Nurses' Views on Barriers to Oral Care in Non-Mechanically Ventilated Patients in the Intensive Care Unit: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Optimal oral care is essential in preventing non-ventilator hospital-associated pneumonia and enhancing patient comfort. However, nurses' clinical oral care practices for patients not on mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit are both underreported and understudied.

Aim: To explore intensive care nurses' clinical oral care practices for patients not on mechanical ventilation in intensive care units.

One-Step Radical α-α Coupling Accesses Helical Near-Infrared 3-Pyrrolyl Boron Dipyrromethene Dimers.

The direct α-α coupling of 3-pyrrolyl boron dipyrromethenes (BODIPYs) affords helical near-infrared (NIR)-active dimers in one step via a radical Pd-catalyzed process. X-ray analysis reveals Z-type helical packing stabilized by π-π stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions. These dimers showed pronounced bathochromic absorption shifts compared to monomers and solvent-dependent charge-transfer bands up to 905 nm with fluorescence quenching.

Antibiotic Therapy for Pyelonephritis in the Emergency Department.

Objectives: Acute pyelonephritis (APN) is a common diagnosis among patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED). It is treated by empiric antibiotics within the ED. With a rise in antimicrobial resistance globally, it is unknown whether patients are being managed with empiric antibiotics that are appropriate for the causative organisms of APN.

Knowledge and Perceptions of Hepatitis B in Immigrant Populations: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Research.

An estimated 254 million people live with hepatitis B worldwide, with only 13% of people diagnosed and 3% receiving antiviral treatment. Without timely treatment, people with hepatitis B risk developing liver damage and liver cancer. In countries like Australia, where most people with hepatitis B are born in countries with higher prevalence, it is important that the knowledge and perceptions of hepatitis B in immigrant populations are explored to improve engagement in care.

The Hypometabolic State of the Migraine Brain: Is a Ketogenic Diet the Answer?

Background: Migraine pathophysiology involves a constellation of metabolic abnormalities. These interlinked contributory factors include mitochondrial dysfunction, an altered gut microbiome, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, weight imbalance, and altered glucose metabolism. The ketogenic diet is an emerging therapy which may restore hypometabolism seen in chronic migraine.

Long-Lived Charge-Transfer State and Interfacial Lock in Double-Cable Conjugated Polymers Enable Efficient and Stable Organic Solar Cells.

The donor/acceptor (D/A) interfaces in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells (OSCs) critically govern exciton dissociation and molecular diffusion, determining both efficiency and stability. Herein, we design a double-cable conjugated polymer, SC-1F, to insert into a physically-blended D/A system to optimize the interface. We have found that SC-1F spontaneously segregates to the interface through favorable miscibility and heterogeneous nucleation with the acceptor.

Socioeconomic inequalities and trends in self-reported hypertension and antihypertensive medication use in Australia between 2009 and 2021: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

This study examined trends in the proportion of adults with self-reported hypertension and in antihypertensive medication use among community-dwelling Australian adults. We analysed data from a longitudinal panel study, covering four waves: 2009 (n = 8023), 2013 (n = 11,475), 2017 (n = 12,843), and 2021 (n = 14,571) for adults aged 18-74 years. Hypertension and antihypertensive medication use were self-reported.

Academic leadership careers are not limited to scientific research.

Early career researchers (ECRs) are often faced with uncertainty about their professional futures, a challenge exacerbated by the increasing pressures within the academic research landscape. As ECRs navigate their next steps in science, mentorship is crucial, particularly as they face points of decision-making and possible career diversions from the traditional postdoctoral-to-professor pathway. In response to these challenges, the second iteration of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Immunology (ASI) Mentor-Mentee Program aimed to provide mentorship and training to ECRs about academic career pathways in research and education to bridge the professional communities, values and advice of these two often independent career choices.

Adults with chronic low back pain hold negative beliefs towards running: a mixed methods study.

Objectives: To explore differences in beliefs towards running in adults with and without chronic low back pain.

Design: This convergent mixed methods cross-sectional study compared adults with chronic low back pain (n = 39) to pain-free adults with a history of chronic low back pain (n = 28) and a low back pain naive control group (n = 71).

Methods: Beliefs towards running (activity specific beliefs questionnaire; range: 1-4 points), pain intensity (101-point visual analogue scale), disability (Oswestry Disability Index), and habitual physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) were analysed.

A comparison of a transdermal eutectic lidocaine/prilocaine cream and subcutaneous lidocaine injection prior to jugular vein catheterization in horses: a randomized crossover study.

Objective: To compare horses' aversive behavioural responses to the application of 5% prilocaine/lidocaine eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics (EMLA) cream versus subcutaneous infiltration of 2% lidocaine, followed by jugular vein catheterization.

Study Design: Blinded, randomized study.

Animals: A group of 26 university-owned research horses.

Association of intraoperative end-tidal CO levels with postoperative outcomes: a patient-level analysis of two randomised clinical trials.

Background: The relationship between intraoperative end-tidal CO (etCO) levels and postoperative outcomes remains unclear. We conducted a post hoc analysis of two randomised trials in adults undergoing major surgery under general anaesthesia.

Methods: We re-analysed individual participant data comparing high or low positive end-expiratory pressure with low tidal volume intraoperative ventilation using a merged database derived from two randomised trials in non-obese (PROVHILO: ISRCTN70332574) and obese (PROBESE: NCT02148692) patients.

Reported use of implementation science theories, models, and frameworks in 151 implementation trials: secondary analysis of a systematic review targeting nursing practice.

Background: Theories, models, and frameworks (TMFs) are central to the development and evaluation of implementation strategies supporting evidence-based practice (EBP). However, evidence on how and to what extent TMFs are used in implementation trials remains limited.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the nature and extent of TMF use in implementation trials, identify which TMFs are most frequently employed, and explore temporal trends in their use.

Self-censorship: should scientific journals decline to publish self-experimentation?

A virologist recently made headlines after successfully using an experimental form of oncolytic virotherapy to treat her own recurrent breast cancer. This case has come at a time when regulators are increasingly having to grapple with the proliferation of self-experimentation outside of accredited research institutions. There is, therefore, a pressing need to outline the key ethical dimensions of self-experimentation and to develop ethical guidance for journals that may be faced with decisions about whether to publish research involving self-experimentation.

Influences on the mental health and well-being of retired professional athletes from high contact team sports: a mixed methods systematic review.

Objective: To report the prevalence of mental health symptoms and influencing factors in retired professional high contact team sport (HCTS) athletes.

Design: Mixed-methods systematic review.

Data Sources: PsycINFO, Embase, Medline, SPORTDiscus and Scopus were searched in July 2023 and March 2025.

Aseptic technique in clinical nursing settings: a scoping review.

Introduction: Aseptic technique forms a component of Standard Precautions and is a foundational concept in nursing practice. The application of that standard appears to vary between context and nurse. The variation of principles and application between facilities and individuals may reflect the current disparity in evidence-based literature.

Interpretable machine learning model for characterizing magnetic susceptibility-based biomarkers in first episode psychosis.

Background And Purpose: Several studies have shown changes in neurochemicals within the deep-brain nuclei of patients with psychosis. These alterations indicate a dysfunction in dopamine within subcortical regions affected by fluctuations in iron concentrations. Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) is a method employed to measure iron concentration, offering a potential means to identify dopamine dysfunction in these subcortical areas.

Automated detection of pediatric congenital heart disease from phonocardiograms using deep and handcrafted feature fusion.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common type of birth defect, impacting about 1% of live births worldwide. Echocardiography, the gold-standard diagnostic method, is costly and inaccessible in low-resource settings. Diagnosis is delayed due to limited skilled experts, whose ability to interpret pathological patterns varies significantly, causing inter- and intra-clinician variability.

How is power reflected in the patient centred care literature? A critical review of power in the centredness literature through a social science lens.

Patient-centredness is a key component of high-quality healthcare. A critical part of centredness is the sharing of power within the practitioner-patient relationship. Yet, there has been little reflection on how power, shared power and empowerment are reflected in healthcare literature about centredness.

Evaluating the completeness of postoperative endoscopic recurrence assessment in Crohn's disease patients with Kono-S anastomoses.

Background And Aims: Despite therapeutic advances, resection rates in Crohn's disease remain high. Kono-S is a novel anastomosis for ileocolonic resections; however, its altered configuration may challenge standard endoscopic assessment, particularly in the absence of validated scoring tools. This study evaluated the endoscopic assessment of Kono-S anastomosis anatomy and recurrence stratification using Rutgeert's score.

The PROtective VEntilation (PROVE) Network - advancing research and collaboration in mechanical ventilation.

The PROtective VEntilation (PROVE) Network is a globally-recognized collaborative research group dedicated to advancing research, education, and collaboration in the field of mechanical ventilation. Established to address critical questions in intraoperative and intensive care ventilation, the network focuses on improving outcomes for patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in diverse settings, including operating rooms, intensive care units, burn units, and resource-limited environments in low- and middle-income countries. The PROVE Network is committed to generating high-quality evidence through a comprehensive portfolio of investigations, including randomized clinical trials, observational research, and meta-analyses.

Sexual Identity Development Milestones, Latent Profiles, and Proximal Minority Stressors in Australia's Generation Z.

This study examined the sequence and timing of sexual identity development (SID) milestones among Generation Z LGBTQ+ Australians, focusing on variations across subgroups and their relationship with minority stressors. The study included 490 Australian LGBTQ+ individuals aged 16 to 26, predominantly White ( = 389) and assigned female at birth ( = 402), with a balanced distribution between cisgender and gender-diverse participants. Demographic differences in the timing and achievement of SID milestones were found for sexual and gender identity.

Effect of Aspirin on Grip Strength and Gait Speed in Community-Dwelling Older Adults in the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) Study.

Background: Grip strength and gait speed are key markers of physical functional capacity and general health in older people. This study aimed to examine the effect of low-dose aspirin on hand-grip strength and habitual gait speed in relatively healthy older people.

Methods: The ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) trial randomized 19,114 community-dwelling Australians and U.

AmpliconTyper - a tool for analysing ONT multiplex PCR data from environmental and other complex samples.

Amplicon sequencing is a popular method for understanding the diversity of bacterial communities in samples containing multiple organisms as exemplified by 16S rRNA sequencing. Another application of amplicon sequencing includes multiplexing both primer sets and samples, allowing sequencing of multiple targets in multiple samples in the same sequencing run. Multiple tools exist to process the amplicon sequencing data produced via the short-read Illumina platform, but there are fewer options for long-read Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing, or for processing data from environmental surveillance or other sources with many different organisms.

High-Intensity Exercise and Hippocampal Integrity in Adults With Cannabis Use Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug, with 10% to 30% of regular users developing cannabis use disorder (CUD), a condition linked to altered hippocampal integrity. Evidence suggests high-intensity interval training (HIIT) enhances hippocampal structure and function, with this form of physical exercise potentially mitigating CUD-related cognitive and mental health impairments.

Objective: To determine the impact of a 12-week HIIT intervention on hippocampal integrity (ie, structure, connectivity, biochemistry) compared with 12 weeks of strength and resistance (SR) training in CUD.