Daily Archives: June 25, 2017
Genetic sequencing of spinal fluid for diagnosing brain infections?
25 Jun, 2017 | 17:02h | UTCBrain-Invading Tapeworm That Eluded Doctors Spotted by New DNA Test – Scientific American (free)
“Genetic sequencing of spinal fluid hailed as an advance over standard procedures for diagnosing brain infections”
Spotlight on FODMAPs for IBS
25 Jun, 2017 | 16:55h | UTCSpotlight on FODMAPs – ACP Gastroenterology Monthly (free)
Original article 1: The low FODMAP diet: recent advances in understanding its mechanisms and efficacy in IBS – Gut (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Original article 2: Diet Low in FODMAPs Reduces Symptoms in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Probiotic Restores Bifidobacterium Species: a Randomized Controlled Trial – Gastroenterology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
“2 studies look at FODMAPs for irritable bowel” (RT @acpinternist see Tweet)
Trends and Outcomes of Off-Label Use of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
25 Jun, 2017 | 18:23h | UTCThe JAMA Network – For the Media: Study Examines Use, Outcomes of Valve Replacement Procedure Performed for Off-Label Indications
Commentary: Outcomes of Off-Label Use of TAVR – American College of Cardiology, Latest in Cardiology (free)
“A randomized controlled trial directly comparing TAVR with surgery among specific subsets of off-label populations is needed to provide convincing evidence, and significant ‘off-label’ use captured in registries such as this should motivate such prospective randomized studies” (from Latest in Cardiology).
What Should Physicians Do When They Disagree, Clinically and Ethically, with a Surrogate’s Wishes?
25 Jun, 2017 | 16:57h | UTC
Rising Medical Costs Mean More Rough Times Ahead
25 Jun, 2017 | 16:43h | UTCJAMA Forum: Rising Medical Costs Mean More Rough Times Ahead (free)
Effect of Nebulized Hypertonic Saline Treatment in Emergency Departments on the Hospitalization Rate for Acute Bronchiolitis
25 Jun, 2017 | 16:34h | UTCEffect of Nebulized Hypertonic Saline Treatment in Emergency Departments on the Hospitalization Rate for Acute Bronchiolitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial – JAMA Pediatrics (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Source: No Benefit of Nebulized Hypertonic Saline for Acute Bronchiolitis – Journal Watch ($ resource to find articles of interest)
Hypertonic saline clearly does not have any benefit for bronchiolitis (RT @JAMAPeds see Tweet)
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) 10th anniversary
25 Jun, 2017 | 16:48h | UTCVideo: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) 10th anniversary
See also: IHME’s work
“If we want to improve global health – we need a map!” Short video summary of @IHME_UW achievements and vision (see Tweet)
Heart Rate and Rhythm and the Benefit of Beta-Blockers in Patients With Heart Failure
25 Jun, 2017 | 14:37h | UTCHeart Rate and Rhythm and the Benefit of Beta-Blockers in Patients With Heart Failure – Journal of the American College of Cardiology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Do mortality rates differ according to baseline heart rates for those taking beta-blockers? – Cardiovascular Business (free) AND Heart Rate and Rhythm and the Benefit of Beta-Blockers in Patients With Heart Failure – PracticeUpdate (free registration required)
“In HFrEF, beta blockers reduce mortality – but only for those in sinus rhythm says new work in JACC” (RT @JACCJournals see Tweet)
Snakebites Make The List Of ‘Neglected Tropical Diseases’
25 Jun, 2017 | 16:24h | UTCSnakebites Make The List Of ‘Neglected Tropical Diseases’ – NPR Goats and Soda (free)
Diagnostic Accuracy of Fecal Immunochemical Test in Patients at Increased Risk for Colorectal Cancer
25 Jun, 2017 | 14:57h | UTCDiagnostic Accuracy of Fecal Immunochemical Test in Patients at Increased Risk for Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-analysis – JAMA Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Fecal immunochemical testing demonstrates good diagnostic accuracy for high-risk individuals – 2 minute medicine (free) AND Mixed Results with FIT Screen for High-Risk Colon Cancer – MedPage Today (free registration required)
Interview with the author: Fecal Testing Better At Detecting Colon Cancer Than Advanced Atypical Changes – MedicalResearch.com (free)
“FIT is the best alternative screening strategy for pts at increased risk for CRC who refuse to use colonoscopy” (RT @JAMAInternalMed see Tweet)
Chinese courts call for death penalty for researchers who commit fraud
25 Jun, 2017 | 16:15h | UTCChinese courts call for death penalty for researchers who commit fraud – STAT News (free)
Related: China cracks down on fake data in drug trials – Nature (free) AND China launches crackdown on academic fraud – Financial Times (a few articles per month are free)
Physical activity, cognitive decline, and risk of dementia
25 Jun, 2017 | 16:13h | UTCCommentary: Physical Activity Might Not Ward Off Dementia – Physician’s First Watch (free)
Contradicting previous evidence, this study did not show that physical activity has a protective effect against cognitive decline and dementia.
“Physical activity may not have an impact on your chances of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s but it will reduce a plethora of other risks…” (RT @KarenAl46890767 see Tweet)
Obesity now kills more people worldwide than car crashes, terror attacks, and Alzheimer’s combined
25 Jun, 2017 | 16:20h | UTCSee original study on the Global Burden of Obesity and related commentaries in our June 13th issue (see #1)
“Five takeaways from a giant study on an epidemic governments can’t ignore”.
New concerns raised over value of genome-wide disease studies
25 Jun, 2017 | 14:00h | UTCNew concerns raised over value of genome-wide disease studies – Nature News (free)
“Large analyses dredge up ‘peripheral’ genetic associations that offer little biological insight, researchers say”.
Prevalence of Axial Spondyloarthritis Among Patients With Fibromyalgia
25 Jun, 2017 | 15:15h | UTCPrevalence of Axial Spondyloarthritis Among Patients With Fibromyalgia: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study With Application of the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society Classification Criteria – Arthritis Care & Research (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary: Does Fibromyalgia Mask Spondyloarthritis? – MedPage Today (free registration required)
Small study (99 patients) showed some patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia have imaging changes suggestive of axial Spondyloarthritis, suggesting that Fibromyalgia may mask an underlying Spondyloarthropathy.
Diagnosis, Evaluation, Prevention, and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease–Mineral and Bone Disorder
25 Jun, 2017 | 14:13h | UTCKDIGO 2017 Clinical Practice Guideline Update for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, Prevention, and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease–Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD) (free PDF) (RT @goKDIGO see Tweet)
Executive summary: 2017 KDIGO Chronic Kidney Disease–Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD) Guideline Update: what’s changed and why it matters (free PDF)
News release and available resources: CKD-Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD) (free)
What happens when an expensive drug is approved based on a lower bar of proof?
25 Jun, 2017 | 13:50h | UTCInsurers Battle Families Over Costly Drug for Fatal Disease – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)
“A new drug can cost over a million dollars, even though it’s unclear if it works. Now, insurers are refusing to pay” (RT @NYTHealth see Tweet)
Interesting initiative for improving quality and reducing readmissions from skilled nursing facilities
25 Jun, 2017 | 14:24h | UTCNecessity is the mother of invention: an innovative hospitalist-resident initiative for improving quality and reducing readmissions from skilled nursing facilities – Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives (free) (RT @HMVJC see Tweet)
In this model of care, a hospitalist-led team, including the resident on the geriatrics rotation, followed patients discharged from the hospital to the skilled nursing facility, leading to significant decrease in readmission rates.
How app culture is reviving the house call
25 Jun, 2017 | 13:44h | UTCDoctor on demand: How app culture is reviving the house call – The Washington Post (a few articles per month are free)
Topical antimicrobial agents for treating foot ulcers in people with diabetes
25 Jun, 2017 | 13:56h | UTCTopical antimicrobial agents for treating foot ulcers in people with diabetes – Cochrane Library (link to summary – & for full-text)
“Topical antimicrobial dressing may increase foot ulcer healing in people with diabetes” (RT @CochraneUK see Tweet)