Internal medicine journal
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Patients who suffer from acute IgE-mediated allergy to a cephalosporin antibiotic are frequently assumed to be at high risk of allergy to other cephalosporins and penicillins. ⋯ In our cohort, cephalosporin allergy does not appear to be a class effect, with most cases found allergic only to their index cephalosporin. Co-sensitisation to other cephalosporins or penicillins was uncommon, and when it occurred, was usually consistent with side chain cross-reactivity.
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2019
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyComparison between gallium-68 citrate positron emission tomography-computed tomography and gallium-67 citrate scintigraphy for infection imaging.
Preliminary studies have reported promising results for the utility of gallium-68 (Ga-68) citrate positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) for infection imaging. This technique offers reduced radiation dose to patients, shorter time between injection and imaging and reduced time for image acquisition compared to the 'gold standard' nuclear imaging technique: gallium-67 (Ga-67) citrate scintigraphy. ⋯ The sensitivity and specificity of Ga-68 citrate PET-CT were found to be consistently lower than Ga-67 citrate scintigraphy. Additionally, due to the insufficient level of confidence of the reporting physicians for the Ga-68 citrate PET-CT, this modality could not currently be recommended to replace Ga-67 citrate scintigraphy for routine clinical use.
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2019
Comparative StudyPatterns of immunotherapy use and management of toxicities in regional and tertiary settings.
The introduction of the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitors and their subsequent listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for use in metastatic melanomas, renal cell carcinomas and non-small-cell lung cancers has resulted in routine use of these agents in oncology practices, including in regional areas. Although immunotherapeutic agents generally have a favourable toxicity profile compared to chemotherapy, they can provoke immune-related adverse effects (irAE) caused by an unregulated and hyperstimulated immune response. Some of these effects can be serious and life-threatening. ⋯ The use of immunotherapy in a regional setting is safe and equivalent to that of a tertiary centre.
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2019
Oesophageal food bolus obstruction and eosinophilic oesophagitis.
Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) is now a well-recognised cause of dysphagia and food bolus obstruction (FBO). The diagnosis requires histologic confirmation, and the yield is greatest when at least 4 to 6 oesophageal biopsies are taken from different sites. Previous case reports of FBO have demonstrated a low biopsy rate, and as such cases of EoE may have been missed. ⋯ EoE was the most common diagnosis, and was found in 81.3% of patients with FBO aged 40 years or less. 45.5% of patients with FBO were biopsied, and of those, 33.9% were confirmed to have had at least 4 biopsies. EoE is a common cause of FBO and requires appropriate oesophageal sampling to confirm the diagnosis. Cases of EoE may otherwise be missed.
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2019
Management of stroke in the Australian Indigenous population: from hospitals to communities.
Ischaemic strokes lead to significant morbidity and mortality within the Australian Indigenous population, with known variances in the management of strokes between indigenous and non-indigenous populations. ⋯ The investigation and post-discharge care of indigenous ischaemic stroke patients is inferior to non-indigenous patients. Indigenous patients within rural NSW have a higher prevalence of preventable disease, including those that confer a higher stroke risk. Further research is needed to investigate the cause of these discrepancies and to improving indigenous stroke care between hospitals and primary care providers.