A clinical audit of adverse post-nephrectomy outcomes in renal cell carcinoma patients at a tertiary hospital in Queensland, Australia.

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common malignancy, and nephrectomy is the mainstay of treatment for non-metastatic disease. The choice of surgery depends on the risks of oncologic recurrence, kidney function decline, and perioperative complications. This study aimed to identify factors associated with adverse post-operative outcomes in RCC patients undergoing nephrectomy at Townsville University Hospital (TUH).

A Standardized Measurement and Valuation Scale of Genomic Utility for Policy Decisions: The GUV Scale.

Objectives: The multifaceted ways in which genomics can be valuable to clinicians, patients, families, and society are important for informing prioritization decisions by policy makers. This study aims to develop a standardized, cumulative, and preference-weighted genomic utility valuation (GUV) on a scale of 0% to 100%.

Methods: A multicriteria decision analysis was conducted with experts involved in policy, clinical, research, and consumer advocacy leadership in Australia for the valuation of policy priority indicators of genomic utility.

Hyperkalaemia among hospital admissions: prevalence, risk factors, treatment and impact on length of stay.

Background: Hyperkalaemia is one of the common electrolyte disorders among hospital patients, affected by many risk factors including medications and medical conditions. Prompt treatment is important given its impact on patient mortality and morbidity, which can lead to negative patient outcomes and healthcare resource utilisation. This study aims to describe the prevalence, characteristics, and treatment of patients admitted to hospitals with hyperkalaemia and compare findings between patients with kidney failure on maintenance haemodialysis therapy and patients without kidney failure.

Genetic kidney disease has a higher likelihood and cost of inpatient admissions compared to other aetiologies.

Purpose: There is increasing recognition of monogenic aetiologies for kidney disease. We sought to identify whether genetic kidney disease (GKD) has distinct hospitalization patterns compared to other forms of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: Health service utilization analysis was undertaken in a CKD cohort study across public hospital services in Queensland, Australia.

A guide to gene-disease relationships in nephrology.

The use of next-generation sequencing technologies such as exome and genome sequencing in research and clinical care has transformed our understanding of the molecular architecture of genetic kidney diseases. Although the capability to identify and rigorously assess genetic variants and their relationship to disease has advanced considerably in the past decade, the curation of clinically relevant relationships between genes and specific phenotypes has received less attention, despite it underpinning accurate interpretation of genomic tests. Here, we discuss the need to accurately define gene-disease relationships in nephrology and provide a framework for appraising genetic and experimental evidence critically.

Active deprescribing attitudes and practices in a large regional tertiary health service: a mixed methods study.

In this pilot study, we explored current attitudes and deprescribing practices of clinicians in a large regional health service through a mixed methods approach. Respondents included doctors, pharmacists and nurse practitioners, who outlined three themes including professional and organisational contexts, disconnect between goals and practices and factors influencing deprescribing.

Empowering and Building the Capabilities of Mid-Level Health Service Managers to Lead and Support the Health Workforce-A Study Protocol.

(1) Background: Mid-level managers in healthcare are central to improving safety and quality of care. Their ability in demonstrating leadership and management competency in their roles and supporting frontline managers and frontline staff has a direct effect on staff retention and turn-over. Yet, investment in their professional development and support for mid-level managers is often neither adequate nor effective, and high rates of staff turnover are evident.

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.

Functional somatic symptoms in Emergency Department frequent presenters.

Background: Patients with Functional Somatic Symptoms (FSS) are frequently encountered within healthcare settings such as Emergency Departments (ED). There is limited research regarding characterisation and frequency of FSS within frequent presenters to ED and no previous Australian evidence. This study aims to fill this gap.

It Is in Our DNA: Bringing Electronic Health Records and Genomic Data Together for Precision Medicine.

Health care is at a turning point. We are shifting from protocolized medicine to precision medicine, and digital health systems are facilitating this shift. By providing clinicians with detailed information for each patient and analytic support for decision-making at the point of care, digital health technologies are enabling a new era of precision medicine.

Genomics in the kidney transplant clinic: the future standard of care?

New evidence indicates potential benefit of genomics to illuminate nonkidney monogenic morbidity and mortality risk among kidney transplant recipients. This might be of direct relevance to an equivalent proportion of patients to those who harbor a monogenic kidney disease. Further evidence and replication are indicated, including a broadening potential range of monogenic and polygenic opportunities to improve clinical outcomes.

Kidney Failure from Kidney Stones: An ANZDATA Registry Study.

Introduction: Kidney stones is common with an increasing trend over time and has been well studied in the general population. However, incidence and outcomes of kidney stones leading to kidney failure (KF) and receiving kidney replacement therapy (KRT) is poorly examined. We examined the incidence of KF due to kidney stones and compared outcomes to KRT patients due to other causes.

Metformin for preventing the progression of chronic kidney disease.

Background: Metformin has been used in the management of diabetes for decades. It is an effective, low-cost intervention with a well-established safety profile. Emerging evidence suggests that metformin targets a number of pathways that lead to chronic kidney damage, and long-term use may, therefore, slow the rate of kidney function decline and chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression.

Better kidney allograft survival despite higher-risk donor and recipient characteristics between 1995 and 2014.

Background And Hypothesis: Advances in organ procurement, surgical techniques, immunosuppression regimens, and prophylactic antibiotic therapies have dramatically improved kidney transplant graft failure. It is unclear how these interventions have affected longer-term graft failure. It is hypothesized that graft failure has improved over the last 20 years.