Long-term use of proton-pump inhibitors: whole-of-population patterns in Australia 2013-2016.

Background: Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most prescribed medicines worldwide and concern about their long-term use is growing. We used dispensing claims for every person in Australia dispensed publicly subsidized PPIs between 2013 and 2016 to determine the incidence and prevalence of PPI use and to examine the patterns and durations of PPI treatment among individuals continuing treatment beyond the guideline-recommended maximum 12 weeks.

Methods: We estimated annual prevalence and incidence per 100 people and duration of treatment for every Australian dispensed publicly subsidized PPIs between 2013 and 2016.

Circulating human microRNA biomarkers of oxalic acid-induced acute kidney injury.

Oxalic acid-induced nephrotoxicity and acute kidney injury result from formation of calcium oxalate crystals. Oxalic acid-induced acute kidney injury is a significant problem in many parts of the world. Circulating biomarkers that can accurately and reproducibly detect acute kidney injury are highly desirable.

A Neonatal Unit Experience with Empiric Antibiotics for Late-onset Neonatal Sepsis: A Retrospective Study.

Unlabelled: Neonatal sepsis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality and warrants the immediate start of appropriate empiric treatment. Thus, this study compared the effectiveness of the 2 antibiotic regimens (cloxacillin-amikacin or cefotaxime-ampicillin) among neonates with late-onset neonatal sepsis.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study comparing mortality between 2 treatment cohorts of very low birth weight neonates with late-onset sepsis, who had received amikacin-cloxacillin or cefotaxime-ampicillin between January 2014 and December 2017.

An LC-MS/MS method for creatine and creatinine analysis in paraquat-intoxicated patients.

A sudden increase in serum creatinine after paraquat intoxication has been reported in several clinical studies. However, this dramatic change of creatinine may be possibly due to an interconversion of creatine-creatinine in relation to paraquat toxicity. In order to investigate the creatine-creatinine relationship, a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in combination with electrospray ionization was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of creatine and creatinine in the serum.

Clinical trials in Asia: A World Health Organization database study.

Background And Objective: The Asian continent appears to be a growing destination for conducting cost-effective clinical trials, utilizing the available pool of treatment naïve subjects. This study aims to determine the growth rate of clinical trials in Asia.

Methods: A database review was conducted.

Antidepressant use and its relationship with current symptoms in a population-based sample of older Australians.

Background: Australia has the second highest per capita users of antidepressants globally, and their use is pronounced in older Australians. A better understanding of antidepressant use in older adults is important because the elderly are often prescribed multiple drugs, without review, for long periods.

Methods: This study analysed questionnaire data obtained from the Personality and Total Health through life project.

Epidemiology, toxicokinetics and biomarkers after self-poisoning with .

is a flowering plant that contains colchicine. Deliberate self-poisoning with this plant in Sri Lanka is common and potentially fatal. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology, toxicokinetics and selected biomarkers in these patients.

Systematic Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Gabapentin and Pregabalin for Pain in Children and Adolescents.

The barriers to opioid use in some countries necessitate the need to identify suitable alternatives or adjuncts for pain relief. The gabapentinoids (gabapentin and pregabalin) are approved for the management of persistent pain in adults, but not in children. Searches were conducted in Embase, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science up until November 2017, for randomized controlled trials that investigated the analgesic effects of gabapentin or pregabalin in children and adolescents <18 years of age.

Albuminuria and other renal damage biomarkers detect acute kidney injury soon after acute ingestion of oxalic acid and potassium permanganate.

Background: Deliberate self-poisoning with a combination washing powder containing oxalic acid (HCO) and potassium permanganate (KMnO) is a significant medical problem in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent consequence. Biomarkers for early diagnosis of nephrotoxicity could guide appropriate supportive therapies.

Adverse drug reaction reporting in a large tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia: results of an incentive strategy.

Background: Underreporting is a common problem with spontaneous adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting. In this study, we aim to describe the reporting of ADRs in a tertiary hospital and determine the effect of incentives to healthcare professionals on ADR reporting.

Methods: In this interventional study, a time series analysis was used to determine the effect of incentives on ADR reporting in a tertiary hospital between 2015 and 2016.

Rising pregabalin use and misuse in Australia: trends in utilization and intentional poisonings.

Background And Aims: Pregabalin is a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogue, used to treat neuropathic pain and epilepsy. Pregabalin was registered in Australia in 2005, and subsidized publically in 2013. We aimed to describe Australian patterns of pregabalin use and intentional poisoning, and identify people potentially at high risk of misuse.

N-acetyl cysteine in the treatment of alcohol use disorder in patients with liver disease: Rationale for further research.

Introduction: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the leading cause of alcohol-related death and one of the most common forms of liver disease. Abstinence from alcohol is crucial to reducing morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. However, there are few pharmacotherapies for alcohol use disorder suitable for those with significant liver disease.

Serum creatinine and cystatin C provide conflicting evidence of acute kidney injury following acute ingestion of potassium permanganate and oxalic acid.

Aim: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common following deliberate self-poisoning with a combination washing powder containing oxalic acid (HCO) and potassium permanganate (KMnO). Early and rapid increases in serum creatinine (sCr) follow severe poisoning. We investigated the relationship of these increases with direct nephrotoxicity in an ongoing multicenter prospective cohort study in Sri Lanka exploring AKI following poisoning.

The impact of Australian legislative changes on synthetic cannabinoid exposures reported to the New South Wales Poisons Information Centre.

Background: The emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS), including synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) poses novel challenges for drug regulation and public health. Misconceptions of safety and legality, coupled with the fact that NPS are undetectable on routine drugs screens contributes to their popularity. Concerns over the unpredictable toxicity and abuse potential of NPS has led to a variety of legislative responses worldwide.

The Weather and Ménière's Disease: A Longitudinal Analysis in the UK.

Hypothesis: Changes in the weather influence symptom severity in Ménière's disease (MD).

Background: MD is an unpredictable condition that significantly impacts on quality of life. It is suggested that fluctuations in the weather, especially atmospheric pressure may influence the symptoms of MD.

The impact of codeine re-scheduling on misuse: a retrospective review of calls to Australia's largest poisons centre.

Background And Aims: Codeine is the most commonly used opioid in the world, and is available over the counter (OTC) in many countries, including Australia. Several countries are reconsidering codeine's OTC status due to concerns over addiction and misuse, with serious morbidity and mortality being reported. Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration restricted codeine containing analgesics to 'Pharmacist Only' in 2010, and has recently been considering further up-scheduling to make codeine 'Prescription Only'.

Trends in recreational poisoning in Newcastle, Australia, between 1996 and 2013.

Background: Poisoning that occurs as the result using alcohol or drugs for recreational purposes or to induce rewarding psychoactive effects ("recreational poisoning") represents significant harm attributed to drug use. There has been limited focus on recreational poisoning separately from hospital admissions for general harms related to alcohol or drug use. This study aims to detail the drug trends and patient population represented in recreational poisonings in Newcastle, Australia.

Identifying risk factors for exposure to culturable allergenic moulds in energy efficient homes by using highly specific monoclonal antibodies.

The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in identifying culturable allergenic fungi present in visible mould growth in energy efficient homes, and to identify risk factors for exposure to these known allergenic fungi. Swabs were taken from fungal contaminated surfaces and culturable yeasts and moulds isolated by using mycological culture. Soluble antigens from cultures were tested by ELISA using mAbs specific to the culturable allergenic fungi Aspergillus and Penicillium spp.

Indoor Fungal Exposure and Allergic Respiratory Disease.

A gathering body of evidence has repeatedly revealed associations between indoor fungi and initiation, promotion, and exacerbation of allergic respiratory disease. The relationship between the exposure and outcome are complicated by the difficulties in measuring both exposure and outcome, the multifactorial nature of the disease, and the wide range of potential confounders. New technologies are becoming available that may enable better measurement of exposure and tighter case definitions so as to build more confidence in the associations discovered.