Utility of the Ankle-brachial Index in Clinical Practice: A Q&A with Harry Agis
October 10th 2014Harry Agis, MD, is a vascular surgeon and a partner in the New Jersey Vein Institute, Morristown, NJ. He speaks with Internal Medicine World Report Editor-in-Chief, Simon Douglas Murray, MD about the utility of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) in screening for peripheral artery disease and atherosclerosis and then will touch briefly on a few other subjects that might be relevant to internists with regards to vascular surgery.
In-hospital Pharmacologic Prophylaxis not Linked to Decrease in Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis
October 2nd 2014A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found hospitals' administration of pharmacologic venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis was not associated with lower rates of VTE.
Oral Fluoroquinolone Use and Risk of Peripheral Neuropathy
Current users of oral fluoroquinolone (FQs) antibiotics, especially new users of FQs, are at higher risk of developing peripheral neuropathy (PN), concludes a recent study published in Neurology.
Researchers Provide Recommendations for Proactive Statin Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia
October 2nd 2014For individuals with hypercholesterolemia, research published in the Journal of American Medical Association provided recommendations on statin use for treating their condition prior to age 80.
Jaw Osteonecrosis as Potential Adverse Effect to Oral Bisphosphonate Therapy
In a review published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Brett noted that the results from the first study suggested that in Taiwan, one out of every 200 patients who are "long-term users of oral alendronate," develop the condition.
Hyperalgesia May Be Reversible After Spinal Pain Pathway Reactivation
Research using an animal model of pain suggests that mechanical hyperalgesia may be reversible in mice after spinal pain pathways are reactivated in a manner analogous to memory reconsolidation.
Managing Diverticulitis Without Surgery
In an article in Annals of Surgery, Debbi Li, MD and colleagues at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada report on a retrospective study of 14,124 diverticulitis patients cared for without surgery. The research goal was to quantify the risks of readmission and emergency surgery when patients did not get a prophylactic colectomy.
US Residents of Indian Origin Have Elevated Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Patients of Indian ancestry living in the United States are at greater risk for all types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) than other American populations, according to a new study by Reenu Malhotra, MD, and colleagues published online in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology on July 29, 2014.
Option of Arthroscopic Surgery for Degenerative Meniscal Tears
A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal looked at the steady progression of treatments for patients with degenerative muscular tears as well as the different efficiency levels between those patients who had surgery and those who took another treatment option.
Hemoglobin A1c Levels Act as an Independent Gauge for Coronary Artery Disease
October 2nd 2014For individuals without diabetes, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels not only predicted the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD), but also anticipated its severity, according to research published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Treatment Guidelines Cut Clostridium Difficile Mortality
Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infection is now the leading cause of infectious nosocomial diarrhea in the industrialized world. But by following Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) treatment guidelines, clinicians can significantly reduce recurrence and mortality, a Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy team reports.
Older Folks and Influenza: High Dose Vaccine 24% More Effective
October 1st 2014Scientists from Sanofi Pasteur's Swiftwater, PA facility have published results of a study indicating that a high-dose, trivalent, inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV3-HD or high dose Fluzone®) improves antibody responses to influenza among adults 65 years of age or older.
Mental Health Drugs: High Risk for Adverse Events
October 1st 2014Prescription medications for mental health diagnoses (e.g. antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers) consume approximately 25% of commercial health insurers' pharmacy budgets and almost 35% of public payers' pharmacy spending. In 2011, an estimated 26.8 million US adults-more than 11%-took prescription medications for mental illness.
Increased Development in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
As people spend more time sitting and working in front of computer screens, studies have shown the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has grown. A team of researchers recently worked to take a deeper look at specific factors and their roles in the development in the condition.
Withdrawal Symptoms Cease over 12 Months When Cannabis Users Acknowledge Use
Cannabis users who acknowledge their problem and report withdrawal symptoms are likely to increase abstinence over a 12-month period, according to research published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine.
Discrepancy Among Device Therapy Requirement Evaluation Methods
Device therapy eligibility requirements are underestimated using 2D echocardiography compared to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, according to a study from the Netherlands Heart Journal.