Electromechanical therapy in diabetic foot ulcers patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the most devastating and troublesome consequences of diabetes. The current therapies are not always effective because of the complicated aetiology and interactions of local and systemic components in DFU. However, adjunctive therapy (electromechanical therapy) has become the latest modality in recent years, although there is a lack of significant research to support its utilization as a treatment standard.

A single centre audit: repeat pre-operative colonoscopy.

Background: Repeat colonoscopy may be required for tumour localisation. The aim of the study is to explore the clinical settings it was used and benchmark the quality of initial colonoscopy against standardized guidelines for tumour localisation, tattooing and colonoscopy reporting amongst clinicians.

Methods: A retrospective study from 2016 to 2021 has been performed on patients who underwent elective colorectal cancer resections at the Northern Hospital.

Lower extremity amputations and long-term outcomes in diabetic foot ulcers: A systematic review.

Background: Diabetes mellitus causes a large majority of non-traumatic major and minor amputations globally. Patients with diabetes are clinically complex with a multifactorial association between diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) and subsequent lower extremity amputations (LEA). Few studies show the long-term outcomes within the cohort of DFU-associated LEA.

Surgeon-Performed Vacuum-Assisted Biopsy of the Breast: Results from a Multicentre Australian Study.

Background: Image-guided interventional techniques such as vacuum-assisted biopsy are being increasingly utilised in the diagnosis and management of breast conditions. The purpose of this study was to report the outcome of a series of vacuum-assisted biopsies and vacuum-assisted excisions performed by specialist breast surgeons in a largely outpatient setting.

Methods: An Australian multicentre trial of ultrasound-guided surgeon-performed vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) and vacuum-assisted excision (VAE) of breast lesions was conducted involving three surgeons in three participating centres.

Paradigm shift in the local treatment of breast cancer: mastectomy to breast conservation surgery.

There have been fundamental changes in the approach to breast cancer management over the last century but the primary objective of achieving oncological safety remains unchanged. This evolution is highlighted with a summary of the key evidences in support of the oncological safety of breast conserving surgery (BCS) in early breast cancer (EBC) management. We will also discuss the increasingly pivotal role that neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) may play, in the local treatment of EBC and locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) and the long-term surgical and oncological outcomes.

The Evolving Role of Vacuum Assisted Biopsy of the Breast: A Progression from Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy.

Background: The management of breast disease has been greatly facilitated by the technology of needle biopsy interventions, and over the past 30 years, this has evolved from the use of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) to the current methodology of vacuum assisted biopsy (VAB).

Methods: This article provides an historical review of the application of needle interventions of the breast in the diagnosis and management of breast conditions, and discusses current indications for the use of vacuum assisted biopsies and vacuum assisted excisions.

Results: Whilst FNAB continues to have a limited role in breast disease diagnosis, the necessity of achieving an histological diagnosis has preferentially seen the development and wider application of automated core needle biopsies (CNB) and VAB in the assessment and management of breast lesions.

Trends in non-lactation breast abscesses in a tertiary hospital setting.

Background: The aim of this paper was to retrospectively review non-lactation breast abscesses treated in Princess Alexandra Hospital over a 10-year period and to illustrate the trends in size, risk factors, microbiological profile and management.

Methods: A computerized search of the medical records was undertaken to identify all adult patients with a diagnosis of breast abscesses during June 2005-June 2015. Patients concurrently breastfeeding were excluded.

Q fever in an endemic region of North Queensland, Australia: A 10 year review.

Background: Q fever is a zoonotic infection caused by . Endemic Q fever has long been recognised in north Queensland, with north Queensland previously acknowledged to have the highest rate of notification in Australia. In this retrospective study, we reviewed the demographics and exposure of patients diagnosed with Q fever in an endemic region of north Queensland, to identify trends and exposure factors for the acquisition of Q fever.

Wound healing effects of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors: An emerging concept in management of diabetic foot ulcer-A review.

Objective: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have a well-known effect on glycaemic control in patients with diabetes but little is known on their wound healing role in this group of population. This paper reviews the effects of DPP-4 inhibitors on wound healing of diabetic foot ulcers.

Methods: Published data on effects and mechanism of DDP-4 inhibitors on wound healing were derived from Medline, PubMed and Google Scholar search of English language literature from 1994 to 2014 using the key words such as "DPP-4 inhibitors", "endothelial healing" "diabetes" and "chronic ulcers".