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Impact of early childhood infection on child development and school performance: a population-based studyChildhood infection might be associated with adverse child development and neurocognitive outcomes, but the results have been inconsistent.
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Monitoring disease progression in childhood bronchiectasisBronchiectasis (not related to cystic fibrosis) is a chronic lung disease caused by a range of etiologies but characterized by abnormal airway dilatation, recurrent respiratory symptoms, impaired quality of life and reduced life expectancy.
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Look Who's Talking: Host and Pathogen Drivers of Staphylococcus epidermidis Virulence in Neonatal SepsisPreterm infants are at increased risk for invasive neonatal bacterial infections. S. epidermidis, a ubiquitous skin commensal, is a major cause of late-onset neonatal sepsis, particularly in high-resource settings. The vulnerability of preterm infants to serious bacterial infections is commonly attributed to their distinct and developing immune system.
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Risk Factors for Gut Dysbiosis in Early LifeDysbiosis refers to a reduction in microbial diversity, combined with a loss of beneficial taxa, and an increase in pathogenic microorganisms. Dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota can have a substantial effect on the nervous and immune systems, contributing to the onset of several inflammatory diseases.
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Azithromycin mitigates human rhinovirus impact on barrier integrity and function in non-diseased airway epitheliumAzithromycin improves symptomology in various chronic airway diseases exacerbated by viral infections. However, the mechanisms underlying the apparent antiviral effects of azithromycin remain unclear.
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Editorial: The relationship between puberty and immune-driven diseaseThe way the immune system operates differs between males and females. This is due to both differential expression of immune-related genes from the sex chromosomes as well as the immune modulatory properties of sex hormones. Together, these effects contribute to a skewed prevalence of disease and disease course between males and females, including allergic-, infectious-, autoimmune-, and cancerous disease.
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Inhaled corticosteroids to improve lung function in children (aged 6–12 years) who were born very preterm (PICSI): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialDespite the substantial burden of lung disease throughout childhood in children who were born very preterm, there are no evidence-based interventions to improve lung health beyond the neonatal period. We tested the hypothesis that inhaled corticosteroid improves lung function in this population.
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PKC activation promotes maturation of cord blood T cells towards a Th1 IFN-γ propensityA significant number of babies present transiently with low protein kinase C zeta (PKCζ) levels in cord blood T cells, associated with reduced ability to transition from a neonatal Th2 to a mature Th1 cytokine bias, leading to a higher risk of developing allergic sensitisation, compared to neonates whose T cells have 'normal' PKCζ levels. However, the importance of PKCζ signalling in regulating their differentiation from a Th2 to a Th1 cytokine phenotype propensity remains undefined.
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Antibodies in breast milk: Pro-bodies designed for healthy newborn developmentThis manuscript sheds light on the impact of maternal breast milk antibodies on infant health. Milk antibodies prepare and protect the newborn against environmental exposure, guide and regulate the offspring's immune system, and promote transgenerational adaptation of the immune system to its environment.
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Optimising HIV spending in 12 eastern European and central Asian countries: a modelling studyAndrew Shattock PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons) Principal Research Fellow andrew.shattock@thekids.org.au Dr Andrew Shattock is a Principal Research Fellow of