Germline genetic variants that predispose to myeloproliferative neoplasms and hereditary myeloproliferative phenotypes.

Epidemiological evidence of familial predispositions to myeloid malignancies and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) has long been recognised, but recent studies have added to knowledge of specific germline variants in multiple genes that contribute to the familial risk. These variants may be common risk alleles in the general population but have low penetrance and cause sporadic MPN, such as the JAK2 46/1 haplotype, the variant most strongly associated with MPN. Association studies are increasingly identifying other MPN susceptibility genes such as TERT, MECOM, and SH2B3, while some common variants in DDX41 and RUNX1 appear to lead to a spectrum of myeloid malignancies.

Sleep inertia drives the association of evening chronotype with psychiatric disorders: epidemiological and genetic evidence.

Evening chronotypes (a.k.a.

Supportive care 2030 movement: towards unifying ambitions for global excellence in supportive cancer care-an international Delphi study.

Background: Supportive care to ensure optimal quality of life is an essential component of cancer care and symptom control across the lifespan. Ongoing advances in cancer treatment, increasing toxicity from many novel treatment regimes, and variations in access to care and cancer outcomes across the globe and resource settings present significant challenges for supportive care delivery. To date, no overarching framework has been developed to guide supportive care development worldwide.

Gender-responsive health promotion for women: regulating the sociopolitical landscape of alcohol product marketing.

This perspective piece calls for health promotion action to regulate alcohol product marketing targeting women and create environments where it is possible to mitigate the harms of alcohol and protect women's health. Drawing on the Global Alcohol Action Plan in the context of the Australian National Women's Health Strategy 2020-30, we consider critical actions for gender-responsive health promotion to protect women from the ways alcohol companies market their products utilizing women's gendered social roles and entrenched stereotypes. We show how these subtle yet powerful gendered approaches to alcohol marketing have the potential for harm yet are not covered by the current mechanisms of the self-regulated Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code.

"Removing the home court advantage": A qualitative evaluation of LEGO® as an interprofessional simulation icebreaker for midwifery and medical students.

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the use of LEGO® as an educational tool for midwifery and medical students.

Background: The concept of LEGO® SERIOUSPLAY® ® was conceived in 1996 when Swiss Professors Roos and Victor explored using LEGO® as a strategic planning tool. We adapted this concept as an icebreaker activity for interprofessional education workshops at an Australian university.

Star Ratings in Long-Term Care Facilities in Australia: Facility Characteristics Associated with High Ratings and Changes in Ratings Over Time.

Objectives: A Star Rating system (1 to 5 stars) of long-term care facilities in Australia is based on 4 sub-categories: compliance, quality measures, residents' experience, and staffing. The objectives were to examine associations between facility characteristics and the odds of receiving a 4- or 5-star rating, and changes in ratings between the earliest reporting period (October-December 2022) to the most recent (April-June 2023).

Design: Cross-sectional, ecological study, with an additional longitudinal component.

Efficacy of albumin use in decompensated cirrhosis and real-world adoption in Australia.

The current treatment approach to patients with liver cirrhosis relies on the individual management of complications. Consequently, there is an unmet need for an overall therapeutic strategy for primary and secondary prevention of complications. The clinical potential of long-term albumin infusions supported by recent clinical trials has expanded its indications and holds promise to transform the management and secondary prevention of cirrhosis-related complications.

Interleukin-15 and high-intensity exercise: relationship with inflammation, body composition and fitness in cancer survivors.

Pre-clinical murine and in vitro models have demonstrated that exercise suppresses tumour and cancer cell growth. These anti-oncogenic effects of exercise were associated with the exercise-mediated release of myokines such as interleukin (IL)-15. However, no study has quantified the acute IL-15 response in human cancer survivors, and whether physiological adaptations to exercise training (i.

Key stakeholders' perspectives of illicit drug use and associated harms in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Background: In the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia, there are significant evidence gaps about illicit drug use and harms, despite having established monitoring and reporting systems. This paper reports on illicit drug use, associated harms, contributing factors, service needs and priorities in the NT from the perspective and experiences of key stakeholders engaged in providing services for, or advocating on behalf of, people who use illicit drugs in the NT.

Methods: Face-to-face and online qualitative interviews were conducted with stakeholders across urban and remote locations in the NT.

Codesigning a Community Health Navigator program to assist patients to transition from hospital to community.

Background This study aimed to identify the potential roles for Community Health Navigators (CHNs) in addressing problems faced by patients on discharge from hospital to the community, and attitudes and factors which may influence their adoption. Methods Twenty-six qualitative interviews and an online codesign workshop were conducted with patients, nurses, general practice staff, health service managers, community health workers, general practitioners, medical specialists, and pharmacists in the Sydney Local Health District. Qualitative themes from the interviews and workshop transcripts were analysed inductively and subsequently grouped according to a socio-ecological model.

Differences in Factors Associated With Preterm and Term Stillbirth: A Secondary Cohort Analysis of the DESiGN Trial.

Objective: To identify whether maternal and pregnancy characteristics associated with stillbirth differ between preterm and term stillbirth.

Design: Secondary cohort analysis of the DESiGN RCT.

Setting: Thirteen UK maternity units.

Concurrent use of hormonal long-acting reversible contraception by women of reproductive age dispensed teratogenic medications, Australia, 2013-2021: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To examine patterns in the dispensing of category X medications (Therapeutic Goods Administration categorisation system for prescribing medicines in pregnancy) to women aged 15-49 years in Australia during 2008-2021, and patterns of concurrent use of hormonal long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) and other hormonal contraception.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study; analysis of 10% random sample of national Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme dispensing data.

Participants, Setting: Women aged 15-49 years dispensed category X medications, Australia, 1 January 2013 - 31 December 2021.

Short-term Outcomes in Infants after General Anesthesia with Low-dose Sevoflurane/Dexmedetomidine/Remifentanil versus Standard-dose Sevoflurane (the TREX Trial).

Background: The Trial Remifentanil DEXmedetomidine (TREX) trial aimed to determine whether, in children less than 2 yr old, low-dose sevoflurane/dexmedetomidine/remifentanil anesthesia is superior to standard-dose sevoflurane anesthesia in terms of global cognitive function at 3 yr of age. The aim of the current secondary analyses was to compare incidence of intraoperative hypotension and bradycardia, postoperative pain, time to recovery, need for treatment of intraoperative hypotension and bradycardia, incidence of light anesthesia and need for treatment, need for postoperative pain medications, and morbidity and mortality outcomes at 5 days between the two arms.

Methods: This phase III randomized active controlled, parallel group, assessor blinded, multicenter, superiority trial was performed in 20 centers in Australia, Italy, and the United States.

Biomechanical analysis of cadaveric wrists before and after MOTEC wrist arthroplasty using a hexapod robot.

This study compares wrist motion, biomechanical behaviour and radiographic parameters before and after total wrist arthroplasty using a fourth-generation spherical articulation prosthesis. A total of 10 cadaveric specimens were assessed using a hexapod Stewart platform robot. After arthroplasty, there were significant increases in both stiffness and phase angle of wrist motion across all planes of motion assessed.

Comfort feeding in hospitalised people with dementia: a retrospective study of survival following comfort feeding recommendations.

Objectives: Persistent and significant swallowing impairment can occur in individuals with dementia. Determining prognosis and establishing realistic goals of care in this population is complex and comfort feeding may be recommended. This study aimed to establish evidence relating to patient outcomes following recommendation of comfort feeding to aid informed decision making.

Community-based dementia risk management and prevention program for Aboriginal Australians (DAMPAA): a randomised controlled trial study protocol.

Introduction: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the First Peoples of Australia. Up to 45% of dementia in these populations is due to potentially modifiable risk factors. The Dementia Prevention and Risk Management Program for Aboriginal Australians (DAMPAA) is an Aboriginal Health Practitioner led programme that aims to reduce cognitive decline and functional impairment in older Aboriginal people.

Maternal Plasma miRNAs as Early Biomarkers of Moderate-to-Late-Preterm Birth.

Globally, preterm birth (PTB) is a primary cause of mortality and morbidity in infants, with PTB rates increasing worldwide over the last two decades. Biomarkers for accurate early prediction of PTB before the clinical event do not currently exist. Given their roles in the development and progression of many disease states, there has been increasing interest in the utility of microRNAs (miRNAs) as early biomarkers for pregnancy-related disorders, including PTB.

Fecundity and Nutrient Deficiency Following Obesity Treatment: Implications for Young-Onset Cancer Risk in Offspring.

Young-onset adult cancers have been an emerging problem over the last three decades in Australia [...

Prognostic clinical and biological markers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease progression: validation and implications for clinical trial design and analysis.

Background: With increasing recognition of the value of incorporating prognostic markers into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) trial design and analysis plans, there is a pressing need to understand which among the prevailing clinical and biochemical markers have real value, and how they can be optimally used.

Methods: A subset of patients with ALS recruited through the multi-center Phenotype-Genotype-Biomarker study (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02327845) was identified as "trial-like" based on meeting common trial eligibility criteria.