Publications by authors named "Appleton S"

Purpose: The Functional External Memory Aid Tool (FEMAT) is a performance-based measure of applied cognitive-linguistic abilities and attempted use of compensatory aids and strategies (e.g., using a calendar to recall an appointment) through completion of simulated everyday living tasks.

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The deep inferior epigastric perforator artery (DIEP) free flap is the most commonly performed autologous breast reconstruction. Despite the relative reduction in donor site complications compared to nonmuscle-sparing options, there is still high morbidity associated with this surgery. The purpose of this study is to compare outcomes and complications at our institution and to discuss potential quality improvement initiatives.

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  • Open access trials of self-guided digital health interventions for young people often face high drop-out rates, with some trials showing completion rates below 3%.
  • This study involved 30 children and adolescents aged 7 to 17, using focus groups to explore their motivations and barriers to completing a digital health intervention for anxiety.
  • Findings revealed that younger children depend more on external motivators like parental guidance, while teens show more internal motivation; both groups value engaging content but commonly list time commitment and external factors as demotivators.
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  • The study investigates the link between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) over an 8.3-year period among men who were initially free of diabetes.
  • Out of 824 participants from the MAILES study, 52 (9.7%) were diagnosed with T2DM, and initial associations between OSA metrics and T2DM weakened after adjusting for factors like baseline glucose and testosterone levels.
  • Key findings include that individuals with lower mean oxygen saturation levels had a significantly higher risk of developing T2DM, while other metrics of sleep apnea showed no independent association once adjustments were made.
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Whether private healthcare providers should be encouraged over public providers remains unclear. On the one hand, because private providers are profit-driven, they are more motivated to compete for demand by enhancing quality if demand is elastic. However, because they are more motivated to maximize revenue, they may sacrifice quality to maximize profit.

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Using three waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, this paper examines whether financial transfers from adult children to elderly parents affect the latter's mental health. Both OLS and instrumental variable (IV) estimates show that financial transfers significantly attenuate depressive symptoms of elderly individuals, with a much larger size of the IV estimates. We also examine the income and cultural channels through which intergenerational transfers work and further discuss the explanatory powers of these two channels through a decomposition analysis.

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Consumer preference dictates not only what food is consumed but also how that food is produced. Ingredients in livestock feed that are not antibiotics, not genetically modified, and not of animal origin but that are nutrient-like tend to be more acceptable to consumers, retailers, and producers. Mono- and diglycerides (MDG) fit these criteria, are commonly used in food, and are generally recognized as safe.

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Despite advances in care, cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death worldwide. As a result, identifying suitable biomarkers for early diagnosis and improving therapeutic and diagnostic strategies is crucial. Because of their significant advantages over other therapeutic approaches, nucleic-based therapies, particularly aptamers, are gaining increased attention.

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  • This study examined how men and women differ in their responses to cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), focusing on a large group of clinical participants.
  • Researchers reviewed patient charts, comparing symptoms and sleep patterns before and after treatment using several questionnaires, while also considering factors like age and body mass index (BMI).
  • Results showed that while females initially had worse insomnia symptoms than males, both sexes experienced significant improvements after CBT-I, though some differences in depressive symptoms were noted, which disappeared when adjusting for other variables.
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UK guidelines recommend liraglutide 3.0 mg in adults treated within specialist weight management services with BMI ≥35 kg/m, prediabetes and high cardiovascular disease risk. We aimed to clinically evaluate liraglutide 3.

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Snoring may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease independent of other co-morbidities. However, most prior studies have relied on subjective, self-report, snoring evaluation. This study assessed snoring prevalence objectively over multiple months using in-home monitoring technology, and its association with hypertension prevalence.

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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been linked to cancer in several clinical and community-based cohorts. The effect in community-based studies free of clinical referral bias needs to be replicated. In this observational prospective cohort study, we pooled data from three community-based prospective cohorts (Uppsala Sleep and Health in Men cohort [UMEN]; Sleep and health in women [SHE]; Men Androgen Inflammation Lifestyle Environment and Stress Cohort [MAILES]; n = 1467).

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We assessed: (1) the independent and joint association of obstructive sleep apnea risk and healthy lifestyle with common consequences (excessive daytime sleepiness, depression, cardiovascular disease and stroke) of obstructive sleep apnea; and (2) the effect of healthy lifestyle on survival in people with increased obstructive sleep apnea risk. Data from 13,694 adults (median age 46 years; 50% men) were used for cross-sectional and survival analyses (mortality over 15 years). A healthy lifestyle score with values from 0 (most unhealthy) to 5 (most healthy) was determined based on diet, alcohol intake, physical activity, smoking and body mass index.

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Previous prospective studies examining associations of obstructive sleep apnea and sleep macroarchitecture with future cognitive function recruited older participants, many demonstrating baseline cognitive impairment. This study examined obstructive sleep apnea and sleep macroarchitecture predictors of visual attention, processing speed, and executive function after 8 years among younger community-dwelling men. Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study participants (n = 477) underwent home-based polysomnography, with 157 completing Trail-Making Tests A and B and the Mini-Mental State Examination.

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Background: Insomnia is a common issue among individuals with mental health conditions, yet the frequency of insomnia treatment remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of probable insomnia, discussions regarding sleep with health professionals, and the utilisation of commonly delivered insomnia treatments in Australian adults diagnosed with mental health conditions.

Methods: This study represents a secondary analysis of data collected through a cross-sectional, national online survey conducted in 2019.

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Objectives: Previous studies examining associations between sleep spindles and cognitive function attempted to account for obstructive sleep apnea without consideration for potential moderating effects. To elucidate associations between sleep spindles, cognitive function, and obstructive sleep apnea, this study of community-dwelling men examined cross-sectional associations between sleep spindle metrics and daytime cognitive function outcomes following adjustment for obstructive sleep apnea and potential obstructive sleep apnea moderating effects.

Methods: Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study participants (n = 477, 41-87 years) reporting no previous obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis underwent home-based polysomnography (2010-2011).

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Purpose: Prospective studies examining associations between baseline sleep microarchitecture and future cognitive function recruited from small samples with predominantly short follow-up. This study examined sleep microarchitecture predictors of cognitive function (visual attention, processing speed, and executive function) after 8 years in community-dwelling men.

Patients And Methods: Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study participants (n=477) underwent home-based polysomnography (2010-2011), with 157 completing baseline (2007-2010) and follow-up (2018-2019) cognitive assessments (trail-making tests A [TMT-A] and B [TMT-B] and the standardized mini-mental state examination [SMMSE]).

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Purpose: Little is known about sleep after a concussion, a form of mild traumatic brain injury. Given the importance of sleep for both maintaining brain health and recovery from injury, we sought to examine sleep acutely and subacutely after concussion.

Methods: Athletes who experienced a sports-related concussion were invited to participate.

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Article Synopsis
  • Irregular sleep patterns, including changes in sleep duration and timing, may increase the risk of hypertension, as indicated by a study involving over 12,000 adults.
  • The study found that disruptions in sleep duration were linked to a 9% to 17% increase in hypertension risk, while specific timing irregularities like late sleep onset resulted in a 32% increase in hypertension.
  • These results suggest that both sleep irregularity in duration and timing are important factors for cardiovascular health, warranting further research on their effects on blood pressure and heart health.
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Primary snoring impacts a significant portion of the adult population and has the potential to significantly impair quality of life. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide evidence-based recommendations to assist Australasian practitioners in the management of adult patients who present with primary snoring without significant obstructive sleep apnoea. The Timetable, Methodology and Standards by which this Position Statement has been established is outlined in the Appendix S1.

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Purpose: Insomnia symptoms and sleep apnea frequently co-occur and are associated with worse sleep, daytime function, mental health and quality of life, compared to either insomnia or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) alone. This study aimed to investigate the association of symptoms of co-morbid insomnia and sleep apnea (COMISA) with all-cause mortality.

Patients And Methods: Wisconsin Sleep Cohort data were analysed to assess potential associations between COMISA symptoms and all-cause mortality.

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Inaccurate labels on some e-cigarette products have prompted calls for routine testing to monitor product label integrity. The objective of this study was to compare label statements of commercial disposable/non-chargeable e-cigarette products for nicotine concentration and e-liquid volume with analytically verified levels. Commercial e-cigarette samples were analyzed for nicotine concentration (N = 51), e-liquid volume and total nicotine content (N = 39).

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Research with 'good sleepers' is ubiquitous, yet there are no standardised criteria to identify a 'good sleeper'. The present study aimed to create and validate a questionnaire for identifying good sleepers for use in research studies known as the Good Sleeper Scale-15 items (GSS-15). Data were derived from a population-based survey of Australian adults (n = 2,044).

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