Antibiotics During Dental Work in Patients with Prosthetic Joints?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A case-control study says no.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
January 28, 2010
Covering:
Berbari EF et al., Clin Infect Dis 2010 Jan 1; 50:8
Zimmerli W and Sendi P., Clin Infect Dis 2010 Jan 1; 50:17
Do Inhaled Steroids Affect Bone Density?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Results from a randomized trial suggest the answer is "no" during 3 years of treatment.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
January 12, 2010
Covering:
Ferguson GT et al., Chest 2009 Dec; 136:1456
Do Proton-Pump Inhibitors Decrease Bone-Mineral Density?
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
PPI use was not associated with osteoporosis or accelerated bone-mineral density loss.
Randomized Trials of Vertebroplasty for Vertebral Fractures
General Medicine Year in Review
Free
Patients who received real procedures did no better than those who received sham procedures.
Atypical Fractures in Long-Term Bisphosphonate Users
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A small subgroup of women might be susceptible.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
December 15, 2009
Covering:
Capeci CM and Tejwani NC., J Bone Joint Surg Am 2009 Nov; 91:2556
Lenart BA et al., Osteoporos Int 2009 Aug; 20:1353
Oral Bisphosphonates and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw: A Case Series
General Medicine Summary and Comment
The most common triggering events were tooth extractions and tooth implants.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
December 15, 2009
Covering:
Favia G et al., J Rheumatol 2009 Dec; 36:2780
Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Contributes to Risk for Falls
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Risk was associated with three pain measures — number of sites, severity, and functional impairment.
Intravenous Bisphosphonate Therapy for Postmenopausal Women with Low Bone Mass
Women's Health Summary and Comment
IV zoledronic acid prevented bone loss.
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
Oncology and Hematology Summary and Comment
Free
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
Free
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
Free
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
