Internal medicine journal
-
Internal medicine journal · May 2012
Leukaemic transformation of Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms: are Asian patients different?
Leukaemic transformation (LT) is rare in the natural history of Philadelphia(Ph) chromosome-negative myeloproliferative disorders (MPD), and has a dismal prognosis. Little literature is available on Asian patients. ⋯ LT of Ph chromosome-negative MPD is rare and uniformly fatal. Despite chemotherapy, survival was poor, and patients succumbed to refractory disease and infections. Asian patients did not have a more favourable outcome. It remains to be investigated whether upfront stem cell transplant may be a treatment option.
-
Internal medicine journal · May 2012
Case ReportsUtility of atrial temporary pacing as an acute treatment for bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmias in the intensive care setting with preservation of atrioventricular synchrony.
Temporary pacing is often used as an acute treatment of bradyarrhythmias and suppression of tachyarrhythmias. In patients with cardiogenic shock, loss of atrioventricular synchrony may worsen cardiovascular haemodynamics. We present a series where temporary right atrial pacing was used as an acute treatment for both bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmias.
-
Internal medicine journal · May 2012
Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia at Alice Springs Hospital, Central Australia, 2003-2006.
Infectious diseases remain the leading cause of death at Alice Springs Hospital (ASH) and Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) is the second most common bloodstream infection. Non-multidrug-resistant, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (nmMRSA) is endemic to the region. ⋯ Indigenous Australians have the highest reported incidence rate of SAB worldwide. This reflects the socioeconomic disadvantage experienced by indigenous Australians whose living conditions predispose to pathogen transmission and limits opportunities to maintain adequate skin hygiene.
-
Internal medicine journal · Apr 2012
Immunophenotypic analysis of erythroid dysplasia and its diagnostic application in myelodysplastic syndromes.
Abnormal immunophenotypes of haematopoietic cells in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) have been identified by flow cytometry (FCM) as a typical characteristic of myeloid dysplasia. Considering that most MDS patients show varying degrees of erythroid dysplasia, we analysed the immunophenotypic feature of erythroblasts to evaluate its diagnostic application in MDS. ⋯ Developmental defects and immune-associated factors may contribute to the erythroid dysplasia. The DI derived from ratios of CD71 and CD105 expression is a useful marker to characterise dyserythropioiesis associated with MDS and can be helpful in distinguishing it from dyerythropoiesis associated with non-clonal disorders.
-
This study aimed to assess the degree of patient compliance with medications prescribed at hospital discharge following ischaemic stroke, and concordance between self-reported medication use and general practitioner (GP) records. ⋯ Adherence to secondary stroke prevention medication was between 87% and 100% at 6 weeks with similar findings at 6 months after discharge. We speculate that these high compliance rates may be due to one-on-one stroke nurse counselling and the use of stroke information packs, which include information about the importance of adherence to secondary prevention medication.