Associations between specific and cumulative adverse childhood experiences, childhood obesity, and obesogenic behaviours.

: Individuals impacted by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are at greater risk of developing obesity, however, few studies have prospectively measured ACEs and obesity during childhood. Associations with the adoption of obesogenic behaviours during childhood, which directly contribute to obesity are also understudied.: To examine associations between individual and cumulative ACEs, obesity, and obesogenic behaviours during childhood.

Squamate reptiles may have compensated for the lack of γδTCR with a duplication of the TRB locus.

Squamate reptiles are amongst the most successful terrestrial vertebrate lineages, with over 10,000 species across a broad range of ecosystems. Despite their success, squamates are also amongst the least studied lineages immunologically. Recently, a universal lack of γδ T cells in squamates due to deletions of the genes encoding the T cell receptor (TCR) γ and δ chains was discovered.

Comparative study of a rabbit model of spinal tuberculosis using different concentrations of .

Background: Tuberculosis is among the most devastating infectious diseases worldwide. Spinal tuberculosis is not easy to detect at an early stage, which without effective treatment often leads to spinal deformity and spinal cord damage which in turn cause complications such as paraplegia and quadriplegia. In this study, we established a model using three concentrations of bacteria and carried out a comprehensive evaluation of the model by imaging, general observations, and histopathological and bacteriological studies.

Combined anterior and posterior miniscrews increase apical root resorption of maxillary incisors in protrusion and premolar extraction cases.

Objective: Miniscrews are commonly utilized as temporary anchorage devices (TADs) in cases of maxillary protrusion and premolar extraction. This study aimed to investigate the effects and potential side effects of two conventional miniscrew configurations on the maxillary incisors.

Methods: Eighty-two adult patients with maxillary dentoalveolar protrusion who had undergone bilateral first premolar extraction were retrospectively divided into three groups: non-TAD, two posterior miniscrews only (P-TADs), and two anterior and two posterior miniscrews combined (AP-TADs).

Remodeling the Proinflammatory Microenvironment in Osteoarthritis through Interleukin-1 Beta Tailored Exosome Cargo for Inflammatory Regulation and Cartilage Regeneration.

Osteoarthritis (OA) presents a significant therapeutic challenge, with few options for preserving joint cartilage and repairing associated tissue damage. Inflammation is a pivotal factor in OA-induced cartilage deterioration and synovial inflammation. Recently, exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HucMSCs) have gained recognition as a promising noncellular therapeutic modality, but their use is hindered by the challenge of harvesting a sufficient number of exosomes with effective therapeutic efficacy.

Assessing paediatric blood culture quality: surveys of clinician and laboratory practices in Australia and New Zealand.

Paediatric blood cultures are vital for the diagnosis of paediatric bloodstream infections. Quality of paediatric blood culture collection, processing and reporting depend on multiple factors, with a paucity of literature describing these in practice. We conducted separate surveys of clinicians and laboratory staff to assess quality standards and knowledge related to paediatric blood culture collection, analysis, and interpretation to identify improvement opportunities.

Modulating the Coordination Environment of Atomically Dispersed Nickel for Efficient Electrocatalytic CO Reduction at Low Overpotentials and Industrial Current Densities.

Electrocatalytic CO-to-CO conversion with a high CO Faradaic efficiency (FE) at low overpotentials and industrial-level current densities is highly desirable but a huge challenge over non-noble metal catalysts. Herein, graphitic N-rich porous carbons supporting atomically dispersed nickel (NiN-O sites with an axial oxygen) were synthesized (denoted as O-Ni-N-GC) and applied as the cathode catalyst in a CORR flow cell. O-Ni-N-GC showed excellent selectivity with a FE over 92% at low overpotentials ranging from 17 to 60 mV, and over 99% at 80 mV.

Long-term Mental Health Morbidity in Adult Survivors of COVID-19 Critical Illness - A Population-based Cohort Study.

Background: Survivorship after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) critical illness may be associated with important long-term sequelae, but little is known regarding mental health outcomes.

Research Question: What is the association between COVID-19 critical illness and new post-discharge mental health diagnoses.

Study Design: AND METHODS: We conducted a population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada (January 1, 2020-March 31, 2022).

Investigating the Relative Importance of Tear Homeostatic Signs for the Diagnosis of Dry Eye Disease.

Aim: Disease misdiagnosis is more likely if standardised diagnostic criteria are not used. This study systematically examined the effect on diagnosing dry eye disease (DED), when tests for evaluating tear film homeostasis were included/excluded from a multi-test protocol.

Method: For 1427 participants across five sites, data for the full suite of diagnostic tests defined in the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society Dry Eye Workshop II (TFOS DEWS II) Diagnostic Methodology report algorithm were evaluated; diagnostic sensitivity was calculated when individual signs were removed, and when different combinations of signs were required.

Surgical Helmet Systems do not reduce the incidence of periprosthetic joint infections in elbow arthroplasty. Results from the New Zealand National Joint Registry 2000-2023.

Hypothesis And Background: The incidence of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains high following elbow arthroplasty procedures. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Surgical Helmet Systems (SHS) reduce rates of PJI after elbow arthroplasty in a population-based registry study over a consecutive 23-year period. We hypothesized SHS would reduce the incidence of PJI compared with conventional surgical gowns following elbow arthroplasty surgery.

Semaglutide in obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and type 2 diabetes across baseline HbA levels (STEP-HFpEF DM): a prespecified analysis of heart failure and metabolic outcomes from a randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: About half of patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) have type 2 diabetes. In the STEP-HFpEF DM trial of adults with obesity-related HFpEF and type 2 diabetes, subcutaneous once weekly semaglutide 2·4 mg conferred improvements in heart failure-related symptoms and physical limitations, bodyweight, and other heart failure outcomes. We aimed to determine whether these effects of semaglutide differ according to baseline HbA.

Weaving the strands together for a stronger future: Responding to the mental health needs of Pacific children and young people.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to summarise the findings of a virtual workshop at the Creating Futures 2023 Conference held on October 18 with 45 participants attending from Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Cook Islands, Australia and New Zealand. Brief presentations about future mental health needs of Pacific children & young people were followed by small group discussions. These focussed on how island nation participants could "make it real" by considering actions to promote mental health and wellbeing in their communities.

Comparison of colorectal cancer surgery patients in intensive care between rural and metropolitan hospitals in Australia: a national cohort study.

Purpose: A small proportion of colorectal cancer (CRC) surgical patients will require an admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) within the early postoperative period. This study aimed to compare the characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted to an ICU following CRC surgery per hospital type (metropolitan vs. rural) over a decade in Australia.

Multi-stressor dynamics: Effects of marine heatwave stress and harmful algal blooms on juvenile mussel (Perna canaliculus) survival and physiology.

In New Zealand, the frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves (MHWs) and blooms of the harmful algal species, Alexandrium pacificum, are increasing in areas where there are natural reefs and commercial farms of the mussel, Perna canaliculus. In this study, we assessed the whole organism, tissue and molecular-level response of juvenile (spat) P. canaliculus exposed to these abiotic and biotic stressors, alone and together.

A cross-country network analysis of disease infodemics: Looking through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Infodemics surrounding pandemics and epidemics have persisted for centuries and continue to impede efforts to promote high vaccination coverage. We explored the complex interplay between COVID-19 vaccination attitudes and COVID-19-related infodemics across Germany, Ghana, India, and New Zealand using the novel network analysis. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey and recruited 1822 participants from the general populations of India (n = 411), New Zealand (n = 413), Ghana (n = 523), and Germany (n = 413) to complete COVID-19 infodemic measures and demographics questions.

A highly sensitive and fast-response fluorescence nanoprobe for in vivo imaging of hypochlorous acid.

Fluorescent probes for in vivo hypochlorous acid (HClO) imaging often face challenges of low selectivity and high cytotoxicity, largely due to poor analyte recognition and water-insoluble aromatic skeletons. To address this, we synthesized fluorescein hydrazide by introducing a spiro-lactam unit into fluorescein, which offers high emission intensity and molar absorption. The five-membered heterocycle in fluorescein hydrazide is selectively disrupted by HClO, enhancing the conjugated system and electron delocalization of the fluorophore, resulting in highly sensitive fluorescence detection of HClO.

The development of a discrete choice experiment: Investigating pharmacy selection in New Zealand.

Introduction: Discrete choice experiments (DCEs) provide a method for understanding preferences for service provision and there have been limited applications to the selection of community pharmacies. The validity and accuracy of DCEs rely upon the attributes and levels used. This paper aims to describe the development of a DCE investigating New Zealanders preferences for community pharmacies.

Principles for embedding learning and adaptation into New Zealand health system functioning: the example of the Viable System Model.

This article makes the case for taking a model-based management approach, specifically using the Viable System Model (VSM), to embed learning and adaptation into the New Zealand health system so it can function as a learning health system. We draw on a case study of a specialist clinical service where the VSM was used to guide semi-structured interviews and workshops with clinicians and managers and to guide analysis of the findings. The VSM analysis revealed a lack of clarity of organisational functioning, and of the systems, processes and integrated IT infrastructure necessary to support the fundamental requirements of a learning health system.

Prevalence, impact and management strategies for dysmenorrhea in Aotearoa New Zealand: a scoping review.

Background And Aim: Dysmenorrhea affects the majority of young women worldwide, but geographical and cultural differences can influence the reporting, impact and management of symptoms. Aotearoa New Zealand is a culturally diverse country, with a high proportion of Māori and Pacific peoples. The aim of this scoping review was to assess the current literature on the prevalence, impact and management strategies for dysmenorrhea in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Projected increases in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2020-2044.

Background: The prevalence of diabetes has been increasing in Aotearoa New Zealand by approximately 7% per year, and is three times higher among Māori and Pacific peoples than in Europeans. The depth of the diabetes epidemic, and the expansive breadth of services required for its management, elevate the need for high-quality evidence on the projected future burden of this complex disease.

Methods: In this manuscript we have projected the prevalence of diabetes (type 1 and type 2 combined) out to 2040-2044 using age-period-cohort modelling.

The prevalence of aortic stenosis in Māori undergoing clinically indicated echocardiography compared to New Zealand Europeans.

Aim: There are limited data on the prevalence of calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) in Māori and known inequities in outcomes after aortic valve intervention. Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence of CAVD in Māori.

Methods: Data from initial clinically indicated echocardiograms performed between 2010 to 2018 in patients aged ≥18 years were linked to nationally collected outcome data.

Support for and likely impacts of endgame measures in the Smokefree Aotearoa Action Plan: findings from the 2020-2021 International Tobacco Control New Zealand (EASE) surveys.

Aim: In February 2024, the Aotearoa New Zealand Government repealed legislation to mandate very low nicotine cigarettes (VLNCs), greatly reduce the number of tobacco retailers and disallow sale of tobacco products to people born after 2008 (smokefree generation). We investigated acceptability and likely impacts of these measures among people who smoke or who recently (≤2 years) quit smoking.

Method: We analysed data from 1,230 participants from Wave 3 (conducted in late 2020 and early 2021) and 615 participants from Wave 3.

How is the specialist-primary palliative care model functioning for cancer patients in the current New Zealand health system?

Aim: Patient barriers to accessing hospice and palliative care (PC) have been well studied. Important, yet less investigated, is how cancer patients whose hospice referrals were not accepted are being cared for. This article aims to understand the referral process from PC providers' perspectives and the implications of the current palliative system for patients, families and health professionals.