Fewer Falls with Vitamin D
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
High-dose vitamin D lowered risk for falls in older individuals.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
October 29, 2009
Covering:
Bischoff-Ferrari HA et al., BMJ 2009 Oct 1; 339:b3692
Screen for Screen Time
In a large national sample of children, television and computer use were associated with increased risk for obesity.
By Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD
October 28, 2009
Covering:
Russ SA et al., Acad Pediatr 2009 Sep/Oct; 9:300
Sargent JD., Acad Pediatr 2009 Sep/Oct; 9:289
Family-Based Treatment of Obese Children
Long-term weight loss was associated with higher attendance at intervention sessions.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
October 28, 2009
Covering:
Kalarchian MA et al., Pediatrics 2009 Oct; 124:1060
Midlife Overweight and Obesity Predict Lower Chance for Healthy Survival After Age 70
General Medicine Summary and Comment
For every unit of BMI >25 kg/m2 at midlife, odds for disease-free survival at age 70 decreased by 12%.
Effect of Weight Loss on Obstructive Sleep Apnea in People with Type 2 Diabetes
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Losing 25 lbs resulted in significantly fewer OSA events in obese patients.
Small Thigh Circumference Is Associated with Cardiovascular Morbidity and Premature Death
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Small thighs might be an easily identifiable marker for cardiovascular risk.
Gastric Bypass vs. Banding — A Randomized Trial
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Bypass led to greater weight loss but was associated with more complications.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
October 20, 2009
Covering:
Nguyen NT et al., Ann Surg 2009 Oct; 250:631
Bigger Waist Means Higher Asthma Risk
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Women with waist measurements >88 cm had higher risk for asthma than women in the same BMI categories but with smaller waist measurements.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
September 24, 2009
Covering:
Von Behren J et al., Thorax 2009 Aug 25
Treating Resistant Hypertension: Cut Out the Salt
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a small randomized crossover study, a low-salt diet had dramatic effects on blood pressure.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
September 23, 2009
Covering:
Pimenta E et al., Hypertension 2009 Sep; 54:475
Mediterranean Diet Can Lower Need for Antihyperglycemic Medication in Type 2 Diabetes
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Four years after diabetes diagnosis, only 44% of patients on that diet required medication to reduce HbA1c levels.
Chocolate Is Associated with Lower Mortality Following First MI
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Amount of chocolate consumption was related inversely to cardiac-related mortality during an 8-year follow-up
DMPA and Weight Gain
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Initial excessive weight gain with DMPA use predicted continued excessive gain.
By Ann J. Davis, MD
September 3, 2009
Covering:
Le Y-CL et al., Obstet Gynecol 2009 Aug; 114:279
Are Organic Foods More Nutritious?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Conventionally and organically produced foods have similar nutritional value.
Vitamin D Levels and Bone Loss in Older Men
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In men older than 75, 25(OH)D levels lower than 20 ng/mL were associated with accelerated bone loss.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
August 13, 2009
Covering:
Ensrud KE et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2009 Aug; 94:2773
Active Commuting and Cardiovascular Risk
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Walking or biking to work is associated with some favorable risk markers, but whether these practices confer a benefit is unclear.
Ghrelin: It's Not Just for Food; Let's Drink to That
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In an animal study, central ghrelin signaling activates the mesolimbic reward system for alcohol.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
August 3, 2009
Covering:
Jerlhag E et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009 Jul 7; 106:11318
Perioperative Complications with Bariatric Surgery
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Patients need to balance benefits and risks associated with each type of weight-loss surgery.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
July 30, 2009
Covering:
Flum DR et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Jul 30; 361:445
Refining the Indications for ERCP in Biliary Pancreatitis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Among patients with severe pancreatitis, only those with cholestasis benefited from early ERCP.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
July 30, 2009
Covering:
van Santvoort HC et al., Ann Surg 2009 Jul; 250:68
To Attenuate Risk for Cardiovascular Disease, Start with Lifestyle
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Healthy lifestyles were associated with lower risk for heart failure in men and hypertension in women; obesity was the strongest risk factor for hypertension.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
July 30, 2009
Covering:
Djoussé L et al., JAMA 2009 Jul 22/29; 302:394
Forman JP et al., JAMA 2009 Jul 22/29; 302:401
Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Children
Mild sleep-disordered breathing is common among elementary school children.
Just in Time for Summer: Grilled Meats Don't Cause Breast Cancer
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Consumption of meat cooked at high temperatures was not associated with breast cancer in a large prospective cohort of postmenopausal women.
Community-Based Interventions Promote Heart-Healthy Behaviors
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Older women (age range, 51–70) who participated in a program to promote physical activity and healthful diets lost weight and improved their exercise habits.
Excess Weight in Early Adulthood Raises Pancreatic Cancer Risk
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Obesity later in life was associated with shorter survival.
How Much Weight Gain During Pregnancy?
Women's Health Practice Watch
Free
Updated IOM guidelines specify weight gain by prepregnancy WHO BMI categories.
Can Breast-Feeding and Pacifiers Coexist?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Pacifier use did not affect prevalence of breast-feeding at 3 months.
By Ann J. Davis, MD
July 2, 2009
Covering:
Jenik AG et al., J Pediatr 2009 May 20
