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Issue

Vol 124 No 1337: 24 June 2011

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Issue Summary

SUMMARY

Prevalent dietary supplement use in older New Zealand men

Catherine J Bacon, Mark J Bolland, Ruth W Ames, Amanda T Y Siu, Barbara H Mason, Anne M Horne, Andrew Grey, Ian R Reid

Dietary supplement use and reasons for it were surveyed in middle-aged and older men volunteering for a large regional trial of calcium supplements. Almost half (47%) took other supplements during the study, reporting use of a very wide range of different products. Half of the men spent $20 or more per month on these products, with a fifth spending more than $50 per month. Health professionals should remain alert to supplement use by their patients, including males.

SUMMARY

Patterns of chronic pain in the New Zealand population

Clare Dominick, Fiona Blyth, Michael Nicholas

This paper describes the prevalence of chronic and recent pain in the New Zealand population by a range of sociodemographic factors, the use of treatment services for chronic pain and the impact of chronic pain on health related quality of life. Data from the 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey, commissioned by the Ministry of Health, were analysed and provide the first opportunity to gauge the prevalence and impact of chronic pain on the New Zealand population as a whole. Patterns of chronic pain in New Zealand are similar to those found internationally showing increased prevalence with age and a higher prevalence with lower socioeconomic living standards. The impact of chronic pain on health related quality of life is dramatic with much poorer quality of life associated with greater numbers of pain sites and greater intensity of recent pain. Older age groups, women and those with greater intensity of recent pain are more likely to seek medical treatment for their chronic pain, but a substantial minority do not seek any treatment (whether medical or other treatment) for their chronic pain. The paper indicates that chronic pain represents a major health issue in New Zealand

SUMMARY

Acute medical admissions for older people from Residential Care Facilities: are they appropriate?

H Carl Hanger, Valerie Fletcher, Andrew Sidwell

Some people believe that many admissions from residential care facilities are potentially inappropriate. This study explores whether the acute hospital doctors treating these patients thought they were appropriate or not. Most admissions in this study were appropriate and many returned to their usual residence. The admission of a smaller number of very frail, or dying, older people could have been avoided.

SUMMARY

Physical activity among cancer survivors: a literature review

Ewa A Szymlek-Gay, Rosalina Richards, Richard Egan

A good working knowledge of clinical anatomy is essential for safe and effective medical practice. There is widespread concern that students are failing to learn sufficient clinical anatomy. Anatomical ignorance has been linked to an increase in medical errors. A straightforward test of clinical anatomy highlighted patchy deficiencies among senior medical students at the Dunedin School of Medicine. These deficiencies might be rectified by incorporating a modest amount of clinical anatomy teaching into the later years of medical undergraduate training.

SUMMARY

Peritonsillar infection in Christchurch 2006–2008: epidemiology and microbiology

Rachelle L Love, Rob Allison, Stephen T Chambers

Peritonsillar infection is a common and potentially life-threatening complication of acute tonsillitis. There are changes reported in the causative bacteria seen in overseas populations, along with resistance to some antibiotics. However, infections treated in our unit over the past 30 years still respond favourably to penicillin, along with evacuation of pus by aspiration and incision and drainage.

SUMMARY

Campylobacteriosis rates show age-related static bimodal and seasonality trends

Warrick Nelson, Ben Harris

Campylobacter gastroenteritis is far more common in New Zealand than other developed countries (over twice the Australian rate). People of different ages are affected at different rates. Babies/toddlers under 5 and young adults (20-29 years) are most likely to be affected compared to other age groups, why? Campylobacter infections are also highly seasonal, most common in summer and least in winter, whereas chicken consumption remains relatively even throughout the year. However, young children have an enhanced degree of seasonal summer/winter infection variation but at lower rates than other ages, while babies/toddlers under 5 and young adults (20-29) show reduced summer winter seasonal variation. Campylobacter infection is commonly associated with chicken meat consumption or contamination of other foods from chicken meat. These age-related differences suggest a far more complex relationship than simply exposure to chicken meat, the more recent conventional explanation. While it is commonly assumed previous infection will result in some acquired immunity, these observations suggest more is at play as young adults (20-29) suddenly appear to lose immunity, but teenagers and older age groups remain relatively protectedwhy?

ALL ARTICLES
SUMMARY

Response to ‘lifetime cardiovascular risk’ letter

Harvey D White

Global polio eradication: progress, but determination and vigilance still needed

Stephen T Chambers, Nigel Dickson

Medical image: Boutonnière

Thattungal M Anoop, Puthukuli N Mini, Puthiyaveettil K Jabbar

In-situ and lobular, but not as we know it

Paul Samson, Richard Harman

Warning Notice

Denis Wordsworth Feeney

David Idwal Tavener-Smith

Prevalent dietary supplement use in older New Zealand men

Catherine J Bacon, Mark J Bolland, Ruth W Ames, Amanda T Y Siu, Barbara H Mason, Anne M Horne, Andrew Grey, Ian R Reid

Patterns of chronic pain in the New Zealand population

Clare Dominick, Fiona Blyth, Michael Nicholas

Jacob Madison Beck-Jaffurs

Do senior medical students know enough clinical anatomy?

Sultan Al-Shaqsi, Mark D Stringer

Acute medical admissions for older people from Residential Care Facilities: are they appropriate?

H Carl Hanger, Valerie Fletcher, Andrew Sidwell

Physical activity among cancer survivors: a literature review

Ewa A Szymlek-Gay, Rosalina Richards, Richard Egan

Summary of guidance for the management of early bowel cancer

Anita Fitzgerald, Frank Frizelle, Mark Jeffery, Adrian Balasingam, Jan Casey, Judith Collett, Teresa Lynch, Denise Robbins, Adrian Secker, Tane Taylor, Clint Teague, Iain Ward, Jessica Berentson-Shaw

Peritonsillar infection in Christchurch 2006–2008: epidemiology and microbiology

Rachelle L Love, Rob Allison, Stephen T Chambers

Peritonsillar abscess

Emily Macassey, Patrick J D Dawes

Can New Zealand do better in colorectal cancer?

Ian P Bissett

Spiriva (Respimat) increases mortality by 52% in patients with COPD—time to take action

Felix S F Ram

Quetiapine-associated cardiomyopathy

Sean Coffey, Michael Williams

Campylobacteriosis rates show age-related static bimodal and seasonality trends

Warrick Nelson, Ben Harris

The importance of promoting physical activity for cancer survivorship

Justin W L Keogh, Lynnette Jones

SUMMARY

Prevalent dietary supplement use in older New Zealand men

Catherine J Bacon, Mark J Bolland, Ruth W Ames, Amanda T Y Siu, Barbara H Mason, Anne M Horne, Andrew Grey, Ian R Reid

Dietary supplement use and reasons for it were surveyed in middle-aged and older men volunteering for a large regional trial of calcium supplements. Almost half (47%) took other supplements during the study, reporting use of a very wide range of different products. Half of the men spent $20 or more per month on these products, with a fifth spending more than $50 per month. Health professionals should remain alert to supplement use by their patients, including males.

SUMMARY

Patterns of chronic pain in the New Zealand population

Clare Dominick, Fiona Blyth, Michael Nicholas

This paper describes the prevalence of chronic and recent pain in the New Zealand population by a range of sociodemographic factors, the use of treatment services for chronic pain and the impact of chronic pain on health related quality of life. Data from the 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey, commissioned by the Ministry of Health, were analysed and provide the first opportunity to gauge the prevalence and impact of chronic pain on the New Zealand population as a whole. Patterns of chronic pain in New Zealand are similar to those found internationally showing increased prevalence with age and a higher prevalence with lower socioeconomic living standards. The impact of chronic pain on health related quality of life is dramatic with much poorer quality of life associated with greater numbers of pain sites and greater intensity of recent pain. Older age groups, women and those with greater intensity of recent pain are more likely to seek medical treatment for their chronic pain, but a substantial minority do not seek any treatment (whether medical or other treatment) for their chronic pain. The paper indicates that chronic pain represents a major health issue in New Zealand

SUMMARY

Acute medical admissions for older people from Residential Care Facilities: are they appropriate?

H Carl Hanger, Valerie Fletcher, Andrew Sidwell

Some people believe that many admissions from residential care facilities are potentially inappropriate. This study explores whether the acute hospital doctors treating these patients thought they were appropriate or not. Most admissions in this study were appropriate and many returned to their usual residence. The admission of a smaller number of very frail, or dying, older people could have been avoided.

SUMMARY

Physical activity among cancer survivors: a literature review

Ewa A Szymlek-Gay, Rosalina Richards, Richard Egan

A good working knowledge of clinical anatomy is essential for safe and effective medical practice. There is widespread concern that students are failing to learn sufficient clinical anatomy. Anatomical ignorance has been linked to an increase in medical errors. A straightforward test of clinical anatomy highlighted patchy deficiencies among senior medical students at the Dunedin School of Medicine. These deficiencies might be rectified by incorporating a modest amount of clinical anatomy teaching into the later years of medical undergraduate training.

SUMMARY

Peritonsillar infection in Christchurch 2006–2008: epidemiology and microbiology

Rachelle L Love, Rob Allison, Stephen T Chambers

Peritonsillar infection is a common and potentially life-threatening complication of acute tonsillitis. There are changes reported in the causative bacteria seen in overseas populations, along with resistance to some antibiotics. However, infections treated in our unit over the past 30 years still respond favourably to penicillin, along with evacuation of pus by aspiration and incision and drainage.

SUMMARY

Campylobacteriosis rates show age-related static bimodal and seasonality trends

Warrick Nelson, Ben Harris

Campylobacter gastroenteritis is far more common in New Zealand than other developed countries (over twice the Australian rate). People of different ages are affected at different rates. Babies/toddlers under 5 and young adults (20-29 years) are most likely to be affected compared to other age groups, why? Campylobacter infections are also highly seasonal, most common in summer and least in winter, whereas chicken consumption remains relatively even throughout the year. However, young children have an enhanced degree of seasonal summer/winter infection variation but at lower rates than other ages, while babies/toddlers under 5 and young adults (20-29) show reduced summer winter seasonal variation. Campylobacter infection is commonly associated with chicken meat consumption or contamination of other foods from chicken meat. These age-related differences suggest a far more complex relationship than simply exposure to chicken meat, the more recent conventional explanation. While it is commonly assumed previous infection will result in some acquired immunity, these observations suggest more is at play as young adults (20-29) suddenly appear to lose immunity, but teenagers and older age groups remain relatively protectedwhy?

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