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House dust mite induced lung inflammation does not alter circulating vitamin D levelsWe hypothesized that allergic inflammation decreases the level of circulating 25(OH)D and tested this using a mice model of house dust mite (HDM) induced...
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Reversible Control by Vitamin D of Granulocytes and Bacteria in the Lungs of Mice: An Ovalbumin-Induced Model of Allergic Airway DiseaseVitamin D may be essential for restricting the development and severity of allergic diseases and asthma, but a direct causal link between vitamin D...

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Nine out of ten young people in detention found to have severe neuro-disabilityNine out of ten incarcerated youth examined by The Kids researchers as part of a ground-breaking study had some form of neuro-disability.
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Characteristics associated with clinical severity and inflammatory phenotype of naturally occurring virus-induced exacerbations of asthma in adultsType 2 inflammation is present in patients during virus-induced asthma exacerbations, to the same degree as non-viral exacerbations
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Pulmonary delivery of virosome-bound antigen enhances antigen-specific CD4+ T cell proliferation compared to liposome-bound or soluble antigenPulmonary administration of biomimetic nanoparticles loaded with antigen may represent an effective strategy to directly modulate adaptive immune responses

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New national tool to help improve FASD diagnosisExpected to shine a light on hidden harm from alcohol use during pregnancy, Australia’s first national FASD diagnostic tool has been developed by the Institute.
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Chronic cat allergen exposure induces a Th2 cell-dependent IgG4 response related to low sensitizationThis study evaluated the relationship between cat allergen–specific biomarkers in adults with cat allergy with and without cat ownership.
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Elucidation of pathways driving asthma pathogenesis: Development of a systems-level analytic strategyWhereas asthma was rare in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the marked increase in its incidence and prevalence since the 1960s points to substantial gene ×...

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National FASD diagnostic tool to improve outcomes for kidsAustralia's first national diagnostic tool for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) has been developed by researchers at The Kids Research Institute Australia and the U
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Overlapping Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis household transmission and mobile genetic element exchangeStreptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis and Streptococcus pyogenes share skin and throat niches with extensive genomic homology and horizontal gene transfer possibly underlying shared disease phenotypes.
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Restricted aeroallergen access to airway mucosal dendritic cells in vivo limits allergen-specificChronic innocuous aeroallergen exposure attenuates CD4+ T cell-mediated airways hyperresponsiveness in mice; however, the mechanism(s) remain unclear

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New test for FASDEarly intervention in child development problems caused by alcohol use in pregnancy has been made possible by The Kids Research Institute Australia’s work
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Persistent activation of interlinked type 2 airway epithelial gene networks in sputum-derived cells from aeroallergen-sensitized symptomatic asthmaticsOur findings provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms operative at baseline in the airway mucosa in atopic asthmatic with natural aeroallergen exposure
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Greater justice for people with FASDA study of the Western Australian justice system has identified that 85% of staff say responding to the needs of people with FASD is an issue in their work.
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Association between respiratory syncytial viral disease and the subsequent risk of the first episode of severe asthma in different subgroups of high-risk Australian children: a whole-of-population-based cohort studyTo determine the contribution of RSV to the subsequent development of severe asthma in different subgroups of children at risk of severe RSV disease.
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No alcohol in pregnancy safest choiceChild health researchers are urging community support to help women avoid alcohol in pregnancy and if planning a pregnancy.
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Mannitol challenge testing for asthma in a community cohort of young adultsWe aimed to quantify the diagnostic utility of mannitol challenge testing for asthma in a community cohort and a symptomatic wheezing subset of this cohort.

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First Nations Peoples’ perceptions, knowledge and beliefs regarding stillbirth prevention and bereavement practices: A mixed methods systematic reviewFirst Nations Peoples endure disproportionate rates of stillbirth compared with non-First Nations Peoples. Previous interventions have aimed at reducing stillbirth in First Nations Peoples and providing better bereavement care without necessarily understanding the perceptions, knowledge and beliefs that could influence the design of the intervention and implementation.
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Supporting best practice in the management of chronic diseases in primary health care settings: a scoping review of training programs for Indigenous Health Workers and PractitionersTo improve diabetes management in primary health care for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples population, training programs that are culturally and contextually relevant to the local context are required. Using a scoping review methodology, the aim of this review was to describe the characteristics of chronic disease management training programs for Aboriginal Health Workers and Practitioners, their effectiveness on knowledge and skills, and client-related outcomes, and the enablers, barriers to delivery and participation.
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Skin health of Aboriginal children living in urban communitiesSkin concerns are frequent among urban-living Aboriginal children, yet specialist dermatology consultations are limited with studies highlighting the need for improved cultural security. Through newly established paediatric dermatology clinics at two urban Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), we aimed to describe clinic and patient data, including disease frequencies and associations, to inform dermatology service provision and advocacy.

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New study shows alcohol use ‘common’ during pregnancyThe Kids Research Institute Australia's Professor Carol Bower is not surprised by new research that shows alcohol use in pregnancy is 'common'.
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Sensitivity and specificity of Aboriginal-developed items to supplement the adapted PHQ-9 screening measure for depression: results from the Getting it Right studyCitation: Skinner T, Brown A, Teixeira-Pinto A, et al. Sensitivity and specificity of Aboriginal-developed items to supplement the adapted PHQ-9
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First Nations populations' perceptions, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and myths about prevention and bereavement in stillbirth: a mixed methods systematic review protocolThe objective of this review is to investigate First Nations populations' perceptions, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and myths about stillbirth.
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Exposure to UV Wavelengths in Sunlight Suppresses Immunity. To What Extent is UV-induced Vitamin D3 the Mediator Responsible?In experimental models, both vitamin D3-dependent and vitamin D3-independent pathways have been implicated in the mechanisms of UVR-induced systemic...

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New study recommends changes to cystic fibrosis monitoring in young childrenA new Australian study that looked at the long term impacts of early lung infections in young kids with cystic fibrosis has recommended changes to monitoring
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Early detection of lung function abnormalities in young children with cystic fibrosisIn this review, we have examined the role of lung function testing in infants and preschool children with CF.
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Cystic Fibrosis Early Surveillance ProgramResearchers are able to track the progress of lung disease through a comprehensive longitudinal set of biological samples, images and data archives.
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Vitamin D status and predictors of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in Western Australian adolescentsUsing prospective data from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study, we investigated vitamin D status and predictors of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin...
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Stability of interleukin 8 and neutrophil elastase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid following long-term storageInterleukin-8 (IL-8) and neutrophil elastase (NE) are commonly measured markers of inflammation in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from patients with cystic
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Measuring exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation using a dosimetric technique: Understanding participant compliance issuesWe investigated the types and determinants of noncompliance associated with a protocol for use of polysulphone UVR dosimeters.
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Mucus accumulation in the lungs precedes structural changes and infection in children with cystic fibrosisThese findings indicate that early CF lung disease is characterized by an increased mucus burden and inflammatory markers without infection or structural lung disease
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Ultraviolet radiation, vitamin D and multiple sclerosisRecent work highlights both vitamin D and non-vitamin D effects on cellular immunity that suggests that higher levels of sun exposure and/or vitamin D status...
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Elucidating the interaction of CF airway epithelial cells and rhinovirus: Using the host-pathogen relationship to identify future therapeutic strategiesA better understanding of the innate immune responses by CF airway epithelial cells is needed to identify why viral infections are more severe in CF
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World Allergy Organization-McMaster University Guidelines for Allergic Disease Prevention (GLAD-P): Vitamin DVitamin D is involved in the regulation of the immune system and it may play a role in the development, severity and course of asthma and other allergic...
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The cumulative effect of inflammation and infection on structural lung disease in early cystic fibrosisPulmonary inflammation in surveillance bronchoalveolar lavage has a cumulative effect on structural lung disease extent, more so than infection
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Analytical bias in the measurement of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in infantsTo our knowledge, this is the first study to show that the reported 25(OH)D concentration may be influenced by both age and assay type
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Low-dose UV radiation before running wheel access activates brown adipose tissueWhen combined with physical activity, low-dose UVR may more effectively limit adiposity and modulate metabolic and immune pathways in iBAT
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Calcium and Vitamin D for obesity: review of randomized controlled trialsObesity often coexists with low calcium intake and vitamin D insufficiency.

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New screening tool for FASD and ADHD in childrenThe Kids is trialling a new tool for earlier and easier screening of FASD and ADHD in children, using cutting-edge eye-tracking technology developed by the Kids Brain Health Network in Canada.
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Health professionals addressing alcohol use with pregnant women in Western AustraliaHealth professionals have an important role to play in preventing prenatal alcohol exposure