Regular whole blood donation and gastrointestinal, breast, colorectal and haematological cancer risk among blood donors in Australia.

Background And Objectives: Several studies have suggested that blood donors have lower risk of gastrointestinal and breast cancers, whereas some have indicated an increased risk of haematological cancers. We examined these associations by appropriately adjusting the 'healthy donor effect' (HDE).

Materials And Methods: We examined the risk of gastrointestinal/colorectal, breast and haematological cancers in regular high-frequency whole blood (WB) donors using the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study data linked with blood donation and other health-related data.

Extrahepatic Iron Loading Associates With the Propensity to Develop Advanced Hepatic Fibrosis in Hemochromatosis.

Background And Aims: Hemostatic iron regulator-hemochromatosis can result in progressive iron-loading and advanced hepatic fibrosis in some individuals. We studied total body and hepatic iron loading to determine whether the distribution of iron-loading influences the risk of advanced fibrosis.

Methods: One hundred thirty-eight men and 66 women with hemochromatosis who underwent liver biopsy for staging of hepatic fibrosis had evaluation of hepatic iron concentration (HIC), hepatic iron index (HIC/age), total body iron stores (mobilizable iron), and mobilizable iron/HIC ratio (a marker of total body iron relative to hepatic iron).

A randomised controlled trial of Standard Of Care versus RadioAblaTion in Early Stage HepatoCellular Carcinoma (SOCRATES HCC).

Background: Therapeutic options for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in individual patients can be limited by tumor and location, liver dysfunction and comorbidities. Many patients with early-stage HCC do not receive curative-intent therapies. Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) has emerged as an effective, non-invasive HCC treatment option, however, randomized evidence for SABR in the first line setting is lacking.

Barriers to Exercise in Patients With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Patient Survey.

Background: Although adequate physical activity is an essential component of treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the majority of people with MASLD do not engage in regular exercise and lead sedentary lifestyles. We aimed to identify perceived barriers to exercise and to examine awareness about the role of exercise in the treatment of MASLD.

Methods: Individuals aged 18 years and above were recruited from a hepatology outpatient clinic.

Single-nucleus RNA sequencing of pre-malignant liver reveals disease-associated hepatocyte state with HCC prognostic potential.

Current approaches to staging chronic liver diseases have limited utility for predicting liver cancer risk. Here, we employed single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) to characterize the cellular microenvironment of healthy and pre-malignant livers using two distinct mouse models. Downstream analyses unraveled a previously uncharacterized disease-associated hepatocyte (daHep) transcriptional state.

The ancestral haplotype markers HLA -A3 and B7 do not influence the likelihood of advanced hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis in HFE hemochromatosis.

Advanced hepatic fibrosis occurs in up to 25% of individuals with C282Y homozygous hemochromatosis. Our aim was to determine whether human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A3 and B7 alleles act as genetic modifiers of the likelihood of advanced hepatic fibrosis. Between 1972 and 2013, 133 HFE C282Y homozygous individuals underwent clinical and biochemical evaluation, HLA typing, liver biopsy for fibrosis staging and phlebotomy treatment.

γ' fibrinogen levels as a biomarker of COVID-19 respiratory disease severity.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by a pro-inflammatory state associated with organ failure, thrombosis, and death. We investigated a novel inflammatory biomarker, γ' fibrinogen (GPF), in 103 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and 19 healthy controls. We found significant associations between GPF levels and the severity of COVID-19 as judged by blood oxygen saturation (SpO).

Regular high-frequency whole blood donation and risk of cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and older blood donors in Australia.

Background: Previous mixed findings on the associations between whole blood (WB) donation and risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) may in part reflect inadequate adjustment for the "healthy donor effect" (HDE).

Methods: We used the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study linked with blood donation history and other health-related databases to examine the association between regular, high-frequency WB donation and the risk of CVD. To mitigate the impact of HDE, we used a "5-years qualification period," in which donors must donate at least 1 WB donation in the 1st and 5th year of "qualification period.

TWEAK/Fn14 Signalling Regulates the Tissue Microenvironment in Chronic Pancreatitis.

Chronic pancreatitis increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer through the upregulation of pathways favouring proliferation, fibrosis, and sustained inflammation. We established in previous studies that the ligand tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) signals through its cognate receptor fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) to regulate these underlying cellular processes in the chronic liver injury niche. However, the role of the TWEAK/Fn14 signalling pathway in pancreatic disease is entirely unknown.

Differential DNA methylation of steatosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adolescence.

Background And Aims: Epigenetic modifications are associated with hepatic fat accumulation and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, few epigenetic modifications directly implicated in such processes have been identified during adolescence, a critical developmental window where physiological changes could influence future disease trajectory. To investigate the association between DNA methylation and NAFLD in adolescence, we undertook discovery and validation of novel methylation marks, alongside replication of previously reported marks.

Associations between Prenatal Exposure to Phthalates and Features of the Metabolic Syndrome in Males from Childhood into Adulthood.

Phthalate metabolites are detectable within the majority of the population. Evidence suggests that a prenatal exposure to phthalates may be associated with the subsequent risks of obesity and elevated blood pressure. We hypothesised that a prenatal exposure to phthalates would lead to an increase in adverse cardiometabolic parameters through childhood and adulthood.

Gamma' fibrinogen levels as a biomarker of COVID-19 respiratory disease severity.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by a pro-inflammatory state associated with organ failure, thrombosis, and death. We investigated a novel inflammatory biomarker, γ' fibrinogen (GPF), in 103 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and 19 healthy controls. We found significant associations between GPF levels and the severity of COVID-19 as judged by blood oxygen saturation (SpO ).

Monitoring quality of care in hepatocellular carcinoma: A modified Delphi consensus.

Although there are several established international guidelines on the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), there is limited information detailing specific indicators of good quality care. The aim of this study was to develop a core set of quality indicators (QIs) to underpin the management of HCC. We undertook a modified, two-round, Delphi consensus study comprising a working group and experts involved in the management of HCC as well as consumer representatives.

Prospective dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid intake is associated with trajectories of fatty liver disease: an 8 year follow-up study from adolescence to young adulthood.

Background And Aim: Dietary fat intake has long been associated with fatty liver. Our study aimed to determine the effect of dietary fats on longitudinal fatty liver index (FLI) trajectories from adolescence to young adulthood.

Methods: Nine hundred eighty-five participants in the Raine Study, Perth, Western Australia, Australia, had cross-sectional assessments at ages 14, 17, 20 and 22 years, during which anthropometric measurements and blood tests were obtained.

Comparison of the cardiometabolic profiles of adolescents conceived through ART with those of a non-ART cohort.

Study Question: Is the cardiometabolic health of adolescents conceived through ART worse than that of their counterparts conceived without ART?

Summary Answer: The majority of cardiometabolic and vascular health parameters of adolescents conceived through ART are similar or more favourable, than those of their counterparts of similar age and conceived without ART.

What Is Known Already: It has been proposed that the cardiometabolic health of offspring conceived with ART may be unfavourable compared to that of their counterparts conceived without ART. The literature pertaining to cardiometabolic health of offspring conceived after ART is contradictory, but generally suggests unfavourable cardiometabolic health parameters, such as an increase in blood pressure (BP), vascular dysfunction and adiposity, as well as unfavourable glucose and lipid profiles.

Prior oral proton-pump inhibitor use is associated with reduced severity of aspirin-related upper gastrointestinal bleeding in older people.

Low-dose aspirin is commonly used for primary or secondary prophylaxis against cardiovascular disease in older people. However, the potential risk of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) ulceration and bleeding associated with low-dose aspirin use is often not appreciated by prescribers and older consumers. Among 133 serial patients with UGI bleeding, aspirin-users aged ≥70 years had a ninefold increased likelihood of overt UGI bleeding compared with non-users, reducing by 90% in regular proton-pump inhibitor users (adjusted odds ratio 0.

mTOR Inhibitors Induce Erythropoietin Resistance in Renal Transplant Recipients.

Aim: To elucidate the role of mTOR inhibitors on iron, hepcidin and erythropoietin-mediated regulation of hemopoiesis in stable renal transplant recipients (RTR).

Background: Impaired hemopoiesis is common following renal transplantation managed using mTOR inhibitors. The mechanisms responsible are uncertain but include direct effects on iron, hepcidin or erythropoietin-mediated hemopoiesis.

Alcohol Consumption and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Low-level alcohol consumption is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population. It is unclear whether this association is seen in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) who have an increased risk of CVD. We examined the association between alcohol consumption and CVD-related outcomes in subjects with NAFLD from a general population cohort.

Visits to general practitioners after iron-related deferrals from blood donation in middle-aged and older Australian blood donors.

Background: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood (Lifeblood) advises donors to visit their general practitioner (GP) for medical follow-up if they are deferred from donating due to having a lower than acceptable level of hemoglobin (Hb) and/or serum ferritin (iron-related deferrals).

Methods: We used the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study data linked to Lifeblood's donor datasets and other health administrative datasets. We examined the rate of visits to a GP after iron-related deferral from donation, and investigated whether an early visit to a GP (within 30 days following the deferral) had an impact on return to make successful donation within 12, 18, and 24 months compared to a delayed or no GP visit.