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General Medicine
Journal Watch condenses summaries of key research across specialties from more than 250 medical journals into concise yet comprehensive articles, incorporating clinical commentary from prominent physician-editors in the field.
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Featured Article
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Adverse Neuropsychiatric Effects of Glucocorticoids
- May 15, 2012
- Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
Elevated incidence of suicide attempts, depression, mania, and delirium
- Reviewing:
- Fardet L et al. Am J Psychiatry 2012 May 1; 169:491
Recent General Medicine Articles
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Estimating Mortality After Noncardiac SurgeryFree
- May 10, 2012
- Allan S. Brett, MD
A new model uses three predictors and a 9-point scoring system.
- Reviewing:
- Glance LG et al. Ann Surg 2012 Apr; 255:696
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Laparoscopic vs. Open Repair of Inguinal Hernia
- May 10, 2012
- Allan S. Brett, MD
Each approach has certain advantages.
- Reviewing:
- O'Reilly EA et al. Ann Surg 2012 May; 255:846
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Chronic Urticaria Might Be a Harbinger of Other Autoimmune Diseases
- May 10, 2012
- David J. Amrol, MD
Subsequently diagnosed autoimmune diseases were 17 times more common in patients with idiopathic urticaria.
- Reviewing:
- Confino-Cohen R et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012 May; 129:1307
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Angiotensin-Receptor Blocker Use Is Not Associated with Excess Cancer Risk
- May 10, 2012
- Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FACP
Overall cancer risk was similar in patients exposed to ARBs and those exposed to ACE inhibitors, which are not associated with elevated cancer risk.
- Reviewing:
- Bhaskaran K et al. BMJ 2012 Apr 24; 344:e2697
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
New Fibrate Use and Risk for Renal Insufficiency
- May 10, 2012
- Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
Given the elevated risk, low doses and careful monitoring are suggested for older patients.
- Reviewing:
- Zhao YY et al. Ann Intern Med 2012 Apr 17; 156:560
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Multidisciplinary Care for Women with Breast Cancer
- May 10, 2012
- Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FACP
Cancer-related and all-cause mortality dropped after care teams were introduced in one area of Scotland.
- Reviewing:
- Kesson EM et al. BMJ 2012 Apr 26; 344:e2718
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Comparison of Two Formulas for Estimating Glomerular Filtration Rate
- May 10, 2012
- Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
A new equation was better at predicting 7-year mortality.
- Reviewing:
- Matsushita K et al. JAMA 2012 May 9; 307:1941
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Genitourinary Trauma with Foley Catheters
- May 10, 2012
- Allan S. Brett, MD
Infection isn't the only adverse consequence of Foley catheter use.
- Reviewing:
- Leuck A-M et al. J Urol 2012 May; 187:1662
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Warfarin Ineffective for HF Without Atrial FibrillationFree
- May 9, 2012
- Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA
- Cardiology
In the WARCEF trial, reduced stroke rates were offset by increased bleeding.
- Reviewing:
- Homma S et al. N Engl J Med 2012 May 2
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
New Decision Rule for Syncope Safely Reduces Hospitalizations
- May 4, 2012
- Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH
- Emergency Medicine
At a single emergency department, implementation of the Boston Syncope Criteria reduced admissions by 11% and identified all patients with adverse outcomes.
- Reviewing:
- Grossman SA et al. J Emerg Med 2012 Mar; 42:345
Editor's Picks from across Journal Watch
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
How Risk Factors for SIDS Have Changed Since the Back-to-Sleep CampaignFree
- April 25, 2012
- By F. Bruder Stapleton, MD
- Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
A higher percentage of cases are now associated with side sleep position and bed-sharing, and prone position still accounts for 30% of cases. CME
- Reviewing:
- Pediatrics 2012 Mar 26
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Clot Risk Remains High in Medical Patients After Discharge
- April 30, 2012
- By Neil H. Winawer, MD, SFHM
- Hospital Medicine
A study of medically ill hospitalized patients revealed that more than half of venous thromboembolic events occurred after hospital discharge.
- Reviewing:
- J Hosp Med 2012 Mar; 7:231
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Low-Dose vs. Standard-Dose CT for AppendicitisFree
- April 25, 2012
- By J. Stephen Bohan, MD, MS, FACP, FACEP
- Emergency Medicine
Low-dose computed tomography was noninferior to standard-dose CT for evaluating suspected appendicitis in nonobese young adults.
- Reviewing:
- N Engl J Med 2012 Apr 26; 366:1596
NEWS IN CONTEXT
The 23-mg Donepezil Dilemma
- April 17, 2012
- By Brandy R. Matthews, MD
- Neurology
Criticism of FDA approval of higher-dose donepezil escalates from consumer advocacy groups to health policy clinicians
Journal Watch General Medicine summarizes important medical journal articles about a wide variety of medical subjects including arthritis,asthma, diabetes, genetics, heart disease, hypertension, obesity, palliative care, pneumonia, and thrombocytopenia.
