Abiraterone for Castration-Resistant Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Oncology and Hematology Summary and Comment
Free
Survival was superior with abiraterone versus placebo.
By Robert Dreicer, MD, MS, FACP
May 25, 2011
Covering:
de Bono JS et al., N Engl J Med 2011 May 26; 364:1995
Antonarakis ES and Eisenberger MA., N Engl J Med 2011 May 26; 364:2055
Overuse of Colonoscopy?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Nearly half of Medicare patients with negative screening colonoscopies had repeat exams within 7 years.
A Supplement That Works for Alzheimer Disease?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Huperzine A may improve cognition.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
May 23, 2011
Covering:
Rafii MS et al for the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study., Neurology 2011 Apr 19; 76:1389
More Evidence of Overly Aggressive Screening and Treatment for Prostate Cancer
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Very old men were screened frequently, and men with serious comorbidities were overtreated.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
May 19, 2011
Covering:
Drazer MW et al., J Clin Oncol 2011 May 1; 29:1736
Daskivich TJ et al., Cancer 2011 May 15; 117:2058
Selenium for Graves Orbitopathy?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A small randomized trial suggests that selenium is safe and effective.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
May 19, 2011
Covering:
Marcocci C et al., N Engl J Med 2011 May 19; 364:1920
Levothyroxine and Fracture Risk in Elders
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Higher doses and current or recent use were associated with elevated risk.
By Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FACP
May 17, 2011
Covering:
Turner MR et al., BMJ 2011 Apr 28; 342:d2238
Leese GP and Flynn RV., BMJ 2011 Apr 28; 342:d2250
Updated Diagnostic Criteria for All Stages of Alzheimer Disease
Neurology Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
These criteria emphasize early and preclinical stages of AD and the usefulness of biomarkers.
By Brandy R. Matthews, MD
May 17, 2011
Covering:
Jack CR Jr et al., Alzheimers Dement 2011 May; 7:257
Sperling RA et al., Alzheimers Dement 2011 May; 7:280
McKhann GM et al., Alzheimers Dement 2011 May; 7:263
Albert MS et al., Alzheimers Dement 2011 May; 7:270
Can We Delay Conversion from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer Disease?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Control of vascular risk factors may lower the conversion rate.
Restoring "Proteostasis": New Approach to Preventing Disease and Aging
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Selectively inhibiting protein misfolding and aggregation might slow aging.
By Anthony L. Komaroff, MD
May 12, 2011
Covering:
Tsaytler P et al., Science 2011 Apr 1; 332:91
Alavez S et al., Nature 2011 Apr 14; 472:226
Elderly Patients Continue to Be Excluded from Heart Failure Trials
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Although HF is principally a disease of advancing age, the results of many clinical trials may not be generalizable to most elderly patients.
In Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy, Avoid Apical Left Ventricular Lead Placement
Cardiology Summary and Comment
LV lead placement does make a difference, but the culprit location is not the one you think it is.
By Mark S. Link, MD
May 11, 2011
Covering:
Singh JP et al., Circulation 2011 Mar 22; 123:1159
Metabolic Risk Factor for Complications in Type 1 Diabetes
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A dearth of advanced glycation end products might distinguish complication-free diabetic patients from their peers.
Quality of Life in the ACCORD Trial
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Intensive glycemic control did not improve self-reported physical or mental health.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
May 10, 2011
Covering:
Anderson RT et al., Diabetes Care 2011 Apr; 34:807
New Genes Associated with Alzheimer Disease
Neurology Summary and Comment
Two large genome-wide association studies revealed at least four new susceptibility loci for AD.
By Brandy R. Matthews, MD
May 10, 2011
Covering:
Naj AC et al., Nat Genet 2011 May; 43:436
Hollingworth P et al., Nat Genet 2011 May; 43:429
Surgery vs. Observation for Early-Stage Prostate Cancer
Oncology and Hematology Summary and Comment
Free
During median follow-up of 12.8 years, fewer deaths occurred among men who underwent radical prostatectomy than among those assigned to watchful waiting.
By Robert Dreicer, MD, MS, FACP
May 4, 2011
Covering:
Bill-Axelson A et al., N Engl J Med 2011 May 5; 364:1708
Smith MR., N Engl J Med 2011 May 5; 364:1770
Tai Chi Exercise in Heart Failure Patients
General Medicine Summary and Comment
No change in cardiorespiratory fitness but better quality of life
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
May 3, 2011
Covering:
Yeh GY et al., Arch Intern Med 2011 Apr 25; 171:750
Teerlink JR., Arch Intern Med 2011 Apr 25; 171:758
Attenuated Immunochemotherapy for Older Patients with Lymphoma
Nearly half of patients older than 80 with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma were in remission 2 years after receiving reduced-dose chemotherapy plus rituximab.
Orthostatic Hypotension in Older Adults
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
The prevalence was surprisingly high.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
April 28, 2011
Covering:
Romero-Ortuno R et al., J Am Geriatr Soc 2011 Apr; 59:655
Statin Use and Risk for Death After Pneumonia
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Statin users were significantly less likely to die in the 6 months after pneumonia diagnoses.
Total Hip Replacement in Morbidly Obese Patients
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Self-reported functional outcomes were comparable to those of nonobese patients.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
April 28, 2011
Covering:
McCalden RW et al., J Bone Joint Surg Br 2011 Mar; 93-B:321
Clusterin and Alzheimer Disease
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Elevated plasma levels of the protein clusterin were associated with AD prevalence and severity, but they did not predict AD incidence or distinguish between AD and vascular dementia.
Novel Genetic Associations with Parkinson Disease
Neurology Summary and Comment
A meta-analysis and replication of several genome-wide association studies confirms previous loci associated with PD and identifies several new ones.
By Clemens R. Scherzer, MD
April 26, 2011
Covering:
International Parkinson Disease Genomics Consortium., Lancet 2011 Feb 19; 377:641
Yet Another Prostate Cancer Screening Study
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In a 20-year study, screening resulted in overdiagnosis but not lower prostate cancer mortality.
Is MRI Necessary for Older Patients with Isolated Palsy of Cranial Nerves III, IV, or VI?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Magnetic resonance imaging probably is not needed, as long as certain clinical criteria are met.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
April 21, 2011
Covering:
Murchison AP et al., Arch Ophthalmol 2011 Mar; 129:301
Obesity and Overweight Are Associated with Diastolic Dysfunction
General Medicine Summary and Comment
This finding held even when other risk factors were taken into account.
