Temporal dynamics in the composition of bird communities along a gradient of farmland restoration.

Revegetation plantings are a key activity in farmland restoration and are commonly assumed to support biotic communities that, with time, replicate those of reference habitats. Restoration outcomes, however, can be highly variable and difficult to predict; hence there is value in quantifying restoration success to improve future efforts. We test the expectation that, over time, revegetation will restore bird communities to match those in reference habitats; and assess whether specific planting attributes enhance restoration success.

Sensitivity of RT-PCR testing of upper respiratory tract samples for SARS-CoV-2 in hospitalised patients: a retrospective cohort study.

This study aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) testing of upper respiratory tract samples from hospitalised patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), compared to the gold standard of a clinical diagnosis. All RT-PCR testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in NHS Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom between the 7 of February and 19 April 2020 (inclusive) was reviewed, and hospitalised patients were identified. All upper respiratory tract RT-PCR tests were analysed for each patient to determine the sequence of negative and positive results.

Randomised controlled trial of nebulised gentamicin in children with bronchiectasis.

Aim: Following trials of inhaled antibiotics in adults, this study investigates the efficacy of nebulised gentamicin to improve respiratory function in children with bronchiectasis.

Methods: This is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of 12-week nebulised placebo/gentamicin, 6-week washout, 12-week gentamicin/placebo. Participants were children (5-15 years) with bronchiectasis, chronic infection (any pathogen), and able to perform spirometry from a hospital bronchiectasis clinic.

Assessment of Age and Duration of Symptoms on Outcomes of Emergency Scrotal Exploration for Acute Scrotal Pain.

Objective: To study the effects of age and duration of symptoms on the outcomes of scrotal explorations for acute scrotal pain at our institution.

Study Design: Case series.

Place And Duration Of Study: Bradford Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, from January 2006 to December 2017.

Effect of Monthly High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation on Acute Respiratory Infections in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Although adults with low vitamin D status are at increased risk of acute respiratory infection (ARI), randomized controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation have provided inconsistent results.

Methods: We performed a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of 5110 adults aged 50-84 years. In 2011-2012, participants were randomized to an initial oral dose of 200 000 IU vitamin D3 followed by 100 000 IU monthly (n = 2558) or placebo (n = 2552) until late 2013 (median follow-up, 1.

The association between vitamin D concentration and pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Pain-related conditions, such as chronic widespread pain and fibromyalgia, are major burdens for individuals and the health system. Evidence from previous research on the association between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations and pain is conflicting. Thus, we aimed to determine if there is an association between mean 25(OH)D concentration (primary aim), or proportion of hypovitaminosis D (secondary aim), and pain conditions in observational studies.

The combination of bed sharing and maternal smoking leads to a greatly increased risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy: the New Zealand SUDI Nationwide Case Control Study.

Background: Despite a major reduction in overall infant mortality, sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) continues to be of concern in New Zealand, as the rate is high by international standards, and is even higher in indigenous Māori.

Aim: To identify modifiable risk factors for SUDI.

Methods: A three-year (1 March 2012-28 February 2015) nationwide case-control study was conducted in New Zealand.

Body mass index and vigorous physical activity in children and adolescents: an international cross-sectional study.

Aim: To examine the relationship between reported vigorous physical activity (VPA) and body mass index (BMI) in children (6-7 years) and adolescents (13-14 years).

Methods: In the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase Three, 75 895 children's parents and 199 502 adolescents answered questions relating to VPA, height and weight. The association between VPA and BMI was analysed using general linear models, adjusting for country gross national index.

Effect of monthly high-dose vitamin D supplementation on falls and non-vertebral fractures: secondary and post-hoc outcomes from the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled ViDA trial.

Background: Adults with low concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) in blood have an increased risk of falls and fractures, but randomised trials of vitamin D supplementation have had inconsistent results. We aimed to assess the effect of high-dose vitamin D supplementation on fractures and falls.

Methods: The Vitamin D Assessment (ViDA) Study was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of healthy volunteers aged 50-84 years conducted at one centre in Auckland, New Zealand.

Electronic adherence monitoring device performance and patient acceptability: a randomized control trial.

Background: To investigate the performance and patient acceptability of an inhaler electronic monitoring device in a real-world childhood asthma population.

Methods: Children 6 to 15 years presenting with asthma to the hospital emergency department and prescribed inhaled corticosteroids were included. Participants were randomized to receive a device with reminder features enabled or disabled for use with their preventer.

Effect of Monthly High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation on Cardiovascular Disease in the Vitamin D Assessment Study : A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Cohort studies have reported increased incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among individuals with low vitamin D status. To date, randomized clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation have not found an effect, possibly because of using too low a dose of vitamin D.

Objective: To examine whether monthly high-dose vitamin D supplementation prevents CVD in the general population.

Habitat as a mediator of mesopredator-driven mammal extinction.

A prevailing view in dryland systems is that mammals are constrained by the scarcity of fertile soils and primary productivity. An alternative view is that predation is a primary driver of mammal assemblages, especially in Australia, where 2 introduced mesopredators-feral cat (Felis catus) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes)-are responsible for severe declines of dryland mammals. We evaluated productivity and predation as drivers of native mammal assemblage structure in dryland Australia.

Factors associated with medication adherence in school-aged children with asthma.

Adherence to preventive asthma treatment is poor, particularly in children, yet the factors associated with adherence in this age group are not well understood. Adherence was monitored electronically over 6 months in school-aged children who attended a regional emergency department in New Zealand for an asthma exacerbation and were prescribed twice-daily inhaled corticosteroids. Participants completed questionnaires including assessment of family demographics, asthma responsibility and learning style.

Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: There is conflicting evidence from previous qualitative reviews on the effect of vitamin D supplementation on pain.

Objective: To determine with quantitative methods if vitamin D supplementation lowers pain levels.

Study Design: Quantitative meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria, and kidney stones in long-term studies of vitamin D supplementation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Vitamin D supplementation is increasingly being used in higher doses in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, adverse events from very large annual doses of vitamin D have been shown in 2 RCTs, whereas in a third RCT, low-dose vitamin D, with calcium supplements, was shown to increase kidney stone risk.

Objective: We analyzed the side effects related to calcium metabolism in RCTs, specifically hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria, and kidney stones, in participants who were given vitamin D supplements for ≥24 wk compared with in subjects in the placebo arm.

Sun exposure and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in a community sample: Quantifying the association with electronic dosimeters.

There is uncertainty about the amount of sun exposure required to increase low blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels, a possible disease risk factor. The study aimed to quantify the association between sun exposure and serum 25(OH)D concentrations in a multiethnic community sample (n=502) living in Auckland (37°S) and Dunedin (46°S), New Zealand, aged 18-85 years. They wore electronic ultraviolet dosimeters between March and November (autumn, winter and spring) for 8 weeks to record their sun exposure.

Does urban extent from satellite images relate to symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in children? A cross-sectional study from ISAAC Phase Three.

Objective: The relationship between urbanisation and the symptom prevalence of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema is not clear, and varying definitions of urban extent have been used. Furthermore, a global analysis has not been undertaken. This study aimed to determine whether the symptom prevalence of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in centres involved in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) were higher in urban than rural centres, using a definition of urban extent as land cover from satellite data.

Factors associated with photoprotection by body clothing coverage, particularly in non-summer months, among a New Zealand community sample.

Clothing coverage is important for reducing skin cancer risk, but may also influence vitamin D sufficiency, so associated plausible predictors require investigation. Volunteers (18 to 85 years), with approximately equal numbers by sex and four ethnicity groups, were recruited in cities from two latitude bands: Auckland (36.9°S) and Dunedin (45.

Discovery of the Aryl-phospho-indole IDX899, a Highly Potent Anti-HIV Non-nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor.

Here, we describe the design, synthesis, biological evaluation, and identification of a clinical candidate non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) with a novel aryl-phospho-indole (APhI) scaffold. NNRTIs are recommended components of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for the treatment of HIV-1. Since a major problem associated with NNRTI treatment is the emergence of drug resistant virus, this work focused on optimization of the APhI against clinically relevant HIV-1 Y181C and K103N mutants and the Y181C/K103N double mutant.

Maternal post-natal tobacco use and current parental tobacco use is associated with higher body mass index in children and adolescents: an international cross-sectional study.

Background: We investigated whether maternal smoking in the first year of life or any current parental smoking is associated with childhood or adolescent body mass index (BMI).

Methods: Secondary analysis of data from a multi-centre, multi-country, cross-sectional study (ISAAC Phase Three). Parents/guardians of children aged 6-7 years completed questionnaires about their children's current height and weight, whether their mother smoked in the first year of the child's life and current smoking habits of both parents.