Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2022
Assessment of Liver Fibrosis Markers in People with Rheumatoid Arthritis on Methotrexate.
Up to 3% of methotrexate (MTX)-treated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients might develop liver fibrosis or cirrhosis, requiring effective screening algorithms. ⋯ Liver fibrosis develops in a minority of MTX-treated RA patients. The present study suggests that TE is a more sensitive screening test than APRI, FIB-4 or Hepascore in the identification of people with RA at risk of hepatic fibrosis.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2022
Fenofibrate, which reduces risk of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes, is associated with early narrowing of retinal venules: a FIELD trial substudy.
Retinal vessel calibre metrics were evaluated at baseline and 2 years in a FIELD substudy (n = 208). Central retinal venule calibre was significantly reduced by fenofibrate and unchanged by placebo. Arteriole metrics did not change. Larger studies relating retinal vessel calibre to future diabetes complications and response to therapy are merited.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2022
A retrospective study on the epidemiology of ANCA-associated vasculitis in two Australian health districts.
Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is more prevalent in rural Australia compared with metropolitan areas, suggesting a role of environment in disease pathogenesis. However, the prevalence of environmental risk factors in Australian AAV patients has not been described. ⋯ We found a higher incidence of AAV in ISLHD compared with SESLHD with high levels of exposure to silica and solvents in both regions based on self-reported questionnaires. Prospective systematic collection of data, such as a registry of AAV, is warranted to further explore the relationship between environmental exposures and AAV.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2022
Risk factors and early prediction of clinical deterioration and mortality in adult COVID-19 inpatients: an Australian tertiary hospital experience.
Early recognition of severe COVID-19 is essential for timely patient triage. ⋯ In the present study, high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, abnormal d-dimer, high serum CRP and ferritin appear to be useful prognostic markers.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2022
Complementary and alternative medicine use in an Australian kidney transplant recipient population.
The prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in kidney transplant recipients in Australia is unknown. Chronic transplant recipients completed a questionnaire, and participants who did not report CAM use also had medical chart audits. Among 127 participants, CAM use was reported by 26.8%, considerably lower than the general population. These findings may reflect underreporting due to misperception about what constitutes CAM (commonly vitamin use was not reported by the group denying CAM use), or perhaps a motivated population who are receptive to education efforts from the transplant team.