Guideline-Concordant Antibiotic Treatment for Hospitalised Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia and Clinical Outcomes at a Tertiary Hospital in Australia.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a major cause of hospitalisation and death, particularly among older and frail adults. Although treatment guidelines exist, adherence to empiric antibiotic recommendations is variable. This study examined whether receiving guideline-concordant antibiotics for CAP was associated with better short- and long-term clinical outcomes.

Impact of comorbidity patterns on mortality and length of stay in hospitalized patients with atrial fibrillation: a cohort study.

Background: Latent Class Analysis (LCA) is an unsupervised clustering and analytical approach to identify subgroups of people with similar characteristics within a heterogenous population. We examined patterns of comorbidities in people with atrial fibrillation (AF) admitted to hospital using LCA and their relationship with 12-month mortality and length of hospitalisation.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using hospital data from Flinders Medical Centre, a major tertiary public hospital in Southern Adelaide (South Australia), covering a period of 10 years (2009-2018).

Clinical Instability at Discharge and Post-Discharge Outcomes in Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia: An Observational Study.

: Clinical stability within 24 h prior to discharge is a key metric for safe care transitions in hospitalised patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). However, its association with post-discharge outcomes, particularly readmissions, remains underexplored. This study assessed whether clinical instability before discharge is associated with 30-day mortality, readmissions, or a composite of both in hospitalised CAP patients.

A controlled comparative study of the effects of methotrexate and pharmacogenetic factors on arterial blood pressure and arterial stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Observational studies have shown that methotrexate, a conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (csDMARD), is associated with lower arterial blood pressure (BP) and may reduce cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, it remains unclear whether a cause-and-effect relationship exists between the use of methotrexate and blood pressure reduction.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a controlled comparative study of treatment-naïve newly diagnosed RA patients commenced on subcutaneous methotrexate (Group 1,  = 31, age 57 ± 15 years, 65% females, Disease Activity Score-28 - C-reactive protein, DAS28-CRP = 4.

Prevalence of inpatient blood pressure elevations in Australian hospitalised patients and analysis of associated factors.

Background: Hypertension is a significant cardiovascular risk factor. While community hypertension is well studied, inpatient hypertension remains poorly understood with limited epidemiological data in Australian cohorts. We therefore investigated the prevalence and factors associated with inpatient systolic blood pressure (SBP) elevations, defined as SBP ≥140 mmHg using Australian data.

Prevalence and characteristics of potentially avoidable unplanned readmissions: a retrospective cohort study.

ObjectiveUnplanned readmissions are key indicators of hospital care quality, yet research on potentially avoidable unplanned readmissions (PAURs) remains limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, causes, and predictors of PAURs in an Australian tertiary hospital.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included all unplanned readmissions to a general medicine unit between 1 July and 30 September 2022, in South Australia.

Potential therapeutic effects of zinc and copper chlorophyllins in viral respiratory infections: recent developments and future directions.

Zinc and copper are essential trace elements that regulate immunity and inflammation, with antiviral effects that may help combat respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. These effects include reducing cytokine storms and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, zinc and copper uptake is limited by homeostasis mechanisms, reducing their effectiveness.

Performance of Machine Learning Models in Predicting 30-Day General Medicine Readmissions Compared to Traditional Approaches in Australian Hospital Setting.

: Hospital readmissions are a key quality metric impacting both patient outcomes and healthcare costs. Traditional logistic regression models, including the LACE index (Length of stay, Admission type, Comorbidity index, and recent Emergency department visits), are commonly used for readmission risk stratification, though their accuracy may be limited by non-linear interactions with other clinical variables. This study compared the predictive performance of non-linear machine learning (ML) models with stepwise logistic regression (LR) and the LACE index for predicting 30-day general medicine readmissions.

Diagnostic Stratification of Prostate Cancer Through Blood-Based Biochemical and Inflammatory Markers.

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains one of the most prevalent malignancies in men, with diagnostic challenges arising from the limited specificity of current biomarkers, like PSA. Improved stratification tools are essential to reduce overdiagnosis and guide personalized patient management. This study aimed to identify and validate clinical and hematological biomarkers capable of differentiating PCa from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and precancerous lesions (PL) using univariate and multivariate statistical methods.

Asymmetric Dimethylarginine: A Never-Aging Story.

Human aging is intrinsically associated with the onset and the progression of several disease states causing significant disability and poor quality of life. Although such association was traditionally considered immutable, recent advances have led to a better understanding of several critical biochemical pathways involved in the aging process. This, in turn, has stimulated a significant body of research to investigate whether reprogramming these pathways could delay the progression of human ageing and/or prevent relevant disease states, ultimately favoring healthier aging process.

Multidimensional prognostic index domain phenotypes identified using latent class analysis and mortality in the European Study of Older Subjects With Atrial Fibrillation (EUROSAF).

Background: The multidimensional prognostic index (MPI), an established tool to predict adverse outcomes, classifies frailty using an aggregate-weighted tripartite scoring system based on 8 domains (low, moderate, or severe risk). However, this approach may fail to capture specific patient phenotypes that can be characterized by separate MPI domains and for whom health outcome risk also differs.

Objective: We sought to identify latent patient phenotypes based on MPI domain data and to determine their association with mortality in older patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic alterations in older people: what we know so far.

Introduction: Healthcare professionals face increasing challenges when managing older patients, a group characterized by significant interindividual variability in comorbidity patterns, homeostatic capacity, frailty status, cognitive function, and life expectancy. Complex therapeutic decisions may increase the risk of inappropriate polypharmacy, drug-drug, and drug-disease interactions in the context of age-associated pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic alterations, with consequent drug accumulation and toxicity.

Areas Covered: This state-of-the-art narrative review article summarizes and critically appraises the results of original research studies and reviews published in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, from inception to 9 April 2025, on age-associated changes in critical organs and systems and relevant pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic alterations.

A retrospective study on factors related to in-hospital mortality among patients with COVID-19, March 2020 to November 2021.

Introduction: Four years since the pandemic was declared, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains an important cause of illness around the world. Although many countries were able to overcome the health crisis at its peak, there are still individuals at high risk of a severe course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, it is important to continue research on the factors that could predict disease severity and adverse outcomes.

Associations between plasma and urinary heavy metal concentrations and the risk of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with incidence rates projected to double between 2020 and 2040. This growing health challenge highlights the need for improved diagnostic strategies and risk assessment tools to better understand disease etiology and progression. Among environmental factors, heavy metals have been implicated in inflammation and carcinogenesis, yet their specific role in prostate disease remains insufficiently explored.

sCD40 and sCD40L as candidate biomarkers of rheumatic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis with meta-regression.

Unlabelled: There is an ongoing search for novel biomarkers to enhance diagnosing and monitoring patients with rheumatic diseases (RDs). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the potential role of the soluble cluster of differentiation 40 (sCD40) and sCD40 ligand (sCD40L), involved in humoral and cellular immune response, as candidate biomarkers of RDs. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus from inception to 30 June 2024 for studies investigating circulating sCD40 and sCD40L concentrations in RD patients and healthy controls.

Current knowledge on the mechanisms underpinning vasculogenic mimicry in triple negative breast cancer and the emerging role of nitric oxide.

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is the process by which cancer cells form vascular-like channels to support their growth and dissemination. These channels lack endothelial cells and are instead lined by the tumour cells themselves. VM was first reported in uveal melanomas but has since been associated with other aggressive solid tumours, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Role of Blood Cell Indexes in Progresses to ESRD.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a complex health condition characterized by the gradual loss of renal function, often leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). It results from a combination of medical, environmental, and genetic factors. Predicting the rate of renal function decline and effectively managing the progression to ESRD is challenging in clinical practice.

Patterns of Dietary Fatty Acids and Fat Spreads in Relation to Blood Pressure, Lipids and Insulin Resistance in Young Adults: A Repeat Cross-Sectional Study.

Determining whether dietary fatty acids and the use of fat spreads are associated with cardiovascular risk factors is difficult due to the multicollinearity of fatty acids and the consumption of multiple spread types. We applied clustering methodologies using data on 31 different fatty acids and 5 different types of fat spreads (high fat: butter, blended butters, and margarines; lower fat: polyunsaturated and monounsaturated) and investigated associations with blood pressure, serum lipid patterns and insulin resistance in the Raine Study Gen2 participants in Western Australia, at 20 and 22 years of age. Amongst n = 785 participants, there were eight distinct clusters formed from the fatty acid data and ten distinct clusters formed from the fat spread data.

Periostin and rheumatic diseases: early insights from a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Periostin regulates angiogenesis, inflammation, and fibrosis, key processes in the pathophysiology of rheumatic diseases (RDs). However, its association with RDs has not been assessed. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting circulating periostin in RD patients and healthy controls.

Endothelin-1 as a Candidate Biomarker of Systemic Sclerosis: A GRADE-Assessed Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis With Meta-Regression.

Background: There is an ongoing search for novel biomarkers of vascular dysfunction, extent of fibrosis and organ involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Objectives: We critically appraised the studies investigating the circulating concentrations of endothelin-1 in SSc patients and healthy controls.

Design: This was a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Osteopontin in rheumatic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Osteopontin (OPN), a glycoprotein involved in immune regulation and inflammation, is a potential candidate biomarker for rheumatic diseases (RDs). However, variability across studies limits its clinical utility. This meta-analysis evaluated OPN concentrations in RD patients compared to healthy controls and explored sources of heterogeneity.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of pteridines in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Alterations in specific pteridine metabolites, particularly neopterin, biopterin, and tetrahydrobiopterin have been reported in mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and other types of dementia. However, the available evidence regarding such alterations has not been comprehensively and critically appraised.

Methods: We systematically reviewed studies reporting the concentrations of biopterin, tetrahydrobiopterin, and neopterin in different biological fluids in patients with mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia, and healthy controls.