Urban Densification and 12-Year Changes in Cardiovascular Risk Markers.

Background Population densities of many cities are increasing rapidly, with the potential for impacts on cardiovascular health. This longitudinal study examined the potential impact of population-density increases in urban areas (urban densification) on cardiovascular risk markers among Australian adults. Methods and Results Data were from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study, in which adult participants' cardiovascular risk markers were collected in 3 waves (in 1999-2000, 2004-2005, and 2011-2012).

Illustrated State-of-the-Art Capsules of the ISTH 2019 Congress in Melbourne, Australia.

The 27th Congress of the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) is an international conference held July 6-10, 2019, in Melbourne, the capital of the state of Victoria, Australia. The ISTH congress has previously been held every other year, with the Scientific and Standardization Committee (SSC) meeting held annually, until 2019 when it became one combined annual meeting of the ISTH and SSC. The conference covers clinical and basic aspects of hemostasis and thrombosis, and this year includes 5 Plenary lectures and >50 State of Art (SOA) lectures, presented by internationally recognized speakers, as well as numerous oral session and poster presentations selected from submitted abstracts, including many early career and reach the world support recipients.

Clinical Cases in Hepatitis: Towards improving liver disease management in Australia.

Clinical Cases in Hepatitis 2018 was an interactive educational program for Australian physicians (gastroenterologists, hepatologists, and infectious disease specialists) actively involved in the treatment of liver diseases including hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. This educational program sponsored by Gilead Sciences took place on October 12-13, 2018, and provided timely, informative case-based, and practical education to Australian physicians. This report summarizes keynote lectures from international leaders in the field of hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and practical clinical case studies designed to inform and educate Australian physicians on managing challenging patients.

Impact of Sex on Ventricular-Vascular Stiffness and Long-Term Outcomes in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: TOPCAT Trial Substudy.

Background Women have higher vascular stiffness with aging. The aim of this study was to characterize sex differences in vascular and ventricular structure and function, and to investigate the impact on the primary outcome in the TOPCAT trial (Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure With an Aldosterone Antagonist Trial). Methods and Results Data from the Americas cohort of the TOPCAT trial were analyzed.

The utility of an automated and ambulatory device for detecting and differentiating epileptic and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.

Objective: Accurate differentiation between epileptic seizures (ES) and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) can be challenging based on history alone. Inpatient video EEG monitoring (VEM) is often needed for a definitive diagnosis. However, VEM is highly resource intensive, is of limited availability, and cannot be undertaken over long periods.

Sex Differences Persist in Time to Presentation, Revascularization, and Mortality in Myocardial Infarction Treated With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background Timely revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention ( PCI ) reduces death following myocardial infarction. We evaluated if a sex gap in symptom-to-door ( STD ), door-to-balloon ( DTB ), and door-to- PCI time persists in contemporary patients, and its impact on mortality. Methods and Results From 2013 to 2016 the Victorian Cardiac Outcomes Registry prospectively recruited 13 451 patients (22.

Genetic Determinants of Circulating Glycine Levels and Risk of Coronary Artery Disease.

Background Recent studies have revealed sexually dimorphic associations between the carbamoyl-phosphate synthase 1 locus, intermediates of the metabolic pathway leading from choline to urea, and risk of coronary artery disease ( CAD ) in women. Based on evidence from the literature, the atheroprotective association with carbamoyl-phosphate synthase 1 could be mediated by the strong genetic effect of this locus on increased circulating glycine levels. Methods and Results We sought to identify additional genetic determinants of circulating glycine levels by carrying out a meta-analysis of genome-wide association study data in up to 30 118 subjects of European ancestry.

RACHS - ANZ : A Modified Risk Adjustment in Congenital Heart Surgery Model for Outcome Surveillance in Australia and New Zealand.

Background Outcomes for pediatric cardiac surgery are commonly reported from international databases compiled from voluntary data submissions. Surgical outcomes for all children in a country or region are less commonly reported. We aimed to describe the bi-national population-based outcome for children undergoing cardiac surgery in Australia and New Zealand and determine whether the Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery ( RACHS ) classification could be used to create a model that accurately predicts in-hospital mortality in this population.

Protocolised thromboelastometric-guided haemostatic management in patients with traumatic brain injury: a pilot study.

Coagulopathy in patients with traumatic brain injury is associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality. Although timely and aggressive treatment of coagulopathy is of paramount importance, excessive transfusion of blood products has been linked with poor long-term outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury. A point-of-care thromboelastometric-guided algorithm could assist in creating a more individually tailored approach to each patient.

Analysis of serum B cell-activating factor from the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) and its soluble receptors in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: To determine the presence and clinical associations of the soluble receptors of B cell-activating factor from the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) in serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Serum BAFF and soluble BAFF receptor (sBAFF-R) were quantified using ELISA, and soluble B cell maturation antigen (sBCMA) and transmembrane activator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (sTACI) by Luminex, in 87 SLE patients and 17 healthy controls (HC). Disease activity and organ damage were assessed using SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) SLE Damage Index (SDI), respectively.

Platelet function testing at low platelet counts: When can you trust your analysis?

Background: Although flow cytometry is often brought forward as a preferable method in the setting of thrombocytopenia, the relative effects of low sample counts on results from flow cytometry-based platelet function testing (FC-PFT) in comparison with light transmission aggregometry (LTA) and multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA) has not been reported.

Objectives: To compare the effects of different sample platelet counts (10, 50, 100, and 200 × 10 L) on platelet activation measured with FC-PFT, LTA, and MEA using the same anticoagulant and agonist concentrations as for the commercial MEA test.

Methods: Platelets were stimulated with two commonly used platelet agonists (ADP [6.

The mode of anesthesia influences outcome in mouse models of arterial thrombosis.

Background: Arterial thrombosis models are important for preclinical evaluation of antithrombotics but how anesthetic protocol can influence experimental results is not studied.

Objectives: We studied how three most commonly used rodent anesthetics affect the induction of thrombosis and thrombus resolution with antiplatelet agent integrilin (Eptifibatide).

Methods: The Folts, electrolytic, and FeCl models of carotid artery thrombosis were evaluated.

Bevacizumab as a steroid-sparing agent during immunotherapy for melanoma brain metastases: A case series.

Background: Brain metastases are common in advanced melanoma and often necessitate corticosteroids such as dexamethasone to control symptoms and reduce peritumoral edema. Immunotherapy improves survival in metastatic melanoma, but concomitant treatment with corticosteroids may reduce efficacy. Here, we report the use of bevacizumab, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, as a steroid-sparing agent in melanoma patients with brain metastases treated with immunotherapy.

Developments in the MPI-M Earth System Model version 1.2 (MPI-ESM1.2) and Its Response to Increasing CO.

A new release of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology Earth System Model version 1.2 (MPI-ESM1.2) is presented.

An Online Intervention to Promote Mental Health and Wellbeing for Young Adults Whose Parents Have Mental Illness and/or Substance Use Problems: Theoretical Basis and Intervention Description.

The transition to adulthood can be a vulnerable period for certain population groups. In particular, young adults aged 18-25 years who have a parent with mental illness and/or substance use problems face increased risks to their mental health compared to same aged peers. Yet these young adults may not have access to age-appropriate, targeted interventions, nor engage with traditional face-to-face health services.

Posttraumatic growth experiences and its contextual factors in women with breast cancer: An integrative review.

In this article, we synthesize current research that examines determinants and manifestations of posttraumatic growth (the phenomenon of posttraumatic growth can be embodied in several domains) in women with breast cancer. The findings of the integrative literature review may contribute to facilitating person-centered oncology care by raising health care professionals' awareness and understanding of posttraumatic growth phenomenon among breast cancer survivors. The identification of factors contributing to posttraumatic growth and manifestations of posttraumatic growth are important in increasing the effectiveness of interventions in supporting women during their breast cancer journey.

Time to establish pillars in point-of-care ultrasound.

Point of care ultrasound (PoCUS) has evolved rapidly and is used by many medical specialties. We propose five essential pillars of PoCUS that are necessary framework for hospital-based PoCUS training and credentialing programs. The pillars are: governance, infrastructure, administration, education and quality.

Role of lymph node yield and lymph node ratio in predicting outcomes in non-metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: Lymph node yield (LNY) of 12 or more in resection of colorectal cancer is recommended in current international guidelines. Although a low LNY (less than 12) is associated with poorer outcome in some studies, its prognostic value is unclear in patients with early-stage colorectal or rectal cancer with a complete pathological response following neoadjuvant therapy. Lymph node ratio (LNR), which reflects the proportion of positive to total nodes obtained, may be more accurate in predicting outcome in stage III colorectal cancer.

Tunable, Multifunctional Ceramic Composites via Intercalation of Fused Graphene Boron Nitride Nanosheets.

Ternary two-dimensional (2D) materials such as fused graphene-boron nitride (GBN) nanosheets exhibit attractive physical and tunable properties far beyond their parent structures. Although these features impart several multifunctional properties in various matrices, a fundamental understanding on the nature of the interfacial interactions of these ternary 2D materials with host matrices and the role of their individual components has been elusive. Herein, we focus on intercalated GBN/ceramic composites as a model system and perform a series of density functional theory calculations to fill this knowledge gap.