Reducing rip current drowning: An improved residual based lightweight deep architecture for rip detection.

Rip Currents are contributing around 25 fatal drownings each year in Australia. Previous research has indicated that most of beachgoers cannot correctly identify a rip current, leaving them at risk of experiencing a drowning incident. Automated detection of rip currents could help to reduce drownings and assist lifeguards in supervision planning; however, varying beach conditions have made this challenging.

Validation of ICD-10-AM Coding for Myocardial Infarction Subtype in Hospitalisation Data.

Background: International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes are central for identifying myocardial infarction (MI) in administrative hospitalisation data, however validation of MI subtype codes is limited. We measured the sensitivity and specificity of ICD-10-AM (Australian Modification) codes for ST-elevation MI (STEMI) and non-STEMI (NSTEMI).

Methods: A sample of MI admissions was obtained from a dataset containing all MI hospitalisations in Western Australia (WA) for 2003, 2008 and 2013.

Half-Life Extension of BMP1/TLL Metalloproteinase Inhibitors Using Small-Molecule Human Serum Albumin Binders.

Reducing the required frequence of drug dosing can improve the adherence of patients to chronic treatments. Hence, drugs with longer half-lives are highly desirable. One of the most promising approaches to extend the half-life of drugs is conjugation to human serum albumin (HSA).

Controlled Delivery of Dutasteride Using Dissolvable Microarrays: Initial Formulation and In Vivo Evaluation.

Dutasteride is prescribed as a once-daily oral capsule for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. As an alternative and patient-focused drug product, this laboratory evaluated the potential to deliver dutasteride in a controlled/sustained manner when formulated as a microarray. The low oral dose, low aqueous solubility, and slow rate of elimination of dutasteride were considered ideal properties which may enable a once-weekly microarray option for patients.

The Wittenoom legacy.

The Wittenoom crocidolite (blue asbestos) mine and mill ceased operating in 1966. The impact of this industry on asbestos-related disease in Western Australia has been immense. Use of the employment records of the Australian Blue Asbestos Company and records of the Wittenoom township residents has permitted two cohorts of people with virtually exclusive exposure to crocidolite to be assembled and studied.

The usefulness of a novel patient management decision aid to improve clinical decision-making skills in final year chiropractic students.

Background: The process of developing patient management plans requires a series of clinical decision-making skills that can take years in practice to develop. For the inexperienced practitioner, providing a logical, systematic patient management framework may assist in clinical scenarios and accelerate their decision-making skill development. The purpose of this study was to assess whether a novel clinical management decision aid would improve the management decision-making of chiropractic students.

Comparative trends in coronary heart disease subgroup hospitalisation rates in England and Australia.

Background: Population-based coronary heart disease (CHD) studies have focused on myocardial infarction (MI) with limited data on trends across the spectrum of CHD. We investigated trends in hospitalisation rates for acute and chronic CHD subgroups in England and Australia from 1996 to 2013.

Methods: CHD hospitalisations for individuals aged 35-84 years were identified from electronic hospital data from 1996 to 2013 for England and Australia and from the Oxford Region and Western Australia.

Exploring the effects of transfers and readmissions on trends in population counts of hospital admissions for coronary heart disease: a Western Australian data linkage study.

Objectives: To develop a method for categorising coronary heart disease (CHD) subtype in linked data accounting for different CHD diagnoses across records, and to compare hospital admission numbers and ratios of unlinked versus linked data for each CHD subtype over time, and across age groups and sex.

Design: Cohort study.

Data Source: Person-linked hospital administrative data covering all admissions for CHD in Western Australia from 1988 to 2013.

Identification of myocardial infarction type from electronic hospital data in England and Australia: a comparative data linkage study.

Objective: To determine the utility of International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes in investigating trends in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) using person-linked electronic hospitalisation data in England and Western Australia (WA).

Methods: All hospital admissions with myocardial infarction (MI) as the principal diagnosis were identified from 2000 to 2013 from both jurisdictions. Fourth-digit ICD-10 codes were used to delineate all MI types-STEMI, NSTEMI, unspecified and subsequent MI.

An improved camera trap for amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, and large invertebrates.

Camera traps are valuable sampling tools commonly used to inventory and monitor wildlife communities but are challenged to reliably sample small animals. We introduce a novel active camera trap system enabling the reliable and efficient use of wildlife cameras for sampling small animals, particularly reptiles, amphibians, small mammals and large invertebrates. It surpasses the detection ability of commonly used passive infrared (PIR) cameras for this application and eliminates problems such as high rates of false triggers and high variability in detection rates among cameras and study locations.

Retrospective use of PBPK modelling to understand a clinical drug-drug interaction between dextromethorphan and GSK1034702.

1. In a clinical trial, a strong drug-drug interaction (DDI) was observed between dextromethorphan (DM, the object or victim drug) and GSK1034702 (the precipitant or perpetrator drug), following single and repeat doses. This study determined the inhibition parameters of GSK1034702 in vitro and applied PBPK modelling approaches to simulate the clinical observations and provide mechanistic hypotheses to understand the DDI.

Is the incidence of heart attack still decreasing in Australia? Developing reliable methods for monitoring trends in myocardial infarction and coronary heart disease (AUS-MOCHA): a study protocol.

Introduction: Accurate monitoring of acute coronary heart disease (CHD) is essential for understanding the effects of primary and secondary prevention and for planning of healthcare services. The ability to reliably monitor acute CHD has been affected by new diagnostic tests for myocardial infarction (MI) and changing clinical classifications and management of CHD. Our study will develop new and reliable methods for monitoring population trends in incidence, outcomes and health service usage for acute CHD and chest pain.

Secondary preventive medication use in a prevalent population-based cohort of acute coronary syndrome survivors.

Aim: Describe the dispensing patterns for guideline-recommended medications during 2008 in people with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and how dispensing varies by gender and time since last ACS hospitalization.

Method: A descriptive cohort spanning 20 years of people alive post-ACS in 2008. We extracted all ACS hospitalizations and deaths in Western Australia (1989-2008), and all person-linked Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme claims nationally for 2008.

Validation study of GRACE risk scores in indigenous and non-indigenous patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Although cardiovascular disease is the major cause of premature death among Indigenous peoples in several advanced economies, no acute coronary syndrome (ACS) risk models have been validated in Indigenous populations. We tested the validity and calibration of three Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) scores among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.

Methods: GRACE scores were calculated at admission or discharge using clinical data, with all-cause deaths obtained from data linkage.

A cohort study: temporal trends in prevalence of antecedents, comorbidities and mortality in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians with first heart failure hospitalization, 2000-2009.

Background/objectives: Little is known about trends in risk factors and mortality for Aboriginal Australians with heart failure (HF). This population-based study evaluated trends in prevalence of risk factors, 30-day and 1-year all-cause mortality following first HF hospitalization among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Western Australians in the decade 2000-2009.

Methods: Linked-health data were used to identify patients (20-84 years), with a first-ever HF hospitalization.

Life expectancy after implantation of a first cardiac permanent pacemaker (1995-2008): A population-based study.

Introduction: Research suggests that survival among the recipients of a cardiac permanent pacemaker (PPM) matches the age- and sex-matched general population in the absence of cardiovascular disease. We used linked administrative data to examine life expectancy-based outcomes for adults requiring a cardiac PPM.

Methods: Population-level hospital admissions data were used to identify all recipients of an initial PPM during 1995-2008.

Initial hospitalisation for atrial fibrillation in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations in Western Australia.

Objective: The epidemiology of atrial fibrillation (AF) among Aboriginal Australians is poorly described. We compared risk factors, incidence rates and mortality outcomes for first-ever hospitalised AF among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Western Australians 20-84 years.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used whole-of-state person-based linked hospital and deaths data.

Trends in the incidence and prevalence of cardiac pacemaker insertions in an ageing population.

Objectives: To determine contemporary population estimates of the prevalence of cardiac permanent pacemaker (PPM) insertions.

Methods: A population-based observational study using linked hospital morbidity and death registry data from Western Australia (WA) to identify all incident cases of PPM insertion for adults aged 18 years or older. Prevalence rates were calculated by age and sex for the years 1995-2009 for the WA population.

Disparities experienced by Aboriginal compared to non-Aboriginal metropolitan Western Australians in receiving coronary angiography following acute ischaemic heart disease: the impact of age and comorbidities.

Introduction: Aboriginal Australians have a substantially higher frequency of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) events than their non-Aboriginal counterparts, together with a higher prevalence of comorbidities. The pattern of health service provision for IHD suggests inequitable delivery of important diagnostic procedures. Published data on disparities in IHD management among Aboriginal Australians are conflicting, and the role of comorbidities has not been adequately delineated.

Long-term use and cost-effectiveness of secondary prevention drugs for heart disease in Western Australian seniors (WAMACH): a study protocol.

Introduction: Secondary prevention drugs for cardiac disease have been demonstrated by clinical trials to be effective in reducing future cardiovascular and mortality events (WAMACH is the Western Australian Medication Adherence and Costs in Heart disease study). Hence, most countries have adopted health policies and guidelines for the use of these drugs, and included them in government subsidised drug lists to encourage their use. However, suboptimal prescribing and non-adherence to these drugs remains a universal problem.

Transfers to metropolitan hospitals and coronary angiography for rural Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal patients with acute ischaemic heart disease in Western Australia.

Background: Aboriginal people have a disproportionately higher incidence rate of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) than non-Aboriginal people. The findings on Aboriginal disparity in receiving coronary artery procedures are inconclusive. We describe the profile and transfers of IHD patients admitted to rural hospitals as emergency admissions and investigate determinants of transfers and coronary angiography.

Rural-urban differentials in 30-day and 1-year mortality following first-ever heart failure hospitalisation in Western Australia: a population-based study using data linkage.

Objectives: We examined differentials in short-term (30-day mortality) and 1-year mortality (in 30-day survivors) following index (first-ever) hospitalisation for heart failure (HF), between rural and metropolitan patients resident in Western Australia.

Design: A population-based cohort study.

Setting: Hospitalised patients in Western Australia, Australia.

Prevalence of stroke and coexistent conditions: disparities between indigenous and nonindigenous Western Australians.

Background: Worldwide, the prevalence of stroke is poorly described in indigenous populations, despite high stroke burden. This paper reports the average point prevalence of hospitalized stroke and coexistent conditions (2007-2011) in indigenous and nonindigenous people in Western Australia, the largest and most sparsely populated Australian jurisdiction.

Methods: Using state-wide linked hospital and mortality data, indigenous and nonindigenous prevalent stroke cases (aged 25-84 years) were identified after reviewing stroke admissions over a fixed 20-year look-back period.

Incidence of first heart failure hospitalisation and mortality in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal patients in Western Australia, 2000-2009.

Objectives: To compare the incidence of first heart failure (HF) hospitalisation, antecedent risk factors and 1-year mortality between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations in Western Australia (2000-2009).

Methods: A population-based cohort aged 20-84 years comprising Aboriginal (n=1013; mean 54±14 years) and non-Aboriginal patients (n=16,366; mean 71±11 years) with first HF hospitalisation was evaluated. Age and sex-specific incidence rates and HF antecedents were compared between subpopulations.

Trends from 1996 to 2007 in incidence and mortality outcomes of heart failure after acute myocardial infarction: a population-based study of 20,812 patients with first acute myocardial infarction in Western Australia.

Background: Advances in treatment for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are likely to have had a beneficial impact on the incidence of and deaths attributable to heart failure (HF) complicating AMI, although limited data are available to support this contention.

Methods And Results: Western Australian linked administrative health data were used to identify 20 812 consecutive patients, aged 40 to 84 years, without prior HF hospitalized with an index (first) AMI between 1996 and 2007. We assessed the temporal incidence of and adjusted odds ratio/hazard ratio for death associated with HF concurrent with AMI admission and within 1 year after discharge.