Jun Y Ng, Savisha Fernando, Lisa Phipps, Charmaine Wong, Karen Fogo, Donna Crameri, Douglas Lenton
{"title":"Establishing a rural and remote apheresis service in Western New South Wales: the Orange Hospital experience.","authors":"Jun Y Ng, Savisha Fernando, Lisa Phipps, Charmaine Wong, Karen Fogo, Donna Crameri, Douglas Lenton","doi":"10.1111/imj.70039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.70039","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Traditionally, patients requiring therapeutic apheresis from rural and remote areas have been compelled to seek treatment at metropolitan hospitals, at great social and economic cost to the patient and the health service, or to receive in-patient apheresis in local intensive care units using renal replacement therapy machines. We outline our experience establishing an apheresis service in Western New South Wales. Our experience demonstrates that a clinically and economically viable apheresis service in the rural setting can be established.</p>","PeriodicalId":13625,"journal":{"name":"Internal Medicine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Practise as you preach: climate stewardship in healthcare integrating top-down and bottom-up approaches with clinician as positive role models for the community.","authors":"Joseph Ting, Daniel Schweitzer, Nina Lansbury","doi":"10.1111/imj.70047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.70047","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13625,"journal":{"name":"Internal Medicine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Different historical approaches to leprosy in the Asia-Pacific.","authors":"G Dennis Shanks","doi":"10.1111/imj.70045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.70045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Leprosy, or Hansen disease, is a greatly feared infection of Mycobacterium leprae whose neuropathy induces disfiguring injuries subject to great social stigma. Historically, Australia largely confined its few leprosy patients to remote leper colonies (leprosaria) or in quarantine hospitals. The Philippines and the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) had much larger infected populations in the early 20th century and required alternative approaches. The US military government of the Philippines chose actively to identify and confine all leprosy patients to segregated colonies on remote islands. Although intended to eliminate transmission by quarantine, the lack of effective chemotherapy to render patients non-infectious meant that the census of patients (≈5000) at the primary facility on Palawan climbed to the point that the colony could not be funded from the Health Department's budget. The Dutch government in the East Indies knew large leper colonies were unaffordable, so focussed segregation only in the capital Batavia and on plantations in Sumatra with the objective of minimising infection in the expatriate population. Neither approach was satisfactory largely due to resource constraints. Improved chemotherapy remains the best hope for the eventual elimination of leprosy.</p>","PeriodicalId":13625,"journal":{"name":"Internal Medicine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Turlough Montague, James Drummond, Karl Ng, John Parratt
{"title":"Advancements in multiple sclerosis.","authors":"Turlough Montague, James Drummond, Karl Ng, John Parratt","doi":"10.1111/imj.70023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.70023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The global prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) is increasing, and early diagnosis and treatment is essential in mitigating disability. While recent therapeutic advancements have significantly reduced relapse rates, the progressive and degenerative aspects of MS continue to pose major challenges. This year updates to the McDonald diagnostic criteria aim to enhance sensitivity and facilitate earlier use of disease-modifying therapies in asymptomatic patients. Additionally, novel biomarkers will gain ground in clinical practice and offer new approaches to optimising care. Following the widespread use of cell depleting immunosuppressive agents, innovative therapeutic directions such as chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) vaccination represent promising new directions in the management of MS. This clinical perspective provides a comprehensive overview of the disease while highlighting important advancements shaping the future of the field.</p>","PeriodicalId":13625,"journal":{"name":"Internal Medicine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143763833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michael Dickinson, Nicole O'Leary, Nada Hamad, Tara Cochrane, P. Joy Ho, Chan Y. Cheah, David Bishop, Gareth P. Gregory, Jason Butler, Allison Barraclough
{"title":"Establishing best practice in the Australian haematology setting for the use of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for relapsed and refractory lymphoma","authors":"Michael Dickinson, Nicole O'Leary, Nada Hamad, Tara Cochrane, P. Joy Ho, Chan Y. Cheah, David Bishop, Gareth P. Gregory, Jason Butler, Allison Barraclough","doi":"10.1111/imj.16544","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.16544","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Autologous CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T)-cell therapies have significantly improved clinical outcomes for many patients with relapsed and refractory (R/R) lymphoma. However, the process of delivering CAR T-cell therapy is specialised and complex, in part due to specific post-infusion toxicities. Several CAR T-cell products are now available in Australia, although not all states have treatment centres. In this review, we aim to define best practice for the referral and treatment of patients with R/R B-cell lymphoma with CAR T-cell therapy in Australia. We outline the processes for referral, optimal patient selection and best practice in the management of patients receiving CAR T cells.</p>","PeriodicalId":13625,"journal":{"name":"Internal Medicine Journal","volume":"55 S2","pages":"4-27"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143749308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rapid desensitisation therapy in a patient with furosemide-induced anaphylactic shock: a case report and short-term follow-up.","authors":"Chuanwei Zhao, Yane Yang, Shizhen Gao","doi":"10.1111/imj.70041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.70041","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13625,"journal":{"name":"Internal Medicine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143752411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cian Lenihan, Anna B Pierce, Edura Jalil, Rhonda L Stuart
{"title":"Audit of linkage to care and administration of immunoprophylaxis to infants born to mothers with chronic hepatitis B infection at Monash Health 2014-2022.","authors":"Cian Lenihan, Anna B Pierce, Edura Jalil, Rhonda L Stuart","doi":"10.1111/imj.70048","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.70048","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is essential to achieve the World Health Organization's goal of eliminating HBV as a public health threat by 2030. This study examines the management of HBV in pregnant women and newborns at a large tertiary health service in Victoria, Australia.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To evaluate the timely administration of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and the birth dose vaccine to infants born to mothers with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and to assess maternal referral to specialist care, viral load (VL) testing and antiviral therapy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study reviewed medical records of women with CHB who delivered at Monash Health from 2014 to 2022. Data were extracted on maternal referral to specialist care, VL testing, antiviral use and administration timing of HBIG (within 12 h) and hepatitis B vaccine (within 24 h) to newborns.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 895 infants, 99.7% received both HBIG and the birth dose vaccine; 97.4% received the vaccine within 12 h, and 88.3% received HBIG within the recommended 12-h window. Maternal referral rates to specialist care were 83.1%, with 91.06% undergoing VL testing during pregnancy. Antiviral therapy was administered to 16% of women.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>High uptake of HBV immunoprophylaxis was observed, with most infants receiving timely vaccination and HBIG. However, variability exists in maternal referral and antiviral treatment. Continued efforts are needed to improve comprehensive care and reduce transmission risk across diverse settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":13625,"journal":{"name":"Internal Medicine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143752552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kristoffer K Ralota, Misha Dagan, John Lee, Vardhaman Gowda, Jamie Layland
{"title":"Cardiac medication non-adherence: the elephant in the room.","authors":"Kristoffer K Ralota, Misha Dagan, John Lee, Vardhaman Gowda, Jamie Layland","doi":"10.1111/imj.70042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.70042","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13625,"journal":{"name":"Internal Medicine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143752294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhi X Leang, Joy Lim, P Gerry Fegan, Brittany Stevenson
{"title":"Glucocorticoid-induced diabetes screening in patients with autoimmune diseases attending hospital outpatient clinics.","authors":"Zhi X Leang, Joy Lim, P Gerry Fegan, Brittany Stevenson","doi":"10.1111/imj.70044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.70044","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13625,"journal":{"name":"Internal Medicine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143752265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}