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Capacity Building Grants now openThe Rio Tinto Children's Diabetes Centre; a Breakthrough T1D Centre of Excellence is excited to offer Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) researchers and Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students affiliated with the Global CoE, the opportunity to apply for sponsorship for training or capacity building related activities.
Research
Detection of bile acids in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid defines the inflammatory and microbial landscape of the lower airways in infants with cystic fibrosisCystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition characterized by neutrophilic inflammation and recurrent infection of the airways. How these processes are initiated and perpetuated in CF remains largely unknown. We have demonstrated a link between the intestinal microbiota-related metabolites bile acids and inflammation in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from children with stable CF lung disease.
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Immune checkpoint therapy responders display early clonal expansion of tumor infiltrating lymphocytesImmune checkpoint therapy (ICT) causes durable tumour responses in a subgroup of patients, but it is not well known how T cell receptor beta (TCRβ) repertoire dynamics contribute to the therapeutic response.
News & Events
Dr Mary Abraham wins national diabetes research awardCongratulations to Dr Mary Abraham from the Rio Tinto Children's Diabetes Centre and Perth Children's Hospital, who has been awarded the prestigious Australian Diabetes Society (ADS) Lindsey Baudinet Rising Star Award in T1D Research.
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Which reference equation should we use for interpreting spirometry values for First Nations Australians? A cross-sectional studyTo evaluate the suitability of the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI)-2012 other/mixed and GLI-2022 global reference equations for evaluating the respiratory capacity of First Nations Australians.
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Early treatment with fluvoxamine, bromhexine, cyproheptadine, and niclosamide to prevent clinical deterioration in patients with symptomatic COVID-19: a randomized clinical trialRepurposed drugs with host-directed antiviral and immunomodulatory properties have shown promise in the treatment of COVID-19, but few trials have studied combinations of these agents. The aim of this trial was to assess the effectiveness of affordable, widely available, repurposed drugs used in combination for treatment of COVID-19, which may be particularly relevant to low-resource countries.
Predicting disease progression in cystic fibrosis ABSTRACT Introduction: Progressive lung disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in
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Net benefit of smaller human populations to environmental integrity and individual health and wellbeingThe global human population is still growing such that our collective enterprise is driving environmental catastrophe. Despite a decline in average population growth rate, we are still experiencing the highest annual increase of global human population size in the history of our species-averaging an additional 84 million people per year since 1990.
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Respiratory impedance and bronchodilator responsiveness in healthy children aged 2-13 yearsThere is limited information on changes in FOT outcomes in healthy children beyond the preschool years and the level of bronchodilator responsiveness (BDR)...
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How climate change degrades child health: A systematic review and meta-analysisChildren are more vulnerable than adults to climate-related health threats, but reviews examining how climate change affects human health have been mainly descriptive and lack an assessment of the magnitude of health effects children face. This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis that identifies which climate-health relationships pose the greatest threats to children.
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A modular approach to forecasting COVID-19 hospital bed occupancyMonitoring the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital beds was a critical component of Australia's real-time surveillance strategy for the disease. From 2021 to 2023, we produced short-term forecasts of bed occupancy to support public health decision-making.
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A near-complete genome of the uncultured Staphylococcus aureus phage COMBAT-CF_PAR1 isolated from the lungs of an infant with cystic fibrosisIn cystic fibrosis, bacteria–bacteriophage interaction in the lower airways is poorly understood. We present the near-complete genome of the uncultured Siphovirus-like bacteriophage, Staphylococcus aureus phage COMBAT-CF_PAR1, isolated from the lower airways. The genome spans 41,510 bp with 33.45% guanine–cytosine content and contains 65 open reading frames.
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Parents’ attitudes towards the No Jab No Play legislation in Western Australia: a mixed methods studyMandates provide a relatively cost-effective strategy to increase vaccinate rates. Since 2014, five Australian states have implemented No Jab No Play (NJPlay) policies that require children to be fully immunised to attend early childhood education and childcare services. In Western Australia, where this study was conducted, NJNPlay legislation was enacted in 2019.
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A Small Device May Deliver King-Sized Solutions for Patients With an Exacerbation of Cystic FibrosisThe aim is to examine whether using a portable spring-infusor device to deliver antibiotics compared with a standard infusion pump (SIP) translated to (i) improve health outcomes, (ii) reduce the length of stay (LoS), and (iii) reduce cost for treatment of exacerbations of cystic fibrosis.
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Key elements of Goal-Directed Training for children with cerebral palsy: A qualitative content analysisGoal-directed training is an evidence-based occupational therapy intervention for children with cerebral palsy targeting motor performance and goal attainment. There is variability and limited description on goal-directed training delivery within the studies who found it a successful intervention. The aim of this study was to establish the who, what, why and how of goal directed training according to practicing occupational therapists.
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The Use of Alcohol Pharmacotherapies and Prescription Contraceptives among Females of Reproductive Age in AustraliaThere is no clear clinical guidance on the use of alcohol pharmacotherapies in pregnancy due to insufficient safety information. Contraception should therefore be considered for reproductive-aged females receiving alcohol pharmacotherapies not wishing to become pregnant. This study evaluated the concurrent use of alcohol pharmacotherapies with prescription contraception and other medications in Australian females of reproductive age compared to those not receiving an alcohol pharmacotherapy.
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GP perspectives on a psychiatry phone line in Western Australia's Great Southern region: implications for addressing rural GP workloadMental illness is a public health challenge disproportionately affecting rural Australians. GPs provide most of the mental health care, and they report increasing levels of burnout and unsustainable workload in the context of increased patient complexity. This may be more salient in rural settings characterised by resource constraints. In this paper, we use evaluation data from a GP psychiatry phone line established in Western Australia's Great Southern region in 2021 to describe GPs' perspectives on the service and reflect on how it may help alleviate rural GP workload.
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Improving screening in a paediatric cohort for cystic fibrosis-related diabetes: A quality improvement projectAndré Schultz MBChB, PhD, FRACP Head, BREATH Team Head, BREATH Team Prof André Schultz is the Head, BREATH Team at The Kids Research Institute
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Efficacy of the MiniMed™ 670G hybrid closed loop system in managing postprandial glucose excursion with high protein high fat foods in children and adolescents under free-living conditionsHigh protein high fat meals are considered “difficult” foods because they can cause prolonged hyperglycemia after ingestion. The potential of hybrid closed loop therapy in managing postprandial glucose excursions with these difficult foods remains unknown. This pilot study aimed to explore the impact of manual mode in standard insulin pump therapy and auto mode with hybrid closed loop pump therapy in managing glucose excursions caused by HPHF foods and to obtain feedback from families about each mode.