Gastric diverticulum: a contemporary review and update in management.

Background: Gastric diverticula (GD) are the rarest form of gastrointestinal tract diverticulum, with an estimated incidence of 0.013-2.6%.

Australian radiation therapist's research capacity and culture: investigating the extent of assistance required to build research capacity.

Introduction: Building research capacity within the radiation therapist workforce/profession is essential to guarantee research is embedded into core practices. Assessment of current capacity levels within organisation, department and individual domains needs to occur to establish a baseline and ensure research capacity building (RCB) strategies will be targeted successfully. This exploratory study aimed to identify the areas within each domain where radiation therapists would benefit from extra research assistance, that being research support and process changes, particularly in relation to the workplace and health sector.

The impact of body mass index on cardiac structure and function in a cohort of obese patients without traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

Background: Obesity has been linked with alterations in hemodynamic, autonomic, and hormonal pathways in the body, leading to a spectrum of cardiovascular changes. We sought to evaluate the effects of obesity on structural and functional changes of the heart in the absence of cardiac disease and associated risk factors.

Methods: We identified healthy outpatients without any cardiovascular disease or risk factors from our institution's echocardiography database (2017-2020).

Adolescents and young adults communicating with gastroenterologists: variation in inflammatory bowel disease clinical communication.

Objectives: This study explored the variation in emerging adults' communication with gastroenterologists around the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: Nineteen emerging adults with IBD aged 18-25 and seven gastroenterologists participated in the study. Outpatient specialist consultations of consenting participants were audio-recorded and transcribed.

Direct oral anticoagulants or vitamin K antagonists in emergencies: comparison of management in an observational study.

Background: Restoring hemostasis in patients on oral anticoagulants presenting with major hemorrhage (MH) or before surgical intervention has changed, with the replacement of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).

Objectives: To observe the difference in urgent hemostatic management between patients on VKA and those on DOACs.

Methods: A multicenter observational study evaluated the variation in laboratory testing, hemostatic management, mortality, and hospital length of stay (LOS) in patients on VKA or DOACs presenting with MH or urgent hemostatic restoration.

Effectiveness of adjunctive rifampicin for treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objectives: To assess whether the addition of rifampicin to conventional treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) reduces bacteriological or clinical failure or death.

Data Sources: PubMed, Embase and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched from inception to 31 December 2022. Reference lists and PubMed citations of eligible studies were checked.

Cost-effectiveness of ultra-low-dose quadruple combination therapy for high blood pressure.

Objective: To determine the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of a quadpill containing irbesartan 37.5 mg, amlodipine 1.25 mg, indapamide 0.

Culture-directed antibiotics in peritoneal dialysis solutions: a systematic review focused on stability and compatibility.

Background: This systematic review summarises the stability of less commonly prescribed antibiotics in different peritoneal dialysis solutions that could be used for culture-directed therapy of peritonitis, which would be especially useful in regions with a high prevalence of multidrug antibiotic-resistant strains.

Methods: A literature search of Medline, Scopus, Embase and Google Scholar for articles published from inception to 25 January, 2023 was conducted. Only antibiotic stability studies conducted in vitro and not recently reviewed by So et al.

Diabetic Retinopathy Screening at the Point of Care (DR SPOC): detecting undiagnosed and vision-threatening retinopathy by integrating portable technologies within existing services.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a low socioeconomic region of a high-income country, as well as determine the diagnostic utility of point-of-care screening for high-risk populations in tertiary care settings.

Research Design And Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of patients with diabetes attending foot ulcer or integrated care diabetes clinics at two Western Sydney hospitals (n=273). DR was assessed using portable, two-field, non-mydriatic fundus photography and combined electroretinogram/ pupillometry (ERG).

Efficacy of beetroot juice on reducing blood pressure in hypertensive adults with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (BEET-PKD): study protocol for a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: In autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) impaired nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, in part, contributes to early-onset hypertension. Beetroot juice (BRJ) reduces blood pressure (BP) by increasing NO-mediated vasodilation. The aim of this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study is to test the hypothesis that BRJ reduces systolic and diastolic clinic BP in hypertensive adults with ADPKD.

Longer-term Mortality and Kidney Outcomes of Participants in the Combination Antibiotics for Methicillin-Resistant (CAMERA2) Trial: A Post Hoc Analysis.

Background: The Combination Antibiotic Therapy for Methicillin-Resistant (CAMERA2) trial ceased recruitment in July 2018, noting that a higher proportion of patients in the intervention arm (combination therapy) developed acute kidney injury (AKI) compared to the standard therapy (monotherapy) arm. We analyzed the long-term outcomes of participants in CAMERA2 to understand the impact of combination antibiotic therapy and AKI.

Methods: Trial sites obtained additional follow-up data.

Determining efficacy of dynamic multimedia bowel preparation instructions versus standard instructions on adenoma detection and patient reported measures (DIGICLEAN trial): a study protocol for a multicentre, colonoscopist-blinded, randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Colonoscopy plays important roles in bowel cancer screening and treatment. Poor bowel preparation occurs in 20-25% of colonoscopies. This negatively impacts adenoma and sessile serrated lesion detection rates, procedural time, requirement for repeat colonoscopies, healthcare costs and likelihood of patient withdrawal from screening programmes.

What factors are considered in hospital funding models? A review of the literature on health services funding in organisation for economic co-operation and development countries.

Background: One of the most difficult challenges in healthcare involves equitable allocation of resources. Our review aimed to identify international funding models in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries for government-funded public hospitals and evidence underpinning their efficacy, via review of the peer-reviewed and grey literature.

Methods: Ovid-Medline, Ovid Embase, Scopus, and PubMed were searched for peer-reviewed literature.

Major hurdles of immune-checkpoint inhibitors in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

In 2030, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) will become the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. Unfortunately, neither conventional chemotherapy nor novel immunotherapeutic strategies can provide durable responses and the survival prognosis remains very low. PDAC is notorious for its immune-resistant features and unique genomic landscape facilitating tumor escape from immunosurveillance.

Experience-based codesign approach to improve care in Australian emergency departments for complex consumer cohorts: the MyED project protocol, Stages 1.1-1.3.

Introduction: Emergency department (ED) care must adapt to meet current and future demands. In Australia, ED quality measures (eg, prolonged length of stay, re-presentations or patient experience) are worse for older adults with multiple comorbidities, people who have a disability, those who present with a mental health condition, Indigenous Australians, and those with a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background. Strengthened ED performance relies on understanding the social and systemic barriers and preferences for care of these different cohorts, and identifying viable solutions that may result in sustained improvement by service providers.

Atrial Cardiopathy: Redefining Stroke Risk Beyond Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and ischemic stroke are dual epidemics in society, both associated with poor clinical outcomes, patient disability, and significant healthcare expenditure. The conditions are interrelated and share complex causal pathways. Risk stratification algorithms such as the CHADS and CHADS-VASc score offer predictive value in stroke and systemic embolism risk in the AF population, however, have limitations.

Air purifiers for reducing the incidence of acute respiratory infections in australian residential aged care facilities: A study protocol for a randomised control trial.

Introduction: Adults living in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) are highly susceptible to seasonal respiratory infections. Evidence indicates that the aerosols contaminated with virus particles in closed indoor spaces may play a significant role in the transmission of respiratory infections. In this protocol paper, we outline details of a planned RCT which aims to evaluate the effectiveness of portable in room air purifiers in reducing the risk of ARIs among residents in Australian RACFs.

Patterns of practice regarding use of radiation therapy following radical prostatectomy: A survey of Radiation Oncologists and Urologists in Australia and New Zealand.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the patterns of practices of radiation oncologists (ROs) and urologists in Australia and New Zealand with respect to the utilisation of post-prostatectomy radiation therapy (RT) and help guide the development of an update to the existing Faculty of Radiation Oncology Genito-Urinary Group post-prostatectomy guidelines.

Methods: ROs and urologists with subspecialty practice in prostate cancer from Australia and New Zealand were invited to participate in an online survey comprised of clinical scenarios regarding post-prostatectomy RT.

Results: Sixty-five ROs and 28 urologists responded to the survey.

Effect of Mobile Phone Text Messaging Self-Management Support for Patients With Diabetes or Coronary Heart Disease in a Chronic Disease Management Program (SupportMe) on Blood Pressure: Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Maintaining engagement and support for patients with chronic diseases is challenging. SMS text messaging programs have complemented patient care in a variety of situations. However, such programs have not been widely translated into routine care.

Obtaining medication histories via telepharmacy: an observational study.

Background: Medication reconciliation is an effective strategy to reduce medication errors upon hospital admission. The process involves obtaining a best possible medication history (BPMH), which can be both time-consuming and resource-intensive. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telepharmacy was used to reduce the risk of viral transmission.