Australasian Medical Journal

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BACKGROUND: Conducting ethically grounded research is a fundamental facet of all investigations. Nevertheless, the administrative burdens of current ethics review are substantial, and calls have been made for a reduction in research waste. AIMS: To describe the heterogeneity in administration and documentation required by Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) and Research Governance Offices (RGOs) across Australia. METHODS: In establishing a nationwide study to investigate the molecular aetiology of Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA), for which archived pathological specimens from around Australia are being recruited, we identified variation across separate HREC and RGO requirements...

BACKGROUND: Sedation in dentistry is a controversial topic given the variety of opinions regarding its safe practice. AIMS: This article evaluates the various techniques used to administer sedation in dentistry and specific methods practiced to form a recommendation for clinicians. METHODS: An extensive literature search was performed using PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, Google, and local library resources. RESULTS: Most of the literature revealed a consensus that light sedation on low-risk American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) groups, that is ASA I, and possibly II, is the safest method for sedation in a dental outpatient setting...

BACKGROUND: Previous analysis of jaw fracture hospitalisations in Western Australia (WA) indicated disproportionately high rates of hospitalisations for Aboriginal people. This study was to follow-up on the earlier analysis to determine if inequalities in terms of jaw fracture hospitalisation rates between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people have changed. AIMS: This study, done over a 10-year period from 1999/2000 to 2008/2009, aimed to determine rates of hospitalisations for jaw fractures in WA, trends over the 10-year period, and direct costs associated with these hospital admissions...

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection presenting as crescentic glomerulonephritis in the absence of cryoglobulinemia is an extremely rare phenomenon. We report a case of a 44-year-old male with HBV infection, who underwent kidney biopsy for rapidly progressive renal failure and nephrotic range proteinuria. Histopathological evaluation of the kidney biopsy was consistent with immune complex mediated crescentic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). The patient achieved complete renal and virological remission with steroids, plasmapheresis and antiviral therapy...

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BACKGROUND: The environmental matrices (water, air, and surfaces) play a vital role as reservoirs of Legionella spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pseudomonas spp.). Hence, hospital environment control procedures are effective measures for reducing nosocomial infections. AIMS: This study was carried out to explore the profiles of microorganisms in air culture at various wards/units of a tertiary care hospital in Nepal. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at various wards/units of a tertiary care hospital in Nepal between January and September 2015 to explore the microbiological burden in inanimate objects...

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No abstract text is available yet for this article.

A 26-year-old male, presented to us with complaints of fever for five days and breathlessness for one day. During the hospital stay, he developed myoclonic jerks in all four limbs, head titubation, and saccadomania. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain ruled out structural lesions and cerebro spinal fluid (CSF) analysis ruled out meningo-encephalitis. Weil Felix was strongly positive, OX K titres were one in 640, and IgM for scrub typhus was positive. He was treated with doxycycline for one week. On follow-up he was found to be doing well with resolution of opsoclonus myoclonus...

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BACKGROUND: Recent attention to the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke prevention has emphasised the need to support the use of existing pharmacotherapy through available services and resources, in preference to using the new, more expensive, novel oral anticoagulants. In this regard, general practitioners (GPs) are at the core of care. AIMS: To survey Australian GPs regarding their approach to managing AF, particularly in relation to stroke prevention therapy, and to identify the range of services to support patient care...

BACKGROUND: The after-hours house call (AHHC) service in Australia is growing, but studies have never explored the doctor variables associated with burnout and stress within the service. This study fills this knowledge gap. AIMS: To determine the doctor variables associated with burnout and stress among doctors involved in AHHC. METHODS: A quantitative, questionnaire-based survey of all 300 doctors engaged in AHHC through the National Home Doctor Service (NHDS), Australia's largest home visiting doctor-service provider...

BACKGROUND: The large number of diagnostic procedures undertaken in emergency departments (ED) is vital to the early diagnosis and treatment of patients. The use of ionising radiation in diagnosis adds a lifetime attributable risk (LAR) of cancer depending on the region imaged, the frequency of imaging, and dose per exposure. AIMS: This pilot study aims to assess the degree of radiation awareness amongst ED doctors at major metropolitan and regional health services in Australia, in terms of the dose and risks associated with common imaging...

[This retracts the article on p. 73 in vol. 7, PMID: 24611076.].

BACKGROUND: Although communication skills are important for a good physician-patient relationship, Indian medical curricula give very little emphasis on training medical students in this aspect. AIMS: To determine the change in communication skills of final-year medical students following focused training. METHODS: This was an educational interventional study done at Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, a tertiary care teaching hospital in South India, to assess communication skills among final-year MBBS students...

BACKGROUND: Under a health reform after two decades, Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) in Australia were changed from Divisions of General Practice (DGP) to Medicare Locals (MLs). Following a review of Medicare Locals, in July 2015 Primary Health Networks (PHNs) replaced Medical Locals to potentially improve outcomes through supporting primary care and enhancing integration. AIMS: The aim of this paper was to gather front-line staff's perspectives on MLs and identify any lessons applicable to PHNs...

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Systemic dissemination and peri-prosthetic infection of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) following intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy presents a rare but significant complication of treatment for non-muscle invasive bladder carcinoma. We present a patient with Mycobacterium bovis infection of a prosthetic hip nine months following BCG therapy for bladder cancer. The debridement and (implant) prosthesis retention approach in conjunction with anti-tuberculous medication (DAIR) employed in this case, allowed the same prosthesis to be retained...

This article describes a case of anaphylaxis secondary to chlorhexidine during urethral catheterisation. Despite little evidence for the use of antiseptic lubricants in preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections, the distribution and use of such products continues to be widespread. Chlorhexidine-free lubricating gel is widely available and should be used for urological procedures wherever possible.