Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Sep 2020
Multicenter StudyTocilizumab therapy in rheumatoid arthritis with interstitial lung disease: a multicentre retrospective study.
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the most severe extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although it is responsible of 10-20% of all RA mortality, no controlled studies are available for the treatment of RA-ILD and its therapeutic approach is still debated. ⋯ The management of RA-ILD patients remains a critical unmet need. TCZ demonstrated a good safety profile in patients with RA-ILD and a potential effect on the stabilisation of lung involvement.
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Internal medicine journal · Sep 2020
Bortezomib use and outcomes for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
The public subsidy in Australia of bortezomib (Velcade) for untreated non-transplant multiple myeloma patients was based on the VISTA trial. ⋯ Our patients were older, had worse disease characteristics and more comorbidities than patients in the VISTA trial. While response rates were similar, survival outcomes appeared worse. Bortezomib-based treatment in the real world setting still carries a high risk of toxicity in the elderly population.
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Internal medicine journal · Sep 2020
How COVID-19 has pushed us into a medical education revolution.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on society and higher education in Australia. In just a few weeks, entire courses have been re-structured and are now delivered online. The need to adapt rapidly has prompted many innovative changes that will ultimately have long-term benefits for medical education in Australia and New Zealand.
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Internal medicine journal · Sep 2020
Where are our patients? Retrospective cohort study of acute medical unit admissions during and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Admissions to hospital have declined markedly during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. This may be due to patients not presenting with acute illness or managing their chronic illness at home. ⋯ This may lead to worse outcomes for those not presenting, as well as those presenting late. We recommend a public health campaign to encourage Australians to present to hospital if unwell.