An archaic HLA class I receptor allele diversifies natural killer cell-driven immunity in First Nations peoples of Oceania.

Genetic variation in host immunity impacts the disproportionate burden of infectious diseases that can be experienced by First Nations peoples. Polymorphic human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are key regulators of natural killer (NK) cells, which mediate early infection control. How this variation impacts their responses across populations is unclear. We show that HLA-A∗24:02 became the dominant ligand for inhibitory KIR3DL1 in First Nations peoples across Oceania, through positive natural selection. We identify KIR3DL1∗114, widespread across and unique to Oceania, as an allele lineage derived from archaic humans. KIR3DL1∗114+NK cells from First Nations Australian donors are inhibited through binding HLA-A∗24:02. The KIR3DL1∗114 lineage is defined by phenylalanine at residue 166. Structural and binding studies show phenylalanine 166 forms multiple unique contacts with HLA-peptide complexes, increasing both affinity and specificity. Accordingly, assessing immunogenetic variation and the functional implications for immunity are fundamental toward understanding population-based disease associations.

Ancient genomes reveal over two thousand years of dingo population structure.

Dingoes are culturally and ecologically important free-living canids whose ancestors arrived in Australia over 3,000 B.P., likely transported by seafaring people. However, the early history of dingoes in Australia-including the number of founding populations and their routes of introduction-remains uncertain. This uncertainty arises partly from the complex and poorly understood relationship between modern dingoes and New Guinea singing dogs, and suspicions that post-Colonial hybridization has introduced recent domestic dog ancestry into the genomes of many wild dingo populations. In this study, we analyzed genome-wide data from nine ancient dingo specimens ranging in age from 400 to 2,746 y old, predating the introduction of domestic dogs to Australia by European colonists. We uncovered evidence that the continent-wide population structure observed in modern dingo populations had already emerged several thousand years ago. We also detected excess allele sharing between New Guinea singing dogs and ancient dingoes from coastal New South Wales (NSW) compared to ancient dingoes from southern Australia, irrespective of any post-Colonial hybrid ancestry in the genomes of modern individuals. Our results are consistent with several demographic scenarios, including a scenario where the ancestry of dingoes from the east coast of Australia results from at least two waves of migration from source populations with varying affinities to New Guinea singing dogs. We also contribute to the growing body of evidence that modern dingoes derive little genomic ancestry from post-Colonial hybridization with other domestic dog lineages, instead descending primarily from ancient canids introduced to Sahul thousands of years ago.

11th Asia Oceania Human Proteome Organization Congress Report.

As the first in-person Asia Oceania Human Proteomics Organization (AOHUPO) congress since 2018, the 11th AOHUPO congress was an opportune time for the research community to reconnect and to renew friendships after the long period of restricted travel due to the global pandemic. Moreover, this congress was a great opportunity for the many AO regional proteomics and mass spectrometry scientists to meet in Singapore to exchange ideas and to present their latest findings. Cohosted by the Singapore Society for Mass Spectrometry and the Malaysian Proteomics Society and held in conjunction with the seventh Asia Oceania Agricultural Proteomics Organization Congress and Singapore Society for Mass Spectrometry 2023, the meeting featured both human and agricultural proteomics. Over five hundred scientists from the AO region converged on the MAX Atria @ Singapore EXPO, Changi, Singapore from May 8 to 10 for the main congress. The diverse program was made up of 64 invited speakers and panellists for seven plenary lectures, 27 concurrent symposia, precongress and postcongress workshops, and 174 poster presentations. The AOHUPO society were able to celebrate not only their 20th anniversary but also the outstanding academic research from biological and agricultural proteomics and related 'omics fields being conducted across the Asia-Oceania region.

Implications of anomalous relative sea-level rise for the peopling of Remote Oceania.

Beginning ~3,500 to 3,300 y B.P., humans voyaged into Remote Oceania. Radiocarbon-dated archaeological evidence coupled with cultural, linguistic, and genetic traits indicates two primary migration routes: a Southern Hemisphere and a Northern Hemisphere route. These routes are separated by low-lying, equatorial atolls that were settled during secondary migrations ~1,000 y later after their exposure by relative sea-level fall from a mid-Holocene highstand. High volcanic islands in the Federated States of Micronesia (Pohnpei and Kosrae) also lie between the migration routes and settlement is thought to have occurred during the secondary migrations despite having been above sea level during the initial settlement of Remote Oceania. We reconstruct relative sea level on Pohnpei and Kosrae using radiocarbon-dated mangrove sediment and show that, rather than falling, there was a ~4.3-m rise over the past ~5,700 y. This rise, likely driven by subsidence, implies that evidence for early settlement could lie undiscovered below present sea level. The potential for earlier settlement invites reinterpretation of migration pathways into Remote Oceania and monument building. The UNESCO World Heritage sites of Nan Madol (Pohnpei) and Leluh (Kosrae) were constructed when relative sea level was ~0.94 m (~770 to 750 y B.P.) and ~0.77 m (~640 to 560 y B.P.) lower than present, respectively. Therefore, it is unlikely that they were originally constructed as islets separated by canals filled with ocean water, which is their prevailing interpretation. Due to subsidence, we propose that these islands and monuments are more vulnerable to future relative sea-level rise than previously identified.

Awareness of human papillomavirus infection among Indigenous males in North America and Oceania: a Scoping Review.

PURPOSE: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most commonly transmitted sexually transmitted infection. HPV infections have been on the rise among males, especially in the form of oropharyngeal cancer. Despite this, there is a gap in healthcare guidelines to increase HPV vaccine administration among males. In this study, we focus on the Indigenous population of North America and Oceania to determine existing barriers resulting in low HPV vaccination rates among the population. METHOD: We surveyed peer-reviewed literature on the awareness of HPV infection among Indigenous males in North America and Oceania. Using keywords HPV plus male, men or boy, and ethnical filters such as Indigenous, Aboriginal or First Nations, we retrieved 54 articles based on titles, of which 15 were included after reading the abstracts. RESULTS: Reported HPV awareness was generally low in Indigenous males in North America, with no peer-reviewed data from Oceania. The lower understanding by males compared to females was largely attributable to misconceptions about HPV-related diseases, their transmission, and prevention. Lack of awareness and concern toward the risk of contracting HPV infection in Indigenous males suggests an impediment in disseminating health information about this cancer-causing virus. CONCLUSION: Culturally sensitive education, with emphasis on Indigenous males, is needed to improve this group's HPV knowledge. Researchers should also engage meaningfully with Indigenous communities by building rapport to achieve a positive change in attitude.

Highly Diverse Symbiodiniaceae Types Hosted by Corals in a Global Hotspot of Marine Biodiversity.

Symbiotic dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodiniaceae play vital roles in promoting resilience and increasing stress tolerance in their coral hosts. While much of the world's coral succumb to the stresses associated with increasingly severe and frequent thermal bleaching events, live coral cover in Papua New Guinea (PNG) remains some of the highest reported globally despite the historically warm waters surrounding the country. Yet, in spite of the high coral cover in PNG and the acknowledged roles Symbiodiniaceae play within their hosts, these communities have not been characterized in this global biodiversity hotspot. Using high-throughput sequencing of the ITS2 rDNA gene, we profiled the endosymbionts of four coral species, Diploastrea heliopora, Pachyseris speciosa, Pocillopora acuta, and Porites lutea, across six sites in PNG. Our findings reveal patterns of Cladocopium and Durusdinium dominance similar to other reefs in the Coral Triangle, albeit with much greater intra- and intergenomic variation. Host- and site-specific variations in Symbiodiniaceae type profiles were observed across collection sites, appearing to be driven by environmental conditions. Notably, the extensive intra- and intergenomic variation, coupled with many previously unreported sequences, highlight PNG as a potential hotspot of symbiont diversity. This work represents the first characterization of the coral-symbiont community structure in the PNG marine biodiversity hotspot, serving as a baseline for future studies.

The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Oceania, a systematic review, and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Oceania is a continent, covering more than 8 million km2, with a population of more than 44 million people. In different countries landing in Oceania, various prevalence of MS has been reported, so we designed this systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the pooled prevalence of MS in Oceania. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. We also searched references of included studies, and conference abstracts. The search was done on January 1, 2023, by two independent researchers. We extracted the name of the first author, country, publication year, prevalence period, number of study participants, total female and male population, disease duration, type of MS, mean duration of the disease, mean age at disease onset, mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and total female and male patients with MS. RESULTS: A literature search revealed 81,044 records; after deleting duplicates, 38,260 records remained. One hundred and six full texts were evaluated, and finally, seventeen studies remained for systematic review. Most studies were done in Newcastle; eight studies were done in 1961, 8 in 1981, 2 in 1996, and 2 in 2001. In all other years, only one study was done. The pooled prevalence of MS in 1961 in Oceania was estimated as 19.85/100,000 (I2=70.3%, p=0.001). The pooled prevalence of MS in 1981 in Oceania was estimated as 39.07/100,000 (I2 =88%, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The result of this systematic review and meta-analysis shows that the prevalence of MS has increased dramatically during the timespan in Oceania.

Epidemiology of cervical cancer and HPV infection in Asia and Oceania.

Cancer will continue to be a major source of morbidity and mortality globally during the foreseeable future. Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancer is now a serious problem in both women and men. The most common HPV-related cancer is cervical cancer in females and oropharyngeal cancer in males. Eastern Africa has a high age-standardized incidence of HPV-related cancers, followed in order by Southern Africa, Central Africa, and then the rest of Africa. Among Asian and Oceania countries, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Indonesia, Maldives, and Myanmar have extremely high age-standardized incidences and mortality. Oropharyngeal cancer is less common than cervical cancer, but the age-standardized incidence, for both females and males, is higher in Western Europe, Northern Europe, North America, and Australia/New Zealand. Oropharyngeal cancer incidence rates differ significantly from the rates of cervical cancer within the same countries. In Asia and Oceania, the incidence of oropharyngeal cancer is particularly high among females in Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Australia, and it is highest among males in Bangladesh, New Caledonia, Australia, and French Polynesia. To a certain extent, cervical cancer can be reduced through the development of cervical screening programs and improvements in screening uptake. On the other hand, for oropharyngeal cancer, as of yet, no effective means of cancer screening has been established. Widespread uptake of HPV vaccine will contribute to the reduction of HPV-related cancers in Asia and Oceania, but also in the rest of the world.

Asia Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AOFOG)'s efforts in the cervical cancer elimination program in the Asia-Pacific.

Cervical cancer poses a significant health burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where access to screening and treatment remains limited. Asia Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AOFOG)'s response, guided by the World Health Organization's global strategy, emphasizes three key targets: achieving high HPV vaccination coverage among girls, ensuring widespread screening with high-performance tests, and guaranteeing timely treatment for precancerous and cancerous lesions. AOFOG supports member countries through initiatives such as educational campaigns, guidelines development, and collaboration with local and international partners. Variations in screening methods across AOFOG member countries reflect diverse socioeconomic contexts and healthcare infrastructures, ranging from HPV testing in countries like Australia and Malaysia to cytology and visual inspection methods in others. Innovations such as HPV self-testing and AI-enhanced screening are emerging to improve accessibility and accuracy, addressing barriers like stigma and resource scarcity. Despite challenges, AOFOG remains committed to reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality through coordinated regional efforts, aiming for equitable access to preventive measures and treatment across the diverse landscape of the Asia-Pacific region.

Self-reported and accelerometry measures of sleep components in adolescents living in Pacific Island countries and territories: Exploring the role of sociocultural background.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to assess the concordance and its association with sociocultural background of a four-question survey with accelerometry in a multiethnic adolescent population, regarding sleep components. Based on questions from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and adapted to a school context, the questionnaire focussed on estimating sleep onset time, wake-up time and sleep duration on both weekdays and weekends. This subjective survey was compared with accelerometry data while also considering the influence of sociocultural factors (sex, place of living, ethnic community and socio-economic status). METHODS: Adolescents aged 10.5-16 years (n = 182) in New Caledonia completed the survey and wore an accelerometer for seven consecutive days. Accelerometry was used to determine sleep onset and wake-up time using validated algorithms. Based on response comparison, Bland-Altman plots provided agreement between subjective answers and objective measures. We categorized participants' answers to the survey into underestimated, aligned and overestimated categories based on time discrepancies with accelerometry data. Multinomial regressions highlighted the sociocultural factors associated with discrepancies. RESULTS: Concordance between the accelerometer and self-reported assessments was low particularly during weekends (18%, 26% and 19% aligned for onset sleep time, wake-up time and sleep duration respectively) compared with weekdays (36%, 53% and 31% aligned, respectively). This means that the overall concordance was less than 30%. When considering the sociocultural factors, only place of living was associated with discrepancies in onset sleep time and wake-up time primarily on weekdays. Rural adolescents were more likely to overestimate both onset sleep time (B = -1.97, p < 0.001) and wake-up time (B = -1.69, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The study found low concordance between self-assessment and accelerometry outputs for sleep components. This was particularly low for weekend days and for participants living in rural areas. While the adapted four-item questionnaire was useful and easy to complete, caution should be taken when making conclusions about sleep habits based solely on this measurement.

Human and Animal Fascioliasis: Origins and Worldwide Evolving Scenario.

Fascioliasis is a plant- and waterborne zoonotic parasitic disease caused by two trematode species: (i) Fasciola hepatica in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania and (ii) F. gigantica, which is restricted to Africa and Asia. Fasciolid liver flukes infect mainly herbivores as ruminants, equids, and camelids but also omnivore mammals as humans and swine and are transmitted by freshwater Lymnaeidae snail vectors. Two phases may be distinguished in fasciolid evolution. The long predomestication period includes the F. gigantica origin in east-southern Africa around the mid-Miocene, the F. hepatica origin in the Near-Middle East of Asia around the latest Miocene to Early Pliocene, and their subsequent local spread. The short postdomestication period includes the worldwide spread by human-guided movements of animals in the last 12,000 years and the more recent transoceanic anthropogenic introductions of F. hepatica into the Americas and Oceania and of F. gigantica into several large islands of the Pacific with ships transporting livestock in the last 500 years. The routes and chronology of the spreading waves followed by both fasciolids into the five continents are redefined on the basis of recently generated knowledge of human-guided movements of domesticated hosts. No local, zonal, or regional situation showing disagreement with historical records was found, although in a few world zones the available knowledge is still insufficient. The anthropogenically accelerated evolution of fasciolids allows us to call them "peridomestic endoparasites." The multidisciplinary implications for crucial aspects of the disease should therefore lead the present baseline update to be taken into account in future research studies.

Framing the future: Ensuring vulnerable island communities are engaged.

OBJECTIVE: Statements such as the Bridgetown Declaration1 serve as a wake-up call for action to address the significant mental health needs in small island developing states. Overarching frameworks and action plans have been developed to support nations to promote mental health and build resilience for their populations in the region, and while these frameworks and action plans provide direction, translating them into grassroots change can be a challenge. At the Creating Futures 23 conference, delegates from the Oceania region were invited to participate in a plenary workshop entitled Framing the Future. Three questions were posed for workshop participants to respond to in relation to their perceived priorities, opportunities and innovations to support mental health in their local communities. This paper provides a summary of the workshop participants' responses. CONCLUSION: Community-led innovations, with programs tailored for small island communities, were seen as grassroots solutions in the Oceania region. Engagement with small island communities by policy makers and leaders was considered essential for effective, sustainable and community-led mental health initiatives to realise the objectives of high-level, overarching frameworks and action plans.

Recovery of insular seabird populations years after rodent eradication.

Seabirds have been particularly affected by invasive non-native species, which has led to the implementation of numerous eradication campaigns for the conservation of these keystone and highly vulnerable species. Although the benefits of eradication of invasive non-native species for seabird conservation have been demonstrated, the recovery kinetics of different seabird populations on islands after eradication remains poorly evaluated. We conducted long-term monitoring of the number of breeding pairs of seven seabird species on a small atoll, Surprise Island, New Caledonia (southwestern tropical Pacific). Marine avifauna of the island were surveyed yearly 4 years before to 4 years after rodent eradication (conducted in 2005), and we conducted multiple one-time surveys from ∼10 years before and ∼15 years after eradication. We sought to determine how different seabird species responded to the eradication of invasive rodents in an insular environment. Three species responded positively (two- to 10-fold increase in population size) to eradication with differences in lag time and sensitivity. The number of breeding pairs increased (effect sizes = 0.49-0.95 and 0.35-0.52) for two species over 4 years post-eradication due to immigration. One species had a longer (at least 5 years) response time than all others; breeding pairs increased for over 10 years after eradication. Long-term sampling was necessary to observe the responses of the seabird populations on the island because of the delayed response of a species to eradication not visible in the first years after eradication. Our results confirmed the positive effects of eradication of invasive non-native species on seabirds and emphasize the importance of mid- and long-term pre- and posteradication surveys to decipher the mechanisms of seabird recovery and confirm the benefits of eradication for conservation purposes.

Las especies invasoras no nativas han afectados en lo particular a las aves marinas, lo que ha derivado en la implementación de numerosas campañas de eliminación para conservar estas especies importantes y muy vulnerables. Aunque se han demostrado los beneficios de la eliminación de especies invasoras no nativas para la conservación de las aves marinas, se conoce poco sobre la cinética de la recuperación de las diferentes poblaciones insulares después de la eliminación. Realizamos un monitoreo a largo plazo del número de parejas reproductoras de siete especies de aves marinas en Isla Surprise, Nueva Caledonia, un atolón pequeño en el suroeste del Pacífico tropical. Censamos anualmente la avifauna marina de la isla cuatro años antes y cuatro años después de la eliminación de roedores (realizada en 2005) y realizamos varios censos únicos de ∼10 años antes y ∼15 años después de la eliminación. Buscamos determinar cómo las diferentes especies de aves marinas respondían a la eliminación de los roedores invasores en un ambiente insular. Tres especies respondieron positivamente (un incremento poblacional de 2 a 10 veces mayor) a la eliminación con diferencias en el tiempo de desfase y en la sensibilidad. El número de parejas reproductoras incrementó (tamaños eficientes = 0.49 a 0.95 y 0.35 a 0.52) para dos especies cuatro años después de la eliminación debido a la inmigración. Una especie tuvo un tiempo de respuesta más largo (al menos cinco años) que las demás; las parejas reproductoras incrementaron más de diez años después de la eliminación. El muestreo a largo plazo fue necesario para observar las respuestas de las poblaciones de aves marinas en la isla porque una especie tuvo una respuesta retardada que no fue visible en los primeros años después de la eliminación. Nuestros resultados confirmaron los efectos positivos que tiene la eliminación de especies invasoras no nativas sobre las aves marinas y recalca la importancia de los censos a mediano y largo plazo antes y después de la eliminación para identificar los mecanismos de la recuperación poblacional y confirmar los beneficios con fines de conservación que tiene este método. Recuperación de las poblaciones de aves marinas insulares años después de la eliminación de roedores.

Asia-Oceania HUPO: Past, Present, and Future.

The Asia-Oceania Human Proteome Organization (AOHUPO; www.aohupo.org) was officially founded on June 7, 2001, by Richard J. Simpson (Australia), Akira Tsugita (Japan), and Young-Ki Paik (Korea) and launched on October 1-4, 2001, at the second scientific meeting of the International Proteomics Conference held in Canberra, Australia. Inaugural council members of the AOHUPO elected were Richard J. Simpson (Australia, president), Qi-Chang Xia (China), Kazuyuki Nakamura (Japan), Akira Tsugita (Japan, VIce President), Young-Ki Paik (Korea, secretary general), Mike Hubbard (New Zealand), Max C. M. Chung (Singapore), Shui-Tien Chen (Taiwan), and John Bennett (Philippines). The first AOHUPO conference was held on March 26-27, 2002, at the Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea, conjointly with the second Annual Meeting of KHUPO. Since then, biennial AOHUPO conferences have been held in Taipei (2004), Singapore (2006), Cairns (2008), Hyderabad (2010), Beijing (2012), Bangkok (2014), Sun Moon Lake (2016), and Osaka (2018). The 10th AOHUPO conference is scheduled to be held in Busan on June 30 to July 2, 2021, to celebrate our 20th anniversary.

Low birthweight newborns in Vanuatu: A longitudinal follow-up study.

AIM: Medical care and technology have increased the survival of low birthweight babies (LBW), but especially in low- and middle-income settings the longer term thriving of such babies is not assured because of their fragility, limited services and difficult access after discharge from hospital. In Vanuatu, a Pacific nation of dispersed islands, improving LBW outcomes and survival remains a significant challenge. In this study, we prospectively document the survival, developmental and nutritional outcomes of a cohort of LBW over the first year of life. We also explored the mother's experiences of caring for an LBW baby in hospital and at home. METHODS: A prospective descriptive cohort study of 49 newborns weighing less than 2.5 kg, born between April and August 2019. Data were recorded on their hospital stay, and they were followed up at 6 and 12 months post-discharge and outcomes recorded. Developmental milestones were assessed using the Denver Developmental Screening Test, using milestones appropriate for corrected age. Qualitative interviews were conducted to identify experiences and challenges the mothers faced in caring for their LBW baby. RESULTS: The mean birthweight was 1800 g at 35 weeks gestation (between 2nd and 9th centile). At 6 months of age the median weight was 6.5 kg (9th centile) and at 12 months it was 7.8 kg (9th centile). Three infants died in the first 6 months post-discharge. By 12 months of age, the proportion of infants who had achieved milestones of social and emotional (90%), language and communication (97%), cognition (85%) and motor (69%) development. One had evidence of retinopathy, and 19 had clinical anaemia. Mothers identified several stressors that they attributed as risk factors for premature delivery and outlined the difficulties and isolation of caring for an LBW baby. CONCLUSIONS: It is vital that all LBW babies are followed up in the years after discharge: nutritional, developmental and general health outcomes were generally good; however, post-discharge deaths are more common in this group than in the general population. Equally important is the support for mothers of LBW babies to achieve better outcomes.

Evolutionary history of modern Samoans.

Archaeological studies estimate the initial settlement of Samoa at 2,750 to 2,880 y ago and identify only limited settlement and human modification to the landscape until about 1,000 to 1,500 y ago. At this point, a complex history of migration is thought to have begun with the arrival of people sharing ancestry with Near Oceanic groups (i.e., Austronesian-speaking and Papuan-speaking groups), and was then followed by the arrival of non-Oceanic groups during European colonialism. However, the specifics of this peopling are not entirely clear from the archaeological and anthropological records, and is therefore a focus of continued debate. To shed additional light on the Samoan population history that this peopling reflects, we employ a population genetic approach to analyze 1,197 Samoan high-coverage whole genomes. We identify population splits between the major Samoan islands and detect asymmetrical gene flow to the capital city. We also find an extreme bottleneck until about 1,000 y ago, which is followed by distinct expansions across the islands and subsequent bottlenecks consistent with European colonization. These results provide for an increased understanding of Samoan population history and the dynamics that inform it, and also demonstrate how rapid demographic processes can shape modern genomes.

Children with palliative care needs in Papua New Guinea, and perspectives from their parents and health care workers: a qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organisation defines paediatric palliative care (PPC) as caring for the child's body, mind, and spirit, and giving support to the family. In life-limiting conditions it is important that palliative support can be provided even when curative attempts are being utilised. In Papua New Guinea, as in other low- and middle-income countries there is a lack of services and training on PPC. This study aims to describe the characteristics of children with palliative care needs and to assess the perspectives of their parents and health care workers. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study was carried out over 5 months in 2022 at the Port Moresby General Hospital children's wards. Clinical information was gathered from the admission charts of children with life threatening and life limiting conditions and a recorded interview was carried out with the children's parents. A focus group interview with 10 experienced nurses caring for these children was video recorded. The recorded interviews were subjected to thematic analysis. RESULTS: Twenty children and their parents were included in this study. Nine had a cancer diagnosis and 11 had a chronic progressive condition. The common clinical characteristics of children with palliative care needs were pain (n = 9) and shortness of breath (n = 9), and most children had more than one symptom. Several themes were identified in the parent interviews. Most parents could not name their child's diagnosis, but they were able to correctly describe their child's condition using their own terms. Most parents felt involved in their child's management and were satisfied with the care provided. Parents were psychologically affected by their child's situation but were hopeful that God and the medicines would heal their child. Ten nurses were involved in a focus-group interview. Most nurses' understanding of palliative care was from experience not from formal training, but most felt confident in identifying the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the children. Understanding of analgesia was limited, as was the availability of appropriate medications included in the WHO Analgesic Ladder. CONCLUSION: There is a need for a systematic approach to palliative care in Papua New Guinea. Palliative care can be integrated into an overall approach to quality of paediatric care. It is relevant to a broad section of children with severe chronic or malignant conditions and can be carried out with limited resources. It does require some resources, further training and education, and increased provision of basic drugs for symptom control.

Papua New Guinean Genomes Reveal the Complex Settlement of North Sahul.

The settlement of Sahul, the lost continent of Oceania, remains one of the most ancient and debated human migrations. Modern New Guineans inherited a unique genetic diversity tracing back 50,000 years, and yet there is currently no model reconstructing their past population dynamics. We generated 58 new whole-genome sequences from Papua New Guinea, filling geographical gaps in previous sampling, specifically to address alternative scenarios of the initial migration to Sahul and the settlement of New Guinea. Here, we present the first genomic models for the settlement of northeast Sahul considering one or two migrations from Wallacea. Both models fit our data set, reinforcing the idea that ancestral groups to New Guinean and Indigenous Australians split early, potentially during their migration in Wallacea where the northern route could have been favored. The earliest period of human presence in Sahul was an era of interactions and gene flow between related but already differentiated groups, from whom all modern New Guineans, Bismarck islanders, and Indigenous Australians descend. The settlement of New Guinea was probably initiated from its southeast region, where the oldest archaeological sites have been found. This was followed by two migrations into the south and north lowlands that ultimately reached the west and east highlands. We also identify ancient gene flows between populations in New Guinea, Australia, East Indonesia, and the Bismarck Archipelago, emphasizing the fact that the anthropological landscape during the early period of Sahul settlement was highly dynamic rather than the traditional view of extensive isolation.

Reflections on the 50-year history of the Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB).

The Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists, Inc. (FAOBMB) celebrates its Golden Jubilee in 2022. Established in August 1972 as a regional grouping of three national societies of biochemists in Australia, India and Japan, it took the name Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists (FAOB). The Federation rapidly grew to encompass another 12 national societies (or groups) of biochemists within 6 years, eventually increasing the number of Constituent Members to 21 by 2014. FAOB soon established regular scientific meetings, including triennial Congresses and annual Symposia; from 1980 FAOB Travel Fellowships enabled regional young scientists to participate in them. In 1992, FAOB was constituted as an Incorporated Association in Victoria, Australia, changing its name 1 year later (yielding the acronym FAOBMB). A printed Newsletter/Bulletin was distributed through each Constituent Society or Group from 1972 to 1999. With the advent of the internet and email in the late 1990s, communication rapidly improved, such that the first webpage of FAOBMB was set up in 1995. From the inception of the Federation, an international journal sponsored by FAOB was foreshadowed but only commenced in 1997, sadly lasting only 6 years. Education in biochemistry and molecular biology became prominent in FAOBMB from the 1990s. In the 21st century, awards to high-achieving scientists and educationists were introduced, the first being the Young Scientist Awards in 2006. The Fellowships program was extended to young educationists in 2018. FAOB(MB) has been supported by the International Union of Biochemistry (and Molecular Biology) almost its entire history, mostly for support of Congresses, Conferences and Symposia, but also for Young Scientist Programs. The most recent challenge to FAOBMB came with the COVID-19 pandemic. Executive Committee and the Constituent Members rapidly adapted to virtual communications for their administrative meetings and Education Symposia, and a memorable Congress was held totally on-line in 2021.

Relation of blood lead levels and lead in gasoline: an updated systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Millions of tons of lead were added to gasoline worldwide beginning in 1922, and leaded gasoline has been a major source of population lead exposure. In 1960s, lead began to be removed from automotive gasoline. Removal was completed in 2021. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether removal of lead from automotive gasoline is associated with declines in population mean blood lead levels (BPb). METHODS: We examined published studies that reported population blood leaded levels for two or more years, and we calculated average concentrations of lead in gasoline corresponding to the years and locations of the blood lead level measurements. RESULTS: Removal of lead from gasoline is associated with declines in BPb in all countries examined. In some countries, BPb continues to fall after lead has been eliminated from gasoline. Following elimination of lead from gasoline, BPb less than 1 µg/dL have been observed in several European and North American countries, and BPb less than 3 µg/dL have been documented in several studies from South America. DISCUSSION: There remain many countries for which no multi-year studies of populations BPb have been identified, including all of Central America, high population countries including Pakistan and Indonesia, and major lead producers including Australia and Russia. CONCLUSION: Removal of lead from gasoline has been a public health success. Elimination of lead from gasoline has enabled many countries to achieve population mean BPb levels of 1 µg/dL or lower. These actions have saved lives, increased children's intelligence and created great economic benefit in countries worldwide.