Impact of early childhood infection on child development and school performance: a population-based study.

Background: Childhood infection might be associated with adverse child development and neurocognitive outcomes, but the results have been inconsistent.

Methods: Two population-based record-linkage cohorts of all singleton children born at term in New South Wales, Australia, from 2001 to 2014, were set up and followed up to 2019 for developmental outcome (N=276 454) and school performance (N=644 291). The primary outcome was developmentally high risk (DHR) at age 4-6 years and numeracy and reading below the national minimum standard at age 7-9 years.

Patient-specific analysis of bicuspid aortic valve hemodynamics using a fully coupled fluid-structure interaction model.

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), the most common congenital heart disease, is prone to develop significant valvular dysfunction and aortic wall abnormalities such as ascending aortic aneurysm. Growing evidence has suggested that abnormal BAV hemodynamics could contribute to disease progression. In order to investigate BAV hemodynamics, we performed 3D patient-specific fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulations with fully coupled blood flow dynamics and valve motion throughout the cardiac cycle.

Using novel data linkage of congenital heart disease biobank data with administrative health data to identify cardiovascular outcomes to inform genomic analysis.

Introduction: Contemporary care of congenital heart disease (CHD) is largely standardised, however there is heterogeneity in post-surgical outcomes that may be explained by genetic variation. Data linkage between a CHD biobank and routinely collected administrative datasets is a novel method to identify outcomes to explore the impact of genetic variation.

Objective: Use data linkage to identify and validate patient outcomes following surgical treatment for CHD.

Retinoblastoma vulnerability to combined and salvage pyrimidine ribonucleotide synthesis pharmacologic blockage.

Retinoblastoma is an eye cancer that commonly affects young children. Despite significant advances, current treatments cause side effects even when administered locally, and patients may still have to undergo enucleation. This is particularly disheartening in cases of bilateral retinoblastoma.

A comparison of cohorts of children with cerebral palsy from a population register and hospital admission data: A data linkage study.

Background: Administrative health data, such as hospital admission data, are often used in research to identify children/young people with cerebral palsy (CP).

Objectives: To compare sociodemographic, clinical details and mortality of children/young people identified as having CP in either a CP population registry or hospital admission data.

Methods: We identified two cohorts of children/young people (birth years 2001-2010, age at study end or death 2 months to 19 years 6 months) with a diagnosis of CP from either (i) the New South Wales (NSW)/Australian Capital Territory (ACT) CP Register or (ii) NSW hospital admission data (2001-2020).

Association between cumulative maternal exposures related to inflammation and child attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A cohort study.

Background: Preclinical studies suggest synergistic effects of maternal inflammatory exposures on offspring neurodevelopment, but human studies have been limited.

Objectives: To examine the cumulative association and potential interactions between seven maternal exposures related to inflammation and child attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study of children born from July 2001 to December 2011 in New South Wales, Australia, and followed up until December 2014.

Outcomes of lowered newborn screening thresholds for congenital hypothyroidism.

Background: Newborn screening (NBS) has largely eliminated the physical and neurodevelopmental effects of untreated congenital hypothyroidism (CH). Many countries, including Australia, have progressively lowered NBS bloodspot thyroid-stimulating hormone (b-TSH) thresholds. The impact of these changes is still unclear.

Child characteristics and health conditions associated with paediatric hospitalisations and length of stay: a population-based study.

Background: Paediatric hospital length of stay (LoS) is often used as a benchmark for resource use of hospitalisations. Previous studies have mostly focused on LoS of admissions for specific conditions or medical specialties. We aimed to conduct an evaluation of LoS of all paediatric hospitalisations exploring the frequency and characteristics; and associated childhood conditions.

Examination of validity of identifying congenital heart disease from hospital discharge data without a gold standard: Using a data linkage approach.

Background: Administrative health data has been used extensively to examine congenital heart disease (CHD). However, the accuracy and completeness of these data must be assessed.

Objectives: To use data linkage of multiple administrative data sources to examine the validity of identifying CHD cases recorded in hospital discharge data.

Estimating the Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in New South Wales, Australia: A Data Linkage Study of Three Routinely Collected Datasets.

Routinely collected data help estimate the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in jurisdictions without active autism surveillance. We created a population-based cohort of 1,211,834 children born in 2002-2015 in New South Wales, Australia using data linkage. Children with ASD were identified in three datasets - disability services, hospital admissions, and ambulatory mental health data.

Proof-of-principle studies on a strategy to enhance nucleotide imbalance specifically in cancer cells.

Highly specific and potent inhibitors of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), an essential enzyme of the de novo pyrimidine ribonucleotide synthesis pathway, are in clinical trials for autoimmune diseases, viral infections and cancer. However, because DHODH inhibitors (DHODHi) are immunosuppressants they may reduce the anticancer activity of the immune system. Therefore, there may be a need to improve the therapeutic index of DHODHi in cancer patients.

Clinical survey of current practice regarding treatment of children with borderline thyroid abnormalities.

Aim: Recently, there has been debate about reducing newborn screening (NBS) thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) cut-offs to identify children with mild, but potentially clinically significant, thyroid deficiency. Once identified by NBS, these children will be referred to paediatric endocrinologists for further testing and possible treatment; however, variation in current clinical practice is not known. The aim of this study is to survey Paediatric Endocrinologists in Australia and New Zealand to gain insight into clinical practice for the treatment of mild thyroid deficiency.

Asymmetric inheritance of cytoophidia could contribute to determine cell fate and plasticity: The onset of alternative differentiation patterns in daughter cells may rely on the acquisition of either CTPS or IMPDH cytoophidia: The onset of alternative differentiation patterns in daughter cells may rely on the acquisition of either CTPS or IMPDH cytoophidia.

Two enzymes involved in the synthesis of pyrimidine and purine nucleotides, CTP synthase (CTPS) and IMP dehydrogenase (IMPDH), can assemble into a single or very few large filaments called rods and rings (RR) or cytoophidia. Most recently, asymmetric cytoplasmic distribution of organelles during cell division has been described as a decisive event in hematopoietic stem cell fate. We propose that cytoophidia, which could be considered as membrane-less organelles, may also be distributed asymmetrically during mammalian cell division as previously described for Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Synthetic jets as a flow control device for performance enhancement of vertical axis hydrokinetic turbines: A 3D computational study.

In the present work, a vertical axis turbine with straight blades was analyzed through a numerical simulation in three dimensions, the performance of the turbine was studied while synthetic jets were used as an active flow control method. To carry out the simulations, the Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) equations were solved on Star CCM+, through the k-ω SST turbulence model. The dynamics of the turbine movement were described using the Overset Mesh technique, capturing the transient characteristics of the flow field.

DIFFERENTIAL IMPACT OF PERIODONTAL TREATMENT STRATEGIES DURING PREGNANCY ON PERINATAL OUTCOMES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different periodontal treatment strategies during pregnancy on perinatal outcomes.

Study Selection: This systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines to assess the effect of mouthwash in addition to scaling and root planning (SRPM) on pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, gestational age, and birth weight. Pooled risk ratios (RR), mean differences (MD), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using the random effect model.

Inequality in early childhood chronic health conditions requiring hospitalisation: A data linkage study of health service utilisation and costs.

Background: The cost of socioeconomic inequality in health service use among Australian children with chronic health conditions is poorly understood.

Objectives: To quantify the cost of socioeconomic inequality in health service use among Australian children with chronic health conditions.

Methods: Cohort study using a whole-of-population linked administrative data for all births in Queensland, Australia, between July 2015 and July 2018.

Prevalence of autoimmune conditions in pregnant women in a tertiary maternity hospital: A cross-sectional survey and maternity database review.

Background: Autoimmune conditions are associated with adverse pregnancy and offspring outcomes; however, the prevalence in pregnant women is not well understood. Estimates based on administrative data alone may underestimate prevalence.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of women attending a tertiary referral hospital for antenatal care in December 2018-February 2019 and review of the hospital's maternity database of women giving birth from October 2017-June 2018 to estimate autoimmune disease prevalence.

The accuracy of hospital discharge data in recording major congenital anomalies in Australia.

Background: There has been increasing use of hospital discharge data to identify congenital anomalies, with limited information about the accuracy of these data.

Objectives: To evaluate the accuracy of hospital discharge data in ascertaining major congenital anomalies in infants.

Methods: All liveborn infants with major congenital anomalies born between 2004 and 2009 in New South Wales, Australia were included.

A systematic review of the outcomes of false-positive results on newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism.

Objectives: The potential of harm to infants or their parents from a false positive (FP) newborn screening (NBS) result for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is often cited as an argument against lowering of screening thresholds for CH. This systematic review (SR) examines the evidence of harm and factors that possibly contribute.

Study Design: PRISMA guidelines were followed and the protocol was registered online (Prospero, ID CRD42019123950, 20 August 2019) before the search was conducted.