Muscular Strength and Long-Term Mortality in Men
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
Subscription required
Muscular strength was associated inversely with death from all causes or from cancer.
Methotrexate plus Etanercept for Early, Moderate-to-Severe RA
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
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Likelihood of remission and of radiographic nonprogression was greater with combination therapy than with methotrexate alone.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
August 12, 2008
Covering:
Emery P et al., Lancet 2008 Aug 2; 372:375
Kremer JM., Lancet 2008 Aug 2; 372:347
Rhythm vs. Rate Control in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
Subscription required
The primary outcome of cardiovascular death did not significantly differ by treatment group.
By Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH
June 26, 2008
Covering:
Roy D et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Jun 19; 358:2667
Cain ME and Curtis AB., N Engl J Med 2008 Jun 19; 358:2725
Hazards of Warfarin Plus Antiplatelet Therapy
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
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In U.S. and European studies, treatment with warfarin plus antiplatelet agents was associated with serious bleeding episodes.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
June 26, 2008
Covering:
Rogacka R et al., J Am Coll Cardiol Intv 2008 Feb 1; 1:56
Johnson SG et al., Chest 2008 Apr; 133:948
Surgery vs. Nonoperative Treatment for Sciatica: Follow-Up After 2 Years
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
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Short-term results were better with surgery, but outcomes were similar between groups at 1 year and 2 years.
Rapid Serious Adverse Events with Antipsychotics in Dementia
Psychiatry
Summary and Comment
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Even short-term use of typical or atypical medications produces serious events.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
June 23, 2008
Covering:
Rochon PA et al., Arch Intern Med 2008 May 26; 168:1090
Last Resort for Drug-Resistant Infections: Honey?
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
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"Medical-grade" honey has attractive microbicidal properties.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
July 3, 2008
Covering:
Kwakman PHS et al., Clin Infect Dis 2008 Jun 1; 46:1677
Perioperative Antibiotic Prophylaxis Is a Risk Factor for C. difficile Infection
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
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Even if patients receive no other antibiotics, they can develop colitis.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
July 3, 2008
Covering:
Carignan A et al., Clin Infect Dis 2008 Jun 15; 46:1838
Another Study of Medical Expulsive Therapy for Ureteral Stones
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
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These findings strengthen the case for medical expulsive therapy in patients with small-to-moderate distal ureteral calculi.
Metronidazole vs. Vancomycin for CDAD
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
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After 5 days of therapy, resolution of diarrhea and suppression of <$EMPH_O>C. difficile<$EMPH_C> to undetectable levels were significantly more likely with vancomycin than with metronidazole.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
June 25, 2008
Covering:
Al-Nassir WN et al., Clin Infect Dis 2008 Jul 1; 47:56