MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'archives'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:59:59 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181797&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpromising-new-pressure-treatment-for-keloids-of-the-ear-lobe%2F2011.09.02 I have written of keloid treatment (general, not site specific) previously.  I have always tried to include pressure treatment as part of the plan when treating keloids of the ear lobe.  This pressure treatment came in the form of pressure earrings  — clip-on, disc-shaped. The recent article (full reference below) in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery journal introduces a new pressure device which looks like it will work better than what has been available (photo credit) and as can be seen in this photo, the upper ear can be treated with pressure which has not been possible with the clip earrings: (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Suture for a Living* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181797 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:00:47 +0100 5181797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174617&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpatient-history-found-to-be-key-element-in-making-a-diagnosis%2F2011.08.28 Four out of five doctors agree that they don’t need scans to make the right diagnosis. It’s an old-fashioned concept frequently discussed among ACP members, but the history and physical combined with basic tests is way more important to diagnosis than ordering scans and advanced tests. A recent research letter in the Archives of Internal Medicine makes the case. In the letter, Israeli researchers described a prospective study of 442 consecutive patients admitted from the emergency department in 53 days. A senior resident examined all patients within 24 hours of admission (mean=14), including a history, physical, and review of ancillary test findings done at the emergency department, such as blood and urine tests, electrocardiography, and chest radiography. The resident also rev... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174617 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 18:30:00 +0100 5174617 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077687&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsurgeons-have-a-bad-reputation%2F2011.07.29 This article is meant to raise the awareness of the costs—both in dollars and in human misery—of incivility in the practice of medicine by looking in particular at the case of surgeons. Uncivil behavior brings misery wherever it occurs.  If the individual tends to behave in an uncivil fashion prior to medical school and prior to residency, (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Suture for a Living* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077687 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0100 5077687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984499&cid=t_103100_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F29%2Ffamilies-affected-by-mental-illness-feel-little-support-from-churches%2F A new study conducted at Baylor University indicated that families with a mentally ill member would like their congregation to offer more assistance. The study, published in the journal “Mental Health, Religion and Culture,” was the first to look at how mental illness of a family member influences an individual’s relationship with the church. “Families with mental illness stand to benefit from their involvement with a congregation, but our findings suggest that faith communities fail to adequately engage these families because they lack awareness of the issues and understanding of the important ways that they can help,” said Diana Garland, Ph.D., dean of Baylor’s School of Social Work and co-author of the Baylor study. The study surveyed nearly 6,000 participant... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984499 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:11:12 +0100 4984499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4714746&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdo-it-yourself-health-care-a-new-form-of-outsourcing%2F2011.04.14 The outsourcing of work by businesses to the cheapest available workers has received a lot of attention in recent years.  It has largely escaped notice, however, that the new labor force isn’t necessarily located in Southeast Asia, but is often found here at home and is virtually free.  It is us, using our laptops and smart phones to perform more and more functions once carried out by knowledgeable salespeople and service reps. This was particularly salient to me this week: I spent an hour online browsing, comparing prices, reading customer reviews and filling out the required billing and shipping information to get a great deal on a new lamp.  An airline would charge me 99 cents to talk to a person but provides information for free online.  Calls to Amtrak to make train reservations... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4714746 Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:00:54 +0100 4714746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642802&cid=t_103100_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fa-cache-of-ms-information-in-our-archives%2F At different times in the history of multiple sclerosis, researchers reach back into the annals of our disease to see if there are answers overlooked. It seems that every decade or so a “new” idea is touted and based on (sometimes, centuries) old theories and ideas as to the cause, course, and even “cure” for multiple sclerosis. There are bloggers who will comb through historic records to help prove/disprove current thoughts about how MS “works” and why we should/shouldn’t do-believe-follow-think one thing or another. I’m fine with all of that, save the “how to think” part! I’ll leave the heavy lifting to the researchers that my donations go to fund. I feel no need to be an MS KIA (Know It All) when it comes to the disease of multiple sclerosis. What I do find helpful... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642802 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 20:07:23 +0100 4642802 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4411527&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fstress-in-life-respond-differently-and-live-longer%2F2011.01.28 This study proved that one such intervention, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for patients who suffered a first heart attack, lowered the risk of fatal and nonfatal recurrent cardiovascular disease events by 41 percent over eight years. Nonfatal heart attacks were almost cut in half. Excitement may be dampened by the fact that all-cause mortality did not statistically differ between the intervention and control groups, but did trend towards an improvement in the eight years of follow up. Definitely less suffering. Maybe less deaths. The authors state that psychosocial stressors have been shown to account for an astounding 30 percent of the attributable risk of having a heart attack. Chronic stressors include low socioeconomic status, low social support, marital problems, and work dist... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4411527 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 17:00:39 +0100 4411527 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4360979&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fphysician-burnout-depression-and-suicide-in-surgeons%2F2011.01.18 I wrote last year in USA Today about the impact of physician burnout. Not only do doctors suffer, but so do their patients. Burnout starts early in residency, with entering interns having a depression rate of 4 percent, similar to the general public. But after the first year of residency, that number balloons to 25 percent. Now another study adds fuel to this disturbing trend. A paper published in the Archives of General Surgery looks at the prevalence of physician burnout in surgeons: In a national survey, one in 16 surgeons reported contemplating suicide, researchers reported. An increased risk of suicidal ideation was linked to three factors: depression, burnout, and the perception of having made a recent major medical error … … But only about one in four of those who reported thi... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4360979 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:00:58 +0100 4360979 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4349515&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Freferral-communication-what-happens-to-handoffs-between-primary-care-physicians-and-specialists%2F2011.01.14 Far more primary care doctors report detailed referrals than do specialists report receiving them. The same applies in reverse. Specialists report returning quality consultations, while primary care physicians report receiving them far less often. Researchers reported in Archives of Internal Medicine that perceptions of communication regarding referrals and consultations differed widely. While 69.3 percent of primary care physicians reported “always” or “most of the time” sending a patient’s history and the reason for the consultation to specialists, only 34.8 percent of specialists said they “always” or “most of the time” received the information. And, while 80.6 percent of specialists said they “always” or “most o... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4349515 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 18:00:00 +0100 4349515 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4343128&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fskin-cancer-risk-indoor-tanning-and-maternal-influence%2F2011.01.13 Not all maternal influence on daughter behavior is good. Take for example the influence of the unhealthy use of indoor tanning beds as presented in a recent Archives of Dermatology article (full reference below) which “investigated whether indoor tanning with one’s mother the first time would influence frequency of tanning later in life and whether it was associated with age of initiation.” Joel Hillhouse, Ph.D., of East Tennessee State University-Johnson City and colleagues published a study the May 2010 issue of the Archives of Dermatology which looked at which health-based intervention worked best in reducing skin cancer risks. They found that “emphasizing the appearance-damaging effects of UV light, both indoor and outdoor, to young patients who are tanning is important no ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4343128 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 18:00:00 +0100 4343128 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4337937&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2F%25e2%2580%259cjust-in-case%25e2%2580%259d-heart-tests-can-they-do-more-harm-than-good%2F2011.01.12 Here’s an important equation that all of us — doctors include — should know about healthcare, but don’t: More ≠ Better “More does not equal better” applies to diagnostic procedures, screening tests meant to identify problems before they appear, medications, dietary supplements, and just about every aspect of medicine. That scenario is spelled out in alarming detail in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Clinicians at the Cleveland Clinic describe the case of a 52-year-old woman who went to her community hospital because she had been having chest pain for two days. She wasn’t having symptoms of a heart attack, such as shortness of breath, unexplained nausea, or a cold sweat, and her electrocardiogram and other tests were fine. The woman’s doctors concluded that her ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4337937 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:00:10 +0100 4337937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4304875&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffalse-positives-in-medical-tests-how-they-can-kill-patients%2F2011.01.03 I’ve written in the past that more medicine and tests do not necessarily reflect better care. There is no test that is 100 percent specific or sensitive. That means tests may be positive, when, in fact, there is no disease (“false positive”), or tests may be negative in the presence of disease (“false negative”). It’s the latter that often gets the most media attention, often trumpeted as missed diagnoses. But false positives can be just as dangerous. Consider this frightening case report from the Archives of Internal Medicine: A 52-year-old woman presented to a community hospital with atypical chest pain. Her low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were not elevated. She underwent cardiac computed tomography angiography, which showed... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4304875 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 18:00:49 +0100 4304875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294634&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmacular-degeneration-and-a-healthy-lifestyle%2F2010.12.26 We now have another condition that may be prevented by eating a healthy diet, exercising, and abstaining from smoking: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Macular degeneration causes a loss of central vision and makes it difficult to recognize faces and read small print. The macula degenerates with age and severe macular degeneration causes blindness. Treatment is costly and doesn’t work very well. A new study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology looked at 1,313 women aged 55 to 74 years. They reviewed their diet and exercise habits. Eating a “healthy diet” meant 3.5 servings of fruit and vegetables, 2.3 servings of dairy, 2.7 ounces of meet and 3.5 servings of grain a day. Exercise habits and smoking history were also monitored. (more…) *This ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294634 Mon, 27 Dec 2010 01:00:00 +0100 4294634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4287415&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpainkiller-safety%2F2010.12.24 Perhaps as many as one in every five American adults will get a prescription for a painkiller this year, and many more will buy over-the-counter medicines without a prescription. These drugs can do wonders — getting rid of pain can seem like a miracle — but sometimes there’s a high price to be paid. Remember the heavily marketed COX-2 inhibitors? Rofecoxib, sold as Vioxx, and valdecoxib, sold as Bextra, were taken off the market in 2004 and 2005, respectively, after studies linked them to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like aspirin, ibuprofen (sold as Advil and Motrin), and naproxen (sold as Aleve) seem like safe bets. But taken over long periods, they have potentially dangerous gastrointestinal side effect... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4287415 Fri, 24 Dec 2010 16:00:34 +0100 4287415 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4281314&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fabout-weightlifting-and-breast-cancer%2F2010.12.22 Last August, Kathryn Schmitz, PhD, MPH and colleagues published the results of their study Weightlifting in Women with Breast-Cancer–Related Lymphedema (BCRL) in the New England Journal of Medicine. They have now published a similar study in the Archives of Internal Medicine (see full reference below). While the NEJM article focused on breast cancer survivors with lymphedema, the Archives article focuses on breast cancer survivors without lymphedema. The new study adds weight for the need to change historic dogma which cautions breast cancer patients to avoid weight training after a mastectomy and or axillary dissection. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Suture for a Living* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4281314 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:00:00 +0100 4281314 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275325&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Freassuring-patients-about-ct-scans-and-radiation-risks%2F2010.12.20 Emergency patients with acute abdominal pain feel more confident about medical diagnoses when a doctor has ordered a computed tomography (CT) scan, and nearly three-quarters of patients underestimate the radiation risk posed by this test, reports the Annals of Emergency Medicine. “Patients with abdominal pain are four times more confident in an exam that includes imaging than in an exam that has no testing,” said the paper’s lead author. “Most of the patients in our study had little understanding of the amount of radiation delivered by one CT scan, never mind several over the course of a lifetime. Many of the patients did not recall earlier CT scans, even though they were listed in electronic medical records.” Researchers surveyed 1,168 patients with non-traum... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275325 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100 4275325 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4249057&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftreatment-resistant-depression-new-insights%2F2010.12.10 Only one-third of people with major depression achieve remission after trying one antidepressant. When the first medication doesn’t adequately relieve symptoms, next step options include taking a new drug along with the first, or switching to another drug. With time and persistence, nearly seven in 10 adults with major depression eventually find a treatment that works. Of course, that also means that the remaining one-third of people with major depression cannot achieve remission even after trying multiple options. Experts are hunting for ways to understand the cause of persistent symptoms. In recent years, one theory in particular has gained traction: that many people with hard-to-treat major depression actually suffer from bipolar disorder. However, a paper published online this week i... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4249057 Fri, 10 Dec 2010 21:00:24 +0100 4249057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4230199&cid=t_103100_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fmedical-errors-discuss-them-or-switch.html Patients won’t confront doctors if they think there’s been a mistake. They’ll just find a new doctor, even if there’d been no medical error. Researchers looked at adult visits to seven primary care practices in North Carolina during 2008. They asked patients about their perceptions of medical mistakes and how did it influence the choice to switch doctors. Of 1,697 patients, 265 (15.6 percent) reported a mistake had been made, 227 (13.4 percent) reported a wrong diagnosis, 212 (12.5 percent) reported a wrong treatment, and 239 (14.1 percent) reported changing doctors as a result. Results appeared in the Archives of Internal Medicine. But anecdotes cited by patients as mistakes were often normal diagnostic or therapeutic challenges. A typical scenario might be the patient reported sy... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4230199 Sun, 05 Dec 2010 18:44:00 +0100 4230199 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4205932&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcan-patients-choose-a-good-doctor-online%2F2010.11.27 The following op-ed was published on October 27th, 2010 in USA Today: When I ask new patients how they found me, frequently they say on the Internet through search engines such as Google. Out of curiosity, I recently Googled myself. Numerous ads appeared, promising readers a “detailed background report” or a “profile” of me. Among the search results was information about my practice, whether I was board certified, had any lawsuits against me, and reviews from online doctor rating sites. Thankfully, most were favorable, but some were not. Can patients reliably choose a good doctor online? People already choose restaurants, movies, and their college professors based on what they read on the Internet, so it’s inevitable that many will research their doctors on the Web as well. But t... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4205932 Sat, 27 Nov 2010 21:00:36 +0100 4205932 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4197123&cid=t_103100_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2010%2F11%2F24%2Fart-in-museums%2F This session at the conference in September circled around the role of art in the museum, and how museums and artists can and should work together. The first speaker, Karen Ingham, emphasized that the concept of art in museums essentially refers to interdisciplinary happenings and should always be a product of dialogue. She talked about how museum- and other spaces speak to us, and how the space can function as a creative catalyst and a link between museums and artists. Read Karen’s full abstract here. Silvia Casini explained how her work with the aesthetics of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) led her to undergo several scannings herself and how she in the end became an artist, video-maker, and curator in order to represent these very personal and yet elusive images. Read Silvia’s full... Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4197123 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 12:13:11 +0100 4197123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159241&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmore-doctors-are-refusing-industry-perks-and-gifts%2F2010.11.12 Physicians and particularly primary care doctors are reporting fewer industry ties than five years ago, according to a survey. While 94% of doctors reported some type of perk from a drug or device maker in 2004, 83.8% did in 2009, researchers reported in the Nov. 8 Archives of Internal Medicine. Researchers surveyed a stratified random sample of 2,938 primary care physicians (internal medicine, family practice, and pediatrics) and specialists (cardiology, general surgery, psychiatry and anesthesiology) with a 64.4% response rate. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at ACP Internist* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159241 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:00:00 +0100 4159241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4139236&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhigh-cholesterol-and-red-yeast-rice-supplements%2F2010.11.05 People are always on the search for “natural” ways to stay healthy and reduce cholesterol. Chinese red yeast rice supplements have been touted as a natural, safer way to lower cholesterol compared to statin medications. The yeast that grows on a particular type of rice contains a family of substances called monocolins, which lower cholesterol by inhibiting cholesterol production in the liver in the same manner as prescription statin drugs. Some studies have shown as much as a 15 percent drop in cholesterol. All of this sounds good until you dig a little deeper. Supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and a new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that different brands of red yeast rice supplements have dramatic variation in le... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4139236 Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:00:00 +0100 4139236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125283&cid=t_103100_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fz4r5rINz09I%2F Much attention has been paid to conflicts of interest relating to the pharmaceutical industry, but where do medical journals fit in this equation? A new study notes that journals also have vested interests that warrant disclosure. Specifically, industry-supported clinical trials can boost a journal’s so-called impact factor by generating greater distribution of reprints that increase citation rates and, of course, revenue. The trials are often supported by drugmakers, which purchase reprints. What is an impact factor? The researchers defined it this way: a measure of a journal’s importance based on how often its articles are cited. This is not just about prestige, of course, but the potential for greater circulation (there is a formula contained in the study, which was publishe... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125283 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:41:53 +0100 4125283 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4118937&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fprimary-care-doctors-how-valued-are-they%2F2010.10.27 Authors of a recent study from the Archives of Internal Medicine are unlikely to endear themselves to specialists. As reported by Reuters, and provocatively titled, Do specialist doctors make too much money?, the study gives a per-hour breakdown of how much doctors make. I think this is a good approach, since annual salary figures do not account for the number of hours doctors work — and in the case of primary care doctors, this includes uncompensated time doing paperwork and other bureaucratic chores. Here’s what they found: … the lowest wages — amounting to $60.48 an hour — [were] paid to primary care physicians. In other broad categories of practice, surgeons took home the highest average hourly wage of $92. Internal medicine and pediatric docs earned about $85 an hour, the re... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4118937 Wed, 27 Oct 2010 22:00:56 +0100 4118937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4086267&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhy-comparing-the-performance-of-doctors-is-trouble%2F2010.10.20 Who do you think is likely to be a better doctor: A board certified graduate of one of the top medical schools in America, or a non-certified doctor trained in a foreign country? If your answer is “I have absolutely no idea,” then you’re probably spending a lot of time looking at the “report cards” that pass for measures of health care quality. And you’re probably confused. Researchers in Pittsburgh studied 124 process-based quality measures in 30 clinical areas. These process measures are the state-of-the-art ways in which government and private insurers are checking up on the quality of medical care. They include things like making sure patients with heart problems are prescribed aspirin, and that women get Pap smears. The researchers compared these measures against other,... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4086267 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 20:00:37 +0100 4086267 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3980829&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmedical-errors-discuss-them-or-switch-doctors%2F2010.09.17 Patients won’t confront doctors if they think there’s been a mistake. They’ll just find a new doctor, even if there’d been no medical error. Researchers looked at adult visits to seven primary care practices in North Carolina during 2008. They asked patients about their perceptions of medical mistakes and how did it influence the choice to switch doctors. Of 1,697 patients, 265 (15.6 percent) reported a mistake had been made, 227 (13.4 percent) reported a wrong diagnosis, 212 (12.5 percent) reported a wrong treatment, and 239 (14.1 percent) reported changing doctors as a result. Results appeared in the Archives of Internal Medicine. But anecdotes cited by patients as mistakes were often normal diagnostic or therapeutic challenges. A typical scenario might be the pa... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3980829 Sat, 18 Sep 2010 04:32:24 +0100 3980829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965409&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Feating-a-food-based-approach%2F2010.09.14 The science of nutrition is changing and not in the way you might expect. After years of “reductionist” thinking — where food has been viewed as the sum of its parts -– a call to treat food as food has been sounded. No more poring over nutrition labels to calculate grams of fat or chasing down the latest go-to chemical –- be it vitamin E, fish oil or omega-3. Instead we are being asked to call a potato a potato and a piece of steak — well, a piece of steak. If you haven’t heard about this sea change yet, you are not alone. The food science industry that markets “food products” for our consumption has done a good job giving their laboratory creations a semblance of health with phrases like “low fat” and “high in vitamin C.” For our part, the medical community i... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965409 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:00:27 +0100 3965409 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3954233&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FBZQam8kbl5A%2F By David BoazMany issues of the late, great libertarian magazine Libertarian Review are now available online. The magazine was published from 1972 to 1981, first as a newsletter of book reviews and then as a glossy monthly magazine edited by Roy A. Childs, Jr. It made quite a splash during those years, and Childs became one of the most visible and controversial libertarian intellectuals. After the magazine folded, as so many intellectual magazines do, he spent almost a decade as editorial director and chief book reviewer for Laissez Faire Books. He had read everything, and he knew everyone in the libertarian movement. He got lots of prominent people — including Murray Rothbard, John Hospers, Thomas Szasz, Roger Lea MacBride, and Charles Koch — to write for the magazine. And he... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3954233 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:00:16 +0100 3954233 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3924902&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdoctor-patient-communication-much-room-for-improvement%2F2010.09.01 In a surprising report from the Archives of Internal Medicine, we learn that most hospitalized patients (82 percent) could not accurately name the physician responsible for their care and almost half of the patients did not even know their diagnosis or why they were admitted. If that isn’t enough, when the researchers queried the physicians, 67 percent thought the patients knew their name and 77 percent of doctors thought the patients “understood their diagnoses at least somewhat well.” I would call that a pretty significant communication gap. Ninety percent of the patients said they received a new medication and didn’t know the side effects. Although 98 percent of physicians thought they discussed their patients’ fears and anxieties with them, only 54 perc... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3924902 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 01:00:00 +0100 3924902 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3902935&cid=t_103100_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2010%2F08%2F25%2Fhospital-for-drowned-books%2F Monday morning when the conservator arrived at the Medical Museion, and went down to the basement to continue her work on some damaged bones from the collection, she found herself standing in water up to her ankles. Like in many other parts of Zealand the heavy rains on Saturday had unexpected and unpleasant consequences for the Medical Museion. By far the largest part of the medical machines, historic books on health and hospital curios of the Medical Museion collection is kept in store rooms and basements around the buildings, out of the public eye. There simply isn’t enough room on the exhibitions.            The flood alert sounded around the Medical Museion. Hundred year old black and white photographs looked like autumn leaves, as they lay spread out on tables to dry. Boo... Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3902935 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:03:48 +0100 3902935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3880861&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcommunication-gap-widens-between-doctors-and-patients%2F2010.08.18 In a surprising report from the Archives of Internal Medicine, we learn that most hospitalized patients (82 percent) could not accurately name the physician responsible for their care and almost half of the patients did not even know their diagnosis or why they were admitted. If that isn’t enough, when the researchers queried the physicians, 67 percent thought the patients knew their name and 77 percent of doctors thought the patients “understood their diagnoses at least somewhat well.” I would call that a pretty significant communication gap. Ninety percent of the patients said they received a new medication and didn’t know the side effects. Although 98 percent of physicians thought they discussed their patient’s fears and anxieties with them, only 54 per... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3880861 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:00:00 +0100 3880861 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3822963&cid=t_103100_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F04%2Finternet-addiction-depression-and-chinese-teens%2F An interesting new study was published earlier this week about “Internet addiction.” Unlike many previous studies on this hypothesized disorder, this one actually took measurements at two different points in time to try and tease out the possibility that “Internet addiction” can cause mental health problems, like depression or anxiety. Can we show that simply using the Internet causes depression? Researchers set to find out on Chinese teens. Psychologist Lawrence Lam and his colleague studied 1,041 Chinese teens, mostly ages 13 to 16, who had no signs of depression at the onset of the study. Some of the group, however, had moderate to severe pathological use of the Internet (64 of the subjects). The researchers then assessed all 1,041 teens for depression, anxiety ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3822963 Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:32:42 +0100 3822963 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3714186&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Faddicted-to-indoor-tanning%2F2010.06.30 According to the Archives of Dermatology, there are people who are addicted to indoor tanning. That journal reported on a study of 421 university students in the northeastern United States. Using self-reported questionnaires, they screened for alcoholism and substance use as well as anxiety and depression. They also had a questionnaire about addiction to indoor tanning. If you’re scratching your head (as I was), there’s a medically-accepted criteria known as CAGE (cut down, annoyed, guilty, eye-opener) that correlates with addiction, so they used this for “addiction” to indoor tanning also. They found that more of the kids who met the criteria for addiction to indoor tanning also had greater anxiety, greater use of alcohol, marijuana and other substances. (more&#82... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3714186 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:00:00 +0100 3714186 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3714444&cid=t_103100_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FJSU5gTPTZaE%2F Earlier this week, the Archives of Internal Medicine published a few articles and editorials about statins, although one, in particular, generated some heat - a review of the controversial Jupiter study from 2008. The study, which focused on AstraZeneca’s Crestor cholesterol pill, measured levels of a protein called CRP that can indicate arteries are inflamed and point toward heart disease. The results prompted debate over the extent to which CRP should be used as a guideline for treating cholsterol and the wisdom in prescribing Crestor and other statins to people with low cholesterol. This week’s revisitation (see here) stirred anew the controversy, but also focused on allegations of poor methodology, bias and conflicts of interest (see here). However, as was noted yesterday, two ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3714444 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:42:30 +0100 3714444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662672&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fless-is-more-in-medicine-why-patients-arent-buying-it%2F2010.06.14 In a recent article, the editors of the Archives of Internal Medicine make the case that too much unneeded care is being delivered in physician’s offices these days. According to the authors, “patient expectations” are a leading cause of this costly problem. Their solution? Get physicians to share with patients the “evidence” for why their requests are crazy, wrong, ill-informed or just plain stupid. But getting patients to buy into the “less is more” argument is a daunting task as most physicians already know. The problem is complicated by the fact that patients have a lot good reasons for not buying it. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Mind The Gap* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662672 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:00:18 +0100 3662672 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662674&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Funnecessary-tests-and-treatments-responsible-reporting-can-help%2F2010.06.14 Just when I’ve lost hope that mainstream media will stop perpetuating the myth the more medicine equals better care, the Associated Press came up with this excellent piece. The article states, rightly, that “anywhere from one-fifth to nearly one-third of the tests and treatments we get are estimated to be unnecessary,” and that, “it may lead to dangerous side effects.” Regular readers of this blog should be familiar with those concepts. I wrote recently that patients often reject evidence-based medicine. One reason is that there aren’t enough clinical guidelines available for patients to make an informed decision. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at KevinMD.com* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662674 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:00:37 +0100 3662674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3635746&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fis-red-meat-hazardous-to-your-health%2F2010.06.06 Red meat consumption has been linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and several types of cancer (breast, colorectal, stomach, bladder, prostate, and lymphoma). There are plausible mechanisms: Meat is a source of carcinogens, iron that may increase oxidative damage, and saturated fat. But correlation and plausibility are not enough to establish causation. Is red meat really dangerous? If so, how great is the risk? A couple of recent studies have tried to shed light on these questions, but they have raised more questions than they have answered. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Science-Based Medicine* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3635746 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 16:00:39 +0100 3635746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3545442&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdepression-and-chocolate%2F2010.05.07 Depressed people ate about 60 percent more chocolate compared with others, and major depression more than doubled consumption, reported researchers in the usually-more-reliable Archives of Internal Medicine. Now researchers want to further delve into the issue. “Whether there is a causal connection, and if so in which direction, is a matter for future prospective study,” the authors wrote. We wonder if Hershey’s would provide samples for the treatment arm of such studies, and if so, how people can sign up? *This blog post was originally published at ACP Internist* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3545442 Fri, 07 May 2010 18:00:00 +0100 3545442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3511648&cid=t_103100_125_f&fid=37825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbibbynews.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F04%2F28%2Fread-the-story-of-eastman-dental%2F The Eastman Institute for Oral Health has released its new book “Leading the Way: Eastman and Oral Health”. Authored by Elizabeth Brayer, this page turner tells the story of philanthropist George Eastman’s founding of the Rochester Dental Dispensary. The book depicts the history of Eastman Dental and dentistry in Rochester, concluding with the recent establishment [...] (Source: Bibby Library News and Tips) Bibby Library News and Tips blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3511648 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:05:03 +0100 3511648 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3460213&cid=t_103100_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F11%2Fhow-long-is-a-typical-bipolar-episode%2F Bipolar disorder is characterized by a cycling from depression to mania, and back again over time (hence the reason it used to be called manic depression, because it includes both mania and depression). One of the commonly asked questions we get here is, “How long does a typical bipolar episode last?” The answer has traditionally been, “Well, it varies considerably from person to person. Some may have rapid cycling bipolar disorder where that person can cycle back and forth between depression and mania in the course of a day or multiple times a week. Others may be stuck in one mood or the other for weeks or months at a time.” New research (Solomon et al., 2010) published in The Archives of General Psychiatry sheds a little more empirical light onto this question. I... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3460213 Sun, 11 Apr 2010 16:15:02 +0100 3460213 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3386895&cid=t_103100_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2010%2F03%2F21%2Fnew-acquisitions-no-thank-you-or-yes-please%2F In an article titled ‘Einstein, interaktiv und zum Anfassen. Oder: die drohende Auflösung des Museums?’ in NTM: Zeitschrift für Geschichte der Naturwissenschaften, Technik und Medizin (vol. 17, 85–92, 2009), Christian Sichau has argued for a severely restrictive attitude to new acquisitions. He develops his argument for a next-to-zero collecting policy in opposition to a short appeal made by the historian Klaus Hentschel in Physik Journal in March 2008 (’Bitte nicht wegwerfen! Allzu oft werden Quellen der Physikgeschichte achtlos entsorgt, statt sie zu sichern’). Here Hentschel gave a chilling example of the accidental destruction of some of the important sources for the history of early German solid state physics. Hentschel called on physicists to be more awar... Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3386895 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 08:00:07 +0100 3386895 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3314644&cid=t_103100_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2010%2F02%2F27%2Fsaving-the-papers-of-21st-century-science-for-future-historians%2F Besides the preservation and display of the contemporary medical heritage, one of my major research interests is the methodology of writing the history of contemporary science (see, e.g., The Historiography of Contemporary Science and Technology (1997) and The Historiography of Contemporary Science, Technology and Medicine: Writing Recent Science (with Ron Doel, 2006)). Now I am beginning to think about a third volume in the ’series’ to catch up with new trends in science historiography. One of the most interesting issues — both from a museological and historiographical point of view — is how historians should deal with the growing avalanche of scientific digital documents. I.e., how to preserve, utilise, and make sense of the enormous output of digital... Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3314644 Sat, 27 Feb 2010 08:00:01 +0100 3314644 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3056698&cid=t_103100_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F04%2Fconsumer-reports-on-antidepressants%2F Consumer Reports, the consumer magazine that reviews common products like refrigerators and vacuum cleaners and rates them, also dabbles in trying to educate consumers in other areas, like health. Earlier this week, they published a review article on the effectiveness of the commonly-prescribed class of medications for depression, antidepressants. The impetus for this article was apparently the Olfson (2009) Archives of General Psychiatry study that examined data from household surveys. You know, the one we reported on back in August, noting that antidepressant use was up 75 percent. A day later, I wrote this blog entry discussing the new study, and perhaps the more important data point the study found — psychotherapy use was down 35 percent in the same time period (1996-2005). The ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3056698 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:21:28 +0100 3056698 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2927330&cid=t_103100_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2009%2F10%2F26%2Fmedicine-archives-and-researching-lives%2F Looks immediately like an innovative angle to the study of lives in science — that is, Wellcome Library’s and the British Records Association’s upcoming conference Researching Lives: Medicine, science and archives on the 8th December at Wellcome Collection in London. The one-day meeting will deal with the resources available in medical and scientific archives to build up pictures of individual lives — i.e., manuscripts and personal papers, films and photographs, forensic evidence and physical remains, etc. Speakers include Georgina Ferry (science writer), Julianne Simpson and Helen Wakely (Wellcome Library), Simon Chaplin (Royal College of Surgeons), Tim Boon (Science Museum), Paul Carter and Natalie Whistance (the National Archives) and Allan Jamieson (Fo... Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2927330 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:17:59 +0100 2927330 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2836218&cid=t_103100_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F27%2Fthe-debilitating-effects-of-tv-on-children%2F Most of us are generally aware that television isn’t the healthiest of activities. Yet, like cigarette smoking in the 1970s, it’s one of those harms we continue to whitewash or worse — exposing our children to it as though it were as innocent as playing with Tinkertoys. Yet as today’s Boston Globe reminds us, TV is not this passive device you sit your children in front of with no ill effects. Decades worth of research have shown the harmful effects of TV on your child’s development. Most child psychologists and child development experts recommend no TV whatsoever for a child before the age of 2 or 3. None. Yet a whopping 43 percent of parents plop their toddler down in front of the television set, apparently blind to the consequence of their actions. But don&#... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2836218 Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:05:50 +0100 2836218 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2688715&cid=t_103100_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2009%2F08%2F11%2Farchives-for-contemporary-science-at-risk%2F Just got a letter from the University of Bath librarian, who says that the National [i.e., UK] Cataloguing Unit for the Archives of Contemporary Scientists is closing 31 October. That’s sad, because in the 22 years since the unit moved to Bath, it has been instrumental in securing nearly 200 scholarly archives in institutional libraries around the UK — a very important contribution to the preservation of an important part of the contemporary scientific and engineering heritage. I haven’t heard about any similar closures in other European countries, so let’s hope this is not the beginning of a broader tendency to neglect the history of contemporary science, technology and medicine. (Source: Biomedicine on Display) Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2688715 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:18:04 +0100 2688715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2553072&cid=t_103100_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2009%2F06%2F29%2Fsomeone-interested-in-medical-archives-and-collections-in-a-design-history-perspective%2F Interesting initiative — I am thinking of the launch of the Archives, Collections and Curatorship section of the Journal of Design History, which could be useful for those of us who work with the history of medical technological artefacts. The journal section wants authors to evaluate the relevance of an archive or collection as a resource for design historical research — for example, by taking more critical perspectives or reflecting on the practice of collecting, archiving and doing research in archives or collections. They include all kinds of archives and collections held by museums, libraries, businesses, educational institutions, etc. (digital or physical), and they expect all sorts of authors: historians, archivists, museum professionals, curators, designers, stud... Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2553072 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:00:00 +0100 2553072 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511162&cid=t_103100_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F18%2F10-ways-to-manage-your-weight-on-psych-meds%2F Awhile back, a Beyond Blue reader asked me to address the problem of weight gain and medication. “How do you deal with this yourself?” she asked me. I’ll be perfectly honest. It’s a battle. As someone with a history of an eating disorder, I’ve had to work very hard on getting to place where I eat when I’m hungry. For that reason, I won’t go near drugs like Zyprexa, because the 20 pounds that I gained in one month made me feel ALMOST bad as my depression. I totally understand that body image is important to your self-esteem. I wish I wasn’t so shallow, but look at the ads around us. What’s the message that they’re screaming? “Thin people are beautiful. Overweight people aren’t.” I hate that. So, since this is F... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511162 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:27:39 +0100 2511162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458165&cid=t_103100_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F05%2Ffriday-flashback-for-june-5-2009%2F You know summer’s on its way when it starts heating up here in New England, so what better time to flash back to some classic posts from the Psych Central archives? 10 Years Ago on Psych Central Becoming Stuck Online In this classic post, I rant about the world of Internet mental health moving at a glacier’s pace, compared to the world of Internet technologies and services. I also allude to my moving on from the founding of Mental Health Net to take a short-lived position with the doomed Internet startup, drkoop.com. I wrote then, “My goal is to pursue and push others to explore the positive uses and effects of the Internet,” and never has that been more true than today. The Internet has opened so many doors for so many people, I still enjoy talking about all the p... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458165 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:30:04 +0100 2458165 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452912&cid=t_103100_122_f&fid=34962&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstrokedoc.typepad.com%2Fstroke_doc%2F2009%2F06%2Fivtpa-treatment-window-extended-to-45-hours.html The American Stroke Association has recently recommended the extension of the treatment window for intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (a 'clot busting' drug) for ischemic strokes (see Expansion of the Time Window for Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke With Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator).  Previously, based on the results of a large trial (NINDS), the treatment window for most ischemic strokes had been up to three hours after stroke onset .  The extension of the window was mainly based on the results of the ECASS-3 trial, which was similar to the NINDS trial, but which treated patients between 3 and 4.5 hours.  In addition, certain higher risk patients were avoided including those who were already on an anti-coagulant (warfarin), those who were ove... Stroke Doc blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452912 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:17:40 +0100 2452912 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382538&cid=t_103100_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2009%2F05%2F01%2Fare-there-any-ethical-reasons-not-to-display-forensic-medical-specimens-on-line%2F Sonia Horn, current Director of Collections at the Medical University of Vienna, has recently announced on different email-lists that the collection of specimens from the university’s Department of Forensic Medicine has now been catalogued and digitised in its entirety. Great initiative! But I also noticed that for “ethical reasons” they will not make the collection available on the web; they only give researchers access. Please, satisfy my curatorial curiosity: In our present forensicomedicalized media world, in which TV channels compete feriously about who can show the most revulsive CSI images (like in BBC’s excellent drama series ‘Waking the Dead‘)— what are the ethical reasons for not showing historical forensic science specimens ... Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382538 Fri, 01 May 2009 19:27:17 +0100 2382538 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2312709&cid=t_103100_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2009%2F04%2F01%2Fmedical-museion-puts-all-its-collections-on-twitter%2F The Director’s office of Medical Museion at the University of Copenhagen announced today that the museum will put all its collections on Twitter. Hundreds of thousands of material artefacts (from electron microscopes to conjoined twins in pickles), tens of thousands of medical historical images, and hundreds of shelf meters of archival documents will be compressed, catalogued and publicly communicated in the Twitter format. “This is a revolution in museum collection management”, says the Director of Medical Museion, Thomas Söderqvist. “We have considered a number of systems for putting our rich medical historical collections online — but they were either too complicated, or too expensive. Twitter solves all our problems”.  Putting collections... Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2312709 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:00:10 +0100 2312709 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2312710&cid=t_103100_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2009%2F03%2F31%2Fputting-our-image-archive-on-flickr%2F Our colleagues at the National Museum of Health and Medicine (in DC) are right now experiencing a dramatically increasing traffic from all over the world to their unofficial Repository of Bottled Monsters blog. From about 100 views a day to 300 views an hour last week. The reason for this stunning outreach success is that Wired.com and many other websites have spread the news about the NMHM staff’s work to put the museum’s picture archive on Flickr. In a few week’s time, more than half a million Flickr users have seen the exquisite collection of images, especially of American war medicine. The US Army (which owns NMHM) are imposing a general ban on letting its employees and institutions have access to Flickr (and other social network sites), so the NMHM staff de... Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2312710 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 07:00:33 +0100 2312710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2287228&cid=t_103100_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F03%2F24%2Fwant-to-cut-your-risk-of-death%2F We often talk about happiness and well-being on the blog, or how to reduce your depression or cope with anxiety here. But none of that’s going to do you a whole lot of good if your life is cut short by making daily unhealthy food choices. So while I don’t usually write about general health topics here, occasionally a piece of research rises to the level of demanding our attention. And the research published yesterday linking red meat to a higher risk of death over the study’s 10 year period of time is just such research. The study of more than 500,000 middle-aged and elderly (aged 50 to 71) Americans found that those who consumed about four ounces of red meat a day (the equivalent of about a small hamburger) were more than 30 percent more likely to die during the 10 year... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2287228 Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:56:31 +0100 2287228 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2249121&cid=t_103100_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2009%2F03%2F08%2Fcollecting-and-gathering-as-world-making-and-claim-staking%2F Collecting in museums runs the risk of becoming a rather pedestrian and academically uninteresting activity unless informed by and contributing to some wider theoretical perspectives. The one-day interdisciplinary conference on ‘Collecting and Gathering: Making Worlds and Staking Claims’ at Columbia University, 23 May, might be helpful to develop the discourse around museum collecting and acquisitioning. As the organizers (graduate students at the Dept of Archeology) say: Practices, institutions and ideas centered around collections and collecting offer a fruitful area for interdisciplinary enquiry in the humanities and social sciences. Whether in the processes through which collections come to be formed, or the ways in which existing collections are experienced by a var... Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2249121 Sun, 08 Mar 2009 15:48:25 +0100 2249121 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2240960&cid=t_103100_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2009%2F03%2F06%2Fminders-of-the-memory-with-delayed-gratification-3%2F A few weeks ago, Oregon Health & Science University Historical Collections & Archives’s Sara Piasecki kindly called Biomedicine on Display her “current favorite blog”. Thanks! (Though “current” sounds a bit ambiguous; do we risk being thrown into oblivion soon?) Maybe our potential precarious status has to do with the fact that Sara felt it necessary to take issue with a post about biomedical memory in which I wrote, among other things, that there aren’t many archival and museum institutions around the world that collect contemporary biomedical material and that it costs a substantial amount of money to travel to get access to their holdings. “And here I really must protest”, writes Sara: it’s not always that hard... Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2240960 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:45:49 +0100 2240960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2232638&cid=t_103100_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2009%2F03%2F04%2Fbiodigital-lives-making-consuming-and-archiving-the-lives-of-technoscience%2F One of the potentially most interesting workshop titles I’ve seen announced so far this year is ’Biodigital lives: making, consuming and archiving the lives of technoscience’. The meeting — convened by Kate O’Riordan (Sussex) and Adrian Mackenzie (Lancaster) and hosted by the Centre for the Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics (CESAGen), the Centre for Material Digital Culture and the Centre for Life History and Life Writing Research at the University of Sussex on 14 July — will “examine issues and questions about digital and biodigital life, lives and identities framed by biosciences, contemporary media and biopolitical cultures”: From the lives of scientists to the technologisation of life, ‘Biodigital lives’ will ... Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2232638 Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:38:12 +0100 2232638 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2210502&cid=t_103100_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2009%2F02%2F24%2Fwellcome-medical-history-films%2F Wellcome Film (which is part of the Wellcome Library in London) announces the launch of their own YouTube channel (see more here), Very nice initiative — but how do you get access to the movies??? Added 9pm: Aha, here they are: http://www.youtube.com/user/WellcomeFilm (couldn’t find the link on their website, but found it via YouTube) (Source: Biomedicine on Display) Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2210502 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:58:12 +0100 2210502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2194906&cid=t_103100_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2009%2F02%2F18%2Fnew-digitalizing-signals-from-the-smithsonian%2F Wayne Clough, the new head of the Smithsonian Institution, wants to change the venerable museum institution: “We need to make our collections, talented scholars and other resources accessible worldwide by providing additional platforms and vehicles for educating and inspiring large audiences,” he said to yesterday’s Los Angeles Times, and added: Our job is to authenticate and inform the significance of the collections, not to control access to them. It is no longer acceptable for us to share only 1% of our 137 million specimens and artifacts in an age when the Internet has made it possible to share it all. In doing this, the relevance of the Smithsonian to education can be magnified many times over. Museums all over the world are facing a similar challenge. Most of us ... Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2194906 Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:30:12 +0100 2194906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2177521&cid=t_103100_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2009%2F02%2F11%2Fthe-collective-biomedical-memory%2F is notoriously short. It resides mainly in daily anecdotes and small stories provided by the older members of the laboratory/clinic. You acquire snippets of the past in the coffee breaks or in the bar after working hours, through the introductory chapters of standard textbooks and anthologies, or by reading the memoirs of biomedical celebrities (like Craig Venter). You collect fragments that slowly coalesce in your mind as a more or less vague narrative about the past. The chances are high that most biomedical scientists are creating rather similar versions of a fairly standardized historical narrative. The ‘truth’ about the historical past is a strong social construct (much more social than scientific constructs, in spite of what many science studies peo... Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2177521 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:06:16 +0100 2177521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2152934&cid=t_103100_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2009%2F02%2F03%2Fdigital-lives-not-yet-20-but-maybe-soon%2F One of my longheld convictions is that the individual life trajectory is both one of the most neglected and most exciting aspects of biomedicine, not least when it comes to collecting and displaying biomedicine in museum exhibitions. Documents, images and objects from individual scientists, doctors, engineers and patients is a rich resource for museum curators — the individual and personal perspective in exhibitions adds a dimension of engagement similar to how biographical writing engages readers in a way that other forms of historical writing don’t.   Therefore I was quite curious when I read about The Digital Lives Research Conference that will be held at the British Library, London, next week (9-11 February). The aim of the meeting is to bring archivists and ... Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2152934 Tue, 03 Feb 2009 06:00:14 +0100 2152934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1877221&cid=t_103100_125_f&fid=37825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbibbynews.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F14%2Fblog-action-day-oral-health-and-poverty%2F Wednesday, October 15th is the second annual Blog Action Day. This event aims to unite the world’s bloggers, podcasters and videocasters to post about the same issue on the same day with the goal of raising awareness, triggering global discussion, and making a difference. This year’s theme is POVERTY. Blog Action Day calls for all bloggers [...] (Source: Bibby Library News and Tips) Bibby Library News and Tips blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1877221 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:47:51 +0100 1877221 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1812712&cid=t_103100_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F09%2Frehashing-old-ideas%2F Three and a half years and nearly 250 posts.  That’s the life so far of 29 Marbles. And to tell the truth, I’ve run out of new things to write about.  Not that there isn’t always something happening in the world related to autism, but like everything else it all seems to happen in cycles.  Different day/month/year, the same stories and questions in different clothing.    Nowhere is this more evident than in the referral logs for the site.  Most hits come either from the Autism Hub, or from search results.  Sometimes the search queries are on things I wrote about years ago, sometimes more recent.  But inevitably, the same questions keep coming back around. I first started writing this blog to help me sort through my own feelings and thoughts on autism.  That goal ... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1812712 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:39:56 +0100 1812712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1380542&cid=t_103100_105_f&fid=34950&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedblog.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F04%2F17%2Fyes-statins-do-everything-even-lower-bp%2F What could be crazy enough to end a 4 month hibernation of CTE? Archives Int Med 4/08 - The UCSD Statin study yielded further evidence that statin treatment reduces blood pressure (although not by much) The RCT enrolled over 900 subjects without known CVD or diabetes. The idea was to independently assess the effect on BP. There was no inclusion / exclusion criteria regarding baseline BP. Subjects were randomized to pravastatin, simvastatin, or placebo. Treatment with a statin resulted in about a 2-2.5 point drop in SBP and DBP. The treatment was stopped at 6 months, and the blood pressures returned to baseline by month 8 - further suggesting that this was a true effect. Beatrice A. Golomb; Joel E. Dimsdale; Halbert L. White; Janis B. Ritchie; Michael H. Criqui Reduction in Blood Pressure... Consider The Evidence: Med/Peds Journal Roundup blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1380542 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:08:17 +0100 1380542 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2510812&cid=t_103100_105_f&fid=34950&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedblog.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F04%2F17%2Fyes-statins-do-everything-even-lower-bp%2F What could be crazy enough to end a 4 month hibernation of CTE? Archives Int Med 4/08 – The UCSD Statin study yielded further evidence that statin treatment reduces blood pressure (although not by much) The RCT enrolled over 900 subjects without known CVD or diabetes. The idea was to independently assess the effect on BP. There was no inclusion / exclusion criteria regarding baseline BP. Subjects were randomized to pravastatin, simvastatin, or placebo. Treatment with a statin resulted in about a 2-2.5 point drop in SBP and DBP. The treatment was stopped at 6 months, and the blood pressures returned to baseline by month 8 – further suggesting that this was a true effect. Beatrice A. Golomb; Joel E. Dimsdale; Halbert L. White; Janis B. Ritchie; Michael H. Criqui Reduction in Bl... Consider The Evidence: Med/Peds Journal Roundup blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2510812 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:02:18 +0100 2510812 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1344614&cid=t_103100_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F262163176%2F A federal judge in Boston has denied a motion by the drugmaker to compel The New England Journal of Medicine to hand over confidential peer reviews and editorial notes, The Chronicle of Higher Education reports. The decision comes two weeks after a federal judge in Chicago agreed with two other journals - including the Journal of the American Medical Association and the Archives of Internal Medicine - that Pfizer couldn’t force them to reveal confidential info. In January, Pfizer filed a motion asking for peer-review documents it had subpoenaed from 11 studies on the drugs published by the various journals, including the NEJM, and also sought rejected studies, arguing the manuscripts might contain data that could be useful for its defense. The drugmaker is currently being sued in fed... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1344614 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:34:13 +0100 1344614 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1122214&cid=t_103100_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F12%2F30%2Farchives-complete%2F I have finally finished transferring my archives from the old homeschooledmedstudent site to here, since that one is going off-line. I’m not too pleased with a lot of what I wrote back in medical school, especially second year; but I figure I ought to save it, just to see how things change over time. I was crazy about politics back then, and it’s a little embarassing to see how much I cared about different politicians, who turn out to be nothing but broken straws. This election will be much less stressful to me, since I have no time to pay attention to it. On the other hand, I used to be bolder and more open about ethical and religious discussions, both with colleagues and with patients, than I am now. I’m not happy that I’ve gotten so wrapped up in the mechanics of... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1122214 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 01:46:30 +0100 1122214 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1106949&cid=t_103100_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F12%2F20%2Fjama-and-archives-journals-now-available-so-fill-yer-boots%2F  In the North West we’ve enjoyed access to JAMA full text for a little while but now the Archives Journals are available to all with coverage from 1998 onwards.  The usual challenge from Fade on the use of e-journals to ‘Fill yer boots’ applies! JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) Archives of Dermatology Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery Archives of General Psychiatry Archives of Internal Medicine Archives of Neurology Archives of Ophthalmology Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Archives of Surgery To use them you’ll need your Athens password from the NHS. (If you work in the North West and don’t have an NHS Athens Password this link will let you apply for one) If you need training in t... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1106949 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 11:04:11 +0100 1106949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1070358&cid=t_103100_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F195262671%2Fdistorted_self_image_from_a_br.html If you’ve ever worked with people who obsess over personal flaws … you may be looking at victims whose brain misfire.People who insist they’re ugly may have a brain glitch when processing visual details, according to Dr. Jamie Feusner. Check out the journal Archives of General Psychiatry …  to see details of  body dysmorphic disorder … which shows distorted self-images that create obsessive concerns about imagined flaws in appearance. It’s estimated that 1 to 2 percent of people suffer from this disorder … also known as BDD. Can you see  repeated cosmetic surgery … and the self-loathing that result?Scientists suggest that causes likely come in people’s gene pool … or they can result from upbringing or social p... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1070358 Wed, 05 Dec 2007 01:06:07 +0100 1070358 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=793948&cid=t_103100_145_f&fid=35710&url=http%3A%2F%2Fksdescartin.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F08%2F11%2Fa-medicine-20-tool-study-on-the-go-with-medical-e-books-plus-some-experiential-babbles-lessons-on-integration%2F As I continue to explore the many more possibilities and understand the many more practicalities of Medicine 2.0, I am happy with the main realization that it effects broader knowledge, wider accessibility for medical students and professionals, and free exchange of vital information among peers than ever before. Isn’t it wonderful? Medical e-Books predates the specific definition of Medicine 2.0. Now it seems, it was after all, its first intuition and one of its great tools. I’ve been using e-books since before I knew its name. I was not crazed up about it, just thankful for its practicality in my life back when I was a medical student and when PDAs were first introduced. It miraculously compressed shelves and shelves of books in my pocket. It became a security blanket to have... the story of healing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=793948 Sun, 12 Aug 2007 08:23:32 +0100 793948 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=741434&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F18%2Fdiabetic-trauma-patients-face-hazards%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Research, Care, ComplicationsYou may have heard that diabetics face a greater risk of complications during hospital stays. Well, now there's evidence that diabetics with trauma injuries are particularly at risk. That info comes courtesy of a large Pennsylvania study that looked at records for around 25,000 trauma patients, half with diabetes, the other half without. The study tracked the patients' progress over the course of almost twenty years. Impressive.What did they find? Twenty-three percent of the diabetic trauma patients experienced complications. That compares with only fourteen percent of non-diabetics. The diabetics also spent slightly more time in intensive care and were more likely to need ventilator support. The overall risk of infections was highe... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=741434 Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 741434 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682749&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F19%2Fscreen-for-depression-in-older-adults-with-diabetes%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Adult Onset, Research, Support Depression is often underdiagnosed and untreated in the elderly population, and for those with diabetes mellitus, the risk is greater. Researchers from the University of Florida in Gainesville found elevated depression among older diabetic adults in the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) study published this month in Archives of Internal Medicine. Health ABC, a cohort study, examined community-dwelling 70 to 79-year-old adults living in Memphis and Pittsburgh. Participants reported no depression at baseline, and were assessed annually for an average of nearly six years. Diabetes mellitus was associated with a 30% increased risk for depressed mood, and participants with poor glycemic control were associated with a... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682749 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 682749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=675452&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F14%2Fnumbers-game-predicting-risk-for-type-2-diabetes%2F This study took a 3,140-strong sample of middle-age persons, identifying them as having an average age of fifty-four, the majority overweight and over twelve percent exhibiting pre-diabetic blood sugar irregularities. Critical personal data for each patient (height, weight etc.) was recorded, then clinical models were developed through the addition of metabolic syndrome traits - that is, conditions increasing the risk for cardio trouble etc. All of this data was combined with results of the patients' responses to tests (such as the fasting insulin test). From this mass of data, these incredible people were able to pull the following fact: simple tests are all that are needed to predict Type 2 diabetes risk in middle-age. That is, basic personal variables such as whether or not you are obes... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=675452 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 675452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=631564&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F23%2Fphotography-aids-in-early-skin-cancer-detection%2F Filed under: Skin Cancer, Prevention, Research, Daily newsAs Skin Cancer Awareness Month winds down, I find myself hoping you have learned a thing or two about a disease that is far more common than we tend to believe, a diseases that in some cases is downright deadly. The month of May will soon drift away. Skin cancer will not -- unless of course we make huge, swift strides in prevention. Until this happens, though, the best we can do is be vigilant about early detection. I have an idea. Well, an idea I'm borrowing from The Archives of Dermatology.The idea: photography. Studies show patients who use photographs of their own skin for reference are better able to detect skin changes while conducting self-examinations.Got a camera handy? A buddy who can snap a few shots? If so, you may just ... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=631564 Wed, 23 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 631564 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=479858&cid=t_103100_113_f&fid=34933&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpalmdoc.net%2F%3Fp%3D1216 Medgadget reports: The Mayo Clinic and Garmin are teaming up to provide up to date health information on your cell phone. In addition to a symptom checker and first-aid tips, their software will help you find the nearest ER or urgent care center. Link : Mayo Clinic InTouch (Source: The Palmdoc Chronicles) The Palmdoc Chronicles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=479858 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 23:50:09 +0100 479858 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=479199&cid=t_103100_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F02%2F24%2Fnaps-reduce-heart-attacks%2F Filed under: Prevention, Research, Stress, Women Heart Health, Men Heart HealthMeditation, siestas, and naps all are used to re energize us. I have friends who swear by the 20 minute power nap. But in a society where everyone pumps caffeine to stay awake and working 12 or more hours a day is becoming common place, can we take the advice of the Archives of Internal Medicine telling us that taking naps reduces heart attacks? Now studies show that taking 30 minute naps in the afternoons can help reduce the risk of dying from a heart attack. Working men seemed to benefit the most from the down time. The main reasoning in the study is that naps helped reduce stress and lowering stress helps reduce the likelihood of heart attacks.In the largest study to date, Dr. Dimitrios Trichopoulos of Harvar... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=479199 Sat, 24 Feb 2007 05:00:00 +0100 479199 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=480029&cid=t_103100_105_f&fid=34950&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedblog.wordpress.com%2F2006%2F11%2F20%2Fthiazides-increase-diabetes-allhat-says-dont-worry%2F Archives IM 11/13- ALLHAT data first made news with the conclusion that older, thiazide type diuretics were just as effective at reducing hypertension related disease as newer types of anti-hypertensives. One result of the study that is less well known is that thiazides appeared to increase the risk of incident diabetes. In the last issue of Archives, the ALLHAT investigators addressed this issue more directly.[Article] The investigators performed post hoc analyses on the subgroups assigned to Ca-channel blockers, ACE-Is, and thiazides. Patients with known diabetes prior to start of therapy were excluded from analysis, as were those without baseline fasting blood glucose(FG) levels. The data shows that all subjects had an increase in FG, but the thiazide group had a significantly greater i... Consider The Evidence: Med/Peds Journal Roundup blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=480029 Tue, 21 Nov 2006 04:08:08 +0100 480029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=480158&cid=t_103100_122_f&fid=34962&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstrokedoc.typepad.com%2Fstroke_doc%2F2006%2F10%2Fhigh_stroke_ris.html A recent study finds that sickle cell patients who have been undergoing transfusions to reduce their risk of stroke are at high risk of having a stroke if transfusions are stopped. Summary: (As reported by David Gillis in the February 7 issue of Neurology Today.  Based on N Engl J Med 2005;353:2769-2778.) Children with sickle cell disease are at high risk of suffering from strokes, mainly due to the development of narrowing of the largest blood vessels of the brain.  It was previously found in the STOP trial (N Engl J Med 1998;339(1):5-11) that if patients with evidence of arterial narrowing are transfused once a month, their risk of stroke drops from about 10% per year to less than 1% per year.  In the trial, arterial narrowing was identified using special ultrasound tha... Stroke Doc blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=480158 Thu, 12 Oct 2006 01:34:39 +0100 480158 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=480034&cid=t_103100_105_f&fid=34950&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedblog.wordpress.com%2F2006%2F09%2F28%2Fzzzzzzall-about-sleep%2F So I’m an issue behind, but I had to blog on the sleep-themed Sept 18th issue of Archives of Int Med. (one of my favorite subjects). Just how important is it? Steptoe et al. found that young adult subjects that slept less than 6 hours per night were almost twice as likely to report their health as being poor - even after adjustment for socioeconomic factors, physical activity, BMI and Beck Depression Inventory scores. However, I cant help be a little cautioned by the fact that both sleep time and health status were based on self-report. From the basic science side, Irwin et al. found that monocyte production of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-alpha was significantly higher on the morning after sleep deprivation. (sounds like a bad thing) Arzt et al warn of a condition that... Consider The Evidence: Med/Peds Journal Roundup blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=480034 Fri, 29 Sep 2006 01:43:21 +0100 480034 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=480159&cid=t_103100_122_f&fid=34962&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstrokedoc.typepad.com%2Fstroke_doc%2F2006%2F09%2Fumbilical_cord_.html In this study, researchers administered human umbilical cord blood cells to rats 48 hours after they were made to suffer from a large ischemic stroke.  This corresponds to the typical time period of maximal inflammation and swelling that occurs after an ischemic stroke.  After IV infusion of the cord blood, some animals were found to have little to no evidence of poor functioning - despite having undergone an ischemic insult which typically causes nearly half of the animal's brain to suffer a stroke.  Researchers attributed the beneficial effect to a reduction in brain inflammation and apoptosis (programmed cell death) in the injured region. Commentary: While I don't normally cite studies involving animals, this study intrigued me both for the apparent strength of the effe... Stroke Doc blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=480159 Sun, 10 Sep 2006 19:42:06 +0100 480159 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=480160&cid=t_103100_122_f&fid=34962&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstrokedoc.typepad.com%2Fstroke_doc%2F2006%2F08%2Fdifficulty_in_l.html This article is very relevant to stroke patients, since the risk factors for coronary artery disease are much the same as the risk factors for ischemic stroke.  The review highlights that many people are not aware of their high risk for heart disease (and presumably stroke too) and that many of them are not achieving  recommended cholesterol and blood pressure goals.  Most interesting is the physician survey, which finds that the majority of physicians do not even use official guidelines to manage their patients' cholesterol and blood pressure.  Interestingly, while physicians cited lack of patient adherence and medication costs as barriers to patients achieving recommended prevention goals, a significant number of them also cited their own lack of time and confusion re... Stroke Doc blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=480160 Sat, 12 Aug 2006 19:52:43 +0100 480160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=480161&cid=t_103100_122_f&fid=34962&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstrokedoc.typepad.com%2Fstroke_doc%2F2006%2F07%2Fmildly_elevated.html This study demonstrates that the risk of impaired glucose tolerance is significant and deserves to be evaluated in patients who have suffered from an ischemic stroke or TIA.  For my part, I will begin to routinely test my non-diabetic stroke patients for impaired glucose tolerance. This situation is similar to what has occurred regarding glucose levels and peripheral neuropathy.  Patients with diabetes are known to suffer from nerve damage, often causing numbness of the feet and sometimes associated pain.  It was later noted that even lesser glucose elevations (impaired glucose tolerance) could cause this nerve damage.  Now neurologists routinely screen for impaired glucose tolerance in those patients with otherwise unexplained neuropathy. How should impaired glucose ... Stroke Doc blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=480161 Sat, 22 Jul 2006 17:43:21 +0100 480161 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512018&cid=t_103100_122_f&fid=34962&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstrokedoc.typepad.com%2Fstroke_doc%2F2006%2F07%2Faggrenox_superi.html A large study confirms that Aggrenox (the combination of aspirin with dipyrimadole) is superior to aspirin alone for ischemic stroke prevention. Summary: (From the Lancet, 2006 May 20;367[9523]:1638-9.) The ESPRIT study group (European/Australasian Stroke Prevention in Reversible Ischaemia Trial) organized a comparison study of aspirin alone versus the combination of extended-release dipyrimadole with aspirin for ischemic stroke prevention and the prevention of other forms of arterial occlusion.  Patients were entered into the trial within 6 months of having experienced a transient ischemic attack or small stroke of probable arterial origin and were followed for up to 5 years. A randomized trial design assigned patients to either aspirin alone (30-325mg daily; 1,376 people) or the ... Stroke Doc blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512018 Fri, 14 Jul 2006 01:58:04 +0100 2512018 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512019&cid=t_103100_122_f&fid=34962&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstrokedoc.typepad.com%2Fstroke_doc%2F2006%2F05%2Fvioxx_and_cox2_.html In this study, those taking Vioxx had a 0.4% risk of stroke.  Those taking another anti-inflammatory medication (naproxen) had only a 0.1% risk; which was found to be a statistically significant difference.  It was unclear, though, whether this represented a protective effect of naproxen, or a detrimental effect of Vioxx.  Later studies, involving use of Vioxx to prevent colonic polyps, were reviewed carefully with regard to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.  In one such study, a thrombotic event (generally an ischemic stroke or heart attack) occurred at a rate of 1.5 events per 100 patient-years in the Vioxx group and at a rate of 0.78 events per 100 patient-years in the placebo group.  This represented essentially a doubling of the risk of an event in ... Stroke Doc blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512019 Thu, 18 May 2006 22:47:43 +0100 2512019 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512020&cid=t_103100_122_f&fid=34962&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstrokedoc.typepad.com%2Fstroke_doc%2F2006%2F04%2Flow_cholesterol.html This study does nothing to challenge this notion, but it begins to explore the other side of the coin.  Is there a lower limit of cholesterol, below which one shouldn't go?  The ischemic stroke literature supports bringing LDL (so called 'bad' cholesterol) down below 100mg/dL in any patient who has suffered an ischemic stroke.  The cardiac literature supports pushing patients with coronary heart disease below 70mg/dL.  But no one knows just how low you can go to continue to achieve an overall benefit.  Clearly the lowest levels of LDL and total cholesterol in this study were associated with more hemorrhagic strokes, but if the overall risk of an ischemic stroke remains higher than that of a hemorrhagic stroke, the benefits of low cholesterol might still outweigh th... Stroke Doc blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512020 Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:05:25 +0100 2512020