April 2025

April 2025

Peer Reviewed Feature Articles

Women’s health

Prescribing menopausal hormone therapy: a practical and evidence-based approach to treatment

Naomi Szwarcbard, Susan R. Davis

Hormone therapy – namely, oestrogen, progestogen and tibolone – is the most effective treatment for the vasomotor and other bothersome symptoms of menopause that many women experience. Safe and effective prescribing of this therapy can greatly improve their overall health and wellbeing, with minimal risk.

Respiratory medicine

Night-time mysteries – unmasking parasomnias in adult sleep

Roo Killick, Kerri L. Melehan, Brendan J. Yee

Parasomnias are abnormal behaviours of arousals arising from sleep, mostly of motor origin, with varying severity. They can lead to significant distress for both the individual and family members, as well as unintentional injuries.

Dermatology

Acne scarring – why it occurs and what can be done

Jo-Ann See, Aakriti Gupta

Acne scarring affects nearly half of patients with acne. Therefore, preventive strategies should be considered for all patients with acne. There are a variety of treatment options that can be considered once acne scarring is present.

Free access

Peer Reviewed Regular Series

Dermatology clinic

A boy with an eruption of erythematous facial papules

Alexandra Savage, Vera Y. Miao, Rebecca Bronwyn Saunderson

A 12-year-old boy presents with erythematous papules around his mouth and nostrils. What’s the diagnosis?

Infectious diseases clinic

Refugee health – the impact of recent global events

Janet M. Pasricha, Beverley-Ann Biggs

Recent global events have led to increasing numbers of refugees, with over 100 million displaced people and 35 million refugees in the world today. The changing demographics of refugees in Australia have implications for healthcare providers.

Gastroenterology clinic

When the going gets tough – a practical approach to refractory constipation

Steffanie Nario, Allison Malcolm

Refractory constipation is common yet challenging to diagnose and manage. A personalised approach to treatment is recommended, targeted at the underlying pathophysiology.

Therapeutics clinic

Mild cognitive impairment and dementia: the treatment landscape

Michael Woodward

Treatments for mild cognitive impairment and dementia are rapidly expanding. Currently, only symptomatic therapies are available in Australia; however, they remain valuable and can cause a modest improvement in symptoms.

In Brief Clinical news with comment from local experts

Bacterial vaginosis: study of male-partner treatment ‘a game changer’

Monoclonal antibody therapy for severe asthma: updated guidance for primary care

Sex differences in calling triple zero for suspected acute coronary syndrome event

Study supports use of coronary artery calcium score in CVD primary prevention strategies

Position statement calls for more ambitious migraine treatment goals

Hospital presentations for allergy-related illnesses more common in First Nations people

Buruli ulcer: consensus statement highlights need for increased awareness

Newsbites

Antibiotic Therapeutic Guidelines updated

Isotretinoin: TGA safety update

Correction

Physician-authored summaries and commentary on the most important medical research, provided by the NEJM Group, a division of the Massachusetts Medical Society.

Can combinations of symptoms identify persons with early Parkinson’s disease?

Ann Neurol

Peanut immunotherapy for patients who can tolerate ‘a little bit of peanut’

Might microplastics be a trigger for dementia?

Nat Med

Anticoagulation in patients with transient subclinical atrial fibrillation

Lancet Neurol

Are antibiotics a reasonable alternative for uncomplicated appendicitis in children?

Lancet

Effect of coffee and tea consumption on head and neck cancer risk

Cancer

Simpler approach to a low-FODMAP diet for patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol

Patients need standardised education for accurate home blood pressure monitoring

Hypertension