Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Mar 2020
Review of HIV testing recommendations in Australian specialty guidelines for HIV indicator conditions: a missed opportunity for recommending testing?
Australian National human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Testing policy recommends HIV indicator condition-based testing, adapted from the European AIDS Clinical Society (EACS) guidelines. ⋯ Although almost half of HIV non-HIV guidelines for ADC and IC mention HIV association, only 27% specifically recommend HIV testing. This suggests partnership with guideline development and specialist groups may be useful to ensure patients diagnosed with ADC/IC are tested for HIV.
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Internal medicine journal · Mar 2020
Pre- and post-bone marrow harvest anaemia is associated with lower CD34+ stem cell collection, high harvest volume and female gender.
Donor safety is paramount when performing bone marrow stem cell harvest. The incidence of full blood count (FBC) abnormalities among donors and variables associated with anaemia after marrow harvest are not well established. ⋯ Pre-harvest anaemia should be corrected where possible particularly in female donors. Marrow collection volume should be minimised to reduce post-harvest anaemia, optimise CD34+ cell number and improve nucleated and stem cell concentrations in the harvest product.
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Internal medicine journal · Mar 2020
Who is afraid of biosimilars? Openness to biosimilars in an Australian cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Biosimilars are increasingly adopted to improve affordability of biologics. An effective introduction of biosimilars requires an understanding of patient acceptance of these agents. ⋯ Patient concerns about biosimilar uptake mainly focus on concerns about its efficacy. There is a significant correlation between patient attitudes towards biosimilar and generic medicines.
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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.
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Internal medicine journal · Mar 2020
Accuracy and acceptability of survivorship care plans: results of a pilot study.
Survivorship treatment summaries and care plans are increasingly incorporated into cancer care but there are limited data on their accuracy and acceptability. We have evaluated written care plans developed as part of a once-off, nurse-led survivorship consultations across four medical oncology clinics in South Australia as part of a state-wide pilot. While the accuracy of treatment summaries was high, level of detail in care plans was moderate to low, as was survivors' perception of plans' utility.