Recent Advances in the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation – MM1304
Atrial fibrillation occurs in paroxysmal, persistent or permanent forms. New anti-arrhythmic agents are being trialed for the pharmacological treatment of affected patients, and catheter ablation is an effective therapeutic intervention for the treatment of patients with symptomatic, drug-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Modern Medicine â April 2013
Nicotine Dependence – Why is it so Hard to Quit? – MM1304
Most smokers repeatedly fail to quit because they are addicted to nicotine and have lost control of their smoking behaviour. This article examines why it is so hard to break the habit in the long term, suggesting strategies GPs can use to optimise their interventions. Smokers need to be re-engaged and helped through repeated attempts to quit over the long term.
Modern Medicine â April 2013
Navigating Conflicts of Interest – Waltzing With a Porcupine – MM1304
In a medical context, a conflict of interest (COI) is a set of circumstances that creates a risk that a health professionalâs judgement or responsibility
may be deflected from his primary concern (usually the patient) to a secondary party (usually him/herself). It is the âset of circumstancesâ that define a COI, and these exist whether or not improper actions ensue. To use a religious analogy, a COI is the temptation and not the sin.
Modern Medicine â April 2013
Diabetes-Related Foot Problems – Urgent Management of Ulcers – MM1303
Diabetes-related foot problems are largely preventable with appropriate medical assessment, patient education and on-going monitoring. However, many patients with diabetes present with foot ulcers that require emergency attention, as in the case described here.
Modern Medicine â March 2013
Therapeutic Progress in Parkinsonâs Disease – MM1303
Pharmacological dopamine replacement is the most effective form of treatment for patients with early Parkinsonâs disease. However, it is only a symptomatic therapy. Future therapeutic strategies should therefore focus not only on ameliorating the symptoms of Parkinsonâs disease, but on neuroprotective or neurorescue therapies.
Modern Medicine â March 2013
Preventing Falls and Fall-related Injury in Older People – How GPs can Help – MM1303
Falls and fall-related injury are common in older people, with some events having a direct impact on the personâs ability to function and live independently. There is good evidence that falls and fall-related injury can be prevented, and GPs have a key role in screening, assessment and implementing effective intervention strategies.
Modern Medicine â March 2013
Patients Post Myocardial Infarction -Tailored Management Improves Outcomes – MM1303
Patients who have had a myocardial infarction need aspirin and statin therapy and careful evaluation to identify those who will benefit from revascularisation  or implantable device therapy and appropriate additional pharmacological treatment.
Modern Medicine â March 2013
Stroke in the Elderly – Predictable Preventable and Treatable – MM1302
Stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide, with
most of the disease burden falling to the elderly and the very elderly.
Effective treatments are available for acute management and for
primary and secondary prevention of stroke. GPs are particularly
well placed for identifying at-risk patients and for initiating âtriple
therapyâ of aspirin, a high-dose statin and blood pressure lowering
therapy.
Modern Medicine â February 2013
Game changers in Type 2 Diabetes – The Implications of Panretinal Laser Therapy – MM1302
Panretinal laser therapy, an effective treatment for sight-threatening
diabetic retinopathy, should prompt a major review of diabetes management
because retinopathy suggests that other microvascular disease
is present, and probably macrovascular disease too.
Modern Medicine â February 2013
Wound Care Benefit of Instillation Therapy – MM1302
Over the past decade the concept of proper wound
bed preparation as a means to improve wound
healing has gained increasing attention. The
principles of wound bed preparation include proper
wound debridement, managing wound exudates, and
managing bioburden.
Modern Medicine â February 2013
