Structure and Functional Effects of Age-Related Posttranslational Modifications of Aquaporin 0 in the Normal Human Lens

Aquaporin 0 (AQP0, MIP), a water channel protein found in the ocular lens fiber cells, has been proposed to maintain osmotic homeostasis by contributing to an internal circulatory system within the avascular lens. The formation of cataracts in patients with mutations in the AQP0 gene and in heterozygous AQP0 deficient mice suggests that AQP0 is necessary for establishing and preserving lens transparency. Previous structural characterization of AQP0 revealed that the C-terminus, a putative regulatory domain, is subject to many age-related posttranslational modifications. The goal of the present study was to map the spatial distribution of posttranslationally modified forms of AQP0 within normal human lenses and determine the effects of the post translational modifications on AQP0 membrane water permeability. Mass spectrometric analysis of AQP0 isolated from concentrically dissected human lenses ages 34, 35, and 38 revealed novel sites of phosphorylation at shrines 229 and 231, backbone cleavage at residues 249, 260, 261, and 262, and isomerization/racemization of L-Asp 243 to D-iso-Asp. As anticipated the extent of truncation and isomerization/racemization increased as a function of fiber cell age, whereas the level of phosphorylation was highest in the inner cortex and decreased in the lens nucleus. The water permeability of AQP0 was not affect by substitution of phosphorylation site 231, incorporation of a negative charge at sites of deamination 246 and 259, nor removal of the C-terminal twenty amino acid residues. These findings suggest that within the human lens modified AQP0 in aged fiber cells may retain the ability to transport water. Elucidation of the sites and extent of post translational modifications of AQP0 revealed that truncation at residues 24 and 259, the most abundant sites of backbone cleavage detected, may occur through a spontaneous truncation event. Identification of an age-related increase in racemized/isomerized D-iso-Asp 243 provides evidence for the presence of protein L-isoaspartate O-methyl transferase, a potentially active protein repair enzyme in the human lens. The results obtained and methods developed in this study provide the groundwork for understanding the structure and function of AQP0 in the normal human lens and future investigation of the role of AQP0 in the development of cataract

Decade of Medicare : The contribution of private practice dietitians to chronic disease management and diabetes group services

Aim: To review changes in utilisation of dietetics services through the Medicare Chronic Disease Management program over the last decade and describe patient uptake in 2013. Methods: Dietetics service data were extracted from published Medicare statistics for the periods (i) January 2004 to December 2013 and (ii) January to December 2013. Data comprised individual dietetics services by state and patient demography, and group services data for provider professions regarding type 2 diabetes: dietitians, diabetes educators and exercise physiologists. t-test was used to investigate the association of dietetics' individual service utilisation and workforce statistics. Results: Individual dietetics Chronic Disease Management consultations in private practice have increased annually since 2004. Dietetics has remained the third largest provider. In 2013, a total of 302910 individual consultations were conducted; 7% of allied health consultations. Likewise, individual services for Indigenous Australians increased since 2008. Utilisation of group services for type 2 diabetes comprised <2% of dietetics services. Dietitians provided more group services than diabetes educators but considerably fewer than exercise physiologists. Middle-aged and older patients were common, with highest uptake by those aged 55-74 years. Overall, total and per capita utilisation rates were considerably higher in NSW, Victoria and Queensland compared to less populous states, although this disparity has reduced since 2010. Conclusions: As 10 years has elapsed since the program's inception, further evaluation of the policy is needed to examine large variations in dietetics' Chronic Disease Management uptake by state and territory in both individual and group services. © 2015 Dietitians Association of Australia

Short-term improvements in diet quality in people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are associated with smoking status, physical activity and body mass index: the 3D case series study.

Dietary intake impacts glycaemic control through its effect on weight and glucose-insulin homeostasis. Early glycaemic control is associated with improved outcomes and reduced mortality for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). To date, the diet quality of people with T2D has only been studied cross-sectionally. The objective of this paper is to quantify short-term improvements in diet quality and to identify factors associated with improvements after T2D diagnosis among participants in the 3D study. This paper presents data from the 3D study of 225 Australian adults, newly diagnosed with T2D. Telephone interviews collected demographic, diet, physical and health data at baseline and 3 months. Diet quality was assessed using the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) tool to examine short-term changes in diet quality after diagnosis. Participants were categorised into two groups: those who improved their diet quality by 3 months (increase in DASH score of 3 or more) and those who did not. Factors associated with change in DASH scores were clinically and statistically evaluated. The 3D cohort was comparable to Australian cohorts with diabetes by gender and body mass index (BMI) but differed by age, remoteness and socioeconomic status. Mean (SD) baseline DASH score was 24.4 (4.7), in the midrange of possible scores between 8 and 40. One third of participants improved their DASH score by 3-months. This group had lower diet quality (p < 0.001), lower BMI (p = 0.045), higher physical activity levels (p = 0.028) and were less likely to smoke (p = 0.018) at baseline. Diet quality changes after diagnosis do not appear to be associated with demographic characteristics but were associated with lifestyle behaviours. Strategies targeted at better supporting smokers, those with low physical activity and higher BMI are required. Future research should investigate how the diet quality changes people make around time of diagnosis are related to long-term health outcomes

Maternal and best friends\u27 influences on meal-skipping behaviours

Skipping meals is particularly common during adolescence and can have a detrimental effect on multiple aspects of adolescent health.&nbsp;Understanding the correlates of meal-skipping behaviours is important for the design of nutrition interventions. The present study examined&nbsp;maternal and best friends&rsquo; influences on adolescent meal-skipping behaviours. Frequency of skipping breakfast, lunch and dinner was&nbsp;assessed using a Web-based survey completed by 3001 adolescent boys and girls from years 7 and 9 of secondary schools in Victoria,&nbsp;Australia. Perceived best friend and maternal meal skipping, modelling of healthy eating (eating healthy food, limiting junk food,&nbsp;eating fruit and vegetables) and weight watching were assessed. Best friend and maternal factors were differentially associated with&nbsp;meal-skipping behaviours. For example, boys and girls who perceived that their best friend often skipped meals were more likely to&nbsp;skip lunch (OR &frac14; 2&middot;01, 95% CI 1&middot;33, 3&middot;04 and OR &frac14; 1&middot;93, 95% CI 1&middot;41, 2&middot;65; P,0&middot;001). Boys and girls who perceived that their mother&nbsp;often skipped meals were more likely to skip breakfast (OR &frac14; 1&middot;48, 95% CI 1&middot;01, 2&middot;15; P,0&middot;05 and OR &frac14; 1&middot;93, 95% CI 1&middot;42, 2&middot;59;&nbsp;P,0&middot;001) and lunch (OR &frac14; 2&middot;05, 95% CI 1&middot;35, 3&middot;12 and OR &frac14; 2&middot;02, 95% CI 1&middot;43, 2&middot;86; P,0&middot;001). Educating adolescents on how to&nbsp;assess and interpret unhealthy eating behaviours that they observe from significant others may be one nutrition promotion strategy to&nbsp;reduce meal-skipping behaviour. The involvement of mothers may be particularly important in such efforts. Encouraging a peer subculture&nbsp;that promotes regular consumption of meals and educates adolescents on the detrimental impact of meal-skipping behaviour on health&nbsp;may also offer a promising nutrition promotion strategy.</span

Perceived quality and availability of fruit and vegetables are associated with perceptions of fruit and vegetable affordability among socio-economically disadvantaged women

Objective Perceptions that fruit and vegetables are expensive have been found to be associated with lower consumption of fruit and vegetables among disadvantaged women; however, the determinants of these perceptions are relatively unknown. The purpose of the current paper is to examine whether perceived availability and quality of fruit and vegetables, and social support for healthy eating, are associated with perceptions of fruit and vegetable affordability among women residing in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.Design Cross-sectional self-report survey.Setting The study was conducted in Melbourne, Australia.Subjects An Australian sample of 4131 women, aged 18&ndash;45 years, residing in neighbourhoods ranked in the lowest Victorian tertile of relative disadvantage by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, an index that considers aspects of disadvantage such as residents&rsquo; income, education, motor vehicle access and employment.Results Results showed that irrespective of education, income and other key covariates, women who perceived poor availability and quality of fruit and vegetables in their local neighbourhood were more likely to perceive fruit and vegetables as expensive.Conclusions Our results suggest that perceptions of fruit and vegetable affordability are not driven exclusively by lack of financial or knowledge-related resources, but also by women\u27s psychological response and interpretation of their local nutrition environment.<br /

Students’ perceptions of using Facebook as an interactive learning resource at university

Facebook is a popular platform that may facilitate learning activities at university. In this study, students' perceptions of using 'Facebook pages' within individual university subject offerings were evaluated. Individual 'Facebook pages' were developed for four university courses and used to provide information relevant to the courses and allow opportunities for student interaction. An initial questionnaire administered in the first lecture of semester indicated that nearly all students (n=161, 93.1%) possessed an active Facebook account. Most students (n=135, 78.0%) anticipated that a Facebook page would facilitate their learning, by increased interaction with students and instructors, and notifications for course information. A second questionnaire was completed in the final lecture of semester indicating that 81.9% of students engaged with the course Facebook page at some stage. However, perceptions of the effectiveness of the page as a learning tool were variable, with only 51% of students stating that it was effective. Despite this, the majority of students (n=110, 76.4%) recommended using Facebook in future courses. This preliminary evaluation of Facebook as a learning aid suggests that it has the potential to promote collaborative and cooperative learning, but further research is required, specifically to understand if and how it can enhance learning

Building skills, knowledge and confidence in eating and exercise behavior change: Brief motivational interviewing training for healthcare providers

Objective: Obesity related health problems affect individuals, families, communities and the broader health care system, however few healthcare providers (e.g., doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, counselors) receive formal training in obesity prevention interventions. We examined the effectiveness of training healthcare providers in brief motivational interviewing (brief MI) targeting eating and exercise behavior change. Methods: 163 healthcare providers participated. 128 participants completed a one-day experiential brief MI training workshop followed by electronic peer-support and a further 35 matched controls did not receive the training. Results: Participant's knowledge of brief MI and confidence in their ability to counsel patients using brief MI significantly improved following training (p< 0.05) and remained at 3 and 6-month follow-up (p< 0.05). Brief MI skills assessed during the simulated patient interactions indicated a significant improvement across two practical training blocks (p< 0.05). Conclusion: Healthcare providers can learn brief MI skills and knowledge quickly and confidence in their counseling abilities improves and is sustained. Practice implications: Healthcare providers may consider brief MI as an obesity prevention intervention