Health outcomes following provision of Home Medicines Reviews for older people receiving aged care services at home.

Background: The impact of Home Medicines Reviews (HMRs) on long-term health outcomes among individuals receiving long-term in-home aged care services is unknown.

Objectives: To examine associations between HMR provision and hospitalization, long-term care facility (LTCF) entry and mortality among older people receiving long-term in-home aged care services.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included individuals aged 65-105 years from three Australian states who accessed in-home aged care services between 2013 and 2017.

Cold burns as a result of cosmetic cryolipolysis: An emerging concern from the NSW Statewide Burn Injury Service.

Cold burns are an uncommon mechanism of burn injury in Australia, where environmental exposure to freezing temperatures is rare. Aetiological research shows that most likely causes are related to intentional injury or industrial accidents Cryolipolysis, a cosmetic technique advertised as 'fat freezing', has recently emerged as a method of fat reduction and body contouring. Whilst perceived as safe, this study presents the world's first case series on cold burns sustained from cryolipolysis.

Provision of a comprehensive medicines review is associated with lower mortality risk for residents of aged care facilities: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: no studies have examined the impact of residential medication management review (RMMR, a 24-year government subsidised comprehensive medicines review program) in Australian residential aged care facilities (RACFs) on hospitalisation or mortality.

Objective: to examine associations between RMMR provision in the 6-12 months after RACF entry and the 12-month risk of hospitalisation and mortality among older Australians in RACFs.

Design: retrospective cohort study.

Neural Network for Principle of Least Action.

The principle of least action is the cornerstone of classical mechanics, theory of relativity, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics. Here, we describe how a neural network (NN) learns to find the trajectory for a Lennard-Jones (LJ) system that maintains balance in minimizing the Onsager-Machlup (OM) action and maintaining the energy conservation. The phase-space trajectory thus calculated is in excellent agreement with the corresponding results from the "ground-truth" molecular dynamics (MD) simulation.

Medicines use before and after comprehensive medicines review among residents of long-term care facilities: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) is a subsidized comprehensive medicines review program for individuals in Australian residential aged care facilities (RACFs). This study examined weekly trends in medicines use in the four months before and after an RMMR and among a comparison group of residents who did not receive an RMMR.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included individuals aged 65 to 105 years who first entered permanent care between 1/1/2012 and 31/12/2016 in South Australia, Victoria, or New South Wales, and were taking at least one medicine.

Perceptions of pharmacists on the quality of automated blood pressure devices: a national survey.

A recent study found that only 23.8% of blood pressure (BP) devices available for purchase from Australian pharmacies were validated for accuracy. The extent to which pharmacists are aware of this, and other issues related to the accuracy of BP devices, is not known and gathering this information was the aim of this study.

Increased self-immolation frequency and severity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To determine whether the increased restrictions, isolation and stressors associated with COVID-19 led to an increase in rates or severity of self-immolation burn injuries.

Design: Retrospective review of a prospectively-collected database of New South Wales burn patients, comparing 2020 data with the preceding 5 years.

Setting: Both adult units in the New South Wales Statewide Burn Injury Service (Concord Repatriation General Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital).

Protecting the Herd: Why Pharmacists Matter in Mass Vaccination.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing. The unprecedented challenges worldwide implore the urgent development of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. Globally, pharmacists have been delivering important public health services as part of the COVID-19 response.

Pharmacists' Perspectives on the Use of My Health Record.

(1) Background: My Health Record (MHR) is a relatively new nationwide Australian digital health record system accessible by patients and a range of healthcare professionals. Pharmacists will be key contributors and users of the MHR system, yet little is known about the perceived barriers and benefits of use. (2) Objective: To explore pharmacists' perspectives related to potential benefits and barriers associated with use of MHR.

Effect of Hydrocortisone on Mortality and Organ Support in Patients With Severe COVID-19: The REMAP-CAP COVID-19 Corticosteroid Domain Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Evidence regarding corticosteroid use for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is limited.

Objective: To determine whether hydrocortisone improves outcome for patients with severe COVID-19.

Design, Setting, And Participants: An ongoing adaptive platform trial testing multiple interventions within multiple therapeutic domains, for example, antiviral agents, corticosteroids, or immunoglobulin.

New Developments in the Safe and Quality Use of Medicines in Australia: Cycles-of-Care and Telehealth Services.

In early 2019, a report from Australia documented significant data about the harms associated with medication use. This editorial reports on the Australian government's changes to cycles-of-care and telehealth reviews, changes made to improve patient health outcomes, and payment to pharmacists-information that may be useful to other countries.

Electrostrictive Cavitation in Water Induced by a SnO Nanoparticle.

Cavitation phenomenon in dielectric fluids has been a recent topic of interest in theory and experiment. We study a dielectric fluid-nanoparticle system subjected to an external electric field using molecular dynamics simulations. Electric fields ranging from 0.

Updating and validating quality prescribing indicators for use in Australian general practice.

This study aims to update and validate quality prescribing indicators (QPIs) for Australian general practice. The study comprised two phases: (1) developing preliminary potential QPIs based on the 2006 National Prescribing Service (NPS) MedicineWise indicators, published literature, international indicators and guidelines, and through qualitative focus group discussions; and (2) validating the proposed QPIs through a two-round online survey using the Delphi technique. The Delphi panel included four GPs, four pharmacists and two clinical pharmacologists.

Does rural and urban community pharmacy practice differ? A narrative systematic review.

Objectives: Anecdotal comparisons between rural and urban community pharmacy practice have been frequently reported. Therefore, a narrative systematic review was conducted to examine the published international evidence comparing the nature of services provided from community pharmacies in both settings. A comprehensive literature search was undertaken across four databases.

Matriderm and Split Skin Grafting for Full-Thickness Pediatric Facial Burns.

Facial burns remain a complex reconstructive challenge. Achieving the plastic surgical goals of restoring form and function is difficult in these cases, with poor cosmetic results, reduced facial animation, and oral and ocular contractures a common result. In recent years, the use of dermal substitutes in combination with skin grafts has shown promising results in complex burn reconstruction.

Closed Partial Flexor Digitorum Profundus Rupture: An Unusual Cause of Pediatric Trigger Finger.

Background: Trigger finger is a common condition, causing impaired gliding of the digital flexor tendons. Chronic inflammation is the usual cause, but acute trigger finger following partial tendon laceration has also been described.

Methods: We describe the case of a four year old girl who presented with inability to flex her index finger.

Outcome of three common bariatric procedures in the public sector.

Background: In Australia, over 90% of bariatric surgery is performed in the private sector by paying patients with health insurance. The demand for government funded services is overwhelming and data are needed on the efficiency, safety and effectiveness of the current range of bariatric procedures in a public hospital setting. The aim of this study was to document medium term outcomes of gastric banding (laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB)), gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB)) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) in a publicly funded programme.

Acute Hemorrhagic Flexor Tenosynovitis due to Vincula Injury.

A 20-year-old previously well woman presented to the emergency department with classical signs of acute flexor tenosynovitis, 4 hours after a minor puncture wound over the volar aspect of her right middle finger distal interphalangeal joint. Exploration of the flexor sheath in theatre revealed frank blood within the sheath and extension of the puncture wound through the profundus tendon into the short vincula beneath. The blood was irrigated from the sheath, and the patient made a complete recovery by 2 weeks postoperatively.

An Advanced Pharmacy Practice Framework for Australia.

The need to develop (the "APPF") was identified during the 2010 review of the competency standards for Australian pharmacists. The Advanced Pharmacy Practice Framework Steering Committee, a collaborative profession-wide committee comprised of representatives of ten pharmacy organisations, examined and adapted existing advanced practice frameworks, all of which were found to have been based on the (the "CoDEG Framework") from the United Kingdom. Its competency standards were also found to align well with the Domains of the (the "National Framework").

Describing drivers of and barriers to persistence with tiotropium in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a mixed-methods approach.

Objective: To understand the factors influencing persistence with tiotropium in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: Patients classified as 'persistent' or 'non-persistent' with tiotropium were identified from pharmacy dispensing records. Patients were compared for health status, beliefs and behaviours using data from questionnaires and interviews.

Supervised patient self-testing of warfarin therapy using an online system.

Background: Point-of-care international normalized ratio (INR) monitoring devices simplify warfarin management by allowing selected patients to monitor their own therapy in their homes. Patient self-testing (PST) has been shown to improve the clinical outcomes of warfarin therapy compared to usual care.

Objective: To compare management of warfarin therapy using PST combined with online supervision by physicians via a custom system with usual warfarin management, which involved laboratory testing and physician dosing.

Improving the management of warfarin in aged-care facilities utilising innovative technology: a proof-of-concept study.

Objective: In aged-care facilities (ACFs) monitoring of warfarin can be logistically challenging and International Normalised Ratio (INR control) is often suboptimal. We aimed to determine whether an integrated information and communications technology system and the use of point-of-care (POC) monitors by nursing staff could improve the INR control of aged-care facility residents who take warfarin.

Methods: Nursing staff identified residents who were prescribed warfarin in participating ACFs.

Utilizing community pharmacy dispensing records to disclose errors in hospital admission drug charts.

Objective: To identify and resolve discrepancies in admission medication histories, utilizing community pharmacy dispensing data, in newly hospitalized patients and investigate the relationship between unresolved discrepancies and length of hospital stay.

Methods: Eligible patients (2 or more chronic conditions, 3 or more chronic medications and aged over 50 years) were randomized to the intervention or control group. Within 24 h of admission, the patient's nominated community pharmacy was contacted, a 6-month dispensing history obtained, patient was interviewed and a current medication list compiled.

A pilot study evaluating multiple risk factor interventions by community pharmacists to prevent cardiovascular disease: the PAART CVD pilot project.

Background: There is insufficient evidence for the efficacy of comprehensive multiple risk factor interventions by pharmacists in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Given the proven benefits of pharmacist interventions for individual risk factors, it is essential that evidence for a comprehensive approach to care be generated so that pharmacists remain key members of the health care team for individuals at risk of initial onset of CVD.

Objective: To establish the feasibility of an intervention delivered by community pharmacists to reduce the risk of primary onset of CVD.