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Objectives: The 2014 Australian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines (Adults) recommend muscle-strengthening activities ≥2 days/week. This study aimed to identify factors associated with 5-year change and stability in adherence to these guidelines.Design: Two adult follow-ups of the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health (CDAH) Study. Participants (n = 1510) were 26-36 years (CDAH-1, 2004-06) and 31-41 years (CDAH-2, 2009-11).Methods: Information on muscle-strengthening activities, sociodemographics, health, physical activity and sedentary behaviour was collected. Participants reporting muscle-strengthening activities ≥2 days/week 'met guidelines', with change and stability categorised as 'persistent adherence', 'increasing adherence', 'decreasing adherence' and 'persistent non-adherence'. Differences in sociodemographic, health and behavioural factors were analysed using log multinomial regression.Results: Between 15-21% of women (CDAH-1: 14.5%, 95% confidence interval = 12.5-16.9; CDAH-2: 20.7%, 95% confidence interval = 18.3-23.4) and ~21% of men (CDAH-1: 22.2%, 95% confidence interval = 19.0-26.0; CDAH-2: 21.0%, 95% confidence interval = 17.8-24.7) met muscle-strengthening guidelines, but only 8.5% (95% confidence interval = 7.2-10.1) of participants were persistently adherent. Remaining in or moving from a major city, CDAH-1 weight status, cumulative self-rated health and vigorous physical activity were positively associated with persistent adherence (relative risk range = 1.51-3.92), while female gender, becoming partnered and having children at any timepoint were negatively associated with persistent adherence (relative risk range = 0.38-0.58).Conclusions: Adherence - particularly persistent adherence - to muscle-strengthening guidelines in this sample was low. Gender, marital status, weight status, BMI, self-rated health, urban-rural status, parental status, physical activity and sedentary behaviour were associated with adherence, and should be considered in intervention development to maximise effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a risk factor for developing knee osteoarthritis (OA). We developed an intervention to support people manage risk factors for OA.Methods: We conducted one-on-one interviews with 20 individuals with OA symptoms 6-15 years post ACL injury and used a nominal group process during a workshop with 40 patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) to elicit information on the intervention content and delivery characteristics (timing, HCPs, and methods). Interview data were analyzed using content analysis. Nominal group ideas with importance ratings ≥5 of 7 met criteria for inclusion. Results were integrated, considering similarities and differences.Results: Eight content categories were identified: 1. understanding knee injury and expectations about recovery; 2. understanding OA risk; 3. understanding OA signs and symptoms; 4. managing OA risk; 5. managing knee OA symptoms; 6. information for influencers; 7. credible sources; and, 8. updates on new evidence and treatments. Delivery timing reflected a lifespan approach from time of injury through symptomatic knee OA management. Although multiple media for delivery were identified, introductory face-to-face discussions and opportunity for re-accessing HCPs were critical. All HCPs who treat people with ACL should be familiar with and able to deliver the intervention.Conclusions: This co-development approach identified that an intervention to support people with ACL injury to limit and manage knee OA requires content embedded within an easily accessible, multi-media delivery model with capacity for check-back with HCPs that is appealing to different age groups and personal preferences over the lifespan post injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the associations between childhood adiposity measures and adulthood knee cartilage defects and bone marrow lesions (BMLs) measured 25 years later.Methods: 327 participants from the Australian Schools Health and Fitness Survey (ASHFS) of 1985 (aged 7-15 years) were followed up 25 years later (aged 31-41 years). Childhood measures (weight, height and skinfolds) were collected in 1985. Body mass index (BMI), overweight status and fat mass were calculated. Participants underwent 1.5 T knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during 2008-2010, and cartilage defects and BMLs were scored from knee MRI scans. Log binomial regressions were used to examine the associations.Results: Among 327 participants (47.1% females), 21 (6.4%) were overweight in childhood. Childhood adiposity measures were associated with the increased risk of adulthood patellar cartilage defects (Weight relative risk (RR) 1.05/kg, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.09; BMI 1.10/kg/m2, 1.01-1.19; Overweight 2.22/yes, 1.21-4.08; fat mass 1.11/kg, 1.01-1.22), but not tibiofemoral cartilage defects. Childhood adiposity measures were not significantly associated with adulthood knee BMLs except for the association between childhood overweight status and adulthood patellar BMLs (RR 2.87/yes, 95% CI 1.10-7.53). These significant associations persisted after adjustment for corresponding adulthood adiposity measure.Conclusion: Childhood adiposity measures were associated with the increased risk of adulthood patellar cartilage defects and, to a lesser extent, BMLs, independent of adulthood adiposity measures. These results suggest that adiposity in childhood has long-term effects on patellar structural abnormalities in young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Maternal influence on fetal growth is mediated through the placenta and this influence may have an implication for the offspring's long-term health. The placenta-to-birth weight ratio has been regarded as an indicator of placental function. However, few studies have examined the effect of maternal lifestyle exposures on the placenta-to-birth weight ratio. This study aims to examine the associations of maternal prenatal smoking and alcohol consumption with the placenta-to-birth weight ratio. Methods: Data for 7945 term singletons, gestation≥37 weeks, were selected from the Tasmanian Infant Health Survey; a 1988–1995 Australian cohort study. Placenta and birth weight were extracted from birth notification records. Results: Maternal smoking during pregnancy was strongly associated with a 6.77 g/kg higher (95% CI 4.83–8.71) placenta-to-birth weight ratio when compared to non-smoking mothers. Maternal prenatal smoking was associated with lower placental (β = −15.37 g; 95% CI −23.43 to −7.31) and birth weights (β = −205.49 g; 95% CI −232.91 to −178.08). Mothers who consumed alcohol during pregnancy had a lower placenta–to-birth weight ratio (β = −2.07 g/kg; 95% CI −4.01 to −0.12) than mothers who did not consume alcohol. The associations of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy with placental and birth weight did not reach statistical significance. Discussion: Maternal prenatal smoking and alcohol consumption may influence fetal growth by either directly or indirectly altering the function of the placenta. Conclusions: The alteration of the in utero environment induced by smoking and alcohol consumption appears to affect placental and fetal growth in differing ways. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this review, we describe the epidemiological work conducted by ourselves and others on prone sleep position and sudden infant death. What we have learned since 1990 is that the prone sleep position was a major component of a casual pathway that was operating in over half of the SIDS deaths that were occurring in developed countries at the end of the 1980. It has been estimated that advice to place infants supine to sleep may have saved in the order of 850 infants annually in Australia and other countries. The story of the SIDS epidemic is an example of the contribution that epidemiology can make to the understanding and prevention of an important public health problem. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Microalbuminuria has a cumulative incidence of > 30% in persons by 25 y duration of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and is a strong predictor of renal disease and mortality. Although improved glycemic control, maintenance of normal blood pressure, and use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are important strategies to avoid developing microalbuminuria, dietary macronutrient intake may also play a role. A cross-sectional population-based study of Tasmanian adults with IDDM and no previous diagnosis of microalbuminuria was conducted by measuring usual dietary macronutrient intake with a food-frequency questionnaire and defining microalbuminuria as an average urinary albumin excretion rate between 20 and 200 micrograms albumin/min in at least two of three timed overnight urine collections. After sex, age, duration of diabetes, daily number of insulin injections, body mass index, glycated hemoglobin, serum high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, frequency of exercise, and smoking status were adjusted for, the adjusted odds ratio for microalbuminuria for the highest quintile of energy-adjusted usual saturated fat intake compared with the lowest quintile was 4.9 (95% CI: 1.2, 20.0; P = 0.03). The adjusted odds ratio for microalbuminuria for the highest quintile of energy-adjusted usual protein intake compared with the lowest quintile was 0.10 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.56; P = 0.01). There was no significant association between microalbuminuria and energy-adjusted carbohydrate intake, energy-adjusted monounsaturated fat intake, or energy-adjusted polyunsaturated fat intake. Copyright (c) 1998 American Society for Clinical Nutrition [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Most childhood infections or vaccinations did not increase risk of new CNS demyelination • Rubella vaccination in adolescence appeared to be protective for CNS demyelination • Infectious mononucleosis (IM) during adolescence increased risk of new CNS demyelination • Adolescent tonsillectomy, adjusted for IM, increased risk of CNS demyelination The association between childhood vaccinations and infections and risk of multiple sclerosis is unclear; few studies have considered age at vaccination/infection. To explore age-related associations between childhood vaccinations, infection and tonsillectomy and risk of a first clinical diagnosis of CNS demyelination. Data on case (n = 275, 76.6% female; mean age 38.6 years) and age- and sex-matched control (n = 529) participants in an incident population-based case-control study included self-reported age at time of childhood vaccinations, infections, and tonsillectomy. Conditional logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Poliomyelitis vaccination prior to school-age was associated with increased risk of a first clinical diagnosis of CNS demyelination (AOR = 2.60, 95%CI 1.02–6.68), based on a very small unvaccinated reference group. Late (11–15 years) rubella vaccination (compared to none) was associated with lower odds of being a case (AOR = 0.47, 95%CI 0.27–0.83). Past infectious mononucleosis at 11–15 years (AOR = 2.84, 95%CI 1.0–7.57) and 16–20 years (AOR = 1.92, 95%CI 1.12–3.27) or tonsillectomy in adolescence (11–15 years: AOR = 2.45, 95%CI 1.12–5.35), including after adjustment for IM, were associated with increased risk of a first clinical diagnosis of CNS demyelination. Age at vaccination, infection or tonsillectomy may alter the risk of subsequent CNS demyelination. Failing to account for age effects may explain inconsistencies in past findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulation of actin and microtubule (MT) dynamics in neurons is implicated in guidance cue-dependent axon outgrowth, branching and pathfinding. Although the role of MTs in axon guidance has been well known, how extracellular guidance signals engage MT behavior in axon branching remains unclear. Previously, we have shown that TUBB3, the most dynamic β-tubulin isoform in neurons, directly binds to deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) to regulate MT dynamics in Netrin-1-mediated axon guidance. Here, we report that TUBB3 directly interacted with another Netrin-1 receptor Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (DSCAM) and Netrin-1 increased this interaction in primary neurons. MT dynamics were required for Netrin-1-promoted association of DSCAM with TUBB3. Knockdown of either DSCAM or DCC or addition of a function blocking anti-DCC antibody mutually blocked Netrin-1-induced interactions, suggesting that DSCAM interdependently coordinated with DCC in Netrin-1-induced binding to TUBB3. Both DSCAM and DCC were partially colocalized with TUBB3 in the axon branch and the axon branching point of primary neurons and Netrin-1 increased these colocalizations. Netrin-1 induced the interaction of endogenous DSCAM with polymerized TUBB3 in primary neurons and Src family kinases (SFKs) were required for regulating this binding. Knockdown of DSCAM only, DCC only or both was sufficient to block Netrin-1-induced axon branching of E15 mouse cortical neurons. Knocking down TUBB3 inhibited Netrin-1 induced axon branching as well. These results suggest that DSCAM collaborates with DCC to regulate MT dynamics via direct binding to dynamic TUBB3 in Netrin-1-induced axon branching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study was designed to determine which of the National Cholesterol Education Program or National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol classifications of dyslipidemia status in adolescents is most effective at predicting high common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) in adulthood.Background: Two classifications of pediatric dyslipidemia status have been proposed. No study has assessed which of these is most effective for predicting adolescents who will develop preclinical atherosclerosis in adulthood.Methods: Three population-based, prospective cohort studies collected lipoprotein measurements on 1,711 adolescents age 12 to 18 years who were remeasured as young adults age 29 to 39 years. Lipoproteins in adolescence were classified according to National Cholesterol Education Program and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cut points, and high IMT in adulthood was defined as those at or above the age-, sex-, race-, and cohort-specific 90th percentile of IMT.Results: Independent of the classification employed, adolescents with dyslipidemia were at significantly increased risk of having high IMT in adulthood (relative risks from 1.6 to 2.5). Differences in predictive capacity between both classifications were minimal. Overweight or obese adolescents with dyslipidemia had increased carotid IMT (males: 0.11 mm; females: 0.08 mm) in adulthood compared with those who did not have both risk factors. Adolescent dyslipidemia status was more strongly associated with high IMT in adulthood than change in dyslipidemia status.Conclusions: Pediatric dyslipidemia classifications perform equally in the prediction of adolescents who are at increased risk of high IMT in young adulthood. Our data suggest that dyslipidemia screening could be limited to overweight or obese adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycoplasmas are the smallest autonomously self-replicating life form on the planet. Members of this bacterial genus are known to parasitise a wide array of metazoans including vertebrates. Whilst much research has been significant targeted at parasitic mammalian mycoplasmas, very little is known about their role in other vertebrates. In the current study, we aim to explore the biology of mycoplasmas in Atlantic Salmon, a species of major significance for aquaculture, including cellular niche, genome size structure and gene content. Using fluorescent in-situ hybridisation (FISH), mycoplasmas were targeted in epithelial tissues across the digestive tract (stomach, pyloric caecum and midgut) from different development stages (eggs, parr, subadult) of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), and we present evidence for an intracellular niche for some of the microbes visualised. Via shotgun metagenomic sequencing, a nearly complete, albeit small, genome (~0.57 MB) as assembled from a farmed Atlantic salmon subadult. Phylogenetic analysis of the recovered genome revealed taxonomic proximity to other salmon derived mycoplasmas, as well as to the human pathogen Mycoplasma penetrans (~1.36 Mb). We annotated coding sequences and identified riboflavin pathway encoding genes and sugar transporters, the former potentially consistent with micronutrient provisioning in salmonid development. Our study provides insights into mucosal adherence, the cellular niche and gene catalog of Mycoplasma in the gut ecosystem of the Atlantic salmon, suggesting a high dependency of this minimalist bacterium on its host. Further study is required to explore and functional role of Mycoplasma in the nutrition and development of its salmonid host. • Mycoplasmas colonize the epithelial niche of the Atlantic salmon GI tract through its different development stages. • A nearly complete, albeit small, genome (~0.57 MB) assembled from Atlantic salmon subadult suggests genome reduction. • The lack of mobile genes and virulence factors in the mycoplasma genome could support a non-pathogenic lifestyle. • Mycoplasma 's genome content suggests role for host nutrient provisioning relevance to aquaculture. • Shotgun metagenomics, phylogenetics, and fluorescence in situ hybridization are relevant methods in aquaculture research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]