The clinical utility of multidisciplinary team meetings for patients with complex benign upper gastrointestinal conditions.

Patients with benign upper gastrointestinal (UGI) conditions such as achalasia, gastroparesis and refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease often suffer from debilitating symptoms. These conditions can be complex and challenging to diagnose and treat, making them well suited for discussion within a multidisciplinary meeting (MDM). There is, however, a paucity of data describing the value of a benign UGI MDM.

Performance Evaluation of Foamed Concrete with Lightweight Aggregate: Strength, Shrinkage, and Thermal Conductivity.

Lightweight concrete offers numerous advantages for modular construction, including easier construction planning and logistics, and the ability to offset additional dead loads induced by double-wall and double-slab features. In a previous study, authors proposed incorporating lightweight aggregate into foamed concrete instead of adding extra foam to achieve lower density, resulting in lightweight concrete with an excellent strength-to-density ratio. This paper further investigated the performance aspects of foamed concrete with lightweight aggregate beyond mechanical strength.

Association Between Frailty Status and Readmissions in Hospitalized Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between frailty status and risk of readmissions, inpatient death, and cost of admission among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the National Readmissions Database. Using International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes, we identified individuals >18 years of age who had a primary or secondary diagnosis of SLE and were hospitalized between January and June 2018.

Glaucoma Rehabilitation using ElectricAI Transcranial Stimulation (GREAT)-study protocol for randomized controlled trial using combined perceptual learning and transcranial electrical stimulation for vision enhancement.

Background: Glaucoma patients with irreversible visual field loss often experience decreased quality of life, impaired mobility, and mental health challenges. Perceptual learning (PL) and transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) have emerged as promising interventions for vision rehabilitation, showing potential in restoring residual visual functions. The Glaucoma Rehabilitation using ElectricAI Transcranial stimulation (GREAT) project aims to investigate whether combining PL and tES is more effective than using either method alone in maximizing the visual function of glaucoma patients.

Combination effect of optical defocus and low dose atropine in myopia control: Study protocol for a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Myopia, characterized by excessive axial elongation of the eyeball, increases risks of having sight-threatening diseases and impose a financial burden to healthcare system. Although myopic control interventions showed their effectiveness in slowing progression, the efficacy varies between individuals and does not completely halt progression. The study aims to investigate the efficacy of combining 0.

Clinical Staging of Prostaglandin-Associated Periorbitopathy Syndrome in Glaucoma: A Review from Asia.

Purpose: Topical prostaglandin analogues are commonly used to treat patients with glaucoma, but may cause periocular and periorbital complications known as prostaglandin-associated periorbitopathy syndrome (PAPS).

Methods: A literature review was conducted on PAPS. Given the lack of consensus on grading PAPS, glaucoma specialists from Asia convened to evaluate current PAPS grading systems and propose additional considerations in grading PAPS.

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Optical Texture Analysis and 10-2 Visual Field Assessment in Glaucoma.

Purpose: To apply retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) optical texture analysis (ROTA) to 1) investigate the association between papillomacular and papillofoveal bundle defects with 10-2 visual field (VF) sensitivity abnormalities, and 2) integrate the information from RNFL bundle defect and 24-2 VF central test locations to determine the likelihood of 10-2 VF sensitivity abnormalities.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Methods: A total of 841 eyes (144 healthy, 317 glaucoma suspect, and 380 glaucoma) of 442 participants were included.

A Novel Load-Sharing System to Simulate the Creep of Strain-Hardening Cementitious Composites (SHCCs) in Practical Situations.

The ductility and exhibition of the multiple, fine, self-controlled cracking of strain-hardening cementitious composites (SHCCs) under tension has made them attractive for enhancing the durability of civil infrastructure. These fine cracks are key to preventing the ingress of water and harmful chemicals into the structure and thereby achieving steel reinforcement. However, several studies have suggested that the short-term fine cracks shown in the laboratory may end up exceeding the acceptable crack widths that are specified in design codes when SHCC members are subjected to sustained constant loads.

Diagnostic criteria of anterior segment swept-source optical coherence tomography to detect gonioscopic angle closure.

Aims: To compare the diagnostic performance of 360° anterior segment optical coherence tomography assessment by applying normative percentile cut-offs versus iris trabecular contact (ITC) for detecting gonioscopic angle closure.

Methods: In this multicentre study, 394 healthy individuals were included in the normative dataset to derive the age-specific and angle location-specific normative percentiles of angle open distance (AOD500) and trabecular iris space area (TISA500) which were measured every 10° for 360°. 119 healthy participants and 170 patients with angle closure by gonioscopy were included in the test dataset to investigate the diagnostic performance of three sets of criteria for detection of gonioscopic angle closure: (1) the 10th and (2) the 5th percentiles of AOD500/TISA500, and (3) ITC (ie, AOD500/TISA500=0 mm/mm).

Effects of Deep Optic Nerve Head Structures on Bruch's Membrane Opening- Minimum Rim Width and Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer.

Purpose: To explore the effects of deep optic nerve head (ONH) structures on Bruch's membrane opening (BMO)-minimum rim width (MRW) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (pRNFLT) in healthy eyes.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Methods: Two hundred five healthy eyes of 141 subjects (mean ± standard deviation of age and axial length (AXL): 46.

A single centre experience on the formation of double barrelled uro-colostomy in pelvic exenteration surgery: a cohort study.

Background: Double barrelled uro-colostomy (DBUC) is an alternative to traditional ileal conduit (IC) and separate colostomy in patients requiring simultaneous urinary and faecal diversion for reconstruction in pelvic exenteration surgery (PES).

Methods: This cohort study evaluated short- and long-term morbidity and mortality associated with DBUC formation in 20 consecutive adult patients undergoing PES in an Australian Complex Pelvic Surgical Unit. Data were obtained from a prospective database.

Costs and Outcomes of Total Joint Arthroplasty in Medicare Beneficiaries Are Not Meaningfully Associated with Industry Payments.

Background: Prior studies have demonstrated that industry payments affect physician prescribing patterns, but their effect on orthopaedic surgical costs is unknown. This study examines the relationship between industry payments and the total costs of primary total joint arthroplasty, as well as operating room cost, length of stay, 30-day mortality, and 30-day readmission.

Methods: Open Payments data were matched across a 20% sample of Medicare-insured patients undergoing primary elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) (n = 130,872) performed by 7,539 surgeons or primary elective total knee arthroplasty (TKA) (n = 230,856) performed by 8,977 surgeons from 2013 to 2015.

Assessment of angle closure disease in the age of artificial intelligence: A review.

Primary angle closure glaucoma is a visually debilitating disease that is under-detected worldwide. Many of the challenges in managing primary angle closure disease (PACD) are related to the lack of convenient and precise tools for clinic-based disease assessment and monitoring. Artificial intelligence (AI)- assisted tools to detect and assess PACD have proliferated in recent years with encouraging results.

Association of Bergmeister Papilla and Deep Optic Nerve Head Structures With Prelaminar Schisis of Normal and Glaucomatous Eyes.

Purpose: To investigate factors associated with the severity of prelaminar schisis (PLS) in heathy subjects and glaucoma patients.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Methods: A total of 217 eyes of 217 subjects (110 normal eyes and 107 open angle glaucoma eyes) were studied.

Crystalline lens nuclear age prediction as a new biomarker of nucleus degeneration.

Background: The crystalline lens is a transparent structure of the eye to focus light on the retina. It becomes muddy, hard and dense with increasing age, which makes the crystalline lens gradually lose its function. We aim to develop a nuclear age predictor to reflect the degeneration of the crystalline lens nucleus.

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Optical Texture Analysis: Detecting Axonal Fiber Bundle Defects in Patients with Ocular Hypertension.

Purpose: To apply retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) optical texture analysis (ROTA) to investigate the prevalence, patterns, and risk factors of RNFL defects in patients with ocular hypertension (OHT) who showed normal optic disc and RNFL configuration in clinical examination, normal RNFL thickness on OCT analysis, and normal visual field (VF) results.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Participants: Six hundred eyes of 306 patients with OHT.

The frequency and nature of barriers to escalation of care in two Australian teaching hospitals.

Background: Nurses and junior doctors are often the first clinicians to recognise signs of deterioration in patients. However, there can be barriers to having conversations about escalation of care.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to study the frequency and nature of barriers encountered during discussions related to escalation of care for deteriorating hospitalised patients.

Reverse translation of artificial intelligence in glaucoma: Connecting basic science with clinical applications.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been approved for biomedical research in diverse areas from bedside clinical studies to benchtop basic scientific research. For ophthalmic research, in particular glaucoma, AI applications are rapidly growing for potential clinical translation given the vast data available and the introduction of federated learning. Conversely, AI for basic science remains limited despite its useful power in providing mechanistic insight.

Assessment of Iris Trabecular Contact in Eyes with Gonioscopic Angle-Closure.

Purpose: To investigate the extent of iris trabecular contact (ITC) measured by anterior segment OCT (AS-OCT) and its association with primary angle-closure (PAC) and PAC glaucoma (PACG) in eyes with gonioscopic angle-closure and to determine the diagnostic performance of ITC for detection of gonioscopic angle-closure.

Design: Multicenter, prospective study.

Participants: A total of 119 healthy participants with gonioscopic open-angle and 170 patients with gonioscopic angle-closure (94 with PAC suspect and 76 with PAC/PACG) were included.

Deep Optic Nerve Head Structures Associated With Increasing Axial Length in Healthy Myopic Eyes of Moderate Axial Length.

Purpose: To elucidate which swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT)-derived optic nerve head (ONH) parameters are associated with longer axial length (AXL) in healthy myopic eyes.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional observational study.

Methods: Two hundred eleven healthy eyes of 140 participants (96 emmetropic-mild myopic [AXL: 22.

Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery in Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma.

Primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) is responsible for half of the glaucoma-related blindness worldwide. Cataract surgery with or without trabeculectomy has been considered to be the first-line treatment in eyes with medically uncontrolled PACG. While minimally invasive glaucoma surgery has become an important surgical approach for primary open-angle glaucoma, its indications and benefits in PACG are less clear.

Utilization Trends, Cost, and Payments for Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery in Commercial and Medicare-Insured Populations.

Background: Previous studies have characterized utilization rates and cost of adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery, but the differences between these factors in commercially insured and Medicare populations are not well studied.

Objective: To identify predictors of increased payments for ASD surgery in commercially insured and Medicare populations.

Methods: We identified adult patients who underwent fusion for ASD, 2007 to 2015, in 20% Medicare inpatient file (n = 21 614) and MarketScan commercial insurance database (n = 38 789).

A critical evaluation of the role of iron overload in fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been associated with a condition known as the dysmetabolic iron overload syndrome, but the frequency and severity of iron overload in NAFLD is not well described. There is emerging evidence that mild to moderate excess hepatic iron can aggravate the risk of progression of NAFLD to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and eventually cirrhosis. Mechanisms are postulated to be via reactive oxygen species, inflammatory cytokines, lipid oxidation, and oxidative stress.