Flinders University

About: Flinders University is a education organization based out in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 12033 authors who have published 32831 publications receiving 973172 citations. The organization is also known as: Flinders University of South Australia.

Prediction of adherence and control in diabetes.

Abstract: This study aims to predict adherence to diabetic treatment regimens and sustained diabetic control. During two clinic visits that were 2 months apart, 63 adult outpatients completed measures of diabetic history, current treatment, diabetic control, adherence, and self-efficacy about adherence to treatment. Results showed that self-efficacy was a significant predictor of later adherence to diabetes treatment even after past levels of adherence were taken into account. Posttest levels of adherence in turn were significantly associated with posttest %HbA1c after control for illness severity. A stepwise multiple regression to predict %HbA1c at post entered pretest measures of diabetic control, treatment type, and self-efficacy, which together predicted 50% of the variance. Results are related to self-efficacy theory and implications for practice are discussed.

A Critical Appraisal of the Role of Dietary Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Neural Indices of Term Infants: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

Abstract: Objective. To determine whether dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid, affect visual evoked potential (VEP) acuity of formula-fed infants, relative to breastfed infants. A secondary objective was to assess the effect of LCPUFA on Bayley9s mental developmental index (MDI) and psychomotor developmental index (PDI). Methods. Formula-fed infants were randomly allocated, in a double-blind manner, to either a placebo (no LCPUFA;n = 21), DHA supplemented (n = 23), or DHA+arachidonic acid supplemented formula (n = 24). Infants were fed their assigned formula from the first week of life until 1 year of age. A parallel reference group of breastfed infants was recruited and followed (n = 46). Infant VEP acuity was assessed at 16 and 34 weeks, and Bayley9s MDI and PDI were assessed at 1 and 2 years of age. Results. There were no differences among the randomized formula groups for VEP acuity at either 16 or 34 weeks of age. Breastfed infants had better VEP acuity at 34 weeks of age, but not at 16 weeks, compared with all formula-fed infants. Bayley9s MDI and PDI were similar in the 3 formula-fed groups at 1 and 2 years. Breastfed infants had higher MDI scores than formula-fed infants at 2 years of age even after adjusting for environmental variables. Conclusions. LCPUFA supplementation did not influence VEP acuity development in these well-nourished, formula-fed infants.

Ataxia-telangiectasia: an inherited disorder of ionizing-radiation sensitivity in man. Progress in the elucidation of the underlying biochemical defect.

Abstract: This review summarizes the current research on the biochemical defect leading to ataxia-telangiectasia (AT). A DNA repair defect has been linked to AT, although the precise defect has not been found. A critical examination of the evidence for and against a DNA repair defect in AT is presented. Consideration of other recent data on AT raises the possibility that AT may not primarily be the result of a DNA repair defect. Therefore, in this review AT is approached as a syndrome which is defective in the ability to respond to ionizing-radiation-type damage, rather than defective in the ability to repair this damage. However, this does not necessarily exclude the potential involvement of a DNA repair defect in some of the genetically distinct subsets present in AT. Other recent anomalies found in AT, including an altered cell cycle and DNA synthesis profile following ionizing-radiation damage, are also assessed. A suggestion to account for the underlying defect in AT, based on the various research reports, is presented.