July 31, 2019
Did you know that melanoma is the most common malignancy in pregnancy? It accounts for one third of pregnancy-associated malignancies in Australia. Terrifying stuff isn’t it?
Fortunately, melanoma occurring in a pregnant woman remains a very rare occurrence. But no one wants to be the doctor that misses it, especially as …
There has been a definite increase in General Practice mental health presentations in our society. The most apparently competent and successful career people can also be the most exhausted and over-extended in many areas of their lives. What makes some people cope better than others, and what makes someone decide …
Fertility awareness apps are being championed as a new approach to contraception. In reality, while the technology may be new, women have been predicting the fertile days in their menstrual cycles to prevent pregnancy for a very long time.
But the growth of the “femtech” industry, alongside a seemingly growing wave …
July 24, 2019
Recently reported cases of the often fatal bacterial infection leptospirosis in dogs in Sydney have raised the issue of animal diseases that also affect humans.
This zoonotic disease is spread by rats and other rodents. However, this latest cluster in dogs has not been accompanied by human cases in the Sydney …
Incretins are hormones released by the intestine that regulate many metabolic pathways, including glucose control. Incretin hormones were discovered over one hundred years ago.
GLP-1 receptor agonists augment the incretin effect to improve glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
The average HbA1c drop due to these medications is over 1%, …
If you work in a truly general general practice you will no doubt be familiar with this scenario. The patient on a NOAC who is going for a dental procedure, cataract operation or arthroscopy.
Do they need to stop their NOAC? And if so, when and for how long?
Often there are more …
July 17, 2019
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has developed an app that is sure to prove valuable to health professionals who manage sexual and reproductive health as part of their clinical practice.
The ‘Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use’ app will help clinicians recommend safe, effective and acceptable contraception methods for women with …
Bacteria are at the centre of all life forms on planet earth and are the essential building blocks that make living organisms the way they are.
Both the mitochondrion — found in most organisms, which generates energy in the cell — and the chloroplast — the solar energy-harvester located in plants …
July 10, 2019
A career as a physician has traditionally been considered to be among the best vocations that talented students can pursue. That may no longer be the case. All too many doctors report that they are unhappy, frustrated and even prepared to leave the profession. That should worry all of us. …
Despite potential savings of more than $1 billion annually, awareness of pharmacogenomic tests among Australian prescribers is low and national guidelines for their use have not been developed. This void contributes directly to the continued prescribing of ineffective medications, unacceptably high rates of adverse drug reactions and associated personal and …
July 03, 2019
Wandering through the grocery store, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the numerous brands and health claims on the dozens of sugar substitutes. It can be particularly confusing for those with diabetes or pre-diabetes who must keep their blood sugar in check and control their weight.
With the growing diabetes …
These days the first question most GPs get asked, after confirming a wanted first pregnancy is what does the woman need to take or eat, and, importantly what should she avoid.
It gets tricky doesn’t it? If you avoided everything that is said to potentially cause harm (according to the world …