A phase 1 dose escalation of pritumumab in patients with refractory or recurrent gliomas or brain metastases.

Background: This phase 1 (NCT04396717) open-label, multicenter study, evaluated Pritumumab, a IgG1 monoclonal antibody, in patients with gliomas and brain metastases. The primary objective was to evaluate the safety and/or tolerability and to identify a recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of Pritumumab.

Methods: Adult patients with recurrent gliomas or brain metastases were enrolled in the dose cohort that was open at the time of their consent.

Comammox Clade B is the most abundant complete ammonia oxidizer in a dairy pasture soil and inhibited by dicyandiamide and high ammonium concentrations.

The recent discovery of comammox , a complete ammonia oxidizer, capable of completing the nitrification on their own has presented tremendous challenges to our understanding of the nitrification process. There are two divergent clades of comammox , Clade A and B. However, their population abundance, community structure and role in ammonia and nitrite oxidation are poorly understood.

An evaluation into the use of procalcitonin levels as a biomarker of bacterial sepsis to aid the management of intrapartum pyrexia and chorioamnionitis.

Background: Procalcitonin is an established biomarker for bacterial sepsis in the nonpregnant population with better diagnostic and prognostic value for bacterial infections.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate whether procalcitonin levels could be used in the diagnosis and management of intrapartum sepsis in women and their neonates suspected of intrapartum bacterial sepsis.

Study Design: A prospective observational cohort study was conducted at the University Hospitals of Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust.

S-map parameters for APSIM.

Agroecosystem models have become an important tool for impact assessment studies, and their results are often used for management and policy decisions. Soil information is a key input for these models, yet site-specific soil property data are often not available, and soil databases are increasingly being used to provide input parameters. For New Zealand, the digital spatial soil information system S-map provides geospatial data on a range of soil characteristics, including estimates of soil water properties.

Evidence for the leaching of dissolved organic phosphorus to depth.

Phosphorus (P) can leach from topsoil in inorganic and organic forms. While some evidence has shown inorganic P (orthophosphate) can leach to depth in some soils, less is known of dissolved organic P (DOP). This is not helped by a paucity DOP data for groundwater.

Irrigation increases forage production of newly established lucerne but enhances net ecosystem carbon losses.

In New Zealand, dairy farming faces increasing scrutiny for its environmental impacts, including those on soil carbon (C) stocks; hence, alternative management practices are required. One such practice is usage of deep-rooting forage, such as lucerne (Medicago sativa L.).

Single-center Experience of Over a Hundred Implantations of a Transcutaneous Bone Conduction Device.

Objective: To assess outcomes with a novel passive transcutaneous bone conduction device (t-BCD).

Study Design: Prospective data collection and patient review.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Platinum-containing regimens for metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Studies have reported high tumour response rates for platinum-containing regimens in the treatment of women with metastatic breast cancer. Most of these studies were conducted prior to the 'intrinsic subtype' era, and did not specifically focus on metastatic triple-negative breast cancers (mTNBCs).

Objectives: To identify and review the evidence from randomised trials comparing platinum-containing chemotherapy regimens with regimens not containing platinum in the management of women with metastatic breast cancer.

Intermediate outcomes of a transcutaneous bone conduction hearing device in a paediatric population.

Objective: The aim of this study was to review the outcomes of Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) Attract implantation in a cohort of paediatric patients.

Methods: Prospective data collection and case review were undertaken in a paediatric tertiary referral centre. We have included patients under the age of 16 years with unilateral or bilateral hearing loss that met the criteria for BAHA Attract implantation.

The Charles Perkins Centre's Twins Research Node.

Twins can help researchers disentangle the roles of genes from those of the environment on human traits, health, and diseases. To realize this potential, the Australian Twin Registry (ATR), University of Melbourne, and the Charles Perkins Centre (CPC), University of Sydney, established a collaboration to form the Twins Research Node, a highly interconnected research facility dedicated specifically to research involving twins. This collaboration aims to foster the adoption of twin designs as important tools for research in a range of health-related domains.

Leaching of from stony soils after effluent application.

Irrigation of dairy shed effluent (DSE) onto land is an integral part of New Zealand's farming practice. The use of inappropriate soils can result in contamination of ground waters with microbes and nutrients. A gap in our knowledge is the ability of stony soils to safely treat DSE.

Single agent versus combination chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Combination chemotherapy regimens are frequently favoured over single agents for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, in an attempt to achieve superior tumour response rates. It is not known however whether giving more intensive chemotherapy regimens results in better health outcomes, when both survival and toxicity are considered, and whether better response rates and rates of progression free survival actually translate to better overall survival.

Objectives: To compare single agent with combination chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

Sustaining hope when communicating with terminally ill patients and their families: a systematic review.

The aim of this systematic review was to examine studies that have investigated sustaining hope during prognostic and end-of-life issues discussions with terminally ill patients and their families. A comprehensive search of databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) and handsearching, from 1985 to June 2006, identified 27 studies. This review suggests that the issues surrounding hope in this context are complex.

Truth-telling in discussing prognosis in advanced life-limiting illnesses: a systematic review.

Many health professionals (HPs) express discomfort at having to broach the topic of prognosis, including limited life expectancy, and may withhold information or not disclose prognosis. A systematic review was conducted of 46 studies relating to truth-telling in discussing prognosis with patients with progressive, advanced life-limiting illnesses and their caregivers. Relevant studies meeting the inclusion criteria were identified by searching computerized databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychINFO and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials) up to November 2004, with handsearching of studies, as well as inclusion of studies satisfying selection criteria reported in 2005 by the authors.

Discrepant perceptions about end-of-life communication: a systematic review.

Little research has compared the perceptions of health professionals (HPs), patients, and caregivers about the communication of prognostic information. The objectives of this literature review were to determine 1) patient and caregiver perceptions of levels of information received about prognosis and end-of-life (EoL) issues regarding a life-limiting illness; 2) patient perceptions of and factors related to their understanding and awareness of prognosis; 3) HPs' perceptions of patients' wishes about disclosure of prognosis and factors related to their decision whether to disclose; and 4) concordance between HPs and patients/caregivers regarding the information given by HPs about prognostic and EoL issues. Relevant studies meeting the inclusion criteria were identified by searching computerized databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials [Central]) up to November 2004.

A systematic review of prognostic/end-of-life communication with adults in the advanced stages of a life-limiting illness: patient/caregiver preferences for the content, style, and timing of information.

Evidence-based recommendations concerning how to discuss dying, life expectancy, and likely future symptoms with patients with a limited life expectancy and their families are lacking. The aim of this systematic review was to review studies regarding prognostic/end-of-life communication with adult patients in the advanced stages of a life-limiting illness and their caregivers. Relevant studies meeting the inclusion criteria were identified by searching computerized databases up to November 2004.

Single agent versus combination chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer.

Background: It is commonly thought that combining chemotherapy agents for treating women with metastatic breast cancer will result in regimens that are more active, offer superior tumour response rates with more time before progression and improve overall survival. However, it is not known whether giving patients more intensive chemotherapy regimens (judged according to some measure eg dose, dose intensity, response rate, or toxicity) results in better health outcomes. One way to investigate the effect of more versus less-intensive chemotherapy is to compare regimens containing a single drug (and hence possibly less active treatment) with regimens containing a greater number of drugs (and hence possibly more active but more toxic), even when adjustments are made to dosages or schedules to account for toxicity.

Platinum containing regimens for metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Studies have reported high tumour response rates for platinum-containing regimens in the treatment of women with metastatic breast cancer.

Objectives: To identify and review the evidence from randomised trials comparing platinum-containing chemotherapy regimens with regimens not containing platinum in the management of women with metastatic breast cancer.

Search Strategy: The specialised register maintained by the editorial base of the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group was searched on 2nd May 2003 using the codes for "advanced breast cancer", "chemotherapy".

Platinum containing regimens for metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Studies have reported high tumour response rates for platinum-containing regimens in the treatment of women with metastatic breast cancer.

Objectives: To identify and review the evidence from randomised trials comparing platinum-containing chemotherapy regimens with regimens not containing platinum in the management of women with metastatic breast cancer.

Search Strategy: The specialised register maintained by the editorial base of the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group was searched on 2nd May 2003 using the codes for "advanced breast cancer", "chemotherapy".

An evidence-based specialist breast nurse role in practice: a multicentre implementation study.

The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility, implementation, acceptability and impact of an evidence-based specialist breast care nurse (SBN) model of care in Australia. Primary data were collected from four diverse Australian breast cancer treatment centres over a 12-month period. The design was a multicentre demonstration project.

Surgeons' opinions about the NHMRC clinical practice guidelines for the management of early breast cancer.

Objective: To explore the opinions of surgeons about the NHMRC clinical practice guidelines for the management of early breast cancer (the Guidelines) and their views about and use of the accompanying Consumer's guide.

Design: Cross-sectional telephone survey.

Participants And Setting: Surgeons throughout Australia who manage breast cancer, designated as "breast" or "general" (members or non-members of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons' Section of Breast Surgery) and "urban" or "rural".

Consulting about priorities for the NHMRC National Breast Cancer Centre: how good is the nominal group technique.

The National Health and Medical Research Council National Breast Cancer Centre was established to improve outcomes for women by reviewing the literature, developing best practice guidelines and resources and developing a national monitoring system. Its broad terms of reference meant that it was important at the outset to identify priorities for action. The Centre used a national consultative process based on nominal groups to identify priorities.

Emergency contraception. General practitioner knowledge, attitudes and practices in New South Wales.

Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of general practitioners in New South Wales regarding the provision of emergency contraception.

Design: Randomised group comparison of 100 rural and 100 urban general practitioners (GPs) by questionnaire.

Results: Eighty-four rural and 76 urban GPs responded.