Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Sep 2020
Impact of COVID-19 on an Australian intensive care unit: lessons learned from South Australia.
The scale of the COVID-19 pandemic represents unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems. We describe a cohort of 18 critically ill COVID-19 patients - to our knowledge the highest number, in a single intensive care unit in Australia. We discuss the complex challenges and dynamic solutions that concern an intensive care unit pandemic response. Acting as the State's COVID-19 referral hospital, we provide local insights to consider alongside national guidelines.
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Internal medicine journal · Sep 2020
ReviewNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a review of epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis and management.
Due to the rising prevalence of obesity and type II diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is becoming the leading cause of chronic liver disease in the Western world. In some patients, simple steatosis can result in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis which over time can lead to liver cirrhosis and its associated sequelae, including hepatocellular carcinoma. Early identification and management of patients at risk with intensive dietary and lifestyle modification are essential to prevent the development of advanced liver disease and its complications. In this review, we will discuss the epidemiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, pathogenesis, diagnosis, management and surveillance strategies to offset the morbidity and mortality of this disease, as well as liver and non-liver-related complications.
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Internal medicine journal · Sep 2020
Multicenter StudyTocilizumab therapy in rheumatoid arthritis with interstitial lung disease: a multicentre retrospective study.
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the most severe extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although it is responsible of 10-20% of all RA mortality, no controlled studies are available for the treatment of RA-ILD and its therapeutic approach is still debated. ⋯ The management of RA-ILD patients remains a critical unmet need. TCZ demonstrated a good safety profile in patients with RA-ILD and a potential effect on the stabilisation of lung involvement.