A global call for action to include gender in research impact assessment.

Global investment in biomedical research has grown significantly over the last decades, reaching approximately a quarter of a trillion US dollars in 2010. However, not all of this investment is distributed evenly by gender. It follows, arguably, that scarce research resources may not be optimally invested (by either not supporting the best science or by failing to investigate topics that benefit women and men equitably).

Participation in paediatric cancer studies: timing and approach to recruitment.

Background: Participation in epidemiological studies has fallen significantly over the past 30 years; this has been attributed to a busier lifestyle and longer working hours. In case-control studies, participation among cases is usually higher than among controls due to the personal relevance. In Australia, between 2003 and 2011, we conducted three national population-based case-control studies of risk factors for childhood cancers; brain tumors, acute leukemia and neuroblastoma and Wilms' tumor.

Participation in population-based case-control studies: does the observed decline vary by socio-economic status?

An Australian study of childhood leukaemia (Aus-ALL) previously reported that control participation was positively associated with socio-economic status (SES). A similar study of childhood brain tumours (Aus-CBT) was carried out 4 years later, and this paper compares control participation and its relationship with SES in the two studies. To assess the representativeness of controls in terms of SES, the addresses of controls were linked to Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2006 Collection Districts (CDs), and hence to area-based indices of SES.

Tanzanian malignant lymphomas: WHO classification, presentation, ploidy, proliferation and HIV/EBV association.

Background: In Tanzania, the International Working Formulation [WF] rather than the WHO Classification is still being used in diagnosing malignant lymphomas (ML) and the biological characterization including the HIV/EBV association is sketchy, thus restraining comparison, prognostication and application of established therapeutic protocols.

Methods: Archival, diagnostic ML biopsies (N = 336), available sera (N = 35) screened by ELISA for HIV antibodies and corresponding clinical/histological reports at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Tanzania between 1996 and 2006 were retrieved and evaluated. A fraction (N = 174) were analyzed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Knee extension and flexion weakness in people with knee osteoarthritis: is antagonist cocontraction a factor?

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study, cross-sectional data.

Objectives: To investigate isometric knee flexion and extension strength, failure of voluntary muscle activation, and antagonist cocontraction of subjects with knee osteoarthritis (OA) compared with age-matched asymptomatic control subjects.

Background: Quadriceps weakness is a common impairment in individuals with knee OA.