Trends in Hip Fracture Incidence and Mortality — 1986–2005
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Incidence peaked in 1995, and then declined; mortality was down overall.
Psoriatic Arthritis in Patients with Psoriasis: What Is the Likelihood?
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Many useful lessons emerge from this prevalence study.
By Craig A. Elmets, MD
October 16, 2009
Covering:
Ibrahim G et al., Arthritis Rheum 2009 Oct 15; 61:1373
Women Lose Knee Cartilage Faster Than Men Do
Women's Health Summary and Comment
MRIs show women lose three to four times more knee cartilage annually.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
September 3, 2009
Covering:
Hanna FS et al., Menopause 2009 Jul/Aug; 16:666
Power Over Pain: Gaining Control of Chronic Pain
Women's Health Patient Information
Treatments aimed at helping you to manage pain by improving your physical functioning and your ability to control your thoughts, behaviors, and reactions
Topical Voltaren Gel for Hand Osteoarthritis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Diclofenac gel was better than placebo for relieving pain.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
October 6, 2009
Covering:
Altman RD et al., J Rheumatol 2009 Sep; 36:1991
Possible New Option for Treating Osteoporosis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Both men who were receiving androgen-deprivation therapy and postmenopausal women gained bone density with denosumab.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
August 20, 2009
Covering:
Cummings SR et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Aug 20; 361:756
Smith MR et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Aug 20; 361:745
Khosla S., N Engl J Med 2009 Aug 20; 361:818
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
Slowing the Progression of Aortic Stenosis: An Intriguing Possibility
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Findings from a small retrospective study suggest that medications for treating osteoporosis can benefit patients with aortic stenosis.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
August 12, 2009
Covering:
Skolnick AH et al., Am J Cardiol 2009 Jul 1; 104:122
Goldstein RE., Am J Cardiol 2009 Jul 1; 104:125
Oral Drug to Prevent Venous Thrombosis After Knee Replacement
General Medicine Summary and Comment
As yet unapproved by the FDA, apixaban was associated with less bleeding than was enoxaparin.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
August 11, 2009
Covering:
Lassen MR et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Aug 6; 361:594
A New Agent for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Biannual subcutaneous denosumab injections prevented vertebral, nonvertebral, and hip fractures.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
August 11, 2009
Covering:
Cummings SR et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Aug 20; 361:756
Khosla S., N Engl J Med 2009 Aug 20; 361:818
Osteoporosis and Fracture in Men with Prostate Cancer
Denosumab increased bone-mineral density and lowered fracture incidence in men receiving androgen-deprivation therapy for nonmetastatic disease.
By Robert Dreicer, MD, MS, FACP
August 11, 2009
Covering:
Smith MR et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Aug 20; 361:745
Khosla S., N Engl J Med 2009 Aug 20; 361:818
Vertebroplasty Strikes Out
General Medicine Summary and Comment
This procedure yielded no improvements in two randomized placebo-controlled trials.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
August 5, 2009
Covering:
Kallmes DF et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Aug 6; 361:569
Buchbinder R et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Aug 6; 361:557
Is Monitoring BMD Necessary in Patients Who Take Bisphosphonates?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Alendronate treatment increases bone density in most patients, so routine monitoring of BMD is not warranted.
Monitoring BMD After Starting Bisphosphonate Treatment
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
The authors recommend against routine early screening.
Cardiovascular Safety Data on Rosiglitazone Aren’t Entirely Reassuring
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Although few significant differences were detected in a large cohort at 5 years, excess heart failure risk still is apparent.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
July 9, 2009
Covering:
Home PD et al., Lancet 2009 Jun 20; 373:2125
Boning Up on Thiazolidinediones
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Rosiglitazone was associated with excess fracture risk in women.
Reviews of Note
Depression after ACS; inflammatory markers; medical and prenatal issues with ECT; bone loss in anorexia nervosa patients; preventing PTSD; trajectories of brain development; and genetics of mental retardation
Oral Raloxifene, Transdermal Estradiol Similar at Preserving Bone Density
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Postmenopausal users of these two drugs had similarly high rates of bone density preservation and few serious side effects.
Concomitant Management of Depression and Pain
General Medicine Summary and Comment
An intensive, combined approach was more effective than usual care, but absolute response rates were still modest.
"Microdose" Transdermal Estradiol: As Effective as Raloxifene in Preventing Bone Loss?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Even very low doses of estrogen can help prevent bone loss.
By Robert W. Rebar, MD
June 9, 2009
Covering:
Schaefers M et al., Menopause 2009 May/Jun; 16:559
Vitamin D and Health
Do we have enough? How do we get more? What systems are affected?
Bisphosphonates for Glucocorticoid Users: Yearly or Daily?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Yearly intravenous zoledronic acid was not inferior to daily oral risedronate.
By Anna Wald, MD, MPH
May 21, 2009
Covering:
Reid DM et al., Lancet 2009 Apr 11; 373:1253
Gennari L and Bilezikian JP., Lancet 2009 Apr 11; 373:1225
The HORIZON Study: Bisphosphonates for Patients on Corticosteroids
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Free
Once-yearly infusion of a bisphosphonate may be more effective and more convenient than daily bisphosphonate for preventing and treating glucocorticortoid-induced osteroporosis.
By Jeffrey P. Callen, MD
May 1, 2009
Covering:
Reid DM et al., Lancet 2009 Apr 11; 373:1253
Gennari L and Bilezikian JP., Lancet 2009 Apr 11; 373:1225
Cheers! Drinking Alcohol Might Preserve Bone Density in Postmenopausal Women
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Greater intake of alcoholic beverages, especially wine, correlated with higher bone density.
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
