Use of blended feeds in children requiring tube feeding.

Aim: The use of blended tube feeding (BTF) in children is a controversial area with persistent concerns regarding the nutritional adequacy and risk of associated infections and equipment complications. Parents in Australia are electing to use BTF in their children despite local hospital guidelines, calling for further research to support its use.

Methods: A retrospective case-series study was conducted at a tertiary paediatric hospital, to characterise the paediatric population electively using BTF and evaluate their clinical outcomes.

Hypothyroidism after hemithyroidectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The incidence of hypothyroidism following hemithyroidectomy and risk factors associated with its occurrence are not completely understood. This systematic review investigated the incidence and risk factors for hypothyroidism, thyroxine supplementation following hemithyroidectomy as well as the course of post-operative hypothyroidism, including the time to hypothyroidism and incidence of transient hypothyroidism.

Methods: Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane library for studies reporting the incidence of hypothyroidism or thyroxine supplementation following hemithyroidectomy.

Associations between Multiple Health Indicators and Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness in A Healthy and Active Elderly Population.

The purpose of this study was to examine correlations between health indicators (age, BMI, blood pressure (BP), functional strength (FS), handgrip strength, and predicted VO max) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in an active 50 years+ population. Study participants' mean cIMT was also compared to the cIMT mean of the general population. Health screenings were conducted on 1818 participants at the Huntsman World Senior Games from 2016 to 2019.

The relationship between patient volume and mortality in NSW major trauma service hospitals.

Introduction: Conventional wisdom is that Major Trauma Services (MTS) treating larger volumes of severe trauma patients will have better outcomes than lower volume centres, but recent studies from Europe have questioned this relationship. We aimed to determine if there is a relationship between patient volume and outcome in New South Wales (NSW) MTS hospitals.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective observational study using data from the NSW State Trauma Registry from 2010 to 2019 inclusive.

Bidirectional association between breast cancer and meningioma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: An association between breast cancer and meningioma has been suggested in cohort studies. We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether there is an association between initial breast cancer and subsequent meningioma diagnosis and vice versa.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed on Medline, Embase, Scopus and Google scholar from inception up to April 2023.

Students' perceived research skills development and satisfaction after completion of a mandatory research project: results from five cohorts of the Sydney medical program.

Background: Research activities undertaken during University studies contribute to preparation of medical students for practice of evidence-based medicine. This study aimed to understand medical students' experiences, perceived research skills development and satisfaction associated with completion of mandatory research projects.

Methods: An online survey was sent to five cohorts of students (n = 1375) from years 2017-2021 at the completion of their research projects.

Cardiovascular Outcomes of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Patients on Long Term TSH Suppression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature regarding cardiovascular outcomes of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients who are on long term thyroid stimulating hormone suppression. Searches were carried out using Prisma guidelines in Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, CINAHL and Scopus databases. Eligible papers were those which investigated discrete cardiovascular clinical outcomes in TSH suppressed patients and meta-analysis of selected studies was performed using Revman 5.

Rapid Rescoping and Adaptation: An Evaluation of the Impact of COVID-19 on Postgraduate Medical Student Research Projects.

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected tertiary science and medical education, with significant impact on research-related activities. Research projects are a mandatory requirement of the Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program at the University of Sydney, and medical student projects are delivered across multiple sites in metropolitan and rural New South Wales, Australia. Several cohorts of medical students had projects that were affected by COVID-19.

Health professionals' role in the transfer of mosaic embryos after preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies.

Research Question: What are health professionals' clinical practices, views and self-rated competencies regarding the transfer of mosaic embryos?

Design: This was a cross-sectional study using surveys.

Results: Data were collected from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand. Ninety-five responses were analysed and reported.

Exploring the impact of the reclassification of a hereditary cancer syndrome gene variant: emerging themes from a qualitative study.

The complexity of genetic variant interpretation means that a proportion of individuals who undergo genetic testing for a hereditary cancer syndrome will have their test result reclassified over time. Such a reclassification may involve a clinically significant upgrade or downgrade in pathogenicity, which may have significant implications for medical management. To date, few studies have examined the psychosocial impact of a reclassification in a hereditary cancer syndrome context.

The Risk-Reducing Effect of Aspirin in Lynch Syndrome Carriers: Development and Evaluation of an Educational Leaflet.

Carriers of germline mutations in genes associated with Lynch syndrome are at increased risk for colorectal, endometrial, ovarian, and other cancers. There is evidence that daily consumption of aspirin may reduce cancer risk in these individuals. There is a need for educational resources to inform carriers of the risk-reducing effects of aspirin or to support decision-making.

Exploration of decision-making regarding the transfer of mosaic embryos following preimplantation genetic testing: a qualitative study.

Study Question: What are patients' reasoning and decisional needs in relation to the transfer of mosaic embryos following preimplantation genetic testing (PGT)?

Summary Answer: This study identified four themes, which were patients' reasoning behind decision-making, their decisional needs, the influence of the mosaic embryos on the decision-making and the role of health professionals.

What Is Known Already: To date, no study has investigated the reasoning of patients behind their decision-making and the influence of mosaic embryos.

Study Design Size Duration: This is a cross-sectional study using a qualitative approach.

Factors influencing patients' decision-making about preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders.

Study Question: What are the roles of individual and interpersonal factors in couples' decision-making regarding preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M)?

Summary Answer: Couples' decision-making regarding PGT-M was associated with individual and interpersonal factors, that is the perceived consistency of information received, satisfaction with information, self-efficacy (individuals' beliefs in their ability to make decisions), actual knowledge about PGT-M and social support from the partner.

What Is Known Already: Various factors have been shown to be associated with decision-making regarding PGT-M. However, PGT-M is experienced at an individual level, and to date, no studies have investigated the roles of the above-mentioned individual and interpersonal factors.

Perceptions of causal attribution and attitudes to genetic testing among people with schizophrenia and their first-degree relatives.

Rapid advances in the genetics of psychiatric disorders mean that diagnostic and predictive genetic testing for schizophrenia risk may one day be a reality. This study examined how causal attributions for schizophrenia contribute to interest in a hypothetical genetic test. People with schizophrenia and first-degree relatives of people with schizophrenia were recruited through a schizophrenia research bank and mental health organisation.

Research supervisors' views of barriers and enablers for research projects undertaken by medical students; a mixed methods evaluation of a post-graduate medical degree research project program.

Background: Medical degree programs use scholarly activities to support development of basic research skills, critical evaluation of medical information and promotion of medical research. The University of Sydney Doctor of Medicine Program includes a compulsory research project. Medical student projects are supervised by academic staff and affiliates, including biomedical science researchers and clinician-academics.

Decisional needs of patients considering preimplantation genetic testing: a systematic review.

This systematic review reports on the needs and sources of support in patients' decision-making regarding the uptake of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). Five databases were searched systematically to capture qualitative and quantitative studies. A total of 2336 studies were screened by title and abstract.

Stakeholder attitudes towards establishing a national genomics registry of inherited cancer predisposition: a qualitative study.

This study aimed to describe the acceptability and perceived barriers and enablers to establish a national registry targeting carriers of pathogenic variants in cancer susceptibility genes from stakeholders' perspectives. Such a registry may effectively target carriers to translate existing research findings into optimised clinical care and provide a population-level resource for further clinical research and new gene and therapy discovery. In-depth interviews were conducted with individuals from four stakeholder groups: carriers of pathogenic variants, healthcare professionals, data custodians from the field of familial cancer, and heads of molecular pathology laboratories.

Breast cancer polygenic risk scores: a 12-month prospective study of patient reported outcomes and risk management behavior.

Purpose: To prospectively assess patient reported outcomes and risk management behavior of women choosing to receive (receivers) or decline (decliners) their breast cancer polygenic risk score (PRS).

Methods: Women either unaffected or affected by breast cancer and from families with no identified pathogenic variant in a breast cancer risk gene were invited to receive their PRS. All participants completed a questionnaire at study enrollment.

Evaluation of two population screening programmes for founder mutations in the Australian Jewish community: a protocol paper.

Introduction: People of Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) ancestry are more likely than unselected populations to have a pathogenic variant, which cause a significantly increased risk of breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. Three specific pathogenic variants, referred to as -Jewish founder mutations (B-JFM), account for >90% of pathogenic variants in people of AJ ancestry. Current practice of identifying eligible individuals for testing based on personal and/or family history has been shown to miss at least 50% of people who have one of these variants.

Oncologists' perspectives of telephone genetic counseling to facilitate germline BRCA1/2 testing for their patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer.

Poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors offer a survival advantage to women with high-grade serous ovarian cancer who have a germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant (PV). Yet, rates of genetic testing among this population have remained persistently low. A national, centralized telephone genetic counseling service was established in January 2016 in Australia to improve access to genetic services and facilitate BRCA1/2 testing for this population to inform treatment.

Impact of national guidelines on use of BRCA1/2 germline testing, risk management advice given to women with pathogenic BRCA1/2 variants and uptake of advice.

Background: This nationwide study assessed the impact of nationally agreed cancer genetics guidelines on use of BRCA1/2 germline testing, risk management advice given by health professionals to women with pathogenic BRCA1/2 variants and uptake of such advice by patients.

Methods: Clinic files of 883 women who had initial proband screens for BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants at 12 familial cancer clinics between July 2008-July 2009 (i.e.

Communicating polygenic risk scores in the familial breast cancer clinic.

Objective: To describe the communication of polygenic risk scores (PRS) in the familial breast cancer setting.

Methods: Consultations between genetic healthcare providers (GHP) and female patients who received their PRS for breast cancer risk were recorded (n = 65). GHPs included genetic counselors (n = 8) and medical practitioners (n = 5) (i.

Examining Australian public perceptions and behaviors towards a future COVID-19 vaccine.

Background: As immunisation program launches have previously demonstrated, it is essential that careful planning occurs now to ensure the readiness of the public for a COVID-19 vaccine. As part of that process, this study aimed to understand the public perceptions regarding a future COVID-19 vaccine in Australia.

Methods: A national cross-sectional online survey of 1420 Australian adults (18 years and older) was undertaken between 18 and 24 March 2020.