We are all aware that chronic pain is common. The trick is to be aware of this and to have a plan of action. Continue reading
Author: Epworth GP Liaison
PSA Testing
Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common malignancy diagnosed in men and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men1. Continue reading
Eosinophilic Oesophagitis Update
What is Eosinophilic Oesophagitis?
Eosinophilic Oesophagitis (EoE), was first reported in the late 1970s, and has become increasingly recognised in the past decade in both children and adults. Continue reading
Innovative treatment for Hepatitis C virus
Introduction
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health challenge for Australia. Acute infection progresses to chronic disease in up to 75% of cases, and these people are at risk of progressive liver fibrosis leading to cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Around 20%–30% of people with chronic HCV infection will develop cirrhosis, generally after 20–30 years of infection. Continue reading
What is Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and why does it matter?
Defining MCI
Most people with dementia go through a prodromal stage in which they or those close to them note that their memories are poor, but they are still able to cope with their normal routines and do not fulfil the diagnostic criterion for dementia of experiencing significant impairment of social or occupational functioning. The term Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) emerged in the 1990s in succession to a previous series of diagnostic entities dating back to 1962 which has included such terms as Benign Senescent Forgetfulness and Age Associated Memory Impairment. Continue reading
Panic disorder: treatment and management
John was a professional in his 30s who was driving to work when he experienced sudden difficulty breathing, chest tightness, dizziness, tingling in his arms, nausea and thought that he was having a heart attack and losing control. He called for an ambulance and was taken to the emergency department where he had numerous tests that came back negative for a heart attack or medical problem. He was told that he probably had a panic attack. Continue reading
Bipolar disorder: an approach to comprehensive management
Bipolar disorder is characterized by a vulnerability to mood instability which is of more intensity and of longer duration than what would be considered normal. The defining mood pole is the manic one, with elated mood, excessive goal-directed motor drive, overabundant energy, racing thoughts and a reduced need to sleep. Continue reading
How to manage concussion in general practice
General practitioners play a key role in identifying and managing mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), often termed concussion. Continue reading
Epworth leads the way in MRI for prostate cancer diagnosis
MRI may prove to be the answer we have all been seeking for more accurate prostate cancer diagnosis. Emerging evidence suggests that multi-parametric MRI of the prostate is not only far superior than regular TRUS biopsy at detecting aggressive localized prostate cancer, it may also reduce over-diagnosis of low grade indolent disease. Continue reading
Congenital heart disease and heart disease in pregnancy
With the advent of improved surgical techniques in the last 40 years, children with congenital heart defects are now surviving into adulthood. Continue reading