Publications by authors named "Crowther C"

We assessed the use of magnesium sulphate prior to preterm birth for preventing cerebral palsy in an Australian and New Zealand registry study. Use increased markedly from 32.3% (2012) to 78.

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Purpose: There is limited high-quality evidence about perinatal mental health among women with gestational diabetes. We aimed to assess the risks and longitudinal changes in anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life comparing women with gestational diabetes and those without among a contemporary cohort of pregnant women.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of participants in the GEMS Trial.

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Setting up a global SARS-CoV-2 surveillance system requires an understanding of how virus isolation and propagation practices, use of animal or human sera, and different neutralisation assay platforms influence assessment of SARS-CoV-2 antigenicity. In this study, with the contribution of 15 independent laboratories across all WHO regions, we carried out a controlled analysis of neutralisation assay platforms using the first WHO International Standard for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (source: NIBSC). Live virus isolates (source: WHO BioHub or individual labs) or spike plasmids (individual labs) for pseudovirus production were used to perform neutralisation assays using the same serum panels.

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In utero exposure to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with adverse long-term outcomes. Little is known about how mothers perceive these outcomes and the support they need for optimal outcomes for their children. We aimed to explore how women perceive the risk of adverse outcomes for their children exposed to GDM and the support they require for their optimal health.

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Background And Objectives: Preterm birth results in neonatal and childhood morbidity and mortality. Additionally, population-based studies show poorer cardiovascular health in adult survivors, but a full range of health outcomes has not been investigated into midlife. We aimed to assess the health outcomes after preterm vs term birth at 50 years in survivors of a randomized trial of antenatal betamethasone.

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Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of various point-of-care device methodologies for measuring blood glucose concentrations in babies at risk of neonatal hypoglycemia.

Study Design: This systematic review and meta-analysis included studies from Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, and Web of Science up to May 20, 2024. Studies comparing point-of-care testing methods for neonatal blood glucose to a standard laboratory method were included, excluding those on continuous glucose monitoring or conducted before 1990.

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Sex-ratio theory predicts that parents can optimise their fitness by producing offspring of the rare sex, yet there is a dearth of empirical evidence for adaptive sex allocation in response to the adult sex ratio (ASR). This is concerning, as anthropogenic disruption of the sex ratios of reproductive individuals threatens to cause demographic collapse in animal populations. Species with environmental sex determination (ESD) are especially at risk but may possess the capacity to adaptively influence offspring sex via control over the developmental environment.

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Introduction: Hypoglycaemic neonates are usually admitted to neonatal intensive care for intravenous (IV) dextrose infusion if increased feeding and dextrose gel fail to restore normoglycaemia. However, the effectiveness of this intervention is uncertain. This review aimed to assess the evidence for the risks and benefits of IV dextrose for treatment of neonatal hypoglycaemia.

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Background: Antenatal corticosteroids are recommended for women at risk of preterm birth from 24 to 34 weeks' gestation as they reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality, but evidence regarding their long-term effects on offspring is limited. This study assessed general health and social outcomes 50 years after antenatal exposure to corticosteroids.

Methods: We assessed 424 adult offspring of women who participated in the first randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of antenatal betamethasone for the prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.

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Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common metabolic disorder in pregnancy and later is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders. Consistent and evidence based postnatal care is key to improving maternal long-term health. We therefore aimed to review and compare recommendations of national and international clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for postnatal care after GDM and identify any evidence gaps in recommendations needing further research.

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Introduction: Antenatal corticosteroids are widely used to prevent morbidity and mortality after preterm birth, but there are ongoing concerns about the possible risk of long-term adverse effects, including perturbation of endocrine systems, with potential implications for reproduction. A small number of animal studies have suggested possible adverse effects on reproduction after antenatal exposure to corticosteroids, but there is a paucity of human data.

Material And Methods: This is a secondary cohort analysis of the 50-year follow-up of the Auckland Steroid Trial (1969-1974) comparing antenatal exposure to corticosteroids or placebo.

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Objective: To predict birth weight at various potential gestational ages of delivery based on data routinely available at the first antenatal visit.

Design: Individual participant data meta-analysis.

Data Sources: Individual participant data of four cohorts (237 228 pregnancies) from the International Prediction of Pregnancy Complications (IPPIC) network dataset.

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Background: Neonatal hypoglycaemia is the most common metabolic disorder in infants, and may be influenced by maternal glycaemic control. This systematic review evaluated the effect of intrapartum maternal glycaemic control on neonatal hypoglycaemia.

Methods: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-RCTs, non-randomised studies of interventions, and cohort or case-control studies that examined interventions affecting intrapartum maternal glycaemic control compared to no or less stringent control.

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Objective: To systematically review the evidence for the effectiveness and safety of magnesium sulfate as a fetal neuroprotective agent when given to individuals at risk of preterm birth.

Data Sources: We searched Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth's Trials Register, ClinicalTrials.gov , the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (through March 17, 2023), and reference lists of relevant studies.

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Importance: Understanding the effect of antenatal magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) treatment on functional connectivity will help elucidate the mechanism by which it reduces the risk of cerebral palsy and death.

Objective: To determine whether MgSO4 administered to women at risk of imminent preterm birth at a gestational age between 30 and 34 weeks is associated with increased functional connectivity and measures of functional segregation and integration in infants at term-equivalent age, possibly reflecting a protective mechanism of MgSO4.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study was nested within a randomized placebo-controlled trial performed across 24 tertiary maternity hospitals.

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Background: Magnesium sulphate is a common therapy in perinatal care. Its benefits when given to women at risk of preterm birth for fetal neuroprotection (prevention of cerebral palsy for children) were shown in a 2009 Cochrane review. Internationally, use of magnesium sulphate for preterm cerebral palsy prevention is now recommended practice.

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We report the safety and immunogenicity of fractional and full dose Ad26.COV2.S and BNT162b2 in an open label phase 2 trial of participants previously vaccinated with a single dose of Ad26.

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Background: Placental management strategies such as umbilical cord milking and delayed cord clamping may provide a range of benefits for the newborn. The aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of umbilical cord milking and delayed cord clamping for the prevention of neonatal hypoglycaemia.

Methods: Three databases and five clinical trial registries were systematically reviewed to identify randomised controlled trials comparing umbilical cord milking or delayed cord clamping with control in term and preterm infants.

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Background: Antenatal corticosteroids for women at risk of preterm birth reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality, but there is limited evidence regarding their effects on long-term health. This study assessed cardiovascular outcomes at 50 years after antenatal exposure to corticosteroids.

Methods And Findings: We assessed the adult offspring of women who participated in the first randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of antenatal betamethasone for the prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (1969 to 1974).

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Phenotypic plasticity is often posited as an avenue for adaptation to environmental change, whereby environmental influences on phenotypes could shift trait expression toward new optimal values. Conversely, plastic trait expression may inhibit adaptation to environmental change by reducing selective pressure on ill-adapted traits. While plastic responses are often assumed to be linear, nonlinear phenotype-environment relationships are common, especially in thermally sensitive traits.

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Background: Poor feeding, among other factors, predisposes neonates to hypoglycaemia. Early feeding is widely recommended to prevent hypoglycaemia in those at risk, but the effectiveness of this is uncertain. This review aimed to summarise and analyse the evidence on the effectiveness of early feeding for prevention of neonatal hypoglycaemia.

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Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus is associated with perinatal mental disorders. Effective management may reduce this risk, but there is little evidence on effects of different glycaemic treatment targets. We assessed whether tight glycaemic treatment targets compared with less-tight targets reduce the risk of poor mental health outcomes in women with gestational diabetes.

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Introduction: Concurrent diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus and mental disorders is associated with adverse outcomes for mother and child, but there is limited information about prevalence or which women are at risk.

Material And Methods: This study was a prospective cohort study of women with gestational diabetes from 10 hospitals in New Zealand who reported anxiety (6-item Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and health-related quality of life (36-Item Short-Form General Health Survey) at time of gestational diabetes diagnosis (baseline), 36 weeks' gestation, and 6 months postpartum. Potential predictors were assessed using multivariable logistic regression.

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Background: We report the safety and immunogenicity of fractional and full dose Ad26.COV2.S and BNT162b2 in an open label phase 2 trial of participants previously vaccinated with a single dose of Ad26.

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