Promoting the get healthy information and coaching service (GHS) in Australian-Chinese communities: facilitators and barriers.

Obesity and being overweight are major public health concerns that health coaching can assist people to manage through encouraging self-management and behaviour change. The Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service (GHS) is a telephone health coaching service in Australia that has effectively improved the health of the general population but has had less participation of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations. The Chinese population is the largest migrant group in Australia with increased risk of diabetes but had reduced access to the GHS program due to communication barriers. The GHS developed a pilot program for Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking) communities using bilingual coaches and translated material to address these barriers. Qualitative research was undertaken with Chinese stakeholders (14 interviews) and 11 program participants from the group which had completed the program (2 focus groups in Mandarin and Cantonese) to understand their experiences and the success of promotional activities. This research does not contain the experiences of the people that withdrew from the program. The bilingual program was culturally and linguistically appropriate and addressed risk factors for chronic conditions. Participants formed positive relationships with bilingual coaches who they preferred to interpreters. They felt the program promoted healthy eating, weight and physical activity. Although Chinese stakeholders had concerns about participants' ability to goal set, participants said they met their health goals and were committed to the GHS program. Strategies to enhance the program included promoting the bilingual GHS to the communities and stakeholders. Factors to consider beyond language in adapting the program to the Australian Chinese communities include meeting the heterogenous needs of the older population, ensuring community engagement and addressing cultural beliefs and practices.

Obesity and being overweight are major public health concerns that health coaching can assist people to manage. The Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service (GHS) is a government telephone health coaching service that has improved the health of the general population but has had less participation of culturally and linguistically diverse populations. The Chinese population is the largest migrant group in Australia with increased risk of diabetes but had reduced access to the GHS program due to communication barriers. The GHS developed a pilot program for Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking) communities using bilingual coaches and translated material. Findings from 14 interviews with Chinese stakeholders and two focus groups (in Mandarin and Cantonese) with program participants sought to understand their experiences and success of promotional activities. Results demonstrated the bilingual program was culturally and linguistically appropriate. Participants formed positive relationships with coaches and felt the service promoted healthy eating and weight, and physical activity. Although Chinese stakeholders had concerns about participants' cultural familiarity with goal setting and achieving long-term change, participants said that they met their goals and were committed to the program. Strategies to enhance the program will include promoting the bilingual GHS to the communities and stakeholders.

Identifying significant pathways of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma based on crosstalk and network pathways.

This study aims to identify significant pathways in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on the pathway network strategy. We proposed a pathway network where a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was integrated with the crosstalk of pathways. Pathway data were first obtained from background PPI network, Reactome pathway database, and common genes between mRNA differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and miRNA target genes of HBV-related HCC. Pathway interactions were subsequently randomly extracted based on gene-gene interactions, and a weight value was assigned to each crosstalk using the Spearman correlation coefficient. Finally, pathways and crosstalk were visualized via Cytoscape to construct the final pathway network. A total of 9 common genes were identified between 396 mRNA DEGs and 400 miRNA target genes, and 17 pathways were identified based on background pathways and common genes. In addition, we constructed a pathway network that included 136 interactions and 17 pathways. The weight value of netrin-1 signaling and regulation of Frizzled proteins (FZD) by ubiquitination was the largest, at 0.228. In conclusion, we identified 17 significant pathways that might act as potential biomarkers of HBV-related HCC. This information may offer some insight into treatment and detection of HBV-related HCC.

Effects of a workplace travel plan intervention encouraging active travel to work: outcomes from a three-year time-series study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a three-year workplace travel plan intervention on increasing active travel to work. STUDY DESIGN: A time-series study with staff was conducted in 2011 (n = 804), 2012 (n = 904), 2013 (n = 872) and 2014 (n = 687). METHODS: A travel plan was implemented at a large, outer-suburban worksite in Sydney, Australia. Implementation was assessed by reviewing annual reports including travel plan actions and their status. Annual cross-sectional on-line surveys assessed primary outcomes which included change in the proportion of staff travelling to work via active modes. Multivariate logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders. RESULTS: Strategies to encourage active travel were partially implemented. An average survey response rate was 23% (n = 817). The proportion of staff travelling actively to work increased by 4%-6% across intervention years compared to the baseline, and this increase was significant in 2012 (P = 0.04) and 2013 (P = 0.003). Compared to baseline, after adjusting for distances staff lived from work staff had 33% (95% CI 1%-74%) greater odds of travelling to work via active modes in 2012, and 50% (95% CI 15%-96%) greater odds in 2013. There was no evidence of change in physical activity levels. CONCLUSIONS: A workplace travel plan which only included strategies to encourage active travel to work achieved small but significant increases in active travel. Workplace travel plans appear to be a promising way to increase active travel to work.

In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacy of DNA Damage Repair Inhibitor Veliparib in Combination with Artesunate against Echinococcus granulosus.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the cestode Echinococcus granulosus, is a worldwide chronic zoonosis. Albendazole (ABZ) and mebendazole are effective against CE, but a high dosage in a long-term period is usually required. In this study, we evaluate the effects of DNA damage repair inhibitor (i.e., Veliparib) in combination with artesunate (AS) on hydatid cysts. For the in vitro assay, protoscoleces of E. granulosus (E.g PSCs) were incubated with low AS (AS-L, 65 µM), moderate AS (AS-M, 130 µM), and high AS (AS-H, 325 µM), AS-L/M/H+Veliparib (10 µM), and ABZ (25 µM), respectively. The AS-H+Veliparib group showed the maximal protoscolicidal effects. Ultrastructural change revealed that germinal layer (GL) cells were reduced, and lipid droplets appeared. AS could induce DNA injuries in PSCs. The 8-OHdG was expressed in the PSCs and GL of the cysts in mice, especially in the presence of Veliparib. The most severe DNA damages were observed in the AS-H+Veliparib group. Meanwhile, the expression of ribosomal protein S9 (RPS9) gene in the AS-H+Veliparib group was significantly lower than that in the AS-H group. The in vivo chemotherapeutic effects of AS-L (50 mg/kg), AS-H (200 mg/kg), and AS-H+Veliparib (25 mg/kg) were assessed in experimentally infected mice. Upon 6 weeks of oral administration, ultrasonography was used to monitor the volume change of vesicles. Maximum potentiation was seen on day 15 with values (versus AS) of 34 (P < 0.05) for AS-H + Veliparib. It led to the reduction of cyst weight (55.40%) compared with the model group (P < 0.01), which was better than AS alone (52.84%) and ABZ-treated mice (55.35%). Analysis of cysts collected from AS-H+Veliparib-treated mice by transmission electron microscopy revealed a drug-induced structural destruction. The structural integrity of the germinal layer was lost, and the majority of the microtriches disappeared. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that AS or AS in combination with Veliparib is effective for treating CE, especially the combination group. On this basis, AS represented promising drug candidates in anti-CE chemotherapy.

Recent advances of nano-drug delivery system in oral squamous cell carcinoma treatment.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the main causes of death in oral diseases. With the development of nanotechnology, great progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of tumors in nanomedicine. Being able to carry drugs, nucleic acids, contrast agents, and so on, nano-medical technology can effectively reduce the toxicity of nano-carried materials while playing a drug role. Nano-drug delivery system can help diagnosis and treatment of OSCC. In the chemotherapy of OSCC, nano-drug delivery system can significantly increase the anti-tumor activity of drugs in drug-resistant strains resistant to chemotherapy and can achieve good curative effect. We summarized the research progress of nano-drug delivery system in OSCC by reviewing relevant literature, so as to provide some reference for relevant clinicians.

[Effect of zoledronate on protein interaction between Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinaseâ ¡ and calmodulin and expression of downstream genes during osteoclast differentiation].

Objective: To investigate the effect of zoledronate on protein interaction between Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinaseⅡ(CaMKⅡ) and calmodulin and protein expression of nuclear factor of activation of T cells-1 (NFATc1) and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) during osteoclast differentiation. Methods: Mouse RAW264.7 cells were divided into group A and B and were cultured. Group A was induced with 50 mg/L receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) for osteoclastogenesis, and group B was treated with 1×10(-6) zoledronate for two days from day 2. Co-immunoprcipitation (Co-IP) and reverse Co-IP were used to detect the protein-binding between CaMKⅡ and calmodulin. Western-blotting and immunofluorescent cytochemistry were also used to detect the protein level of NFATc1 and TRAP in both groups. Osteoclast formation was also analyzed. Results: In group B, the number of osteoclasts, number and size of dentin resorption lacunaes were 11.3±1.5, 8.7±2.1 and (5 034.4±775.4) µm(2) respevtively, which were significantly lower than those (37.7±5.7, 23.0±4.0 and [15 042.7±1 906.0] µm(2)) in group A (P<0.01). Co-IP and reverse Co-IP examination indicated that protein-binding between CaMKⅡ and calmodulin significantly decreased by 59.8% and 50.9% in group B compared with group A (P<0.01). The protein level of calmodulin and CaMKⅡ in total cellular proteins also significantly decreased by 52.1% and 51.5% in group B compared with group A (P<0.01). NFATc1 and TRAP protein decreased by 52.4% and 38.9% in group B than in group A (P<0.01), respectively. Conclusions: Zoledronate could significantly inhibit protein-binding between CaMKⅡ and calmodulin and down-regulate protein level of NFATc1 and TRAP.

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of Ribosomal Protein RPS9 in Echinococcus granulosus.

Ribosomal protein S9 (RPS9) is an essential functional gene that participates in DNA repair and developmental regulations. A sequence homolog of RPS9 has been found to be upregulated in the protoscoleces (PSCs) of Echinococcus granulosus treated with artemisinin. However, E. granulosus RPS9 (EgRPS9) has not been identified before. In the present study, the 657-base pair (bp) cDNA encoding EgRPS9 was cloned. Amino acid sequence analysis showed that EgRPS9 was similar to the RSP9 proteins from Schistosoma japonicum (SjRPS9, 86%) and Schistosoma mansoni (SmRPS9, 79%). Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that EgRPS9, SmRPS9, and SjRPS9 were clustered together. We detected the EgRPS9 gene and protein expression in PSCs exposed to artesunate (AS) which displayed a dose-dependent reduction in PSC viability for 24 hr. The results showed that the EgRPS9 ratio of the 10-µM AS-treated ( P < 0.01) and 40-µM AS-treated ( P < 0.05) groups were increased from that of the control group. In addition, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the AS-treated groups increased in a dose-dependent manner compared to the level in the control group. In conclusion, the expression of EgRPS9 could be induced by ROS and might participate in the oxidative damage-based anti-parasite mechanism of AS treatment.

Smoking and erectile dysfunction: findings from a representative sample of Australian men.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether there is an association between smoking and erectile dysfunction in a representative sample of Australian men. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data from the Australian Study of Health and Relationships. PARTICIPANTS: 8367 Australian men aged 16-59 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Erectile dysfunction was identified in men who reported having had trouble keeping an erection when they wanted to, a problem which persisted for at least one month over the previous year. Variables examined in multivariate logistic regression analyses included age, education, presence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and current alcohol and tobacco consumption. RESULTS: Almost one in 10 of the respondents (9.1%) reported erectile dysfunction that lasted for at least one month over the previous year. More than a quarter (27.2%) of respondents were current smokers, with 20.9% smoking < or = 20 cigarettes per day, and 6.3% smoking > 20 cigarettes per day. Compared with non-smokers, the adjusted odds ratios for erectile dysfunction were 1.24 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01 to 1.52, p = 0.04) for those smoking < or = 20 cigarettes per day and 1.39 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.83, p = 0.02) for those smoking > 20 cigarettes per day, after adjusting for other confounding factors. Older age, low level of education, and taking medications for cardiovascular disease were also independently and positively associated with erectile dysfunction. In contrast, moderate alcohol consumption (1-4 drinks per day) significantly reduced the likelihood of having erectile dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Erectile dysfunction is a significant health concern affecting around one in 10 Australian men aged 16-59 years. Current smoking is significantly associated with erectile dysfunction in Australian males. This association was strengthened as the number of cigarettes smoked increased. Health promotion programmes could use the link between smoking and erectile dysfunction to help reduce smoking levels among men.

PPB1, a putative spliced leader RNA gene transcription factor in Trypanosoma cruzi.

In trypanosomatids, the spliced leader RNA, or SL RNA, donates its 5' 39 nucleotides to mature nuclear mRNAs in a process termed trans-splicing. We have previously characterized the SL RNA gene from Trypanosoma cruzi and identified its transcription promoter, including a 14 nt proximal sequence element, or PSE, that binds a putative transcription factor and activates transcription of the gene. Herein, we describe establishment of a yeast one-hybrid system using the 14 nt PSE as bait, and use this system to select T. cruzi cDNAs encoding a putative transcription factor that activates transcription of the SL RNA gene. The cDNA was selected from a normalized library and encodes an approximately 45 kDa putative PSE promoter-binding protein, PPB1. PPB1 in vitro translated or overexpressed in and isolated from transformed E. coli, showed PSE-specific binding activity by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Finally, overexpression of PPB1 in T. cruzi led to increased expression of the SL RNA gene as well as reporter genes in episomal constructs under the control of the SL RNA gene promoter. These observations suggest that PPB1 is a transcription factor that plays an important role in SL RNA gene expression.

Sexual behaviour and risk in Vietnamese men living in metropolitan Sydney.

OBJECTIVE: To describe sexual risk in Vietnamese men who have sex with female sex workers by describing the prevalence of sexual risk behaviours among Vietnamese men living in inner Sydney and comparing this prevalence with national data. METHOD: Telephone interviews were completed with a random sample of 499 Vietnamese men, selected from the electronic telephone book using a list of common Vietnamese surnames. RESULTS: Of the 761 eligible men contacted, data were obtained from 499 men, giving a response rate of 66%. 20% reported having had sex with a sex worker, including 12% of Vietnamese men who had had sex with a sex worker outside Australia, predominantly in Vietnam. Of the men who had had sex with a sex worker in the past year, 28% had unprotected vaginal or anal sex at their most recent commercial sexual encounter. Ever having paid for sex was significantly associated with a higher lifetime number of sexual partners (p<0.001), history of a sexually transmitted infection (p<0.001) and ever having an HIV test. 1% of respondents reported injecting non-prescription drugs. Less than 1% said they had had sex with another man. CONCLUSION: Vietnamese men living in Sydney generally show lower levels of sexual and related risk behaviours than other Australian men. However, sex with a sex worker is common among Vietnamese men in Sydney and also when they travel outside Australia. Unprotected vaginal sex with sex workers is surprisingly common. Programmes are needed to deal with vulnerabilities in these areas.

Driving to work and overweight and obesity: findings from the 2003 New South Wales Health Survey, Australia.

OBJECTIVES: To examine possible associations between driving to work, physical activity and overweight and obesity. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from a representative sample of the 2003 New South Wales Adult Health Survey, Australia. SUBJECTS: A total of 6810 respondents aged 16 years or over. MEASUREMENTS: Self-reported height and weight, modes of transport to work, level of physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake and social-economic status. RESULTS: Almost half of the respondents (49%) were overweight. The main mode of transport to work was driving a car (69%), 15% used public transport, 7% walked, 2% cycled and 6% worked at home. People who drove to work were less likely to achieve recommended levels of physical activity compared to non-car users (56.3 vs 44.3%, chi2 = 82.5, P<0.0001). Driving to work was associated with being overweight or obese (adjusted odds ratio = 1.13 (95% CI 1.01-1.27), P = 0.047). Inadequate level of physical activity was independently associated with overweight or obesity. Socially and economically disadvantaged people were also more likely to be overweight and obese. In addition, being female or never married or having higher level of education was associated with a significantly reduced odds ratio of being overweight or obese, as was speaking a language other than English at home. No association was found between weight status and recommended vegetable or fruit intake. CONCLUSIONS: Driving to work is the dominant mode of commuting in a modern society and its impact on health requires scrutiny. The association found in this study between driving to work and overweight and obesity warrants further investigation to establish whether this relationship is causal. If proved as such, then promoting active transport modes such as walking, cycling and public transport should form a key component of global obesity prevention efforts.

Risk factors for the acquisition of genital warts: are condoms protective?

OBJECTIVES: To characterise risk factors for the acquisition of genital warts and specifically to determine whether condoms confer protection from infection. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study comparing demographic, behavioural, and sexual factors in men and women with and without newly diagnosed genital warts, who attended Sydney Sexual Health Centre (SSHC), an inner city public sexual health centre, in 1996. Data were extracted from the SSHC database. Crude odds ratios (OR) were calculated to compare cases and controls and significant factors were then controlled for using multivariate logistic regression to obtain adjusted odds ratios (ORs). RESULTS: 977 patients with warts and 977 controls matched by sex and date of attendance were included. In both sexes, univariate analysis revealed that younger age, more lifetime sexual partners, failure to use condoms, greater cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption were associated with warts, and there was a negative association with previous infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, hepatitis B, and genital herpes. In males, on multivariate analysis, factors which remained significant were younger age, more lifetime sexual partners; failure to use condoms, greater cigarette smoking, and previous chlamydia. In women, factors which remained significant were younger age, more lifetime sexual partners, condom use, marital status, and previous infections with Chlamydia trachomatis and herpes. CONCLUSIONS: Independent risk factors for genital warts include younger age, greater number of lifetime sexual partners, and smoking. Consistent condom use significantly reduces the risk of acquiring genital warts.

Trypanosoma cruzi: exogenously regulated gene expression.

A regulated expression vector would provide a strong tool for the dissection of gene function in Trypanosoma cruzi. Herein, we establish a system in which genes in T. cruzi expression vectors can be exogenously regulated by tetracycline. We first generated strains of T. cruzi that stably express the repressor of the bacterial tetracycline resistance gene and T7 RNA polymerase. Based on these strains, we developed two T. cruzi expression systems regulated by tetracycline--the first by use of a regulated rRNA promoter and the second by use of a regulated T7 promoter. In the former, we constructed an expression vector in which tetracycline resistance gene operators flank the transcription start point of the T. cruzi rRNA gene promoter. Reporter gene activity from this modified promoter was regulated up to 20-fold in the presence of different concentrations of tetracycline. In the T7 system, tetracycline resistance gene operators flank the transcription start point of the T7 promoter. Reporter gene activity from this modified promoter was regulated up to 150-fold in the presence of different concentrations of tetracycline. Expression in these systems was repressed when tetracycline was removed even after full induction for extended periods in the presence of tetracycline. We are now using these two systems to test protein function in T. cruzi.