Conference Papers

Expression of Genes Involved in a Radiation-Induced Bystander Effect

Hayley Furlong — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 01:05:14 PST

The radiation induced bystander effect is relevant to carcinogenesis, it may have significant implications for risk estimation for radiation exposure. Currently the mechanisms and cellular events are the subject of intense investigation, because little is known. It is thought that the radiation induced bystander response is due to a bystander factor secreted in the medium post irradiation. However the biological nature of this factor is currently unknown, but it is thought to be a protein of some sort that may be involved in the apoptosis cascade. Materials and Methods: HaCaT epithelial cells were used in this study and exposed to 0, 0.5 and 0.05Gy low doses of ionising radiation (IR). The medium was harvested from the cultures post-IR and placed on recipient HaCaT cells for different time points. RNA was extracted from the cells using the TriReagent protocol and stored for subsequent gene expression studies. Specific genes were selected for this study, in particular those involved in the apoptotic cascade. Primer design and primer optimisation methods were carried out to establish definite primer temperatures for the subsequent gene expression studies, using Real-Time PCR. Results: Preliminary gene expression data will be shown along with primer optimisation of the specific apoptosis genes under investigation in this study. Currently a paper is in progress detailing this novel data. Discussion: This data could contribute to the discovery of the molecular mechanisms involved in the production of a radiation induced bystander effect and will therefore have potential clinical relevance for patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment.

An Example of Developing Food Based Dietary Guidelines

John M. Kearney et al. — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 06:10:02 PST

Consumer Attitudes to Physical Activity, Body Weight and Health Among EU Populations

John M. Kearney et al. — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 06:10:01 PST

Perception of Dietary Change and Attitudes Towards the Irish Diet Amond Non-Nationals in Ireland.

Qianling Zhou et al. — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 04:03:55 PST

Rationale & Objectives: Cross-cultural attitudes to diet differ significantly. This study examined attitudes towards the Irish diet and their perceived dietary change among a random sample of non-nationals living in Ireland. Materials & Methods: A self-administered cross-sectional survey was distributed to a randomly selected sample of English language students in Dublin. Results & Findings: 473 students from four geographical regions (Asia, Africa, South & Central American, and Europe) (response rate: 84%) completed the survey. Marked cultural differences between geographical regions were found with South & Central Americans being the most likely to indicate a decrease in fruit and vegetable intakes (31%) since living in Ireland while Asians (10.2%) was the least likely subgroup to pay attention to their intake of fruit and vegetables. Africans (26%) were more likely to consider no difference in terms of health between their diet in Ireland and Africa while Europeans (74%) were the most likely to perceive that their diets were now less healthy in Ireland. Conclusion: Cultural perspectives of what constitutes a healthy diet differ significantly between geographical regions.

Factors Associated With Breastfeeding Among a Sample of Chinese Mothers Who Gave Birth in Ireland

Qianling Zhou et al. — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 04:03:55 PST

Rationale & Objectives: The factors influencing breastfeeding rates are complex, and the socio-cultural environment has an important influence on how women choose to feed their infants. The present study sought to determine factors affecting breastfeeding practices of Chinese mothers who gave birth in Ireland. Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional survey (written in Chinese). Questionnaires were distributed to Chinese mothers in Chinese markets and language schools in Ireland. Results & Findings: Analyses was conducted on 236 completed questionnaires from Chinese mothers who had given birth in Ireland. Breastfeeding prevalence among the participants was 71%. Univariate analyses indicated that mothers who lived in Ireland < 10 years, had a third level education, and spoke mandarin as their first language were more likely to breastfeed (P0.05). Conclusion: The less well educated Chinese mothers who lived in Ireland for more than 10 years could be targeted for breastfeeding education.

Breastfeeding Practices in China and Ireland: the Chinese Mothers in Ireland Survey.

Qianling Zhou et al. — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 04:03:54 PST

Rationale & Objectives: Migration to another country may contribute to some changes in breastfeeding practices. This study explored the breastfeeding practices of immigrant Chinese mothers in China and following migration to Ireland, where breastfeeding is far less prevalent (43% initiation).

Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional survey involving Chinese mothers who had given birth in Ireland (CMI) or in China (CMC).

Results & Findings: Analyses was conducted on 285 completed questionnaires. 72 % of the sample breastfed their infants with no differences between CMI (71%) and CMC (78%) (P>0.05). However, breastfeeding rates at three months (62%) and six months (32%) for CMI were much lower than the corresponding rates for mothers who gave birth in China (CMC)(P<0.05). The main reason for CMI to stop breastfeeding was perceived insufficient breast-milk; however this was not the case for mothers who gave birth in China (CMC) as 96% of them used a special Chinese diet to increase breast-milk supply.

Conclusion: The consumption of the special Chinese diet may increase breastfeeding duration among Chinese mothers giving birth in Ireland.

Key words: breastfeeding, Chinese mothers, China, Ireland

Attitudes towards breastfeeding among a sample of Chinese mothers living in Ireland

Qianling Zhou et al. — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 04:03:53 PST

In recent years, breastfeeding has become the focus of public health in Ireland. Previous research has reported significant differences in breastfeeding initiation rates among Irish mothers (47.1%) and non-Irish mothers (79.6%) living in Ireland(1). While attitudes towards breastfeeding among Irish mothers have been previously described(2), such information on non-nationals is lacking, particularly among Chinese residing in Ireland. This study was undertaken to fill this information gap, describing the maternal attitudes towards breastfeeding among Chinese mothers living in Ireland. A cross-sectional self-administrated survey was conducted. Questionnaires (written in Chinese) were distributed to the Chinese mothers, mainly via Chinese supermarkets and Chinese language schools in Ireland. Quantitative data were obtained from 343 mailed questionnaires. Participants were mainly born in mainland China (80.6%), aged between 30 and 39 years (48.7%), had tertiary education (50.4%), and had been in Ireland for more than 5 years (69.6%). Although 76.7% of the mothers had breastfed their child, only 13 mothers (4.9% of the breastfeeding mothers) exclusively breastfed till 3 months. The majority of the Chinese mothers were aware of the benefit and advantages of breastfeeding (Table). Most of the subjects (78.7%) believed that breast-milk could be enriched by consuming a special diet. And some traditional Chinese food was largely believed (82.9%) to be able to help improve breast-milk production. Meanwhile some misconceptions of breastfeeding were prevalent. Over 58% of the subjects agreed that the mother should not breastfeed if she catches a cold. And nearly half of the subjects agreed that infant formula should be fed to all newborns until their mother’s milk comes in. The cultural believe of the importance of the special Chinese diet was widely accepted among Chinese mothers living in Ireland. Aside from certain cultural influences, some misconceptions of breastfeeding practices should be corrected to ensure a higher exclusive breastfeeding rate among the Chinese. 1. Tarrant RC & Kearney JM (2008) Proc Nutr Soc 67, 371-380. 2. Zhou Q, Younger KM & Kearney JM (2008) Proc Nutr Soc 67, E432.

Maternal Awareness of the Association Between Paediatric Diet and Adult Disease Risk: A Follow-Up to the DIT-Coombe Hospital Study.

Qianling Zhou et al. — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 04:03:50 PST

Chronic disease has been traditionally attributed to risk factors in adulthood; however, current orthodoxy suggests that the true origins of such diseases are initiated much earlier in life from inappropriate nutritional circumstances arising during the formative years(1). The present study was undertaken to examine current maternal attitudes towards the importance of paediatric diet in relation to adult diseases and to determine the extent to which attitudinal differences between subgroups in the population exist. A non-randomised postal follow-up survey to the DIT–Coombe Hospital Infant Feeding Study was carried out, involving the recruitment of 209 mothers from a pool sample of 520 mothers in the previous study(2) (response rate 46.7 %). Quantitative data were obtained from a cross-sectional questionnaire ranking maternal attitudes towards infant diet on a five-point Likert scale(3) (from strongly disagree to strongly agree) of perceived importance. In general, a higher percentage of respondents (64) had a cumulative positive view of the relationship between paediatric diet and disease risk. Of the mothers >70 % expressed a strong positive attitude towards the influence of early childhood diet and the risk of being overweight, poor growth and development, unhealthy food preference, osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. In comparison, cancer, eczema and food allergies were viewed positively overall but the extent to which individuals most strongly agreed with each fell to <50>%. The majority had a negative opinion (either disagreed strongly or tended to disagree) of the importance of paediatric diet in mental health problems. According to one-way ANOVA analysis, attitudinal differences in mean scores (P<0.05) were observed in mothers according to age at time of birth, education level, accommodation status and health insurance status, as well as the timing of weaning The results indicate that mothers who are younger and less educated, as well as those who wean their child before 12 weeks after birth should be targeted for further health education on the specific benefits of infant diet, which may in turn contribute towards relieving the strain of chronic disease on society. 1. Barker DJP, Erikson JG, Forsen T & Osmond C (2002) Int J Epidemiol 31, 1235–1239. 2. Tarrant RC, Younger K, Sheridan-Periera M & Kearney JM (2007) Proc Nutr Soc 66, 54A. 3. Nayak L & Erinjeri JP (2008) Acad Radiol 15, 383-389.