Niacin Is Ineffective in Patients with Established Cardiovascular Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Niacin plus simvastatin was no better than simvastatin alone.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
November 15, 2011
Covering:
The AIM-HIGH Investigators., N Engl J Med 2011 Nov 15
Missing Components in Discharge Summaries to Subacute Care Centers
Hospital Medicine Summary and Comment
Delayed discharge summary creation and lack of training are associated with omissions.
Growing Hair with Botox
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Free
Mean hair counts rose and mean hair loss slowed after injections of botulinum toxin A.
By George J. Hruza, MD
November 10, 2011
Covering:
Freund BJ and Schwartz M., Plast Reconstr Surg 2010 Nov; 126:246e
Improvement in U.S. Heart Failure Outcomes, 1998–2008
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Hospitalizations declined by 30%, and 1-year mortality declined by 7%.
Quality of Life Improves After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Cardiology Summary and Comment
One-year health-related quality-of-life findings from the PARTNER trial are encouraging.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
November 9, 2011
Covering:
Reynolds MR et al. for the Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves (PARTNER) Investigators., Circulation 2011 Nov 1; 124:1964
Serum Cholesterol Might Not Affect Mortality in Elders
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In healthy older persons, high cholesterol levels were associated with lower noncardiovascular-related mortality.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
November 8, 2011
Covering:
Newson RS et al., J Am Geriatr Soc 2011 Oct; 59:1779
Life Review Therapy Is Promising for Moderate Depressive Symptoms
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Older adults, especially extroverts, did well with this therapy combining a structured review of the past with a framework based on narrative therapy.
Focused Update: ACC/AHA Guidelines on Peripheral Arterial Disease
Cardiology Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Revised recommendations emphasize early detection of PAD, prevention of cardiovascular events, and the equivalence of surgical and endovascular revascularization.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
November 2, 2011
Covering:
Rooke TW et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2011 Nov 1; 58:2020
Which Patients Respond to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
A score of at least 5 on a 14-point scale comprising 7 patient factors was a significant predictor of reverse remodeling among CRT recipients in the MADIT-CRT trial.
By Mark S. Link, MD
November 2, 2011
Covering:
Goldenberg I et al., Circulation 2011 Oct 4; 124:1527
Cognitive Impairment and Mortality
Neurology Summary and Comment
A simple screening tool can identify people with cognitive impairment who have elevated mortality risk.
By David A. Bennett, MD
November 1, 2011
Covering:
Sachs GA et al., Ann Intern Med 2011 Sep 6; 155:300
Care Transitions Pose High Risk for Medication Errors
Hospital Medicine Summary and Comment
An observational study reveals that many hospitalized patients have their longstanding medications inadvertently discontinued on discharge.
By Grace C. Huang, MD
October 31, 2011
Covering:
Bell CM et al., JAMA 2011 Aug 24/31; 306:840
Testosterone Levels Are Low in Drug-Naive Men with Schizophrenia
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
These low levels may reflect accelerated aging.
By Joel Yager, MD
October 31, 2011
Covering:
Fernandez-Egea E et al., Psychosom Med 2011 Oct; 73:643
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Revisits Prostate Cancer Screening
In a preliminary draft, the USPSTF recommends against prostate-specific antigen screening.
Vitamin D Appears to Prevent Falls in Some High-Risk Subgroups
General Medicine Summary and Comment
The benefit appeared limited to those who received >800 IU of vitamin D daily.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
October 27, 2011
Covering:
Murad MH et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2011 Oct; 96:2997
Short-Term Stroke Risk in Patients Who Suffer Transient Ischemic Attacks
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Combining magnetic resonance imaging and ABCD2 scoring improves stroke prediction.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
October 27, 2011
Covering:
Giles MF et al., Neurology 2011 Sep 27; 77:1222
Asymptomatic Bradycardia Does Not Predict Mortality in Older Adults
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a single-center cohort, untreated bradycardia in adults older than 60 was associated with eventual pacemaker placement but did not increase mortality risk.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
October 26, 2011
Covering:
Goldberger JJ et al., Am J Cardiol 2011 Sep 15; 108:857
Elevated Risk for Prostate Cancer Found with Vitamin E Supplementation
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Clinicians should counsel older men about vitamin E use.
Divalproex Might Shrink the Brain
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Patients with Alzheimer disease showed brain atrophy and cognitive problems in the first year of receiving divalproex.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
October 24, 2011
Covering:
Fleisher AS et al., Neurology 2011 Sep 27; 77:1263
Dietary Supplement Use and Mortality in Older Women
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Several supplements were associated with increased mortality, but calcium lowered risk.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
October 20, 2011
Covering:
Mursu J et al., Arch Intern Med 2011 Oct 10; 171:1625
Time in Therapeutic Range for Warfarin — A European Success Story
Cardiology Summary and Comment
A Swedish registry and quality-improvement program resulted in a mean TTR of more than 75%.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
October 19, 2011
Covering:
Wieloch M et al., Eur Heart J 2011 Sep 18; 32:2282
Exercising One's Brain May Keep It Young
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Learning how to play golf seems to increase gray matter in regions involved in motor learning and in the dorsal stream of the visual cortex.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
October 17, 2011
Covering:
Bezzola L et al., J Neurosci 2011 Aug 31; 31:12444
GCS Score <15 Represents Greater Risk in Elders Than in Younger Patients
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
At each Glasgow Coma Scale score from 15 to 13, outcomes were worse in elders than in younger patients.
Some Subjective Memory Complaints Predict Cognitive Dysfunction
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Several questions about memory might help clinicians decide which patients deserve further evaluation.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
October 13, 2011
Covering:
Amariglio RE et al., J Am Geriatr Soc 2011 Sep; 59:1612
Effect of Advance Directives on End-of-Life Expenditures Varies Regionally
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Medical expenditures were lower only in regions where Medicare costs are high.
α-Lipoic Acid Is Ineffective for Diabetic Neuropathy
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Objective improvement was borderline, and symptom relief was nil.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
October 13, 2011
Covering:
Ziegler D et al., Diabetes Care 2011 Sep; 34:2054
