The implementation of a pilot playground markings project in four Australian primary schools.

Issue Addressed: Increasing childhood overweight and obesity rates need strategies that promote and engage children in more physical activity and school is one setting for this. This pilot project aimed to determine if coloured playground markings are an effective strategy, in the Australian context, to increase students' physical activity during school break times in primary schools.

Methods: Four schools participated, two as intervention schools and two as control schools.

Estrogen-related receptor α is involved in the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from human periodontal ligaments.

Recently, it has been reported that the orphan nuclear receptor estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα) is involved in the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Moreover, ERRα has been identified as a novel therapeutic target for treating osteoporosis and other bone diseases. Human periodontal ligament tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hPDLSCs) have recently been used in stem cell-mediated therapies because of their multipotency, particularly toward osteogenic differentiation.

Dexamethasone influences FGF-induced responses in lens epithelial explants and promotes the posterior capsule coverage that is a feature of glucocorticoid-induced cataract.

Aberrant spreading of lens epithelial cells along the posterior capsule is the basis for development of glucocorticoid (GC)-induced cataract; the resulting foci of nucleated cells at the posterior pole causing disruptions to normal lens cellular architecture. In this study, rat lens epithelial explants were used to assess the effects of dexamethasone (DEX), a widely used synthetic GC, on FGF2-induced lens cell proliferation and elongation as well as the ability of lens cells to spread and cover the posterior capsule. In the presence of FGF2, DEX significantly promoted lens cell proliferation after 48 h.

Combination treatment with anti-CD20 and oral anti-CD3 prevents and reverses autoimmune diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease, although B cells also play an important role in T1D development. Both T cell- and B cell-directed immunotherapies have shown efficacy in the prevention and reversal of T1D. However, whether the combined strategy of targeting both T and B cells could further improve therapeutic efficacy remains to be explored.

Tear levels of SFRP1 are significantly reduced in keratoconus patients.

Purpose: To measure secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) levels in human tears and to investigate tear SFRP1 as a potential biomarker for keratoconus (KC).

Methods: Tears were collected from control (n = 33) and KC patients (n = 33) using micropipette tubes. Total tear protein was measured using a FluoroProfile Protein Quantification kit.

Role of IRAK-M in alcohol induced liver injury.

Increasing evidence suggests that innate immunity plays an important role in alcohol-induced liver injury and most studies have focused on positive regulation of innate immunity. The main objective of this study was to investigate the negative regulator of innate immunity, IL-1/Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways and interleukin receptor-associated kinase-M (IRAK-M) in alcoholic liver injury. We established an alcohol-induced liver injury model using wild type and IRAK-M deficient B6 mice and investigated the possible mechanisms.

FoxM1 expression is significantly associated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy resistance and poor prognosis in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Background: The transcription factor Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) is known to play an important role in the development and progression of many malignancies including lung cancer. However, the relationship of FoxM1 expression and the clinical response to chemotherapy and prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unknown.

Methods: Total 162 NSCLC (stages IIIB and IV) patients who had tumor specimens available before treatment were assessed for FoxM1 expression using immunohistochemistry.

Inhibition of the ecto-beta subunit of F1F0-ATPase inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines.

Background: Leukemia, a heterogeneous clonal disorder of hematopoietic progenitor cells, presents a world-wide health problem, especially in childhood. F1F0 ATPase, an inner mitochondrial enzyme, is expressed on the plasma membrane of tumor cells, and its inhibition induces both anti-angiogenic and anti-tumorigenic activity.

Methods: Monoclonal Antibody (McAb) against ATPase was produced by polyethylene glycol-mediated fusions and screened by ELISA.

Analyzing the gene expression profile of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia with real-time PCR arrays.

Background: The Real-time PCR Array System is the ideal tool for analyzing the expression of a focused panel of genes. In this study, we will analyze the gene expression profile of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia with real-time PCR arrays.

Methods: Real-time PCR array was designed and tested firstly.

Smoking status and factors associated with smoking of first-time mothers during pregnancy and postpartum: findings from the Healthy Beginnings Trial.

This study aimed to investigate smoking status and factors associated with smoking among first-time mothers and their partners during pregnancy and postpartum. A prospective cohort study with 201 first-time mothers was conducted using data from the Healthy Beginnings Trial, undertaken in one of the most socially and economically disadvantaged areas of south-western Sydney, Australia in 2007-2010. Smoking status of the mothers and their partner and smoke-free home status were assessed at 30-36 weeks of pregnancy, and also at 6, 12 and 24 months postpartum.

TLR4 regulates cardiac lipid accumulation and diabetic heart disease in the nonobese diabetic mouse model of type 1 diabetes.

Toll-like receptor (TLR)4 regulates inflammation and metabolism and has been linked to the pathogenesis of heart disease. TLR4 is upregulated in diabetic cardiomyocytes, and we examined the role of TLR4 in modulating cardiac fatty acid (FA) metabolism and the pathogenesis of diabetic heart disease in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. Both wild-type (WT) NOD and TLR4-deficient NOD animals had increased plasma triglyceride levels after the onset of diabetes.

L-type calcium channels play a crucial role in the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

L-type voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels (VDCC(L)) play an important role in the maintenance of intracellular calcium homeostasis, and influence multiple cellular processes. They have been confirmed to contribute to the functional activities of osteoblasts. Recently, VDCC(L) expression was reported in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), but the role of VDCC(L) in MSCs is still undetermined.

Effectiveness of home based early intervention on children's BMI at age 2: randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a home based early intervention on children's body mass index (BMI) at age 2.

Design: Randomised controlled trial.

Setting: The Healthy Beginnings Trial was conducted in socially and economically disadvantaged areas of Sydney, Australia, during 2007-10.

Awareness of breastfeeding recommendations and duration of breastfeeding: findings from the Healthy Beginnings Trial.

Background: To date, there are no studies examining the role of awareness of the World Health Organization's breastfeeding recommendation in determining mothers' breastfeeding decisions and practice. This study sought to determine whether awareness of the recommendation to breastfeed exclusively to age 6 months and intention to meet this recommendation are translated into breastfeeding practice.

Methods: We analyzed longitudinal data from 201 first-time mothers who participated in the Healthy Beginnings Trial as a control group.

Associations between XPD Asp312Asn polymorphism and risk of head and neck cancer: a meta-analysis based on 7,122 subjects.

Background: To investigate the association between XPD Asp312Asn polymorphism and head and neck cancer risk through this meta-analysis.

Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of 9 published case-control studies including 2,670 patients with head and neck cancer and 4,452 controls. An odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied to assess the association between XPD Asp312Asn polymorphism and head and neck cancer risk.

The possible effect on frequency of cycling if mandatory bicycle helmet legislation was repealed in Sydney, Australia: a cross sectional survey.

Issue Addressed: Australia has national, state and city targets to increase levels of cycling. The possible effect of repealing mandatory bicycle helmet legislation on the frequency of cycling in Sydney is examined.

Methods: A cross sectional survey by a market research company was conducted, using quota sampling, in Sydney, Australia.

The dual effects of B cell depletion on antigen-specific T cells in BDC2.5NOD mice.

B cells play a critical role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diabetes. To investigate the mechanisms by which B cell depletion therapy attenuates islet β cell loss and particularly to examine the effect of B cells on both diabetogenic and regulatory Ag-specific T cells, we generated a transgenic BDC2.5NOD mouse expressing human CD20 on B cells.

Awareness, intention, and needs regarding breastfeeding: findings from first-time mothers in Shanghai, China.

Background And Objectives: Despite efforts, a decline in breastfeeding rates has been documented in China recently. This study explored the awareness of the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for breastfeeding and intention to breastfeed among first-time mothers and identified the gap between mothers' needs and perinatal care provision regarding breastfeeding promotion.

Subjects And Methods: In total, 653 women at 5-22 gestational weeks were recruited from four community health centers in Shanghai, China.

Epicutaneous immunization with DNP-BSA induces CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells that inhibit Tc1-mediated CS.

As we have shown previously that protein antigen applied epicutaneously (EC) in mice inhibits TNP-specific Th1-mediated contact sensitivity (CS), we postulated that the maneuver of EC immunization might also suppress Tc1-dependent CS response. Here we showed that EC immunization of normal mice with 2,4-dinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin (DNP-BSA) applied on the skin in the form of a patch induces a state of subsequent unresponsiveness due to regulatory T cells (Treg) that inhibited sensitization and elicitation of effector T-cell responses. Suppression is transferable in vivo by TCRαβ(+) CD4(+) CD25(+) lymphocytes harvested from lymph nodes (LNs) of skin-patched animals.

Type 1 diabetes therapy beyond T cell targeting: monocytes, B cells, and innate lymphocytes.

Recent clinical trials, investigating type 1 diabetes (T1D), have focused mainly on newly diagnosed individuals who have developed diabetes. We need to continue our efforts to understand disease processes and to rationally design interventions that will be safe and specific for disease, but at the same time not induce undesirable immunosuppression. T cells are clearly involved in the pathogenesis of T1D, and have been a major focus for both antigen-specific and non-antigen-specific therapy, but thus far no single strategy has emerged as superior.

Humoral and cellular immune responses to Yersinia pestis infection in long-term recovered plague patients.

Plague is one of the most dangerous diseases and is caused by Yersinia pestis. Effective vaccine development requires understanding of immune protective mechanisms against the bacterium in humans. In this study, the humoral and memory cellular immune responses in plague patients (n = 65) recovered from Y.

Functional assessment of TSC1 missense variants identified in individuals with tuberous sclerosis complex.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes. The TSC1 and TSC2 gene products, TSC1 and TSC2, form a complex that inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (TORC1). Previously, we demonstrated that pathogenic amino acid substitutions in the N-terminal domain of TSC1 (amino acids 50-224) are destabilizing.