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The current state of play of rodent models to study the role of vitamin D in UV-induced immunomodulationUltraviolet radiation (UVR) from sunlight is immunomodulatory and the main source of vitamin D for humans.
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Vitamin D 3 deficiency enhances allergen-induced lymphocyte responses in a mouse model of allergic airway diseaseIn this study, using a mouse model, we determined whether vitamin D deficiency in utero and during early life modulated the severity of asthma.
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UV exposure and protection against allergic airways diseaseAsthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the small and large conducting airway mucosa characterised by Th2 cell immunity.
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The Sun Safe app: a new online tool to promote safe sun behaviours by teenagersGail Prue Shelley Alvares Hart Gorman PhD BSc (Hons) MSc PhD BSc (Hons) PhD Senior Research Fellow Honorary Research Fellow Honorary Research
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Sun-health behaviours and attitudes towards sun safety amongst Australian teenagers: a qualitative updateThis study aimed to explore current attitudes towards sun protection, and sun-seeking behaviour among young Australian adolescents. It was done as part of a larger project aiming to develop a digital resource to support young people in making informed sun-health decisions.
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Directing immune development to curb sky-rocketing diseaseOnce upon a time it was infectious diseases like polio, measles or tuberculosis that most worried parents. With these threats now largely under control, parents face a new challenge – sky-rocketing rates of non-infectious diseases such as asthma, allergies and autism.
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SGLT2 Inhibitor-Induced Sympathoexcitation in White Adipose Tissue: A Novel Mechanism for BeigingRecent preclinical data show that sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are able to reduce weight gain and induce beiging in white adipose tissue (WAT). We have previously shown that in neurogenic hypertensive Schlager (BPH/2J) mice, treatment with the SGLT2 inhibitor, Dapagliflozin, reduced blood pressure and prevented weight gain. Here we show that chemical sympathetic denervation achieved by systemic administration of 6-hydroxy-dopamine (6-OHDA) reduces body weight and the heightened sympathetic nervous system (SNS) innervation in WAT.
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Epstein–Barr virus infection, B-cell dysfunction and other risk factors converge in gut-associated lymphoid tissue to drive the immunopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis: a hypothesisMultiple sclerosis is associated with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection, B-cell dysfunction, gut dysbiosis, and environmental and genetic risk factors, including female sex.
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The challenges of developing and optimising an assay to measure 25-hydroxyvitamin D in salivaWe have developed an LC-MS/MS assay that accurately measures saliva 25(OH)D3 levels, which correlated with serum levels
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Expression of CYP24A1 and other multiple sclerosis risk genes in peripheral blood indicates response to vitamin D in homeostatic and inflammatory conditionsAlthough genetic and epidemiological evidence indicates vitamin D insufficiency contributes to multiple sclerosis (MS), and serum levels of vitamin D increase on treatment with cholecalciferol, recent metanalyses indicate that this vitamin D form does not ameliorate disease. Genetic variation in genes regulating vitamin D, and regulated by vitamin D, affect MS risk.
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Characterising nitric oxide-mediated metabolic benefits of low-dose ultraviolet radiation in the mouse: a focus on brown adipose tissueNon-burning (low-dose) UVR suppresses the BAT 'whitening', steatotic and pro-diabetic effects of consuming a high-fat diet through skin release of nitric oxide
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Higher ultraviolet radiation during early life is associated with lower risk of childhood type 1 diabetes among boysPopulation-level ecological studies show type 1 diabetes incidence is inversely correlated with ambient ultraviolet radiation (UVR) levels. We conducted a nested case–control study using administrative datasets to test this association at the individual level.
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Toward homeostasis: Regulatory dendritic cells from the bone marrow of mice with inflammationInflammatory mediators from peripheral tissues may control dendritic cell (DC) development in the bone marrow.
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Narrowband UVB phototherapy reduces TNF production by B-cell subsets stimulated via TLR7 from individuals with early multiple sclerosisAt the end of a 60-day course of narrowband UVB phototherapy, administered to individuals with early multiple sclerosis, there were changes in the relative proportions of circulating B-cell subsets. This study investigated phototherapy-associated changes to cytokine responses of B cells when exposed to a TLR7 ligand.
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Vitamin D deficiency causes deficits in lung function and alters lung structureThe prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is increasing and has been linked to obstructive lung diseases including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
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Ultraviolet radiation suppresses obesity and symptoms of metabolic syndrome independently of vitamin DUVR or sunlight exposure may be an effective means of suppressing the development of obesity and MetS, through mechanisms that are independent of vitamin D
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Cross-presentation of cutaneous melanoma antigen by migratory XCR1+CD103− and XCR1+CD103+ dendritic cellsThis report provides new insight into the functional specialization within the broad network of dendritic cells that are responsible for skin immunosurveillance
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Vitamin D in fetal development: Findings from a birth cohort studyBirth cohort studies provide an invaluable resource for studies of the influence of the fetal environment on health in later life.
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Comparing the effects of sun exposure and vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D insufficiency, and immune and cardio-metabolic functionAdults living in the sunny Australian climate are at high risk of skin cancer, but vitamin D deficiency (defined here as a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D...
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Molecular actions of Vitamin D in reproductive cell biologyThe aim of this work is to review current metabolic and molecular aspects of the VitD-VitD receptor axis in reproductive medicine