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Composition and diversity of gut microbiotaThe gastrointestinal tract has one of the most diverse and complex microbial communities in nature which is shaped by both external and internal factors throughout a human's lifespan. The gut microbiota and the host have coevolved and coexisted to create a mutualistic relationship as the bacterial community has many functions in the body.
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Risk factors associated with post-tuberculosis sequelae: a systematic review and meta-analysisPost-tuberculosis (TB) sequelae present a significant challenge in the management of TB survivors, often leading to persistent health issues even after successful treatment. Identifying risk factors associated with post-TB sequelae is important for improving outcomes and quality of life of TB survivors. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to identify risk factors associated with long-term physical sequelae among TB survivors.
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Information overload and parental perspectives on information provided to parents/carers of paediatric patients undergoing elective surgical proceduresWhen parents are expected to play a significant role in the management of their children's health perioperatively, information overload for parents could have particularly detrimental consequences. Our study investigated information communication and overload in 380 parents of children undergoing any elective surgical procedure at our institution.
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Sexuality and Gender Diversity Among Adolescents in Australia, 2019-2021Sexuality- and gender-diverse (SGD) young people experience substantial health disparities relative to cisgender heterosexual peers. Little is known about SGD adolescents younger than 15 years.
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Phage cocktail amikacin combination as a potential therapy for bacteremia associated with carbapenemase producing colistin resistant Klebsiella pneumoniaeThe increasing occurrence of hospital-associated infections, particularly bacteremia, caused by extensively drug-resistant (XDR) carbapenemase-producing colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae highlights a critical requirement to discover new therapeutic alternatives. Bacteriophages having host-specific bacteriolytic effects are promising alternatives for combating these pathogens.
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Airway-associated adipose tissue accumulation is increased in a kisspeptin receptor knockout mouse modelAirway-associated adipose tissue increases with body mass index and is a local source of pro-inflammatory adipokines that may contribute to airway pathology in asthma co-existing with obesity. Genetic susceptibility to airway adiposity was considered in the present study through kisspeptin/kisspeptin receptor signalling, known to modulate systemic adiposity and potentially drive airway remodelling.
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4CMenB Breadth of Immune Response, Immunogenicity, and Safety: Results from a Phase 3 Randomized, Controlled, Observer Blind Study in Adolescents and Young AdultsMeningococcal serogroup B (MenB) strains are highly diverse. Breadth of immune response for the MenB vaccine, 4CMenB, administered at 0-2, 0-6, or 0-2-6 months, was demonstrated by endogenous complement-human serum bactericidal antibody (enc-hSBA) assay against an epidemiologically relevant panel of 110 MenB strains.
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From hype to hope: Considerations in conducting robust microbiome scienceMicrobiome science has been one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving research fields in the past two decades. Breakthroughs in technologies including DNA sequencing have meant that the trillions of microbes (particularly bacteria) inhabiting human biological niches (particularly the gut) can be profiled and analysed in exquisite detail.
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A corpus of GA4GH phenopackets: Case-level phenotyping for genomic diagnostics and discoveryThe Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) Phenopacket Schema was released in 2022 and approved by ISO as a standard for sharing clinical and genomic information about an individual, including phenotypic descriptions, numerical measurements, genetic information, diagnoses, and treatments. A phenopacket can be used as an input file for software that supports phenotype-driven genomic diagnostics and for algorithms that facilitate patient classification and stratification for identifying new diseases and treatments.
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Inflammation risk before cardiac surgery and the treatment effect of intraoperative dexamethasonePatients who exhibit high systemic inflammation after cardiac surgery may benefit most from pre-emptive anti-inflammatory treatments. In this secondary analysis of the randomised, double-blind Intraoperative High-Dose Dexamethasone for Cardiac Surgery trial, we set out to develop an inflammation risk prediction model and assess whether patients at higher risk benefit from a single intraoperative dose of dexamethasone.
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A Lifeline to Fill the Silence of Homelessness: Person-Centered Analysis of Digital Coping and Links to Mental and Physical HealthIndividuals experiencing homelessness are among the most vulnerable population for mental and physical health disparities. Despite navigating numerous stressors on a day-to-day basis, they are vastly underrepresented within coping research. Using a person-centered approach, this study addresses ways in which technology is leveraged to manage ongoing stressors associated with the experience of homelessness.
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The intensity of a resistance exercise session can be quantified by the work rate of exerciseAthletes regularly perform resistance training, yet it is unknown how best to monitor its intensity. This study compared different resistance exercise intensity metrics to determine their sensitivity to manipulating work rate (via altering inter-set rest and load).
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School physical design and its relation to bullying and student well-beingThe school environment profoundly influences children's development, behaviours, and attitudes. This chapter delves into the relationship between school design and architecture, and their impact on bullying, victimisation, inclusivity, and student well-being. Research underscores the significant impact of school design on student social dynamics, advocating for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to craft effective anti-bullying policies.
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The airway smooth muscle layer is structurally abnormal in low birth weight infants: implications for obstructive diseaseCitation: Wang KCW, Elliot JG, Saglani S, et al. The airway smooth muscle layer is structurally abnormal in low birth weight infants: implications
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Environmental impact of inhaled medicines: A Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand position statementGlobally, more than 1.2 billion inhalers are purchased for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) annually. In Australia and New Zealand, pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) are the leading delivery device prescribed and pMDI salbutamol can be purchased over the counter in Australia. These inhalers are a major contributor to healthcare related greenhouse gases.
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Trends in treatment-seeking for fever in children under five years old in 151 countries from 1990 to 2020Access to medical treatment for fever is essential to prevent morbidity and mortality in individuals and to prevent transmission of communicable febrile illness in communities. Quantification of the rates at which treatment is accessed is critical for health system planning and a prerequisite for disease burden estimates.
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Development of the Menu Assessment Scoring Tool (MAST) to Assess the Nutritional Quality of Food Service MenusPreventing the rise in obesity is a global public health priority. Neighbourhood environments can help or undermine people's efforts to manage their weight, depending on availability of nutritious and nutrient-poor 'discretionary' foods. The proportion of household food budgets spent on eating outside the home is increasing. To inform nutrition policy at a local level, an objective assessment of the nutritional quality of foods and beverages on food service menus that is context-specific is needed.
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Differential DNA methylation of steatosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adolescenceEpigenetic modifications are associated with hepatic fat accumulation and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, few epigenetic modifications directly implicated in such processes have been identified during adolescence, a critical developmental window where physiological changes could influence future disease trajectory. To investigate the association between DNA methylation and NAFLD in adolescence, we undertook discovery and validation of novel methylation marks, alongside replication of previously reported marks.
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Multiple traces of monkeypox detected in non-sewered wastewater with sparse sampling from a densely populated metropolitan area in AsiaThe monkeypox virus is excreted in the feces of infected individuals. Therefore, there is an interest in using viral load detection in wastewater for sentinel early surveillance at a community level and as a complementary approach to syndromic surveillance.
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Safety and immunogenicity of V114, a 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, in children with SCD: a V114-023 (PNEU-SICKLE) studySickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited red blood cell disease that results in a multitude of medical complications, including an increased risk of invasive disease caused by encapsulated bacteria, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae. Pneumococcal vaccines have contributed to a significant reduction in pneumococcal disease (PD) in children and adults, including those with SCD. This phase 3 study evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of V114, a 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, in children with SCD.