Vitamin D Levels in Elders
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Most older people had low serum levels, and at least 25% of elders had frank vitamin D deficiency.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
April 23, 2009
Covering:
Orwoll E et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2009 Apr; 94:1214
Kuchuk NO et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2009 Apr; 94:1244
Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Daily Practice
Cardiology Summary and Comment
A longitudinal analysis of cross-sectional study results reveals an urgent need for effective lifestyle management.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
April 22, 2009
Covering:
Kotseva K et al., Lancet 2009 Mar 14; 373:929
Brekke M and Gjelsvik B., Lancet 2009 Mar 14; 373:873
Causes of Excess Mortality Associated with Low and High BMIs
General Medicine Summary and Comment
For both sexes and all ages, 13-year overall mortality was lowest in people with baseline BMIs of 22.5–25 kg/m2 .
By Bruce Soloway, MD
April 21, 2009
Covering:
Whitlock G et al for the Prospective Studies Collaboration., Lancet 2009 Mar 28; 373:1083
A Tasty Way to Lower Breast Cancer Risk?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Consumption of dried or fresh mushrooms was associated with lower breast cancer risk in Chinese women, especially when they also drank green tea.
Smoking or Overweight: (Don’t) Pick Your Poison
Adolescents who were overweight and did not smoke had similar mortality rates in adulthood as those who were normal weight and did smoke.
Weight Loss, With or Without Orlistat, Improves NASH
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
A relatively short course of orlistat did not significantly affect weight loss or liver histology in these patients.
Excess Risk for Prostate Cancer with Folic Acid Supplementation
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Men who took folic acid daily were more likely to develop cancer during 7 years of follow-up.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
March 26, 2009
Covering:
Figueiredo JC et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 2009 Mar 18; 101:432
CBT for Eating Disorders Gets More Sophisticated
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
CBT that addresses concomitant impairments helps patients with clinically complex eating disorders.
By Joel Yager, MD
March 23, 2009
Covering:
Fairburn CG et al., Am J Psychiatry 2009 Mar; 166:311
Vitamins Might Help Prevent Blindness
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Folic acid, vitamin B6 , and vitamin B12 supplements were associated with lower risk for age-related macular degeneration.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
March 19, 2009
Covering:
Christen WG et al., Arch Intern Med 2009 Feb 23; 169:335
Taking Multivitamins? Don’t Expect to Prevent Cancer or Cardiovascular Disease
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Multivitamin supplements did not affect CVD risk, cancer risk, or overall mortality in WHI participants.
Weight Loss for Mild Sleep Apnea
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Weight loss plus lifestyle counseling was effective for most patients with mild sleep apnea.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
March 10, 2009
Covering:
Tuomilehto HPI et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2009 Feb 15; 179:320
Memory in Elders: Food for Thought
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Education doesn't protect against memory loss, but eating less helps.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
March 9, 2009
Covering:
Wilson RS et al., Neurology 2009 Feb 3; 72:460
Witte AV et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009 Jan 27; 106:1255
Four Low-Calorie Diets Yield the Same Mediocre Results
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Dieters ate different amounts of protein, fat, and carbohydrate — but, after 2 years, most were still obese.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
February 25, 2009
Covering:
Sacks FM et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Feb 26; 360:859
Katan MB., N Engl J Med 2009 Feb 26; 360:923
Effect of New Diagnoses on Smoking and Weight Change
General Medicine Summary and Comment
New health problems can be associated with beneficial behavioral changes.
Metabolic Syndrome and Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In women only, depressive symptoms predicted onset of metabolic syndrome.
By Joel Yager, MD
February 23, 2009
Covering:
Vanhala M et al., Acta Psychiatr Scand 2009 Feb; 119:137
The Biggest Losers Win!
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Moderate weight loss was associated with increased responsiveness of psoriasis to cyclosporin.
Too Little Sleep and Early-Life Obesity
Neurology Summary and Comment
Insufficient sleep in early childhood is strongly associated with weight gain.
By Robert Joseph Thomas, MD
February 17, 2009
Covering:
Touchette E et al., Sleep 2008 Nov 1; 31:1507
Maternal Weight and Congenital Anomalies
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Overweight and obesity were associated with excess risk for several anomalies.
Substantial Calorie Restriction Might Improve Memory
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In older women, a short-term reduced-calorie diet led to better scores on a memory test.
By Anthony L. Komaroff, MD
February 5, 2009
Covering:
Witte AV et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009 Jan 27; 106:1255
Nuts and Corn and Diverticulitis
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
In a large cohort study, nut, corn, and popcorn consumption did not increase risk for diverticulosis or diverticular complications.
By Douglas K. Rex, MD
January 30, 2009
Covering:
Strate LL et al., JAMA 2008 Aug 27; 300:907
Modest Weight Loss Benefits Obese Women with Incontinence
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Weight losses of less than 20 pounds substantially lessened complaints of incontinence among obese women.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
January 28, 2009
Covering:
Subak LL et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Jan 29; 360:481
Losing Weight Improves Incontinence Symptoms
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Participation in a supervised weight-loss program was associated with subsiding urinary incontinence episodes in overweight and obese women.
A Gut Issue in Obesity
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Will weight-related differences in the gut microbiome lead to new ways of thinking about obesity?
By Barbara Geller, MD
January 26, 2009
Covering:
Turnbaugh PJ et al., Nature 2009 Jan 22; 457:480
Omega-3s Might Benefit Preterm Infants
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Early high-dose supplements seemed to help mental development, especially in girls.
By Barbara Geller, MD
January 14, 2009
Covering:
Makrides M et al., JAMA 2009 Jan 14; 301:175
The Raw Truth About Neutropenic Diets?
Oncology and Hematology Summary and Comment
Free
Neutropenic patients who ate uncooked fruits and vegetables had no higher rates of serious infections than did those who ate only cooked foods.
