ORCID Profile
0000-0002-8045-0305
Current Organisations
Charles Darwin University
,
Institute of Physical Chemistry
,
Curtin University
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Publications
Investigation of a solvent-cast organogel to form a liquid-gel microinterface array for electrochemical detection of lysozyme
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2015
Cancer incidence and mortality in Indigenous Australians in Queensland, 1997-2006
Publisher: AMPCo
Date: 11-2010
DOI: 10.5694/J.1326-5377.2010.TB04068.X
Abstract: To examine cancer incidence and mortality in Indigenous Queenslanders. Assessment of indirectly standardised incidence and mortality ratios for Indigenous Australians in Queensland diagnosed with cancer from 1997 to 2006, compared with the total Queensland population. Standardised incidence and mortality ratios. Compared with the total Queensland population, Indigenous Queenslanders had a lower overall incidence of cancer (standardised incidence ratio, 0.79 95% CI, 0.75-0.82), but a higher incidence of some of the more fatal cancer types. Overall cancer mortality was higher (standardised mortality ratio, 1.36 95% CI, 1.28-1.45) and similar to rates for Indigenous people in other Australian states. Cancer rates for Indigenous Queenslanders, a mostly urbanised population, are similar to rates for Indigenous Australians mostly living in remote areas.
Indigenous Australians with non–small cell lung cancer or cervical cancer receive suboptimal treatment
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 21-03-2016
DOI: 10.1111/AJCO.12463
Abstract: Lung cancer and cervical cancer are higher in incidence for Indigenous Australians and survival is worse compared with non-Indigenous Australians. Here we aim to determine if being Indigenous and/or other factors are associated with patients receiving "suboptimal treatment" compared to "optimal treatment" according to clinical guidelines for two cancer types. Data were collected from hospital medical records for Indigenous adults diagnosed with cervical cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a frequency-matched comparison group of non-Indigenous patients in the Queensland Cancer Registry between January 1998 and December 2004. The two cancer types were analyzed separately. A total of 105 women with cervical cancer were included in the study, 56 of whom were Indigenous. Indigenous women had higher odds of not receiving optimal treatment according to clinical guidelines (unadjusted OR 7.1 95% CI, 1.5-33.3), even after adjusting for stage (OR 5.7 95% CI, 1.2-27.3). Of 225 patients with NSCLC, 198 patients (56% Indigenous) had sufficient information available to be analyzed. The odds of receiving suboptimal treatment were significantly higher for Indigenous compared to non-Indigenous NSCLC patients (unadjusted OR 1.9 95% CI, 1.0-3.6) and remained significant after adjusting for stage, comorbidity and age (adjusted OR 2.1 95% CI, 1.1-4.1). The monitoring of treatment patterns and appraisal against guidelines can provide valuable evidence of inequity in cancer treatment. We found that Indigenous people with lung cancer or cervical cancer received suboptimal treatment, reinforcing the need for urgent action to reduce the impact of these two cancer types on Indigenous people.
Body size and risk of epithelial ovarian and related cancers: A population-based case-control study
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-04-2008
DOI: 10.1002/IJC.23509
Abstract: Different subtypes of ovarian cancer appear to have different causes however, the association between body mass index (BMI) and the different subtypes is unclear. We examined the associations between body-mass index (BMI) and weight gain and risk of the different histological subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancer in a case-control study in Australia. Cases aged 18-79 with a new diagnosis of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer (n = 1,269) or borderline tumor (n = 311) were identified through a network of clinics and cancer registries throughout Australia. Controls (n = 1,509) were selected from the Electoral Roll. Height and weight (1 year previously, at age 20 and maximum weight) and other risk factor information were ascertained via a self-administered questionnaire. Obesity was positively associated with clear cell tumors (Odds Ratio 2.3 95% confidence interval 1.2-4.2) but not invasive endometrioid or mucinous tumors. Although there was no association with invasive serous tumors overall (0.9 0.7-1.2), we did see an increased risk of serous peritoneal tumors (2.9 1.7-4.9), but not of serous tumors of the ovary and fallopian tube. Of the borderline subtypes, obesity was positively associated with serous (1.8 1.1-2.8) but not mucinous tumors (1.1 0.7-1.7). Overweight was not associated with any subtype overall. There was no association with BMI at age 20, or weight gain for any of the histological subtypes. These results add to the current evidence that obesity increases a woman's risk of developing distinct histological subtypes of ovarian cancer.
Birthing on Country for the best start in life
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 31-05-2022
DOI: 10.5694/MJA2.51586
Fenton Chemistry at Polarized Liquid-Liquid Interfaces for Interfacial Electropolymerization
Publisher: The Electrochemical Society
Date: 09-10-2022
DOI: 10.1149/MA2022-02542053MTGABS
Abstract: A sustainable future requires an energy sector led by renewable sources, especially energy conversion and storage (ECS). Advances in the design and synthesis of nanomaterials, like conducting polymers [1], are critical for future development. An ex le for this type of material is poly-(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), ideally known for energy applications as a thin film due to its excellent properties (e.g., tunable conductivity, flexibility, and transparency) [2]. However, current manufacturing methods require additives, like surfactants, that affect their properties, leading to decreased performance [3]. The use of liquid-liquid interfaces continues to grow as a viable platform for nanomaterial film synthesis with impressive structural properties [4]. Since several such interfaces are electrochemically active [5], providing external stimulus at these interfaces can fine tune the electric field to enhance interfacial electrosynthesis or self-assembly. This has the potential to produce free-floating films that can be transferred to any solid support with ease for device fabrication. The ability to form thin films directly in a single step will eliminate the need for additives such as surfactants. To explore this, we have investigated the use of Fenton chemistry (H 2 O 2 in the presence of a ferrous compound) as the oxidant to polymerize PEDOT at the liquid-liquid interface. This combination offers the advantages of interfacial electropolymerization with a “greener” oxidant. We used cyclic voltammetry (CV) to study PEDOT formation at the interface under different pHs, molar ratios, and solvent conditions. Repetitive cycling at pH 1.5 - 2 (~10mM HCl) shows the growth of the electrical double layer with each successive cycle as a peak (around ca . -0.1 V vs Ag/AgCl) is growing accordingly until a blue material (PEDOT) is observed at the interface. This is liken to CVs observed for CP electropolymerization on typical solid electrodes [6]. However, this potentiodynamic method takes more than ~5 hours so we also explored chrono erometry to hasten the film formation and control film thickness. Applying constant potential ( ca . 1.25 V vs Ag/AgCl) allowed film formation even after ~60 mins, and the film thickness also varies with time. The properties of produced films were then characterized using electrochemistry, SEM, XPS, RAMAN, and ex-situ conductivity. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate that Fenton chemistry is a viable alternative to produce PEDOT at the liquid-liquid interface. The latest results on PEDOT interfacial electropolymerization using Fenton chemistry and its characterization will be presented and discussed. Literature: [1] Q. Meng, et. al., Nano Energy, 2017, 36, 268–285. [2] M. N. Gueye, et. al., Chem. Mater., 2016, 28, 3462–3468. [3] A. Köhler and H. Bässler, Electron. Struct. Org. Semicond., 2015, 307–388. [4] J. Forth, et. al., Adv. Mater., 2019, 1806370, 1806370. [5] L. Rivier, et. al., Angew. Chemie Int. Ed., 2017, 56, 2324–2327. [6] J. Heinze, et al., Chem. Rev. 2010, 110 (8), 4724–4771 Figure 1
Indigenous Australian women's experiences of participation in cervical screening
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 15-06-2020
Validating genetic risk associations for ovarian cancer through the international Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-01-2009
Refined cut-off for TP53 immunohistochemistry improves prediction of TP53 mutation status in ovarian mucinous tumors: implications for outcome analyses
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2021
Secondary Structural Changes in Proteins as a Result of Electroadsorption at Aqueous-Organogel Interfaces.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 08-04-2019
DOI: 10.1021/ACS.LANGMUIR.8B04227
Abstract: The electroadsorption of proteins at aqueous-organic interfaces offers the possibility to examine protein structural rearrangements upon interaction with lipophilic phases, without modifying the bulk protein or relying on a solid support. The aqueous-organic interface has already provided a simple means of electrochemical protein detection, often involving adsorption and ion complexation however, little is yet known about the protein structure at these electrified interfaces. This work focuses on the interaction between proteins and an electrified aqueous-organic interface via controlled protein electroadsorption. Four proteins known to be electroactive at such interfaces were studied: lysozyme, myoglobin, cytochrome c, and hemoglobin. Following controlled protein electroadsorption onto the interface, ex situ structural characterization of the proteins by FTIR spectroscopy was undertaken, focusing on secondary structural traits within the amide I band. The structural variations observed included unfolding to form aggregated antiparallel β-sheets, where the rearrangement was specifically dependent on the interaction with the organic phase. This was supported by MALDI ToF MS measurements, which showed the formation of protein-anion complexes for three of these proteins, and molecular dynamic simulations, which modeled the structure of lysozyme at an aqueous-organic interface. On the basis of these findings, the modulation of protein secondary structure by interfacial electrochemistry opens up unique prospects to selectively modify proteins.
High-throughput amplicon-based copy number detection of 11 genes in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded ovarian tumour samples by MLPA-seq
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 16-11-2015
Recreational physical activity and epithelial ovarian cancer: A case-control study, systematic review, and meta-analysis
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Date: 11-2007
DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-07-0566
Abstract: It remains unclear whether physical activity is associated with epithelial ovarian cancer risk. We therefore examined the association between recreational physical activity and risk of ovarian cancer in a national population-based case-control study in Australia. We also systematically reviewed all the available evidence linking physical activity with ovarian cancer to provide the best summary estimate of the association. The case-control study included women ages 18 to 79 years with a new diagnosis of invasive (n = 1,269) or borderline (n = 311) epithelial ovarian cancer identified through a network of clinics, physicians, and state cancer registries throughout Australia. Controls (n = 1,509) were randomly selected from the national electoral roll and were frequency matched to cases by age and state. For the systematic review, we identified eligible studies using Medline, the ISI Science Citation Index, and manual review of retrieved references, and included all case-control or cohort studies that permitted assessment of an association between physical activity (recreational/occupational/sedentary behavior) and histologically confirmed ovarian cancer. Meta-analysis was restricted to the subset of these studies that reported on recreational physical activity. In our case-control study, we observed weakly inverse or null associations between recreational physical activity and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer overall. There was no evidence that the effects varied by tumor behavior or histologic subtype. Twelve studies were included in the meta-analysis, which gave summary estimates of 0.79 (95% confidence interval, 0.70-0.85) for case-control studies and 0.81 (95% confidence interval, 0.57-1.17) for cohort studies for the risk of ovarian cancer associated with highest versus lowest levels of recreational physical activity. Thus, pooled results from observational studies suggest that a modest inverse association exists between level of recreational physical activity and the risk of ovarian cancer. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007 (11):2321–30)
A call for action that cannot go to voicemail: Research activism to urgently improve Indigenous perinatal health and wellbeing
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2021
Aboriginal women have a higher risk of cervical abnormalities at screening; South Australia, 1993–2016
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 12-11-2018
Abstract: Cervical cancer mortality has halved in Australia since the national cervical screening program began in 1991, but elevated mortality rates persist for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women (referred to as Aboriginal women in this report). We investigated differences by Aboriginal status in abnormality rates predicted by cervical cytology and confirmed by histological diagnoses among screened women. Using record linkage between cervical screening registry and public hospital records in South Australia, we obtained Aboriginal status of women aged 20–69 for 1993–2016 (this was not recorded by the registry). Differences in cytological abnormalities were investigated by Aboriginal status, using relative risk ratios from mixed effect multinomial logistic regression modelling. Odds ratios were calculated for histological high grade results for Aboriginal compared with non-Aboriginal women. Of 1,676,141 linkable cytology tests, 5.8% were abnormal. Abnormal results were more common for women who were younger, never married, and living in a major city or socioeconomically disadvantaged area. After adjusting for these factors and numbers of screening episodes, the relative risk of a low grade cytological abnormality compared with a normal test was 14% (95% confidence interval 5–24%) higher, and the relative risk of a high grade cytological abnormality was 61% (95% confidence interval 44–79%) higher, for Aboriginal women. The adjusted odds ratio of a histological high grade was 76% (95% confidence interval 46–113%) higher. Ensuring that screen-detected abnormalities are followed up in a timely way by culturally acceptable services is important for reducing differences in cervical cancer rates between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women.
The ban on phenacetin is associated with changes in the incidence trends of upper-urinary tract cancers in Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2014
Abstract: Phenacetin is an analgesic that causes renal diseases and cancers of the upper-urinary tract (UUT). It was banned in most countries from the late 1960s. This study aimed to evaluate, for the first time, the long-term population impact of the phenacetin ban on UUT cancer rates. We used cancer registry data from Australia, where phenacetin was widely used, to study age- and sex-specific incidence trends of cancers of the renal pelvis and the ureter after the phenacetin ban (1979). Incidence rate ratios and average annual percentage change (AAPC) were calculated to quantify changes in rates over time. Incidence rates of renal pelvis cancer decreased by 52% in women and 39% in men between 1983-1987 and 2003-2007. The decline in women was stronger in states where the use of phenacetin was the most widespread, e.g. New South Wales (AAPC: -4.1% 95% CI -5.3, -2.9) and Queensland (AAPC: -3.3% 95% CI -4.9, -1.8), and after the mid-1990s. Incidence rates of ureteral cancer remained stable for both sexes throughout the study period. Our findings strongly suggest a beneficial impact of the ban on phenacetin on the incidence of renal pelvis cancer in Australia, particularly among women.
A stationary pseudophase semi-permanent coating for open-tubular capillary liquid chromatography and electrochromatography
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2021
Using probabilistic record linkage methods to identify Australian Indigenous women on the Queensland Pap Smear Register
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 02-2016
Talcum powder, chronic pelvic inflammation and NSAIDs in relation to risk of epithelial ovarian cancer
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-10-2008
DOI: 10.1002/IJC.23017
Abstract: Chronic inflammation has been proposed as the possible causal mechanism that explains the observed association between certain risk factors, such as the use of talcum powder (talc) in the pelvic region and epithelial ovarian cancer. To address this issue we evaluated the potential role of chronic local ovarian inflammation in the development of the major subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancer. Factors potentially linked to ovarian inflammation were examined in an Australia-wide case-control study comprising 1,576 women with invasive and low malignant potential (LMP) ovarian tumours and 1,509 population-based controls. We confirmed a statistically significant increase in ovarian cancer risk associated with use of talc in the pelvic region (adjusted odds ratio 1.17, 95% CI: 1.01-1.36) that was strongest for the serous and endometrioid subtypes although the latter was not statistically significant (adjusted odds ratios 1.21, 95% CI 1.03-1.44 and 1.18, 95% CI 0.81-1.70, respectively). Other factors potentially associated with ovarian inflammation (pelvic inflammatory disease, human papilloma virus infection and mumps) were not associated with risk but, like others, we found an increased risk of endometrioid and clear cell ovarian cancer only among women with a history of endometriosis. Regular use of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was inversely associated with risk of LMP mucinous ovarian tumours only. We conclude that on balance chronic inflammation does not play a major role in the development of ovarian cancer.
Time to clinical investigation for indigenous and non-indigenous queensland women after a high grade abnormal pap smear, 2000-2009
Publisher: AMPCo
Date: 02-2017
DOI: 10.5694/MJA16.00255
Abstract: To investigate time to follow-up (clinical investigation) for Indigenous and non-Indigenous women in Queensland after a high grade abnormality (HGA) being detected by Pap smear. Population-based retrospective cohort analysis of linked data from the Queensland Pap Smear Register (PSR), the Queensland Hospital Admitted Patient Data Collection, and the Queensland Cancer Registry. 34 980 women aged 20-68 years (including 1592 Indigenous women) with their first HGA Pap smear result recorded on the PSR (index smear) during 2000-2009 were included and followed to the end of 2010. Time from the index smear to clinical investigation (histology test or cancer diagnosis date), censored at 12 months. The proportion of women who had a clinical investigation within 2 months of a HGA finding was lower for Indigenous (34.1% 95% CI, 31.8-36.4%) than for non-Indigenous women (46.5% 95% CI, 46.0-47.0% unadjusted incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.65 95% CI, 0.60-0.71). This difference remained after adjusting for place of residence, area-level disadvantage, and age group (adjusted IRR, 0.74 95% CI, 0.68-0.81). However, Indigenous women who had not been followed up within 2 months were subsequently more likely to have a clinical investigation than non-Indigenous women (adjusted IRR for 2-4 month interval, 1.21 95% CI, 1.08-1.36) by 6 months, a similar proportion of Indigenous (62.2% 95% CI, 59.8-64.6%) and non-Indigenous women (62.8% 95% CI, 62.2-63.3%) had been followed up. Prompt follow-up after a HGA Pap smear finding needs to improve for Indigenous women. Nevertheless, slow follow-up is a smaller contributor to their higher cervical cancer incidence and mortality than their lower participation in cervical screening.
Measuring cancer in indigenous populations
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.ANNEPIDEM.2018.02.005
Abstract: It is estimated that there are 370 million indigenous peoples in 90 countries globally. Indigenous peoples generally face substantial disadvantage and poorer health status compared with nonindigenous peoples. Population-level cancer surveillance provides data to set priorities, inform policies, and monitor progress over time. Measuring the cancer burden of vulnerable subpopulations, particularly indigenous peoples, is problematic. There are a number of practical and methodological issues potentially resulting in substantial underestimation of cancer incidence and mortality rates, and biased survival rates, among indigenous peoples. This, in turn, may result in a deprioritization of cancer-related programs and policies among these populations. This commentary describes key issues relating to cancer surveillance among indigenous populations including 1) suboptimal identification of indigenous populations, 2) numerator-denominator bias, 3) problems with data linkage in survival analysis, and 4) statistical analytic considerations. We suggest solutions that can be implemented to strengthen the visibility of indigenous peoples around the world. These include acknowledgment of the central importance of full engagement of indigenous peoples with all data-related processes, encouraging the use of indigenous identifiers in national and regional data sets and mitigation and/or careful assessment of biases inherent in cancer surveillance methods for indigenous peoples.
Investigating inequities in cardiovascular care and outcomes for Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: Protocol for a hospital-based retrospective cohort data linkage project
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 03-2021
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2020-043304
Abstract: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents a significant burden of disease for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, a population that continues to experience a lower life expectancy than other Australians. The aim of the Better Cardiac Care Data Linkage project is to describe patient care pathways and to identify disparities in care and health outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Queensland residents diagnosed with CVD in the state of Queensland. This is a population-based retrospective cohort study using linked regional, state and national health and administrative data collections to describe disparities in CVD healthcare in primary and secondary prevention settings and during hospitalisation. The CVD cohort will be identified from the Queensland Hospital Admitted Patient Data Collection for admissions that occurred between 1 July 2010 and 31 June 2016 and will include relevant International Classification of Disease codes for ischaemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. Person-level data will be linked by Data Linkage Queensland and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) in accordance with ethical and public health approvals to describe the patient journey prior to, during and post the hospital admission. This project will focus largely on descriptive epidemiological measures and multivariate analysis of clinical care standards and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people compared with other Queenslanders, including identification of risk factors for suboptimal care and change over time. Variation in care pathways and patient outcomes will be compared by Indigenous status, sex, age group, remoteness of residence, year of index hospitalisation and socioeconomic status. Cox models for time-to-event data and mixed models or generalised estimating equations for longitudinal data will be used to measure change over time where temporal effects exist. Ethical approval has been granted by Human Research Ethics Committees of the Prince Charles Hospital (HREC/15/QPCH/289) and the AIHW (EO2016-1-233). The Northern Territory Department of Health and Menzies School of Health Research have also provided reciprocal ethical approval of the project (HREC 2019–3490). The deidentified results will be summarised in a report and shared with investigators, advisory groups, Queensland Health and key stakeholders. Findings will be disseminated through workshops, conferences and will be published in peer-reviewed journals.
Shared heritability and functional enrichment across six solid cancers
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 25-01-2019
DOI: 10.1038/S41467-018-08054-4
Abstract: Quantifying the genetic correlation between cancers can provide important insights into the mechanisms driving cancer etiology. Using genome-wide association study summary statistics across six cancer types based on a total of 296,215 cases and 301,319 controls of European ancestry, here we estimate the pair-wise genetic correlations between breast, colorectal, head/neck, lung, ovary and prostate cancer, and between cancers and 38 other diseases. We observed statistically significant genetic correlations between lung and head/neck cancer ( r g = 0.57, p = 4.6 × 10 −8 ), breast and ovarian cancer ( r g = 0.24, p = 7 × 10 −5 ), breast and lung cancer ( r g = 0.18, p =1.5 × 10 −6 ) and breast and colorectal cancer ( r g = 0.15, p = 1.1 × 10 −4 ). We also found that multiple cancers are genetically correlated with non-cancer traits including smoking, psychiatric diseases and metabolic characteristics. Functional enrichment analysis revealed a significant excess contribution of conserved and regulatory regions to cancer heritability. Our comprehensive analysis of cross-cancer heritability suggests that solid tumors arising across tissues share in part a common germline genetic basis.
Cancer outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in rural and remote areas
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-2015
DOI: 10.1111/AJR.12169
Abstract: To examine the association between residential remoteness and stage of cancer at diagnosis, treatment uptake, and survival within the Australian Indigenous population. Systematic review and matched retrospective cohort study. Australia. Systematic review: published papers that included a comparison of cancer stage at diagnosis, treatment uptake, mortality and/or survival for Indigenous people across remoteness categories were identified (n = 181). Fifteen papers (13 studies) were included in the review. Original analyses: new analyses were conducted using data from the Queensland Indigenous Cancer Study (QICS) comparing cancer stage at diagnosis, treatment uptake, and survival for Indigenous cancer patients living in rural/remote areas (n = 627, 66%) and urban areas (n = 329, 34%). Systematic review: Papers were included if there were related to stage of disease at diagnosis, treatment, mortality and survival of cancer. Restrictions were not placed on the outcome measures reported (e.g. standardised mortality ratios versus crude mortality rates). Original analyses: Odds ratios (OR, 95%CI) were used to compare stage of disease and treatment uptake between the two remoteness groups. Treatment uptake (treated/not treated) was analysed using logistic regression analysis. Survival was analysed using Cox proportional hazards regression. The final multivariate models included stage of cancer at diagnosis and area-level socioeconomic status (SEIFA). Existing evidence of variation in cancer outcomes for Indigenous people in remote compared with metropolitan areas is limited. While no previous studies have reported on differences in cancer stage and treatment uptake by remoteness within the Indigenous population, the available evidence suggests Indigenous cancer patients are less likely to survive their cancer the further they live from urban centres. New analysis of QICS data indicates that Indigenous cancer patients in rural/remote Queensland were less likely to be diagnosed with localised disease and less likely to receive treatment for their cancer compared to their urban counterparts. More research is needed to fully understand geographic differentials in cancer outcomes within the Indigenous population. Knowing how geographical location interacts with Indigenous status can help to identify ways of improving cancer outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
A study of head and neck cancer treatment and survival among indigenous and non-indigenous people in Queensland, Australia, 1998 to 2004
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 25-10-2011
Breast cancer susceptibility polymorphisms and endometrial cancer risk: a Collaborative Endometrial Cancer Study
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 30-09-2011
Under-screened Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women's perspectives on cervical screening
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 31-08-2022
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0271658
Abstract: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have lower participation in Australia’s National Cervical Screening Program than other Australian women. Under-screened (including never screened) women’s voices are rarely heard in research evidence, despite being a priority group for interventions to increase cervical screening participation. This study aimed to describe under-screened Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s perspectives on cervical screening. Participants were 29 under-screened (women who had either never screened, had not screened in the previous five years or had recently screened in the past three months after more than five years) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women from five communities across three states/territories. Female Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers Yarned with women about why they did not participate in screening and how to improve screening. Yarning is an Indigenous qualitative research method in which relationships and trust facilitate culturally safe conversation. Transcripts were analysed thematically. The proportion of eligible women who screened within 30 days after the Yarn was calculated. We identified four themes describing how the harms outweighed the benefits of cervical screening for under-screened women. These were: 1) distress, discomfort, and trauma 2) lack of privacy and control 3) complicated relationships with health care providers (HCPs) and 4) pressured, insensitive, and/or culturally unsafe communication from HCPs. Under-screened women who had recently screened had maintained privacy and control through self-collection and had experienced trauma-informed and empathetic care from their HCPs. While we cannot unequivocally attribute women’s subsequent participation in screening to their involvement in this study, it is notable that one third of eligible under-screened women were screened within 30 days after the Yarn. Enhancing privacy, implementing trauma-informed approaches to care and sensitivity to the clinician-client relationship dynamics could enhance women’s sense of comfort in, and control over, the screening procedure. The opportunity to Yarn about cervical screening and self-collection may address these issues and support progress toward cervical cancer elimination in Australia.
Association analyses of more than 140,000 men identify 63 new prostate cancer susceptibility loci
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-06-2018
Survival disparities in Australia
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-07-2014
Colorectal cancer among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Queensland, Australia: Toward survival equality
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-02-2016
DOI: 10.1111/AJCO.12164
Abstract: While Indigenous people in Queensland have lower colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality than the rest of the population, CRC remains the third most frequent cancer among Australian Indigenous people overall. This study aimed to investigate patterns of care and survival between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians with CRC. Through a matched-cohort design we compared 80 Indigenous and 85 non-Indigenous people all diagnosed with CRC and treated in Queensland public hospitals during 1998-2004 (frequency matched on age, sex, geographical remoteness). We compared clinical and treatment data (Pearson's chi-square) and all-cause and cancer survival (Cox regression analysis). Indigenous patients with CRC were not significantly more likely to have comorbidity, advanced disease at diagnosis or less treatment than non-Indigenous people. There was also no statistically significant difference in all-cause survival (HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.69, 1.89) or cancer survival (HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.60, 1.69) between the two groups. Similar CRC mortality among Indigenous and other Australians may reflect both the lower incidence and adequate management. Increasing life expectancy and exposures to risk factors suggests that Indigenous people are vulnerable to a growing burden of CRC. Primary prevention and early detection will be of paramount importance to future CRC control among Indigenous Australians. Current CRC management must be maintained and include prevention measures to ensure that predicted increases in CRC burden are minimized.
Cancer incidence in Indigenous people in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the USA
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2015
Collection and Reporting of Indigenous Status Information in Cancer Registries Around the World
Publisher: American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Date: 11-2020
DOI: 10.1200/JGO.19.00119
Abstract: Worldwide, Indigenous people often have disproportionally worse health and lower life expectancy than their non-Indigenous counterparts. Despite the impact of cancer on life expectancy, little is known about the burden of cancer for Indigenous people primarily because of the paucity of data. We investigated the collection and reporting of Indigenous status information among a global s le of population-based cancer registries (PBCRs). An online survey was e-mailed to eligible registries using set inclusion criteria. Respondents were asked questions on the collection, reporting, and quality assessment of Indigenous status in their registers. Eighty-three PBCRs from 25 countries were included. Of these, 66% reported that their registry collected Indigenous status data, although the quality of this variable had been assessed in less than half in terms of completeness (38%) and accuracy (47%). Two thirds of PBCRs who collected Indigenous status data (67%), from nine of 25 countries responded that cancer statistics for Indigenous people were reported using registry data. Key barriers to the collection of Indigenous status information included the lack of data collection at the point of care (79%), lack of transfer of Indigenous status to the cancer registry (46%), inadequate information systems (43%), and legislative limitations (32%). Important variations existed among world regions, although the lack of Indigenous status data collection at the point of care was commonly reported across all regions. High-quality data collection is lacking for Indigenous peoples in many countries. To ensure the design and implementation of cancer control activities required to reduce disparities for Indigenous populations, health information systems, including cancer registries, need to be strengthened, and this must be done in dialogue with Indigenous leaders.
The burden of stomach cancer in indigenous populations: a systematic review and global assessment
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 23-10-2013
DOI: 10.1136/GUTJNL-2013-305033
Abstract: Stomach cancer is a leading cause of cancer death, especially in developing countries. Incidence has been associated with poverty and is also reported to disproportionately affect indigenous peoples, many of whom live in poor socioeconomic circumstances and experience lower standards of health. In this comprehensive assessment, we explore the burden of stomach cancer among indigenous peoples globally. The literature was searched systematically for studies on stomach cancer incidence, mortality and survival in indigenous populations, including Indigenous Australians, Maori in New Zealand, indigenous peoples from the circumpolar region, native Americans and Alaska natives in the USA, and the Mapuche peoples in Chile. Data from the New Zealand Health Information Service and the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program were used to estimate trends in incidence. Elevated rates of stomach cancer incidence and mortality were found in almost all indigenous peoples relative to corresponding non-indigenous populations in the same regions or countries. This was particularly evident among Inuit residing in the circumpolar region (standardised incidence ratios (SIR) males: 3.9, females: 3.6) and in Maori (SIR males: 2.2, females: 3.2). Increasing trends in incidence were found for some groups. We found a higher burden of stomach cancer in indigenous populations globally, and rising incidence in some indigenous groups, in stark contrast to the decreasing global trends. This is of major public health concern requiring close surveillance and further research of potential risk factors. Given evidence that improving nutrition and housing sanitation, and Helicobacter pylori eradication programmes could reduce stomach cancer rates, policies which address these initiatives could reduce inequalities in stomach cancer burden for indigenous peoples.
Electroactivity of Aptamer at Soft Microinterface Arrays
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 12-06-2018
DOI: 10.1021/ACS.ANALCHEM.8B01172
Abstract: The electrochemical behavior of a synthetic oligonucleotide, thrombin-binding aptamer (TBA, 15-mer), was explored at a liquid-organogel microinterface array. TBA did not display any response when only background electrolytes were present in both phases. On the basis of literature reports that surfactants can influence nucleic acid detection, the response in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium (CTA
Consortium analysis of 7 candidate SNPs for ovarian cancer
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 22-04-2008
DOI: 10.1002/IJC.23448
Fine-mapping of prostate cancer susceptibility loci in a large meta-analysis identifies candidate causal variants
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-06-2018
DOI: 10.1038/S41467-018-04109-8
Abstract: Prostate cancer is a polygenic disease with a large heritable component. A number of common, low-penetrance prostate cancer risk loci have been identified through GWAS. Here we apply the Bayesian multivariate variable selection algorithm JAM to fine-map 84 prostate cancer susceptibility loci, using summary data from a large European ancestry meta-analysis. We observe evidence for multiple independent signals at 12 regions and 99 risk signals overall. Only 15 original GWAS tag SNPs remain among the catalogue of candidate variants identified the remainder are replaced by more likely candidates. Biological annotation of our credible set of variants indicates significant enrichment within promoter and enhancer elements, and transcription factor-binding sites, including AR, ERG and FOXA1. In 40 regions at least one variant is colocalised with an eQTL in prostate cancer tissue. The refined set of candidate variants substantially increase the proportion of familial relative risk explained by these known susceptibility regions, which highlights the importance of fine-mapping studies and has implications for clinical risk profiling.
Electrochemical behaviour at a liquid-organogel microinterface array of fucoidan extracted from algae
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2017
DOI: 10.1039/C7AN00761B
Abstract: The electrochemical behaviour of fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide, was investigated, leading to a detection strategy by adsorptive stripping voltammetry.
The first comprehensive report on Indigenous Australian women's inequalities in cervical screening
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-04-2016
DOI: 10.1002/CNCR.29954
Cervical abnormalities are more common among Indigenous than other Australian women: A retrospective record-linkage study, 2000-2011
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 11-04-2016
Serous ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers: A comparative epidemiological analysis
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-01-2008
DOI: 10.1002/IJC.23287
Abstract: Invasive serous cancers are diagnosed in the ovary, fallopian tube and peritoneum. It is widely believed that these are variants of the same malignancy but little is known about fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers. A comparison of risk factors for these tumor types may shed light on common or distinct aetiological pathways involved in these types of cancer. We investigated risk factors for the three cancers using data from a large Australian population-based case-control study. We included women with incident invasive serous ovarian (n = 627), primary peritoneal (n = 129) and fallopian tube (n = 45) cancer and 1,508 control women. Participants completed a comprehensive reproductive and lifestyle questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Hormonal contraceptive use was inversely related to risk of all three cancers. Parity and breast-feeding were also inversely related to risk of serous ovarian and fallopian tube cancer. In contrast, parous women had an increased risk of peritoneal cancer (OR = 1.8, 95%CI 0.8-3.9), and increasing parity did not lower risk. There was also no association between breast-feeding and peritoneal cancer. However, obesity was associated with a doubling of risk for peritoneal cancer alone (OR = 2.1, 95%CI = 1.3-3.4). The strikingly similar patterns of risk for serous ovarian and fallopian tube cancers and the somewhat different results for primary peritoneal cancer suggest that peritoneal cancers may develop along a different pathway. These results also call into question the role of the physical effects of ovulation in the development of serous ovarian cancer.
Association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms in hormone metabolism and DNA repair genes and epithelial ovarian cancer: Results from two Australian studies and an additional validation set
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Date: 12-2007
DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-07-0542
Abstract: Although some high-risk ovarian cancer genes have been identified, it is likely that common low penetrance alleles exist that confer some increase in ovarian cancer risk. We have genotyped nine putative functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in genes involved in steroid hormone synthesis (SRD5A2, CYP19A1, HSB17B1, and HSD17B4) and DNA repair (XRCC2, XRCC3, BRCA2, and RAD52) using two Australian ovarian cancer case-control studies, comprising a total of 1,466 cases and 1,821 controls of Caucasian origin. Genotype frequencies in cases and controls were compared using logistic regression. The only SNP we found to be associated with ovarian cancer risk in both of these two studies was SRD5A2 V89L (rs523349), which showed a significant trend of increasing risk per rare allele (P = 0.00002). We then genotyped another SNP in this gene (rs632148 r2 = 0.945 with V89L) in an attempt to validate this finding in an independent set of 1,479 cases and 2,452 controls from United Kingdom, United States, and Denmark. There was no association between rs632148 and ovarian cancer risk in the validation s les, and overall, there was no significant heterogeneity between the results of the five studies. Further analyses of SNPs in this gene are therefore warranted to determine whether SRD5A2 plays a role in ovarian cancer predisposition. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007 (12):2557–9)
Health care provider perspectives on cervical screening for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women: a qualitative study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2021
Breast cancer diagnosis, patterns of care and burden of disease in Queensland, Australia (1998–2004): does being Indigenous make a difference?
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-2016
DOI: 10.1007/S00038-015-0739-Y
Abstract: We compared patterns of care, comorbidity, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) and survival in Indigenous and non-Indigenous women with breast cancer in Queensland, Australia (1998-2004). A cohort study of Indigenous (n = 110) and non-Indigenous women (n = 105), frequency matched on age and remoteness. We used Pearson's Chi-squared analysis to compare proportions, hazard models to assess survival differences and calculated disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Indigenous women were more likely to be socially disadvantaged (43 vs. 20 %, p < 0.01) have comorbidity (42 vs. 18 % p < 0.01), and have regional spread or distant metastasis (metastasis, 51 vs. 36 %, p = 0.02) than non-Indigenous women there was no difference in treatment patterns. More Indigenous women died in the follow-up period (p = 0.01). DALY's were 469 and 665 per 100,000 for Indigenous and non-Indigenous women, respectively, with a larger proportion of the burden attributed to premature death among the former (63 vs. 59 %). Indigenous women with breast cancer received comparable treatment to their non-Indigenous counterparts. The higher proportion of DALYs related to early death in Indigenous women suggests higher fatality with breast cancer in this group. Later stage at diagnosis and higher comorbidity presence among Indigenous women reinforce the need for early detection and improved management of co-existing disease.
Electrochemical Behavior and Detection of Sulfated Sucrose at a Liquid|Organogel Microinterface Array
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 03-08-2018
DOI: 10.1021/ACS.ANALCHEM.8B01710
Abstract: The electrochemical behavior and detection of sulfated carbohydrates were investigated at an array of microinterfaces between two immiscible electrolyte solutions where the organic phase was gelled. It was found that the electrochemical signal was dependent on the organic phase electrolyte cation. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) of sucrose octasulfate (SOS) with bis(triphenylphosphoranylidene)ammonium BTPPA
Recent advancements in open-tubular liquid chromatography and capillary electrochromatography during 2014–2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.ACA.2019.08.016
Abstract: This review critically discusses the developments on open-tubular liquid chromatography (OT-LC) and open-tubular capillary electrochromatography (OT-CEC) during 2014-2018. An appropriate Scopus search revealed 5 reviews, 4 theoretical papers on open-tubular format chromatography, 29 OT-LC articles, 68 OT-CEC articles and 4 OT-LC/OT-CEC articles, indicating a sustained interest in these areas. The open-tubular format typically uses a capillary column with inner walls that are coated with an le layer or coating of solid stationary phase material. The ratio between the capillary internal diameter and coating thickness (CID/CT) is ideally ≤ 100 for appropriate chromatographic retention. We, therefore, approximated the CID/CT ratios and found that 22 OT-LC papers have CID/CT ratios ≤100. The other 7 OT-LC papers have CID/CT ratio >100 but have clearly demonstrated chromatographic retention. These 29 papers utilised reversed phase or ion exchange mechanisms using known or innovative solid stationary phase materials (e.g. metal organic frameworks), stationary pseudophases from ionic surfactants or porous supports. On the other hand, we found that 68 OT-CEC papers, 7 OT-LC papers and 4 OT-LC & OT-CEC papers have CID/CT ratios >100. Notably, 44 papers (42 OT-CEC and 2 OT-LC & OT-CEC) did not report the retention factor and/or effective electrophoretic mobility of analytes. Considering all covered papers, the most popular activity was on the development of new chromatographic materials as coatings. However, we encourage OT-CEC researchers to not only characterise changes in the electroosmotic flow but also verify the interaction of the analytes with the coating. In addition, the articles reported were largely driven by stationary phase or support development and not by practical applications.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women's views of cervical screening by self-collection: a qualitative study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2022
Abstract: This study aimed to describe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women's views of self-collection introduced in the renewed National Cervical Screening Program. A total of 79 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women (50 screened in previous five years, 29 under-screened) from five clinics across three Australian states/territories participated. Topics discussed were perceptions of self-collection, the instruction card and suggestions for implementing self-collection. We employed yarning (a qualitative method), which established relationships and trust between participants and researchers to facilitate culturally safe conversations. Transcripts were analysed thematically. Most women were unaware of self-collection before the yarn but found it to be an acceptable way to participate in cervical screening. Women perceived self-collection would be convenient, provide a sense of control over the screening experience, and maintain privacy and comfort. The instructions were perceived to be simple and easy to follow. Women had concerns about collecting the s le correctly and the accuracy of the s le (compared to clinician-collected s les). Self-collection is acceptable to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Implications for public health: Given the inequitable burden of cervical cancer experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, self-collection is likely to significantly improve participation and ultimately improve cervical cancer outcomes.
Comorbidity and cervical cancer survival of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian women: A semi-national registry-based cohort study (2003-2012)
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 08-05-2018
Navigating the cancer journey: A review of patient navigator programs for Indigenous cancer patients
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-05-2012
DOI: 10.1111/J.1743-7563.2012.01532.X
Abstract: Patient navigator programs have evolved to facilitate access to care and improve outcomes for Indigenous cancer patients. We reviewed the scientific literature on patient navigator programs in Indigenous people with cancer. We conducted a review of the published literature up to 13 April 2011. PubMed, MEDLINE and CINAHL databases were searched for original articles on Indigenous patient navigation programs. The review produced eight relevant articles covering two specific programs, the Native Sisters Program and the Walking Forward Program. Program descriptions, patient navigator's roles, cultural aspects and the impact of the programs were described. Patient navigators' roles in the programs varied, as did their qualifications, but importantly, all were Indigenous. Both programs aimed to increase participation in screening, remove barriers to treatment and decrease mortality. The Native Sisters Program documented an increase in adherence to breast screening among navigated American Indian participants, although there were substantial differences in the baseline screening adherence between navigated and non-navigated participants. The Walking Forward Program yielded on average 3 fewer days of treatment delays for navigated American Indians than for non-navigated American Indians. However, adjustments for socioeconomic characteristics and disease characteristics were not described. Although preliminary outcomes are seemingly positive, further rigorous evaluation of quantitative impacts are needed.
International variations in childhood cancer in indigenous populations: a systematic review
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2014
First Nations doulas: Training needs and industry support in the Top End, Northern Territory, Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2023
DOI: 10.1016/J.WOMBI.2022.11.007
Abstract: First Nations doulas offer an innovative approach for strengthening capacity and increasing the Australian First Nations maternity workforce to improve access to services that produce optimal outcomes. Currently, there is no published evidence on the training needs and health sector industry support for developing a First Nations doula workforce. In the context of the 'Top End,' Northern Territory, Australia, the aim of this article is to document Industry feedback on the training needs and support for developing a First Nations doula workforce. Ten purposively recruited Industry representatives participated in a facilitated workshop using the Kaospiolit Vision Backcasting education design tool. Participants identified and reached consensus on almost all the underpinning skills, knowledge, mindset, and attitudes required to work as a First Nations doula. Overall participants indicated strong Industry appetite and support for formally developing the doula role. There was participant consensus that accredited doula training would be a 'game-changer', addressing inadequacies and inequities in NT's reproductive and maternal health services for remote-living First Nations women. More research is required to explore First Nations doula practice in addressing perinatal inequities and workforce issues. Investigation is required to identify funding and appropriate workforce models.
Factors Associated With Cancer-Specific and Overall Survival Among Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Gynecologic Cancer Patients in Queensland, Australia
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 03-2015
Association between comorbidity and participation in breast and cervical cancer screening: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.CANEP.2016.12.010
Abstract: Comorbidity is associated with poor outcomes for cancer patients but it is less clear how it influences cancer prevention and early detection. This review synthesizes evidence from studies that have quantified the association between comorbidity and participation in breast and cervical screening. PubMed, CINAHL and EMBASE databases were systematically searched using key terms related to cancer screening and comorbidity for original research articles published between 1 January 1991 and 21 March 2016. Two reviewers independently screened 1283 studies that met eligibility criteria related to Population (adult, non-cancer populations), Exposure (comorbidity), Comparison (a 'no comorbidity' group), and Outcome (participation in breast cancer or cervical screening). Data was extracted and risk of bias assessed using a standardised tool from the 22 studies identified for inclusion (17 breast 13 cervical). Meta-analyses were performed for participation in breast and cervical screening, stratified by important study characteristics. The majority of studies were conducted in the United States. Results of in idual studies were variable. Most had medium to high risk of bias. Based on the three "low risk of bias" studies, mammography screening was less common among those with comorbidity (pooled Odds Ratio 0.66, 95%CI 0.44-0.88). The one "low risk of bias" study of cervical screening reported a negative association between comorbidity and participation. While a definitive conclusion could not be drawn, the results from high quality studies suggest that women with comorbidity are less likely to participate in breast, and possibly cervical, cancer screening.
Cancer in indigenous people in L atin A merica and the C aribbean: a review
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-12-2013
DOI: 10.1002/CAM4.134
Spatial variation in cervical cancer screening participation and outcomes among Indigenous and non‐Indigenous Australians in Queensland
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-05-2018
Related Organisations
Menzies School Of Health Research Brisbane Office
Location: Australia
Related Funding Activities
No related grants have been discovered for Suzanne Moore.