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Coleman LA, Brett J, Daniels BJ, Falster MO. Medicine reviews: do they reduce benzodiazepine use in older Australians? Public Health Res Pract 2021; 31:30452015. [PMID: 34494072 DOI: 10.17061/phrp30452015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Medicine reviews are an opportunity to identify and address inappropriate prescribing. The aim of this study was to explore changes in benzodiazepine use among older Australians following a medicine review. STUDY TYPE Retrospective observational cohort study using linked administrative data. METHODS We used Medicare Benefits Schedule and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme claims from a random 10% sample of Medicare beneficiaries. We identified people aged 65 years or older who received a medicine review in 2013-14 and were using benzodiazepines at the time of review. We identified a propensity score matched comparison cohort of those using benzodiazepines who did not receive a review. Two outcome measures were used: any benzodiazepine use and changes to the quantity of benzodiazepines dispensed (diazepam equivalents) from baseline to 90 and 180 days following a medicine review. RESULTS We identified 4002 people using benzodiazepines on the day of their medicine review, of whom approximately one-third discontinued benzodiazepines within 90 days (29.7%) and 180 days (36.4%;) after the review. We observed a similar discontinuation rate in the comparison group (32.6%, p = 0.006; and 38.0%, p = 0.12, respectively). In people who were dispensed lower quantities of benzodiazepines (less than 250 mg of diazepam equivalents in the 90 days before the medicine review), we found that 50.3% ceased using benzodiazepines or used lower quantities (measured as diazepam equivalents) following the medicine review (28.7% and 19.7% respectively). We also observed a reduction in the quantities used in people where initial exposure was high (3.4% ceased; 59.4% decreased). We observed a similar change in volume within the matched comparison group. CONCLUSIONS Medicine reviews are not associated with any additional reduction in benzodiazepine use among older adults, up to 180 days after review, beyond what was observed in the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo A Coleman
- Centre for Big Data Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia
| | - Jonathan Brett
- Centre for Big Data Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia; Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Lin B, Daniels BJ, Middleditch MJ, Furkert DP, Brimble MA, Bong J, Stephens JM, Loomes KM. Utility of the Leptospermum scoparium Compound Lepteridine as a Chemical Marker for Manuka Honey Authenticity. ACS Omega 2020; 5:8858-8866. [PMID: 32337448 PMCID: PMC7178798 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c00486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Manuka honey is a premium food product with unique antimicrobial bioactivity. Concerns with mislabeled manuka honey require robust assays to determine authenticity. Lepteridine is a Leptospermum-specific fluorescent molecule with potential as an authenticity marker. We describe a mass spectrometry-based assay to measure lepteridine based on an isotopically labeled lepteridine standard. Using this assay, lepteridine concentrations in manuka honey samples strongly correlated with concentrations quantitated by either high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) or fluorescence. A derived minimum lepteridine threshold concentration was compared with the New Zealand regulatory definition for manuka honey to determine "manuka honey" authenticity on a set of commercial samples. Both methods effectively distinguished manuka honey from non-manuka honeys. The regulatory definition excludes lepteridine but otherwise includes the quantification of multiple floral markers together with pollen analysis. Our findings suggest that the quantification of lepteridine alone or in combination with leptosperin could be implemented as an effective screening method to identify manuka honey, likely to achieve an outcome similar to the regulatory definition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Lin
- School
of Biological Sciences and Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology, The University of Auckland, Auckland PB92019, New Zealand
| | - Benjamin J. Daniels
- School
of Chemical Sciences, The University of
Auckland, 23 Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Martin J. Middleditch
- School
of Biological Sciences, The University of
Auckland, 23 Symonds
Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Daniel P. Furkert
- School
of Chemical Sciences, The University of
Auckland, 23 Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Margaret A. Brimble
- School
of Biological Sciences and Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology, The University of Auckland, Auckland PB92019, New Zealand
- School
of Chemical Sciences, The University of
Auckland, 23 Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
- Maurice
Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, The University of Auckland, 3 Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Jessie Bong
- School
of Biological Sciences and Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology, The University of Auckland, Auckland PB92019, New Zealand
- Comvita
NZ Limited, 23 Wilson
South Road, Paengaroa, PB1, Te Puke 3189, New Zealand
| | - Jonathan M. Stephens
- School
of Biological Sciences and Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology, The University of Auckland, Auckland PB92019, New Zealand
- Comvita
NZ Limited, 23 Wilson
South Road, Paengaroa, PB1, Te Puke 3189, New Zealand
| | - Kerry M. Loomes
- School
of Biological Sciences and Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology, The University of Auckland, Auckland PB92019, New Zealand
- Maurice
Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, The University of Auckland, 3 Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
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Abstract
Natural products containing a lumazine motif were first isolated from natural sources in 1940. These natural products are relatively rare, with fewer than 100 lumazines known to occur in Nature. This review discusses the isolation of lumazines, their biological activity, and their biosynthesis, where known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Daniels
- School of Chemical Sciences , The University of Auckland , 23 Symonds Street , Auckland 1010 , New Zealand
| | - Freda F Li
- School of Chemical Sciences , The University of Auckland , 23 Symonds Street , Auckland 1010 , New Zealand
| | - Daniel P Furkert
- School of Chemical Sciences , The University of Auckland , 23 Symonds Street , Auckland 1010 , New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery , The University of Auckland , 3 Symonds Street , Auckland 1010 , New Zealand
| | - Margaret A Brimble
- School of Chemical Sciences , The University of Auckland , 23 Symonds Street , Auckland 1010 , New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery , The University of Auckland , 3 Symonds Street , Auckland 1010 , New Zealand
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Brett J, Zoega H, Buckley NA, Daniels BJ, Elshaug AG, Pearson SA. Choosing wisely? Quantifying the extent of three low value psychotropic prescribing practices in Australia. BMC Health Serv Res 2018; 18:1009. [PMID: 30594192 PMCID: PMC6310957 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-018-3811-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global Choosing Wisely campaign has identified the following psychotropic prescribing as low-value (harmful or wasteful): (1) benzodiazepine use in the elderly, (2) antipsychotic use in dementia and (3) prescribing two or more antipsychotics concurrently. We aimed to quantify the extent of these prescribing practices in the Australian population. METHODS We applied indicators to dispensing claims of a 10% random sample of Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme beneficiaries to quantify annual rates of each low-value practice from 2013 to 2016. We also assessed patient factors and direct medicine costs (extrapolated to the entire Australian population) associated with each practice in 2016. RESULTS We observed little change in the rates of the three practices between 2013 and 2016. In 2016, 15.3% of people aged ≥65 years were prescribed a benzodiazepine, 0.5% were prescribed antipsychotics in the context of dementia and 0.2% of people aged ≥18 years received two or more antipsychotics concurrently. The likelihood of elderly people receiving benzodiazepines or antipsychotics in the context of dementia increased with age and the likelihood of receiving all three practices increased with comorbidity burden. In 2016, direct medicine costs to the government of all three practices combined, extrapolated to national figures, were > $21 million AUD. CONCLUSIONS Our indicators suggest that the frequency of these three practices has not changed appreciably in recent years and that they incur significant costs. Worryingly, people with the greatest risk of harm from these prescribing practices are often the most likely to receive them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Brett
- Medicines Policy Research Unit, Centre for Big Data Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| | - Helga Zoega
- Medicines Policy Research Unit, Centre for Big Data Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.,Centre of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | | | - Benjamin J Daniels
- Medicines Policy Research Unit, Centre for Big Data Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Adam G Elshaug
- Menzies Centre for Health Policy, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sallie-Anne Pearson
- Medicines Policy Research Unit, Centre for Big Data Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.,Menzies Centre for Health Policy, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Daniels BJ, Prijic G, Meidinger S, Loomes KM, Stephens JM, Schlothauer RC, Furkert DP, Brimble MA. Isolation, Structural Elucidation, and Synthesis of Lepteridine From Ma̅nuka (Leptospermum scoparium) Honey. J Agric Food Chem 2016; 64:5079-5084. [PMID: 27210444 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.6b01596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Ma̅nuka honey, made from the nectar of Leptospermum scoparium, has garnered scientific and economical interest due to its nonperoxide antibacterial activity. Biomarkers for genuine ma̅nuka honey are increasingly in demand due to the presence of counterfeit ma̅nuka honey. This work reports the identification of a compound previously unreported in ma̅nuka honey by HPLC, and determination of the structure of the as 3,6,7-trimethyllumazine using NMR, MS, IR, and UV/vis spectroscopy. This assignment was confirmed by total synthesis. The natural product, renamed lepteridine, was only observed in ma̅nuka honeys and could potentially serve as a biomarker for genuine ma̅nuka honey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Daniels
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland , 23 Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Gordana Prijic
- Comvita NZ Limited , 23 Wilson South Road, Te Puke 3189, New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology, The University of Auckland , 3A Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Sarah Meidinger
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology, The University of Auckland , 3A Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Kerry M Loomes
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology, The University of Auckland , 3A Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, The University of Auckland , 3 Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Jonathan M Stephens
- Comvita NZ Limited , 23 Wilson South Road, Te Puke 3189, New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology, The University of Auckland , 3A Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | | | - Daniel P Furkert
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland , 23 Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, The University of Auckland , 3 Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Margaret A Brimble
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland , 23 Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, The University of Auckland , 3 Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
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Mellish L, Karanges EA, Litchfield MJ, Schaffer AL, Blanch B, Daniels BJ, Segrave A, Pearson SA. The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data collection: a practical guide for researchers. BMC Res Notes 2015; 8:634. [PMID: 26526064 PMCID: PMC4630883 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-015-1616-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 207] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is Australia’s national drug subsidy program. This paper provides a practical guide to researchers using PBS data to examine prescribed medicine use. Findings Excerpts of the PBS data collection are available in a variety of formats. We describe the core components of four publicly available extracts (the Australian Statistics on Medicines, PBS statistics online, section 85 extract, under co-payment extract). We also detail common analytical challenges and key issues regarding the interpretation of utilisation using the PBS collection and its various extracts. Conclusions Research using routinely collected data is increasing internationally. PBS data are a valuable resource for Australian pharmacoepidemiological and pharmaceutical policy research. A detailed knowledge of the PBS, the nuances of data capture, and the extracts available for research purposes are necessary to ensure robust methodology, interpretation, and translation of study findings into policy and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh Mellish
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia.
| | - Emily A Karanges
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia.
| | - Melisa J Litchfield
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia.
| | - Andrea L Schaffer
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia.
| | - Bianca Blanch
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia.
| | - Benjamin J Daniels
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia.
| | - Alicia Segrave
- Drug Utilisation Section, Pharmaceutical Benefits Division, Department of Health, Canberra, 2601, Australia.
| | - Sallie-Anne Pearson
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia. .,Centre for Big Data Research in Health (CBDRH), University of NSW, Level 1, AGSM Building (G27), Sydney, 2052, Australia.
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Payne AP, Lairson BM, Brennan S, Daniels BJ, Rensing NM, Clemens BM. Epitaxial strain and the growth of Cu(001) on Fe(001). Phys Rev B Condens Matter 1993; 47:16064-16067. [PMID: 10006027 DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.47.16064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
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Stephenson JN, Moberg P, Daniels BJ, Robertson JF. Treating the intoxicated adolescent. A need for comprehensive services. JAMA 1984; 252:1884-8. [PMID: 6471318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Intoxicated adolescents seen in hospital emergency departments are frequently treated for their immediate complaints, but fail to have follow-up assessments for underlying alcohol/drug abuse and/or psychosocial problems. We undertook a prospective study of 171 acutely intoxicated adolescents (12 to 18 years of age) admitted to the emergency department of the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison. A comparison group randomly selected from the community demonstrated that the emergency department patients were at a significantly higher risk for alcohol and polydrug abuse and psychological dependency. To adequately serve this potentially high-risk group, follow-up assessment must be done, including the gathering of in-depth information regarding legal, psychosocial, and alcohol/drug use status. This study indicates that the general hospital, with its 24-hour emergency department services and other resources, can play a vital role not only in the crisis management of intoxicated adolescents, but in their follow-up, assessment, and, when indicated, appropriate referral for treatment.
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