Hydroxychloroquine in combination with platinum doublet chemotherapy as first-line treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (Study 15): A randomised phase II multicentre trial.

Background: Most patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) present with extensive-stage (ES) disease and have a poor prognosis despite achieving high initial response rates to platinum-based doublet chemotherapy. This study evaluated whether adding hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to chemotherapy could improve outcomes.

Methods: This was a randomised multicentre phase II trial.

Adult-onset dysphagia.

Background: Dysphagia, characterised by a difficulty in swallowing, stems from various causes and is frequently encountered in general practice. The rise in dysphagia in Australia's ageing population necessitates proper management to prevent complications. Recognising and managing dysphagia improves outcomes and quality of life, and reduces secondary complications.

Median arcuate ligament syndrome: When to consider the diagnosis and management options.

Background: Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) occurs due to extrinsic compression of the coeliac plexus, leading to postprandial and exercise-induced epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, food fear and weight loss. Diagnosis can be challenging as up to 25% of the population have radiological compression. However, only 1% of the population have corresponding symptoms.

"1-800-Help-Me-With-Open-Science-Stuff": A Qualitative Examination of Open Science Practices in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the perceptions of communication sciences and disorders (CSD) assistant professors in the United States related to barriers and facilitators to engaging in open science practices and identify opportunities for improving open science training and support in the field.

Method: Thirty-five assistant professors (16 from very high research activity [R1] institutions, 19 from institutions with other Carnegie classifications) participated in one 1-hr virtual focus group conducted via Zoom recording technology. The researchers used a conventional content analysis approach to analyze the focus group data and develop categories from the discussions.

Semaglutide Inducing Resolution of Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: A Case Report.

To describe a case of regression of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) following treatment with semaglutide. Case report. The case describes a 47-year-old woman with Type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia who had difficulty controlling her blood sugar levels despite oral hypoglycaemic medications.

An interprofessional multicomponent intervention to improve end-of-life care in intensive care: A before-and-after study.

Background: The provision of end-of-life care (EOLC) is an ongoing component of practice in intensive care units (ICUs). Interdisciplinary, multicomponent interventions may enhance the quality of EOLC for patients and the experience of family members and ICU clinicians during this period.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of a multicomponent intervention on EOLC practices in the ICU and family members' and clinicians' perceptions of EOLC.

Current Trends in Treating Malignant Pleural Effusion: Evidence, Guidelines, and Best Practice Recommendations.

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is common in individuals with cancer and typically reflects advanced disease. Most cases are symptomatic, with dyspnea and pain having a severe effect on the patient's quality of life (QOL). The management of MPE aims to relieve symptoms, improve QOL, prevent repeated pleural interventions, and minimize hospital admissions.

Hypophosphataemia in Critical Illness: A Narrative Review.

Phosphate is a predominately intracellular anion that has several key roles in normal cellular functions. Derangements in serum phosphate concentration occur frequently during critical illness, particularly hypophosphataemia, which has been reported in up to 75% of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients. The association between hypophosphataemia and ICU outcomes reported in the literature are conflicting and and subject to substantial confounding.

Rates of colorectal cancer diagnosis and mortality in people with severe mental illness: results from Australia's National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.

Aims: Studies show that people with severe mental illness (SMI) have a greater risk of dying from colorectal cancer (CRC). These studies mostly predate the introduction of national bowel cancer screening programmes (NBCSPs) and it is unknown if these have reduced disparity in CRC-related mortality for people with SMI.

Methods: We compared mortality rates following CRC diagnosis at colonoscopy between a nationally representative sample of people with and without SMI who participated in Australia's NBCSP.

HLA typing in anti-GAD antibody associated epilepsy.

Objective: Anti-GAD65 antibodies have been identified in people with epilepsy for many years, but their pathophysiological relevance is still debated. Susceptibility to autoimmune disease has been associated with Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) subtypes. Therefore, this study aimed to determine if there are common HLA types in anti-GAD65 antibody associated epilepsy cases compared to epilepsy controls.

How do residential aged care antibiograms compare with other local resistance data?

Background: Antibiograms can optimize empirical antibiotic prescribing; however, they are not readily available for residential aged care facilities (RACFs) in Queensland, Australia. This study aimed to determine whether alternatively available data can be used to approximate resistance patterns for RACFs.

Methods: Annual RACF-specific antibiograms were compared with local hospital antibiograms accessed through pathology providers.

Nocturnal short-term HRV reflects impaired daytime vigilance better than overnight HRV in suspected OSA patients.

In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), heart rate variability (HRV) decreases and performance in psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) worsens with more severe hypoxic load. Nevertheless, the association between HRV and PVT performance is poorly understood. Thus, we hypothesize that nocturnal short-term HRV is better related to daytime psychomotor vigilance compared to overnight HRV.

Chest Wall Injury Society recommendations for long-term follow-up after nonoperatively and operatively managed traumatic rib and sternal fractures.

Systematic Review/Meta-analysis; Level IV.

Comparable achievement of workplace performance of student and graduate nurses: A quantitative cohort evaluation.

Aim: This study explored the achievement of workplace capabilities synonymous with nursing practice. It investigated progressive development of workplace performance, against requisite standards of practice, of corresponding cohorts of student nurses during their final year placement and registered nurses during their graduate year, in south-eastern Queensland, Australia.

Background: A capable nursing workforce is vital for the provision of safe, quality health care.

A prospective study of acute propranolol overdose defining dose thresholds of severe toxicity (ATOM - 9).

Introduction: Propranolol is a beta-adrenoceptor blocking drug with sodium channel-blocking properties that can cause life-threatening toxicity in overdose. Limited research defines dose thresholds of toxicity. We aimed to investigate propranolol overdose and dose thresholds for severe toxicity.

Prevalence and Outcomes of Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Pruritus: International Results from Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study.

Key Points: CKD-associated pruritus is highly prevalent among peritoneal dialysis patients. Pruritus is associated with reduced health-related quality of life, and the composite of mortality and transfer to hemodialysis for peritoneal dialysis patients. Efforts to better identify and manage pruritus in this population are needed.

Real world delays in antivenom administration: patient, snake or hospital factors (ASP-33).

Objective: Early antivenom administration is essential for effective treatment. We investigated the delays in antivenom administration.

Methods: We reviewed snakebites from the Australian Snakebite Project (2006-2021) given antivenom, presenting to hospital within 12 h.

The Operative Treatment of Sternoclavicular Joint Dislocations in Adults: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review aimed to assess the literature on the treatment modalities used for acute sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) dislocation injuries. We aimed to review the clinical outcomes following these modalities by assessing functional scores, range of motion (ROM), patient satisfaction, complications, and revisions. A thorough literature search was conducted on four databases (Cochrane Library, Embase, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar) for studies published from January 2000 to May 2024 that focused on surgical treatment of sternoclavicular joint dislocation in patients over the age of 18 years.

Isometric shoulder strength: Normative Australian population data and associated factors.

Background: Age and sex are known predictors of isometric shoulder strength and therefore must be accounted for when noting strength values or administering assessments such as the Constant Score. Given the popularity of the Constant Score, it is important to ensure protocols and values remain clinically relevant and are representative of the intended population.

Method: Isometric shoulder strength was recorded for 511 participants without shoulder pathology using the Chatillon hand-held dynamometer.

Effect of patient-contextual skin images in human- and artificial intelligence-based diagnosis of melanoma: Results from the 2020 SIIM-ISIC melanoma classification challenge.

Background: While the high accuracy of reported AI tools for melanoma detection is promising, the lack of holistic consideration of the patient is often criticized. Along with medical history, a dermatologist would also consider intra-patient nevi patterns, such that nevi that are different from others on a given patient are treated with suspicion.

Objective: To evaluate whether patient-contextual lesion-images improves diagnostic accuracy for melanoma in a dermoscopic image-based AI competition and a human reader study.