Publications by authors named "Connor S"

Background: The burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is often reported on from a system or cost viewpoint. We created and explored a novel patient-perceived burden of disease (PPBoD) score in a large Australasian cohort.

Aim: To create and explore a novel patient-perceived burden of disease (PPBoD) score in a large Australasian cohort, and correlate PPBoD scores with demographics, disease and treatment factors.

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Background: Few studies have explored the relationship between habitual dietary patterns and disease activity in people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). This cross-sectional study explored the association between dietary patterns and clinical and objective markers of inflammation in adults from the Australian IBD Microbiome Study.

Methods: Dietary patterns were derived using principal component analysis (PCA) of baseline food frequency questionnaire data.

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Background & Aims: Crohn's perianal fistula healing rates remain low. We evaluated the efficacy of a protocolised multidisciplinary treatment strategy optimising care in adults with Crohn's perianal fistulas.

Methods: A new treatment strategy was established at a single tertiary centre.

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Article Synopsis
  • Tinnitus affects about 25% of older adults, with non-pulsatile tinnitus usually lacking structural causes, while pulsatile tinnitus may indicate underlying health issues that can be identified through imaging.
  • A thorough clinical evaluation is essential for determining the appropriate diagnostic strategy and imaging is warranted for unilateral non-pulsatile tinnitus or any pulsatile tinnitus cases.
  • Imaging methods like MRI or CT are used based on the type of tinnitus and any accompanying symptoms, with special attention needed for potential serious conditions in cases of pulsatile tinnitus.
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Objective: This study aimed to identify a consensus among pharmacy educators regarding relevant social and administrative science (SAS) topic areas and their priorities within pharmacy curricula.

Methods: A modified Delphi process was conducted with members of selected American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy affinity groups as the expert panel. A total of 83 potential topic areas across 12 domains were gathered via an informal literature review.

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Background: The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes and Entrustable Professional Activities (COEPA) recognize the need for social determinants of health (SDH) education for pharmacy learners. However, there is a dearth of published strategies for incorporating comprehensive SDH education in Doctor of Pharmacy curricula. The objectives of this study were to: 1) highlight unpublished exemplars of SDH teaching models and 2) propose strategies for teaching SDH.

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Objectives: To compare the performance and optimal combination of MRI descriptors used for the diagnosis of Ménière's disease (MD) between a real-IR sequence with "zero-point" endolymph (ZPE), and an optimised real-IR sequence with negative signal endolymph (NSE).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective single-centre cross-sectional study evaluated delayed post-gadolinium ZPE and NSE real-IR MRI in consecutive patients with Ménièriform symptoms (8/2020-10/2023). Two observers assessed 14 MRI descriptors.

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Objectives: Free clinics provide care to underserved populations nationwide. The Birmingham Free Clinic offers dermatology care and operates an onsite dispensary. Little is known about specialty care services and medication optimization in the free clinic setting.

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  • Co-mutations of KRAS and STK11 genes in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are linked to resistance against immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies, although their impact in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy remains unclear.
  • A study investigated how these gene mutations affect recurrence-free survival in resectable KRAS-mutated NSCLC, revealing that those with co-occurring STK11 mutations had a higher risk of recurrence compared to those without.
  • Analysis of tumor-infiltrating T cells indicated that the presence of STK11 mutations altered T cell behavior, suggesting that certain T cell characteristics might hinder effective anti-tumor immune responses in patients with KRASmut/STK11
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Objectives: This study explored the prevalence and degree of misalignment between gastroenterologists and people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and investigated communication features related to misalignment.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach incorporated qualitative and quantitative analyses of consultations and post-consultation patient and doctor interviews. Gastroenterologists at two Australian teaching hospitals and IBD patients participated in this study.

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The lack of clear definition and classification for "moderate ulcerative colitis (UC)" creates ambiguity regarding the suitability of step-up versus top-down treatment approaches. In this paper, experts address crucial gaps in assessing and managing moderate UC. The Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa Inflammatory Bowel Disease Coalition comprised 24 experts who convened to share, discuss and vote electronically on management recommendations for moderate UC.

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  • Estimates show a significant need for palliative care in low- and middle-income countries, particularly regarding access to essential opioids for pain relief.
  • The DOME (Distributed Opioids in Morphine Equivalents) methodology quantifies this need by converting procured opioid quantities into morphine equivalents, allowing for a clearer assessment of unmet pain relief requirements.
  • By using DOME and its metrics, countries can evaluate their health systems' capacity for palliative care and address gaps, ultimately improving health coverage and access to necessary treatments.
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  • Wildfires in forests are becoming more frequent and intense worldwide due to climate change and human management practices.
  • * Indigenous populations in southeastern Australia historically used fire, which helped reduce shrub cover by 50% during the Holocene era.
  • * Since British colonization, shrub cover has increased to its highest level ever recorded, raising the risk of intense wildfires.
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Objective: To validate the ISGPS definition and grading system of PPAP after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD).

Summary Background Data: In 2022, the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) defined post-pancreatectomy acute pancreatitis (PPAP) and recommended a prospective validation of its diagnostic criteria and grading system.

Methods: This was a prospective, international, multicenter study including patients undergoing PD at 17 referral pancreatic centers across Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the United States.

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Background: The incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising and associated with adverse outcomes. Optimal treatment for CDI in IBD remains unknown, with various organisations suggesting vancomycin as first-line therapy.

Aim: To compare treatment outcomes for metronidazole versus vancomycin in mild to moderate CDI in IBD.

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Introduction: Organoids have been successfully used in several areas of cancer research and large living biobanks of patient-derived organoids (PDOs) have been developed from various malignancies. The characteristics of the original tumour tissue such as mutation signatures, phenotype and genetic diversity are well preserved in organoids, thus showing promising results for the use of this model in translational research. In this study, we aim to assess whether we can generate PDOs from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) samples and whether PDOs can be used to predict treatment sensitivity in HNSCC patients as well as to explore potential biomarkers.

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Background: Post-hepatectomy liver failure is a major cause of mortality, where future liver remnant (FLR) is the key controllable factor. Recommended minimum FLR is influenced by quality of liver parenchyma. Historical research has often failed to include Māori and Pacific Island (PI) populations despite worse health outcomes.

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The precise organization of pre- and postsynaptic terminals is crucial for normal synaptic function in the brain. In addition to its canonical role as a neurotrophin-3 receptor tyrosine kinase, postsynaptic TrkC promotes excitatory synapse organization through interaction with presynaptic receptor-type tyrosine phosphatase PTPσ. To isolate the synaptic organizer function of TrkC from its role as a neurotrophin-3 receptor, we generated mice carrying TrkC point mutations that selectively abolish PTPσ binding.

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Purpose: Hypoxia is a major cause of radioresistance in head and neck cancer (HNC), resulting in treatment failure and disease recurrence. F-fluoromisonidazole [F]FMISO PET has been proposed as a means of localising intratumoural hypoxia in HNC so that radiotherapy can be specifically escalated in hypoxic regions. This concept may not be deliverable in routine clinical practice, however, given that [F]FMISO PET is costly, time consuming and difficult to access.

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Background: Intrameatal vascular loops (IVL) entering the internal auditory meatus (IAM) and neurovascular contact (NVC) with the vestibulo-cochlear nerve (CN VIII) have been proposed to have a relationship with audio-vestibular symptoms.

Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine whether the presence of IVLs and CN VIII NVC on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is associated with tinnitus, sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) or vertigo and any specific subtypes.

Data Sources: All studies comparing the presence of IVL or CN VIII NVC in ears with these audio-vestibular symptoms and controls were identified through MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials databases.

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Although non-malignant, middle ear cholesteatoma can result in significant complications due to local bone erosion and infection. The treatment of cholesteatoma is surgical, but residual disease is common and may be clinically occult, particularly when the canal wall is preserved or reconstructive techniques are employed. Imaging plays a pivotal role in the management of patients with middle ear cholesteatoma-aiding clinical diagnosis, identifying complications, planning surgery, and detecting residual disease at follow-up.

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Purpose: To compare the calibre of the cochlear (CN), superior vestibular (SVN) and inferior vestibular (IVN) nerves on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), both between Ménière's Disease (MD) ears and clinical controls, and between inner ears with and without endolymphatic hydrops (EH) on MRI.

Methods: A retrospective case-control study evaluated patients undergoing MRI for suspected hydropic ear disease from 9/2017 to 8/2022. The CN, SVN, IVN and facial nerve (FN) diameters and cross-sectional areas (CSA) were measured on T2-weighted sequences whilst EH was evaluated on delayed post-gadolinium MRI.

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Drug-induced kidney injury (DIKI) is a frequently reported adverse event, associated with acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and end-stage renal failure. Prospective cohort studies on acute injuries suggest a frequency of around 14%-26% in adult populations and a significant concern in pediatrics with a frequency of 16% being attributed to a drug. In drug discovery and development, renal injury accounts for 8 and 9% of preclinical and clinical failures, respectively, impacting multiple therapeutic areas.

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