Meningococcal Surveillance Australia: Reporting period 1 April to 30 June 2024.

The reference laboratories of the Australian Meningococcal Surveillance Programme (AMSP) report data on the number of cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) confirmed by laboratory testing using culture and molecular based techniques. Data contained in quarterly reports are restricted to a description of case numbers of IMD by jurisdiction and serogroup, where known and expanded in 2024 to include antimicrobial resistance data for ceftriaxone, penicillin, ciprofloxacin and rifampicin. A full analysis of laboratory confirmations of IMD in each calendar year is contained in the AMSP annual reports.

Meningococcal Surveillance Australia: Reporting period 1 January to 31 March 2024.

The reference laboratories of the Australian Meningococcal Surveillance Programme (AMSP) report data on the number of cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) confirmed by laboratory testing using culture and molecular based techniques. Data contained in quarterly reports are restricted to a description of case numbers of IMD by jurisdiction and serogroup, where known and expanded in 2024 to include antimicrobial resistance data for ceftriaxone, penicillin, ciprofloxacin and rifampicin. A full analysis of laboratory confirmations of IMD in each calendar year is contained in the AMSP annual reports.

Final results of the National Oncology Mentorship Program 2023 and its impact on burnout and professional fulfilment.

Background And Aims: Significant burnout and low professional fulfilment are noted among medical oncologists and trainees. The National Oncology Mentorship Programme (NOMP23) was designed to evaluate the impact of a 1-year mentorship program between oncology trainees (mentees) and consultants (mentors) on improving professional fulfilment and burnout.

Methods: NOMP23 was a single-arm, prospective cohort study.

Delphi definition of general practice/family medicine specialty for a post-COVID world: in-person and remote care delivery.

Introduction: The evolving landscape of general practice (GP)/family medicine (FM) in the post-COVID-19 era, focussing on integrating telemedicine and remote consultations requires a new definition for this specialty. Hence, a broader consensus-based definition of post-COVID-19 GP/FM is warranted.

Methods: This study involved a modified electronic Delphi technique involving 27 specialists working in primary care recruited via convenient and snowball sampling.

Asian birth cohort studies on allergic diseases: The A2BC network initiative.

The Asia Allergy Birth Cohort (A2BC) network consolidates data from multiple independently established birth cohorts across Asia to enhance research on host-environment interactions in allergic diseases. These cohorts, established at different times with various methodologies, are reliable data sources. Our aim is to introduce the content, variables, and outcomes of these cohorts while highlighting their differences, laying the groundwork for future collaborative research.

Gender Selectively Mediates the Association Between Sex and Memory in Cognitively Normal Older Adults.

Background And Objectives: Sex and gender are important topics of increasing interest in aging and dementia research. Few studies have jointly examined sex (as a biological attribute) and gender (as a sociocultural and behavioral characteristic) within a single study. We explored a novel data mining approach to include both sex and gender as potentially related influences in memory aging research.

Size matters: Biomolecular compositions of small and large extracellular vesicles in the urine of glioblastoma patients.

The promise of urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs) in biomarker discovery is emerging. However, the characteristics and compositions of different uEV subpopulations across normal physiological and pathological states require rigorous explication. We recently reported proteomic signatures of small (s)-uEVs (<200 nm membranous nanoparticles) and described putative biomarkers corresponding to the diagnosis, tumour burden and recurrence of the lethal adult primary brain tumour, glioblastoma.

Longitudinal changes in functional capacity in frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: This study investigated the changes in functional capacity with disease progression in a well-characterised cohort of patients diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) presentations.

Methods: We recruited 126 behavioural variant FTD (bvFTD), 40 progressive nonfluent aphasia (PNFA), 64 semantic dementia (SD), 45 logopenic progressive aphasia (LPA), and 115 AD patients. Functional capacity was measured annually over ∼7 years using the Disability Assessment for Dementia.

Micronutrient intakes in a young antenatal population-10-year Retrospective survey at a Sydney hospital clinic.

Aim: Nutritional requirements are increased in young people to support growth, and this is particularly critical when pregnancy occurs within young age groups. The aim was to describe nutritional intakes (with particular emphasis on iron and calcium) and selected pregnancy outcomes, in a young antenatal population aged 14-24 years.

Method: A retrospective audit was conducted using 404 records from a young parents' antenatal clinic which included prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), pregnancy weight gain, baby birth weight, nutritional biochemistry, and dietitian assessment of iron and calcium intakes and supplement use.

Impact of non-sugar sweeteners on metabolism beyond sweet taste perception.

Non-sugar sweeteners (NSS), low- or no-calorie alternatives to sugar, are marketed for weight loss and improved blood glucose control in people with diabetes. However, their health effects remain controversial. This review provides a brief overview of sweet taste perception and summarizes experimental findings of the impact of NSS on cardiometabolic health in animal models and humans.

Effects on lymph node size, staging and primary tumor histology on diagnostic accuracy of axillary lymph node aspirate of breast cancers.

Introduction: Fine-needle aspiration cytology is preferred for axillary lymph node metastasis with low costs and minimal risks. To improve diagnostic performance by incorporating clinical-radiological-pathological parameters, a large cohort pre-operative aspirates in were reviewed for parameters affecting adequacy rate and accuracy.

Methods: Axillary nodal aspirates from three institutions with histologic correlation were retrieved.

Quality of life outcomes in patients receiving dental implants in vascularised bone flaps for mandibular reconstruction.

Resection, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of the mandible impact function and health related quality of life (HRQOL). In this study, we aimed to understand the impact of delayed versus immediate dental implant placement. A cross-sectional and prospective study was conducted including patients who underwent reconstruction of the mandible via osseous vascularised bone flaps and dental implants.

Glofitamab plus gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GemOx) versus rituximab-GemOx for relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (STARGLO): a global phase 3, randomised, open-label trial.

Background: Glofitamab monotherapy induces durable remission in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after two or more previous therapies, but has not previously been assessed as a second-line therapy. We investigated the efficacy and safety of glofitamab plus gemcitabine-oxaliplatin (Glofit-GemOx) versus rituximab (R)-GemOx in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Methods: The phase 3, randomised, open-label STARGLO trial was done at 62 centres in 13 countries in Asia and Australia, Europe, and North America.

Baseline Characteristics of Participants in STAREE: A Randomized Trial for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Events and Prolongation of Disability-Free Survival in Older People.

Background: The risk-benefit balance of statin use in healthy older people is uncertain. We describe the baseline characteristics of the STAREE (Statins in Reducing Events in the Elderly) trial, which is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial among community-dwelling older people; the trial evaluated the effect of atorvastatin 40 mg for the prevention of major cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke), and on disability-free survival (survival free of both dementia and persistent physical disability).

Methods And Results: STAREE enrolled people aged ≥70 years from 1583 general practices across Australia with no history of clinical cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or dementia.

Mind the gap in kidney care: Translating what we know into what we do.

Historically, it takes an average of 17 years to move new treatments from clinical evidence to daily practice. Given the highly effective treatments now available to prevent or delay kidney disease onset and progression, this is far too long. The time is now to narrow the gap between what we know and what we do.

Effect of aspirin on biomarker profile in women at high risk for preeclampsia.

Background: There is limited evidence in the literature regarding the temporal changes of preeclampsia-related biomarkers during pregnancy in high-risk women who develop preeclampsia despite the administration of aspirin prophylaxis.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the temporal changes in mean arterial pressure, uterine artery pulsatility index, placental growth factor, and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 across gestation in women identified as having high risk for preterm preeclampsia receiving aspirin prophylaxis and low-risk women without aspirin treatment.

Study Design: This was a prospective longitudinal nested case-control study of 2007 women with singleton pregnancies who participated in the first-trimester screen-and-prevent program for preeclampsia at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, between January 2020 and May 2023.

Traditional Chinese medicine FYTF-919 (Zhongfeng Xingnao oral prescription) for the treatment of acute intracerebral haemorrhage: a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, clinical trial.

Background: There are few proven treatments for acute spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage, and they all target reducing expansion of the haematoma. The traditional Chinese medicine FYTF-919 (Zhongfeng Xingnao) in an oral solution is comprised of several Chinese herbs that are widely used to treat patients with intracerebral haemorrhage in China on the understanding that they enhance resorption of the haematoma and reduce neuroinflammation. We aimed to provide a reliable assessment of the safety and efficacy of FYTF-919 in patients with moderate to severe acute intracerebral haemorrhage.