Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Mar 2009
Perceptions and attitudes of rehabilitation medicine physicians on complementary and alternative medicine in Australia.
The growing demand for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is undeniable. We report a first study about the attitudes and behaviour of Australian rehabilitation physicians to CAM. ⋯ Australian rehabilitation physicians report similar CAM referral rates to Canadian physiatrists and Australian general practitioners. The most commonly prescribed therapies were acupuncture, yoga and Tai-Chi. Almost all patients use CAM therapies, but only a minority of rehabilitation physicians enquires about CAM use on a regular basis. The latter may avoid potentially harmful drug interactions, as well as improve the quality of the physician-patient relationship.
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Internal medicine journal · Jan 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyNephrotoxic effects of iodixanol and iopromide in patients with abnormal renal function receiving N-acetylcysteine and hydration before coronary angiography and intervention: a randomized trial.
The use of contrast agents during coronary intervention can result in nephropathy, particularly in patients with renal dysfunction. We aimed to determine whether the use of iso-osmolar iodixanol is less nephrotoxic than that of low-osmolar iopromide when patients are adequately prehydrated and have received N-acetylcysteine. ⋯ There remains a high incidence of CIN despite prehydration and routine use of N-acetylcysteine in patients with pre-existing renal dysfunction undergoing coronary interventional procedures. Although our study is underpowered, iodixanol was not associated with a statistically significant lower incidence of CIN when compared with iopromide.
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Internal medicine journal · Jan 2009
Case ReportsAnti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibody limbic encephalitis.
We report the case of a 57-year-old woman who developed acute psychiatric symptoms, behavioural disturbances, insomnia and dystonia resembling a catatonic state. During the course of her illness she developed hypoventilation and required monitoring in the intensive care unit. ⋯ Most patients improve with immunosuppressive treatment. Raising awareness of this rare but increasingly reported condition is important, as it is responsive to treatment and potentially reversible.