Analysis of 182 cerebral palsy transcriptomes points to dysregulation of trophic signalling pathways and overlap with autism.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability of childhood. It is characterised by permanent, non-progressive but not unchanging problems with movement, posture and motor function, with a highly heterogeneous clinical spectrum and frequent neurodevelopmental comorbidities. The aetiology of CP is poorly understood, despite recent reports of a genetic contribution in some cases.

The Heart Health Study - increasing cardiovascular risk assessment in family practice for first degree relatives of patients with premature ischaemic heart disease: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: This study aimed to increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment in adult first degree relatives of patients with premature ischaemic heart disease (PIHD) using written and verbal advice.

Design: A prospective, randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Cardiovascular wards at three South Australian hospitals.

Genetic and clinical contributions to cerebral palsy: a multi-variable analysis.

Aim: This study aims to examine single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associations with cerebral palsy in a multi-variable analysis adjusting for potential clinical confounders and to assess SNP-SNP and SNP-maternal infection interactions as contributors to cerebral palsy.

Methods: A case control study including 587 children with cerebral palsy and 1154 control children without cerebral palsy. Thirty-nine candidate SNPs were genotyped in both mother and child.

Epidemiologic associations with cerebral palsy.

Objective: To estimate epidemiologic risk factors for cerebral palsy.

Methods: Data were collected by linkage to state-based perinatal repositories and cerebral palsy registers and using a maternal questionnaire. The cohort included 587 individuals with cerebral palsy and 1,154 non-cerebral palsy controls.

The Australian cerebral palsy research study--protocol for a national collaborative study investigating genomic and clinical associations with cerebral palsy.

Aim: Previous studies have proposed a link between the presence of specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and cerebral palsy and the majority of these associations remain to be confirmed or rejected by prospective studies with sufficient statistical power. Prior studies have also given little attention to the interaction of genomic characteristics and clinical risk factors.

Methods: This paper describes the design of a prospective case-control study to test these genetic associations in conjunction with more stringent data collection in respect to clinical features associated with pregnancy, particularly maternal infection.

Cardiovascular risk assessment in Australian general practice.

Background: Australian general practitioners are encouraged to assess absolute cardiovascular risk (CVR) using a CVR calculator such as the New Zealand Cardiovascular Risk Calculator. However, overseas research suggests that the use of these tools is problematic. Australian data on CVR calculator use is lacking.

Inadequate compliance with periconceptional folic acid supplementation in South Australia.

Background: Despite recommendations for women to take folic acid supplements, there has been little reduction in the number of neural tube defect cases occurring each year.

Aims: To assess the level of compliance of pregnant women to recommendations for folic acid supplementation in South Australia, and audit the labelled content in reported supplements used.

Methods: A survey was conducted from May to September 2005 with 304 pregnant women recruited from antenatal clinics at the Lyell McEwin Health Service, the Women's and Children's Hospital and the Modbury Hospital in Adelaide.

Mental health referral role of rural financial counsellors.

Objective: To quantify the proportion of rural financial counsellors' (RFC) clients requiring social, emotional and stress-related (SESR) assistance and the referral of these clients to other services.

Design: Survey of all Australian RFCs.

Setting: Rural and remote agricultural locations in Australia.