University of Western Australia

About: University of Western Australia is a education organization based out in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 29613 authors who have published 87405 publications receiving 3064466 citations. The organization is also known as: UWA & University of WA.

Mitogenic activity and cytokine levels in non‐healing and healing chronic leg ulcers

Abstract: The cause of impaired healing in chronic leg ulcers is not known. However, recent attempts to modify the healing process have focused on adding growth factors to stimulate healing and have failed to produce dramatic improvements in healing. This study used a unique model of chronic wound healing in humans to obtain wound fluid samples from chronic venous leg ulcers that had changed from a nonhealing to a healing phase. These samples were used to assess cytokine and growth factor levels, and mitogenic activity in these nonhealing and healing chronic wounds. The pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alphawere found to be present in significantly higher concentrations in wound fluid from nonhealing compared to healing leg ulcers. There were detectable levels but, no significant change in the levels of platelet derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor or transforming growth factor-betaas ulcers healed. Wound fluid was added to fibroblasts in vitro to assess mitogenic activity. There was a significantly greater proliferative response to healing wound fluid samples compared to nonhealing samples. These results suggest that healing may be impaired by inflammatory mediators rather than inhibited by a deficiency of growth factors in these chronic wounds.

Drought Stress in Wheat during Flowering and Grain-filling Periods

Abstract: Drought is a major environmental stress threatening wheat productivity worldwide. Global climate models predict changed precipitation patterns with frequent episodes of drought. Although drought impedes wheat performance at all growth stages, it is more critical during the flowering and grain-filling phases (terminal drought) and results in substantial yield losses. The severity and duration of the stress determine the extent of the yield loss. The principal reasons for these losses are reduced rates of net photosynthesis owing to metabolic limitations—oxidative damage to chloroplasts and stomatal closure—and poor grain set and development. A comprehensive understanding of the impact of terminal drought is critical for improving drought resistance in wheat, with marker-assisted selection being increasingly employed in breeding for this resistance. The limited success of molecular breeding and physiological strategies suggests a more holistic approach, including interaction of drought with other stresses a...