Cardiovascular Risk and Calcium Supplementation in Postmenopausal Women
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Calcium supplementation might raise, rather than lower, cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women.
By Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FACP
February 19, 2008
Covering:
Bolland MJ et al., BMJ 2008 Feb 2; 336:262
Healthcare Expenditures for Back and Neck Pain
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
The costs of treating neck and back and neck pain are high and are increasing, without a corresponding apparent functional benefit.
Bedtime Dose of Modified-Release Prednisone Reduces Morning Arthritis Stiffness
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Modified-release prednisone offered greater relief of morning stiffness and no greater risk than immediate-release prednisone.
Falling Through the Cracks: Can Depression Affect BMD?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Women with MDD had lower BMD and higher pro-inflammatory cytokine levels than did women without depression.
Injectable Progestins and Bone Loss: Is It Reversible?
Bone loss observed during DMPA contraceptive use was completely reversed several years after cessation of use.
Vitamin D Compounds Have Uncertain Benefit in Kidney Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Results of a meta-analysis indicate that efficacy is unproven.
One Vertebral Fracture Forecasts Another
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Women with a current vertebral fracture and osteoporosis had more than 50% absolute risk for another vertebral fracture within 15 years.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
January 17, 2008
Covering:
Cauley JA et al., JAMA 2007 Dec 19; 298:2761
Modifiable Factors That Increase Mortality After Hip Fracture
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Delayed surgery and general anesthesia were associated with worse outcomes.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
January 15, 2008
Covering:
Radcliff TA et al., J Bone Joint Surg Am 2008 Jan; 90:34
If a Bone Breaks, Think Osteoporosis
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Both high- and low-trauma fractures could indicate underlying osteoporosis.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
January 10, 2008
Covering:
Mackey DC et al., JAMA 2007 Nov 28; 298:2381
Are Simple Tools Effective for Assessing Hip Fracture Risk?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Eleven clinical variables predicted 5-year hip fracture risk almost as well as did bone densitometry.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
January 10, 2008
Covering:
Robbins J et al., JAMA 2007 Nov 28; 298:2389
Etiology of Knee Buckling
Neurology Summary and Comment
Sudden loss of support at the knee commonly has a musculoskeletal etiology.
By George Plotkin, MD, PhD
January 8, 2008
Covering:
Felson DT et al., Ann Intern Med 2007 Oct 16; 147:534
Benefits and Risks of Long-Term Alendronate
The FLEX study results help us determine for whom long-term alendronate therapy is beneficial.
Depression and Low Bone Mass
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Depressed women had lower BMD and higher levels of several proinflammatory markers.
ANCA Levels and Disease Activity in Wegener Granulomatosis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Increased ANCA levels in patients in sustained remission should not prompt presumptive therapy without clinical evidence of disease activity.
By Deborah M. DeMarco, MD
December 18, 2007
Covering:
Finkielman JD et al., Ann Intern Med 2007 Nov 6; 147:611
Dabigatran: A New Oral Anticoagulant
In a large study, dabigatran was as effective as low-dose enoxaparin for preventing VTE after knee replacement.
By David Green, MD, PhD
December 18, 2007
Covering:
Eriksson BI et al., J Thromb Haemost 2007 Nov; 5:2178
Bauer KA., J Thromb Haemost 2007 Nov; 5:2175
Depression: Can You Feel It in Your Bones Even After It’s Gone?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An observational study confirms depression as a risk factor for osteoporosis in women.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
December 17, 2007
Covering:
Eskandari F et al., Arch Intern Med 2007 Nov 26; 167:2329
Clinical Predictors of Hip Fracture in Postmenopausal Women
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
A new algorithm accurately predicts 5-year risk; the next step is to test its clinical utility prospectively.
Lumbar Supports Prevent Recurrent Low Back Pain in the Workplace
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Elastic back supports reduced recurrence of low back pain among home-care workers.
High-Trauma Fractures and Osteoporosis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Osteoporosis predicts high-trauma as well as low-trauma fractures.
Acute Lower Back Pain: Keep Things Simple
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
NSAIDs and spinal manipulation did nothing to speed recovery.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
November 27, 2007
Covering:
Hancock MJ et al., Lancet 2007 Nov 10; 370:1638
Koes BW., Lancet 2007 Nov 10; 370:1595
Parathyroid Hormone vs. Alendronate for Steroid-Induced Osteoporosis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Parathyroid hormone was associated with significantly greater increases in BMD and fewer vertebral fractures — but not nonvertebral fractures.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
November 27, 2007
Covering:
Saag KG et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Nov 15; 357:2028
Does Keyboard Use Increase the Risk for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
This study suggested an inverse relation between use and risk, but questions remain.
Biologic Therapy Apparently More Effective Than Oral Therapy for Glucocorticoid-Associated Osteoporosis
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Teriparatide was associated with greater bone density and fewer vertebral fractures in corticosteroid recipients, but the therapy is costly.
The Importance of Knee Buckling
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
More than 10% of adults reported knee buckling in the past 3 months.
Protection for Those Who Have Experienced Hip Fracture
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Annual intravenous bisphosphonate therapy prevented new osteoporotic fractures.
