Medicine Access Programmes: what do patients think - a patient-reported outcome study on ribociclib in metastatic breast cancer in Australia.

This study evaluated patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of Medicine Access Programmes (MAPs) for Australian metastatic breast cancer patients on ribociclib. Limited patient awareness of MAP enrolment was identified, emphasising the need for improved education and consent processes. Most patients expressed gratitude for accessing non-funded medications and perceived enhanced medication adherence as a key benefit.

Applicability of the Global Lung Function Initiative prediction equations in Hong Kong Chinese children.

Background And Objective: This study aimed to assess the applicability of the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) prediction equations for spirometry in Hong Kong children and to develop prediction equations based on the Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale, and Shape (GAMLSS) modeling.

Methods: Healthy Chinese children and adolescents aged 6-17 years old were recruited from randomly selected schools to undergo spirometry. The measurements were transformed to z-score according to the GLI-2012 equations for South East (SE) Asians and the GLI-2022 global race-neutral equations.

A feasibility, safety, and efficacy evaluation of supervised aerobic and resistance exercise for patients with glioblastoma undertaking adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Background: While therapeutically effective, chemoradiotherapy treatment for high-grade glioma (glioblastoma) is often accompanied by side effects. Exercise has been demonstrated to alleviate the adverse effects of such treatments in other cancers. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of supervised exercise incorporating autoregulation.

Real-World Outcomes of Ribociclib and Aromatase Inhibitor Use in First Line Hormone Receptor Positive, HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Background: International guidelines recommend combining a CDK4/6 inhibitor and endocrine therapy (ET) as first line treatment for hormone receptor (HR) positive, HER2 negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Results from MONALEESA-2 demonstrate superior progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) with ribociclib (CDK4/6 inhibitor) and ET compared to ET alone. Real world outcomes have yet to be reported.

Cost-effectiveness of Vitamin A supplementation among children in three sub-Saharan African countries: An individual-based simulation model using estimates from Global Burden of Disease 2019.

Background: Vitamin A Supplementation (VAS) is a cost-effective intervention to decrease mortality associated with measles and diarrheal diseases among children aged 6-59 months in low-income countries. Recently, experts have suggested that other interventions like large-scale food fortification and increasing the coverage of measles vaccination might provide greater impact than VAS. In this study, we conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of a VAS scale-up in three sub-Saharan African countries.

Incorporation of eribulin in the systemic treatment of metastatic breast cancer patients in Australia.

Purpose: Review of utilization and efficacy of eribulin in Australian metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients.

Methods: Retrospective review of consecutive MBC patients treated with eribulin in tertiary Australian BC centers. Key inclusion criteria included eribulin administration in nonclinical trial setting from October 2014 onwards, known duration of MBC systemic treatments administered and known follow-up date after eribulin.

Afatinib in EGFR TKI-naïve patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer: Interim analysis of a Phase 3b study.

Objectives: Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that afatinib is a suitable treatment option for patients with epidermal growth factor receptor mutation-positive (EGFRm +) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, such studies often exclude patients treated in routine clinical practice. We report interim results from a Phase 3b, open-label, multicenter, single-arm, exploratory trial, in which afatinib was investigated in a real-world setting.

Global, regional, and national sepsis incidence and mortality, 1990-2017: analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study.

Background: Sepsis is life-threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated host response to infection. It is considered a major cause of health loss, but data for the global burden of sepsis are limited. As a syndrome caused by underlying infection, sepsis is not part of standard Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) estimates.

Mechanical suppression of osteolytic bone metastases in advanced breast cancer patients: a randomised controlled study protocol evaluating safety, feasibility and preliminary efficacy of exercise as a targeted medicine.

Background: Skeletal metastases present a major challenge for clinicians, representing an advanced and typically incurable stage of cancer. Bone is also the most common location for metastatic breast carcinoma, with skeletal lesions identified in over 80% of patients with advanced breast cancer. Preclinical models have demonstrated the ability of mechanical stimulation to suppress tumour formation and promote skeletal preservation at bone sites with osteolytic lesions, generating modulatory interference of tumour-driven bone remodelling.

The impact and indications for Oncotype DX on adjuvant treatment recommendations when third-party funding is unavailable.

Objectives: Industry-supported decision impact studies demonstrate that Oncotype Dx (ODX) changes treatment recommendations (TR) in 24-40% of hormone receptor+/HER2- patients. ODX is not reimbursed by third-party payers in Australia, potentially resulting in more selective use. We sought to evaluate the impact of self-funded ODX on TRs.

The State of US Health, 1990-2016: Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Among US States.

Introduction: Several studies have measured health outcomes in the United States, but none have provided a comprehensive assessment of patterns of health by state.

Objective: To use the results of the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) to report trends in the burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors at the state level from 1990 to 2016.

Design And Setting: A systematic analysis of published studies and available data sources estimates the burden of disease by age, sex, geography, and year.

Management of patients treated with pertuzumab in the Australian clinical practice setting.

Aim: Treatment with pertuzumab-trastuzumab-taxane combinations has become the international standard of care for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. In this paper we discuss the practicalities of treating patients with this combination with a particular focus on treatment in the Australian setting.

Method: An expert panel was convened to discuss practical aspects for use of pertuzumab in the Australian clinical setting.

Exercise Improves Physical Function and Mental Health of Brain Cancer Survivors: Two Exploratory Case Studies.

Background Malignant brain tumors are unpredictable and incurable, with 5-year survival rates less than 30%. The poor prognosis combined with intensive treatment necessitates the inclusion of complementary and supportive therapies that optimize quality of life and reduce treatment-related declines in health. Exercise therapy has been shown to be beneficial in other cancer populations, but no evidence is available for brain cancer survivors.

Interventions for smoking cessation and reduction in individuals with schizophrenia.

Background: Individuals with schizophrenia smoke more heavily than the general population and this contributes to their higher morbidity and mortality from smoking-related illnesses. It remains unclear what interventions can help them to quit or to reduce smoking.

Objectives: To evaluate the benefits and harms of different treatments for nicotine dependence in schizophrenia.

Acute disseminated intravascular coagulation in neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Malignancy is a common cause of disseminated intravascular coagulation and usually presents as a chronic disorder in solid organ tumours. We present a rare case of recurrent acute disseminated intravascular coagulation in neuroendocrine carcinoma after manipulation, firstly, by core biopsy and, later, by cytotoxic therapy causing a release of procoagulants and cytokines from lysed tumour cells. This is reminiscent of tumour lysis syndrome where massive quantities of intracellular electrolytes and nucleic acid are released, causing acute metabolic imbalance and renal failure.

Performance on the continuous performance test under parametric increase of working memory load in schizophrenia.

We asked 24 schizophrenia patients and 24 healthy comparison subjects to complete a parametric working memory version of the continuous performance test. Patients exhibited a relatively rapid performance decline with increasing working memory demands. We suggest an interaction between sustained attention and working memory abnormalities in schizophrenia.

Varenicline induces manic relapse in bipolar disorder.

Varenicline (Chantix) is commonly used to assist individuals with smoking cessation. This medication is known to affect mood and behavior. We report a patient with bipolar disorder who developed manic relapse after starting treatment with varenicline for tobacco dependence.

Willingness of breast cancer survivors to participate in a randomized controlled trial of digital mammography with or without MRI as breast cancer surveillance: a feasibility study.

Breast MRI is often used for surveillance of breast cancer (BC) survivors despite the lack of evidence in this population. We surveyed younger BC survivors to evaluate their willingness to participate in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of annual digital mammography with or without MRI. Median age of the 348 participants was 51 years; 45% had undergone diagnostic MRI.

Interventions for smoking cessation and reduction in individuals with schizophrenia.

Background: Patients with schizophrenia smoke more heavily than the general population and this contributes to their higher morbidity and mortality from smoking-related illnesses. It remains unclear what interventions can help them to quit or reduce smoking.

Objectives: To evaluate the benefits and harms of different treatments for nicotine dependence in schizophrenia.

The role of the cerebellum in sub- and supraliminal error correction during sensorimotor synchronization: evidence from fMRI and TMS.

Our ability to interact physically with objects in the external world critically depends on temporal coupling between perception and movement (sensorimotor timing) and swift behavioral adjustment to changes in the environment (error correction). In this study, we investigated the neural correlates of the correction of subliminal and supraliminal phase shifts during a sensorimotor synchronization task. In particular, we focused on the role of the cerebellum because this structure has been shown to play a role in both motor timing and error correction.

Efficacy and safety of bupropion for smoking cessation and reduction in schizophrenia: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The benefits and harms of bupropion as an aid for smoking cessation in schizophrenia remain uncertain.

Aims: To summarise the current evidence for efficacy and safety of bupropion as treatment for nicotine dependence in schizophrenia.

Method: Systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing bupropion with placebo or alternative therapeutic control in adult smokers with schizophrenia.

Review of the clinical studies using the 21-gene assay.

Purpose: A major challenge in treating early-stage hormone receptor (HR)(+) breast cancer is selecting women who, after initial surgery, do not require chemotherapy. Better prognostic and predictive tests are needed. The 21-gene assay is the only widely commercially available gene signature that can be performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of recurrence score-guided treatment using a 21-gene assay in early breast cancer.

Purpose: Most guidelines for hormone receptor (HR)-positive early breast cancer recommend addition of adjuvant chemotherapy for most women, leading to overtreatment, which causes considerable morbidity and cost. There has been recent incorporation of gene expression analysis in aiding decision making. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of recurrence score (RS)-guided treatment using 21-gene assay as compared with treatment guided by the Adjuvant! Online program (AOL).