Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2023
Carbon emissions and hospital pathology stewardship: a retrospective cohort analysis.
As healthcare is responsible for 7% of Australia's carbon emissions, it was recognised that a policy implemented at St George Hospital, Sydney, to reduce non-urgent pathology testing to 2 days per week and, on other days only if essential, would also result in a reduction in carbon emissions. The aim of the study was to measure the impact of this intervention on pathology collections and associated carbon emissions and pathology costs. ⋯ Reduction in unnecessary hospital pathology collections was associated with both carbon emission and cost savings. Pathology stewardship warrants further study as a potentially scalable, cost-effective and incentivising pathway to lowering healthcare associated greenhouse gas emissions.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2023
Observational StudyA Comprehensive Study of the Epidemiology of Haematological Malignancies in North Queensland.
There is an absence of clinically relevant epidemiological data in regional Australia pertaining to haematological malignancies. ⋯ The present study successfully reports on the incidence of haematological malignancies in regional Queensland using a clinically meaningful diagnostic classification system and identifies potential geographic hotspots. We advocate for such contemporary, comprehensive and clinically meaningful epidemiological data reporting of blood cancer diagnoses in wider Australia. Such an approach will have significant implications towards developing appropriate data-driven management strategies and public health responses for haematological malignancies.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2023
Variations in clinical presentation and biomarkers amongst biopsy-proven Lupus Nephritis patients: a Top-End retrospective cohort study.
Lupus nephritis (LN) is a common feature of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and affects 50% of patients with SLE. Racial differences in incidence and prevalence have been well documented worldwide. In Australia, higher incidence and prevalence of SLE had been previously reported in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Australians compared with non-Indigenous Australians. ⋯ The present study further supports the observation that lupus in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians were of a 'distinct phenotype' compared with non-Indigenous Australians. Future research should be aimed at delineating the reason for this observed difference.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2023
Influence of radiologic pattern and the presence of diffuse parenchymal lung disease on outcome in ventilated patients with COVID-19 pneumonia: impact on prognosis.
Suspected organising pneumonia (OP) is a common finding in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the impact on outcomes of the radiological patterns of diffuse parenchymal lung disease on outcome of these patients is still uncertain. ⋯ OP radiologic pattern in patients with severe COVID-19 is not associated with worse outcomes.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2023
The basis and implications of diverging approaches to colorectal adenoma surveillance in the West.
Algorithms for the surveillance of colorectal adenomas have recently undergone revision in Australia and abroad. Despite a shared evidence base, significant differences are observed and optimal intervals for surveillance remain controversial. We sought to explore their differences in relation to current evidence, practical aspects and how we may improve our own approach to adenoma surveillance in Australia.