Diagnostic Performance of AI-enabled Plaque Quantification from Coronary CT Angiography Compared with Intravascular Ultrasound.

Purpose To assess the diagnostic performance of a coronary CT angiography (CCTA) artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled tool (AI-QCPA; HeartFlow) to quantify plaque volume, as compared with intravascular US (IVUS). Materials and Methods A retrospective subanalysis of a single-center prospective registry study was conducted in participants with ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention of the culprit vessel. Participants with greater than 50% stenosis in nonculprit vessels underwent CCTA, invasive coronary angiography, and IVUS of nonculprit lesion(s) between 2 and 40 days after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Postpartum dysglycaemia after early gestational diabetes: Follow-up of women in the TOBOGM randomised controlled trial.

Aim: To evaluate the incidence and predictors of postpartum dysglycaemia among high-risk women who develop early gestational diabetes (eGDM) prior to 20 weeks' gestation.

Methods: This is a sub-study of the Treatment of Booking Gestational Diabetes (TOBOGM) Study, a randomised controlled trial of early or deferred treatment for women with risk factors for gestational diabetes diagnosed with eGDM, using current WHO criteria. Overt diabetes in pregnancy was excluded.

Socioeconomic status and adherence to COVID-19 preventative measures in Australia: A national cohort study.

Issue Addressed: The uptake of recommended preventative measures is a critical concern for protecting the public against COVID-19 outbreaks and future pandemics. However, it is unclear to what extent COVID-19 preventative measures were followed in Australia. This study aims to determine adherence level to COVID-19 preventative measures in 2021, and whether these were associated with socioeconomic status (SES).

Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of subcutaneous meropenem as an alternative to intravenous administration.

Background: Subcutaneous delivery of antibiotics is a practical alternative to IV administration. Meropenem is commonly used to treat infections caused by resistant Gram-negative organisms.

Methods: This was a prospective, crossover self-controlled study in 11 stable inpatients established on meropenem.

Watchful waiting in laryngo-tracheobronchial amyloid: A case report.

We report the long term follow up of a now 66-year-old male with laryngo-tracheobronchial amyloidosis. The patient initially presented with dysphonia and dyspnoea. He was diagnosed with laryngeal reflux and asthma.

Identifying Gaps in the International Consensus Case Definitions for Invasive Aspergillosis: A Review of Clinical Cases Not Meeting These Definitions.

Background: International consensus definitions for invasive aspergillosis (IA) in research are rigorous, yet clinically significant cases are often excluded from clinical studies for not meeting proven/probable IA case definitions. To better understand reasons for the failure to meet criteria for proven/probable infection, we herein review 47 such cases for their clinical and microbiological characteristics and outcomes.

Methods: Data on 47 cases that did not meet consensus IA definitions but were deemed significant were derived from a retrospective, observational, multicenter survey of 382 presumed IA cases across Australasia, of which findings of 221 proven/probable infections were recently published.

Strategies to Overcome Barriers to Physical Activity Participation in Children and Adults Living With Congenital Heart Disease: A Narrative Review.

Physical activity participation is critical for optimal physical, psychological, and cognitive health in children and adults living with congenital heart disease (CHD). Majority of the general population are not sufficiently active, and with the added psychological, physical, and socioeconomic barriers faced by individuals with CHD, it is unsurprising that many people living with CHD do not meet the recommendations for physical activity either. The aim of this review is to outline lifelong physical activity barriers faced by individuals living with CHD and provide age-appropriate strategies that can be used to ensure the development of long-term positive physical activity behaviours.

Determinants and Outcomes of Invasive Coronary Angiography in Unselected Patients Presenting With Chest Pain to Emergency Departments in Western Australian Teaching Hospitals.

Background: Chest pain is a common cause of presentation to the emergency department (ED), and its outcomes are affected by various diagnostic tests and timely management. Our aim was to identify determinants of invasive coronary angiography (ICA) in a chest pain cohort following ED presentation, and to compare outcomes by time to ICA.

Methods: We identified all adults aged ≥20 years presenting with chest pain to public teaching hospital EDs in Perth, Western Australia, from 1 January 2016 to 31 March 2017.

Prophylactic Antibiotics in Adults With Acute Brain Injury Who Are Invasively Ventilated in the ICU: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Lower respiratory tract infections are common in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation in an ICU after an acute brain injury and may have deleterious consequences.

Research Question: In adults with acute brain injury receiving invasive mechanical ventilation in an ICU, is the administration of prophylactic parenteral antibiotics, compared with placebo or usual care, associated with reduced mortality?

Study Design And Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in electronic databases, as well as unpublished trials.

The Effects of Angiotensin II versus Norepinephrine on Pulmonary Vascular Resistance in Cardiac Surgery: Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To assess whether angiotensin II infusion increases pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) relative to norepinephrine.

Design: Secondary analysis of a double-blinded randomized feasibility study.

Setting: Two tertiary metropolitan hospitals in Melbourne, Australia.

A rare case of infectious aortitis caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei.

Introduction: Melioidosis is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei and primarily affects non-vascular organ systems. We present a case of a melioidotic penetrating aortic ulcer (PAU) with unusual clinical features of vascular infection. The patient was successfully treated with a single-stage neoaortoiliac system procedure, highlighting the challenges in managing melioidotic aortic infections.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis established as a multistep process across phenotypes.

Background And Purpose: Given the accepted multistep process of disease causation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the present study was undertaken to determine the number of steps required for disease onset across each of the ALS phenotypes.

Methods: Clinical and demographic data were prospectively accumulated using the Australian Motor Neurone Disease Registry (2005-2016), and age-specific incidence rates were calculated. Poisson regression was utilized to assess the relationship between log age-specific incidence and log age of onset, with McFadden's R used to assess the goodness of fit of the model.

Antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococci spp. isolates from bloodstream infections in Australian children, 2013 - 2021.

Background: Rising proportions of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) have been observed in both Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus spp. isolates.

Methods: The Australian Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AGAR) surveillance program captures clinical and microbiological data of isolates detected in blood cultures across Australia.

Diagnosis and management of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in adults: A position statement from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an immune-mediated interstitial lung disease (ILD) relating to specific occupational, environmental or medication exposures. Disease behaviour is influenced by the nature of exposure and the host response, with varying degrees of lung inflammation and fibrosis seen within individuals. The differentiation of HP from other ILDs is important due to distinct causes, pathophysiology, prognosis and management implications.

How Much Does Prosthetic Joint Infection and Its Successful Treatment Affect Patient-reported Quality of Life?

Background: Uncomplicated joint replacement improves pain and other patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) such as joint function scores and quality-of-life measures. However, the overall impact of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) and its successful treatment on PROMs is poorly defined. In this study, we describe quality-of-life scores using the 12-item Short Form survey, version 2 (SF-12v2), collected as part of a large, prospective, observational study of PJI.

Antimicrobial resistance in Enterobacterales, Acinetobacter spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from bloodstream infections in Australian children, 2013-2021.

Background: Gram-negative bloodstream infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality in children. Increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is reported globally, yet efforts to track pediatric AMR at a national level over time are lacking.

Methods: The Australian Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AGAR) surveillance program captures clinical and microbiological data of isolates detected in blood cultures across Australia.

Longer-term compliance benefits of oncology-specific smart pump drug error reduction systems.

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time.

Total Neoadjuvant Therapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: Insights from the Western Australian Context.

Background: Recent studies have associated total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) with better treatment adherence, decreased toxicity, improved complete clinical response and anal sphincter preservation rates in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). However, real-world experience with TNT in the management of LARC remains limited.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety outcomes of TNT for LARC in Western Australia.

Adult penicillin allergy programmes in Australian hospitals: a practical guide from the National Antibiotic Allergy Network.

Penicillin allergy is a significant burden on patient, prescribing and hospital outcomes. There has been increasing interest in the incorporation of penicillin allergy testing (i.e.