Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · May 2021
Unfractionated heparin reduces hepcidin levels in critically ill patients.
A strong anti-hepcidin activity has been observed in heparins. Mean hepcidin levels were significantly reduced compared to baseline, following the first day of unfractionated heparin administration in critically patients. Heparin displayed a strong independent negative association with hepcidin. These results may lead to future treatment methods of forms of anaemia characterised by hepcidin excess, common among the critically ill.
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Internal medicine journal · May 2021
Acute oxygen use in hospitalised patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is guideline discordant.
Ample evidence supports an association between acute oxygen over-administration and harm. Australian and international guidelines consistently recommend lower oxygen saturation aims in populations with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We assessed adherence to acute oxygen use guidelines and outcomes in hospitalised patients with COPD at a large Australian metropolitan hospital network.
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Internal medicine journal · May 2021
Therapeutic drug monitoring in inflammatory bowel disease reduces unnecessary use of infliximab with substantial associated cost-savings.
Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of infliximab (IFX) levels in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients can help to guide dose adjustments or changes to therapy for selected patients in remission or with secondary loss of response (LOR). ⋯ Use of both reactive and proactive IFX TDM is cost-effective for IBD management as it informs the clinician where unnecessary use of IFX can be stopped.
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Internal medicine journal · May 2021
Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with breathlessness in Australia: weighted using the 2016 Australian census.
Access to up-to-date Australian disease prevalence estimates assists health services and consumer organisations to plan and allocate resources. The Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study was conducted between 2006 and 2012 and provided chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (post-bronchodilator airflow limitation) prevalence estimates weighted to the 2006 Australian census. Using the 2016 Australian census, an updated prevalence estimate of all COPD is 8.30% (95% confidence interval = 6.59%-10.01%) for adults aged 40 or more years in Australia and includes 2.52% with mild breathlessness, 0.99% with moderate breathlessness and 0.91% with severe breathlessness.