Peri-operative identification and management of patients with unhealthy alcohol intake.

Introduction: This consensus statement gives practical advice for the safe management of patients with harmful alcohol intake undergoing elective and emergency surgery. The wide spectrum of alcohol-related organ dysfunction observed in this cohort of patients may have a profound impact on care, and the additional effects of alcohol withdrawal may further exacerbate postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Methods: A working party was assembled based on clinical and/or academic expertise in the area.

Oral Etoposide for Relapsed or Refractory Ewing Sarcoma in Adolescent and Adult Patients.

Prognosis remains poor for patients with relapsed or refractory Ewing sarcoma, with limited treatment options after first-line therapy. Oral etoposide has efficacy in the paediatric setting; however, data are limited in adults. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 33 patients with relapsed or refractory Ewing sarcoma who completed at least one cycle of oral etoposide at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre from 2005 to 2020.

Real-World Safety and Effectiveness of Dimethyl Fumarate in Patients with MS: Results from the ESTEEM Phase 4 and PROCLAIM Phase 3 Studies with a Focus on Older Patients.

Introduction: Real-world studies in the USA report that 41-56% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are ≥ 50 years old, yet data on their response to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) is limited. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an oral DMT approved for treating relapsing MS. This analysis evaluated the safety, efficacy, and immunophenotype changes of DMF in patients ≥ 50 years compared with patients < 50 years.

Incidence and outcomes of Merkel cell carcinoma related to Merkel cell polyomavirus status in Iceland in 1981-2023.

Background: Impact of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) associated Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) has not been assessed in the Icelandic population, nor in a whole population elsewhere.

Objectives: The primary objective was to assess trends in the incidence of MCC in Iceland and the association with MCPyV. Secondary objectives aimed to analyze MCC outcomes.

Achievement of international benchmark outcomes for robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy in a low volume country.

Background: Recently, there has been an increase in the utilisation of the robotic platform to perform minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy in high volume centres, with the goal of reducing morbidity and improving patient outcomes. This study reports the successful implementation of a robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) programme in the relatively low volume setting of Australia, measured against established, internationally accepted benchmarks for low-risk open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD).

Methods: Retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database for consecutive RPD at two Brisbane hospitals was performed, comparing data to internationally established benchmarks for low-risk OPD.