Nothing Fishy About It: Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Heart Failure
Cardiology Summary and Comment
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In a large randomized trial, adding an inexpensive, widely available supplement to heart failure treatment provided a modest but significant incremental benefit.
Oxybutynin and Tamsulosin for Men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Combination therapy improves symptom scores in men with urinary symptoms.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
October 7, 2008
Covering:
MacDiarmid SA et al., Mayo Clin Proc 2008 Sep; 83:1002
Another Look at Screening with CT Colonography
General Medicine Summary and Comment
With conventional colonoscopy as the gold standard, sensitivity of CT in this study was 90%.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
October 7, 2008
Covering:
Johnson CD et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Sep 18; 359:1207
Diabetes and Mortality in Men with Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer patients with diabetes did not have higher risk for prostate cancer mortality than did prostate cancer patients without diabetes.
Doubt Cast on Initial Dopamine Agonists for Parkinson Disease
Neurology Summary and Comment
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Initiating Parkinson disease treatment with the dopamine agonist bromocriptine conferred no long-term advantages over initial levodopa therapy.
By J. Eric Ahlskog, MD, PhD
September 30, 2008
Covering:
Katzenschlager R et al., Neurology 2008 Aug 12; 71:474
Weiner WJ and Reich SG., Neurology 2008 Aug 12; 71:470
Pathology in Primary Progressive Aphasia
Neurology Summary and Comment
Clinical subtypes of PPA do not correlate one-to-one with pathology.
By Andrew Kertesz, MD, FRCP(C)
September 30, 2008
Covering:
Mesulam M et al., Ann Neurol 2008 Jun; 63:709
Antipsychotics Increase Risk for Stroke in Elders
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The presence of dementia worsens the risk.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
September 29, 2008
Covering:
Douglas IJ and Smeeth L., BMJ 2008 Aug 28; 337:a1227
Do Elders Face Worse Prognoses in Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding?
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Researchers examined whether comorbidities and severity of bleeding are more reliable than patient age as predictors of clinical outcome in UGIB.
Race, Sex, and Age Differences in the Prevalence of Colon Polyps
General Medicine Summary and Comment
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Large polyps are more common in blacks, men, and older patients.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
September 25, 2008
Covering:
Lieberman DA et al., JAMA 2008 Sep 24; 300:1417
Roy HK and Bianchi LK., JAMA 2008 Sep 24; 300:1459
Thrombolysis for Stroke Within 4.5 Hours Is Safe and Effective
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
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But still, the sooner treatment is administered, the better!
By J. Stephen Bohan, MD, MS, FACP, FACEP
September 24, 2008
Covering:
Hacke W et al. for the ECASS Investigators., N Engl J Med 2008 Sep 25; 359:1317
Lyden P., N Engl J Med 2008 Sep 25; 359:1393
What Is the Optimal Interval for Screening Colonoscopy?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
At 5-year repeat colonoscopy, only 1% of 1250 participants had advanced neoplasms.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
September 23, 2008
Covering:
Imperiale TF et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Sep 18; 359:1218
Trial-Proven Fall-Prevention Strategies Disappoint in the Community
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In two community-based studies, trial-proven interventions failed to prevent falls.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
September 23, 2008
Covering:
Elley CR et al., J Am Geriatr Soc 2008 Aug; 56:1383
Hendriks MRC et al., J Am Geriatr Soc 2008 Aug; 56:1390
Tinetti ME., J Am Geriatr Soc 2008 Aug; 56:1563
Diminished CD4-Cell Recovery in Older Patients Despite Good Adherence
A small retrospective study highlights the importance of detecting HIV early in older individuals.
By Keith Henry, MD
September 22, 2008
Covering:
Brañas F et al., Am J Med 2008 Sep; 121:820
Something Fishy for the Brain: Do Supplements and Fish Help?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
At least in the short term, effects are modest and limited to specific subgroups.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
September 22, 2008
Covering:
van de Rest O et al., Neurology 2008 Aug 5; 71:430
Virtanen JK et al., Neurology 2008 Aug 5; 71:439
Napping in Elders Might Not Affect Quantity or Quality of Nighttime Sleep
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Two observational studies show that taking a daily nap didn’t affect nighttime sleep adversely.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
September 18, 2008
Covering:
Picarsic JL et al., J Am Geriatr Soc 2008 Sep; 56:1674
Dautovich ND et al., J Am Geriatr Soc 2008 Sep; 56:1681
Vitiello MV., J Am Geriatr Soc 2008 Sep; 56:1753
Aspirin Does Not Affect Cognitive Function in People at Moderate CV Risk
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Results of a double-blind randomized trial in middle-aged and older patients indicate no effect of long-term low-dose aspirin use on cognitive function.
Prevalence of Pelvic Floor Disorders in Women
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Nearly one quarter of U.S. women have marked disorders.
Telmisartan in ACE-Inhibitor–Intolerant Patients: A Disappointment
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a placebo-controlled trial, researchers found an unexpectedly low, statistically nonsignificant reduction in clinical outcomes.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
September 17, 2008
Covering:
The TRANSCEND Investigators., Lancet 2008 August 31
Use of Proton-Pump Inhibitors Is Associated with Excess Risk for Osteoporosis-Related Fractures
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Notably, continuous PPI use for
Combined Hormone Therapy and Health-Related Quality of Life
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Even in women long past menopause, combined HT might improve health-related quality of life.
Prostatectomy vs. Observation for Localized Prostate Cancer: Another Update
General Medicine Summary and Comment
For some patients, radical prostatectomy confers benefit that persists for longer than a decade.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
September 16, 2008
Covering:
Bill-Axelson A et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 2008 Aug 20; 100:1144
Radical Prostatectomy vs. Watchful Waiting
Surgery was associated with lower risk for mortality and metastases in men younger than 65.
By Robert Dreicer, MD, MS, FACP
September 16, 2008
Covering:
Bill-Axelson A et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 2008 Aug 20; 100:1144
Wilt TJ., J Natl Cancer Inst 2008 Aug 20; 100:1123
A Promising New DBS Target for Tremor
Neurology Summary and Comment
Stimulation of the zona incerta was effective for several types of tremor.
By Ludy Shih, MD
September 16, 2008
Covering:
Plaha P et al., J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2008 May; 79:504
Good Outcomes for Thrombolysis at 3.0 to 4.5 Hours After Stroke
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
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In a large registry study, rates of mortality, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, and independence at 3 months were similar between patients treated with alteplase within 3.0 hours and patients treated at 3.0 to 4.5 hours after ischemic stroke onset.
By Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH
September 15, 2008
Covering:
Wahlgren N et al., Lancet 2008 Sep 15
SSRIs May Break Bones
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Two studies in older populations add to the evidence base.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
September 15, 2008
Covering:
Bolton JM et al., J Clin Psychopharmacol 2008 Aug; 28:384
Ziere G et al., J Clin Psychopharmacol 2008 Aug; 28:411
