Prepartum supplementation of dairy cows with inorganic selenium, organic selenium or rumen-protected choline does not affect carotenoid composition or colour characteristics of bovine colostrum or transition milk.

Minerals are supplemented routinely to dairy cows during the dry period to prevent metabolic issues postpartum. However, limited information exists on the impacts of mineral supplementation on colostrum carotenoids. This study aimed to determine the effects of prepartum supplementation with three micro-nutrients; inorganic selenium (INORG), organic selenium (ORG) or rumen-protected choline (RPC) on the carotenoid content of bovine colostrum and transition milk (TM) from pasture-based dairy cows.

Genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors in diverticular disease: systematic review.

Background: Diverticulosis is a normal anatomical variant of the colon present in more than 70% of the westernized population over the age of 80. Approximately 3% will develop diverticulitis in their lifetime. Many patients present emergently, suffer high morbidity rates and require substantial healthcare resources.

Current and future genomic applications for surgeons.

Genomics is a crucial part of managing surgical disease. This review focuses on some of the genomic advances that are available now and looks to the future of their application in surgical practice. Whole-genome sequencing enables unbiased coverage across the entire human genome of approximately three billion base pairs.

Enhanced recovery in cranial surgery (ERACraS) - A single-centre quality improvement study.

Background: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a well-established, protocol-driven, evidence-based approach to peri-operative care. ERAS protocols have been used to improve patient morbidity and mortality outcomes in various surgical specialties. More recently, it has been introduced to neurosurgery.

The impact of a dedicated social media strategy on enhancing surgical education.

Purpose: Social media (SoMe) is increasingly important in surgical education and may be necessary in the current learning environment. Whilst expanding in use and applications, few studies detail the impact of SoMe on measurable outcomes. The goal of this study was to quantify the impact of a dedicated SoMe strategy on engagement metrics for surgical research.

Global Incidence and Risk Factors Associated With Postoperative Urinary Retention Following Elective Inguinal Hernia Repair: The Retention of Urine After Inguinal Hernia Elective Repair (RETAINER I) Study.

Importance: Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is a well-recognized complication of inguinal hernia repair (IHR). A variable incidence of POUR has previously been reported in this context, and contradictory evidence surrounds potential risk factors.

Objective: To ascertain the incidence of, explore risk factors for, and determine the health service outcomes of POUR following elective IHR.

Clinical management of high-output stoma: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: High output is a common complication after stoma formation. Although the management of high output is described in the literature, there is a lack of consensus on definitions and treatment. Our aim was to review and summarise the current best evidence.

Paradoxes, contradictions, and dilemmas: Reflections on the contours of a pandemic and its implications for social work education.

Summary: This is a reflective and theoretical article that discusses the impact of COVID-19 on social work practice. The pandemic, which made its presence felt globally from early 2020, continues to have ongoing and significant consequences for lives, livelihoods, public health, and personal freedoms. We argue that, while its specific contours are yet to be comprehensively researched, let alone the final outcomes understood, the pandemic has presented opportunities to develop new ways of thinking about social work and social work education.

Long-term follow-up of bilateral gracilis reconstruction following extra-levator abdominoperineal excision.

Introduction: Colorectal operations such as an extra-levator abdominoperineal (elAPE) excision for locally advanced or recurrent cancer create a significant perineal tissue deficit. Options for perineal reconstruction include bilateral pedicled gracilis muscle flaps (BPGMF). Fashioning the gracili into a 'weave' creates a muscular sling that supports pelvic contents and is a novel technique.

Outcomes of patients with non-lower gastrointestinal cancer diagnosed via the lower gastrointestinal two-week-wait service.

Introduction: Patients referred via lower gastrointestinal two-week-wait (LGI-2WW) services deemed at 'low risk' of LGI cancer may have delayed or no investigation. However, 20% of patients diagnosed with cancer via the LGI-2WW have non-LGI cancer. This study investigates the outcomes in this under-reported group.

Guardianship patient characteristics and outcomes in geriatric social work practice: Australian context.

This study explored the patient characteristics and outcomes in relation to guardianship in a large-scale sub-acute Australian hospital. Fifteen patients who appointed a guardian at The Kingston Center, Monash Health, participated through exploratory data collection and analysis utilizing a de-identifiable template. The findings revealed both diverse and complex patient characteristics, and ethical dilemmas in patient outcomes for social workers.

Strong links between Saharan dust fluxes, monsoon strength, and North Atlantic climate during the last 5000 years.

Despite the multiple impacts of mineral aerosols on global and regional climate and the primary climatic control on atmospheric dust fluxes, dust-climate feedbacks remain poorly constrained, particularly at submillennial time scales, hampering regional and global climate models. We reconstruct Saharan dust fluxes over Western Europe for the last 5000 years, by means of speleothem strontium isotope ratios (Sr/Sr) and karst modeling. The record reveals a long-term increase in Saharan dust flux, consistent with progressive North Africa aridification and strengthening of Northern Hemisphere latitudinal climatic gradients.

Discordance between the perceptions of clinicians and families about end-of-life trajectories in hospitalized dementia patients.

Background: Due to the unpredictable dementia trajectory, it is challenging to recognize illness progression and the appropriateness of a palliative approach. Further confusion occurs during hospitalization where the presence of comorbid conditions complicates prognostication. This research examined clinicians and families' perceptions of dementia as a terminal condition in relation to end-of-life admissions.

Survival outcomes of elderly patients referred to the lower gastrointestinal 2-week wait service.

Aim: The benefit to elderly patients (≥80 years old) of referral to the resource-intensive lower gastrointestinal 2-week wait (LGI-2WW) pathway is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the survival outcome of elderly patients referred to a LGI-2WW service.

Method: This study comprised a retrospective analysis of a prospectively gathered database of patients referred to a single-centre LGI-2WW service and conformed to STROBE guidelines.

Bereaved families' experiences of end-of-life decision making for general medicine patients.

Background: Family involvement in decision making for hospitalised patients is associated with improved end-of-life care. Yet, these discussions can be challenging for physicians and families and associated with distress, confusion and conflict. There is a need to understand how best to support families involved in decisions regarding the transition from active to palliative treatment in hospital settings.