Are sociodemographic characteristics associated with spatial variation in the incidence of OHCA and bystander CPR rates? A population-based observational study in Victoria, Australia.

Background: Rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have been shown to vary considerably in Victoria. We examined the extent to which this variation could be explained by the sociodemographic and population health characteristics of the region.

Methods: Using the Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry, we extracted OHCA cases occurring between 2011 and 2013.

Effect of diabetes and pre-hospital blood glucose level on survival and recovery after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Objective: Diabetes mellitus and blood glucose level (BGL) are emerging as important prognosticators of outcome in critically ill patients. We evaluated the effect of diabetes and pre-hospital BGL on survival to hospital discharge and on 12-month functional recovery after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Design, Setting And Participants: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from a statewide cardiac arrest registry in Victoria, Australia.

Regions of High Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Incidence and Low Bystander CPR Rates in Victoria, Australia.

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains a major public health issue and research has shown that large regional variation in outcomes exists. Of the interventions associated with survival, the provision of bystander CPR is one of the most important modifiable factors. The aim of this study is to identify census areas with high incidence of OHCA and low rates of bystander CPR in Victoria, Australia.

Using a cardiac arrest registry to measure the quality of emergency medical service care: decade of findings from the Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry.

Background: Although the value of clinical registries has been well recognized in developed countries, their use for measuring the quality of emergency medical service care remains relatively unknown. We report the methodology and findings of a statewide emergency medical service surveillance initiative, which is used to measure the quality of systems of care for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Methods And Results: Between July 1, 2002, and June 30, 2012, data for adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases of presumed cardiac cause occurring in the Australian Southeastern state of Victoria were extracted from the Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry.

Quality of life and functional outcomes 12 months after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a significant global health problem. There has been considerable investment in improving the emergency medical response to OHCA, with associated improvements in survival. However, concern remains that survivors have a poor quality of life.

Exploring which patients without return of spontaneous circulation following ventricular fibrillation out-of-hospital cardiac arrest should be transported to hospital?

Background: Currently many emergency medical services (EMS) that provide advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) at scene do not routinely transport out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients without sustained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). This is due to logistical difficulties and historical poor outcomes. However, new technology for mechanical chest compression has made transport to hospital safer and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) enabling further intervention, may result in ROSC.

Changes in patterns of use of cigarettes and alcohol in women after a first diagnosis of invasive breast cancer: a cohort study of women from Victoria, Australia.

Purpose: Smoking and alcohol consumption after breast cancer diagnosis have received little attention. The aim of this study was to describe the change in smoking and alcohol consumption of women in the BUPA Health Foundation Health and Wellbeing After Breast Cancer Study in the first 2 years after diagnosis.

Methods: We documented cigarette and alcohol use at diagnosis in a prospective cohort study of 1,588 Australian women with invasive breast cancer in an enrolment questionnaire and again 2 years later (follow-up questionnaire, FQ1).

Use of complementary and alternative therapy by women in the first 2 years after diagnosis and treatment of invasive breast cancer.

Objective: Our aim was to document patterns of consultation with alternative practitioners, use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) commonly used to alleviate menopausal symptoms, and lifestyle changes made by women in the first 2 years after their diagnosis with invasive breast cancer.

Methods: A total of 1,588 women in the MBF Foundation Health and Wellbeing After Breast Cancer Study completed both the enrollment questionnaire and the first follow-up questionnaire (FQ1), on average, 41 and 92 weeks after diagnosis, respectively. The Menopause Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Psychological General Wellbeing Index were included in the FQ1.

The relationship between hormone therapy use at the time of diagnosis of breast cancer and tumor characteristics.

Exposure to postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) may affect the stage, histological type, and hormone receptor (HR) status of invasive breast cancer at the time of diagnosis. One thousand six hundred eighty-four women with newly diagnosed first invasive breast cancer were recruited to the "MBF Foundation Health and Wellbeing after Breast Cancer Study." Women using systemic HT estrogen (E) or E combined with progesterone (P) at the time of diagnosis of breast cancer were compared with those not using HT.

Lack of knowledge of hormone receptor status and use of endocrine therapy in invasive breast cancer.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the level of understanding in women with newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer of the key clinical features of their disease that are important determinants in treatment decision making.

Methods: The 1684 women aged between 26 and 88 years at diagnosis enrolled in a 5-year cohort study were asked by questionnaire about their estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) status and about their past or current treatment with adjuvant endocrine therapy. Information was linked with their ER and PR status determined from the histopathology report.

Psychological well-being in a cohort of women with invasive breast cancer nearly 2 years after diagnosis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to document the psychological well-being of a group of women with invasive breast cancer (BC) on an average of nearly 2 years after their diagnosis.

Methods: Participants were women in the Medical Benefits Fund Australia Limited Foundation Health and Wellbeing after Breast Cancer Study, a cohort study of 1,684 women recruited within 12 months of their diagnosis with invasive BC, who completed their first annual follow-up questionnaire. Psychological well-being was measured using the Psychological General Well Being Index questionnaire (PGWB) in women with BC.

The relationship between knowledge of family history and cancer characteristics at diagnosis in women newly-diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.

Aim: To document the prevalence of family history of breast cancer (BC) amongst women newly-diagnosed with invasive BC and to explore the relationship between family history and cancer size and stage.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on baseline questionnaire data from a cohort study of 1,684 women diagnosed with invasive BC within the previous 12 months and recruited between 2004 and 2006 in Victoria, Australia.

Results: Women with affected first degree relative(s) were more likely to have a smaller BC (odds ratio for View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A pragmatic approach to the classification of menopausal status for community-based research.

Objective: The aim of this article was to describe a pragmatic approach to the menopausal status classification of clinical research study participants that allows for women who have gynecological circumstances that mask their natural menstrual pattern.

Design: We demonstrate the application of an algorithm for the Health and Wellbeing After Breast Cancer study based on self-reported menstrual cycle pattern, gynecological history, presence or absence of vasomotor symptoms, and systemic hormone use to classify women with newly diagnosed breast cancer as premenopausal, perimenopausal, or postmenopausal for research purposes.

Results: Within 12 months of their breast cancer diagnosis, 1,684 participants, mean +/- SD age 57.

Use of a cancer registry is preferable to a direct-to-community approach for recruitment to a cohort study of wellbeing in women newly diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) mortality is declining such that the number of survivors of BC in the community is increasing. BC survivors report a range of sequelae from their cancer and its management beyond the period of their immediate treatment. Previous studies to document these have generally been small, clinic-based or commenced years after diagnosis.

CD151 protein expression predicts the clinical outcome of low-grade primary prostate cancer better than histologic grading: a new prognostic indicator?

Objective: CD151 is the first member of the tetraspanin family to be associated as a promoter of human tumor metastasis. However, its biological function and expression phenotype among different tumors has not been well investigated.

Method: Tissue specimens from 76 primary prostate cancers and 30 benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) controls were obtained from the Department of Anatomical Pathology at the Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre (now Austin Health) from 1984 to 1993.

Toward an understanding of the molecular genetics of prostate cancer progression.

The study of the disease process of prostate cancer has revealed, over many years, numerous chromosomal and genetic alterations associated with the development and progression of this cancer. Although there is much information relating to prostate cancer at the molecular level, little is known as to how these alterations relate to each other. Also, a link between prostate cancer and its likely precursor lesions, such as prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, is not well established.

KAI1/CD82 protein expression in primary prostate cancer and in BPH associated with cancer.

Current prognostic methods in primary prostate cancer cannot accurately identify patients with clinically significant disease at highest risk of developing metastases. This study examined KAI1/CD82 metastasis suppressor expression by quantitative immunohistochemical analysis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer specimens. Altogether, prostate cancers exhibited significant KAI1 overexpression compared to BPH not associated with cancer (P = 0.