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First Nations families’ maternity care experiences in the Australian Capital Territory: Kapati Time Yarning, intergenerational trauma and the case for Birthing with Country

First Nations women often experience harmful, inequitable maternity care, shaped by intergenerational trauma and culturally unsafe care. Historical forced removal of First Nations children has created enduring trauma that influences pregnancy and birthing experiences. In the Australian Capital Territory, maternity care is provided through Western biomedical systems, where increasing child protection interventions and fear of surveillance affect women's engagement with care.

Seasonal variation in BMI outcomes at 6 months: secondary analyses of a multidisciplinary healthy lifestyle programme for children and adolescents with obesity

While international evidence suggests seasonal variations may influence outcomes of interventions for pediatric obesity, data for Aotearoa New Zealand are limited. We examined seasonal variations in changes in body mass index standard deviation score (BMI SDS) in young people with obesity enrolled in an intervention programme. 

Development and initial validation of the Communication Inventory Disability – Observer Reported (CID-OR): a measure of communication in CDKL5 deficiency disorder

CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder (CDD) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by early onset seizures combined with complex healthcare needs and developmental impairment that influence functional domains including communication. Communication is a high priority domain for families but currently used measures demonstrate floor effects. 

Exploring sleep challenges in CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder

Sleep disturbance is a common and significant issue for individuals with CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder (CDD) and their families. The study aimed to investigate experiences of sleep disturbance in CDD and associated factors.

Pharmacological targeting and characterization of Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels (VGSCs) expressed in the high-grade glioma microenvironment

High-grade glioma (HGG) cells reactivate neurodevelopmental programs regulated by ion channels to drive tumor progression. The activity of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) is fundamental to development, a target of blood-brain barrier (BBB)-permeable FDA-approved drugs, and aids tumor advancement in several cancers. However, the contribution of VGSC activity to HGG pathology remains unknown.

Addressing the challenges of intellectual disability identification for health policy and research in Australia

This article discusses the important issue of the need for a stable definition of intellectual disability in order to allow comparisons by place and over time such as in the monitoring of this population's health needs and utilization. The aim of the new Australian National Centre for Intellectual Disability Health, established in 2023, is to ensure that all Australian children and adults with intellectual disability receive high-quality healthcare that meets their needs.

Measuring delivery and impact in community-based health promotion initiatives: development and overview of the Healthway Evaluation Framework

Robust evaluation is critical for understanding and enhancing the impact of health promotion initiatives. However, many community-based organisations face challenges in planning and conducting evaluation due to limitations in knowledge, resources, and the applicability of existing evaluation frameworks. The Healthway Evaluation Framework, and its accompanying practical Measurement Toolkit, was designed to support evaluation planning, implementation, and reporting across diverse health promotion programs and settings.

What is it like living with X-linked hypophosphatemia?: results from an Australian consumer survey

X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is a rare, X-linked dominant condition with a high burden of both physical and psychosocial disease. This study aimed to describe the experience and burden of disease for children and adults living with XLH in Australia by inviting affected individuals and their carers to complete an online questionnaire. Of the 46 responses, half were completed by a person with XLH, and half by carers. Thirty percent were male, 33% were aged less than 18 yr.

Factors Associated With Rare Pediatric Cancer Trial Enrollment: A Report From the Children's Oncology Group Rare Tumors Committee

Over 90% of US children with cancer are treated at Children's Oncology Group (COG) centers, which seek to maximize enrollment in therapeutic and biobanking studies. Rare cancers have demonstrated lower than expected COG enrollment. We evaluated trends in COG rare cancer enrollment compared to US incidence from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries, examining the impact of COG therapeutic trials and Project:EveryChild, a cancer biobank/registry.

Association Between First-Trimester Medication Exposure in Pregnancy and Congenital Anomalies: A Scoping Review of Cohorts, Exposure, Trimester and Congenital Anomaly Definitions

The risk of congenital anomalies following first-trimester medication exposure is an important indicator of medication safety during pregnancy. Retrospective cohort studies using routinely collected data are commonly used to assess this risk, yet methodological inconsistencies-such as how cohorts, exposures, timings and outcomes are defined-can compromise reproducibility and validity. This scoping review examined the methodologies used in retrospective cohort studies assessing the association between first-trimester prenatal medication exposure and congenital anomalies.