Postgraduate Medical Journal articles from May 2001

Postgraduate Medical Journal archives from May 2001

Colorectal cancer: does early detection matter?(Review)
May 1, 2001... It is not within the scope of an editorial to completely review all the literature on the subject, but this will be an attempt to summarise the topic by addressing the following five points. (1) Does the early detection of colorectal...

The menopause and its treatment in perspective.(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... The menopause, the last menstrual period, marks the end of a continuum of declining physiological fertility. Decreased fertility in relative or absolute terms antedates the menopause by 10-15 years. The climacteric is the period of time (about...

Hypophosphataemia in anorexia nervosa.(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... The prevalence, causes, and consequences of hypophosphataemia in the clinical treatment of various diseases are described in the literature, but are not so seriously regarded as a severe electrolytical disturbance. [1-3] The clinical conditions...

Hutchinson-Guilford progeria syndrome.
May 1, 2001... Progeria is a human disease model of accelerated ageing. [1-3] The progeria syndrome is a rare genetic disorder, first reported in 1886 by Hutchinson and Guilford in England. [4] The inheritance pattern, paternal age effect, and lack of...

Ethical, professional, and legal obligations in clinical practice: a series of discussion topics for postgraduate medical education.
May 1, 2001... Topic 2: consent and legal competence This is the second discussion topic in a series of five dealing with ethical, professional, and legal obligations of clinical practice. Junior doctors tend to lack confidence in these subjects, and thus...

Management of the impalpable testis: a six year review together with a national experience.
May 1, 2001... Abstract The management of undescended testes remains variable, and the use of laparoscopy for localisation is controversial. This study reviews the need for laparoscopy and also assesses the current practice among a cohort of surgeons....

Importance of family history in type 2 black South African diabetic patients.(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... Abstract Objective--To assess the family history of diabetes in type 2 black South African diabetics with emphasis on the parental phenotype. Design--Prospective case-control study in which family histories were obtained from patients....

Human immunoglobulin for diabetic amyotrophy--a promising prospect?
May 1, 2001... Abstract Diabetic neuropathies are universally recognised and cause significant morbidity. At present improving glycaemic control is the only recognised treatment. A man with type 2 diabetes presented with disabling asymmetric lower limb...

Acute diquat poisoning with intracerebral bleeding.(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... Abstract A case of severe diquat poisoning complicated by the development of aggressive behaviour, oliguric renal failure, and intracerebral bleeding is described. The patient was successfully managed and made a complete recovery. In this...

Nephrotic syndrome and mesenteric infarction secondary to metastatic mesothelioma.
May 1, 2001... Abstract Malignant mesothelioma can present insidiously with progressive breathlessness and chest pain. Paraneoplastic, or non-chest related, presentations are very rare. The case of an elderly man with occupational exposure to asbestos...

Autoamputation of the tongue.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Abstract Autoamputation is an uncommon phenomenon that has been reported for the fingers, toes, appendix, ovary, spleen, etc. Autoamputation of the tongue has never been reported. An elderly man with carcinoma of lateral pharyngeal wall...

Aspergillus thyroiditis.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... A 31 year old woman with history of end stage AIDS was admitted with a 10 day history of malaise, fever, and chills. She also gave a history of palpitations, heat intolerance, and tremors. Her physical examination revealed tachycardia, a...

Future clinical role of nurses in the United Kingdom.
May 1, 2001... Nursing, like the NHS, is at a crossroads. The NHS Plan sets out two directions for nursing, midwifery and health visiting, which on first sight may seem to be contradictory. The Plan sets out firmly what patients want, which is to get the...

An elderly woman with dyspnoea and bronchorrhoea.
May 1, 2001... A 78 year old woman presented with progressively increasing dyspnoea and cough, initially dry and later with production of whitish sputum with foamy appearance, which she had had for the last three months, accompanied by anorexia and loss of 5...

Unexplained weight loss and a palpable abdominal mass in a middle aged woman.
May 1, 2001... A 52 year old woman presented to the gastroenterology department with a six month history of unexplained weight loss of 2 stone (12.7 kg). She had experienced intermittent abdominal cramp-like pains but was otherwise well. In particular, there...

Low back pain in a child--a diagnostic dilemma.
May 1, 2001... Questions A 4 year old boy was brought with history of low back pain of seven days' duration after a trivial fall. On examination the child had tenderness in the lower lumbar spine. There was no paraspinal swelling or spinal deformity. The...

Atopy, proptosis, and nasal polyposis.
May 1, 2001... A 24 year old women presented with a history of increased prominence of the right eye and right sided headache of two months' duration. She had a two year history of recurrent, right sided nasal obstruction. She had undergone nasal polypectomy...

Recurrent syncope.
May 1, 2001... A 31 year old man was admitted with recurrent syncope. Questions (1) Describe the abnormal features on his 12 lead electrocardiogram (fig 1). (2) What is the diagnosis and what are the causes of this condition? (3) What...

Sequential occurrence within three years in a premenopausal woman of cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers.
May 1, 2001... A 36 year old women (para 0 + 1) was referred to the colposcopy clinic in August 1995 after a routine cervical smear had shown severe dyskaryosis. Her previous smears had been unremarkable and she had no risk factors for developing cervical...

An 80 year old woman with intermittent severe vomiting.
May 1, 2001... An 80 year old woman presented with a two year history of vomiting, increasingly severe epigastric discomfort after eating, and 1.5 stone (10 kg) weight loss. The vomiting episodes were intermittent, with individual episodes lasting for...

Pleuropericardial effusion in a 50 year old woman.
May 1, 2001... A 50 year old woman was referred by her general practitioner for investigation of a six month history of dry cough, intermittent night sweats, and arthralgia affecting the wrist joints. Two weeks before her appointment she had noticed...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2001... Management of leg ulcers EDITOR,--I congratulate Sarkar and Ballantyne for their excellent review on the management of leg ulcers. [1] Additional comments regarding investigative methods of peripheral arteriopathy and the management of...

Research Approaches in Primary Care.(Review)
May 1, 2001... Research Approaches in Primary Care. Edited by Andrew Wilson, Martin Williams, and Beverley Hancock. (Pp 176; [pound]15.95.) Radcliffe Medical Press, 2000. ISBN 1-85775-392-5. [****] This text is one of a series of books supported by "Trent...

Helping People with Eating Disorders. A Clinical Guide to Assessment and Treatment.(Review)
May 1, 2001... Helping People with Eating Disorders. A Clinical Guide to Assessment and Treatment. By Bob Palmer. (Pp [pound]17.99; 273.) John Wiley & Sons, 2000. ISBN 0-471-98647-X. [****] A multitude of books on eating disorders have been written in the...

MRCGP Preparation and Passing.(Review)
May 1, 2001... MRCGP Preparation and Passing. Edited by John J Ferguson. (Pp 194; [pound] 17.50.) Royal Society of Medicine Press Ltd, 2000. ISBN 1-85315-468-7. [****] This book is based on a highly successful pre-MRCGP course held at the Royal Society...