The effect of adjusting LDL-cholesterol for Lp(a)-cholesterol on the diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) diagnostic tools help prioritise patients for genetic testing and include LDL-C estimates commonly calculated using the Friedewald equation. However, cholesterol contributions from lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) can overestimate 'true' LDL-C, leading to potentially inappropriate clinical FH diagnosis.

Objective: To assess how adjusting LDL-C for Lp(a)-cholesterol affects FH diagnoses using Simon Broome (SB) and Dutch Lipid Clinic Network (DLCN) criteria.

Nitrous oxide-induced neurotoxicity: A case report and literature review.

Nitrous oxide is an increasingly popular recreational drug. However, recurrent or prolonged use can be associated with nitrous oxide toxicity, with numerous reports of harm documented in the literature. Nitrous oxide irreversibly binds and inactivates vitamin B12, which is an important co-factor in metabolic pathways involved in DNA and myelin synthesis.

The effect of 50% oxygen on PtCO in patients with stable COPD, bronchiectasis, and neuromuscular disease or kyphoscoliosis: randomised cross-over trials.

Background: High-concentration oxygen therapy causes increased arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO) in patients with COPD, asthma, pneumonia, obesity and acute lung injury. The objective of these studies was to investigate whether this physiological response to oxygen therapy occurs in stable patients with neuromuscular disease or kyphoscoliosis, and bronchiectasis.

Methods: Three randomised cross-over trials recruited stable patients with neuromuscular disease or kyphoscoliosis (n = 20), bronchiectasis (n = 24), and COPD (n = 24).

Kanuka honey versus aciclovir for the topical treatment of herpes simplex labialis: a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To compare New Zealand medical grade kanuka honey with topical aciclovir for the treatment of herpes simplex labialis.

Design: Prospective parallel randomised controlled open-label superiority trial.

Setting: 76 community pharmacies across New Zealand between 10 September 2015 and 13 December 2017.

Effect of active temperature management on mortality in intensive care unit patients.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of active temperature management on mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay, as well as the relative efficacy of antipyretic medications and physical cooling devices for achieving reductions in temperature in critically ill adults.

Design, Setting And Participants: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating treatments administered to febrile patients in order to reduce body temperature. Fifteen studies reporting results from 13 RCTs met our eligibility criteria.

A feasibility study: association between gut microbiota enterotype and antibody response to seasonal trivalent influenza vaccine in adults.

Objective: We investigated the potential feasibility of a randomized controlled trial of a nutritional intervention that may alter human gut microbiota and support immune defence against respiratory tract infection in adults (Proposed Study).

Methods: In total, 125 healthy adults aged 18-64 participated in a 6-month study that measured antibody response to the seasonal trivalent influenza vaccine. We assessed completion rates, procedure adherence rates and the influence of possible exclusion criteria on potential recruitment into the Proposed Study.

Trends in international asthma mortality: analysis of data from the WHO Mortality Database from 46 countries (1993-2012).

Background: International time trends in asthma mortality have been strongly affected by changes in management and in particular drug treatments. However, little is known about how asthma mortality has changed over the past decade. In this study, we assessed these international trends.

Beta-agonist overuse and delay in obtaining medical review in high risk asthma: a secondary analysis of data from a randomised controlled trial.

Unlabelled: Asthma mortality surveys report delays in seeking medical review and overuse of beta-agonist therapy as factors contributing to a fatal outcome. However, the strength of these associations is limited because many asthma deaths are unwitnessed. We undertook a secondary analysis of data from a 24-week randomised controlled trial of 303 patients with high-risk asthma, randomised to combination budesonide/formoterol inhaler according to a single maintenance and reliever therapy regimen or fixed dose budesonide/formoterol with salbutamol as reliever (Standard) regimen.

Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ adult asthma guidelines: a quick reference guide.

The purpose of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ Adult Asthma Guidelines is to provide simple, practical and evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis, assessment and management of asthma in adults (aged 16 and over) in a quick reference format. The intended users are health professionals responsible for delivering asthma care in the community and hospital Emergency Department settings, and those responsible for the training of such health professionals.

Breast implant extrusion related to Herpesviridae.

Introduction: We present a case of wound dehiscence in a patient with clinical features of herpes zoster.

Presentation Of Case: A 44 year old woman, with a history of recurrent herpes zoster infection, presented to the accident and emergency department with the extrusion of a left sided tear-drop shaped euro-silicone breast implant from an old surgical scar. A month prior to admission, this patient had developed unilateral crops of vesicles along the surgical scar which was apposing her left infra-mammary fold.