Deliberately casual? Workers' agency, health, and nonstandard employment relations in Australia

This item is under embargo for a period of 12 months from the date of publication, in accordance with the publisher's policy.Objective: We explored Australian workers’ experiences of nonstandard employment, how it related to health and wellbeing, and the role that Bourdieu’s forms of capital (cultural, economic and social resources) played in underpinning workers’ agency. Methods: Qualitative data from semistructured interviews with 32 causal workers were analysed based on framework analysis. Results: Most participants were ‘deliberate casuals’ who had chosen casual over permanent employment, with half of that group naming improved health and wellbeing as motivation. Those with greater access to capital felt more able to exercise choice, whereas those with fewer capital resources felt constrained to be casual. Gendered structures and labour market dynamics were also significant in shaping agency. Conclusions: Access to capital and a buoyant labour market underpinned workers’ agency in Australia, enabling some to gain health and wellbeing benefits from nonstandard employment

Medical GP assessment of need for dental care: The oral health for older people study

The research reported in this paper is a project of the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute which is supported by a grant from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing under the Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development Strategy

Understanding barriers and facilitators of access to dental care and completion of treatment for Aboriginal adults

This study aimed to understand why some Aboriginal adults who are referred for dental care do not take up or complete a recommended course of dental care. The study Explored why some Aboriginal adults take up a course of care after being referred and the perceived enabling and disabling factors and attitudes around beginning and completing a course of dental care. Has the potential to improve the practices of staff of the SA Dental Service in supporting Aboriginal clients in accessing dental care. It could also improve the communication about dental care available to Aboriginal people and thus improve their oral health and access.The research reported in this paper is a project of the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute which is supported by a grant from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing under the Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development Strategy

Oral health of people with physical and intellectual disabilities: Training carers of people with physical and intellectual disabilities

This study aimed to benefit the oral health and OHRQoL of two groups of people with special needs: ‘care recipients’ (directly and via their carers) and ‘employees’. The study aims reflect the different approaches used. For carers and care recipients, To provide a home-based intervention, training carers in providing improved oral care for adults with disabilities To evaluate the intervention by, Assessing the change in carer psychosocial factors pre- to post-training Benchmarking to a dentist the oral health assessment of carers post-training For employees, To provide a workplace intervention combining oral health education and timely referral for treatment To evaluate the intervention by assessing change in self-rated oral health, OHRQoL and oral health behaviours pre- and post-intervention.The research reported in this paper is a project of the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute which is supported by a grant from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing under the Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development Strategy

Nicotine inhibits cytokine synthesis by mouse colonic mucosa

We examined the in vivo effect of nicotine on the synthesis of (pro-)inflammatory mediators by mouse colonic mucosa. The synthesis of lipid mediators such as the prostanoids prostaglandin E2, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α and thromboxane B2, the 5-lipoxygenase products leukotriene B4 and leukotriene C4 and the platelet activating factor was not affected, whereas the synthesis of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 β and tumor necrosis factor α was completely abolished. The beneficial effects of smoking and nicotine in ulcerative colitis could be attributed to this inhibition

Sequential release of cytokines, lipid mediators and nitric oxide in experimental colitis

The object of this study was to establish whether different pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators were formed in colonic tissue from experimental colitis depending on the course of the disease. Concentrations of mediators of inflammation were examined in colonic tissue in dextran induced colitis in mice. Initial inflammation was produced by 5 days treatment of 10% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in drinking water, followed by a further 9 day period of 2% DSS in an attempt to produce a milder chronic inflammation. The degree of inflammation was scored by a standardized macroscopic and histological examination. Initially, a 60% maximum inflammation score was observed at day 4. At this time inflammation was associated with the release of interleukin-lβ (IL-1β) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα), whereas both prostaglandins 6kPGF1α and PGE2 and nitric oxide (NO) markedly decreased. Then a 25% inflammation score was reached which coincided with an increased production of platelet-activating factor (PAF). No significant changes were observed in leukotriene B4 and C4 formation. In conclusion, pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNFα are considered to be primary mediators, whereas PAF, eicosanoids and NO may reflect secondary mediators in experimental colitis

Integration of Phytochrome and Cryptochrome Signals Determines Plant Growth during Competition for Light.

Plants in dense vegetation perceive their neighbors primarily through changes in light quality. Initially, the ratio between red (R) and far-red (FR) light decreases due to reflection of FR by plant tissue well before shading occurs. Perception of low R:FR by the phytochrome photoreceptors induces the shade avoidance response [1], of which accelerated elongation growth of leaf-bearing organs is an important feature. Low R:FR-induced phytochrome inactivation leads to the accumulation and activation of the transcription factors PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTORs (PIFs) 4, 5, and 7 and subsequent expression of their growth-mediating targets [2, 3]. When true shading occurs, transmitted light is especially depleted in red and blue (B) wavelengths, due to absorption by chlorophyll [4]. Although the reduction of blue wavelengths alone does not occur in nature, long-term exposure to low B light induces a shade avoidance-like response that is dependent on the cryptochrome photoreceptors and the transcription factors PIF4 and PIF5 [5-7]. We show in Arabidopsis thaliana that low B in combination with low R:FR enhances petiole elongation similar to vegetation shade, providing functional context for a low B response in plant competition. Low B potentiates the low R:FR response through PIF4, PIF5, and PIF7, and it involves increased PIF5 abundance and transcriptional changes. Low B attenuates a low R:FR-induced negative feedback loop through reduced gene expression of negative regulators and reduced HFR1 levels. The enhanced response to combined phytochrome and cryptochrome inactivation shows how multiple light cues can be integrated to fine-tune the plant's response to a changing environment

Projecting the future: modelling Australian dialysis prevalence 2021–30

To project the prevalence of people receiving dialysis in Australia for 2021–30 to inform service planning and health policy. Methods. Estimates were based on data from 2011 to 2020 from the Australia & New Zealand Dialysis & Transplant (ANZDATA) Registry and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. We projected dialysis and functioning kidney transplant recipient populations for the years 2021–30. Discrete-time, non-homogenous Markov models were built on probabilities for transition between three mutually exclusive states (Dialysis, Functioning Transplant, Death), for five age groups. Two scenarios were employed – stable transplant rate vs a continued increase – to assess the impact of these scenarios on the projected prevalences. Results. Models projected a 22.5–30.4% growth in the dialysis population from 14 554 in 2020 to 17 829 (‘transplant growth’) – 18 973 (‘transplant stable’) by 2030. An additional 4983–6484 kidney transplant recipients were also projected by 2030. Dialysis incidence per population increased and dialysis prevalence growth exceeded population ageing in 40–59 and 60–69 year age groups. The greatest dialysis prevalence growth was seen among those aged ≥70 years. Conclusion. Modelling of the future prevalence of dialysis use highlights the increasing demand on services expected overall and especially by people aged ≥70 years. Appropriate funding and healthcare planning must meet this demand.Dominic Keuskamp, Christopher E. Davies, Georgina L. Irish, Shilpanjali Jesudason and Stephen P. McDonal