Ocular Biometric and Optical Coherence Tomography Parameters in Former Preterm Children: A Cohort Study.

Purpose: To compare biometric and optical coherence tomography parameters as well as refractive status in preterm children aged 4-8 years with or without retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and evaluate their correlations with age and gender-matched full-term children.

Methods: Retrospective comparative cohort study of four groups of children. Children with a history of preterm birth, including ROP who received intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) treatment, children with a history of ROP that regressed without treatment and those with no history of ROP were compared to age and gender-matched full-term children as a control group.

Phenotypic spectrum in a family with a novel p.I21S dominant-activating mutation.

Objectives: Dominant-activating (DA) lesions in have been reported in 18 individuals to date. Some have required haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for their (severe) combined immunodeficiency syndrome phenotype. We aimed to investigate clinical and cellular features of a kindred harbouring a novel variant in p.

Shear wave elastography to predict oesophageal varices, morbidity and mortality in chronic liver disease.

Introduction: In chronic liver disease (CLD), Fibroscan® (transient elastography) can be a useful "rule-out" test for oesophageal varices, but it is limited by body habitus. Shear wave elastography (SWE) is another non-invasive fibrosis test that is better suited for overweight subjects. We determined SWE's ability to predict oesophageal varices, morbidity and mortality in a predominantly overweight population.

Comprehensive analysis of SARS-CoV-2 antibody dynamics in New Zealand.

Objectives: Circulating antibodies are important markers of previous infection and immunity. Questions remain with respect to the durability and functionality of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. This study explored antibody responses in recovered COVID-19 patients in a setting where the probability of re-exposure is effectively nil, owing to New Zealand's successful elimination strategy.

Spironolactone in Atrial Fibrillation With Preserved Cardiac Fraction: The IMPRESS-AF Trial.

Background Patients with permanent atrial fibrillation have poor outcomes, exercise capacity, and quality of life even on optimal anticoagulation. Based on mechanistic and observational data, we tested whether the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone can improve exercise capacity, E/e' ratio, and quality of life in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation and preserved ejection fraction. Methods and Results The double-masked, placebo-controlled IMPRESS-AF (Improved Exercise Tolerance in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction by Spironolactone on Myocardial Fibrosis in Atrial Fibrillation) trial (NCT02673463) randomized 250 stable patients with permanent atrial fibrillation and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction to spironolactone 25 mg daily or placebo.

Palliative care delivery in residential aged care: bereaved family member experiences of the Supportive Hospice Aged Residential Exchange (SHARE) intervention.

Background: The supportive hospice aged residential exchange (SHARE) is a new model of palliative care education that has been designed for residential aged care. The goal of SHARE is to help clinical staff improve palliative care within residential aged care facilities and to improve specialist palliative care nurses' knowledge and skill to care for frail older people.

Method: The experiences of 18 bereaved families concerning the palliative care journey (both at the start and finish of a one-year implementation of SHARE) were explored using semi-structured interviews.

Hemoconcentration is associated with early faster fluid rate and increased risk of persistent organ failure in acute pancreatitis patients.

Background: Controversies existed surrounding the use of hematocrit to guide early fluid therapy in acute pancreatitis (AP). The association between hematocrit, early fluid therapy, and clinical outcomes in ward AP patients needs to be investigated.

Methods: Data from prospectively maintained AP database and retrospectively collected details of fluid therapy were analyzed.

Changes of plasma cGP/IGF-1 molar ratio with age is associated with cognitive status of Parkinson disease.

Objective: Cognitive impairment is a common feature of Parkinson disease (PD), for which age is a major contributing factor. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) declines with age and contributes to age-related cognitive impairment in PD. Cyclic glycine-proline (cGP) is a metabolite of IGF-1 and normalizes bioavailable IGF-1.

Genotypic and phenotypic analyses reveal distinct population structures and ecotypes for sugar beet-associated in Oxford and Auckland.

Fluorescent pseudomonads represent one of the largest groups of bacteria inhabiting the surfaces of plants, but their genetic composition is poorly understood. Here, we examined the population structure and diversity of fluorescent pseudomonads isolated from sugar beet grown at two geographic locations (Oxford, United Kingdom and Auckland, New Zealand). To seek evidence for niche adaptation, bacteria were sampled from three types of leaves (immature, mature, and senescent) and then characterized using a combination of genotypic and phenotypic analysis.

Imaging the breastfeeding swallow: Pilot study utilizing real-time MRI.

Objective: Knowledge of the breastfeeding swallow is limited by practical challenges. Radiation exposure to both mother and infant and the radiolucent properties of breastmilk make videofluoroscopy an unsuitable imaging modality. Furthermore, ultrasound is not ideal for capturing the complex 3-dimensional functional anatomy of swallowing.

A Novel Disorder of Osteoporosis, Osteonecrosis, and Metaphyseal Fracture.

We describe two unrelated women who in their fifth decade developed a severe disorder characterized by large joint osteonecrosis and multiple minimal trauma fractures in both the axial and appendicular skeleton, including unusual metaphyseal fractures of the proximal tibia. Bone density testing showed borderline osteoporosis of the spine and osteopenia of the femur. Therapy with bisphosphonates and teriparatide failed to prevent further fractures.

Pyruvate anaplerosis is a mechanism of resistance to pharmacological glutaminase inhibition in triple-receptor negative breast cancer.

Background: Glutamine serves as an important nutrient with many cancer types displaying glutamine dependence. Following cellular uptake glutamine is converted to glutamate in a reaction catalysed by mitochondrial glutaminase. This glutamate has many uses, including acting as an anaplerotic substrate (via alpha-ketoglutarate) to replenish TCA cycle intermediates.

Does potentially inappropriate prescribing predict an increased risk of admission to hospital and mortality? A longitudinal study of the 'oldest old'.

Background: Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) is associated with negative health outcomes, including hospitalisation and mortality. Life and Living in Advanced Age: a Cohort Study in New Zealand (LiLACS NZ) is a longitudinal study of Māori (the indigenous population of New Zealand) and non-Māori octogenarians. Health disparities between indigenous and non-indigenous populations are prevalent internationally and engagement of indigenous populations in health research is necessary to understand and address these disparities.

Quality of prescribing predicts hospitalisation in octogenarians: life and living in advanced age: a cohort study in New Zealand (LiLACS NZ).

Background: Prescribing for older people is complex, and many studies have highlighted that appropriate prescribing in this cohort is not always achieved. However, the long-term effect of inappropriate prescribing on outcomes such as hospitalisation and mortality has not been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to determine the level of potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) for participants of the Life and Living in Advanced Age: A Cohort Study in New Zealand (LiLACS NZ) study at baseline and examine the association between PIP and hospitalisation and mortality at 12-months follow-up.

Palliative care nurse specialists' reflections on a palliative care educational intervention in long-term care: an inductive content analysis.

Background: Older people in long-term care facilities are at a greater risk of receiving care at the end of life that does not adequately meet their needs, yet staff in long-term care are often unprepared to provide palliative care. The objective of the study was to explore palliative care nurse specialists' experiences regarding the benefits of and barriers to the implementation of a palliative care educational intervention, Supportive Hospice Aged Residential Exchange (SHARE) in 20 long-term care facilities.

Methods: Reflective logs (465), recorded over the course of the yearlong SHARE intervention by the three palliative care nurse specialists from two local hospices, who were the on-site mentors, were qualitatively analyzed by two researchers utilizing inductive content analysis.

Airflow limitation and survival after surgery for non-small cell lung cancer: Results from a systematic review and lung cancer screening trial (NLST-ACRIN sub-study).

Objective: Lung cancer remains the single greatest cause of cancer mortality where surgery for early stage non-small cell lung cancer achieves the greatest survival. While there is growing optimism for better outcomes with screening using annual computed tomography, the impact of co-existing airflow limitation on survival remains unknown. To compare survival in non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing surgery stratified according to the presence or absence of pre-surgery airflow limitation.

Acute shortness of breath due to reoccurrence of an intrapericardial bronchogenic cyst.

A 71-year-old woman presented with dysphagia and acute shortness of breath. Surgical history included a prior thoracotomy overseas for a bronchogenic mesothelial cyst 19 years before. Computed tomography demonstrated a mass within the posterior mediastinum measuring 69 × 70 × 74 mm.

Plasma cyclic glycine proline/IGF-1 ratio predicts clinical outcome and recovery in stroke patients.

Objective: Many stroke patients make a partial recovery in function during the first 3 months, partially through promoting insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) function. A prognostic biomarker that associates with IGF-1 function may predict clinical outcome and recovery of stroke. This study evaluated plasma concentrations of IGF-1, IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 and cyclic-glycine-proline (cGP) and their associations with clinical outcome in stroke patients.

The Effect of Residential Aged Care Size, Ownership Model, and Multichain Affiliation on Resident Comfort and Symptom Management at the End of Life.

Context: In most resource-rich countries, a large and growing proportion of older adults with complex needs will die while in a residential aged care (RAC) facility.

Objectives: This study describes the impact of facility size (small/large), ownership model (profit/nonprofit) and provider (independent/chain) on resident comfort, and symptom management as reported by RAC staff.

Methods: This retrospective "after-death" study collected decedent resident data from a subsample of 51 hospital-level RAC facilities in New Zealand.

Pounamu: Achieving health equity in Aotearoa New Zealand: the contribution of medicines optimisation.

This paper aims to consider the various parts of what is required to achieve the best possible health outcomes from medicines in partnership with the person for whom they are prescribed. Specifically, it looks to highlight the process from an Indigenous view with respect to Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand, and claims a multi-dimensional approach is imperative. Attaining optimal use of medicines is necessary to help achieve health equity.

What do we know about the nutritional status of the very old? Insights from three cohorts of advanced age from the UK and New Zealand.

Very old people (referred to as those aged 85 years and over) are the fastest growing age segment of many Western societies owing to the steady rise of life expectancy and decrease in later life mortality. In the UK, there are now more than 1·5 million very old people (2·5 % of total population) and the number is projected to rise to 3·3 million or 5 % over the next 20 years. Reduced mobility and independence, financial constraints, higher rates of hospitalisation, chronic diseases and disabilities, changes in body composition, taste perception, digestion and absorption of food all potentially influence either nutrient intake or needs at this stage of life.