Publications by authors named "JR Lewis"

Lipocalin-2 (LCN2), a hormone produced by adipocytes, osteoblasts, and renal tubular cells, is implicated in age-related diseases, including cardio-metabolic disease. To understand the role LCN2 may play in pathological states, we first need to elucidate the relationship between circulating LCN2 with indices of cardio-metabolic health during "normal" aging. This study examined the relationship between serum levels of LCN2, age, and cardio-metabolic measures across the adult lifespan in males and females.

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Vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) images from bone density machines enable the automated machine learning assessment of abdominal aortic calcification (ML-AAC), a marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The objective of this study was to describe the risk of a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE, from linked health records) in patients attending routine bone mineral density (BMD) testing and meeting specific criteria based on age, BMD, height loss, or glucocorticoid use have a VFA in the Manitoba Bone Mineral Density Registry. The cohort included 10 250 individuals (mean 75.

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Angiokeratoma of Fordyce, a localized form of angiokeratoma, is commonly found on the scrotum but rarely affects the vulva. We have documented a case of angiokeratoma of Fordyce in a female patient. She was treated with two sessions of CO2 laser ablation, following which her lesions resolved.

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This study examined the relationship between total vegetable intake, including specific vegetable types with long-term late-life dementia (LLD) risk in older Australian women. 1206 community-dwelling older women aged ≥70 years were included. Consumption of total vegetable intake and vegetable types (yellow/orange/red [YOR], cruciferous, allium, green leafy vegetables [GLV], and legumes) were estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire at baseline (1998).

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Article Synopsis
  • A study examined the effects of providing vascular imaging results on diet and cardiovascular disease risk factors in 240 participants aged 60-80 with abdominal aortic calcification.
  • Participants were randomly assigned to receive (intervention group) or not receive (control group) their calcification results while both groups received educational resources.
  • The results showed no significant changes in fruit and vegetable intake, but the intervention group had lower cholesterol levels and cardiovascular disease risk scores after 12 weeks compared to the control group.
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  • The study investigates the role of dietary flavonoids in reducing atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular diseases by analyzing data from 5,599 participants in the MESA study.
  • Researchers examined the link between flavonoid intake and various subclinical markers of atherosclerosis, considering factors like time, sex, race/ethnicity, and smoking status.
  • Results showed that higher flavonoid intake was associated with significantly lower odds of having poorer ankle-brachial indices and carotid plaques, suggesting the potential protective effects of flavonoids on cardiovascular health.
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Purpose: The influence of rurality on the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) in first-episode psychosis (FEP) is poorly understood. We investigated factors associated with FEP in rural/urban settings and whether there are rural/urban differences in DUP and the mode (speed) of onset of psychosis.

Methods: We used the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust Research Database (CPFTRD) to identify all persons presenting to an early intervention for psychosis service with FEP between 2013 and 2015.

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Introduction: Dietary nitrate is potentially beneficial for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and nervous systems due to its role as a nitric oxide (NO) precursor. Increased nitrate intake improves cardiovascular health and therefore could protect against dementia, given the cardiovascular-dementia link.

Objective: To investigate the association between source-dependent nitrate intake and dementia-related mortality.

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Background: Higher cruciferous vegetable intake is associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk in observational studies. The pathways involved remain uncertain. We aimed to determine whether cruciferous vegetable intake (active) lowers 24-h brachial systolic blood pressure (SBP; primary outcome) compared to root and squash vegetables (control) in Australian adults with mildly elevated BP (SBP 120-160 mmHg inclusive).

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Purpose: Cancer survival is improving, making optimal management of long-term treatment-related adverse effects increasingly important. Exercise and a healthy diet are beneficial and regularly recommended in cancer survivorship guidelines; however, few cancer survivors meet these recommendations so there is a need to explore why. This study aimed to understand experiences receiving exercise and diet support among Australian breast and prostate cancer survivors during and following treatment, and to explore what support they would like to receive.

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Introduction: Cardiovascular imaging results offer valuable information that can guide health decisions, but their impact on medication use and adherence is unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the downstream impact of cardiovascular imaging results on medication use and adherence.

Methods: Searches were conducted across databases, including MEDLINE, PsychINFO, EMBASE, and relevant references up to 2024.

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  • * A study involving 1,276 women showed that those with the APOE ɛ4 gene had a higher risk of fall-related hospitalizations (HR 1.48), fracture-related hospitalizations (HR 1.28), and hip fracture hospitalizations (HR 1.83) over 14.5 years.
  • * Identifying APOE ɛ4 carriers could allow healthcare providers to target high-risk individuals for preventive measures and interventions to reduce fall and fracture risks.
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Purpose: Dietary nitrate intake is inversely related to numerous contributors towards frailty, including cardiovascular disease and poor physical function. Whether these findings extend to frailty remain unknown. We investigated if habitual nitrate intake, derived from plants or animal-based foods, was cross-sectionally associated with frailty in women.

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Context: The associations of vegetable and potato intakes with type 2 diabetes (T2D) appear to be nuanced, depending on vegetable types and preparation method, respectively.

Objective: We investigated the associations of total vegetable, vegetable subgroup, and potato intakes with 1) markers of T2D at baseline and 2) incident T2D cumulative over a 12-year follow-up period in Australian adults.

Methods: Using data from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study, intakes of vegetables and potatoes were assessed via a food frequency questionnaire at baseline.

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Importance: Identification of individuals at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease within the population is important to inform primary prevention strategies.

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of routinely available cardiovascular biomarkers when added to established risk factors.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Individual-level analysis including data on cardiovascular biomarkers from 28 general population-based cohorts from 12 countries and 4 continents with assessments by participant age.

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Background: Dementia is a common and progressive condition whose prevalence is growing worldwide. It is challenging for healthcare systems to provide continuity in clinical services for all patients from diagnosis to death.

Aims: To test whether individuals who are most likely to need enhanced care later in the disease course can be identified at the point of diagnosis, thus allowing the targeted intervention.

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Scope: Higher intake of cruciferous and allium vegetables is associated with lower cardiometabolic risk. Little research has investigated the cardiometabolic effects of S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide (SMCSO), found abundant in these vegetables. This study hypothesizes that SMCSO will blunt development of metabolic syndrome features in mice fed high-fat feed.

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Whether simultaneous automated ascertainments of prevalent vertebral fracture (auto-PVFx) and abdominal aortic calcification (auto-AAC) on vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) lateral spine bone density (BMD) images jointly predict incident fractures in routine clinical practice is unclear. We estimated the independent associations of auto-PVFx and auto-AAC primarily with incident major osteoporotic and secondarily with incident hip and any clinical fractures in 11 013 individuals (mean [SD] age 75.8 [6.

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Frailty is associated with declines in physiological capacity across sensory, neurological, and musculoskeletal systems. An underlying assumption is that the frailer an individual, the more likely they are to experience falls and fractures. We examined whether grades of frailty can assess the long-term risk of hospitalized falls, fractures, and all-cause mortality in 1261 community-dwelling older women (mean age [SD] of 75.

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Studies on muscle strength and physical function after fracture are focused on short follow-ups and adjacent anatomical region. We compared loss of muscle strength and physical function in men after fracture with normal ageing-related decline. In 823 men aged 60-87, measurements of grip strength and clinical tests (chair stands, balance) were performed every 4 years for 12 years.

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Background And Aims: Assessing the relationship between vitamin K1 intakes, using region-specific food databases, with both all-cause, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality warrants further investigation to inform future preventative strategies. Consequently, we examined the aforementioned associations in the Perth Longitudinal Study of Ageing Women (PLSAW).

Methods And Results: 1436 community-dwelling older Australian women (mean ± SD age 75.

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Article Synopsis
  • Many mothers start breastfeeding but often use formula during the hospital stay, which can lead to early cessation of breastfeeding.
  • This study investigates the effectiveness of antenatal colostrum expression (ACE) as an alternative to formula, focusing on its impact on breastfeeding outcomes among non-diabetic mothers.
  • The trial will compare ACE instruction methods to see if it improves exclusive breastfeeding rates and determine if an online video is as effective as in-person guidance.
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Background: Leaflet calcification contributes to the development and progression of aortic valve stenosis. Vitamin K activates inhibitors of vascular calcification and may modulate inflammation and skeletal bone loss. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether higher dietary intakes of vitamin K are associated with a lower incidence of aortic stenosis.

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  • - Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC), a sign of vascular disease, was found to be linked to rapid weight loss in older women, with 39% of studied women experiencing significant weight loss over 5 years.
  • - Women with higher levels of AAC had increased odds of rapid weight loss, even after considering factors like diet and health metrics; this trend was consistent across different dietary and activity subgroups.
  • - Rapid weight loss over 5 years was found to correlate with higher all-cause mortality rates over the subsequent 9.5 years, indicating potential health risks associated with both AAC and weight loss.
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  • The study focuses on training first-year medical students to perform a critical procedure called lateral canthotomy and cantholysis (LCC) for treating orbital compartment syndrome (OCS) in a timely manner.
  • A standardized curriculum was implemented, combining theoretical knowledge and practical training, and students demonstrated significant improvement in their understanding and execution of the procedure.
  • Results showed that most participants achieved expert-level performance on their first attempt, with a notable reduction in time needed to complete the procedure, indicating the effectiveness of the training program.
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