Internal medicine journal
-
Internal medicine journal · Apr 2007
Efficacy of aprepitant in management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is an important cause of distress for cancer patients. We have evaluated the effectiveness and safety of a new antiemetic aprepitant in improving management of CINV refractory to standard antiemetic therapy in the general oncology setting. ⋯ The addition of aprepitant was associated with improved control of nausea and vomiting and reduction in hospitalization in patients receiving chemotherapy.
-
Internal medicine journal · Apr 2007
Health effects of war are devastating: pre-emptive war demands pre-emptive criticism by the medical profession.
The negative health effects of the 2003 invasion of Iraq should act as a watershed in the medical profession's approach to violent conflict.
-
Internal medicine journal · Apr 2007
Comparative StudyAudit of acute admissions of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: inpatient management and outcome.
Despite the publication of several management guidelines for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is little information on standards of care in clinical practice. The aim of this audit was to examine the assessment, management and outcome of COPD admissions to a secondary and tertiary referring New Zealand hospital during two different seasons. Compliance to current recommendations was examined and compared with the available international published work. ⋯ This audit documented the general characteristics, assessment, management and outcome of the COPD admissions to a secondary New Zealand hospital. Further investigations into factors contributing to shorter length of stay and predictors of mortality are needed.
-
Internal medicine journal · Apr 2007
Wegener's granulomatosis in New Zealand: evidence for a latitude-dependent incidence gradient.
The aim of the study was to determine whether there was evidence for a geographic gradient in the incidence of Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) and WG-like disease in New Zealand (NZ). ⋯ A north-south gradient in the rate of patient discharges given a diagnostic code of M313 (WG, necrotizing respiratory granulomatosis) was present in NZ. This finding supports the hypothesis that there is a latitude-dependent risk factor(s) for WG possibly common to both global hemispheres.