ORCID Profile
0000-0002-5709-367X
Current Organisation
The University of Auckland
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-02-2013
DOI: 10.1038/IJO.2013.6
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-06-2022
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2014
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-05-2021
DOI: 10.1038/S41366-021-00841-2
Abstract: High milk intake has been associated with cardio-metabolic risk. We conducted a Mendelian Randomization (MR) study to obtain evidence for the causal relationship between milk consumption and cardio-metabolic traits using the lactase persistence ( LCT -13910 C T, rs4988235) variant as an instrumental variable. We tested the association of LCT genotype with milk consumption (for validation) and with cardio-metabolic traits (for a possible causal association) in a meta-analysis of the data from three large-scale population-based studies (1958 British Birth Cohort, Health and Retirement study, and UK Biobank) with up to 417,236 participants and using summary statistics from consortia meta-analyses on intermediate traits ( N = 123,665–697,307) and extended to cover disease endpoints ( N = 86,995–149,821). In the UK Biobank, carriers of ‘T’ allele of LCT variant were more likely to consume milk ( P = 7.02 × 10 −14 ). In meta-analysis including UK Biobank, the 1958BC, the HRS, and consortia-based studies, under an additive model, ‘T’ allele was associated with higher body mass index (BMI) ( P meta-analysis = 4.68 × 10 −12 ) and lower total cholesterol (TC) ( P = 2.40 × 10 −36 ), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ( P = 2.08 × 10 −26 ) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ( P = 9.40 × 10 −13 ). In consortia meta-analyses, ‘T’ allele was associated with a lower risk of coronary artery disease (OR:0.86, 95% CI:0.75–0.99) but not with type 2 diabetes (OR:1.06, 95% CI:0.97–1.16). Furthermore, the two-s le MR analysis showed a causal association between genetically instrumented milk intake and higher BMI ( P = 3.60 × 10 −5 ) and body fat (total body fat, leg fat, arm fat and trunk fat P 1.37 × 10 −6 ) and lower LDL-C ( P = 3.60 × 10 −6 ), TC ( P = 1.90 × 10 −6 ) and HDL-C ( P = 3.00 × 10 −5 ). Our large-scale MR study provides genetic evidence for the association of milk consumption with higher BMI but lower serum cholesterol levels. These data suggest no need to limit milk intakes with respect to cardiovascular disease risk, with the suggested benefits requiring confirmation in further studies.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 04-12-2014
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-2014
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2014-006141
Abstract: To investigate whether associations of smoking with depression and anxiety are likely to be causal, using a Mendelian randomisation approach. Mendelian randomisation meta-analyses using a genetic variant (rs16969968/rs1051730) as a proxy for smoking heaviness, and observational meta-analyses of the associations of smoking status and smoking heaviness with depression, anxiety and psychological distress. Current, former and never smokers of European ancestry aged ≥16 years from 25 studies in the Consortium for Causal Analysis Research in Tobacco and Alcohol (CARTA). Binary definitions of depression, anxiety and psychological distress assessed by clinical interview, symptom scales or self-reported recall of clinician diagnosis. The analytic s le included up to 58 176 never smokers, 37 428 former smokers and 32 028 current smokers (total N=127 632). In observational analyses, current smokers had 1.85 times greater odds of depression (95% CI 1.65 to 2.07), 1.71 times greater odds of anxiety (95% CI 1.54 to 1.90) and 1.69 times greater odds of psychological distress (95% CI 1.56 to 1.83) than never smokers. Former smokers also had greater odds of depression, anxiety and psychological distress than never smokers. There was evidence for positive associations of smoking heaviness with depression, anxiety and psychological distress (ORs per cigarette per day: 1.03 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.04), 1.03 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.04) and 1.02 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.03) respectively). In Mendelian randomisation analyses, there was no strong evidence that the minor allele of rs16969968/rs1051730 was associated with depression (OR=1.00, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.05), anxiety (OR=1.02, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.07) or psychological distress (OR=1.02, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.06) in current smokers. Results were similar for former smokers. Findings from Mendelian randomisation analyses do not support a causal role of smoking heaviness in the development of depression and anxiety.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-06-2012
DOI: 10.1111/J.1398-9995.2012.02856.X
Abstract: The hormonal form of vitamin D affects both adaptive and innate immune functions involved in the development of allergies. Certain genotypes have been seen to alter the association between vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and the risk of food sensitization in children. We examined 27 functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in/near selected candidate genes for association with total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and effect modification by 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the 1958 British birth cohort (aged 45 years, n = 4921). A cut-off value of 50 nmol/L was used to define VDD. Four SNPs (in FCER1A, IL13, and CYP24A1) and three SNPs (in IL4 and CYP24A1) were associated with total IgE and specific IgE, respectively, after correction for multiple testing. As in a previous study, MS4A2 (rs512555, P(interaction) = 0.04) and IL4 (rs2243250, P(interaction) = 0.02), and their composite score (P(interaction) = 0.009) modified the association between VDD and allergy-related outcome. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with higher total IgE only in the carriers of the 'C' allele (IL4), which is present in 86% of white Europeans, while only 26% of Chinese and <20% of some African populations are carriers. Our study on white European adults was consistent with a previous study on children from largely non-white ethnic groups, suggesting that IL4 and MS4A2 genotypes modify the association between VDD and allergy risk. The risk allele in IL4 is present in nearly 90% of white Europeans, while less than a quarter are carriers in some other populations, highlighting the need to consider possible ethnic differences in allergy-related responsiveness to VDD.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-07-2014
DOI: 10.1136/BMJ.G4164
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2016
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 24-11-2015
DOI: 10.1093/HMG/DDV472
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-11-2016
DOI: 10.1038/NG1216-1587B
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 09-06-2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.ATHEROSCLEROSIS.2013.02.006
Abstract: Circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) are positively associated with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. We sought to replicate a previously reported interaction between APOA5 genotype and vitamin D, and to examine whether HDL-associated genetic loci modify the association between serum 25OHD and HDL cholesterol. We examined whether 42 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) modify the association between serum 25OHD and HDL cholesterol in the 1958 British Birth cohort (aged 45 years, n = 4978). We identified a borderline interaction between the SNP rs12272004 (near the APOA5) and serum 25OHD on HDL cholesterol (P(interaction) = 0.05). The interaction was particularly prominent among the s les collected during winter (P(interaction) = 0.001). None of the other loci showed an interaction with serum 25OHD concentrations on HDL cholesterol. Our study in 4978 British Whites provides further support that APOA5 genotype modifies the association between vitamin D metabolites and HDL cholesterol.
Publisher: S. Karger AG
Date: 2013
DOI: 10.1159/000358338
Abstract: b i Background/Aims: /i /b Vitamin D may protect from pre-ecl sia through influences on immune modulation and vascular function. To evaluate the role of vitamin D in the development of pre-ecl sia, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis including novel data from 2 large-scale epidemiological studies. b i Methods: /i /b PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for prospective observational studies of association between vitamin D supplementation or status (measured by maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D) with a subsequent risk of pre-ecl sia, or randomised controlled trials using vitamin D supplementation to prevent pre-ecl sia. The Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities (HCCSCA) and the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) were included in meta-analyses with published studies. b i Results: /i /b Mothers receiving vitamin D supplementation earlier in pregnancy had lower odds of pre-ecl sia [pooled odds ratios (OR) 0.81 and 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75-0.87, p = 2.4 × 10 sup -8 /sup , 2 studies] in the meta-analysis of published studies with HCCSCA. The meta-analysis of published studies with ALSPAC suggested an association between higher serum 25(OH)D levels and a reduced risk of pre-ecl sia (pooled OR 0.52 and 95% CI 0.30-0.89, p = 0.02, 6 studies). Randomised trials of supplementation were suggestive of protective association (pooled OR 0.66 and 95% CI 0.52-0.83, p = 0.001, 4 studies). b i Conclusions: /i /b This study suggests that low maternal serum 25(OH)D concentrations increase pre-ecl sia risk and that vitamin D supplementation lowers this risk. The quality of evidence is insufficient to determine a causal association, which highlights the need for adequately powered clinical trials.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 12-04-2021
DOI: 10.1111/CEI.13595
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-10-2014
Abstract: Both high and low vitamin D statuses have been associated with lower memory function. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ4 alleles have been associated with reduced memory function, and separately with higher vitamin D concentrations. This report aims to examine if the presence of APOE ɛ4 alleles contributes to the relationship between vitamin D and memory function. A total of 4848 (46% female) participants from the 1958 British birth cohort had information on APOE genotypes and completed memory tests at 50 years, where 4644 also had 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations measured at 45 years. Both low and high 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with lower memory function after adjustment for number of APOE ɛ4 alleles (P curvature=0.02). There was evidence of interaction between APOE ɛ4 and 25(OH)D, suggesting the association between 25(OH)D concentrations and memory function is different for those with two APOE ɛ4 alleles compared with those with zero or one APOE ɛ4 alleles (recessive model P interaction=0.01). Among participants with two APOE ɛ4 alleles, higher 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with higher memory function, whereas in others, memory scores were slightly lower for in iduals with higher versus lower concentrations. Further studies are required to replicate these findings.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 12-2015
DOI: 10.1161/CIRCGENETICS.115.001225
Abstract: Smoking is an important cardiovascular disease risk factor, but the mechanisms linking smoking to blood pressure are poorly understood. Data on 141 317 participants (62 666 never, 40 669 former, 37 982 current smokers) from 23 population-based studies were included in observational and Mendelian randomization meta-analyses of the associations of smoking status and smoking heaviness with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, hypertension, and resting heart rate. For the Mendelian randomization analyses, a genetic variant rs16969968/rs1051730 was used as a proxy for smoking heaviness in current smokers. In observational analyses, current as compared with never smoking was associated with lower systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure and lower hypertension risk, but with higher resting heart rate. In observational analyses among current smokers, 1 cigarette/day higher level of smoking heaviness was associated with higher (0.21 bpm 95% confidence interval 0.19 0.24) resting heart rate and slightly higher diastolic blood pressure (0.05 mm Hg 95% confidence interval 0.02 0.08) and systolic blood pressure (0.08 mm Hg 95% confidence interval 0.03 0.13). However, in Mendelian randomization analyses among current smokers, although each smoking increasing allele of rs16969968/rs1051730 was associated with higher resting heart rate (0.36 bpm/allele 95% confidence interval 0.18 0.54), there was no strong association with diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, or hypertension. This would suggest a 7 bpm higher heart rate in those who smoke 20 cigarettes/day. This Mendelian randomization meta-analysis supports a causal association of smoking heaviness with higher level of resting heart rate, but not with blood pressure. These findings suggest that part of the cardiovascular risk of smoking may operate through increasing resting heart rate.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-04-2016
DOI: 10.1038/NG.3552
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 15-05-2015
DOI: 10.1093/IJE/DYV074
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2014
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 31-10-2016
DOI: 10.1038/NG.3698
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 16-04-2019
Abstract: Children’s independent mobility is declining internationally. Parents are the gatekeepers of children’s independent mobility. This mixed methods study investigates whether parent perceptions of the neighbourhood environment align with objective measures of the neighbourhood built environment, and how perceived and objective measures relate to parental licence for children’s independent mobility. Parents participating in the Neighbourhood for Active Kids study (n = 940) answered an open-ended question about what would make their neighbourhoods better for their child’s independent mobility, and reported household and child demographics. Objective measures of the neighbourhood built environment were generated using geographic information systems. Content analysis was used to classify and group parent-reported changes required to improve their neigbourhood. Parent-reported needs were then compared with objective neighbourhood built environment measures. Linear mixed modelling examined associations between parental licence for independent mobility and (1) parent neighbourhood perceptions and (2) objectively assessed neighbourhood built environment features. Parents identified the need for safer traffic environments. No significant differences in parent reported needs were found by objectively assessed characteristics. Differences in odds of reporting needs were observed for a range of socio-demographic characteristics. Parental licence for independent mobility was only associated with a need for safer places to cycle (positive) and objectively assessed cycling infrastructure (negative) in adjusted models. Overall, the study findings indicate the importance of safer traffic environments for children’s independent mobility.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 08-2015
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-06-2015
DOI: 10.1002/AJMG.B.32333
Abstract: In idual differences in aggressive behavior emerge in early childhood and predict persisting behavioral problems and disorders. Studies of antisocial and severe aggression in adulthood indicate substantial underlying biology. However, little attention has been given to genome-wide approaches of aggressive behavior in children. We analyzed data from nine population-based studies and assessed aggressive behavior using well-validated parent-reported questionnaires. This is the largest s le exploring children's aggressive behavior to date (N = 18,988), with measures in two developmental stages (N = 15,668 early childhood and N = 16,311 middle childhood/early adolescence). First, we estimated the additive genetic variance of children's aggressive behavior based on genome-wide SNP information, using genome-wide complex trait analysis (GCTA). Second, genetic associations within each study were assessed using a quasi-Poisson regression approach, capturing the highly right-skewed distribution of aggressive behavior. Third, we performed meta-analyses of genome-wide associations for both the total age-mixed s le and the two developmental stages. Finally, we performed a gene-based test using the summary statistics of the total s le. GCTA quantified variance tagged by common SNPs (10-54%). The meta-analysis of the total s le identified one region in chromosome 2 (2p12) at near genome-wide significance (top SNP rs11126630, P = 5.30 × 10(-8) ). The separate meta-analyses of the two developmental stages revealed suggestive evidence of association at the same locus. The gene-based analysis indicated association of variation within AVPR1A with aggressive behavior. We conclude that common variants at 2p12 show suggestive evidence for association with childhood aggression. Replication of these initial findings is needed, and further studies should clarify its biological meaning. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 12-2015
DOI: 10.1530/EJE-15-0839
Abstract: Given the role of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) in the accumulation of fat in the hepatocytes and in the enhancement of protective mechanisms in acute ethanol intake, we hypothesised that UCP2 polymorphisms are likely to cause liver disease through their interactions with obesity and alcohol intake. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the interaction between tagging polymorphisms in the UCP2 gene (rs2306819, rs599277 and rs659366), alcohol intake and obesity traits such as BMI and waist circumference (WC) on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) in a large meta-analysis of data sets from three populations ( n =20 242). The study populations included the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 ( n =4996), Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety ( n =1883) and LifeLines Cohort Study ( n =13 363). Interactions between the polymorphisms and obesity and alcohol intake on dichotomised ALT and GGT levels were assessed using logistic regression and the likelihood ratio test. In the meta-analysis of the three cohorts, none of the three UCP2 polymorphisms were associated with GGT or ALT levels. There was no evidence for interaction between the polymorphisms and alcohol intake on GGT and ALT levels. In contrast, the association of WC and BMI with GGT levels varied by rs659366 genotype ( P interaction =0.03 and 0.007, respectively adjusted for age, gender, high alcohol intake, diabetes, hypertension and serum lipid concentrations). In conclusion, our findings in 20 242 in iduals suggest that UCP2 gene polymorphisms may cause liver dysfunction through the interaction with body fat rather than alcohol intake.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-10-2017
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-017-13189-3
Abstract: The causal nature of the association between hypovitaminosis D and poor cognitive function in mid- to later-life is uncertain. Using a Mendelian randomisation(MR) approach, we examined the causal relationship between 25(OH)D and cognitive function. Data came from 172,349 participants from 17 cohorts. DHCR7 (rs12785878), CYP2R1 rs12794714) and their combined synthesis score were chosen to proxy 25(OH)D. Cognitive tests were standardised into global and memory scores. Analyses were stratified by 25(OH)D tertiles, sex and age. Random effects meta-analyses assessed associations between 25(OH)D and cognitive function. Associations of serum 25(OH)D with global and memory-related cognitive function were non-linear (lower cognitive scores for both low and high 25(OH)D, p curvature ≤ 0.006), with much of the curvature attributed to a single study. DHCR7 , CYP2R1 , and the synthesis score were associated with small reductions in 25(OH)D per vitamin D-decreasing allele. However, coefficients for associations with global or memory-related cognitive function were non-significant and in opposing directions for DHCR7 and CYP2R1 , with no overall association observed for the synthesis score . Coefficients for the synthesis score and global and memory cognition were similar when stratified by 25(OH)D tertiles, sex and age. We found no evidence for serum 25(OH)D concentration as a causal factor for cognitive performance in mid- to later life.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 28-01-2014
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 14-04-2016
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 17-10-2018
DOI: 10.1101/442756
Abstract: Birth weight (BW) variation is influenced by fetal and maternal genetic and non-genetic factors, and has been reproducibly associated with future cardio-metabolic health outcomes. These associations have been proposed to reflect the lifelong consequences of an adverse intrauterine environment. In earlier work, we demonstrated that much of the negative correlation between BW and adult cardio-metabolic traits could instead be attributable to shared genetic effects. However, that work and other previous studies did not systematically distinguish the direct effects of an in idual’s own genotype on BW and subsequent disease risk from indirect effects of their mother’s correlated genotype, mediated by the intrauterine environment. Here, we describe expanded genome-wide association analyses of own BW (n=321,223) and offspring BW (n=230,069 mothers), which identified 278 independent association signals influencing BW (214 novel). We used structural equation modelling to decompose the contributions of direct fetal and indirect maternal genetic influences on BW, implicating fetal- and maternal-specific mechanisms. We used Mendelian randomization to explore the causal relationships between factors influencing BW through fetal or maternal routes, for ex le, glycemic traits and blood pressure. Direct fetal genotype effects dominate the shared genetic contribution to the association between lower BW and higher type 2 diabetes risk, whereas the relationship between lower BW and higher later blood pressure (BP) is driven by a combination of indirect maternal and direct fetal genetic effects: indirect effects of maternal BP-raising genotypes act to reduce offspring BW, but only direct fetal genotype effects (once inherited) increase the offspring’s later BP. Instrumental variable analysis using maternal BW-lowering genotypes to proxy for an adverse intrauterine environment provided no evidence that it causally raises offspring BP. In successfully separating fetal from maternal genetic effects, this work represents an important advance in genetic studies of perinatal outcomes, and shows that the association between lower BW and higher adult BP is attributable to genetic effects, and not to intrauterine programming.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 05-09-2012
DOI: 10.1093/HMG/DDS372
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-08-2023
DOI: 10.1111/BJHP.12686
Abstract: Weight loss is hard to achieve and even harder to maintain. Engaging in effortful behavioural change to manage body weight can sometimes result in feelings of guilt and shame. Self‐compassion, the tendency to find kindness for oneself in times of struggle, may facilitate coping with the unique challenges of weight management. This study assessed whether a remotely delivered self‐compassion intervention improved weight management outcomes when delivered as a supplement to an existing digital behavioural weight management programme, Weight Watchers (WW). Using a mixed‐method study design, 249 adults seeking to manage weight were randomized to either the WW programme or WW supplemented with the self‐compassion for weight management intervention (SC4WM). Participants completed measures of self‐compassion, eating behaviour, physical activity, body weight and emotional well‐being along with potential moderators, including weight self‐stigma, eating restraint, psychological coping and perceived stress at baseline, post‐intervention (4 weeks) and follow‐up (12 weeks). There was no evidence that the SC4WM intervention had a significantly different effect than WW alone. Other than body weight, all outcomes improved over time in both groups. Self‐compassion was slightly higher overall in the SC4WM group ( p = .05), with this group reporting higher self‐kindness at 4 weeks ( p = .014) and lower self‐judgement at 12 weeks ( p = .023) compared to the control group. Although the SC4WM intervention group did show a small increase in self‐kindness and reduction in self‐judgement, weight management outcomes were not improved over and above the existing WW programme. Recommendations for adapting the SC4WM intervention to improve efficacy to augment weight management outcomes are provided.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-11-2022
DOI: 10.1111/JPC.16270
Abstract: Obesity as a major risk factor for childhood hypertension necessitates careful blood pressure (BP) monitoring of those affected. This study aimed to compare BP classification in a cohort of children affected by obesity using tables versus digital calculations in two sets of guidelines. This study was a secondary analysis of data collected from a randomised clinical trial of a multidisciplinary life‐style assessment and intervention program. Baseline data from 237 children with a body mass index th percentile or st percentile with weight‐related comorbidities and available BP measurements were analysed. We assessed agreement between tables and algorithms in classification of elevated BP re‐hypertension and hypertension based on the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) clinical practice guidelines (CPG) and the older Fourth Report using Cohen's weighted kappa. The prevalence of hypertensive diagnoses was also compared between the two guidelines. Agreement between BP tables and algorithmic calculation of percentiles was discordant, though improved in the AAP CPG compared to the Fourth Report (Cohen's kappa = 0.70 vs. 0.57, respectively). None (0%) were missed diagnoses, and 59 (24.9%) were false positives for the Fourth Report, and 0 (0%) were missed diagnoses, and 49 (20.9%) were false positives for the AAP CPG. Under the recent guidelines, there was an increase in prevalence of 6.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5–9.4% P = 0.0001) for BP ≥90th percentile, and of 3.0% (95% CI 0.4–5.6% p = 0.016) for hypertension (BP ≥ 95th percentile) in the cohort (18.0% and 6.8%, respectively, increased from 12.0% and 3.8%). Digital calculators over tables in clinical practice are recommended where possible to improve the accuracy of paediatric BP classification. Substantial rates of elevated BP/Hypertension were found in this cohort of children and adolescents with overweight and obesity.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-2019
DOI: 10.1186/S12912-019-0383-6
Abstract: Positive reports of nursing-related outcomes such as quality nursing care, nursing engagement with work and good practice environment are crucial in attaining and maintaining Magnet® designation. The majority of Magnet®-designated organisations ( N = 482) are in the USA, with their aggregate nursing outcomes widely published as benchmark data. Australian Magnet® outcomes have not been aggregated or published to date. The aims are to benchmark educational preparation, occupational burnout, job satisfaction, intention to leave and working environment of nurses in Australian Magnet®-designated facilities and to determine the reliability of the Practice Environment Scale-Australia. The design is a cross-sectional multisite survey set in all three Australian Magnet®-designated organisations. The demographics included age, gender, level of education, years in practice, level of seniority and position title. Two items measured job satisfaction and intent to stay in current employment. The Maslach Burnout Inventory explored the three domains of nursing engagement: depersonalisation, personal achievement and emotional exhaustion. The Australian version of the Practice Environment Scale interrogated participants’ perceptions of their work environments. 2004 nurses participated (response rate 45.9%). Respondents’ mean age was 39.2 years (range 20–72). They were predominantly female and had worked in their current facility for more than 5 years. Eighty five percent had a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree. Eighty-six percent of respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with their current position. Eighty eight percent had no intention of leaving their current employer within the next 12 months. Participants rated their hospitals highly in all domains of the practice environment. Respondents reported less burnout in the personal accomplishment and depersonalisation domains than in the emotional exhaustion domain, in which they reported average levels of burnout. The internal consistency of the Practice Environment Scale-Australia was confirmed in this s le (Cronbach α’s 0.87–0.9 for subscales and 0.89 for composite score). In this paper, we present nursing outcome data from all Australian Magnet® hospitals for the first time. This provides a benchmark that facilitates comparison with nursing outcomes published by Australian non-Magnet® hospitals and with international Magnet® organisations.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-01-2018
DOI: 10.1038/S41467-017-02662-2
Abstract: Vitamin D is a steroid hormone precursor that is associated with a range of human traits and diseases. Previous GWAS of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations have identified four genome-wide significant loci ( GC, NADSYN1/DHCR7, CYP2R1, CYP24A1 ). In this study, we expand the previous SUNLIGHT Consortium GWAS discovery s le size from 16,125 to 79,366 (all European descent). This larger GWAS yields two additional loci harboring genome-wide significant variants ( P = 4.7×10 −9 at rs8018720 in SEC23A , and P = 1.9×10 −14 at rs10745742 in AMDHD1 ). The overall estimate of heritability of 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum concentrations attributable to GWAS common SNPs is 7.5%, with statistically significant loci explaining 38% of this total. Further investigation identifies signal enrichment in immune and hematopoietic tissues, and clustering with autoimmune diseases in cell-type-specific analysis. Larger studies are required to identify additional common SNPs, and to explore the role of rare or structural variants and gene–gene interactions in the heritability of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 07-06-2023
DOI: 10.3390/NU15122663
Abstract: There is increasing evidence that adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern reduces the incidence of diet-related diseases. To date, the habitual dietary intake of New Zealand (NZ) adults has not been examined in relation to its alignment with a Mediterranean-style dietary pattern. This study aimed to define the habitual dietary patterns, nutrient intakes, and adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in a s le of 1012 NZ adults (86% female, mean age 48 ± 16 years) who had their diabetes risk defined by the Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Tool (AUSDRISK). Dietary intakes were collected using a validated semi-quantitative NZ food frequency questionnaire, and dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis. Reported intakes from the FFQ were used in conjunction with the Mediterranean-Style Dietary Pattern Score (MSDPS) to determine adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern. Mixed linear models were used to analyze the association between dietary patterns and MSDPS with demographics, health factors, and nutrient intakes. Two distinct dietary patterns were identified: Discretionary (positive loadings on processed meat, meat oultry, fast food, sweet drinks, and sugar, sweets, and baked good) and Guideline (positive loadings on vegetables, eggs/beans, and fruits). Adherence to dietary patterns and diet quality was associated with age and ethnicity. Dietary patterns were also associated with sex. Adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern defined by the MSDPS was low, indicating that a significant shift in food choices will be required if the Mediterranean Diet is to be adopted in the NZ population.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-10-2014
DOI: 10.1038/MP.2014.107
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2023
DOI: 10.1016/J.AUCC.2022.08.010
Abstract: Bullying, discrimination, and sexual harassment are significant problems within healthcare organisations but are often under-reported. Consequences of these behaviours within a healthcare setting are wide ranging, affecting workplace environments, personal well-being, and patient care and leading to increased staff turnover and quality of patient care and outcomes. Whilst there has been some work undertaken in the general nursing workforce, there is a dearth of evidence regarding the extent and impact of these behaviours on the nursing workforce in intensive care units (ICUs) in Australia and New Zealand. We aimed to determine self-reported occurrences of bullying, discrimination, and sexual harassment amongst ICU nurses in Australia and New Zealand. A prospective, cross-sectional, online survey of ICU nurses in Australia and New Zealand was undertaken in May-June 2021, distributed through formal colleges, societies, and social media. Questions included demographics and three separate sections addressing bullying, sexual harassment, and discrimination. In 679 survey responses, the overall reported occurrences of bullying, discrimination, and sexual harassment in the last 12 months were 57.1%, 32.6%, and 1.9%, respectively. Perpetrators of bullying were predominantly nurses (59.6%, with 57.9% being ICU nurses) perpetrators of discrimination were nurses (51.7%, with 49.3% being ICU nurses) and perpetrators of sexual harassment were patients (34.6%). Respondents most commonly (66%) did not report these behaviours as they did not feel confident that the issue would be resolved or addressed. Determining the true extent of bullying, discrimination, and sexual harassment behaviours within the ICU nursing community in Australia and New Zealand is difficult however, it is clear a problem exists. These behaviours require recognition, reporting, and an effective resolution, rather than normalisation within healthcare professions and workplace settings in order to support and retain ICU nursing staff.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 02-2022
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2021-056174
Abstract: In idual weight management, defined as engaging in behaviours to maintain or lose weight, can improve health and well-being. However, numerous factors influence weight management outcomes, such as genetics, biology, stress, the social and physical environment. Consequently, weight management can be hard. Self-compassion, described as treating oneself kindly in times of failure or distress, has shown promise in improving weight management outcomes. The objectives of this study are twofold: (1) to examine the efficacy of an online self-compassion for weight management (SC4WM) intervention coupled with an online commercial weight management programme (WW Weight Watchers reimagined) with increasing self-compassion and improving weight management outcomes (eating behaviour, physical activity and body weight) in comparison with the WW programme only and (2) to explore whether improvements in weight management outcomes are moderated by eating restraint, weight self-stigma, perceived stress and psychological coping. To achieve these objectives, 240 participants seeking to manage their weight were randomised to either an online behavioural commercial weight management programme (WW) or the online WW +SC4 WM intervention. Validated measures of self-compassion, stress, weight self-stigma, eating restraint, psychological coping and weight management outcomes were administered online at baseline, 4 weeks and at a 12-week follow-up. Ethics has been granted by the University of Auckland Health Research Ethics committee. Results will be communicated in peer-review journals, conferences and a doctoral thesis. If effective in increasing self-compassion and improving weight management outcomes, the intervention could be made more widely available to supplement behavioural weight management programmes. ACTRN12621000580875 Pre-results.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-2019
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Alana Cavadino.