Risk factors associated with 30-day mortality following COVID-19 infection in patients receiving kidney replacement therapy in Australian and New Zealand.

Background And Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted greatest among patients with pre-existing chronic health conditions, including chronic kidney disease. This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the 30-day mortality of patients receiving kidney replacement therapy (KRT) after infection with COVID-19, living in Australia and New Zealand between 2020 and 2022, including patients on haemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD) and renal transplant (KT) recipients.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study using data from the Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA).

Utility of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with stable troponin elevation.

Aims: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has a potential role in the evaluation of symptomatic patients with stable troponin elevation; however, its utility remains unexplored. We sought to determine the incremental diagnostic value of CMR in this unique cohort and assess the long-term clinical outcomes.

Methods And Results: Two hundred twenty-five consecutive patients presenting with cardiac chest pain/dyspnoea, stable troponin elevation, and undergoing CMR assessment were identified retrospectively from registry database.

Partial Fundoplication is Effective Treatment for Female Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux and Scleroderma: A Multicenter Comparative Cohort Study.

Background: Patients with scleroderma often suffer from dysphagia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Partial fundoplication is a validated anti-reflux procedure for GERD but may worsen dysphagia in scleroderma patients. Its utility in these patients is unknown.

The influence of the surveillance time interval on the risk of advanced neoplasia after non-advanced adenoma removal.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence of advanced neoplasia (colorectal cancer or advanced adenoma) at surveillance colonoscopy following removal of non-advanced adenoma; to determine whether the time interval before surveillance colonoscopy influences the likelihood of advanced neoplasia.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting, Participants: Patients enrolled in a South Australian surveillance colonoscopy program with findings of non-advanced adenoma during 1999-2016 who subsequently underwent surveillance colonoscopy.

Comparison of oesophageal and gastric cancer in the evaluation of urgent endoscopy referral criteria.

Background: The objective of the study is to identify differences in epidemiology and clinical presentation between oesophageal and gastric cancer and to evaluate the sensitivity of the Australian urgent endoscopy referral guidelines.

Methods: Design; Observational cohort study from February 2013 to October 2018.

Setting: A single tertiary specialist oesophago-gastric cancer centre: Flinders Medical Centre, South Australia.

Laparoscopic Fundoplication Is Effective Treatment for Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux and Absent Esophageal Contractility.

Background: Anti-reflux surgery in the setting of preoperative esophageal dysmotility is contentious due to fear of persistent long-term dysphagia, particularly in individuals with an aperistaltic esophagus (absent esophageal contractility). This study determined the long-term postoperative outcomes following fundoplication in patients with absent esophageal contractility versus normal motility.

Methods: A prospective database was used to identify all (40) patients with absent esophageal contractility who subsequently underwent fundoplication (36 anterior partial, 4 Nissen).

Variables Associated with Detection of Methylated or in Blood from Patients Without Colonoscopically Evident Colorectal Cancer.

Background: DNA methylated in and are promising circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) biomarkers for colorectal cancer detection. This study tested for variables that might be associated with their detection in patients without colonoscopically evident colorectal cancer so-called false positives.

Methods: A retrospective review of demographic and clinical variables was conducted on patients who were assayed for these biomarkers prior to a colonoscopy for any indication.

Older age, symptoms, or anemia: Which factors increase colorectal cancer risk with a positive fecal immunochemical test?

Background And Aim: Fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) are used to screen asymptomatic individuals aged 50-74 years for colorectal cancer (CRC) within the Australian screening program. Gastrointestinal symptoms or iron deficiency anemia (IDA) may also drive primary care physicians to request a FIT. This study aimed to examine factors that may increase neoplasia risk associated with a positive FIT, specifically age, gastrointestinal symptoms, or IDA.

The Use of Selected Ion Flow Tube-Mass Spectrometry Technology to Identify Breath Volatile Organic Compounds for the Detection of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Pilot Study.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common form of cancer worldwide, with approximately 630,000 new cases diagnosed each year. The development of low-cost and non-invasive tools for the detection of HNSCC using volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the breath could potentially improve patient care. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) technology to identify breath VOCs for the detection of HNSCC.

Antibiotic prescribing for tonsillopharyngitis in a general practice setting: Can the use of Modified Centor Criteria reduce antibiotic prescribing?

Background And Objectives: Empirical treatment of sore throat with antibiotics has historically been aimed at preventing complications of group A β-haemolytic streptococcus infection. Threats posed by multi-resistant organisms mean that antimicrobial stewardship is important. The aim of this study was to investigate antibiotic prescribing for tonsillopharyngitis in relation to components of the Modified Centor Criteria (MCC) documented in consultation records.

The Concomitant Use of Diuretics, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (Triple Whammy), Extreme Heat, and In-Hospital Acute Kidney Injury in Older Medical Patients.

Introduction: We investigated whether the concomitant use of diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (triple whammy, TW) predicts in-hospital acute kidney injury (AKI) and whether admission during recorded periods of extreme heat influences this association.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data on patient characteristics and use of TW/non-TW drugs on admission, AKI (increase in serum creatinine ≥ 27 µmol/l either within the first 48 h of admission or throughout hospitalization, primary outcome), length of stay (LOS), and mortality (secondary outcomes) in medical patients ≥65 years admitted (1) during five consecutive heat waves (HWs) between 2007 and 2009 (n = 382) or (2) either before or after each HW, matched for HW period, age, and admission day of the week (non-HW, controls, n = 1339).

Results: Number of TW and non-TW drugs, co-morbidities, number of daily admissions, incidence of in-hospital AKI, LOS, and mortality were similar in the HW and non-HW groups.

Psychotropics, Environmental Temperature, and Hospital Outcomes in Older Medical Patients.

Purpose: The authors investigated whether the use of psychotropics and environmental temperature on admission influence hospital length of stay (LOS) and mortality in older medical patients.

Methods: Clinical and demographic characteristics, Charlson Comorbidity Index, use of psychotropic and nonpsychotropic drugs, hospital LOS, and mortality were retrospectively collected in medical patients 65 years and older (n = 382) admitted to a metropolitan teaching hospital during 5 consecutive heat waves (HWs) between 2007 and 2009. Patients admitted either before or after each HW, matched for HW period, age, and admission day of the week, served as controls (non-HW, n = 1339).