Intensified and Accelerated Rescue Infliximab Therapy for Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis in Pregnancy: A Case Report.

Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) in pregnancy poses a clinical challenge with significant risk to both mother and fetus. Anti-TNF alpha therapy is known to be safe in pregnancy, however, data surrounding outcomes in ASUC is limited. In this report, we present the case of a pregnant patient of 10 weeks' gestation with ASUC successfully managed with intensified and accelerated infliximab therapy for a total dose of 35 mg/kg during a single admission.

Activation of the kynurenine pathway identified in individuals with covert hepatic encephalopathy.

Background: HE is a neuropsychiatric complication of liver disease characterized by systemic elevation in ammonia and proinflammatory cytokines. These neurotoxins cross the blood-brain barrier and cause neuroinflammation, which can activate the kynurenine pathway (KP). This results in dysregulated production of neuroactive KP metabolites, such as quinolinic acid, which is known to cause astrocyte and neuronal death.

Aspirin and Hemocompatibility After LVAD Implantation in Patients With Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease: A Secondary Analysis From the ARIES-HM3 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The Aspirin and Hemocompatibility Events With a Left Ventricular Assist Device in Advanced Heart Failure (ARIES-HM3) study demonstrated that aspirin may be safely eliminated from the antithrombotic regimen after HeartMate 3 (HM3 [Abbott Cardiovascular]) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. This prespecified analysis explored whether conditions requiring aspirin (prior percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI], coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG], stroke, or peripheral vascular disease [PVD]) would influence outcomes differentially with aspirin avoidance.

Objective: To analyze aspirin avoidance on hemocompatibility-related adverse events (HRAEs) at 1 year after implant in patients with a history of CABG, PCI, stroke, or PVD.

Advancing Delirium Treatment Trials in Older Adults: Recommendations for Future Trials From the Network for Investigation of Delirium: Unifying Scientists (NIDUS).

Objectives: To summarize the delirium treatment trial literature, identify the unique challenges in delirium treatment trials, and formulate recommendations to address each in older adults.

Design: A 39-member interprofessional and international expert working group of clinicians (physicians, nurses, and pharmacists) and nonclinicians (biostatisticians, epidemiologists, and trial methodologists) was convened. Four expert panels were assembled to explore key subtopics (pharmacological/nonpharmacologic treatment, methodological challenges, and novel research designs).

Advancing Delirium Treatment Trials in Older Adults: Recommendations for Future Trials From the Network for Investigation of Delirium: Unifying Scientists (NIDUS).

Objectives: To summarize the delirium treatment trial literature, identify the unique challenges in delirium treatment trials, and formulate recommendations to address each in older adults.

Design: A 39-member interprofessional and international expert working group of clinicians (physicians, nurses, and pharmacists) and nonclinicians (biostatisticians, epidemiologists, and trial methodologists) was convened. Four expert panels were assembled to explore key subtopics (pharmacological/nonpharmacologic treatment, methodological challenges, and novel research designs).

Brentuximab Vedotin Combination for Relapsed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Purpose: In patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), brentuximab vedotin (BV) as monotherapy or combined with either lenalidomide (Len) or rituximab (R) has demonstrated efficacy with acceptable safety. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of BV + Len + R versus placebo + Len + R in patients with R/R DLBCL.

Methods: ECHELON-3 is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, phase 3 trial comparing BV + Len + R with placebo + Len + R in patients with R/R DLBCL.

Dietary Patterns and Fibre Intake Are Associated with Disease Activity in Australian Adults with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Exploratory Dietary Pattern Analysis.

Background: Few studies have explored the relationship between habitual dietary patterns and disease activity in people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). This cross-sectional study explored the association between dietary patterns and clinical and objective markers of inflammation in adults from the Australian IBD Microbiome Study.

Methods: Dietary patterns were derived using principal component analysis (PCA) of baseline food frequency questionnaire data.

Postoperative Imaging of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors in the Extremity: A Comprehensive Review.

Postoperative imaging of musculoskeletal tumors poses a significant diagnostic challenge for radiologists. The complexity arises from the need to differentiate between expected postoperative changes, potential complications, and local recurrence. The choice of imaging modality depends on the type of primary tumor.

A Comparison of Causative Pathogens in Bone and Prosthetic Joint Infections: Implications for Antimicrobial Therapy.

: The microbiological profile of bone and joint infections is important for determining the empiric choice of both systemic and local antimicrobial therapy. This study assessed whether there was a difference in the bacterial species that were isolated on culture in osteomyelitis (OM), fracture-related infection (FRI) or prosthetic joint infection (PJI). This was a retrospective, observational cohort study of patients who had surgical intervention for PJI or OM or FRI with a positive microbial culture between 2019 and 2022.

Microdissection of Distinct Morphological Regions Within Uveal Melanomas Identifies Novel Drug Targets.

: Uveal melanomas (UMs) are rare but often deadly malignancies that urgently require viable treatment options. UMs often exhibit tumour heterogeneity, with macroscopic and microscopic differences in morphology between different regions of the same tumour. However, to date, the clinical significance of this and how it may help guide personalised therapy have not been realised.

A systematic review of neurocognition and social cognition in body dysmorphic disorder.

Objective: Neurocognitive underpinnings are implicated in the aetiology and maintenance of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD); however, inconsistent findings across a range of neurocognitive domains suggest that a comprehensive synthesis of the literature using a hierarchical framework of neurocognition is needed.

Methods: A final search across OVID Medline, PsycNET, Scopus and Web of Science databases was conducted on 20 June 2024 to identify research that examined performance on behavioural tasks of objective neurocognition in BDD. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Impact of intraprostatic PSMA maximum standardised uptake value following prostatectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the relationship between intraprostatic maximum standardised uptake value (SUV) of the dominant prostatic lesion as measured on preoperative prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) with radical prostatectomy International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) Grade Group, pathological tumour (pT) staging, and biochemical recurrence (BCR).

Methods: Prostate-specific membrane antigen PET may offer non-invasive assessment of histopathological and oncological outcomes before definitive treatment. SUV of the dominant lesion has been explored as a prognostic biomarker.

Use of Cardioprotective Adjuncts in Type 1 Diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is associated with excess cardiovascular risk, even after accounting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, including glycaemia. Hence, there is an urgent need to document the metabolic abnormalities that contribute to the cardiovascular mortality gap in type 1 diabetes, and to examine whether cardioprotective type 2 diabetes medications prevent premature morbidity and mortality in this population.

Small Heart Size and Premature Death in 366,484 Individuals With Normal Ejection Fraction.

Background: In patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), small ventricular size has been associated with reduced functional capacity, but its impact on clinical outcomes is unclear.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between small heart size and premature mortality within a large multicenter adult patient cohort with transthoracic echocardiographic examinations.

Methods: We divided 366,484 individuals with LVEF ≥50% (including a subset of 279,442 individuals with high-normal LVEF ≥60%) by sex and increasing quartiles for LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), LVEDV indexed to body surface area (LVEDVi), and LV end-diastolic diameter to assess associations with 5-year mortality through linkage with the National Death Index.

Feasibility and psychometric quality of smartphone administered cognitive ecological momentary assessments in women with metastatic breast cancer.

Objective: Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is associated with burdensome side effects, including cognitive changes that require ongoing monitoring. Cognitive ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) allow for assessment of individual cognitive functioning in natural environments and can be administered via smartphones. Accordingly, we sought to establish the feasibility, reliability, and validity of a commercially available cognitive EMA platform.

Management of Perianal Fistulizing Crohn's Disease According to Principles of Wound Repair.

Background: Perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease (PFCD) is a challenging and debilitating phenotype of Crohn's disease that can negatively affect quality of life. Studies have begun to uncover the physiologic mechanisms involved in wound repair as it relates to PFCD and how aberrations in these mechanisms may contribute to fistula persistence.

Aims: To review the physiologic and pathophysiologic mechanisms of wound repair in PFCD and how specific therapeutic strategies may impact their outcomes.

Acute kidney injury recovery status predicts mortality and cardiorenal outcomes in patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) in the context of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) encompasses a broad spectrum of phenotypes with associated disparate outcomes. We evaluate the impact of 'ongoing AKI' on prognosis and cardiorenal outcomes and describe predictors of 'ongoing AKI'.

Methods: A prospective multicentre observational study of patients admitted with ADHF requiring intravenous furosemide was completed, with urinary angiotensinogen (uAGT) measured at baseline.

Pre-Hospital ECPR cost analysis and cost effectiveness modelling study.

Background: The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is increasing. Prehospital ECPR (PH-ECPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) may improve both equity of access and outcomes but its cost effectiveness has yet to be determined.

Methods: Cost analyses of PH-ECPR was performed utilizing current PH-ECPR trial, NSW Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry (CAR), geospatial modelling and in-hospital costings data.

A new protocolised treatment strategy optimising medical and surgical care leads to improved healing of Crohn's perianal fistulas.

Background & Aims: Crohn's perianal fistula healing rates remain low. We evaluated the efficacy of a protocolised multidisciplinary treatment strategy optimising care in adults with Crohn's perianal fistulas.

Methods: A new treatment strategy was established at a single tertiary centre.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis after intrathecal administration of nusinersen.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is an uncommon sequela of low intracranial pressure, which may result from a lumbar puncture (LP). We describe a case of a patient in their 40s presenting with 48 hours of persistent headache following intrathecal administration of nusinersen for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 3. There were no focal neurological signs or symptoms apart from baseline symmetrical proximal limb weakness attributed to SMA.

The effectiveness of antenatal education on improving labour and birth outcomes - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The World Health Organisation has suggested antenatal education be integrated within standard antenatal care. However, evidence for the impact of antenatal education varies. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated randomised controlled trial evidence regarding the influence of antenatal education on labour and birth outcomes.

High-Speed Video Blink Analysis Improves Detection of Facial Palsy in Early Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Introduction/aims: Electrophysiological investigations in early Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) can be nondiagnostic. Improved testing for facial weakness in the early phase of GBS may improve diagnostic processes, as such weakness is found in approximately 50% of patients with GBS. This work pilots the utility of high-speed video analysis to complement blink reflex testing in early GBS.

Management of psoriasis in women 18 to 45 years of age in Australia and Japan: insights from patient and dermatologist surveys.

Background: A psoriasis (PSO) diagnosis may pose specific treatment challenges for women of childbearing age (WoCBA) who are considering pregnancy, are pregnant, or have just given birth.

Objective: To report perspectives of WoCBA with PSO regarding pregnancy and dermatologists about the disease management of these women in Australia and Japan.

Methods: Online surveys were completed by women aged 18 to 45 years who were pregnant within the past 5 years with moderate to severe PSO and dermatologists.