Biomarkers of vaccine safety and efficacy in vulnerable populations: Lessons from the fourth international precision vaccines conference.

Vaccination has been a cornerstone of public health, substantially reducing the global burden of infectious diseases, notably evident during the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. However, vulnerable populations (VPs), including those in extreme age groups and those with underlying health conditions, have borne a disproportionate burden of morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases. Understanding vaccine immunogenicity in these populations is crucial for developing effective vaccines.

Circulating Fetuin-A concentrations in rheumatic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Rheumatic diseases (RDs) include a broad group of disabling conditions with different phenotypes, from autoimmune to autoinflammatory, degenerative, metabolic or mixed manifestations. With the continuous efforts to identify therapeutic targets for new biologic drugs to treat overt clinical manifestations, research is also focusing on the discovery of new biomarkers to diagnose and manage early disease stages. In this context, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of Fetuin-A (FtA), a glycoprotein synthesized by the liver that participates in several biological processes and has been proposed as a biomarker for several disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis.

Direct oral anticoagulant assay utilization and associated bleeding events: a multi-center cohort study.

Background: There is a lack of evidence regarding direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) assay plasma concentrations and their association with bleeding events or transfusion requirements. This multicenter study aimed to characterize the use and plasma levels of DOAC assays of anticoagulated patients who present to emergency with a bleeding event and their association with bleeding severity.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective cohort study of consecutive emergency bleeding presentations with a DOAC assay over a five-year period was conducted.

From active escapism to virtual withdrawal: Validation of the Compensatory-Dissociative Online Gaming scales (C-DOGs).

Background: In the Compensatory-Dissociative Online Gaming (C-DOG; Giardina et al., 2024) model, we proposed a continuum from compensatory to dissociative gaming involvement. This continuum represents different degrees of integration between physical and virtual environments with three core processes - Active Escapism, Escape, and Dissociation - and two peripheral processes - Gaming-Related Relaxation and Body-Mind Detachment.

Results of an Australian trial of an automated insulin delivery (AID) system and other studies support likely benefit of AID use for many Australian adults with type 1 diabetes.

Less than 20% of Australians with type 1 diabetes (T1D) meet recommended glucose targets. Technology use is associated with better glycaemia, with the most advanced being automated insulin delivery (AID) systems, which are now recommended as gold-standard T1D care. Our Australian AID trial shows a wide spectrum of adults with T1D can achieve recommended targets.

Overall satisfaction following laparoscopic fundoplication for patients with atypical extraesophageal symptoms: A comparative cohort study.

Background: Some patients with gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) experience extraesophageal symptoms, which are considered due to laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Most studies evaluating fundoplication for LPR report outcomes from individuals who also have typical esophageal GERD symptoms. Information is limited for patients with LPR but no GERD symptoms.

Mainstreaming Cancer Genomic Testing: A Scoping Review of the Acceptability, Efficacy, and Impact.

Finite clinical genetics services combined with expanding genomic testing have driven development of mainstreaming models-of-care for genomic testing: specifically genetic counselor embedded (GEM) and upskilled-clinician (UPC) models. To determine feasibility, acceptability, and health economic impact in cancer mainstreaming settings we conducted a scoping review of the literature. A comprehensive PubMed search identified relevant manuscripts, published in English between 2013 and 2023.

Cannabinoids as Antibacterial Agents: A Systematic and Critical Review of In Vitro Efficacy Against and .

Background: Two major bacterial pathogens, and , are becoming increasingly antibiotic-resistant. Despite the urgency, only a few new antibiotics have been approved to address these infections. Although cannabinoids have been noted for their antibacterial properties, a comprehensive review of their effects on these bacteria has been lacking.

Utilising Hyperspectral Autofluorescence Imaging in the Objective Assessment of Disease State and Pain in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease resulting in joint swelling and pain. Treatment options can be reliant on disease activity scores (DAS) incorporating patient global assessments, which are quantified via visual analogue scales (VAS). VAS can be subjective and not necessarily align with clinical symptoms, such as inflammation, resulting in a disconnect between the patient's and practitioners' experience.

Treatment with Leflunomide in Conjunction with Glucocorticoids for Dogs with Immune-Mediated Polyarthritis Is Not Associated with Improved Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 93 Dogs from Australia (2017-2024).

Immune-mediated polyarthritis (IMPA) has a relatively high relapse rate compared to other immune-mediated diseases. Leflunomide is frequently used to treat dogs with IMPA in conjunction with prednisolone. This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of leflunomide as an adjunctive therapy to prednisolone in reducing relapse and mortality rates in dogs diagnosed with IMPA in Australia.

Development of a model of help-seeking for dementia diagnosis by the person experiencing changes and family supporters.

Objectives: This paper aimed to develop a model to describe help-seeking for dementia diagnosis. The practical model is intended to guide public health interventions to increase help-seeking.

Method: The model was developed by our multidisciplinary team based on qualitative semi-structured interviews in English ( = 33) and Chinese ( = 8) with older people, people with dementia and carers.

Australasian hidradenitis suppurativa management guidelines.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a burdensome inflammatory skin disease with significant quality of life impact. These management guidelines were developed to direct appropriate clinical management in the Australasian context. A systematic review was used for the basis of the consensus guidelines.

Sociodemographic, lifestyle, and medical factors associated with calculated free testosterone concentrations in men: individual participant data meta-analyses.

Objective: Sociodemographic, lifestyle, and medical variables influence total testosterone (T) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations. The relationship between these factors and "free" T remains unclear. We examined 21 sociodemographic, lifestyle, and medical predictors influencing calculated free T (cFT) in community-dwelling men across ages.

Predictive Power of Polygenic Risk Scores for Intraocular Pressure or Vertical Cup-Disc Ratio.

Importance: Early detection of glaucoma is essential to timely monitoring and treatment, and primary open-angle glaucoma risk can be assessed by measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) or optic nerve head vertical cup-disc ratio (VCDR). Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) could provide a link between genetic effects estimated from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and clinical applications to provide estimates of an individual's genetic risk by combining many identified variants into a score.

Objective: To construct IOP and VCDR PRSs with clinically relevant predictive power.

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Dysfunction in People With Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: Cancer can be a source of significant psychological and physical stress. Prolonged stressful stimuli can influence the stress response, mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. However, there is limited literature investigating HPA axis function in patients with cancer.

Physiology and Pharmacology of Effects of GLP-1-based Therapies on Gastric, Biliary and Intestinal Motility.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and the dual GLP-1- and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor co-agonist tirzepatide (referred to here collectively as "GLP-1-based therapy") are incretin-based therapies being used increasingly in the management of both type 2 diabetes and obesity. They are now recognized to have beneficial effects beyond improved glycemic control and weight loss, including cardiovascular and renal protection. GLP-1-based therapy also slows gastric emptying, which has benefits (lowering postprandial glucose), but also potential risks (eg, hypoglycemia in individuals on insulin or sulphonylurea therapy).

Interference fit of cementless tibial implants and the initial mechanical environment: A micro-CT and DVC study.

During cementless total knee arthroplasty (TKA), an overlap between the resected tibia and the implant's geometry, termed interference fit, is introduced to facilitate primary stability and direct bone-implant contact. However, little is known about the actual interference achieved and the resulting mechanical response in the surrounding cancellous bone. The aim of this study was (1) to experimentally quantify the actual interference achieved for a commercially available cementless tibial implant and (2) to assess its effect on the post-impaction cancellous bone strain.