How far do children travel from their homes? Exploring children's activity spaces in their neighborhood.

This study explored children's activity spaces. In 2007, children aged 10-12 years (n=1480) completed a survey and mapping activity, and wore a pedometer for seven days. Their parents completed a survey (n=1314).

Increasing children's physical activity: individual, social, and environmental factors associated with walking to and from school.

Background: Efforts to increase the prevalence of children's active school transport require evidence to inform the development of comprehensive interventions. This study used a multilevel ecological framework to investigate individual, social, and environmental factors associated with walking to and from school among elementary school-aged children, stratified by gender.

Method: Boys aged 10 to 13 years (n = 617) and girls aged 9 to 13 years (n = 681) attending 25 Australian primary schools located in high or low walkable neighborhoods completed a 1-week travel diary and a parent/child questionnaire on travel habits and attitudes.

Dosimetric intercomparison for multicenter clinical trials using a patient-based anatomic pelvic phantom.

Purpose: To assess dose delivery accuracy to clinically significant points in a realistic patient geometry for two separate pelvic radiotherapy scenarios.

Methods: An inhomogeneous pelvic phantom was transported to 36 radiotherapy centers in Australia and New Zealand. The phantom was treated according to Phase III rectal and prostate trial protocols.

Complex non-invasive fibrosis models are more accurate than simple models in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background And Aim: Significant hepatic fibrosis is prognostic of liver morbidity and mortality in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, it remains unclear whether non-invasive fibrosis models can determine this end-point. We therefore compared the accuracy of simple bedside versus complex fibrosis models across a range of fibrosis in a multi-centre NAFLD cohort.

Methods: Simple (APRI, BARD) and complex (Hepascore, Fibrotest, FIB4) fibrosis models were calculated in 242 NAFLD subjects undergoing liver biopsy.

Reducing rates of severe hypoglycemia in a population-based cohort of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes over the decade 2000-2009.

Objective: To examine rates of severe hypoglycemia (SH) in a large population-based cohort of children with type 1 diabetes and relationships to HbA(1c).

Research Design And Methods: Data from 1,683 children (mean [SD] age at diagnosis 10.5 [4.

Knowledge and perceptions regarding oral and pharyngeal carcinoma among adult dental patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess awareness and knowledge of oral and pharyngeal carcinoma and risk perception for developing the cancer among adult patients attending a major dental centre in Perth. Influence of socio-demographic factors on awareness, knowledge and perception was ascertained.

Methods: A random sample of 120 potential participants over the age of 18 who attended the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia between 14 and 18 June 2010 were invited to participate in the survey.

Comparison of noninvasive models of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B.

Background And Goals: Liver fibrosis influences treatment and surveillance strategies in chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This multicenter study aimed to examine the accuracy of serum fibrosis models in CHB patients including those with low alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and serially in those undergoing treatment.

Method: We examined noninvasive fibrosis models [Hepascore, Fibrotest, APRI, hepatitis e antigen (HBeAg)-positive and -negative models] in 179 CHB patients who underwent liver biopsy and fibrosis assessment by METAVIR and image morphometry.

Managing chronic nonspecific low back pain with a sensorimotor retraining approach: exploratory multiple-baseline study of 3 participants.

Background: Current approaches to the management of chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP) have shown limited effectiveness. It appears that disruption of cortical structure and function is a feature of CNSLBP and that these changes may contribute to current treatment failures. Sensorimotor retraining approaches have been shown to be effective in the management of other long-standing pain problems that are characterized by cortical dysfunction.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism and severe hypoglycemia complicating type 2 diabetes: the Fremantle Diabetes Study.

Aims/hypotheses: The aim of this study was to determine whether the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene I/D polymorphisms independently predict severe hypoglycemia in community-dwelling type 2 patients.

Methods: Six hundred and two patients who were ACE genotyped at baseline and assessed in 1998 were followed up to the end of June 2006. Severe hypoglycemia was defined as that requiring documented health service use as the primary diagnosis.

School site and the potential to walk to school: the impact of street connectivity and traffic exposure in school neighborhoods.

The impact of neighborhood walkability (based on street connectivity and traffic exposure) within 2 km of public primary schools on children regularly walking to school was examined. The most (n=13) and least walkable (n=12) schools were selected using a school-specific 'walkability' index and a cross sectional study undertaken of Year 5, 6 and 7 children (n=1480) and consenting parents (n=1332). After adjustment, regularly walking to school was higher in children attending schools in high walkable neighborhoods (i.

Birth order and childhood type 1 diabetes risk: a pooled analysis of 31 observational studies.

Background: The incidence rates of childhood onset type 1 diabetes are almost universally increasing across the globe but the aetiology of the disease remains largely unknown. We investigated whether birth order is associated with the risk of childhood diabetes by performing a pooled analysis of previous studies.

Methods: Relevant studies published before January 2010 were identified from MEDLINE, Web of Science and EMBASE.

Hereditary hemochromatosis is characterized by a clinically definable arthropathy that correlates with iron load.

Objective: To determine the frequency and character of arthropathy in hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) and to investigate the relationship between this arthropathy, nodal interphalangeal osteoarthritis, and iron load.

Methods: Participants were recruited from the community by newspaper advertisement and assigned to diagnostic confidence categories for HH (definite/probable or possible/unlikely). Arthropathy was determined by use of a predetermined clinical protocol, radiographs of the hands of all participants, and radiographs of other joints in which clinical criteria were met.

Long-term results of targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (Targit) boost during breast-conserving surgery.

Purpose: We have previously shown that delivering targeted radiotherapy to the tumour bed intraoperatively is feasible and desirable. In this study, we report on the feasibility, safety, and long-term efficacy of TARGeted Intraoperative radioTherapy (Targit), using the Intrabeam system.

Methods And Materials: A total of 300 cancers in 299 unselected patients underwent breast-conserving surgery and Targit as a boost to the tumor bed.

Randomised controlled trial analysing supplementation with 250 versus 500 units of vitamin D3, sun exposure and surrounding factors in breastfed infants.

Background: The rate of non-compliance with vitamin D supplementation is as high as 45%. This is why randomised controlled trials are needed to analyse the response to low doses of vitamin D3.

Objective: (1) To compare supplementation with 250 versus 500 units of vitamin D3 and (2) to analyse sun exposure time/ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure during the first 6 weeks of life.

Decreased IP-10 and elevated TGFbeta1 levels are associated with viral clearance following therapy in patients with hepatitis C virus.

The role of pro-fibrogenic cytokines in the outcome of infections with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the response to treatment with pegylated interferon-alpha (pegIFNalpha) and ribavirin remains unclear. To address this issue, we assessed hepatic fibrosis and plasma markers pertinent to T-cell mediated fibrogenesis and inflammation at the start of treatment. Levels of soluble (s)CD30, interleukin-13 receptor alpha 2 (IL-13Ralpha2), total and active transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGFbeta1), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interferon-gamma inducible protein-10 (IP-10, CXCL10) were correlated with the severity of fibrosis and with treatment outcome using multiple logistic regression modelling.

Targeted intraoperative radiotherapy versus whole breast radiotherapy for breast cancer (TARGIT-A trial): an international, prospective, randomised, non-inferiority phase 3 trial.

Background: After breast-conserving surgery, 90% of local recurrences occur within the index quadrant despite the presence of multicentric cancers elsewhere in the breast. Thus, restriction of radiation therapy to the tumour bed during surgery might be adequate for selected patients. We compared targeted intraoperative radiotherapy with the conventional policy of whole breast external beam radiotherapy.

Updated meta-analysis of probiotics for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm neonates.

Objective: Systematic reviews of randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) indicate lower mortality and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and shorter time to full feeds after probiotic supplementation in preterm (<34 weeks' gestation) very low birth weight (VLBW; birth weight <1500 g) neonates. The objective of this study was to update our 2007 systematic review of RCTs of probiotic supplementation for preventing NEC in preterm VLBW neonates.

Methods: We searched in March 2009 the Cochrane Central register; Medline, Embase, and Cinahl databases; and proceedings of the Pediatric Academic Society meetings and gastroenterology conferences.

Body mass index, adiposity rebound and early feeding in a longitudinal cohort (Raine Study).

Objective: This study examined the influence of type and duration of infant feeding on adiposity rebound and the tracking of body mass index (BMI) from birth to 14 years of age.

Methods: A sample of 1330 individuals over eight follows-ups was drawn from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. Trajectories of BMI from birth to adolescence using linear mixed model analysis investigated the influence of age at which breastfeeding was stopped and the age at which other milk was introduced (binomial 4-month cutoff point).

Determinants of severe hypoglycemia complicating type 2 diabetes: the Fremantle diabetes study.

Context: There are limited published data characterizing severe hypoglycemia complicating type 2 diabetes.

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the incidence and predictors of severe hypoglycemia in community-dwelling type 2 patients.

Design: This was a longitudinal observational cohort study.

Longitudinal modelling of body mass index from birth to 14 years.

Background: To examine the tracking of BMI from birth to age 14 years.

Participants And Methods: Linear mixed model (LMM) analysis was used to model the trajectories of BMI (n = 1,403). Adiposity rebound was investigated for a subset of individuals (n = 173).

Opportunistic screening for chlamydia in young men.

Background: Information on prevalence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis in young men attending Australian general practices is scarce.

Objective: We aimed to estimate the prevalence of chlamydia in this group; establish behaviours associated with infection, and evaluate general practitioner follow up of positive cases.

Methods: Sexually active men (aged 15-29 years) attending 10 general practices in Perth, Western Australia, were tested for chlamydia and completed a self report questionnaire concerning sexual practices and symptoms.

Maternal age at birth and childhood type 1 diabetes: a pooled analysis of 30 observational studies.

Objective: The aim if the study was to investigate whether children born to older mothers have an increased risk of type 1 diabetes by performing a pooled analysis of previous studies using individual patient data to adjust for recognized confounders.

Research Design And Methods: Relevant studies published before June 2009 were identified from MEDLINE, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Authors of studies were contacted and asked to provide individual patient data or conduct prespecified analyses.

Smoking cessation in pregnancy and the risk of child behavioural problems: a longitudinal prospective cohort study.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the influence of smoking in pregnancy on child and adolescent behavioural development, in comparison with mothers who ceased smoking in the first 18 weeks of pregnancy and with those who never smoked, in a large prospective pregnancy cohort.

Methods: The Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study provided comprehensive data from 2900 pregnancies. Smoking was assessed at 18 weeks gestation, and children were followed up at ages 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10 and 14 years.