Relative contributions of adiposity in childhood and adulthood to vascular health of young adults.

Objective: Vascular damage is suggested to have origins in childhood adiposity, but it is not clear whether this is a direct consequence of being obese in childhood. We aimed to estimate the associations of childhood body size or adiposity with adult vascular health, and to investigate whether these associations were independent of adult body size or adiposity.

Design And Methods: Subjects were 2328 participants aged 7-15 years at baseline in 1985 with follow-up during 2004-2006 when aged 26-36 years.

Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with challenge-proven food allergy in infants.

Background: Epidemiological evidence has shown that pediatric food allergy is more prevalent in regions further from the equator, suggesting that vitamin D insufficiency may play a role in this disease.

Objective: To investigate the role of vitamin D status in infantile food allergy.

Methods: A population sample of 5276 one-year-old infants underwent skin prick testing to peanut, egg, sesame, and cow's milk or shrimp.

Vitamin D status: multifactorial contribution of environment, genes and other factors in healthy Australian adults across a latitude gradient.

Vitamin D deficiency is common and implicated in risk of several human diseases. Evidence on the relative quantitative contribution of environmental, genetic and phenotypic factors to vitamin D status (assessed by the serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D) in free-living populations is sparse. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 494 Caucasian adults aged 18-61years, randomly selected from the Australian Electoral Roll according to groups defined by age, sex and region (spanning 27°-43°South).

Sun exposure over a lifetime in Australian adults from latitudinally diverse regions.

Spatio-temporal patterns in sun exposure underlie variations in skin cancer incidence and vitamin D deficiency, indicate effectiveness of sun protection programs and provide insights into future health risks. From 558 adults across four regions of Australia (Brisbane (27°S), Newcastle (33°S), Geelong and the Western Districts of Victoria (37°S) and Tasmania (43°S)), we collected: self-report data on time-in-the-sun from age 6 years; natural skin color and ethnicity; silicone skin casts (for cumulative skin damage); and serum for vitamin D status. Ambient ultraviolet radiation (UVR) at the location of residence, with time-in-the-sun, was used to calculate a "UVR dose" for each year of life.

Constitutive and relative facultative skin pigmentation among Victorian children including comparison of two visual skin charts for determining constitutive melanin density.

Our aim was to examine the association between ethnicity, phenotype, sun behavior and other characteristics, and constitutive and relative facultative skin pigmentation. A total of 191 participants were recruited, with a mean age of 7.6 years (SD 3.

Graduate nurses and nursing student's behaviour: knowledge and attitudes toward smoking cessation.

Background: Smoking remains the largest single cause of preventable mortality. In rural Australia where the incidence of smoking is higher, health is substantially worse than other Australians. Smoking cessation is difficult with many attempts made before success.

A matched-cohort population study of reoperation after meniscal repair with and without concomitant anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Background: Evidence for the success of a meniscal repair performed alone versus combined with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is equivocal. No large-scale comparative studies exist regarding this issue.

Hypothesis: In the general population, meniscal repair in a presumed stable knee has the same rate of reoperation as meniscal repair performed with ACLR.

Poor stereoacuity among children with poor literacy: prevalence and associated factors.

Purpose: Population-based studies on abnormal binocular vision and low literacy are rare. The aim is to determine the prevalence of poor stereoacuity among children with low literacy; to identify the characteristics associated with poor stereoacuity among children with low literacy; and to determine the agreement between poor stereoacuity as measured by graded stereocircles with a computerized assessment.

Methods: A total of 490 children attending primary school in the greater Hobart region, Tasmania, aged 7 to 14 years, with literacy results below the 10th percentile for Tasmanian students at grade 3 level of the NAPLAN (National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy) testing completed a vision screen.

c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) is required for coordination of netrin signaling in axon guidance.

The JNK family of MAPKs is involved in a large variety of physiological and pathological processes in brain development, such as neural survival, migration, and polarity as well as axon regeneration. However, whether JNK activation is involved in axon guidance remains unknown. Here, we provide evidence indicating the JNK pathway is required for Netrin signaling in the developing nervous system.

Adherence to MRI protocol consensus guidelines in multiple sclerosis: an Australian multi-centre study.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease that causes significant morbidity within a young demographic. Diagnostic guidelines for MS have evolved, and imaging has played an increasingly important role in diagnosis over the last two decades. For imaging to contribute to diagnosis in a meaningful way, it must be reproducible.

Outcomes of treatment of multiple ligament knee injuries.

Knee dislocations are rare and potentially devastating injuries. Significant displacement of the tibia and femur commonly disrupts multiple knee ligaments and also often results in profound disruption to the surrounding soft tissue envelope. Open wounds and neurologic and vascular insult can put the involved limb in jeopardy.

Anatomical considerations in multiligament knee injury and surgery.

The management of multiligament knee injury mandates a comprehensive understanding of the anatomy on all sides of the joint. Imperative to repair or reconstructive procedures is an intimate knowledge of the structure of the cruciate and collateral ligaments, as well as the complex confluence of structures that comprise the posteromedial and posterolateral corners. Beyond the ligamentous anatomy, the surgeon must also be aware of the potential for neurologic and vascular compromise-both from injury and from treatment-that can often complicate multiligament knee injuries.

The association between breastfeeding, maternal smoking in utero, and birth weight with bone mass and fractures in adolescents: a 16-year longitudinal study.

Unlabelled: The aim of this birth cohort study was to determine whether early life factors (birth weight, breastfeeding, and maternal smoking) were associated with bone mass and fractures in 16-year-old adolescents. The results suggest that breastfeeding is associated with higher bone mass and lower fracture risk at age 16 but not in utero smoking or birth weight.

Introduction: There are limited data on early life influences on bone mass in adolescence but we have previously reported in utero smoking, breastfeeding, and birth weight were associated with bone mass at age 8.

Total knee arthroplasty in patients with excessive external tibial torsion >45° and patella instability--surgical technique and follow up.

Patients presenting with advanced knee osteoarthritis (OA), excessive external tibial torsion (EETT) and chronic patella subluxation pose significant surgical challenges. A combination of TKA, tibial derotation osteotomy, and tibial tuberosity transfer was performed in ten patients (twelve knees) with OA secondary to EETT and patellar instability. Six weeks of non weight-bearing and flexion limited to 45° was mandated after surgery.

Cementless fixation in total knee arthroplasty: down the boulevard of broken dreams - opposes.

In this study we present our experience with four generations of uncemented total knee arthroplasty (TKA) from Smith & Nephew: Tricon M, Tricon LS, Tricon II and Profix, focusing on the failure rates correlating with each design change. Beginning in 1984, 380 Tricon M, 435 Tricon LS, 305 Tricon 2 and 588 Profix were implanted by the senior author. The rate of revision for loosening was 1.

The treatment of acquired patella baja with proximalize the tibial tuberosity.

Purpose: Acquired patella baja may result in decreased range of motion of the knee, extensor lag, and anterior knee pain. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of tibial tubercle osteotomy with proximal displacement.

Methods: Between 1998 and 2011, a proximalization of the tibial tuberosity was performed in 15 patients (15 knees) with patella baja diagnosed using the Blackburne-Peel ratio.

Maternal diet, breastfeeding and adolescent body composition: a 16-year prospective study.

Background/objectives: Overweight and obesity are becoming increasingly prevalent problems worldwide. A number of factors in early life have been found to be associated with body composition of neonates or young children but there is limited follow-up data for adolescents. This study aims to describe associations between early nutrition and body composition in adolescents.

Prevalence and risk factors for symptoms of common mental disorders in early and late pregnancy in Vietnamese women: a prospective population-based study.

Background: Little is known about the prevalence of and risk factors for common mental disorders (CMD) in pregnant women in low-income countries. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of and psychosocial risk factors for clinically significant symptoms of CMD in early and late pregnancy in women in rural Viet Nam.

Methods: A population-based sample of women was surveyed in early and late pregnancy.

Folate status and socio-demographic predictors of folate status, among a national cohort of women aged 26-36 in Australia, 2004-2006.

Objective: To describe serum folate status and the socio-demographic correlates of serum folate status in a national sample of women aged 26-36 years in Australia, 2004-2006.

Methods: Stored serum samples from 1,046 women, collected as part of the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health study, were analysed for serum folate.

Results: Median (IQR) serum folate was 27.

Identifying and acquiring the contextual skills and knowledge for nursing practice in assisted reproductive technology: a grounded theory study.

Aims And Objectives: To identify the contextual knowledge and skills required for practice.

Background: Nursing practice in assisted reproductive technology (ART) makes a significant contribution to patient care. Despite this, the knowledge and skills integral to this area of practice have not been clearly articulated, particularly from an Australian perspective.

Lower urinary tract symptoms in relation to region of birth in 95,393 men living in Australia: the 45 and Up Study.

Purpose: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are very common among older men globally, but evidence regarding the relationship between LUTS and country of origin is limited. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the prevalence of LUTS and region of birth in a large, ethnically diverse population of older men resident in New South Wales, Australia.

Methods: Data on LUTS, demographic and behavioural factors were collected by postal questionnaire from 2006 to 2009 and analysed for 95,393 men aged 45 and over from the 45 and Up Study, who had not had previous prostate surgery.

Correlation of preoperative MRI and MRA with arthroscopically proven articular cartilage lesions of the elbow.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting elbow articular cartilage injuries through comparison of preoperative MRI and magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) with arthroscopic findings.

Design: Retrospective case analysis.

Setting: Tertiary care orthopedic private practice.

The association between parity and knee cartilage in young women.

Objectives: There have been no reported studies of the association between parity and cartilage in young individuals. The aim of this study was to describe the association between parity, cartilage volume and cartilage defects in women aged 31-41 years.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of 144 women, mean age 36 years and BMI 25 kg/m(2), who were participants in an established prospective study.

Melanocortin-1 receptor, skin cancer and phenotypic characteristics (M-SKIP) project: study design and methods for pooling results of genetic epidemiological studies.

Background: For complex diseases like cancer, pooled-analysis of individual data represents a powerful tool to investigate the joint contribution of genetic, phenotypic and environmental factors to the development of a disease. Pooled-analysis of epidemiological studies has many advantages over meta-analysis, and preliminary results may be obtained faster and with lower costs than with prospective consortia.

Design And Methods: Based on our experience with the study design of the Melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene, SKin cancer and Phenotypic characteristics (M-SKIP) project, we describe the most important steps in planning and conducting a pooled-analysis of genetic epidemiological studies.