Diversion and Misuse of Stimulant Medications Prescribed for ADHD
Nearly all youths with ADHD who reported misuse had coexisting conduct or substance-abuse disorder.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
July 26, 2006
Covering:
Wilens TE et al., J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2006 Apr; 45:408-14
Methadone and Prolonged QT Syndrome
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
A high proportion of inpatients who had histories of injection-drug use and who were taking methadone had QTc >500 msec.
By Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
July 20, 2006
Covering:
Ehret GB et al., Arch Intern Med 2006 Jun 26; 166:1280-7
Alcoholism, Pneumococci, and Pneumonia A Bad Mix
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
In a large Barcelona study, severe pneumococcal CAP was associated with alcoholism, both present and past.
By Thomas Glück, MD
July 12, 2006
Covering:
de Roux A et al., Chest 2006 May; 129:1219-25
A Genetic Component of Heroin Addiction
Psychiatry
Summary and Comment
A postmortem study focused on a polymorphism with effects in the striatum.
By Barbara Geller, MD
June 21, 2006
Covering:
Drakenberg K et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2006 May 16; 103:7883-8
Whats the Best Way to Treat Alcohol Dependence?
Psychiatry
Summary and Comment
Medical oversight of the patient can itself be very helpful.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD, and Richard Ries, MD
June 7, 2006
Covering:
Anton RF et al., JAMA 2006 May 3; 295:2003-17
Smoking and Development of Diabetes
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
Even second-hand smoke is associated with development of glucose intolerance.
By Keith I. Marton, MD
June 16, 2006
Covering:
Houston TK et al., BMJ 2006 May 6; 332:1064-7
Maternal and Perinatal Morbidity Associated with Suicide Attempts in Pregnant Women
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
Substance abuse proved to be the best indicator of risk for suicide attempts during pregnancy.
By Robert W. Rebar, MD
June 13, 2006
Covering:
Gandhi SG et al., Obstet Gynecol 2006 May; 107:984-90
Both Naltrexone and Behavioral Therapy Can Reduce Drinking in Alcohol Dependence
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
But no evidence was found in support of combinations of known treatments.
By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
June 9, 2006
Covering:
Anton RF et al., JAMA 2006 May 3; 295:2003-17
Naltrexone Is Better Than Combined Pharmacotherapy for Alcohol Dependence
Emergency Medicine
Summary and Comment
But benefits were short-lived.
By John A. Marx, MD, FAAEM, FACEP
June 13, 2006
Covering:
Anton RF et al., JAMA 2006 May 3; 295:2003-17
Drinking Patterns Matter When It Comes to Heart Disease
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
Amount of alcohol intake is the important factor for women, whereas frequency of intake is important for men.
By Keith I. Marton, MD
July 4, 2006
Covering:
Tolstrup J et al., BMJ 2006 May 27; 332:1244-7
Smoking Associated with Congenital Digital Anomalies
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
Maternal smoking during pregnancy increased the risk for digital anomalies in US infants.
By Sandra Ann Carson, MD
May 23, 2006
Covering:
Man LX and Chang B., Plast Reconstr Surg 2006 Jan; 117:301-8
Do Energy Drinks Attenuate the Effects of Alcohol?
Psychiatry
Summary and Comment
The participants thought so, but objectively measured intoxication was as great with a drink combining the two as with alcohol alone.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
May 17, 2006
Covering:
Ferreira SE et al., Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2006 Apr; 30:598-605
The High Cost of Underage Drinking
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
Underage drinking is not only a big public health problem, its also big business.
By Robert A. Dershewitz, MD, MSc
May 16, 2006
Covering:
Foster SE et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2006 May; 160:473-8
Helping Children by Helping Alcoholic Fathers
Psychiatry
Summary and Comment
After 12 months, children whose fathers had stopped drinking had significantly fewer psychosocial symptoms than children whose fathers had relapsed.
By Michael W. Otto, PhD
May 3, 2006
Covering:
Andreas JB et al., J Consult Clin Psychol 2006 Feb; 74:191-8
Global Tobacco Use by Young People
Cardiology
Summary and Comment
The problem is still large, and its implications for future chronic disease in adults are grave.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
April 13, 2006
Covering:
Warren CW et al., Lancet 2006 Mar 4; 367:749-53
Smoking-Related Death from Age 40 to 70
Cardiology
Summary and Comment
Long-term, population-based data from Norway show a dose-response relation between daily smoking and death in middle age.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
April 13, 2006
Covering:
Vollset SE et al., Ann Intern Med 2006 Mar 21; 144:381-9
Whose Shopping Cart Is Healthier: Wine or Beer Drinkers?
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
Some of the cardiovascular benefits attributed to wine might be due to associated dietary factors.
By Keith I. Marton, MD
April 4, 2006
Covering:
Johansen D et al., BMJ 2006 Mar 4; 332:519-22
Psychiatric Hospitalization: A Chance to Quit Smoking?
Psychiatry
Summary and Comment
More could be done to help hospitalized psychiatric patients quit smoking.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
March 22, 2006
Covering:
Prochaska JJ et al., Am J Addict 2006 Jan/Feb; 15:15-22
Questionnaires Are Better Than Blood Tests When Screening for Unhealthy Alcohol Use
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
Validated questionnaires are more sensitive, more specific, and less expensive than blood tests.
By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
March 21, 2006
Covering:
Coulton S et al., BMJ 2006 Mar 4; 332:511-7
Binge Drinking Linked with Post-MI Mortality Risk
Cardiology
Summary and Comment
as was, to a lesser extent, alcohol abstention
By Howard C. Herrmann, MD
February 23, 2006
Covering:
Mukamal KJ et al., Circulation 2005 Dec 20/27; 112:3839-45
Ellison RC., Circulation 2005 Dec 20/27; 112:3818-9
How Common Is Drinking on the Job?
Psychiatry
Summary and Comment
It depends on what people do for a living.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
February 22, 2006
Covering:
Frone MR., J Stud Alcohol 2006 Jan; 67:147-56
Reviews of Note: An Update on the Neurobiology of Addiction
Chronic overstimulation of dopaminergic centers appears to skew systems for brain reward and for planning.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
February 22, 2006
Parents Who Smoke Can Help Prevent Their Children from Smoking
Psychiatry
General Medicine
Young children whose parents smoke are less likely to smoke themselves if their parents actively discourage tobacco use.
By Robert A. Dershewitz, MD, MSc
February 22, 2006
Covering:
Jackson C and Dickinson D., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2006 Jan; 160:56-62
Curry SJ and Mermelstein RJ., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2006 Jan; 160:102-3
Parents Who Smoke Can Help Prevent Their Children from Smoking
Cardiology
General Medicine
Young children whose parents smoke are less likely to smoke themselves if their parents actively discourage tobacco use.
By Robert A. Dershewitz, MD, MSc
February 16, 2006
Covering:
Jackson C and Dickinson D., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2006 Jan; 160:56-62
Curry SJ and Mermelstein RJ., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2006 Jan; 160:102-3
Drug Use Down Among Older but Not Younger Teens
The continuing decline in overall drug use among teens is encouraging, but the increasing use of sedatives, inhalants, and oxycodone is worrisome.
By Alain Joffe, MD, MPH, FAAP
February 10, 2006
Covering:
Johnston LD et al.,
Johnston LD et al.,