Palmerston North Hospital

Zambia faces one of the world's highest cervical cancer and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) burdens, yet how demographics and social determinants of health relate to HIV status among women with cervical cancer remains unclear. We conducted a prospective, Institutional Review Board-approved cross-sectional study of women aged ≥18 years with newly diagnosed cervical cancer at the Cancer Diseases Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, from June 2022 to April 2025. Participants completed a culturally adapted Accountable Health Communities Health-Related Social Needs questionnaire. Demographic and social need variables were compared by HIV status, with associated factors evaluated via univariable and multi-variable logistic regression. Among 290 women, 160 (55.2%) were living with HIV. They were younger (median age 48 vs 53 years, p = .002), more often unmarried (49% vs 31%, p = .002), and more likely to live in urban areas (62% vs 43%, p = .003) than women living without HIV. They reported greater prior cervical cancer screening (48% vs 28%, p < .001) and knowledge (40% vs 25%, p = .008). Social needs were high across both groups: food insecurity (77%), transport barriers (82%), financial hardship (88%), loneliness (65%), and perceived stress (75%), with no HIV-related differences. In multi-variable analysis, younger age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.76 per 5 years, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66 to 0.87), unmarried status (aOR 3.06, 95% CI 1.79 to 5.35), urban residence (aOR 2.00, 95% CI 1.21 to 3.32), and prior knowledge of cervical cancer (aOR 1.86, 95% CI 1.08 to 3.23) were associated with HIV. No social need domain showed an independent association. In Zambian women with cervical cancer, HIV status is linked to demographic factors and cancer awareness, but not social needs, which were uniformly high across patients. This highlights the need to expand education and screening, especially for younger and unmarried women, and integrate socioeconomic support to improve outcomes in Zambia and similar high-burden settings.

Domestic cat containment has become an increasing focus of companion animal management in Australia, yet uptake among caregivers who allow their cats to roam remains limited. This study explored how caregivers with established outdoor routines but no strong opposition to containment perceive their cats, interpret risk, and respond to different campaign framings. Four online focus groups were conducted in New South Wales with 22 cat caregivers who allowed their cats outdoor access. Thematic analysis indicated that containment decisions, as interpreted through the analytic process, were shaped by how cats were acquired, prior outdoor experience, beliefs about how cats exercise agency, and beliefs about what factors contribute to feline welfare. Caregivers frequently minimised risk and believed their cats could manage themselves outdoors, reinforcing resistance to change. Reactions to the two tested campaign concepts indicated that messages perceived as moralising or fear-based elicited guilt and avoidance. In contrast, caregivers preferred solution-focused messages showing how cats could thrive safely at home. The findings suggest that once roaming behaviours are established, emotional and habitual barriers make voluntary change difficult. Effective interventions should combine motivational framing with clear, achievable actions and target owners at early decision points, particularly adoption, when new habits and expectations about cat management are more readily established.

Eczema is a chronic skin condition, characterised by inflammation, erythema, and pruritus. Usage of topical therapies containing botanical extracts is common, however evidence of efficacy is often lacking. This trial investigated the safety and efficacy of a mānuka-oil based cream, 2% ECMT-154, versus vehicle control (VC) for the topical treatment of eczema. This single-blind, parallel group randomised controlled trial was undertaken in 11 community pharmacies across New Zealand. Adults with moderate-to-severe eczema (Patient Oriented Eczema Measure [POEM] ≥ 8 to ≤ 24) were randomised 1:1 to topical 2% ECMT-154 or VC cream, applied twice daily for six weeks. The primary outcome was POEM at week six. 118 participants were recruited between 20th January 2022 and 22nd May 2023. Between baseline and week six mean POEM score (standard deviation) improved from 16.3 (4.2) to 8.8 (5.7) in the ECMT-154 group, and from 16.9 (3.8) to 8.8 (5.7) in the VC group, a between group difference of -0.38 (95% CI: -2.58 to 1.82, p = 0.74). No statistically significant differences were observed across all secondary outcome measures, and no serious adverse events were reported. Whilst symptoms of eczema improved in both treatment groups, there was no evidence of a difference in efficacy between ECMT-154 and VC cream in the treatment of eczema. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12621001096842, the study was registered on 18th of August 2021.

Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius; Fabaceae) is an invasive nitrogen-fixing shrub widespread in New Zealand, where it impacts forestry, pasturelands, and native ecosystems. Although several biological control agents have been released, Scotch broom continues to expand in regions such as the North Island's Central Plateau. Scotch broom affects the germination and growth of other plants and modifies arthropod communities (including pollinators, herbivores, and predators) within its invaded range. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play a key role in mediating plant-plant and plant-arthropod interactions, potentially contributing to this invasive plant's ecological success. However, Scotch broom's VOC emissions in its invaded ranges remain poorly understood. We examined VOC emissions from flowering and non-flowering Scotch broom plants in the Central Plateau and assessed links with biotic and abiotic factors. Our aims were to (1) characterise differences in VOCs between phenological stages; (2) explore shifts in arthropod community composition; and (3) evaluate correlations between VOC emissions, arthropod groups and environmental variables. Flowering plants had higher diversity and abundance of VOCs, with blends dominated by monoterpenes, aromatics, and fatty acid esters, whereas non-flowering plants were characterised by green leaf volatiles (GLVs). Flowering stages supported Hemiptera and Thysanoptera (herbivores), which were positively correlated with fatty acid esters. In contrast, GLVs correlated with Araneae (predators) abundance. Temperature was the strongest predictor of VOC emission patterns, showing significant correlation with most compound classes. These results advance understanding of Scotch broom invasion ecology and highlight the need to further explore individual compounds potentially influencing arthropod composition to inform both native arthropods conservation and future biocontrol strategies.

Epichloë fungal endophytes are an important symbiont of some temperate forage grasses, providing the plant host with protection from biotic and abiotic stresses. Recent research has focussed on applying the potential benefits of the asexual form of this endophyte to cultivated cereal crops. Cereals are not known to naturally host Epichloë endophytes but can be artificially inoculated with selected fungal strains isolated from Elymus and Hordeum species. A critical aspect of a successful association is the ability of these obligate mutualistic endophytes to transmit through the seed and colonise the resulting offspring. Within agricultural and cropping systems, seed can be stored for varying lengths of time before being sown. The ability of these fungal endophytes to survive in stored seed and colonise the next generation of plants is an important consideration. Optimal storage conditions required for Epichloë survival in seed of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) are well documented, but little is known about endophyte survival within stored cereal grain, nor the conditions that are required for maximising its survival. Rye (Secale cereale L.) grain colonised with endophyte strain AR3002 and perennial ryegrass seed colonised with AR1 endophyte were stored under different temperature and humidity conditions, with the survival of both host and endophyte evaluated over a 2-year period. Under controlled conditions of 0°C and a relative humidity of 24%, the endophyte and host maintained stable levels of viability for both species for the duration of the trial. In environments where both the temperature and relative humidity were not controlled and the seed was exposed to ambient conditions, the endophyte generally declined rapidly within 12-18 months, although in most cases the seed itself remained viable, for both rye and perennial ryegrass seed. The endophyte associated with rye responded in a similar way to endophyte associated with perennial ryegrass in these storage environments. This understanding provides guidance on seed storage conditions required to ensure sustained endophyte viability but also identifies timeframes in which endophytic grain will need to be resown if held at ambient conditions. Further work will be required to determine if similar limitations are applicable to Epichloë endophytes in wheat.

ABSTRACTClinical workplaces such as hospitals are often keen to arrange interprofessional learning activities for students on clinical placements, but radiation therapy (RT) students are often overlooked because of a lack of awareness and understanding of their role in patient care. Furthermore, there are challenges in setting up hospital‐based interprofessional education (IPE) because of the logistics of liaising with a large number of staff, as students are from different disciplines. Hospitals that offer RT are ideal sites to offer IPE, as invariably staff in these settings work interprofessionally to support patients with cancer and can immediately see its value. This How I do it guide lays out the practical steps needed to initiate and implement workplace‐based IPE involving RT students modelled on a long‐standing Cancer Care IPE learning activity in New Zealand.

ABSTRACTBackgroundMepitel film decreases the severity of radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients, but its application is resource‐intensive. Many departments therefore use StrataXRT, a gel that patients apply themselves. We compared the protective effects of Mepitel film and StrataXRT on radiation dermatitis during and immediately after radiation therapy.MethodsThis phase III multicentre randomised intra‐patient‐controlled clinical trial recruited breast cancer patients receiving radiation therapy following mastectomy in three New Zealand Hospitals. Lateral and medial aspects of the chest wall were randomised to either Mepitel film or StrataXRT. Overall skin reaction severity was measured using RISRAS and RTOG once a week during treatment and for 4 weeks after treatment completion. The primary outcome was moist desquamation (with a non‐inferiority margin of 7.5%); secondary outcomes were overall skin reaction severity, patient tolerability, satisfaction and cost.ResultsBetween June 2021 and May 2024, 93 patients were recruited, and 80 patients completed the trial. The absolute difference in moist desquamation rates was 6% lower under Mepitel film (p = 0.413, 95% CI ‐5%, 18%). Overall skin reaction severity was significantly lower for Mepitel film (Researcher RISRAS: p = 0.022; RTOG: p = 0.011). Mepitel film was cheaper to apply but was less well tolerated, with poor skin adherence being an issue for many patients.ConclusionThe study did not show non‐inferiority for StrataXRT; overall skin reaction severity and costs were significantly lower under Mepitel film; however, StrataXRT was better tolerated.Trial Registration: ACTRN12621000124831