Jane Orton

To study the relationship between residual DNA damage and clonogenic measurements of radiosensitivity in fibroblasts from pretreatment cervix cancer patients. Early passage vaginal fibroblasts from nine preradiotherapy cervix cancer patients and two radiosensitive skin fibroblast cell strains were studied. Cell survival was measured by clonogenic assay following both high and low dose rate irradiation. Residual DNA damage was measured using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) after irradiating radiolabeled, plateau-phase cells at 37 degrees C and allowing 24 h for repair. DNA damage was expressed both in terms of the residual damage slope (fitted to data from 60 to 150 Gy) and the fraction of activity released (FAR) following 150 Gy. The surviving fraction at 2 Gy (SF2) values after high dose rate irradiation for the vaginal fibroblasts ranged from 0.15 to 0.32 (a 2.2-fold difference). When the two radiosensitive cell strains were included, residual damage, expressed as the residual damage slope, correlated with alpha (r = 0.82, p = 0.002), D bar (r = -0.91, p < 0.001) and SF2 (p = -0.79, p = 0.004), and when the vaginal fibroblasts alone were studied, the residual damage slope again correlated with clonogenic survival, although less strongly [alpha (r = 0.66, p = 0.053), D bar (r = -0.83, p = 0.006), and SF2 (r = -0.63, p = 0.07)]. Within the group of vaginal fibroblasts there was a 4.0-fold difference in residual DNA damage slope. When residual damage was expressed as FAR at 150 Gy, then for all cell strains the correlations were alpha: r = 0.78, p = 0.004, D bar: r = -0.86, p = 0.001, and SF2: r = -0.78, p = 0.004, and for the vaginal fibroblast strains alone the correlations were alpha: r = 0.60, p = 0.088, D bar: r = -0.75, p = 0.02, and SF2: r = 0.62, p = 0.077. This study confirms previous findings that residual DNA damage correlates with clonogenic survival in fibroblasts. In addition, it demonstrates a correlation for fibroblasts from pretreatment cervix cancer patients demonstrating a relatively small range of SF2 values.

This study examined the rates of follow-up for a cohort of extremely preterm (EP -<28weeks gestation) and/or extremely low birthweight (ELBW -<1000g) children at two years with related perinatal and geographical factors. The secondary aim was to determine the rates of developmental delay and disability. A retrospective review of two year follow-up data for all EP and/or ELBW infants born in a large tertiary neonatal hospital over a two year period was undertaken. Neurodevelopmental outcome was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Scale - 3rd edition (Bayley-III) and neurosensory disability was assessed by a paediatrician using a standard proforma. Rates of delay (composite score≥1SD below mean) were determined using the Bayley-III test norms and a local cohort normative group. Attrition rates and reasons for loss to follow-up were determined. Only 50% (109/219) of eligible children participated in the follow-up. The follow-up rate for children eng...

Limited access to MRI has restricted implementation of MRI-based image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) in line with GEC-ESTRO guidelines in many centers. This work reports our experience using an alternative CT/MRI based (hybrid) approach for IGBT, dosimetry comparisons, and its impact on long-term clinical outcome and major toxicity. Seventy-six patients diagnosed with locally advanced cervical cancer between May 2008 and May 2012 treated with IGBT were analyzed. The hybrid approach is the default IGBT approach during this study period. Forty-nine had hybrid approach and 27 patients had "3-fraction conformal MRI" approach (17 within EMBRACE study). Treatment consisted of 48 Gy in 24 fractions of conformally planned external beam radiotherapy with weekly cisplatin followed by three weekly fractions of brachytherapy to high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV). All patients have a prebrachytherapy MRI 4 days before treatment and with the applicators in place on Fraction 1. MRI only or CT is used for subsequent fractions. Using image registration techniques and the assumption that the HR-CTV is fixed with respect to the applicator, the HR-CTV from MRI at Fraction 1 is transferred onto subsequent fraction CT image sets for the hybrid approach. Median follow-up was 41 months (range, 23-71 months). Excellent 3-year local control, overall progression-free survival, and overall survival of 92.6%, 78.8%, and 77.7% were seen with the hybrid approach and 92.2%, 66.3%, and 69.6% with a 3-fraction conformal MRI approach, respectively. Dosimetry achieved and late toxicity rates were comparable in the two groups. Hybrid IGBT in locally advanced cervical cancer offers an alternative approach when access to MRI restricts implementation of IGBT.

In his paper The Teaching of Asian Languages Professor Gavan McCormack states that it would be commonly understood within a university that a graduate in European or Asian languages should be able to use the language in oral and written form to comprehend ...

Infants born preterm are at increased risk of developing cognitive and motor impairments compared with infants born at term. Early developmental interventions have been used in the clinical setting with the aim of improving the overall functional outcome for these infants. However, the long-term benefit of these programmes remains unclear. To review the effectiveness of early developmental intervention post-discharge from hospital for preterm (< 37 weeks) infants on motor or cognitive development. The Cochrane Neonatal Review group search strategy was used to identify randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials of early developmental interventions post hospital discharge. Two review authors independently searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE Advanced, CINAHL, PsycINFO and EMBASE (1966 through to October 2012). Studies included had to be randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials of early developmental inte...

Hybrid magnetic resonance imaging/computerized tomography (MRI/CT) planning for high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy in cervical cancer with MR/CT fusion for the first fraction followed by CT for fraction 2 and 3 is used at our center. The aim of this study is to evaluate the position of applicator intrauterine tube (IU) in relation to uterine serosa with each fraction of intracavitary high-dose-rate brachytherapy. Position of the applicator relative to uterus was measured from tip of the applicator (IU) to the top of uterus in the plane of IU and perpendicular to IU in anterior, posterior, left and right directions at the tip of IU, mid-point of the IU and 1 cm from the surface of vaginal ring. The mean absolute difference (±95 % confidence interval) between these positions at fraction 2 and 3 was calculated with fraction one as reference. The mean absolute difference (±95 %) of the applicator relative to uterus was 2.7 ± 0.5 mm at the tip, 1.5 ± 4 mm at mid-point and 1.1 ± 0.3 mm at 1 cm from the surface of the ring. This study shows that there is consistency in inter-fraction applicator position relative to uterus apart from at the tip and, therefore, in situations where high-risk clinical target volume (HRCTV) extends towards uterine fundus, MRI should be used for each fraction of brachytherapy planning to accurately define HRCTV.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of preventive care at home on child development and primary caregiver mental health at 2 years of age. A total of 120 very preterm infants (<30 weeks) were assigned randomly to intervention (n = 61) or control (n = 59) groups. The intervention group received the preventive care program (9 home visits over the first year from a physiotherapist and a psychologist, focusing on the parent-infant relationship, the parents' mental health, and the infant's development); and the control group received standard care. At corrected age of 2 years, developmental outcomes were assessed, and primary caregivers completed the Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment. The mental health of the primary caregivers was assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. At 2 years of age, 115 children (96%) were assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III and 100 children (83%) with the Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment; and 91 (86%) of 106 caregivers completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. There were no statistically significant differences in cognitive, language, or motor composite scores between the treatment groups. However, children in the intervention group were reported by their primary caregivers to exhibit less externalizing and dysregulation behaviors and increased competence, compared with control subjects. Primary caregivers in the intervention group reported less anxiety and depression. A preventive care program for very preterm infants and their families improved behavioral outcomes for infants and reduced anxiety and depression for primary caregivers.

In the verbal linguistic systems, the target for English learners in China is educated native speaker accuracy. The target for more socially embedded in-terchange is yet to be established. Its basis needs to be formed from “what members of the target culture consider appropriate for ...

To study the relationship between residual DNA damage and clonogenic measurements of radiosensitivity in fibroblasts from pretreatment cervix cancer patients. Early passage vaginal fibroblasts from nine preradiotherapy cervix cancer patients and two radiosensitive skin fibroblast cell strains were studied. Cell survival was measured by clonogenic assay following both high and low dose rate irradiation. Residual DNA damage was measured using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) after irradiating radiolabeled, plateau-phase cells at 37 degrees C and allowing 24 h for repair. DNA damage was expressed both in terms of the residual damage slope (fitted to data from 60 to 150 Gy) and the fraction of activity released (FAR) following 150 Gy. The surviving fraction at 2 Gy (SF2) values after high dose rate irradiation for the vaginal fibroblasts ranged from 0.15 to 0.32 (a 2.2-fold difference). When the two radiosensitive cell strains were included, residual damage, expressed as the residual damage slope, correlated with alpha (r = 0.82, p = 0.002), D bar (r = -0.91, p < 0.001) and SF2 (p = -0.79, p = 0.004), and when the vaginal fibroblasts alone were studied, the residual damage slope again correlated with clonogenic survival, although less strongly [alpha (r = 0.66, p = 0.053), D bar (r = -0.83, p = 0.006), and SF2 (r = -0.63, p = 0.07)]. Within the group of vaginal fibroblasts there was a 4.0-fold difference in residual DNA damage slope. When residual damage was expressed as FAR at 150 Gy, then for all cell strains the correlations were alpha: r = 0.78, p = 0.004, D bar: r = -0.86, p = 0.001, and SF2: r = -0.78, p = 0.004, and for the vaginal fibroblast strains alone the correlations were alpha: r = 0.60, p = 0.088, D bar: r = -0.75, p = 0.02, and SF2: r = 0.62, p = 0.077. This study confirms previous findings that residual DNA damage correlates with clonogenic survival in fibroblasts. In addition, it demonstrates a correlation for fibroblasts from pretreatment cervix cancer patients demonstrating a relatively small range of SF2 values.

No abstract is available. To read the body of this article, please view the Full Text online. ... © 2008 American Brachytherapy Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. ... Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.

It is unquestionably true that much more can be done to enhance the acquisition of Asian languages and literacy in Australia than has been achieved so far, but research into even one of the some twenty programs established to raise the" Asia-literacy" of teachers ...

In every decade since 19701 a report has been published urging
development in Asian languages and literacy in Australia. From time
to time, notably in 1990 and in 20082, considerable amounts of money
have been allocated to advance the cause. In 2016, faced with the
continuing lack in significant numbers of students graduating from
Australian schools with proficiency in Chinese language despite
efforts to improve outcomes, it may seem worth asking whether by
now Chinese should not just be allowed to sink or swim on its own, as
is the case for the other languages taught in schools.
Despite these attempts, and faced with the continuing lack of
significant numbers of students graduating from Australian schools
with proficiency in Chinese, it is time for a renewal of efforts to
promote, protect and even privilege the learning of Chinese in our
schools:
>> Chinese is a language of unique and continuing significance
to Australia in the twenty-first century: we cannot afford not to
have a significant percentage of the community workforce with
a degree of competence in the language;
>> In the past five years there have been breakthroughs in the
teaching and learning of Chinese that give ample evidence
that it can be made quite learnable to a very high degree of
proficiency by virtually any Australian child in the course of
their school years. However, like learning any complex skill, to
attain a high proficiency in Chinese, it is best to begin young and
continue learning over a number of years.
In practical terms, much that is needed to achieve the desired goal
is already available, so success would not require more than a fairly
modest outlay of funds. What is essential is that those involved with
structuring and administering programs for Chinese language
1 The Commonwealth Advisory Committee, ‘The teaching of Asian languages and
cultures in Australia’ (The Auchmuty Report), AGPS, Canberra, ACT, 1970.
2 The Federal Government’s National Asian Languages and Studies in Australian
Schools (NALSAS) and the National Asian Languages and Literacy in Schools Program
(NALLSP), respectively.
8 BUILDING CHINESE LANGUAGE CAPACITY IN AUSTRALIA
education for teachers and students design initiatives thoroughly
informed about the special challenges the task requires. Chinese is
not Japanese or French. It makes very particular demands. The aim
of this report is to explain these demands and show that they can all
be met if they are squarely taken into account.