Micronutrient status and risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in Indonesian tuberculosis case contacts.

Background: Certain micronutrient levels have been associated with the risk of developing TB disease. We explored the possible association of selected at-risk micronutrient levels with the development of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection.

Long-term outcomes of patients who received extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) following in-hospital cardiac arrest: Analysis of EXCEL registry data.

Objective: To describe the six-month functional outcomes of patients who received extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) following in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) in Australia.

Design: Secondary analysis of EXCEL registry data.

Setting: EXCEL is a high-quality, prospective, binational registry including adult patients who receive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in Australia and New Zealand.

Haemodynamic management of septic shock.

Septic shock is a significant challenge in the management of patients with burns and traumatic injuries when complicated by infection, necessitating prompt and effective haemodynamic support. This review provides a comprehensive overview of current strategies for vasopressor and fluid management in septic shock, with the aim to optimize patient outcomes. With regard to vasopressor management, we elaborate on the pharmacologic profiles and clinical applications of catecholamines, vasopressin derivatives, angiotensin II, and other vasoactive agents.

Effectiveness of combined physical exercise and cognitive training in older adults with cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Falls among cognitively impaired older adults are a global concern. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of combining physical exercise and cognitive training to improve balance among older adults. A systematic search of databases, including Embase, Medline-OVID, CINAHL-EBSCOhost, and Central-Cochrane Library, was conducted from March 9 to April 6, 2023.

Can a combination of nanofat and freeze-dried human amniotic membrane enhance full-thickness wound healing? An animal study using rabbit models.

Previous studies have explored nanofat stimulating tissue regeneration and maturation, promoting remodeling through its rich content of growth factors and stem cells; however, comprehensive data on its use in full-thickness wounds remains limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of combining nanofat with freeze-dried human amniotic membrane (FDHAM) for treating full-thickness wounds in a rabbit model. An animal experimental study using a post-test control group design was conducted.

My plan for a good life, right to the end: An accessible approach to advance care planning.

Background: People with intellectual disabilities have traditionally been excluded from Advance Care (AC) planning. This study aimed to improve access to and the quality of AC planning for this community.

Method: A Participatory Action Research study was led, and participated in, by co-researchers with intellectual disabilities and disability service managers.

An Australian online training and support program for caregivers of children and youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Families linking with families.

Background: Australia has limited supports to help families where Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) impacts children and young people. National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Australia (NOFASD), in conjunction with the University of Otago, New Zealand, piloted and established a 7-week online program to assist caregivers to develop strategies and supports to help their families live well in a disabling society.

Method: The online program, Families Linking with Families (FLWF), was delivered to 88 caregivers.

Are we disadvantaging smokers by excluding them from kidney transplantation? A single-centre experience and survey of kidney transplantation units.

Background: Smoking has been shown to have detrimental effects on KT outcomes and survival. Most units and guidelines advocate for the cessation of smoking prior to a kidney transplant and consider it a general contraindication to listing. Smoking prevalence is higher in disadvantaged groups.

Patient-driven personal importation in the face of cost barriers to care: can we do better?

Australia has a robust public health system that helps to make medicines affordable. However, evidence shows that a significant proportion of Australians still cannot afford medicines prescribed to them and that some patients import medicines from abroad as a result. The strongest predictor of whether patients import medicines is whether they have discussed it with their doctor.

Precision Psychobiotics for Gut-Brain Axis Health: Advancing the Discovery Pipelines to Deliver Mechanistic Pathways and Proven Health Efficacy.

Advancing microbiome-gut-brain axis science requires systematic, rational and translational approaches to bridge the critical knowledge gaps currently preventing full exploitation of the gut microbiome as a tractable therapeutic target for gastrointestinal, mental and brain health. Current research is still marked by many open questions that undermine widespread application to humans. For example, the lack of mechanistic understanding of probiotic effects means it remains unclear why even apparently closely related strains exhibit different effects in vivo.

Bone and Nerve Response to Sciatic Compression Neuropathy in a Rabbit Model.

Compression neuropathy is a prevalent medical condition, including common types such as carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, sciatica, and many others. While the neurological consequences are well understood, the effects on bone properties and the potential downstream impact on fracture risk remain less clear. This study aimed to assess the influence of compressive neuropathy on bone properties using a rabbit model of sciatic nerve compression.

Foot tissue stress in chronic ankle instability during the stance phase of cutting.

Lower limb biomechanics of chronic ankle instability (CAI) individuals has been widely investigated, but few have evaluated the internal foot mechanics in CAI. This study evaluated bone and soft tissue stress in CAI contrasted with copers and non-injured participants during a cutting task. Integrating scanned 3D foot shapes and free-form deformation, sixty-six personalized finite element foot models were developed.

Rational selection of TbpB variants yields a bivalent vaccine with broad coverage against Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an on-going public health problem due in part to the lack of success with efforts to develop an efficacious vaccine to prevent this sexually transmitted infection. The gonococcal transferrin binding protein B (TbpB) is an attractive candidate vaccine antigen. However, it exhibits high levels of antigenic variability, posing a significant obstacle in evoking a broadly protective immune response.

Initial Decline in Glomerular Filtration Rate With Finerenone in HFmrEF/HFpEF: A Prespecified Analysis of FINEARTS-HF.

Background: An initial decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) often leads to reluctance to continue life-saving therapies in patients with heart failure (HF).

Objectives: The goal of this study was to describe the association between initial decline in eGFR and subsequent clinical outcomes in patients randomized to placebo or finerenone.

Methods: In this prespecified analysis of FINEARTS-HF (Finerenone Trial to Investigate Efficacy and Safety Superior to Placebo in Patients with Heart Failure), we examined the association between initial decline in eGFR (≥15%) from randomization to 1 month and subsequent outcomes in patients assigned to finerenone or placebo.

Effect of Characteristic Inflammatory and Structural Pelvic Magnetic Resonance Imaging Lesions on Expert Assessment of Axial Juvenile Spondyloarthritis.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings on axial disease assessment in juvenile spondyloarthritis (JSpA).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of patients with JSpA with suspected axial disease. Three experts reviewed each case and rated their confidence (-3 to +3) in the presence of axial disease, first with clinical data and second with clinical and MRI data.

Inpatient management of gout: we are still failing.

Objective: Despite effective treatment, gout is poorly managed. The aim of this study was to determine rates of serum urate (SU) testing and allopurinol dose adjustment in patients on allopurinol admitted to Christchurch based hospitals.

Methods: The hospital electronic prescribing and administration (ePA) system was used to identify patients on allopurinol during hospital admissions from March 2016-March 2023.

Sex-dependent effects of rat maternal immune activation on motor function in offspring of poly I:C treated rats.

A majority of people with schizophrenia will experience motor symptoms such as impairments to coordination, balance and motor sequencing. These neurological soft signs are associated with negative social and functional outcomes, and poor disease prognosis. They occur prior to medication exposure, suggesting they are an intrinsic feature of schizophrenia.

Mixotrophic anammox bacteria outcompete dissimilatory nitrate reduction and denitrifying bacteria in propionate-containing wastewater.

Organic carbon can influence nitrogen removal during the anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) process. Propionate, a common organic compound in pretreated wastewater, its impacts on mixotrophic anammox bacteria and the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. This study investigated the core metabolism and shift in behavior patterns of mixotrophic Candidatus Brocadia sapporoensis (AMXB) under long-term propionate exposure.

First nationwide report on the presence of emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) in coastal environmental samples from Sri Lanka: A potential threat to ecosystem health and seafood safety?

The presence of twenty-four emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) from a range of chemical classes including antimicrobial agents, biocides, industrial chemicals, plastic precursors, preservatives and UV filters in sediment and shellfish samples collected from fifteen sampling sites across Sri Lanka (a tropical developing country) was investigated. Sixteen EOCs were detected in sediments at concentrations ranging from 0.32 to 370.

Management of epilepsia partialis continua: A systematic review.

Purpose: Epilepsia partialis continua (EPC) is form of focal motor status epilepticus, with limited guidelines regarding effective pharmacological management. This systematic review aimed to describe previously utilized pharmacological management strategies for EPC, with a focus on patient outcomes.

Methods: A systematic review of the databases PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS was performed from inception to May 2024.

Fracture Prevention with Infrequent Zoledronate in Women 50 to 60 Years of Age.

Background: Zoledronate prevents fractures in older women when administered every 12 to 18 months, but its effects on bone density and bone turnover persist beyond 5 years. Whether infrequent zoledronate administration would prevent vertebral fractures in early postmenopausal women is unknown.

Methods: We conducted a 10-year, prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving early postmenopausal women (50 to 60 years of age) with bone mineral density T scores lower than 0 and higher than -2.

regulates melanocortin 4 receptor transcription and energy homeostasis.

Disruption of hypothalamic melanocortin 4 receptors (MC4Rs) causes obesity in mice and humans. Here, we investigated the transcriptional regulation of in the hypothalamus. In mice, we show that the homeodomain transcription factor Orthopedia (OTP) is enriched in MC4R neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus and directly regulates transcription.