Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Sep 2020
ReviewNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a review of epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis and management.
Due to the rising prevalence of obesity and type II diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is becoming the leading cause of chronic liver disease in the Western world. In some patients, simple steatosis can result in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis which over time can lead to liver cirrhosis and its associated sequelae, including hepatocellular carcinoma. Early identification and management of patients at risk with intensive dietary and lifestyle modification are essential to prevent the development of advanced liver disease and its complications. In this review, we will discuss the epidemiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, pathogenesis, diagnosis, management and surveillance strategies to offset the morbidity and mortality of this disease, as well as liver and non-liver-related complications.
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Internal medicine journal · Sep 2020
Randomized Controlled TrialEffectiveness of patient-oriented education and medication management intervention in people with decompensated cirrhosis.
People with chronic disease often have poor comprehension of their disease and medications, which can negatively affect health outcomes. In a randomised-controlled trial, we found that patients with decompensated cirrhosis who received a pharmacist-led, patient-oriented education and medication management intervention (n = 57) had greater knowledge of cirrhosis and key self-care tasks compared with usual care (n = 59). Intervention patients also experienced improved quality of life. Dedicated resources are needed to support implementation of evidence-based measures at local centres to improve outcomes.
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Internal medicine journal · Sep 2020
Infliximab-related weight gain in inflammatory bowel disease: associations and financial impacts.
Association between tumour necrosis alpha inhibitors and weight gain has been reported. We examined weight change in our cohort of inflammatory bowel disease patients treated with infliximab (IFX) for over 12 months, its associations and financial implications. Two-thirds of patients gained weight during the course of therapy. The mean change in weight after 12 months of IFX therapy was 3.3 (±6.5) kg.
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Internal medicine journal · Sep 2020
Use of a limited-channel device for obstructive sleep apnoea diagnosis in a tertiary sleep disorders centre.
A major impediment to the provision of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) treatment is reliance on labour-intensive and costly laboratory-based polysomnography (PSG). ⋯ AL is useful in the diagnosis of moderate-severe OSA in patients referred to a tertiary sleep disorders centre. This could lessen reliance on PSG, expedite OSA care, lead to significant cost savings and make diagnosis of OSA more available in non-urban areas.