Intranasal Naloxone Is Effective for Opioid Overdose
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Time from patient contact to clinical response was the same with intranasal and intravenous naloxone.
Varenicline Use and Risk for Self-Harm and Suicide
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Patients who received varenicline, bupropion, or nicotine replacement all had similar risks.
Air Pollution and Smoking: Not-So-Distant Cousins
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Even low-level exposure to secondhand smoke and air pollution increases cardiovascular risk.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
October 21, 2009
Covering:
Pope CA III et al., Circulation 2009 Sep 15; 120:941
Peters A., Circulation 2009 Sep 15; 120:924
Gabapentin for Alcohol Withdrawal
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A high dose was at least as effective as lorazepam in outpatients with moderate withdrawal symptoms.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
October 19, 2009
Covering:
Myrick H et al., Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2009 Sep; 33:1582
Clinical Management of Opioid Dependence in HIV
Here we present a case vignette highlighting a common clinical problem. Various options for management are then presented, followed by the author's clinical recommendations.
By Mark Eisenberg, MD
October 5, 2009
Misuse of ADHD Meds: Epidemiologic Data
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Such misuse is becoming more common and can have severe effects, but clinicians and parents might be able to moderate these trends.
By Barbara Geller, MD
October 5, 2009
Covering:
Setlik J et al., Pediatrics 2009 Sep; 124:875
Binge Drinking in Baby Boomers — and Beyond
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Not just the young indulge in this risky behavior.
By Joel Yager, MD
September 28, 2009
Covering:
Blazer DG and Wu L-T., Am J Psychiatry 2009 Aug 17
Combined Flumazenil and Gabapentin for Alcohol Dependence
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A promising protocol, but only for those with more-severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms
By Deborah Cowley, MD
September 21, 2009
Covering:
Anton RF et al., J Clin Psychopharmacol 2009 Aug; 29:334
Mental Health Burden of Veterans Returning from Iraq and Afghanistan
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A large-scale study suggests that more than one third of returning veterans receive new psychiatric diagnoses.
By Joel Yager, MD
September 21, 2009
Covering:
Seal KH et al., Am J Public Health 2009 Sep; 99:1651
Not So Ecstatic After All
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The common combination of ecstasy and cannabis might put clubbers at elevated neurocardiac risk.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
September 14, 2009
Covering:
Dumont GJ et al., Clin Pharmacol Ther 2009 Aug; 86:160
Benefits of a Drug Prevention Program: Two for the Price of One
Adolescents who were enrolled in a school-based drug prevention program were less likely to report risky sexual behaviors 7 years later.
Smokeless Tobacco Use Is Associated with Fatal MI and Stroke
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Let patients who use smokeless tobacco know that it is not a "safe" alternative to cigarettes and cigars.
Brains on Cannabis
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An animal study elucidates mechanisms of cannabinoid-induced cognitive impairment.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
August 24, 2009
Covering:
Puighermanal E et al., Nat Neurosci 2009 Aug 2
Heroin Injection vs. Methadone for Opioid Addiction
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Prescribing the active ingredient in heroin provides superior outcomes but isn't feasible in the U.S. today.
Ghrelin: It's Not Just for Food; Let's Drink to That
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In an animal study, central ghrelin signaling activates the mesolimbic reward system for alcohol.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
August 3, 2009
Covering:
Jerlhag E et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009 Jul 7; 106:11318
Maternal Smoking Rates During Pregnancy Drop . . . A Little
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Rates of smoking during and after pregnancy declined somewhat from 2000 through 2005, but smoking prevalence before conception did not change.
By Diane E. Judge, APN/CNP
July 30, 2009
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Surveill Summ 2009 May 29; 58:1
Validation of a Single-Question Alcohol Screening Test
General Medicine Summary and Comment
One short simple question effectively identified patients with unhealthy alcohol use.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
July 28, 2009
Covering:
Smith PC et al., J Gen Intern Med 2009 Jul; 24:783
Smoking Cessation in the CCU
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Intensive smoking cessation efforts had some success among patients recruited during inpatient cardiac care.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
July 28, 2009
Covering:
Smith PM and Burgess E., CMAJ 2009 Jun 23; 180:1297
Sex-Drug Use Increases HIV Risk for MSM
In a cohort of HIV-uninfected MSM, the use of poppers, stimulants, or erectile dysfunction drugs significantly increased the risk for acquiring HIV.
By Keith Henry, MD
July 27, 2009
Covering:
Ostrow DG et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2009 Jul; 51:349
Even Fruit Flies Love Happy Hour
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An animal study uncovers a gene that regulates signaling pathways involved in alcohol intoxication and preference.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
July 27, 2009
Covering:
Corl AB et al., Cell 2009 May 29; 137:949
Palfreyman MT., Cell 2009 May 29; 137:802
Smoking Cessation: How Much Evidence Do We Need to Act?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In patients hospitalized for MI or CABG, an intensive intervention produced higher abstinence rates than a typical intervention.
By Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
July 22, 2009
Covering:
Smith PM and Burgess E., CMAJ 2009 Jun 23; 180:1297
Rigotti NA., CMAJ 2009 Jun 23; 180:1283
More About Cannabis and Psychosis
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Acute exposure increases psychosis-like symptoms, especially among those with high-trait schizotypy.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
July 13, 2009
Covering:
Mason O et al., Psychol Med 2009 Jun; 39:951
Morrison PD et al., Psychol Med 2009 Apr 1
Drinking and College Don’t Mix
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Heavy drinking worsens academic performance, in part by disrupting students’ sleep schedules.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
June 1, 2009
Covering:
Singleton RA Jr and Wolfson AR., J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2009 May; 70:355
Laws on Alcohol Availability Might Reduce Suicide Rates
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
If it works in Slovenia, could it work here?
By Joel Yager, MD
June 1, 2009
Covering:
Pridemore WA and Snowden AJ., Am J Public Health 2009 May; 99:915
Schizophrenia-Associated Violence and Comorbid Substance Abuse
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The risk for violence is small in the absence of substance abuse.
