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Quicker team launch times for urgent priority neonatal retrievals: A Quality Improvement Initiative study

Neonatal retrieval networks have adopted time-centric quality metrics as Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for setting and comparing benchmarking standards. Quicker launch time (departure from base), an essential KPI, enables neonatal retrieval teams to rapidly provide higher-level care to sick infants. The Newborn Emergency Transport Services of Western Australia (NETS WA) facilitates neonatal transfers across largest global retrieval area necessitating quicker team launch times for urgent retrievals. NETS WA conducted a quality improvement (QI) study to quicken team launch times for urgent retrievals.

Psychometric evaluation of the Comprehensive Autistic Trait Inventory in autistic and non-autistic adults

Measures of autistic traits are only useful – for pre-diagnostic screening, exploring individual differences, and gaining personal insight – if they efficiently and accurately assess autism as currently conceptualised while maintaining psychometric validity across different demographic groups. We recruited 1322 autistic and 1279 non-autistic adults who varied in autism status (non-autistic, diagnosed autistic, self-identifying autistic) and gender (cisgender men, cisgender women, gender diverse) to assess the psychometric properties of the Comprehensive Autistic Trait Inventory, a recently developed measure of autistic traits that examines six trait domains using 42 self-report statements.

Impact of vaccine mandates and removals on COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Australia and international comparators: a study protocol

Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 was a crucial public health measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the multiple strategies developed to increase vaccine uptake, governments often employed vaccine mandates. However, little evidence exists globally about the impact of these mandates and their subsequent removal on vaccine uptake, including in Australia, France, Italy and the USA.

Realising the potential impact of artificial intelligence for rare diseases – A framework

Rare diseases (RD) are conditions affecting fewer than 1 in 2000 persons, with over 7000 largely genetic RDs affecting 3.5 %-5.9 % of the global population, or approximately 262.9–446.2 million people. The substantial healthcare burden and costs, such as the $1 trillion annual expense in the USA, highlight the urgent need for improved RD management. The International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) addresses this need through global collaboration, aiming for timely and accurate diagnosis, development of 1000 new therapies, and methodologies to measure impact by 2027.

Pandemic preparedness needs for children with rare diseases and their families: A perspective of COVID-19 experiences

People living with rare diseases had a high risk of negative health outcomes due to COVID-19. Pandemic preparedness will ensure best practice procedures and optimal outcomes during future pandemic events. This paper sought to understand the needs of children with rare diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic to inform preparation for future pandemic and disaster events. First, impacts and outcomes from the COVID-19 pandemic on people living with rare disease were identified in the literature.

Validation and Comparison of Pediatric Appendicitis Scores and Management Strategies (Project SPASMS): Protocol for a Prospective Multicenter Observational Study

Abdominal pain is a common reason for children to attend the Emergency Department (ED) with acute appendicitis being the most common surgical cause. Various clinical prediction scores (CPSs) have been developed to assist in determining the risk of appendicitis; however, CPSs have been inadequately validated in children and haphazardly adopted in Australia and New Zealand EDs.

Perceived stress in mothers of children with and without islet and coeliac autoimmunity in the ENDIA study

We aimed to assess perceived stress and influencing factors in mothers with children at risk of type 1 diabetes and coeliac disease who did, or did not, develop islet autoantibodies or coeliac autoantibodies by 4 years of age.

Socio-economic inequality underpins inequity in influenza vaccination uptake between public and private secondary schools: an Australian population-based study

Socio-economic inequality and vaccination inequity have long been critical issues. However, no studies have explored the gap in influenza vaccination uptake between public and private schools. Importantly, the extent to which socio-economic inequality translates into vaccination uptake inequity has not been quantified.

A New Era for PPARγ: Covalent Ligands and Therapeutic Applications

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a prominent ligand-inducible transcription factor involved in adipocyte differentiation, glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and cell proliferation, making it a therapeutic target for diabetes, metabolic syndrome, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. 

Global, Regional, and National Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases and Risk Factors in 204 Countries and Territories, 1990-2023

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality and are among the foremost causes of disability globally. CVD burden has continued to increase in most countries since 1990, with trends driven by changing exposures to harmful risk factors, population growth, and population aging.