General Medicine Editor's Picks: Archives

Nesiritide Infusion Comes Up Short Again

• Cardiology
• Summary and Comment
• Subscription required

Patients with advanced heart failure do not seem to benefit from outpatient infusions of B-type natriuretic peptide.

• By Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH
• June 11, 2008
• Covering:
  • Yancy CW et al. for the FUSION II Investigators., Circ Heart Fail 2008 May; 1:9

ECGs and Echocardiograms for Screening Athletes: A Black and White Issue?

• Cardiology
• Summary and Comment
• Subscription required

In two studies, the prevalence of "abnormal" ECG and echocardiogram findings was significantly higher in black athletes than in white athletes.

• By Mark S. Link, MD
• June 18, 2008
• Covering:
  • Magalski A et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2008 Jun 10; 51:2250
  • Basavarajaiah S., J Am Coll Cardiol 2008 Jun 10; 51:2256
  • Pelliccia A., J Am Coll Cardiol 2008 Jun 10; 51:2263

Presentation and Diagnosis of Common Variable Immunodeficiency

• Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
• Summary and Comment
• Subscription required

Immunodeficiency can present in patients of any age.

• By Peggy Sue Weintrub, MD
• June 18, 2008
• Covering:
  • Oksenhendler E et al., Clin Infect Dis 2008 May 15; 46:1547

Is Expedited Partner Therapy for STIs Legal in Your State?

• Women's Health
• Summary and Comment
• Free

EPT was determined to be legally permissible in 12 jurisdictions and probably prohibited in 13.

• By Diane E. Judge, APN/CNP
• March 20, 2008
• Covering:
  • Hodge JG Jr et al., Am J Public Health 2008 Feb; 98:238

Which New Medications May Cause SJS or TEN?

• Dermatology
• Summary and Comment
• Subscription required

A useful summary of which drugs are most likely to cause these severe adverse reactions

• By Jeffrey P. Callen, MD
• February 15, 2008
• Covering:
  • Mockenhaupt M et al., J Invest Dermatol 2008 Jan; 128:35
  • Halevy S et al., J Am Acad Dermatol 2008 Jan; 58:25

Warfarin: To Stop or Not to Stop?

• Dermatology
• Summary and Comment
• Subscription required

In outpatients on anticoagulant therapy undergoing minor procedures, the risks for clinically significant bleeding and thromboembolic events must be considered on an individual basis.

• By George J. Hruza, MD
• February 15, 2008
• Covering:
  • Garcia DA et al., Arch Intern Med 2008 Jan 14; 168:63

Ovarian Cancer Still Defies Early Detection

• Women's Health
• Summary and Comment
• Subscription required

CA125 and transvaginal ultrasound were ineffective as surveillance tools for ovarian cancer.

• By Sandra Ann Carson, MD
• January 24, 2008
• Covering:
  • Woodward ER et al., BJOG 2007 Dec; 114:1500

New Data on Strep Throat

• Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
• Summary and Comment
• Subscription required

A prospective study describes incidence, transmission, and carriage rates for group A streptococcal pharyngitis.

• CME

• By Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD
• January 16, 2008
• Covering:
  • Danchin MH et al., Pediatrics 2007 Nov; 120:950

AAN Practice Parameter: Antimicrobial Therapy of Neuroborreliosis

• Neurology
• Guideline Watch
• Free

Experts provide evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of Lyme disease and discuss the evidence against persistent infection in "post-Lyme syndrome."

• By Karen L. Roos, MD
• October 2, 2007
• Covering:
  • Halperin JJ et al., Neurology 2007 Jul 3; 69:91

Is "Chronic Lyme Disease" Real?

• Dermatology
• Summary and Comment
• Free

Patients with chronic symptoms but no objective criteria for infection are receiving long-term antibiotic therapy.

• By Mary Wu Chang, MD
• October 3, 2007
• Covering:
  • Feder HM et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Oct 4; 357:1422