Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2020
Complementary medicine use and its cost in Australians with type 2 diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II.
Few studies have examined complementary medicine (CM) use in diabetes. Australian data are inconsistent, limited in scope and have not considered cost. ⋯ CM use in type 2 diabetes is both common and costly. Healthcare professionals should consider discussing safe and cost-effective use of CM with their patients with type 2 diabetes.
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2020
Decreases in cardiac catheter laboratory workload during the COVID-19 level 4 lockdown in New Zealand.
An increase in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections prompted Level 4 lockdown throughout New Zealand from 25 March 2020. We have investigated trends in coronary and electrophysiology (EP) procedures before and during this lockdown. ⋯ In contrast, the number of in-patient angiograms and percutaneous intervention procedures fell by 53% compared with the previous 4 weeks in 2020 and by 56% compared with the corresponding period in 2019. Further study is required to determine the reasons for these trends.
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2020
Regional differences in access to acute ischaemic stroke care and patient outcomes.
Advances in stroke management such as acute stroke units and thrombolysis are not uniformly distributed throughout our population, with rural areas being relatively disadvantaged. It remains unclear, however, whether such disparities have led to corresponding differences in patient outcomes. ⋯ With the exception of acute stroke unit care and thrombolysis, acute ischaemic stroke care within Tasmania's urban and rural hospitals was broadly similar. No significant differences were found between regions in terms of patient outcomes. Future studies are encouraged to employ larger data sets, which capture a broader range of urban and rural sites and record patient outcomes at extended interval.
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2020
Predictive Value of Soluble Suppression of Tumorigenicity 2 on Myocardial Reperfusion.
High baseline level of soluble suppression of tumourigenicity 2 (sST2) was an independent predictor of cardiovascular death and heart failure in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). ⋯ The elevated levels of sST2 on admission were associated with impaired myocardial reperfusion in STEMI patients undergoing PPCI.