Long-term safety and efficacy of Oleogel-S10 (birch bark extract) in epidermolysis bullosa: 24-month results from the Phase III EASE Study.

Background: Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of rare, severe, genetic disorders characterised by persistent skin fragility and open wounds. EB manifests as cutaneous and mucosal blistering, erosions and impaired wound healing.

Objectives: To determine the long-term efficacy, tolerability and safety of Oleogel-S10 (birch bark extract) in dystrophic (DEB) and junctional (JEB) EB in the 24-months open-label phase (OLP) of the EASE study.

Therapeutic Potential of Ketogenic Interventions for Autosomal-Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review.

Background: Recent findings have highlighted that abnormal energy metabolism is a key feature of autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Emerging evidence suggests that nutritional ketosis could offer therapeutic benefits, including potentially slowing or even reversing disease progression. This systematic review aims to synthesise the literature on ketogenic interventions to evaluate the impact in ADPKD.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Ultrasound in Intensive Care Patients with Undifferentiated Shock: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Purpose: This systematic review aimed to assess the accuracy of ultrasound in diagnosing shock types among intensive care patients.

Materials And Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register, and Google Scholar was conducted for controlled trials published up to June 2023. Two intensivists independently screened articles for full-text reviews and abstracts, evaluating study quality using the QUADAS-2 tool.

The portrayal of moles in dermatology cartoons.

Media portrayals of medical disorders can influence public beliefs about those disorders. There have been no previous studies about the depiction of dermatological conditions in cartoons. The aim of this study was to describe the portrayal of skin moles in cartoons.

Prognostic value of carcinoembryonic antigen in colorectal adenocarcinoma: expanding hypotheses into clinical practice.

Purpose: This study seeks to resolve a fundamental question in oncology: Why do appendiceal and colorectal adenocarcinomas exhibit distinct liver metastasis rates? Building on our prior hypothesis published in the British Journal of Surgery, our institution has investigated potential DNA mutations within the carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM5) gene's Pro-Glu-Leu-Pro-Lys (PELPK) motif to evaluate its role as a biomarker for liver metastasis risk.

Methods: Partnering with the Australian Genome Research Facility, the PELPK motif of CEACAM5 was analysed in colorectal and appendiceal adenocarcinomas to detect DNA mutations associated with liver metastasis. Additionally, our institution performed the COPPER trial to assess carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in portal versus peripheral blood in patients with appendiceal adenocarcinoma and a systematic review and meta-analysis of 136 studies on CEA's prognostic significance among patients with colorectal and appendiceal adenocarcinoma.

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.

Should an Interval Appendicectomy Be Performed by a Minimally Invasive Gynaecologist?

Objective: We aimed to explore the abnormal pathology findings in appendix specimens removed based on intraoperative abnormal appearance during elective surgery for benign gynaecological conditions by a minimally invasive gynaecologist, as well as the associated complication rate.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary referral surgical centre for benign gynaecological conditions between the years 2004-2023. It included patients who underwent appendicectomy by a trained minimally invasive gynaecologist based on observations during surgery for benign gynaecological conditions.

Mutations of the CEACAM5 Gene PELPK Motif in Patients With Appendiceal or Colorectal Adenocarcinoma.

Background/aim: The study examines whether DNA level mutations in the carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5 (CEACAM5) gene Pro-Glu-Leu-Pro-Lys (PELPK) motif differ between patients with appendiceal or colorectal adenocarcinoma. Significant differences between these two groups in correlation with development of metachronous liver metastases could help in the development of targeted therapies and preventative treatment approaches.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective comparative trial analysed 18 patients, 9 with appendiceal adenocarcinoma and 9 with colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Beyond Seizures: Psychiatric comorbidities in children with epilepsy.

Purpose: Children with epilepsy are at an increased risk of developing psychiatric comorbidities, which exacerbate the overall disease burden. However, these disorders are often underreported in developing countries. This study, conducted in a developing country, aims to evaluate the frequency of psychiatric disorders and associated factors in a large cohort of children with epilepsy.

Unveiling the neglected role of the intensity of acute stress disorder in the prediction of full- and sub-threshold posttraumatic stress disorder: looking beyond the diagnosis.

Purpose: Exposure to traumatic events may lead to the development of Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) within the first month post-trauma in some individuals, while others may not exhibit ASD symptoms. ASD was introduced as a potential early indicator to identify those at higher risk of developing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), however, PTSD can occur in some individuals even without prior ASD. Assessing ASD post-trauma can assist in identifying those who would most benefit from intervention to prevent later PTSD, yet the predictive power of ASD varies across studies, with intensity of ASD symptoms and subthreshold PTSD often less considered.

Reported outcomes following cytoreductive surgery for colorectal peritoneal metastases: A systematic review to inform evidence-based practice and international consensus.

Aim: Cytoreductive surgery provides a chance for long-term survival and cure in selected patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases. As clinical and academic interest in this field increases, heterogeneity in outcome reporting hinders the valid and meaningful synthesis of data into high-quality meta-analyses. The aim of this systemic review was to investigate variability in outcome reporting following cytoreductive surgery with or without intraperitoneal chemotherapy for colorectal peritoneal metastases.

Trends in the surgical management of proximal humerus fractures over the last 20 years from Australian registry databases.

Background: Proximal humerus fractures (PHF) are common with approximately 30% requiring surgical intervention. This ranges from open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) to shoulder arthroplasty (including hemiarthroplasty, total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA)). The aim of this study was to assess trends in operative interventions for PHF in an Australian population.

Independent Validation of a HER2-low Focused IHC Scoring System for Enhanced Pathologist Precision and Consistency.

For two decades the ASCO CAP HER2 testing criteria have included 0 and 1+ scores, but this distinction was inconsequential. Now, based on the DESTINY Breast-04 Trial (DB-04) results, for patients with metastatic breast cancer it underpins eligibility for T-DXd treatment. Discerning 0 from 1+ IHC staining is challenging, as HER2 low is not a biologically distinct cancer subset, there are no reference standards or controls and second-tier tests do not apply.

Clinical Applications of Bone Marrow CD34 Immunohistochemistry (BM CD34 IHC) Assay: International Council for Standardization in Hematology (ICSH) Guidelines.

Introduction: Investigation of bone marrow (BM) trephine biopsies and/or clot sections by CD34 immunohistochemistry (IHC) testing has been used by pathologists for several decades, and its clinical value has been well established with QBEND10 being the most frequently used primary antibody (Ab) clone. However, most other parameters related to the IHC protocol as well as the readout vary widely between clinical laboratories and in the published literature. The ICSH Working Group having reviewed the published evidence has established guidelines that will help to harmonize performance and reporting of CD34 IHC on BM biopsies.

A Novel Porcine Model of Bilateral Hindlimb Bypass Graft Surgery Integrating Transit Time Flowmetry.

Background: Bypass graft surgery is a key surgical intervention for ischemic heart disease (coronary bypass graft surgery) and critical limb ischemia (peripheral bypass graft surgery). Graft occlusion remains a significant clinical problem for both types. Further research into the pathobiological mechanisms of graft occlusion are needed in order to design targeted therapeutic strategies.

Advances of New Extracellular Vesicle Isolation and Detection Technologies in Cancer Diagnosis.

Cancer is a global health issue threatening people's lives. Currently, cancer detection methods still have a lot of room for improvement in both efficiency and accuracy. The development and application of new technologies are urgently required for early cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

A scoping review of participant reported outcome measures assessed during live and simulated surgical procedures.

Background: The study aims to describe current use of participant-reported outcome measures (PROM) to assess stress in surgeons that may impact patient and surgeon wellbeing.

Methods: Medline, Embase, Cochrane library, and clinical trial registries were searched. Articles reporting PROM of stress in live or simulated surgery were included.

Effects of very early hyperoxemia on neurologic outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A secondary analysis of the TTM-2 trial.

Purpose: Hyperoxemia is common in patients resuscitated after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and may increase the risk of mortality. However, the effect of hyperoxemia on functional outcome, specifically related to the timing of exposure to hyperoxemia, remains unclear.

Methods: The secondary analysis of the Target Temperature Management 2 (TTM-2) randomized trial.

Cancer Nursing Frameworks to Guide Clinical Capability, Education and Careers: A Scoping Review of the International Literature.

Aim: This review aimed to provide a current global profile of all existing cancer nursing competency, capability, education and career frameworks and map capabilities and competencies to the clinical, facilitation of education, management and research pillars of practice.

Design: Scoping review.

Data Sources: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Library, Epistemonikos, Google Scholar, Medline, and PubMed.

Sunvozertinib monotherapy in EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor-resistant non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR mutations.

Background: Multiple agents can be used to treat patients with EGFR mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who develop resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), but the clinical outcome was not satisfactory, especially in patients with multiple lines of prior therapies. Therefore, there is an unmet medical need for these patients. Sunvozertinib is an oral, potent, irreversible, and mutant-selective EGFR TKI targeting EGFR mutations with weak activity against wild-type EGFR.

The role of the gastrointestinal microbiome on rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and reactive arthritis: A systematic review.

Background: There is an increasing body of literature observing a state of dysbiosis in the gut microbiome in different autoimmune conditions including inflammatory arthritis. It is unknown whether the microbiome can be a biomarker for prognostication purposes or for stratification of treatment strategies. This review aims to evaluate the existing evidence on the association between the microbiome and inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and reactive arthritis (ReA) population groups.

"It's the Tide of Your Life": A Qualitative Study on Survivor Awareness and Understanding of Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Objective: This paper describes blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) survivors' and carers' knowledge and understanding of BMT and long-term care requirements.

Methods: Semistructured, online interviews with 22 BMT survivors and 6 carers were used to collect qualitative data. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis.