Internal Medicine
Anti-leukotriene agents in persistent asthma
3 Apr, 2017 | 19:15h | UTCAddition of anti-leukotriene agents to inhaled corticosteroids for adults and adolescents with persistent asthma – Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (link to summary – $ required for full-text)
Source: EvidenceAlerts
In patients with asthma not controlled with daily low-dose inhaled corticosteroids, adding anti-leukotriene agents reduced by half the number of patients with asthma exacerbations requiring an oral corticosteroid and improved lung function and asthma control.
Corticosteroids in septic shock
3 Apr, 2017 | 19:12h | UTCCorticosteroids in septic shock: a systematic review and network meta-analysis – Critical Care (free)
Anemia and blood transfusion in the critically ill patient with cardiovascular disease
3 Apr, 2017 | 19:14h | UTC
Impact of total knee replacement practice: cost effectiveness analysis
31 Mar, 2017 | 19:01h | UTCSee also: Knee Replacement Should Be Reserved for More Severe Osteoarthritis, Study Suggests – Physician’s First Watch (free)
Total knee replacement for patients with osteoarthritis had minimal effects on quality of life in this study. Severely affected patients seem to benefit the most from the procedure.
New Lists from Choosing Wisely Canada
31 Mar, 2017 | 19:04h | UTCNew Lists from Choosing Wisely Canada – List of Items Physicians and Patients Should Question (all resources are free)
Critical Care / Pediatric neurosurgery / Sport and exercise medicine / Nursing / Long term care / Medical microbiology
Lists from other countries: Choosing Wisely UK / Choosing Wisely Australia / Choosing Wisely U.S.
The Choosing Wisely initiative aims to reduce unnecessary tests, treatments and procedures to reduce harm and promote value in healthcare.
History of Periodontitis and Edentulism as Predictors of Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke, and Mortality
31 Mar, 2017 | 18:59h | UTCHistory of Periodontitis Diagnosis and Edentulism as Predictors of Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke, and Mortality in Postmenopausal Women – Journal of the American Heart Association (free) (RT @kamleshkhunti)
Press release: Gum disease, tooth loss may increase postmenopausal women’s risk of death – American Heart Association Rapid Access Journal Report (free)
History of periodontal disease was associated with a 12 percent higher risk of death from any cause and loss of all natural teeth was associated with a 17 percent higher risk of death from any cause.
A National Strategy for the Elimination of Hepatitis B and C
30 Mar, 2017 | 17:23h | UTCSee also: Phase One Report (free)
U.S. Strategy for the Elimination of Hepatitis B and C.
Non–Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Valvular Heart Disease
30 Mar, 2017 | 17:27h | UTCSource: SciCombinator
Except for patients with moderate/severe mitral stenosis or mechanical heart valves, who were excluded in most trials, high-dose NOACs was as effective and safe for patients with valvular heart disease as for patients without valvular disorders.
Approach to preventive care in the elderly
31 Mar, 2017 | 18:57h | UTCApproach to preventive care in the elderly – Canadian Family Physician (free)
Erectile dysfunction in men exposed to the 5α-reductase inhibitors
30 Mar, 2017 | 17:25h | UTCSource: SciCombinator
Observational data suggests there might be a link.
I have cancer. This comic shows how much pressure I feel to be a hero
29 Mar, 2017 | 17:10h | UTCI have cancer. This comic shows how much pressure I feel to be a hero – VOX (free)
Source: STAT Newsletter
Interesting read…
WHO Launches Global Effort to Halve Medication-Related Errors in 5 Years
30 Mar, 2017 | 17:30h | UTCSee also: WHO’s work on patient safety (free) AND WHO Global Patient Safety Challenge on Medication Safety (free) AND WHO Educational materials for medication safety (free)
Putting Patients First by Reducing Administrative Tasks in Health Care
29 Mar, 2017 | 17:13h | UTCSee also: ACP: Stop Saddling Docs With Administrative Tasks – MedPage Today (free registration required)
“It’s time for all those involved in the healthcare industry to reevaluate and reduce the administrative task burden placed on clinicians” (from MedPage commentary above).
HERDOO2 rule to guide treatment duration for women with unprovoked venous thrombosis
29 Mar, 2017 | 17:07h | UTCSource: Richard Lehman’s weekly review
HERDOO2 rule stands for Hyperpigmentation, Edema, or Redness in either leg; D-dimer level ≥250 μg/L; Obesity with body mass index ≥30; or Older age, ≥65 years. The authors concluded that women with a first unprovoked VTE event and none or one of the HERDOO2 criteria have a low risk (3.0% per patient year) of recurrent VTE and can safely discontinue anticoagulants after completing short term treatment.
Prevention and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders
29 Mar, 2017 | 17:12h | UTCSee also: Treat Substance Abuse as Chronic Condition, ACP Says – Medscape (free registration required) AND Physicians call for drug abuse to be treated as ‘chronic disease’ – ABCNews (free)
New recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis
29 Mar, 2017 | 17:09h | UTCSee also: EULAR Releases New RA Tx Recommendations: Focus is on conventional agents, biologics, and targeted synthetic drugs – MedPage Today(free registration required)
Source: EvidenceAlerts Newsletter
Screening for Celiac Disease
29 Mar, 2017 | 17:04h | UTCScreening for Celiac Disease: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement (free)
Editorial 1: The US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation on Screening for Asymptomatic Celiac Disease: A Dearth of Evidence (free)
Editorial 2: Celiac Disease and Nonceliac Gluten or Wheat Sensitivity: The Risks and Benefits of Diagnosis (free)
“Some sanity about screening for asymptomatic celiac disease in the gluten-free diet “epidemic” era” (RT @EricTopol see Tweet)
The year in cardiology 2016: peripheral circulation
29 Mar, 2017 | 17:00h | UTCThe year in cardiology 2016: peripheral circulation – European Heart Journal (free)
Richard Lehman’s weekly review
28 Mar, 2017 | 16:50h | UTCRichard Lehman’s weekly review of medical journals, 27 March 2017 – The BMJ Blogs (free)
Gastric Acid Suppression and Clostridium difficile Infection
28 Mar, 2017 | 16:54h | UTCAssociation of Gastric Acid Suppression with Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (link to abstract – $ required for full-text)
“Another study that suggests gastric acid suppression may increase risk of recurrent Clostridium difficile” (RT @PreetiNMalani)
Teleretinal Diabetic Retinopathy Screening
28 Mar, 2017 | 16:55h | UTCImplementation and Evaluation of a Large-Scale Teleretinal Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Program in the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services – JAMA Internal Medicine (free) (RT @PreetiNMalani)
Editorial: Seeing the Effect of Health Care Delivery Innovation in the Safety Net (free)
A large-scale telemedicine diabetic retinopathy screening program increased overall rates of screening by 16.3%, and wait times for screening were reduced by 89.2%.
Diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension
28 Mar, 2017 | 16:41h | UTCReview: Diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension – European Respiratory Review (free)
ESPEN guideline: Clinical nutrition in surgery
27 Mar, 2017 | 00:54h | UTCESPEN guideline: Clinical nutrition in surgery – Clinical Nutrition (free)
Source: Critical Care Reviews Newsletter
Enhanced recovery after surgery
28 Mar, 2017 | 16:43h | UTC
Telehealth Doctor Visits
27 Mar, 2017 | 00:57h | UTCTelehealth Doctor Visits May Be Handy, But Aren’t Cheaper Overall – NPR Health News (free)
Link to original article abstract ($ required for full-text): Direct-To-Consumer Telehealth May Increase Access to Care But Does Not Decrease Spending – Health Affairs
Costs have increased in this study because 88 percent of telehealth visits represented people who would not have gone to a doctor otherwise.