The New Zealand medical journal
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This study considered whether the banning of benzylpiperazine (BZP)-based party pills was likely to increase illegal drug use. ⋯ The withdrawal of BZP and any replacement 'party pills' from the recreational drug market may lead to an increase in the use of illegal drugs.
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To identify the frequency of medical students interpreting in healthcare settings and to explore the issues related to the use of non-professional interpreters. ⋯ A considerable proportion of bilingual clinical medical students have interpreted for patients contrary to Capital and Coast District Health Board policy and professional interpreter recommendations. In conjunction with published literature and after consulting with interpreter trainers, we have developed a document which canvasses the issues involved and proposed practical guidelines, to better prepare healthcare professionals and non-professional interpreters for interpreting situations. More research is required to find out why clinicians are asking medical students and others to interpret rather than engaging professional interpreters.
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Letter Case Reports
Hidradenitis suppurativa: a diagnostic dilemma for sexual health.
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This study aimed to explore whether practitioners of acupuncture, chiropractic, and osteopathy use the title 'Doctor' in a way which could imply that they are registered medical practitioners, when there is no evidence that they are, and if so, whether rates differ between practice types. ⋯ Practitioners should be aware that if they are not registered medical practitioners, then using the title 'Doctor' whilst working in healthcare is unlikely to comply with the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. Misleading use of the title 'Doctor' should therefore be discontinued at the first available opportunity.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Prospective 10-year study of postmenopausal women with asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism.
There are few prospective studies of people with asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) who have not had parathyroidectomy. We followed a group of postmenopausal women with asymptomatic PHPT for up to 10 years to determine whether they could be managed conservatively without parathyroidectomy. ⋯ Many postmenopausal women with asymptomatic PHPT do not develop symptoms or complications of PHPT, and their biochemical parameters remains stable. Therefore, such asymptomatic women with PHPT can often be managed conservatively without parathyroidectomy.