Publications by authors named "Stocker C"

In the practice of healthcare, a new paradigm has emerged that perhaps challenges traditional notions of patient-clinician relationships. This shift involves recognising the invaluable role of expert patients, individuals who possess first-hand experience of life with their specific health conditions or chronic illnesses. These individuals have gained deep practical insights, knowledge, and coping strategies through their personal journeys.

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Background: Most challenging treatment needs are in recurrent or persisting head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients after (((chemo-)radiotherapy) (C)RT).

Materials And Methods: This 10-year retrospective study included 100 patients, who initially received (C)RT followed by neck dissection (ND). The results of computed tomography (CT) and sonography were evaluated for residual/recurrent cervical lymph nodes and compared to the histopathology.

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Climate change is altering temperature means and variation, and both need to be considered in predictions underpinning conservation. However, there is no consensus in the literature regarding the effects of temperature fluctuations on biological functions. Fluctuations may affect biological responses because of inequalities from non-linear responses, endocrine regulation or exposure to damaging temperatures.

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Purpose: 3D visualization is an important part of learning anatomy with cadavers generally used to effectuate this. However, high cost, ethical considerations, and limited accessibility can often limit the suitability of cadavers as teaching tools. Anatomical 3D printed models offer an alternative tool for teaching gross anatomy due to their low cost and accessibility.

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Background: The development of new morbidities has become increasingly identified in paediatric critical care medicine. To date, there has been limited research of long-term outcomes following paediatric critical illness in Australia.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to quantify neurodevelopmental impairments in children following paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) discharge and their association with health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

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A healthy diet is at the forefront of measures to prevent type 2 diabetes. Certain vegetable and fish oils, such as pine nut oil (PNO), have been demonstrated to ameliorate the adverse metabolic effects of a high-fat diet. The present study investigates the involvement of the free fatty acid receptors 1 (FFAR1) and 4 (FFAR4) in the chronic activity of hydrolysed PNO (hPNO) on high-fat diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to create a reliable and easy-to-use tool, called the children's Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment (cCPAx), to evaluate physical and respiratory function in critically ill children aged 2-18 in the PICU.
  • A modified Delphi method involved 27 experts to adapt the existing CPAx tool, achieving over 80% consensus on the cCPAx items after three iterations.
  • Testing in a cohort of 54 patients showed low physical function scores (median score 14.5 out of 50) and high immobility levels, indicating the cCPAx is a relevant tool for assessing physical health in this patient group.
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This study examines continuity and change in sibling relationship quality (warmth and hostility) from adolescence to adulthood, as well as how changes in sibling relationship quality across developmental stages are associated with early midlife emotional distress. Data come from the Family Transitions Project, a two-decade longitudinal study of youth and their families followed from adolescence to adulthood. The present study included target adolescent self-report data on warmth and hostility toward and received from their sibling over ten data points from ages 15 to 31.

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  • This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of dexmedetomidine as a sedative for infants undergoing open heart surgery compared to midazolam.
  • The research involved a double-blinded, randomized trial in a pediatric cardiac unit, focusing on sedation levels and feasibility measures.
  • Results showed that dexmedetomidine led to increased time in light sedation without significant differences in overall safety or long-term health outcomes compared to midazolam.
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Chorismate mutase (CM) and cyclohexadienyl dehydratase (CDT) catalyze two subsequent reactions in the intracellular biosynthesis of l-phenylalanine (Phe). Here, we report the discovery of novel and extremely rare bifunctional fusion enzymes, consisting of fused CM and CDT domains, which are exported from the cytoplasm. Such enzymes were found in only nine bacterial species belonging to non-pathogenic γ- or β-Proteobacteria.

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Advances in antenatal imaging have allowed early and accurate diagnosis of many fetal anomalies. This, together with the increasing understanding of the natural history of many fetal diseases, has opened the door to the possibility of offering timely fetal interventions in progressive or life-threatening conditions with the intention of improving perinatal outcomes. These interventions can occur at an adult hospital with obstetrical services (with or without pediatric care) or at a freestanding pediatric hospital.

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Introduction: While paediatric critical illness mortality rates in Australia are declining, the growing cohort of paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) survivors means an increasing number of children facing substantial health challenges after their discharge from intensive care. General practitioners (GPs) play a key role in provision of comprehensive health care to children and families and are ideally positioned to provide developmental surveillance and support the care of both the child and family following critical illness.

Methods: An anonymous, cross-sectional survey of 60 GPs, reached via private invitation (19% response) or via social media weblink, was conducted where the GPs were asked about their current confidence and knowledge in managing children post PICU.

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The role of amphiphilicity in polysaccharide-based superabsorbent polymers is paramount in determining material properties. While the performance of freeze-dried polymers is improved by maximizing hydrophilicity, this may not be the case for evaporative-dried polymers. In this study, four diglycidyl ether crosslinkers, with varying chain lengths and amphiphilicities, were used to synthesize a series of evaporative-dried carboxymethyl cellulose-based superabsorbent films.

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Introduction: In Australia, while paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) mortality has dropped to 2.2%, one in three survivors experience long-term neurodevelopmental impairment, limiting their life-course opportunities. Unlike other high-risk paediatric populations, standardised routine neurodevelopmental follow-up of PICU survivors is rare, and there is limited knowledge regarding the best methods.

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Objective: The objective of this study was to audit current patient blood management practice in children throughout cardiac surgery and paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission.

Design: This was a prospective observational cohort study.

Setting: This was a single-centre study in the cardiac operating room (OR) and PICU in a major tertiary children's hospital in Australia.

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Background: Medical students demonstrate higher levels of psychological distress compared with the general population and other student groups, especially at exam times. Mindfulness interventions show promise in stress reduction for this group, and in the reduction of cortisol, an established clinical marker of the body's stress response. This study investigated the relationship of mindfulness to exam-induced stress, salivary cortisol and exam performance in undergraduate medical students.

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The fossil record of terrestrialization documents notable shifts in the environmental and physiological tolerances of many animal and plant groups. However, for certain significant components of modern freshwater and terrestrial environments, the transition out of marine settings remains largely unconstrained. Ostracod crustaceans occupy an exceptional range of modern aquatic environments and are invaluable palaeoenvironmental indicators in the fossil record.

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Article Synopsis
  • Previous studies indicate that GPR17 agonists promote feeding, while antagonists reduce it; however, whole body GPR17 knockout in C57Bl/6 mice did not impact energy balance significantly.
  • Selective knockout in certain neuronal populations in mice leads to protection against obesity induced by high-fat diets, suggesting that the strain of mice used may influence outcomes.
  • In 129 strain GPR17 knockout mice, a notable increase in energy expenditure and intake was observed alongside improved metabolic markers, indicating that the lack of GPR17 may enhance sympathetic activity and alter energy dynamics in response to low plasma fuel availability.
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This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Dynamic approaches are required in teaching professionalism to medical students.

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Context.—: Specific reference intervals (RIs) facilitate accurate interpretation of results. Coagulation assay results may vary by demographics and also between reagents and analyzers used.

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Introduction: We previously demonstrated in primary cultures of human subcutaneous adipocytes and in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity that specific microRNA-22-3p antagomirs produce a significant reduction of fat mass and an improvement of several metabolic parameters. These effects are related to the activation of target genes such as , , , and involved in lipid catabolism, thermogenesis, insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis.

Research Design And Methods: We now report a dedicated study exploring over the course of 3 months the metabolic and energetic effects of subcutaneous administration of our first miR-22-3p antagomir drug candidate (APT-110) in adult C57BL/6 male mice.

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Background: The insulin-sensitizing phytocannabinoid, Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) can signal partly via G-protein coupled receptor-55 (GPR55 behaving as either an agonist or an antagonist depending on the assay). The cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) inverse agonist rimonabant is also a GPR55 agonist under some conditions. Previous studies have shown varied effects of deletion of GPR55 on energy balance and glucose homeostasis in mice.

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Background: The importance of ensuring medical students are equipped with the skills to be able to practice evidence-based medicine (EBM) has been increasingly recognized in recent years. However, there is limited information on an effective EBM curriculum for undergraduate medical schools. This study aims to test the feasibility of integrating a multifaceted EBM curriculum in the early years of an undergraduate medical school.

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