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Machine Learning-Based DNA Methylation Score for Fetal Exposure to Maternal SmokingFetal exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with the development of noncommunicable diseases in the offspring. Maternal smoking may induce such long-term effects through persistent changes in the DNA methylome, which therefore hold the potential to be used as a biomarker of this early life exposure. With declining costs for measuring DNA methylation, we aimed to develop a DNA methylation score that can be used on adolescent DNA methylation data and thereby generate a score for in utero cigarette smoke exposure.
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Repair of an Attenuated Low-Passage Murine Cytomegalovirus Bacterial Artificial Chromosome Identifies a Novel Spliced Gene Essential for Salivary Gland TropismThe cloning of herpesviruses as bacterial artificial chromosomes (BAC) has revolutionized the study of herpesvirus biology, allowing rapid and precise manipulation of viral genomes. Several clinical strains of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) have been cloned as BACs; however, no low-passage strains of murine CMV, which provide a model mimicking these isolates, have been cloned. Here, the low-passage G4 strain of was BAC cloned. G4 carries an m157 gene that does not ligate the natural killer cell-activating receptor, Ly49H, meaning that unlike laboratory strains of MCMV, this virus replicates well in C57BL/6 mice.
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DETECT Schools Study Protocol: A Prospective Observational Cohort Surveillance Study Investigating the Impact of COVID-19 in Western Australian SchoolsAmidst the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, understanding the transmission dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is key to providing peace of mind for the community and informing policy-making decisions. While available data suggest that school-aged children are not significant spreaders of SARS-CoV-2, the possibility of transmission in schools remains an ongoing concern, especially among an aging teaching workforce. Even in low-prevalence settings, communities must balance the potential risk of transmission with the need for students' ongoing education.
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Exploring Associations Between Playgroup Attendance and Early Childhood Development at School Entry in Australia: A Cross-Sectional Population-Level StudyChildren who attended playgroup had better development at school entry relative to those who had not attended playgroup
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Prevalence of group A Streptococcal infection in Africa to inform GAS vaccines for rheumatic heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysisThe prevalence of group A streptococcal disease remains high among symptomatic individuals residing in Africa
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Harmful drinking is associated with mental health conditions and other risk behaviours in Australian young peopleAlcohol use can have adverse health effects among children and adolescents
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The non-specific and sex-differential effects of vaccinesThe textbook view of vaccination is that it functions to induce immune memory of the specific pathogen components of the vaccine, leading to a quantitatively and qualitatively better response if the host is exposed to infection with the same pathogen
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Re-engaging an inactive cohort of young adults: Evaluating recruitment for the Kidskin Young Adult Myopia StudyWe evaluate our ability to recruit participants for the Kidskin Young Adult Myopia Study, a follow-up of the Kidskin Study
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Genome-wide association meta-analysis of single-nucleotide polymorphisms and symptomatic venous thromboembolism during therapy for ALL and lymphoma in caucasian childrenThe largest GWAS meta-analysis conducted to date associating SNPs to venous thromboembolism in children and adolescents treated on childhood ALL protocols
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Vaccination strategies to enhance immunity in neonatesProtection may be further improved by integrating these approaches, namely vaccinating the neonate under the cover of vertically transferred maternal immunity