Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine Clinical Briefs

• Folate Supplementation Linked to Increased Cancer Incidence and Mortality CME/CE The finding comes from a new analysis of data from 2 cardiovascular trials but American researchers suggest there is a benefit and no cancer problem with folic acid fortification.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Women With SCA Less Likely Than Men to Have Structural Heart Disease CME In a study, women were significantly less likely than men to have a diagnosis of structural heart disease (left ventricular dysfunction or coronary artery disease) before sudden cardiac arrest.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• New Guidelines on H1N1 Influenza Urge Quicker Use of Antivirals CME/CE Updated WHO treatment guidelines for H1N1 influenza urge clinicians to administer antiviral medications as soon as possible for patients in at-risk groups with flu-like symptoms.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Total- and HDL-Cholesterol Levels, Not Triglycerides, Predict Vascular Risk CME Clinicians can simplify their existing risk-assessment tools by measuring either total- and HDL-cholesterol levels or apolipoproteins, and this assessment can effectively be done in patients who did not fast before the test.
  Heartwire CME, November 2009
• Bypassing the Blues: How Simple Collaborative Care Can Help Tackle Depression After CABG Surgery CME/CE Depression after coronary artery bypass surgery is often overlooked by physicians but is associated with worse outcomes. A new US study illustrates a simple telephone-based approach to tackle this, with nurses encouraging patients to seek help from their primary-care doctors and providing ongoing feedback and review.
  Heartwire CME, November 2009
• A1C Variability Linked to Diabetes Complications CME A Finnish study shows that variability in glycosylated hemoglobin level vs the actual level itself predicts the development of complications in patients with type 1 diabetes.
  Reuters Health Information CME, November 2009
• Handheld Decision-Support System May Improve Diagnostic Workup for Pulmonary Embolism CME In a cluster randomized trial, a handheld decision-support system in the emergency department improved diagnostic decision making for patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• European AIDS Clinical Society Issues New Guidelines for Management of HIV CME HIV treatment guidelines call for clinicians to begin treatment of HIV-positive patients when the CD4 cell count is as high as 350 to 500 cells/mL; the initial recommended treatment is with darunavir.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Declining Muscle Strength Linked to Alzheimer's Disease CME Evidence is mounting that Alzheimer's disease affects motor function as well as cognition.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• ESAs Increase Risk for Venous Thromboembolism but Do Not Reduce Blood Transfusions CME The new findings come from a study of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents used in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy in community practices.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Natural Ventricular Rate a Powerful Risk Predictor in ICD Trial CME It's routinely assessed but underappreciated as a risk marker: the natural, unpaced heart rate of patients with implanted defibrillators was a strong, independent predictor of poor clinical outcomes in a retrospective analysis.
  Heartwire CME, November 2009
• Declining Renal Function Linked to Worse Cardiovascular Outcomes CME In individuals with or without kidney disease at baseline, declining kidney function was linked to a higher risk for heart failure, myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial disease, and early death.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Chronic Pain May Persist for Years After Breast Cancer Surgery CME Nearly half of all breast cancer patients reported having persistent pain following surgery, even after several years, according to a large Danish study.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Infections Such as Pneumonia and Herpes May Heighten Stroke Risk CME Researchers report that infections increase the risk for stroke through their aggregate effect on vascular inflammation.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• ARBITER 6-HALTS: HDL Raising With Niacin Superior to Ezetimibe CME Extended-release niacin is superior to ezetimibe in its effect on carotid intima-media thickness. While experts say the trial tells clinicians little about ezetimibe, it is a big win for niacin given the substantial regression of atherosclerosis observed at eight and 14 months.
  Heartwire CME, November 2009
• Hypothermia Decreases Brain Injury in Hypoxic Infants; MRI Aids in Predicting Prognosis CME A new study confirms that therapeutic hypothermia is helpful in reducing brain tissue injury in infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and establishes MRI as a useful biomarker of outcome at 18 months.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Long-Term Statin Use May Be Linked to Decreased Risk for Gallstone Disease and Cholecystectomy CME In men and women who had gallstone disease, long-term use of statins decreased their need for cholecystectomy, according to the results of an observational study.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• No Benefits of Aspirin for Primary Prevention in Diabetics, Meta-Analysis Suggests CME Most guideline documents recommend aspirin for primary prevention in people with diabetes, but a new meta-analysis has found no benefit of the widely used drug across a range of different cardiovascular end points. The results speak to the need for dedicated randomized trials, investigators say.
  Heartwire CME, November 2009
• USPSTF Issues New Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines CME/CE The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends against routine mammography screening for women before age 50 years and suggests that screening end at age 74 years.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Low-Fat Diet Linked to Improved Mood CME Patients who follow either low-fat or low-carbohydrate diets for 1 year lose about the same amount of weight. However, those on low-fat regimens have greater improvements in mood.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009