Publications by authors named "Jennifer Batch"

This randomised controlled trial examined the efficacy of a brief, group-based parenting program in improving child and family outcomes for families of children with type 1 diabetes. Families ( = 50) of children (2-10 years) with type 1 diabetes were randomly allocated to intervention ( = 22) or care-as-usual ( = 28). Assessments (pre-intervention, post-intervention and 6-month follow-up) evaluated parent- and child-reported parenting behaviour, child behaviour/adjustment and child quality of life (primary outcomes); and metabolic control (routinely-collected blood glucose data), parents' self-efficacy with diabetes management, diabetes-specific child behaviour difficulties, family quality of life, parents' diabetes-related and general parenting stress and observed parent and child behaviour (secondary outcomes).

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The ketogenic diet (KD) has gained immense popularity during the last decade, primarily because of its successful short-term effect on weight loss. In the United States, KD is utilized in a variety of patient populations for weight management, despite limited evidence regarding its efficacy and risks. This literature review provides an evaluation of data on the benefits and risks associated with the chronic use of KD, including its metabolic, endocrinological, and cardiovascular effects.

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Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis is a rare presentation of thyrotoxicosis where the patient develops a transient motor deficit secondary to acute hypokalemia. The thyroid hormone augments gene transcription and post-transcriptional modification of Na-K ATPase, a cell membrane protein that regulates the electrical potential of the cell. Na-K ATPase increases active transport of potassium (K+) ions into the intracellular compartment causing hypokalemia without total body potassium deficit.

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Telediabetes may improve patient access to clinicians who specialize in the management of pediatric diabetes. Due to the diversity of telehealth modes, many different service models for pediatric telediabetes have been developed. This review describes pediatric telediabetes service models identified in the literature, investigates the reported changes in HbA1c of these interventions, and describes enablers and barriers to implementing a telediabetes service.

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Objective: Adolescent obesity is difficult to treat and the optimal dietary pattern, particularly in relation to macronutrient composition, remains controversial. This study tested the effect of two structured diets with differing macronutrient composition versus control, on weight, body composition and metabolic parameters in obese adolescents.

Design: A randomized controlled trial conducted in a children's hospital.

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Objective: To explore which baseline physiological and psychosocial variables predict change in body mass index (BMI) z-score in obese youth after 12 weeks of a dietary weight management study.

Methods: Participants were obese young people participating in a dietary intervention trial in Brisbane Australia. The outcome variable was change in BMI z-score.

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Vitamin D is synthesised in the skin through the action of UVB radiation (sunlight), and 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) measured in serum as a marker of vitamin D status. Several studies, mostly conducted in high latitudes, have shown an association between type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and low serum 25OHD. We conducted a case-control study to determine whether, in a sub-tropical environment with abundant sunlight (latitude 27.

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We reviewed web-based interventions for overweight and obesity prevention. A literature search was conducted using seven electronic databases. Manually searched articles were also included.

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Background: Despite the recognition of obesity in young people as a key health issue, there is limited evidence to inform health professionals regarding the most appropriate treatment options. The Eat Smart study aims to contribute to the knowledge base of effective dietary strategies for the clinical management of the obese adolescent and examine the cardiometablic effects of a reduced carbohydrate diet versus a low fat diet.

Methods And Design: Eat Smart is a randomised controlled trial and aims to recruit 100 adolescents over a 2 1/2 year period.

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We describe the characteristics of adolescents seeking treatment for obesity via the 'Eat Smart' feasibility study; an intensive 12 week dietitian-led weight management programme with an emphasis on lifestyle change. It was designed to test the feasibility of a structured low-fat diet compared with a semi-structured reduced carbohydrate plan compared with a model of 'standard care'- an unstructured low fat approach. When compared with non-participants, participants were predominantly female and lived in lower socioeconomic areas.

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Rotavirus gastroenteritis was complicated by Klebsiella Pneumoniae bacteraemia in two infants with glucocorticoid deficient conditions who were treated with 'stress dose' hydrocortisone during their illness. Delayed healing in the context of glucocorticoid administration combined with damage from rotavirus infection may result in increased risk of mucosal invasion by gastrointestinal bacteria and subsequent enteric gram-negative bacteraemia.

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Context: Glucocorticoid resistance is a rare genetic condition characterized by reduced sensitivity to cortisol signaling and subsequent hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Objective: The objective was to confirm the diagnosis of glucocorticoid resistance in the patient, to determine the degree of suppression of cortisol and ACTH levels in response to dexamethasone, and to determine the underlying genetic abnormality and functional consequences of the mutation.

Patient And Methods: The patient presented on the first day of life with profound hypoglycemia.

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Context: Familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus (FNDI) is a rare disorder resulting from arginine vasopressin (AVP) gene mutations. A partial defect in AVP secretion occurs early in the course of FNDI and may not be detected by a water deprivation test (WDT). Testing for AVP gene mutations may confirm a diagnosis of FNDI when a WDT is inconclusive and may also predict individuals who will later develop FNDI.

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Objectives: To explore the feasibility of conducting a 10-week home-based physical activity (PA) programme and evaluate the changes in insulin sensitivity (S(I)) commensurate with the programme in obese young people.

Design: Open-labelled intervention.

Setting: Home-based intervention with clinical assessments at a tertiary paediatric hospital.

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Vitamin D deficiency has re-emerged as a significant paediatric health issue, with complications including hypocalcaemic seizures, rickets, limb pain and fracture. A major risk factor for infants is maternal vitamin D deficiency. For older infants and children, risk factors include dark skin colour, cultural practices, prolonged breastfeeding, restricted sun exposure and certain medical conditions.

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Background: Pubertal delay is thought to contribute to suboptimal peak bone mass acquisition in young people with cystic fibrosis (CF), leading to an increased fracture incidence. This study aims to compare pubertal development in young people with CF with that of a local healthy population and assess the influence it has on areal bone mineral density (aBMD).

Methods: Tanner stage, age of menarche, bone age (BA), sex hormone levels and aBMD were examined in 85 individuals with CF (aged 5.

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Obesity in children and adolescents has reached alarming levels--20%-25% of children and adolescents are overweight or obese, and 4.9% of boys and 5.4% of girls are obese.

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Background: Serum vitamin A, normally depressed in inflammatory conditions, is frequently low in people with CF. Vitamin A is important in respiratory epithelial regeneration and repair. We hypothesised that serum vitamin A would be associated with inflammation and disease severity.

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Objective: To assess the concurrent validity of fasting indexes of insulin sensitivity and secretion in obese prepubertal (Tanner stage 1) children and pubertal (Tanner stages 2-5) adolescents using estimates from the modified minimal model frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIVGTT) as a criterion measure.

Research Design And Methods: Eighteen obese children and adolescents (11 girls and 7 boys, mean age 12.2 +/- 2.

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We have tested an alternative method of delivering health services to regional areas of Queensland. By integrating telepaediatrics into an existing outreach programme for children with diabetes and endocrine conditions, we were able to reduce travel for specialist hospital staff while maintaining (and sometimes increasing) the contact patients had with the specialist team. In the first 28 months, we facilitated 160 patient consultations and 10 education sessions via videoconference through the telepaediatric service.

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Abnormalities of calcium and vitamin D metabolism in cystic fibrosis (CF) are well documented. We tested the hypothesis that alterations in calcium metabolism are related to vitamin D deficiency, and that bone resorption is increased relative to accretion in patients with CF. Calcitropic hormones, electrolytes, osteocalcin (OC) and bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), (markers of bone mineralisation), urinary deoxypyridinoline [total (t) Dpd, a marker of bone resorption] and lumbar spine bone mineral density (LS BMD), expressed as a z-score, were measured in 149 (81 M) CF and 141 (61 M) control children aged 5.

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Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is crucial to retinal vascular growth, both normal and pathological. VEGF-B, recently characterized, is reported to be expressed in retinal tissues, but the importance of VEGF-B to retinal vascular development remained unknown. The aim of this study was to analyse retinal vascular growth in the Vegfb-/- knockout mouse.

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Turner syndrome in childhood and adolescence.

Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab

September 2002

Turner syndrome (TS) is the most common chromosomal disorder causing short stature in females. The short stature is caused at least in part by haploinsufficiency of the short stature homeobox (SHOX) gene. Complete spontaneous puberty may occur in approximately 16% of patients, with spontaneous pregnancy in up to 4%.

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