Publications by authors named "Michelle Butler"

Article Synopsis
  • Scientists created new medicines called spectinamides to help treat tuberculosis (TB) more effectively.
  • One of these, named MBX-4888A, works well with other TB drugs like rifampin and pyrazinamide in mice.
  • The research showed that using MBX-4888A can help shorten the treatment time for TB and seems to be safe for long-term use in mice.
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Passive immunisation with normal human immunoglobulin (NHIG) is recommended as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for higher-risk measles contacts where vaccination is contraindicated. However, the concentration of measles-specific antibodies in NHIG depends on antibody levels within pooled donor plasma. There are concerns that measles immunity in the Australian population may be declining over time and that blood donors' levels will progressively decrease, impacting levels required to produce effective NHIG for measles PEP.

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Background: Social Support has multiple benefits for health and mental wellbeing. Its existence, and the extent to which it can be beneficial, is dependent upon the context in which it is provided, and the recipients' view of it. Social support has long been established as a 'buffer' to the negative impact of stressful life experiences.

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Article Synopsis
  • Spectinamides are new medicines that help fight TB (tuberculosis), modified to work better in the body.
  • In studies with mice, one type called MBX-4888A showed it could improve treatment when used with other TB drugs.
  • This research tested how well it works in different mouse models, showing it's safe and might help cure TB faster.
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Governments and biopharmaceutical organizations aggressively leveraged expeditious communication capabilities, decision models, and global strategies to make a COVID-19 vaccine happen within a period of 12 months. This was an unusual effort and cannot be transferred to normal times. However, this focus on a single vaccine has also led to other treatments and drug developments being sidelined.

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Introduction: (GBS), or , remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Canadian guidelines advise universal maternal screening for GBS colonisation in pregnancy in conjunction with selective antibiotic therapy. This results in over 1000 pregnant individuals receiving antibiotic therapy to prevent one case of early-onset neonatal GBS disease, and over 20 000 pregnant individuals receiving antibiotic therapy to prevent one neonatal death.

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Background: Deaths from non-communicable diseases have increased in sub-Saharan Africa over the years, with limited data on coronary artery disease (CAD) and the risk factors thereof. The objective of this study was to investigate modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors in central South Africa in patients with CAD.

Methods: Patients with angiographically confirmed CAD who were evaluated in the catheterisation laboratory for the first time over a two-year period (2016 - 2017) were included.

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Invasive Group A Streptococcal infection (iGAS) is an uncommon but serious infection with Streptococcus pyogenes in a normally sterile body site. Manifestations include bacteraemia, necrotising fasciitis and toxic shock syndrome with attendant serious morbidity and mortality. An increasing incidence of iGAS has been observed in some regions of Australia.

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In 2020 and 2021, in the context of nationwide efforts to suppress SARS CoV-2 virus transmission while awaiting a vaccine, public health teams were responsible for finding and isolating all cases and quarantining their contacts. The success of this strategy required very high case ascertainment and thus, by inference, ready access to PCR testing, even in large rural areas such as Hunter New England in New South Wales. 'Silent area' analysis entailed the scheduled regular comparison of case and testing rates at local-government-area resolution against larger area and state-wide rates.

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FluTracking provided evidence for an early, long, but moderate influenza season in the Australian community compared to prior years. Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity in 2019 peaked earlier (week ending 16 June) than any season on record in FluTracking data. ILI attack rates were above average early in the 2019 season (peak of 2.

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In June 2021, when COVID-19 incidence in Australia was low, a COVID-19 (Delta variant) cluster occurred on an 81-minute domestic flight, with an aircrew member as the likely source. Outbreak investigation demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 may be transmitted during short-haul flights and that mask use protected against infection.

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Article Synopsis
  • Researchers have developed a promising antimalarial drug lead, MBX-4055, by modifying a previously identified inhibitor to improve its bioavailability and stability while maintaining potency against malaria parasites.
  • MBX-4055 effectively enhances the permeability of host erythrocytes by targeting a specific plasmodial surface anion channel, an essential player in the parasite's nutrient acquisition.
  • The novel pyridazinone compounds show excellent absorption and tolerance in living organisms and are less likely to lead to drug resistance, making them a significant advancement in antimalarial treatment options.
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Prcis: Designed with novel features to facilitate implantation and improve safety, the Ahmed ClearPath (ACP) glaucoma drainage device (GDD) provided intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction comparable with other GDDs in eyes with refractory glaucoma in a multicenter retrospective study.

Purpose: To present clinical outcomes with a novel valveless GDD (ACP, New World Medical). The 250 and 350 mm2 models feature a contoured plate for optimal globe apposition, anteriorized suture points to facilitate suturing to the globe, and a prethreaded 4-0 polypropylene ripcord suture.

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Purpose: This study reports long-term outcomes of bleb revision with ologen™ Collagen Matrix (Aeon Astron Europe BV, the Netherlands) for the surgical management of various bleb-related issues including persistent bleb leaks with or without associated hypotony, bleb dysesthesia, overhanging blebs, or hypotony after filtering glaucoma surgery.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for patients who underwent ologen bleb revision from 2012 to 2019 at Glaucoma Associates of Texas.

Results: The study included 23 eyes of 22 patients undergoing bleb revision with the ologen implant.

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Purpose: Glaucoma is a well-known sequelae of corneal transplant surgery and is a leading cause of visual loss in this patient group. We evaluated the performance and safety of gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT) in this population.

Design: Noncomparative retrospective case series.

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The physical environment of a treatment centre may impact the well-being of patients and their perceptions of care. Outpatients with haematological cancer may be in contact with the treatment centre over long periods and could be particularly affected. This study aimed to identify haematological cancer patients' perceptions of supportive design elements in the hospital they attended and associations with self-reported mood or well-being.

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The present study uses a prospective longitudinal research design to examine whether previously identified risk factors for prison interpersonal violence can predict violent prison misconduct in Northern Ireland (NI). Administrative data drawn from the records of 429 adult males imprisoned on November 22, 2017 were used to predict involvement in violent prison misconduct during a 1-year follow-up period. The results revealed that only a small number of previously identified risk factors were found to be significant in the NI context.

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Presently, there is no FDA- or EMA-approved antiviral for the treatment of human adenovirus (HAdV) ocular infections. This study determined the antiviral activity of filociclovir (FCV) against ocular HAdV isolates in vitro and in the Ad5/NZW rabbit ocular model. The 50% effective concentrations (EC) of FCV and cidofovir (CDV) were determined for several ocular HAdV types using standard plaque reduction assays.

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Objective: To generate greater awareness of the contextual and relational factors that influence women's capacity to participate in shared decision-making during childbirth.

Methods: A three-phase participatory action research approach involving in-depth interviews and co-operative inquiry meetings.

Setting: Dublin, Ireland in a large maternity hospital.

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Bacterial ribosome rescue pathways that remove ribosomes stalled on mRNAs during translation have been proposed as novel antibiotic targets because they are essential in bacteria and are not conserved in humans. We previously reported the discovery of a family of acylaminooxadiazoles that selectively inhibit trans-translation, the main ribosome rescue pathway in bacteria. Here, we report optimization of the pharmacokinetic and antibiotic properties of the acylaminooxadiazoles, producing MBX-4132, which clears multiple-drug resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in mice after a single oral dose.

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Glucocorticoid-induced glaucoma is a secondary open-angle glaucoma. About 40% of the general population may develop elevated intraocular pressure on prolonged glucocorticoid treatment secondary to damages in the trabecular meshwork (TM), a tissue that regulates intraocular pressure. Therefore, identifying the key molecules responsible for glucocorticoid-induced ocular hypertension is crucial.

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When does a single positive adequate and well-controlled study of a new drug meet the statutory requirement to demonstrate substantial evidence of effectiveness? The answer to this question, particularly with respect to new molecular entities, has been of considerable debate since 1962 when the requirement that new drugs prove their benefit to patients became law. A 1997 revision to the statute provided one pathway to a single-study approval (a single adequate and well-controlled study plus confirmatory evidence), while a 1998 guidance issued by FDA provided additional pathways, one of which is the one that is most frequently cited by FDA (a single statistically very persuasive study). This paper explains these 2 distinct pathways and provides illustrative examples of how FDA uses each of these 2 pathways.

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In 2018, the American Glaucoma Society (AGS), the world’s largest professional society of glaucoma subspecialists, convened a 12-member task force of experts to craft a position statement about microinvasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). The main objective of this position statement is to provide a succinct overview of these procedures and to address some misconceptions about MIGS. The members of the task force were selected by the AGS Board of Directors and include AGS members with expertise in developing MIGS, teaching MIGS, performing research on use and outcomes of these procedures, and working with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agencies about developing criteria to evaluate the efficacy and safety of these devices.

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Background: A respectful, person-centered philosophy of maternity care has been emerging over several decades. Research conducted on behalf of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) to identify essential competencies for midwifery practice also identified the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors that should be hallmarks of respectful maternity care practices among the global community of midwives.

Methods: A three-round, online, modified Delphi survey was conducted between April 2016 and October 2016.

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