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Electronic cigarettes ("e-cigarettes") are often marketed as smoking cessation tools and are used by smokers to reduce/quit cigarette smoking. The objective of this study was to assess the health effects of switching to e-cigarettes after long-term smoking in a mouse model and compare these effects with continued smoking, or quitting entirely. 

Consumption of nitrate in drinking water has previously been associated with a range of adverse health effects, including methemoglobinemia and potentially cancer. In animal models, it has been shown to impact respiratory structure and function, however, there is a paucity of data of the effects of in utero exposure on the respiratory health of offspring.

Rachel Foong BSc (hons), PhD, MBiostat Honorary Research Associate 08 6319 1626 Rachel.Foong@thekids.org.au Senior Research Fellow Dr Foong is an

Japan recently experienced a record surge in streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Our environmental surveillance study reveals that Streptococcus pyogenes persists seasonally, peaking in autumn and winter in rural Japan. The dominant emm1 M1UK sublineage and csrS mutations heighten virulence, highlighting the urgent need for targeted surveillance and interventions.

Adverse prenatal conditions can induce intrauterine growth restriction and increase the risk of adulthood metabolic disease. Mechanisms underlying developmentally programmed metabolic disease remain unclear but may involve disrupted postnatal circadian rhythms and kisspeptin signalling. 

Mycobacteroides abscessus (MABS) is within the non-tuberculous mycobacteria family. It inhabits soil and water, exhibits multi-antibiotic resistance and causes opportunistic lung infections, which may progress to symptomatic MABS-pulmonary disease (MABS-PD) associated with substantial morbidity, increased healthcare utilisation, impaired quality of life and increased mortality. 

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are often perceived to be a less harmful alternative to tobacco cigarettes. Potentially due to this perception, they are used by people with pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma, who otherwise would not smoke. Despite this, there are few studies exploring the health effects of e-cigarette use on pre-existing asthma.

Despite a high burden of respiratory disease among infants globally, limited options exist for lung function testing in this age group. Tidal breathing techniques such as oscillometry allow for understanding the pathophysiology of diseases that originate early in life, thus providing the opportunity to develop timely prevention and treatment strategies.

Dibothriocephalus nihonkaiensis is a zoonotic tapeworm transmitted to humans through consumption of raw or undercooked fish or wild meat. Between 2022 and 2023, Yamagata Prefecture reported an increase in cases compared with 2017-2021, when none were observed. We conducted a clinical and environmental investigation to clarify infection sources.

Existing trajectory studies have emphasised large-airway indices, but chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) might originate in smaller airways. This study aimed to investigate mid-to-small-airway function trajectories, their associated factors, and COPD risk.