Statins for Everyone?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Nearly 80% of older adults would be eligible for statin therapy if JUPITER trial criteria were added to conventional criteria.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
March 3, 2009
Covering:
Spatz ES et al., Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2009 Jan; 2:41
Secondhand Smoke and Cognitive Impairment
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Exposure to secondhand smoke was associated with cognitive impairment in nonsmoking adults in England.
Androgen-Deprivation Therapy plus Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer
Patients with locally advanced disease who received ADT plus RT survived longer than patients who received ADT alone.
By Robert Dreicer, MD, MS, FACP
February 24, 2009
Covering:
Widmark A et al., Lancet 2009 Jan 24; 373:301
Tan A and Parker C., Lancet 2009 Jan 24; 373:274
Code Discussion at the Time of Hospital Admission: Too Little, Too Late
Hospital Medicine Summary and Comment
Effective communication about end-of-life care is not happening often enough.
Noncognitive Symptoms in Dementia
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Negative symptoms are also problematic.
By Joel Yager, MD
February 23, 2009
Covering:
Saz P et al., Acta Psychiatr Scand 2009 Feb; 119:107
Resting Heart Rate and Adverse Coronary Events in Women
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Higher resting heart rate was associated independently with incidence of MI or coronary death.
Another Study of Chondroitin Sulfate for Knee Osteoarthritis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A prescription formulation, widely available in Europe, delayed progression of knee osteoarthritis, but pain benefits were less clear.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
February 19, 2009
Covering:
Kahan A et al., Arthritis Rheum 2009 Feb; 60:524
Assessing Fracture Risk Might Be as Easy as Asking About Balance
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Results of a twin study support the value of self-reported balance problems for predicting fracture risk.
More Evidence for Cognitive Dysfunction in ALS
Neurology Summary and Comment
Prefrontal atrophy patterns correlated with patients’ performance on language tests.
By Michael D. Greicius, MD, MPH
February 17, 2009
Covering:
Grossman M et al., Neurology 2008 Oct 28; 71:1396
Albert SM and Lomen-Hoerth C., Neurology 2008 Oct 28; 71:1388
Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety in Elders?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
It had modest efficacy, but the brevity of this study limits the generalizability of its results.
Framingham Risk Score and Novel Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Very Old People
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Only elevated plasma homocysteine levels predicted CV mortality.
Diastolic Dysfunction Predicts Poor Exercise Capacity
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Obtaining echocardiographic measures of diastolic function might identify patients at high risk for exercise intolerance.
Do Loop Diuretics Increase the Risk for Fractures in Postmenopausal Women?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Findings from the Women’s Health Initiative suggest that they don’t, but many questions remain.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
February 11, 2009
Covering:
Carbone LD et al., Arch Intern Med 2009 Jan 26; 169:132
Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule: ACIP Practice Guideline
General Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
No new vaccines, but a few new recommendations and clarifications
By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
February 10, 2009
Covering:
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices., Ann Intern Med 2009 Jan 6; 150:40
Poland GA and Schaffner W., Ann Intern Med 2009 Jan 6; 150:53
Depression and Parkinson Disease: An Old Drug Still Works (Better)
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Tricyclics remain a good choice for depressed patients with neurologic disease.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
February 9, 2009
Covering:
Menza M et al., Neurology 2008 Dec 17
Okun MS and Fernandez HH., Neurology 2008 Dec 17
Mortality Risk Following Osteoporotic Fracture
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Elevated risk was associated with even minor fractures and, with hip fractures, persisted for at least 10 years.
Substantial Calorie Restriction Might Improve Memory
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In older women, a short-term reduced-calorie diet led to better scores on a memory test.
By Anthony L. Komaroff, MD
February 5, 2009
Covering:
Witte AV et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009 Jan 27; 106:1255
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Use in Patients with Heart Failure
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Compelling evidence for avoiding NSAIDs underscores the challenges of pain management in these patients.
How Are You Doing?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Evaluating the overall health status of patients with heart failure might help determine their risks for adverse outcomes and costly care.
By Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH
February 4, 2009
Covering:
Chan PS et al., Circulation 2009 Jan 27; 119:398
Ezekowitz JA., Circulation 2009 Jan 27; 119:368
Combination Endocrine and Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Long-term results suggest that combination therapy should be the new standard of care.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
February 3, 2009
Covering:
Widmark A et al., Lancet 2009 Jan 24; 373:301
Tan A and Parker C., Lancet 2009 Jan 24; 373:274
Selenium, Vitamin E, and Prostate Cancer
Selenium and vitamin E, alone or combined, did not affect risk for prostate cancer in a healthy population.
Major Genetic Subtypes of Frontotemporal Dementia
Neurology Summary and Comment
Analysis of a large cohort reveals presence of two known mutations in 17% and autosomal dominant inheritance without known mutations in another 10%.
By Bruce L. Miller, MD
February 3, 2009
Covering:
Seelaar H et al., Neurology 2008 Oct 14; 71:1220
Grossman M., Neurology 2008 Oct 14; 71:1216
Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine: Efficacy Remains Controversial
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Researchers question recommendations to provide pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination for all older adults and for younger adults with chronic diseases.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
January 27, 2009
Covering:
Huss A et al., CMAJ 2009 Jan 6; 180:48
Andrews R and Moberley SA., CMAJ 2009 Jan 6; 180:18
Rosiglitazone, Pioglitazone, and Fractures: A Meta-Analysis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Combined data from 10 trials show that rosiglitazone and pioglitazone confer significant risk for fractures.
BNP-Guided Heart Failure Therapy: Not for Everyone
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
In the TIME-CHF trial, some subgroups benefited from this strategy, but no overall reduction in patient-important outcomes was achieved.
