Archives
Fri, Mar 17 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
17 Mar, 2017 | 00:35h | UTC
1 – Japanese guidelines for food allergy 2017 – Japanese Society of Allergology (free)
2 – Older women taking statins face higher risk of diabetes – ScienceDaily (free) (RT @MaryanneDemasi)
Original article abstract ($ required for full-text): New-Onset Diabetes After Statin Exposure in Elderly Women: The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health – Drugs & Aging
See also: Cholesterol-lowering statin therapy for healthy people is not as simple as ‘yes’ or ‘no’ – The Pharmaceutical Journal (free) AND BMJ vs The Lancet: there are no winners in the ‘statins war’ – The Conversation (free)
3 – In a remote West African village, a revolutionary genetic experiment is on its way — if residents agree to it – STAT News (free) (RT @gatesfoundation)
Original article abstract ($ required for full-text): Pembrolizumab as Second-Line Therapy for Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma – New England Journal of Medicine
See also: Calls for ibuprofen sale restrictions after study finds cardiac arrest risk – The Guardian (free) AND ‘Harmless’ painkillers associated with increased risk of cardiac arrest – EurekAlert (free)
Another study showing the cardiovascular risks of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
6 – Heart Rhythm Society: expert consensus statements – part 1 (free)
7 – Heart Rhythm Society: expert consensus statements – part 2 (free)
8 – Zika: Then, now, and tomorrow – World Health Organization (free)
See also: Zika virus and complications – WHO Programme (free)
Wed, Mar 22 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
22 Mar, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
Editorial: Optimizing the Settings on the Ventilator Settings: High PEEP for All? (free)
In patients with hypoxemia after cardiac surgery, a more intensive alveolar recruitment strategy applied postoperatively was associated with reduced severity of pulmonary complications.
2 – Association of Suicidality and Depression With 5α-Reductase Inhibitors – JAMA Internal Medicine (free)
Invited Commentary: The Risk of Suicidality and Depression From 5-α Reductase Inhibitors (free)
“5-alpha reductase inhibitors in older men are associated with increased risk of self-harm and depression”
Source: Medscape Week in Review Newsletter (free registration required)
Contradicting earlier studies and guidelines, “Early, Goal-Directed Therapy” did not improve results in septic shock and was associated with higher hospitalization costs.
5 – Oral Direct-Acting Agent Therapy for Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Systematic Review – Annals of Internal Medicine (free) (RT @greg_folkers)
See also: Hepatitis C drugs remain unaffordable in many countries, says WHO study – STAT News (free)
6 – The Power of Conferences in a Social-Media Age: A guide to using technology to make face-to-face gatherings even more valuable – The Wall Street Journal (a few articles per month are free)
This new trend is here to stay. In the past few days we could all follow #ACC17 very closely through twitter. The numbers of the meeting: 237,217,427 Impressions; 43,678 tweets; and 15,970 participants (RT @CMichaelGibson see Tweet)
7 – Can science rob snakes of their deadliest weapon? – STAT News (free)
“Snakebites claim so many more victims than such high-profile threats as Ebola and many other tropical diseases” (RT @ininteraction see Tweet)
Original article abstract ($ required for full-text): Intradiscal Glucocorticoid Injection for Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain Associated With Active Discopathy: A Randomized Trial – Annals of Internal Medicine
Watch teaser: https://youtu.be/rkiJTwBud2o
10 – Peer Into the Post-Apocalyptic Future of Antimicrobial Resistance – WIRED (free) (RT @PreetiNMalani)
See also: LinksMedicus Selection of news and education resources on #AntibioticResistance (Published Sep 21, 2016)
“if left unchecked, in the next 35 years antimicrobial resistance could kill 300,000,000 people worldwide and stunt global economic output by $100 trillion”
Tue, Mar 14 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
14 Mar, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
4 – 3rd ESO-ESMO international consensus guidelines for Advanced Breast Cancer – The Breast (free)
6 – Richard Lehman’s weekly review of medical journals – The BMJ Blogs (free)
7 – Surgical Site Infection Guidelines – American College of Surgeons and Surgical Infection Society (free)
Source: Critical Care Reviews Newsletter (free)
8 – Review article: Guillain-Barré Syndrome – Mayo Clinic Proceedings
Source: Critical Care Reviews Newsletter (free)
Wed, Mar 15 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
15 Mar, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
2 – 2017 Diabetes Care Standards Issued – Physician’s First Watch (free)
3 – Variation in Physician Spending and Association With Patient Outcomes – JAMA Internal Medicine (free)
See also: Editorial: Physician Spending and Patient Outcomes (free) AND More Hospitalist Spending Does Not Mean Better Outcomes – Medscape (free registration required)
Higher physician spending was not associated with better outcomes of hospitalized patients.
4 – Twitter Is Trending in Academic Medicine – Association of American Medical Colleges (free)
“Within the next decade, you won’t be able to be a successful scholar without having some activity on social media.” (RT @Dr_A_Rashid)
See also: Commentary: Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements – Taking Stock and Awaiting Vital New Studies (free) AND AHA News: Fish oil supplements provide some benefit after heart attack, heart failure (free) AND News Release: Fish oil supplements may help prevent death after a heart attack but lack evidence of cardiovascular benefit for the general population – American Heart Association Science Advisory (free) AND Top Ten Things to Know (free PDF)
6 – AHA: Fish Oil OK After Heart Attack, Heart Failure: But no new evidence for use in primary prevention of CVD – MedPage Today (free registration required)
7 – Association of Intensive Blood Pressure Control and Kidney Disease Progression in Nondiabetic Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis – JAMA Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ required for full-text)
In patients with CKD without diabetes, intensive BP control (<130/80 mm Hg) did not improve major renal outcomes over standard BP control (<140/90 mm Hg).
Open Access supplement with 14 updated review articles on the subject.
Source: Global Health NOW Newsletter
Children reporting over three hours of watching TV or playing computer games had increased adiposity and risk factors for type 2 diabetes (particularly insulin resistance).
10 – Screentime linked to greater diabetes risk among children – The Guardian (free)
Source: Global Health NOW Newsletter
Tue, Mar 21 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
21 Mar, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
Source: Critical Care Reviews Newsletter
Source: Critical Care Reviews Newsletter
3 – Thoracic Ultrasound: What Non-radiologists Need to Know – Current Pulmonology Reports (free)
Source: Critical Care Reviews Newsletter
Comprehensive review with descriptive videos.
See also: The risk of a single 5-day opioid prescription, in one chart – VOX (free)
“One simple way to curb opioid overuse: prescribe them for 3 days or less” – dependency on opioids can develop quickly and the risk increases after 4-5 days.
Patients admitted to hospitals during Accreditation Surveys had significantly lower mortality than during nonsurvey weeks.
“To reduce hospital mortality, I guess we should have unannounced accreditation surveys every day” (RT @EricTopol – see Tweet).
6 – Heartbeat: Challenges in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease – Heart (free)
Editorial: Statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (free)
See also: Lessons from the controversy over statins, By Fiona Godlee (BMJ Editor in Chief – letter in The Lancet questioning the evidence regarding statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease)
8 – Pop a Pill for Heartburn? Try Diet and Exercise Instead – The New York Times (free)
See also: When is proton pump inhibitor use appropriate? – BMC Medicine (free) AND Effective and safe proton pump inhibitor therapy in acid-related diseases – A position paper addressing benefits and potential harms of acid suppression – BMC Medicine (free) AND Long-term kidney outcomes among users of proton pump inhibitors without intervening acute kidney injury – Kidney International (free)
9 – Richard Lehman’s weekly review of medical journals, 20 March 2017 – The BMJ Blogs (free)
10 – Association of Preceding Antithrombotic Treatment With Acute Ischemic Stroke Severity and In-Hospital Outcomes Among Patients With Atrial Fibrillation – JAMA Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ required for full-text)
Source: Richard Lehman’s weekly review (free)
“In patients with acute ischemic stroke who had a known history of atrial fibrillation, 84% did not receive guideline-recommended therapeutic anticoagulation preceding the stroke”, showing the importance of adequate anticoagulation in this population.
Mon, Mar 6 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
6 Mar, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
See also: Summary of recommendations for clinicians and policy-makers AND Clinician FAQ
Source: MedicalXpress – New avalanche and snow burial practice guidelines released
Original article abstract ($ required for full text): Diagnosis and management of acute deep vein thrombosis: a joint consensus document from the European society of cardiology working groups of aorta and peripheral circulation and pulmonary circulation and right ventricular function
Key points to remember from the new joint consensus document from the European Society of Cardiology
See also: CIDRAP – US study shows Zika-type birth defects rise 20-fold
See also: New York Times – Birth Defects Rise Twentyfold in Mothers With Zika, C.D.C. Says
Source: Medscape Week in Review Newsletter
Earlier studies and guidelines suggested beta-blockers might be of benefit for high-risk patients planning vascular surgery, but this meta-analysis confirms the current view that beta-blockers do not improve perioperative outcomes in vascular and endovascular surgery
See also: Prevention of Blindness and Deafness Programme – World Health Organization
360 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss. 32 million of them are children
7 – The Changing Face of Clinical Trials Series: Informed Consent – New England Journal of Medicine
8 – Is Excessive Resource Utilization an Adverse Event? – JAMA (RT @jdimick1)
9 – Study: High-dose flu vaccine may cut deaths in seniors – CIDRAP
Editorial: Moving Toward Improved Influenza Vaccines
10 – Doctors No Longer Rush to Cut the Umbilical Cord – The New York Times
Fri, Mar 10 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
10 Mar, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
1 – The Emerging Crisis: Noncommunicable Diseases – Council on Foreign Relations (free) (RT @ghn_news)
Great resource on NCDs.
Research summary: Low gluten diets may be associated with higher risk of type 2 diabetes – American Heart Association Meeting Report Presentation (free)
3 – People on treatment with suppressed HIV levels can’t transmit virus: HIV/AIDS group – Reuters Health News (free) (RT @CMichaelGibson)
See also: AIDS United News Release (free) AND Statement (free PDF)
4 – A Public-Health Crisis That We Can Fix – The New York Times (free access to 10 articles per month)
“U.S. vehicle deaths have surged an alarming 14% in the last 2 years, likely due to cell phone use” (RT @ghn_news)
5 – Surgery or Drugs? Doctors’ Pay May Influence Choice – The New York Times (free access to 10 articles per month)
Original article abstract ($ required for full-text): Provider-Induced Demand in the Treatment of Carotid Artery StenosisVariation in Treatment Decisions Between Private Sector Fee-for-Service vs Salary-Based Military Physicians – JAMA Surgery
6 – Yellow Fever – Once Again on the Radar Screen in the Americas – New England Journal of Medicine (free) (RT @Onisillos)
Original article abstract ($ required for full-text): Long-Term Outcomes of Imatinib Treatment for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia – New England Journal of Medicine
8 – ‘Imatinib Changed Everything’: Legacy confirmed by long-term data from pivotal trial – MedPage Today (free registration required)
9 – Cognitive Impairment – Part 1: Symptoms to Diagnosis & Part 2: Diagnosis to Management – Toward Optimized Practice Clinical Practice Guidelines (free PDF)
Mon, Mar 13 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
13 Mar, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
See also: Executive Summary (free PDF) AND News release: Experts Release Guidelines for Evaluating, Managing Syncope (free) AND Top Ten Things to Know (free PDF)
2 – New Guideline: ECG Warranted in Syncope Evaluation: Joint statement does not recommend routine MRI, CT imaging – MedPage Today (free registration required)
See also: The peer-review system for academic papers is badly in need of repair – The Conversation (free) (RT @Onisillos)
See also: Manipulating the peer review process: why it happens and how it might be prevented – LSE Impact of Social Sciences blog (free) (RT @PA_Maday)
See also: ‘You never said my peer review was confidential’ — scientist challenges publisher – Nature News (free)
4 – Practice Pointer: Emergency care and resuscitation plans – The BMJ (free)
Infographic and practice points on planning emergency care for future scenarios when people might not have the capacity to communicate their preferences.
5 – Eating More — Or Less — Of 10 Foods May Cut Risk Of Early Death – NPR (free)
Original article abstract ($ required for full-text): Association Between Dietary Factors and Mortality from Heart Disease, Stroke, and Type 2 Diabetes in the United States – JAMA
6 – Prophylactic hydration to protect renal function from intravascular iodinated contrast material in patients at high risk of contrast-induced nephropathy (AMACING): a prospective, randomized, phase 3, controlled, open-label, non-inferiority trial – The Lancet (link to abstract – $ required for full-text)
See also: Prophylactic hydration to prevent contrast-induced AKI: The AMACING trial – The Bottom line (free)
See also: Contrast-Induced Nephropathy: Signal or Noise? – Medscape “It is said that a good experiment raises more questions than it answers. This one surely does that.” – John Mandrola, MD (free registration required)
Contradicting current guidelines, there was no benefit from prophylactic hydration.
9 – A NOBLE Trial and an Attempt to EXCEL: A Comparison of Two Randomized Trials of Unprotected LMT PCI vs. CABG AND Revascularization of Left Main Disease: Do we EXCEL at Stenting? Or is it More NOBLE to Treat With Surgery?
Commentaries with practical points to consider on the latest trials comparing PCI vs. CABG for left main disease.
10 – Reader beware: Science covered in the news is pretty likely to be overturned – STAT News
Wed, Mar 8 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
8 Mar, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
1 – Updated Fact Sheet: Female genital mutilation – World Health Organization
See also: High-quality healthcare needed for girls and women who have experienced female genital mutilation
Today is #WomensDay – “Female Genital Mutilation violates human rights, has NO health benefits & it must NEVER be performed” (RT @WHO)
2 – British Association of Dermatologists’ guidelines for the management of contact dermatitis 2017
3 – Migraine Linked to Stroke Caused by Cervical Artery Dissection – Physician’s First Watch
Original article: Association Between Migraine and Cervical Artery Dissection – JAMA Neurology
Editorial: Migraine and the Risk of Carotid Artery Dissection in the IPSYS Registry: Are They Related?
4 – Antithrombotic Drugs Tied to Elevated Risk for Subdural Hematoma – Physician’s First Watch
Original article abstract ($ required for full-text): Association of Antithrombotic Drug Use With Subdural Hematoma Risk – JAMA
5 – Neurocysticercosis infection and disease: A review – Acta Tropica
6 – Review: Pulmonary Hypertension – Deutsches Ärzteblatt International
8 – Heart Failure Risk Strongly Associated with Inactivity and Obesity – CardioSmart
Original article abstract ($ required for full text): Relationship Between Physical Activity, Body Mass Index, and Risk of Heart Failure – Journal of the American College of Cardiology
10 – Report: Environmental Hazards Kill 1.7 Million Kids Under 5 Each Year – NPR
Tue, Feb 28 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
28 Feb, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
News Release: WHO publishes list of bacteria for which new antibiotics are urgently needed
See also: WHO Programme on Antimicrobial resistance
2 – WHO releases list of world’s most dangerous superbugs – STAT News
3 – Deadly, Drug-Resistant ‘Superbugs’ Pose Huge Threat, W.H.O. Says – The New York Times
4 – How to Get Patients to Take More Control of Their Medical Decisions – The Wall Street Journal (RT @EricTopol)
“For years, people have been urged be more active in their own care. Now providers are giving them better tools to make that happen”
5 – Why universities and academics should bother with public engagement – The Conversation
6 – Abraar Karan: Publication should not be the endgame of medical research – The BMJ Blogs
“Social Media – New Way for Medical Research Dissemination” (RT @pascalmeier74)
See also: A Primer on How to Create a Visual Abstract – PDF (another tendency that might increase engagement with medical research)
7 – Is Chronic Stress Likely to Make You Fat? High cortisol levels in hair samples tied to obesity persistence – MedPage Today (free registration required)
Original Article: Hair cortisol and adiposity in a population-based sample of 2,527 men and women aged 54 to 87 years – Obesity
8 – Richard Lehman’s weekly review of medical journals – The BMJ Blogs
9 – Care of the Adolescent After an Acute Sexual Assault – American Academy of Pediatrics
Thu, Mar 9 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
9 Mar, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
Editorial: Is It Time to Abandon the Routine Pelvic Examination in Asymptomatic Nonpregnant Women? (free)
See also: Are Routine Pelvic Exams A Must? Evidence Is Lacking, Task Force Says – NPR (free)
3 – Prophylactic platelet transfusion plus supportive care versus supportive care alone in adults with dengue and thrombocytopenia: a multicentre, open-label, randomised, superiority trial – The Lancet (Link to abstract – $ required for full-text) (RT @Onisillos)
In adults with dengue and thrombocytopenia (≤20.000 platelets per mcl), prophylactic platelet transfusion did not prevent bleeding complications and was associated with more frequent adverse events.
Related commentary: Doxycycline: a first-line treatment for bullous pemphigoid? – The Lancet (free)
Source: PracticalReviews ($ resource to find articles of interest)
See also: Editorial and related reviews (free)
7 – Low carbohydrate diets should be considered for diabetes management – ScienceDaily (free)
See also: Should a Low Carbohydrate Diet be Recommended for Diabetes Management? – Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (free)
Controversial, but interesting point of view. “A carbohydrate restricted diet can provide a safe and effective solution for improving diabetes management and should have a place within the diabetic guidelines”.
8 – First Opinion: Few people actually benefit from ‘breakthrough’ cancer immunotherapy – STAT News (free)
9 – Carcinoid Heart Disease Guidelines (American College of Cardiology summary with key points to remember) (free)
Original article abstract ($ required for full-text): Diagnosing and Managing Carcinoid Heart Disease in Patients With Neuroendocrine Tumors: An Expert Statement – Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Fri, Mar 3 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
3 Mar, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
1 – Check the source: WHO-validated websites provide trustworthy information on vaccine safety – World Health Organization (RT @glassmanamanda)
See also: Vaccine Safety Net Member Websites
Related Editorial: Alcohol and Blood Pressure
Source: Medscape – Studies Suggest Cardiovascular Sweet Spot at Two Drinks per Day (free registration required)
“Cutting back on moderate alcohol intake does not lower blood pressure. It’s a different story for heavier drinkers” (RT @theheartorg)
3 – Viewpoint: Management of Type 2 Diabetes in 2017: Getting to Goal – JAMA (RT @davidludwigmd)
Summary on the management of Type 2 Diabetes with emphasis on new drugs
Original Article Abstract ($ required for full-text): Association of Type 1 Diabetes vs Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosed During Childhood and Adolescence With Complications During Teenage Years and Young Adulthood – JAMA
Complications were frequent in both groups, but more frequent in those with Type 2 Diabetes
Source: Evidence Alerts (free resource to find articles of interest in all specialties)
Subcutaneous Unfractionated Heparin seems to be as safe and effective as Intravenous Heparin or Low Molecular Weight Heparin
6 – New WHO Fact Sheet: Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) – World Health Organization (RT @greg_folkers)
Original Article Abstract ($ required for full-text): Treatment of Subclinical Hypothyroidism or Hypothyroxinemia in Pregnancy – New England Journal of Medicine
Plain Language Summary: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Source: Medscape – New Guidelines for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Wed, Mar 1 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
1 Mar, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
1 – Second Korean guidelines for the management of Crohn’s disease – Intestinal Research
2 – Second Korean guidelines for the management of ulcerative colitis – Intestinal Research
Thiazolidinedione therapy was associated with histological improvement in advanced fibrosis, fibrosis of any stage and NASH resolution. Side effects included a mean 2.7% weight gain compared with controls and leg edema, but the small sample size of included trials (n = 516 patients) prevented evaluation of more serious adverse effects. Since there is no data showing improvement in clinical outcomes such as development of ascites, encephalopathy, need for liver transplantation, or liver-related death, a related commentary (see below) suggests it is premature to recommend pioglitazone in the general management of this condition.
5 – Enabling breastfeeding for mothers and babies – Cochrane Special Collection
News release: New Cochrane Library Special Collection: Enabling breastfeeding for mothers and babies
6 – Why being rude to doctors is bad for them and you – World Economic Forum
See also: What Happens When Parents Are Rude in the Hospital – The New York Times
Original Article Abstract ($ required for full text): Rudeness and Medical Team Performance – Pediatrics
7 – Not Just Nausea and Vomiting: Cancer Docs Now Worry About ‘Financial Toxicity – WBUR (RT @FutureDocs)
8 – Review: When Is Parenteral Nutrition Appropriate? – Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
9 -Review: What is hidradenitis suppurativa? – Canadian Family Physician
10 – WHO identifies antibiotic-resistant ‘priority pathogens’ – CIDRAP
Tue, Mar 7 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
7 Mar, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
See also: 10 facts on children’s environmental health AND WHO’s work on environmental health
2 – Review: Duration of dual antiplatelet therapy in acute coronary syndrome – Heart
3 – 2017 Taiwan lipid guidelines for high risk patients – Formosan Medical Association
Source: Critical Care Reviews Newsletter
Early initiation of renal replacement therapy was not associated with better outcomes
5 – Study: half of the studies you read about in the news are wrong – VOX
“And yes, this could be one of them”
6 – The unintended consequences of bundled payments – By Peter Ubel, MD in KevinMD.com (RT @brhospitalist)
7 – Paying Doctors For Outcomes Makes Sense in Theory. So Why Doesn’t it Work in the Real World? – By Stephen Soumerai and Ross Koppel in The Health Care Blog (RT @RasoiniR)
8 – Feeling Lonely? Too Much Time On Social Media May Be Why – NPR
Original Article: Social Media Use and Perceived Social Isolation Among Young Adults in the U.S. – American Journal of Preventive Medicine
See also: Association Between Social Media Use and Depression Among U.S. Young Adults – Depression and Anxiety
“This study can’t nail down causation. It could be that when people feel socially isolated, they go online a lot in an attempt to feel less lonely”
9 – Richard Lehman’s weekly review of medical journals (6 March 2017) – The BMJ Blogs
10 – Unscrambling The Nutrition Science On Eggs – NPR
Thu, Feb 23 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
23 Feb, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
1 – Guidelines on hepatitis B and C testing – World Health Organization
See also: World Health Organization’s Global Hepatitis Programme web site
2 – News Release: WHO issues first viral hepatitis testing guidelines – World Health Organization
3 – Testosterone Therapy: Five New Reports Offer a Mixed Bag – Physician’s First Watch
Good summary of 5 reports just published in JAMA and JAMA Internal Medicine
Source: Popular heartburn drugs linked to gradual yet ‘silent’ kidney damage – Medical Xpress
From related editorial ($) Proton pump inhibitors and chronic kidney disease: is it time to sound the alarm? “Although the study does not prove causality, the robustness of the findings in two cohorts suggests a need for further study and reevaluation of the safety of these agents for widespread, non-prescription use”
6 – Drug misuse prevention: targeted interventions – NICE Guideline
News Release: Local authorities need to work together with nightclubs and gyms to prevent drug misuse
7 – Overdiagnosis Is a Problem in Pediatrics, Too: Abnormal test results pursued endlessly without a clinical benefit – MedPage Today (free registration required)
See also: Overdiagnosis, Overtreatment Too Common in Pediatric Care – Medscape (free registration required)
See also: Use of Low-Value Pediatric Services Among the Commercially Insured – Pediatrics (this open-access article has a list of 20 Low-Value Pediatric Services)
Original article abstract ($ required for full-text): Update on Pediatric Overuse – Pediatrics
A single sigmoidoscopy between 55 and 64 years of age confers reduction in colorectal cancer incidence and mortality with long-term benefits
9 – Flexible sigmoidoscopy screening: is once enough? – The Lancet
10 – New screening test cuts bowel cancer risk by a third, study finds – The Guardian
Tue, Feb 21 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
21 Feb, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
2 – Millions of premature births could be linked to air pollution, study finds – The Guardian (RT @icddr_b)
3 – Japanese guidelines for adult asthma 2017 – Japanese Society of Allergology
4 – Japanese guidelines for allergic rhinitis 2017 – Japanese Society of Allergology
5 – Japanese guidelines for occupational allergic diseases 2017 – Japanese Society of Allergology
6 – Japanese guidelines for atopic dermatitis 2017 – Japanese Society of Allergology
7 – Japanese guidelines for allergic conjunctival diseases 2017 – Japanese Society of Allergology
8 – Richard Lehman’s weekly review of medical journals – The BMJ Blogs
9 – Brain scans show potential to diagnose autism in infancy – STAT News
Original article abstract ($ required for full text): Early brain development in infants at high risk for autism spectrum disorder – Nature
10 – An Unexpected Takeaway From The Early Autism Diagnosis Study – Forbes (RT @greg_folkers)
Mon, Feb 27 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
27 Feb, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
WHO has just released a new global report on health estimates on depression. The number of people living with depression is increasing, 18% between 2005 and 2015, and it is now the largest cause of disability worldwide
2 – Depression: Updated Fact Sheet – World Health Organization
Source: Critical Care Reviews Journal Watch
4 – Proven: People Don’t Take Medicine They Can’t Afford! – Forbes (RT @spkalantri And @OphiraG)
5 – Scalp Cooling Caps Help Prevent Hair Loss from Chemotherapy – Physician’s First Watch
JAMA Article 1 – Link to abstract ($ required for full text): Effect of a Scalp Cooling Device on Alopecia in Women Undergoing Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: The SCALP Randomized Clinical Trial
JAMA Article 2 – Link to abstract ($ required for full text): Association Between Use of a Scalp Cooling Device and Alopecia After Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
6 – Choosing Wisely: Cervical Screening Tests and Treatments to Avoid – Physician’s First Watch
See also: Choosing Wisely List – American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology
Editorial: Trends in health inequalities in developing countries
8 – Mexico’s sugar tax leads to fall in consumption for second year running – The Guardian
“Health experts are watching the progress of the tax to see if it will lower the rates of obesity-related diseases and type 2 diabetes”
9 – The year in cardiology 2016: coronary interventions – European Heart Journal
10 – Review: Postoperative pulmonary complications – British Journal of Anaesthesia
Thu, Feb 16 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
16 Feb, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
Very Interesting and Useful Resource
6 – Why the government should tax unhealthy foods and subsidise nutritious ones – The Conversation
Source: Medscape – AAP Updates Guidance on Epinephrine Use for Anaphylaxis (free registration required)
Epinephrine is the medication of choice for the initial treatment of anaphylaxis. All other medications, including H1-antihistamines and bronchodilators such as albuterol, provide adjunctive treatment but do not replace epinephrine
9 – CTE found in former soccer players, study shows – CNN
“Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) found in former soccer players, like US football players” (RT@CMichaelGibson)
10 – Soccer Players Could Be at Risk for CTE – Physician’s First Watch
Wed, Feb 22 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
22 Feb, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
See also: Editorial Comment: Strengths and Limitations of Using Cost Evaluations to Inform Cardiovascular Care
Source: MedPage Today – Radial-First PCI, Same-Day Discharge Could Save Big Bucks (free registration required)
2 – YouTube Video – A world-renowned cardiologist: The Dietary Guidelines Are A Lie! Salim Yusuf full speech 2017 (RT @DrAseemMalhotra And @drjohnm)
Controversial, but interesting point of view
3 – MD Anderson Benches IBM Watson In Setback For Artificial Intelligence In Medicine – Forbes
4 – Wearable Fitness Devices Don’t Seem to Make You More Fit – The New York Times (RT @RasoiniR)
5 – Why should we worry about conflict of interest? – Janice Boughton, MD in KevinMd.com
7 – Multidonor intensive faecal microbiota transplantation for active ulcerative colitis: a randomised placebo-controlled trial – The Lancet (Link to abstract – $ required for full-text)
8 – Fecal Transplantation a Potential New Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis – Physician’s First Watch
Fri, Feb 24 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
24 Feb, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
1 – Diabetic Retinopathy: A Position Statement by the American Diabetes Association
Source: Medscape – First ADA Guidance on Diabetic Retinopathy in 15 Years (free registration required)
2 – When Evidence Says No, But Doctors Say Yes: Years after research contradicts common practices, patients continue to demand them and doctors continue to deliver. The result is an epidemic of unnecessary and unhelpful treatment – ProPublica (RT @HenrikVogt and @MaryanneDemasi)
This very interesting commentary went “viral” in the medical community.
“The essence of medical professionalism is not to say “yes” but to say “no”” (RT @HenrikVogt)
Cesarean sections (CS) are more likely to be performed by for-profit hospitals as compared with non-profit hospitals. The researchers recommend examination of incentive structures of for-profit hospitals including reimbursement policies to decrease unnecessary CS and promote strategies that encourage best clinical judgement and outcome
6 – Bad Hospital Design Is Making Us Sicker – The New York Times (RT @KentBottles)
7 – Cancer Prevention Overview – PDQ Cancer Information Summaries: National Cancer Institute (US)
Source: EvidenceAlerts (free resource to find articles of interest in all specialties – registration required)
Antiplatelet agents prevent spontaneous preterm birth in pregnant women at risk for preeclampsia
9 – Implanted Cardiac Devices Pass an MRI Test – Physician’s First Watch
See also: MRI May Be Safe with Many Non-MRI-Conditional Heart Devices – MedPage Today
Original Article Abstract ($ required for full text): Assessing the Risks Associated with MRI in Patients with a Pacemaker or Defibrillator – New England Journal of Medicine
Nonthoracic MRI was safe if used with strict protocol
10 – Liraglutide Associated with Less Progression in Prediabetes – Physician’s First Watch
Original Article Abstract ($ required for full text): 3 years of liraglutide versus placebo for type 2 diabetes risk reduction and weight management in individuals with prediabetes: a randomised, double-blind trial – The Lancet
Interesting, but they could have tested Liraglutide against Metformin, the drug usually used for this purpose
Thu, Mar 2 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
2 Mar, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
1 – Global Skin Disease Morbidity and Mortality: An Update from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 – JAMA Dermatology (RT @EricTopol)
2 – When is proton pump inhibitor use appropriate? – BMC Med
4 -Long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) plus long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) versus LABA plus inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) for stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – The Cochrane Library (Link to abstract – $ required for full-text)
News Release: Which combination of inhaled medications are safe and effective for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Source: EvidenceAlerts (free resource to find articles of interest in all specialties)
In accordance with the recently updated GOLD guideline, when two classes of medications are required, long-acting beta-agonists (LABA) combined with long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) seems a better choice than a LABA combined with inhaled corticosteroids.
5 – Adiposity and cancer at major anatomical sites: umbrella review of the literature – The BMJ
See also: Nearly a Dozen Cancers Tied to Obesity: Strongest links in cancers of the digestive organs, breast – MedPage Today (free registration required)
6 – Increased risk of 11 types of cancer linked to being overweight, researchers warn – The Guardian
“Study shows strong evidence of a link between excess body fat and cancers of the colon, breast, pancreas and ovary among others”
Source: Medscape – USPSTF Issues Draft Vision Screening Recommendations for Young Kids (free registration required)
See also: Early warning signs of heart attacks ‘being missed’ – BBC
9 – Hepatitis C drugs re-energize global fight over patents – Nature News
10 – Human cases of bird flu are surging, alarming public health officials – STAT News
See also: H7N9 Flu Outbreak Largest Yet: But risk of sustained transmission among people remains low: WHO – MedPage Today (free registration required)
Tue, Feb 14 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
14 Feb, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
1 – Selective versus routine use of episiotomy for vaginal birth – Cochrane Library
Routine episiotomy is not justified by current evidence
In a cohort of women aged 35-45 who underwent hysterectomy for benign conditions, those who had ovarian conservation had a significantly lower risk of ischemic heart disease, cancer and all-cause mortality compared with those who had bilateral ovarian removal
3 – #EpilepsyDay (13 February) – Epilepsy Fact Sheet – World Health Organization
4 – Long-term dietary quality and risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis in women – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (link to abstract – $ required for full-text)
5 – Healthy Diet Cuts Women’s Risk of New-Onset RA: Inverse association strongest for seropositive disease – MedPage Today (free registration required)
6 – Effect of Intensive Blood Pressure Control on Gait Speed and Mobility Limitation in Adults 75 Years or Older: A Randomized Clinical Trial – JAMA Internal Medicine (Link to abstract – $ required for full-text)
8 – Richard Lehman’s weekly review of medical journals – The BMJ Blog Arquive
Source: 270th Critical Care Reviews Newsletter
10 – Intracerebral Hemorrhage – Journal of Stroke (series of articles on the subject)
Source: 270th Critical Care Reviews Newsletter
Editorial: Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Large Disease Burden but Less Therapeutic Progress
Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Clinical Features of Intracerebral Hemorrhage: An Update
Imaging of Intracranial Hemorrhage
Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Management
Mon, Feb 20 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
20 Feb, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
1 – 2017 Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care – American Academy of Pediatrics
See also: Periodicity Schedule: Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics for screenings and assessments at each well-child visit from infancy through adolescence And Bright Futures/AAP Periodicity Schedule (PDF – all recommendations in chart form)
Source: Medscape – AAP Updates Preventive Care Guidelines, Targets HIV, Depression Screening (free registration required)
2 – Efficacy and Safety of Nonoperative Treatment for Acute Appendicitis: A Meta-analysis – Pediatrics (Link to abstract – $ required for full-text)
Nonoperative treatment was safe and effective as initial treatment for 97% of children. During follow up appendicitis recurred in 14% of the children who did not have surgery. At final reported follow-up (range 8 weeks to 4 years), nonoperative treatment remained effective (no appendectomy performed) in 79% of children
3 – Antibiotics, not surgery, could treat appendicitis in children, study suggests – The Guardian
4 – Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors versus placebo in patients with major depressive disorder. A systematic review with meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis – BMC Psychiatry (RT @HenrikVogt)
This study suggests SSRIs are of questionable benefit for patients with depression
5 – Do the right thing: Let’s confront both health care underuse and overuse – Tincture (RT @PaulGlasziou)
6 – The evidence for vaccine safety is abundant. That will be $100,000, please. – The Washington Post (RT @greg_folkers)
7 – Bill and Melinda Gates – 2017 Annual Letter
“For every dollar spent on childhood immunizations, you get $44 in economic benefits.”
8 – Osimertinib or Platinum–Pemetrexed in EGFR T790M–Positive Lung Cancer – New England Journal of Medicine (Link to abstract – $ required for full-text)
See also: Quick Take Video Summary: The AURA3 Trial
9 – Impact of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery and Fast Track Surgery Pathways on Healthcare-associated Infections: Results from a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis – Annals of Surgery (link to abstract – $ required for full-text)
See also: ERAS Society List of Guidelines
Source: EvidenceAlerts (free resource to find articles of interest in all specialties)
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) and Fast Track Surgery (FTS) protocols were associated with a significant reduction in healthcare-associated infections
10 – From Vector To Zoonotic: A Glossary For Infectious Diseases – NPR
Thu, Feb 9 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
9 Feb, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
1 – Stroke Compendium – Circulation Research (Series of Open Access Articles on The Subject)
Source: Critical Care Reviews Newsletter
Editorial: Introduction to the Stroke Compendium
Cerebral Vascular Disease and Neurovascular Injury in Ischemic Stroke
Stroke Risk Factors, Genetics, and Prevention
Stroke Caused by Extracranial Disease
Stroke Caused by Atherosclerosis of the Major Intracranial Arteries
Cryptogenic Stroke: Research and Practice
Acute Ischemic Stroke Therapy Overview
Heart–Brain Axis: Effects of Neurologic Injury on Cardiovascular Function
2 – Study: Vancomycin should be go-to drug for severe Clostridium difficile – CIDRAP
3 – Turning the Tide Against Cholera – The New York Times (RT @glassmanamanda)
4 – The Need to Optimize Adolescent Immunization – Pediatrics
5 – Practical Approaches to Optimize Adolescent Immunization – Pediatrics
6 – ACP Internist Weekly – American College of Physicians
Selection of Internal Medicine News for The Week of February 7, 2017
7 – What’s the Role of NSAIDs in Back Pain? Meta-analysis says “minimal” but diagnosis can confound (free registration required)
Link to original article abstract ($ required for full-text): Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for spinal pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis
See also: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for low back pain with sciatica – Cochrane Library
“At present, there are no simple analgesics that provide clinically important effects for spinal pain over placebo”
9 – Open Access 2016: A Year of Price Bargaining, Preprints, and a Pirate – Absolutely Maybe (RT @hildabast)
10 – Review: Neurotrauma Resuscitation: Pearls & Pitfalls – EmDocs (RT @gregorprosen)
Wed, Feb 15 – Top 10 Medical News Stories
15 Feb, 2017 | 00:01h | UTC
Given that most patients with acute or subacute low back pain improve over time regardless of treatment, clinicians and patients should select nonpharmacologic treatment as first option. The use of opioids should be avoided if possible.
5 – Lower Back Ache? Be Active and Wait It Out, New Guidelines Say – The New York Times
6 – Multivitamins a waste of money and just create ‘very expensive urine’ – The Guardian (RT @RasoiniR)
In a meta-analysis from 48 cohort studies performed in high-income countries with data from more than 1.7 million individuals, low social rank accounted for 18·9% (men) and 15·3% (women) of all adult deaths, comparable to that of other major risk factors. The authors suggest that socioeconomic adversity should be included as a modifiable risk factor in local and global health strategies
8 – Social rank: a risk factor whose time has come? – The Lancet
9 – Pulmonary hypertension associated with left-sided heart disease – Swiss Medical Weekly
Source: 270th Critical Care Reviews Newsletter
10 – Do vegetarians live longer? This is what the latest research says – World Economic Forum
See also: Vegetarian diet and all-cause mortality: Evidence from a large population-based Australian cohort – the 45 and Up Study (link to abstract – $ required for full-text)
This study suggests there is no difference in all-cause mortality between vegetarians and non-vegetarians and that differences observed in other studies may occur because vegetarians have healthier lifestyle behaviors than non-vegetarians