Describing skin health and disease in urban-living Aboriginal children: co-design, development and feasibility testing of the Koolungar Moorditj Healthy Skin pilot project.

BACKGROUND: Indigenous children in colonised nations experience high rates of health disparities linked to historical trauma resulting from displacement and dispossession, as well as ongoing systemic racism. Skin infections and their complications are one such health inequity, with the highest global burden described in remote-living Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (hereafter respectfully referred to as Aboriginal) children. Yet despite increasing urbanisation, little is known about the skin infection burden for urban-living Aboriginal children. More knowledge is needed to inform service provision, treatment guidelines and community-wide healthy skin strategies. In this pilot study, we aimed to test the feasibility and design of larger multi-site observational studies, provide initial descriptions of skin disease frequency and generate preliminary hypotheses of association. METHODS: This project has been co-designed with local (Noongar) Elders to provide an Australian-first description of skin health and disease in urban-living Aboriginal children. In collaboration with an urban Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service), we conducted a week-long cross-sectional observational cohort study of Aboriginal children (0-18 years) recruited from the waiting room. Participants completed a questionnaire, skin examination, clinical photos, and swabs and received appropriate treatment. We assessed the feasibility and impact of the pilot study. RESULTS: From 4 to 8 October 2021, we recruited 84 Aboriginal children of whom 80 (95%) were urban-living. With a trusted Aboriginal Health Practitioner leading recruitment, most parents (or caregivers) who were approached consented to participate. Among urban-living children, over half (45/80, 56%) of parents described a current concern with their child's skin, hair and/or nails; and one-third (26/80, 33%) reported current itchy skin. Using a research-service model, 27% (21/79) of examined urban-living participants received opportunistic same-day treatment and 18% (14/79) were referred for later review. CONCLUSIONS: This co-designed pilot study to understand skin health in urban-living Aboriginal children was feasible and acceptable, with high study participation and subsequent engagement in clinical care observed. Co-design and the strong involvement of Aboriginal people to lead and deliver the project was crucial. The successful pilot has informed larger, multi-site observational studies to more accurately answer questions of disease burden and inform the development of healthy skin messages for urban-living Aboriginal children.

Antioxidant activities, phenolic compounds, and mineral composition of seed from Acacia retinodes, A. Provincialis and A. Tenuissima.

Seeds of the species Acacia retinodes, A. provincialis, and A. tenuissima) from different growing locations were analysed for their mineral composition, free and bound polyphenols, and flavonoids. Previous research has studied these compounds in only a limited number of Acacia species, and only one study reports significant differences between three species. All species were rich in potassium (353 - 427 mg/100 g), sodium (14 - 240 mg/100 g) and iron (7 - 8 mg/100 g). The free polyphenol extracts of all species had higher total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant activities than their bound counterparts, indicating the possibility of higher bioavailability than the bound polyphenol extracts. The predominant phenolic compounds found in the Acacia polyphenol seed extracts were 6-Hydroxy-2-methylindole and 2,2'-Methylenebis(6-tert-butyl-methylphenol), though no phenolic compounds were identified in the bound extracts of A. retinodes Grampians and A. provincialis Tarrington. Other compounds identified in the seed extracts include sucrose, d-fructofuranose and d-pinitol.

Compositional and functional changes in Acacia tenuissima seeds due to processing.

The chemical, functional, anti-nutritional, and antioxidant composition of raw and roasted Acacia tenuissima seeds were determined to evaluate the impact of heat processing. The raw seeds were relatively high in protein (25.2 %), fat (10.3 %) and crude fiber (13.2 %), potassium (760 mg/100 g), magnesium (111 mg/100 g) and calcium (66.5 mg/100 g). Linolenic (34 %), margaric acid (24 %) and oleic acid (16 %) were the notable fatty acids present in the raw seeds. The proximate and fatty acid composition of A. tenuissima were not significantly impacted by roasting. Acacia tenuissima flour had excellent foaming capacity, foaming stability and water solubility making it a potential functional ingredient in the baking industry. Anti-nutrients were present in the raw seeds but at low quantities (trypsin inhibitor activity: 0.22 TIU/g, saponin: 2.29 %) while the antioxidant activity was high at 94 % compared to other Acacia species. Only the water solubility and trypsin inhibitor activity of A. tenuissima decreased significantly after roasting. Roasting had no significant impact on the seed constituents and their properties except for water solubility, and trypsin inhibitor activity which decreased, making it an ideal ingredient to be used in baked products.