Exploring the interface of religion, infertility and assisted reproduction: experiences of Pacific Christian adults in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Religion contributes to the identity, well-being, and life satisfaction of many people globally, however, its traditional stance on infertility and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) can conflict with individuals' personal reproductive aspirations and desire for a family. As the fertility rates of certain ethnic and religious groups decline, it is essential to discuss the interface between religion, infertility and ART, to understand how to best navigate the infertility journeys of proclaimed Christians. This article contextualises this discussion in the experiences of eight Pacific Christian adults living with infertility and/or accessing ART in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Evaluating Hepatitis B Screening During Pregnancy: A Study on Diagnostic Accuracy and Infection Control in Nigeria.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a critical public health issue in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly among pregnant women in Nigeria. Routine screening using rapid diagnostic kits is common in antenatal care, yet the accuracy of these tests can vary. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalencwe of HBV among pregnant women who had previously undergone screening using rapid diagnostic kits at Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital, Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria, to assess the effectiveness of initial screening and identify any missed cases.

In vivo simultaneous proton resonance frequency shift thermometry and single reference variable flip angle T measurements.

Purpose: The single reference variable flip angle sequence with a multi-echo stack of stars acquisition (SR-VFA-SoS) simultaneously measures temperature change using proton resonance frequency (PRF) shift and T-based thermometry methods. This work evaluates SR-VFA-SoS thermometry in MR-guided focused ultrasound in an in vivo rabbit model.

Methods: Simultaneous PRF shift thermometry and T-based thermometry were obtained in a New Zealand white rabbit model (n = 7) during MR-guided focused ultrasound surgery using the SR-VFA-SoS sequence at 3 T.

Gross Motor Development in Children With Autism: Longitudinal Trajectories From the Growing Up in New Zealand Study.

This study explored gross motor development (GMD) trajectories among 6359 children, with and without autism, from the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal cohort study. By the age of 8, 173 children had either an autism diagnosis (n = 108) or parent-reported autism concerns (n = 65). Gross motor milestones were reported by mothers when children were 9, 24, and 54 months of age.

Predictors of glycaemic improvement in children and young adults with type 1 diabetes and very elevated HbA1c using the MiniMed 780G system.

Aims: This study aimed to identify key factors with the greatest influence on glycaemic outcomes in young individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and very elevated glycaemia after 3 months of automated insulin delivery (AID).

Materials And Methods: Data were combined and analysed from two separate and previously published studies with similar inclusion criteria assessing AID (MiniMed 780G) efficacy among young individuals naïve to AID (aged 7-25 years) with glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥69 mmol/mol (≥8.5%).

Breadth versus depth of knowledge: the need for new model trematode species.

The growth of knowledge and research practices in any discipline is characterised by a trade-off between depth and breadth: we can either invest efforts to learn a little about many things, or learn a lot about few things. In parasitology, breadth of knowledge corresponds to research on biodiversity and taxonomy: the discovery and description of an increasing number of new species. In contrast, depth of knowledge comes from focused research on a few model species, about which we accumulate much detailed information.

Transferrin Saturation, Serum Iron, and Ferritin in Heart Failure: Prognostic Significance and Proteomic Associations.

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) is currently defined as a serum ferritin level <100 or 100 to 299 ng/mL with transferrin saturation (TSAT) <20%. Serum ferritin and TSAT are currently used to define absolute and functional ID. However, individual markers of iron metabolism may be more informative than current arbitrary definitions of ID.

Burden of mental disorders and risk factors in the Western Pacific region from 1990 to 2021.

Background: The burden of mental disorders (MD) in the Western Pacific Region (WPR) remains a critical public health concern, with substantial variations across demographics and countries.

Aim: To analyze the burden of MD in the WPR from 1990 to 2021, along with associated risk factors, to reveal changing trends and emerging challenges.

Methods: We used data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021, analyzing prevalence, incidence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of MD from 1990 to 2021.

The Role of Local and Upstream Colonisation in Determining Stream Periphyton Metacommunity Assemblages.

Stream periphyton is an ideal study system for explaining how dispersal shapes community patterns. Few studies have tried to investigate periphyton metacommunities at the reach scale, and studies comparing local versus upstream periphyton propagule sources are lacking. We aimed to address these knowledge gaps by disentangling environmental constraints and dispersal sources, including dispersal hypotheses related to periphyton functional guilds.

A novel non-invasive murine model for rapidly testing drug activity via inhalation administration against .

The efficacy of many compounds against is often limited when administered via conventional oral or injection routes due to suboptimal pharmacokinetic characteristics. Inhalation-based delivery methods have been investigated to achieve high local therapeutic doses in the lungs. However, previous models, typically employing wild-type strains, were intricate, time-consuming, labor-intensive, and with poor reproducibility.

Introducing subgen. a new and very small lineage sharing with () an identical, largely circum-Pacific distribution pattern.

The application of DNA data on a worldwide sampling has revolutionized the infrageneric classification of the highly diverse ectomycorrhizal genus . Based on collections made in New Zealand, East Asia and North America, this study describes a new subgenus , the ninth subgenus of . Even though BLASTn of the ITS sequences suggested affinities with species of subgenera and the phylogenetic analysis based on a five-locus DNA dataset placed the target samples in an independent major clade that is taxonomically equivalent to subgenus.

Historical cultures provide insights into the taxonomy of .

Species morphologically typical of the genus are phylogenetically diverse, spread throughout . Phylogenetic studies based on DNA sequences have revealed the polyphyletic nature of the morphologically defined genus, the type species forming a clade phylogenetically distinct from all other sequenced species that had been placed in the genus. Some of the phylogenetic clades containing species can be distinguished on the basis of their asexual morphs.

D,L-3-hydroxybutyrate in the treatment of glucose transporter 1 deficiency syndrome (Glut1DS).

Background: Deficiency of the Glut1 transporter due to mono-allelic variants in causes hypoglycorrhachia, resulting in a neurological spectrum from neonatal epilepsy to adult-onset paroxysmal movement disorders (PMD). The brain utilises ketone bodies as an alternative energy source to glucose. Thus, early initiation of the ketogenic diet (KD) is standard care for Glut1 deficiency syndrome (Glut1DS).

Meta-analyses of the effects of high-intensity interval training in elite athletes-part I: mean effects on various performance measures.

Introduction: Meta-analysts have found that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) improves physical performance, but limited evidence exists regarding its effects on highly trained athletes, measures beyond maximum oxygen uptake ( O), and the moderating effects of different types of HIIT. In this study, we present meta-analyses of the effects of HIIT focusing on these deficits.

Methods: The effects of 6 types of HIIT and other moderators were derived from 34 studies involving highly trained endurance and elite athletes in percent units via log-transformation from separate meta-regression mixed models for sprint, time-trial, aerobic/anaerobic threshold, peak speed/power, repeated-sprint ability, O, and exercise economy.

Accuracy and distribution of baseline categorical variables and -values in spine randomized controlled trials.

Levayer and colleagues assessed integrity issues in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in four spine journals using baseline -values from categorical variables, concluding that there was no evidence of 'systemic fraudulent behaviour'. We used their published dataset to assess the accuracy of reported -values and whether observed and expected distributions of frequency counts and -values were consistent. In 51 out of 929 (5.

J. G. A. Pocock: A Life in Letters.

A memoir of J. G. A.

Resistance to the herbicides haloxyfop and iodosulfuron is common in commercial ryegrass (Lolium) seed lines.

Background: Ryegrass (Lolium spp.) is a key forage providing a $14 billion contribution to New Zealand's gross domestic product (GDP). However, ryegrass can also act as a weed and evolve resistance to herbicides used for its control.

Long-term effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass versus sleeve gastrectomy on reflux and Barrett's oesophagus: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a potentially refluxogenic operation while Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (LRYGB) is regarded as an anti-reflux procedure. The aim of this study is to compare long-term incidence of Barrett's Oesophagus (BO) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) following LSG and LRYGB.

Methods: Participants of a double-blinded randomized controlled trial comparing banded LRYGB and LSG for remission of type 2 diabetes were contacted to take part.

Evaluating the scientific evidence to support mental health and well-being claims made on probiotic products.

Background: Increasing interest in probiotics for mental health has led to products marketed to consumers claiming psychological benefits. This study aimed to identify mental health claims on probiotic supplements and to provide a narrative review of the scientific evidence to support these claims.

Methods: Probiotic supplements with mental health claims on the product label were identified.

Cannabis legalization: a call for the integration of main health and crime indicator domains towards comprehensive policy impact assessments.

Several jurisdictions have implemented legalization policies for non-medical cannabis, mainly towards improving public health and reducing illegal cannabis markets and crime. As some legalization initiatives are approaching maturity, conducting policy impact assessments has become timely. Emerging data, however, suggest rather mixed pictures for key outcomes and indicators.

Efficient Photocatalytic Propane Direct Dehydrogenation to Propylene Over PtO Clusters.

The direct dehydrogenation of alkanes to olefins under mild conditions is challenging due to the inert nature of alkyl C─H bonds. Herein, an efficient photocatalytic system is developed for propane direct dehydrogenation (PDH) to propylene, consisting of ≈1.30 nm sized PtO clusters immobilized on a layered double hydroxide -derived ZnO/AlO support (LD-Pt).

Global trends in the revision of nutrient reference values and formulations for infants and toddlers.

Background And Objectives: Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) play an important role in nutrition labeling and nutrition and health claims based on scientific data. This study, with a global perspective, reviewed recent trends in NRVs for adults and their establishment for infants and toddlers.

Methods And Study Design: We searched for laws and regulations on official government websites for nutrition labeling in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, South Korea, Japan, the Codex Committee, and the European Union.