The Risks and Benefits of PPIs Are they safe?
In recent years, barely a month goes by without another report linking use of proton pump inhibitors with adverse health outcomes, yet they remain among the most used classes of drugs worldwide. What is the story? Are they safe or not, and who should take them?
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2019
Hypertension in People with Diabetes Modern trends in management
The major cause of mortality in diabetes remains cardiovascular disease (CVD). Thus, any risk factors associated with CVD must be aggressively treated in patients with diabetes. Hypertension is one of these risk factors and should be appropriately managed in such individuals. The advent of new glucose lowering drugs such as sodium-glucose cotransporter
2 inhibitors may provide clinicians with additional opportunity to reduce BP.
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2019
When Kids Wet the Bed, Parental Understanding is Key
Nocturnal enuresis can be a devastating experience for children and young people as it may lead to feelings of guilt, embarrassment and shame, determined avoidance of social activities, a sense of difference from others, victimisation and a loss of self-esteem, although there is little evidence to suggest psychological disturbance where the child has monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis.
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2019
Substance Abuse Among Healthcare Professionals, a Little Discussed Subject
Healthcare workers are known to have an equal rate of alcohol and illegal drug use as the general public. However, healthcare workers are far more likely to abuse prescription medications. It is estimated that approximately 10% to 14% of all healthcare professionals will misuse drugs or alcohol at some time during their career. Higher rates of abuse have been seen more frequently with benzodiazepines and opioid narcotics. Any healthcare worker who has access to controlled substances is at risk for drug diversion and substance abuse.
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2019
Do Placebos Have a Place in the Therapeutic Toolbox?
Placebos are substances and interventions that lack specific efficacy in treating a patient’s condition based on the inherent properties of the treatment. Placebo effects refer to neurobiological and clinical changes produced by a placebo administration or active treatment given in a certain context. Assuming that placebo effects can be harnessed to achieve better outcomes than usual medical care, whether and how doctors may recommend treatments that lack any specific efficacy remains controversial.
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2019
Issue 5 of Modern Medicine for 2019 is here, and it’s big and bright and full of great stories. This edition will also be available at the upcoming SA Heart Conference, due to take place at the Sandton ICC at the end of October – we look forward to seeing you there.
This edition of the magazine includes articles on Women’s health, Cardiology, Oncology, Pain, Ethics, and much more. Have a look through and I’m sure you’ll find something to your liking to read in it.
Also, a reminder that, not only do we have CPD questions available within the magazine itself, we also have an online CPD portal that allows you to score even more points by simply completing your test online
Modern Medicine, the journal that’s with you wherever you go.
The Atypical Opioids Buprenorphine, tramadol and tapentadolmorphine
There are many differences between conventional and atypical opioids, including different efficacies, adverse effects and toxicities, as well as risk of abuse. These factors should be considered when prescribing opioids for chronic pain conditions. Atypical opioids differ from conventional opioids as they do not rely exclusively on mu-receptor agonism for their analgesic effect.
Modern Medicine – Issue 5 2019
Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Investigation and Treatment
The incidence of colorectal cancer has been falling overall but increasing among younger people, so prevention and detection of the disease remain important population health concerns. Early diagnosis and treatment confer a substantial survival advantage, and appropriate screening can aid with detecting the disease at an earlier, curable stage.
Modern Medicine – Issue 5 2019
Urinary Tract Infections in Children Diagnosing and Treating
Acute UTIs are relatively common in children. By seven years of age, 8% of girls and 2% of boys will have at least one episode. It is important for primary care doctors to appropriately diagnose and treat UTIs in children as some underlying aetiologies can lead to considerable morbidity later in life.
Modern Medicine – Issue 5 2019
Ovulation InductionWhen and how to use it
Anovulatory infertility should prompt investigation and treatment of endocrinopathies. With monitoring, ovulation induction using oral or injectable medications results in good pregnancy rates and has a low risk of multiple pregnancies. Oligomenorrhoea or amenorrhoea are hallmark signs of anovulation. Identifying and correcting underlying endocrine disorders are the first steps in treating anovulation, before initiating targeted ovulation induction therapies. Referral of the patient to a fertility specialist is recommended for ovulation induction with gonadotropins or if other fertility factors exist.
Modern Medicine – Issue 5 2019
