Which Beta-Blocker is Best for Patients with Heart Failure?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Evidence of efficacy might not be the most important factor to consider.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
December 17, 2008
Covering:
Kramer JM et al., Arch Intern Med 2008 Dec 8; 168:2422
Go AS et al., Arch Intern Med 2008 Dec 8; 168:2415
Depression and Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Physical inactivity might partly explain the association.
Falls After Age 90: Inability to Get Up and Prolonged Time on Floor Portend Poor Outcomes
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Many elders with access to alarm systems did not use them.
Quality of Life and Multimodal Therapy for Prostate Cancer
Patients who received multimodal therapy reported lower health-related QOL than did those who received monotherapy.
Pathology of White-Matter Hyperintensities
Neurology Summary and Comment
White-matter hyperintensities relate to vascular and blood-brain barrier integrity.
By David G. Munoz, MD
December 16, 2008
Covering:
Young VG et al., Neurology 2008 Sep 9; 71:804
Cardiogenic Shock in Acute Coronary Syndromes: 10-Year Trends
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Data from a Swiss registry show improvements in in-hospital incidence and in overall mortality.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
December 10, 2008
Covering:
Jeger RV et al., Ann Intern Med 2008 Nov 4; 149:618
Ethnicity and Incidence of Congestive Heart Failure
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a large U.S. cohort study, higher incidence of CHF in blacks than in other ethnic groups was largely explained by higher rates of diabetes and hypertension.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
December 10, 2008
Covering:
Bahrami H et al., Arch Intern Med 2008 Oct 27; 168:2138
Does Ginkgo biloba Prevent Dementia?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
No benefit was seen in preventing either all-cause or Alzheimer dementia.
β-Blockers to Prevent Heart Failure in Hypertensive Patients?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
β-blockers were similar to other agents for preventing HF but conferred risk for stroke in older patients.
By Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH
November 26, 2008
Covering:
Bangalore S et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2008 Sep 23; 52:1062
Fowler MB., J Am Coll Cardiol 2008 Sep 23; 52:1073
Hand-Carried Ultrasound for Predicting Readmission for Heart Failure
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Inferior vena cava size and collapsibility predicted readmission among heart failure patients.
By Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH
November 26, 2008
Covering:
Goonewardena SN et al., J Am Coll Cardiol Img 2008 Sep; 1:595
Kimura BJ and DeMaria AN., J Am Coll Cardiol Img 2008 Sep; 1:602
Ventricular Assist Devices in the Real World
Cardiology Summary and Comment
A study of Medicare claims records reveals high costs and suboptimal outcomes in patients with end-stage heart failure.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
November 26, 2008
Covering:
Hernandez AF et al., JAMA 2008 Nov 26; 300:2398
Statins and Prostate-Specific Antigen Levels
PSA levels declined in men without prostate cancer who were treated with statins.
By Robert Dreicer, MD, MS, FACP
November 25, 2008
Covering:
Hamilton RJ et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 2008 Nov 5; 100:1511
Thompson IM et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 2008 Nov 5; 100:1487
Diabetes Treatment and Alzheimer Pathology
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Do hypoglycemic agents directly alter neuritic plaques or contribute to dementia in another way?
By David A. Wolk, MD
November 25, 2008
Covering:
Beeri MS et al., Neurology 2008 Sep 2; 71:750
Neurologic Disease Attributed to Denture Cream
Neurology Summary and Comment
An analysis of four cases suggests that excessive denture cream use might cause myeloneuropathy due to zinc-related copper deficiency.
By Neeraj Kumar, MD
November 25, 2008
Covering:
Nations SP et al., Neurology 2008 Aug 26; 71:639
Schaumburg H and Herskovitz S., Neurology 2008 Aug 26; 71:622
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Events in Women
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Smoking and age were among the factors linked to risk for AAA events.
By Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP
November 21, 2008
Covering:
Lederle FA et al., BMJ 2008 Oct 14; 337:a1724
Powell JT and Norman PE., BMJ 2008 Oct 14; 337:a1894
How Should We Manage Patients with 6- to 9-mm Polyps Detected by CT Colonography?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
The preferred strategy depends on many factors, including acceptable costs.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
November 18, 2008
Covering:
Lieberman D et al., Gastroenterology 2008 Oct; 135:1100
Pickhardt PJ et al., AJR Am J Roentgenol 2008 Nov; 191:1509
Ginkgo to Prevent Dementia? Forget About It.
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
In a GEM of a study, another alternative treatment bites the dust.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
November 18, 2008
Covering:
DeKosky ST et al., JAMA 2008 Nov 19; 300:2253
Schneider LS., JAMA 2008 Nov 19; 300:2306
More on Cerebral Microbleeds in Elders
Neurology Summary and Comment
In a community-dwelling cohort, CMBs were common and associated with the APOE
By Anand Viswanathan, MD, PhD
November 18, 2008
Covering:
Sveinbjornsdottir S et al., J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2008 Sep; 79:1002
Do Age-Related White-Matter Changes Influence Mobility?
Neurology Summary and Comment
A large multicenter trial confirms a well-established association.
By Victoria Panzer, PhD
November 18, 2008
Covering:
Baezner H et al., Neurology 2008 Mar 18; 70:935
Vitamins C and E in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
These vitamins provide no CVD benefit in low-risk men.
Aspirin, Cardiovascular Disease, and Type 2 Diabetes
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Aspirin showed no benefit for preventing CVD events, but some caveats remain about these results.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
November 13, 2008
Covering:
Ogawa H et al., JAMA 2008 Nov 12; 300:2134
Nicolucci A., JAMA 2008 Nov 12; 300:2180
Cancer and Suicide: A Complicated Association
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Contrary to most assumptions, even patients in remission can be at high risk for suicide.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
November 13, 2008
Covering:
Misono S et al., J Clin Oncol 2008 Oct 10; 26:4731
Walker J et al., J Clin Oncol 2008 Oct 10; 26:4725
Miller M et al., J Clin Oncol 2008 Oct 10; 26:4720
Quill TE., J Clin Oncol 2008 Oct 10; 26:4705
Infective Endocarditis in Older Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Older patients are more likely than younger ones to have healthcare-associated infective endocarditis and to die from their infection.
Managing Heart Failure with Preserved Systolic Function: Another Disappointment
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a large randomized trial, irbesartan did not improve outcomes in patients with an LVEF of 45% or higher.
By Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
November 12, 2008
Covering:
Massie BM et al. for the I-PRESERVE Investigators., N Engl J Med 2008 Nov 11
Abiraterone Acetate for Castrate-Progressive Prostate Cancer
In a phase I study, abiraterone was associated with PSA declines and was well tolerated.
