Association between osteoarthritis-related serum biochemical markers over 10-13 years and knee symptoms in middle-aged adults.

Objectives: To describe the associations between OA-related biochemical markers and knee symptoms in middle-aged adults followed up over 10-13 years.

Methods: Blood samples were collected during the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health (CDAH)-1 study (year: 2004-06) and 10-13 year follow-up at CDAH-3. Serum samples from baseline (n=156) and follow-up (n=167) were analyzed for three OA-related biomarkers [cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, and hyaluronan (HA)] using non-isotopic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Impact of sleep quality on health-related quality of life domains and the mediating effects of symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis.

Purpose: Many people living with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) experience poor sleep, which is associated with diminished overall health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We quantified associations between sleep quality and HRQoL domains and examined the extent to which other MS symptoms could account for these associations.

Methods: In this cross-sectional survey of 1,717 Australians with MS, we used Assessment of Quality of Life (AQoL) 8D and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess HRQoL and sleep quality, respectively.

Is public transport a promising strategy for increasing physical activity? Evidence from a study of objectively measured public transport use and physical activity.

Background: Greater public transport use has been linked to higher physical activity levels. However, neither the amount of physical activity associated with each daily public transport trip performed, nor the potential total physical activity gain associated with an increase in trips/day, has been determined. Using objective measures, we aimed to quantify the association between public transport use, physical activity and sedentary time.

Pre-exercise and acute movement-evoked pain trajectories during a 24-week outdoor walking program for knee osteoarthritis (WALK).

Objectives: Exploring (1) pre-exercise and acute movement-evoked pain (AMEP) during an outdoor walking program in individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA); and (2) comparing baseline physical performance and AMEP flares initiated by walking between participants with either a higher or lower attendance rate.

Methods: Individuals with knee OA were prescribed a 24-week walking program, including one unsupervised walk and two supervised walk classes per week. Participants self-reported knee pain on a numerical rating scale (NRS; 0-10) before and after each supervised class.

The association of comorbidities with sleep quality among Australians with multiple sclerosis: Insights from the Australian Multiple Sclerosis Longitudinal Study.

Background: Comorbidities and poor sleep quality are prevalent among individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Our understanding of the effects of comorbidities on sleep quality in MS remains limited.

Objectives: The objectives were to investigate whether the number and presence of specific comorbidities have associations with sleep quality and to assess the relative contribution of comorbidity groups to sleep quality.

Keratinocyte carcinomas, area-level socioeconomic status and geographic remoteness in Tasmania: cross-sectional associations and temporal trends.

Objective: This article aims to examine cross-sectional associations and assess temporal trends in keratinocyte carcinoma (KC) incidence by area-level socioeconomic status (SES) and geographic remoteness in Tasmania, Australia.

Methods: KCs - basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) - registered by the Tasmanian Cancer Registry were assigned to area-level SES and remoteness area. Incidence rate ratios (2014-2018) were estimated using Poisson regression.

A pro-inflammatory diet is associated with long-term depression and anxiety levels but not fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis is characterised by acute and chronic inflammation in the CNS. Diet may influence inflammation, and therefore MS outcomes.

Objective: To determine whether the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) is associated with depression, anxiety, and fatigue in a prospective cohort of people with MS.

Trajectory of metabolic syndrome and its association with knee pain in middle-aged adults.

Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterised by the clustering of central obesity with metabolic abnormalities. We aimed to describe the association of MetS and trajectories of MetS over 10-13 years with knee symptoms in general population-based middle-aged adults.

Methods: Fasting blood biochemistry, waist circumference and blood pressure measures were collected during Childhood Determinants of Adult Health (CDAH)-1 study (year:2004-6; n = 2447; mean age:31.

Tracking of Cardiorespiratory Fitness from Childhood to Mid-adulthood.

High cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in adulthood is important for survival from major chronic diseases and preserving good health. We examined how childhood CRF tracks, or persists, into adulthood. Among a cohort of 748 school children followed over 34 years, we found child CRF correlated with young- (r = 0.

Long-term effects of vitamin D supplementation and maintaining sufficient vitamin D on knee osteoarthritis over 5 years.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the long-term effect of vitamin D supplementation compared to placebo over 5 years in participants with knee osteoarthritis (OA). We also aimed to describe the effect of maintaining sufficient serum vitamin D levels over five years in knee OA.

Methods: Participants (n = 173) from the Hobart centre of the Vitamin D Effects on Osteoarthritis (VIDEO) trial were extensively followed up 3 years after the cessation of 2-year investigational treatment.

Association of body mass index from childhood to mid-adulthood with health-related quality of life in mid-adulthood.

Purpose: Most studies regarding the association of obesity with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) have assessed obesity at only one or two time points. We aimed to examine the associations of life course body mass index (BMI) from childhood with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in mid-adulthood.

Methods: Data were from a cohort study of Australian children (n = 2254, mean baseline age 12.

trips4health: a single-blinded randomised controlled trial incentivising adult public transport use for physical activity gain.

Background: Public transport users tend to accumulate more physical activity than non-users; however, whether physical activity is increased by financially incentivising public transport use is unknown. The trips4health study aimed to determine the impact of an incentive-based public transport intervention on physical activity.

Methods: A single-blinded randomised control trial of a 16-week incentive-based intervention involved Australian adults who were infrequent bus users (≥ 18 years; used bus ≤ 2 times/week) split equally into intervention and control groups.

Higher dietary quality is prospectively associated with lower MRI FLAIR lesion volume, but not with hazard of relapse, change in disability or black hole volume in people with Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: The influence of diet quality on multiple sclerosis (MS) progression or inflammatory activity is not well understood.

Methods: Study participants with MS from the AusLong cohort, were followed annually (10 years, n = 223 post-onset). At baseline, 5 and 10-year reviews, indices of dietary quality - the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS) and Diet Quality Tracker (DQT) - were calculated from self-reported dietary intake data of the preceding 12 months (Food Frequency Questionnaire, Dietary Questionnaire for Epidemiological Studies v2).

Tracking handgrip strength asymmetry from childhood to mid-life.

Aim: Determine if asymmetric handgrip strength exists in childhood and adulthood and quantify the degree of tracking of handgrip strength asymmetry over time.

Methods: Participants from the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health Study had their right and left handgrip strength measured using handgrip dynamometry in childhood (1985: 9-15 y), young adulthood (2004-06: 26-36 y) and/or mid-adulthood (2014-19: 36-49 y). Handgrip strength asymmetry was calculated as: strongest handgrip strength/strongest handgrip strength on the other hand.

Keratinocyte carcinomas, area-level socioeconomic status and geographic remoteness in Tasmania: cross-sectional associations and temporal trends.

Objective: This article aims to examine cross-sectional associations and assess temporal trends in keratinocyte carcinoma (KC) incidence by area-level socioeconomic status (SES) and geographic remoteness in Tasmania, Australia.

Methods: KCs-basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)-registered by the Tasmanian Cancer Registry were assigned to area-level SES and remoteness area. Incidence rate ratios (2014-2018) were estimated using Poisson regression.

Tracking of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Physical Activity from Youth to Young Adulthood: Findings from the Prospective Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP).

Using data from the Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project, cardiorespiratory fitness (rank-order correlation coefficient = 0.60-0.62) tracked stronger than physical activity (rank-order correlation coefficient = 0.

A prospective study of the impact of COVID-19-related restrictions on activities and mobility upon physical activity, travel behaviour and attitudes.

Background And Aims: Public health measures adopted to contain the spread of COVID-19 included restrictions on activities and mobility as people were asked to stay at home and schools moved to online learning. This may have increased risk of non-communicable disease by limiting recreational and transport-related physical activity. Building on an existing study, we assessed changes in self-reported and device-measured physical activity and travel behaviour before, during and after the peak of local COVID-19 outbreak and restrictions (March-July 2020).

Association between knee magnetic resonance imaging markers and knee symptoms over 6-9 years in young adults.

Objectives: To describe associations between MRI markers with knee symptoms in young adults.

Methods: Knee symptoms were assessed using the WOMAC scale during the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health Knee Cartilage study (CDAH-knee; 2008-2010) and at the 6- to 9-year follow-up (CDAH-3; 2014-2019). Knee MRI scans obtained at baseline were assessed for morphological markers (cartilage volume, cartilage thickness, subchondral bone area) and structural abnormalities [cartilage defects and bone marrow lesions (BMLs)].

A pro-inflammatory diet in people with multiple sclerosis is associated with an increased rate of relapse and increased FLAIR lesion volume on MRI in early multiple sclerosis: A prospective cohort study.

Background: A pro-inflammatory diet has been posited to induce chronic inflammation within the central nervous system (CNS), and multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the CNS.

Objective: We examined whether Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) scores are associated with measures of MS progression and inflammatory activity.

Methods: A cohort with a first clinical diagnosis of CNS demyelination was followed annually (10 years,  = 223).

Effect of Curcuma longa extract on serum inflammatory markers and MRI-based synovitis in knee osteoarthritis: secondary analyses from the CurKOA randomised trial.

Background: Curcuma longa (CL) extract is modestly effective for relieving knee symptoms in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients; however, its mechanism of action is unclear.

Purpose: We aimed to determine the effects of CL treatment on serum inflammatory markers over 12 weeks and to explore its potential effects on synovitis assessed by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) of the knee.

Methods: Secondary analyses were conducted on the CL for knee OA (CurKOA) trial, which compared CL (n = 36) and placebo (n = 34) over 12 weeks for the treatment of knee OA.

Incentivising public transport use for physical activity gain: process evaluation of the COVID-19 disrupted trips4health randomised controlled trial.

Background: Partnering with a public transport (PT) provider, state government, and local government, the single-blinded randomised controlled trial, trips4health, investigated the impact of PT use incentives on transport-related physical activity (PA) in Tasmania, Australia. The intervention involved 16-weeks of incentives (bus trip credits) for achieving weekly PT use targets, supported by weekly text messages. This study objective was to conduct a process evaluation of the COVID-19 disrupted trips4health study.