One-Year Function Similar After Resurfacing Hip Arthroplasty or Total Hip Arthroplasty
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Overall complication rates did not differ between groups.
Another Myositis-Specific Antibody: Is It Linked to Malignancy?
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Patients with an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy and the anti-NXP2 autoantibody may have increased risk for an internal malignancy.
Good and Bad News for Vitamin D in African-Americans with Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Photoprotective measures by African-American CLE patients did not reduce vitamin D concentrations, but half of all African-Americans had deficient levels.
By Craig A. Elmets, MD
March 23, 2012
Covering:
Word AP et al., Br J Dermatol 2012 Feb; 166:372
Rheumatoid Arthritis Linked to Risks for Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Close monitoring of RA patients is warranted.
Should Prednisone Be Added to Methotrexate for Early Rheumatoid Arthritis?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Yes, according to a randomized trial — but with caveats.
Cryofibrinogenemia — What Is Its Clinical Significance?
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Many patients with positive CF results have Raynaud phenomenon, but the ramifications are unclear.
Briefly Noted
Increased cardiovascular risk associated with psoriasis, protective effects of cutaneous discoid lupus, treatment for erosive pustular scalp dermatosis, and quality of life in patients with CLE-induced photosensitivity
Calcium-Channel Blockers and Losartan Are Associated with Lower Risk for Gout in Hypertensive Patients
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Diuretics, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting–enzyme inhibitors, and non-losartan angiotensin-receptor blockers are associated with increased risk.
Adnexal Tumor: Useful Information in a Pathology Report
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Pagetoid spread and an infiltrative growth pattern suggest the need for extended excision of some eccrine porocarcinomas.
By Angelica Selim, MD
January 27, 2012
Covering:
Belin E et al., Br J Dermatol 2011 Nov; 165:985
Nonbullous Neutrophilic Lupus Erythematosus – The Real Deal or a Variant of Neutrophilic Dermatosis?
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Our author considers it the latter.
By Jeffrey P. Callen, MD
January 27, 2012
Covering:
Brinster NK et al., J Am Acad Dermatol 2012 Jan; 66:92
Gout and Diuretics in Hypertensive Patients
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Diuretic use raised risk for gout by several percentage points.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
January 26, 2012
Covering:
McAdams DeMarco MA et al., Arthritis Rheum 2012 Jan; 64:121
Concomitant Septic and Crystal Arthritis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In a hospital setting, a small proportion of patients with gout or pseudogout had coexisting septic arthritis.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
January 19, 2012
Covering:
Papanicolas LE et al., J Rheumatol 2012 Jan; 39:157
Prevalence of Knee Pain and Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis Rises
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Reports of knee pain are up and largely unexplained by age and weight.
Etanercept for Treatment of Dermatomyositis
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Etanercept allowed patients to discontinue or decrease prednisone in a small study.
By Jeffrey P. Callen, MD
January 13, 2012
Covering:
Amato AA et al. for the Muscle Study Group., Ann Neurol 2011 Sep; 70:427
Childhood Dermatomyositis and Increased Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Adulthood
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Adults with a history of JDM had more evidence of disease than matched controls.
Thalidomide Treatment of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Thalidomide was effective in 98% of patients with refractory CLE.
Yoga and Stretching Are Better Than Usual Care for Chronic Low Back Pain
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Supervised stretching or exercise of any type is better than self-care.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
January 5, 2012
Covering:
Sherman KJ et al., Arch Intern Med 2011 Dec 12/26; 171:2019
Bisphosphonate Use Extends Implant Survival After Primary Hip and Knee Arthroplasty
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In a U.K. study, bisphosphonate users had significantly lower rates of revision.
Traditional Metal-on-Polyethylene Hip Implants Aren't Inferior to Newer Devices
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Revision arthroplasty was needed more often by patients who received metal-on-metal or ceramic-on-ceramic devices.
Risk for PE Rises After Hospitalization for Autoimmune Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Higher pulmonary embolism risk persisted for 5 to 10 years.
The Role of DNA in the Etiology of Lupus Erythematosus
Dermatology Summary and Comment
A loss-of-function variant that affects DNA processing is associated with an inherited form of SLE.
Mycophenolate Mofetil Superior to Azathioprine as Maintenance Therapy for Lupus Nephritis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Rates of treatment failure were lower with MMF.
By Jonathan S. Coblyn, MD
December 13, 2011
Covering:
Dooley MA et al., N Engl J Med 2011 Nov 17; 365:1886
Phone-Based CBT Is Effective in Easing Chronic Widespread Pain
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Exercise was roughly equally as effective as cognitive-behavioral therapy, and both together were even better.
Dual-Energy CT: A New Diagnostic Tool for Gout
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Sensitivity and specificity were high in a small computed tomography study.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
November 29, 2011
Covering:
Glazebrook KN et al., Radiology 2011 Nov; 261:516
Some Benefit Reported with Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Back function, but not pain, was better with yoga.
