Lithium Use During Pregnancy in 14 Countries.

Importance: In pregnancy, the benefits of lithium treatment for relapse prevention in psychiatric conditions must be weighed against potential teratogenic effects. Currently, there is a paucity of information on how and when lithium is used by pregnant women.

Objective: To examine lithium use in the perinatal period.

Fungal biomarkers in HIV-associated disseminated histoplasmosis: a multicenter diagnostic accuracy study on the Guiana shield.

Objectives: Diagnosis of HIV-associated histoplasmosis remains challenging. Our objective was to compare the performances of (1→3)-β-D-Glucan (BDG) and aspergillus galactomannan (GM) antigen for the diagnosis of HIV-associated histoplasmosis.

Methods: We performed a diagnostic accuracy study using frozen primary serum specimens issued from consecutive hospitalized people living with HIV (PLWH) and blindly tested for BDG and GM using Fungitell and PlateliaAspergillus, respectively.

Activity of botulinum neurotoxin X and its structure when shielded by a non-toxic non-hemagglutinin protein.

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most potent toxins known and are used to treat an increasing number of medical disorders. All BoNTs are naturally co-expressed with a protective partner protein (NTNH) with which they form a 300 kDa complex, to resist acidic and proteolytic attack from the digestive tract. We have previously identified a new botulinum neurotoxin serotype, BoNT/X, that has unique and therapeutically attractive properties.

Intervention to increase physical activity and healthy eating among under-represented adolescents: GOAL trial protocol.

Introduction: To reduce obesity-related disparities, reaching economically disadvantaged and/or minority status adolescents to assist them in meeting physical activity (PA) and nutrition recommendations is important. To address the problem, a 16-week intervention called Guys/Girls Opt for Activities for Life (GOAL) was designed. The purpose of this randomised controlled trial is to evaluate any effect of the intervention, compared with a control condition, on improving: (1) adolescents' % body fat (primary outcome), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), diet quality and cardiorespiratory fitness from 0 to 4 months; (2) body mass index (BMI), overweight/obesity percentage and quality of life from 0 to 4 months and to 13 months; and (3) perceived social support, self-efficacy and motivation from 0 to 4 months with evaluation of any mediating effect on adolescent PA and diet quality.

Comparing outcomes of the anterosuperior and deltopectoral approaches in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for degenerative glenohumeral arthritis: a systematic review.

Purpose: Reverse total shoulder replacement (rTSR) improves pain and function in patients with a wide range of shoulder pathology. Anterosuperior (AS) and deltopectoral (DP) approaches are widely used to gain access to the glenohumeral joint in arthroplasty. Our aim was to systematically review the literature comparing outcomes of these two approaches when performing rTSR for degenerative glenohumeral arthritis.

Evaluation of a New 'Mix-In' Style Glycomacropeptide-Based Protein Substitute for Food and Drinks in Patients with Phenylketonuria and Tyrosinemia.

(1) Background: Poor palatability, large volume, and lack of variety of some liquid and powdered protein substitutes (PSs) for patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) and tyrosinemia (TYR) can result in poor adherence. This study aimed to evaluate a new unflavoured, powdered GMP-based PS designed to be mixed into drinks, foods, or with other PSs, in patients with PKU and TYR. (2) Methods: Paediatric and adult community-based patients were recruited from eight metabolic centres and prescribed ≥1 sachet/day (10 g protein equivalent (PE)) of the Mix-In-style PS over 28 days.

Evaluation of a New Glycomacropeptide-Based Protein Substitute in Powdered and Liquid Format in Patients with PKU.

(1) Background: Good adherence to a Phe-restricted diet supplemented with an adequate amount of a protein substitute (PS) is important for good clinical outcomes in PKU. Glycomacropeptide (cGMP)-PSs are innovative, palatable alternatives to amino acid-based PSs (AA-PS). This study aimed to evaluate a new cGMP-PS in liquid and powder formats in PKU.

The kinetics of the PuO to PuO conversion.

In an oxidizing environment, the oxide formed on plutonium (Pu) metal is composed of a plutonium dioxide (PuO) top layer and a thin cubic plutonium sesquioxide (PuO) middle layer. In a reducing environment, the PuO layer auto-reduces to cubic PuO. The speed and extent of this conversion depend on the combination of temperature and time.

Structure and activity of botulinum neurotoxin X.

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most potent toxins known and are used to treat an increasing number of medical disorders. All BoNTs are naturally co-expressed with a protective partner protein (NTNH) with which they form a 300 kDa complex, to resist acidic and proteolytic attack from the digestive tract. We have previously identified a new botulinum neurotoxin serotype, BoNT/X, that has unique and therapeutically attractive properties.

Suitability and Allocation of Protein-Containing Foods According to Protein Tolerance in PKU: A 2022 UK National Consensus.

Introduction: There is little practical guidance about suitable food choices for higher natural protein tolerances in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). This is particularly important to consider with the introduction of adjunct pharmaceutical treatments that may improve protein tolerance. Aim: To develop a set of guidelines for the introduction of higher protein foods into the diets of patients with PKU who tolerate >10 g/day of protein.

Are women with gestational diabetes being screened for type 2 diabetes following pregnancy? A nationwide retrospective cohort study in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Aim: To estimate the proportion of women with a first episode of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Aotearoa (New Zealand) who received postpartum screening for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: Data from 941,468 pregnancies occurring between 2005 and 2015 were linked with laboratory, community pharmacy, and hospital discharge data from the Ministry of Health's National Collections to identify a cohort of women who had a first episode of GDM (n = 14,443). Proportions receiving a glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) test or oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) during the first year postpartum were estimated overall, and by calendar year, ethnic group, age, deprivation, and region.

Antidepressant dispensing before, during, and after pregnancy in New Zealand, 2005-2014.

Background: Depression during pregnancy is associated with a number of negative impacts on maternal and infant health, therefore good control of depression in pregnant women is crucial. There is a lack of population-level information about patterns of antidepressant use during pregnancy in New Zealand.

Aim: To describe antidepressant dispensing patterns before, during, and after pregnancy in New Zealand, 2005-2014.

Critical structures in the needle path of the costoclavicular brachial plexus block: a cadaver study.

Purpose: The costoclavicular block is a relatively novel alternative to the infraclavicular block. We aimed to determine the anatomical structures vulnerable to needle injury during a costoclavicular block.

Methods: The needle path consistent with a costoclavicular block approach was performed bilaterally on four lightly embalmed cadavers using ultrasound guidance.

Stable isotope signatures of hydration water in secondary mineralization on UO.

Hydrated secondary mineralization readily forms on the surface of UO particles exposed to humidity in an oxidizing environment. The oxygen stable isotope composition of the secondary uranium oxide may reflect that of the water vapor, as well as the hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopic composition of the mineral hydration water. The geospatial organization of δH and δO values of atmospheric humidity and precipitation is increasingly well understood, which suggests that the hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes in secondary mineral hydration water may yield information on the environment in which the mineralization formed.

Engineering an Effective Human SNAP-23 Cleaving Botulinum Neurotoxin A Variant.

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) serotype A inhibits neurotransmitter release by cleaving SNAP-25 and represents an established pharmaceutical for treating medical conditions caused by hyperactivity of cholinergic nerves. Oversecretion from non-neuronal cells is often also the cause of diseases. Notably, excessive release of inflammatory messengers is thought to contribute to diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, diabetes etc.

Disseminated Cryptococcosis in a Young Immunocompetent Male.

Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic infection caused by encapsulated yeasts of genus Cryptococcus. It usually infects immunocompromised patients and has multisystemic involvement, the common sites being lungs, central nervous system, skin and bone marrow. Disseminated cryptococcosis has also been reported in immunocompetent individuals.

Patterns of prescription medicine dispensing before and during pregnancy in New Zealand, 2005-2015.

Objective: To describe prescription medicine dispensing before and during pregnancy in New Zealand, 2005-2015.

Methods: Members of the New Zealand Pregnancy Cohort were linked with their dispensing records in a national database of prescription products dispensed from community pharmacies. We identified the proportion of pregnancies during which at least one prescription medicine was dispensed, the number of different medicines used and the most commonly dispensed medicine groups both during pregnancy and in the 270 days before conception.

Prescription medicines with potential for foetal harm: dispensing before and during pregnancy in New Zealand, 2005-2015.

Purpose: This study describes dispensing of potentially teratogenic prescription medicines before and during pregnancy in New Zealand over the period 2005-2015.

Methods: Records in a national dispensing database were linked with the members of the New Zealand Pregnancy Cohort to determine the proportion of pregnancies with at least one dispensing of a Category D or X medicine, using the Australian pregnancy risk categorisation system. Exposure was examined from 270 days prior to conception through to the end of pregnancy.

Is donating blood for the faint of heart? a systematic review of predictors of syncope in whole blood donors.

Background: Adverse events during donation negatively impact the likelihood of subsequent donation. Syncope is a possible complication of blood donation in healthy individuals. This systematic review aims to identify risk factors for syncope in healthy blood donors.

A comparison of biological activity of commercially available purified native botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A1 to F1 in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo.

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is a major therapeutic agent. Of seven native BoNT serotypes (A to G), only A and B are currently used in the clinic. Here we compared the potency of commercially available purified native serotypes A1 to F1 across in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo assays.

Generation of a pregnancy cohort for medicine utilisation and medicine safety studies in New Zealand.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to use national health databases to assemble a pregnancy cohort for undertaking medicine utilisation and safety studies in New Zealand.

Method: Pregnancies conceived between January 2005 and March 2015 were identified in the National Maternity Collection, the National Minimum Dataset, the Mortality Collection, and the Laboratory Claims Collection. Pregnancy start and end dates were calculated and used in conjunction with the National Health Index number to merge the records from the four collections to create the New Zealand Pregnancy Cohort.