Is COVID-19 infection during pregnancy a risk for congenital hearing loss?

Objective: Infections during pregnancy can increase the risk of congenital hearing loss. This population-based study investigated the effect of birthing parent COVID-19 infection during pregnancy on risk of congenital hearing loss in infants.

Methods: Records of infants born in 2022 were reviewed via a retrospective clinical audit of a universal state-wide newborn hearing screening program in Victoria, Australia.

Exploring Parent Support Needs during the Newborn Hearing Diagnosis Pathway.

Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) facilitates early detection of permanent congenital hearing loss in newborns. In recognition of specific needs among parents, support services have been established within some UNHS programs, including the Victorian Infant Hearing Screening Program (VIHSP). Despite this, there is limited research about how to best support parents in the context of well-established UNHS programs.

Early Minds: a pilot randomised controlled trial of a mindfulness program in early learning centres.

Background: Optimal mental health is critical for a child's learning and academic functioning. As a universal service, early education centres play an important role in promoting children's mental health. Social-emotional learning programs are efficacious in reducing behavioural difficulties, enhancing competence, and improving learning abilities.

Protocol for a study of the psychosocial determinants of health in early childhood among children with cystic fibrosis.

Aims: To investigate the causal associations between family relationships, family functioning, social circumstances and health outcomes in young children with cystic fibrosis.

Background: The anticipated health gains for patients with cystic fibrosis, promised by early diagnosis through newborn screening, have yet to be fully realized, despite advances in cystic fibrosis health care with aggressive management in multidisciplinary clinics and the development of specific medications. Adverse psychosocial functioning may underpin the current lack of progress as it is well recognized that compromised early parent-child attachment relationship experiences and adverse social circumstances have negative impacts on lifelong health status and health resource use, even in healthy children.

Caregiver coping, mental health and child problem behaviours in cystic fibrosis: a cross-sectional study.

Background: In children with cystic fibrosis (CF) sleep, eating/mealtime, physiotherapy adherence and internalising problems are common. Caregivers also often report elevated depression, anxiety and stress symptoms.

Purpose: To identify, through principal components analysis (PCA), coping strategies used by Australian caregivers of children with CF and to assess the relationship between the derived coping components, caregiver mental health symptoms and child treatment related and non-treatment related problem behaviours.

The natural history and predictors of persistent problem behaviours in cystic fibrosis: a multicentre, prospective study.

Background: In cystic fibrosis (CF), problems with sleep, eating/mealtime behaviours, physiotherapy adherence and parental mental health issues are common, yet their natural history and the extent of service use to address them are unknown.

Objective: Follow up the 2007 cohort to determine: (1) prevalence of child sleep, eating/mealtime behaviours, physiotherapy adherence, and externalising/internalising problem behaviours and primary caregiver mental health status after a 3-year period; (2) natural history of child behaviours; (3) potentially modifiable predictors of persistent problems; and (4) service use for behaviours.

Design: Prospective cohort.

Outcomes of population based language promotion for slow to talk toddlers at ages 2 and 3 years: Let's Learn Language cluster randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To determine the benefits of a low intensity parent-toddler language promotion programme delivered to toddlers identified as slow to talk on screening in universal services.

Design: Cluster randomised trial nested in a population based survey.

Setting: Three local government areas in Melbourne, Australia.

Case-control study on the association of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in Japan.

Objective: Studies in Western populations have shown the association of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). The role of Helicobacter pylori infection in NSAIDs-related UGIB remains to be studied. We conducted a case-control study in Japan to investigate these related topics.

Are general practitioners equipped to detect child overweight/obesity? Survey and audit.

Aim: To ascertain the extent to which general practitioners (GPs) routinely weigh, measure and calculate body mass index (BMI) in children, and to assess the accuracy and accessibility of their anthropometric equipment.

Methods: A convenience sample of 34 GPs from 29 primary care family medical practices in Melbourne, Australia, completed a questionnaire regarding their routine anthropometric practice for 5-10-year-old children and perceived role in managing childhood overweight and obesity. Practice audits (April-June 2002) assessed the accuracy and accessibility of anthropometric equipment.

Gulf War veterans and hemifacial microsomia.

Background: Concerns have been raised that more infants with Goldenhar syndrome were born to U.S. Gulf War veterans than expected.

Demographic and reproductive factors associated with hemifacial microsomia.

Objective: To identify demographic and reproductive risk factors for hemifacial microsomia in offspring.

Design: In a case-control study, maternal interviews were conducted within 3 years after delivery. Cases with hemifacial microsomia were ascertained from craniofacial centers in 26 cities in the United States and Canada.

Vasoactive exposures, vascular events, and hemifacial microsomia.

Background: Based on experimental evidence and clinical observations, hemifacial microsomia (HFM) is one of several structural anomalies that are postulated to result from vascular disruption. We collected data in a case-control study to identify whether vasoactive exposures or vascular events during early pregnancy affect the risk of HFM.

Methods: Cases with a diagnosis of HFM were identified at craniofacial centers in 26 cities across the United States and Canada, from 1996 to 2002.

Association of vasoconstrictive exposures with risks of gastroschisis and small intestinal atresia.

Background: Gastroschisis and small intestinal atresia are congenital anomalies that may arise from vascular disruption. It is hypothesized that maternal exposure to cocaine, amphetamines, decongestants and nicotine, all of which have vasoconstrictive actions, can contribute to these defects. The present study examined risks of gastroschisis and small intestinal atresia associated with combined exposure to vasoconstrictive drugs and cigarette smoking.

Maternal medication use and risks of gastroschisis and small intestinal atresia.

Gastroschisis and small intestinal atresia (SIA) are birth defects that are thought to arise from vascular disruption of fetal mesenteric vessels. Previous studies of gastroschisis have suggested that risk is increased for maternal use of vasoactive over-the-counter medications, including specific analgesics and decongestants. This retrospective study evaluated the relation between maternal use of cough/cold/analgesic medications and risks of gastroschisis and SIA.