General Medicine: Archives

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Obesity Worsens the Flu in Mice and Men

• February 7, 2012
• Abigail Zuger, MD

Further, in obese mice, preventive measures often fail.

• Reviewing:
• Kim Y-H et al., J Infect Dis 2012 Jan 15; 205:244 O'Brien KB et al., J Infect Dis 2012 Jan 15; 205:252 Beck MA., J Infect Dis 2012 Jan 15; 205:172

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Is Ethyl Chloride Spray Sterile?

• February 7, 2012
• Allan S. Brett, MD

For clinical purposes, the answer seems to be yes.

• Reviewing:
• Polishchuk D et al., J Bone Joint Surg Am 2012 Jan 18; 94:118

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

α-Fetoprotein Screening in Patients with Hepatitis C

• February 7, 2012
• Allan S. Brett, MD

Positive predictive value for hepatocellular cancer was low; AFP screening is not recommended.

• Reviewing:
• Sterling RK et al., Am J Gastroenterol 2012 Jan; 107:64

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Calcium-Channel Blockers and Losartan Are Associated with Lower Risk for Gout in Hypertensive Patients

• February 7, 2012
• Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FACP

Diuretics, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting–enzyme inhibitors, and non-losartan angiotensin-receptor blockers are associated with increased risk.

• Reviewing:
• Choi HK et al., BMJ 2012 Jan 12; 344:d8190

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Outperforms Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

• February 7, 2012
• Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH

Sensitivity and negative predictive value were significantly higher with CMRI.

• Reviewing:
• Greenwood JP et al., Lancet 2012 Feb 4; 379:453

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Can Carotid Ultrasound Screening Motivate Smokers to Quit?

• February 7, 2012
• Allan S. Brett, MD

In a randomized trial, screening was ineffective.

• Reviewing:
• Rodondi N et al., Arch Intern Med 2012 Jan 23 O'Malley PG., Arch Intern Med 2012 Jan 23

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Acute Kidney Injury in Myocardial Infarction

• February 2, 2012
• Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH

Even relatively small increases in serum creatinine were associated with adverse outcomes.

• Reviewing:
• Fox CS et al., Circulation 2012 Jan 24; 125:497

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Rate of Physician Referrals Is on the RiseFree

• February 2, 2012
• Thomas L. Schwenk, MD

The increase was particularly large for cardiac, gastrointestinal, orthopedic, dermatologic, and ear/nose/throat symptoms.

• Reviewing:
• Barnett ML et al., Arch Intern Med 2012 Jan 23; 172:163

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation Is Associated with Increased Stroke Risk

• February 2, 2012
• Allan S. Brett, MD

Incidence was 4% during 2.5 years of observation.

• Reviewing:
• Healey JS et al., N Engl J Med 2012 Jan 12; 366:120 Lamas G., N Engl J Med 2012 Jan 12; 366:178

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

PPIs Don't Ease Asthma Symptoms in Children with Severe Asthma and Asymptomatic GERD

• February 2, 2012
• David J. Amrol, MD

In addition, lansoprazole raised the incidence of adverse events.

• Reviewing:
• Holbrook JT et al., JAMA 2012 Jan 25; 307:373 Martinez FD., JAMA 2012 Jan 25; 307:406