The phenomenon of adipocyte 'beiging' involves the conversion of non-classic brown adipocytes to brown-like adipose tissue with thermogenic, fat-burning properties, and this phenomenon has been shown in rodents to slow the progression of obesity-associated metabolic diseases. Rodent studies consistently report adipocyte beiging after endurance exercise training, indicating that increased thermo...

Childhood obesity has been becoming a worldwide public health problem. We conducted a community-based physical activity (PA) intervention program aiming at childhood obesity prevention in general student population in Nanjing of China, the host city of the 2nd World Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG-Obesity study).This was a cluster randomized controlled intervention study. Participants were the ...

Doctor-patient language discordance has been shown to lead to worse clinical outcomes. In this study of patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction at an Australian health service, we demonstrated that limited English proficiency (LEP) is an independent predictor of prolonged symptom-to-door time, but does not lead to worse 30-day mortal...

An important aspect of atrial fibrillation (AF) management is the decision whether to adopt a rate or rhythm control strategy. Options for the latter include oral anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD) or catheter ablation.To describe the trends in rhythm control for AF in Australia between 1997 and 2016.We conducted a retrospective study using prospectively collected data between 1997 and 2016 from the P...

To study the effects of repeated, infancy-onset dietary counseling on a detailed metabolic profile. Effects of dietary saturated fat replacement on circulating concentrations of metabolic biomarkers still remain unknown.The Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP) study is a longitudinal, randomized atherosclerosis prevention trial in which repeated dietary counseling aim...

Evaluation of the left atrium and left atrial appendage for the presence of thrombus prior to cardioversion and pulmonary vein isolation, and of the entire heart for embolic sources in the setting of cryptogenic stroke, has long been standard medical care. Guidelines have uniformly recommended transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to accomplish these goals. In recent years, computed tomographi...

The interaction between arrhythmia episodes and certain lifestyle factors such as obesity and alcohol is well established. There is significant public and professional interest in the role of caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and energy drinks in cardiovascular health. However, many widely held beliefs are not supported by evidence. This study provides a comprehensive review of the imp...

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with chronic, low grade inflammation. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and secretion of its target interleukin-1β (IL-1β) have been implicated in pancreatic β cell failure in T2D. Specific targeting of the NLRP3 inflammasome to prevent pancreatic β cell death could allow for selective T2D treatment without compromising all IL-1β-associated immune response...

The objective of this study was to develop a simple non-invasive risk score, specific to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) citizens, to identify individuals at increased risk of having undiagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.A retrospective analysis of the UAE National Diabetes and Lifestyle data was conducted. The data included demographic and anthropometric measurements, and fasting blood glucose. ...

The kidneys are densely innervated with renal efferent and afferent nerves to communicate with the central nervous system. Innervation of major structural components of the kidneys, such as blood vessels, tubules, the pelvis, and glomeruli, forms a bidirectional neural network to relay sensory and sympathetic signals to and from the brain. Renal efferent nerves regulate renal blood flow, glomer...

Empirical evidence on family and community risk and protective factors influencing the comparatively high rates of potentially preventable hospitalisations and deaths among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants and children is limited. As is evidence on geographical variation in these risks. The 'Defying the Odds' study aims to explore the impact of perinatal outcomes, maternal social a...

Evidence about the impacts of the physical activity environment on adults' weight in the context of Asian countries is scarce. Likewise, no study exists in Asia examining whether Walk Score-a free online walkability tool-is related to obesity. This study aimed to examine associations between multiple physical activity environment measures and Walk Score ratings with Japanese adults' body mass i...

To review the work-up and inpatient management of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis exacerbations against best practice guidelines in the Kimberley, a remote region of Western Australia, with the ultimate goal of improving treatment in the region. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study and audit of remote adult bronchiectasis hospital admissions between 2011 and 2016.^Remote hospital inpatients.Th...

The reasons for reduced exercise capacity in diabetes mellitus (DM) remains incompletely understood, although diastolic dysfunction and diabetic cardiomyopathy are often favored explanations. However, there is a paucity of literature detailing cardiac function and reserve during incremental exercise to evaluate its significance and contribution. We sought to determine associations between compr...

Genetically hypertensive BPH/2J mice are recognized as a neurogenic model of hypertension, primarily based on sympathetic overactivity and greater neuronal activity in cardiovascular regulatory brain regions. Greater activity of the central renin angiotensin system (RAS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) reportedly contribute to other models of hypertension. Importantly the peripheral RAS contr...

Shift work is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Shift workers who are awake overnight and sleep during the day are misaligned with their body's endogenous circadian rhythm. Eating at night contributes to this increased risk of CVD by forcing the body to actively break down and process nutrients at night. This pilot study aims to determine whether altering meal timing ...

Diabetes is associated with an exaggerated platelet thrombotic response at sites of vascular injury. Biomechanical forces regulate platelet activation, although the impact of diabetes on this process remains ill-defined. Using a biomembrane force probe (BFP), we demonstrate that compressive force activates integrin αβ on discoid diabetic platelets, increasing its association rate with immobiliz...

The Human T-Lymphotropic Virus type 1c subtype (HTLV-1c) is highly endemic to central Australia where the most frequent complication of HTLV-1 infection in Indigenous Australians is bronchiectasis. We carried out a prospective study to quantify the prognosis of HTLV-1c infection and chronic lung disease and the risk of death according to the HTLV-1c proviral load (pVL).840 Indigenous adults (di...