The hidden Australian skin cancer epidemic, high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: a narrative review.

Deaths from non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) have almost doubled in Australia in recent years. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) constitutes approximately 20% of NMSCs, but is responsible for most of the deaths. Most skin cancers are easy to diagnose and treat and therefore cSCC are often trivialised; however, there is a high-risk subgroup of cSCC (HRcSCC) that is associated with a high risk of metastasis and death.

Drug-induced liver injury secondary to tamoxifen.

Tamoxifen is a non-steroidal selective oestrogen receptor modulator commonly used in the treatment of breast cancer. It is associated with the development of fatty liver and steatohepatitis however drug-induced liver injury is rare. We report a woman in her 50s who developed malaise with an acute moderate aminotransferase elevation without jaundice 6 months after starting tamoxifen.

Management of basal cell carcinoma with pulmonary metastasis.

A man in his 50s presented with an ulcerative lesion within the left axillary fold that had progressively worsened over 18 months. Biopsy revealed an ulcerative basal cell carcinoma (BCC), which was surgically managed. CT chest scans done 7 months later assessed post-treatment of radiotherapy.

Toxicity and response to ipilimumab and nivolumab in older patients with metastatic melanoma: A multicentre retrospective analysis.

Combination immunotherapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab is an effective therapy in the treatment of metastatic melanoma, however, its benefit in older patients is unclear. A multicentre retrospective study was performed to compare the efficacy and toxicity of combination immunotherapy in metastatic melanoma in patients ≥65 years versus <65 years, and complications of steroids used to manage toxicity. One hundred and thirty-nine patients were included with 52 patients ≥65 years (median age: 70; range: 65-83) and 87 patients <65 years (median age: 52; range: 22-64).

Features and management of pyrexia with combined dabrafenib and trametinib in metastatic melanoma.

The combination of dabrafenib and trametinib (CombiDT) is an effective treatment for BRAF-mutant metastatic melanoma; however, over 70% of patients develop drug-related pyrexia, and little is known about this toxicity. We sought to examine the features and management of CombiDT pyrexia. The association between pyrexia and patient demographics, disease characteristics and outcome variables was assessed in patients treated with CombiDT at a single institution.

The nature and management of metastatic melanoma after progression on BRAF inhibitors: effects of extended BRAF inhibition.

Background: The v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF) inhibitor (BRAFi) drugs dabrafenib and vemurafenib have high response rates in BRAF-mutant, metastatic melanoma; however, 50% of patients progress by 7 months. In this study, the authors examined the nature and management of disease progression (PD) on BRAFi treatment, including characteristics and outcomes of patients who received continued BRAFi treatment beyond disease progression (TBP).

Methods: Clinicopathologic data at baseline and at the time of PD were collected for all patients with BRAF-mutant metastatic melanoma who received BRAFi monotherapy within clinical trials between July 2009 and September 2012.

Patterns of response and progression in patients with BRAF-mutant melanoma metastatic to the brain who were treated with dabrafenib.

Background: Dabrafenib has activity in patients with brain metastases, but little is known of the relative efficacy of treatment within and outside the brain. This study sought to examine the intracranial (IC) and extracranial (EC) patterns of response and progression in patients with active melanoma brain metastases treated with dabrafenib.

Methods: Clinicopathologic parameters were collected on patients with active brain metastases enrolled in the phase 1 and 2 studies of dabrafenib at a single institution.

Inter- and intra-patient heterogeneity of response and progression to targeted therapy in metastatic melanoma.

Background: MAPK inhibitors (MAPKi) are active in BRAF-mutant metastatic melanoma patients, but the extent of response and progression-free survival (PFS) is variable, and complete responses are rare. We sought to examine the patterns of response and progression in patients treated with targeted therapy.

Methods: MAPKi-naïve patients treated with combined dabrafenib and trametinib had all metastases ≥5 mm (lymph nodes ≥15 mm in short axis) visible on computed tomography measured at baseline and throughout treatment.

The degree of safety of family replacement donors versus voluntary non-remunerated donors in an Egyptian population: a comparative study.

Background: Screening donated blood for transfusion-transmissible infections is considered an important strategy for maximising the safety of blood transfusions.

Materials And Methods: A total of 17,118 donors, classified into two groups--family replacement donors and voluntary non-remunerated donors--were investigated for hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen and antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Treponema pallidum. In addition cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibodies were searched for in 160 donors (80 from each group).

Predicting emergency room visits and hospitalizations among hospice patients with cardiac disease.

Background: One goal of quality palliative care in hospice is to limit emergency room visits and/or hospitalizations (ERVH).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine predisposing factors that contribute to ERVH and devise a model to predict the probability of hospice cardiac disease patients having ERVH after hospice admission.

Methods: The study was a retrospective chart review of hospice cardiac patients comparing those with ERVH (n = 65) and those who died in their homes (n = 80).

An examination of cross-cultural systems implementing evidence-based assessment and intervention approaches.

Implementation of evidence-based assessment and intervention approaches for youth with behavioral and/or emotional problems is rising to recognition worldwide. Feasibility research is critical to examine what characteristics of systems allow for success or barriers to the implementation of evidence-based practices into real-world settings, especially when working cross-culturally. This paper briefly reviews the experience of 4 international sites to understand how the overall structure and specific site variables directed the implementation of the World Health Organization and the World Psychiatry Association project.