Journal of molecular microbiology and biotechnology, 2001
Using bioinformatics approaches, 34 potential multidrug resistance (MDR) transporter sequences re... more Using bioinformatics approaches, 34 potential multidrug resistance (MDR) transporter sequences representing 4 different transporter families were identified in the unannotated Enterococcus faecalis database (TIGR). A functional genomics campaign generating single-gene insertional disruptions revealed several genes whose absence confers significant hypersensitivities to known antimicrobials. We constructed specific strains, disrupted in a variety of previously unpublished, putative MDR transporter genes, as tools to improve the success of whole-cell antimicrobial screening and discovery. Each of the potential transporters was inactivated at the gene level and then phenotypically characterized, both with single disruption mutants and with 2-gene mutants built upon a delta norA deleted strain background.
Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives, 2014
Maternal colonisation with group B streptococcus (GBS) is recognised as the most frequent cause o... more Maternal colonisation with group B streptococcus (GBS) is recognised as the most frequent cause of severe early onset infection in newborns. National and international guidelines outline two approaches to the prevention of early onset disease in the neonate: risk based management and antenatal culture-based screening. We undertook an analysis of existing national and international guidelines in relation to GBS in pregnancy using a standardised and validated instrument to highlight the different recommended approaches to care. English language guidelines on the screening and management of GBS colonisation in pregnant women and the prevention of early-onset group B streptococcal disease in newborns were sought. Four guidelines met the inclusion criteria, one from the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK), Canada and New Zealand. All four were appraised as at a high standard in terms of development using the AGREE II tool. Both approaches were recommended in the guide...
The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing amongst women of child bearing age. The ob... more The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing amongst women of child bearing age. The objective of this study was to investigate the views and attitudes of providers of antenatal care for women who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m(2) and over. A qualitative study using focus groups was undertaken within the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at a large teaching hospital in south-eastern Australia. Three focus group discussions were held. One with hospital midwives (n=10), one with continuity of care midwives (n=18) and one with obstetricians (n=5). Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Six dominant themes emerged: (1) obesity puts the health of mothers, babies and health professionals at risk; (2) overweight and obesity has become the norm; (3) weighing women and advising about weight gain is out of fashion; (4) weight is a sensitive topic to discuss; (5) there are significant barriers to weight control in pregnancy; and (6) health professionals and women need to deal with maternal obesity. These themes are drawn together to form a model representing current health care issues for these women. Health professionals, who have a high BMI, can find it difficult to discuss obesity during antenatal visits with obese women. Specialist dietary interventions and evidence based guidelines for working with child-bearing women is seen as a public health priority by health care professionals.
Recent advances in cross-disciplinary studies linking architecture and neuroscience have revealed... more Recent advances in cross-disciplinary studies linking architecture and neuroscience have revealed that much of the built environment for health-care delivery may actually impair rather than improve health outcomes by disrupting effective communication and increasing patient and staff stress. This is also true for maternity care provision, where it is suggested that the design of the environment can also impact on the experiences and outcomes for birthing women. The aim of this paper is to describe the development of a conceptual model based on literature and understandings of design, communication, stress and model of care. The model explores potential relationships among a set of key variables that need to be considered by researchers wishing to determine the characteristics of optimal birth environments in relation to birth outcomes for women and infants. The conceptual model hypothesises that safe satisfying birth is reliant on the level of stress experienced by a woman and the staff around her, stress influences the quality of communication with women and between staff, and this process is mediated by the design of the birth unit and model of care. The conceptual model is offered as a starting point for researchers who have an appreciation of the complexity of birth and the ability to bring together colleagues from a range of disciplines to explore the pre-requisites for safe and effective maternity care in new ways.
Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives, 2011
OBJECTIVE: To undertake a systematic review of the literature to determine whether Asian ethnicit... more OBJECTIVE: To undertake a systematic review of the literature to determine whether Asian ethnicity is an independent risk factor for severe perineal trauma in childbirth. METHOD: Ovid Medline, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases published in English were used to identify appropriate research articles from 2000 to 2010, using relevant terms in a variety of combinations. All articles included in this systematic review were assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) 'making sense of evidence' tools. FINDINGS: Asian ethnicity does not appear to be a risk factor for severe perineal trauma for women living in Asia. In contrast, studies conducted in some Western countries have identified Asian ethnicity as a risk factor for severe perineal trauma. It is unknown why (in some situations) Asian women are more vulnerable to this birth complication. The lack of an international standard definition for the term Asian further undermines clarification of this issue. Neverth...
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 1989
The Perinatal Loss Interview was administered to 24 mothers who had experienced perinatal loss an... more The Perinatal Loss Interview was administered to 24 mothers who had experienced perinatal loss and were raising a child born subsequent to the loss; mothers were asked about postponing subsequent pregnancy, including what their doctors advised. Mothers were dissatisfied with doctor advice, reporting that the timing of a subsequent pregnancy was a personal decision and many factors influenced their decision. Furthermore, regardless of timing, most mothers reported overprotective and replacement feelings toward the subsequent child. These results imply that physicians may be most effective by educating mothers about advantages and disadvantages of postponing pregnancy so that an informed decision can be made.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD [MIM 143465]) is the most common behavioral disord... more Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD [MIM 143465]) is the most common behavioral disorder of childhood. Twin, adoption, segregation, association, and linkage studies have confirmed that genetics plays a major role in conferring susceptibility to ADHD. We applied model-based and model-free linkage analyses, as well as the pedigree disequilibrium test, to the results of a genomewide scan of extended and multigenerational families with ADHD from a genetic isolate. In these families, ADHD is highly comorbid with conduct and oppositional defiant disorders, as well as with alcohol and tobacco dependence. We found evidence of linkage to markers at chromosomes 4q13.2, 5q33.3, 8q11.23, 11q22, and 17p11 in individual families. Fine mapping applied to these regions resulted in significant linkage in the combined families at chromosomes 4q13.2 (two-point allele-sharing LOD score from LODPAL = 4.44 at D4S3248), 5q33.3 (two-point allele-sharing LOD score from LODPAL = 8.22 at D5S490), 11q22 (two-point allele-sharing LOD score from LODPAL = 5.77 at D11S1998; multipoint nonparametric linkage [NPL]-log[P value] = 5.49 at approximately 128 cM), and 17p11 (multipoint NPL-log [P value] >12 at approximately 12 cM; multipoint maximum location score 2.48 [alpha = 0.10] at approximately 12 cM; two-point allele-sharing LOD score from LODPAL = 3.73 at D17S1159). Additionally, suggestive linkage was found at chromosome 8q11.23 (combined two-point NPL-log [P value] >3.0 at D8S2332). Several of these regions are novel (4q13.2, 5q33.3, and 8q11.23), whereas others replicate already-published loci (11q22 and 17p11). The concordance between results from different analytical methods of linkage and the replication of data between two independent studies suggest that these loci truly harbor ADHD susceptibility genes.
Journal of molecular microbiology and biotechnology, 2001
Using bioinformatics approaches, 34 potential multidrug resistance (MDR) transporter sequences re... more Using bioinformatics approaches, 34 potential multidrug resistance (MDR) transporter sequences representing 4 different transporter families were identified in the unannotated Enterococcus faecalis database (TIGR). A functional genomics campaign generating single-gene insertional disruptions revealed several genes whose absence confers significant hypersensitivities to known antimicrobials. We constructed specific strains, disrupted in a variety of previously unpublished, putative MDR transporter genes, as tools to improve the success of whole-cell antimicrobial screening and discovery. Each of the potential transporters was inactivated at the gene level and then phenotypically characterized, both with single disruption mutants and with 2-gene mutants built upon a delta norA deleted strain background.
Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives, 2014
Maternal colonisation with group B streptococcus (GBS) is recognised as the most frequent cause o... more Maternal colonisation with group B streptococcus (GBS) is recognised as the most frequent cause of severe early onset infection in newborns. National and international guidelines outline two approaches to the prevention of early onset disease in the neonate: risk based management and antenatal culture-based screening. We undertook an analysis of existing national and international guidelines in relation to GBS in pregnancy using a standardised and validated instrument to highlight the different recommended approaches to care. English language guidelines on the screening and management of GBS colonisation in pregnant women and the prevention of early-onset group B streptococcal disease in newborns were sought. Four guidelines met the inclusion criteria, one from the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK), Canada and New Zealand. All four were appraised as at a high standard in terms of development using the AGREE II tool. Both approaches were recommended in the guide...
The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing amongst women of child bearing age. The ob... more The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing amongst women of child bearing age. The objective of this study was to investigate the views and attitudes of providers of antenatal care for women who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m(2) and over. A qualitative study using focus groups was undertaken within the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at a large teaching hospital in south-eastern Australia. Three focus group discussions were held. One with hospital midwives (n=10), one with continuity of care midwives (n=18) and one with obstetricians (n=5). Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Six dominant themes emerged: (1) obesity puts the health of mothers, babies and health professionals at risk; (2) overweight and obesity has become the norm; (3) weighing women and advising about weight gain is out of fashion; (4) weight is a sensitive topic to discuss; (5) there are significant barriers to weight control in pregnancy; and (6) health professionals and women need to deal with maternal obesity. These themes are drawn together to form a model representing current health care issues for these women. Health professionals, who have a high BMI, can find it difficult to discuss obesity during antenatal visits with obese women. Specialist dietary interventions and evidence based guidelines for working with child-bearing women is seen as a public health priority by health care professionals.
Recent advances in cross-disciplinary studies linking architecture and neuroscience have revealed... more Recent advances in cross-disciplinary studies linking architecture and neuroscience have revealed that much of the built environment for health-care delivery may actually impair rather than improve health outcomes by disrupting effective communication and increasing patient and staff stress. This is also true for maternity care provision, where it is suggested that the design of the environment can also impact on the experiences and outcomes for birthing women. The aim of this paper is to describe the development of a conceptual model based on literature and understandings of design, communication, stress and model of care. The model explores potential relationships among a set of key variables that need to be considered by researchers wishing to determine the characteristics of optimal birth environments in relation to birth outcomes for women and infants. The conceptual model hypothesises that safe satisfying birth is reliant on the level of stress experienced by a woman and the staff around her, stress influences the quality of communication with women and between staff, and this process is mediated by the design of the birth unit and model of care. The conceptual model is offered as a starting point for researchers who have an appreciation of the complexity of birth and the ability to bring together colleagues from a range of disciplines to explore the pre-requisites for safe and effective maternity care in new ways.
Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives, 2011
OBJECTIVE: To undertake a systematic review of the literature to determine whether Asian ethnicit... more OBJECTIVE: To undertake a systematic review of the literature to determine whether Asian ethnicity is an independent risk factor for severe perineal trauma in childbirth. METHOD: Ovid Medline, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases published in English were used to identify appropriate research articles from 2000 to 2010, using relevant terms in a variety of combinations. All articles included in this systematic review were assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) 'making sense of evidence' tools. FINDINGS: Asian ethnicity does not appear to be a risk factor for severe perineal trauma for women living in Asia. In contrast, studies conducted in some Western countries have identified Asian ethnicity as a risk factor for severe perineal trauma. It is unknown why (in some situations) Asian women are more vulnerable to this birth complication. The lack of an international standard definition for the term Asian further undermines clarification of this issue. Neverth...
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 1989
The Perinatal Loss Interview was administered to 24 mothers who had experienced perinatal loss an... more The Perinatal Loss Interview was administered to 24 mothers who had experienced perinatal loss and were raising a child born subsequent to the loss; mothers were asked about postponing subsequent pregnancy, including what their doctors advised. Mothers were dissatisfied with doctor advice, reporting that the timing of a subsequent pregnancy was a personal decision and many factors influenced their decision. Furthermore, regardless of timing, most mothers reported overprotective and replacement feelings toward the subsequent child. These results imply that physicians may be most effective by educating mothers about advantages and disadvantages of postponing pregnancy so that an informed decision can be made.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD [MIM 143465]) is the most common behavioral disord... more Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD [MIM 143465]) is the most common behavioral disorder of childhood. Twin, adoption, segregation, association, and linkage studies have confirmed that genetics plays a major role in conferring susceptibility to ADHD. We applied model-based and model-free linkage analyses, as well as the pedigree disequilibrium test, to the results of a genomewide scan of extended and multigenerational families with ADHD from a genetic isolate. In these families, ADHD is highly comorbid with conduct and oppositional defiant disorders, as well as with alcohol and tobacco dependence. We found evidence of linkage to markers at chromosomes 4q13.2, 5q33.3, 8q11.23, 11q22, and 17p11 in individual families. Fine mapping applied to these regions resulted in significant linkage in the combined families at chromosomes 4q13.2 (two-point allele-sharing LOD score from LODPAL = 4.44 at D4S3248), 5q33.3 (two-point allele-sharing LOD score from LODPAL = 8.22 at D5S490), 11q22 (two-point allele-sharing LOD score from LODPAL = 5.77 at D11S1998; multipoint nonparametric linkage [NPL]-log[P value] = 5.49 at approximately 128 cM), and 17p11 (multipoint NPL-log [P value] >12 at approximately 12 cM; multipoint maximum location score 2.48 [alpha = 0.10] at approximately 12 cM; two-point allele-sharing LOD score from LODPAL = 3.73 at D17S1159). Additionally, suggestive linkage was found at chromosome 8q11.23 (combined two-point NPL-log [P value] >3.0 at D8S2332). Several of these regions are novel (4q13.2, 5q33.3, and 8q11.23), whereas others replicate already-published loci (11q22 and 17p11). The concordance between results from different analytical methods of linkage and the replication of data between two independent studies suggest that these loci truly harbor ADHD susceptibility genes.
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Papers by Deborah Davis