Usability of a smartphone application for patients with interstitial lung disease: Results from the Registry for Better Understanding of ILD (RE-BUILD) pilot study.

Background And Objective: Digital technologies offer opportunities for remote monitoring, increased patient engagement and incorporation of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) into interstitial lung disease (ILD) care and research. This study evaluated the usability and patient experience of the RE-BUILD (Registry for Better Understanding of ILD) application, an ILD-specific smartphone app.

Methods: Patients with ILD aged ≥18 years were recruited from three tertiary ILD centres to use the RE-BUILD app for 6 months.

A self-management package for pulmonary fibrosis: A feasibility study.

Background And Objective: There is currently no self-management package designed to meet the needs of people with pulmonary fibrosis (PF). This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a PF-specific self-management package.

Methods: Adults with PF were randomly allocated (1:1) to either receive the self-management package with healthcare professional (HCP) support or standardised PF information.

Chemoproteomic discovery of a covalent allosteric inhibitor of WRN helicase.

WRN helicase is a promising target for treatment of cancers with microsatellite instability (MSI) due to its essential role in resolving deleterious non-canonical DNA structures that accumulate in cells with faulty mismatch repair mechanisms. Currently there are no approved drugs directly targeting human DNA or RNA helicases, in part owing to the challenging nature of developing potent and selective compounds to this class of proteins. Here we describe the chemoproteomics-enabled discovery of a clinical-stage, covalent allosteric inhibitor of WRN, VVD-133214.

Navigating the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences and self-management approaches adopted by people with interstitial lung disease.

Background: People with interstitial lung disease (ILD) were deemed more vulnerable to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and isolated as a means of reducing risk of infection. This study examined the impact of the pandemic on daily life, psychological wellbeing and access to healthcare and identified approaches undertaken to remain safe.

Methods: Four specialist clinics in tertiary centres in Australia (Victoria: two sites; New South Wales: one site; Western Australia: one site) recruited patients with ILD during an 8-week period from March 2021.

Understanding the telehealth experience of care by people with ILD during the COVID-19 pandemic: what have we learnt?

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a rapid transformation of health services. This study aimed to understand the experiences of healthcare by people with interstitial lung disease (ILD), to inform future service delivery.

Methods: Four specialist clinics in tertiary centres in Australia (Victoria:2 sites; New South Wales: 1 site; Western Australia: 1 site) recruited patients with ILD during an 8-week period from March 2021.

Hospital-Acquired Infection, Length of Stay, and Readmission in Elective Surgery Patients Transfused 1 Unit of Red Blood Cells: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Most patients transfused red blood cells in elective surgery receive small volumes of blood, which is likely to be discretionary and avoidable. We investigated the outcomes of patients who received a single unit of packed red blood cells during their hospital admission for an elective surgical procedure when compared to those not transfused.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included elective surgical admissions to 4 hospitals in Western Australia over a 6-year period.

Brief Research Report: "Nothing About Us, Without Us": A Case Study of the Outer Sanctum Podcast and Trends in Australian Independent Media to Drive Intersectional Representation.

Alternative and independent sports media platforms create custom content that reflects a diversity of voices and representation of athletes, sports and issues that are not covered in meaningful ways in traditional sports media. While these new media outlets often set out to redress the lack of diversity and intersectional approaches to traditional sports media, they are also seeking ways to drive even more change. This in an interesting and important movement to interrogate as these platforms are not only predominantly unfunded, passion projects created by those marginalized groups.

Coagulation factor-XII induces interleukin-6 by primary lung fibroblasts: a role in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

The mechanisms driving idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remain undefined, however it is postulated that coagulation imbalances may play a role. The impact of blood-derived clotting factors, including factor XII (FXII) has not been investigated in the context of IPF. Plasma levels of FXII were measured by ELISA in patients with IPF and in age-matched healthy donors.

Pulmonary rehabilitation for interstitial lung disease: Referral and patient experiences.

The objectives of this study were to determine the proportion of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) referred to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) and to understand their experiences of participation or non-participation. Adults (>18 years old) with a diagnosis of ILD were identified from the Alfred Health ILD registry in Melbourne. Information regarding PR referral and attendance were collected from medical records.

Self-management for pulmonary fibrosis: Insights from people living with the disease and healthcare professionals.

Objective: People with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) consider self-management essential for maintaining health. This study aims to explore the needs and expectations of PF self-management from the patient and healthcare professionals (HCPs) perspectives.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with people with PF and HCPs.

DCAF11 Supports Targeted Protein Degradation by Electrophilic Proteolysis-Targeting Chimeras.

Ligand-induced protein degradation has emerged as a compelling approach to promote the targeted elimination of proteins from cells by directing these proteins to the ubiquitin-proteasome machinery. So far, only a limited number of E3 ligases have been found to support ligand-induced protein degradation, reflecting a dearth of E3-binding compounds for proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) design. Here, we describe a functional screening strategy performed with a focused library of candidate electrophilic PROTACs to discover bifunctional compounds that degrade proteins in human cells by covalently engaging E3 ligases.

Inhibition of NF-κB by ACT001 reduces fibroblast activity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic lung disease of unknown etiology and poor prognosis. In IPF, aberrant extracellular matrix production by activated, hyperproliferative fibroblasts drives disease progression but the exact mechanisms by which this occurs remains undefined. The transcription factor nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-ĸB) has been suggested as a potential therapeutic target in IPF and therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of ACT001, an NF-ĸB inhibitor, on primary fibroblasts derived from patients with and without IPF.

Diagnosis and management of connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease in Australia and New Zealand: A position statement from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand.

Pulmonary complications in CTD are common and can involve the interstitium, airways, pleura and pulmonary vasculature. ILD can occur in all CTD (CTD-ILD), and may vary from limited, non-progressive lung involvement, to fulminant, life-threatening disease. Given the potential for major adverse outcomes in CTD-ILD, accurate diagnosis, assessment and careful consideration of therapeutic intervention are a priority.

Associations of a Preoperative Anemia and Suboptimal Iron Stores Screening and Management Clinic in Colorectal Surgery With Hospital Cost, Reimbursement, and Length of Stay: A Net Cost Analysis.

Background: In 2016, a preoperative clinic was implemented to screen, evaluate, and manage anemia and suboptimal iron stores at a major tertiary care medical center in Western Australia. Few studies compare the costs and reimbursements associated with preoperative anemia and suboptimal iron stores management. The objective of our study was to conduct a net cost analysis associated with the implementation of this clinic.

Taste Function in Adults Undergoing Cancer Radiotherapy or Chemotherapy, and Implications for Nutrition Management: A Systematic Review.

Background: Taste changes are commonly reported by people with cancer undergoing radio- or chemotherapy. Taste changes may compromise dietary intake and nutritional status.

Objective: To understand whether or not taste change is associated with cancer diagnosis or treatment modality in adults.

Screening and treating pre-operative anaemia and suboptimal iron stores in elective colorectal surgery: a cost effectiveness analysis.

Our study investigated whether pre-operative screening and treatment for anaemia and suboptimal iron stores in a patient blood management clinic is cost effective. We used outcome data from a retrospective cohort study comparing colorectal surgery patients admitted pre- and post-implementation of a pre-operative screening programme. We applied propensity score weighting techniques with multivariable regression models to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics between groups.

CXCR4 cells are increased in lung tissue of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: CXCR4, a transmembrane-receptor located on epithelial cells that is activated by CXCL12, may have a role in IPF via migration of CXCR4 fibrocytes to the lung. However, its expression has not been fully characterised in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or other fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). CXCL12 is constitutively expressed in the bone marrow, and levels of CXCR4 regulate control of this signalling pathway.

Volumetric modulated arc therapy for total body irradiation: A feasibility study using Pinnacle treatment planning system and Elekta Agility™ linac.

A study was undertaken to explore the use of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for total body irradiation (TBI). Five patient plans were created in Pinnacle using nine 6 MV photon dynamic arcs. A dose of 12 Gy in six fractions was prescribed.

Verification of junction dose between VMAT arcs of total body irradiation using a Sun Nuclear ArcCHECK phantom.

A volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) approach to total body irradiation (TBI) has recently been introduced at our institution. The planning target volume (PTV) is divided into separate sub-volumes, each being treated with 2 arcs with their own isocentre. Pre-treatment quality assurance of beams is performed on a Sun Nuclear ArcCHECK diode array.

A Factorial Validation of Parental Mediation Strategies with Regard to Internet Use.

This study investigated the strategies which parents employ in order to mediate their adolescent child's internet use, thereby including the perspectives from the mother, the father and an adolescent child aged 13 to 18. Data from 357 families ( = 1071) were analyzed. Parental mediation strategies were inductively derived from a wide range of concrete mediation practices.

Portable oxygen concentrators versus oxygen cylinder during walking in interstitial lung disease: A randomized crossover trial.

Background And Objective: Ambulatory oxygen therapy is often provided to patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Lightweight portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) provide an alternative to traditional portable systems such as compressed oxygen cylinders; however, their efficacy in patients with ILD has not been assessed. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical performance of three ambulatory oxygen systems (two different POCs and a compressed oxygen cylinder) during 6-min walk tests (6MWTs) in patients with ILD and exertional desaturation.

Exploring First Sexual Intercourse, Sexual Orientation, and Sexual Health in Men.

In this study the characteristics of the sexual debut of men who have sex with men (MSM) and men who have sex with women (MSW) age 35 or younger (N = 1,201) were compared with one another. We investigated whether these characteristics were associated with sexual health and behavior, and to what extent. Compared to MSW, MSM tended to be older when they had their first sexual intercourse; their first sex partner was older, they felt less ready, and they experienced more pain.