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Research
Pneumococcal carriage, serotype distribution, and antimicrobial susceptibility in Papua New Guinean children vaccinated with PCV10 or PCV13 in a head-to-head trialChildren in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are at high risk of pneumococcal infections. We investigated pneumococcal carriage rates, serotype distribution, and antimicrobial susceptibility in PNG children after vaccination with 10-valent or 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV10; PCV13).
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Neuropsychological profiles of adolescents sentenced to detention in Western Australia with and without prenatal alcohol exposureYouth with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) are under-recognised in the justice system, warranting improved identification. This study aimed to compare neuropsychological profiles of adolescents, with and without PAE and identify neuropsychological tasks predictive of PAE-group membership. It was hypothesised that participants with PAE would score significantly lower on neuropsychological tests.
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Navigating complexity to support justice-involved youth with FASD and other neurodevelopmental disabilities: needs and challenges of a regional workforceYoung people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) can face significant challenges in their lives, including overrepresentation in the justice system from a young age. Police questioning and court proceedings can be difficult for these young people to navigate. Practice and policy responses are necessary to identify these individuals, provide appropriate support/rehabilitation, and upskill the justice workforce. The aim of this research was to determine the unmet workforce development needs of a regional workforce providing care and support to youth involved with the justice system.
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Exploring quality of life in individuals with a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, CDKL5 Deficiency DisorderCDKL5 Deficiency Disorder (CDD) is a rare genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) gene. It is now considered to be a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy because of the early onset of seizures in association with severe global delay. Other features include cortical visual impairment, sleep and gastro-intestinal problems. Progress in clinical understanding, especially regarding the spectrum of functional ability, seizure patterns, and other comorbidities was initially slow but accelerated in 2012 with the establishment of the International CDKL5 Database (ICDD). Our aim was to use this data source to investigate quality of life (QOL) and associated factors in this disorder.
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Identifying how the principles of self-determination could be applied to create effective alcohol policy for First Nations Australians: Synthesising the lessons from the development of general public policyHarmful alcohol consumption contributes to poorer health for all people. For Indigenous Peoples of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand alcohol impacts their wellbeing significantly, this is partially explained by both their experiences of colonisation and the resulting impact on structural and social determinants of health. Indigenous Peoples have a recognised right to self-determination, which includes their right to contribute to policy decisions that affect them.
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The effect of functioning on Quality of Life Inventory-Disability measured quality of life is not mediated or moderated by parental psychological distressThe measurement of quality of life (QOL) in children with intellectual disability often relies upon proxy report via caregivers. The current study investigated whether caregiver psychological distress mediates or moderates the effects of impairment on their ratings of QOL in children with intellectual disability.
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Unraveling the Optimum Latent Structure of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Evidence Supporting ICD and HiTOP FrameworksAttention Deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is conceptualized differently in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), the International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10), and the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) frameworks. This study applied independent cluster confirmatory factor analysis (ICM-CFA), exploratory structure equation model with target rotation (ESEM), and the S-1 bi-factor CFA approaches to evaluate seven ADHD models yielded by different combinations of these taxonomic frameworks.
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Characteristics of non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal children and families with substantiated child maltreatmentTo investigate specific child and parental factors associated with increased vulnerability to substantiated child maltreatment.
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Impact of scoliosis surgery on activities of daily living in females with Rett syndromeScoliosis is a common orthopaedic complication of Rett syndrome, and surgery is commonly used to reduce asymmetry in cases with severe scoliosis.
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CDKL5 variants: Improving our understanding of a rare neurologic disorderProviding new insights into the interpretation of genetic variants in a rare neurologi disorder, in the contexts of population sequencing data.