A period prevalence study of palliative care need and provision in adult patients attending hospital-based dialysis units.

Background: Advanced chronic kidney disease is a life-limiting disease that is known to benefit from palliative care. Unmet palliative care need in patients with kidney failure is commonly reported but the level of need among patients receiving haemodialysis is unknown.

Methods: A period prevalence study of adult patients attending two hospital-based dialysis units was conducted.

Evidence synthesis of health policy and systems research in rehabilitation: a protocol for Cochrane overviews of systematic reviews on delivery, governance, financial arrangements, and implementation strategies.

Cochrane Rehabilitation and the World Health Organization (WHO) Rehabilitation Program are collaborating to produce four Cochrane overviews of systematic reviews that synthesize the current evidence from health policy and systems research (HPSR) in rehabilitation. They will focus on the four pillars of HPSR identified by the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organization of Care (EPOC) taxonomy: delivery arrangements, financial arrangements, governance arrangements, and implementation strategies. The protocol describes why HPSR is currently needed in rehabilitation, provides detailed information on the four EPOC pillars in interaction with rehabilitation and reports the Cochrane methods that will be followed to produce the overviews.

Testosterone-induced Seminal Vesicle-like Differentiation in Cervical Mesonephric Duct Remnants in a Female to Male Transgender Patient.

Pure ductal-type mesonephric remnants in the uterine cervix are rare. We report an unusual case in a 31-yr-old of cervical mesonephric remnants of predominantly ductal type exhibiting seminal vesicle-like differentiation in a female-to-male transgender patient receiving long-term testosterone therapy. To the best of our knowledge, this phenomenon has not been previously reported.

Cholesterol-terminated cationic lipidated oligomers (CLOs) as a new class of antifungals.

Infections caused by fungal pathogens are a global health problem, and have created an urgent need for new antimicrobial strategies. This report details the synthesis of lipidated 2-vinyl-4,4-dimethyl-5-oxazolone (VDM) oligomers an optimized Cu(0)-mediated reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) approach. Cholesterol-Br was used as an initiator to synthesize a library of oligo-VDM (degree of polymerisation = 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25), with an α-terminal cholesterol group.

Integrated care for mental health in epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-synthesis by the International League Against Epilepsy Integrated Mental Health Care Pathways Task Force.

Mental health (MH) comorbidities are prevalent among people with epilepsy (PWE), but many experience challenges accessing care. To address this, suggestions have been made to integrate MH care into epilepsy care settings, yet the current approaches, benefits, and implementation determinants to MH care integration are unclear. This review aims to synthesize existing integrated MH care models for PWE to inform the development and planning of future initiatives.

From errors to excellence: the pre-analytical journey to improved quality in diagnostics. A scoping review.

This scoping review focuses on the evolution of pre-analytical errors (PAEs) in medical laboratories, a critical area with significant implications for patient care, healthcare costs, hospital length of stay, and operational efficiency. The Covidence Review tool was used to formulate the keywords, and then a comprehensive literature search was performed using several databases, importing the search results directly into Covidence (n=379). Title, abstract screening, duplicate removal, and full-text screening were done.

A Recursive Model Approach to Include Epigenetic Effects in Genetic Evaluations Using Simulated DNA Methylation Effects.

The advancement of epigenetics has highlighted DNA methylation as an intermediate-omic influencing gene regulation and phenotypic expression. With emerging technologies enabling the large-scale and affordable capture of methylation data, there is growing interest in integrating this information into genetic evaluation models for animal breeding. This study used methylome information from six dairy cows to simulate the methylation profile of 13,183 genotyped animals.

Does the Addition of a Lateral Extra-articular Procedure to a Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Result in Superior Functional and Clinical Outcomes? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Current research focused on clinical outcomes suggests that lateral extra-articular procedures (LEAPs) can reduce rotational instability and graft failure rates in primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions (ACLRs). Limited studies have investigated the functional outcomes after LEAPs, including patient-reported outcome measures, sports participation, and physical performance.

Purpose: To conduct a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to determine whether the addition of a LEAP to an ACLR results in superior functional and clinical outcomes as compared with an isolated ACLR.

Genetic insights into the first detection of Paracoccus marginatus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Australia.

Species spread in a new environment is often associated with founders' effect, and reduced effective population size and genetic diversity. However, reduced genetic diversity does not necessarily translate to low establishment and spread potential. Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink is a polyphagous pest that has invaded 4 continents in around 34 years.

Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes Assessed Using the International TILs Working Group System Are Not Prognostic in Medullary Thyroid Cancer.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are a protective prognostic factor in several solid tumors and predict response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. The prognostic impact of TILs in medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is poorly understood. In this retrospective cohort study, we assessed the TILs profile of primary MTC tumors using the International TILs Working Group system and correlated this with clinicopathological prognostic variables, including the International Medullary Thyroid Cancer Grading System (IMTCGS) grade and survival outcomes.

Family Functioning, Life Satisfaction, and Depressive Symptoms in Chinese Adults With Diabetes and Hypertension: A Cross-Lagged Model.

This study aims to evaluate the bidirectional relationship between family functioning and depressive symptoms, considering life satisfaction as a potential mediator and gender, age and income as a moderator of these associations. A longitudinal study was conducted with 708 Chinese adults with diabetes and hypertension (51.6% women; mean age: 64.

Triage gap? Analysis of admission rates, service utilisation and mortality for First Nations patients compared to non-First Nations patients, stratified by ED triage category.

Background: First Nations patients often experience poorer health outcomes than non-First Nations patients. Despite emergency triage primarily focusing on severity, implying comparable outcomes for patients in the same triage group regardless of demographics, the precision of triage for First-Nations Australians may be undermined by multiple factors, although research in this area is scarce.

Objective: To compare admission rates, service utilisation and mortality for First Nations and non-First Nations patients, based on their triage categories.

Hindcasting Farmed Salmon Mortality to Improve Future Health and Production Outcomes.

Intracellular, free-floating and biofilm-forming bacterial pathogens have been implicated in summer mortality of farmed Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, in New Zealand. A mortality event in 2022 in the Pelorus Sound, Marlborough, was linked to high water temperatures (> 18°C), and bacterial skin disease associated with Piscirickettsia spp. (=Rickettsia-like organisms) and Tenacibaculum species.

Effectiveness of Root Canal Irrigation and Dressing for the Treatment of Asymptomatic Apical Periodontitis: A Systematic Review Assessing Complementary Timeframes.

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)) are used in root canal treatment. However, further research is needed to assess their effectiveness at time points not considered in previous guidelines. This review complements the systematic review by Rossi-Fedele and Rödig (2023) by considering time points excluded by the latter.

Differences in the effectiveness of individual-level smoking cessation interventions by socioeconomic status.

Background: People from lower socioeconomic groups are more likely to smoke and less likely to succeed in achieving abstinence, making tobacco smoking a leading driver of health inequalities. Contextual factors affecting subpopulations may moderate the efficacy of individual-level smoking cessation interventions. It is not known whether any intervention performs differently across socioeconomically-diverse populations and contexts.

Increase in IAA levels by EPSPS copy number variation relates to fitness advantage in Eleusine indica.

Background: Long-term use of chemical weed control has led to some weedy species evolving herbicide resistance traits with fitness advantage. Our previous studies revealed glyphosate resistance in an Eleusine indica population due to copy number variation of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) comes with fitness advantage under non-competitive conditions. Here, transcriptomics and targeted metabolomics were used to investigate physiological basis associated with the fitness advantage.

High performance humidity sensor based on a graphene oxide-chitosan composite.

In this study, we have proposed an advanced humidity sensor based on a composite of chitosan (CS) and graphene oxide (GO), prepared by the drop casting method. Graphene oxide-chitosan (GO-CS) films with varying volumetric ratios, along with pure GO and CS films, were prepared and extensively characterized using XRD, Raman, FTIR, SEM, XPS, and water contact angle to study their structural and morphological properties. Comparative analysis of humidity sensing parameters of all prepared films revealed that the film with a volumetric ratio of 4 : 1 (GOCS-2) performs best among all of them, which is attributed to the synergistic interaction between GO and CS.

Quantifying years of life lost in Australia: a multiple cause of death analysis.

Background: Deaths in Australia and other high-income countries increasingly involve multiple conditions. However, key burden of disease measures typically only use the underlying cause of death (UC). We quantified sex and cause-specific years of life lost (YLL) based on UC compared with a method integrating multiple causes of death.

Maintenance of prehospital anaesthesia in trauma patients: inconsistencies and variability in practice.

Background: Literature on prehospital anaesthesia predominantly focuses on preparation and induction, while there is limited guidance on anaesthesia maintenance. The hypothesis of this study was that for prehospital trauma patients, protocols and practice for anaesthesia maintenance may vary considerably between services. Hence, we sought to describe the practice of prehospital anaesthesia maintenance for trauma patients in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.

Radiology insights into Petersen's hernia complication of post Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Following gastrojejunostomy in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), the mesentery is susceptible to Petersen's hernia due to a mesenteric gap created between the alimentary limb, transverse mesocolon, and retroperitoneum. Although the Petersen's hernia is a rare complication, it has increased due to the widespread adoption of gastric bypass surgeries for weight management and gastric cancer resections. Computed tomography (CT) is commonly used to evaluate suspected cases.

Cumulative Dispensing of Oral Corticosteroids Over 12 Months in People with COPD.

Purpose: Oral corticosteroids (OCS) are recommended for the treatment of exacerbations in people with COPD; however, high cumulative lifetime doses (≥1000mg prednisolone-equivalent) are associated with adverse health effects. This issue is well defined in asthma but is less well understood in COPD. The aim of this study was to examine cumulative OCS dispensed to people with COPD over 12 months.

The band's encore: scarring causing dysphagia post-gastric band removal.

Placement of a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) is a procedure used in bariatric surgery. Despite its decrease in popularity due to its high reoperation rate and suboptimal clinical response, managing the complications of LAGBs remains an important component of general and bariatric surgeons' work. Only two case studies describe return to theatre to excise scarring, which has continued to cause symptoms after LAGB removal.

A union of two rare pathologies: small bowel diverticula perforation secondary to impacted gallstone ileus.

An 84-year-old lady presented with 1 day history of sudden onset generalized abdominal pain, fevers, and peritonism. Computed tomography was suggestive of a mid-small bowel perforation associated with a distal ovoid soft tissue density structure without pneumobilia. An urgent laparotomy demonstrated two areas of jejunal diverticula necrosis and perforation associated with a 3 cm luminal mass in the proximal ileum, and proximal small bowel dilatation.

Insect farming: A bioeconomy-based opportunity to revalorize plastic wastes.

Managing plastic waste is one of the greatest challenges humanity faces in the coming years. Current strategies-landfilling, incineration, and recycling-remain insufficient or pose significant environmental concerns, failing to address the growing volume of plastic residues discharged into the environment. Recently, increasing attention has focused on the potential of certain insect larvae species to chew, consume, and partially biodegrade synthetic polymers such as polystyrene and polyethylene, offering novel biotechnological opportunities for plastic waste management.