Internal medicine journal
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Recent studies have suggested there are a large number of potentially preventable deaths in Australian hospitals. ⋯ There is a high incidence of serious vital sign abnormalities in the period before potentially preventable hospital deaths. These antecedents may identify patients who would benefit from earlier intervention.
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffects of improved glycaemic control on endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Patients with type 2 diabetes have abnormal endothelial function but it is not certain whether improvements in glycaemic control will improve endothelial function. ⋯ Short-term reduction of HbA1c levels did not appear to affect endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes and previously poorly regulated glycaemic control.
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2001
Outcomes in the management of atrial fibrillation: clinical trial results can apply in practice.
The benefits of antithrombotic therapy in chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) have been established in clinical trials, but there is a paucity of data on outcomes in practice. ⋯ Warfarin is underused in patients with AF. In clinical practice, warfarin confers a similar stroke risk reduction to that observed in trials, with an increase in incidence of only minor bleeding complications. Aspirin did not appear to reduce the risk of stroke.
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2001
ReviewCurrent perspectives on BRCA1- and BRCA2-associated breast cancers.
The identification of two breast cancer predisposition genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, in the mid-1990s has led to a better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of hereditary breast cancer and to a new era in breast cancer research. The present article reviews the current state of knowledge regarding the biology of BRCA1 and BRCA2, the cancer risks associated with carrying a pathogenic mutation in either of these genes and the possible genetic and environmental risk modifiers. ⋯ Research into BRCA1- and BRCA2-associated breast cancer is in its infancy and much remains to be learned, particularly about modifiers of genetic risk and the clinical implications of carrying a mutation in one of these two genes. Australia has an excellent research infrastructure in place, through the Australian Breast Cancer Family Study and the Kathleen Cuningham Foundation Consortium for Research into Familial Breast Cancer, to contribute substantially to future research in this area.
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2001
Letter Case ReportsResponse to erythropoietin in chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia.