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Diabetes mellitus (DM) triples a person's risk of active tuberculosis (TB) and is associated with increased mortality. It is unclear whether diabetes status and/or the associated renal dysfunction is associated with poor TB outcomes in New Zealand, which has high diabetes screening.To characterise the population of TB-DM and TB-alone to assess the effect of diabetes status and renal function on hospitalisation and mortality.Clinical records from all adult patients diagnosed with TB in Auckland over a 6-year period (2010-2015) were reviewed. Baseline demographics, clinical presentation and microbiological data were assessed to compare the rates of hospitalisation and mortality between those with TB-DM and TB-alone. Statistical significance was defined as P 0.05.A total of 701 patients was identified with TB; 120 (17%) had an unknown diabetes status and were excluded, and 135 had co-existing diabetes. The TB-DM and TB-alone groups had similar distribution of TB site and proportions of Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture positivity. Univariate analysis showed TB-DM patients had statistically significantly higher proportions of acute hospitalisation and mortality. Multivariate logistic regression showed only a reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) accounted for the higher rates of hospitalisation, with the odds of hospitalisation increasing by 2% for every unit decrease in eGFR. The odds of mortality increased by 6% for every year increase in age, and the odds of mortality increased by 3% for every unit reduction in eGFR.Diabetes is associated with higher TB hospitalisation and mortality; however, this is likely mediated by increased age and chronic kidney disease.

Lung resection in patients aged ≥80 years is considered high risk and contributes to the low rates of resection in this population. This review of 79 octogenarians who underwent curative surgery for non-small-cell lung cancer demonstrated no intraoperative mortality, 30-day mortality of 1.3% and 12-month mortality of 10%. In this selected cohort of octogenarians, surgery resulted in acceptable short- to medium-term outcomes.

Objectives To identify a cohort of patients under our care who have had significant and in some cases irreparable damage to their bladders after Mitomycin C (MMC) instillation. To highlight the importance of avoidance and recognition of bladder perforations during transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) and explore the issue of consent regarding MMC given the serious complications that may occur after its instillation. Patients and Methods Patients referred to our tertiary centre for a second opinion to manage their complications after a suspected MMC leak was identified from the departmental database between January 2000 and December 2010. After collection of all the records, we established a cohort of six patients. All patients had their initial tumour resection elsewhere and were referred for specialist management thereafter. Details of the operating surgeon and cystoscopic findings were known only in half of the cases. Retrospective analysis of their notes including documentation from the referring centre was undertaken. This included a review of all the histology and imaging. Results All patients had immediate severe pelvic pain on instillation of the MMC. Four of the six continue to have chronic pelvic pain. Two patients had urinary retention and three had severe lower urinary tract symptoms. One patient developed a frozen pelvis. Initial treatment was with an indwelling catheter for a period of 2-52 weeks to aid healing. Two patients had reconstructive surgery, one with success and the other with failure, as an intestinal patch failed to close the fistula and he continues with a catheter. One patient had an ileal conduit. No patient was warned of such complications. Conclusions Although rare, prophylactic MMC can have devastating consequences. Patients should be aware of such major risks. Strong emphasis should be placed on the quality of the initial TURBT coupled with the judgement of an experienced surgeon before to MMC instillation. The real clinical benefit could be reviewed and intravesical MMC offered only to patients who have a good chance of benefit.

Primary signet ring cell carcinomas (SRCCs) of the bladder and urachus are extremely rare malignancies with only 28 cases of urachal SRCC recorded and bladder SRCC comprising less than 0.1% of bladder malignancies. These rare cases of urothelial SRCC occur largely in men and the disease characteristically presents in patients in their 40s for urachal SRCC and 60s for bladder SRCC. Despite the rarity of the diagnosis, a knowledge of the natural history and management of urothelial SRCC may be valuable as the illness has a number of important differences from conventional bladder TCC. The characteristic pathological findings of sub-mucosal infiltration and spread are often reflected in the clinical presentation and progress of the disease. Bladder SRCC is frequently characterised by a late presentation at an advanced stage, with dysuria the most frequent presenting symptom whilst haematuria is relatively rare. Metastatic spread can occur with retroperitoneal disease that can be difficult to visualise on imaging and can lead to ureteric or small bowel obstruction. As a result of their rarity there is no structured clinical research in urothelial SRCC and the optimal management of early and advanced cases of this rare tumour is unknown. A number of differing chemotherapy regimens have been reported for advanced disease in various case reports and series with variable responses and generally modest benefits.

Prostate cancer (PrCa) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in males in developed countries. To identify common PrCa susceptibility alleles, we previously conducted a genome-wide association study in which 541,129 SNPs were genotyped in 1,854 PrCa cases with clinically detected disease and in 1,894 controls. We have now extended the study to evaluate promising associations in a second stage in which we genotyped 43,671 SNPs in 3,650 PrCa cases and 3,940 controls and in a third stage involving an additional 16,229 cases and 14,821 controls from 21 studies. In addition to replicating previous associations, we identified seven new prostate cancer susceptibility loci on chromosomes 2, 4, 8, 11 and 22 (with P = 1.6 x 10(-8) to P = 2.7 x 10(-33)).

Adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) improves overall survival, but the benefits must be weighed against its harms. We sought to determine the survival benefits that patients and their doctors judged sufficient to make ACT in NSCLC worthwhile.122 patients completed a self-administered questionnaire at baseline and 6 months (beforeafter ACT, if they had it); 82 doctors completed the questionnaire once only. The time trade-off method was used to determine the minimum survival benefits judged sufficient in four hypothetical scenarios. Baseline survival times were 3 years5 years and baseline survival rates (at 5 years) were 50%65%.At baseline, the median benefits judged sufficient by patients were an extra 9 months (Interquartile range (IQR) 1-12 months) beyond 3 years5 years and an extra 5% (IQR 0.1-10%) beyond 50%65%. At 6 months (n=91), patients' preferences had the same median benefit (9 months5%) but varied more (IQRs 0-18 months0-15%) than at baseline. Factors associated with judging smaller benefits sufficient were deciding to have ACT (P=0.01, 0.02) and better well-being (P=0.01, 0.006) during ACT. Doctors' preferences, compared with patients' preferences, had similar median benefits (9 months5%) but varied less (IQR 6-12 months versus 1-12 months, P0.001; 5%-10% versus 0.1-10%, P0.001).Most patients and doctors judged moderate survival benefits sufficient to make ACT in NSCLC worthwhile, but the preferences of doctors varied less than those of patients. Doctors should endeavour to elicit patients' preferences during discussions about ACT in NSCLC.

Uretero-iliac fistula is a rare cause of frank haematuria. The aetiology of such fistula is commonly iatrogenic. We present a unique case of a primary aorto-iliac fistula in the absence of an aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation. The diagnosis was demonstrated by ureteroscopy and real-time retrograde ureterogram. Multiple arterial embolisation of the fistula had failed, and the patient underwent a successful ureterolysis and ligation of fistula. We demonstrate the diagnostic difficulties and treatment dilemma of such rare cause of haematuria.

A 36-year-old Afro-Caribbean woman presented with recurrent syncope and shortness of breath after a long-haul flight. On admission, ECG revealed sinus tachycardia at 130 bpm and mildly flattened T waves in V2 through V5 (Figure 1a). D-Dimers were elevated (663 ng/mL), and blood gases showed hypoxia. Chest x-ray was unremarkable (Figure 1b). Family history revealed that the patient’s mother had suffered a previous deep venous thrombosis. Figure 1. a, ECG showing sinus tachycardia and mildly flattened T waves in V2 through V5. b, Chest x-ray with unremarkable findings. The initial clinical presentation was consistent with pulmonary embolism, confirmed by computed tomographic scan that showed a large saddle-shaped embolus in the pulmonary trunk extending into the right main pulmonary artery (Figure 2a), the right ventricle, the right atrium, and the inferior vena cava (IVC). There was also a smaller extension into the left main pulmonary artery as well as smaller, segmental, and subsegmental thrombi. Figure 2. a, Contrast-enhanced pulmonary computed tomography on admission showing a large saddle embolus in the pulmonary trunk and right main pulmonary artery. b, Contrast-enhanced pulmonary computed tomography after the first thrombolytic treatment showing resolution of the large saddle-shaped embolus in the pulmonary trunk and right main pulmonary artery. Given the extensive radiological findings along with clinical deterioration, the patient received a thrombolytic regimen with streptokinase. A repeat scan 12 hours after initiation of thrombolytic therapy showed that the saddle-shaped embolus in the pulmonary trunk had resolved (Figure 2b), but thrombotic elements in the right heart cavities and the IVC remained. An echocardiogram confirmed the presence …

Previous studies have identified multiple loci on 8q24 associated with prostate cancer risk. We performed a comprehensive analysis of SNP associations across 8q24 by genotyping tag SNPs in 5,504 prostate cancer cases and 5,834 controls. We confirmed associations at three previously reported loci and identified additional loci in two other linkage disequilibrium blocks (rs1006908: per-allele OR = 0.87, P = 7.9 x 10(-8); rs620861: OR = 0.90, P = 4.8 x 10(-8)). Eight SNPs in five linkage disequilibrium blocks were independently associated with prostate cancer susceptibility.

There is evidence that a substantial part of genetic predisposition to prostate cancer (PCa) may be due to lower penetrance genes which are found by genome-wide association studies. We have recently conducted such a study and seven new regions of the genome linked to PCa risk have been identified. Three of these loci contain candidate susceptibility genes: MSMB, LMTK2 and KLK2/3. The MSMB and KLK2/3 genes may be useful for PCa screening, and the LMTK2 gene might provide a potential therapeutic target. Together with results from other groups, there are now 23 germline genetic variants which have been reported. These results have the potential to be developed into a genetic test. However, we consider that marketing of tests to the public is premature, as PCa risk can not be evaluated fully at this stage and the appropriate screening protocols need to be developed. Follow-up validation studies, as well as studies to explore the psychological implications of genetic profile testing, will be vital prior to roll out into healthcare.

To determine treatment practices of New Zealand physicians who manage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).A questionnaire on the treatment of NSCLC was emailed to all respiratory physicians, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists in New Zealand. Respondents were asked to select the treatment they would offer in six lung cancer case scenarios.Thirty-one (81%) respiratory physicians, 15 (71%) medical oncologists, and 8 (30%) radiation oncologists responded to the questionnaire. Surgery was selected (by all groups) as the best option for early-stage disease NSCLC. Radiotherapy or combination chemo/radiotherapy (for locally advanced disease) was favoured by 37% of respiratory physicians for stage IIIa and 28% for stage IIIb--compared with medical oncologists (100% and 80%) and radiation oncologists (86% and 28%). Chemotherapy for 'fit' patients with advanced disease was favoured by only 11% of respiratory physicians, compared with 67% of medical oncologists and 33% of radiation oncologists. Best supportive care (BSC) was the favoured treatment for patients with advanced disease with poor performance patients.This study demonstrates considerable heterogeneity in the choice of treatment for NSCLC between specialities, particularly for locally advanced and advanced disease. These findings suggest international guidelines are not being adhered to, and variations in treatment may potentially have outcome implications for patients.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) and fine needle guided biopsy (FNB) are often used in the assessment of patients with lung nodules. The influence of these techniques on clinical decision making has not been quantified, especially for small solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN) where the probability of malignancy is lower. A study was undertaken to determine the effect of CT and FNB derived information on clinical decision making in patients with a solitary pulmonary nodule < 3 cm in diameter on initial chest radiography. Methods: Clinical, physiological, and outcome data on 114 patients with an SPN < 3 cm who had subsequent thoracic CT and FNB were extracted from the records of a specialist cardiorespiratory hospital in Auckland, New Zealand. Chest radiographs and CT scans were reported according to specified criteria by a thoracic radiologist. Computer generated summary sheets were used to present cases to each of six clinicians. Each case was presented three times: (1) with clinical data and chest radiograph only; (2) with the addition of the CT report; and (3) with all data including the result of the FNB. Clinicians were asked to specify their management on each occasion and to estimate the probability of the lesion being malignant. Reproducibility was assessed by re-evaluating 24 cases 1 month later. Results: 33 (29%) nodules were benign, 35 (31%) nodules (malignant) were resected with negative node sampling, and 46 (40%) had a non-curative outcome (radiotherapy, incomplete resection, refused therapy). Intra-clinician decision making was consistent for all three levels of clinical data (median κ values 0.79–0.89). Agreement between clinicians on the need for surgery was lowest with chest radiography alone (κ=0.33), rose with CT information (κ=0.44), and increased further with the addition of the FNB data (κ=0.57). The proportion of successful decisions on surgical intervention (against the known outcome) increased with the addition of CT reports and further with FNB reports (p=0.006, Friedman's test). The major benefit of the information added by CT and FNB reports was a reduction in unnecessary surgery, especially when the clinical perception of pre-test probability of malignancy was intermediate (31–70%). FNB data contributed most to the benefit (p