Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Mar 2020
Case ReportsChronic methyl bromide toxicity is ameliorated by haemodialysis.
Methyl bromide is an odourless, colourless, highly volatile gas, primarily used in fumigation. It can cause significant neurotoxicity, especially with chronic exposure. ⋯ The patient underwent eight haemodialysis sessions with improvement in plasma bromine concentration, half-life and marked clinical recovery. The case demonstrates the utility of haemodialysis in the treatment of chronic methyl bromide toxicity.
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Internal medicine journal · Mar 2020
Missed opportunities for HIV testing persist despite a single educational intervention: how can we close this evidence-practice gap?
In Australia, one-third of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnoses occur late, with an estimated 11% of people with HIV unaware of their diagnosis. Undiagnosed and untreated HIV infection increases morbidity in the HIV positive person and allows onward transmission of HIV. ⋯ Although HIV testing rates for IC doubled following the intervention, they remained unacceptably low. The recently introduced electronic medical record presents opportunities to prompt HIV testing.
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Internal medicine journal · Mar 2020
Cancer-associated prothrombotic pathways: leucocytosis, but not thrombocytosis, correlates with venous thromboembolism in women with ovarian cancer.
Risk factors for venous thromboembolism in cancer vary between tumours. Leucocytosis, thrombocytosis, tumour histology and vascular compression may drive thrombosis in ovarian cancer. ⋯ Thrombocytosis >350 × 109 /L was frequent (63.8%), but not predictive of thrombosis. Identification of prothrombotic biomarkers may help personalise preventive treatments.
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Internal medicine journal · Mar 2020
Impact of lunar phase on outcomes following ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
There is a long-held belief in the association between the full moon and extremes of human behaviour and adverse health consequences. Small-scale studies are conflicting; however, most suggest no clear association between lunar phase and occurrence of acute coronary syndromes. ⋯ This study showed no significant difference in the incidence or cardiovascular outcomes and survival in patients with STEMI undergoing primary or rescue percutaneous coronary intervention during the lunar phases.