Internal medicine journal
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Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with a heterogeneous presentation ranging from severe pneumonitis to asymptomatic infection. International studies have demonstrated the utility of respiratory care units (RCUs) to facilitate the delivery of non-invasive ventilation techniques to patients with COVID-19 pneumonitis. ⋯ This study demonstrates the feasibility of operating a CRCU within an Australian tertiary healthcare setting.
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2023
CommentModifications to Rapid Response Team (Medical Emergency Team) activation criteria and its impact on patient safety.
Modifications to rapid response team (RRT) activation criteria occur commonly in Australian hospitals without evidence to define their use. ⋯ The results strongly suggest that RRT criteria modification is associated with no difference in rates of RRT activation and with detrimental impacts on patient safety, particularly in medical patients.
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2023
Self-reported child maltreatment and cardio-metabolic risk in 30-year-old adults.
Childhood maltreatment (CM) is associated with both dietary fat intake and obesity in later life. There is less information on associations with metabolic risk factors and specific types of CM such as physical, sexual and emotional abuse, as well as neglect. ⋯ Of child maltreatment types, emotional abuse and neglect show the strongest associations with obesity and several cardiometabolic risk factors, therefore highlighting the public health importance of early intervention to reduce childhood adversity.
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2023
The incidence of chronic renal injury in patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplant therapy.
Haemopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is a well-established treatment option for many haematologic immunologic and oncologic diseases, allowing the safe administration of high-dose chemotherapy. Increased risk of acute renal injury is associated with HSCT; however, the risk of chronic kidney injury in autologous HSCT remains unclear. ⋯ The current results indicate there is an increased incidence of chronic renal injury in patients who have undergone autologous peripheral blood haemopoietic stem cell transplantation therapy and this injury is potentiated by the autologous stem cell transplant procedure.
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2023
Can old drugs learn new tricks? Achieving registration and public subsidy listing for off-patent medicines with novel therapeutic applications.
With the increasing costs of drug development, repurposing of low-cost medicines for new indications has never been more important. However, there are multiple barriers to repurposing, particularly for off-patent medicines, and limited incentives for the pharmaceutical industry to sponsor registration and public subsidy listing. Here, we explore these barriers and their consequences and provide examples of successful repurposing strategies.