Mitral valve replacement versus repair for severe mitral regurgitation in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.

Objective: This study compares early and long-term outcomes following mitral valve (MV) repair and replacement in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods: Patients with primary or secondary MR and LVEF <50% who underwent MV replacement or repair (with/without atrial septal defect closure and/or atrial fibrillation ablation) between 2005 and 2017 at our center were retrospectively analyzed using unadjusted and propensity score matching techniques (42 pairs).

Results: A total of 356 patients with either primary (n = 162 [45.

Insights into Interlayer Dislocation Augmented Zinc-Ion Storage Kinetics in MoS Nanosheets for Rocking-Chair Zinc-Ion Batteries with Ultralong Cycle-Life.

Increasing attention to sustainability and cost-effectiveness in energy storage sector has catalyzed the rise of rechargeable Zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs). However, finding replacement for limited cycle-life Zn-anode is a major challenge. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS), an insertion-type 2D layered material, has shown promising characteristics as a ZIB anode.

Intertwined people-nature relations are central to nature-based adaptation to climate change.

Adaptation to climate change is a social-ecological process: it is not solely a result of natural processes or human decisions but emerges from multiple relations within social systems, within ecological systems and between them. We propose a novel analytical framework to evaluate social-ecological relations in nature-based adaptation, encompassing social (people-people), ecological (nature-nature) and social-ecological (people-nature) relations. Applying this framework to 25 case studies, we analyse the associations among these relations and identify archetypes of social-ecological adaptation.

Development and formative evaluation of website-based tool to support healthy lifestyles in family day care.

Issue Addressed: Nutrition and physical activity practices in Australian family day care are suboptimal. A web-based tool was co-developed with family day care service providers and educators, health promotion staff and the New South Wales Ministry of Health to promote healthier nutrition and physical activity practices through an existing quality improvement process.

Methods: Formative evaluation was conducted in January-February 2023.

Pre-screening donor eligibility to avoid a deferral in the blood donation center: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: The application of a temporary deferral when attempting to donate has a negative impact on retention. Little has been done to reduce the likelihood of a donor attending to donate, only to be found to be ineligible. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of pre-screening donors when making an appointment, to prevent in-center deferrals.

Application of Dragonnet and Conformal Inference for Estimating Individualized Treatment Effects for Personalized Stroke Prevention: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Stroke is a major cause of death and disability worldwide. Identifying individuals who would benefit most from preventative interventions, such as antiplatelet therapy, is critical for personalized stroke prevention. However, traditional methods for estimating treatment effects often focus on the average effect across a population and do not account for individual variations in risk and treatment response.

Pharmacological Vitamin C-induced high HO generation mediates apoptotic cell death by caspase 3/7 activation in breast cancer tumor spheroids.

Background: Pharmacological vitamin C (Vit-C), or high-dose Vit-C has recently gained attention as a potential cancer therapeutic. However, the anticancer activity of Vit-C has not been investigated in realistic 3D models of human cancers, especially with respect to breast cancer (BC), and its potential benefits remain under debate. Herein, we investigate the activity and mechanism of action of pharmacological Vit-C on two BC tumor spheroids.

Awareness of cardiovascular disease risk and care received among Australian women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Current research suggests that general practitioners are unaware of women's HDP history, and although ideally placed to follow-up with these women, there is limited understanding of current CVD prevention practices in women after HDP. Additionally, preeclampsia confers a higher CVD risk compared to other types of HDP, and Australian research suggests that lower socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with a higher incidence of both HDP and CVD.

Longitudinal strain enhancement and bending deformations in piezoceramics.

Piezoelectric materials directly convert between electrical and mechanical energies. They are used as transducers in applications such as nano-positioning and ultrasound imaging. Improving the properties of these devices requires piezoelectric materials capable of delivering a large longitudinal strain on the application of an electric field.

Dynamic supramolecular snub cubes.

Mimicking the superstructures and properties of spherical biological encapsulants such as viral capsids and ferritin offers viable pathways to understand their chiral assemblies and functional roles in living systems. However, stereospecific assembly of artificial polyhedra with mechanical properties and guest-binding attributes akin to biological encapsulants remains a formidable challenge. Here we report the stereospecific assembly of dynamic supramolecular snub cubes from 12 helical macrocycles, which are held together by 144 weak C-H hydrogen bonds.

Evaluation of clinical risk stratification to determine benefit from long-term versus short-term androgen deprivation in high-risk localized prostate cancer.

Background: Patients treated with RT and long-term androgen deprivation therapy (ltADT) for high-risk localized prostate cancer (HRLPC) with 1 high-risk factor (any of Gleason ≥8, PSA > 20 ng/mL, ≥cT3; "high-risk") have better outcomes than those with 2-3 factors and/or cN1 disease ("very high risk"). We evaluated whether this risk stratification could determine benefit from ltADT versus short-term (stADT).

Methods: The Intermediate Clinical Endpoints in Cancer of the Prostate (ICECaP) repository of randomized trials was queried to identify eligible patients and trials.

The gut-brain axis underlying hepatic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis.

Up to 50-70% of patients with liver cirrhosis develop hepatic encephalopathy (HE), which is closely related to gut microbiota dysbiosis, with an unclear mechanism. Here, by constructing gut-brain modules to assess bacterial neurotoxins from metagenomic datasets, we found that phenylalanine decarboxylase (PDC) genes, mainly from Ruminococcus gnavus, increased approximately tenfold in patients with cirrhosis and higher in patients with HE. Cirrhotic, not healthy, mice colonized with R.

One-quarter of freshwater fauna threatened with extinction.

Freshwater ecosystems are highly biodiverse and important for livelihoods and economic development, but are under substantial stress. To date, comprehensive global assessments of extinction risk have not included any speciose groups primarily living in freshwaters. Consequently, data from predominantly terrestrial tetrapods are used to guide environmental policy and conservation prioritization, whereas recent proposals for target setting in freshwaters use abiotic factors.

Sulfide-rich continental roots at cratonic margins formed by carbonated melts.

The cratonic crust contains abundant mineral deposits of metals such as gold, copper and rare earths and is underlain by a thick mantle lithosphere rich in the volatiles carbon, sulfur and water. Although volatiles are known to be key components in metallogenesis, how and where they are distributed in the cratonic lithosphere mantle and their role in the initial enrichment of metals have not been sufficiently explored. Here we compile sulfur and copper contents of global cratonic peridotites, identifying sulfide-rich and copper-rich continental roots at depths of 160-190 km at cratonic margins.

Enriching surgical theatre competence through computer-based simulation.

Introduction: Radiographers support the multidisciplinary team by facilitating medical imaging within the operating theatre environment. This project aimed to enhance student readiness for clinical competency in operative theatre imaging by implementing an authentic C-arm simulator for students to use prior to attending clinical placement.

Methods: This study followed a pre-post, quantitative study design.

AGITG MONARCC: A Randomized Phase 2 Study of Panitumumab Monotherapy and Panitumumab Plus 5-Fluorouracil as First-Line Therapy for Older Patients With RAS and BRAF Wild Type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. A Study by the Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group (AGITG).

Background: Panitumumab (pan) plus chemotherapy is a preferred first-line therapy for unresectable RAS and BRAF wild type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Older patients may not be suitable for combination regimens. We investigated 2 lower intensity pan-containing regimens.

Reducing postoperative blood product usage and costs in cardiothoracic surgery: the implementation of a multispecialty perioperative care model incorporating a haemostasis checklist.

Transfusion of blood products following cardiothoracic surgery represents a significant proportion of national blood product usage, has significant cost implications and is associated with increased 30-day mortality. Following identification of an increase in blood product use, we implemented a healthcare improvement initiative using a perioperative care model and establishment of a new multispecialty cardiothoracic surgery taskforce to further define and tackle the problem. The initiative incorporated a bundle of preoperative identification of high-risk patients, an intraoperative haemostasis checklist, a programme of unit education focussing on bleeding postbypass and use of thromboelastography and introduction of postoperative protocols for identification and escalation of bleeding.

Cost-effectiveness of toripalimab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer in China: a societal perspective.

Background: To investigate the cost-effectiveness of toripalimab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients from a societal perspective.

Methods: A partitioned-survival model estimated the costs and cost-effectiveness of toripalimab plus chemotherapy versus standard chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC over 20 years. Clinical data were derived from the CHOICE-01 trial, and cost and utility inputs were gathered from Yaozh.

Children's views on outdoor advertising of unhealthy food and beverages near schools.

Children are often exposed to unhealthy outdoor food advertisements during the school commute. This exposure can have negative public health consequences given childhood weight gain has been linked to the marketing of energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods. This study aimed to explore schoolchildren's lived experiences and attitudes towards outdoor advertising surrounding their schools.

Risk factors associated with postpartum anxiety in Australia, Europe, and North America: A systematic review and narrative synthesis.

Background: Reducing the prevalence and consequences of anxiety following childbirth (postpartum anxiety) is a strategic priority in the UK and many similar nations; a comprehensive review of risk factors can support the development of interventions and guide further research.

Methods: This registered systematic review was guided by 'Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses' (PRISMA) and analysed using 'Synthesis Without Meta-analysis' (SWiM) to answer the question; 'What factors have been reported to increase the risk of maternal postpartum anxiety (PPA) in Australia, Europe, and North America?'. MEDLINE and PsycINFO were searched for relevant research from Australia, Europe, and North America, published up to July 2021.

Enhanced oral absorption and biodistribution to submandibular salivary glands of D-limonene in Sprague Dawley rats via a liquid-lipid formulation approach.

Decreased saliva production due to salivary gland damage can result in difficulty speaking and swallowing, significantly reducing quality of life for head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. It is therefore imperative that treatment options are available to mitigate the effects of these debilitating side effects. D-limonene, a naturally occurring terpene, has shown protective effects on saliva production during radiotherapy treatment of mice, however the lipophilic nature of the molecule has necessitated a high oral dose to facilitate sufficient absorption.

GLITTRE-ADL TESTS IN THREE LAPS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE FIVE LAPS TEST.

Background: The Glittre-ADL test is a comprehensive test to evaluate functional capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Aim: The primary aim was to validate the Glittre-ADL test with and without the backpack performed in three laps as an alternative of five laps in people with COPD.

Methods: Forty-eight participants with mild to severe COPD (mean±SD age: 71±7 years; FEV: 46 ± 17 %predicted) were recruited and performed two six-minute walk tests (visit 1); two Glittre-ADL tests with backpack (visit 2), and the Glittre-ADL test with and without the backpack, in random order (visit 3).

Region of Birth Differences in Medication Adherence Among Patients with Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack.

Background And Purpose: Cultural and language barriers may affect quality of care, such as adherence to medications. We examined whether adherence to prevention medications within the year after stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) differed by region of birth.

Methods: An observational study of adults with stroke/TIA admitted to hospitals in the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (Queensland, Victoria; 2012-2016; n=45 hospitals), with linked administrative data.