Dr. Fielder's research encompasses a variety of topics, including the treatment of chronic conditions like asthma and breast cancer, approaches to managing wildlife populations humanely, and improving educational methods for statistics in psychology. Specifically, she has studied the effectiveness of different inhaler delivery methods for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and the impact of low-dose estriol pessaries on vaginal health in postmenopausal women. In addition, her innovative work in wildlife conservation involved cross-fostering orphaned kangaroo infants to promote species preservation.
Key findings
In a study on COPD, no significant difference in exacerbation rates was found between patients using a single inhaler and those using two inhalers, with an average of 0.86 exacerbations per year in both groups.
Dr. Fielder's research on estriol pessaries found that postmenopausal women experienced improvements in vaginal health scores, with scores of 46.3 for the 0.2mg group and 38.4 for the 0.03mg group, versus 23.9 for those on a placebo.
Her study involving thermal aerial culling found that 72% of feral pigs and 53% of deer were located in dense forest, and animals were incapacitated in under 12 seconds without causing any animal injuries during culling.
The cross-fostering of a Goodfellow's tree kangaroo resulted in the successful hand-raising of the joey until it was five months old, demonstrating a new technique for caring for orphaned kangaroo infants.
In a breast cancer study, tumors in rats receiving a higher dose of direct current treatment shrank by an average of 87%, with some tumors completely disappearing, indicating potential for new treatment options.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Fielder study asthma or COPD?
Yes, she studies treatment options for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and has researched inhaler delivery methods.
What treatments has Dr. Fielder researched for women’s health?
Dr. Fielder has researched low-dose estriol pessaries to treat vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women, showing effective improvements in vaginal health.
Is Dr. Fielder’s work relevant to wildlife conservation?
Absolutely, she has conducted studies on humane methods for controlling feral animal populations, which aids wildlife managers and conservationists.
What innovative approaches has Dr. Fielder explored in cancer treatment?
She has investigated direct current treatment for breast tumors, finding significant tumor shrinkage in her animal model study.
Did Dr. Fielder work on education in statistics?
Yes, she researched effective online teaching methods for statistics during the COVID-19 pandemic to enhance student learning.
Publications in plain English
Asking students how to best teach statistics virtually: results of focus group discussions.
2024
Australian journal of psychology
Fielder K, Krause AE, Miller DJ
Plain English This study looked at how to improve online teaching of statistics for psychology students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers held discussions with 13 students and found that effective online learning requires accessible content, timely responses from teachers, and strong connections between students and instructors. These insights are important because they highlight what changes are needed to make virtual statistics classes more engaging and effective for students.
Who this helps: This helps students learning statistics online and the educators teaching them.
Thermal aerial culling for the control of vertebrate pest populations.
2023
Scientific reports
Cox TE, Paine D, O'Dwyer-Hall E, Matthews R, Blumson T +8 more
Plain English This study looked at using thermal imaging technology from helicopters to help control feral pig and fallow deer populations in South Australia. They found that 72% of pigs and 53% of deer were first spotted in thick forest areas, and the process was incredibly fast—animals were incapacitated in under 12 seconds, with no animals wounded during the culling. This method made aerial culling much more efficient, improving overall success rates and animal welfare.
Who this helps: This helps wildlife managers and conservationists working to control pest populations effectively and humanely.
Successful transfer of a Goodfellow's tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus goodfellowi) pouch young to a yellow-footed rock wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus) surrogate.
2015
Zoo biology
McLelland DJ, Fielder K, Males G, Langley N, Schultz D
Plain English Researchers successfully transferred a 47-day-old orphaned Goodfellow's tree kangaroo joey to a yellow-footed rock wallaby, marking the first use of this cross-fostering method for this type of kangaroo. The joey was then hand-raised until it reached five months old, demonstrating that this technique can help raise young tree kangaroos and support breeding programs for endangered species. This matters because it offers a new way to care for orphaned kangaroo infants and boost their populations in captivity.
Who this helps: This helps conservationists and wildlife caretakers working with kangaroos.
Influence of salmeterol/fluticasone via single versus separate inhalers on exacerbations in severe/very severe COPD.
2013
Respiratory medicine
Hagedorn C, Kässner F, Banik N, Ntampakas P, Fielder K
Plain English This study looked at patients with severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) to see if using a single inhaler for their medication was better than using two separate inhalers. It involved 213 patients, and both groups had an average of about 0.86 moderate to severe exacerbations per year, showing no significant difference in exacerbation rates between the two inhaler methods. The findings suggest that using a single inhaler doesn't lead to fewer exacerbations compared to using separate inhalers, which is important for understanding treatment options and improving patient care.
Who this helps: This helps COPD patients and their doctors in making informed choices about medication delivery.
Low dose estriol pessaries for the treatment of vaginal atrophy: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial investigating the efficacy of pessaries containing 0.2mg and 0.03mg estriol.
2012
Maturitas
Griesser H, Skonietzki S, Fischer T, Fielder K, Suesskind M
Plain English This study looked at the effectiveness of vaginal pessaries containing small doses of estriol (0.2mg and 0.03mg) in treating vaginal atrophy in 436 postmenopausal women. After 12 weeks, women using the 0.2mg and 0.03mg doses showed significant improvements, with increases in vaginal health scores (46.3 and 38.4, respectively) compared to just 23.9 for those using a placebo. This matters because it shows that even a very low dose of estriol can effectively treat vaginal atrophy, providing a better quality of life for many women.
Who this helps: This benefits postmenopausal women experiencing vaginal atrophy.
[Direct-current treatment of chemically induced mammary carcinoma in an animal model: MR volumetric assessment of the effect of the therapy].
1998
RoFo : Fortschritte auf dem Gebiete der Rontgenstrahlen und der Nuklearmedizin
Krüger K, Heindel W, Fielder K, Gossmann A, Kugel H +4 more
Plain English This study looked at how direct current treatment (DCT) affects the growth of breast tumors in rats. After 12 weeks, tumors in the group receiving the stronger dose of DCT (36 C/cm³) shrank by 87% on average, while those in the lower dose group (18 C/cm³) shrank by 164%, compared to the untreated control group where tumors grew significantly larger. The better results with the higher dose and the fact that some tumors completely disappeared are important because they suggest DCT could be a promising treatment for breast cancer.
Who this helps: This helps patients with breast cancer by providing a potential new treatment option.
Unrecognized incomplete cervical spinal cord injury: review of nine new and 28 previously reported cases.
1992
The American journal of emergency medicine
Bicknell JM, Fielder K
Plain English This study examined nine patients who had incomplete injuries to their cervical spinal cords that went unnoticed. In total, including earlier cases, the researchers identified 37 patients, with about 80% being men, mostly over 50 years old. Many were misdiagnosed due to minor injuries or attributed to conditions like hysteria; only one had a visible fracture, highlighting the risk of missing these injuries and the need for better awareness.
Who this helps: This information benefits doctors and healthcare providers by improving their ability to recognize and diagnose these injuries.
Differentiation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia from other "well to intermediate differentiated" lymphoproliferative disorders by the mouse rosette assay.
1986
Diagnostic immunology
Hicks MJ, Grogan TM, Fielder K, Spier CM
Plain English This study looked at a method called the mouse rosette (MR) assay to distinguish chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) from other similar blood disorders. They examined 30 patients and found that the MR assay showed 62% of CLL cases had a high MR percentage, while other conditions had much lower percentages, such as 16% for well to intermediate differentiated lymphomas. This matters because identifying CLL accurately can lead to better treatment options for patients.
Who this helps: This helps patients with blood disorders and their doctors.
Primary amyloidosis associated with multiple myeloma. Predictors of successful therapy.
1986
The American journal of medicine
Fielder K, Durie BG
Plain English This study looked at 34 patients with a rare condition called primary amyloidosis, which can occur alongside multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. Of the 25 patients who had both conditions, those who responded well to treatment lived a median of 28 months, while those who did not respond had a median survival of only 7.5 months. This matters because it highlights that although no clear predictors of treatment response exist, certain factors—like having high levels of a specific protein—may help identify patients more likely to benefit from therapy.
Who this helps: This helps patients with primary amyloidosis and multiple myeloma by identifying those who may have a better chance of successful treatment.
Immunophenotypes in "well-differentiated" lymphoproliferative disorders, with emphasis on small lymphocytic lymphoma.
1986
Human pathology
Spier CM, Grogan TM, Fielder K, Richter L, Rangel C
Plain English This study looked at different types of well-differentiated lymphoproliferative disorders, mainly focusing on small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). Out of 24 cases examined, SLL was found in 18 patients, while others had different types of lymphomas. The researchers discovered that 23 patients had a common characteristic involving a certain T-cell marker, Leu-1, and identified specific changes in cell markers that could help doctors better understand and classify these disorders.
Who this helps: This research benefits doctors and patients by improving the diagnosis and understanding of specific lymphomas.
Plain English This study looked at 11 patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTL), a type of aggressive cancer affecting the immune system. Researchers found nine different types of T-cell markers among the patients, indicating a lot of variation in the disease; most patients had a median age of 69 and experienced rapid disease progression, with a median survival of only nine months. This is important because it shows that PTL behaves more aggressively than previously thought, suggesting that current treatment methods may not be effective enough and that new strategies are needed.
Who this helps: This helps patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma and their doctors in understanding the disease better and seeking improved treatment options.