Showing papers by "Flinders University published in 2018"
Gregory A. Roth1, Gregory A. Roth2, Degu Abate3, Kalkidan Hassen Abate4 +1025 more•Institutions (333)
TL;DR: Non-communicable diseases comprised the greatest fraction of deaths, contributing to 73·4% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 72·5–74·1) of total deaths in 2017, while communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional causes accounted for 18·6% (17·9–19·6), and injuries 8·0% (7·7–8·2).
5,211 citations
Jeffrey D. Stanaway1, Ashkan Afshin1, Emmanuela Gakidou1, Stephen S Lim1 +1050 more•Institutions (346)
TL;DR: This study estimated levels and trends in exposure, attributable deaths, and attributable disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) by age group, sex, year, and location for 84 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or groups of risks from 1990 to 2017 and explored the relationship between development and risk exposure.
2,910 citations
Verneri Anttila1, Verneri Anttila2, Brendan Bulik-Sullivan1, Brendan Bulik-Sullivan2 +717 more•Institutions (270)
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that, in the general population, the personality trait neuroticism is significantly correlated with almost every psychiatric disorder and migraine, and it is shown that both psychiatric and neurological disorders have robust correlations with cognitive and personality measures.
Abstract: Disorders of the brain can exhibit considerable epidemiological comorbidity and often share symptoms, provoking debate about their etiologic overlap. We quantified the genetic sharing of 25 brain disorders from genome-wide association studies of 265,218 patients and 784,643 control participants and assessed their relationship to 17 phenotypes from 1,191,588 individuals. Psychiatric disorders share common variant risk, whereas neurological disorders appear more distinct from one another and from the psychiatric disorders. We also identified significant sharing between disorders and a number of brain phenotypes, including cognitive measures. Further, we conducted simulations to explore how statistical power, diagnostic misclassification, and phenotypic heterogeneity affect genetic correlations. These results highlight the importance of common genetic variation as a risk factor for brain disorders and the value of heritability-based methods in understanding their etiology.
1,357 citations
Christopher Troeger1, Brigette F. Blacker1, Ibrahim A Khalil1, Puja C Rao1 +148 more•Institutions (28)
TL;DR: The findings show substantial progress in the reduction of lower respiratory infection burden, but this progress has not been equal across locations, has been driven by decreases in several primary risk factors, and might require more effort among elderly adults.
Abstract: Summary Background Lower respiratory infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the world The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) Study 2016, provides an up-to-date analysis of the burden of lower respiratory infections in 195 countries This study assesses cases, deaths, and aetiologies spanning the past 26 years and shows how the burden of lower respiratory infection has changed in people of all ages Methods We used three separate modelling strategies for lower respiratory infections in GBD 2016: a Bayesian hierarchical ensemble modelling platform (Cause of Death Ensemble model), which uses vital registration, verbal autopsy data, and surveillance system data to predict mortality due to lower respiratory infections; a compartmental meta-regression tool (DisMod-MR), which uses scientific literature, population representative surveys, and health-care data to predict incidence, prevalence, and mortality; and modelling of counterfactual estimates of the population attributable fraction of lower respiratory infection episodes due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus We calculated each modelled estimate for each age, sex, year, and location We modelled the exposure level in a population for a given risk factor using DisMod-MR and a spatio-temporal Gaussian process regression, and assessed the effectiveness of targeted interventions for each risk factor in children younger than 5 years We also did a decomposition analysis of the change in LRI deaths from 2000–16 using the risk factors associated with LRI in GBD 2016 Findings In 2016, lower respiratory infections caused 652 572 deaths (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 586 475–720 612) in children younger than 5 years (under-5s), 1 080 958 deaths (943 749–1 170 638) in adults older than 70 years, and 2 377 697 deaths (2 145 584–2 512 809) in people of all ages, worldwide Streptococcus pneumoniae was the leading cause of lower respiratory infection morbidity and mortality globally, contributing to more deaths than all other aetiologies combined in 2016 (1 189 937 deaths, 95% UI 690 445–1 770 660) Childhood wasting remains the leading risk factor for lower respiratory infection mortality among children younger than 5 years, responsible for 61·4% of lower respiratory infection deaths in 2016 (95% UI 45·7–69·6) Interventions to improve wasting, household air pollution, ambient particulate matter pollution, and expanded antibiotic use could avert one under-5 death due to lower respiratory infection for every 4000 children treated in the countries with the highest lower respiratory infection burden Interpretation Our findings show substantial progress in the reduction of lower respiratory infection burden, but this progress has not been equal across locations, has been driven by decreases in several primary risk factors, and might require more effort among elderly adults By highlighting regions and populations with the highest burden, and the risk factors that could have the greatest effect, funders, policy makers, and programme implementers can more effectively reduce lower respiratory infections among the world's most susceptible populations Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
1,147 citations
University of New South Wales1, University of California, Santa Cruz2, James Cook University3, Australian Institute of Marine Science4, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation5, Charles Darwin University6, Hobart Corporation7, University of Tasmania8, Flinders University9, Macquarie University10, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries11
TL;DR: The significance of this nationally coordinated network of receivers is demonstrated to better reveal intra-specific differences in movement profiles and discuss implications for effective management.
Abstract: Acoustic telemetry is a principle tool for observing aquatic animals, but coverage over large spatial scales remains a challenge. To resolve this, Australia has implemented the Integrated Marine Observing System’s Animal Tracking Facility which comprises a continental-scale hydrophone array and coordinated data repository. This national acoustic network connects localized projects, enabling simultaneous monitoring of multiple species over scales ranging from 100 s of meters to 1000 s of kilometers. There is a need to evaluate the utility of this national network in monitoring animal movement ecology, and to identify the spatial scales that the network effectively operates over. Cluster analyses assessed movements and residency of 2181 individuals from 92 species, and identified four functional movement classes apparent only through aggregating data across the entire national network. These functional movement classes described movement metrics of individuals rather than species, and highlighted the plasticity of movement patterns across and within populations and species. Network analyses assessed the utility and redundancy of each component of the national network, revealing multiple spatial scales of connectivity influenced by the geographic positioning of acoustic receivers. We demonstrate the significance of this nationally coordinated network of receivers to better reveal intra-specific differences in movement profiles and discuss implications for effective management.
336 citations
Hanoi University1, University of Melbourne2, Institute of Fundamental Studies3, University of Tasmania4, Alfred Hospital5, Monash University, Clayton campus6, Flinders University7, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital8, University of New South Wales9, National Institutes of Health10, Imperial College London11, Haukeland University Hospital12, University of Bergen13, University of Queensland14, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital15, Gold Coast Hospital16, Royal Children's Hospital17, Cancer Council Victoria18, Monash University19
TL;DR: It is postulate that reducing maternal smoking, encouraging immunisation, and avoiding personal smoking, especially in those with smoking parents or low childhood lung function, might minimise COPD risk.
326 citations
TL;DR: This study provides a content analysis of fitspiration imagery on the social networking site Instagram, showing that the majority of images of women contained only one body type: thin and toned.
Abstract: 'Fitspiration' is an online trend designed to inspire viewers towards a healthier lifestyle by promoting exercise and healthy food. This study provides a content analysis of fitspiration imagery on the social networking site Instagram. A set of 600 images were coded for body type, activity, objectification and textual elements. Results showed that the majority of images of women contained only one body type: thin and toned. In addition, most images contained objectifying elements. Accordingly, while fitspiration images may be inspirational for viewers, they also contain a number of elements likely to have negative effects on the viewer's body image.
325 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors conceptualise food tourism research from a cultural anthropology perspective, given that much of the literature on food tourism defines cuisine as place and is used in many forms and interactions with tourists.
318 citations
TL;DR: A global attainment analysis of the feasibility of attaining SDG targets on the basis of past trends and a estimates of health-related SDG index values in countries assessed at the subnational level varied substantially, particularly in China and India, although scores in Japan and the UK were more homogeneous.
312 citations
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Eindhoven University of Technology1, Max Planck Society2, National Scientific and Technical Research Council3, University of Groningen4, Flinders University5, University of Oxford6, Illinois Institute of Technology7, Nottingham Trent University8, Bielefeld University9, University of Nevada, Las Vegas10, University of Wisconsin-Madison11, Missouri State University12, University of Arkansas13, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven14, Leiden University15, Linnaeus University16, Tzu Chi University17, University of British Columbia18, University of Cambridge19, University of Edinburgh20, Bangor University21, University of Glasgow22, Linköping University23, Florida State University24, Yale University25, University of Louisiana at Lafayette26, University of Texas at Austin27, St. Edward's University28, West Virginia University29, Rutgers University30, Indiana University31, RWTH Aachen University32, Keele University33, University of Tübingen34, Radboud University Nijmegen35, University of Chester36, New York University37, University of Nottingham38, Erasmus University Rotterdam39, University of Bristol40, Sahlgrenska University Hospital41, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań42, University of Connecticut43, Humboldt University of Berlin44, Charité45, University of Fribourg46, University of Kent47, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic48, RAND Corporation49, Baylor University50, Virginia Tech51, Northern Illinois University52, Open University53, King's College London54, Karolinska Institutet55, Stockholm University56, Stanford University57, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina58, University of Tromsø59, DePaul University60, Boğaziçi University61, University of Cologne62, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology63, University of Leeds64, University of Virginia65, Center for Open Science66, National Institutes of Health67, University of Southern Indiana68, Autonomous University of Madrid69, Tilburg University70, Utrecht University71, Massey University72, Saint Louis University73, University of California, Davis74, Ghent University75
TL;DR: In response to recommendations to redefine statistical significance to P ≤ 0.005, it is proposed that researchers should transparently report and justify all choices they make when designing a study, including the alpha level.
Abstract: In response to recommendations to redefine statistical significance to P ≤ 0.005, we propose that researchers should transparently report and justify all choices they make when designing a study, including the alpha level.
296 citations
TL;DR: The study found that the ability of the driverless car to meet performance expectations and its reliability were important adoption determinants, and significant concerns included privacy (autonomy, location tracking and surveillance) and security (from hackers).
University of Tasmania1, Flinders University2, University of Sydney3, James Cook University4, Macquarie University5, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation6, University of New South Wales7, Charles Darwin University8, Australian Institute of Marine Science9, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries10
TL;DR: The database and quality control procedures developed to collate 49.6 million valid detections from 1891 receiving stations are presented, which constitutes a valuable resource facilitating meta-analysis of animal movement, distributions, and habitat use and is important for relating species distribution shifts with environmental covariates.
Abstract: Our ability to predict species responses to environmental changes relies on accurate records of animal movement patterns. Continental-scale acoustic telemetry networks are increasingly being established worldwide, producing large volumes of information-rich geospatial data. During the last decade, the Integrated Marine Observing System's Animal Tracking Facility (IMOS ATF) established a permanent array of acoustic receivers around Australia. Simultaneously, IMOS developed a centralised national database to foster collaborative research across the user community and quantify individual behaviour across a broad range of taxa. Here we present the database and quality control procedures developed to collate 49.6 million valid detections from 1891 receiving stations. This dataset consists of detections for 3,777 tags deployed on 117 marine species, with distances travelled ranging from a few to thousands of kilometres. Connectivity between regions was only made possible by the joint contribution of IMOS infrastructure and researcher-funded receivers. This dataset constitutes a valuable resource facilitating meta-analysis of animal movement, distributions, and habitat use, and is important for relating species distribution shifts with environmental covariates.
Imperial College London1, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland2, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven3, University of Padua4, University of Chicago5, Northwestern University6, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill7, University of São Paulo8, Temple University9, Oregon Health & Science University10, Stanford University11, State University of Campinas12, The Catholic University of America13, Brigham and Women's Hospital14, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul15, Washington University in St. Louis16, Federal University of São Paulo17, University of Adelaide18, Allegheny Health Network19, Mayo Clinic20, Medical College of Wisconsin21, Central South University22, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine23, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico24, University of Naples Federico II25, University of Buenos Aires26, Queen Mary University of London27, University of Washington28, Utrecht University29, Flinders University30, University of Bordeaux31, Virginia Mason Medical Center32
TL;DR: These guidelines deal specifically with the following achalasia issues: Diagnostic workup, Definition of the disease, Severity of presentation, Medical treatment, Botulinum Toxin injection, Pneumatic dilatation, POEM, Other endoscopic treatments, Laparoscopic myotomy, definition of recurrence, Follow up and risk of cancer.
Abstract: Achalasia is a relatively rare primary motor esophageal disorder, characterized by absence of relaxations of the lower esophageal sphincter and of peristalsis along the esophageal body As a result, patients typically present with dysphagia, regurgitation and occasionally chest pain, pulmonary complication and malnutrition New diagnostic methodologies and therapeutic techniques have been recently added to the armamentarium for treating achalasia With the aim to offer clinicians and patients an up-to-date framework for making informed decisions on the management of this disease, the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus Guidelines proposed and endorsed the Esophageal Achalasia Guidelines (I-GOAL) The guidelines were prepared according the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE-REX) tool, accredited for guideline production by NICE UK A systematic literature search was performed and the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations were graded according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Given the relative rarity of this disease and the paucity of high-level evidence in the literature, this process was integrated with a three-step process of anonymous voting on each statement (DELPHI) Only statements with an approval rate >80% were accepted in the guidelines Fifty-one experts from 11 countries and 3 representatives from patient support associations participated to the preparations of the guidelines These guidelines deal specifically with the following achalasia issues: Diagnostic workup, Definition of the disease, Severity of presentation, Medical treatment, Botulinum Toxin injection, Pneumatic dilatation, POEM, Other endoscopic treatments, Laparoscopic myotomy, Definition of recurrence, Follow up and risk of cancer, Management of end stage achalasia, Treatment options for failure, Achalasia in children, Achalasia secondary to Chagas' disease
Washington University in St. Louis1, Australian National University2, Heidelberg University3, University of Michigan4, Flinders University5, Paris Diderot University6, King's College London7, Office of Population Research8, French Institute of Health and Medical Research9, University of Montpellier10, University of Otago11, Hungarian Academy of Sciences12, University of Sussex13, University of Bologna14, VU University Amsterdam15, University of Adelaide16, University of London17, University of Oxford18, University of Queensland19, University of New England (Australia)20, University of Pennsylvania21, Georgetown University22, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens23, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine24, University of Basel25, Greifswald University Hospital26, University Medical Center Groningen27, Semmelweis University28, VU University Medical Center29, Michigan State University30, University of Cambridge31, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai32, University of Manchester33, University of Münster34, Uppsala University35, Research Triangle Park36, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute37, University of Bristol38, Deakin University39, Charité40, University of Melbourne41, University of Molise42, University of California, San Francisco43, Indiana University44
TL;DR: If an interaction exists in which the S allele of 5-HTTLPR increases risk of depression only in stressed individuals, then it is not broadly generalisable, but must be of modest effect size and only observable in limited situations.
Abstract: The hypothesis that the S allele of the 5-HTTLPR serotonin transporter promoter region is associated with increased risk of depression, but only in individuals exposed to stressful situations, has generated much interest, research and controversy since first proposed in 2003. Multiple meta-analyses combining results from heterogeneous analyses have not settled the issue. To determine the magnitude of the interaction and the conditions under which it might be observed, we performed new analyses on 31 data sets containing 38 802 European ancestry subjects genotyped for 5-HTTLPR and assessed for depression and childhood maltreatment or other stressful life events, and meta-analysed the results. Analyses targeted two stressors (narrow, broad) and two depression outcomes (current, lifetime). All groups that published on this topic prior to the initiation of our study and met the assessment and sample size criteria were invited to participate. Additional groups, identified by consortium members or self-identified in response to our protocol (published prior to the start of analysis) with qualifying unpublished data, were also invited to participate. A uniform data analysis script implementing the protocol was executed by each of the consortium members. Our findings do not support the interaction hypothesis. We found no subgroups or variable definitions for which an interaction between stress and 5-HTTLPR genotype was statistically significant. In contrast, our findings for the main effects of life stressors (strong risk factor) and 5-HTTLPR genotype (no impact on risk) are strikingly consistent across our contributing studies, the original study reporting the interaction and subsequent meta-analyses. Our conclusion is that if an interaction exists in which the S allele of 5-HTTLPR increases risk of depression only in stressed individuals, then it is not broadly generalisable, but must be of modest effect size and only observable in limited situations.
TL;DR: The problem of mercury pollution in ASGM is reviewed with a discussion on how the chemistry community can contribute solutions, including portable and low‐cost mercury sensors, inexpensive and scalable remediation technologies, novel methods to prevent mercury uptake in fish and food crops, and efficient and easy‐to‐use mercury‐free mining techniques are all ways in which the Chemistry community can help.
Abstract: Mercury-dependent artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the largest source of mercury pollution on Earth. In this practice, elemental mercury is used to extract gold from ore as an amalgam. The amalgam is typically isolated by hand and then heated-often with a torch or over a stove-to distill the mercury and isolate the gold. Mercury release from tailings and vaporized mercury exceed 1000 tonnes each year from ASGM. The health effects on the miners are dire, with inhaled mercury leading to neurological damage and other health issues. The communities near these mines are also affected due to mercury contamination of water and soil and subsequent accumulation in food staples, such as fish-a major source of dietary protein in many ASGM regions. The risks to children are also substantial, with mercury emissions from ASGM resulting in both physical and mental disabilities and compromised development. Between 10 and 19 million people use mercury to mine for gold in more than 70 countries, making mercury pollution from ASGM a global issue. With the Minamata Convention on Mercury entering force this year, there is political motivation to help overcome the problem of mercury in ASGM. In this effort, chemists can play a central role. Here, the problem of mercury in ASGM is reviewed with a discussion on how the chemistry community can contribute solutions. Introducing portable and low-cost mercury sensors, inexpensive and scalable remediation technologies, novel methods to prevent mercury uptake in fish and food crops, and efficient and easy-to-use mercury-free mining techniques are all ways in which the chemistry community can help. To meet these challenges, it is critical that new technologies or techniques are low-cost and adaptable to the remote and under-resourced areas in which ASGM is most common. The problem of mercury pollution in ASGM is inherently a chemistry problem. We therefore encourage the chemistry community to consider and address this issue that affects the health of millions of people.
Royal Adelaide Hospital1, Flinders University2, National Institutes of Health3, Mayo Clinic4, Montreal Heart Institute5, University of Duisburg-Essen6, McGill University7, University of Grenoble8, French Institute of Health and Medical Research9, Royal Melbourne Hospital10, University of Melbourne11
TL;DR: Data from nonrandomized studies of patients with AF suggest that treatment of OSA by continuous positive airway pressure may help to maintain sinus rhythm after electrical cardioversion and improve catheter ablation success rates.
Abstract: Importance Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common clinically significant breathing abnormality during sleep. It is highly prevalent among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), and it promotes arrhythmogenesis and impairs treatment efficacy. Observations The prevalence of OSA ranges from 3% to 49% in population-based studies and from 21% to 74% in patients with AF. Diagnosis and treatment of OSA in patients with AF requires a close interdisciplinary collaboration between electrophysiologists, cardiologists, and sleep specialists. Because the prevalence of OSA is high in patients with AF and most do not report daytime sleepiness, sleep-study evaluation may be reasonable for patients being considered for rhythm control strategy. Acute, transient apnea-associated atrial electrophysiological changes and increased occurrence of AF triggers associated with short episodes of intermittent deoxygenation and reoxygenation, intrathoracic pressure changes during obstructed breathing efforts, and sympathovagal activation combine to create a stimulus for AF triggers and a complex and dynamic substrate for AF during sleep. Repeated episodes of long-term OSA are eventually associated with structural remodeling and changes in electrical conduction in the atrium. Observational data suggest OSA reduces the efficacy of catheter-based and pharmacological antiarrhythmic therapy. Nonrandomized studies have shown that treatment of OSA by continuous positive airway pressure can help to maintain a sinus rhythm after electrical cardioversion and catheter ablation in patients with AF. However, it remains unclear which sleep apnea metric should be used to determine severity and guide such treatment in patients with AF. Conclusions and Relevance Data from nonrandomized studies of patients with AF suggest that treatment of OSA by continuous positive airway pressure may help to maintain sinus rhythm after electrical cardioversion and improve catheter ablation success rates. Randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm the association between OSA and AF the benefits of treatment of OSA and the need for and cost-effectiveness of routine OSA screening and treatment.
TL;DR: HM provided a clear protective effect against NEC, with an approximate 4% reduction in incidence, and any volume of HM is better than EPTF, and the higher the dose the greater the protection.
Abstract: This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesised the post-1990 literature examining the effect of human milk on morbidity, specifically necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), late onset sepsis (LOS), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and neurodevelopment in infants born ≤28 weeks’ gestation and/or publications with reported infant mean birth weight of ≤1500 g. Online databases including Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched, and comparisons were grouped as follows: exclusive human milk (EHM) versus exclusive preterm formula (EPTF), any human milk (HM) versus EPTF, higher versus lower dose HM, and unpasteurised versus pasteurised HM. Experimental and observational studies were pooled separately in meta-analyses. Risk of bias was assessed for each individual study and the GRADE system used to judge the certainty of the findings. Forty-nine studies (with 56 reports) were included, of which 44 could be included in meta-analyses. HM provided a clear protective effect against NEC, with an approximate 4% reduction in incidence. HM also provided a possible reduction in LOS, severe ROP and severe NEC. Particularly for NEC, any volume of HM is better than EPTF, and the higher the dose the greater the protection. Evidence regarding pasteurisation is inconclusive, but it appears to have no effect on some outcomes. Improving the intake of mother’s own milk (MOM) and/or donor HM results in small improvements in morbidity in this population.
TL;DR: Weight-loss management and RFM reverses the type and natural progression of AF, demonstrating the dynamic relationship between weight/risk factors and AF.
Abstract: Aims Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a progressive disease. Obesity is associated with progression of AF. This study evaluates the impact of weight and risk factor management (RFM) on progression of the AF. Methods and results As described in the Long-Term Effect of Goal-Directed Weight Management in an Atrial Fibrillation Cohort: A Long-Term Follow-Up (LEGACY) Study, of 1415 consecutive AF patients, 825 had body mass index ≥ 27 kg/m2 and were offered weight and RFM. After exclusion, 355 were included for analysis. Weight loss was categorized as: Group 1 (<3%), Group 2 (3-9%), and Group 3 (≥10%). Change in AF type was determined by clinical review and 7-day Holter yearly. Atrial fibrillation type was categorized as per the Heart Rhythm Society consensus. There were no differences in baseline characteristic or follow-up duration between groups (P = NS). In Group 1, 41% progressed from paroxysmal to persistent and 26% from persistent to paroxysmal or no AF. In Group 2, 32% progressed from paroxysmal to persistent and 49% reversed from persistent to paroxysmal or no AF. In Group 3, 3% progressed to persistent and 88% reversed from persistent to paroxysmal or no AF (P < 0.001). Increased weight loss was significantly associated with greater AF freedom: 45 (39%) in Group 1, 69 (67%) in Group 2, and 116 (86%) in Group 3 (P ≤ 0.001). Conclusion Obesity is associated with progression of the AF disease. This study demonstrates the dynamic relationship between weight/risk factors and AF. Weight-loss management and RFM reverses the type and natural progression of AF.
Flinders University1, University of Queensland2, Princess Alexandra Hospital3, Royal Adelaide Hospital4, University of Adelaide5, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital6, University of Western Australia7, Australian School of Advanced Medicine8, The George Institute for Global Health9, University of New South Wales10, Liverpool Hospital11, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research12, University of Newcastle13
TL;DR: Neutrophilic asthma is associated with airway microbiology that is significantly different from that seen in patients with other inflammatory phenotypes, particularly eosinophilic asthma.
Abstract: Background Asthma pathophysiology and treatment responsiveness are predicted by inflammatory phenotype. However, the relationship between airway microbiology and asthma phenotype is poorly understood. Objective We aimed to characterize the airway microbiota in patients with symptomatic stable asthma and relate composition to airway inflammatory phenotype and other phenotypic characteristics. Methods The microbial composition of induced sputum specimens collected from adult patients screened for a multicenter randomized controlled trial was determined by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Inflammatory phenotypes were defined by sputum neutrophil and eosinophil cell proportions. Microbiota were defined by using α- and β-diversity measures, and interphenotype differences were identified by using similarity of percentages, network analysis, and taxon fold change. Phenotypic predictors of airway microbiology were identified by using multivariate linear regression. Results Microbiota composition was determined in 167 participants and classified as eosinophilic (n = 84), neutrophilic (n = 14), paucigranulocytic (n = 60), or mixed neutrophilic-eosinophilic (n = 9) asthma phenotypes. Airway microbiology was significantly less diverse ( P = .022) and more dissimilar ( P = .005) in neutrophilic compared with eosinophilic participants. Sputum neutrophil proportions, but not eosinophil proportions, correlated significantly with these diversity measures (α-diversity: Spearman r = −0.374, P r = 0.238, P = .002). Interphenotype differences were characterized by a greater frequency of pathogenic taxa at high relative abundance and reduced Streptococcus , Gemella , and Porphyromonas taxa relative abundance in patients with neutrophilic asthma. Multivariate regression confirmed that sputum neutrophil proportion was the strongest predictor of microbiota composition. Conclusions Neutrophilic asthma is associated with airway microbiology that is significantly different from that seen in patients with other inflammatory phenotypes, particularly eosinophilic asthma. Differences in microbiota composition might influence the response to antimicrobial and steroid therapies and the risk of lung infection.
TL;DR: Evidence is provided that could be used by nurse educators and nurse administrators to better prepare nurses for disaster response that contribute to a growing body of knowledge regarding disaster preparedness in nurses and have implications for academia, hospital administration and nursing educators.
Abstract: Aim
This review explored peer-reviewed publications that measure nurses’ preparedness for disaster response.
Background
The increasing frequency of disasters worldwide necessitates nurses to adequately prepare to respond to disasters to mitigate the negative consequences of the event on the affected population. Despite growing initiatives to prepare nurses for any disasters, evidence suggests they are under prepared for disaster response.
Methods
This is a systematic review of scientific articles conducted from 2006 to 2016 on nurses’ preparedness for disasters. SCOPUS, MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL and PsychINFO were the primary databases utilized for search of literature. Keywords used in this review were as follows: ‘emergency’, ‘disaster’, ‘disaster preparedness’, ‘disaster competencies’, ‘disaster nursing’, ‘disaster role’ and ‘nurse’. Seventeen (17) articles were selected for this review.
Findings
Factors that increase preparedness for disaster response include previous disaster response experience and disaster-related training. However, it is widely reported that nurses are insufficiently prepared and do not feel confident responding effectively to disasters.
Conclusion
The findings of this review contribute to a growing body of knowledge regarding disaster preparedness in nurses and have implications for academia, hospital administration and nursing educators. The findings of this review provide evidence that could be used by nurse educators and nurse administrators to better prepare nurses for disaster response.
Implications for nursing and health policy
The findings from this review place an emphasis on hospitals to implement policies to address lack of preparedness among their employees. Furthermore, this review highlights the benefit of further research and provision of well-grounded disaster exercises that mimic actual events to enhance the preparedness of the nursing workforce.
European Commission1, National University of Singapore2, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis3, University of Nebraska–Lincoln4, Flinders University5, International Water Management Institute6, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education7, Aalto University8, Stockholm Resilience Centre9, South University of Science and Technology of China10
TL;DR: It is recommended that WS is measured based on net abstraction as well, in addition to currently only measuring WS based on gross abstraction, because it does incorporate EFR and Temporal and spatial disaggregation is indeed defined as a goal in more advanced monitoring levels.
Anglia Ruskin University1, University of Oxford2, Imperial College London3, Dana Corporation4, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine5, Nova Southeastern University6, Brien Holden Vision Institute7, Flinders University8, Queen's University Belfast9, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention10, Royal Liverpool University Hospital11, University of New South Wales12, Vision-Sciences, Inc.13, University of Melbourne14, University of Southern California15, National University of Singapore16
TL;DR: While continuing to advance control of cataract and AMD as the leading causes of blindness remains a high priority, overcoming barriers to uptake of refractive error services would address approximately half of the MSVI burden.
Abstract: Background Within a surveillance of the prevalence and causes of vision impairment in high-income regions and Central/Eastern Europe, we update figures through 2015 and forecast expected values in 2020. Methods Based on a systematic review of medical literature, prevalence of blindness, moderate and severe vision impairment (MSVI), mild vision impairment and presbyopia was estimated for 1990, 2010, 2015, and 2020. Results Age-standardised prevalence of blindness and MSVI for all ages decreased from 1990 to 2015 from 0.26% (0.10–0.46) to 0.15% (0.06–0.26) and from 1.74% (0.76–2.94) to 1.27% (0.55–2.17), respectively. In 2015, the number of individuals affected by blindness, MSVI and mild vision impairment ranged from 70 000, 630 000 and 610 000, respectively, in Australasia to 980 000, 7.46 million and 7.25 million, respectively, in North America and 1.16 million, 9.61 million and 9.47 million, respectively, in Western Europe. In 2015, cataract was the most common cause for blindness, followed by age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, uncorrected refractive error, diabetic retinopathy and cornea-related disorders, with declining burden from cataract and AMD over time. Uncorrected refractive error was the leading cause of MSVI. Conclusions While continuing to advance control of cataract and AMD as the leading causes of blindness remains a high priority, overcoming barriers to uptake of refractive error services would address approximately half of the MSVI burden. New data on burden of presbyopia identify this entity as an important public health problem in this population. Additional research on better treatments, better implementation with existing tools and ongoing surveillance of the problem is needed.
TL;DR: This review is aimed at comprehensively collating the current available published evidence and clinical correlates of magnesium disorders and its role as a cofactor for more than 300 enzymatic reactions.
Abstract: Magnesium is the fourth most abundant cation in the body. It has several functions in the human body including its role as a cofactor for more than 300 enzymatic reactions. Several studies have shown that hypomagnesemia is a common electrolyte derangement in clinical setting especially in patients admitted to intensive care unit where it has been found to be associated with increase mortality and hospital stay. Hypomagnesemia can be caused by a wide range of inherited and acquired diseases. It can also be a side effect of several medications. Many studies have reported that reduced levels of magnesium are associated with a wide range of chronic diseases. Magnesium can play important therapeutic and preventive role in several conditions such as diabetes, osteoporosis, bronchial asthma, preeclampsia, migraine, and cardiovascular diseases. This review is aimed at comprehensively collating the current available published evidence and clinical correlates of magnesium disorders.
University Hospital of North Tees1, Newcastle University2, National Health Service3, National Taiwan University4, University of California, San Francisco5, University of Barcelona6, Karolinska Institutet7, Salisbury University8, University of Bremen9, Curie Institute10, Utrecht University11, Netherlands Cancer Institute12, St James's University Hospital13, University College London14, University of Toronto15, Dartmouth College16, Veterans Health Administration17, University of Pittsburgh18, University of Manitoba19, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre20, Flinders University21, Maastricht University22
TL;DR: An international team of gastroenterologists, pathologists, and epidemiologists met to formulate a series of recommendations, standardize definitions and categories, develop an algorithm to determine most-plausible etiologies, and develop standardized methodology to calculate rates of PCCRC and PICRC.
TL;DR: In this Review, the recent progress in understanding these organic compounds or polymers for fluorescence and phosphorescence is briefly summarized, with the aim of exploring the intrinsic principle of these novel photoluminescence systems and providing reasonable constructs for molecular design.
Abstract: Following the development of photoluminescence systems with various compositions, some nontraditional structures, including nonaromatic organic systems as fluorophores and organic luminogens as the source of phosphorescence emission at room temperature, have attracted considerable attention for their advantages in biological and medical applications, and for the updated photophysical understandings in science. In this Review, the recent progress in understanding these organic compounds or polymers for fluorescence and phosphorescence is briefly summarized, with the aim of exploring the intrinsic principle of these novel photoluminescence systems and providing reasonable constructs for molecular design. Finally, some prospects are suggested for further development of this continually expanding area of research, with the coined concept of Molecular Uniting Set Identified Characteristic (MUSIC).
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated current land cover types and ecological status in the Xiong’an New Area using feature inversion techniques and the improved remote sensing-based ecological index (RSEI).
TL;DR: It is shown that a protein–antibody conjugate bearing a site-specifically installed fluorophore at lysine could be used for selective imaging of apoptotic cells and detection of Her2+ cells, respectively and may be generally used for accessing diverse, well-defined protein conjugates for basic biology and therapeutic studies.
Abstract: Site-selective chemical conjugation of synthetic molecules to proteins expands their functional and therapeutic capacity. Current protein modification methods, based on synthetic and biochemical technologies, can achieve site selectivity, but these techniques often require extensive sequence engineering or are restricted to the N- or C-terminus. Here we show the computer-assisted design of sulfonyl acrylate reagents for the modification of a single lysine residue on native protein sequences. This feature of the designed sulfonyl acrylates, together with the innate and subtle reactivity differences conferred by the unique local microenvironment surrounding each lysine, contribute to the observed regioselectivity of the reaction. Moreover, this site selectivity was predicted computationally, where the lysine with the lowest pKa was the kinetically favored residue at slightly basic pH. Chemoselectivity was also observed as the reagent reacted preferentially at lysine, even in those cases when other nucleophi...
Ton Duc Thang University1, Flinders University2, Khulna University3, Broad Institute4, North South University5, University of Hyderabad6, Khyber Medical University7, Polish Academy of Sciences8, Selçuk University9, University of Catania10, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy11, Medical University of Łódź12, University of Hong Kong13, Mansoura University14, University of Macau15, Sungkyunkwan University16, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies17, King Abdulaziz University18, University of Jordan19, Central University, India20, University of Vienna21
TL;DR: A systematic review of reported biological activities of phytol, including phytanic acid (PA), along with their underlying mechanism of action, is presented.
TL;DR: This is the first experimental study showing that taking and posting selfies on social media causes adverse psychological effects for women and main effect of experimental condition on changes to mood and feelings of physical attractiveness.