Guillain-Barré syndrome in a man presenting with upper extremity monoplegia.

Outside academia, community and rural medical centers often rely on clinical signs and symptoms for early intervention, as means of gathering objective data may be unavailable, or the reliance of biological testing may take too long to return. Continued reporting of atypical presentations is therefore necessary for broadening clinical recognition of such cases.

Isolated pan-pontine posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a patient with uncontrolled hypertension.

Recognition of central variant PRES is key to avoiding detrimental treatment. The pons may be the most vulnerable area in central PRES, and delayed presentation may result in greater damage. CSF reporting may lead to eventual recognition of a common profile, and possible aid in future diagnosis.

Chronic pain medication management of older populations: Key points from a national conference and innovative opportunities for pharmacy practice.

Objective: Inappropriate use of pain medication has serious consequences for older populations. Experts in the field have noted an increase in opioid prescriptions, and opioid-related hospitalisations and deaths among this vulnerable population. In the pursuit of educating pharmacists, physicians, allied healthcare professionals, researchers, academics and the public facing the challenges of chronic pain medication management, 'The Inaugural Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (SPHPM) Best Practice in Chronic Pain Medication Management Day Conference' was held in December 2016 at the Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct (Melbourne, Australia).

D-amphetamine depresses visual responses in the rat superior colliculus: a possible mechanism for amphetamine-induced decreases in distractibility.

Amphetamines can enhance sustained attention, and reduce distractibility, in normal subjects and patients with attentional-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Their mechanism of action in this regard is unknown, however one possibility is that the drugs affect the superior colliculus (SC), a structure with a clearly defined role in distractibility. The aim of the present studies was to explore the effect of systemically and locally administered d-amphetamine on visual responses in the superficial layers of the SC to wholefield light flashes in the rat, using local field potential and multi-unit recording.

Death with dignity: devising a withdrawal of treatment process.

In 2002, a study was undertaken at St Thomas' Hospital to ascertain whether nurses felt adequately prepared in caring for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) during the withdrawal of treatment (WoT) process (Dean, 2002). The study concluded that nurses on the ICU were unclear of the process and lacked confidence and knowledge of WoT. This study inspired the establishment of a WoT steering group to address the many issues involved in this process.