Genetic and environmental factors in interstitial lung diseases: current and future perspectives on early diagnosis of high-risk cohorts.

Within the wide scope of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), familial pulmonary fibrosis (FPF) is being increasingly recognized as a specific entity, with earlier onset, faster progression, and suboptimal responses to immunosuppression. FPF is linked to heritable pathogenic variants in telomere-related genes (TRGs), surfactant-related genes (SRGs), telomere shortening (TS), and early cellular senescence. Telomere abnormalities have also been identified in some sporadic cases of fibrotic ILD.

Incipient empyema as an embolic complication of group A streptococcal septic arthritis in a patient with concomitant influenza B infection.

A 43-year-old healthy male presented with left ankle septic arthritis. Surgical specimens cultured (group A Streptococcus, GAS) and IV benzylpenicillin was commenced. In the setting of coryzal symptoms, a chest radiograph and nasopharyngeal swab revealed a left-sided pleural effusion and influenza B infection, respectively.

The Impact of Rapid PCR Testing for Viral Respiratory Infections on Acute Admissions From the Emergency Department and Inpatient Length of Stay.

Background: Diagnosing influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with conventional multiplex respiratory viral polymerase chain reaction (PCR) takes 24-72 hours compared with under two hours for recently available rapid PCR tests. We investigated the impact of rapid diagnosis of acute respiratory viral infection on admission odds from the emergency department (ED) and acute inpatient length of stay (LOS), as well as concordance between the rapid and conventional PCR tests used at our institution.

Methods: Single-center retrospective cohort study of patients presenting to the ED with influenza-like illness.

Prevalence and genetic basis of first-line drug resistance of in Ca Mau, Vietnam.

Background And Objective: Data on the prevalence of anti-tuberculous drug resistance and its association with genetic mutations in are limited. Our study explores the genomics of tuberculosis in Ca Mau, Vietnam.

Methods: Patients ≥15 years in Ca Mau Province, Vietnam, were screened annually for tuberculosis between 2014 and 2017.

Detection and characterisation of Bordetella hinzii in line-related bacteraemia and respiratory tract infection in Australia.

Bordetella hinzii has emerged as an unusual cause of infection in immunocompromised patients, previously linked to zoonotic transmission. Antimicrobial susceptibility and genetic diversity of B. hinzii are poorly understood.

Lung cancer presenting as an acute appendicitis.

Appendiceal metastasis is a rare complication of primary lung cancer and an extremely rare cause of appendicitis. We present the case of a 62-year-old male who presented with right lower quadrant abdominal pain which revealed not only appendiceal inflammation, but also a lung mass and mediastinal lymph nodes. He then proceeded to appendicectomy and two days post-operatively an endobronchial ultrasound-guided biopsy.

Intravenous epinephrine overdose in prehospital management of suspected anaphylaxis.

A 65-year-old woman called paramedics for stridor and neck swelling following an insect bite with a possible anaphylactic reaction. On arrival paramedics administered intramuscular epinephrine without any observed improvement in stridor. Paramedics then prepared 5 mg of 1:1000 epinephrine for nebulised administration, which was inadvertently given intravenously.

Prevalence of scabies in Sanma Province, Vanuatu.

Background: Scabies is a common, under-reported condition in the Pacific with acute and chronic complications. In this study we explored the prevalence of scabies in Sanma Province, Vanuatu.

Methods: We randomly selected 30 villages from nine government zones across three islands and examined residents present within these villages for scabies.

Perceptions of care and patient-reported outcomes in people living with neuroendocrine tumours.

Background: Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are rare, and when metastatic NETs are incurable, the tumours are frequently slowly growing. Patients may be confronted with disease-specific problems and distinct issues when accessing health-care. We aimed to assess perceptions of care coordination, identify unmet needs, and examine if these varied by whether patients received specialist oncology care in a single hospital or shared between that and another hospital.