RESCUE - Rapid, Effective, Safe Communication in Emergency Departments: A cross-sectional e-survey.

Background: Effective staff-to-staff and patient-provider communication in the Emergency Department (ED) is essential for safe, quality care. Routine wearing of Personal-Protective-Equipment (PPE) has introduced new challenges to communication. We aimed to understand the perspectives of ED staff about communicating while wearing PPE, and to identify factors contributing to communication success, breakdown, and repair.

Coupling of response biomarkers between tumor and peripheral blood in patients undergoing chemoimmunotherapy.

Platinum-based chemotherapy in combination with anti-PD-L1 antibodies has shown promising results in mesothelioma. However, the immunological mechanisms underlying its efficacy are not well understood and there are no predictive biomarkers to guide treatment decisions. Here, we combine time course RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with pre-treatment tumor transcriptome data from the single-arm, phase 2 DREAM trial (N = 54).

Dimensional early life adversity and anxiety symptoms: A network analysis and longitudinal study.

Background: Accumulating literature has found a close relation between early life adversity (ELA) and anxiety. However, previous studies did not rule out the high co-occurrence of different types of ELA when exploring the association of ELA and anxiety. In the present study, we carried out network analysis based on a cross-sectional sample and longitudinal sample to investigate the relationship between ELA and anxiety symptoms in non-clinical populations over time.

Outliers of Treatment Frequency in Retinal Vein Occlusion: 24-Month Comparative Analysis of Fight Retinal Blindness! Practitioners.

Background: We aimed to describe a 2-year outcome of eyes managed by practitioners benchmarked using a funnel plot by their frequency of treatment using vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors for naive retinal vein occlusion (RVO).

Methods: A multicentre, international, observational study of 29 doctors in 12 countries managing 1110 eyes with RVO commencing VEGF inhibitors between 1 January 2012-2022 tracked in the Fight Retinal Blindness! registry.

Results: We identified 3 outlying 'intensive' practitioners (managing 350/1110 eyes [32%]), 22 'typical' practitioners (604/1110, [54%]) and 4 outlying 'relaxed' practitioners (156/1110, [14%]) with respective 24-month outcomes in Branch and Central RVO including the primary outcome, mean adjusted change in visual acuity (VA) in BRVO: +16.

A comparison of the accuracy and feasibility of a low-cost mobile application versus higher-cost handheld 3D scanner for digital ear prosthetics.

Background: Facial prosthetics are an important means to rehabilitate patients with congenital or acquired facial defects. However, with a time-consuming manual workflow and workforce shortage, access to facial prosthetics is limited in Australia and worldwide, especially for rural and remote patients. Optical 3D scanning has been increasingly integrated in digitizing data.

Novel Insights into Enhanced Stability of Li-Rich Layered and High-Voltage Olivine Phosphate Cathodes for Advanced Batteries through Surface Modification and Electron Structure Design.

The design of cathode/electrolyte interfaces in high-energy density Li-ion batteries is critical to protect the surface against undesirable oxygen release from the cathodes when batteries are charged to high voltage. However, the involvement of the engineered interface in the cationic and anionic redox reactions associated with (de-)lithiation is often ignored, mostly due to the difficulty to separate these processes from chemical/catalytic reactions at the cathode/electrolyte interface. Here, a new electron energy band diagrams concept is developed that includes the examination of the electrochemical- and ionization- potentials evolution upon batteries cycling.

Perioperative Changes in Serum Transaminases Levels Predicts Long-Term Survival Following Liver Resection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: We sought to define whether and how hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) as manifested by perioperative aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) levels impact long-term outcomes after curative-intent resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Patients And Methods: Intrasplenic injection of HCC cells was used to establish a murine model of HCC recurrence with versus without I/R injury. Patients who underwent curative resection for HCC were identified from a multi-institutional derivative cohort (DC) and separate external validation (VC) cohort.

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Australia's myasthenia gravis patients: A self-reported survey study.

Introduction/aims: Previous studies have demonstrated high morbidity and mortality in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) who acquired COVID-19. We aimed to identify the impact of the pandemic on MG disease control, treatment and quality of life.

Methods: A prospective observational cohort study was conducted to identify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Australian patients with MG.

Koala MHCII association with chlamydia infertility remains equivocal: a need for new research approaches.

Chlamydiosis is a common infectious disease impacting koalas and is a major cause of population decline due to resulting mortality and infertility. Polymorphisms of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes influence chlamydial disease outcomes in several species but koala studies have produced variable results. We aimed to identify the MHC II DAB and DBB repertoire of koalas from Liverpool Plains, NSW, a population heavily impacted by chlamydiosis.

Pseudo-linkage or real-linkage of rust resistance genes in a wheat-Thinopyrum intermedium translocation line.

We analysed the chromosomal structures of two wheat-Thinopyrum intermedium addition lines Z4 and Z5 and resolved the linkage relationship between the leaf rust and stripe rust resistance genes in Z4. Wheat addition lines Z4 and Z5 carrying rust resistance genes from Thinopyrum intermedium (JJJJStSt, 2n = 6x = 42) together with three wheat lines involved in the production of these addition lines were analysed by rust response, 90K SNP genotyping, and molecular cytogenetic analysis. Seedling leaf rust (LR) responses to five diverse pathotypes indicated that the LR resistance gene(s) was located in translocation chromosome T3DS-3AS.

Modeling peak ground acceleration for earthquake hazard safety evaluation.

This paper presents a ground motion prediction (GMP) model using an artificial neural network (ANN) for shallow earthquakes, aimed at improving earthquake hazard safety evaluation. The proposed model leverages essential input variables such as moment magnitude, fault type, epicentral distance, and soil type, with the output variable being peak ground acceleration (PGA) at 5% damping. To develop this model, 885 data pairs were obtained from the Pacific Engineering Research Center, providing a robust dataset for training and validation.

Constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) functions as a tumor suppressor via regulating stemness in liver cancer.

Constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) is a xenosensor that is almost exclusively expressed in the liver. Studies in rodents suggest an oncogenic role for CAR in liver cancer, but its role in human liver cancer is unclear. We aimed to investigate the functional roles of CAR in human liver cancer with a focus on the liver cancer stem cells.

A qualitative exploration of perioperative subjective experiences of colorectal cancer patients undergoing fast-track surgery.

Colorectal cancer significantly impacts patient quality of life and burdens healthcare systems globally. Fast-track surgery (FTS) aims to alleviate some of these impacts by expediting recovery and reduce the physiological stress associated with traditional surgical approaches. Despite the clinical efficiency of FTS, there exists a gap in the literature concerning patients' subjective experiences during the perioperative period.

Applications of artificial intelligence in current pharmacy practice: A scoping review.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI), a branch of computer science, has been of growing research interest since its introduction to healthcare disciplines in the 1970s. Research has demonstrated that the application of such technologies has allowed for greater task accuracy and efficiency in medical disciplines such as diagnostics, treatment protocols and clinical decision-making. Application in pharmacy practice is reportedly narrower in scope; with greater emphasis placed on stock management and day-to-day function optimisation than enhancing patient outcomes.

Insight into a multifunctional potassium channel Kv1.3 and its novel implication in chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), a global public health problem, causes substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Innovative therapeutic strategies to mitigate the progression of CKD are needed due to the limitations of existing treatments. Kv1.

Implementing digital respiratory technologies for people with respiratory conditions: A protocol for a scoping review.

The value of 'data-enabled', digital healthcare is evolving rapidly, as demonstrated in the COVID-19 pandemic, and its successful implementation remains complex and challenging. Harmonisation (within/between healthcare systems) of infrastructure and implementation strategies has the potential to promote safe, equitable and accessible digital healthcare, but guidance for implementation is lacking. Using respiratory technologies as an example, our scoping review process will capture and review the published research between 12th December 2013 to 12th December 2023.

Anti-VEGF therapy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy in Kearns-Sayre syndrome.

Purpose: Multiple mitochondrial syndromes, such as Kearns-Sayre, involve the concurrence of diabetes mellitus and inherited pigmentary retinopathy. It is rare, however, for proliferative disease to develop in these patients as existing inner retinal dysfunction is thought to be protective.

Methods: To our knowledge this is the first description of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in Kearns-Sayre syndrome.

Extreme Heat Stress and Unplanned Hospital Admissions.

Objectives: The burden and health impact of heat stress on child hospitalization is limited. This study aims to investigate associations between extreme heat stress exposure based on a Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), emergency department (ED) visits, and ED visits that translate into unplanned hospital admissions.

Methods: This population-based case-crossover study included all ED visits and unplanned hospital admissions among children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 years from New South Wales, Australia, from July 2001 to June 2020.

Demographics of Feline Lymphoma in Australian Cat Populations: 1705 Cases.

Lymphoma is the most common haematopoietic cancer in cats with few large studies evaluating breed and sex as risk factors for the disease. Australia's geographic isolation and quarantine rules have led to a potentially restricted genetic pool and, currently, there have not been any large local epidemiological studies reported. A total of 1705 lymphoma cases were identified from several sources and compared to a reference population of 85,741 cats, and represent cats that are presented to veterinary clinics.

The Role of Pharmacists in Minimizing the Risk Inherent in Unbundled Telehealth Services: A 12-Month Retrospective Case Study.

Pharmacists have often been viewed as the last line of defence against prescription errors in traditional care models. Although a large number of chronic care patients are using telehealth services to increase their access to continuous care, researchers have yet to investigate prescription safety in such settings in Australia. The absence of this literature is particularly concerning in the context of the Australian Government's admission in a 2024 report that the national health system has not adequately addressed the World Health Organization's 'Medication without harm' objective.

The Lack of Effect of Botulinum Toxin-A on Upper Limb Activity in Chronic Stroke: A Short Report from the InTENSE Trial.

We examined the effect of botulinum toxin-A on upper limb impairments and activity limitations in chronic stroke. This study is a secondary analysis of control group data from a national, multicenter, Phase III randomized trial with a masked outcome assessment. We studied 71 stroke survivors who received a botulinum toxin-A injection in any muscle(s) that crosses the wrist due to significant spasticity after a stroke greater than 3 months previously.

New Concepts in Musculoskeletal Medicine.

The clinical relevance of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) continues to rise due to an ageing population and changes in lifestyle, and consequently this wide range of diseases and injuries remains a leading contributor to disability on a global scale [...