The Medical journal of Australia
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The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody was established in a climate of deep suspicion about the treatment of Aboriginal detainees in Australian prisons and police lock-ups. Three and a half years of exhaustive enquiry have resulted in a mammoth report which not only deals with the problems in the criminal justice system that contribute to these deaths but also discusses in detail the current state of Aboriginal society in Australia. ⋯ This review concentrates on these health matters as they affect Aboriginal people generally, and more specifically, after they arrive within the criminal justice system. The Commission's views about the medical aspects of the investigations of the deaths once they occurred are also summarised as are some of the issues which are at the root of why Aboriginal people are grossly over-represented in custody.
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The historical development of integrated treatment programs for locally advanced or aggressive cancers, for which the results of surgical excision or radiotherapy are unsatisfactory, is reviewed. Chemotherapy should be used first (induction chemotherapy), while tumour vasculature is intact; intra-arterial infusion gives a greater regional effect. ⋯ Regional induction chemotherapy is particularly useful in treating locally advanced stage III breast cancer, locally advanced head and neck cancer, gastric cancer, and locally advanced sarcomas and melanomas of the limbs. A team approach, involving surgical and medical oncologists, radiotherapists, immunologists, and others should improve the results in these patients.
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To test the hypothesis that stress generated by the Newcastle earthquake led to increased risk of heart attack and coronary death. ⋯ The magnitude of increased risk of death was slightly less than that previously reported after earthquakes in Greece. The data provide weak evidence that acute emotional and physical stress may trigger myocardial infarction and coronary death.
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Comparative Study
"Bread: it's a great way to go". Increasing bread consumption decreases laxative sales in an elderly community.
To test the effects on laxative sales of two methods of promoting increased consumption of wholemeal/wholegrain bread by the elderly. ⋯ The study suggests a positive, cost effective approach for increasing fibre intake and improving gastrointestinal problems in the elderly.