AMJ

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) encompasses a diverse group of therapies that fall outside the paradigm of conventional medical practice, and are often used in conjunction with or alongside such practices. Due to the fact that most universities place little  emphasis on complementary medicine, many students feel uncertain and sceptical about CAM as a medical system. This editorial argues that medical students should keep an open mind towards CAM and embrace it as an additional and/or potential tool in their armamentarium of therapies to treat patients holistically, whilst at the same time not compromising the bedrock of evidence-based medicine.

Picture by photostock 

Alterations of coagulation profile have been reported in patients with β-thalassaemia major (β-TM). However, most of these studies were performed on adult or young adult populations. This study was designed to investigate the situation in a cohort of paediatric patients, and reports that a subclinical haemorrhagic tendency exists in patients with β-TM at a very early age.

Picture by Sura Nualpradid

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most frequent infection in patients intubated for longer than 48 hours. There is a great interest in determining the factors influencing the outcome of VAP, as it may help in reducing the associated morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the impact of appropriate antibiotic therapy based on endotracheal aspirate cultures on the outcome of VAP. 

Photo by U.S. Army

Intraventricular meningiomas (IVM) account for 0.5-5% of all meningiomas. They are rare in children comprising less than 3% of paediatric brain tumours and only 1.5-1.8% of all intracranial neoplasms. In this study  two cases of intraventricular meningiomas, both in children, are presented.

Picture by David Castillo Dominici 

Melioidosis is a disease endemic in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. It is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, an environmental saprophyte. Infection is thought to arise by direct inoculation with contaminated water or soil, and diabetes is a strong risk factor for infection. This study presents a rare case of melioidotic osteomyelitis of the femur presenting as fever in a returned traveller.

Picture by David Castillo Dominici 

Visceral leishmaniasis is a slowly progressing indigenous disease caused by a protozoan parasite of genus Leishmania.  Although leishmaniasis is widely prevalent in the eastern states of India namely Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, diagnosing the illness is still difficult. This study presents a case of a 20-year-old agricultural labourer with a history of recurrent fever, progressive weakness and abdominal discomfort associated with loss of appetite and petechial hemorrhaging over the body.

Picture by Renjith Krishnan

Picture by pixbox 77

'This compendium of anecdotes of stories of patients gathered over a period of 40 years of clinical practice is a treasure trove of experience.'

Picture by Michelle Meiklejohn