Getting more for less: can forensic tools for Australian wildlife enforcement support international compliance efforts?

Creating a robust set of hypervariable genetic markers for a species to assist forensic investigations regarding individualization and geographic assignment is both time and resource intensive. Yet, benefit can be maximized if the marker set has applicability in other closely related species of regulatory significance. We report a pilot study in which 24 short tandem repeat (STR) loci, developed to assist forensic investigations involving the Australian carpet python (Morelia spilota), have been assayed in six Australian and six Australasian python species of forensic and regulatory significance to investigate their utility in a much wider range of criminal investigations involving Australasian pythons. Eight of the 12 species showed amplification success at ten or more loci, indicating great potential for forensic investigations of Australasian python species without the requirement of further expensive marker characterization. A potential multiplex marker set is suggested for laboratories that are likely to encounter many of these species in forensic investigations. The results lay the foundation for wider application of effective regulatory and investigative tools, relevant to a large range of Australasian pythons of forensic significance.     

Neonate auditory brainstem response repeatability with controlled force gauge bone-conducted stimulus delivery

Objective: The feasibility and repeatability of neonate auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) with a controlled hand-held applied force gauge for bone-conducted stimulus delivery was examined. Design: A repeated measures test–retest design was employed. Study sample: Participants were 27 healthy neonates. A 4000?Hz bone-conducted CE-Chirp octave band stimulus evoked the ABRs. Intra- and intertester conditions were employed with a prototype hand-held applied force gauge (Etymōtic Research) attached to the superior aspect of the bone vibrator. The bone vibrator was placed in a superoposterior auricular position and held manually. The force gauge displayed a desired coupling force via an LED light indicator. Results: Three sets of replicated ABRs were recorded from all neonates: initial test and retest with one tester (i.e. intratester 1 and 2) and final test with a second tester (i.e. intertester). No significant differences in intra- or intertester ABR wave V latencies or amplitudes were found (p?>?0.05). Coefficients of reliability (Cronbach’s α) were .95 and .43 for wave V latencies and amplitudes, respectively. Conclusions: A hand-held applied force gauge may be a reliable means of delivering controlled bone-conducted stimuli in ABR assessments in neonates and infants.     

Syndemic effect of mental illness and substance use on viral suppression among recently-incarcerated,HIV-infected individuals in the CARE+ Corrections study

Few studies on HIV-related syndemics of co-occurring and mutually reinforcing psychosocial conditions have assessed clinical outcomes in criminal justice (CJ)-involved populations. Baseline data from the CARE+ Corrections study were used to quantify co-occurring mental illness and substance use and examine syndemic effects on viral suppression among 106 CJ-involved HIV-infected individuals. Ninety-one (86%) reported a mental illness diagnosis, 30 (28%) reported hazardous alcohol use, and 61 (58%) were drug dependent. Eighteen (17%) experienced all three conditions. Drug dependence was clustered with mental illness (prevalence odds ratio [POR] 3.20, 95% CI 1.01–10.14) and hazardous alcohol use (POR 2.61, 95% CI 1.03–6.56). The association between syndemic score, representing the number of conditions reported by each individual, and viral suppression was not statistically significant, although 86% of participants with none of these conditions were virally suppressed, compared to 56% of those with all three (p?=?0.56). Mental illness and substance use were concentrated in this sample, indicating a need for integrated care services.     

Investigating Whether the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern Is Integrated in Routine Dietetic Practice for Management of Chronic Conditions: A National Survey of Dietitians

Evidence supports recommending the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP) in the management of cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and solid organ transplant (SOT). However, the evidence-practice gap is unclear within non-Mediterranean countries. We investigated integration of MDP in Australian dietetic practice, and barriers and enablers to MDP implementation for chronic disease management. Dietitians managing CVD, T2D, NAFLD and/or SOT patients (n = 182, 97% female) completed an online survey in November 2019. Fewer than 50% of participants counsel patients with CVD (48%), T2D (26%), NAFLD (31%) and SOT (0–33%) on MDP in majority of their practice. MDP principles always recommended by >50% of participants were promoting vegetables and fruit and limiting processed foods and sugary drinks. Principles recommended sometimes, rarely or never by >50% of participants included limiting red meat and including tomatoes, onion/garlic and liberal extra virgin olive oil. Barriers to counselling on MDP included consultation time and competing priorities. Access to evidence, professional development and education resources were identified enablers. An evidence-practice gap in Australian dietetic practice exists with <50% of participants routinely counselling relevant patient groups on MDP. Strategies to support dietitians to counsel complex patients on MDP within limited consultations are needed.     

Impacts of Gentrification on Health in the US: a Systematic Review of the Literature

Gentrification in the largest 50 US cities has more than doubled since the 1990s. The process of gentrification can bring about improved neighborhood conditions, reduced rates of crime, and property value increases. At the same time, it can equally foster negative conditions associated with poorer health outcomes, such as disrupted social networks from residential displacement and increases in stress. While neighborhood environment is consistently implicated in health outcomes research, gentrification is rarely conceptualized as a public health issue. Though research on gentrification is growing, empirical studies evaluating the health impacts of gentrification in the US are poorly understood. Here we systematically review US population-based empirical studies examining relationships between gentrification and health. Electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and Academic Search Complete) were searched using a combination of terms to identify peer-reviewed studies published on or before July 9, 2018, reporting associations between gentrification and health. Study title and abstract screenings were followed by full-text review of all studies meeting the following inclusion criteria of: ≥ 1 quantitative measure of association for a health outcome, within the context of gentrification; peer-reviewed research; located in the US; and English language. Of 8937 studies identified, 6152 underwent title and abstract screening, and 50 studies underwent full-text screening, yielding six studies for review. Gentrification exposure measures and health outcomes examined varied widely. Most studies reported little to no overall association between gentrification and health outcomes; however, gentrification was repeatedly associated with undesirable health effects among Black and economically vulnerable residents. Despite seemingly overall null associations between gentrification and health, evidence suggests that gentrification may negatively impact the health of certain populations, particularly Black and low-income individuals. Complexities inherent in operationalizing gentrification point toward the need for validated measures. Additionally, understanding how gentrification-health associations differ across health endpoints, race/ethnicities, socioeconomic status, and life course can provide insight into whether this process contributes to urban inequality and health disparities. As gentrification occurs across the US, it is important to understand how this process impacts health. While aging cities reinvest in the revitalization of communities, empirical research examining relationships between gentrification and health can help inform policy decisions.     

Association between racial discrimination and health-related quality of life and the impact of social relationships

Quality of Life Research - Interpersonal racial discrimination is associated with poor health. Social relationships may moderate the impact of discrimination and represent modifiable behaviors that...