Documenting elimination of co-circulating COVID-19 clusters using genomics in New South Wales, Australia.

Objective: To adapt 'fishplots' to describe real-time evolution of SARS-CoV-2 genomic clusters.

Results: This novel analysis adapted the fishplot to depict the size and duration of circulating genomic clusters over time in New South Wales, Australia. It illuminated the effectiveness of interventions on the emergence, spread and eventual elimination of clusters and distilled genomic data into clear information to inform public health action.

Aboriginal dental assistants can safely apply fluoride varnish in regional, rural and remote primary schools in New South Wales, Australia.

Problem: There are significant inequalities in oral health status between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children in Australia, particularly where the children have insufficient access to various forms of fluoride. There has been a growing interest in seeing fluoride varnish programs used more widely for Aboriginal children due to proven effectiveness. Despite this, there has been limited scale-up of these programs in Australia.

Revealing COVID-19 transmission in Australia by SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing and agent-based modeling.

In January 2020, a novel betacoronavirus (family Coronaviridae), named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the etiological agent of a cluster of pneumonia cases occurring in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The disease arising from SARS-CoV-2 infection, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), subsequently spread rapidly causing a worldwide pandemic. Here we examine the added value of near real-time genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in a subpopulation of infected patients during the first 10 weeks of COVID-19 containment in Australia and compare findings from genomic surveillance with predictions of a computational agent-based model (ABM).

An emergent clade of SARS-CoV-2 linked to returned travellers from Iran.

The SARS-CoV-2 epidemic has rapidly spread outside China with major outbreaks occurring in Italy, South Korea, and Iran. Phylogenetic analyses of whole-genome sequencing data identified a distinct SARS-CoV-2 clade linked to travellers returning from Iran to Australia and New Zealand. This study highlights potential viral diversity driving the epidemic in Iran, and underscores the power of rapid genome sequencing and public data sharing to improve the detection and management of emerging infectious diseases.

The workforce outcomes of dental graduates from a metropolitan school 'Rural Clinical Placement Program' versus a 'Rural Clinical School'.

Introduction: This study compares the workplace decisions from University of Sydney (USYD) dental graduates who participated in a 1-month voluntary Rural Clinical Placement Program (RCPP), USYD graduates who did not participate in the RCPP (non-RCPP), and with graduates who qualified from a dental Rural Clinical School (RCS) at Charles Sturt University (CSU).

Methodology: From mid-2015, USYD students who graduated between 2009 and 2013, and CSU graduates from 2013 to 2014, were requested to complete a telephone interview related to employment choices. For USYD, 135 interviews were completed (63% of contactable graduates) and for CSU, 39 interviews (68%).

A collaboration with local Aboriginal communities in rural New South Wales, Australia to determine the oral health needs of their children and develop a community-owned oral health promotion program.

Introduction: As part of an oral health service for Aboriginal people in central northern New South Wales (NSW), Australia, oral health promotion was identified as a priority by the local Aboriginal community. The objective of this study was to collaborate with local Aboriginal communities to determine (1) the oral health needs of Aboriginal children aged 5-12 years, (2) the oral health knowledge and attitudes towards oral health of parents/guardians and (3) the perceived barriers and enablers towards oral health promotion for school children by local school staff and community health workers. The results of this collaboration will inform a community-owned oral health promotion program.

The efficacy of air polishing devices in supportive periodontal therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This systematic review analyzes existing literature on the clinical efficacy of air polishing devices (APDs), discussing the evidence-based data available for justifying their use as an alternative to conventional periodontal debridement in supportive periodontal therapy. The main objective of the review was to assess whether APD was as equally efficient or superior in obtaining successful treatment outcomes when compared with conventional methods.

Data Sources: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature search of articles in English, up to December 2016, was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane, and Medline.

Socioeconomic differences in the cost, availability and quality of healthy food in Sydney.

Objective: To compare the cost of a basket of staple foods, together with the availability and quality of fresh fruit and vegetables, by supermarket store type in high and low socioeconomic suburbs of Sydney.

Methods: A food basket survey was undertaken in 100 supermarkets in the 20 highest and 20 lowest socioeconomic suburbs of Sydney. We assessed the cost of 46 foods, the range of 30 fresh fruit and vegetables and the quality of ten fresh fruit and vegetables.

Lifestyle Changes After a Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective: Whether patients with type 2 diabetes change their lifestyle in response to their diagnosis and maintain behavior changes is unclear. This study aimed to ) compare changes in lifestyle behaviors among participants who were newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and those never diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and ) investigate changes in lifestyle behaviors in relation to the duration of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We used self-reported information from the New South Wales 45 and Up Study and a follow-up study.

Effectiveness of water fluoridation in the prevention of dental caries across adult age groups.

Background: Lifetime access to fluoridated water (FW) is associated with lower caries experience. However, assessing this association in adults is likely affected by age. Cohort stratification and categorization of per cent lifetime access to fluoridated water (% LAFW) within cohorts are current approaches to this assessment.

Effects of Distant Green Space on Physical Activity in Sydney, Australia.

Background: The aim was to investigate the association between distant green space and physical activity modified by local green space.

Methods: Information about physical activity, demographic and socioeconomic background at the individual level was extracted from the New South Wales Population Health Survey. The proportion of a postcode that was parkland was used as a proxy measure for access to parklands and was calculated for each individual.

A feasibility study using geographic access to general practices and routinely collected data in public health and health services research.

Background: Advances in geographic information systems (GIS) and increased availability of routinely collected data have the potential to contribute to public health and health services research. The aim of this feasibility study was to explore the use of GIS to measure access to general practices and its relationship to selected antenatal behaviours.

Methods: We obtained the Perinatal Data Collection, 2004-2008, for South Western Sydney Local Health District from the New South Wales Ministry of Health.

A 4-year assessment of a new water-fluoridation scheme in New South Wales, Australia.

Objective: To monitor the changes in dental caries prevalence of 5- to 7-year-old children living in a fluoridated area, a newly fluoridated area and in an area without water fluoridation, in NSW, Australia.

Methods: Dental caries prevalence was recorded for 5- to 7-year-old children, living in the three study locations, by six trained and calibrated examiners in 2008, 2010 and 2012. A questionnaire recorded demographic data, toothbrushing behaviour and sugary drink consumption.

The Dental Health of primary school children living in fluoridated, pre-fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities in New South Wales, Australia.

Background: The Local Government Area of Gosford implemented a water fluoridation scheme in 2008. Therefore the opportunity was taken to record the dental health of primary school children aged 5-7 years prior to the fluoridation and compare the results with other communities in NSW with different access to fluoridated water. The aim was to compare the oral health of New South Wales (Australia)s 5-7 year olds living in fluoridated, and non- fluoridated communities.

Oral health and risk factors for dental disease of Australian young people in custody.

Aim: To describe the prevalence and risk factors for markers of poor oral health in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal young people in custody in Australia.

Methods: All incarcerated youth, aged 13-21 years, in New South Wales Juvenile Custodial Centres between August and October 2009 were invited to participate and undertake a dental exam. The main outcome measures were an assessment of moderate/abundant plaque, periodontal disease, dental caries experience, mean decayed and/or filled and/or missing teeth (DMFT) index and untreated decay.

Factors associated with dental caries experience and oral health status among New South Wales adolescents.

Objective: To investigate the potential social and behavioural risk factors influencing the oral health of teenagers aged 14 and 15 years living in New South Wales Australia.

Methods: Quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used in this research project. Data were obtained from both the clinical and questionnaire components of the NSW Teen Dental Survey 2010 and were analysed in SAS 9.

Age-dependent changes in Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella species/phylotypes in healthy gingiva and inflamed/diseased sub-gingival sites.

Objectives: Early colonisation of oral surfaces by periodontal pathogens presents a significant risk factor for subsequent development of destructive disease affecting tissues that support the dentition. The aims of the present study were to establish the age-dependent relationship between sub-gingival profiles of 22 Prevotella species/phylotypes in children, adolescents and adults from an isolated Aboriginal community and, further, to use this information to identify Prevotella species that could serve as microbial risk indicators.

Materials And Methods: DNA isolated from sub-gingival plaque samples (three healthy sites and three inflamed/diseased sites) from adults, adolescents and children was screened for Porphyromonas gingivalis load and 22 Prevotella species/phylotypes by species-specific PCR.

Geospatial analyses to identify clusters of adverse antenatal factors for targeted interventions.

Background: Late antenatal care and smoking during pregnancy are two important factors that are amenable to intervention. Despite the adverse health impacts of smoking during pregnancy and the health benefits of early first antenatal visit on both the mother and the unborn child, substantial proportions of women still smoke during pregnancy or have their first antenatal visit after 10 weeks gestation. This study was undertaken to assess the usefulness of geospatial methods in identifying communities at high risk of smoking during pregnancy and timing of the first antenatal visit, for which targeted interventions may be warranted, and more importantly, feasible.

Risk factors for dental caries in small rural and regional Australian communities.

Introduction: Dental decay (caries) can cause pain, infection and tooth loss, negatively affecting eating, speaking and general health. People living in rural and regional Australian communities have more caries, more severe caries and more untreated caries than those in the city. The unique environmental conditions and population groups in these communities may contribute to the higher caries burden.

Neighbourhood safety and area deprivation modify the associations between parkland and psychological distress in Sydney, Australia.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate how perceived neighbourhood safety and area deprivation influenced the relationship between parklands and mental health.

Methods: Information about psychological distress, perceptions of safety, demographic and socio-economic background at the individual level was extracted from New South Wales Population Health Survey. The proportion of a postcode that was parkland was used as a proxy measure for access to parklands and was calculated for each individual.

A pre-and-post study of an urban renewal program in a socially disadvantaged neighbourhood in Sydney, Australia.

Background: Urban renewal programs aim to target both the physical and social environments to improve the social capital, social connectedness, sense of community and economic conditions of residents of the neighbourhoods. We evaluated the impact of an urban renewal program on the health and well-being of residents of a socially disadvantaged community in south-western Sydney, Australia.

Methods: Pre- and post-urban renewal program surveys were conducted with householders by trained interviewers.

Child Dental Health Survey 2007: a snapshot of the oral health status of primary school-aged children in NSW.

Objectives: The Child Dental Health Survey 2007 was commissioned to establish the oral health status of school children in NSW aged 5-12 years, to provide reliable regional oral health statistics and contribute to national population-based data collections.

Methods: A total of 7975 children were clinically examined at 107 public, catholic and independent schools across NSW.

Results: Key findings from the survey include: mean dmft for 5-6-year-olds of 1.

Veillonella rogosae sp. nov., an anaerobic, Gram-negative coccus isolated from dental plaque.

Strains of a novel anaerobic, Gram-negative coccus were isolated from the supra-gingival plaque of children. Independent strains from each of six subjects were shown, at a phenotypic level and based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, to be members of the genus Veillonella. Analysis revealed that the six strains shared 99.

Veillonella denticariosi sp. nov., isolated from human carious dentine.

Selective culture of human carious dentine for Veillonella strains resulted in the isolation of two strains of a Gram-negative, coccus-shaped bacterium that has not been described previously. Comparative 16S rRNA and dnaK gene sequence analysis indicated that the two strains were homogeneous and comprised a distinct lineage within the genus Veillonella, phylogenetically most closely related to Veillonella rodentium. This was supported by DNA-DNA hybridization, which showed clearly that the two strains were similar and distinct from other Veillonella species, and the production of major cellular fatty acids (C(13 : 0) and C(17 : 1)omega8), which is consistent with other members of the genus Veillonella.