Internal medicine journal
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Systemic sclerosis (SSc) refers to an autoimmune fibrosing disorder with high disease burden and mortality. The prevalence of 23/100 000 in South Australia (SA) is among the highest documented, but anecdotally it is higher still in Cairns. ⋯ The higher prevalence of SSc in Cairns is partly, but not completely, due to migration. Differences in clinical features are not entirely explained by the warmer climate. There is a need for greater rheumatologic services in the Cairns region.
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Anti-MDA5-associated dermatomyositis (MDA5-associated DM) is an uncommon presentation of idiopathic inflammatory myositis, typically amyopathic, associated with rapidly progressive, treatment refractory interstitial lung disease and poor prognosis, particularly in patients with concomitant rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD). We report two cases of MDA5-associated DM with fatal outcome in one of the patients, despite 'aggressive triple therapy' for RP-ILD.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2020
Geriatric nutritional risk index is associated with mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients.
Malnutrition is one of the most common complications among dialysis patients. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is rarely used in dialysis patients, especially peritoneal dialysis (PD). ⋯ These results demonstrated that the GNRI is significantly associated with mortality and can be a simple, clinically useful marker for the assessment of nutritional status in PD patients.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2020
Women's representation in French Internal Medicine meetings: gender distribution among speakers, moderators and organisers, 2013-2018.
Medical meetings are a time for increasing scientific visibility and leadership. We aimed to examine women's representation in French National Internal Medicine meetings (2013-2018). Women represented 25% of congress presidents, 22% of plenary session speakers, 19% of plenary session moderators and 25% oral session moderators, but 45% of anonymously selected oral communication speakers. Women are under-represented among invited speakers in French Internal Medicine meetings.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2020
ReviewParenteral nutrition in adults during acute illness: a clinical perspective for clinicians.
Parenteral nutrition (PN) is the administration of a nutritional formula by means other than the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The formula may include carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, electrolytes and/or micronutrients. The primary indications for PN are intestinal failure (IF) due to an underlying disease or treatment, or if the GI tract is not accessible. ⋯ Monitoring clinical, laboratory and metabolic parameters in acute IF is essential to provision of safe nutritional support. When provided to appropriate patients with IF in a timely and considered manner, PN has been shown to be safe, improve nutritional parameters and reduce complications associated with malnutrition. This review aims to provide clinicians a practical guide for the management of PN in adult patients within the acute setting.