Slowing the Progression of Aortic Stenosis: An Intriguing Possibility
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Findings from a small retrospective study suggest that medications for treating osteoporosis can benefit patients with aortic stenosis.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
August 12, 2009
Covering:
Skolnick AH et al., Am J Cardiol 2009 Jul 1; 104:122
Goldstein RE., Am J Cardiol 2009 Jul 1; 104:125
Delayed Viral Clearance Among Hospitalized Adults with Influenza
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Viral replication and shedding may be more prolonged than expected and could warrant more-aggressive therapeutic and infection-control approaches.
By Larry M. Baddour, MD
August 12, 2009
Covering:
Lee N et al., J Infect Dis 2009 Aug 15; 200:492
Ison MG., J Infect Dis 2009 Aug 15; 200:485
Improving the Efficacy of Flu Vaccine
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A stronger vaccine elicits more antibodies but has more side effects.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
August 11, 2009
Covering:
Falsey AR et al., J Infect Dis 2009 Jul 15; 200:172
Mortality Risk of Elder Self-Neglect and Elder Abuse
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Self-neglect particularly was associated with elevated mortality risk.
Osteoporosis and Fracture in Men with Prostate Cancer
Denosumab increased bone-mineral density and lowered fracture incidence in men receiving androgen-deprivation therapy for nonmetastatic disease.
By Robert Dreicer, MD, MS, FACP
August 11, 2009
Covering:
Smith MR et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Aug 20; 361:745
Khosla S., N Engl J Med 2009 Aug 20; 361:818
MRI Measures of Brain Atrophy in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration
Neurology Summary and Comment
Can MRI measures of whole-brain atrophy provide useful markers for clinical treatment trials?
By Keith A. Johnson, MD
August 11, 2009
Covering:
Knopman DS et al., Neurology 2009 May 26; 72:1843
Delaying Progression to Alzheimer Disease
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Donepezil might work, if the patient with amnestic mild cognitive impairment is (a little) depressed.
Using Biomarkers to Predict Alzheimer Disease: Not Yet Ready for the Clinic
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An assay of several spinal-fluid proteins to diagnose AD is promising but unlikely to be immediately adopted because of testing differences between centers.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
August 10, 2009
Covering:
Mattsson N et al., JAMA 2009 Jul 22/29; 302:385
Poor Prognosis Among Community Dwellers with Mild Hyponatremia
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
In middle-aged or older adults, mild hyponatremia predicted death and MI.
Vertebroplasty Strikes Out
General Medicine Summary and Comment
This procedure yielded no improvements in two randomized placebo-controlled trials.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
August 5, 2009
Covering:
Kallmes DF et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Aug 6; 361:569
Buchbinder R et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Aug 6; 361:557
Cost-Effectiveness of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Conflicting results in two different populations illustrate the difficulty of forecasting the effects of an intervention in a changing environment.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
August 5, 2009
Covering:
Thompson SG et al., BMJ 2009 Jun 27; 338:1538
Ehlers L et al., BMJ 2009 Jun 27; 338:1542
Buxton MJ., BMJ 2009 Jun 27; 338:1509
Psychological Effect of Disclosing Genetic Risk for Alzheimer Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Among extensively counseled subjects, disclosure of genotype information did not affect psychological status.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
August 4, 2009
Covering:
Green RC et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Jul 16; 361:245
Factors in Middle Age Might Predict Later Dementia
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Being calm and staying married may reduce the risks for dementia.
By Joel Yager, MD
August 3, 2009
Covering:
Gallacher J et al., Psychosom Med 2009 Jul; 71:659
Håkansson K et al., BMJ 2009 Jul 2; 339:b2462
To Attenuate Risk for Cardiovascular Disease, Start with Lifestyle
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Healthy lifestyles were associated with lower risk for heart failure in men and hypertension in women; obesity was the strongest risk factor for hypertension.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
July 30, 2009
Covering:
Djoussé L et al., JAMA 2009 Jul 22/29; 302:394
Forman JP et al., JAMA 2009 Jul 22/29; 302:401
USPSTF: Updated Recommendation for Vision Screening in Older Adults
General Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
The task force now finds the evidence to be insufficient.
By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
July 30, 2009
Covering:
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force., Ann Intern Med 2009 Jul 7; 151:37
Chou R et al., Ann Intern Med 2009 Jul 7; 151:44
PR Prolongation: Not Always Benign
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a large population-based cohort, longer PR intervals were associated with significantly increased risks for AF, pacemaker implantation, and mortality.
By Mark S. Link, MD
July 29, 2009
Covering:
Cheng S et al., JAMA 2009 Jun 24; 301:2571
Age-Related White Matter Changes Predict Functional Decline
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Older patients with severe changes were more than twice as likely to become disabled as were patients with mild changes.
Adjuvant Radiotherapy for pT3 Prostate Cancer
In patients with undetectable PSA values after prostatectomy, radiotherapy reduced risk for biological progression.
The System of Care and Outcomes in Geriatric Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Comprehensive care reduces depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in elders with depression.
By Joel Yager, MD
July 27, 2009
Covering:
Alexopoulos GS et al., Am J Psychiatry 2009 Jun 15
Exercise Echocardiography in Patients with Normal Exercise ECGs
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Evidence of ischemia on exEcho in such patients was an independent predictor of mortality.
By Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH
July 23, 2009
Covering:
Bouzas-Mosquera A et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2009 May 26; 53:1981
Flachskampf FA and Rost C., J Am Coll Cardiol 2009 May 26; 53:1991
Is Monitoring BMD Necessary in Patients Who Take Bisphosphonates?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Alendronate treatment increases bone density in most patients, so routine monitoring of BMD is not warranted.
APOE Genotyping: Nothing to Worry About?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
When coupled with extensive education, genotyping did not increase distress among individuals with risk for Alzheimer disease.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
July 20, 2009
Covering:
Green RC et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Jul 16; 361:245
Kane RA and Kane RL., N Engl J Med 2009 Jul 16; 361:298
Adverse Events After Colonoscopy: They Happen
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Risk was particularly elevated in the oldest patients and in those with comorbidities.
Monkeys' Life Span Extended by Caloric Restriction
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A low-calorie but nutritious diet gave a group of monkeys an advantage over their normally fed pals.
Rapamycin Extends Life Span of Mice
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Mice lived longer when they received this pharmacologic agent — even when it was started late in life.
