The Medical journal of Australia
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Occupational repetition strain injuries (RSI) are a major, unchecked source of disability in industry and commerce, and have considerable social and economic consequences. The long-term morbidity associated with these injuries is preventable, but a coordinated approach to awareness, diagnosis, management, and prevention has been lacking. ⋯ Uniformity of diagnosis on an anatomical basis in relation to repetition or static load would greatly assist in epidemiological study, and improve notification and the impact of prevention programmes. Therefore, the Occupational Repetition Strain Injuries Advisory Committee, which was convened by the Division of Occupational Health, New South Wales Government Department of Industrial Relations, has prepared a set of guidelines for the diagnosis and management of these injuries.
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Hepatic haemangioma is the most common vascular abnormality of the liver occurring in 0.4% to 7% of reported autopsy series. Its diagnosis is critical, as biopsy of these lesions can lead to catastrophic results owing to uncontrolled haemorrhage. Hepatic angiography is normally used for diagnosis. ⋯ After the intravenous injection of the isotope, flow, early static, and delayed static views were obtained. A flow study demonstrating decreased perfusion and a late blood-pool study showing local blood volume markedly greater than that of the normal liver were characteristic of haemangioma. 99mTc RBC studies are useful in the evaluation of focal defects in the liver when cavernous haemangioma is suspected. A diagnostic pattern is present in patients with cavernous haemangioma.
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The biochemical abnormalities and decreased renal function which developed in two patients suffering from eating disorders are reported. These cases illustrate the need for biochemical screening of patients with eating disorders to determine if significant abnormalities are present and to provide a baseline for future investigations.
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During March, 1981, a number of cases of dengue fever occurred in Cairns and Townsville, northern Queensland. From October, 1981, an outbreak of the infection was recognized on Thursday Island and, by May 1982, an estimated 38% of residents had been infected. Isolated cases were reported from other towns in northern Queensland and from other islands in the Torres Strait. ⋯ No deaths were reported. Entomological surveys indicated that the domestic breeding vector of dengue, Aedes aegypti, is widely distributed throughout Queensland - southwards to Dirranbandi and westwards to Mornington Island. In some localities, the indices of Ae. aegypti abundance are alarmingly high, but at least in some suburbs of Townsville, it has been effectively controlled.