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Breastfeeding and early child development: A prospective cohort studyBreastfeeding has been associated with multiple developmental advantages for the infant; however, there have also been a number of studies that find...
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The effects of breast-feeding duration on language ability to middle childhoodModern societies are challenged by "wicked problems" - by definition, those that are difficult to define, multi-casual and hard to treat.
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Randomised controlled trial analysing supplementation with 250 versus 500 units of vitamin D3,The rate of non-compliance with vitamin D supplementation is as high as 45%. This is why randomised controlled trials are needed to analyse the response...
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Modern and traditional diets for Noongar infantsBreast- & bottle-feeding patterns & the introduction of solid feeds & sugar containing drinks to the dietary intake of a cohort of urban Aboriginal infants
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Breastfeeding duration and academic achievement at ten yearsThe aim of this study was to examine the relationship between duration of breastfeeding and educational outcomes.
News & Events
RSV vaccine for pregnant women provides protection for babies: studyA world-first study has found a new vaccine against potentially deadly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is safe and effective for use in pregnant women, to help protect their babies.
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Food variety at 2 years of age is related to duration of breastfeedingThe aim of this study was to investigate the association of breastfeeding duration and food variety at 2 years of age.
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A study to prolong breastfeeding duration: Design and rationale of the Parent Infant Feeding Initiative (PIFI) randomised controlled trial.This study aimed to measure the effectiveness of three interventions designed to increase the duration of breastfeeding among new parents in urban areas.
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Predictors of breastfeeding duration for rural women in a high-income country: Evidence from a cohort studyDespite high breastfeeding initiation rates in Australia, few mothers exclusively breastfeed their infants to six months. This is particularly evident in...
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Designing evaluation plans for health promotion mHealth interventions: A case study of the Milk Man mobile appAn evaluation planning approach for mHealth interventions that could be adapted for use by health promotion practitioners and researchers
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RSV prevention finally in reach after 20 years of research at The Kids Research Institute AustraliaWorld-first immunisations providing protection against deadly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) could be just months away thanks to global research efforts spanning multiple decades.
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Allergen shedding in human milk: Could it be key for immune system education and allergy prevention?In addition to being a source of nutrients for the developing newborn, human milk contains thousands of bioactive compounds, which influence infant health in the short-term as exemplified by its major benefits on infectious disease prevention. Many of the human milk compounds also have the required characteristics to instruct immune development and guide long-term health.
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“We've wanted to vaccinate against it and now we can”: views of respiratory syncytial virus disease and immunisation held by caregivers of Aboriginal children in Perth, Western AustraliaRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of respiratory infection with a higher burden in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants and children. We conducted a pilot qualitative study identifying disease knowledge and willingness to immunise following the changing immunisation landscape for infant RSV in 2024.
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Clinical outcomes and severity of laboratory-confirmed RSV compared with influenza, parainfluenza and human metapneumovirus in Australian children attending secondary careAcute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) are a major contributor to the global infectious disease burden and a common cause of hospitalisation for children under 2 years. We compared clinical severity in children hospitalised with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and influenza virus (IFV).
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Novel coenzyme Q6 genetic variant increases susceptibility to pneumococcal diseaseAcute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) remains a major worldwide cause of childhood mortality, compelling innovation in prevention and treatment. Children in Papua New Guinea (PNG) experience profound morbidity from ALRI caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. As a result of evolutionary divergence, the human PNG population exhibits profound genetic variation and diversity. To address unmet health needs of children in PNG, we tested whether genetic variants increased ALRI morbidity.
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The Changing Detection Rate of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Adults in Western Australia between 2017 and 2023The incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in adults is inadequately defined and the impact of SARS-CoV-2-related non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) is underexplored. Using laboratory data, we described the detection rate of RSV in adults ≥16 years in Western Australia (WA) between 2017 and 2023.
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Head-to-Head Comparison Between Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Human Metapneumovirus Bronchiolitis in the Setting of Increased Viral TestingWe compared the epidemiology, severity and management of hospitalized respiratory syncytial virus (n = 305) and human metapneumovirus (n = 39) bronchiolitis in a setting with high respiratory virus testing (95% of admissions tested). Respiratory syncytial virus-positive infants were younger and tended to require more hydration support and longer hospital stays compared to human metapneumovirus-positive infants. Respiratory support requirements were similar between groups despite significant age differences.
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Pragmatic Adaptive Trial for Respiratory Infection in Children (PATRIC) Clinical Registry protocolAcute respiratory infections (ARI) are the most common cause of paediatric hospitalisation. There is an urgent need to address ongoing critical knowledge gaps in ARI management. The Pragmatic Adaptive Trial for Respiratory Infections in Children (PATRIC) Clinical Registry will evaluate current treatments and outcomes for ARI in a variety of paediatric patient groups.
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In Vivo Evidence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Persistence in a Subset of Pulmonary Dendritic Cells Following a Primary InfectionRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes annual epidemics of infections affecting the whole population. In vitro, it has been shown to infect and persist in human dendritic cells (DCs) for prolonged periods. Initially persistence is associated with low levels of replication before the virus becomes dormant. Reactivation of viral replication can be triggered many months later.
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa modulates neutrophil granule exocytosis in an in vitro model of airway infectionA population of neutrophils recruited into cystic fibrosis (CF) airways is associated with proteolytic lung damage, exhibiting high expression of primary granule exocytosis marker CD63 and reduced phagocytic receptor CD16. Causative factors for this population are unknown, limiting intervention. Here we present a laboratory model to characterize responses of differentiated airway epithelium and neutrophils following respiratory infection.