Medscape Clinical Briefs

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Walking Speed Predicts CV Mortality in Older People CME Fast walkers should find themselves less likely to succumb to cardiovascular death, according to a new French study in older adults.
  Heartwire CME, November 2009
• Mammographic Breast Density May Help Predict Risk for Local Breast Cancer Recurrence CME A study shows that mammographic breast density is an important risk factor for local breast cancer recurrence among women not receiving breast irradiation.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Sole Use of Monofilament Testing Not Recommended to Diagnose Peripheral Neuropathy CME A systematic review suggests that despite the frequent use of monofilament testing, little can be said about the test accuracy to detect neuropathy in feet without visible ulcers.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Prone Positioning May Not Improve Survival Duration in Patients With ARDS CME In a randomized controlled trial, prone positioning did not provide survival benefit in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome or in subgroups of patients with moderate and severe hypoxemia.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Direct Transfer to ICU May Benefit Some Patients Without Major Criteria for Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia CME A secondary analysis shows that some patients without major consensus guideline criteria for severe community-acquired pneumonia may benefit from direct transfer to the intensive care unit.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Hematuria/Dysuria May Be Inconstant in Children With Recurrent Abdominal Pain/Urolithiasis CME In children younger than 8 years, abdominal pain is often central or diffuse; additional warning signs of urinary stones are infrequent pain attacks and a family history of urolithiasis.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Serum Phosphorous, Kidney Function Predict CAC CME High serum phosphorus levels and reduced kidney function at levels considered normal predict coronary artery calcification, which shed light on a nontraditional mechanism for cardiovascular disease.
  Heartwire CME, November 2009
• Postnatal HIV Transmission Seen After Infant Prophylaxis Stopped CME HIV virus transmission via breast milk occurred after antiretroviral prophylaxis was stopped, suggesting that infant prophylaxis was only effective while the agents were being administered.
  Reuters Health Information CME, November 2009
• Hypertension, Inflammatory Markers More Common in Offspring of Patients With Alzheimer's CME Study results suggest that the associations are independent of APOE genetic status and underscore the need to assess offspring for primary prevention of hypertension.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• On-Demand Preferred to Daily Chest Radiographs for Mechanically Ventilated Patients CME A randomized study suggests that on-demand vs daily chest radiographs could reduce costs and radiation exposure without compromising safety in mechanically ventilated patients.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Management of Diverticular Bleeding Reviewed CME A review provides clinical recommendations for treating diverticular bleeding in the family practice setting.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Management of Cardiac Rehabilitation Reviewed CME A review for clinicians provides recommendations for cardiac rehabilitation in the primary care setting.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Role of Primary Care Clinicians in HIV Management Reviewed CME/CE A review describes the role of primary care clinicians in the treatment of patients with HIV infection.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• PTSD Linked to Patient-Reported Cardiovascular Health Status CME In the Heart and Soul Study of patients with heart disease, posttaumatic stress disorder was more associated with patient-reported cardiovascular health status vs objective cardiac function measures.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009