Management of people after stroke in 383 Victorian general practices, 2014-2018: analysis of linked stroke registry and general practice data.

Objective: To evaluate the management in Victorian general practice of people who have been hospitalised with stroke or transient ischaemic attacks (TIA).

Study Design: Retrospective observational study; analysis of linked Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (AuSCR) and general practice data.

Setting: 383 general practices in the Eastern Melbourne, South Eastern Melbourne, and Gippsland primary health networks (Victoria), 1 January 2014 - 31 December 2018.

Evolving Practice and Outcomes in Grade 2 Glioma: Real-World Data from a Multi-Institutional Registry.

: Grade-2 gliomas (G2-glioma) are uncommon. In 2016, RTOG9802 established the addition of chemotherapy after radiation (CRT) as a new standard of care for patients with high-risk G2-glioma, defined as subtotal resection or age ≥40 yrs. Here, we report current practices using real-world data.

Effectiveness of rapid access chest pain clinics: a systematic review of patient outcomes and resource utilisation.

Background: Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinics (RACPC) are widely used for the outpatient assessment of chest pain, but there appears to be limited high-quality evidence justifying this model of care. This study aimed to review the literature to determine the effectiveness of RACPCs.

Methods: A systematic review of studies evaluating the effectiveness of RACPCs was conducted to assess the quality of the evidence supporting this model.

Exploring the Effects of Age at Menarche and Pregnancy on Myopia.

Purpose: Associations between age at menarche and myopia have been observed in studies that included older women. Furthermore, pregnancy-related hormone surges in young women are associated with short-term changes in refractive error, although the long-term effects are less known. This study explored associations of age at menarche and parity with refractive error and ocular biometry in young women, and the relationship between age at menarche and refractive error in middle-aged adults for comparison.

Choroidal Changes During and After Discontinuing Long-Term 0.01% Atropine Treatment for Myopia Control.

Purpose: Few studies have explored choroidal changes after cessation of myopia control. This study evaluated the choroidal thickness (ChT) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) during and after discontinuing long-term low-concentration atropine eye drops use for myopia control.

Methods: Children with progressive myopia (6-16 years; n = 153) were randomized to receive 0.

Effectiveness of safety netting approaches for acutely ill children: a network meta-analysis.

Background: Safety netting advice (SNA) can help in the management of acutely ill children.

Aim: Assess the effectiveness of different SNA methods for acutely ill children on antibiotic prescription and consumption.

Design And Setting: Systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials, non-randomised trials of interventions, and controlled before-after studies in ambulatory care.

Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 restrictions on the efficacy of atropine 0.01% eyedrops for myopia control - Findings from the Western Australia Atropine for the Treatment of Myopia study.

This study explored the impact of short-term coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions on the efficacy of atropine 0.01% eyedrops on myopia control in a multiethnic cohort of Australian children. In the Western Australia Atropine for the Treatment of Myopia study, 104 and 49 children were randomized to receive atropine 0.

Genetic influence on scar vascularity after burn injury in individuals of European ancestry: A prospective cohort study.

After burn injury there is considerable variation in scar outcome, partially due to genetic factors. Scar vascularity is one characteristic that varies between individuals, and this study aimed to identify genetic variants contributing to different scar vascularity outcomes. An exome-wide array association study and gene pathway analysis was performed on a prospective cohort of 665 patients of European ancestry treated for burn injury, using their scar vascularity (SV) sub-score, part of the modified Vancouver Scar Scale (mVSS), as an outcome measure.

Polygenic Prediction of Keratoconus and its Measures: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses in Community-Based Young Adults.

Purpose: This study evaluates the performance of a multitrait polygenic risk score (PRS) in an independent cohort to predict incident or progression of keratoconus.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional and cohort study METHODS: Setting: Single-center; Study population: 1478 community-based young adults (18-30 years; 51% female), including 609 (52% female) who returned for an 8-year follow-up; Observation procedures: Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam, Oculus), genotyping and development of a multitrait PRS previously validated to predict keratoconus in older adults.; Main outcome measure: Belin/Ambrόsio enhanced ectasia display (BAD-D) score and keratoconus, defined as BAD-D ≥2.

The epidemiology of acute pancreatitis in Tasmania over a 12-year period: Is this a disease of disadvantage?

Background: The global incidence of acute pancreatitis (AP) is increasing, but little information exists about trends in Australia. This study aimed to describe incidence trends, along with clinical and socio-demographic associations, in the state of Tasmania over a recent 12-year period.

Methods: The study cohort was obtained by linking clinical and administrative datasets encompassing the whole Tasmanian population between 2007 and 2018, inclusive.

Myopia progression following 0.01% atropine cessation in Australian children: Findings from the Western Australia - Atropine for the Treatment of Myopia (WA-ATOM) study.

Background: A rebound in myopia progression following cessation of atropine eyedrops has been reported, yet there is limited data on the effects of stopping 0.01% atropine compared to placebo control. This study tested the hypothesis that there is minimal rebound myopia progression after cessation of 0.

Isolation and Identification of the High-Affinity DNA Aptamer Target to the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF).

Aptamers are functional oligonucleotide ligands used for the molecular recognition of various targets. The natural characteristics of aptamers make them an excellent alternative to antibodies in diagnostics, therapeutics, and biosensing. DNA aptamers are mainly single-stranded oligonucleotides (ssDNA) that possess a definite binding to targets.

Changes in Refractive Error During Young Adulthood: The Effects of Longitudinal Screen Time, Ocular Sun Exposure, and Genetic Predisposition.

Purpose: Changes in refractive error during young adulthood is common yet risk factors at this age are largely unexplored. This study explored risk factors for these changes, including gene-environmental interactions.

Methods: Spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and axial length (AL) for 624 community-based adults were measured at 20 (baseline) and 28 years old.

Myopia outcome study of atropine in children: Two-year result of daily 0.01% atropine in a European population.

Purpose: The Myopia Outcome Study of Atropine in Children (MOSAIC) is an investigator-led, double-masked, randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy and safety of 0.01% atropine eye drops for managing myopia progression in a predominantly White, European population.

Methods: Children aged 6-16 years with myopia were randomly allocated 2:1 to nightly 0.

Cost-effectiveness of ultra-low-dose quadruple combination therapy for high blood pressure.

Objective: To determine the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of a quadpill containing irbesartan 37.5 mg, amlodipine 1.25 mg, indapamide 0.

Risk of a first clinical diagnosis of central nervous system demyelination in relation to human herpesviruses in the context of Epstein-Barr virus.

Background And Purpose: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS) risk; evidence for other herpesviruses is inconsistent. Here, we test blood markers of infection with human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), varicella zoster virus (VZV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) as risk factors for a first clinical diagnosis of central nervous system demyelination (FCD) in the context of markers of EBV infection.

Methods: In the Ausimmune case-control study, cases had an FCD, and population controls were matched on age, sex, and study region.

A new polygenic score for refractive error improves detection of children at risk of high myopia but not the prediction of those at risk of myopic macular degeneration.

Background: High myopia (HM), defined as a spherical equivalent refractive error (SER) ≤ -6.00 diopters (D), is a leading cause of sight impairment, through myopic macular degeneration (MMD). We aimed to derive an improved polygenic score (PGS) for predicting children at risk of HM and to test if a PGS is predictive of MMD after accounting for SER.

Statins for extension of disability-free survival and primary prevention of cardiovascular events among older people: protocol for a randomised controlled trial in primary care (STAREE trial).

Introduction: The world is undergoing a demographic transition to an older population. Preventive healthcare has reduced the burden of chronic illness at younger ages but there is limited evidence that these advances can improve health at older ages. Statins are one class of drug with the potential to prevent or delay the onset of several causes of incapacity in older age, particularly major cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Clinical Trials in the Brain Tumour Population: Challenges and Strategies for the Future.

Purpose Of Review: This review identifies challenges and barriers to successful development of drugs in neuro-oncology trials at the preclinical, clinical and translational stages that we believe has contributed to poor outcomes for patients over the last 30 years.

Recent Findings: Several key strategies have been proposed by leading groups to address these and improve patient outcomes. Better preclinical testing using more sophisticated and clinically relevant models is needed.

The cost-effectiveness of coronary calcium score-guided statin therapy initiation for Australians with family histories of premature coronary artery disease.

Objectives: To compare the cost-effectiveness of coronary artery calcium (CAC) score-guided statin therapy criteria and American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines (10-year pooled cohort equation [PCE] risk ≥ 7.5%) with selection according to Australian guidelines (5-year absolute cardiovascular disease risk [ACVDR] ≥ 10%), for people with family histories of premature coronary artery disease.

Study Design, Setting: Markov microsimulation state transition model based on data from the Coronary Artery calcium score: Use to Guide management of Hereditary Coronary Artery Disease (CAUGHT-CAD) trial and transition probabilities derived from published statin prescribing and adherence outcomes and clinical data.