Changes in awareness of cancer risk factors among adult New Zealanders (CAANZ): 2001 to 2015.

Behaviour change, specifically that which decreases cancer risk, is an essential element of cancer control. Little information is available about how awareness of risk factors may be changing over time. This study describes the awareness of cancer risk behaviours among adult New Zealanders in two cross-sectional studies conducted in 2001 and 2014/5.Telephone interviews were conducted in 2001 (n = 436) and 2014/5 (n = 1064). Participants were asked to recall things they can do to reduce their risk of cancer. They were then presented with a list of potential risk behaviours and asked if these could increase or decrease cancer risk.Most New Zealand adults could identify at least one action they could take to reduce their risk of cancer. However, when asked to provide specific examples, less than a third (in the 2014/5 sample) recalled key cancer risk reduction behaviours such as adequate sun protection, physical activity, healthy weight, limiting alcohol and a diet high in fruit. There had been some promising changes since the 2001 survey, however, with significant increases in awareness that adequate sun protection, avoiding sunbeds/solaria, healthy weight, limiting red meat and alcohol, and diets high in fruit and vegetables decrease the risk of developing cancer.

Participation in paid and unpaid work one year after injury and the impact of subsequent injuries for Maori: Results from a longitudinal cohort study in New Zealand.

INTRODUCTION: Indigenous populations experience greater injury burdens than non-indigenous groups. This paper investigated, for injured Maori (New Zealand's indigenous population): 1) participation in paid and unpaid work 12 months after injury, 2) whether subsequent injuries are predictive of reduced participation, and 3) if particular characteristics of subsequent injuries predict reduced participation. METHODS: The Subsequent Injury Study utilised data from the earlier Prospective Outcomes of Injury Study, a study of 2856 injured New Zealanders (including 566 Maori; 20%) who had an Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC; New Zealand's no-fault injury insurer) entitlement claim (sentinel injury). Data about subsequent injuries reported to ACC and hospital discharge data for injuries resulting in hospitalisation were also utilised. Multivariable models were used to examine if certain aspects of subsequent injury predicted either of two outcomes - reduced participation in paid, and unpaid work 12 months after a sentinel injury. RESULTS: Eligible participants were identified from the 405 Maori participants interviewed at 12 months. Thirty-two percent sustained at least one ACC subsequent injury, and 16% reported reduced participation in unpaid work. Of the eligible participants working for pay at the time of their sentinel injury, 35% reported reduced participation in paid work. Although the relationship between sustaining a subsequent injury (or not) and reduced participation in paid work was unclear (aRR 1.4, 95%CI 0.9,2.3), particular subsequent injury characteristics were identified as being independently predictive: subsequent injury resulting from an assault (aRR 2.4, 95%CI 1.2,4.9), a subsequent injury involving an entitlement claim (aRR 2.0, 95%CI 1.1,3.4), sustaining more than one subsequent injury (aRR 2.0, 95%CI 1.1,3.6), and only non-work-related subsequent injuries (aRR 1.6, 95%CI 1.0,2.7). CONCLUSIONS: Reduced participation in paid work is prevalent for Maori after an ACC entitlement claim injury. Particular characteristics of subsequent injuries after such an event impacts on participation in paid work 12 months after the sentinel injury, but the picture is less clear for unpaid work. Understanding the changes in paid and unpaid work, and the predictive characteristics of subsequent injuries for injured Maori, is important for future injury prevention strategies and supporting return to work rehabilitation programmes, specifically for Maori.

Targeted recovery of mutations in Drosophila.

Reverse genetic techniques will be necessary to take full advantage of the genomic sequence data for Drosophila and other experimental organisms. To develop a method for the targeted recovery of mutations, we combined an EMS chemical mutagenesis regimen with mutation detection by denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). We recovered mutant strains at the high rate of approximately 4.8 mutations/kb for every 1000 mutagenized chromosomes from a screen for new mutations in the Drosophila awd gene. Furthermore, we observed that the EMS mutational spectrum in Drosophila germ cells shows a strong preference for 5'-PuG-3' sites, and for G/C within a stretch of three or more G/C base pairs. Our method should prove useful for targeted mutagenesis screens in Drosophila and other genetically tractable organisms and for more precise studies of mutagenesis and DNA repair mechanisms.

Variability in general activity and the expression of complex behavior in the fetal rat (Rattus norvegicus).

Rat fetuses exhibit intrinsic fluctuations in general motor activity and respond to an artificial nipple (AN) with mouthing and oral grasping behavior. The present study examined the relation between the organization of general activity and the expression of these specific responses to an AN on Embryonic Day 21. In Experiment 1, continuous exposure to the AN resulted in nonspecific behavioral activation characterized by an increase in amplitude and high-frequency variability. In Experiment 2, increased amplitude and variability in general activity preceding discrete presentations of the AN resulted in more mouthing and oral grasping responses to the AN. These results suggest that presentation of the AN triggers behavioral reorganization in which the level and variability of overall activity may facilitate expression of well-defined action patterns.

Moving towards a common understanding in maternity services.

There is a need to ensure that there is a common understanding of what is meant by the terminology surrounding the organisation and provision of maternity services. This is especially important with the development of purchaser/provider contracts in the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. It is vitally important that terms specified in contracts are not ambiguous. It is also important that practitioners and researchers are working from a common base. Information on local definitions used in Scottish health boards was obtained through questionnaires sent to Heads of Midwifery Services in consultant units. The findings show that for some terms the definitions were fairly standard, but for others there were considerable differences in how the terms were interpreted. In light of these differences, and given the necessity for clearly defined terms within the new NHS, professionally agreed definitions were produced by the Royal College of Midwives. It is recommended that these definitions be adopted as standard by relevant individuals and groups.

Variation in motor activity on different time scales and responsiveness to oral stimulation in the rat fetus.

The near-term rat fetus exhibits brief oral grasp responses to discrete presentations of an artificial nipple. In the present experiment, an artificial nipple was presented to individual fetal subjects 10 times. Five of the presentations were timed to occur when spontaneous fetal motor activity was low and five while activity was high, as determined by the baseline activity for the individual fetus. The likelihood of responding to the artificial nipple was increased when the fetus was relatively inactive at the moment of stimulus presentation. Furthermore, stimulus presentations that resulted in oral grasping of the artificial nipple were associated with greater point-to-point variability (2-s intervals) in motor activity during the 30-s period preceding the presentation of the artificial nipple. This pattern of results indicates that the recent history of general motor activity as well as the level of activity at the instant of stimulus presentation may contribute to variation in responding to biologically relevant stimuli early in development.

Training for new careers.

This paper is concerned with the training requirements for the development of new professional roles in human service fields which socially deprived youth can be expected to perform. The preparation of agencies to receive aides, the reorganization of job roles, the selection of aides, and a training method are outlined. The New Careers concept holds much promise for the reinvolvement of alienated youth, and the present three-part training appears to have considerable effect in holding the interest of the youth and teaching them how to work effectively. However, it cannot be too strongly emphasized that training, while essential, is valueless unless jobs are created and funded, and the ultimate success of this approach will be judged by the number of youth employed and the channels for advancement which are created.