Postgraduate medical journal
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To identify factors contributing to laboratory overutilisation in an academic medical department, and to assess the effect of an educational feedback strategy on inappropriate test-ordering behaviour. ⋯ Repeated audit, continuous education and alertness of doctors, on the basis of assessment of factors contributing to laboratory overutilisation, result in restraining the redundant ordering of tests in the hospital setting.
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An understanding of statistical methods and basic epidemiology are crucial for the practice of modern medicine. ⋯ This study found a low level of knowledge of basic principles of research methods and data analysis among doctors, and this knowledge considerably differed by country of medical school graduation.
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Chagas disease is the clinical condition triggered by infection with the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. The infection is transmitted by triatomine insects while blood feeding on a human host. ⋯ The pathogenesis of Chagas disease appears to be related to a parasite-induced mutation of the vertebrate genome. Currently, treatment is unsatisfactory.
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Anthrax was a relatively unknown disease in the Western world until 2001, when spores were maliciously mailed in the US, causing five deaths. The mortality of the disease, the stability of its spores and the subsequent lack of person-to-person spread make anthrax an attractive biological weapon for terrorists with a desire for targeted mass destruction.
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Lumbar puncture is a frequently performed procedure in medical emergencies and anaesthesia. Headache after lumbar puncture is a common occurrence (32%) and carries a considerable morbidity, with symptoms lasting for several days, at times severe enough to immobilize the patient. If untreated, it can result in serious complications such as subdural haematoma and seizures, which could be fatal. ⋯ It is therefore important that the doctors are aware of the methods available for reducing the incidence of headaches after lumbar puncture. On the other hand, there are several misconceptions that are thought to decrease the incidence of headaches with no scientific basis. This article reviews the scientific literature and highlights the practical issues involved in the diagnosis and management of headaches after lumbar puncture, including the epidural blood patch treatment.