Internal medicine journal
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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.
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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
Case ReportsCan insomnia be fatal? An Australian case of fatal familial insomnia.
Fatal familial insomnia (FFI) is a rare prion disease with autosomal dominant inheritance. Currently, there is only one published case study of FFI in Australia. ⋯ Clinically, it manifests with disordered sleep-wake cycle, dysautonomia, motor disturbances and neuropsychiatric disorders. We describe a case of FFI detailing the investigative process, including the importance of sleep assessment and polysomnography in obtaining a diagnosis.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2022
Impact of COVID-19 on the worsening crisis of chronic kidney disease: the imperative to fund early detection is now.
The number of Australians affected by kidney disease will increase as the impacts of COVID-19 infection on kidney health are realised. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) imposes significant health and economic burdens from dialysis costs, loss of employment, premature death and increased admissions to hospital. Screening for kidney disease must be integrated into post-COVID-19 care; however, currently there is no reimbursement for kidney health checks in primary care. Early detection can reduce the progression of CKD by as much as 50% and thus the imperative to fund the Kidney Health Check is now.