Patients in methadone maintenance treatment who inject methadone syrup: a preliminary study.

An increased awareness of the injection of methadone syrup has been appreciated by methadone treatment clinicians and Needle Exchange outlets which distribute large-volume syringes. This study aimed to identify patterns of use by methadone injectors, and the reasons and perceived risks of this behaviour. Nineteen of 36 attendees at a needle exchange who stated they had injected methadone over the previous 3 months completed a structured interview.

Thiamin concentration in geriatric hospitalized patients using frusemide.

Aim: To assess the association between thiamin concentration, frusemide use, and renal function in older adults.

Method: Thiamin concentration was measured in 73 consecutive admissions of patients aged over 65 years in a secondary care hospital. The patients were assigned to the study or control group based on frusemide use.

Misuse of over-the-counter codeine-containing analgesics: dependence and other adverse effects.

Aim: To review cases of codeine dependency from over-the-counter (OTC) combination analgesics admitted to a hospital detoxification unit.

Method: Case records of all admissions following an index case were reviewed over a 2-year period.

Results: There were 7 cases reporting chronic excess of Nurofen Plus, of which 6 had prior or current histories of alcohol dependency.

Can beta agonists cause dilated cardiomyopathy?

We report a case of dilated cardiomyopathy that we believe is secondary to excessive use of inhaled beta agonists. Clinicians should be mindful of this possibility when using beta agonists to treat patients with obstructive airways disease; particularly if there is already recognised left ventricular dysfunction.

Streptococcus gallinaceus bacteraemia in an abattoir worker presenting with a febrile illness.

Streptococcus gallinaceus is a newly described species of viridans streptococci, previously only identified as causing disease in broiler chickens. This organism was recovered in pure culture from blood taken from a New Zealand abattoir worker presenting with a febrile illness. This first report of bacteraemia caused by S.

The genetics of alcoholism in Polynesians: alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase genotypes in young men.

Background: The last 10 years have seen growing recognition of the significance of the genes encoding enzymes responsible for hepatic alcohol metabolism as protective factors in the development of alcoholism.

Methods: We have developed DNA sequencing assays for measuring genetic variation at the alcohol dehydrogenase 2 (ADH2), ADH3, and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) loci. These have been used to survey volunteer control subjects from three New Zealand ethnic groups (white, Asian, and Polynesian) and young male alcoholics recruited from white and New Zealand Maori patients in a local treatment program.