Edith Cowan University

About: Edith Cowan University is a education organization based out in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Tourism. The organization has 4040 authors who have published 13529 publications receiving 339582 citations. The organization is also known as: Edith Cowan & ECU.

Changes in running economy at different intensities following downhill running

Abstract: In this study, we tested the hypothesis that running economy assessed at a high intensity [e.g. 90% maximal oxygen capacity ([Vdot]O2max)] would be affected more than at a lower intensity (e.g. 70%[Vdot]O2max) after downhill running. Fifteen untrained young men performed level running at 70, 80, and 90%[Vdot]O2max (5 min for each intensity) before and 2 and 5 days after a 30-min downhill run (gradient of −16%) at the intensity of their pre-determined 70%[Vdot]O2max. Oxygen consumption, minute ventilation, respiratory exchange ratio, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and blood lactate concentration were measured during the level runs together with kinematic measures (e.g. stride length and frequency) using high-speed video analysis. Downhill running resulted in significant (P < 0.05) decreases in maximal isometric strength of the knee extensors, the development of muscle soreness, and increases in plasma creatine kinase activity and myoglobin concentration, which lasted for 5 days after do...

The incidence of cancer in people with intellectual disabilities.

Abstract: Objective: During the last 50 years there have been significant improvements in life expectancy among people with intellectual disability (ID), and so their incidence of age-associated diseases, such as cancer, is rising. The aim of this study was to compare the rate of cancer in people with ID with that found in the general population. Methods: Information on 9409 individuals registered with the Disability Services Commission of Western Australia was linked to the State Cancer Registry, with 200 cases of cancer detected over 156,729 person-years. Standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for both sexes separately by 5-year age groups for the period 1982-2001. The same procedures were adopted in the estimation of SIRs for specific types of cancers. Results: The age-standardised incidence of all cancers in people with ID was not significantly different from the general population. However, males with ID were observed to have a significantly increased risk of leukaemia, brain and stomach cancers, and a reduced risk of prostate cancer, while leukaemia, corpus uteri and colorectal cancers were significantly higher in females. Conclusions: Health practitioners need to be aware that with improvements in life expectancy the incidence of cancer in people with ID is likely to rise. More proactive health promotion campaigns may be needed for people with ID, who are likely to be poor users of screening services and whose symptoms may not be reported until they are in more advanced, less treatable stages of disease.

Systemic inflammatory responses to maximal versus submaximal lengthening contractions of the elbow flexors.

Abstract: We compared changes in markers of muscle damage and systemic inflammation after submaximal and maximal lengthening muscle contractions of the elbow flexors. Using a cross-over design, 10 healthy young men not involved in resistance training completed a submaximal trial (10 sets of 60 lengthening contractions at 10% maximum isometric strength, 1 min rest between sets), followed by a maximal trial (10 sets of three lengthening contractions at 100% maximum isometric strength, 3 min rest between sets). Lengthening contractions were performed on an isokinetic dynamometer. Opposite arms were used for the submaximal and maximal trials, and the trials were separated by a minimum of two weeks. Blood was sampled before, immediately after, 1 h, 3 h, and 1-4 d after each trial. Total leukocyte and neutrophil numbers, and the serum concentration of soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1 were elevated after both trials (P < 0.01), but there were no differences between the trials. Serum IL-6 concentration was elevated 3 h after the submaximal contractions (P < 0.01). The concentrations of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-1 receptor antagonist, IL-10, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and plasma C-reactive protein remained unchanged following both trials. Maximum isometric strength and range of motion decreased significantly (P < 0.001) after both trials, and were lower from 1-4 days after the maximal contractions compared to the submaximal contractions. Plasma myoglobin concentration and creatine kinase activity, muscle soreness and upper arm circumference all increased after both trials (P < 0.01), but were not significantly different between the trials. Therefore, there were no differences in markers of systemic inflammation, despite evidence of greater muscle damage following maximal versus submaximal lengthening contractions of the elbow flexors.

Young children's social information processing: family antecedents and behavioral correlates.

Abstract: Little research has examined whether social information processing (SIP) measures from early childhood predict externalizing problems beyond the shared association with familial risk markers. In the present study, family antecedents and first-grade externalizing behaviors were studied in relation to preschool and 1st-grade SIP using data from the U.S. National Institute for Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care (N=1,364). A subgroup of low-risk children reported only benign attributions in preschool and had few externalizing problems in 1st grade according to both teacher and mother reports. After controlling for gender and cognitive functioning, the authors found that maternal education and authoritarian attitudes were key predictors of this "Pollyanna preschooler" status and of SIP in 1st grade. However, small effect sizes for SIP variables underscore the need for new approaches to measurement and for further research on moderators of the link between SIP and children's behavior.

Palliative care and support for people with neurodegenerative conditions and their carers

Abstract: Aim: To identify and compare the needs for supportive care/ palliative care services of people in Australia with Motor Neuron Disease (MND), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Huntington's Disease (HD) and Parkinson's Disease (PD) and the needs of their carers. Design: National, descriptive survey of service use and support needs for 503 patients and 373 carers. Patients and carers were recruited from the databases of the disease associations in three Australian states. Patients were excluded if the patient had recently been diagnosed or were too sick or disabled to complete the survey. This was a specification of the ethics committee overseeing this project. Findings: The MND and HD groups had the greatest needs for support and appeared most receptive to a palliative approach. The MS group was least likely to have a carer and more likely to live alone. HD and PD groups had the highest rates of anxiety and HD groups had the highest rate of depression. Conclusions: Patients and carers who received more tailored serv...