General Medicine: Archives

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Surgery vs. Noninvasive Therapy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• October 8, 2009
• Bruce Soloway, MD

Surgery was more effective than other noninvasive therapies, but either treatment modality benefited patients. CME

• Reviewing:
• Jarvik JG et al., Lancet 2009 Sep 26; 374:1074

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Topical Voltaren Gel for Hand Osteoarthritis

• October 6, 2009
• Allan S. Brett, MD

Diclofenac gel was better than placebo for relieving pain. CME

• Reviewing:
• Altman RD et al., J Rheumatol 2009 Sep; 36:1991

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

First HIV Integrase Inhibitor Performs Well in Previously Untreated Patients

• October 6, 2009
• Bruce Soloway, MD

Raltegravir and efavirenz yielded similar rates of virologic suppression, but raltegravir had fewer side effects.

• Reviewing:
• Lennox JL et al., Lancet 2009 Sep 5; 374:796

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Syncope While Driving: Risk for Recurrence

• October 6, 2009
• Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH

Recurrent syncope occurred in about 20% of >3500 patients but was not more common during driving than at other times.

• Reviewing:
• Sorajja D et al., Circulation 2009 Sep 15; 120:928

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Is Clinical Breast Examination, Added to Mammography, Worthwhile?

• October 1, 2009
• Allan S. Brett, MD

CBE was associated with 55 additional false-positives for each additional breast cancer detected.

• Reviewing:
• Chiarelli AM et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 2009 Sep 16; 101:1236

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Mastectomy Rates Are RisingFree

• October 1, 2009
• Allan S. Brett, MD

And breast-conserving surgery rates are falling — Can preoperative MRI be responsible? Interview

• Reviewing:
• Katipamula R et al., J Clin Oncol 2009 Sep 1; 27:4082 Morrow M and Harris JR., J Clin Oncol 2009 Sep 1; 27:4038

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Cardiac Surgery in Patients with Carotid Stenosis

• October 1, 2009
• Allan S. Brett, MD

Combining endarterectomy with cardiac surgery did not prevent perioperative strokes.

• Reviewing:
• Li Y et al., Arch Neurol 2009 Sep; 66:1091

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Walking Program for Patients with Impaired Glucose Tolerance

• October 1, 2009
• Thomas L. Schwenk, MD

Pedometer use resulted in more walking and lower glucose levels.

• Reviewing:
• Yates T et al., Diabetes Care 2009 Aug; 32:1404

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Do Occupational Exposures Affect Semen Quality?

• September 29, 2009
• Robert W. Rebar, MD

Impaired semen quality was more common among men who reported chemical and physical occupational exposures.

• Reviewing:
• de Fleurian G et al., J Androl 2009 Sep/Oct; 30:566

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Survival to Discharge After Cardiac ArrestFree

• September 29, 2009
• Thomas L. Schwenk, MD

Hospital characteristics explain much of the lower survival rate that was noted for black patients compared with white patients.

• Reviewing:
• Chan PS et al., JAMA 2009 Sep 16; 302:1195