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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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Ambient Air Pollution, Extreme Temperatures and Birth Outcomes: A Protocol for an Umbrella Review, Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisPrenatal exposure to ambient air pollution and extreme temperatures are among the major risk factors of adverse birth outcomes and with potential long-term effects during the life course. Although low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are most vulnerable, there is limited synthesis of evidence in such settings. This document describes a protocol for both an umbrella review (Systematic Review 1) and a focused systematic review and meta-analysis of studies from LMICs (Systematic Review 2).
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Pregnancy and birth outcomes of mothers with intellectual disability and their infants: Advocacy needed to improve well-beingFor mothers with intellectual disability, modifiable risk factors for adverse outcomes need addressing
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Raising strong, solid Koolunga: Values and beliefs about early child development among Perth's Aboriginal communityWe detail the unique findings from an Aboriginal early child development research project with a specific focus on the Nyoongar/Aboriginal community of Perth
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Factors associated with pneumococcal carriage in children and adults in Fiji, using four cross-sectional surveysThis study describes predictors of pneumococcal nasopharyngeal carriage and density in Fiji. We used data from four annual cross-sectional surveys, pre- and post-introduction of ten-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in October 2012.
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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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Maternal HIV infection alters antimicrobial immunity in exposed and uninfected infantsImplementation of lifelong ART of all HIV-infected women has the potential to improve maternal determinants of protective immunity in the young infant
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Role of maternal mental health disorders on stillbirth and infant mortality risk: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysisWe plan to examine whether prenatal maternal mental health disorders impact the risk of stillbirth and infant mortality
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Association between diesel engine exhaust exposure and lung function in Australian gold minersDiesel engine exhaust exposures were higher in underground miners and had a negative association with their lung function over a single 12-h shift