Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Transplant Cell Ther 2021 Jun 7. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

National Centre for Infection in Cancer, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.

Background: Infection related mortality (IRM) is the most common non-relapse mortality reported post allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Information on the incidence and timing of specific infective organisms and the risk factors for IRM is essential to developing prevention strategies.

Objective: This report provides the first account of IRM in adults and children undergoing HCT in Australia. Read More

Clin Colorectal Cancer 2021 May 11. Epub 2021 May 11.

Department of Medical Oncology, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia.

Palliative chemotherapy is the cornerstone of treatment for the majority of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, with the aim of increasing length and quality of life. Although guidelines outline the available treatment options in the first line, they provide limited guidance on choice and intensity of the chemotherapy backbone. Data from the TRIBE and TRIBE2 studies confirm a survival benefit with triplet FOLFOXIRI and bevacizumab, and this is a preferred option for younger patients with good performance status able to tolerate it. Read More

J Safety Res 2021 Jun 30;77:170-181. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Optometry and Vision Science, Australia.

Introduction: Current signage at intersections is designed for attentive pedestrians who are looking ahead. Such signage may not be sufficient when distracted by smartphones. Illuminated in-ground LED lights at crossings are an innovative solution to alert distracted pedestrians. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2021 Jun 5;14(1):301. Epub 2021 Jun 5.

Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20895, USA.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. Among all intermediate hosts of T. gondii, captive marsupials from Australia and New Zealand are highly susceptible to clinical toxoplasmosis. Read More

Body Image 2021 Jun 1;38:325-333. Epub 2021 Jun 1.

School of Psychology, Counselling, and Psychotherapy, The Cairnmillar Institute, Australia. Electronic address:

A recent online experiment found that, following a negative body talk induction task, receiving a response of ignoring the comment, compared with reassuring, reciprocating, and challenging, led to worse body satisfaction and socio-emotional outcomes for Australian women. The current online study aimed to replicate and extend this study by examining the effects of these four negative body talk responses on body satisfaction, shame, and future negative body talk likelihood in UK-based women. Participants (N = 156, M = 25. Read More

J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol 2021 Jun 4. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

Canterbury Regional Cancer and Haematology Service, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Introduction: Mongolia has a population of 3.3 million and is classified by the WHO as a lower middle-income country. Cancer is now a major public health issue and one of the leading causes of mortality. Read More

Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 2021 Jun 3. Epub 2021 Jun 3.

School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is a subtype of vulvovaginal candidiasis, with debilitating effects on physical and emotional well-being affecting up to 10% of Australian women. Current evidence suggests that the induction and maintenance approach for RVVC is not particularly effective with post-treatment relapse rates as high as 57%. Frequently accessed Australasian RVVC prescribing resources and guidelines were examined showing a variety of adaptations of current evidence-based induction and maintenance therapies, making it difficult to select best treatment in clinical practice. Read More

Nat Sci Sleep 2021 24;13:647-657. Epub 2021 May 24.

Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Purpose: This study examined the efficacy of a lighting intervention that increased both light intensity and short-wavelength (blue) light content to improve alertness, performance and mood in night shift workers in a chemical plant.

Patients And Methods: During rostered night shifts, 28 workers (46.0±10. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2021 May 31;13(11). Epub 2021 May 31.

Department of Surgery, Austin Health Precinct, The University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Lance Townsend Building, Level 8, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia.

(1) Background: Recent clinical and experimental data suggests that the liver's regenerative response following partial hepatectomy can stimulate tumor recurrence in the liver remnant. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays important roles in both colorectal cancer carcinogenesis and liver regeneration. Studies have shown that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway regulates multiple renin-angiotensin system (RAS) genes, whilst RAS inhibition (RASi) reduces tumor burden and progression. Read More

Life (Basel) 2021 May 31;11(6). Epub 2021 May 31.

School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and its metabolome (NADome) play important roles in preserving cellular homeostasis. Altered levels of the NADome may represent a likely indicator of poor metabolic function. Accurate measurement of the NADome is crucial for biochemical research and developing interventions for ageing and neurodegenerative diseases. Read More

Biomedicines 2021 May 6;9(5). Epub 2021 May 6.

Supreme NanoBiotics Co. Ltd. and Supreme Pharmatech Co. Ltd., 399/90-95 Moo 13 Kingkaew Rd. Soi 25/1, T. Rachateva, A. Bangplee, Samutprakan 10540, Thailand.

The current health crisis caused by coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) and associated pathogens emphasize the urgent need for vaccine systems that can generate protective and long-lasting immune responses. Vaccination, employing peptides, nucleic acids, and other molecules, or using pathogen-based strategies, in fact, is one of the most potent approaches in the management of viral diseases. However, the vaccine candidate requires protection from degradation and precise delivery to the target cells. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 May 4;18(9). Epub 2021 May 4.

School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, 2560 Sydney, Australia.

Background: To test the feasibility of benchmarking the care of women with pregnancies complicated by hyperglycaemia.

Methods: A retrospective audit of volunteer diabetes services in Australia and New Zealand involving singleton pregnancies resulting in live births between 2014 and 2020. Ranges are shown and compared across services. Read More

Am J Kidney Dis 2021 May 27. Epub 2021 May 27.

Division of Nephrology, St. Michael's Hospital and the Keenan Research Center in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address:

Rationale & Objective: Peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis is a significant PD-related complication. We describe the likelihood of cure following a peritonitis episode, exploring its association with various patient, peritonitis, and treatment characteristics.

Study Design: Observational prospective cohort study. Read More

BMC Vet Res 2021 May 28;17(1):200. Epub 2021 May 28.

College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, Jiangxi, China.

Background: Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) of H5 subtype pose a great threat to the poultry industry and human health. In recent years, H5N6 subtype has rapidly replaced H5N1 as the most predominate HPAIV subtype circulating in domestic poultry in China. In this study, we describe the genetic and phylogenetic characteristics of a prevalent H5N6 strain in Guangdong, China. Read More

ANZ J Surg 2021 May 28. Epub 2021 May 28.

Department of Colorectal Surgery, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.

Intern Med J 2021 May;51(5):780-783

Monash Lung and Sleep, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Ample evidence supports an association between acute oxygen over-administration and harm. Australian and international guidelines consistently recommend lower oxygen saturation aims in populations with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We assessed adherence to acute oxygen use guidelines and outcomes in hospitalised patients with COPD at a large Australian metropolitan hospital network. Read More

J Surg Res 2021 May 24;266:306-310. Epub 2021 May 24.

Queensland Audit of Surgical Mortality (QASM), Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Background: Surgeons strive to provide the best care possible to their patients. The Australian and New Zealand Audit of Surgical Mortality is a process for improving surgical care and outcomes via peer-review assessment of mortality cases. This article examines the acceptability of the assessments to Queensland surgeons, in addition to examining their impact on surgical care. Read More

Cancer 2021 May 27. Epub 2021 May 27.

Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences L. Sacco, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.

Background: Marked reductions in childhood cancer mortality occurred over the last decades in high-income countries and, to a lesser degree, in middle-income countries. This study aimed to monitor mortality trends in the Americas and Australasia, focusing on areas showing unsatisfactory trends.

Methods: Age-standardized mortality rates per 100,000 children (aged 0-14 years) from 1990 to 2017 (or the last available calendar year) were computed for all neoplasms and 8 leading childhood cancers in countries from the Americas and Australasia, using data from the World Health Organization database. Read More

PLoS One 2021 27;16(5):e0252479. Epub 2021 May 27.

Australasian Kidney Trials Network, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

Pain is a common symptom in people with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), but it is assessed and reported inconsistently in research, and the validity of the measures remain uncertain. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics, content, and psychometric properties of measures for pain used in ADPKD. We conducted a systematic review including all trials and observational studies that reported pain in people with ADPKD. Read More

Int Urogynecol J 2021 May 26. Epub 2021 May 26.

Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The objective was to overview the literature on the existing pelvic floor procedure registries and databases and to identify patient demographic, clinical and/or patient-reported data items for inclusion in the Australasian Pelvic Floor Procedure Registry (APFPR) Minimum Data Set (MDS).

Methods: We conducted a literature search on the MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases in addition to Google Scholar and grey literature to identify studies in the period January 2008 to January 2020. All were English studies of registries and databases on female adults undergoing surgery for pelvic floor disorders including stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Read More

J Fish Biol 2021 May 26. Epub 2021 May 26.

School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.

The growth hormone (GH) gene of the marine teleost, the Australasian snapper (Chrysophrys auratus), was identified and characterized from the reference genome showing it was approximately 5577 bp in length and consisted of six exons and five introns. Large polymorphic repeat regions were found in the first and third introns, and putative transcription factor binding sites were identified. Phylogenetic analysis of the GH genes of perciform fish showed largely conserved coding regions and highly variable noncoding regions among species. Read More

Colorectal Dis 2021 May 22. Epub 2021 May 22.

Colorectal Unit, Department of Surgery, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Aim: Postoperative ileus (POI) is a major problem after colorectal surgery. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as pyridostigmine increase gastrointestinal (GI) motility through a cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. The purpose of this phase II pilot study is to determine the safety of oral pyridostigmine after elective colorectal surgery. Read More

Aust Health Rev 2021 May 20. Epub 2021 May 20.

ObjectiveThis study assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency departments (EDs) in South Australia, measured by changes in the number and casemix of patients in the system over time.MethodsData from the South Australia Emergency Department Dashboard, updated every 30min, were analysed for the period 4 October-21 December 2020. The Dashboard reports live counts of the number and type of patients in each of the six adult metropolitan public EDs in Adelaide, South Australia. Read More

Drug Alcohol Rev 2021 May 20. Epub 2021 May 20.

Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

Introduction: The Queensland Government's Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence (TAFV) Policy was met with concern from live music venue owners who feared decreased patronage and associated revenue. This study investigates the impact of the TAFV Policy on live music venues and performances in Fortitude Valley, an inner-city suburb of Brisbane, Australia recognised as a hub of live music performances.

Methods: Data relating to live music venues and performances in Fortitude Valley for the 2000-2018 financial years were obtained from the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA AMCOS), who maintains an online data portal allowing artists to enter performance details to collect royalty payments. Read More

N Z Med J 2021 05 21;134(1535):83-87. Epub 2021 May 21.

Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Australia.

Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 2021 May 19. Epub 2021 May 19.

Australasian Kidney Trials Network, The University of Queensland, Brisbane University of Sydney Department of Nephrology, St George Hospital, Sydney Department of Nephrology, Princess Alexandra Hospital Translational Research Institute, Brisbane The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales Medicine, Sydney, Australia.

Purpose Of Review: Preclinical and epidemiological studies have shown an association between acidosis and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney fibrosis. This review discusses the recent trials evaluating the effect of treatment of metabolic acidosis on kidney outcomes.

Recent Findings: The emerging evidence suggests that bicarbonate treatment may slow the progression of CKD and reduce the risk of kidney failure. Read More

Cureus 2021 Apr 16;13(4):e14525. Epub 2021 Apr 16.

Podiatric Surgery, Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons, Perth, AUS.

Angioleiomyomas are relatively rare benign smooth muscle soft tissue tumors which often occur on the extremities. They are rarely diagnosed preoperatively as clinical and radiological examination is often nonspecific and inconclusive. An 80-year-old male presented with a 10-year history of a progressively growing and symptomatic lesion on his right dorsal foot within the first intermetatarsal space. Read More

Emerg Med Australas 2021 May 18. Epub 2021 May 18.

School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Objective: This research aims to (i) identify general practice-type (GP-type) presentations to EDs in South-East Queensland, Australia and (ii) compare and quantify the clinical, socio-demographic and time-varying characteristics between GP-type and non-GP-type presentations.

Methods: Data were collected from presentations to four EDs in Queensland from 2009 to 2014. A modified version of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) method for identifying GP-type ED presentations was used. Read More

Aust Vet J 2021 May 17. Epub 2021 May 17.

Animal Welfare Science and Education Department, Royal New Zealand SPCA National Office, 3047 Great North Road, Auckland, 0640, New Zealand.

This study set out to explore how euthanasia decision-making for animals was taught to students in eight Australasian veterinary schools. A questionnaire-style interview guide was used by a representative at each university to interview educators. Educators were interviewed about their teaching of euthanasia decision-making for four categories of animals: livestock, equine, companion and avian/wildlife. Read More

ANZ J Surg 2021 05;91(5):793-794

Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.