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The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the application of bioextracts on seeds of creole corn, regarding their physiological and sanitary quality. The bioextracts of garlic (Allium sativum L), citronella (Cymbopogon nardus), cloves (Caryophilus aromaticus), ginger (Zingiber officinale roscoe), and their binary combinations were evaluated. Regarding the physiological quality of the seeds, the following parameters were evaluated: first germination (G1), germination (G), dry mass and seedling length (aerial and root). Regarding sanitary control, in vitro tests were carried out for the pathology of the seeds for Fusarium sp. and Aspergillus sp. The results of physiological quality showed a germination rate between 90.8-76.4% of the creole corn seeds treated with bioextracts and their combinations did not differ significantly from the control (84.9%), except when clove alone (3.0% of germination) was used. The results of dry mass, length of shoots and root plants followed a similar trend to that observed for germination analysis. Regarding sanity, the best result was obtained with clove bioextract, which completely inhibited the occurrence of Penicillium sp. Therefore, these studies allow to affirm that bioextracts can be efficient in controlling pathogens and maintaining the physiological quality of creole corn seeds.

Estudos têm mostrado que extratos vegetais e os óleos essenciais podem ser uma alternativa em substituição a produtos sintéticos usados no controle de doenças causadas por fungos em diferentes cultivares. Assim sendo, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a atividade de inibição de crescimento micelial de óleos essenciais e extratos vegetais sobre os fungos Aspergillus sp e Fusarium sp “in vitro” isolados do feijão-caupi. Foram estudados quatro extratos, hidroalcoólicos e hidroacetônicos, de citronela (Cymbopogon winterianus), capim-cidreira (Cymbopogon citratus), cravo-da-índia (Syzygium aromaticum) e melissa (Melissa officinalis) e a combinação binária entre os mesmos e quatro óleos essenciais citronela (Cymbopogon winterianus), capim-cidreira (Cymbopogon citratus), melissa (Melissa officinalis) e neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) e as combinações binárias respectivas. A concentração de óleos essencial usada foi 5.000 ppm, enquanto que, para os extratos foi utilizado 50.000 ppm, em meio BDA (Potato Dextrose Agar). Os resultados mostram que os extratos vegetais e óleos essenciais apresentam atividade antifúngica sobre o crescimento micelial dos patógenos. Contanto, os extratos de cravo-da-índia e citronela e os óleos essenciais de citronela, cidreira e melissa apresentaram os melhores resultados inibindo completamente o crescimento dos fungos. Os óleos essenciais estudados e as combinações binárias inibiram o desenvolvimento dos patógenos, exceto o óleo essencial de neem. Portanto, pode-se inferir que os óleos essenciais e os extratos mostraram-se eficientes e promissores para o desenvolvimento de produtos que possam ser utilizados de forma alternativa na agricultura em substituição aos produtos sintéticos.

This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of garlic and the production of jellies. For this, fresh garlic was submitted to the cooking process and evaluated about moisture, pH, acidity, soluble solids, total sugars, and ash contents. Only garlic and garlic and pepper were prepared using crystal and brown sugar as sweeteners. The jelly that presented the highest number of parameters according to the legislation was submitted to sensory tests. The physicochemical characterization of the raw material showed that cooking did not interfere in pH, but increased acidity and reduced the content of total soluble solids in garlic submitted to cooking for 20 minutes. The jellies prepared with the addition of crystal sugar presented moisture higher than the values stipulated by the legislation. The addition of pepper contributed to increased acidity, regardless of the type of sugar. However, the jellies made with crystal sugar were slightly more acidic than those added to brown sugar. To the content of total soluble solids, all jellies are within the values required by the legislation. The sensory tests did not indicate any of the jellies as preferred and showed no difference in the sensory attributes evaluated between the jams with brown sugar and crystal. In general, the added jelly of brown sugar was pointed with burning and ideal viscosity by many judges. Thus, both jellies can be an alternative in the development of new products, as a potential to add value to garlic.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo realizar a secagem da fruta-pão variedade Seminífera e avaliar os parâmetros físico-químicos da fruta in natura e desidratada (farinha). As frutas foram separadas em partes (polpa, semente, caroço e casca) e submetidas às análises de umidade, pH, acidez, cinzas, e também foi determinado o teor de amido. Para realização da cinética de secagem, utilizou-se estufa com circulação forçada de ar e os dados foram analisados com modelos matemáticos. Os resultados mostraram que na fruta in natura o maior teor de umidade e cinzas foi encontrado no caroço, com 89% e 9,33%, respectivamente. Já na forma de farinha, a parte que apresentou o maior teor de umidade e cinzas foi a polpa. No geral, a fruta apresentou pH ácido, tanto in natura como desidratada, e menor acidez na fruta in natura quando comparada com farinha. A parte da fruta que apresentou o teor de amido mais elevado foi a semente (38%), seguida da polpa (19,10%), do caroço (15,94%) e da casca (15,94%). Com relação à cinética de secagem, os dados mostram que o modelo de Page foi o que melhor se ajustou aos dados experimentais, uma vez que apresentou menor erro e maior correlação. Dessa forma, conclui-se que é viável a produção de farinha a partir da fruta-pão de caroço, que, por apresentar boa avaliação físico-química e elevada quantidade de amido, pode ser uma fonte alternativa em substituição às farinhas tradicionais.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi elaborar duas formulações de geleias dos frutos de achachairu e avaliar suas caraterísticas físico-químicas (acidez, cinzas, sólidos solúveis totais, pH e umidade) e sensoriais (aceitação, preferência, intenção de compra, escala do ideal e índice de aceitabilidade). Uma das formulações foi elaborada com açúcar mascavo e a outra com açúcar cristal, na proporção de 50% de polpa e açúcar. A geleia com açúcar mascavo apresentou maiores médias de acidez (0,7%), cinzas (0,8%), sólidos solúveis totais (67,4°Brix), pH (4,1) e umidade (39,1%). Na análise sensorial, ambas mostraram igual preferência e aceitação. No teste da escala do ideal, a geleia com açúcar cristal foi classificada como ideal pela maioria dos julgadores, de acordo com os atributos sensoriais de acidez (76%), doçura (78%) e viscosidade (68%). Já a intenção de compra, ficou na escala de certamente compraria para 40 e 44% dos provadores da geleia com açúcar cristal e mascavo, respectivamente. O índice de aceitabilidade das duas formulações de geleias adoçadas com açúcar cristal e mascavo foi de 94,96% e 94,14%, respectivamente. Portanto, a formulação de geleia com a polpa de achachairu torna-se uma alternativa para agregar valor às frutas exóticas brasileiras.

Presents a letter to the editor about the use of intravenous immunoglobulin in women with primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Background: The period before, during, and after pregnancy presents an opportunity to reduce diabetes-related risks, which in Australia disproportionately impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women/communities is essential to ensure acceptability and sustainability of lifestyle modifications. Using a novel co-design approach, we aimed to identify shared priorities and potential lifestyle strategies. We also reflected on learnings from this approach., Methods: We conducted 11 workshops and 8 interviews at two sites in Australia's Northern Territory (Central Australia and Top End), using experience-based co-design (EBCD) and incorporating principles of First Nations participatory research. Workshops/interviews explored participant' experiences and understanding of diabetes in pregnancy, contextual issues, and potential lifestyle strategies. Participants included three groups: 1) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women of reproductive age (defined as aged 16-45 years); 2) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members; and 3) health/community services professionals. The study methodology sought to amplify the voices of Aboriginal women., Findings: Participants included 23 women between ages 16-45 years (9 with known lived experience of diabetes in pregnancy), 5 community members and 23 health professionals. Key findings related to identified priority issues, strategies to address priorities, and reflections on use of EBCD methodology. Priorities were largely consistent across study regions: access to healthy foods and physical activity; connection to traditional practices and culture; communication regarding diabetes and related risks; and the difficulty for women of prioritising their health among competing priorities. Strategies included implementation of a holistic women's program in Central Australia, while Top End participants expressed the desire to improve nutrition, peer support and community awareness of diabetes. EBCD provided a useful structure to explore participants' experiences and collectively determine priorities, while allowing for modifications to ensure co-design methods were contextually appropriate. Challenges included the resource-intensive nature of stakeholder engagement, and collaborating effectively with services and communities when researchers were "outsiders"., Conclusions: A hybrid methodology using EBCD and First Nations participatory research principles enabled collaboration between Aboriginal women, communities and health services to identify shared priorities and solutions to reduce diabetes-related health risks. Genuine co-design processes support self-determination and enhance acceptability and sustainability of health strategies., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Dias, MacKay, Canuto, Boyle, D’Antoine, Hampton, Martin, Phillips, Bartlett, Mcintyre, Graham, Corpus, Connors, McCarthy, Kirkham and Maple-Brown.)

Introduction: Premature onset of type 2 diabetes and excess mortality are critical issues internationally, particularly in Indigenous populations. There is an urgent need for developmentally appropriate and culturally safe models of care. We describe the methods for the codesign, implementation and evaluation of enhanced models of care with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth living with type 2 diabetes across Northern Australia., Methods and Analysis: Our mixed-methods approach is informed by the principles of codesign. Across eight sites in four regions, the project brings together the lived experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people (aged 10-25) with type 2 diabetes, their families and communities, and health professionals providing diabetes care through a structured yet flexible codesign process. Participants will help identify and collaborate in the development of a range of multifaceted improvements to current models of care. These may include addressing needs identified in our formative work such as the development of screening and management guidelines, referral pathways, peer support networks, diabetes information resources and training for health professionals in youth type 2 diabetes management. The codesign process will adopt a range of methods including qualitative interviews, focus group discussions, art-based methods and healthcare systems assessments. A developmental evaluation approach will be used to create and refine the components and principles of enhanced models of care. We anticipate that this codesign study will produce new theoretical insights and practice frameworks, resources and approaches for age-appropriate, culturally safe models of care., Ethics and Dissemination: The study design was developed in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous researchers, health professionals and health service managers and has received ethical approval across all sites. A range of outputs will be produced to disseminate findings to participants, other stakeholders and the scholarly community using creative and traditional formats., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Aims: To determine rates and predictors of postpartum diabetes screening among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)., Methods: PANDORA is a prospective longitudinal cohort of women recruited in pregnancy. Postpartum diabetes screening rates at 12 weeks (75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)) and 6, 12 and 18 months (OGTT, glycated haemoglobin [HbA 1C ] or fasting plasma glucose) were assessed for women with GDM (n = 712). Associations between antenatal factors and screening with any test (OGTT, HbA 1C , fasting plasma glucose) by 6 months postpartum were examined using Cox proportional hazards regression., Results: Postpartum screening rates with an OGTT by 12 weeks and 6 months postpartum were lower among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women than non-Indigenous women (18% vs. 30% at 12 weeks, and 23% vs. 37% at 6 months, p < 0.001). Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women were more likely to have completed a 6-month HbA 1C compared to non-Indigenous women (16% vs. 2%, p < 0.001). Screening by 6 months postpartum with any test was 41% for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women and 45% for non-Indigenous women (p = 0.304). Characteristics associated with higher screening rates with any test by 6 months postpartum included, insulin use in pregnancy, first pregnancy, not smoking and lower BMI., Conclusions: Given very high rates of type 2 diabetes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, early postpartum screening with the most feasible test should be prioritised to detect prediabetes and diabetes for intervention., (© 2022 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Diabetes UK.)

Objective: Our aim in this study was to gain an understanding of the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people aged 10 to 25 years with type 2 diabetes (T2D) living in Northern and Central Australia., Methods: In this qualitative study we explored participants' experiences of T2D using a social constructionist epistemology and a phenomenologic methodology. Twenty-seven young people participated in semistructured in-depth interviews from 4 primary health-care sites., Results: Three major constructs emerged. Young people experienced a normalisation-shame paradox in response to their diagnosis (partly related to that "everyone has diabetes," as well as the fear that friends "might judge [me]"), had suboptimal levels of understanding of T2D ("I don't really know what diabetes is. I just need somebody to explain to me a bit more") and experienced multiple barriers inhibiting their T2D management. These included complex lives ("I have a rheumatic heart disease […] then they told me that I have diabetes…I have two things") and the availability of support ("[I] talk to my mum…I talk to my aunty too…I don't talk to anyone else"). Successful management requires support from health professionals and family and includes strengthening social networks and educational opportunities., Conclusions: Our findings reinforce the need for alternative support systems tailored to the specific needs of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with T2D. Enhanced models of care must be codesigned with young people and their communities and include a focus on shifting norms and expectations about youth T2D to reduce diabetes stigma and broaden social support and consider the delivery of health information in youth-friendly environments., (Copyright © 2022 Canadian Diabetes Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Vestibular migraine (VM) is a leading cause of episodic vertigo, affecting up to 1% of the general population. Despite established diagnostic criteria, there is currently no evidence-based approach for acute treatment of VM, with treatment recommendations generally extrapolated from studies on classical migraine headache. Several small-scale studies have identified flunarizine as a potentially effective prophylactic medication in VM. We conducted a single-centre observational service evaluation study exploring patient experiences of preventative medications over a 28-month period, including flunarizine, for control of VM symptoms. To compare patient experience of flunarizine with other medications, data from patients taking flunarizine were separately analysed. A total of 90% of VM patients taking flunarizine reported symptomatic improvement, compared to only 32% of patients on other medications. Whilst 50% of patients on flunarizine reported side effects. these were not deemed to outweigh the clinical benefits, with most patients deciding to continue treatment. Our data supports the use of flunarizine in VM.

Objective: To identify successes to date and opportunities for improvement in the implementation of a complex health systems intervention aiming to improve prenatal and postpartum care and health outcomes for women with hyperglycemia in pregnancy in regional and remote Australia., Methods: A qualitative evaluation, underpinned by the RE-AIM framework (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, maintenance), was conducted mid-intervention. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants, who included clinicians, regional policymakers and managers, and study implementation staff., Results: Interviewees (n = 45) reported that the early phase of the intervention had resulted in the establishment of a clinician network, increased clinician awareness of hyperglycemia in pregnancy, and improvements in management, including earlier referral for specialist care and a focus on improving communication with women. Enablers of implementation included existing relationships with stakeholders and alignment of the intervention with health service priorities. Challenges included engaging remote clinicians and the labor-intensive nature of maintaining a clinical register of women with hyperglycemia in pregnancy., Conclusion: The early phase of this health systems intervention has had a positive perceived impact on systems of care for women with hyperglycemia in pregnancy. Findings have informed modifications to the intervention, including the development of a communication and engagement strategy., (© 2021 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.)

Reports of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) have emerged during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This epidemiological and cohort study sought to investigate any causative association between COVID-19 infection and GBS. The epidemiology of GBS cases reported to the UK National Immunoglobulin Database was studied from 2016 to 2019 and compared to cases reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were stratified by hospital trust and region, with numbers of reported cases per month. UK population data for COVID-19 infection were collated from UK public health bodies. In parallel, but separately, members of the British Peripheral Nerve Society prospectively reported incident cases of GBS during the pandemic at their hospitals to a central register. The clinical features, investigation findings and outcomes of COVID-19 (definite or probable) and non-COVID-19 associated GBS cases in this cohort were compared. The incidence of GBS treated in UK hospitals from 2016 to 2019 was 1.65-1.88 per 100 000 individuals per year. GBS incidence fell between March and May 2020 compared to the same months of 2016-19. GBS and COVID-19 incidences during the pandemic also varied between regions and did not correlate with one another (r = 0.06, 95% confidence interval: -0.56 to 0.63, P = 0.86). In the independent cohort study, 47 GBS cases were reported (COVID-19 status: 13 definite, 12 probable, 22 non-COVID-19). There were no significant differences in the pattern of weakness, time to nadir, neurophysiology, CSF findings or outcome between these groups. Intubation was more frequent in the COVID-19 affected cohort (7/13, 54% versus 5/22, 23% in COVID-19-negative) attributed to COVID-19 pulmonary involvement. Although it is not possible to entirely rule out the possibility of a link, this study finds no epidemiological or phenotypic clues of SARS-CoV-2 being causative of GBS. GBS incidence has fallen during the pandemic, which may be the influence of lockdown measures reducing transmission of GBS inducing pathogens such as Campylobacter jejuni and respiratory viruses., (© Crown copyright 2020.)

Background: Opicapone, a recently introduced catechol-o-methyl transferase (COMT) inhibitor has the advantage of being administered once daily, and has pharmacokinetic data to indicate it offers a greater degree of COMT inhibition than entacapone. Although trial data indicate it is non-inferior to entacapone, there are no data to indicate whether it offers any clinical advantages., Methods: In this audit, we present data from 57 individuals prescribed opicapone at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square who had either not tolerated or reported insufficient benefit following previous prescription of entacapone., Results: A total of 20 of 57 patients switched directly from entacapone to opicapone ("entacapone switchers") whereas 37 of 57 patients had previously discontinued entacapone because of lack of benefit or adverse events ("entacapone failures"). A total of 21 of 57 (37%) patients stopped opicapone prior to 6 months. A total of 7 of 20 (35%) "entacapone switchers" experienced adverse events with opicapone of which 5 stopped the drug prior to the 6 month evaluation of efficacy. A total of 23 of 37 (62%) "entacapone failures" reported adverse events of which 16 stopped the drug. Among 36 of 57 (63%) patients who continued to use opicapone at 6 months, there was an improvement in OFF time of ~2 hours per day as measured by interview., Conclusions: We conclude that opicapone can be an effective additional treatment for wearing off in Parkinson's disease (PD) in a subgroup of patients. The use of opicapone in our cohort with prior entacapone exposure, however, was associated with higher rates of adverse effects and treatment discontinuation than reported in published trial data of COMT inhibitor naïve patients., (© 2020 The Authors. Movement Disorders Clinical Practice published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.)

Background: In Australia's Northern Territory, Indigenous mothers account for 33% of births and have high rates of hyperglycemia in pregnancy. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in pregnancy is up to 10-fold higher in Indigenous than non-Indigenous Australian mothers, and the use of metformin is common. We assessed birth outcomes in relation to metformin use during pregnancy from a clinical register., Methods: The study included women with gestational diabetes (GDM), newly diagnosed diabetes in pregnancy (DIP), or pre-existing T2D from 2012 to 2016. Data were analyzed for metformin use in the third trimester. Regression models were adjusted for maternal age, body mass index, parity, and insulin use., Results: Of 1649 pregnancies, 814 (49.4%) were to Indigenous women, of whom 234 (28.7%) had T2D (vs 4.6% non-Indigenous women; P < 0.001). Metformin use was high in Indigenous women (84%-90% T2D, 42%-48% GDM/DIP) and increased over time in non-Indigenous women (43%-100% T2D, 14%-35% GDM/DIP). Among Indigenous women with GDM/DIP, there were no significant differences between groups with and without metformin in cesarean section (51% vs 39%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87-1.81), large for gestational age (24% vs 13%; aOR 1.5, 95% CI 0.9-2.5), or serious neonatal adverse events (9.4% vs 5.9%; aOR 1.32, 95% CI 0.68-2.57). Metformin use was independently associated with earlier gestational age (37.7 vs 38.5 weeks), but the risk did not remain independently higher after exclusion of women managed with medical nutrition therapy alone, and the increase in births <37 weeks was not significant on multivariate analysis., Conclusions: We found no clear evidence of any adverse outcomes related to the use of metformin for the treatment of hyperglycemia in pregnancy., (© 2019 Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Lung adenocarcinoma is one of the major causes of mortality. Current methods of diagnosis can be improved through identification of disease specific biomarkers. MicroRNAs are small non-coding regulators of gene expression, which can be potential biomarkers in various diseases. Thus, the main objective of this study was to gain mechanistic insights into genetic abnormalities occurring in lung adenocarcinoma by implementing an integrative analysis of miRNAs and mRNAs expression profiles in the case of both smokers and non-smokers. Differential expression was analysed by comparing publicly available lung adenocarcinoma samples with controls. Furthermore, weighted gene co-expression network analysis is performed which revealed mRNAs and miRNAs significantly correlated with lung adenocarcinoma. Moreover, an integrative analysis resulted in identification of several miRNA-mRNA pairs which were significantly dysregulated in non-smokers with lung adenocarcinoma. Also two pairs (miR-133b/Protein Kinase C Zeta (PRKCZ) and miR-557/STEAP3) were found specifically dysregulated in smokers. Pathway analysis further revealed their role in important signalling pathways including cell cycle. This analysis has not only increased the authors' understanding about lung adenocarcinoma but also proposed potential biomarkers. However, further wet laboratory studies are required for the validation of these potential biomarkers which can be used to diagnose lung adenocarcinoma., (© 2019 The Institution of Engineering and Technology.)

Background: In Australia's Northern Territory, 33% of babies are born to Indigenous mothers, who experience high rates of hyperglycemia in pregnancy. We aimed to determine the extent to which pregnancy outcomes for Indigenous Australian women are explained by relative frequencies of diabetes type [type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and gestational diabetes (GDM)]., Methods: This prospective birth cohort study examined participants recruited from a hyperglycemia in pregnancy register. Baseline data collected were antenatal and perinatal clinical information, cord blood and neonatal anthropometry. Of 1135 women (48% Indigenous), 900 had diabetes: 175 T2DM, 86 newly diagnosed diabetes in pregnancy (DIP) and 639 had GDM. A group of 235 women without hyperglycemia in pregnancy was also recruited., Results: Diabetes type differed for Indigenous and non-Indigenous women (T2DM, 36 vs 5%; DIP, 15 vs 7%; GDM, 49 vs 88%, p < 0.001). Within each diabetes type, Indigenous women were younger and had higher smoking rates. Among women with GDM/DIP, Indigenous women demonstrated poorer birth outcomes than non-Indigenous women: large for gestational age, 19 vs 11%, p = 0·002; neonatal fat 11.3 vs 10.2%, p < 0.001. In the full cohort, on multivariate regression, T2DM and DIP were independently associated (and Indigenous ethnicity was not) with pregnancy outcomes., Conclusions: Higher rates of T2DM among Indigenous women predominantly contribute to absolute poorer pregnancy outcomes among Indigenous women with hyperglycemia. As with Indigenous and minority populations globally, prevention or delay of type 2 diabetes in younger women is vital to improve pregnancy outcomes and possibly to improve the long-term health of their offspring., (© The Author(s) 2018; all rights reserved. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association.)

Background: Diabetes in pregnancy carries an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes for both the mother and foetus, but it also provides an excellent early opportunity for intervention in the life course for both mother and baby. In the context of the escalating epidemic of chronic diseases among Indigenous Australians, it is vital that this risk is reduced as early as possible in the life course of the individual. The aims of the PANDORA Study are to: (i) accurately assess rates of diabetes in pregnancy in the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia, where 38% of babies are born to Indigenous mothers; (ii) assess demographic, clinical, biochemical, anthropometric, socioeconomic and early life development factors that may contribute to key maternal and neonatal birth outcomes associated with diabetes in pregnancy; and (iii) monitor relevant post-partum clinical outcomes for both the mothers and their babies., Methods/design: Eligible participants are all NT women with diabetes in pregnancy aged 16 years and over. Information collected includes: standard antenatal clinical information, diagnosis and management of diabetes in pregnancy, socio-economic status, standard clinical birth information (delivery, gestational age, birth weight, adverse antenatal and birth outcomes). Cord blood is collected at the time of delivery and detailed neonatal anthropometric measurements performed within 72 hours of birth. Information will also be collected regarding maternal post-partum glucose tolerance and cardio-metabolic risk factor status, breastfeeding and growth of the baby up to 2 years post-partum in the first instance., Discussion: This study will accurately document rates and outcomes of diabetes in pregnancy in the NT of Australia, including the high-risk Indigenous Australian population. The results of this study should contribute to policy and clinical guidelines with the goal of reducing the future risk of obesity and diabetes in both mothers and their offspring.

Both peripheral neuropathy and distal myopathy are well-established inherited neuromuscular disorders characterized by progressive weakness and atrophy of the distal limb muscles. A complex phenotype of peripheral neuropathy, myopathy, hoarseness, and hearing loss was diagnosed in a large autosomal dominant Korean family. A high density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based linkage study mapped the underlying gene to a region on chromosome 19q13.3. The maximum multipoint LOD score was 3.794. Sequencing of 34 positional candidate genes in the segregating haplotype revealed a novel c.2822G>T (p.Arg941Leu) mutation in the gene MYH14, which encodes the nonmuscle myosin heavy chain 14. Clinically we observed a sequential pattern of the onset of muscle weakness starting from the anterior to the posterior leg muscle compartments followed by involvement of intrinsic hand and proximal muscles. The hearing loss and hoarseness followed the onset of distal muscle weakness. Histopathologic and electrodiagnostic studies revealed both chronic neuropathic and myopathic features in the affected patients. Although mutations in MYH14 have been shown to cause nonsyndromic autosomal dominant hearing loss (DFNA4), the peripheral neuropathy, myopathy, and hoarseness have not been associated with MYH14. Therefore, we suggest that the identified mutation in MYH14 significantly expands the phenotypic spectrum of this gene., (© 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)