Publications by authors named "Karen Walker"

This paper aims to discuss the transition of new graduate nurses into the workforce, the preparation provided to equip them through the novice-beginner stage, and the theory-practice conundrum. : In Australia, new graduate transition programs have been in existence since the 1990s. While there is widespread acknowledgment that this period is pivotal for new graduate nurses entering the profession, there is a lack of consensus on the definition of best practice to achieve optimal preparation for new graduate nurses transitioning into the workforce.

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Progress: Over the past decade, the world has made policy progress for newborns including the first global Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 3.2 (< 12 neonatal deaths per 1000 live births) and the Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP). However, gaps remain for investment and action, especially for babies born too soon, too small, or who become sick.

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Background: Identifying modifiable risk factors for congenital heart disease (CHD) is important for prevention. Previous studies have reported associations between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in pregnancy and CHD in the offspring. However, these studies contain important methodological limitations.

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Background: B-cell targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, which lead to profound B-cell depletion, have been well-established in hematology-oncology. This deep B-cell depletion mechanism has prompted the exploration of their use in B-cell driven autoimmune diseases. We herein report on the manufacturing of KYV-101, a fully human anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy, derived from patients who were treated across a spectrum of autoimmune diseases.

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Article Synopsis
  • Neonatal encephalopathy (NE) is a serious condition impacting newborns, where therapeutic hypothermia is the standard treatment, yet many still face long-term issues; the paper aims to create a Core Outcome Set (COS) for consistent reporting in studies.* -
  • A systematic review of 116 papers identified 386 reported outcomes from NE studies, categorized into 18 domains, highlighting a lack of uniformity as no single outcome was universally reported across studies.* -
  • The findings emphasize the need for standardized outcome measures, including family input, to improve the comparison of treatments and enhance research on NE.*
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Aim: Perinatal stroke is one of the main causes of hemiplegia and seizure disorder. This study aimed to analyse the clinical characteristics and outcomes of perinatal stroke in a cohort of Australian children for its early detection.

Methods: A population-based prospective longitudinal study on perinatal stroke up to 2 years of age, was conducted from 2017 to 2019.

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Objectives: People with multiple system atrophy (MSA) and their carers may have many concerns about their disease and the future. This survey of people with MSA and their carers aimed to increase understanding of end-of-life care and palliative care for this group.

Methods: A survey was undertaken by the MSA Trust of people living with MSA and carers of those with the condition between August and October 2022.

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Background: 'Neonatal encephalopathy' (NE) describes a group of conditions in term infants presenting in the earliest days after birth with disturbed neurological function of cerebral origin. NE is aetiologically heterogenous; one cause is peripartum hypoxic ischaemia. Lack of uniformity in the terminology used to describe NE and its diagnostic criteria creates difficulty in the design and interpretation of research and complicates communication with families.

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Background: Although not universal, active care is being offered to infants weighing < 500 g at birth, referred to as ultra-low birth weight (ULBW) infants appropriate for gestational age. These infants have the greatest risk of dying or developing major morbidities. ULBW infants face challenges related to fluid and heat loss as well as skin injury in the initial days of life from extreme anatomical and physiological immaturity of the skin.

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Background: In Oman, there is a lack of data on utilisation, needs and women's satisfaction with care and information provided during postnatal follow-up period.

Aim: To investigate postnatal follow-up care utilisation and women's needs; level of postnatal information received and satisfaction with services.

Methods: A purposive sample of women (n = 500), recruited in the immediate postnatal period at one metropolitan and one regional birthing hospital in Oman.

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Introduction: Sufficient levels of vitamin D have been associated with higher chances for both clinical pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing assisted reproductive techniques, whereas low levels of maternal vitamin D have been associated with preeclampsia and late miscarriage. In Denmark, subgroups at risk for low vitamin D levels, including neonates and toddlers, are recommended to use supplementation. The aim was to study the level of vitamin D among neonates born after in vitro fertilization compared with neonates from the general population.

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Background: The intestinal microflora has an essential role in providing a barrier against colonisation of pathogens, facilitating important metabolic functions, stimulating the development of the immune system, and maintaining intestinal motility. Probiotics are live microorganisms that can be administered to supplement the gut flora. Neonates who have undergone gastrointestinal surgery are particularly susceptible to infectious complications in the postoperative period.

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Background: Heterogeneity in outcomes reported in trials of interventions for the treatment of neonatal encephalopathy (NE) makes evaluating the effectiveness of treatments difficult. Developing a core outcome set for NE treatment would enable researchers to measure and report the same outcomes in future trials. This would minimise waste, ensure relevant outcomes are measured and enable evidence synthesis.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study aimed to determine the birth prevalence of perinatal stroke in term infants and identify associated risk factors, despite some factors being present in healthy infants, which complicates risk assessment.
  • - Researchers analyzed perinatal stroke data from 2017 to 2019, finding a prevalence of 9.6 per 100,000 live births, with most cases (87%) showing multiple risk factors like cesarean section and low Apgar scores.
  • - The study concluded that while certain risk factors are statistically significant, they do not fully explain the causes of perinatal stroke, indicating a need for further validation through case-control studies.
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Representatives from the Alliance of Global Neonatal Nursing address the worldwide shortage of nurses.

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Representatives from the Alliance of Global Neonatal Nursing address the worldwide shortage of nurses.

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Objectives: Postnatal follow-up care (PNFC) is critical for promoting maternal and newborn health and well-being. In Oman, women's utilisation of postnatal follow-up services has declined, with rates as low as 0.29 (mean visits) in some governorates, and fails to meet the recommendation of postnatal follow-up visits at two and six weeks for assessment of the mother and her newborn.

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Background: Delphi surveys are commonly used to prioritise critical outcomes in core outcome set (COS) development. This trial aims to compare a three-round (Multi-Round) Delphi (MRD) with a Real-Time Delphi (RTD) in the prioritisation of outcomes for inclusion in a COS for neonatal encephalopathy treatments and explore whether 'feedback', 'iteration', and 'initial condition' effects may occur in the two survey methods.

Methods: We recruited 269 participants (parents/caregivers, healthcare providers and researchers/academics) of which 222 were randomised to either the MRD or the RTD.

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Maternal dietary factors have been suggested as possible contributing influences for congenital anomalies (CAs). We aimed to assess the association between vitamin D supplementation or vitamin D status (s-25OHD) during pregnancy and CAs in the offspring. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the three electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library.

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