Publications by authors named "Norton M"

Screening for fetal genetic disorders is a focus of prenatal care. Cell free DNA (cfDNA) screening for aneuploidies became available in 2011. Initially available only to high-risk individuals, this test is now standard of care in many settings.

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We propose a reaction-diffusion system that converts topological information of an active nematic into chemical signals. We show that a curvature-activated reaction dipole is sufficient for creating a system that dynamically senses topology by producing a concentration field possessing local extrema coinciding with ±1/2 defects. The enabling term is analogous to polarization charge density seen in dielectric materials.

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Background: Overweight and obesity are highly prevalent in people with severe mental illness (SMI). Antipsychotic-induced weight gain (AIWG) is one of the most commonly reported and distressing side effects of treatment and people living with SMI place a high value on the avoidance of this side effect. Metformin is the most effective pharmacological intervention studied for the prevention of AIWG yet clear guidelines are lacking and evidence has not translated into practice.

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  • Long-term stability poses a significant challenge for commercializing perovskite solar cells, made worse by a lack of consistent outdoor testing data.
  • This study involved two years of outdoor testing on perovskite mini-modules, analyzing their performance changes throughout each day, including both degradation during the day and recovery overnight.
  • Using the XGBoost regression model, the researchers successfully predicted the power output of the mini-modules, achieving a low error rate, which shows promise for estimating the lifespan of perovskite devices based on environmental factors.
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Background: Many outcome measures used in lower-limb osteoarthritis (OA) present ceiling effects. This compromises the ability of those measures to accurately assess people with higher levels of physical function. Understanding of the difficulty and importance of physical activities would enable the inclusion of challenging and meaningful activities in new outcome measures.

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  • - The study aimed to see if treating mild chronic hypertension (CHTN) during pregnancy would lead to fewer unplanned healthcare visits after childbirth.
  • - An analysis of 2,293 pregnant patients showed that overall unplanned healthcare utilization rates were similar between the treatment and control groups, though emergency visits were notably lower in the treated group.
  • - Factors like higher BMI and cesarean deliveries were found to increase the likelihood of needing unplanned postpartum care, even though treating mild CHTN showed some specific benefits.
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Background And Purpose: Schizencephaly is a rare brain anomaly which is increasingly detected in utero. There are limited data on the etiology and outcomes in fetal schizencephaly to guide workup and counselling. We aim to determine the associated imaging findings, etiology, and outcomes in schizencephaly detected in utero.

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Introduction: Effective, evidence-based obesity treatment is needed, which often involves use of anti-obesity medications (AOMs). Data on the breadth and quality of guideline-directed obesity treatment implementation in primary care remain limited. This study aimed to assess primary care clinicians' agreement with and knowledge of guideline-directed obesity treatment, as well as to assess the health status of persons with obesity and their use of AOMs.

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Background And Aims: Transplant success rates can increase when organs and tissues are matched within ethnic communities, but how well are the processes around organ donation understood by discrete ethnic communities in Australia? We investigated this in relation to one ethnic group, the Australian-Indian community in Sydney.

Methods: A culturally appropriate survey and dissemination strategy was co-created with Indian community members through an Advisory Panel. Items were informed by a thematic analysis of cultural beliefs shared through the advisory panel discussions and measured awareness and practices associated with organ donation and transplantation and beliefs about organ donation and registration.

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Background: The Chronic Hypertension and Pregnancy Study demonstrated that a target blood pressure of <140/90 mm Hg during pregnancy is associated with improved perinatal outcomes. Outside of pregnancy, pharmacologic therapy for patients with diabetes and hypertension is adjusted to a target blood pressure of <130/80 mm Hg. During pregnancy, patients with both diabetes and chronic hypertension may also benefit from tighter control with a target blood pressure <130/80 mm Hg.

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Objective: To compare differences in postpartum blood pressure (BP) control (BP below 140/90 mm Hg) for participants with hypertension randomized to receive antihypertensive treatment compared with no treatment during pregnancy.

Methods: This study was a planned secondary analysis of a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial (The CHAP [Chronic Hypertension and Pregnancy] trial). Pregnant participants with mild chronic hypertension (BP below 160/105 mm Hg) were randomized into two groups: active (antihypertensive treatment) or control (no treatment unless severe hypertension, BP 160/105 mm Hg or higher).

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Cells contain intricate protein nanostructures, but replicating them outside of cells presents challenges. One such example is the vertical fibronectin pillars observed in embryos. Here, we demonstrate the creation of cell-free vertical fibronectin pillar mimics using nonequilibrium self-assembly.

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  • - This study looked into how different MRI injury patterns in fetuses with intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH) relate to their causes and outcomes, using data from cases diagnosed between 1996 and 2022.
  • - Researchers analyzed 44 fetuses, noting that most IPH cases were supratentorial and often linked with conditions like twin-twin transfusion syndrome and certain genetic variants (COL4A1/2).
  • - The findings showed a high prevalence of neurological issues in surviving infants, with many developing cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and epilepsy, emphasizing the need for genetic evaluations in unexplained cases of fetal IPH.
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Neurodegenerative diseases are broadly hallmarked by impaired energy metabolism and toxic intracellular accumulations such as damaged organelles or reactive oxygen species (ROS). Gold nanoparticles readily cross the blood-brain barrier and increase nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide + hydrogen (NADH) oxidation to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), which is vital for intracellular energy generation, cellular repair, and protection from ROS. Thus, the use of gold nanoparticles to treat and potentially reverse cellular injury seen in neurodegenerative disease has been an area of ongoing research.

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Introduction: Dynamic interaction of cam and pincer deformities can result in pathological contact forces in femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome. Similar deformities were noted during acetabular fracture reconstruction. We hypothesise that the prevalence of FAI deformity is higher in patients sustaining acetabular fractures than in a control group.

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  • The family of journals showcases a diverse range of research topics across various fields, emphasizing collaborative work and interdisciplinary studies.
  • Each journal includes peer-reviewed articles that contribute valuable insights, fostering academic discussions and advancements in knowledge.
  • Recent highlights feature innovative research findings and notable contributions from leading experts, reflecting current trends and issues within the academic community.
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Background: In early-onset severe hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN), transplacental transfer of maternal antierythrocyte IgG alloantibodies causes fetal anemia that leads to the use of high-risk intrauterine transfusions in order to avoid fetal hydrops and fetal death. Nipocalimab, an anti-neonatal Fc receptor blocker, inhibits transplacental IgG transfer and lowers maternal IgG levels.

Methods: In an international, open-label, single-group, phase 2 study, we assessed treatment with intravenous nipocalimab (30 or 45 mg per kilogram of body weight per week) administered from 14 to 35 weeks' gestation in participants with pregnancies at high risk for recurrent early-onset severe HDFN.

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