Preoperative dietitian-led Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) Clinic for adults living with obesity undergoing gynaecology, laparoscopic cholecystectomy and hernia repair procedures: a pilot parallel randomised controlled trial.

Obesity can increase the risk of postoperative complications. Despite increased demand for patients living with obesity to lose weight prior to common surgical procedures, the impact of intentional weight loss on surgical outcomes is largely unknown. We aimed to conduct a pilot study to assess the feasibility of a full-scale randomised controlled trial (RCT) to examine the effect of preoperative dietitian-led Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) Clinic on surgical outcomes in gynaecology and general surgeries.

Impact of a dietitian-led very low calorie diet clinic on perioperative risk for patients with obesity awaiting elective, non-bariatric surgery: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Despite a lack of evidence that intentional weight loss reduces the risk of postoperative complications, adults with obesity are commonly asked to lose weight before elective surgery. We hypothesized that patients undertaking dietitian-led preoperative, very low calorie diet treatment could reduce perioperative surgery risks, as per validated risk scoring systems. The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of a dietitian-led preoperative very low calorie diet clinic on the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status scores and National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Surgical Risk Calculator scores for patients with obesity awaiting non-bariatric elective surgery.

Survey of Australian clinicians' antenatal care and management practices in pregnant women with a history of bariatric surgery.

Background: Pregnancy following bariatric surgery requires tailored care. The current Australian care provision and its alignment with consensus guidelines is unclear.

Methods: Antenatal care clinicians were invited to complete a web-based survey assessing multidisciplinary referral, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and micronutrient management practices.

Elective Surgery in Adult Patients with Excess Weight: Can Preoperative Dietary Interventions Improve Surgical Outcomes? A Systematic Review.

This systematic review summarises the literature regarding the impact of preoperative dietary interventions on non-bariatric surgery outcomes for patients with excess weight/obesity, a known risk factor for poor surgical outcomes. Four electronic databases were searched for non-bariatric surgery studies that evaluated the surgical outcomes of a preoperative diet that focused on weight/fat loss or improvement of liver steatosis. Meta-analysis was unfeasible due to the extreme heterogeneity of variables.

Multi-site evaluation of advanced practice hand therapy clinics for the management of patients with trigger digit.

Study Design: Prospective cohort design.

Background: Patient time on Australian public hospital surgical outpatient department (SOPD) waitlists often exceeds clinical recommendations for chronic hand conditions. Diversion to allied health is an alternative option, however evidence regarding patient and organizational outcomes in hand therapy is lacking.

Dietitians' opinions regarding refeeding syndrome, clinical guidelines and extended scope of practice.

Aim: Refeeding syndrome (RFS) prevalence rates vary across studies depending on the criteria used for assessment and identification. For registered dietitians, the assessment and management of RFS is highly reliant on daily serum electrolyte values; however, registered dietitians working within Australia do not currently possess laboratory test ordering privileges. We aimed to examine the opinions of registered dietitians regarding RFS identification, management and guidelines and the option of using extended scope of practice to order electrolyte monitoring autonomously.

Investigating antenatal nutrition education preferences in South-East Queensland, including Maori and Pasifika women.

Background: Little is reported about the nutrition-related needs and preferences of women seeking maternity services, particularly Maori and Pasifika (M&P) women who have higher chronic disease rates in Queensland.

Aim: Nutrition-related knowledge, needs, behaviours and education preferences were compared between women of M&P ancestry and non-Maori and Pasifika women (NMP).

Method: Women (≥18 years) admitted to the postnatal ward were surveyed.

The accuracy and consistency of nutrition care process terminology use in cases of refeeding syndrome.

Aim: Using standardised terminology in acute care has encouraged consistency in patient care and the evaluation of outcomes. As such, the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) and Nutrition Care Process Terminology (NCPT) may assist dietitian nutritionists in the delivery of high quality nutrition care worldwide; however, limited research has been conducted examining the consistency and accuracy of its use. We aimed to examine the NCPT that dietitian nutritionists would use to formulate a diagnostic statement relating to refeeding syndrome (RFS).

Identification of Highly Specific Diversity-Oriented Synthesis-Derived Inhibitors of Clostridium difficile.

In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control highlighted Clostridium difficile as an urgent threat for antibiotic-resistant infections, in part due to the emergence of highly virulent fluoroquinolone-resistant strains. Limited therapeutic options currently exist, many of which result in disease relapse. We sought to identify molecules specifically targeting C.

Novel diversity-oriented synthesis-derived respiratory syncytial virus inhibitors identified via a high throughput replicon-based screen.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections affect millions of children and adults every year. Despite the significant disease burden, there are currently no safe and effective vaccines or therapeutics. We employed a replicon-based high throughput screen combined with live-virus triaging assays to identify three novel diversity-oriented synthesis-derived scaffolds with activity against RSV.

High-throughput identification of genotype-specific cancer vulnerabilities in mixtures of barcoded tumor cell lines.

Hundreds of genetically characterized cell lines are available for the discovery of genotype-specific cancer vulnerabilities. However, screening large numbers of compounds against large numbers of cell lines is currently impractical, and such experiments are often difficult to control. Here we report a method called PRISM that allows pooled screening of mixtures of cancer cell lines by labeling each cell line with 24-nucleotide barcodes.

Indolinyl-Thiazole Based Inhibitors of Scavenger Receptor-BI (SR-BI)-Mediated Lipid Transport.

A potent class of indolinyl-thiazole based inhibitors of cellular lipid uptake mediated by scavenger receptor, class B, type I (SR-BI) was identified via a high-throughput screen of the National Institutes of Health Molecular Libraries Small Molecule Repository (NIH MLSMR) in an assay measuring the uptake of the fluorescent lipid DiI from HDL particles. This class of compounds is represented by ML278 (-), a potent (average IC = 6 nM) and reversible inhibitor of lipid uptake via SR-BI. ML278 is a plasma-stable, noncytotoxic probe that exhibits moderate metabolic stability, thus displaying improved properties for in vitro and in vivo studies.

Discovery of bisamide-heterocycles as inhibitors of scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI)-mediated lipid uptake.

A new series of potent inhibitors of cellular lipid uptake from HDL particles mediated by scavenger receptor, class B, type I (SR-BI) was identified. The series was identified via a high-throughput screen of the National Institutes of Health Molecular Libraries Small Molecule Repository (NIH MLSMR) that measured the transfer of the fluorescent lipid DiI from HDL particles to CHO cells overexpressing SR-BI. The series is characterized by a linear peptidomimetic scaffold with two adjacent amide groups, as well as an aryl-substituted heterocycle.

Benzo-fused lactams from a diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS) library as inhibitors of scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI)-mediated lipid uptake.

We report a new series of 8-membered benzo-fused lactams that inhibit cellular lipid uptake from HDL particles mediated by Scavenger Receptor, Class B, Type I (SR-BI). The series was identified via a high-throughput screen of the National Institutes of Health Molecular Libraries Small Molecule Repository (NIH MLSMR), measuring the transfer of the fluorescent lipid DiI from HDL particles to CHO cells overexpressing SR-BI. The series is part of a previously reported diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS) library prepared via a build-couple-pair approach.

Modulators of hepatic lipoprotein metabolism identified in a search for small-molecule inducers of tribbles pseudokinase 1 expression.

Recent genome wide association studies have linked tribbles pseudokinase 1 (TRIB1) to the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Based on the observations that increased expression of TRIB1 reduces secretion of VLDL and is associated with lower plasma levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, higher plasma levels of HDL cholesterol and reduced risk for myocardial infarction, we carried out a high throughput phenotypic screen based on quantitative RT-PCR assay to identify compounds that induce TRIB1 expression in human HepG2 hepatoma cells. In a screen of a collection of diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS)-derived compounds, we identified a series of benzofuran-based compounds that upregulate TRIB1 expression and phenocopy the effects of TRIB1 cDNA overexpression, as they inhibit triglyceride synthesis and apoB secretion in cells.

Diversity-oriented synthesis-facilitated medicinal chemistry: toward the development of novel antimalarial agents.

Here, we describe medicinal chemistry that was accelerated by a diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS) pathway, and in vivo studies of our previously reported macrocyclic antimalarial agent that derived from the synthetic pathway. Structure-activity relationships that focused on both appendage and skeletal features yielded a nanomolar inhibitor of P. falciparum asexual blood-stage growth with improved solubility and microsomal stability and reduced hERG binding.

Identification of a small molecule that increases hemoglobin oxygen affinity and reduces SS erythrocyte sickling.

Small molecules that increase the oxygen affinity of human hemoglobin may reduce sickling of red blood cells in patients with sickle cell disease. We screened 38,700 compounds using small molecule microarrays and identified 427 molecules that bind to hemoglobin. We developed a high-throughput assay for evaluating the ability of the 427 small molecules to modulate the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin.

Diversity-oriented synthesis yields a new drug lead for treatment of chagas disease.

A phenotypic high-throughput screen using ∼100,000 compounds prepared using Diversity-Oriented Synthesis yielded stereoisomeric compounds with nanomolar growth-inhibition activity against the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. After evaluating stereochemical dependence on solubility, plasma protein binding and microsomal stability, the SSS analogue (5) was chosen for structure-activity relationship studies. The p-phenoxy benzyl group appended to the secondary amine could be replaced with halobenzyl groups without loss in potency.

Informing maternity service development by surveying new mothers about preferences for nutrition education during their pregnancy in an area of social disadvantage.

Background: A demonstrated link exists between maternal diet and maternal and infant health outcomes during and after pregnancy. A dietetic maternity service (0.6FTE for 3500 births) was introduced in 2012 at our hospital in a socially-disadvantaged area.

Rates of adult acute inpatients documented as at risk of refeeding syndrome by dietitians.

Background & Aims: Identification of Refeeding Syndrome (RFS) is vital for prevention and treatment of metabolic disturbances, yet no information exists that describes identification rates by dietitians in acute care. We aimed to describe rates and demographics of inpatients identified by dietitians as at-risk of RFS and factors associated with electrolyte levels post-dietetic assessment.

Methods: Eligible participants were adult (≥ 18 yrs) acute care inpatients reviewed by dietitians between March 2012-February 2013 and not admitted to intensive care prior to first dietetic assessment.

Phenotypic high-throughput screening elucidates target pathway in breast cancer stem cell-like cells.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are resistant to standard cancer treatments and are likely responsible for cancer recurrence, but few therapies target this subpopulation. Due to the difficulty in propagating CSCs outside of the tumor environment, previous work identified CSC-like cells by inducing human breast epithelial cells into an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transdifferentiated state (HMLE_sh_ECad). A phenotypic screen was conducted against HMLE_sh_ECad with 300 718 compounds from the Molecular Libraries Small Molecule Repository to identify selective inhibitors of CSC growth.

Screening for inhibitors of an essential chromatin remodeler in mouse embryonic stem cells by monitoring transcriptional regulation.

The SWI/SNF-like adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent chromatin remodeling complex, esBAF, is both necessary and, in some contexts, sufficient to induce the pluripotent state. Furthermore, mutations in various BAF subunits are associated with cancer. Little is known regarding the precise mechanism(s) by which this complex exerts its activities.

Purchase rates and energy content of nutritionally promoted and traditional fast foods purchased at lunchtime in Australia - a pilot study.

Objective: Nutritionally promoted foods are now available at fast-food establishments. Little is known about their popularity, who is purchasing them, or their impact on dietary intake. Our study aimed to determine: how often nutritionally promoted fast foods were purchased; the demographic characteristics of people purchasing these foods; and if purchasing these foods resulted in reduced energy, and increased vegetable, content of lunches compared with those who purchased traditional fast foods.

Hormonal contraceptive practices in young Australian women (≤ 25 years) and their possible impact on menstrual frequency and iron requirements.

Objectives: To investigate the hormonal contraceptive practices of female university students aged ≤ 25 years, their menstrual bleeding frequency, and interest in contraceptive regimens that reduce menstrual frequency or duration.

Study Design: A 20-item questionnaire was distributed to female students at Griffith University, Gold Coast campus. This included questions relating to: demographics, menstrual bleeding frequency, current contraceptive practices, and interest in future oral contraceptive regimens that reduce menstrual bleeding frequency and duration.

Malnutrition associated with increased risk of frail mechanical falls among older people presenting to an emergency department.

Objective: To identify associations between malnutrition falls risk and hospital admission among older people presenting to ED.

Methods: A prospective convenience sample of patients, aged 60 years or more, presenting to an Australian tertiary teaching hospital ED were included in this cross-sectional study. Malnutrition Screening Tool and Subjective Global Assessment tool were administered to 126 non-consecutive participants.