1PR5) is a migratory receptor with an uncharted function in T cells. Here, we show that S1PR5 plays a critical role in T cell infiltration and emigration from peripheral organs, as well as being specifically downregulated in TRM cells. Consequentially, TRM cell development was selectively impaired upon ectopic expression of S1pr5, whereas loss of S1pr5 enhanced skin TRM cell formation by promoting peripheral T cell sequestration. Importantly, we found that T-bet and ZEB2 were required for S1pr5 induction and that local TGF-β signaling was necessary to promote coordinated Tbx21, Zeb2, and S1pr5 downregulation. Moreover, S1PR5-mediated control of tissue residency was conserved across innate and adaptive immune compartments. Together, these results identify the T-bet-ZEB2-S1PR5 axis as a previously unappreciated mechanism modulating the generation of tissue-resident lymphocytes. © 2021 Evrard et al.
Chronic ill health in a regional Victoria setting: A 13-year comparison
- Glenister, Kristen, Bourke, Lisa, Terry, Daniel, Simmons, David
- Authors: Glenister, Kristen , Bourke, Lisa , Terry, Daniel , Simmons, David
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Rural Health Vol. 27, no. 6 (2019), p. 527-534
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- Description: Objective: High-quality data regarding the prevalence of chronic disease in rural areas are essential in understanding the challenges faced by rural populations and for informing strategies to address health care needs. This study compared the prevalence of a range of self-reported chronic conditions and utilisation of GP services and emergency department in a regional Victorian setting between two studies conducted in the same region in 2001-2003 and 2014. Design: Repeat cross-sectional studies conducted over a decade apart. Setting: The projects were conducted in the Goulburn Valley in regional Victoria. Participants: The earlier study randomly selected households from local government lists. The later study randomly selected householders from the telephone directory. Main outcome measures: Participants were asked whether they had been diagnosed with a range of chronic health conditions and how often they had visited a general practitioner or emergency department in the past 12 months. Results: The age-standardised prevalence of depression was higher in the 2014 study than the 2001-2003 study in men (increased by 8.0% (95% CI 4.5, 11.5%)) and women (increased by 13.7% (95% CI 8.4, 19.0%)). Similarly, the prevalence of age-standardised diabetes and hypertension was higher in 2014 than 2001-2003 (men increased by 3.6% (95% CI 0.7, 6.5% (diabetes)) and 13.6% (95% CI 8.6, 18.6% (hypertension)), women increased by 3.1% (95% CI 0.3, 6.5% (diabetes)) and 8.4% (95% CI 2.3, 14.5% (hypertension))). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the prevalence of self-reported depression, diabetes and hypertension has increased in this regional Victorian area over the past 13 years. The reasons for these observed increases and the subsequent impact on the health care needs of regional communities warrants further investigation. © 2019 National Rural Health Alliance Ltd.
- Authors: Glenister, Kristen , Bourke, Lisa , Terry, Daniel , Simmons, David
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Rural Health Vol. 27, no. 6 (2019), p. 527-534
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- Description: Objective: High-quality data regarding the prevalence of chronic disease in rural areas are essential in understanding the challenges faced by rural populations and for informing strategies to address health care needs. This study compared the prevalence of a range of self-reported chronic conditions and utilisation of GP services and emergency department in a regional Victorian setting between two studies conducted in the same region in 2001-2003 and 2014. Design: Repeat cross-sectional studies conducted over a decade apart. Setting: The projects were conducted in the Goulburn Valley in regional Victoria. Participants: The earlier study randomly selected households from local government lists. The later study randomly selected householders from the telephone directory. Main outcome measures: Participants were asked whether they had been diagnosed with a range of chronic health conditions and how often they had visited a general practitioner or emergency department in the past 12 months. Results: The age-standardised prevalence of depression was higher in the 2014 study than the 2001-2003 study in men (increased by 8.0% (95% CI 4.5, 11.5%)) and women (increased by 13.7% (95% CI 8.4, 19.0%)). Similarly, the prevalence of age-standardised diabetes and hypertension was higher in 2014 than 2001-2003 (men increased by 3.6% (95% CI 0.7, 6.5% (diabetes)) and 13.6% (95% CI 8.6, 18.6% (hypertension)), women increased by 3.1% (95% CI 0.3, 6.5% (diabetes)) and 8.4% (95% CI 2.3, 14.5% (hypertension))). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the prevalence of self-reported depression, diabetes and hypertension has increased in this regional Victorian area over the past 13 years. The reasons for these observed increases and the subsequent impact on the health care needs of regional communities warrants further investigation. © 2019 National Rural Health Alliance Ltd.
Proteomic identification of galectin-11 and 14 ligands from Haemonchus contortus
- Sakthivel, Dhanasekaran, Swan, Jaclyn, Preston, Sarah, Shakif-Azam, MD, Faou, Pierre, Jiao, Yaqing, Downs, Rachael, Rajapaksha, Harinda, Gasser, Robin, Piedrafita, David, Beddoe, Travis
- Authors: Sakthivel, Dhanasekaran , Swan, Jaclyn , Preston, Sarah , Shakif-Azam, MD , Faou, Pierre , Jiao, Yaqing , Downs, Rachael , Rajapaksha, Harinda , Gasser, Robin , Piedrafita, David , Beddoe, Travis
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Peerj Vol. 6, no. 3 (2018), p. 1-19
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- Description: Haemonchus contortus is the most pathogenic nematode of small ruminants. Infection in sheep and goats results in anaemia that decreases animal productivity and can ultimately cause death. The involvement of ruminant-specific galectin-11 (LGALS-11) and galectin-14 (LGALS-14) has been postulated to play important roles in protective immune responses against parasitic infection; however, their ligands are unknown. In the current study, LGALS-11 and LGALS-14 ligands in H. contortus were identified from larval (L4) and adult parasitic stages extracts using immobilised LGALS-11 and LGALS-14 affinity column chromatography and mass spectrometry. Both LGALS-11 and LGALS-14 bound more putative protein targets in the adult stage of H. contortus (43 proteins) when compared to the larval stage (two proteins). Of the 43 proteins identified in the adult stage, 34 and 35 proteins were bound by LGALS-11 and LGALS-14, respectively, with 26 proteins binding to both galectins. Interestingly, hematophagous stage-specific sperm-coating protein and zinc metalloprotease (M13), which are known vaccine candidates, were identified as putative ligands of both LGALS-11 and LGALS- 14. The identification of glycoproteins of H. contortus by LGALS-11 and LGALS-14 provide new insights into host-parasite interactions and the potential for developing new interventions.
- Authors: Sakthivel, Dhanasekaran , Swan, Jaclyn , Preston, Sarah , Shakif-Azam, MD , Faou, Pierre , Jiao, Yaqing , Downs, Rachael , Rajapaksha, Harinda , Gasser, Robin , Piedrafita, David , Beddoe, Travis
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Peerj Vol. 6, no. 3 (2018), p. 1-19
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- Description: Haemonchus contortus is the most pathogenic nematode of small ruminants. Infection in sheep and goats results in anaemia that decreases animal productivity and can ultimately cause death. The involvement of ruminant-specific galectin-11 (LGALS-11) and galectin-14 (LGALS-14) has been postulated to play important roles in protective immune responses against parasitic infection; however, their ligands are unknown. In the current study, LGALS-11 and LGALS-14 ligands in H. contortus were identified from larval (L4) and adult parasitic stages extracts using immobilised LGALS-11 and LGALS-14 affinity column chromatography and mass spectrometry. Both LGALS-11 and LGALS-14 bound more putative protein targets in the adult stage of H. contortus (43 proteins) when compared to the larval stage (two proteins). Of the 43 proteins identified in the adult stage, 34 and 35 proteins were bound by LGALS-11 and LGALS-14, respectively, with 26 proteins binding to both galectins. Interestingly, hematophagous stage-specific sperm-coating protein and zinc metalloprotease (M13), which are known vaccine candidates, were identified as putative ligands of both LGALS-11 and LGALS- 14. The identification of glycoproteins of H. contortus by LGALS-11 and LGALS-14 provide new insights into host-parasite interactions and the potential for developing new interventions.