Secondary deficiency of neuraminidase 1 contributes to CNS pathology in neurological mucopolysaccharidoses via hypersialylation of brain glycoproteins.

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are lysosomal storage diseases caused by defects in catabolism of glycosaminoglycans. MPS I, II, III and VII are associated with lysosomal accumulation of heparan sulphate and manifest with neurological deterioration. Most of these neurological MPS currently lack effective treatments. Here, we report that, compared to controls, neuraminidase 1 (NEU1) activity is drastically reduced in brain tissues of neurological MPS patients and in mouse models of MPS I, II, IIIA, IIIB and IIIC, but not of other neurological lysosomal disorders not presenting with heparan sulphate storage. We further show that accumulated heparan sulphate disrupts the lysosomal multienzyme complex of NEU1 with cathepsin A (CTSA), ß-galactosidase (GLB1) and glucosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase (GALNS) necessary to maintain enzyme activity, and that NEU1 deficiency is linked to partial deficiencies of GLB1 and GALNS in cortical tissues and iPSC-derived cortical neurons of neurological MPS patients. Increased sialylation of N-linked glycans in brain samples of human MPS III patients and MPS IIIC mice implicated insufficient processing of brain N-linked sialylated glycans, except for polysialic acid, which was reduced in the brains of MPS IIIC mice. Correction of NEU1 activity in MPS IIIC mice by lentiviral gene transfer ameliorated previously identified hallmarks of the disease, including memory impairment, behavioural traits, and reduced levels of the excitatory synapse markers VGLUT1 and PSD95. Overexpression of NEU1 also restored levels of VGLUT1-/PSD95-positive puncta in cortical neurons derived from iPSC of an MPS IIIA patient. Together, our data demonstrate that heparan sulphate-induced secondary NEU1 deficiency and aberrant sialylation of glycoproteins implicated in synaptogenesis, memory, and behaviour constitute a novel pathological pathway in neurological MPS spectrum crucially contributing to CNS pathology.

Criterion (Concurrent) Validity and Clinical Utility of the Tongueometer Device.

PURPOSE: Tongue manometry (i.e., tongue pressure measurement) is a commonly used assessment for patients with suspected oral-motor involvement in swallowing disorders. Availability of lingual manometry has changed in recent years, with the introduction of the Tongueometer device being a more affordable tongue manometry system. The purpose of this study was to test concurrent (criterion) validity of the Tongueometer compared to the current standard reference device, the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI). METHOD: Adults without dysphagia were recruited for participation in this study. Standard lingual measurements (swallowing-related pressures, maximum isometric pressure [MIP], and maximum isometric endurance) were recorded, with the bulb anteriorly placed, with both devices, in a randomized order. The Bland-Altman method was used to determine concurrent (criterion) validity of these measurements compared to the clinical standard IOPI device. A recently available suggested corrective value by Curtis et al. (2023) was also applied, with comparisons made between devices both with and without the Curtis correction. RESULTS: The final sample included 70 adult participants aged 20-89 years (Mage = 52.3 years). Measures with the Tongueometer device were significantly lower when compared with the same measures taken using the IOPI (p < .01) for all measures including MIP, endurance, and swallow pressures. The correction suggested by Curtis and colleagues did not ameliorate these differences. CONCLUSIONS: The Tongueometer lingual measurements were consistently lower compared to the IOPI. Clinical use of values taken with the Tongueometer device should be compared to normative data published for each specific device. Available features of each device (e.g., display, bulb texture, technology/application) should be considered when selecting which device to use with an individual patient.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Individuals with Non-Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

It is not yet understood whether, and to what extent, craniosynostosis impacts the development of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This PRISMA compliant and PROSPERO pre-registered (ID: CRD42023458640) systematic review and meta-analysis examines the association of single-suture, non-syndromic craniosynostosis with ADHD and inattention/hyperactivity symptoms. Data from 17 independent studies (Nparticipants = 2,389; Mage = 7.3 years) were analyzed, taking into consideration suture location, surgical status, age, and measures administered, where feasible. Few differences were found between cases and controls, but some studies reported high symptom levels. Additional research is required utilizing larger sample sizes and more comprehensive assessment of ADHD.

A case series evaluation of the Fearless Me! © program for children with intellectual disabilities and anxiety.

OBJECTIVES: Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (ID) have high rates of mental health disorders, particularly anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has largely remained unexamined as a treatment option for this population. Fearless Me! © is an adapted CBT treatment program specifically designed for children and adolescents with ID. METHOD: Eleven children, aged between eight and 17, completed 10 therapy sessions. Measures of anxiety were completed pre and posttreatment and at 3 and 12-month follow-ups by both the children and parents. RESULTS: Six children reported significant reductions in anxiety, with all showing significant reductions in parent-reported child anxiety at either posttreatment assessment, 3-month follow-up, or 12-month follow-up. Results varied across the six children as all parents reported heightened anxiety, but not all children reported high levels of anxiety for themselves. CONCLUSION: Overall, this evaluation provides a sound basis for continued investigation and research into the use of the Fearless Me! © modified CBT program to treat children with ID and anxiety.

Dissociation in mothers with borderline personality disorder: a possible mechanism for transmission of intergenerational trauma? A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Dissociation is a feature of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), but rarely a focus for research, particularly in the perinatal literature. BPD partly has its aetiology in childhood and is characterised by emotional changes and difficulty with self-coherence that impacts on the processes of caregiving. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted to synthesise current perspectives on the effect of dissociation in caregivers with BPD, particularly regarding the impact of caregiver dissociation on the interactional quality of relationship within parent-child dyads. Studies were included if they explicitly mentioned dissociation in the target population, or if dissociation was implied. A thematic analysis was conducted. RESULTS: 20 studies were included; 10 experimental or quasi-experimental; 2 presenting case material; and 8 non-systematic review articles. 4 studies used the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) to measure dissociation, while 2 studies included a 'dissociative behaviour' subscale as part of an observational measure. The remaining studies did not measure dissociation but referenced directly or indirectly a concept of dissociation. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggested there was some evidence that dissociation plays a unique role in BPD caregivers' interactions with their offspring, however any findings should be interpreted with caution as the concept has been poorly operationalised and defined.

CRISPRi: a way to integrate iPSC-derived neuronal models.

The genetic landscape of neurodegenerative diseases encompasses genes affecting multiple cellular pathways which exert effects in an array of neuronal and glial cell-types. Deconvolution of the roles of genes implicated in disease and the effects of disease-associated variants remains a vital step in the understanding of neurodegeneration and the development of therapeutics. Disease modelling using patient induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has enabled the generation of key cell-types associated with disease whilst maintaining the genomic variants that predispose to neurodegeneration. The use of CRISPR interference (CRISPRi), alongside other CRISPR-perturbations, allows the modelling of the effects of these disease-associated variants or identifying genes which modify disease phenotypes. This review summarises the current applications of CRISPRi in iPSC-derived neuronal models, such as fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-based screens, and discusses the future opportunities for disease modelling, identification of disease risk modifiers and target/drug discovery in neurodegeneration.

Selection of radionuclide(s) for targeted alpha therapy based on their nuclear decay properties.

Targeted alpha therapy (TAT) is a promising form of oncology treatment utilising alpha-emitting radionuclides that can specifically accumulate at disease sites. The high energy and high linear energy transfer associated with alpha emissions causes localised damage at target sites whilst minimising that to surrounding healthy tissue. The lack of appropriate radionuclides has inhibited research in TAT. The identification of appropriate radionuclides should be primarily a function of the radionuclide's nuclear decay properties, and not their biochemistry or economic factors since these last two factors can change; however, the nuclear decay properties are fixed to that nuclide. This study has defined and applied a criterion based on nuclear decay properties useful for TAT. This down-selection exercise concluded that the most appropriate radionuclides are: 149 Tb, 211 At/ 211 Po, 212 Pb/ 212 Bi/ 212 Po, 213 Bi/ 213 Po, 224 Ra, 225 Ra/ 225 Ac/ 221 Fr, 226 Ac/ 226 Th, 227 Th/ 223 Ra/ 219 Rn, 229 U, 230 U/ 226 Th, and 253 Fm, the majority of which have previously been considered for TAT. 229 U and 253 Fm have been newly identified and could become new radionuclides of interest for TAT, depending on their decay chain progeny.

Safety and efficacy of malaria vaccine candidate R21/Matrix-M in African children: a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Recently, we found that a new malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, had over 75% efficacy against clinical malaria with seasonal administration in a phase 2b trial in Burkina Faso. Here, we report on safety and efficacy of the vaccine in a phase 3 trial enrolling over 4800 children across four countries followed for up to 18 months at seasonal sites and 12 months at standard sites. METHODS: We did a double-blind, randomised, phase 3 trial of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine across five sites in four African countries with differing malaria transmission intensities and seasonality. Children (aged 5-36 months) were enrolled and randomly assigned (2:1) to receive 5 µg R21 plus 50 µg Matrix-M or a control vaccine (licensed rabies vaccine [Abhayrab]). Participants, their families, investigators, laboratory teams, and the local study team were masked to treatment. Vaccines were administered as three doses, 4 weeks apart, with a booster administered 12 months after the third dose. Half of the children were recruited at two sites with seasonal malaria transmission and the remainder at standard sites with perennial malaria transmission using age-based immunisation. The primary objective was protective efficacy of R21/Matrix-M from 14 days after third vaccination to 12 months after completion of the primary series at seasonal and standard sites separately as co-primary endpoints. Vaccine efficacy against multiple malaria episodes and severe malaria, as well as safety and immunogenicity, were also assessed. This trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04704830, and is ongoing. FINDINGS: From April 26, 2021, to Jan 12, 2022, 5477 children consented to be screened, of whom 1705 were randomly assigned to control vaccine and 3434 to R21/Matrix-M; 4878 participants received the first dose of vaccine. 3103 participants in the R21/Matrix-M group and 1541 participants in the control group were included in the modified per-protocol analysis (2412 [51·9%] male and 2232 [48·1%] female). R21/Matrix-M vaccine was well tolerated, with injection site pain (301 [18·6%] of 1615 participants) and fever (754 [46·7%] of 1615 participants) as the most frequent adverse events. Number of adverse events of special interest and serious adverse events did not significantly differ between the vaccine groups. There were no treatment-related deaths. 12-month vaccine efficacy was 75% (95% CI 71-79; p<0·0001) at the seasonal sites and 68% (61-74; p<0·0001) at the standard sites for time to first clinical malaria episode. Similarly, vaccine efficacy against multiple clinical malaria episodes was 75% (71-78; p<0·0001) at the seasonal sites and 67% (59-73; p<0·0001) at standard sites. A modest reduction in vaccine efficacy was observed over the first 12 months of follow-up, of similar size at seasonal and standard sites. A rate reduction of 868 (95% CI 762-974) cases per 1000 children-years at seasonal sites and 296 (231-362) at standard sites occurred over 12 months. Vaccine-induced antibodies against the conserved central Asn-Ala-Asn-Pro (NANP) repeat sequence of circumsporozoite protein correlated with vaccine efficacy. Higher NANP-specific antibody titres were observed in the 5-17 month age group compared with 18-36 month age group, and the younger age group had the highest 12-month vaccine efficacy on time to first clinical malaria episode at seasonal (79% [95% CI 73-84]; p<0·001) and standard (75% [65-83]; p<0·001) sites. INTERPRETATION: R21/Matrix-M was well tolerated and offered high efficacy against clinical malaria in African children. This low-cost, high-efficacy vaccine is already licensed by several African countries, and recently received a WHO policy recommendation and prequalification, offering large-scale supply to help reduce the great burden of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. FUNDING: The Serum Institute of India, the Wellcome Trust, the UK National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, and Open Philanthropy.

Prevention of internalizing difficulties in the middle years: Protocol for a noninferiority randomized trial of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Children and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

AIM: Mindfulness-based interventions have been tested as preventive programs for childhood internalizing difficulties, but most research has been at a 'universal' level with small to null effects. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Children (MBCT-C) has similar effects to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) when used as a small-group, targeted preventive program. Knowledge gaps include the longer-term effectiveness of MBCT-C relative to CBT and the benefits of adding a parent module. This trial aims to compare MCBT-C to traditional CBT, including a parent module, to 15-months post-intervention and to test the feasibility and acceptability of adding a parent module. METHODS: Participants will be recruited from primary schools in areas of socio-economic disadvantage in South Australia (n = 194). Children (aged 9-12) years with signs of internalizing difficulties (e.g., shy, withdrawn, worried), and their parents, will be eligible for this two-armed randomized controlled non-inferiority trial (RCT). Children will participate in 10 group sessions of MBCT-C or CBT, facilitated by psychologists, and parents from both conditions will participate in two parent-only group sessions. Child self-report measures include depression and anxiety, as well as attention, mindfulness and self-compassion. Parent measures include symptoms of depression and anxiety, mindfulness, and parent-child relationship strength. The primary outcome will be child anxiety and depression (Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale-25). Measures will be collected pre and post intervention, and at 3, 6, 12 and 15-month follow up. RESULTS: Schools will be recruited from October 2022. Nomination of children will commence from February 2023. Program implementation will begin May 2023. CONCLUSIONS: This trial will have implications for the feasibility of involving parents in preventative programs, as well as whether mindfulness-based interventions prevent internalizing difficulties over time.

A role for Vps13-mediated lipid transfer at the ER-endosome contact site in ESCRT-mediated sorting.

Endosomes are specialized organelles that function in the secretory and endocytic protein sorting pathways. Endocytosed cell surface receptors and transporters destined for lysosomal degradation are sorted into intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) at endosomes by endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) proteins. The endosomes (multivesicular bodies, MVBs) then fuse with the lysosome. During endosomal maturation, the number of ILVs increases, but the size of endosomes does not decrease despite the consumption of the limiting membrane during ILV formation. Vesicle-mediated trafficking is thought to provide lipids to support MVB biogenesis. However, we have uncovered an unexpected contribution of a large bridge-like lipid transfer protein, Vps13, in this process. Here, we reveal that Vps13-mediated lipid transfer at ER-endosome contact sites is required for the ESCRT pathway. We propose that Vps13 may play a critical role in supplying lipids to the endosome, ensuring continuous ESCRT-mediated sorting during MVB biogenesis.

Can 3-dimensional cranial ultrasound be used to successfully reconstruct a 2-dimensional image without compromising on image quality in a neonatal population?

BACKGROUND: Cranial ultrasound is frequently performed in neonatal intensive care units and acquiring 2-dimensional (D) images requires significant training. Three-D ultrasound images can be acquired semi-automatically. OBJECTIVE: This proof-of-concept study aimed to demonstrate that 3-D study image quality compares well with 2-D. If this is successful, 3-D images could be acquired in remote areas and read remotely by experts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study of 20 neonates, who underwent both routine 2-D and 3-D cranial ultrasounds. Images were reconstructed into standard views extracted from the 3-D volume and evaluated by three radiologists blinded to the acquisition method. The radiologists assessed for the presence of anatomical landmarks and overall image quality. RESULTS: More anatomical structures were identified in the 3-D studies (P<0.01). There was a trend that 3-D ultrasound demonstrated better image quality in the coronal plane, and 2-D in the sagittal plane, only reaching statistical significance for two coronal views and two sagittal views. CONCLUSION: Overall, this study has demonstrated that 3-D cranial ultrasound performs similarly to 2-D and could be implemented into neonatal practice.

Training and Educational Pathways for Clinicians (Post-graduation) for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Scoping Review.

This review aimed to identify the post-graduation training pathways available for both clinicians and trainers in the assessment and diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The study was guided by two research questions: What is known about ASD-specific educational, training, or other pathways available to support clinicians of any discipline, post-graduation, to meet the required expertise relevant to assessments of ASD concerns? What is known about the educational pathways available to clinicians seeking to provide training to other clinicians, post-graduation, in the assessment of ASD concerns? A scoping review was undertaken with searches completed across five databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycEXTRA, ERIC and CINAHL). A Google search strategy was also executed using the "advanced" search function. Eligible records were literature, written in English, that examined post-graduation training and/ or education of clinicians to assess and/ or diagnose ASD. Fourteen relevant records were identified. Post-graduate training has the potential to enhance clinician confidence and service provision in ASD assessment and diagnosis. System-wide training approaches show promise in building large-scale, diagnostic capacity and the use of tele-mentoring offers a cost-effective, convenient mode of training delivery. A lack of evidence to support ASD diagnostic training pathways was found and may pose a challenge for clinicians and service users. The limited evidence found suggests that high quality research will be fundamental in determining how to build clinician capacity in ASD assessment and diagnosis and to ascertain whether training pathways are a necessary component.

Increasing multi-hazard climate risk and financial and health impacts on northern homeowners.

Currently, more than half of the world's human population lives in urban areas, which are increasingly affected by climate hazards. Little is known about how multi-hazard environments affect people, especially those living in urban areas in northern latitudes. This study surveyed homeowners in Anchorage and Fairbanks, USA, Alaska's largest urban centers, to measure individual risk perceptions, mitigation response, and damages related to wildfire, surface ice hazards, and permafrost thaw. Up to one third of residents reported being affected by all three hazards, with surface ice hazards being the most widely distributed, related to an estimated $25 million in annual damages. Behavioral risk response, policy recommendations for rapidly changing urban environments, and the challenges to local governments in mitigation efforts are discussed.

Intensive training programme improves handwriting in a community cohort of people with Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: People with Parkinson's disease (PwP) often report problems with their handwriting before they receive a formal diagnosis. Many PwP suffer from deteriorating handwriting throughout their illness, which has detrimental effects on many aspects of their quality of life. AIMS: To assess a 6-week online training programme aimed at improving handwriting of PwP. METHODS: Handwriting samples from a community-based cohort of PwP (n = 48) were analysed using systematic detection of writing problems (SOS-PD) by two independent raters, before and after a 6-week remotely monitored physiotherapy-led training programme. Inter-rater variability on multiple measures of handwriting quality was analysed. The handwriting data was analysed using pre-/post-design in the same individuals. Multiple aspects of the handwriting samples were assessed, including writing fluency, transitions between letters, regularity in letter size, word spacing, and straightness of lines. RESULTS: Analysis of inter-rater reliability showed high agreement for total handwriting scores and letter size, as well as speed and legibility scores, whereas there were mixed levels of inter-rater reliability for other handwriting measures. Overall handwriting quality (p = 0.001) and legibility (p = 0.009) significantly improved, while letter size (p = 0.012), fluency (p = 0.001), regularity of letter size (p = 0.009), and straightness of lines (p = 0.036) were also enhanced. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that this 6-week intensive remotely-monitored physiotherapy-led handwriting programme improved handwriting in PwP. This is the first study of its kind to use this tool remotely, and it demonstrated that the SOS-PD is reliable for measuring handwriting in PwP.

High-Dose Docosahexaenoic Acid in Newborns Born at Less Than 29 Weeks' Gestation and Behavior at Age 5 Years: Follow-Up of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Children born at less than 29 weeks' gestation are at risk of behavioral difficulties. This may be due in part to the lack of transplacental supply of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a key fatty acid with structural and functional roles in the brain. Objective: To determine whether meeting the neonatal DHA requirement through supplementation is associated with improved behavioral functioning of children born at less than 29 weeks' gestation. Design, Setting and Participants: This was a follow-up of children from 10 Australian participating centers in a multi-center, blinded, parallel group randomized clinical trial of infants born at less than 29 weeks' gestation conducted from June 2012 and September 2015, excluding those with additional fatty acid supplementation or major congenital or chromosomal abnormalities. Follow-up took place from August 2018 to May 2021. Parents of surviving children who had not withdrawn from the original trial were invited to complete questionnaires when the child turned 5 years' corrected age. Interventions: Infants were randomized to receive daily enteral emulsions providing 60 mg/kg/d of DHA or a soy-oil emulsion (with no DHA) from within the first 3 days of enteral feeding until 36 weeks' postmenstrual age or discharge home, whichever occurred first. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome of this follow-up was parent-rated behavior and emotional functioning as indicated by the Total Difficulties score of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Parents also completed questionnaires about their child's behavioral manifestations of executive functioning, as well as a range of health outcomes to assess potential longer-term side effects of DHA intervention. Results: Primary outcome data were available for 731 children (76% of 958 surviving eligible children; 361 in the intervention group and 370 in the control group). Of these 731, 452 (47%) were female, and the mean (SD) corrected age at follow-up was 5.4 (0.5) years. Following imputation for missing data, the mean Total Difficulties score was the same in both groups (intervention group, n = 465; mean [SD], 11.8 [6.3]; control group, n = 493; mean [SD], 11.8 [6.0]; mean difference adjusted for sex, gestational age stratum, and hospital, 0.01; 95% CI, -0.87 to 0.89; P = .98). There was no evidence for differences between the groups in any secondary outcomes of behavior, executive functioning, or health. Conclusions and Relevance: In this follow-up of a randomized clinical trial, enteral DHA supplementation at the equivalent of the estimated in utero dose for infants born at less than 29 weeks' gestation did not improve behavioral functioning at age 5 years. There were no indications of adverse effects with DHA supplementation. Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry: ACTRN12612000503820.

Oral Health, Social and Emotional Well-Being, and Economic Costs: Protocol for the Second Australian National Child Oral Health Survey.

BACKGROUND: Given the significant investment of governments and families into the provision of child dental care services in Australia, continued population oral health surveillance through national oral health surveys is imperative. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study are to conduct a second National Child Oral Health Survey (NCOHS-2) to (1) describe the prevalence, extent, and impact of oral diseases in contemporary Australian children; (2) evaluate changes in the prevalence and extent of oral diseases in the Australian child population and socioeconomic subgroups since the first National Child Oral Health Study (NCOHS-1) in 2012-2013; and (3) use economic modeling to evaluate the burden of child oral disease from the NCOHS-1 and NCOHS-2 and to estimate the cost-effectiveness of targeted programs for high-risk child groups. METHODS: The NCOHS-2 will closely mimic the NCOHS-1 in being a cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of Australian children aged 5-14 years. The survey will comprise oral epidemiological examinations and questionnaires to elucidate associations between dental disease in a range of outcomes, including social and emotional well-being. The information will be analyzed within the context of dental service organization and delivery at national and jurisdictional levels. Information from the NCOHS-1 and NCOHS-2 will be used to simulate oral disease and its economic burden using both health system and household costs of childhood oral health disease. RESULTS: Participant recruitment for the NCOHS-2 will commence in February 2024. The first results are expected to be submitted for publication 6 months after NCOHS-2 data collection has been completed. Thematic workshops with key partners and stakeholders will also occur at this time. CONCLUSIONS: Regular surveillance of child oral health at an Australian level facilitates timely policy and planning of each state and territory's dental public health sector. This is imperative to enable the most equitable distribution of scarce public monies, especially for socially disadvantaged children who bear the greatest dental disease burden. The last NCOHS was conducted in 2012-2014, meaning that these data need to be updated to better inform effective dental health policy and planning. The NCOHS-2 will enable more up-to-date estimates of dental disease prevalence and severity among Australian children, with cost-effective analysis being useful to determine the economic burden of poor child dental health on social and emotional well-being and other health indicators. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/52233.

A Silver Fluoride Intervention to Improve Oral Health Trajectories of Young Indigenous Australians: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Indigenous Australian children and adolescents experience profound levels of preventable dental disease. The application of silver fluoride (AgF) to active dental caries is a noninvasive alternative to traditional dental treatment approaches. There is particular utility among Indigenous children and young people with dental fear, who may not have access to timely or culturally safe dental service provisions. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study are to: (1) assess levels of active dental caries among Indigenous children and young people in 6 Australian states and territories; (2) determine if an AgF intervention reduces levels of active disease over 12-24 months; (3) measure the impact of improved oral health on social and emotional well-being (SEWB) and oral health-related quality of life; and (4) calculate the cost-effectiveness of implementing such an initiative. METHODS: The study will use a 2-arm, parallel cluster randomized controlled trial design. Approximately 1140 Indigenous children and youth aged between 2 and 18 years will be recruited. Each state or territory will have 2 clusters. The intervention group will receive the AgF intervention at the start of the study, with the delayed intervention group receiving the AgF intervention 12 months after study commencement. The primary outcome will be the arrest of active carious lesions, with arrested caries defined as nonpenetration by a dental probe. Secondary outcomes will include SEWB, oral health-related quality of life, and dental anxiety, with covariates including dental behaviors (brushing and dental visits). Effectiveness measures for the economic evaluation will include the number of children and young people managed in primary oral health care without the need for specialist referral, changes in SEWB, the numbers and types of treatments provided, and caries increments. RESULTS: Participant recruitment will commence in May 2023. The first results are expected to be submitted for publication 1 year after a 24-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings have the potential to change the way in which active dental disease among Indigenous children and young people can be managed through the inclusion of specifically tailored AgF applications to improve dental health and SEWB delivered by Indigenous health care workers. Desired impacts include cost savings on expensive dental treatments; improved SEWB, nutrition, social, and learning outcomes; and improved quality of life for both children and young people and their caregivers and the broader Indigenous community. The AgF application could be easily implemented into the training program of Indigenous health workers and yield critical information in the management armamentarium of health and well-being recommendations for Australia's First Peoples. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/48558.

Assessment and treatment of mental health conditions in children and adolescents: A systematic scoping review of how virtual reality environments have been used.

BACKGROUND: There is growing interest in the use of virtual reality environments (VREs) in psychological treatment and assessment. Most research has focused on the application of VREs in adult psychological disorders with fewer studies focusing on its applicability with children and adolescents. A systematic scoping review was undertaken of research assessing how VREs have been used in the treatment and assessment of childhood mental health disorders to provide an overview of the current state of the literature and identify future research directions. METHOD: Systematic searches of online databases were conducted in PsycInfo, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. RESULTS: Eleven studies met eligibility criteria and were included in this review, with the majority focusing on VRE interventions for anxiety-related disorders. There is also emerging support for VRE deep breathing training for anxiety, VRE assisted treatment of internet gaming disorder and anorexia nervosa, and VRE assessment of body image evaluation in anorexia nervosa. Most studies were pilot and feasibility studies with only three randomised-controlled trials (RCT). CONCLUSIONS: The current literature shows some promise for the use of VRE assessments and interventions of childhood mental health problems, particularly for anxiety-related disorders such as social anxiety and specific phobias. However, high-quality RCTs are now needed to establish effectiveness of VREs in this population, and how it compares to existing evidence-based approaches, given its promise to improve both engagement and outcomes.

Comparison Between Custom Smartphone Acoustic Processing Algorithms and Praat in Healthy and Disordered Voices.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to understand the relationship between temporal and spectral-based acoustic measures derived using Praat and custom smartphone algorithms across patients with a wide range of vocal pathologies. METHODS: Voice samples were collected from 56 adults (11 vocally healthy, 45 dysphonic, aged 18-80 years) performing three speech tasks: (a) sustained vowel, (b) maximum phonation, and (c) the second and third sentences of the Rainbow passage. Data were analyzed to extract mean fundamental frequency (fo), maximum phonation time (MPT), and cepstral peak prominence (CPP) using Praat and our custom smartphone algorithms. Linear regression models were calculated with and without outliers to determine relationships. RESULTS: Statistically significant relationships were found between the smartphone algorithms and Praat for all three measures (r2 = 0.68-0.95, with outliers; r2 = 0.80-0.98, without outliers). An offset between CPP measures was found where Praat values were consistently lower than those computed by the smartphone app. Outlying data were identified and described, and findings indicated that speakers with high levels of clinician-perceived dysphonia resulted in smartphone algorithm errors. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the proposed algorithms can provide measurements comparable to clinically derived values. However, clinicians should take caution when analyzing severely dysphonic voices as the current algorithms show reduced accuracy for measures of mean fo and MPT for these voice types.

Development and validation of the COVID-19 Impact Scale in Australia.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted and continues to impact the health and well-being of Australian adults. However, there has been no instrument validated to comprehensively measure how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted adults in Australia across several domains (e.g. fear of COVID-19, attitudes towards vaccination, psychosocial impact of lockdowns).The current study conducted a rigorous psychometric process to develop and validate an instrument to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the COVID-19 Impact Scale (CIS). METHOD: Data was obtained from the Australian population. Participants (N = 563) aged between 19 and 91 years (M = 54.50, SD = 16.16) provided online responses between June, 2021 and May, 2022. The majority of participants were female (60.9%), employed either full-time (37.7%) or part-time (22.0%), and had completed an undergraduate degree or higher (70.1%). An initial pool of 30 items was developed based on a review of the literature and input from a panel of experts including psychologists, epidemiologists, and public health experts, among others. The study used network psychometrics to examine the psychometric properties of: (1) item score distributions; (2) item redundancy; (3) dimensionality; (4) model fit; (5) measurement invariance; (6) reliability; and (7) criterion validity. RESULTS: Following an evaluation of items for ceiling/floor effects and redundancy, the final CIS network model included eighteen nodes and displayed a three-dimensional structure. The three communities of "Fear" (consisting of three nodes; ω = 0.82), "Attitudes" (consisting of ten nodes; ω = 0.89), and "Ill-being" (consisting of five nodes; ω = 0.79) displayed adequate reliability. The evaluation of model fit indicated a good fit of the network model (RMSEA = 0.047; CFI =0.98). CONCLUSION: The instrument is available to be used by Australian researchers and implemented to evaluate public policies, adapted for future pandemics, or used internationally.