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Background: Alcohol use disorder is associated with increased suicide risk; however, both alcohol use disorder and suicide share risk factors which must be accounted for in order to understand this relationship. This study aimed to explore the longitudinal relationship between alcohol use disorder and suicidal ideation in adulthood, while accounting for both child background and adult covariate factors. Method: Data were collected from the Christchurch Health and Development Study, a birth cohort of 1265 children born in Christchurch (New Zealand) in mid-1977. Alcohol use disorder (operationalised as alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence) was quantified between age 18 and 40 in five data waves. The outcome measure suicidal ideation was reported over the same time periods. Childhood confounding variables were controlled for, as well as time-dynamic covariates collected in adulthood, including internalising disorders, distress due to relationship dissolutions and other substance use disorders. Results: The association between alcohol abuse and suicidal ideation was not statistically significant before or after adjusting for childhood confounding and adulthood covariate factors, when compared to no alcohol disorder. However, the association between alcohol dependence and suicidal ideation was significant both before and after adjustment (unadjusted odds ratio = 2.89, 95% confidence interval = [2.09, 3.99]; adjusted odds ratio = 1.52, 95% confidence interval = [1.04, 2.23]), when compared to no alcohol disorder. Furthermore, alcohol dependence remained significant when compared to alcohol abuse (unadjusted odds ratio = 2.33, 95% confidence interval = [1.61, 3.37]; adjusted odds ratio = 1.54, 95% confidence interval = [1.00, 2.37]). Conclusion: This analysis found an association between alcohol dependence and suicidal ideation within a New Zealand birth cohort, which persists even after adjustment for childhood confounding and adulthood covariate factors. Given the high rates of suicide and heavy drinking within the New Zealand population, any comprehensive national or regional suicide prevention plan should seek to reduce risky alcohol consumption at an individual and population level, as this represents a modifiable risk factor for suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex matrices such as soil have a range of measurable characteristics, and thus data to describe them can be considered multidimensional. These characteristics can be strongly influenced by factors that introduce confounding effects that hinder analyses. Traditional statistical approaches lack the flexibility and granularity required to adequately evaluate such matrices, particularly those with large dataset of varying data types (i.e. quantitative non-compositional, quantitative compositional). We present a statistical workflow designed to effectively analyse complex, multidimensional systems, even in the presence of confounding variables. The developed methodology involves exploratory analysis to identify the presence of confounding variables, followed by data decomposition (including strategies for both compositional and non-compositional quantitative data) to minimise the influence of these confounding factors such as sampling site/location. These data processing methods then allow for common patterns to be highlighted in the data, including the identification of biomarkers and determination of non-trivial associations between variables. We demonstrate the utility of this statistical workflow by jointly analysing the chemical composition and fungal biodiversity of New Zealand vineyard soils that have been managed with either organic low-input or conventional input approaches. By applying this pipeline, we were able to identify biomarkers that distinguish viticultural soil from both approaches and also unearth links and associations between the chemical and metagenomic profiles. While soil is an example of a system that can require this type of statistical methodology, there are a range of biological and ecological systems that are challenging to analyse due to the complex interplay of global and local effects. Utilising our developed pipeline will greatly enhance the way that these systems can be studied and the quality and impact of insight gained from their analysis. [Display omitted] • Novel statistical workflow to effectively analyse complex, multidimensional systems. • Methods allow identification of biomarker and non-trivial variable associations. • Workflow demonstrated through analysing New Zealand vineyard soils. • Utility shown by jointly analysing chemical composition and fungal biodiversity. • Developed pipeline will enhance analysis of other complex multidimensional systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this article we analyze the efficiency of total transport investment in a sample of 34 countries over the period 1996 to 2010. We do so by way of Data Envelopment Analysis that evaluates countries according to their ability to achieve the maximum attainable infrastructure quantity and usage for a given investment volume. We find that the Central European countries, New Zealand and Japan are the most efficient when investing in transport infrastructure while the Eastern European countries, Russia, Turkey and Mexico are the least so. We moreover consider the role played by government quality when explaining cross-country differences in investment efficiency, based on truncated panel (and bootstrapped) regressions. We confirm the positive impact of government quality on efficiency even after controlling for a range of potentially confounding variables. Our analysis generates important policy implications for those concerned with the efficiency of transport infrastructure. Highlights • We consider the efficiency of transport investment in a sample of 34 countries. • Efficiency is measured in terms of quantity and usage of infrastructure for a given level of investment. • We employ Data Envelopment Analysis and truncated panel regressions. • The Central European countries, New Zealand and Japan are the most efficient while Eastern Europe, Russia, Turkey and Mexico are the least so. • Government quality is an important driver of efficiency differences across countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Individuals reporting a history of childhood violence victimization have impaired brain function. However, the clinical significance, reproducibility, and causality of these findings are disputed. The authors used data from two large cohort studies to address these research questions directly.Method: The authors tested the association between prospectively collected measures of childhood violence victimization and cognitive functions in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood among 2,232 members of the U.K. E-Risk Study and 1,037 members of the New Zealand Dunedin Study who were followed up from birth until ages 18 and 38 years, respectively. Multiple measures of victimization and cognition were used, and comparisons were made of cognitive scores for twins discordant for victimization.Results: Individuals exposed to childhood victimization had pervasive impairments in clinically relevant cognitive functions, including general intelligence, executive function, processing speed, memory, perceptual reasoning, and verbal comprehension in adolescence and adulthood. However, the observed cognitive deficits in victimized individuals were largely explained by cognitive deficits that predated childhood victimization and by confounding genetic and environmental risks.Conclusions: Findings from two population-representative birth cohorts totaling more than 3,000 individuals and born 20 years and 20,000 km apart suggest that the association between childhood violence victimization and later cognition is largely noncausal, in contrast to conventional interpretations. These findings support the adoption of a more circumspect approach to causal inference in the neuroscience of stress. Clinically, cognitive deficits should be conceptualized as individual risk factors for victimization as well as potential complicating features during treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is known and objective Prescription sequence symmetry analyses ( PSSA) is a ubiquitous tool employed in pharmacoepidemiological research to predict adverse drug reactions ( ADRs). Several studies have reported the advantage of PSSA as a method that can be applied to a large prescription database with computational ease. The objective of this study was to validate New Zealand ( NZ) prescription database as a potential source for identifying ADRs using the PSSA method. Methods We analysed de-identified individual-level prescription data for people aged 65 years and above for the period 2005 to 2014 from the pharmaceutical collections supplied by the NZ Ministry of Health. We selected six positive controls that have been previously investigated and reported for causing ADRs. The six positive controls identified were amiodarone (repeated twice), frusemide, simvastatin, lithium and fluticasone. Amiodarone and lithium have been reported to induce thyroid dysfunction. Simvastatin reported to cause muscle cramps while fluticasone is well documented to cause oral candidiasis. Thyroxine was identified as a marker drug to treat hypothyroidism associated with amiodarone and lithium. Carbimazole was identified as a marker drug to treat hyperthyroidism associated with amiodarone use. Quinine sulphate was identified as a marker drug to treat muscle cramps associated with statins. In addition, we also analysed six negative controls that are unlikely to be associated with ADRs. The main outcome measure is to determine associations with ADRs using adjusted sequence ratios ( ASR), and 95% confidence intervals Results and discussion Our analyses confirmed a significant signal for all six positive controls. Significant positive associations were noted for amiodarone [ ASR = 3·57, 95% CI (3·17-4·02)], and lithium chloride induced hypothyroidism [ ASR = 3·43, 95% CI (2·55-4·70)]. Amiodarone was also strongly associated with hyperthyroidism [ ASR = 8·81 95% CI (5·86-13·77)]. Simvastatin was associated with muscle cramps [ ASR = 1·69, 95% CI (1·61-1·77)]. Fluticasone was positively associated with oral candidiasis [ ASR = 2·34, 95% CI (2·19-2·50)]. Frusemide was associated with hypokalaemia [ ASR = 2·94, 95% CI (2·83-3·05]). No strong associations were noted for the negative pairs. It is important to highlight that PSSA automatically controls for all confounding factors including unknown and unmeasured confounding variables, plus the effect of temporal trend in prescriptions, and hence allows a more robust ADR detection especially when confounding factors are difficult to determine or measure. What is new and conclusion New Zealand prescription database can be a potential source to identify ADRs engaging the PSSA method, and this could complement pharmacovigilance surveillance in NZ. The PSSA can be an important method for post-marketing surveillance and monitoring of ADRs which have relatively short latency. However, the predictive validity of PSSA will be compromised in certain scenarios, particularly when sample size is small, when new drugs are in the market and data are sparse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In previous studies, researchers estimated short-term relationships between financial credits and health outcomes using conventional regression analyses, but they did not account for time-varying confounders affected by prior treatment (CAPTs) or the credits' cumulative impacts over time. In this study, we examined the association between total number of years of receiving New Zealand's Family Tax Credit (FTC) and self-rated health (SRH) in 6,900 working-age parents using 7 waves of New Zealand longitudinal data (2002-2009). We conducted conventional linear regression analyses, both unadjusted and adjusted for time-invariant and time-varying confounders measured at baseline, and fitted marginal structural models (MSMs) that more fully adjusted for confounders, including CAPTs. Of all participants, 5.1%-6.8% received the FTC for 1-3 years and 1.8%-3.6% for 4-7 years. In unadjusted and adjusted conventional regression analyses, each additional year of receiving the FTC was associated with 0.033 (95% confidence interval (CI): -0.047, -0.019) and 0.026 (95% CI: -0.041, -0.010) units worse SRH (on a 5-unit scale). In the MSMs, the average causal treatment effect also reflected a small decrease in SRH (unstabilized weights: β = -0.039 unit, 95% CI: -0.058, -0.020; stabilized weights: β = -0.031 unit, 95% CI: -0.050, -0.007). Cumulatively receiving the FTC marginally reduced SRH. Conventional regression analyses and MSMs produced similar estimates, suggesting little bias from CAPTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate whether there is an increased risk of preterm birth with blastocyst transfer compared with cleavage-stage embryo transfer (ET) after assisted reproductive technology (ART).Design: A retrospective, population-based study.Setting: Not applicable.Patient(s): A total of 50,788 infants conceived after ART treatment performed from 2009 to 2012.Intervention(s): None.Main Outcome Measure(s): The rates of preterm birth, low birth weight (LBW), and small for gestational age (SGA) for 43,952 singleton and 3,418 twin deliveries after transfers of blastocyst or cleavage-stage embryos.Result(s): Among singletons, there was no significant difference in the odds of preterm birth between blastocyst and cleavage-stage ET (9.1% compared with 9.3%, respectively, adjusted odds ratio 1.00, 95% confidence interval 0.94-1.08). Among twins, the crude rates of preterm birth were similar after blastocyst and cleavage-stage ETs (61.5% and 64.4%, respectively). However, after adjusting for potential confounders, blastocyst transfer was associated with a lower odds of preterm birth among twins (adjusted odds ratio 0.80, 95% confidence interval 0.70-0.93). There was no difference in risks of LBW and SGA between blastocyst and cleavage-stage ETs for both singletons and twins after adjusting for potential confounders.Conclusion(s): In contrast with the findings from a number of other studies, blastocyst culture in Australian and New Zealand is not associated with an increased risk of preterm, LBW, and SGA for singletons. Further studies are needed to assess longer-term outcomes of children born after ART treatment and possible biological or treatment factors related to adverse outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the relationship between self-esteem in adolescence and later violent offending and hostility via self- and other-report, examining data from a birth cohort of over 1,000 New Zealand young adults studied to age 25. Lower levels of self-esteem at age 15 were related to greater risks of violent offending and higher levels of hostility at ages 18, 21, and 25. Adjustment for potentially confounding factors reduced the strength of the associations between self-esteem at age 15 and both self- and other-reported violent offending and other-reported hostility at ages 18, 21, and 25 to statistically non-significant levels. The association between self-esteem at age 15 and later self-reported hostility remained statistically significant, but was small in magnitude. A similar pattern of results were obtained using self-esteem at age 10 as the predictor variable in place of the age 15 measure. In addition, a persistent association was found between unstable high self-esteem and self-reported violent offending. The results suggest that self-esteem level plays a limited role in the understanding of violent behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]