Differences in treatment choices for localised prostate cancer diagnosed in private and public health services.

Objective: To compare treatments for localised prostate cancer for men diagnosed in private and public health services in Victoria.

Design: Retrospective analysis of Victorian Cancer Registry data linked to population-based administrative health datasets.

Setting, Participants: 29 325 Victorian men diagnosed with prostate cancer during 2011-2017.

Comparative effectiveness of ustekinumab or vedolizumab after one year in 130 patients with anti-TNF-refractory Crohn's disease.

Background: Anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents are effective in Crohn's disease but some patients lose response and require alternative biologic therapy. There are few data on comparative effectiveness of vedolizumab and ustekinumab in this setting.

Aim: To compare the effectiveness of ustekinumab and vedolizumab in anti-TNF-refractory Crohn's disease over 12 months.

Development of a multicentre automated model to reduce planning variability in radiotherapy of prostate cancer.

Background And Purpose: Inter-institutional studies highlighted correlation between consistent radiotherapy quality and improved overall patient survival. In treatment planning automation has the potential to address differences due to user-experience and training, promoting standardisation. The aim of this study was to evaluate implementation and clinical effect of a multicentre collaboratively-developed automated planning model for Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy/Volumetric-Modulated Arc Therapy of prostate.

Pregabalin in the Management of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy: A Narrative Review.

Pregabalin is a first-line treatment in all major international guidelines on the management of painful diabetic neuropathy (pDPN). Treatment with pregabalin leads to a clinically meaningful improvement in pain scores, offers consistent relief of pain and has an acceptable tolerance level. Despite its efficacy in relieving neuropathic pain, more robust methods and comprehensive studies are required to evaluate its effects in relation to co-morbid anxiety and sleep interference in pDPN.

The Investigation and Treatment of Diabetic Gastroparesis.

Purpose: This review provides an update on the investigations and treatment options for gastroparesis.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search of Medline, PubMed, Embase and OVID was conducted which included all systematic reviews and research articles that focused on the diagnosis, investigations and management diabetic gastroparesis.

Findings: Dietary modifications and pharmacologic treatment with prokinetics to increase gastric motility form the mainstay of treatment.

Blood Transcriptional Biomarkers for Active Tuberculosis among Patients in the United States: a Case-Control Study with Systematic Cross-Classifier Evaluation.

Unlabelled: Blood transcriptional signatures are promising for tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis but have not been evaluated among U.S.

Patients: To be used clinically, transcriptional classifiers need reproducible accuracy in diverse populations that vary in genetic composition, disease spectrum and severity, and comorbidities.

Characteristics of cancer diagnoses and staging in South Western Victoria: a rural perspective.

Objective: Australian states and territories have legislation mandating reporting of cancer diagnoses; however, tumour stage at diagnosis, treatment plan and associated outcomes are not routinely recorded in cancer registries for all tumour types. This study describes the Evaluation of Cancer Outcomes study that collects detailed information for patients diagnosed with cancer in south-western Victoria.

Design: Retrospective data collection.

Radiotherapy in the Barwon South Western Region: a rural perspective.

Introduction: Cancer-related mortality rates are higher in rural areas compared with urban regions. Whether there are corresponding geographical variations in radiotherapy utilisation rates (RURs) is the subject of this study.

Methods: RURs for the regional centre of Geelong and rural areas of the Barwon South Western Region were calculated using a population-based database (2009).

Can we reduce disease burden from osteoarthritis?

The comparison of disparate interventions for the prevention and management of osteoarthritis (OA) is limited by the quality and quantity of published efficacy studies and the use of disparate measures for reporting clinical trial outcomes. The "transfer to utility" technique was used to translate published trial outcomes into a health-related quality-of-life (utility) scale, creating a common metric which supported comparisons between disparate interventions. Total hip replacement (THR) and total knee replacement (TKR) surgery were the most effective treatments and also highly cost-effective, at estimated cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) of 7500 dollars for THR and 10000 dollars for TKR (best estimate).