Update on Lipid Management – Commonly Asked Questions – MM1302
Target levels for LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with cardiovascular
disease (CVD) are being lowered. New statin combinations will
be more cost effective than present combinations and will help to
achieve LDL-C targets. These and other drugs in development promise
a new era in CVD prevention.
Modern Medicine â February 2013
Travel Vaccines – A Comprehensive Guide – MM1302
Vaccine requirements and recommendations for specific countries
change, so it is important to be kept up to date by reliable information
sources.
Modern Medicine â February 2013
Ethics and the Elderly – MM1302
This is the first in a series of ethics-related CME
articles; written to appear bi-monthly in Modern
Medicine.
Modern Medicine â February 2013
Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Cancer – A Focus on the GPs Role – MM1302
The lung cancer epidemic has mirrored changes in smoking patterns
in many countries and has caused innumerable deaths. Approaches
to identification, diagnosis and treatment of the disease are changing
and are discussed in this article.
Modern Medicine â February 2013
Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation – MM1301
Regardless of whether a rate or rhythm-control based management
strategy is employed in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), preservation
of the brain, in the prevention of stroke with appropriate
thromboprophylaxis, remains critical. Catheter-based isolation of
the pulmonary veins is an accepted intervention for patients with
symptomatic AF, especially when symptoms are severe, paroxysmal
or âloneâ AF is present, and when anti-arrhythmic drugs have failed.
The prospect of symptom relief should be the driver for AF ablation
in most patients.
Modern Medicine – January 2013
Brain and Heart Targets for Better Dementia Prevention – MM1301
Although absolute prevention of dementia is not possible, better
dementia prevention is certainly achievable and of utmost importance.
A new emphasis on promoting an active cognitive lifestyle
along with cardiovascular risk factor reduction is recommended.
Modern Medicine – January 2013
Severe Hearing Loss in Adults – MM1301
Severe hearing loss can have a major impact on employment and quality of life. The surgical implantation of an electronic prosthesis into the inner ear, commonly known as cochlear implantation, is now the intervention of choice for adults with severe to profound levels of hearing loss. GPs play an important role in identifying potential candidates for cochlear implantation as well as in the early recognition of infections associated with the impact.
Modern Medicine – January 2013
Diagnosing and Treating Comorbid Depression – MM1301
Current research suggests that the incidence of comorbid depression, most particularly in elderly patients, may be much higher than anyone previously supposed. It is incumbent upon healthcare professionals to be alert for signs of this in their patients.
Modern Medicine – January 2013
Opioid Prescribing in General Practice – MM1301
GPs can facilitate opioid prescribing in their practices by following
five principles of opioid prescribing, using five tools for assessment
of use and using five criteria for evaluating outcomes of an opioid
trial run.
Modern Medicine – January 2013
Cardioprotective Aspirin in Type 2 Diabetes – MM1301
There is strong evidence supporting the use of low-dose aspirin in
the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with
type-2 diabetes, but the evidence is less robust in primary prevention.
Also, aspirin use can be associated with serious gastrointestinal
haemorrhage.
Modern Medicine – January 2013
