Weight Monitoring in Heart Failure
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Remote monitoring of daily weight substantiates the association of weight gain with hospitalization for HF.
Sildenafil for Pulmonary Hypertension in Heart Failure
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Results from a small study showed positive effects on exercise capacity and quality of life.
Maintenance Treatment and Health-Related Quality of Life in Depressed Elders
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Antidepressants were better than psychotherapy.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
September 25, 2007
Covering:
Dombrovski AY et al., J Am Geriatr Soc 2007 Sep; 55:1325
The Buzz About Caffeine
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Makes you smarter and thinner — and protects against cancer?
By Jonathan Silver, MD
September 24, 2007
Covering:
Ritchie K et al., Neurology 2007 Aug 7; 69:536
Lu Y-P et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007 Jul 31; 104:12936
Hyperkyphosis: Little Known About This Common Condition
General Medicine Summary and Comment
This review examines the existing information.
A Call for Change in Hospice Reimbursement
Neurology Summary and Comment
Hospice is an underused resource, partly because Medicare reimbursement covers only basic palliative care.
By Thomas I. Cochrane, MD, MBA
September 18, 2007
Covering:
Gazelle G., N Engl J Med 2007 Jul 26; 357:321
Wright AA and Katz IT., N Engl J Med 2007 Jul 26; 357:324
Persistence of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes in Heart Failure
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Several factors that affect optimal use of evidence-based medical therapy are within the control of providers.
By Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH
September 12, 2007
Covering:
Gislason GH et al., Circulation 2007 Aug 14; 116:737-44
Ekman I and Swedberg K., Circulation 2007 Aug 14; 116:693-5
Ciprofloxacin Crystal Nephropathy
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Elderly patients who receive high doses of ciprofloxacin may be especially vulnerable.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
September 11, 2007
Covering:
Stratta P et al., Am J Kidney Dis 2007 Aug; 50:330-5
Genetics of Parkinson Disease Is Complex
Neurology Summary and Comment
Much more remains to be understood about the pathogenesis of PD before genetic testing can be considered definitive.
By Stewart A. Factor, DO
September 11, 2007
Covering:
Klein C et al., Lancet Neurol 2007 Jul; 6:652-62
Warfarin Is Better Than Aspirin for Stroke Prevention in Older Patients with AF
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
And warfarin does not increase risk for intracranial bleeding.
By Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP
September 7, 2007
Covering:
Mant J et al., Lancet 2007 Aug 11; 370:493-503
Garcia D and Hylek E., Lancet 2007 Aug 11; 370:460-1
Can TIA Patients Be Worked Up Adequately in an ED Observation Unit?
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Patients who were worked up in the ED had shorter stays, lower costs, and comparable outcomes to those who were worked up in the hospital.
Probiotics Prevent C. difficile Diarrhea
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Low-cost prophylactic interventions are becoming more important as the <$EMPH_O>C. difficile<$EMPH_C> infection rate rises.
By Douglas K. Rex, MD
September 7, 2007
Covering:
Hickson M et al., BMJ 2007 Jul 14; 335:80
New Technique for Removing Large Bile-Duct Stones During ERCP
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Small sphincterotomy plus balloon dilation yielded good results in a small Japanese study.
By Stuart Sherman, MD
September 7, 2007
Covering:
Minami A et al., World J Gastroenterol 2007 Apr 21; 13:2179-82
Cognitive Decline’s Effect on Sleep Quality
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Cognitive decline was associated with sleep disturbances in nondemented older women.
Pacing the Ventricle: With Dual-Chamber Pacemakers, Less Is More
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In patients with sick-sinus syndrome, a strategy to minimize ventricular pacing reduced the risk for AF.
By Mark S. Link, MD
September 5, 2007
Covering:
Sweeney MO et al. for the Search AV Extension and Managed Ventricular Pacing for Promoting Atrioventricular Conduction (SAVE PACe) Trial., N Engl J Med 2007 Sep 6; 357:1000-8
International Study Supports Conventional WISDOM About Hormone Therapy
Cardiology Summary and Comment
A new report supplies more evidence that HT may increase cardiovascular risk in older women.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
September 5, 2007
Covering:
Vickers MR et al. for the WISDOM team, BMJ 2007 Aug 4; 335:239
Older Adults Have Sex and Sexual Problems
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Physicians should remember to ask about sexual function.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
September 4, 2007
Covering:
Lindau ST et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Aug 23; 357:762-74
"Neuroprotective" Agent Is Ineffective in Stroke
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Aspirin and tPA remain the only proven agents.
Which Dressing for Venous Leg Ulcers?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Let cost be your guide when choosing bandages.
Possible New Treatment Strategy for Parkinson Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Two newly discovered molecules can prevent death of dopamine-containing cells.
By Anthony L. Komaroff, MD
August 28, 2007
Covering:
Outeiro TF et al., Science 2007 Jul 27; 317:516-9
Dillin A and Kelly JW., Science 2007 Jul 27; 317:461-2
Progranulin and Heterogeneity in Frontotemporal Dementia
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Despite identical FTD mutations, patients within a large kindred show considerable clinical differences.
By William W. Seeley, MD
August 28, 2007
Covering:
Bruni AC et al., Neurology 2007 Jul 10; 69:140-7
"Arteriosclerotic Dementia" Redux?
Neurology Summary and Comment
Carotid atherosclerosis may increase dementia risk in the elderly — but is the mechanism a cumulative pathologic burden, with silent strokes added to exiting AD pathology, or is it a direct cause of AD?
By David A. Drachman, MD
August 28, 2007
Covering:
van Oijen M et al., Ann Neurol 2007 May; 61:403-10
DVT in Outpatients
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Recent surgery, hospitalization, and diagnosis of cancer are important risk factors.
Thrombolysis for Acute Stroke: Much Talk, Little Action
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
From 1999 to 2004, tPA was administered to only 1.2% of acute ischemic stroke patients in the U.S.
Hip Protectors Fail to Prevent Hip Fractures in Nursing Home Patients
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
This well-designed trial was stopped early because of lack of efficacy.
By John A. Marx, MD, FAAEM, FACEP
August 24, 2007
Covering:
Kiel DP et al., JAMA 2007 Jul 25; 298:413-22
Kannus P and Parkkari J., JAMA 2007 Jul 25; 298:454-5
