Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences Collected Works - Research Publications

Permanent URI for this collection

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 1214
  • Item
    No Preview Available
    The effects of alcohol tax policies on alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorders in Mainland of China: an interrupted time series analysis from 1961-2019.
    Hu, A ; Zhao, X ; Room, R ; Hao, W ; Xiang, X ; Jiang, H (Informa UK Limited, 2023-11-02)
    Background: Overwhelming evidence suggests that increasing alcohol taxes is an effective strategy for curbing alcohol consumption. However, research on the effects of such strategies in low- and middle-income nations is limited.Objective: The aim is to explore the temporal effect of alcohol tax policy in China.Methods: We employ interrupted time series analysis to investigate the temporal effects of tax policy changes on alcohol consumption and related consequences in Mainland China from 1961 to 2019. The study population, the total population of mainland region of China, aged more than 15 years.Results: The results show that the volume tax policy, which was announced in 2000 and implemented in 2001,  led to an immediate reduction in the alcohol consumption (coefficient = -0.429, p < .001). Following the implementation of higher alcohol taxes in 1998 and 2001, the prevalence of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and related years lived with disability (YLDs) gradually decreased. The relaxation of tax policy in 2006 led to a significant increase in alcohol consumption, both immediately (coefficient = 0.406, p < .001) and in the middle term (coefficient = 0.495, p < .001), as well as contribute to an immediate or medium term significant increase in the prevalence of AUDs (coefficient = 0.038, p = .010; coefficient = 0.032, p < .001) and YLDs (coefficient = 4.363, p = .001; coefficient = 4.226, p < .001).Conclusion: This study demonstrates that changes in alcohol consumption and related consequences (increase or decrease) have followed corresponding changes in alcohol tax policies (easing or tightening), indicating that increasing alcohol taxes can be an effective strategy in China for controlling alcohol consumption and related harms.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Global, but not chondrocyte-specific, MT1-MMP deficiency in adult mice causes inflammatory arthritis
    Xia, X-D ; Gill, G ; Lin, H ; Roth, DM ; Wang, X-J ; Su, F-Y ; Alabi, A ; Alexiou, M ; Zhang, Z ; Wang, G-Q ; Graf, D ; Zhang, D-W (ELSEVIER, 2023-09)
    Membrane-type I metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP/MMP14) plays a key role in various pathophysiological processes, indicating an unaddressed need for a targeted therapeutic approach. However, mice genetically deficient in Mmp14 show severe defects in development and growth. To investigate the possibility of MT1-MMP inhibition as a safe treatment in adults, we generated global Mmp14 tamoxifen-induced conditional knockout (Mmp14kd) mice and found that MT1-MMP deficiency in adult mice resulted in severe inflammatory arthritis. Mmp14kd mice started to show noticeably swollen joints two weeks after tamoxifen administration, which progressed rapidly. Mmp14kd mice reached a humane endpoint 6 to 8 weeks after tamoxifen administration due to severe arthritis. Plasma TNF-α levels were also significantly increased in Mmp14kd mice. Detailed analysis revealed chondrocyte hypertrophy, synovial fibrosis, and subchondral bone remodeling in the joints of Mmp14kd mice. However, global conditional knockout of MT1-MMP in adult mice did not affect body weight, blood glucose, or plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Furthermore, we observed substantial expression of MT1-MMP in the articular cartilage of patients with osteoarthritis. We then developed chondrocyte-specific Mmp14 tamoxifen-induced conditional knockout (Mmp14chkd) mice. Chondrocyte MT1-MMP deficiency in adult mice also caused apparent chondrocyte hypertrophy. However, Mmp14chkd mice did not exhibit synovial hyperplasia or noticeable arthritis, suggesting that chondrocyte MT1-MMP is not solely responsible for the onset of severe arthritis observed in Mmp14kd mice. Our findings also suggest that highly cell-type specific inhibition of MT1-MMP is required for its potential therapeutic use.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Incidence and outcomes of sepsis in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous residents of New South Wales: population-based cohort study
    Thompson, KJ ; Finfer, SR ; Coombes, J ; Eades, S ; Hunter, K ; Leong, RNF ; Lewis, E ; Liu, B (AUSTRALASIAN MED PUBL CO LTD, 2021-09)
    Objective: To estimate the incidence and outcomes of sepsis hospitalisations in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous residents of New South Wales. Design and participants: Prospective cohort study of residents aged 45 years and older, recruited between 2006 and 2009, and followed for hospitalisation for sepsis. Main outcome measures: Incidence and hazard ratio (HR) of sepsis hospitalisation and intensive care unit (ICU) admission identified using International Classification of Diseases (10th revision) coding on discharge data. Length of stay, readmission and mortality in those admitted for sepsis. Results: Of 264 678 participants, 1928 (0.7%) identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Sepsis hospitalisation was higher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants (8.67 v 6.12 per 1000 person-years; age- and sex-adjusted HR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.98-2.80) but was attenuated after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, health behaviour and comorbidities (adjusted HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.31-1.86). Among those hospitalised for sepsis, after adjusting for age and sex, there were no differences between the proportions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous participants admitted to an ICU (18.0% v 16.1%; P = 0.42) or deceased at 1 year (36.1% v 36.8%; P = 0.92). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants had shorter lengths of hospital stay (9.98 v 11.72 days; P < 0.001) and ICU stay (4.38 v 6.35 days; P < 0.001) than non-Indigenous participants. Overall, more than 70% of participants were readmitted to hospital within 1 year. Conclusion: We found that the rate of sepsis hospitalisation in NSW was higher for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults. Culturally appropriate, community-led strategies targeting chronic disease prevention and the social determinants of health may reduce this gap. Preventing readmission following sepsis is a priority for all Australians.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Age matters if you are cheese, wine or a third molar: Correlating age with the indications for and complications following third molar removal
    Azher, S ; Delpachitra, SN ; Kumar, R ; Chandu, A ; Garg, K (Wiley, 2023-05-01)
    Objective: Advanced age is a well-recognised risk factor for complications following third molar surgery. However, age is largely exempt as consideration in published guidelines regarding the indications for third molar removal. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine changes in the indications for third molar removal with increasing age. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of 500 consecutive patient records totalling 1446 third molar extractions. The primary measures examined were the patient's age and the surgeon's documented indication for third molar removal. Secondary measures included gender, smoking status, IAN proximity, number of teeth extracted per patient, and short-term postoperative outcome. Results: Older patients were significantly more likely to undergo third molar extraction for periodontal disease and caries of adjacent teeth. Prolonged socket pain at 2 weeks was the most common complication encountered by patients across all age groups. Adults below age 25 were 1.69 times more likely to have uneventful healing (p < 0.02). Conclusion: Older patients are more likely to experience a slower postoperative course following third molar removal, as well as increased complications. Prophylactic removal of symptom-free third molars may be justified to prevent adjacent caries, periodontal disease and odontogenic infections later in life.
  • Item
    No Preview Available
    Whole blood stimulation as a tool for studying the human immune system
    Mueller, S ; Kroeger, C ; Schultze, JL ; Aschenbrenner, AC (WILEY, 2024-02)
    The human immune system is best accessible via tissues and organs not requiring major surgical intervention, such as blood. In many circumstances, circulating immune cells correlate with an individual's health state and give insight into physiological and pathophysiological processes. Stimulating whole blood ex vivo is a powerful tool to investigate immune responses. In the context of clinical research, the applications of whole blood stimulation include host immunity, disease characterization, diagnosis, treatment, and drug development. Here, we summarize different setups and readouts of whole blood assays and discuss applications for preclinical research and clinical practice. Finally, we propose combining whole blood stimulation with high-throughput technologies, such as single-cell RNA-sequencing, to comprehensively analyze the human immune system for the identification of biomarkers, therapeutic interventions as well as companion diagnostics.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Examining willingness to donate frozen oocytes among women of reproductive age
    Duncan, JP ; Caughey, LE ; White, KM (ELSEVIER SCI LTD, 2023-11)
    RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the predictors of willingness to donate frozen oocytes among women of reproductive age in Australia? DESIGN: An online survey involving 303 women of reproductive age (18-49 years) in Australia who had not frozen their oocytes or planned to freeze their oocytes in the next 12 months. The survey assessed demographic variables, prototype willingness model variables (attitude, subjective norm, prototype similarity and prototype favourability) and additional variables (altruism, empathy and infertility awareness) as predictors of hypothetical scenarios of willingness to donate frozen oocytes. A multivariate repeated measures analysis of variance explored differences in willingness to donate frozen oocytes. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis examined predictors of donor willingness. RESULTS: Women's willingness to donate their frozen oocytes was higher for donating to a friend or family member and to research compared with an egg bank or fertility clinic, or a couple advertising online for an egg donor (all P < 0.001). The prototype willingness model variables were significant predictors of willingness to donate showing slightly varied patterns across four scenarios. After accounting for demographics, regression models including prototype willingness model variables and additional variables accounted for 45-64% of variance in donor willingness. CONCLUSIONS: Frozen oocyte donation may be facilitated by improving attitudes towards donation and establishing positive images of donors. Professionals requiring frozen oocytes for research could focus on creating a sense of social approval for donating in this context. Encouraging frozen oocyte donation could increase access to oocytes for IVF treatment and aid in reducing the psychological burdens associated with involuntary childlessness.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    The McCoy Society’s 1936 expedition to Lady Julia Percy Island, Specimens in the Tiegs Zoology Museum
    Long, R (Cultural Collections Unit, University of Melbourne Library, 2017)
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Skulduggery in the museum, Remnants of Piltdown Man in the Harry Brookes Allen Museum of Anatomy and Pathology
    Long, R (Cultural Collections Unit, University of Melbourne Library, 2019)
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    'Not man, but man-like’ Early 20th-century anthropological plaster casts in the Harry Brookes Allen Museum of Anatomy and Pathology
    Long, R (Cultural Collections Unit, University of Melbourne Library, 2019)
    A description of early 20th-century plaster casts of skulls and bones of primates and prehistoric humans (hominins) within The Harry Brookes Allen Museum of Anatomy and Pathology collections.
  • Item
    No Preview Available
    Developing a deep learning natural language processing algorithm for automated reporting of adverse drug reactions
    McMaster, C ; Chan, J ; Liew, DFL ; Su, E ; Frauman, AG ; Chapman, WW ; Pires, DEV (ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE, 2023-01)
    The detection of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is critical to our understanding of the safety and risk-benefit profile of medications. With an incidence that has not changed over the last 30 years, ADRs are a significant source of patient morbidity, responsible for 5%-10% of acute care hospital admissions worldwide. Spontaneous reporting of ADRs has long been the standard method of reporting, however this approach is known to have high rates of under-reporting, a problem that limits pharmacovigilance efforts. Automated ADR reporting presents an alternative pathway to increase reporting rates, although this may be limited by over-reporting of other drug-related adverse events. We developed a deep learning natural language processing algorithm to identify ADRs in discharge summaries at a single academic hospital centre. Our model was developed in two stages: first, a pre-trained model (DeBERTa) was further pre-trained on 1.1 million unlabelled clinical documents; secondly, this model was fine-tuned to detect ADR mentions in a corpus of 861 annotated discharge summaries. This model was compared to a version without the pre-training step, and a previously published RoBERTa model pretrained on MIMIC III, which has demonstrated strong performance on other pharmacovigilance tasks. To ensure that our algorithm could differentiate ADRs from other drug-related adverse events, the annotated corpus was enriched for both validated ADR reports and confounding drug-related adverse events using. The final model demonstrated good performance with a ROC-AUC of 0.955 (95% CI 0.933 - 0.978) for the task of identifying discharge summaries containing ADR mentions, significantly outperforming the two comparator models.