Childhood obesity in the ED: A prospective Australian study.

Objective: To determine (i) the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children presenting to all EDs in a large regional Australian city and (ii) whether age, sex, socioeconomic status (SES) or hospital setting (public vs private) were associated with overweight and obesity.

Methods: This prospective observational study included children aged ≥2 and <18 years who presented to any of three EDs over an 18 month period who had their height and weight measured. Age, sex and residential postcode were collected.

Psychometric properties of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) in silica-exposed workers from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Background: The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) has been used in a range of occupational cohorts, but only recently in stone benchtop workers undergoing screening for silicosis. The aim of this study was to compare psychometric properties of the PSS-10 in stone benchtop workers amongst those born overseas or who used an interpreter.

Methods: Stone benchtop workers in Melbourne, Australia completed the PSS-10 as part of their occupational screening for silicosis.

Cost-effectiveness of screening for primary aldosteronism in hypertensive patients in Australia: a Markov modelling analysis.

Background: Primary aldosteronism affects 3-14% of hypertensive patients in the primary care setting and up to 30% in the hypertensive referral units. Although primary aldosteronism screening is recommended in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension, diagnosis at an earlier stage of disease may prevent end-organ damage and optimize patient outcomes.

Methods: A Markov model was used to estimate the cost-effectiveness of screening for primary aldosteronism in treatment and disease (cardiovascular disease and stroke) naive hypertensive patients.

Prevalence and risk factors for silicosis among a large cohort of stone benchtop industry workers.

Objectives: High silica content artificial stone has been found to be associated with silicosis among stone benchtop industry (SBI) workers. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for silicosis among a large cohort of screened SBI workers, and determine the reliability of respiratory function testing (RFT) and chest x-ray (CXR) as screening tests in this industry.

Methods: Subjects were recruited from a health screening programme available to all SBI workers in Victoria, Australia.

Failure to Rescue in Major Abdominal Surgery: A Regional Australian Experience.

Background: Failure to rescue (FTR) is increasingly recognised as a measure of the quality care provided by a health service in recognising and responding to patient deterioration. We report the association between a patient's pre-operative status and FTR following major abdominal surgery.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients who underwent major abdominal surgery and who suffered Clavien-Dindo (CDC) III-V complications at the University Hospital Geelong between 2012 and 2019.

A quantitative analysis of spectral computed tomography characteristics of osseous metastases.

Introduction: Spectral detector computed tomography (SDCT) is a recent advancement that enables elemental material decomposition which could improve the detection of osseous metastases in the oncologic patient.

Methods: Sixteen patients who underwent oncologic staging SDCT as well as WBBS with Technetium-99 m hydroxydiphosphonate (Tc99m HDP) were included in this retrospective study. A total of 50 osseous metastases were identified and confirmed on bone scintigraphy.

Long-term renal outcome post-multimodal computed tomography in stroke evaluation.

Recent studies have demonstrated the risk of contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) is low post-multimodal computed tomography (MMCT) in the evaluation of acute stroke. We provide a complementary study with long-term renal follow up. A retrospective analysis was performed on all suspected strokes from January 2019 to June 2020 for those who had undergone computed tomography angiography, computed tomography perfusion or both.

Patient-specific Implants for Orbital Fractures: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: Orbital fractures are common facial fractures that can be challenging to repair and require careful attention to avoid unacceptable ophthalmic complications. Customized implants that are unique to an individual patient, or patient-specific implants (PSIs), have been increasingly used to repair orbital wall fractures. This systematic review summarizes the current evidence regarding custom-made orbital wall implants.

Cracked open: exploring attitudes on access to egg freezing.

Egg freezing (EF) technology has improved significantly over the last decade, giving women more choice over their reproductive futures. Despite this advance, EF brings forth contentious ethical and regulatory issues. Policies controlling access to EF vary around the world and there is a lack of consensus about who should have access and what criteria are relevant in making these decisions.

The development and validation of instruments to measure dignity-protective continence care for care-dependent older people in residential aged care facilities: A study protocol.

Aims: To develop and validate two instruments to measure dignity-protective continence care for care-dependent older people in residential aged care facilities: one instrument to be completed by care recipients and another for healthcare professionals.

Methods: The first phase of the project will involve a review of literature to identify the attributes of "dignity-protective continence care" for older people, which will be used to design the initial drafts of the instruments. Thereafter the Delphi survey technique will be used to establish the face and content validity of the draft instruments with three purposive samples; (a) care recipients (care-dependent older people with decisional capacity), (b) formal carers (nurses and personal care workers from residential aged care facilities, and (c) healthcare professionals with gerontological expertize in the management of incontinence.

Brain magnetic resonance imaging is a predictor of bimanual performance and executive function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.

Aim: To examine the association between brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics and executive function and bimanual performance in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: Clinical MRI brain scans were classified as: (1) predominant pathological pattern (normal, white matter injury [WMI]; grey matter injury; focal vascular insults [FVI]; malformations; or miscellaneous); and (2) focal lesions (frontal, basal ganglia, and/or thalamus). Assessments included: (1) bimanual performance; (2) unimanual dexterity; and (3) executive function tasks (information processing, attention control, cognitive flexibility, and goal setting) and behavioural ratings (parent).

Saline suppression test parameters may predict bilateral subtypes of primary aldosteronism.

Background: The saline suppression test (SST) serves to confirm the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA) whilst adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is used to determine whether the aldosterone hypersecretion is unilateral or bilateral. An accurate prediction of bilateral PA based on SST results could reduce the need for AVS.

Aim: We sought to identify SST parameters that reliably predict bilateral PA.

Interventions designed to reduce excessive gestational weight gain can reduce the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Aims: To (i) evaluate the global impact of interventions designed to prevent excessive gestational weight gain (eGWG) on the incidence of gestational diabetes (GDM), and (ii) examine whether the effects differ by pre-conception body mass index (BMI) or ethnicity.

Methods: A systematic search of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with a primary or secondary aim to reduce eGWG was conducted in seven international and three Chinese databases without date limits. Meta-analysis data are reported as relative risk (RR) for GDM incidence for interventions including: diet, physical activity (PA), and lifestyle (diet and PA).

The role of body composition in diverticular disease.

Background: Diverticular disease is a common, chronic inflammatory disease of the bowel. This study investigates the differences in body composition between patients with diverticular disease and those without.

Methods: Appropriate patients were identified using a search of the radiology database.

Cancer incidence, mortality, and blood lead levels among workers exposed to inorganic lead.

Purpose: We aimed to measure mortality and cancer incidence in a cohort of lead-exposed workers by using blood lead levels to assess exposure.

Methods: The cohort comprised male lead workers. Subjects were matched to cancer and death registries.