Structural And Biomechanical Basis Of Differences In Bone Fragility In Asian And Caucasian Men And Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$188,500.00
Summary
Lay Summary Fractures occur less commonly in males than females because males have greater periosteal apposition than females during ageing. This increases bone size (reducing load per unit area - stress), and reduces net bone loss, more in males than females so that the increase in bone fragility with advancing age seen in both sexes is less in males than females. Few males than females have a fracture risk index for vertebral fractures (FRI or ratio of load-bone strength) above unity. The purp ....Lay Summary Fractures occur less commonly in males than females because males have greater periosteal apposition than females during ageing. This increases bone size (reducing load per unit area - stress), and reduces net bone loss, more in males than females so that the increase in bone fragility with advancing age seen in both sexes is less in males than females. Few males than females have a fracture risk index for vertebral fractures (FRI or ratio of load-bone strength) above unity. The purpose of this study is to define the structural and biomechanical basis responsible for the racial differences in fracture rates between Asians and Caucasians. Following the same biomechanical principles as published in Caucasian males and females, we hypothesise that racial differences in periosteal expansion during aging may contribute, in part, to the racial differences in bone fragility at the spine and hip. A cross-sectional study will be conducted in 500 healthy Chinese men and 500 Chinese women age ranged 18 to 90 years living in Melbourne, Australia. We have recruited larger numbers of Caucasian men and women in our Centre. BMD and bone size will be measured at the spine, hip and total body by using dual x-ray bone densitometer (DXA). Vertebral body width, depth, height, cross-sectional area (CSA), stress (load per unit CSA) and fracture risk index (load-strength) at the third lumbar vertebrae will be measured by PA and lateral scanning. Femoral neck periosteal-endocortical diameter, cortical thickness, cross-section moment of inertia (CSMI), section modulus buckling index will be measured by using hip structural analysis program. Just as insight into bone fragility in women has been obtained by studies in men, we believe that the results of this study will provide important insights into the pathogenesis of bone fragility in both racial groups.Read moreRead less
Talking The Walk: A Longitudinal Study Of Refugee Mens Health And Resettlement
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$440,450.00
Summary
Refugee men are commonly portrayed in negative contexts: domestic violence, unemployment, alcohol abuse. This study will follow up 242 adult refugee men to investigate their physical and mental health, and the social and cultural issues they face as they negotiate their settlement in a new country. The study will identify ways in which refugee men can best be assisted to ensure they are healthier, settle successfully, and develop their full potential as active members of the Australian community
The Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II: A Community-based Study Of Diabetes Care, Control, Complications And Cost
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,307,780.00
Summary
In Phase I of the Fremantle Diabetes Study (FDS), valuable and detailed data on a wide range of subjects were obtained from a community-based patient cohort between 1993 and 2001. There is a large body of evidence that the nature and treatment of diabetes in Australia is changing rapidly. In order to provide up to date information to health care providers and government agencies, to confirm observations made in FDS I and to venture into new research areas, Phase II will be conducted.
INTER-ETHNIC DIFFERENCES IN TOLERANCE OF ANTI-CANCER DRUGS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,894.00
Summary
In 2 previous studies we have shown that Asian cancer patients experience more side-effects than their Caucasian counterparts when treated with the same dose and schedule of treatment. This does not appear to be related to any difference in size. We wish to explain this difference as it may avoid Asian patients receiving overdoses of treatment. Possible causes include dietary and nutritional differences
Randomised Trial Of A GP-initiated Tobacco Control Intervention With Arabic-speaking Smokers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$232,000.00
Summary
Previous estimates of smoking rates among Arabic-speakers men and women range from 43% to 55%. No intervention has been designed specifically to target smoking in this community. Barriers to smoking cessation among Arabic-speakers are poorly understood. GPs find it difficult to counsel smokers about their smoking. Even when they do, they are as likely to use ineffective strategies. An alternative approach is referral of smokers by GPs to a smoking cessation skilled in evidence-based behavioural ....Previous estimates of smoking rates among Arabic-speakers men and women range from 43% to 55%. No intervention has been designed specifically to target smoking in this community. Barriers to smoking cessation among Arabic-speakers are poorly understood. GPs find it difficult to counsel smokers about their smoking. Even when they do, they are as likely to use ineffective strategies. An alternative approach is referral of smokers by GPs to a smoking cessation skilled in evidence-based behavioural strategies to facilitate abstinence. Therefore, we propose to conduct a randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of referral of smokers attending general practices who offer consultation in Arabic to an Arabic-speaking counsellor for intensive support to improve quit rates at six and twelve months. We also will assess the acceptability of the intervention to smokers and GPs. Participating Arabic-speaking GPs in SWS will refer to the study about 1050 Arabic men and women aged between 18 and 65 years who self-report being current smokers. Participants will receive either intensive smoking cessation intervention or usual care provided by their GPs and self-help written information. The Intensive intervention will involve usual care by GPs and intensive smoking cessation counselling program that will involve series of scheduled telephone calls from an Arabic-speaking counsellor trained in smoking cessation counselling; printed self-help material in Arabic script and also will be offered a home visit and face-to-face counselling session. Results from this randomised trial will add to the scarce literature about smoking cessation among ethnic CALD minorities in Australia and overseas. If proven to be effective, a new choice will have been emerged to achieve optimal tobacco control in ethnic minorities in general practice. Divisions could consider employing bilingual counsellors as a resource for all GPs in their region.Read moreRead less
The Effectiveness Of A School-based Parent Education Program In The Promotion Of Adolescent Health: A Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$422,900.00
Summary
Youth mental health and behaviour problems such as depression, suicidal behaviour, tobacco use, alcohol abuse and illicit drug use are currently priority issues within Australian national and state public health policies. This project has been designed to contribute to knowledge on the effectiveness of interventions that can be used to prevent youth mental health and behaviour problems. Until recent years the development of programs to support families through the transition into adolescence has ....Youth mental health and behaviour problems such as depression, suicidal behaviour, tobacco use, alcohol abuse and illicit drug use are currently priority issues within Australian national and state public health policies. This project has been designed to contribute to knowledge on the effectiveness of interventions that can be used to prevent youth mental health and behaviour problems. Until recent years the development of programs to support families through the transition into adolescence has been neglected. This is remiss, as there is evidence that a range of youth mental health and behaviour problems may be preventable through interventions through this transition. The overall objective of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-level, family intervention designed to promote adolescent health within secondary schools. The intervention will be implemented over the first two years of high school and incorporates both universal components (for all families) and selected components (for families with particular difficulties). The intervention elements have been developed and partially evaluated in work undertaken by the applicant and collaborators over the past five years. To evaluate this intervention a representative sample of 12 Victorian secondary schools will be randomly assigned to intervention and compared to 12 control schools with prior matching on school demographics and student behaviour variables. Intervention processes will be closely monitored and evaluated for impacts on relevant risk and protective factors. Effectiveness will be evaluated by testing whether reductions in youth mental health and behaviour problems were greater for intervention families compared to controls. The evaluation has been designed to test the theory that improvement across the whole secondary school environment can be encouraged by preventing the negative peer influences that can emerge within families experiencing adolescent adjustment problemsRead moreRead less