Cerebral palsy in Australia: birth prevalence, 1995-2016, and differences by residential remoteness: a population-based register study.

Objective: To examine recent changes in the birth prevalence of cerebral palsy in Australia; to examine the functional mobility of children with cerebral palsy by residential remoteness.

Study Design: Population-based register study; analysis of Australian Cerebral Palsy Register (ACPR) data.

Setting, Participants: Children with cerebral palsy born in Australia, 1995-2016, and included in the ACPR at the time of the most recent state/territory data provision (31 July 2022).

Development of a machine learning detector for North Atlantic humpback whale song.

The study of humpback whale song using passive acoustic monitoring devices requires bioacousticians to manually review hours of audio recordings to annotate the signals. To vastly reduce the time of manual annotation through automation, a machine learning model was developed. Convolutional neural networks have made major advances in the previous decade, leading to a wide range of applications, including the detection of frequency modulated vocalizations by cetaceans.

Radiological outcomes following surgical fixation with wires versus moulded cast for patients with a dorsally displaced fracture of the distal radius: a radiographic analysis from the DRAFFT2 trial.

Aims: The primary aim of this study was to report the radiological outcomes of patients with a dorsally displaced distal radius fracture who were randomized to a moulded cast or surgical fixation with wires following manipulation and closed reduction of their fracture. The secondary aim was to correlate radiological outcomes with patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in the year following injury.

Methods: Participants were recruited as part of DRAFFT2, a UK multicentre clinical trial.

Diagnostic Needle Arthroscopy of the Shoulder: A Validation Study.

Background: Diagnostic needle arthroscopy offers an alternative imaging modality to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of intra-articular pathology.

Purpose: To compare the accuracy of a needle arthroscopy device (Mi-eye2) versus MRI in identifying intra-articular anatomic abnormalities in the glenohumeral joint, with formal arthroscopy as the gold standard.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Severe Congenital Heart Defects and Cerebral Palsy.

Objective: To report the prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) in children with severe congenital heart defects (sCHD) and the outcome/severity of the CP.

Methods: Population-based, data linkage study between CP and congenital anomaly registers in Europe and Australia. The EUROCAT definition of severe CHD (sCHD) was used.

Declining trends in birth prevalence and severity of singletons with cerebral palsy of prenatal or perinatal origin in Australia: A population-based observational study.

Aim: To investigate temporal trends in birth prevalence, disability severity, and motor type for singletons with prenatal or perinatally acquired cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: Numerator data, number of children with CP born a singleton between 1995 and 2014, confirmed at 5 years of age, were drawn from three state registers with population-level ascertainment. Birth prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated per 1000 singleton live births for the three states combined, overall, by gestational age group, by dichotomized disability severity, and spastic laterality.

Congenital anomalies in children with pre- or perinatally acquired cerebral palsy: an international data linkage study.

Aim: To describe the frequency and types of major congenital anomalies present in children with pre- or perinatally acquired cerebral palsy (CP), and compare clinical outcomes for children with and without anomalies.

Method: This multi-centre total population collaborative study between Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe, Australian Cerebral Palsy Register, and European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies (EUROCAT) involved six European and three Australian regions. Data were linked between each region's CP and congenital anomaly register for children born between 1991 and 2009, and then pooled.

Cerebral palsy trends in Australia (1995-2009): a population-based observational study.

Aim: To investigate trends in birth prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) overall and by gestational age, and examine the distribution of motor type, spastic topography, and severity using Australian CP Register data from 1995 to 2009.

Method: Prenatal and perinatal CP data were collated from state/territory CP registers. Birth prevalence estimates per 1000 live births and per 1000 neonatal survivors (NNS) were calculated in five epochs.

Comprehensive investigation of congenital anomalies in cerebral palsy: protocol for a European-Australian population-based data linkage study (The Comprehensive CA-CP Study).

Introduction: Cerebral palsy (CP), an umbrella term for non-progressive conditions of cerebral origin resulting in motor impairments, is collectively the most common cause of physical disability in childhood. Cerebral and/or non-cerebral congenital anomalies are present in 15%-40% of children with CP. In order to identify effective prevention strategies for this substantial proportion of CP, a comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology of these congenital anomalies is required.

Age range for inclusion affects ascertainment by birth defects registers.

Background: The South Australian Birth Defects Register (SABDR) has collected the date of diagnosis of notified birth defects since the 2005 birth year cohort. This study aims to document the age at diagnosis for each of the main diagnostic categories of birth defects, to produce a profile of when defects are diagnosed.

Methods: Deidentified data were extracted from the SABDR for birth years 2005 to 2007.

Regional variability in bed-sediment concentrations of wastewater compounds, hormones and PAHs for portions of coastal New York and New Jersey impacted by hurricane Sandy.

Bed sediment samples from 79 coastal New York and New Jersey, USA sites were analyzed for 75 compounds including wastewater associated contaminants, PAHs, and other organic compounds to assess the post-Hurricane Sandy distribution of organic contaminants among six regions. These results provide the first assessment of wastewater compounds, hormones, and PAHs in bed sediment for this region. Concentrations of most wastewater contaminants and PAHs were highest in the most developed region (Upper Harbor/Newark Bay, UHNB) and reflected the wastewater inputs to this area.

Increase in late diagnosed developmental dysplasia of the hip in South Australia: risk factors, proposed solutions.

Objectives: To review evidence for the increased incidence of late diagnosed developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in South Australia; to identify perinatal risk factors associated with late DDH in babies born between 2003 and 2009 in SA.

Design: Linkage study of data collected prospectively by the South Australian Birth Defects Register (SABDR) and the Pregnancy Outcome Statistics Unit (SA Department of Health), supplemented by medical records review.

Participants: All children born 2003-2009 in whom DDH was diagnosed between 3 months and 5 years of age and notified to the SABDR (data inclusion range, 2003-2014).

A special supplement: findings from the Australian Cerebral Palsy Register, birth years 1993 to 2006.

Aim: To briefly outline the strengths and limitations of cerebral palsy (CP) registers, and to report on findings of the Australian Cerebral Palsy Register (ACPR) pertaining to a population cohort of children with CP.

Method: De-identified data were extracted from the ACPR for people with CP in birth years 1993 to 2006, from South Australia, Victoria, and Western Australia. Live birth prevalence of CP was estimated and risk factors described.

Biological sex and the risk of cerebral palsy in Victoria, Australia.

Aim: Males typically outnumber females in cerebral palsy (CP) cohorts. To better understand this 'male disadvantage' and provide insight into causal pathways to CP, this study used 1983 to 2009 Australian CP and population birth cohorts to identify associations and trends with respect to biological sex and CP.

Method: Within birth gestation groups, sex ratios were calculated to evaluate any male excess in the CP cohort compared with livebirths, neonatal deaths, neonatal mortality and survival rates, neonatal survivors, and CP rates in survivors.

Congenital anomalies in cerebral palsy: where to from here?

Proportions of cases of cerebral palsy (CP) with congenital anomalies recorded in Australian CP registers range from 15% to 40%. The anomalies seen in CP are extremely variable. We have identified that CP registers often do not have quality data on congenital anomalies, necessitating linkage with congenital anomaly registers.

Neuroimaging findings in a series of children with cerebral palsy and congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

Unlabelled: Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is a contributing cause of neurodevelopmental disabilities including cerebral palsy (CP). In this case series we reviewed the neuroimaging findings of children with CP and cCMV infection in the context of the children's clinical profile.

Participants: Children with CP and laboratory confirmed cCMV (n=12) reported to the Australian CP Register, born in South Australia and Victoria, 1993-2006, with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or computerized tomography (CT) report available.

Genetic and clinical contributions to cerebral palsy: a multi-variable analysis.

Aim: This study aims to examine single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associations with cerebral palsy in a multi-variable analysis adjusting for potential clinical confounders and to assess SNP-SNP and SNP-maternal infection interactions as contributors to cerebral palsy.

Methods: A case control study including 587 children with cerebral palsy and 1154 control children without cerebral palsy. Thirty-nine candidate SNPs were genotyped in both mother and child.

Rare copy number variation in cerebral palsy.

Recent studies have established the role of rare copy number variants (CNVs) in several neurological disorders but the contribution of rare CNVs to cerebral palsy (CP) is not known. Fifty Caucasian families having children with CP were studied using two microarray designs. Potentially pathogenic, rare (<1% population frequency) CNVs were identified, and their frequency determined, by comparing the CNVs found in cases with 8329 adult controls with no known neurological disorders.

Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus may be associated with some cases of cerebral palsy.

Objective: Intrauterine infection is a risk factor for cerebral palsy. Previous work reported a high frequency of viral DNA in newborn screening cards from cerebral palsy cases and controls possibly due to contamination.

Methods: Retrospective case-control study using improved methodologies to minimize contamination during PCR-based detection of viral DNA sequences.

Epidemiologic associations with cerebral palsy.

Objective: To estimate epidemiologic risk factors for cerebral palsy.

Methods: Data were collected by linkage to state-based perinatal repositories and cerebral palsy registers and using a maternal questionnaire. The cohort included 587 individuals with cerebral palsy and 1,154 non-cerebral palsy controls.

Comparison of DNA extraction methods from small samples of newborn screening cards suitable for retrospective perinatal viral research.

Reliable detection of viral DNA in stored newborn screening cards (NSC) would give important insight into possible silent infection during pregnancy and around birth. We sought a DNA extraction method with sufficient sensitivity to detect low copy numbers of viral DNA from small punch samples of NSC. Blank NSC were spotted with seronegative EDTA-blood and seropositive EBV EDTA-blood.

Fetal MBL2 haplotypes combined with viral exposure are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Objective: To investigate the roles of inherited polymorphisms in the MBL2 gene and exposure to viral infection in the development of a range of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including birthweight  < 10th percentile (small-for-gestational age, SGA), antepartum hemorrhage (APH), pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders (PIHD), and preterm birth (PTB).

Methods: This was a case-control study using DNA from newborn screening cards of 717 cases (babies with at least one of the adverse pregnancy outcomes listed above) and 609 controls, to screen for six polymorphisms within the MBL2 gene. These combine to create haplotypes with high (HYPA), intermediate (LYQA, LYPA), low (LXPA), and defective (HYPD, LYQC, LYPB) circulating MBL2 levels.

The Australian cerebral palsy research study--protocol for a national collaborative study investigating genomic and clinical associations with cerebral palsy.

Aim: Previous studies have proposed a link between the presence of specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and cerebral palsy and the majority of these associations remain to be confirmed or rejected by prospective studies with sufficient statistical power. Prior studies have also given little attention to the interaction of genomic characteristics and clinical risk factors.

Methods: This paper describes the design of a prospective case-control study to test these genetic associations in conjunction with more stringent data collection in respect to clinical features associated with pregnancy, particularly maternal infection.