Clostridium difficile Infection — Treat Orally, if Possible
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
The risk for death was significantly higher with intravenous metronidazole than with oral metronidazole or oral vancomycin.
By Thomas Glück, MD
May 2, 2012
Covering:
Wenisch JM et al., Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2012 Apr; 56:1974
Red Melanomas
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Red papules and nodules should raise suspicion of melanoma, but the mortality risk is comparable with pigmented melanomas.
By Mark V. Dahl, MD
April 27, 2012
Covering:
McClain SE et al., Int J Dermatol 2012 Apr; 51:420
Pseudomonas -Contaminated Ultrasound Transmission Gel
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
An outbreak of <$EMPH_O>Pseudomonas aeruginosa<$EMPH_C> respiratory tract colonization and infection involving 16 cardiovascular surgery patients was traced to the use of contaminated ultrasound transmission gel.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
May 2, 2012
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2012 Apr 20; 61:262
Does Vitamin D Supplementation Reduce the Rate of Infant Pneumonia?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
In a vitamin D–deficient infant population, such supplementation did not reduce the incidence of pneumonia or change the age at which first episodes occurred.
By Robert S. Baltimore, MD
May 2, 2012
Covering:
Manaseki-Holland S et al., Lancet 2012 Apr 14; 379:1419
Martineau AR., Lancet 2012 Apr 14; 379:1373
Several Autism Genes Identified
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Three teams independently found very strong evidence for mutations in at least three specific genes.
By Anthony L. Komaroff, MD
April 17, 2012
Covering:
Sanders SJ et al., Nature 2012 Apr 4
O'Roak BJ et al., Nature 2012 Apr 4
Neale BM et al., Nature 2012 Apr 4
Can You Diagnose Strep Throat Without a Culture?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Compared with culture or rapid diagnostic tests, clinical criteria for diagnosing streptococcal pharyngitis are not sufficiently specific.
Prenatal PPI Exposure and Childhood Asthma
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Maternal PPI use during pregnancy or the year thereafter is associated with an increased risk for asthma in the offspring but may not be causal.
Measles in the U.S.: 2011 Was a Bad Year
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Most cases occurred in unvaccinated individuals and were associated with importations from abroad.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
April 25, 2012
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2012 Apr 20; 61:253
Gastrointestinal Basidiobolomycosis — An Emerging Disease
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Cases of this fungal disease, first reported in the U.S. in 1986, are increasing in arid regions of the U.S. and worldwide.
Atopic Dermatitis Awash in GWAS
Dermatology Summary and Comment
A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies indicates that AD is caused by alterations in both epidermal differentiation and immune function.
Disinhibited Attachment Disorder Persists in Young Foster-Care Children
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The finding was especially strong in children adopted after age 24 months.
Benefits of Initiating Steroids at Triage for Pediatric Asthma
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Initiation of oral steroids at triage decreased admissions and expedited clinical improvement in children with moderate to severe asthma exacerbations.
First Complex Febrile Seizure Portends Low Risk for Intracranial Pathology
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Fewer than 1% of children with first complex febrile seizure and a normal neurological examination have clinically important intracranial pathology.
By Katherine Bakes, MD
April 13, 2012
Covering:
Kimia AA et al., Pediatr Emerg Care 2012 Apr; 28:316
SSRIs During Pregnancy Slow Fetal Head Growth
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Preterm birth was also associated with prenatal SSRI exposure.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
March 12, 2012
Covering:
El Marroun H et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2012 Mar 5
Failure to Thrive in Infants with Complex Facial Hemangiomas
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Close monitoring for failure to thrive and early intervention are recommended for infants with complex, ulcerated, perioral, or airway hemangiomas.
By Mary Wu Chang, MD
March 23, 2012
Covering:
Thomas MW et al., Pediatr Dermatol 2012 Jan/Feb; 29:49
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
School's Out: Limiting the Spread of H1N1 Influenza
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In 2009, school closure in Alberta, Canada, was associated with reduced incidence of influenza.
Pasteurization Still Makes a Difference
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Unpasteurized milk and cheese cause many more infectious outbreaks than pasteurized products.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
March 6, 2012
Covering:
Langer AJ et al., Emerg Infect Dis 2012 Mar; 18:385
How Early Stress Permanently Changes Reactions to Later Stress
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Overexpression of the glucocorticoid receptor in early life may have effects throughout the lifespan.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 5, 2012
Covering:
Wei Q et al., Biol Psychiatry 2012 Feb 1; 71:224
van Zuiden M et al., Biol Psychiatry 2012 Feb 15; 71:309
Russo SJ., Biol Psychiatry 2012 Feb 1; 71:182
Mothers' Nurturing Makes a Difference
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A longitudinal study of children starting at preschool age examines associations between nurturance, depression, and hippocampal volumes.
By Barbara Geller, MD
March 5, 2012
Covering:
Luby JL et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012 Feb 21; 109:2854
Alleviating Discomfort During Vaginal Speculum Examinations: Lubricant vs. Water
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Women randomized to gel lubricant had significantly lower pain scores.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
February 9, 2012
Covering:
Hill DA and Lamvu G., Obstet Gynecol 2012 Feb; 119:227
Tattoos Can Be Removed in Fewer but Longer Laser Sessions
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Repeated exposures in one day with intervals between treatments effectively removed most tattoos.
By Murad Alam, MD, MSCI
February 24, 2012
Covering:
Kossida T et al., J Am Acad Dermatol 2012 Feb; 66:271
Diagnosis and Treatment of Teen Depression Since the FDA Warnings
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Five years after the FDA warnings about antidepressant-associated suicidality, diagnosing and prescribing practices continue to change.
By Barbara Geller, MD
February 17, 2012
Covering:
Clarke G et al., J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2012 Jan 17
White-Matter Findings in Infants at High Risk for Autism
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Among infants at high risk for autism, development in white-matter tracts differs between those who were and those who were not diagnosed with autism at 24 months.
By Barbara Geller, MD
February 27, 2012
Covering:
Wolff JJ et al., Am J Psychiatry 2012 Feb 17
Predictors of Adverse Events in Children Undergoing Propofol Sedation
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Use of midazolam or glycopyrrolate, history of snoring, age >12 years, and ASA class 3 were significant predictors.
