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Background Due to the high prevalence and adverse consequences, overweight and obesity in children continues to be a major public health concern worldwide. Socioeconomic background and health-related behaviours (such as diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviors) are important factors associated with weight status in children. Using a series of height and weight assessments from the Australian Capital Territory Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (ACTPANS), trends in prevalence of overweight and obesity by socioeconomic status were examined in ACT Year 6 school children between 2006 and 2018. Methods The ACTPANS has been conducted every 3 years since 2006. A total of 6729 children were surveyed. Complete data on height and weight were available for 6384 (94.9%) participants. Trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity and associations between weight status and risk factors (such as socioeconomic status, physical activity, screen time and consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks (SSD)) were examined using logistic regression. Results The prevalence of overweight and obesity remained stable in girls (from 22.5% in 2006 to 21.6% in 2018) but declined in boys (from 27.8 to 17.9%). During the same period, levels of physical activity increased slightly, while screen time and the consumption of fast food and SSD decreased. Socioeconomic gradient, based on the school-level Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA), was highly associated with prevalence of overweight and obesity. Since 2006, the estimated prevalence of overweight and obesity has remained high in the lowest SES groups, but a concurrent downward trend was observed in the highest SES group, leading to increasing disparity between SES groups. Children in the lowest ICSEA quintile were more likely to be overweight or obese compared to those in the moderate and highest ICSEA quintiles. Children in lower ICSEA quintiles also reported lower levels of physical activity, higher levels of screen time, and higher levels of fast food and SSD consumption compared to those in higher ICSEA quintiles. Conclusions While recent trends in overweight and obesity in ACT children are encouraging, the prevalence remains unacceptably high, especially in those from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Additional prevention efforts are required to address the socioeconomic disparity.

Objective To examine the prevalence and importance of psychological, behavioural, and situational correlates of impending psychiatric inpatient admissions in children and adolescents with eating disorders. Method The sample consisted of 285 patients (8–17 years, M = 14.4, SD = 1.49) with DSM-5 eating disorders assessed between 2006 and 2013 from the Helping to Outline Pediatric Eating Disorders (HOPE) Project. The sample was split into two groups, those with ( n = 38) and without ( n = 247) impending psychiatric admission; Discriminant function analysis was used to examine correlates. Results The prevalence of impending psychiatric admission was 13.3%. Suicidal ideation provided the greatest discriminating power, followed by eating pathology, depressive symptoms, anxiety, multiple methods of weight control, binge eating, and family functioning. Conclusions Earlier recognition of comorbid symptoms in eating disorders in the community may reduce the number of young people with eating disorders who present needing critical psychiatric care.

Vasopressin-activated calcium-mobilizing (VACM-1) protein is a cul-5 gene product that forms complexes with a subclass of ubiquitin E3 ligases involved in proteasomal protein degradation. The expression of VACM-1 cDNA in the T47D breast cancer cell line inhibits growth and decreases phosphorylation of mitogen activated protein kinase. Factors that regulate expression or stability of VACM-1 protein have not been identified, however. In our search to identify drugs/substances that may control VACM-1 protein expression, we examined the effects of resveratrol (trans-3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene), a natural component in the human diet which inhibits tumor initiation and promotion. CMV vector and VACM-1 cDNA stably transfected T47D breast cancer-derived cells were treated with resveratrol and cell growth and VACM-1 protein concentrations were measured. Since the cellular mechanism of resveratrol-dependent inhibition of cell growth also involves the regulation of estrogen receptors, the effect of 17-β-estradiol and resveratrol on ERα levels and on cell growth was examined in control and in VACM-1 cDNA transfected cells. Our results demonstrate that antiproliferative effect of resveratrol observed in the control T47D cancer cells was significantly enhanced in VACM-1 cDNA transfected T47D cells. Western blot results indicated that resveratrol increased VACM-1 protein concentration. Finally, treatment with resveratrol for 24 and 48 h attenuated 17-β-estradiol induced increase in cell growth both in control and in VACM-1 cDNA transfected cells. The effect was significantly higher in the VACM-1 cDNA transfected cells when compared to controls. These results indicate that the antiproliferative effect of resveratrol may involve induction of VACM-1/cul5.

Background and purpose A diagnosis of malignancy and its treatment is a very stressful time for patients and their families. This study was conducted to determine the impact of more intensive written information on patients' anxiety levels. The secondary aim was to determine the impact of this information on patients' satisfaction levels. Materials and methods This prospective randomized trial consisted of patients with a pathological diagnosis of cancer having radical radiotherapy (RT). Patients were randomized to receive the more intensive information (including written information and a telephone call from the research nurse) or not to receive the more intensive information at the time of their initial consultation with the radiation oncologist. Study questionnaires measuring anxiety (STAI form) were completed prior to their first consultation (baseline) at the time of simulation (pre-RT) and at the completion of radiotherapy. A second questionnaire assessing satisfaction with the information given (ISQ) was completed at the time of simulation prior to commencing RT. Results One hundred and ninety-four patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the patients was 58.5years and 70% of patients were female. Breast cancer (67%) was the commonest cancer. One hundred and two patients were randomized to receive the intensive information package and 92 patients received the standard consultation. There was no significant difference in mean State or Trait anxiety scores between any of the time intervals and no difference between the two information groups. There was no significant difference between the groups with regard to mean satisfaction scores with the overall information given, nor with any individual question. The satisfaction scores with lifestyle information given were lower than those for any other type of information in both randomization arms. Conclusion More intensive information did not significantly change patients' anxiety scores or satisfaction levels. The patients were generally very satisfied with the information they received but less satisfied with the information on lifestyle issues.

Neotyphodium coenophialum [Morgan-Jones and Gams], grows in the above-ground parts of tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.]. It is an asexual fungus that is transmitted through seed of its host plant. This grass/endophyte association is enhanced by the protection of the host from herbivory and improved drought stress. We investigated how a decline in leaf-level stomatal conductance impacts the instantaneous water-use efficiency (WUE), in endophyte-infected (E+) versus non-infected (E−) Kentucky-31 tall fescue grasses grown in a controlled environmental chamber over a 10-week period. Grasses were cut at 6 weeks after germination and allowed to regrow under high and low soil moisture availability. One week after cutting, soil moisture was allowed to decline in the low water treatment for 2 weeks until severe stress was demonstrated through a decline in stomatal conductance to less than 100 mmol m−2 s−1. We found no differences in WUE between E+ and E− plants when water was not limiting while higher WUE was exhibited in E+ plants relative to E− plants under severe drought stress. The E− plants showed an 18-fold reduction in mean WUE and a 70-fold reduction in photosynthesis under drought stress, while there was no change in WUE and only a fourfold decline in photosynthesis between well-watered and drought stressed E+ plants at 21 days. While there were no differences in the rates of transpiration between E+ and E− plants under severe drought stress, differences in WUE can be attributed mainly to higher photosynthetic rates of E+ than E− plants. The difference in photosynthetic rates between E+ and E− plants under drought conditions could not be explained by differences in stomatal conductance and Rubisco (EC 4.1.1.39) activities.

Method The sample comprised patients aged 8 to 17 years (91% female), with DSM-5 eating disorder diagnosis, categorised as with (n = 38) or without (n = 247) impending psychiatric admission, assessed between 2006 and 2013. The data source was the Helping to Outline Paediatric Eating Disorders (HOPE) Project registry (N ~ 1000), a prospective, ongoing registry study comprising consecutive paediatric tertiary eating disorder referrals.

Background To describe the rates, indications, and adverse effects of psychotropic drug prescription in a specialist tertiary hospital child and adolescent eating disorder service. Methods Retrospective case note study of all active eating disorder patients (N = 115) over the period of treatment from referral to time of study (M = 2 years), covering patient demographics, clinical characteristics, drug prescriptions, indications, and adverse effects. Results Psychotropic drugs were prescribed in 45% of cases, most commonly antidepressants (41%), followed by anxiolytics (29%) and antipsychotics (22%), with 8% initiated before referral to the specialist eating disorder program. Common indications were depressed mood, agitation, anxiety, and insomnia. Patient clinical severity and complexity was associated with prescribing. Adverse effects, mostly minor, were recorded in 23% of antidepressant prescriptions, 39% of antipsychotic prescriptions, and 13% of anxiolytic prescriptions. Second generation antipsychotic prescription was associated with subsequent new onset binge eating, in this preliminary observational study. Self-harm by overdose of psychotropics occurred in 11% of patients prescribed medication. Conclusions Psychotropic medications were frequently prescribed to adolescent eating disorder patients to treat distressing symptoms. Prospective randomised controlled trials to clarify efficacy and safety are needed. Given the difficulties of conducting clinical trials in this population, services are encouraged to monitor and audit medication safety and efficacy in everyday practice, and to report their findings.