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Stakeholders Want a Menu of Choices: Findings from a Consultation Workshop on Improving Access to Secondary Prophylaxis of Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease

Intramuscular (IM) injection of benzathine benzylpenicillin G (BPG) forms the cornerstone of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) secondary prophylaxis. BPG is available as either a low-cost powdered formulation or a costlier pre-filled suspension. Most of the global RHD burden lies in low- and middle-income countries, which rely on the powdered formulation. 

An Exploratory Study of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration and Psychological Distress Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in Australia

The colonisation of Australia around 250 years ago left a significant enduring impact on the mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Vitamin D may play a role in modulating mental health as its receptors are present in the brain regions associated with mood and behaviour regulation.

Longitudinal Study of Language of Twins at Ages 9 and 14 Years: Twinning, Zygosity, and Heritability

This unprecedented longitudinal twin study focused on the arc of language acquisition from first words to adolescence, with data collection at 2, 4, and 6 years of age, reported in four previous studies and now new data at ages 9 and 14 years.

Speech and language therapists’ training and service delivery with children and adults with neurogenic communication disorders from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

Speech and language therapists' (SLT) practice with cultural and linguistic diverse (CALD) populations with acquired and congenital neurogenic communication disorders in Denmark and Sweden is becoming more urgent due to demographic changes.

Evidence for Decreasing the Age of Atrial Fibrillation Screening for Indigenous People in Australia: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

To determine whether the screening age for atrial fibrillation (AF) should be lowered for Indigenous Australians with the goal of reducing risk of stroke and other health burdens.

Global, regional, and national burden of meningitis, its risk factors, and aetiologies, 1990–2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023

Meningitis remains the leading infectious cause of neurological disabilities globally, disproportionately affecting children younger than 5 years and populations in the African meningitis belt. Whereas previous global estimates focused on ten pathogen categories, this study presents the most comprehensive analysis to date, assessing the meningitis burden attributable to 17 causative pathogens based on the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2023 framework.

Acute Rheumatic Fever Diagnostic Network (ARC Network) clinical recruitment protocol

Rheumatic heart disease, a major cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries, results from acute rheumatic fever (ARF), for which no diagnostic test currently exists. The ARF Diagnosis Collaborative Network (ARC Network) was established to address this gap by recruiting a rigorously phenotyped, globally representative cohort of children and adolescents with ARF and controls to support biomarker discovery.

CXCR3 is associated with T-cell-induced heart damage in acute rheumatic fever

The pathogenesis of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is poorly understood, limiting the development of immune-modulating therapies to treat disease and prevent progressive heart damage. Here, participants with definite ARF were compared to other severe acute paediatric conditions and matched healthy controls by profiling circulating immune molecules and cells to inform disease mechanisms and potential druggable pathways.

An Old Story Back: Human Milk Antibodies' Protective Roles Against Allergy Development

Human milk is a rich source of immunomodulatory factors that influence the development of the infant immune system, including susceptibility to allergic diseases. Among these components, milk antibodies have been extensively studied for their role in protecting against infections; however, their potential contribution to allergy prevention may be equally important. The mechanisms of protection include allergen exclusion, enhanced and targeted antigen presentation, immune modulation via shaping of the infant gut microbiome, and direct regulation of gut immune responses. 

Total Pancreatectomy and Islet Auto Transplantation in South Australia: A Preliminary Evaluation of a 10-Year Experience

Hereditary pancreatitis causes severe early-onset pain and hospitalisation. In 15 Australian patients undergoing total pancreatectomy and islet auto transplantation (TPIAT), we observed a marked reduction in hospital admissions, inpatient days and emergency visits, complete analgesic cessation by 24 months and durable insulin independence in nearly half of the patients. These findings highlight TPIAT's potential to improve quality of life and reduce healthcare burden. Our programme aims to build evidence to support public funding and ensure equitable access to this procedure.