Does Exercise Protect Against Development of Knee Osteoarthritis?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Medial tibial cartilage volumes were significantly larger in women who exercised.
By Robert W. Rebar, MD
September 25, 2007
Covering:
Hanna F et al., Menopause 2007 Sep/Oct; 14:830
Does Calcium Supplementation Prevent Fractures?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Results from a meta-analysis indicate that it does.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
September 20, 2007
Covering:
Tang BMP et al., Lancet 2007 Aug 25; 370:657
Acupuncture for Knee Osteoarthritis?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Acupuncture provided no added benefit over exercise therapy — but sham acupuncture did.
Assessing Fracture Risk in Individual Patients
Combining BMD with other clinical risk factors provides a more accurate estimate of fracture risk.
By Michael R. McClung, MD, FACP
August 30, 2007
Don’t Give Your Bones a Break
Women's Health Patient Information
Preventing osteoporosis-related fractures
Using MRI to Detect Bone Metastases in High-Risk Prostate Cancer Patients
Oncology and Hematology Summary and Comment
Free
MRI is more accurate than bone scans or plain radiographs for detecting bone metastases, but is better detection always the best course?
Bisphosphonates and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw
The largest study to date supports a link between intravenous bisphosphonate therapy and higher incidence of ONJ.
By William J. Gradishar, MD
August 14, 2007
Covering:
Wilkinson GS et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 2007 Jul 4; 99:1016-24
Steroid Injection for Hip Osteoarthritis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
More than 50% of patients had 50% improvement in pain 2 months after receiving steroid injection.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
August 2, 2007
Covering:
Lambert RG et al., Arthritis Rheum 2007 Jul; 56:2278-87
Bracing Is Better Than Casting for Some Ankle Fractures
Bracing led to better functional outcomes and patient satisfaction than casting for low-risk distal fibular fractures.
By Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD
August 1, 2007
Covering:
Boutis K et al., Pediatrics 2007 Jun; 119:e1256-63
The Gene for Focal Dermal Hypoplasia (Goltz Syndrome) Is Identified
Dermatology Summary and Comment
<$EMPH_O>PORCN<$EMPH_C> mutations, which affect regulation of Wnt signaling, cause the mucocutaneous manifestations of this syndrome.
By Craig A. Elmets, MD
July 20, 2007
Covering:
Wang X et al., Nat Genet 2007 Jul; 39:836-8
Grzeschik K-H et al., Nat Genet 2007 Jul; 39:833-5
Jaw Osteonecrosis in Cancer Patients Receiving IV Bisphosphonate
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Cancer patients who received IV bisphosphonates had substantially increased risk for jaw osteonecrosis.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
July 19, 2007
Covering:
Wilkinson GS et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 2007 Jul 4; 99:1016-24
Preventing Osteoporosis: Got Soy?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, genistein supplementation had a positive effect on BMD.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
July 19, 2007
Covering:
Marini H et al., Ann Intern Med 2007 Jun 19; 146:839-47
Surgery for Herniated Lumbar Disc and for Spondylolisthesis
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Two studies address the benefits — or lack thereof — of surgery for degenerative lumbar spine disease.
By Michael Ronthal, MD
July 17, 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
Surgery for Sciatica: Early Symptom Relief Is the Only Real Benefit
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Surgery and conservative treatment yield equivalent outcomes at 1 year.
By J. Stephen Bohan, MD, MS, FACP, FACEP
July 13, 2007
Covering:
Peul WC et al., N Engl J Med 2007 May 31; 356:2245-56
Deyo RA., N Engl J Med 2007 May 31; 356:2239-43
Coxibs plus PPIs for Patients with High Risk for Bleeding
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Free
In patients at high risk for NSAID-related bleeding, PPIs plus coxibs resulted in less bleeding than coxibs alone.
By David J. Bjorkman, MD, MSPH (HSA), SM (Epid.)
July 13, 2007
Covering:
Chan FKL et al., Lancet 2007 May 12; 369:1621-6
Exercise and Advice for Low Back Pain
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
These commonly recommended interventions provided small but statistically significant benefits.
By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
July 10, 2007
Covering:
Pengel LHM et al., Ann Intern Med 2007 Jun 5; 146:787-96
Acupuncture: Small Benefits in Knee Osteoarthritis?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Effects are slight and short term, but acupuncture might be useful in a multidisciplinary approach.
By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
July 10, 2007
Covering:
Manheimer E et al., Ann Intern Med 2007 Jun 19; 146:868-77
Palliative Radiotherapy for Patients with Bone Metastases
SF radiation provided equivalent pain control but had higher retreatment rates than did MF radiation.
By Barbara A. Murphy, MD
June 25, 2007
Covering:
Chow E et al., J Clin Oncol 2007 Apr 10; 25:1423-36
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
