E-scripting – Technology That’s All About People
Software that generates electronic scripts sounds like a wholly technical matter, nothing to do with people. If that’s your perception, you couldn’t be more wrong. The genius of e-scripts is an entirely human and patient-centric issue.
Modern Medicine – April/May 2019
Pharmacy + Logistics = Delivering Medicines on Time, Every Time
Medicines, chronic medicines in particular, are a lifeline for a significant proportion of the South African population. However, the efficacy of certain medicines is totally reliant on the conditions under which they are kept until they reach the patient.
Modern Medicine – April/May 2019
The Cardio Protective Effect of Cannabinoids
Cannabis sativa/indica, better known as the illicit drug Marijuana, has been used for centuries for its psychoactive and medicinal properties. Recently it was found that delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major active component of cannabis, also has various effects on non-neuronal tissues, including cardiac cells.The CB1 (neuronal) and CB2 (peripheral) G protein-coupled cannabinoid receptors are currently known to be activated by THC.
Modern Medicine – April/May 2019
GEMS Care Plans for Chronic Disease Management (Ambulatory PMBs)
GEMS has structured benefits for out-of-hospital management of PMB conditions (CDLs) in the form of care plans. The care plans detail the benefits available on an annual basis for members registered on the chronic disease management programmes (DMPs).
Modern Medicine – April/May 2019
“We Helped, But the Iraqi Doctors Made it Work”
Sian Geraty is an emergency medicine specialist from South Africa. She worked with Doctors Without borders (MSF) for six months in Sadr City, a crowded neighbourhood of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. She describes how MSF has helped introduce a triage system in this busy hospital’s emergency
Modern Medicine – April/May 2019
We welcome you to come and read through our latest, Feb/March, edition of Modern Medicine.
This month we have a jam packed edition for you. Our features this month include;General Practice, Contraception, Pain and many more.
We encourage all of our readers to complete the CPD questionnaire for this edition, this can be done on the answer-form included in the magazine, or on our website CPD system.
Modern Medicine, the journal that’s with you wherever you go.
Osteoarthritis, Moving Beyond Ageing
Osteoarthritis is a heterogeneous group of diseases characterised by pain and loss of function, and is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Although risk factors vary across joints, common factors include obesity and advancing age. A largely clinical diagnosis, management for symptomatic disease is centred on nonpharmacological and nonsurgical measures. Pharmacotherapy is ideally limited to the treatment of acute flares of pain with joint replacement being reserved for advanced symptomatic disease.
Modern Medicine – Feb/March 2019
The Discharging Ear A Good History Tells the Story
A significant number of discharging ear conditions can be diagnosed through taking a history, with the type of discharge (purulent, clear or blood-stained) often signalling the aetiology. Classifying the type of discharge present allows the various common aetiologies to be considered, enabling accurate treatment or referral of the patient.
Modern Medicine – Feb/March 2019
Echinacea’s Potent Antiviral Activities
Various studies have revealed that certain standardised preparations of Echinacea purpurea (EP) contain potent and selective antiviral and antimicrobial activities. In addition, they display multiple immunemodulatory activities, comprising stimulation of certain immune functions such as phagocytic activity of macrophages and suppression of the proinflammatory responses of epithelial cells to viruses and bacteria, which are manifested as alterations in secretion of various cytokines and chemokines.
Modern Medicine – Feb/March 2019
Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Treatment and referral options
Heavy menstrual bleeding affects about one in four women. Comprehensive assessment is essential to determine the likely cause of the bleeding and its impact on a woman’s life; it includes exclusion of anaemia, iron deficiency and reproductive tract cancer. After excluding malignancy, first-line management in primary care is with pharmaceutical treatments. Other treatment options include endometrial ablation and hysterectomy.
Modern Medicine – Feb/March 2019