The role of low subcortical iron, white matter myelin, and oligodendrocytes in schizophrenia: a quantitative susceptibility mapping and diffusion tensor imaging study.

Iron-the most abundant magnetic brain substance-is essential for many biological processes, including dopamine and myelin synthesis. Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) MRI has recently linked altered subcortical magnetic susceptibility (χ) to schizophrenia. Since χ is increased by iron and decreased by myelin, abnormal levels of either could underlie these QSM differences.

The Blind Spot of PSMA-PET Staging? Intraductal Carcinoma of the Prostate Is Overrepresented in Patients With No Uptake Pattern on Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Positron Emission Tomography and High-Grade Prostate Cancer.

Purpose: Prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography (PSMA PET) is increasingly used to diagnose and stage prostate cancer. A PRIMARY score uses anatomical localization and uptake patterns to improve diagnostic accuracy. We evaluated the histopathology of patients with no uptake pattern (PRIMARY score 1) and the prevalence of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) in this subset compared with those with an uptake pattern (PRIMARY score ≥ 2).

Caring for carers of people with advanced cancer at hospital discharge (CARENET): A single-arm open label feasibility trial.

Objectives: Carers are critical to support discharge home from hospital at end of life yet remain under-represented in health service initiatives to assist this transition. A carer-focused intervention embedded into practice may facilitate hospital discharge. This open-labeled, single-arm phase 2 study aimed to determine the feasibility of (1) delivering a multi-staged intervention (CARENET) to carers of advanced cancer patients in a hospital setting and (2) the study design to inform a phase 3 trial.

Persistent progression independent of relapse activity in multiple sclerosis.

Patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) may experience disability progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA), which can be an early sign of secondary progressive MS (SPMS). We defined persistent PIRA as ongoing sustained disability over the entire available follow-up period. However, PIRA events can regress over time.

Cardiovascular Health in Women-Across the Lifespan.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity among women worldwide. However, CVD continues to be perceived as a predominantly male issue. CVD in women therefore remains understudied, underrecognized and undertreated.

Inequities in COVID-19 antiviral dispensation in Victoria, Australia: A retrospective cohort study using linked data.

Background And Objectives: Oral antiviral therapies are recommended for treatment of COVID-19 in people vulnerable to severe outcomes. This study examined COVID-19 antiviral dispensation and incidence of severe outcomes among eligible Victorians by socioeconomic status and cultural and linguistic diversity.

Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted using linked population data.

Perfectionism, and divergent and flexible thinking in anorexia nervosa.

Perfectionism and flexible thinking are frequently reported as impaired in anorexia nervosa (AN), however, the role of perfectionism and cognitive flexibility in eating disorder (ED) symptoms is unclear. Further, it is unclear how individuals with AN may differ in these domains compared to the general community with high or low ED symptoms. Sixty-seven individuals with lifetime AN, 112 community controls with high ED symptoms (high ED-CCs) and 111 community controls with low ED symptoms (low ED-CCs) completed an online survey examining perfectionism, cognitive flexibility, and divergent thinking.

Safety and Efficacy of Perispinal Etanercept for Chronic Stroke: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background And Objectives: Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability. Etanercept, a competitive tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor, has been proposed as a potential treatment for post-stroke impairments when given through a perispinal subcutaneous injection. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of perispinal etanercept in patients with chronic stroke.

Are Virtual Reality Interventions Effective in Improving Outcomes in People with Multiple Sclerosis? A Cochrane Review Summary with Commentary.

BackgroundA wide range of virtual reality (VR) applications are currently used in rehabilitation to support people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) in improving limb function, balance, postural control, gait training, and cognitive abilities. Despite its widespread use, there is a lack of systematic evaluation for the effectiveness of VR in the rehabilitation.ObjectiveCommentary on the systematic review by De Keersmaecker et al.

Implementation of a digital coordination centre in a hospital: a qualitative evaluation of enablers, barriers and strategies.

Background: Digital Coordination Centres (DCCs) represent an innovative approach in hospital settings, designed to enhance patient flow, operational efficiency, and real-time decision-making. While their potential is widely recognised, there is limited understanding of the factors influencing their implementation. This study evaluated the implementation of a DCC in a large Australian hospital, with a focus on identifying enablers, barriers, and strategies for improvement.

Can Abdominoplasty Relieve Symptoms of Urinary Incontinence?

Introduction: Urinary incontinence is a debilitating condition often affecting women after pregnancy or significant weight change. Abdominoplasty is an aesthetic and functional operation often performed in an overlapping cohort. Functional benefits of abdominoplasty include improvements in back pain, urinary incontinence and psychosocial well-being.

Co-design of a personalised physical activity intervention for stroke survivors.

Introduction/ Aims: Incorporating the perspectives of knowledge-users such as stroke survivors into intervention development processes can enhance their relevance and feasibility. The aims of this study were: i) to use co-design to determine "active ingredients" and develop a personalised physical activity intervention for stroke survivors, and ii) to evaluate the co-design process.

Methods: A four-stage integrated knowledge translation approach (involving planning and workshops) was applied to co-design a post-stroke physical activity intervention.

Impact of ASXL1 at diagnosis in patients with CML receiving frontline potent TKIs: high risk of kinase domain mutations.

Genomic profiling in chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) patients demonstrated somatic variants in blood cancer-related genes (CGVs) and rearrangements associated with the formation of the Philadelphia-chromosome (Ph-associated rearrangements) at diagnosis, collectively termed additional genetic abnormalities (AGA). AGAs had a negative impact on failure-free survival and molecular response in imatinib-treated patients. We investigated whether treatment with more potent therapies could overcome the negative impact of AGAs at diagnosis.

HLA-B*15:01-positive severe COVID-19 patients lack CD8 T cell pools with highly expanded public clonotypes.

Understanding host factors driving asymptomatic versus severe disease outcomes is of key importance if we are to control emerging and re-emerging viral infections. HLA-B*15:01 has been associated with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in nonhospitalized individuals of European ancestry, with protective immunity attributed to preexisting cross-reactive CD8 T-cells directed against HLA-B*15:01-restricted Spike-derived S peptide (B15/SCD8 T-cells). However, fundamental questions remained on the abundance and clonotypic nature of CD8 T-cell responses in HLA-B*15:01-positive patients who succumbed to life-threatening COVID-19.

Key stakeholders' perspectives on implementation of risk-based population breast cancer screening in Australia - "We can either get on the bus or get under it".

Background: Risk-based breast cancer screening would be a dramatic shift from the current one-size-fits-all model to a tailored approach where screening modality and frequency is directed by individual risk. This project assesses what key stakeholders, defined as those holding managerial and decision-making roles within BreastScreen, consider the issues are with implementing a risk-based approach to screening.

Methods: A qualitative approach was undertaken, recruiting participants through professional networks with interviews guided by the Consolidated Framework of Implementation Research (CFIR).

Preoperative focused echocardiography on patients with fractured neck of femur. ECHONOF-III trial: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background: Hip fractures are common in older people and are associated with high perioperative mortality. Prompt surgical intervention within the first 48 h of fraction reduces complications; however, surgical urgency often precludes a comprehensive preoperative cardiac evaluation. Preliminary data suggests that performing a focused cardiac ultrasound (FCU) before surgery may reduce postoperative complications.

Neoadjuvant palbociclib in women with operable, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

The addition of a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitor to endocrine therapy augments biological response in breast cancer. This phase III randomized, double-blind study evaluated the efficacy of adding palbociclib to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) for operable, hormone receptor-positive human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer. Patients randomly received 16 weeks of endocrine therapy (letrozole for post-menopausal and tamoxifen plus ovarian function suppression for pre/peri-menopausal patients) plus palbociclib or placebo.

Reduced Brain Iron and Striatal Hyperdopaminergia in Schizophrenia: A Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping MRI and PET Study.

Objective: Neuroimaging studies have independently associated schizophrenia with low iron and elevated dopamine synthesis. While preclinical research demonstrates that midbrain iron deficiency leads to striatal hyperdopaminergia, this relationship has not been studied in schizophrenia. The authors conducted a case-control study to examine differences in tissue magnetic susceptibility, a marker of brain iron, and correlated these with striatal dopamine synthesis capacity.

Genetic Variants, Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease, and Major Health Outcomes in Older Adults.

: Multiple genetic variants have been associated with disease prevalence and outcomes in middle-aged people with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). However, genetic studies in older adults have been lacking. We aimed to understand their clinical relevance in healthy older persons.