Medicine (Northwest Academic Centre) - Research Publications

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    Patterns of treatment in Australian men following fracture
    Otmar, R ; Henry, MJ ; Kotowicz, MA ; Nicholson, GC ; Korn, S ; Pasco, JA (SPRINGER LONDON LTD, 2011-01)
    UNLABELLED: This study aimed to describe treatment initiation rates for men who had recently sustained a fracture. Most (75.9%) men potentially eligible for subsidised treatment at the time of fracture remained untreated even after a subsequent fracture. INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to describe treatment initiation rates for men who had recently sustained a fracture. METHODS: The study was conducted as part of the Geelong Osteoporosis Study in south-eastern Australia. Men in the study area who had sustained an incident fracture in the period July 2006 to December 2007 were identified from hospital radiology reports. A self-report questionnaire was sent to eligible participants approximately 12 months after fracture. Respondents were asked for details of medications prescribed for 'osteoporosis/fracture/low bone mass' before and after fracture, and where applicable, reasons for cessation of treatment. We analysed the results for 109 men aged 50 years and older who had sustained fracture in the study period. RESULTS: Most (75.9%) men potentially eligible for subsidised treatment at the time of fracture remained untreated. Of the 87 men who were untreated, nine had osteoporosis at the hip and/or spine and 29 (26.6%) reported having sustained a low trauma prior fracture. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are consistent with previously published data showing low rates of treatment initiation in men eligible for osteoporosis treatment. There appear to be barriers involving participants' and medical practitioners' knowledge, beliefs and attitudes regarding osteoporosis and treatment, as well as in the doctor-patient partnership in osteoporosis management. Establishment of clinical pathways for fracture management beyond orthopaedic care may be one of a range of appropriate responses.
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    High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fracture risk in elderly women
    Pasco, JA ; Kotowicz, MA ; Henry, MJ ; Nicholson, GC ; Spilsbury, HJ ; Box, JD ; Schneider, HG (AMER MEDICAL ASSOC, 2006-09-20)
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    Seasonal periodicity of serum vitamin D and parathyroid hormone, bone resorption and fractures: the Geelong Osteoprosis Study
    PASCO, JULIE ; ROGERS, MARGARET ; KOTOWICZ, MARK ; SANDERS, KERRIE ; SEEMAN, EGO ; PASCO, JOHN ; Schneider, Hans ; NICHOLSON, GEOFFREY ( 2004)
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    Phase II study of paclitaxel and vinorelbine (Pacl-Vin) in hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer: double tubulin targeting
    Sewak, S ; Kosmider, S ; Ganju, V ; Woollett, A ; Yeow, EG ; Le, B ; Henry, M ; Debrincat, MA ; Bell, R (WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC, 2010-03)
    BACKGROUND: Androgen ablation is the standard treatment for advanced prostate cancer. However, most patients will eventually develop progressive hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). The aim of the Pacl-Vin study was to determine the efficacy and safety of paclitaxel in combination with vinorelbine in patients with HRPC, following from a phase I trial. METHODS: Thirty castrate patients with progressive, metastatic prostate cancer were enrolled. Patients were treated with paclitaxel 40 mg/m2, vinorelbine 20 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1 and day 8 of a 21-day cycle. RESULTS: Two patients demonstrated a partial response and seven patients had stable disease from a cohort of 10 patients with measurable disease. Of 30 patients assessable for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response, 19 showed stable disease, which was maintained for at least 4 weeks, while six (20%) experienced>or=50% decline in PSA levels. Median overall survival was 7.3 months (interquartile range (IQR): 4.7-9.9 months). Median progression-free survival was 3.3 months (IQR: 2.5-7.0 months). Improvement in quality of life measures was noted after three cycles of therapy. Grade 3 and 4 toxicities were: neutropenia 8%, febrile neutropenia 4%, infection 2%, anaemia 3%, lethargy 1% and somnolescence 1%. One patient died as a result of neutropenic sepsis. CONCLUSION: In a poor prognostic cohort of patients paclitaxel and vinorelbine is a tolerable regimen, with a 20% PSA and objective response rate. The majority of patients achieved PSA stability. Furthermore, quality of life parameters, such as pain, were improved. However, the low level of activity of this regimen precludes its further testing.