Chairman of department: Professor D. M. Danks Stevenson Professor DAVID MILES DANKS
First Assistants JOHN MAURICE COURT I A N JAMES HOPKINS
DAVID ALEXANDER McCREDIE
First Assistants in Neonatal Paediatrics W I L L I A M HENRY KITCHEN JOHN HEDLEY DREW
Research Fellows HOWARD ERNEST W I L L I A M S (Senior Research Fellow) (Part-time) A L L A N CARMICHAEL
MARJORIE ELIZABETH DUNLOP JEFFREY M A N N (Part-time) DAVID BUXTON PITT (Part-time)
ANNE LAVINIA RICKARDS (NH & MRC) (Part-time) ESTHER ROTENBERG
MARGARET RYAN (NH & MRC) (Part-time) ROGER MOORE
ROYAL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION Unit of Growth and Development
Head and Royal Children's Hospital Research Foundation/Professor DONALD BROOK CHEEK
Research Fellows and Assistants JOAN EVELYN GRAYSTONE A L A N BARRY HOLT
MARGARET N I A L L HELEN WILMOT
Genetics Research Unit Head PROFESSOR D. M . DANKS
Research Fellows and Assistants LEIGH ACKLAND RICHARD GRAHAM HAY COTTON (Senior Fellow) JAMES CAMAKARIS (NH & MRC)
ERIC ALBERT H A A N SUSAN HUNT
I A N GEORGE JENNINGS DENISE MARY KIRBY JOHN GRAHAM ROGERS PETER SCHLESINGER
ROGER TRUSCOTT (NH & MRC - University of Wollongong) RESEARCH TOPICS IN PROGRESS A. GENETICS - Professor D. M . Danks
1. Purification and properties of phenylalanine hydroxylase from monkey and human liver.
2. Search for phenylalanine hydroxylase cross-reacting-material in phenyl ketonuric liver and in cells in culture.
3. Phenylalanine hydroxylase deficient mutants in rat hepatoma cells.
4. Purification and properties of human dihydropteridine reductase.
5. Urinary pteridine excretion in phenylketonuria and in normal subjects.
6. Copper metabolism in mottled mice and in Menkes' syndrome.
7. Copper transport in human and murine cells in culture.
8. Methods of detection of inborn errors of metabolism.
9. Precision two dimensional electrophoresis of cellular proteins.
10. Clonal antibody production in spleen cell-myeloma hybrids.
11. Catabolism of deoxyribose in a patient with cataracts.
12. Myelination and brain morphology in mottled mice.
13. Lysyloxidase in mottled mice.
14. A verbal-visual computer-based system of syndrome identification.
15. Bayesian logic in genetic counselling.
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170 FACULTY OF MEDICINE
B. STUDIES IN GROWTH AND NUTRITION - Professor D. B. Cheek 1. Skeletal muscle cell growth (protein synthesis and hormonal influences).
2. Zinc, copper and iron metabolism in Aboriginals in the N.W. of Australia.
3. The development of new meiiiuds. to measure minute amounts of chromium and other tnice metals by thc use of Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE).
4. Renal compensatory growth in the presence and absence of certain hormones.
5. The cellular fluid phase of normal, dysmaturc and premature infants born normally and by Caesarean section.
6. Foetal brain development of the macropod.
7. Body composition and steroid excretion in obese, normal and asthmatic subjects.
8. Growth of rodents following small bowel resection.
9. Factors or peptides which increase sulphate uptake into cartilage.
10. Mechanism of insulin supersensitivity accompanying reduced meal frequency.
C. STUDIES IN OBESITY A N D I N DIABETES - Dr. .1. M . Court 1. Development of foetal adipose tissue.
2. Insulin binding antibodies in diabetic children.
3. Investigation of insulin replacement in diabetic kcto-acidosis.
4. Cholesterol metabolism in familial hypercholesterolemia.
5. Feeding habits and attitudes of mothers of obese and normally nourished infants.
6. Attitudes of adolescent school children to problems of nutrition and health.
D. STUDIES IN RENAL PHYSIOLOGY AND DISEASE - Dr D. A. McCredie 1. Action of parathormone on renin release.
2. Urinary kallikrcin excretion in children of hypertensive parents.
3. Renin responsiveness in renal failure.
4. Pathophysiologic factors in haemolytic-uraemic syndrome.
5. Factors controlling blood ionized calcium.
6. Immunological studies in nephrotic syndrome.
E. COMMUNITY PAEDIATRIC NEEDS - Dr H. E. Williams 1. Survey of community health needs in Brunswick.
2. Epidemiological study of young families in Brunswick.
F. NEONATAL PAEDIATRICS - Dr W. Kitchen 1. Long term follow up of infants born to mothers with low oestriol excretion.
2. Long term follow up of infants with a low birth weight.
3. Mortality and morbidity associated with breech delivery.
G. NEONATAL PAEDIATRICS - Dr J. Drew
1. Free bilirubin concentration and the binding of albumin — evaluation of available techniques and influence of drugs.
2. Complement activation by infection.
3. Plasma histamine concentrations in newborn infants with respiratory problems.
4. Long term follow up of selected high risk infants.
PUBLISHED WORK Articles
1. BOULTON, T. J. C , DUNLOP, M . and COURT, J. M . - The Growth and Development of Fat Cells in Infancy, Pediat. Res. 12: 908-91 1 (1978).
2. CHEEK, D. B. and GRAYSTONE. J. E. - Insulin and Growth Hormone: Regulators of Growth. Kid. Inter. 14: 317-322 (1978).
3. CHEEK, D. B.. NEWTON, C , HAYS, H., HUGHES. T. C . HOLT, A. B. and CLARK, G.
— Simultaneous measurement of multiple trace elements in human plasma by use of a proton beam and comparison with other methods (AA and Neutron Activation) and the application to populations at risk nutritionally. Proc. Nutr. Soc. Aust. 3: 107 (1978).
4. CHEEK, D. B. and HOLT, A. B. - A Review: Extracellular volume in the brain - the relevance of the chloride space. Pediat. Res. 12: 635-645 (1978).
PAEDIATRICS 171 5. CHEEK, D. B., GRAYSTONE, J. E., HOLT, A. B., S U T H E R L A N D , G. C ,
CHOPRA, S. A. and SPARGO, R. M . - Assessment of protein reserves (cellular mass) in Aboriginal children. Amer. J. Clin. Nutr. 31: 1328-1333 (1978).
6. COTTON, R. G. H. — Additional rescue from methotrexate toxicity? Lancet ii: 484 (Aug.
1978).
7. COTTON, R. G. H. and JENNINGS, I . - A naphthoquinone adsorbent for affinity chromatography of human dihydropteridine reductase. European J. of Biochem. 83: 319 (1978).
8. COURT, J. M., DUNLOP, M . and HILL, M . — A study of plasma lipid concentrations in diabetic children, J. of Human Nutrition 32: 283 (1978).
9. DANKS, D. M . — Pteridines and phenylketonuria, / Inherited Metabolic Diseases I : 47-48 (1978).
10. DANKS, D. M . , BARTHOLOME, K., CLAYTON, B. E., CURTIUS, H., GROBE, H., K A U F M A N , S., L E E M I N G , R., PFLEIDERER, W., REMBOLD, H., REY, F. - Malignant Hyperphenylalaninaemia, / . Inherited Metabolic Diseases 1: 49-54 (1978).
11. DUNLOP, M . and COURT, J. M . - Studies on developing adipose tissue: lipolytic activity in human foetal subcutaneous tissue as an indication of adipose potential, Pediat. Res. 12; 279- 282 (1978).
12. DUNLOP, M . , COURT, J. M . , HOBBS, J. B. and BOULTON, T. J. C. - Identification of small cells in foetal and infant adipose tissue, Pediat. Res. 12: 905-907 (1978).
13. DUNLOP, M . , COURT, J. M . — Lipogenesis in developing human adipose tissue, Earlv Human Development 2(2): 123-130 (1978).
14. DREW, J. H. - Feeding and jaundice. Resources in Human Nurturing, Int. 3: 53-57 (1978).
15. DREW, J. H., BARRIE, J., HORACEK, I . and KITCHEN, W. H. - Factors influencing jaundice in immigrant Greek infants. Arch. Dis. Childh. 53: 49-52 (1978).
16. DREW, J. H., ABELL, D. A. and BEISCHER, N . A. - Congenital malformations, abnormal glucose tolerance and estriol excretion in pregnancy. Obstet. Gvnaec. 51: 129-132 (1978).
17. DREW, J. H., L A N D A U , L. I . , ACTON, C. M., KENT, M . and CAMPBELL, P. E. - Pulmonary interstitial emphysema requiring lobectomy: a complication of assisted ventilation.
Arch. Dis. Childh. 53: 424-426 (1978).
18. GELLIS, S. S., FEINGOLD, M . , SUTHERLAND, G. R. and ROGERS, J. G. - Denouement and discussion — Foetal Turner's Syndrome, Am. J. Dis. Childh. 132: 417-418 (1978).
19. GRAYSTONE, J. E. and CHEEK, D. B. - The role of body composition in the assessment of growth and nutrition, / . Hum. Nutr. 32: 258-263 (1978).
20. KITCHEN, W. H. - Thc small baby: short-term and long-term prognosis, Med. J. of Aust. I : 82-84 (1978).
21. KITCHEN, W. H., RYAN, M . M . , RICKARDS, A., GAUDRY, E„ GRENTON, A. M . , BILLSON, F. A., FORTUNE, D. W„ KEIR, E. H., and LUNDAHL-HEGEDUS, E. E. - A longitudinal study of very low birthweight infants. I . Plan of study and report on mortality, Dev. Med. and Child Neurol. 20: 605-618 (1978).
22. MATHIESEN, J. L. and DREW, J. H. - Group B beta-haemolytic streptococcal infections in neonates. Aust. J. Med. Technol. 9: 71-76 (1978).
23. NIEDERWIESER, A., W A D M A N , S. K. and DANKS, D. M . - Excretion of cis- and trans- 4-hydroxycyclohexylacetic acid in addition to hawkinsin in a family with a postulated defect of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase, Clin. Chim. Acta 90: 195 (1978).
24. POWELL, H. R. P., McCREDIE, D. A. and ROTENBERG, E. - Renin release by parathyroid hormone in the dog, Endocr., 985-989 (1978).
25. SILLENCE, D. O. - Brachydactyly, distal symphalangism, scoliosis, tall stature and club feet
— a new syndrome, J. of Med. Genetics 15: 208 (1978).
26. STUART, D. W. — A proposal that malignancies represent genetic changes in cell surface RNA, Medical Hypothesis 3: 221-225 (1977).
THESES PASSED FOR HIGHER DEGREES Doctor of Medicine
1. SILLENCE, D. O. — Bone Dysplasias - Genetic and Ultrastructural Studies with Special Reference to Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Master ofScience
2. MARTIN, G. — Effects of Increased Dietary Cholesterol Intake on Metabolism on Cholesterol Levels in Children with Familial Hypercholesterolemia
3. WATSON, B. M. - Pterins in Human Urine '
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THESES IN PROGRESS PhD Theses in Progress
CHOO, H. K. — Cell Culture and Biochemical Studies on Phenylketonuria
COLE, VV. G. (Part-time) - Study of Collagen in Inherited Connective Tissue Diseases FIRGAIRA, F. — Studies on Human Dihydropteridine Reductase
GRAYSTONE, J. E. — Insulin as a Growth Hormone
McKERN, N. — Structure and Function of Serum Growth Hormones Related to Somatomedins, including Martin's Peptide
MD Theses in Progress
BROWN, T. C. K. - Tricyclic Antidepressant Overdosage in Children: Epidemiology. Prevention.
and the Management of Cardiovascular Complications
BURKE, V. — Clinical and Laboratory Studies of Childhood Diarrhoeas
CARMICHAEL, A. — Epidemiology of Health and Illness in Young Families in Brunswick MSc Theses in Progress
ALEXANDER, S. - Study of Attitudes to Food and Eating Habits of Mothers of Obese and Normally Nourished Infants
BIRNER, R. — Chromosomal Location of Genes Coding for Human Immunoglobulin Production DUNLOP, M. — Studies on Developing Adipose Tissue and its Relationship to early Childhood Obesity
FIELD, J. — Mechanism of Insulin Super-sensitivity Accompanying Reduced Meal Frequency MANN, J. — Copper Metabolism of Copper Deficient Mouse Mutants in Relationship to Menkes' syndrome
MS W Thesis in Progress RYAN, M. M. - Psycho-social Aspects of Low Birth Weight
SUBSTANTIAL GRANTS RECEIVED Grants have been received as follows:
Apex Foundation for Research into Mental Retardation.
Australian Hospital and Health Services Commission.
Australian Kidney Foundation.
Buckland Foundation.
Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
National Health and Medical Research Council.
Royal Children's Hospital Research Foundation.
Royal Children's Hospital Research Grants Committee.