The Medical journal of Australia
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To estimate the burden of pancreatic cancer in Australia attributable to modifiable exposures, particularly smoking. ⋯ Strategies that reduce the uptake of smoking and encourage current smokers to quit could substantially reduce the future incidence of pancreatic cancer in Australia, particularly among men.
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To evaluate the performance of the 2013 Pooled Cohort Risk Equation (PCE-ASCVD) for predicting cardiovascular disease (CVD) in an Australian population; to compare this performance with that of three frequently used Framingham-based CVD risk prediction models. ⋯ The 2013 PCE-ASCVD or 1991 Framingham should be used as CVD risk models in Australian. However, the CVD high risk threshold for initiating CVD primary preventive therapy requires reconsideration.
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Glaucoma is an irreversible progressive optic neuropathy, for which the major proven treatment is to lower the intraocular pressure (IOP). Five groups of IOP-lowering eye drops have varying mechanisms of action. Some drops, such as β-blockers and α-2 agonists, have potentially serious systemic side effects. ⋯ Improvements in drug delivery are on the horizon. Drug-eluting devices and implants are able to deliver the drug closer to the receptors for an extended period of time. This will improve treatment adherence and efficacy, which are major limitations with current medical therapy.
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To assess the factors that contributed to the successful completion of recruitment for the largest clinical trial ever conducted in Australia, the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study. ⋯ General practice can be a rich environment for research when barriers to recruitment are overcome. Including regional GPs and focusing efforts in areas with the highest proportions of potentially eligible participants improves recruitment. The success of ASPREE attests to the clinical importance of its research question for Australian GPs.