Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Dec 2022
'So near and yet so far': the early women of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians - the first 20 female MRACP 1938-1947.
At the time of the inauguration of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 1938, there were 232 Foundation Fellows, but only five were women. Those who wished to gain a postgraduate qualification for internal medicine or related specialties then sat for Membership of the new College. In the first decade (1938-1947), 250 gained Membership, but only 20 were women. ⋯ Still, they all showed great determination and contributed significantly to their chosen fields, while many combined a busy practice with family life. They improved the path for those women who followed. Their stories, however, are rarely reported.
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Internal medicine journal · Dec 2022
ReviewGuidance for transfusion management in patients receiving magrolimab therapy (anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody).
Magrolimab (Hu5F9-G4) is a first-in-class anti-CD47 IgG4 monoclonal antibody, with potential applications in several malignancies including myelodysplastic syndrome. CD47 blockade in malignancy has been shown to promote antitumour effects. However, the ubiquity of CD47 on red blood cells can result in interference in pretransfusion immunohaematology investigations and hinder timely provision of red blood cell units, with potential to mask clinically significant alloantibodies. ⋯ Antibody screening using an antihuman globulin reagent that does not detect human IgG4 subclass may distinguish magrolimab interference from an underlying alloantibody in patient plasma. Clear and consistent protocols for laboratories and close communication with clinicians are paramount to facilitate timely and safe transfusion support for patients receiving magrolimab therapy. As local transfusion laboratories gain experience with magrolimab, this will assist in our understanding and comfort in managing these patients.
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Internal medicine journal · Dec 2022
Multicenter StudyA multi-centre study on patients dying from COVID-19: Communication Between Clinicians, Patients, and their Families.
COVID-19 has led to challenges in providing effective and timely communication in healthcare. Services have been required to adapt and evolve as successful communication remains core to high-quality patient-centred care. ⋯ This study is one of the first and largest Australian reports on how communication occurs at the end of life for patients dying of COVID-19. Contact rates were relatively low between patients and families, compared with other cohorts dying from non-COVID-19 related causes. The impact of this difference on bereavement outcomes requires surveillance and attention.