Age-stratified distress thermometers with Worry and Learning problem domains for the paediatric oncology population: Development and validation.

Background: The long-term psychological/neuro-psychological sequalae for a minority of survivors of childhood cancer are considerable. This project aims to develop and validate a psychosocial and memory/learning distress thermometer (DT) for paediatric/young adult cancer patients.

Methods: Pilot/Development Age-appropriate versions of the DT were developed.

Social competence in children and young people treated for a brain tumour.

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to provide a multi-informant assessment of social competence in 8-16-year olds treated for a brain tumour (BT) and then to compare these assessment outcomes to peers.

Method: A cross-sectional, mixed (within and between group) design was used to compare a paediatric BT survivor group (n = 33) with an age-matched control group (n = 34) on two multi-informant (self-report, parent, teacher) social competence questionnaires: Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). Demographic factors (age, gender, social economic status (SES), intellectual ability and emotional/behavioural difficulties were investigated as potential non-insult-related risk factors.

Key role for a glutathione transferase in multiple-herbicide resistance in grass weeds.

Multiple-herbicide resistance (MHR) in black-grass (Alopecurus myosuroides) and annual rye-grass (Lolium rigidum) is a global problem leading to a loss of chemical weed control in cereal crops. Although poorly understood, in common with multiple-drug resistance (MDR) in tumors, MHR is associated with an enhanced ability to detoxify xenobiotics. In humans, MDR is linked to the overexpression of a pi class glutathione transferase (GSTP1), which has both detoxification and signaling functions in promoting drug resistance.

Visceral adipose tissue and the ratio of visceral to subcutaneous adipose tissue are greater in adults with than in those without spinal cord injury, despite matching waist circumferences.

Background: Abdominal obesity, particularly visceral adipose tissue (VAT), is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Despite an elevated risk of CHD mortality in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), neither abdominal adipose tissue accumulation nor the validity of waist circumference (WC) has been determined in persons with SCI.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to compare total adipose tissue (TAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and the ratio of VAT to SAT (VAT:SAT) between adults with SCI and age-, sex-, and WC-matched able-bodied (AB) controls and to determine the relation between WC and VAT in both groups.

Selection of plants for roles in phytoremediation: the importance of glucosylation.

Over-expression and transposon mutagenesis in root cultures of Arabidopsis thaliana demonstrated the importance of the family 1 glycosyltransferase UGT72B1 in catalysing the N-glucosylation of the persistent pollutant 3,4-dichloroaniline (DCA). In phytotoxicity studies with DCA in seedlings, over-expression of UGT72B1 enhanced sensitivity, whereas the knockouts were more resistant than the controls. In contrast, manipulating the expression of UGT72B1 had no effect on the O-glucosylation, or toxicity, of chlorophenols.

Development and validation of a shelf inventory to evaluate household food purchases among older adults with diabetes mellitus.

Objective: Valid measures of behavioral outcomes are needed to evaluate interventions. The purpose of this research was to validate a shelf inventory and evaluate food purchases using the inventory among older adults with diabetes.

Design: A 166-item shelf inventory of household food was assessed for face, content, and criterion validity.

Evaluation of a theory-based nutrition intervention for older adults with diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To evaluate an intervention to improve food label knowledge and skills in diabetes management among older adults with diabetes mellitus.

Design: A randomized pretest-posttest control group design was used.

Subjects/setting: Participants (48 experimental, 50 control) were aged 65 years and older with type 2 diabetes for 1 year or longer; 93 participants (95%) completed the study, conducted in an outpatient setting.

Nutrition education improves metabolic outcomes among older adults with diabetes mellitus: results from a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Few diabetes education programs have been designed specifically for older adults. This study evaluated the impact of a nutrition intervention on the blood glucose and lipoprotein levels of adults > or =65 years of age without functional limitations but with type 2 diabetes for > or =1 year.

Methods: Ninety-eight people were randomized to the experimental or control group.