Diet quality from mid-life and body composition in older age: findings from a British birth cohort.

We investigated associations between 'healthy dietary pattern' scores, at ages 36, 43, 53 and 60-64 years, and body composition at age 60-64 years among participants from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD). Principal component analyses of dietary data (food diaries) at age 60-64 years were used to calculate diet scores (healthy dietary pattern scores) at each age. Higher scores indicated healthier diets (higher consumption of fruit, vegetables and wholegrain bread).

The role of vitamin D metabolism in regulating bone turnover in adolescents with perinatally-acquired HIV in Southern Africa: a cross-sectional study in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Vitamin D dysregulation can occur in people living with HIV, disrupting calcium homeostasis, and bone turnover. We aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms by which vitamin D regulates bone turnover in adolescents living with perinatally-acquired HIV (ALWH) in Southern Africa. A pre-planned secondary analysis was performed of baseline data from the vitamin D for adolescents with HIV to reduce musculoskeletal morbidity and immunopathology trial (PACTR20200989766029) which enrolled ALWH (11-19 yr) taking antiretroviral therapy for ≥6 mo, and recorded socio-demographic, clinical and dietary data.

Multimorbidity and risk of adverse outcomes in the Hertfordshire Cohort Study: does sex matter?

Aims: We examined whether admission risk increases at a certain threshold of number of systems medicated or whether any increase confers greater admission risk in either sex in a community-dwelling cohort of older persons in Hertfordshire. This study uses a longitudinal retrospective study design.

Methods: Data from 2997 men and women (aged 59-73 at baseline) were analyzed.

Associations of linear growth with body composition of perinatally HIV-infected African adolescents.

The prevalence of poor linear growth among African children with perinatally acquired HIV remains high. There is concern that poor linear growth may to lead to later total and central fat deposition and associated non-communicable disease risks. We investigated associations between height-for-age score (HAZ) and total and regional fat and lean mass measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, expressed as internal population scores, among 839 Zimbabwean and Zambian perinatally HIV-infected male and female adolescents aged 11-19 years.

Types, design, implementation, and evaluation of nutrition interventions in older people in Africa: A scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Africa's older population is increasing and this, necessitates the development of interventions to promote healthy ageing. Nutrition is a key determinant of healthy ageing and local contextual evidence is needed to inform nutritional intervention development in Africa. There are already reviews on nutritional status and food insecurity in older adults in Africa.

Pregnancy vitamin D supplementation and offspring bone mineral density in childhood follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Findings from the Maternal Vitamin D Osteoporosis Study (MAVIDOS) trial demonstrated a positive effect of gestational cholecalciferol supplementation on offspring bone mineral density (BMD) at age 4 y. Demonstrating the persistence of this effect is important to understanding whether maternal vitamin D supplementation could be a useful public health strategy to improving bone health.

Objectives: We investigated whether gestational vitamin D supplementation increases offspring BMD at ages 6-7 y in an exploratory post-hoc analysis of an existing trial.

Multimorbidity and risk of falls, fractures, and joint replacements over two decades: Findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study.

Aim: To examine the relationship between level of morbidity burden and long-term risk of fractures, falls, and joint replacements in the community-dwelling participants of the Hertfordshire Cohort Study.

Methods: Data were analyzed from 2997 individuals (age 59-73 at baseline). Outcomes (fractures, falls, and lower limb joint replacements) were identified using ICD-10 and OPCS-4 codes from Hospital Episode Statistics data, available from baseline (1998-2004) until December 2018.

The impact of HIV infection on skeletal maturity in peripubertal children in Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: HIV infection and its treatment compromises skeletal development (growth and maturation). Skeletal maturity is assessed as bone age (BA) on hand and wrist radiographs. BA younger than chronological age (CA) indicates delayed development.

Opportunities to strengthen respiratory virus surveillance systems in Australia: lessons learned from the COVID-19 response.

Disease surveillance data was critical in supporting public health decisions throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. At the same time, the unprecedented circumstances of the pandemic revealed many shortcomings of surveillance systems for viral respiratory pathogens. Strengthening of surveillance systems was identified as a priority for the recently established Australian Centre for Disease Control, which represents a critical opportunity to review pre-pandemic and pandemic surveillance practices, and to decide on future priorities, during both pandemic and inter-pandemic periods.

Osteoporotic Fractures: Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Significance From the International Working Group on DXA Best Practices.

Osteoporotic fractures, also known as fragility fractures, are reflective of compromised bone strength and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Such fractures may be clinically silent, and others may present clinically with pain and deformity at the time of the injury. Unfortunately, and even at the time of detection, most individuals sustaining fragility fractures are not identified as having underlying metabolic bone disease and are not evaluated or treated to reduce the incidence of future fractures.

Effects of maternal calcium supplementation on offspring blood pressure and growth in childhood and adolescence in a population with a low-calcium intake: follow-up study of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The World Health Organization recommends calcium supplementation (1500-2000 mg/d) during pregnancy for women with a low-calcium intake.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether pregnancy calcium supplementation affects offspring blood pressure and growth in The Gambia where calcium intakes are low (300-400 mg/d).

Methods: Follow-up of offspring born during a randomized controlled trial of pregnancy calcium supplementation (ISRCTN96502494, 1996-2000) in which mothers were randomly assigned to 1500 mg Ca/d (Ca) or placebo (P) from 20 wk pregnancy to delivery.

Estimating the impact of test-trace-isolate-quarantine systems on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Australia.

Background: Australian states and territories used test-trace-isolate-quarantine (TTIQ) systems extensively in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021. We report on an analysis of Australian case data to estimate the impact of test-trace-isolate-quarantine systems on SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Methods: Our analysis uses a novel mathematical modelling framework and detailed surveillance data on COVID-19 cases including dates of infection and dates of isolation.

Fracture Risk and Health Profiles Differ According to Relationship Status: Findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study.

Registry studies have suggested associations between relationship status and fracture risk. We considered associations between relationship status and incident fracture in the Hertfordshire Cohort Study, comprising community-dwelling older adults, and explored associations between socioeconomic and lifestyle factors with relationship status. 2997 participants completed a baseline questionnaire (1998-2004) and clinic visit.

General self-efficacy, not musculoskeletal health, was associated with social isolation and loneliness in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study.

Background: Social isolation and loneliness are prevalent among older adults. This study investigated factors influencing worsening social isolation and loneliness in community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on musculoskeletal conditions, falls, and fractures.

Methods: We studied 153 participants from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study.

What works in engaging communities? Prioritising nutrition interventions in Burkina Faso, Ghana and South Africa.

Background: "Choosing All Together" (CHAT), is a community engagement tool designed to give the public a voice in how best to allocate limited resources to improve population health. This process evaluation explored the mechanisms through which CHAT generates community engagement.

Method: The CHAT tool was adapted and implemented for use in two rural communities (Nanoro, Burkina Faso, and Navrongo, Ghana) and one urban township (Soweto, South Africa) to prioritize maternal and child nutrition interventions.

Perinatal HIV infection is associated with deficits in muscle function in children and adolescents in Zimbabwe.

Objectives: To determine how muscle strength, power, mass, and density (i.e. quality) differ between children living with HIV (CWH) and those uninfected, and whether antiretroviral therapy (ART) regime is associated with muscle quality.