An update on the global disparities in kidney disease burden and care across world countries and regions.

Background: Since 2015, the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA) has spearheaded multinational efforts to understand the status and capacity of countries to provide optimal kidney care, particularly in low-resource settings. In this iteration of the ISN-GKHA, we sought to extend previous findings by assessing availability, accessibility, quality, and affordability of medicines, kidney replacement therapy (KRT), and conservative kidney management (CKM).

Methods: A consistent approach was used to obtain country-level data on kidney care capacity during three phases of data collection in 2016, 2018, and 2022.

Working Together to Improve Type 2 Diabetes Care: A Participatory Design Project to Address Identified Needs of People With Diabetes and Their Health-care Professionals.

Objectives: Diabetes care in Australia is often fragmented and provider-centred, resulting in suboptimal care. Innovative solutions are needed to bridge the evidence-practice gap, and technology can facilitate the redesign of type 2 diabetes care. We used participatory design to increase the chances of fulfilling stakeholders' needs.

The 4 S's of Disaster Management Framework: A Case Study of the 2022 Pediatric Tripledemic Response in a Community Hospital.

Most children in the United States present to community hospitals for emergency department (ED) care. Those who are acutely ill and require critical care are stabilized and transferred to a tertiary pediatric hospital with intensive care capabilities. During the fall of 2022 "tripledemic," with a marked increase in viral burden, there was a nationwide surge in pediatric ED patient volume.

A Qualitative Analysis of the Barriers to Healthcare and Education for Adolescent Girls in Tanzania.

Introduction: Tanzania has a high adolescent birth rate and many sexually active adolescents do not have access to effective contraception. Teenage pregnancy is considered a high-risk pregnancy. Furthermore, it leads to social inequalities for both mother and offspring.

A discrete choice experiment to elicit preferences for a chronic disease screening programme in Queensland, Australia.

Objective: Patient-centred care, increasingly highlighted in healthcare strategies, necessitates understanding public preferences for healthcare service attributes. We aimed to understand the preferences of the Australian population regarding the attributes of chronic disease screening programmes.

Study Design: The preferences were elicited using the discrete choice experiment (DCE) methodology.

Gonadal dysfunction in women with diabetes mellitus.

It is well known that both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) are related to increased risk for cardiovascular (CV) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, besides these prominently presented complications, DM has also been associated with reproductive dysfunctions. It seems that these disorders are met in up to 40% of women with DM and consist of delayed menarche, all types of menstrual disorders, such as amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, menstrual irregularity, as well as menorrhagia, infertility, characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and early (or rarely late) menopause.

SF-CORNER (splenic flexure colorectal cancer): an international survey of operative approaches and outcomes for cancers of the splenic flexure.

Aim: The optimum surgical approach to splenic flexure cancers (SFCs) remains uncertain. The aim of this survey was to explore the opinions of an international surgical community on the management and outcomes of SFC.

Method: A questionnaire was constructed comprising five sections (information about respondents; definition and prognosis of SFC; operative approach; approach in specific scenarios; outcomes) and circulated through an international dissemination committee and social media.

Anticoagulation in Patients with Atrial High-rate Episodes Detected by Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices.

Atrial high-rate episodes (AHRE) are atrial tachyarrhythmias that are identified by the use of continuous rhythm monitoring devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators, or implantable cardiac monitors. Nevertheless, the therapeutic implications of these rhythm disturbances remain uncertain. The presence of AHRE is associated with an increased risk of stroke as compared to patients who do not exhibit AHRE.

A national multicentre study of outcomes and patient satisfaction with the virtual fracture clinic and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic: The MAVCOV study.

Background: Virtual fracture clinics (VFCs) are advocated by the British Orthopaedic Association Standards for Trauma (BOAST). We aimed to assess the impact of the transition from face-to-face fracture clinic review and identify any change in clinical outcome and patient satisfaction.

Methods: A national, cross-sectional cohort study of VFCs across the UK over two separate two-week periods pre- and during the first UK COVID-19 lockdown was undertaken.

Measurement of Calprotectin and PTH in the Amniotic Fluid of Early Second Trimester Pregnancies and Their Impact on Fetuses with Growth Disorders: Are Their Levels Related to Oxidative Stress?

: During the early stages of human fetal development, the fetal skeleton system is chiefly made up of cartilage, which is gradually replaced by bone. Fetal bone development is mainly regulated by the parathyroid hormone parathormone (PTH) and PTH-related protein, with specific calprotectin playing a substantial role in cell adhesion and chemotaxis while exhibiting antimicrobial activity during the inflammatory osteogenesis process. The aim of our study was to measure the levels of PTH and calprotectin in early second trimester amniotic fluid and to carry out a comparison between the levels observed among normal full-term pregnancies (control group) and those of the groups of embryos exhibiting impaired or enhanced growth.

Healthcare exposures and associated risk of endocarditis after open-heart cardiac valve surgery.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) following cardiac valve surgery is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Data on the impact of iatrogenic healthcare exposures on this risk are sparse. This study aimed to investigate risk factors including healthcare exposures for post open-heart cardiac valve surgery endocarditis (PVE).

A prospective, controlled multisite trial of yoga in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.

Aim: To investigate whether a structured yoga program improves health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and self-efficacy in pediatric patients receiving care for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: IBD patients who were 10-17 years old participated in a 12 week, in-person yoga intervention at two clinical sites. Outcomes were measured at time of consent (T0), start of yoga (T1), and completion of yoga (T2) and 3 months after yoga completion (T3) using the IMPACT-III, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), and General Self Efficacy (GSE) scales.

HNF1A gene mutations and premature ovarian failure (POF): evidence from a clinical paradigm combining MODY 3 and POF.

Premature ovarian failure (POF) defines the occurrence of ovarian failure prior to the age of 40. It occurs in one out of 100 women but is very rare before age 20 (1:10,000). Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), caused by mutations in the HNF1A gene, is also a rare disorder; all types of MODY account for 1-2% of adult diabetic cases.

The Association Between Short-Acting β-Agonist Over-Prescription, and Patient-Reported Acquisition and Use on Asthma Control and Exacerbations: Data from Australia.

Introduction: In Australia, short-acting β-agonists (SABA) are available both over the counter (OTC) and on prescription. This ease of access may impact SABA use in the Australian population. Our aim was to assess patterns and outcome associations of prescribed, acquired OTC and reported use of SABA by Australians with asthma.

Detailed DNA methylation characterisation of phyllodes tumours identifies a signature of malignancy and distinguishes phyllodes from metaplastic breast carcinoma.

Phyllodes tumours (PTs) are rare fibroepithelial lesions of the breast that are classified as benign, borderline, or malignant. As little is known about the molecular underpinnings of PTs, current diagnosis relies on histological examination. However, accurate classification is often difficult, particularly for distinguishing borderline from malignant PTs.

Safety and efficacy of an α -blocker plus mirabegron compared with an α -blocker plus antimuscarinic in men with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia and overactive bladder: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Aim: Antimuscarinics and the β3-adrenoreceptor agonist, mirabegron, are commonly used for treating patients with overactive bladder (OAB) and α -adrenoreceptor antagonists (α -blockers) are the main pharmacological agents used for treating lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). As these conditions commonly occur together, the aim of this systematic review was to identify publications that compared the use of an α -blocker plus mirabegron with an α -blocker plus antimuscarinic in men with LUTS secondary to BPH and OAB. A meta-analysis was subsequently conducted to explore the safety and efficacy of these combinations.

Predicting Anxiety and Depression Among Erectile Dysfunction Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

In Vietnam, erectile dysfunction (ED) is prevalent and recognized to be associated with mental disorders; however, societal taboos impede a comprehensive understanding of this connection. Our study aims to investigate the factors related to higher levels of anxiety and/or depression (HAD) in individuals with ED. Between November 2022 and March 2023, a face-to-face survey was conducted at the Center for Andrology of Viet Duc University Hospital, involving 390 patients diagnosed with ED.

Microsatellite Instability Is Insufficiently Used as a Biomarker for Lynch Syndrome Testing in Clinical Practice.

Purpose: The pan-cancer presence of microsatellite instability (MSI)-positive tumors demonstrates its clinical utility as an agnostic biomarker for identifying immunotherapy-eligible patients. Additionally, MSI is a hallmark of Lynch syndrome (LS), the most prevalent cancer susceptibility syndrome among patients with colorectal and endometrial cancer. Therefore, MSI-high results should inform germline genetic testing for cancer-predisposing genes.

Steroid Premedication and Monoclonal Antibody Therapy: Should We Reconsider?

Monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy is now considered a main component of cancer therapy in Australia. Although traditionally thought of as pure signalling inhibitors, a large proponent of these medications function through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). Currently, most protocols and institutional guidelines for ADCC-mediated mAbs promote the use of corticosteroids as premedication: this is implemented to reduce infusion-related reactions (IRRs) and antiemesis prophylaxis and combat concurrently administered chemotherapy-related syndromes.

Prognostic evaluation of quick sequential organ failure assessment score in ICU patients with sepsis across different income settings.

Background: There is conflicting evidence on association between quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) and sepsis mortality in ICU patients. The primary aim of this study was to determine the association between qSOFA and 28-day mortality in ICU patients admitted for sepsis. Association of qSOFA with early (3-day), medium (28-day), late (90-day) mortality was assessed in low and lower middle income (LLMIC), upper middle income (UMIC) and high income (HIC) countries/regions.