Are migrants during the periconception period less likely to be supplementing with folic acid: An Australian cohort study.

Background: Folic acid (FA) supplementation before and in early pregnancy is known to improve outcomes such as reducing neural tube defects; however, little is known about groups in Australia at risk of low FA use.

Aim: To determine whether differences exist in FA supplementation rates between Australian-born women and migrant women, with a secondary aim of examining the sociodemographic characteristics of women who are not supplementing with FA in early pregnancy.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study from January 2018-July 2022 in a high-migrant population in Western Sydney, Australia.

Assessing health literacy among adult outpatients attending allied health clinics in western sydney: A cross-sectional survey using a multidimensional instrument.

Issue Addressed: Low health literacy disproportionately affects adults from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. This study investigated the health literacy of adults attending outpatient allied health services in western Sydney, a highly diverse region in Sydney with residents from a range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken between March and April 2017 using the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ).

Development and evaluation of a health literacy training program for allied health professionals: A pre-post study assessing impact and implementation outcomes.

Issue Addressed: We developed and evaluated a health literacy training program for allied health professionals, and explored the feasibility of a train-the-trainer model to support dissemination.

Methods: The program combined didactic and experiential teaching methods and behaviour change techniques, with a focus on teach-back and developing easy-to-understand written materials. Outcomes included participant reactions, confidence (range: 6-30), behavioural intentions (range: 6-42), and dissemination of training content.

A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial of a Text Messaging Intervention with Customisation Using Linked Data from Wireless Wearable Activity Monitors to Improve Risk Factors Following Gestational Diabetes.

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a highly prevalent disorder of pregnancy which portends a high risk for future type 2 diabetes. Limited evidence indicates lifestyle intervention prevents the development of diabetes, but most previously studied interventions are resource-intensive. Intervention programs that utilise newer technologies may be scalable at lower cost.

A low intensity dietary intervention for reducing excessive gestational weight gain in an overweight and obese pregnant cohort.

Purpose: Excessive gestational weight gain is associated with detrimental outcomes to both the mother and baby. Currently, the best approach to prevent excessive gestational weight gain in overweight and obese women is undetermined. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a group-based outpatient dietary intervention in pregnancy to reduce excessive gestational weight gain.

13C-Mixed Triglyceride Breath Test and Fecal Elastase as an Indirect Pancreatic Function Test in Cystic Fibrosis Infants.

Background: The 'gold standard' test for the indirect determination of pancreatic function status in infants with cystic fibrosis (CF), the 72-hour fecal fat excretion test, is likely to become obsolete in the near future. Alternative indirect pancreatic function tests with sufficient sensitivity and specificity to determine pancreatic phenotype need further evaluation in CF infants.

Objective: Evaluation of the clinical utility of both the noninvasive, nonradioactive C-mixed triglyceride (MTG) breath test and fecal elastase-1 (FE1) in comparison with the 72-hour fecal fat assessment in infants with CF.

Comparing the effectiveness of general dietary advice versus a very low energy diet in an obese outpatient population in Australia.

Purpose: Obesity is a major public health burden. Outpatient clinics are an essential resource for individuals with obesity to access advice for weight loss management. The aim of this study was to compare anthropometric and weight loss outcomes between participants receiving general dietary (GD) advice, and those on a very low energy diet (VLED) under non-trial conditions.

Bile salt stimulated lipase: Inhibition by phospholipids and relief by phospholipase A.

Introduction: Bile salt stimulated lipase (BSSL; Enzyme Commission (EC) number 3.1.1.

Evaluation of methods to assess reduced body fat in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Objective: To evaluate skinfold anthropometry and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to estimate percentage of body fat (%BF) in adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa (AN).

Methods: We examined 80 female AN patients (age 15.6 ± 1.

Contrasting effects of chronic heat stress and heat shock on kernel weight and flour quality in wheat.

Phytotron studies were conducted to compare the potential effects of chronic high-temperatures (daily maxima of over 20˚C) and heat-shock conditions (a few days of over 32˚C), on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and quality, to form a basis for the selection of improved high-temperature tolerance in wheat. The series of heat-shock treatments were designed to provide similar heat loads, by varying the duration (number of days) of each treatment.