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The world is continuing to experience the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in >767 million reported cases and [approximately equal to] 6.9 million deaths ([approximately equal to] 870 deaths/1 million [...]

Alcohol is a causal factor in about 10% of breast cancer (BCa) cases, but awareness of this link is low. This study explored how to raise awareness and inform the development of an intervention using the COM-B model (capability, opportunity, motivation, behavior) framework. Eight online focus groups were conducted with 36 participants (6 expert stakeholders,and 30 women aged 40–65). Participants reflected on a package of information about alcohol and BCa and discussed how to impart this information and encourage women to reduce drinking. Thematic analysis of focus group transcripts was undertaken. Three themes were identified: understanding ineffective messaging; transitions and challenges; and message acceptability. Current health information about alcohol was perceived as judgmental and BCa was put down to chance. Mid-life consisted of many challenges that could lead to increased consumption, but menopause transition may be a key moment for alcohol reduction. Barriers and enablers to communicating risk information and encouraging alcohol reduction were mapped onto the COM-B model. Psychological capability (relating to knowledge), social opportunity (in the form of social pressure) and automatic motivation (relating to drinking to cope) were barriers to behavior change. These will be targeted in an alcohol reduction intervention. It is important to tailor information to women's experiences, taking into account the social benefits of drinking, and encourage the development of healthy coping strategies. Acceptable intervention messages may include personal stories, clear statistics, and suggest healthy alternatives to drinking. It is vital that messaging does not appear judgmental or patronizing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

M1UK is associated with current surges in invasive infection globally, partly due to increased production of superantigen streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A. We show that M1UK is now the dominant invasive emm 1 lineage in Aotearoa New Zealand and is genomically related to community infections, suggesting that measures that effectively prevent group A Streptococcus pharyngitis in children could reduce invasive disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: As part of a wider study describing the impact of a breast cancer diagnosis on lifestyle behaviours, this paper describes the impact of a breast cancer diagnosis on alcohol consumption and factors influencing consumption. Methods: Cross‐sectional online survey of 140 people (138 women) and interviews with 21 women diagnosed with breast cancer in the last 10 years. Results: Of the 100 survey participants who drank alcohol 25% were drinking at increasing or higher risk levels and 17% strongly wanted to change their drinking behaviour. The habitual aspects of alcohol consumption were the strongest predictor of current alcohol consumption behaviours. Social norms and perceptions about conflicting information were substantial barriers to change. Conclusions: Breast cancer survivors need accurate information about the risks of alcohol consumption and guidelines in order to make informed decisions about making changes to their behaviour. Interventions to support breast cancer survivors to reduce alcohol consumption need to focus on the development of healthy habits and may benefit from a focus which includes partners and friends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is a rare inflammatory condition triggered in response to untreated group A Streptococcus infection, ARF rates peak among children 5-14 years of age (1). ARF may [...]

Background: Children with craniopharyngiomas (CPs) typically suffer from a life-long chronic disease. The younger the child, the more vulnerable the maturing brain is to invasive therapies such as surgery or radiotherapy. Therefore, treatment modalities facilitating avoidance or delay of invasive therapies are beneficial for these patients. In the last decade, intracystic injection of interferon alfa-2a or alfa-2b evolved as a treatment of choice based on efficacy and minor toxicity. However, the drug is no longer available internationally. After an extensive pharmacological review, peginterferon alfa-2a was identified as the agent with closest similarity. Methods: A retrospective case series is described, including five patients treated with intracystic peginterferon alfa-2a for cystic CP according to an innovative care protocol. After initial CP cyst aspiration, peginterferon alfa-2a was injected once per week via an Ommaya reservoir for 6 weeks followed by response assessment with MRI. Results: Patients' age ranged from 4 to 54 years (four patients <12 years, one adult patient). Intracystic therapy with peginterferon alfa-2a was tolerated well by all five individuals without any major toxicities and resulted in cyst shrinkage in all of the five patients. The importance of a permeability study prior to commencing intracystic therapy became apparent in one patient who suffered from cyst leakage. Conclusions: Intracystic treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a was found to be a tolerable and efficacious treatment modality in patients with cystic CP. This experience warrants further research with a larger number of patients with measurement of long-term efficacy and safety outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reflects on the influences and outcomes of He Kāinga Oranga/Housing and Health Research Programme over 25 years, and their impact on housing and health policy in Aotearoa and internationally. Working in partnership particularly with Māori and Pasifika communities, we have conducted randomised control trials which have shown the health and broad co-benefits of retrofitted insulation, heating and remediation of home hazards, which have underpinned government policy in the Warm Up NZ-Heat Smart programme and the Healthy Homes Standards for rental housing. These trials have been included as evidence in the WHO Housing and Health Guidelines and led to our designation as a WHO Collaborating Centre on Housing and Wellbeing. We are increasingly explicitly weaving Māori frameworks, values and processes with traditional Western science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is a preventable multisystem inflammatory disease that develops in ARF and RHD remain major causes of illness and death (5). In 2015, global prevalence of RHD [...]