Current status of immunisation for herpes zoster.

Herpes zoster (HZ) is increasingly common in the aging and is experienced by approximately one in three people in their lifetime. It is also relatively common in immune-compromised people. Acute HZ causes severe pain, reduced quality of life and severe complications, including prolonged pain, or postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), and ocular zoster, which may rarely progress to blindness.

Novel digital droplet inverse PCR assay shows that natural clearance of Hepatitis B infection is associated with fewer viral integrations.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA integration into the host cell genome is reportedly a major cause of liver cancer, and a source of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). High HBsAg levels can alter immune responses which therefore contributes to the progression of HBV-related disease. However, to what extent integration leads to the persistent circulating HBsAg is unclear.

Homologous recombination deficiency in ovarian cancer: Global expert consensus on testing and a comparison of companion diagnostics.

Background: Poly (ADP ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) are a treatment option for patients with advanced high-grade serous or endometrioid ovarian carcinoma (OC). Recent guidelines have clarified how homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) may influence treatment decision-making in this setting. As a result, numerous companion diagnostic assays (CDx) have been developed to identify HRD.

Bivalent Omicron BA.1 vaccine booster increases memory B cell breadth and neutralising antibodies against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Background: Current literature informs us that bivalent vaccines will generate a broader serum neutralizing antibody response to multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants, but studies on how this breadth relates to the memory B cell (MBC) and T cell responses are sparse. This study compared breadth of neutralising antibody, and memory B and T cell responses to monovalent or a bivalent ancestral/Omicron BA.1 COVID-19 booster vaccine.

ECG-gated retinal vessel calibre as a novel measure of aberrant pulsatile retinal flow in diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study.

Purpose: To evaluate ECG-gated retinal vessel calibre as a novel measure of aberrant pulsatile retinal flow in diabetes mellitus.

Methods: A novel mydriatic ECG-gated fundoscope was used to acquire retinal vessel calibre measurements at four cardiac cycle time points from end diastole to early diastole. An inhouse software recorded the exact time when an image was captured to corroborate ECG-synchronisation.

Breaching the Barrier: Investigating Initial Herpes Simplex Viral Infection and Spread in Human Skin and Mucosa.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is sexually transmitted via the anogenital mucosa where it initially infects epidermal keratinocytes and mononuclear phagocytes (MNPs). It then spreads to the dorsal root ganglion via sensory nerve endings, to remain latent for life with periodic reactivation. Currently, there is no cure or vaccine.

Telehealth Use and Legal Considerations in Drug Health Services During Pandemics: Systematic Scoping Review.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted patients with substance use disorder (SUD) more than the general population and resulted in substantially increased emergency department admissions. Routine care of patients attending drug health services during the pandemic transitioned, with telehealth being important in delivering appropriate care. However, telehealth introduces unique risks such as privacy, confidentiality, and data safety.

Immunological and molecular features of the tumor microenvironment of long-term survivors of ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUNDDespite an overall poor prognosis, about 15% of patients with advanced-stage tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) survive 10 or more years after standard treatment.METHODSWe evaluated the tumor microenvironment of this exceptional, understudied group using a large international cohort enriched for long-term survivors (LTS; 10+ years; n = 374) compared with mid-term (MTS; 5-7.99 years; n = 433) and short-term survivors (STS; 2-4.

Antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococci spp. isolates from bloodstream infections in Australian children, 2013 - 2021.

Background: Rising proportions of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) have been observed in both Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus spp. isolates.

Methods: The Australian Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AGAR) surveillance program captures clinical and microbiological data of isolates detected in blood cultures across Australia.

Antimicrobial resistance in Enterobacterales, Acinetobacter spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from bloodstream infections in Australian children, 2013-2021.

Background: Gram-negative bloodstream infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality in children. Increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is reported globally, yet efforts to track pediatric AMR at a national level over time are lacking.

Methods: The Australian Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AGAR) surveillance program captures clinical and microbiological data of isolates detected in blood cultures across Australia.

GDF15 research from bench to bedside.

Pre-clinical data suggest that increased circulating growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a cause of both anorexia/cachexia syndromes and hyperemesis gravidarum in pregnancy, serious conditions with no highly effective treatment. A phase 2 study of a therapeutic GDF15 monoclonal antibody in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that effective treatment of anorexia/cachexia in cancer may be approaching.

Learning from COVID-19: strengthening Australia's research capacity through preparedness and collaboration.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted that preparedness for and responsiveness to pandemics requires public health platforms and processes which are nimble and evidence-based and a research ecosystem which is rapidly responsive to the evolving needs of society and decision-makers. The national BEAT COVID-19 research consortium was funded in 2020 by the Snow Medical Research Foundation (Snow Medical). Its Expert Advisory Committee met with the consortium post-pandemic to summarise the research undertaken and to consider lessons learned through the research response to COVID-19 in Australia.

Longitudinal Evaluation of Individuals With Severe Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Pi∗ZZ Genotype).

Background & Aims: Homozygous Pi∗Z mutation in alpha-1 antitrypsin (Pi∗ZZ genotype) predisposes to pulmonary loss-of-function and hepatic gain-of-function injury. To facilitate selection into clinical trials typically targeting only 1 organ, we systematically evaluated an international, multicenter, longitudinal, Pi∗ZZ cohort to uncover natural disease course and surrogates for future liver- and lung-related endpoints.

Methods: Cohort 1 recruited 737 Pi∗ZZ individuals from 25 different centers without known liver comorbidities who received a baseline clinical and laboratory assessment as well as liver stiffness measurement (LSM).

Metabolic (dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease metrics and contributions to liver research.

Background: The international consensus to revise non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to metabolic (dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in 2020 attracted significant attention. The impact of the MAFLD definition on the research community has not been objectively assessed. We conducted an analysis of systematically collected literature on MAFLD to understand its research impact.

Hepatitis B Viral Protein HBx: Roles in Viral Replication and Hepatocarcinogenesis.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major public health concern worldwide, with approximately 296 million individuals chronically infected. The HBV-encoded X protein (HBx) is a regulatory protein of 17 kDa, reportedly responsible for a broad range of functions, including viral replication and oncogenic processes. In this review, we summarize the state of knowledge on the mechanisms underlying HBx functions in viral replication, the antiviral effect of therapeutics directed against HBx, and the role of HBx in liver cancer development (including a hypothetical model of hepatocarcinogenesis).

OPTimising MEDicine information handover after Discharge (OPTMED-D): protocol for development of a multifaceted intervention and stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background: General practitioners (GP) and community pharmacists need information about hospital discharge patients' medicines to continue their management in the community. This necessitates effective communication, collaboration, and reliable information-sharing. However, such handover is inconsistent, and whilst digital systems are in place to transfer information at transitions of care, these systems are passive and clinicians are not prompted about patients' transitions.

Innate immune cell activation by adjuvant AS01 in human lymph node explants is age independent.

Vaccine adjuvants are thought to work by stimulating innate immunity in the draining lymph node (LN), although this has not been proven in humans. To bridge the data obtained in animals to humans, we have developed an in situ human LN explant model to investigate how adjuvants initiate immunity. Slices of explanted LNs were exposed to vaccine adjuvants and revealed responses that were not detectable in LN cell suspensions.

Efficacy of albumin use in decompensated cirrhosis and real-world adoption in Australia.

The current treatment approach to patients with liver cirrhosis relies on the individual management of complications. Consequently, there is an unmet need for an overall therapeutic strategy for primary and secondary prevention of complications. The clinical potential of long-term albumin infusions supported by recent clinical trials has expanded its indications and holds promise to transform the management and secondary prevention of cirrhosis-related complications.