My Life: A Photovoice Exploration of Aspirations of People With Intellectual Disabilities.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the everyday ways that individuals with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities exercise choice and control.

Method: Photovoice with 17 adults with mild to moderate intellectual disability who were receiving individual funding was conducted. Focus groups were held to review the photos.

A comparative analysis of the prevalence and predictors of chronic pain in older adults with and without intellectual disability in Australia.

Background: There is little research comparatively assessing prevalence of pain between older people either with or without intellectual disability. This paper explores health and social factors associated with chronic pain in these two groups.

Method: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia.

Panoramic radiographs and dental patients with Down syndrome: A scoping review.

Introduction: Life expectancy for people with Down syndrome (DS) has increased to 60 years, although poor oral health affects their quality of life. Panoramic radiographs (PRs) are usually well-tolerated by people with DS and can provide valuable diagnostic data for treatment planning and research. Methods A scoping review of peer-reviewed articles published between 1971and 2021 was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews to determine the scope of use of PRs for people with DS.

Perceived health and wellbeing among community-dwelling older Australians with intellectual disability: A comparison with age peers.

Data specifically comparing outcomes for people with and without intellectual disability is limited. This paper reports perceived health and wellbeing of older Australians resident in metropolitan and rural locations in New South Wales and Queensland. Respondents were community-residing individuals with intellectual disability and mainstream age peers [age ≥ 60].

Adaptive translational reprogramming of metabolism limits the response to targeted therapy in BRAF melanoma.

Despite the success of therapies targeting oncogenes in cancer, clinical outcomes are limited by residual disease that ultimately results in relapse. This residual disease is often characterized by non-genetic adaptive resistance, that in melanoma is characterised by altered metabolism. Here, we examine how targeted therapy reprograms metabolism in BRAF-mutant melanoma cells using a genome-wide RNA interference (RNAi) screen and global gene expression profiling.

Mitigating the impact of the 'silos' between the disability and aged-care sectors in Australia: Development of a Best Practice Framework.

Background: Although a 'person-centred focus' is a legislated objective for both aged-care and disability services sectors in Australia, evidence suggests limited translation into systems and practices due to entrenched silos. This paper proposes a Best Practice Framework to mitigate these silos.

Methods: Mixed-methods research comprising key informant interviews with major stakeholders across both sectors; a survey of people with/without intellectual disability aged 60+ years; qualitative in-depth interviews; and survey of health professionals.

Mental health of older people with mild and moderate intellectual disability in Australia.

Background: The progressive increase in life expectancy of people with intellectual disability (ID) has resulted in enhanced survival into old age and has also seen a growth in research on both lifelong and emerging ageing-related health issues. Health issues amongst provider-supported adults have been previously studied, but these studies have not always included older community-dwelling adults with ID.

Methods: A study examining the extent of mental health of 391 community-dwelling adults with ID age 60 and older in both metropolitan and rural areas of two East Coast Australian states was undertaken using a cross-sectional survey.

Genome-wide RNAi screen for genes regulating glycolytic response to vemurafenib in BRAF melanoma cells.

Identification of mechanisms underlying sensitivity and response to targeted therapies, such as the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib, is critical in order to improve efficacy of these therapies in the clinic and delay onset of resistance. Glycolysis has emerged as a key feature of the BRAF inhibitor response in melanoma cells, and importantly, the metabolic response to vemurafenib in melanoma patients can predict patient outcome. Here, we present a multiparameter genome-wide siRNA screening dataset of genes that when depleted improve the viability and glycolytic response to vemurafenib in BRAF mutated melanoma cells.

Multimorbidity in older people with intellectual disability.

Background: There is paucity of research from Australia about comorbidity in older people with intellectual disability (PwID). This paper examines the burden of chronic diseases and associated sociodemographic correlates in a cohort of PwID aged 60+.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was used with community-dwelling older PwID in urban/rural regions of two Australian states.

Personal relationships during end-of-life care: Support staff views of issues for individuals with intellectual disability.

Background: Life expectancy for persons with intellectual disability has increased dramatically over the past decade, which has seen an associated rise in the need for end-of-life care. However, little is known regarding how end-of-life affects the individual's personal relationships with family, friends and staff.

Methods: Focus group interviews were undertaken with 35 disability support workers from four rural and two metropolitan locations in NSW and Queensland, Australia.

Challenges in providing end-of-life care for people with intellectual disability: Health services access.

Background: Increasing life expectancy for people with intellectual disability is resulting in greater need for end-of-life care services. However, limited knowledge is available regarding what barriers to accessing end-of-life care support are evident, particularly comparatively across rural and metropolitan locations.

Methods: Focus group interviews were undertaken with 35 direct-care staff from four rural and two metropolitan locations.

Outdoor areas of Australian residential aged care facilities do not facilitate appropriate sun exposure.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess whether the outdoor areas of residential aged care facilities used for a sunlight intervention trial had the design features that encouraged participants' use of these spaces.

Methods: The design principles recommended in the 'Vitamin D and the Built Environment in Victoria' guidelines were used to assess the outdoor spaces of residential aged care facilities that were used in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of sunlight exposure. Attendance rates in the sunlight RCT were analysed in relation to global impression scores of the facilities using one-way analysis of variance.

Vitamin D response of older people in residential aged care to sunlight-derived ultraviolet radiation.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to determine the vitamin D response to sunlight ultraviolet radiation in older people. Increases in vitamin D depended on the season of exposure, but the changes were small. Natural sun exposure is not a practical intervention for vitamin D deficiency in this population.

Influence of the environment on participation in social roles for young adults with down syndrome.

Background: The concept of disability is now understood as a result of the interaction between the individual, features related to impairment, and the physical and social environment. It is important to understand these environmental influences and how they affect social participation. The purpose of this study is to describe the social participation of young adults with Down syndrome and examine its relationship with the physical and social environment.

Down syndrome and dementia: Is depression a confounder for accurate diagnosis and treatment?

The past century has seen a dramatic improvement in the life expectancy of people with Down syndrome. However, research has shown that individuals with Down syndrome now have an increased likelihood of early onset dementia. They are more likely than their mainstream peers to experience other significant co-morbidities including mental health issues such as depression.

Response of BRAF-mutant melanoma to BRAF inhibition is mediated by a network of transcriptional regulators of glycolysis.

Unlabelled: Deregulated glucose metabolism fulfills the energetic and biosynthetic requirements for tumor growth driven by oncogenes. Because inhibition of oncogenic BRAF causes profound reductions in glucose uptake and a strong clinical benefit in BRAF-mutant melanoma, we examined the role of energy metabolism in responses to BRAF inhibition. We observed pronounced and consistent decreases in glycolytic activity in BRAF-mutant melanoma cells.

Relationship between family quality of life and day occupations of young people with Down syndrome.

Purpose: To explore relationships between family quality of life, day occupations and activities of daily living (ADL) of young persons with Down syndrome.

Method: Data were collected from 150 families with a young person with Down syndrome aged 16-30 years participating in the Down syndrome "Needs Opinions Wishes" database. Data described the young person's characteristics (including functional abilities, behaviour and day occupations) and family characteristics (including income, family and community supports and quality of life).

Building an inclusive research team: the importance of team building and skills training.

Background: Inclusive research teams typically describe their experiences and analyse the type of involvement of researchers with disability, but the process of building research teams and the need for research training still remain underexplored in the literature.

Materials And Method: Four researchers with intellectual disabilities and four academic researchers developed an inclusive research team. The team conducted 15 research training sessions, focused on investigating the well-being of older women with intellectual disabilities.

Outcomes in young adulthood: are we achieving community participation and inclusion?

Background: Despite recognition of the importance of integrated community living and support, there is evidence that parents remain the primary caregivers of young adults with intellectual disability (ID). In addition, employment rates remain low in this population. This study aimed to investigate the changes in living arrangements and participation in daytime activities over time in a community population of young people with ID.

From diminished men to conditionally masculine: sexuality and Australian men and adolescent boys with intellectual disability.

Men and boys with intellectual disability represent a unique group who have hitherto been overlooked by researchers and theorists exploring men and masculinities. Qualitative data from an Australian ethnographic study focused on the sexual health needs of men and adolescent boys with moderate to profound intellectual disability. Findings suggest that masculinity for this group of men is more a biopsychosocial phenomenon than a social construct organised around heteronormative ideals.

Host immunity contributes to the anti-melanoma activity of BRAF inhibitors.

The BRAF mutant, BRAF(V600E), is expressed in nearly half of melanomas, and oral BRAF inhibitors induce substantial tumor regression in patients with BRAF(V600E) metastatic melanoma. The inhibitors are believed to work primarily by inhibiting BRAF(V600E)-induced oncogenic MAPK signaling; however, some patients treated with BRAF inhibitors exhibit increased tumor immune infiltration, suggesting that a combination of BRAF inhibitors and immunotherapy may be beneficial. We used two relatively resistant variants of Braf(V600E)-driven mouse melanoma (SM1 and SM1WT1) and melanoma-prone mice to determine the role of host immunity in type I BRAF inhibitor PLX4720 antitumor activity.

Functioning and post-school transition outcomes for young people with Down syndrome.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between functioning and post-school day occupation for young adults with Down syndrome.

Methods: Families of young people with Down syndrome (n = 269) aged 15-30 years in 2009 were recruited from the population-based Down syndrome 'Needs Opinion Wishes' database in Western Australia. Questionnaires were mailed to participating families and involved two parts, young person characteristics and family functioning; 203 were returned (75%).