Knee Exoskeleton Reduces Muscle Effort and Improves Balance During Sit-to-Stand Transitions After Stroke: A Case Study.

After a stroke, the weight-bearing asymmetry often forces stroke survivors to compensate with overuse of the unaffected side muscles to stand up. Powered exoskeletons can address this problem by assisting the affected limb during sit-tostand transitions. However, there is currently no experimental evidence demonstrating the efficacy of this intervention with the target population.

Robust Torque Predictions From Electromyography Across Multiple Levels of Active Exoskeleton Assistance Despite Non-linear Reorganization of Locomotor Output.

Robotic exoskeletons can assist humans with walking by providing supplemental torque in proportion to the user's joint torque. Electromyographic (EMG) control algorithms can estimate a user's joint torque directly using real-time EMG recordings from the muscles that generate the torque. However, EMG signals change as a result of supplemental torque from an exoskeleton, resulting in unreliable estimates of the user's joint torque during active exoskeleton assistance.

A kinematic and kinetic dataset of 18 above-knee amputees walking at various speeds.

Motion capture is necessary to quantify gait deviations in individuals with lower-limb amputations. However, access to the patient population and the necessary equipment is limited. Here we present the first open biomechanics dataset for 18 individuals with unilateral above-knee amputations walking at different speeds.

Patterns of Medicare-funded primary health and specialist consultations in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians in the two years before hospitalisation for ischaemic heart disease.

Background: Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians. Patterns of primary and specialist care in patients leading up to the first hospitalisation for IHD potentially impact on prevention and subsequent outcomes. We investigated the differences in general practice (GP), specialist and emergency department (ED) consultations, and associated resource use in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in the two years preceding hospitalisation for IHD.

Enhancer Control of MicroRNA miR-155 Expression in Epstein-Barr Virus-Infected B Cells.

The oncogenic microRNA (miRNA) miR-155 is the most frequently upregulated miRNA in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive B cell malignancies and is upregulated in other nonviral lymphomas. Both EBV nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) and the B cell transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) are known to activate transcription of the host cell gene from which miR-155 is processed (; BIC). EBNA2 also activates transcription, indicating that EBV may upregulate miR-155 through direct and indirect mechanisms.

Clinical trial conduct in special populations and developing regions: An overview of the DOVE study in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease.

Clinical trials conducted in unique patient populations or individuals with rare diseases are typically hampered by limitations in availability of qualified patients, requiring sponsors to broaden their global outreach to achieve enrollment. Engaging clinical study centers in developing regions may offer access to a substantially larger patient pool. However, they provide a unique set of challenges based on local cultures and requirements.

Physical Activity and Survival among Long-term Cancer Survivor and Non-Cancer Cohorts.

Evidence suggests physical activity improves prognosis following cancer diagnosis; however, evidence regarding prognosis in long-term survivors of cancer is scarce. We assessed physical activity in 1,589 cancer survivors at an average 8.8 years following their initial diagnosis and calculated their future mortality risk following physical activity assessment.

MYC activation and BCL2L11 silencing by a tumour virus through the large-scale reconfiguration of enhancer-promoter hubs.

Lymphomagenesis in the presence of deregulated MYC requires suppression of MYC-driven apoptosis, often through downregulation of the pro-apoptotic BCL2L11 gene (Bim). Transcription factors (EBNAs) encoded by the lymphoma-associated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) activate MYC and silence BCL2L11. We show that the EBNA2 transactivator activates multiple MYC enhancers and reconfigures the MYC locus to increase upstream and decrease downstream enhancer-promoter interactions.

Secondary preventive medication use in a prevalent population-based cohort of acute coronary syndrome survivors.

Aim: Describe the dispensing patterns for guideline-recommended medications during 2008 in people with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and how dispensing varies by gender and time since last ACS hospitalization.

Method: A descriptive cohort spanning 20 years of people alive post-ACS in 2008. We extracted all ACS hospitalizations and deaths in Western Australia (1989-2008), and all person-linked Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme claims nationally for 2008.

RUNX super-enhancer control through the Notch pathway by Epstein-Barr virus transcription factors regulates B cell growth.

In B cells infected by the cancer-associated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), RUNX3 and RUNX1 transcription is manipulated to control cell growth. The EBV-encoded EBNA2 transcription factor (TF) activates RUNX3 transcription leading to RUNX3-mediated repression of the RUNX1 promoter and the relief of RUNX1-directed growth repression. We show that EBNA2 activates RUNX3 through a specific element within a -97 kb super-enhancer in a manner dependent on the expression of the Notch DNA-binding partner RBP-J.

Leisure time physical activity and long-term cardiovascular and cancer outcomes: the Busselton Health Study.

The study aimed to investigate whether meeting leisure time physical activity recommendations was associated with reduced incident and fatal cancer or cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a community-based cohort of middle- to late-aged adults with long-term follow-up. At baseline, 2,320 individuals were assessed on a large number of lifestyle and clinical parameters including their level of physical activity per week, other risk factors (e.g.

Long-term use and cost-effectiveness of secondary prevention drugs for heart disease in Western Australian seniors (WAMACH): a study protocol.

Introduction: Secondary prevention drugs for cardiac disease have been demonstrated by clinical trials to be effective in reducing future cardiovascular and mortality events (WAMACH is the Western Australian Medication Adherence and Costs in Heart disease study). Hence, most countries have adopted health policies and guidelines for the use of these drugs, and included them in government subsidised drug lists to encourage their use. However, suboptimal prescribing and non-adherence to these drugs remains a universal problem.

Lifestyle factors, medication use and risk for ischaemic heart disease hospitalisation: a longitudinal population-based study.

Background: Lifestyle factors have been implicated in ischaemic heart disease (IHD) development however a limited number of longitudinal studies report results stratified by cardio-protective medication use.

Purpose: This study investigated the influence of self-reported lifestyle factors on hospitalisation for IHD, stratified by blood pressure and/or lipid-lowering therapy.

Methods: A population-based cohort of 14,890 participants aged 45+ years and IHD-free was identified from the Western Australian Health and wellbeing Surveillance System (2004 to 2010 inclusive), and linked with hospital administrative data.

Improved long-term survival in patients on combination therapies following an incident acute myocardial infarction: a longitudinal population-based study.

Objective: To investigate the single and combined effectiveness of commonly prescribed secondary preventive medications (post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI)) in reducing overall all-cause mortality and by gender.

Design: Population-based longitudinal cohort study.

Setting: Western Australia, Australia.

Assisted vaginal deliveries in mothers admitted as public or private patients in Western Australia.

Background: Mothers delivering as private patients in Australia have a high rate of assisted deliveries, which could lead to adverse infant outcomes in this group of patients. We investigated whether the risk of adverse infant outcomes after assisted deliveries was different for mothers admitted as public or private patients for delivery, when compared with unassisted deliveries.

Methods And Findings: We included 158,241 vaginal, singleton, term birth admissions in our study where the infant was live born and without birth defects.

Neonatal outcomes after preterm birth by mothers' health insurance status at birth: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Publicly insured women usually have a different demographic background to privately insured women, which is related to poor neonatal outcomes after birth. Given the difference in nature and risk of preterm versus term births, it would be important to compare adverse neonatal outcomes after preterm birth between these groups of women after eliminating the demographic differences between the groups.

Methods: The study population included 3085 publicly insured and 3380 privately insured, singleton, preterm deliveries (32-36 weeks gestation) from Western Australia during 1998-2008.

Increase in caesarean deliveries after the Australian Private Health Insurance Incentive policy reforms.

Background: The Australian Private Health Insurance Incentive (PHII) policy reforms implemented in 1997-2000 increased PHI membership in Australia by 50%. Given the higher rate of obstetric interventions in privately insured patients, the reforms may have led to an increase in surgical deliveries and deliveries with longer hospital stays. We aimed to investigate the effect of the PHII policy introduction on birth characteristics in Western Australia (WA).

Upregulation of the cell-cycle regulator RGC-32 in Epstein-Barr virus-immortalized cells.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple human tumours of lymphoid and epithelial origin. The virus infects and immortalizes B cells establishing a persistent latent infection characterized by varying patterns of EBV latent gene expression (latency 0, I, II and III). The CDK1 activator, Response Gene to Complement-32 (RGC-32, C13ORF15), is overexpressed in colon, breast and ovarian cancer tissues and we have detected selective high-level RGC-32 protein expression in EBV-immortalized latency III cells.

Prospective study of human papillomavirus (HPV) types, HPV persistence, and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

Background: The link between squamous cell cervical carcinoma and human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18 is well established, but the magnitude of the risk association is uncertain and the importance of other high-risk HPV (HRHPV) types is unclear.

Methods: In two prospective nested case-control series among women participating in cytologic screening in Sweden, we collected 2,772 cervical smears from 515 women with cancer in situ (CIS), 315 with invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and individually matched controls. All smears were tested for HPV with PCR assays, and the median follow-up until diagnosis was 5 to 7 years.

Regulation of transcription by the Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen EBNA 2.

The EBNA 2 (Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 2) transcription factor is essential for B-cell transformation by the cancer-associated EBV (Epstein-Barr virus) and for the continuous proliferation of infected cells. EBNA 2 activates transcription from the viral Cp (C promoter) during infection to generate the 120 kb transcript that encodes all nuclear antigens required for immortalization by EBV. EBNA 2 contains an acidic activation domain and can interact with a number of general transcription factors and co-activators.

A longitudinal Swedish study on screening for squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma: evidence of effectiveness and overtreatment.

Background: Organized Papanicolaou (Pap) screening has markedly reduced the incidence of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, the potential for overtreatment of precursor lesions is quite high for SCC, and the effectiveness of Pap screening for prevention of cervical adenocarcinoma is questionable.

Methods: Using the nationwide, virtually complete Swedish Cancer Register, we analyzed standardized incidence rates for SCC in situ (CIS), SCC, adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and adenocarcinoma, between 1968 and 2002.