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The 50th annual National Scientific Conference of the Australian Society for Medical Research was held in Cairns, Queensland, 13-16 November 2011. The theme, 'Indigenous Health: ACTION on Prevention' highlighted the direct action being undertaken by health and medical researchers, as well as allied health professionals, to improve long-term health outcomes for Indigenous Australians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) catalyses the first committed step in fatty acid biosynthesis: a metabolic pathway required for several important biological processes including the synthesis and maintenance of cellular membranes. ACC employs a covalently attached biotin moiety to bind a carboxyl anion and then transfer it to acetyl-CoA, yielding malonyl-CoA. These activities occur at two different subsites: the biotin carboxylase (BC) and carboxyltransferase (CT). Structural biology, together with small molecule inhibitor studies, has provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms that govern ACC catalysis, specifically the BC and CT subunits. Here, we review these recent findings and highlight key differences between the bacterial and eukaryotic isozymes with a view to establish those features that provide an opportunity for selective inhibition. Especially important are examples of highly selective small molecule inhibitors capable of differentiating between ACCs from different phyla. The implications for early stage antibiotic discovery projects, stemming from these studies, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Glycogen storage disease (GSD) type Ib is a congenital disorder of glycogen metabolism that is associated with neutropenia, neutrophil dysfunction, and an inflammatory bowel disease that mimics a Crohn phenotype. Gastrointestinal inflammation in GSD Ib has been successfully treated with 5‐aminosalicylic acid and granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF). However, therapeutic options for patients not responding to traditional therapies have been limited owing to untoward effects of glucocorticoids and immunomodulators in this metabolic disorder. Adalimumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting tumour necrosis factor‐α that has shown promise for the treatment of patients with Crohn disease. Due to the limited options for treating GSD‐associated inflammatory bowel disease, use of adalimumab was attempted in a case unresponsive to aminosalicylate, G‐CSF, and antibiotic therapy. Significant clinical and histological improvement was observed in our patient, and the medication was well tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between structure and mechanical properties of nickel, nichrome and steel Kh18N10T deformed at strain rates of 10-10 sec was studied. X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out, and static and high-speed deformation of these materials were compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]