A phase 3 randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of mirtazapine as a pharmacotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder: a study protocol for the Tina Trial.

Background: There are no approved pharmacotherapies for methamphetamine use disorder. Two preliminary phase 2 randomised controlled trials have found mirtazapine, a tetracyclic antidepressant, to be effective in reducing methamphetamine use. The proposed Tina Trial is the first phase 3 placebo-controlled randomised trial to examine the effectiveness and safety of mirtazapine as an outpatient pharmacotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder.

High-content analysis of proteostasis capacity in cellular models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Disrupted proteome homeostasis (proteostasis) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been a major focus of research in the past two decades. However, the proteostasis processes that become disturbed in ALS are not fully understood. Obtaining more detailed knowledge of proteostasis disruption in association with different ALS-causing mutations will improve our understanding of ALS pathophysiology and may identify novel therapeutic targets and strategies for ALS patients.

Perceived nutrition needs of people experiencing disadvantage in utilizing support services: An Australian case study.

Individuals experiencing socio-economic disadvantage face higher rates of food insecurity and health disparities. This study explored the perceptions, attitudes, and knowledge of individuals providing nutrition services, and users of these services, to identify nutrition needs and inform potential strategies for addressing diet-related health inequities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted utilizing a phenomenological approach to explore lived experiences, beliefs, and perceptions influencing nutrition-related health.

Bispectral Index monitoring of palliative sedation for home withdrawal of tracheostomy ventilation: A case report.

Background: Tracheostomy ventilation in motor neurone disease is an uncommon life-sustaining treatment. Best practice is having a plan for ventilation withdrawal, but the literature to guide practice is limited. Case reports have documented standard doses of opioids and benzodiazepines used for sedation in such cases.

Sociodemographic and Health Factors of the Alcohol Treatment-seeking Population in New South Wales, Australia.

Objectives: Although factors associated with alcohol use have been researched at a population level, descriptions of the alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment-seeking population in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, are limited. This study addresses this gap by analyzing sociodemographic and health characteristics in the NSW AOD treatment-seeking population.

Methods: Self-reported Australian Treatment Outcomes Profile data on substance use, health ratings, and sociodemographic factors were acquired from public AOD services (offering services from counseling to ambulatory/inpatient withdrawal management) in 6 administrative health districts from 2016 to 2019 (n = 14,287).

The Impact of Sensory Modulation Interventions on Practice in Acute Inpatient Mental Health Settings: A Meta-Ethnography.

This review explores the transformative impact of sensory modulation interventions in acute inpatient mental health care setting utilising meta-ethnography. The methodology by Noblit & Hare guided the approach to creating the review. Searches of articles published within the previous 10 years were conducted in Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, and PsycINFO.

Ending HIV Transmission in Australia: Expanding PrEP to Cisgender Women: A Scoping Review.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) availability through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme provides real potential for the elimination of HIV transmission in Australia, as evidenced by a rapid decline in HIV incidence among gay and bisexual men (GBM). However, HIV elimination will not be possible without also extending PrEP to other populations, including cisgender women. We conducted a scoping review to examine the extent to which PrEP access for cisgender women has been considered in Australia.

Preferences of people with chronic kidney disease regarding digital health interventions that promote healthy lifestyle: qualitative systematic review with meta-ethnography.

Objectives: Diet and physical activity are crucial for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to maintain good health. Digital health interventions can increase access to lifestyle services. However, consumers' perspectives are unclear, which may reduce the capacity to develop interventions that align with specific needs and preferences.

Microplastic accumulation in groundwater: Data-scaled insights and future research.

Given that microplastics (MPs) in groundwater have been concerned for risks to humans and ecosystems with increased publications, a Contrasting Analysis of Scales (CAS) approach is developed by this study to synthesize all existing data into a hierarchical understanding of MP accumulation in groundwater. Within the full data of 386 compiled samples, the median abundance of MPs in Open Groundwater (OG) and Closed Groundwater (CG) were 4.4 and 2.

Factors associated with experiencing stigma, discrimination, and negative health care treatment among people who inject drugs.

Introduction: Stigma has negative consequences for the health of people who inject drugs and people living with hepatitis C virus (HCV). This study evaluated factors associated with stigma related to injecting drug use (IDU) or HCV and those associated with being treated negatively by health workers.

Methods: ETHOS Engage is an observational cohort study of people who inject drugs attending drug treatment clinics and needle and syringe programs in Australia.

Advances in long-read single-cell transcriptomics.

Long-read single-cell transcriptomics (scRNA-Seq) is revolutionizing the way we profile heterogeneity in disease. Traditional short-read scRNA-Seq methods are limited in their ability to provide complete transcript coverage, resolve isoforms, and identify novel transcripts. The scRNA-Seq protocols developed for long-read sequencing platforms overcome these limitations by enabling the characterization of full-length transcripts.

Effects of the nursing practice environment, nurse staffing, patient surveillance and escalation of care on patient mortality: A multi-source quantitative study.

Background: A favourable nursing practice environment and adequate nurse staffing have been linked to reduced patient mortality. However, the contribution of nursing care processes such as patient surveillance and escalation of care, on patient mortality is not well understood.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the nursing practice environment, nurse staffing, missed care related to patient surveillance and escalation of care on 30-day inpatient mortality.

A summary of the 2023 Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (SOMANZ) hypertension in pregnancy guideline.

Introduction: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) affect up to 10% of all pregnancies annually and are associated with an increased risk of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. This guideline represents an update of the Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (SOMANZ) guidelines for the management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy 2014 and has been approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) under section 14A of the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992. In approving the guideline recommendations, NHMRC considers that the guideline meets NHMRC's standard for clinical practice guidelines.

Association between plant-based diet quality and chronic kidney disease in Australian adults.

Objective: To examine associations between three different plant-based diet quality indices, chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence and related risk factors in a nationally representative sample of the Australian population.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis. Three plant-based diet scores were calculated using data from two 24-h recalls: an overall plant-based diet index (PDI), a healthy PDI (hPDI) and an unhealthy PDI (uPDI).

Life, death, and statins: association of statin prescriptions and survival in older general practice patients.

Aims: This study serves as an exemplar to demonstrate the scalability of a research approach using survival analysis applied to general practice electronic health record data from multiple sites. Collection of these data, the subsequent analysis, and the preparation of practice-specific reports were performed using a bespoke distributed data collection and analysis software tool.

Background: Statins are a very commonly prescribed medication, yet there is a paucity of evidence for their benefits in older patients.

Development of an emergency department end of life care audit tool: A scoping review.

Introduction: Emergency departments frequently care for patients at the end of life and should have robust processes for reviewing delivery of care. The aim of this scoping review is to examine and collate the chart audit tools available to assess the quality of end of life care of patients who die in the emergency department, or, in the subsequent hospital admission.

Methods: A scoping review of the literature using the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines, and the methodological framework outlined by Arksey and O'Malley was conducted.

Examining the impact of a paediatric trauma family support service on the quality of life of injured children: A longitudinal cohort study.

Purpose: We describe and evaluate the introduction of a trauma family support service (TFSS) in an Australian tertiary paediatric hospital.

Design And Methods: A longitudinal mixed-methods cohort study evaluated the effectiveness of the TFSS on quality of life. PedsQL4.

The development and structural validity testing of the Person-centred Practice Inventory-Care (PCPI-C).

Background: Person-centred healthcare focuses on placing the beliefs and values of service users at the centre of decision-making and creating the context for practitioners to do this effectively. Measuring the outcomes arising from person-centred practices is complex and challenging and often adopts multiple perspectives and approaches. Few measurement frameworks are grounded in an explicit person-centred theoretical framework.

Digital Apps to Improve Mobility in Adults with Neurological Conditions: A Health App-Focused Systematic Review.

The provision of mobility exercises through a smartphone application (app) for people undertaking neurological rehabilitation may improve mobility outcomes. However, it is difficult for clinicians and consumers to select high-quality, appropriate apps. This review aimed to identify (1) which mobile health (mHealth) apps are suitable for prescribing mobility exercises for adults with neurological health conditions, (2) how well these apps incorporate telehealth strategies, and (3) how well these apps rate in terms of quality and capacity for behaviour change.

Management of loperamide-related opioid use disorder with buprenorphine within an Australian context: A case report.

Loperamide is an over-the-counter peripheral mu-opioid agonist commonly used to manage diarrhoea. When taken in an excessive dose, loperamide's penetration of the central nervous system increases, leading to euphoria, respiratory depression and other opioid effects. A health warning was released in the United States in 2016 with increased reports of excessive loperamide use leading to cardiac conduction abnormalities such as ventricular tachycardia, prolonged QTc and Torsades des Pointes.

An investigation of allied health and medical clinicians' viewpoint on prosthetic rehabilitation and cognition.

Purpose: To explore the factors that influence clinicians (occupational therapists, physiotherapists, vascular surgeons, and rehabilitation medicine physicians) when prescribing prosthetic rehabilitation. Additionally, the study aimed to gain insight into clinicians' perspectives regarding the role of patient cognition in prosthetic rehabilitation.

Materials And Methods: This research constitutes one segment of a broader action research study which was undertaken in 2022.

Serratus Anterior Plane Blocks for Early Rib Fracture Pain Management: The SABRE Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Rib fractures secondary to blunt thoracic trauma typically result in severe pain that is notoriously difficult to manage. The serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) is a regional anesthesia technique that provides analgesia to most of the hemithorax; however, SAPB has limited evidence for analgesic benefits in rib fractures.

Objective: To determine whether the addition of an SAPB to protocolized care bundles increases the likelihood of early favorable analgesic outcomes and reduces opioid requirements in patients with rib fractures.

Investigation of the quality and health literacy demand of online information on pelvic floor exercises to reduce stress urinary incontinence.

Background: Many women are embarrassed to discuss pelvic floor exercises with health professionals during pregnancy; instead they search the internet for information on pelvic floor exercises.

Aims: This project investigated the quality and health literacy demand in terms of readability, understandability and actionability of information available on the internet relating to pelvic floor exercises.

Materials And Methods: An analysis was conducted on 150 websites and 43 videos obtained from three consecutive Google searches relating to pelvic floor exercises.