Intravenous Bisphosphonate Therapy for Postmenopausal Women with Low Bone Mass
Women's Health Summary and Comment
IV zoledronic acid prevented bone loss.
Angiotensin-Receptor Blockers in Heart Failure: What Difference Does a Dose Make?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a randomized trial, high-dose losartan was associated with small but significant improvements in clinical outcomes, compared with a lower dose.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
November 17, 2009
Covering:
Konstam MA et al., Lancet 2009 Nov 17
Krum H., Lancet 2009 Nov 17
Should Patients with Heart Failure "Pump" Iron?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a randomized trial, intravenous iron improved symptoms, even in patients without anemia.
LV Assistance for End-Stage Heart Failure: Have We Reached Our Destination?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
A continuous-flow device achieves impressive results in a randomized trial.
By William T. Abraham, MD
November 17, 2009
Covering:
Slaughter MS et al. for the HeartMate II Investigators., N Engl J Med 2009 Nov 17
Fang JC., N Engl J Med 2009 Nov 17
Palliative Sedation to Alleviate Intractable Distress of the Dying Patient
A review of treatment options
By Stephanie Grossman, MD, FHM, FAAPM
November 16, 2009
Covering:
Quill TE et al., Ann Intern Med 2009 Sep 15; 151:421
Anticholinergic Drugs and Acute Urinary Retention
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Risk is highest during the first several weeks of treatment.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
November 10, 2009
Covering:
Martín-Merino E et al., J Urol 2009 Oct; 182:1442
In Search of the Cortical Signature of Early Alzheimer Disease
Neurology Summary and Comment
A new technique shows promise for identifying patients in the early stages of AD.
By Liana Apostolova, MD
November 10, 2009
Covering:
Bakkour A et al., Neurology 2009 Mar 24; 72:1048
Comparison of Three Insulin Regimens
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Adding once-daily basal insulin to oral therapy conferred some advantages over alternate regimens.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
November 5, 2009
Covering:
Holman RR et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Oct 29; 361:1736
Roden M., N Engl J Med 2009 Oct 29; 361:1801
Multifocal Glasses and Risk for Falling
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Ground-level obstacles can be precarious with these glasses.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
November 5, 2009
Covering:
Menant JC et al., J Am Geriatr Soc 2009 Oct; 57:1833
B-Type Natriuretic Peptide to Rule out Heart Failure: Different Cutoffs for Different Patients?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Adjusting BNP thresholds for clinical covariates improved the test's ability to differentiate between cardiac and noncardiac causes of dyspnea.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
November 4, 2009
Covering:
Rogers RK et al., Am J Cardiol 2009 Sep 1; 104:689
Supplemental and Active Forms of Vitamin D Prevent Falls Among Elders
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Daily doses of vitamin D >700 IU were associated with significantly fewer falls.
Screening for Prostate and Breast Cancers
Have the benefits been overstated?
Fewer Falls with Vitamin D
Women's Health Summary and Comment
High-dose vitamin D lowered risk for falls in older individuals.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
October 29, 2009
Covering:
Bischoff-Ferrari HA et al., BMJ 2009 Oct 1; 339:b3692
Hormone Therapy Is Associated with Excess Lung Cancer Mortality in WHI Participants
General Medicine Summary and Comment
NSCLCs were more aggressive in hormone recipients.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
October 27, 2009
Covering:
Chlebowski RT et al., Lancet 2009 Oct 10; 374:1243
Midlife Overweight and Obesity Predict Lower Chance for Healthy Survival After Age 70
General Medicine Summary and Comment
For every unit of BMI >25 kg/m2 at midlife, odds for disease-free survival at age 70 decreased by 12%.
Trends in Hip Fracture Incidence and Mortality — 1986–2005
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Incidence peaked in 1995, and then declined; mortality was down overall.
Glucocorticoid Use Is Associated with Risk for Atrial Fibrillation
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A large case-control study suggests that glucocorticoid use is linked to AF.
Effect of Weight Loss on Obstructive Sleep Apnea in People with Type 2 Diabetes
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Losing 25 lbs resulted in significantly fewer OSA events in obese patients.
Aldosterone Antagonists and Heart Failure
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Potholes remain in the road toward adoption of evidence-based guideline recommendations.
Daunorubicin for Older Adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia
High-dose daunorubicin improved complete response rates in patients aged 60 and older but did not improve survival overall.
By Michael E. Williams, MD
October 20, 2009
Covering:
Löwenberg B et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Sep 24; 361:1235
Dombret H and Gardin C., N Engl J Med 2009 Sep 24; 361:1301
Early Endoscopy for Older Patients with Bleeding Peptic Ulcers
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Compared with delayed endoscopies, early procedures were associated with shorter hospital stays and lower rates of surgery.
Treatment of Localized Prostate Cancer in the Era of PSA Screening
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Watchful waiting is appropriate in older men with localized cancers.
Clinical Course of Advanced Dementia
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
As we suspected: Advanced dementia is a terminal illness.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
October 14, 2009
Covering:
Mitchell SL et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Oct 15; 361:1529
Dialysis in Elders
General Medicine Summary and Comment
When dialysis is initiated in older patients, death or substantial functional decline often is noted at 1 year.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
October 14, 2009
Covering:
Kurella Tamura M et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Oct 15; 361:1539
Arnold RM and Zeidel ML., N Engl J Med 2009 Oct 15; 361:1597
"Hospital at Home" for Elders with Acute Heart Failure
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Compared with hospitalization, home care was associated with similar mortality and lower costs.
By Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
October 13, 2009
Covering:
Tibaldi V et al., Arch Intern Med 2009 Sep 28; 169:1569
Kao H and Walter LC., Arch Intern Med 2009 Sep 28; 169:1576
