AMJ

A retrospective review of 65 cases of paediatric proptosis presenting to a rural teaching hospital in India, from February 2006 to June 2008. Most cases had a characteristic history and pathognomonic eye signs. Computer Tomography (CT) correlated with histopathology in most cases. CT is widely available, even within a remote setting, and is a convenient investigation. Thus, a detailed history, clinical examination and CT scan were the most fruitful approach to the diagnosis of childhood proptosis in this series.

The South Australian Monitoring and Surveillance System (SAMSS) has been conducted monthly since 2002. This representative, population, chronic disease and risk factor, telephone-based surveillance system includes a single question determining the prevalence of overall health status (SF1) and a wide range of demographics, social, chronic conditions and risk factor indicators. The authors report a review of the data and conclude that the SF1 can be used to measure general health as part of telephone surveys and surveillance systems.

The aim of this study was to explore factors affecting generic medicine prescribing by physicians in Basrah, Iraq. A purposive sample of ten physicians was interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. The participants were enthusiastic about prescribing generic medicines. Factors impacting on the decision to prescribe cheaper drugs are discussed.

There continues to be a need to address appropriate radiation dose used in paediatric CT imaging.  Work in this area is promising and will significantly improve the safety of investigations in children. However the authors urge caution and recommend further research to reduce radiation dosage while aiming to acquire high quality diagnostic images.

The skin is the largest organ of the body and dermatological problems are among the more common ailments to aflict mankind. The care of patients with skin complaints are an excellent backdrop in which to compare medicine as practiced in China with what is available to Australians.

The recent Western Australian  Supreme Court ruling on whether Brightwater, the organisation caring for quadriplegic Christian Rossiter, could accede to Mr Rossiter’s wish to refuse nutrition will no doubt be considered a landmark. A paradoxical result may be that now people such as Mr Rossiter have had their right to refuse treatment affirmed, they may be less inclined to assert that right because the little bit of hope may have eased their suffering enough.

This protocol describes a study to test an intervention to promote smoking cessation among young adults aged 18-30years. The intervention will be delivered within two settings in Australian health care; community pharmacies and general practice. The new study builds on the pilot data, reported here, which inform the feasibility, recruitment strategy, outcome measure, effect size and attrition rate. The study is a randomised controlled trial with 200 clients recruited from general practice and community pharmacies in Western Australia.