The effect of pregnancy on the uterine NK cell KIR repertoire.

The major leukocyte population in the decidua during the first trimester of pregnancy consists of NK cells that express receptors capable of recognizing MHC class I molecules expressed by placental trophoblast. These include members of the killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) family, the two-domain KIR (KIR2D), which recognize HLA-C. Interactions between decidual NK (dNK) cell KIR2D and placental HLA-C contribute to the success of pregnancy and dNK cells express KIR2D at higher frequency than peripheral NK (pNK) cells.

A pipeline that integrates the discovery and verification of plasma protein biomarkers reveals candidate markers for cardiovascular disease.

We developed a pipeline to integrate the proteomic technologies used from the discovery to the verification stages of plasma biomarker identification and applied it to identify early biomarkers of cardiac injury from the blood of patients undergoing a therapeutic, planned myocardial infarction (PMI) for treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Sampling of blood directly from patient hearts before, during and after controlled myocardial injury ensured enrichment for candidate biomarkers and allowed patients to serve as their own biological controls. LC-MS/MS analyses detected 121 highly differentially expressed proteins, including previously credentialed markers of cardiovascular disease and >100 novel candidate biomarkers for myocardial infarction (MI).

Management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adults: conventional and complementary/alternative approaches.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder with a range of symptoms that significantly affect quality of life for patients. The difficulty of differential diagnosis and its treatment may significantly delay initiation of optimal therapy. Hence, persons with IBS often self-treat symptoms with non-prescribed pharmacological regimens and/or complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and by modifying diet and daily activities.

Attenuating memory distrust in a repeated checking task.

Repeated checking has been demonstrated to lead to reductions in memory confidence in several previous studies using student and clinical samples. This process of reduced confidence in memory and detail for memory, are thought to arise from the inhibition of perceptual processing that develops during repeated checking. Our research investigated whether reduced memory confidence from repeated checking could be attenuated through the use of novel stimuli during the repeated checking task.

Ex vivo functional responses to HLA-G differ between blood and decidual NK cells.

Restricted expression of human leucocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) to fetal extravillous trophoblast cells, which invade the decidua during implantation, suggests a role for HLA-G in placentation. In this study, we have investigated several aspects of HLA-G expression and function. Surface levels of HLA-G expression were measured in 70 normal pregnancies.

Lipid profiling identifies a triacylglycerol signature of insulin resistance and improves diabetes prediction in humans.

Dyslipidemia is an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes, although exactly which of the many plasma lipids contribute to this remains unclear. We therefore investigated whether lipid profiling can inform diabetes prediction by performing liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry-based lipid profiling in 189 individuals who developed type 2 diabetes and 189 matched disease-free individuals, with over 12 years of follow up in the Framingham Heart Study. We found that lipids of lower carbon number and double bond content were associated with an increased risk of diabetes, whereas lipids of higher carbon number and double bond content were associated with decreased risk.

Vitamin A provision for preterm infants: are we meeting current guidelines?

Background: Preterm infants have reduced liver stores of vitamin A at birth compared to term born infants. Current guidelines recommend an intake of 700-1500 IU/kg/day vitamin A, and there is evidence to support higher doses for infants with significant lung disease. The importance of appropriate early nutrition for preterm infants is increasingly becoming apparent.

Munch and Move: evaluation of a preschool healthy eating and movement skill program.

Background: Early childhood services have been identified as a key setting for promoting healthy eating and physical activity as a means of preventing overweight and obesity. However, there is limited evidence on effective nutrition and physical activity programs in this setting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Munch and Move, a low-intensity, state-wide, professional development program designed to support early childhood professionals to promote healthy eating and physical activity among children in their care.

The attitudes of Australian gynaecologists to HPV vaccination: an ASCCP survey.

Background: With human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines now approved for women up to 45 years of age, gynaecologists in Australia will be approached increasingly for advice on whether to have the HPV vaccine.

Aim: We seek to establish the attitudes of gynaecologists to HPV vaccination when advising women in various age groups.

Methods: Fellows, members and trainees of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists were approached in early 2009 to complete an Australian Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology survey, which they could return by post or internet on-line.

Maternal activating KIRs protect against human reproductive failure mediated by fetal HLA-C2.

Many common disorders of pregnancy are attributed to insufficient invasion of the uterine lining by trophoblast, fetal cells that are the major cell type of the placenta. Interactions between fetal trophoblast and maternal uterine NK (uNK) cells--specifically interactions between HLA-C molecules expressed by the fetal trophoblast cells and killer Ig-like receptors (KIRs) on the maternal uNK cells--influence placentation in human pregnancy. Consistent with this, pregnancies are at increased risk of preeclampsia in mothers homozygous for KIR haplotype A (KIR AA).

Opening up Australian preschoolers' lunchboxes.

Objective: Early childhood services have been identified as key settings for promoting healthy eating and obesity prevention. However, little is known about the obesity-related behaviours of preschool-aged children or food-related policies in these settings. The purpose of this study was to describe the contents of preschoolers' lunchboxes to inform future interventions.

The Sydney Diabetes Prevention Program: a community-based translational study.

Background: Type 2 diabetes is a major public health problem in Australia with prevalence increasing in parallel with increasing obesity. Prevention is an essential component of strategies to reduce the diabetes burden. There is strong and consistent evidence from randomised controlled trials that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed through lifestyle modification which improves diet, increases physical activity and achieves weight loss in at risk people.

Metabolic signatures of exercise in human plasma.

Exercise provides numerous salutary effects, but our understanding of how these occur is limited. To gain a clearer picture of exercise-induced metabolic responses, we have developed comprehensive plasma metabolite signatures by using mass spectrometry to measure >200 metabolites before and after exercise. We identified plasma indicators of glycogenolysis (glucose-6-phosphate), tricarboxylic acid cycle span 2 expansion (succinate, malate, and fumarate), and lipolysis (glycerol), as well as modulators of insulin sensitivity (niacinamide) and fatty acid oxidation (pantothenic acid).

Physical activity policies and practices of childcare centres in Australia.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the physical activity-related policies and practices of childcare services; and to determine if service size, socioeconomic or remoteness characteristics predict such policies and practices.

Methods: Authorized supervisors of 216 licensed pre-schools and long day care centres participated in a brief telephone survey.

Results: Few services had a written physical activity policy, programmed time each day for fundamental movement skill development, or had staff trained in physical activity.

Does cognitive-behavioral therapy response among adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder differ as a function of certain comorbidities?

This study examines the impact of several of the most common comorbid psychiatric disorders (i.e., generalized anxiety disorder (GAD); major depressive disorder (MDD); social phobia, and panic disorder) on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) response in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Metabolite profiling identifies markers of uremia.

ESRD is a state of small-molecule disarray. We applied liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling to survey>350 small molecules in 44 fasting subjects with ESRD, before and after hemodialysis, and in 10 age-matched, at-risk fasting control subjects. At baseline, increased levels of polar analytes and decreased levels of lipid analytes characterized uremic plasma.

Cognitive-behavioral treatment of childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder in community-based clinical practice: clinical significance and benchmarking against efficacy.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of evidence-based (EB) manualized, cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) for childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), when delivered in an outpatient community-based specialist clinic.

Method: This study, conducted in an outpatient private clinic in South-East Queensland Australia, involved thirty-three children and adolescents with OCD. Children were assessed at pre- and post-treatment, by means of diagnostic interviews, symptom severity interviews, and self-report.

Parental perceptions of barriers to children's participation in organised sport in Australia.

Aim: To examine parents' perceptions on how cost, time, travel and the variety of organised sporting activities influence their decisions to allow their child to participate in organised sport; and recent expenditure on sport-related items for their child.

Methods: Computerised assisted telephone interviews survey of 402 parents of children aged 5-17 years old living in New South Wales, Australia.

Results: Overall, 63% of children participated in organised sporting activities.

Medical education needs to teach health technology assessment.

Health technology assessment evaluates the effects of drugs, devices, procedures and policies on patients and the healthcare system. Because of its potential to optimize healthcare resources and patient care, health technology assessment is becoming increasingly important in healthcare systems at national and local levels. This article provides an explanation of health technology assessment and an example of its application in residency education.

Distribution of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and their HLA-C ligands in two Iranian populations.

Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) gene frequencies vary between populations and contribute to functional variation in immune responses to viruses,autoimmunity and reproductive success. This study describes the frequency distribution of 12 variable KIR genes and their HLA-C ligands in two Iranian populations who have lived for many generations in different environments:t he Azerbaijanis at high altitude and the Jonobi people at sea level. The results are compared with those published for other human populations and a large group of English Caucasians.

Fundamental movement skills among Australian preschool children.

Early childhood is a critical period for the development of fundamental movement skills (FMS). Children who do not master FMS are more likely to experience failure in the motor domain and less likely to participate in sport and games during childhood and adolescence. Studies among primary school aged children report low levels of FMS mastery indicating the need to implement FMS programs during the preschool years.

Diagnostic importance of pulmonary interleukin-1beta and interleukin-8 in ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most commonly fatal nosocomial infection. Clinical diagnosis of VAP remains notoriously inaccurate. The hypothesis was tested that significantly augmented inflammatory markers distinguish VAP from conditions closely mimicking VAP.

Parental awareness and attitudes of food marketing to children: a community attitudes survey of parents in New South Wales, Australia.

Aim: To determine parents' attitudes and awareness of food marketing to children.

Method: Computer-assisted telephone interviews of a random sample of 400 parents of children aged 5-17 years and who were the main grocery buyers for that household, living in NSW, Australia. The main outcome measures included parental awareness and attitudes relating to food marketing to children, the perceived role of government versus industry in food marketing regulation and children's food purchasing requests as a result of exposure to food marketing.

Smokers of illicit tobacco report significantly worse health than other smokers.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to ascertain whether the health of past and current smokers of illicit tobacco (chop-chop) differs from that of smokers of licit tobacco.

Methods: The design was a telephone survey, stratified by state, using computer aided telephone interviewing, with households selected by random digit dialing from the telephone white pages. Setting was all Australian states and territories, 1,621 regular tobacco smokers aged 18+ years.