Quantifying the human impact of Melbourne's 111-day hard lockdown experiment on the adult population.

Lockdown was used worldwide to mitigate the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and was the cornerstone non-pharmaceutical intervention of zero-COVID strategies. Many previous impact evaluations of lockdowns are unreliable because lockdowns co-occurred with severe coronavirus disease related health and financial insecurities. This was not the case in Melbourne's 111-day lockdown, which left other Australian jurisdictions unaffected.

Mortality inequality, spatial differences and health care access.

Although Australia maintains relatively high standards of health and healthcare, there exists disparity in health outcomes and longevity among different segments of the population. Internationally, there is growing evidence that life expectancy gains are not being shared equally among the rich and the poor. In this paper we examine the evolution of mortality inequality in Australia between 2001 and 2018.

Treatment results of diabetic macular edema with different choroidal thickness with intravitreal anti vascular endothelial growth factor.

Purpose: To compare the results of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) with different choroidal thicknesses.

Methods: The files of patients diagnosed with DME and treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF were reviewed retrospectively. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), choroidal thickness (CT), and macular thickness (MT) measurements were recorded before and after treatment.

Assessment of the relationship between rectus femoris cross-sectional area and knee extension strength in the prosthesis users with transtibial amputation: A case-control study.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate cross-sectional area of the amputated-limb rectus femoris compared to the intact-limb and controls and to determine its correlation with functional strength and walking tests in prosthesis users with transtibial amputation.

Patients And Methods: Between October 2018 and April 2019, a total of 14 prosthesis users (12 males, 2 females; mean age: 47.1±16.

Does ultrasound imaging of the spastic muscle have an additive effect on clinical examination tools in patients with cerebral palsy?: A pilot study.

Objective: The Modified Ashworth Scale, the Modified Tardieu Scale, and measuring the passive range of motion is commonly preferred examination tools for spasticity in cerebral palsy (CP). Ultrasonography has become increasingly used to provide relevant insight into spastic muscle morphology and structure recently. It was aimed to reveal associations between the clinical and ultrasonographic parameters of gastrocnemius medialis (GM) and lateralis muscles in this population.

Waiting to get a pension: The impact of pension eligibility on psychological distress.

In this paper, we examine how pension eligibility affects the psychological distress levels of older women in Australia by exploiting the exogenous changes in the eligibility ages of the old Age Pension (AP). The unique features of the Australian AP allow us to study the impact of the reform on the non-working, as well as on the working population. The empirical results show that pension eligibility has a modest but consistently beneficial effect on psychological stress levels.

Voriconazole Treatment for Fungal Chorioretinitis After Obesity Surgery.

Presently described is a case of fungal septicemia diagnosed based on a fundus examination and successfully treated with voriconazole. A 48-year-old woman who had undergone sleeve gastrectomy 20 days prior due to obesity was referred to the ophthalmology clinic for blurred vision in the right eye. The initial examination indicated visual acuity of only light perception in the right eye and 0.

Payment mechanism and hospital admission: New evidence from Thailand healthcare reform.

In 2007, Thailand's Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (CSMBS), one of the three main public health insurers, adopted a new payment mechanism for hospital admission. There has been a shift from fee-for-service toward Diagnostic Related Group (DRG)-based payment that transfers financial risk from the government to health care providers. This study investigates the effects of this policy change on hospital admission, frequency of admission, length of stay (LOS), type of hospital admitted, and out-of-pocket (OOP) inpatient medical expenditure.

Diffusion-Weighted Imaging of Brain Metastasis: Correlation of MRI Parameters with Histologic Type.

Aim: To compare the diffusion properties of brain metastases as imaging biomarkers in various types of tumours, to determine their histology and origin.

Material And Methods: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) were used to retrospectively study the data of 143 patients suffering from brain metastases. Four categories of primary tumours with metastases to the brain were included: lung carcinoma (n=102, 71.

Changes in choroidal thickness after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment of diabetic macular edema, real-life data, 2-year results.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injection on central choroidal thickness (CCT), central macular thickness (CMT) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods: Retrospective, cohort analysis of 90 eyes of 90 patients receiving anti-VEGF therapy for DME. In patients' records, measurements of CCT, CMT, and BCVA before treatment and at 2 years after treatment were recorded.

Lives saved during economic downturns: Evidence from Australia.

Worldwide, countries have been restricting work and social activities to counter the emerging public health crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic. These measures have caused dramatic increases in unemployment. Some commentators argue that the "draconian measures" will do more harm than good due to the economic contraction, despite a large literature that finds mortality rates decline during recessions.

Efficacy of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Central Corneal Thickness, Intraocular Pressure, and Nerve Fiber Layer in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on central corneal thickness (CCT), intraocular pressure (IOP), and the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: This prospective non-randomized cohort study consisted of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who received 30 sessions of HBOT for diabetic foot ulcer. The CCT, IOP, and RNFL measured at baseline, after the 10th session of HBOT, after the 20th session of HBOT, after the 30th session of HBOT, and after the 3 months of the last session of HBOT.

The effect of bereavement on cognitive functioning among elderly people: Evidence from Australia.

This paper explores the effects of experiencing the death of a spouse, relative or close friend on cognitive functioning of Australian elderly. Using rich longitudinal data, we show that experiencing a loss is associated with a modest decline in cognitive function. Our results show that on average the effects are more pronounced for males and the strongest effects are associated with the loss of the spouse or a close friend.

Comparison of Anatomical and Functional Outcomes of Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant between Phakic and Pseudophakic Eyes with Diabetic Macular Edema.

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of dexamethasone (DEX) intravitreal implants for the treatment of diabetic macular edema between phakic and pseudophakic eyes after a follow-up.

Methods: A total of 79 eyes in 79 patients with diabetic macular edema who were insufficiently responsive to the previous anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment and applied intravitreal DEX implant were included in this retrospective study. The patients were divided into two groups according to their type of lenses: pseudophakic (group 1) and phakic (group 2).

SERUM VITAMIN D LEVELS IN DIFFERENT MORPHOLOGIC FORMS OF AGE RELATED CATARACT.

Purpose: Vitamin D insufficiency and age related cataract (ARC) are public health problems. We evaluated serum vitamin D levels in ARC patients.

Method: A prospective hospital-based cross-sectional study was designed to measure the vitamin D status of patients with ARC.

An ultrasonographic and electromyographic evaluation of jumping stump possibly due to a neuroma in a patient with transradial amputation: A case report.

Background And Objective: Jumping stump is an uncommon movement disorder characterized by involuntary movements and severe neuropathic pain in the stump. The pathophysiology and etiology of this phenomenon have not yet been clearly elucidated, and unfortunately, no proven treatment with successful recovery exists. This report aims to describe a severe painful jumping stump, possibly due to neuromas, in a traumatic transradial amputee.

Billing system and health care utilization: Evidence from Thailand.

We examined the role of billing processes in health care utilization by exploiting a shift in provider payment from fee-for-service reimbursement towards fee-for-service direct disbursement for outpatient services in Thailand. Specifically, prior to October 2006, affected patients had to pay the full cost of outpatient treatment and subsequently received reimbursement; thereafter, these payments can be sent directly to the providers, without patients having to pay anything upfront. By using nationally representative micro-data and a difference-in-difference methodology, we show that the direct disbursement policy leads to an increase in outpatient utilization among the sick.

The Use of Autologous Serum Eye Drops after Epithelium-off Corneal Collagen Crosslinking.

Significance: After epithelium-off crosslinking (CXL), epithelial closure time and post-operative pain are an important issue in terms of possible complications and patient comfort. We report a prospective randomized study about the use of autologous serum eye drops after CXL.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the effect of autologous serum eye drops on epithelial healing and post-operative pain after CXL.

Treatment of Corneal Alkali Burn with Chestnut Honey, Royal Jelly, and Chestnut Honey-Royal Jelly Mixture.

Objectives: The alkaline burn of the cornea usually results in a decreased vision with opacification. In this study, we investigated the potential role of endemic chestnut honey (CH) and royal jelly on corneal healing after an alkaline burn.

Methods: We created an alkaline burn on the center of the corneas of four groups of Wistar rats by applying round filter paper soaked with 1 N NaOH for 30 seconds.

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte and Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratios in Normal Tension Glaucoma.

Normal tension glaucoma (NTG) is a subtype of glaucoma that occurs at relatively low intraocular pressure levels and results in progressive optic neuropathy. Previous studies display some abnormal immune activity against the optic nerve. Neutrophil to lymphocyte (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratios (PLR) are novel markers for inflammation.

Alterations in Corneal Biomechanical and Topographic Features After Accelerated Crosslinking: 1-Year Results.

Objectives: To determine the biomechanical and topographic alterations within the first year after accelerated crosslinking (CXL) treatment in patients with keratoconus.

Methods: In this prospective study, 52 eyes of 52 patients with progressive keratoconus underwent accelerated CXL were included. All patients had a detailed preoperative ophthalmologic examination, including slit-lamp evaluation, Goldmann tonometry, fundoscopy, topography by Scheimpflug imaging (Sirius), and corneal biomechanical evaluation with a biomechanical waveform analysis device (ORA).

The effect of retirement on elderly cognitive functioning.

Cognitive functioning exhibits a clear lifecycle pattern with a general deterioration over older ages. This article estimates the short-term effect of retirement on cognitive performance of elderly Australians by exploiting the exogenous variation in retirement decisions induced by changes in social security eligibility rules. The empirical results show that on average retirement has a negative but modest effect on cognition, and the rate of cognitive decline with age is greater for men than women.

Serum levels of thyroid hormone, vitamin D, vitamin B12, folic acid, C-reactive protein, and hemoglobin in Pseudoexfoliation and primary open angle Glaucoma.

Purpose: To examine levels of serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), vitamin D, vitamin B12 (B12), folic acid (FA), c-reactive protein (CRP), and hemoglobin in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (XFG) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients.

Materials And Methods: A hospital-based, prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2016 through June 2017 and October 2017 through January 2018. The number of patients was 33 in the control group, 29 in the XFG group and 77 in the POAG group.

The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on retinal thickness and progression of retinopathy in patients with Type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study.

Evaluation of the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on the progression of retinopathy, choroidal and retinal thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). : This prospective non-randomized cohort study consisted of 60 eyes of 30 patients who received 30 sessions of HBOT for a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). The participants were divided into three groups; group 1: mild-moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (DRP) ( = 14), group 2: severe non-proliferative DRP ( = 20) and group 3: DRP without active proliferative findings with the applied laser for at least 2 years ( = 26).