Chronic ear disease in Australian Aborigines

Ear, nose and throat diseases in children living in the Kimberley region of Western Australia have been systematically studied over the last 15 years. A "diagnostic triad" is described; this offers a comprehensive approach to the assessment of middle-ear disease. The aetiology of chronic ear disease in Aboriginal children has been investigated. Management problems of deafness are discussed.     

Job satisfaction of staff and the team environment in Australian general practice

OBJECTIVE: To study the work satisfaction of general practice staff, the differences between types of staff, and the individual and organisational factors associated with work satisfaction. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional multipractice study based on a self-completed job satisfaction survey of 626 practice staff in 96 general practices in Australia between 16 December 2003 and 8 October 2004. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Job satisfaction scores for all staff and for general practitioners alone; relationship between job satisfaction and the team climate, practice size, particular jobs within practices, demographic characteristics of participants, and geographical location of practices. RESULTS: The response rate was 65%. Job satisfaction was high, with a mean score of 5.66 (95% CI, 5.60-5.72). Multilevel analysis showed that all general practice staff were highly satisfied if they worked in a practice with a good team climate. Practice managers reported the highest satisfaction with their work. Practice size and individual characteristics such as the sex of the participant were unrelated to job satisfaction. GPs tended to have lower satisfaction than other staff in relation to income, recognition for good work and hours of work. Rural GPs were more satisfied. CONCLUSIONS: Most general practice staff are satisfied with their work. Facilitating teamwork may be a key strategy for both recruitment and retention of the general practice workforce, especially staff who are not GPs.     

澳大利亚慢性病管理计划及其对中国的启示

慢性病已经成为最主要的疾病负担,也是全球初级卫生保健和预防工作的重点。慢性病管理在改善患者健康结局、提高患者生活质量上发挥重要作用。本文通过实地学习和文献研究,介绍澳大利亚两种全科医学慢性病管理计划,即全科医生为慢性病患者提供的综合服务计划（GPMP）和全科医生对慢性病管理服务进行团队式协调（TCAs）。并与我国慢性病管理情况进行比较,提出我国应该从建立优质的全科团队,因地制宜地选择慢性病管理模式,发展“互联网+”技术,为慢性病管理提供技术支持等方面改进,不断探索符合我国国情的慢性病管理模式。     

Chronic morbidity of former prisoners of war and other Australian veterans

OBJECTIVE: This report is the first summary article from a review of studies on long-term morbidity associated with war service or internment, commissioned by the Sir Edward Dunlop Medical Research Foundation. DATA SOURCES: The Medlars database, from 1966 to the present, under the terms military personnel, veterans, veterans' disability claims, combat disorders and prisoners (matched against war); databases of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (Victoria) and the Central Library, Commonwealth Department of Defence, using the term "prisoner of war"; and the microfiche listings of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, under "prisoner of war" and "repatriation". Only studies in English or French were reviewed, reaching a total of 172. STUDY SELECTION: Forty-eight studies are considered in the present summary, presenting the most significant evidence about long-term morbidity attributable to war-time experiences. Studies concerning Australian veterans are emphasised. DATA EXTRACTION: Studies considered valid were summarised for an annotated bibliography, but only reports of major public health significance are reviewed here. DATA SYNTHESIS: The review confirms that strongyloidiasis, peptic ulcer, anxiety states, depression and hepatitis B are more prevalent in former prisoners of war than in relevant comparison groups. We have not identified further diagnoses that should be attributed specifically to war-time exposures. Attribution of long-term neurological and musculoskeletal disorders to war-time exposures remains uncertain. CONCLUSIONS: Former prisoners of war and veterans constitute a population of survivors highly selected by the rigours of war and imprisonment. Occurrence of the five conditions listed above may be reasonably attributed to war-time exposure. We recommend further research on ageing (including neurological, visual, hearing and musculoskeletal disability), family disruption and rehabilitation strategies in these groups.     

Histoplasma capsulatum. Isolation from an Australian cave environment and from a patient

The fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, although commonly found in bat-frequented caves in many countries, has not previously been isolated from that environment in Australia. This report describes the isolation of H. capsulatum from several sources, including cave soil, the organs of mice exposed to the cave environment, and the sputum of a patient clinically diagnosed as having acute pulmonary histoplasmosis after exposure to the cave environment.     

Research in bronchitis

Irish Journal of Medical Science (1926-1967) -     

雾化吸入鱼腥草注射液加生脉注射液治疗慢性支气管炎急性发作42例观察

目的 观察雾化吸入鱼腥草注射液配合生脉注射液治疗慢性支气管炎急性发作期的效果。方法 治疗组在常规抗感染等措施基础上用鱼腥草注射液雾化吸入配合生脉注射液静滴治疗42例，并设对照组用常规抗感染等措施治疗42例。结果 治疗组总有效率为95．2％，对照组总有效率为75．0％，两组疗效比较有显著性差异（P〈0．05）。治疗组优于对照组。两组氧分压、二氧化碳分压、T淋巴细胞亚群变化疗效比较有显著性差异（P〈O.05），治疗组优于对照组。结论 鱼腥草注射液雾化吸入配合生脉注射液治疗慢性阻塞性肺病急性发作期患者，可以有效改善症状，缩短病程。