Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2003
Health effects of kava use in an eastern Arnhem Land Aboriginal community.
Heavy kava use in Aboriginal communities has been linked to various health effects, including anecdotes of sudden cardiac deaths. ⋯ Kava use was associated with dermopathy, liver function abnormalities and decreased lymphocytes. If kava continues to be used by Aboriginal populations, monitoring should focus on the health consequences of these findings, including a possible increase in serious infections. The interaction between kava, alcohol and other substances requires further study. Although markers of cardiovascular risk are increased across the population, these were not higher in kava users, and this increase may be linked to the large infectious pathogen burden reflective of the socioeconomic disadvantage seen in many remote Aboriginal communities.
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2003
Complication rates of colonoscopy in an Australian teaching hospital environment.
Quality assurance is an important part of health-care delivery. With the high level of awareness relating to adverse events from medical care, demonstration of a high standard of practice in gastroenterology is desirable. ⋯ The incidence of bleeding and perforation is similar to other reported series and reflects procedures performed by personnel with a wide range of endoscopic experience. The incidence of complications was not greater for trainees compared with consultant endoscopists. All bleeding episodes and the majority of perforations were associated with a therapeutic intervention. Diagnostic colonoscopy in particular is a very safe procedure.