Issue

Vol 131 No 1478: 13 July 2018

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Issue Summary

SUMMARY

Pregabalin misuse: preventing potential problems in New Zealand

Rhys Ponton

Pregabalin has recently been made available fully funded in New Zealand. Experience from countries where pregabalin has been used widely, such as the UK, has demonstrated that pregabalin is liable to misuse and is sought after by users from prescribers such as GPs. Pregabalin is misused on its own at high dose, or in combination with other drugs. When used in combination with other drugs, particularly opioids, its synergistic effects may lead to increased risk of overdose. Prescribers, particularly GPs, need to be aware of this misuse potential and to be careful when prescribing to individuals with a history of substance or alcohol misuse, or to patients who present requesting a prescription specifically for pregabalin. All patients prescribed pregabalin should be reviewed regularly to ensure efficacy and safety.

SUMMARY

Comparing methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, codeine and methadone use between the Auckland region and four Australian states using wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE)

Chris Wilkins, Foon Yin Lai, Jake O Brien, Phong Thai, Jochen F Mueller

We aim to compare levels of drug use in Auckland with four Australian major cities using wastewater based epidemiology (WBE). A week of daily wastewater samples were selected from two Auckland and eight Australian urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) during 2014 and 2015. Both Auckland and the selected Australian cities have significant methamphetamine problems compared to many European cities. MDMA and cocaine use is low in Auckland compared to sampled Australia cities.

SUMMARY

Chromoendoscopy versus standard colonoscopy for detection of nonpolypoid dysplasia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Anurag Sekra, Cameron Schauer, Lucy Mills, Alain C Vandal, Toby Rose, Dinesh Lal, Ravinder Ogra

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn s and Ulcerative colitis are on the increase in New Zealand. They have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. Surveillance colonoscopies should be done to detect early changes that can lead to cancer, which can then be treated. This study demonstrates that a special dye stain sprayed onto the colon wall (Chromoendoscopy) is able to improve detection of these subtle changes, compared to using standard techniques. We suggest this should be incorporated into national guidelines.

SUMMARY

Trends in ischaemic heart disease: patterns of hospitalisation and mortality rates differ by ethnicity (ANZACS-QI 21)

Corina Grey, Rod Jackson, Susan Wells, Billy Wu, Katrina Poppe, Matire Harwood, Gerhard Sundborn, Andrew J Kerr

Since 2006, hospitalisations and deaths from heart disease have continued to decline in New Zealand. However, rates of death are higher in Mori and Pacific, and hospitalisations higher in Indian, Mori and Pacific people, compared to Europeans. What s more, there appears to be issues with access to healthcare, with fewer hospitalisations for every death from heart disease in Mori and Pacific men and women compared to Indian, other Asian and European men and women. For Mori and Pacific men, there were approximately 3-4 people hospitalised for heart disease for every person who died from the disease. In comparison, there were approximately 7-8 Indian men hospitalised for every person who died from heart disease.

SUMMARY

New Zealand transplant patients and organ transplantation in China: some ethical considerations

Phillipa Malpas

In this paper, I cast an ethical lens over the situation of New Zealand patients travelling to China for an organ transplant, given evidence that China continues to take organs from executed prisoners of conscience. I consider some of the challenges facing health professionals involved in providing medical care to such patients, and propose some recommendations. I hope that this paper may start an informed conversation about this complex issue.

SUMMARY

Institutional gastroenteritis outbreaks and time to notify public health services

Sarie M Sariningsih, Tui Shadbolt, Jill McKenzie, Julie Collins-Emerson, Jackie Benschop

Gastroenteritis accounts for the majority of all outbreak notifications in New Zealand. Prompt notification to the Public Health Service reduces the outbreak duration and size.

ALL ARTICLES
SUMMARY

Pregabalin misuse: preventing potential problems in New Zealand

Rhys Ponton

Comparing methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, codeine and methadone use between the Auckland region and four Australian states using wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE)

Chris Wilkins, Foon Yin Lai, Jake O Brien, Phong Thai, Jochen F Mueller

Prescribing inappropriate

Fallopian Tube and Ovary in Hernia

By James Young, M. D.

Alexander Leslie Florence

Gill Rutherford

The Zero Carbon Bill and the health of New Zealanders help shape this crucial health law now

Andrea Forde, Liz Springford, Scott Metcalfe

Chromoendoscopy versus standard colonoscopy for detection of nonpolypoid dysplasia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Anurag Sekra, Cameron Schauer, Lucy Mills, Alain C Vandal, Toby Rose, Dinesh Lal, Ravinder Ogra

Mortality and morbidity in acutely ill adults treated with liberal versus conservative oxygen therapy

Indecent assault

Why did so many women develop cancer? Part 3

Ronald Jones

Response to: A systematic review of leadership training for medical students

Dominic Jaikaransingh, Harry VM Spiers, Hugo Layard Horsfall

Trends in ischaemic heart disease: patterns of hospitalisation and mortality rates differ by ethnicity (ANZACS-QI 21)

Corina Grey, Rod Jackson, Susan Wells, Billy Wu, Katrina Poppe, Matire Harwood, Gerhard Sundborn, Andrew J Kerr

New Zealand transplant patients and organ transplantation in China: some ethical considerations

Phillipa Malpas

Evaluation of the rapid molecular diagnostic test for the New Zealand Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rangipo strain in a clinical setting

Claire V Mulholland, Duncan Thorpe, Ray T Cursons, Noel Karalus, Yang Fong, Vickery L Arcus, Gregory M Cook, Htin Lin Aung

On-call goes with the territory!

Stephen Main

Response to: Poor female representation at surgical conference

Julian Speight

Indecent assault

Poor female representation at surgical conference

Joy R Rudland

Applying the Reason Model to enhance health record research in the age of ‘big data’

Rajan Ragupathy, Vithya Yogarajan

Transplant ethical considerations: response from the trenches

Stephen Munn

Institutional gastroenteritis outbreaks and time to notify public health services

Sarie M Sariningsih, Tui Shadbolt, Jill McKenzie, Julie Collins-Emerson, Jackie Benschop

Traumatic haemorrhagic lumbar synovial facet cyst presenting as bilateral foot drop: a case report

Caitlin Bodian, Jordan Davis, Alastair Hadlow

SUMMARY

Pregabalin misuse: preventing potential problems in New Zealand

Rhys Ponton

Pregabalin has recently been made available fully funded in New Zealand. Experience from countries where pregabalin has been used widely, such as the UK, has demonstrated that pregabalin is liable to misuse and is sought after by users from prescribers such as GPs. Pregabalin is misused on its own at high dose, or in combination with other drugs. When used in combination with other drugs, particularly opioids, its synergistic effects may lead to increased risk of overdose. Prescribers, particularly GPs, need to be aware of this misuse potential and to be careful when prescribing to individuals with a history of substance or alcohol misuse, or to patients who present requesting a prescription specifically for pregabalin. All patients prescribed pregabalin should be reviewed regularly to ensure efficacy and safety.

SUMMARY

Comparing methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, codeine and methadone use between the Auckland region and four Australian states using wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE)

Chris Wilkins, Foon Yin Lai, Jake O Brien, Phong Thai, Jochen F Mueller

We aim to compare levels of drug use in Auckland with four Australian major cities using wastewater based epidemiology (WBE). A week of daily wastewater samples were selected from two Auckland and eight Australian urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) during 2014 and 2015. Both Auckland and the selected Australian cities have significant methamphetamine problems compared to many European cities. MDMA and cocaine use is low in Auckland compared to sampled Australia cities.

SUMMARY

Chromoendoscopy versus standard colonoscopy for detection of nonpolypoid dysplasia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Anurag Sekra, Cameron Schauer, Lucy Mills, Alain C Vandal, Toby Rose, Dinesh Lal, Ravinder Ogra

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn s and Ulcerative colitis are on the increase in New Zealand. They have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. Surveillance colonoscopies should be done to detect early changes that can lead to cancer, which can then be treated. This study demonstrates that a special dye stain sprayed onto the colon wall (Chromoendoscopy) is able to improve detection of these subtle changes, compared to using standard techniques. We suggest this should be incorporated into national guidelines.

SUMMARY

Trends in ischaemic heart disease: patterns of hospitalisation and mortality rates differ by ethnicity (ANZACS-QI 21)

Corina Grey, Rod Jackson, Susan Wells, Billy Wu, Katrina Poppe, Matire Harwood, Gerhard Sundborn, Andrew J Kerr

Since 2006, hospitalisations and deaths from heart disease have continued to decline in New Zealand. However, rates of death are higher in Mori and Pacific, and hospitalisations higher in Indian, Mori and Pacific people, compared to Europeans. What s more, there appears to be issues with access to healthcare, with fewer hospitalisations for every death from heart disease in Mori and Pacific men and women compared to Indian, other Asian and European men and women. For Mori and Pacific men, there were approximately 3-4 people hospitalised for heart disease for every person who died from the disease. In comparison, there were approximately 7-8 Indian men hospitalised for every person who died from heart disease.

SUMMARY

New Zealand transplant patients and organ transplantation in China: some ethical considerations

Phillipa Malpas

In this paper, I cast an ethical lens over the situation of New Zealand patients travelling to China for an organ transplant, given evidence that China continues to take organs from executed prisoners of conscience. I consider some of the challenges facing health professionals involved in providing medical care to such patients, and propose some recommendations. I hope that this paper may start an informed conversation about this complex issue.

SUMMARY

Institutional gastroenteritis outbreaks and time to notify public health services

Sarie M Sariningsih, Tui Shadbolt, Jill McKenzie, Julie Collins-Emerson, Jackie Benschop

Gastroenteritis accounts for the majority of all outbreak notifications in New Zealand. Prompt notification to the Public Health Service reduces the outbreak duration and size.

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