Impact of elevated fine particulate matter (PM ) during landscape fire events on cardiorespiratory hospital admissions in Perth, Western Australia.

Background: Australia has experienced extreme fire weather in recent years. Information on the impact of fine particulate matter (PM ) from landscape fires (LFs) on cardiorespiratory hospital admissions is limited.

Methods: We conducted a population-based time series study to assess associations between modelled daily elevated PM at a 1.

Improving the spatial and temporal resolution of burden of disease measures with Bayesian models.

This paper contributes to the field by addressing the critical issue of enhancing the spatial and temporal resolution of health data. Although Bayesian methods are frequently employed to address this challenge in various disciplines, the application of Bayesian spatio-temporal models to burden of disease (BOD) studies remains limited. Our novelty lies in the exploration of two existing Bayesian models that we show to be applicable to a wide range of BOD data, including mortality and prevalence, thereby providing evidence to support the adoption of Bayesian modeling in full BOD studies in the future.

Data driven analysis reveals prognostic genes and immunological targets in human sepsis-associated acute kidney injury.

Background: The molecular mechanism of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) is unclear. We analyzed co-differentially expressed genes (co-DEGs) to elucidate the underlying mechanism and intervention targets of SA-AKI.

Methods: The microarray datasets GSE65682, GSE30718, and GSE174220 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database.

The nomogram to predict the occurrence of sepsis-associated encephalopathy in elderly patients in the intensive care units: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a critical and common problem in elderly patients with sepsis, which is still short of efficient predictive tools. Therefore, this study aims to screen the risk factors and establish a useful predictive nomogram for SAE in elderly patients with sepsis in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Patients And Methods: Elderly patients (age ≥ 65 years) with sepsis were selected from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV database.

The procalcitonin-to-cortisol ratio is a potential prognostic predictor in sepsis with abdominal source: a retrospective observational study.

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the procalcitonin-to-cortisol ratio (P/C ratio) as a prognostic predictor among septic patients with abdominal source.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 132 post-surgery patients between 18 and 90 years old with sepsis of the abdominal source. On the second day of sepsis onset, cortisol, procalcitonin (PCT), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, C-response protein (CRP), and other baseline characteristics were collected.

Hospitalization Costs of Respiratory Diseases Attributable to Temperature in Australia and Projections for Future Costs in the 2030s and 2050s under Climate Change.

This study aimed to estimate respiratory disease hospitalization costs attributable to ambient temperatures and to estimate the future hospitalization costs in Australia. The associations between daily hospitalization costs for respiratory diseases and temperatures in Sydney and Perth over the study period of 2010-2016 were analyzed using distributed non-linear lag models. Future hospitalization costs were estimated based on three predicted climate change scenarios-RCP2.

Comparison of Different Surgical Methods for Necrotizing Pancreatitis: A Meta-Analysis.

To compare the effectiveness and safety of three methods of open necrosectomy, minimally invasive surgery and endoscopic step-up approach for necrotizing pancreatitis. We searched Pubmed, Embase, ScienceDirect, and CNKI full text database (CNKI) (to December 25, 2019). RCT, prospective cohort study (PCS), and retrospective cohort study (RCS) comparing the effectiveness and safety of any two of above-mentioned three methods were included.

Endoscopic gastric fenestration of debriding pancreatic walled-off necrosis: A pilot study.

Background: Endoscopic drainage of walled-off necrosis (WON) is still a challenge due to stent-associated problems. We explored endoscopic gastric fenestration (EGF) as an innovative alternative intervention.

Aim: To assess the feasibility, efficacy and safety of EGF for WON.

Auscultation-assisted bedside postpyloric placement of feeding tube in critically ill patients: a prospective, observational study.

Background And Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of auscultation-assisted bedside postpyloric feeding tube (ABPFT) placement in early enteral nutritional support for critically ill patients.

Methods And Study Design: A prospective observational study was conducted and 92 critically ill patients who met the inclusion criteria undergoing ABPFT placement after the intravenous injection of 10 mg of metoclopramide were included. Abdominal X-ray was performed to confirm the location of the catheter tip.

Joint effects of heatwaves and air quality on ambulance services for vulnerable populations in Perth, western Australia.

As the frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves increases, emergency health serviceutilization, including ambulance service, has correspondingly increased across the world. The negative effects of air pollution on health complicate these adverse health effects. This research work is the first known study to analyze the joint effects of heatwaves and air quality on the ambulance service in Western Australia (WA).

Joint effect of heatwaves and air quality on emergency department attendances for vulnerable population in Perth, Western Australia, 2006 to 2015.

Background: As global warming and the frequency and intensity of heatwaves increases, health service utilization, including emergency department attendances (EDA) have correspondingly increased across the world. The impact of air quality on health adds to the complexity of the effects. Potential joint effects between heatwaves and air quality on EDA have been rarely reported in the literature, prompting this study.

The Impact of Alcohol Restriction on Hospital and Emergency Department Service Utilizations in Two Remote Towns in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia.

In a remote region of Western Australia, Kimberley, residents have nearly twice the State average per capita consumption of alcohol, four and a half times the level of alcohol-related hospitalizations and nearly three times the level of alcohol-related deaths. This study aimed to evaluate the long term effects of alcohol sale restrictions on health service utilization in two remote towns in Kimberley. Sale of high strength packaged alcohol was restricted in Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek since October 2007 and May 2009, respectively.

Cultural and linguistic diversity increases the likelihood of compulsory community treatment.

Background: People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds are over-represented in compulsory admissions to hospital but little is known about whether this also applies to community treatment orders (CTOs).

Aims: We investigated any differences between Australian- and foreign-born patients in the likelihood of CTO placement using state-wide databases from Western Australia.

Methods: Cases and controls from administrative health data were matched on age, sex, diagnosis and time of hospital discharge (the index date).

Outcome and risk factors associated with extent of central nervous system injury due to exertional heat stroke.

To explore the relationship between the extent of central nervous system (CNS) injury and patient outcomes meanwhile research the potential risk factors associated with neurologic sequelae. In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data from 117 consecutive patients (86 survivors, 31 nonsurvivors) with exertional heat stroke (EHS) who had been admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) at 48 Chinese hospitals between April 2003 and July 2015. Extent of CNS injury was dichotomized according to Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score (severe 3-8, not severe 9-15).

[Bacterial endotoxin-induced endothelial cell injury and calcium overload associated with Toll-like receptor and calcium signal].

Objective: To explore the effect of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation protein-2 (MD2), and stromal interaction molecular 1 (STIM1) for regulating human vascular endothelial calcium overload injury and inflammatory reaction induced by bacterial endotoxin (LPS).

Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in Dulbecco's modification of Eagle's medium (DMEM). (1) The levels of TLR4, MD2 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) were detected by reverse transcriotion-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) before and 0.

Variation in Population Vulnerability to Heat Wave in Western Australia.

Heat waves (HWs) have killed more people in Australia than all other natural hazards combined. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency, duration, and intensity of HWs and leads to a doubling of heat-related deaths over the next 40 years. Despite being a significant public health issue, HWs do not attract the same level of attention from researchers, policy makers, and emergency management agencies compared to other natural hazards.

Discrete element modeling of a mining-induced rock slide.

Slopes are subjected to stress redistributions during underground mining activities, and this may eventually cause deformation or landslide. This paper takes Madaling landslide in Guizhou Province, China as a case study to investigate the failure mechanism and its run-out behaviours by using discrete element method. Previous qualitative analysis indicated that the slope experienced four stages of failure mechanisms: (1) development of tension cracks, (2) development of stepped-like creep cracks, (3) development of potential rupture surfaces, and (4) occurrence of the landslide.

Inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B enhances the tumor growth of ovarian cancer cell line derived from a low-grade papillary serous carcinoma in p53-independent pathway.

Background: NF-kB can function as an oncogene or tumor suppressor depending on cancer types. The role of NF-kB in low-grade serous ovarian cancer, however, has never been tested. We sought to elucidate the function of NF-kB in the low-grade serous ovarian cancer.

Medium-term outcomes after pulmonary valve replacement with the Freestyle valve for congenital heart disease: a case series.

Objectives: The Freestyle valve may be used for pulmonary valve replacement (PVR). Whether its stentless design and anticalcification treatment improve durability relative to alternative bioprostheses, however, is unknown and long-term data are lacking.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all Freestyle PVRs performed by a single surgeon in two institutions.

The freestyle valve as a right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract is the most commonly performed valve repair/replacement procedure in congenital cardiac surgery. There is an ongoing shortage of homografts, and existing bioprosthetic options suffer from substantial rates of structural valve deterioration over time. The Medtronic Freestyle valve is used extensively in the aortic position, but little data is available on its performance in the pulmonary position.

Changes in determinants of compulsory community treatment over 11 years. A population-based analysis of linked mental health databases.

Differences in patient characteristics, legislation and service setting may explain variations in the reported efficacy of compulsory treatment orders (CTOs). Our objective was to investigate factors associated with CTO placement in Western Australia and see if there were any changes over the 11 years following their introduction. We used three linked Western Australian databases to compare 2958 patients on community treatment orders with an equal number of controls matched on age, sex and diagnosis, as well as 2832 consecutive controls selected on date of discharge from inpatient care or CTO placement.

Responding to heatwave intensity: Excess Heat Factor is a superior predictor of health service utilisation and a trigger for heatwave plans.

Objective: To determine which measures of heatwave have the greatest predictive power for increases in health service utilisation in Perth, Western Australia.

Methods: Three heatwave formulas were compared, using Poisson or zero-inflated Poisson regression, against the number of presentations to emergency departments from all causes, and the number of inpatient admissions from heat-related causes. The period from July 2006 to June 2013 was included.