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Research

Child anthropometric deficits remain a major public health problem in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and are a key target of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs recommend disaggregation of health indicators by ethnic group. However, few studies have assessed how ethnicity is associated with anthropometric deficits across SSA.

Research

Bhutan has achieved a substantial reduction in both malaria morbidity and mortality over the last two decades and is aiming for malaria elimination certification in 2025. However, a significant percentage of malaria cases in Bhutan are imported (acquired in another country). The aim of the study was to understand how importation drives local malaria transmission in Bhutan.

Research

Influenza vaccination is recommended for pregnant women, offering the dual benefit of protecting pregnant women and their newborn infants against influenza. This study aimed to investigate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on influenza vaccine responses in pregnant women and their newborns. 

Research

From the results of well-performed population health studies, we now have excellent data demonstrating that deficits in adult lung function may be present early in life, possibly as a result of developmental disorders, incurring a lifelong risk of obstructive airway diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 

Research

Background: Signs of clinical deterioration may appear differently in children with dark-coloured skin. How to assess children in this cohort is currently poorly defined. Aim: To explore available information on the assessment of clinical deterioration in children with dark-coloured skin and identify research deficits.

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Mycobacteroides abscessus (MABS) is within the non-tuberculous mycobacteria family. It inhabits soil and water, exhibits multi-antibiotic resistance and causes opportunistic lung infections, which may progress to symptomatic MABS-pulmonary disease (MABS-PD) associated with substantial morbidity, increased healthcare utilisation, impaired quality of life and increased mortality. 

Research

Influenza vaccines are important for reducing the burden of influenza, particularly for populations at risk of more severe infections. Obesity is associated with increased influenza severity and therefore individuals with obesity are often specifically recommended for annual influenza vaccination. Obesity is also associated with an altered inflammatory profile, which may influence vaccine responses. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the evidence for any association between obesity and influenza vaccine immunogenicity.

Research

Humidified high flow (HHF) oxygen is increasingly used to treat acute respiratory illnesses in children; however, use during aeromedical transfer is not well described. This was a retrospective cohort study. Children who were transferred from rural locations and were initiated on HHF prior to transfer between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2018 were identified from the Royal Flying Doctors Service database. Clinical variables prior to transfer, during flight and after transfer were collected from medical records and flight records. 

Research

Gram-negative bacterial infections remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children and neonates globally, compounded by the rise of antimicrobial resistance. Barriers to paediatric antibiotic licencing lead to reduced availability of potentially effective agents for treatment. For children and neonates in the Oceania region, specific challenges remain including a paucity of surveillance data on local rates of antimicrobial resistance, and lack of availability of newer, more costly agents.

Research

Background: Conventional video-electroencephalography (cEEG) is the reference standard for diagnosing and managing neonatal seizures. However, continuous bedside cEEG services are not available in most neonatal units. Hence, an alternative and relatively simple method called amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG), which uses a limited number of scalp electrodes, has become popular. aEEG allows continuous bedside monitoring of the electrical activity of the brain in neonates.