Terminalia ivorensis demonstrates antioxidant properties and alters proliferation, genomic instability and migration of human colon cancer cells in vitro.

Colorectal cancer is a global killer that causes approximately 940 thousand deaths annually. Terminalia ivorensis (TI) is a tropical tree, the bark of which is used in African traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes, malaria and ulcer. This study investigated TI as a potential anticancer agent in human colon cells in vitro.

Heat and worker health.

Extreme heat negatively impacts cognition, learning, and task performance. With increasing global temperatures, workers may therefore be at increased risk of work-related injuries and illness. This study estimates the effects of temperature on worker health using records spanning 1985-2020 from an Australian mandatory insurance scheme.

Season, storage and extraction method impact on the phytochemical profile of Terminalia ivorensis.

Background: Terminalia ivorensis (TI) is used in West African ethnomedicine for the treatment of conditions including ulcers, malaria and wounds. Despite its widespread use, the phytochemical profile of TI remains largely undetermined. This research investigated the effects of extraction method, season, and storage conditions on the phytochemical composition of TI to contribute towards understanding the potential benefits.

Flood disasters and health among the urban poor.

Billions of people live in urban poverty, with many forced to reside in disaster-prone areas. Research suggests that such disasters harm child nutrition and increase adult morbidity. However, little is known about impacts on mental health, particularly of people living in slums.

Meta-analysis demonstrates Gly482Ser variant of PPARGC1A is associated with components of metabolic syndrome within Asian populations.

Aim: To determine the association of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 Gly482Ser variant with components of metabolic syndrome.

Materials And Methods: A systematic search was carried out using Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane library using the key words: Peroxisome proliferator activator receptor gamma coactivator 1, PPARGC1A, PGC-1, PGC-1alpha, and PGC1alpha alone or with polymorphism, Gly482Ser and rs8192678.

Results: Data from 19 articles generated 28 separate data sets.

Cost-Effectiveness of Erythropoietin in Traumatic Brain Injury: A Multinational Trial-Based Economic Analysis.

The EPO-TBI multi-national randomized controlled trial found that erythropoietin (EPO), when compared to placebo, did not affect 6-month neurological outcome, but reduced illness severity-adjusted mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), making the cost-effectiveness of EPO in TBI uncertain. The current study uses patient-level data from the EPO-TBI trial to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of EPO in patients with moderate or severe TBI from the healthcare payers' perspective. We addressed the issue of transferability in multi-national trials by estimating costs and effects for specific geographical regions of the study (Australia/New Zealand, Europe, and Saudi Arabia).

Trigonelline prevents high cholesterol and high fat diet induced hepatic lipid accumulation and lipo-toxicity in C57BL/6J mice, via restoration of hepatic autophagy.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is often linked with impaired hepatic autophagy. Here, we studied the alterations in hepatocellular autophagy by high cholesterol and high-fat diet (HC-HF) diet in C57BL/6J mice, and by palmitic acid (PA), in AML-12 and HepG2 cells. Further, we analysed role of Trigonelline (TG), a plant alkaloid, in preventing NAFLD, by modulating autophagy.

Differential item functioning in quality of life measurement: An analysis using anchoring vignettes.

Systematic differences in the ways that people use and interpret response categories (differential item functioning, DIF) can introduce bias when using self-assessments to compare health or quality of life across heterogeneous groups. This paper reports on an exploratory analysis involving the use of anchoring vignettes to identify DIF in a commonly used measure for assessing health-related quality of life - namely the EQ-5D. Using data from a bespoke (i.

Preformulation of cysteamine gels for treatment of the ophthalmic complications in cystinosis.

Nephropathic cystinosis is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterised by raised lysosomal levels of cystine in the cells of all organs. It is treated by regular administration of the aminothiol, cysteamine. Corneal crystal deposition is one of the most troublesome complications affecting patients and requires the hourly administration of cysteamine eye drops.

Response-Scale Heterogeneity in the EQ-5D.

This paper discusses two types of response-scale heterogeneity, which may impact upon the EQ-5D. Response-scale heterogeneity in reporting occurs when individuals systematically differ in their use of response scales when responding to self-assessments. This type of heterogeneity is widely observed in relation to other self-assessed measures but is often overlooked with regard to the EQ-5D.

Realising the Value of Linked Data to Health Economic Analyses of Cancer Care: A Case Study of Cancer 2015.

There is a growing appetite for large complex databases that integrate a range of personal, socio-demographic, health, genetic and financial information on individuals. It has been argued that 'Big Data' will provide the necessary catalyst to advance both biomedical research and health economics and outcomes research. However, it is important that we do not succumb to being data rich but information poor.

The hen's egg chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM) test to predict the ophthalmic irritation potential of a cysteamine-containing gel: Quantification using Photoshop® and ImageJ.

A modified hen's egg chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM) test has been developed, combining ImageJ analysis with Adobe(®) Photoshop(®). The irritation potential of an ophthalmic medicine can be quantified using this method, by monitoring damage to blood vessels. The evaluation of cysteamine containing hyaluronate gel is reported.

The effects of reduced copayments on discontinuation and adherence failure to statin medication in Australia.

This paper assesses whether the concession card, which offers discounted out-of-pocket costs for prescription medicines in Australia, affects discontinuation and adherence to statin therapy. The analysis uses data from the Australian Hypertension and Absolute Risk Study (AusHEART), which involves patients aged 55 years and over who visited a GP between April and June 2008. Socioeconomic and clinical information was collected and linked to administrative data on pharmaceutical use.

Silymarin released from sterile wafers restores glucose impaired endothelial cell migration.

Reduced oxygen tension combined with high glucose concentration leads to chronic wounds in diabetic patients. Delayed wound healing is due in part to impaired angiogenesis as a result of reduced endothelial cell migration. Topical applications, in the form of sterile lyophilised wafers hold promise for the treatment of chronic diabetic wounds.

Role of HIF1α and PKCβ in mediating the effect of oxygen and glucose in a novel wound assay.

Delayed wound healing is characteristic of those affected by both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. We have developed a novel assay to investigate endothelial cell migration using primary microvascular endothelial cells of dermal origin. Endothelial cell migration was determined using defined monolayers of cells.

How fair is Medicare? The income-related distribution of Medicare benefits with special focus on chronic care items.

Objective: To use patient-level data, clinical information and linked Medicare records to assess the distribution of benefits (rebates) across income groups, including benefits relating to chronic conditions such as the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (CDDS).

Design, Setting And Participants: Nationally representative, cluster-stratified survey (the Australian Hypertension and Absolute Risk Study) involving 322 general practitioners who each collected clinical data on 15-20 patients aged≥55,2012s who presented between 1 April 2008 and 30 June 2008 and who consented to have their information linked with Medicare administrative records over 12 months.

Main Outcome Measures: Distribution of total out-of-hospital Medicare expenditure quantified using concentration indices and determinants of use calculated by odds ratios.

Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of novel pro-drugs for the treatment of nephropathic cystinosis.

As part of our continuing work to obtain new pro-drugs for the treatment of nephropathic cystinosis, a number of glutaric and succinic acid derivatives of cystamine have been designed, synthesised and biologically evaluated in vitro. These compounds have been designed as odourless and tasteless pro-drugs which will release multiple molecules of cysteamine upon administration. All of the synthesised compounds evaluated in this study were non-cytotoxic and displayed a greater ability than cysteamine to deplete the levels of cystine in cultured fibroblasts.

Folate pro-drug of cystamine as an enhanced treatment for nephropathic cystinosis.

Nephropathic cystinosis is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterised by raised intracellular levels of the amino acid, cystine. If untreated, the disease, progressively deteriorates towards end stage renal disease (ESRD) at the end of the first decade. The disease is caused by a defect in the lysosomal transport mechanism for cystine.

Uptake and transport of novel amphiphilic polyelectrolyte-insulin nanocomplexes by Caco-2 cells--towards oral insulin.

Purpose: The influence of polymer architecture on cellular uptake and transport across Caco-2 cells of novel amphiphilic polyelectrolyte-insulin nanocomplexes was investigated.

Method: Polyallylamine (PAA) (15 kDa) was grafted with palmitoyl chains (Pa) and subsequently modified with quaternary ammonium moieties (QPa). These two amphiphilic polyelectrolytes (APs) were tagged with rhodamine, and their uptake by Caco-2 cells or their polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) with fluorescein isothiocyanate-insulin (FITC-insulin) uptake was investigated using fluorescence microscopy.

PEGylated derivatives of cystamine as enhanced treatments for nephropathic cystinosis.

The genetic disease, nephropathic cystinosis is characterized by lysosomal accumulation of the amino acid cystine. Crystallization of cystine in affected organs, if untreated, results in mortality of the affected individuals by their middle to late teens. The only approved treatment for cystinosis is administration of cysteamine.

A potential new prodrug for the treatment of cystinosis: design, synthesis and in-vitro evaluation.

Nephropathic cystinosis is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterised by raised lysosomal levels of cystine in the cells of most organs. The disorder is treated by regular administration of the aminothiol, cysteamine, an odiferous and unpleasant tasting compound that along with its metabolites is excreted in breath and sweat, leading to poor patient compliance. In an attempt to improve patient compliance a series of novel prodrugs has been designed and evaluated as a potential new treatment for nephropathic cystinosis.