Brain morphometry, stimulation charge, and seizure duration in electroconvulsive therapy.

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a well-established and effective treatment for severe depression and other conditions. Though ECT induces a generalized seizure, it is unclear why seizures are therapeutic. This study analyzed relationships between pre-treatment brain morphology, stimulation dose, and seizure duration to better understand ECT-induced seizures.

Hearing Function Moderates Age-Related Differences in Brain Morphometry in the HCP Aging Cohort.

There are well-established relationships between aging and neurodegenerative changes, and between aging and hearing loss. The goal of this study was to determine how structural brain aging is influenced by hearing loss. Human Connectome Project Aging data were analyzed, including T1-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Words in noise (WIN) thresholds (n = 623).

Shaping the future of kidney genetics in Australia: proceedings from the KidGen policy implementation workshop 2023.

The KidGen Collaborative's Policy Implementation Workshop 2023 celebrated the 10th anniversary of Australia's first kidney genetics clinic in Brisbane. This event marked the establishment of a national network now comprising 19 kidney genetics clinics across Australia, all dedicated to providing equitable access to genomic testing for families affected by genetic kidney diseases. The workshop reflected on past progress and outlined future objectives for kidney genetics in Australia, recognising the collaborative efforts of clinical teams, researchers, and patients.

Modulation of habenular and nucleus accumbens functional connectivity by ketamine in major depression.

Introduction: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with dysfunctional reward processing, which involves functional circuitry of the habenula (Hb) and nucleus accumbens (NAc). Since ketamine elicits rapid antidepressant and antianhedonic effects in MDD, this study sought to investigate how serial ketamine infusion (SKI) treatment modulates static and dynamic functional connectivity (FC) in Hb and NAc functional networks.

Methods: MDD participants (n = 58, mean age = 40.

Hearing function moderates age-related changes in brain morphometry in the HCP Aging cohort.

Introduction: There are well-established relationships between aging and neurodegenerative changes, and between aging and hearing loss. The goal of this study was to determine how structural brain aging is influenced by hearing loss.

Methods: Human Connectome Project Aging (HCP-A) data were analyzed, including T1-weighted MRI and Words in Noise (WIN) thresholds (n=623).

Perceptual and cognitive effects of focal tDCS of auditory cortex in tinnitus.

Objectives: Noninvasive brain stimulation continues to grow as an effective, low-risk way of improving the symptoms of brain conditions. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is particularly well-tolerated, with benefits including low cost and potential portability. Nevertheless, continued study of perceptual and cognitive side effects is warranted, given the complexity of functional brain organization.

Focal tDCS of auditory cortex in chronic tinnitus: A randomized controlled mechanistic trial.

Objective: The goal of this pilot study was to understand how focal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting auditory cortex changes brain function in chronic tinnitus using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: People with chronic tinnitus were randomized to active or sham tDCS on five consecutive days in this mechanistic trial (n = 10/group). Focal 4x1 tDCS (central anode, surround cathodes) targeted left auditory cortex, with single-blind 2 mA current during twenty-minute sessions.

Ketamine treatment modulates habenular and nucleus accumbens static and dynamic functional connectivity in major depression.

Dysfunctional reward processing in major depressive disorder (MDD) involves functional circuitry of the habenula (Hb) and nucleus accumbens (NAc). Ketamine elicits rapid antidepressant and alleviates anhedonia in MDD. To clarify how ketamine perturbs reward circuitry in MDD, we examined how serial ketamine infusions (SKI) modulate static and dynamic functional connectivity (FC) in Hb and NAc networks.

Focal transcranial direct current stimulation of auditory cortex in chronic tinnitus: A randomized controlled mechanistic trial.

Objective: The goal of this pilot MRI study was to understand how focal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting auditory cortex changes brain function in chronic tinnitus.

Methods: People with chronic tinnitus were randomized to active or sham tDCS on five consecutive days in this pilot mechanistic trial (n=10/group). Focal 4×1 tDCS (central anode, surround cathodes) targeted left auditory cortex, with single-blind 2mA current during twenty-minute sessions.

An Assessment of the Longitudinal Construct Validity of the Pain Behavioral Scale (PaBS) in a Saudi Population with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Preliminary Study.

The Pain Behavioral Scale (PaBS) measures the presence and severity of pain behavior. We examine the longitudinal construct validity of the PaBS using convergent and known-groups approaches on a population of 23 participants with chronic lower back pain (LBP) undergoing routine physiotherapy care and pain neuroscience education. Participants who satisfied study inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited from patients who attended two testing sessions at physiotherapy clinics in Saudi Arabia.

Pre-operative localisation of axillary lymph nodes using radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags: a feasibility assessment in 75 cases.

Aim: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of using radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags for the localisation of axillary nodes prior to targeted excision in a National Health Service (NHS) breast unit.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective data collection was carried out to analyse the first 75 cases of RFID-targeted axillary nodes inserted between 12 June 2019 and 27 October 2022, during which an overall total of 1,296 breast and axillary tags were deployed in 1,120 patients.

Results: Of the 75 axillary tags, 70 (93%) had a primary breast cancer and five (7%) had no known breast cancer but had an abnormal node targeted for diagnostic excision.

Implementation of a risk-stratified, guideline-based clinical pathway of care to improve health outcomes following whiplash injury (Whiplash ImPaCT): a multicentre, randomized, controlled trial.

Current pathways of care for whiplash follow a "stepped care model," result in modest treatment outcomes and fail to offer efficient management solutions. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a risk-stratified clinical pathway of care (CPC) compared with usual care (UC) in people with acute whiplash. We conducted a multicentre, 2-arm, parallel, randomised, controlled trial in primary care in Australia.

A comprehensive guide to MEGA-PRESS for GABA measurement.

The aim of this guideline is to provide a series of evidence-based recommendations that allow those new to using MEGA-PRESS to produce high-quality data for the measurement of GABA levels using edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy with the MEGA-PRESS sequence at 3T. GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system and has been increasingly studied due to its relevance in many clinical disorders of the central nervous system. MEGA-PRESS is the most widely used method for quantification of GABA at 3T, but is technically challenging and operates at a low signal-to-noise ratio.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in depression induces structural plasticity.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique involving administration of well-tolerated electrical current to the brain through scalp electrodes. TDCS may improve symptoms in neuropsychiatric disorders, but mixed results from recent clinical trials underscore the need to demonstrate that tDCS can modulate clinically relevant brain systems over time in patients. Here, we analyzed longitudinal structural MRI data from a randomized, double-blind, parallel-design clinical trial in depression (NCT03556124, N = 59) to investigate whether serial tDCS individually targeted to the left dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) can induce neurostructural changes.

Limited evidence of altered gait parameters in people with chronic nonspecific low back pain.

Background: Differences in gait parameters have been shown between people with and without low back pain (LBP). However, previous studies did not well control factors such as sex, age, height and walking speed known to influence gait parameters.

Research Question: Is gait altered in people with LBP when sex, age, height and walking speed are controlled?

Methods: A series of gait parameters were measured in 16 participants with LBP and 16 age, sex and height matched healthy controls while walking on an instrumented treadmill.

Redesigning care for back pain in an Australian hospital setting: A service evaluation to identify need for change.

Objective: This needs assessment study examined current processes of physiotherapy care for adults with back pain in a large teaching hospital serving a multicultural community in Sydney, Australia. Evaluation of current practices is a necessary first step in the design of a patient-centred, multidisciplinary service that promotes best practice in back pain management.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective service evaluation in the physiotherapy outpatient department by reviewing clinical data on episode of care and processes of care for adults managed for back pain over a 6-month period using a defined protocol (n = 252).

Selective acceptance of acute whiplash guidelines: a qualitative analysis of perceptions of health professionals in Australia.

Purpose: To explore health professionals' acceptance of the guidelines for acute whiplash associated disorders (WAD), and to identify barriers and facilitators to adherence.

Materials And Methods: Qualitative descriptive study involving focus group discussions among health professionals who treat people with WAD in primary and secondary care settings in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. Twenty-eight health professionals (physiotherapists = 19; chiropractors = 6; osteopaths = 3) participated in six semi-structured focus group discussions that were held in independent offices in Sydney and Brisbane, Australia between September and December 2015.

Pain experiences of Hindi-speaking Indian migrants in Sydney: a qualitative study.

Cultural beliefs and values are increasingly understood to influence the experience of pain, health-seeking, and pain management behaviours. Research exploring cultural beliefs about pain is particularly needed for Indian migrants, who have a high prevalence of pain and are among the largest migrant communities in Australia and internationally. The objective of this study was to explore pain-related beliefs and coping strategies of Hindi-speaking Indian migrants with chronic back pain living in Sydney.

Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability and validity of the Marathi versions of the Back Beliefs Questionnaire and Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire in people living with chronic low back pain.

Purpose: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Back Beliefs Questionnaire (BBQ) and Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) into Marathi, and to evaluate their clinimetric properties in a native Marathi speaking population with chronic low back pain.

Material And Methods: The BBQ and PSEQ were translated into Marathi using international published guidelines. Fifty native Marathi speakers were recruited.