Protein kinase C delta is a substrate of tissue transglutaminase and a novel autoantigen in coeliac disease.

Post-translational modification of proteins by deamidation or transamidation by tissue transglutaminase (tTG) has been suggested as a possible mechanism for the development of autoimmunity. Sequence analysis of protein kinase C delta (PKCδ) identified an amino acid motif that suggested the possibility that PKCδ was a glutamine substrate of tTG and MALDI-TOF analysis of synthesised peptides from PKCδ proved that this was the case. Polymerisation experiments using recombinant tTG and biotinylated hexapeptide substrate incorporation assays demonstrated that PKCδ is a substrate for tTG-mediated transamidation.

Immunological indicators of coeliac disease activity are not altered by long-term oats challenge.

Coeliac disease is a gluten-sensitive enteropathy that develops in genetically susceptible individuals. The disease exhibits many features of an autoimmune disorder. These include the production of highly specific anti-endomysial autoantibodies directed against the enzyme tissue transglutaminase.

Community nurses' child protection role: views of public health nurses in Ireland.

Public health nurses in Ireland are generalist practitioners with a wide range of roles that address the needs of clients in the community across their lifespan. Child protection is one of many of the roles of Irish public health nurses. However, with increasing caseloads, birth rates and aging populations, their child protection role is becoming more difficult to define and practise safely.

Memory and communication support strategies in dementia: effect of a training program for informal caregivers.

Background: People with dementia have a range of needs that are met by informal caregivers. A DVD-based training program was developed using research-based strategies for memory and communication in dementia. The effectiveness of the training on the caregiver experience and the well-being of the person with dementia was evaluated.

Compounded progesterone: why is it acceptable to Australian women?

Objectives: To determine factors influencing compounded progesterone products' acceptability amongst Australian women who use them.

Study Design: A cross-sectional survey of 366 women from all states of Australia who had been dispensed a compounded progesterone product, using the 'Perspectives on Progesterone' questionnaire.

Main Outcome Measures: Descriptive statistics and a logistic regression model of acceptability.

Prospective observational study of dementia and delirium in the acute hospital setting.

Background: Dementia and delirium appear to be common among older patients admitted to acute hospitals, although there are few Australian data regarding these important conditions.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and incidence of dementia and delirium among older patients admitted to acute hospitals in Queensland and to profile these patients.

Method: Prospective observational cohort study (n = 493) of patients aged 70 years and older admitted to general medical, general surgical and orthopaedic wards of four acute hospitals in Queensland between 2008 and 2010.

The Chlamydia trachomatis CT149 protein exhibits esterase activity in vitro and catalyzes cholesteryl ester hydrolysis when expressed in HeLa cells.

Chlamydia, like other intracellular bacteria, are auxotrophic for a variety of essential metabolites and obtain cholesterol and fatty acids from their eukaryotic host cell, however not many Chlamydia-specific enzymes have been identified that are involved in lipid metabolism. In silico analysis of one candidate Chlamydia trachomatis enzyme, annotated as a conserved putative hydrolase (CT149), identified two lipase/esterase GXSXG motifs, and a potential cholesterol recognition/interaction amino acid consensus (CRAC) sequence. His-tag purified recombinant CT149 exhibited ester hydrolysis activity in a nitrophenyl acetate-based cell-free assay system.

A randomized trial to reduce the prevalence of depression and self-harm behavior in older primary care patients.

Purpose: We wanted to determine whether an educational intervention targeting general practitioners reduces the 2-year prevalence of depression and self-harm behavior among their older patients.

Methods: Our study was a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted between July 2005 and June 2008. We recruited 373 Australian general practitioners and 21,762 of their patients aged 60 years or older.

Anxiety, depression, and comorbid anxiety and depression: risk factors and outcome over two years.

Background: This study aimed to determine: (1) the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and depression associated with anxiety (DA); (2) the risk factor profile of depression, anxiety, and DA; (3) the course of depression, anxiety, and DA over 24 months.

Methods: Two-year longitudinal study of 20,036 adults aged 60+ years. We used the Patient Health Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale anxiety subscale to establish the presence of depression and anxiety, and standard procedures to collect demographic, lifestyle, psychosocial, and clinical data.

The diagnostic accuracy of telegeriatrics for the diagnosis of dementia via video conferencing.

Introduction: The suitability of video conferencing (VC) technology for clinical purposes relevant to geriatric medicine is still being established. This project aimed to determine the validity of the diagnosis of dementia via VC.

Methods: This was a multisite, noninferiority, prospective cohort study.

CFD and PIV analysis of hemodynamics in a growing intracranial aneurysm.

Hemodynamics is thought to be a fundamental factor in the formation, progression, and rupture of cerebral aneurysms. Understanding these mechanisms is important to improve their rupture risk assessment and treatment. In this study, we analyze the blood flow field in a growing cerebral aneurysm using experimental particle image velocimetry (PIV) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques.

Host genetics and Chlamydia disease: prediction and validation of disease severity mechanisms.

Genetic mapping studies may provide association between sequence variants and disease susceptibility that can, with further experimental and computational analysis, lead to discovery of causal mechanisms and effective intervention. We have previously demonstrated that polymorphisms in immunity-related GTPases (IRG) confer a significant difference in susceptibility to Chlamydia psittaci infection in BXD recombinant mice. Here we combine genetic mapping and network modeling to identify causal pathways underlying this association.

Validity and reliability of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory in Parkinson's disease.

Aim: To examine the psychometric properties of a novel anxiety rating scale, the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Method: The predictive validity of the GAI was tested against the presence of any DSM-IV anxiety disorders in 58 PD patients using receiver operating curve analysis. The concurrent validity of this scale was also studied against the state half of the Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).

Human CD55 expression blocks hyperacute rejection and restricts complement activation in Gal knockout cardiac xenografts.

Background: Transgenic expression of human complement regulatory proteins reduces the frequency of hyperacute rejection (HAR) in Gal-positive cardiac xenotransplantation. In this study, we examined the impact of human CD55 (hCD55) expression on a Gal knockout (GTKO) background using pig-to-primate heterotopic cardiac xenotransplantation.

Methods: Cardiac xenotransplantation was performed with GTKO (group 1; n=6) and GTKO.

Binding of autoantibodies to the core region of tissue transglutaminase is a feature of paediatric coeliac disease.

Objectives: Production of autoantibodies to the enzyme tissue transglutaminase (tTG) is a hallmark of coeliac disease (CD). We have previously demonstrated that the immumoglobulin (Ig) A response to tTG in adult CD specifically targets its catalytic core region, containing the active-site triad of amino acids. The aim of the present study was to investigate this phenomenon in paediatric patients with CD, and to elucidate the contribution of each active-site residue to epitopes recognised.

Prevalence and correlates of the proposed DSM-5 diagnosis of Chronic Depressive Disorder.

Context: The draft proposal to add Chronic Depressive Disorder to DSM-5 will combine DSM-IV Dysthymic Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, with chronic specifier, into a single diagnosis.

Objective: The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence and correlates of the proposed DSM-5 diagnosis of Chronic Depressive Disorder using unit record data from the 2007 Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing.

Design: Secondary analysis of a nationally representative household survey.

Who worries most? Worry prevalence and patterns across the lifespan.

Objective: To examine the age-related worry patterns in a population-based sample of self-reported worriers.

Methods: The National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being is a multistage stratified epidemiologic survey of mental health conducted in Australia in 2007. Participants were surveyed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview.

Socioeconomic disadvantage increases risk of prevalent and persistent depression in later life.

Background: Depression is more frequent in socioeconomically disadvantaged than affluent neighbourhoods, but this association may be due to confounding. This study aimed to determine the independent association between socioeconomic disadvantage and depression.

Methods: We recruited 21,417 older adults via their general practitioners (GPs) and used the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to assess clinically significant depression (PHQ-9≥10) and major depressive symptoms.

Cardiac xenotransplantation: progress and challenges.

Purpose Of Review: Cardiac xenotransplantation (CXTx) remains a promising approach to alleviate the chronic shortage of donor hearts. This review summarizes recent results of heterotopic and orthotopic CXTx, highlights the role of non-Gal antibody in xenograft rejection, and discusses challenges to clinical orthotopic CXTx.

Recent Findings: Pigs mutated in the α 1,3 galactosyltransferase gene (GTKO pigs) are devoid of the galactose α1,3 galactose (αGal) carbohydrate antigen.

Test-retest reliability and practice effects of the Wechsler Memory Scale-III.

Although serial administration of cognitive tests is increasingly common, there is a paucity of research on test-retest reliabilities and practice effects, both of which are important for evaluating changes in functioning. Reliability is generally conceptualized as involving short-lasting changes in performance. However, when repeated testing occurs over a period of years, there will be some longer lasting effects.