Platelet factor 4 immune disease: medical emergencies that look like heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a serious adverse reaction to heparin. Other HIT-like syndromes are increasingly recognised, mediated by antibodies binding to platelet factor 4, with or without identifiable polyanions. The history of heparin exposure is atypical for classical HIT and standard HIT laboratory tests may be negative.

The clinicopathological features of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome following ChAdOx1-S (AZD1222) vaccination and case outcomes in Australia: a population-based study.

Background: Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) associated with viral vector COVID-19 vaccines, including ChAdOx1-S (AstraZeneca AZD1222) vaccine, can result in significant morbidity and mortality. We report the clinicopathological features of TTS following ChAdOx1-S vaccination and summarise the case outcomes in Australia.

Methods: In this cohort study, patients diagnosed with TTS in Australia between 23 March and 31 December 2021 were identified according to predefined criteria.

Health-related quality of life following valoctocogene roxaparvovec gene therapy for severe hemophilia A in the phase 3 trial GENEr8-1.

Background: Severe hemophilia A (HA) negatively impacts health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Objectives: We aimed to analyze HRQOL in adult men with severe HA without inhibitors after valoctocogene roxaparvovec gene transfer in the phase 3 trial GENEr8-1.

Methods: Participant-reported outcomes were the hemophilia-specific quality of life questionnaire for adults (Haemo-QOL-A), the EQ-5D-5L instrument, the Hemophilia Activities List (HAL), and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: Hemophilia Specific (WPAI+CIQ:HS).

Immune thrombocytopenia and COVID-19 vaccination: Outcomes and comparisons to prepandemic patients.

Background: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) has been reported following COVID-19 vaccination. After index case fatalities, there was concern among patients both with and without a prior history of ITP in Australia.

Objectives: To describe treatment outcomes of ITP after COVID-19 vaccination and compare relapsed vs historical pre-COVID-19 ITP cohorts.

The Balance Recovery Confidence (BRC) Scale.

Background: Falls efficacy posits an understanding of the perceived ability to prevent and manage falls. There have been no validated self-reported instruments to measure the perceived ability to recover balance in response to destabilizing perturbations.

Purpose: To develop a scale of balance recovery confidence.

Awareness of venous thromboembolism among patients with cancer: Preliminary findings from a global initiative for World Thrombosis Day.

Background: Cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (CAT) has detrimental impact on patients' clinical outcomes and quality of life. Data on CAT education, communication, and awareness among the general cancer population are scanty.

Methods: We present the preliminary results of an ongoing patient-centered survey including 27 items covering major spheres of CAT.

Understanding work experience in epidemic-induced telecommuting: The roles of misfit, reactance, and collaborative technologies.

In the management of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the mandated closure of workplaces and stay-at-home orders have forced workers to adapt to a prolonged period of unplanned telecommuting, which we term epidemic-induced telecommuting. Although epidemic-induced telecommuting has drastically altered how work is conducted, scant attention is being paid to this emerging work arrangement. To this end, we combine psychological reactance theory and person-environment fit theory to advance the concept of misfit between worker and environment as a core determinant of employees' work experience in the epidemic-induced telecommuting.

Treatment of immune thrombocytopenia in Australian adults: A multicenter retrospective observational study.

Background: In Australia, prescribing restrictions limit access to internationally recommended second-line therapies such as rituximab and thrombopoietin agonists (TPO-A) (eltrombopag and romiplostim). Subsequent lines of therapy include an array of immunosuppressive and immune-modulating agents directed by drug availability and physician and patient preference.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to describe the use of first and subsequent lines of treatment for adult immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in Australia and to assess their effectiveness and tolerability.

Interventions and measurement instruments used for falls efficacy in community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review.

Falls efficacy has been defined as perceived self-belief in the prevention and management of falls. In the case of community-dwelling older adults, it is essential that interventions should address the different aspects of falls efficacy in terms of balance confidence, balance recovery confidence, safe landing confidence and post-fall recovery confidence to improve their agency to deal with falls. This review aims to provide the current landscape of falls efficacy interventions and measurement instruments.

Assessment of immunological anti-platelet factor 4 antibodies for vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) in a large Australian cohort: A multicenter study comprising 1284 patients.

Background: Vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a rare complication of adenovirus-based vaccines aimed to prevent and minimize COVID-19 and related pathophysiology.

Objectives: To describe patterns of testing for anti-platelet factor 4 (PF4) antibodies using various ELISA assays in a large Australian cohort and comparative functional platelet activation assays in a subset.

Patients/methods: Asserachrom HPIA IgG ELISA was performed in 1284 patients over a period of 12 months, supplemented in select cohorts by comparative ELISA using three other methods (n = 78-179), three different functional assays (flow cytometry, serotonin release assay, and/or Multiplate; n = 476), and rapid immunological chemiluminescence anti-PF4 assay (n = 460), in a multicenter study.

Consensus guidelines for the management of adult immune thrombocytopenia in Australia and New Zealand.

Introduction: The absence of high quality evidence for basic clinical dilemmas in immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) underlines the need for contemporary guidelines relevant to the local treatment context. ITP is diagnosed by exclusions, with a hallmark laboratory finding of isolated thrombocytopenia.

Main Recommendations: Bleeding, family and medication histories and a review of historical investigations are required to gauge the bleeding risk and possible hereditary syndromes.

Falls efficacy: Extending the understanding of self-efficacy in older adults towards managing falls.

Falls efficacy is a widely studied construct. The understanding of falls efficacy has evolved over time. Falls efficacy was initially perceived to be suitably used as a measure of fear of falling.

Near-falls in Singapore community-dwelling older adults: a feasibility study.

Background: A near-fall is defined as a loss of balance that would result in a fall if sufficient balance recovery manoeuvres are not executed. Compared to falls, near-falls and its associated balance recovery manoeuvres have been understudied. Older adults may not recognise a near-fall or identify the use of their balance recovery manoeuvres to prevent a fall.

Falls efficacy instruments for community-dwelling older adults: a COSMIN-based systematic review.

Background: Falls efficacy is a widely-studied latent construct in community-dwelling older adults. Various self-reported instruments have been used to measure falls efficacy. In order to be informed of the choice of the best measurement instrument for a specific purpose, empirical evidence of the development and measurement properties of falls efficacy related instruments is needed.

A multicenter laboratory assessment of a new automated chemiluminescent assay for ADAMTS13 activity.

Background: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare but potentially fatal disorder caused by ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13) deficiency. Prompt identification/exclusion of TTP can thus be facilitated by rapid ADAMTS13 testing. The most commonly utilized (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]-based) assay takes several hours to perform and so does not generally permit rapid testing.

A multicentre assessment of contemporary laboratory assays for heparin induced thrombocytopenia.

Heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a rare but potentially fatal complication of heparin therapy. In some patients, HIT causes platelet activation and thrombosis (sometimes abbreviated HITT), which leads to adverse clinical sequalae ('pathological HIT'). The likelihood of HIT is initially assessed clinically, typically using a scoring system, of which the 4T score is that most utilised.

Contribution of Vision, Touch, and Hearing to the Use of Sham Devices in Acupuncture-Related Studies.

This study investigates whether visual deprivation influences participants' accuracy in differentiating between real and sham acupuncture needles. It also evaluates the relative contributions of tactile, visual, and auditory cues that participants use in their decision-making processes. In addition, a simple sensory decision-making model for research using acupuncture sham devices as comparative controls is proposed.

Diagnosis and management of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: a consensus statement from the Thrombosis and Haemostasis Society of Australia and New Zealand HIT Writing Group.

Introduction: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a prothrombotic disorder that occurs following the administration of heparin and is caused by antibodies to platelet factor 4 and heparin. Diagnosis of HIT is essential to guide treatment strategies using non-heparin anticoagulants and to avoid unwanted and potential fatal thromboembolic complications. This consensus statement, formulated by members of the Thrombosis and Haemostasis Society of Australia and New Zealand, provides an update on HIT pathogenesis and guidance on the diagnosis and management of patients with suspected or confirmed HIT.

New guidelines from the Thrombosis and Haemostasis Society of Australia and New Zealand for the diagnosis and management of venous thromboembolism.

Introduction: Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is the third most common cardiovascular disease and, globally, more than an estimated 10 million people have it yearly. It is a chronic and recurrent disease. The symptoms of VTE are non-specific and the diagnosis should actively be sought once considered.