A5004610425- Occupational and environmental lung diseases
- Respiratory and Cough-Related Research
- Asthma and respiratory diseases
- Occupational exposure and asthma
- Immunodeficiency and Autoimmune Disorders
- Occupational Health and Safety Research
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research
- Voice and Speech Disorders
- Cystic Fibrosis Research Advances
- Blood disorders and treatments
- Allergic Rhinitis and Sensitization
- Tracheal and airway disorders
- Air Quality and Health Impacts
- Neonatal Respiratory Health Research
- Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia detection and treatment
- Delphi Technique in Research
- Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout
- Therapeutic Uses of Natural Elements
- Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Research
- Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- IL-33, ST2, and ILC Pathways
- Congenital Ear and Nasal Anomalies
- Building materials and conservation
Monash University
2019-2025
Alfred Health
2017-2025
The Alfred Hospital
2011-2020
Jeffrey Modell Foundation
2018-2020
Little is known about how comorbidities affect difficult asthma patients across different domains of outcomes. We hypothesized that in significantly influence outcomes.We analysed 90 consecutive who underwent systematic assessment at our hospital's clinic. Eight were assessed all patients. They allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), gastroesophageal reflux disease, obesity, obstructive sleep apnoea, anxiety or depression, dysfunctional breathing (DB) and vocal cord dysfunction...
Nonadherence to inhaled preventers impairs asthma control. Electronic monitoring devices (EMDs) can objectively measure adherence. Their use has not been reported in difficult patients potentially suitable for novel therapies, i.e. biologics and bronchial thermoplasty. Consecutive with were assessed eligibility therapies. Medication adherence, defined as taking >75% of prescribed doses, was by EMD compared standardised clinician assessment over an 8-week period. Among 69 patients,...
Allergy, eosinophilic inflammation, and epithelial dysregulation are implicated in severe asthma pathogenesis.We characterized biomarker expression adults with asthma.Within the International Severe Asthma Registry (ISAR), we analyzed data from 10 countries North America, Europe, Asia, prespecified thresholds for positivity (serum IgE ≥ 75 kU/L, blood eosinophils 300 cells/μL, FeNO 25 ppb), hierarchical cluster analysis using biomarkers as continuous variables.Of 1,175 patients; 64% were...
High silica content artificial stone has been found to be associated with silicosis among benchtop industry (SBI) workers. The objectives of this study were determine the prevalence and risk factors for a large cohort screened SBI workers, reliability respiratory function testing (RFT) chest x-ray (CXR) as screening tests in industry.
Predominantly antibody deficiencies (PADs) are the most common type of primary immunodeficiency in adults. PADs frequently pass undetected leading to delayed diagnosis, treatment, and potential for end-organ damage including bronchiectasis. In addition, accompanied by comorbid autoimmune disease, an increased risk malignancy. To characterize diagnostic clinical features adult PAD patients Victoria, Australia. We identified receiving, or having previously received immunoglobulin replacement...
Understanding of dysfunctional breathing in patients with difficult asthma who remain symptomatic despite maximal inhaler therapy is limited.We characterized the pattern and identified possible contributory factors.Dysfunctional was using Nijmegen Questionnaire (score >23). Demographic characteristics, variables, comorbidities were assessed. Multivariate logistic regression performed for breathing, adjusted age, sex, body mass index, airflow obstruction.Of 157 asthma, 73 (47%) had breathing....
Background: Patients with predominantly antibody deficiency (PAD) suffer from severe and recurrent infections that require lifelong immunoglobulin replacement prophylactic antibiotic treatment. Disease incidence is estimated to be 1:25,000 worldwide, up 68% of patients develop non-infectious complications (NIC) including autoimmunity, which are difficult treat causing high morbidity early mortality. Currently, the etiology NIC unknown there no diagnostic prognostic markers identify at risk....
The popularity of high silica content artificial stone has been associated with emergence severe, progressive silicosis as a major health issue affecting workers in the benchtop industry. This population-based assessment programme implemented aim identifcation silica-associated disease at preclinical stage.All current and former from industry State Victoria are offered free assessments. Primary evaluations include standardised questionnaire, physical examination, spirometry gas transfer...
Multiple extra-pulmonary comorbidities contribute to difficult asthma, but their diagnosis can be challenging and time consuming. Previous data on comorbidity detection have focused clinical assessment, which may miss certain conditions. We aimed locate relevant validated screening questionnaires identify that evaluate performance during a asthma evaluation.MEDLINE was searched key asthma. Screening were chosen based ease of use, presence cut-off score, adequate validation help...
Multidisciplinary systematic assessment improves outcomes in difficult-to-treat asthma, but without clear response predictors. Using a treatable-traits framework, we stratified patients by trait profile, examining clinical impact and treatment responsiveness to assessment.We performed latent class analysis using 12 traits on asthma undergoing at our institution. We examined Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-6) Quality of Life (AQLQ) scores, FEV1 , exacerbation frequency, maintenance oral...
Abstract Background and Objective Chest x‐ray (CXR) remains a core component of health monitoring guidelines for workers at risk exposure to crystalline silica. There has however been lack evidence regarding the sensitivity CXR detect silicosis in artificial stone benchtop industry workers. Methods Paired high‐resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images were acquired from 110 Blinded clinical diagnosis, each HRCT was independently read by two thoracic radiologists panel seven, accordance...
ABSTRACT Background The fabrication and installation of artificial (engineered) stone countertops is a relatively new cause silicosis. Our aim was to investigate silicosis rates in Victoria, Australia, the association with countertop industry work. Methods Workers' compensation claims for from January 1, 1991 December 31, 2022 were analyzed across 8‐year time periods. Incidence per 100,000 persons calculated by period, age, sex. Additionally, incident cases reported clinical registry...
Silicosis is being increasingly reported among young stonemasons in the artificial stone (AS) benchtop fabrication and installation industry. Respiratory health screening, which included a job exposure history, chest X-ray (CXR), respiratory questionnaire, gas transfer testing, were offered to Victoria, Australia. Workers typically variety of tasks, including cleaning labouring, made assessment complex. We estimated relative respirable crystalline silica intensity each from proportion time...
Abstract Background The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) has been used in a range of occupational cohorts, but only recently stone benchtop workers undergoing screening for silicosis. aim this study was to compare psychometric properties the PSS-10 amongst those born overseas or who an interpreter. Methods Stone Melbourne, Australia completed as part their Internal consistency assessed with Cronbach’s α total score and positive negative subscales. Validity using confirmatory factor analysis...
Abstract Background Cases of the occupational lung disease silicosis have been identified in workers processing artificial stone benchtop industry (SBI). In Australian state Victoria, Regulator commissioned a screening program for all this industry. Objective To facilitate systematic data collection, including high-quality exposure assessment, an electronic capture tool (EDCT) was developed. Methods A multidisciplinary team developed EDCT using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap;...
Abstract Background and objective Artificial stone benchtops are a popular kitchen product, but dust from their preparation installation contains respirable crystalline silica, which causes silicosis. Silicosis is preventable, permanent lung disease. The aim of this study was to assess mental health in workers the artificial benchtop industry at risk Methods Workers undergoing assessment for silica‐associated disease were included. Information on demographics; occupational, medical smoking...
Heterozygous STAT1 gain-of-function (GOF) mutations form the most common genetic cause of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC). In such patients, increased function leads to impaired STAT3-dependent activation IL-17A and IL-17F in T cells, thereby causing Th17 responses Candida. spite critical role STAT3 IL-21 signaling B nearly all GOF patients have normal or high serum IgG. We here present a 44-year-old male with childhood onset CMC antibody deficiency since early adulthood. Sequence...
Abstract Objectives Workers in the stone benchtop industry Australia are at high risk of silicosis due to exposure respirable crystalline silica (RCS) from dry processing artificial stone. In Victoria, Australia, a multifaceted response including education, regulatory changes, inspection site visits, and occupational health screening programme began 2019. We aimed review success this approach safety practices industry. Methods Data were available 2 sources: first, responses provided by...