Surgery vs. Nonoperative Treatment for Back Disorders
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Two studies compared surgery and nonsurgical treatment for lumbar disk herniation and degenerative spondylolisthesis.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
May 30, 2007
Covering:
Peul WC et al., N Engl J Med 2007 May 31; 356:2245-56
Weinstein JN et al., N Engl J Med 2007 May 31; 356:2257-70
In High-Risk Patients, Adding a PPI to Celecoxib Improves GI Safety
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In a randomized trial, there was no recurrence of upper GI ulcer bleeding among those whose regimens included a PPI.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
May 29, 2007
Covering:
Chan FKL et al., Lancet 2007 May 12; 369:1621-6
Scheiman JM and Fendrick AM., Lancet 2007 May 12; 369:1580-1
Chondroitin for Osteoarthritis Pain: Not Effective
General Medicine Summary and Comment
The authors of a meta-analysis believe that use of chondroitin should be discouraged in routine practice.
By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
May 10, 2007
Covering:
Reichenbach S et al., Ann Intern Med 2007 Apr 17; 146:580-90
Felson DT., Ann Intern Med 2007 Apr 17; 146:611-2
Bisphosphonate Therapy . . . Once a Year
Women's Health Summary and Comment
A once-yearly infusion of zoledronic acid significantly reduced fracture risk in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
May 3, 2007
Covering:
Black DM et al., N Engl J Med 2007 May 3; 356:1809-22
Compston J., N Engl J Med 2007 May 3; 356:1878-80
Once-Yearly Treatment for Osteoporosis?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
With a single yearly IV infusion of zoledronic acid, bones increased in density, and fractures were fewer.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
May 2, 2007
Covering:
Black DM et al., N Engl J Med 2007 May 3; 356:1809-22
Rosiglitazone May Reduce Bone Density
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Bone density at the hip decreased by 2% in postmenopausal women taking rosiglitazone.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
April 24, 2007
Covering:
Grey A et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007 Apr; 92:1305-10
Zoledronic Acid During GnRH Therapy for Prostate Cancer
Annual intravenous therapy increased BMD and reduced bone turnover in men with nonmetastatic disease.
By Robert Dreicer, MD, MS, FACP
April 9, 2007
Covering:
Michaelson MD et al., J Clin Oncol 2007 Mar 20; 25:1038-42
Alendronate’s Effect on Bone Loss in Men Treated with Hormonal Therapy for Prostate Cancer
Oncology and Hematology Summary and Comment
Free
Compared with placebo, an oral bisphosphonate significantly improved BMD and lessened bone turnover in men who were receiving ADT.
By Robert Dreicer, MD, MS, FACP
April 2, 2007
Covering:
Greenspan SL et al., Ann Intern Med 2007 Mar 20; 146:416-24
A Stepwise Approach to NSAID Use
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Given their cardiovascular risks, COX-2 inhibitors should be a last resort for managing musculoskeletal pain.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
March 28, 2007
Covering:
Antman EM et al., Circulation 2007 Mar 27; 115:1634-42
Recombinant PTH May Prevent Vertebral Fractures in Osteoporosis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
However, gains with PTH were modest, and side effects were common.
By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
March 22, 2007
Covering:
Greenspan SL et al., Ann Intern Med 2007 Mar 6; 146:326-39
Osteonecrosis in HIV Infection
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Risk for developing osteonecrosis of the hip is much higher in a cohort of HIV-infected patients than in the general population.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
March 21, 2007
Covering:
Morse CG et al., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Mar 1; 44:739-48
Identification of a Molecular Key to Rheumatoid Arthritis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
New research suggests that a synovial cell molecule is involved in the inflammatory process — and, therefore, may be a target for new therapies.
By Anthony L. Komaroff, MD
March 8, 2007
Covering:
Lee DM et al., Science 2007 Feb 16; 315:1006-10
Firestein GS., Science 2007 Feb 16; 315:952-3
Predicting Progression from Undifferentiated Arthritis to RA
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A new prediction rule identified which patients with undifferentiated arthritis were most likely to progress to rheumatoid arthritis.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
February 27, 2007
Covering:
van der Helm-vanMil AHM et al., Arthritis Rheum 2007 Feb; 56:433-40
Another Study of Glucosamine for Knee Osteoarthritis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Glucosamine sulfate resulted in modest improvement and was marginally better than acetaminophen.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
February 27, 2007
Covering:
Herrero-Beaumont G et al., Arthritis Rheum 2007 Feb; 56:555-67
MRI for the Diagnosis of Foot Osteomyelitis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In a meta-analysis, magnetic resonance imaging outperformed other imaging methods.
By Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
February 27, 2007
Covering:
Kapoor A et al., Arch Intern Med 2007 Jan 22; 167:125-32
SSRIs Increase Fracture Risk in Older Women
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Proceed with caution when treating older women for depression.
By Diane E. Judge, APN/CNP
February 22, 2007
Covering:
Richards JB et al., Arch Intern Med 2007 Jan 22; 167:188-94
The Hip Bone’s Connected to the Kidney?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Mild and moderate renal insufficiency increased the risk for hip fracture in older women.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
February 22, 2007
Covering:
Ensrud KE et al., Arch Intern Med 2007 Jan 22; 167:133-9
Sprague SM., Arch Intern Med 2007 Jan 22; 167:115-6
Gastroprotection with a New COX-2 Inhibitor: Clinically Significant?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In a secondary analysis of results from earlier trials, etoricoxib had little clinical GI benefit over diclofenac.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
February 21, 2007
Covering:
Laine L et al., Lancet 2007 Feb 10; 369:465-73
Drenth JPH and Verheugt FW., Lancet 2007 Feb 10; 369:439-40
Assessing the Value of Repeat Bone-Mineral Density Measurements
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Repeat measurement 8 years after a baseline measurement did not help in predicting fracture risk.
By Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
February 15, 2007
Covering:
Hillier TA et al., Arch Intern Med 2007 Jan 22; 167:155-60
Five Years of Fosamax: Enough of a Good Thing?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
For many women, stopping alendronate after 5 years did not negatively affect BMD or fracture risk.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
February 15, 2007
Covering:
Black DM et al., JAMA 2006 Dec 27; 296:2927-38
Colón-Emeric CS., JAMA 2006 Dec 27; 296:2968-9
Complementary Therapies for Acute Low Back Pain
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture therapies offered no benefits over usual care.
By Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
February 13, 2007
Covering:
Eisenberg DM et al., Spine 2007 Jan 15; 32:151-8
SSRIs and Medical Illness: The Good and the Bad
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Citalopram seems effective for depressed cardiac patients, but SSRIs may increase risk for fractures in older people.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
February 5, 2007
Covering:
Lespérance F et al., JAMA 2007 Jan 24/31; 297:367-79
Richards JB et al., Arch Intern Med 2007 Jan 22; 167:188-94
Preventing Falls and Fractures in Hospitals and Nursing Homes
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Clear evidence for any particular intervention is still lacking.
By Keith I. Marton, MD
January 30, 2007
Covering:
Oliver D et al., BMJ 2007 Jan 13; 334:82
Arsenic Trioxide for Autoimmune Diseases?
Results from a mouse model of lupus show that this drug has a beneficial effect on disease-associated T-lymphocytes.
By David Green, MD, PhD
January 12, 2007
Covering:
Bobé P et al., Blood 2006 Dec 15; 108:3967-75
PPIs and Risk for Hip Fracture
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Long-term and high-dose use both seem to be associated with increased risk.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
January 11, 2007
Covering:
Yang Y-X et al., JAMA 2006 Dec 27; 296:2947-53
