Internal medicine journal
-
Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis is a rare but likely under-recognised form of subacute, usually fatal, encephalitis. We present an illustrative case report and literature review of Australian cases, summarising clinical features, diagnostic methods, treatment and outcomes.
-
Internal medicine journal · Jan 2025
Copying in medical documentation: developing an evidence-based approach.
Electronic medical records (EMRs) provide multiple efficiencies in communication to clinicians. The ability to copy and paste text in an EMR can be useful; however, it also conveys a risk of inaccurate documentation. Studies in international settings have described such overuse of copying to result in 'note bloat', with the dilution of relevant clinical information and potential clinical detriment. ⋯ Erroneous copying may occur in up to 8.3% of ward round notes in a variety of medical services. Automated strategies to help address this issue should be explored.
-
Internal medicine journal · Jan 2025
ReviewCan artificial intelligence improve patient educational material readability? A systematic review and narrative synthesis.
Enhancing patient comprehension of their health is crucial in improving health outcomes. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in distilling medical information into a conversational, legible format can potentially enhance health literacy. This review aims to examine the accuracy, reliability, comprehensiveness and readability of medical patient education materials (PEMs) simplified by AI models. ⋯ These limitations can be addressed with higher-calibre models combined with prompt engineering. In conclusion, the literature reveals a scope for AI to enhance patient health literacy through medical PEMs. Further refinement is needed to improve AI's accuracy and reliability, especially when simplifying complex medical information.
-
Internal medicine journal · Jan 2025
ReviewDiagnosis and management of mantle cell lymphoma: a consensus practice statement from the Australasian Lymphoma Alliance.
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a clinically heterogeneous B-cell neoplasm with unique clinicopathological features, accounting for 5% of all non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Although for many chemoimmunotherapy can lead to durable remissions, those with poor baseline prognostic factors, namely blastoid morphology, TP53 aberrancy and Ki67 >30%, will have less durable responses to conventional therapies. With this in mind, clinical trials have focused on novel targeted therapies to improve outcomes. This review details the recent advances in the understanding of MCL biology and outlines the recommended diagnostic strategies and evidence-based approaches to treatment.
-
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections continue to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality following solid organ transplantation and haemopoietic stem cell transplantation. Advances in understanding the biology of CMV in the immunosuppressed host will translate into improved management approaches and better clinical outcomes. Updated definitions of resistant and refractory CMV infections will lead to more consistent reporting of CMV outcomes, better inform appropriate antiviral strategies and influence clinical trial design. ⋯ As the boundaries of transplantation are extended, new patterns of CMV infection are being recognised. Finally, recent studies support the use of novel antiviral therapies in transplant recipients in the appropriate clinical setting. In this review, we provide an update on important new and emerging concepts in the management of CMV in immunosuppressed transplant recipients.