Australasian Medical Journal
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A formulation and evaluation of flaxseeds
Get PDFIndia is known for traditional medicines. Herbs are the traditional forms of medicines. Which were developed by ancient sages whose astutue observation leads to development of conservational medicines. The aim of present research was to formulate and evaluate the nutraceutical tablets of flax seeds for the purpose of hyperlipidemia, three different formulations were formulated and evaluated and were found within the acceptable limits. The in vitro drug release of F2 formulation was found to be 84.88 per cent and we conclude it as the optimum formulatio
The 3D printing of patient-specific kidney models to facilitate pre-surgical planning of renal cell carcinoma using CT datasets
Get PDFBackground Three-dimensional (3D) printing in medicine is a rapidly growing field of research. This study endeavoured to investigate the feasibility of using 3D-printed kidney models for pre-surgical planning of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) resection and provide insight into medical 3D printing technologies and materials. Aims To enrich current research on applications of 3D printing for renal disease including training, education and pre-operative planning. Methods Three kidney models were 3D-printed from computed tomography (CT) datasets: two of which were from the same clinical case. The models were CT scanned on a 192-slice scanner using exposure factors for an abdominal CT. Quantitative analysis was performed by measuring and comparing four critical anatomical structures on the model CT, original CT dataset and Standard Tessellation Language (STL) file. Qualitative assessment of the models was achieved through an interactive survey-questionnaire presented to 5 urologists. The models were also ultrasound scanned to generate insight into their uses in radiographic imaging. Results The 3D-printed models displayed no significant differences between the original CT and model CT (p>0.05). The STL file measurements were significantly larger than the original and model CT measurements for models 2 and 3 (p=0.000-0.005). All 5 urologists agreed that the 3D-printed models could facilitate pre-surgical planning and serve educational purposes to clinicians and patients with RCC. The ultrasound scans of the models demonstrate potential for radiographic imaging using realistic 3D-printed models, showing the importance of material considerations. Conclusion 3D-printed kidney models can facilitate pre-operative planning for renal surgery and education. Further studies utilising diverse clinical cases and a cost-benefit analysis of material feasibility are required to better assess the applications envisioned
Kabuki Syndrome with Chiari malformation type II: A case report
Get PDFKabuki syndrome is a rare genetic disorder, characterized by typical facial features, hypotonia, developmental delay and intellectual disabilities. We report here a Saudi female infant diagnosed as a case of Kabuki syndrome clinically and confirmed by molecular genetic testing. She was admitted at birth to neonatal ICU due to hydrocephalus and meningomyelocele and found to have Chiari malformation type II on radiological evaluation of the brain. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was sent for her and showed pathogenic variant in KDM6A which confirm the diagnosis of Kabuki syndrome
Assessment radiation knowledge and awareness among nursing staff working in a nuclear medicine department
Get PDFBackground Nuclear medicine (NM) involves the use of radioisotopes (radiopharmaceuticals) for either diagnostic or therapeutic purposes which emit ionizing radiation used for image formation. Despite patient benefit from medical radiation, the nursing staff caring for patients administered with radioisotopes may be exposed due to limited knowledge of radiation protection principles since they do not undergo formal training. Exposure my raise the risk of cancer induction among nurses. Aims This study aimed at evaluating radiation knowledge and awareness among nurses working in a NM department (NMD). Methods A cross-sectional study. Using a validated questionnaire, demographic information (age, gender, work experience), radiation knowledge and related training as well as awareness were measured among a group of consenting nurses. Results A total of 5 nurses participated in the study mean with age 45 and age range 20 – 60 years. Eighty percent (4/5) nurses showed limited knowledge of radiation and awareness of radiation protection principles irrespective of years of service. All nurses expressed fear of radiation exposure from patients. Conclusion Efficient execution of nursing duties in a NMD may be compromised by lack of formal training in radiation protection. Conducting work on radiation protection and providing nurses with self-study material can boost their moral and improve their efficiency while caring for patients in radioactive environments such as a NMD.
Significance of reticulocyte haemoglobin content in diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia
Get PDFBackgroundReticulocyte haemoglobin content (CHr) measures the amount of haemoglobin in reticulocytes and hence, offers real-time information on iron supply for erythropoiesis. It is a useful diagnostic test for iron deficiency anaemia.AimsOur aim in this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of reticulocyte haemoglobin (RET-He) in IDA while also comparing it with currently available parameters.Methods This was an observational cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary care hospital over ten months and included all patients (N=50) above eighteen years of age freshly diagnosed with anaemia. Following detailed history, general examination and basic haematological investigations, the serum iron profile and reticulocyte haemoglobin of patients were assessed. Correlation analysis and comparison of coefficient of variance were done between different parameters of IDA.Results There is a significant positive correlation of RET-He with ferritin in total patients (r=0.2121, p=0.1391) as well as with haemoglobin (r=0.3116, p=0.0267), mean corpuscular volume (r=0.1822, p=0.0267), serum iron (r=0.1519, p=0.2923), and a significant negative correlation with red cell distribution width (r=0.03029, p=0.8346) and total iron binding capacity (r=-0.2722, p=0.0559). Variation of Ret-He in our study is 34 per cent which is lower than that of haemoglobin (44.2 per cent), serum Iron (68 per cent), serum transferrin saturation (66.8 per cent), and serum ferritin (38.2 per cent).ConclusionRet-He is now called as the gold standard for diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia surpassing previously used parameters like bone marrow iron and serum ferritin
Indirect assessment of comprehensive care clinics course: Sixth year dental students perspective
Get PDFBackgroundHealth care providers often lack a comprehensive approach towards treating patients. The comprehensive care clinics course model in dental curriculum is an integrated course which mainly focuses on the comprehensive oral health care of a patient. However, students have fear, apprehension and stress as the course involves significant amount of documentation, management and coordination with the patient.AimsThe aim of this study was to assess the students’ feedback on several aspects of the Comprehensive Care Clinics course from two academic year cohorts.MethodsThe present study is a questionnaire based study which has been conducted by collecting the data from two cohorts 2018-19 and 2019-20 final year students from the Dentistry program.ResultsThe respondents responded that the communication among the staff from various specialities in cohort 1 was excellent for 7.1 per cent, very good in 15.2 per cent, good for 14.7 per cent, fair for 6.5 per cent and poor for 1.6 per cent and in cohort 2 excellent for 6 per cent, very good for 12.5 per cent, good for 26.1 per cent, fair for 8.1 per cent and poor for 2.2 per cent.ConclusionThe study concludes that the students strongly agree that there was a shortage of allocated time for the course, the students disagree about the outcome of the result. The students have responded to have ease of laboratory access for the cases and they expressed to have a good satisfaction about the overall score for the course in all respects
Secondary prophylaxis for rheumatic heart disease: A case report
Get PDFRheumatic heart disease is an irreversible sequela of rheumatic fever which is a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in developing countries. We report a case of a 22-year-old lady with underlying chronic rheumatic heart disease, underwent mitral valve repair, presented with a recurrence of acute rheumatic fever with new aortic regurgitation confirmed by echocardiography, upon defaulting oral penicillin prophylaxis. She was treated symptomatically and started on IV Penicillin 2.4MU for 14 days based on clinical suspicion of possible infective endocarditis although laboratory values were not suggestive. With the resolution of clinical symptoms and treatment completion, she was discharged with oral penicillin despite non-compliance and a referral to the tertiary cardiac centre for continuation of care. Medical management was continued without surgical intervention to date. There is no specific guideline available in Malaysia to manage rheumatic heart disease, therefore treatment relies on the physician’s experience. Majority still prefer prescribing oral penicillin prophylaxis in Malaysia but the recommended choice of prophylaxis worldwide is IM penicillin. In my opinion, this patient should have been discharged with IM penicillin or, even better, initiated at the point of initial diagnosis. In this case report, we not only highlight the importance of secondary prophylaxis but also focus on the route of prophylaxis to halt the progression of the disease
The timing of tooth eruption in preterm children: A systematic review
Get PDFBackgroundPreterm birth has been reported to affect normal physiological growth and development of preterm-delivered children. Whether preterm birth affects primary and permanent tooth eruption, is not yet determined.AimsTo identify whether preterm birth affects tooth eruption by reviewing scientific literature.Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library and reference lists of included studies were screened from January 1980 to November 2020. The study designs included both interventional and observational studies analysing peculiarities of tooth eruption in premature infants with no congenital syndromes. Risk of bias was assessed using NIH Quality Assessment tool for cohort, cross-sectional studies.Results Twelve articles were selected for data extraction after exclusion of 1709 irrelevant studies. Primary teeth eruption time in preterm children was delayed up to two months taking account of chronological age only. In most studies, after changing the age from chronological to corrected, the eruption of primary teeth was still delayed, but the difference was negligible. Catch-up growth occurs in 18 months and the difference in primary teeth eruption time remains insignificant. Very low birth weight and non-breastfeeding were associated with delayed primary teeth eruption. One study found earlier eruption of first permanent molars and incisors, while other two stated lagging maturation of permanent teeth up to the age of nine years. The quality of evidence provided by the studies was low.ConclusionConsidering chronological age, primary teeth eruption time in preterm children was delayed and related to very low birth weight and non-breastfeeding. Data on eruption of permanent teeth were inconsistent; more detailed research is need
A case series of 7 patients with Diffuse Idiopathic Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia (DIPNECH) in New South Wales Australia
Get PDFDiffuse Idiopathic Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia (DIPNECH) is a rare and poorly understood entity, defined as a generalised proliferation of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells arranged in scattered single cells, small nodules or linear pattern that do not invade beyond the bronchial epithelial basement membrane.The diagnosis of DIPNECH requires clinical, radiological and histopathology correlation. However, it is often diagnosed incidentally on histopathological examination of lung biopsy specimen performed for other reasons or discovered due to investigations for unexplained respiratory symptoms.In the first publication of a case series of DINPNECH and NECH in Australia, we describe seven histopathologically confirmed cases of DIPNECH or NECH. All patients were females, aged 57–70, mostly non-smoker. The most common presenting symptoms were dry cough and progressive dyspnoea. 71 per cent of patients had typical radiological findings with nodular changes