Publications (3)5.48 Total impact
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Article: Predicting overall viability of cord blood harvests.
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ABSTRACT: Cord blood (CB) is a product rich in primitive adult stem cells used in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. After collection, the CB is transported to a facility where the unit is processed and then frozen up to 48 hours later. These processes can lead to compromised white blood cell (WBC) viability. This study investigates the factors that affect WBC viability before freezing of the cells. We retrospectively analyzed WBC viability from 9918 CB collections harvested from 2003 to 2010 to determine if collection volume and time to freezing (TTF) had a significant effect on WBC viability. CB was collected in dispersed clinical locations by local staff trained to the same methods. CB was transported to the central lab under controlled conditions for analysis and processing. The collected CB units had a mean volume of 77.1 ± 31.3 mL, mean WBC count of 10.5 × 10(8) ± 5.6 × 10(8) , mean total CD34+ cell count of 4.0 × 10(6) ± 3.7 × 10(6) , and mean WBC viability of 91.7% ± 6.5%. WBC viability was most significantly affected by the volume of CB collected and the TTF. As collection volumes increased, WBC viability increased, with mean viability of 95.0% ± 3.5% in CB collections of more than 120 mL. Decreased viability was associated with volumes of less than 60 mL and TTF of more than 24 hours. From these data we have developed decision tables that estimate WBC viability based on CB volume and TTF. This study identifies optimal TTF for different collection volumes to maintain WBC viability of the collected CB.Transfusion 10/2011; 52(5):1079-85. · 3.22 Impact Factor -
Article: Evidence for under-nutrition in adolescent females using routine dieting practices.
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ABSTRACT: In Western countries the increasing prevalence of obesity in young people is a major public health concern. While the focus has been on reducing obesity, paradoxically the success of these campaigns may result in unhealthy nutritional practices. The aim of this study was to investigate the use and impact of weight control techniques on the health of adolescent females. Using Analysis of Variance we compared physiological and biochemical markers of health against responses to a modified, Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (SPANS) in 482 adolescent females (14-17 yrs) from secondary schools in the northern Sydney and Central Coast regions of New South Wales, Australia. Participants who 'often' used weight control methods had, on average, a healthy BMI of 22.5 (SD=3.7). However, comparison of blood derived markers between participants who 'never', 'occasionally' or 'often' used weight reduction techniques showed that, those who 'often' used weight control methods had significantly lower haemoglobin (p<0.05), alkaline phosphatase (p<0.001), bilirubin (p<0.05), albumin (p<0.05), total protein (p<0.05), and calcium (p<0.05), but higher blood levels of creatinine (p<0.05) and potassium (p<0.05). These data suggest that the use of common weight control techniques by healthy weight adolescent females can produce a metabolically divergent group whose biochemical markers are consistent with subtle levels of chronic under-nutrition.Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition 01/2010; 19(4):526-33. · 1.13 Impact Factor -
Article: The relative impact of a vegetable-rich diet on key markers of health in a cohort of Australian adolescents.
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ABSTRACT: Childhood obesity is a widespread health problem in Australia. Overweight in childhood can lead to adult overweight and the development of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Effective strategies for reducing childhood obesity are urgently required. A vegetarian diet has been shown to be an effective prophylactic to many lifestyle diseases in the adult population and may therefore be beneficial in children. However the metabolic demands of adolescents are different to adults and the impact of a vegetarian diet on CVD markers in this demographic is not certain. We compared key physiological and biochemical markers of health against responses to a modified, Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (SPANS) using one-way and two-way Analysis of Variance. 215 adolescents (14-15 yrs) from 5 Adventist secondary schools in the Sydney and Hunter regions of New South Wales, Australia, participated in this study. Adolescents consuming predominantly vegetarian foods showed significantly better scores on markers of cardiovascular health, including, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, Cholesterol/High density lipoprotein ratio and low density lipoprotein. Adolescents consuming nuts more than once per week, also showed lower scores for BMI and serum glucose irrespective of their vegetarian status. Markers of general health including haemoglobin and average height were not different between groups; however a lower serum level of vitamin B12 was apparent in the vegetarian cohort. Surprisingly, exercise on its own was not statistically associated with any of the risk factors tested suggesting that diet may be the most significant factor in promoting health in this age group.Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition 02/2008; 17(1):107-15. · 1.13 Impact Factor
