The emergence of DNAM-1 as the facilitator of NK cell-mediated killing in ovarian cancer.

Introduction: Ovarian cancer (OC) is the sixth most common malignancy in women and the poor 5-year survival emphasises the need for novel therapies. NK cells play an important role in the control of malignant disease but the nature of tumour-infiltrating and peripheral NK cells in OC remains unclear.

Methods: Using flow cytometric analysis, we studied the phenotype and function of NK cells in blood, primary tumour and metastatic tissue in 80 women with OC.

The assessment of myopenia and muscle biopsy in pediatric patients with liver disease awaiting liver transplantation - A cross-sectional analysis.

Little is known about the skeletal muscle characteristics (fibre type proportion and size, location of nuclei, presence of fat infiltration) in children with liver disease with radiologically determined myopenia (low muscle mass). During liver transplantation (LTx) surgery, biopsies from the rectus abdominis muscle were collected. Muscle fibre types (I, I/IIA, IIA, IIA/X, IIX) and CSA index (µm/m2) were determined using immunofluorescence staining.

A study of professional practices, attitudes and barriers to blended tube feeding in Australia and New Zealand.

Aims: This study investigates the utilisation of blended tube feeding by health professionals in Australia and New Zealand, assessing factors influencing its implementation following the Australasian Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition blended tube feeding consensus statement.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted targeting health professionals across Australia and New Zealand. The survey comprised 35-questions including multiple choice, Likert scales and open-ended responses, to gain insights into blended tube feeding practices and perspectives.

Measuring the Maturity of Integrated Care in Singapore with the SCIROCCO Exchange Tool.

Background: How have we progressed and where are the gaps of integrated care in Singapore? Social-health care provision in the context of an ageing population is critical in the city-state's management of the unprecedented demand as the proportion of seniors with multiple complex medical needs have almost doubled in the past decade.

Objective: This study measures the maturity level of Singapore's integrated care, identifies key gaps and discusses their implications using the SCIROCCO Exchange tool, an online self-assessment tool consisting of the 12 dimensions necessary for the provision of integrated care.

Methods: A three-step mixed method Delphi study was used to derive expert consensus.

Investigating age and ethnicity as novel high-risk phenotypes in mucinous ovarian cancer: retrospective study in a multi-ethnic population.

Objectives: Primary mucinous ovarian carcinoma represents 3% of ovarian cancers and is typically diagnosed early, yielding favorable outcomes. This study aims to identify risk factors, focussing on the impact of age and ethnicity on survival from primary mucinous ovarian cancer.

Methods: A retrospective observational study of patients treated at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust and University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire.

Small and large bowel anatomy is associated with enteral autonomy in infants with short bowel syndrome: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Achievement of enteral autonomy (EA) is the ultimate treatment goal in pediatric intestinal failure (IF). We aimed to assess predictors of EA in pediatric short bowel syndrome (SBS) and explore the impact of residual small bowel (SB) and large bowel (LB) length on EA.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed on infants aged <12 months (n = 367, six centers) with SBS referred between 2010 and 2015.

Completing a genomic characterisation of microscopic tumour samples with copy number.

Background: Genomic insights in settings where tumour sample sizes are limited to just hundreds or even tens of cells hold great clinical potential, but also present significant technical challenges. We previously developed the DigiPico sequencing platform to accurately identify somatic mutations from such samples.

Results: Here, we complete this genomic characterisation with copy number.

Identifying Key Themes of Care Coordination for Patients with Chronic Conditions in Singapore: A Scoping Review.

A projected rise in patients with complex health needs and a rapidly ageing population will place an increased burden on the healthcare system. Care coordination can bridge potential gaps during care transitions and across the care continuum to facilitate care integration and the delivery of personalised care. Despite having a national strategic vision of improving care integration across different levels of care and community partners, there is no consolidation of evidence specifically on the salient dimensions of care coordination in the Singapore healthcare context.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy based on anatomical landmarks and locoregional mapping of inguinofemoral sentinel lymph nodes in women with vulval cancer: an operative technique.

Inguinal lymph node involvement is the most robust predictor of mortality in vulval cancer and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is a safe diagnostic modality. We describe a technique based on anatomical landmarks. Our aims are (1) to describe the territorial mapping of SLNs, (2) to evaluate the associated complication rate vis-à-vis those reported in the literature, and (3) to assess its accuracy in detecting SLNs.

Accuracy and Precision of Point-of-Care International Normalized Ratio in Patients With Liver Disease.

Objective: To determine if the CoaguChek XS Pro Point-of-Care (POC) device can accurately and precisely measure the international normalized ratio (INR) compared with the gold standard laboratory INR in pediatric and adult patients with liver disease.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 15 pediatric patients without liver disease, 13 pediatric patients with liver disease, and 17 adult patients with liver disease. The accuracy of the POC INR values was determined using the correlation and Bland-Altman limits of agreement.

Nonsquamous Malignancies of Vagina and Vulva: 23-Year Experience at a Tertiary Center in the United Kingdom.

Under 10% of gynaecological cancers are diagnosed in the vulva and vagina, mostly squamous cell carcinomas. Melanoma, Paget disease, basal cell carcinomas, and other cancers can present with vulval/vaginal symptoms. The pathology information system of a tertiary referral center for vulvo-vaginal cancers was searched for cancers of the vulva and vagina from 1996 to 2019.

Comparison of Body Composition, Muscle Strength and Cardiometabolic Profile in Children with Prader-Willi Syndrome and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Pilot Study.

Syndromic and non-syndromic obesity conditions in children, such as Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), both lower quality of life and increase risk for chronic health complications, which further increase health service utilization and cost. In a pilot observational study, we compared body composition and muscle strength in children aged 7−18 years with either PWS (n = 9), NAFLD (n = 14), or healthy controls (n = 16). Anthropometric and body composition measures (e.

Evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tertiary gynaecological cancer care delivery: a population based study.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, reports of delays and alterations in cancer treatment pathways have emerged. We aim to evaluate the proportional impact of the pandemic over time on standard care delivery in a large tertiary gynaecological cancer centre. Consecutive patient records from weekly multidisciplinary team meetings were collected prospectively between 6 March 2020 and 26 March 2021.

Australasian paediatric gastroenterologist practices of coeliac disease diagnosis before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim: To explore the perceptions and practices of Australasian paediatric gastroenterologists in diagnosing coeliac disease (CD) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Paediatric gastroenterologists in Australasia were invited via email to complete an anonymous online questionnaire over a 2-week period in 2021.

Results: The questionnaire was completed by 39 respondents: 33 from Australia and six from New Zealand (NZ) equating to a 66% response rate.

An international multicenter validation study of the Toronto listing criteria for pediatric intestinal transplantation.

Deciding which patients would benefit from intestinal transplantation (IT) remains an ethical/clinical dilemma. New criteria* were proposed in 2015: ≥2 intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, loss of ≥3 central venous catheter (CVC) sites, and persistently elevated conjugated bilirubin (CB ≥ 75 μmol/L) despite 6 weeks of lipid modification strategies. We performed a retrospective, international, multicenter validation study of 443 children (61% male, median gestational age 34 weeks [IQR 29-37]), diagnosed with IF between 2010 and 2015.

Prevalence of computed tomography-based sarcopenia and the prognostic value of skeletal muscle index and muscle attenuation amongst women with epithelial ovarian malignancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Sarcopenia represents an index of frailty amongst cancer patients and it is associated with poor oncological outcomes and a higher risk of surgical complications in several types of malignancy.

Aim: To further delineate the impact of sarcopenia assessed via computed tomography scan (CT) on oncological outcomes and post-operative complications amongst women with epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). Our secondary objective was to quantify and understand the prevalence of sarcopenia in EOC.

Vulval cancer in pregnancy: Two case reports.

Vulval cancer is rare in women of reproductive age. We report two cases of vulval squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) in pregnancy. They presented with a solitary labial mass, at 20 and 21 weeks of gestation, diagnosed as stage 1B VSCC based on clinical examination and cross-sectional imaging.

A Multiethnic Asian Perspective of Presumed Consent for Organ Donation: A Population-Based Perception Study.

Organ shortage is still a world-wide problem, resulting in long waiting lists for kidney, liver, and heart transplant candidates across many transplant centers globally. This has resulted in the move toward presumed consent to increase deceased organ donation rates. However, there remains a paucity of literature on public attitude and barriers regarding the opt-out system, with existing studies limited to Western nations.

COVID-19 and the ageing workforce: global perspectives on needs and solutions across 15 countries.

Background: COVID-19 has a direct impact on the employment of older people. This adds to the challenge of ageism. The World Health Organization has started a worldwide campaign to combat ageism and has called for more research and evidence-based strategies that have the potential to be scaled up.