Use of a protocol based on wound culture results after irrigation and surgical debridement of open
fractures appears to result in a low rate of infection and may help guide decisions on wound closure timing,
according to research published in the Aug. 18 issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint
Surgery.
Plantain and broccoli soluble plant fibers inhibit the translocation of Escherichia coli across
microfold epithelial cells and Peyer's patches, but an emulsifier in many processed foods increases it, according
to research published online Sept. 2 in Gut.
Gender-specific posterior cruciate-substituting high-flexion knee prostheses don't appear to have any
clinical advantages over standard models, at least in the short term, according to research published in the Aug.
18 issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Administration of a pre-procedural statin drug significantly reduces myocardial infarction after both
percutaneous coronary intervention and non-cardiac surgery, and also lowers the risk of atrial fibrillation after
coronary artery bypass grafting, according to research published online Aug. 30 in the Journal of the American
College of Cardiology to coincide with the European Society of Cardiology Congress, held from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1 in
Stockholm, Sweden.
Statin therapy does not appear to be associated with increased cancer rates and mortality, according
to research presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress, held from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1 in Stockholm,
Sweden.
The extent of coronary collateral flow in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients prior to
mechanical reperfusion may predict their long-term clinical outcomes, according to research published in the Sept.
1 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
An automated molecular test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and resistance to rifampin -- Xpert MTB/RIF
-- allows for rapid and sensitive detection of tuberculosis and rifampin resistance, according to research
published online Sept. 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Use of acetaminophen in children may increase the risk of asthma, eczema, and rhinoconjunctivitis,
according to research published online Aug. 13 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care
Medicine.
Both gastric bypass and gastric banding are cost-effective ways to reduce diabetes-associated
complications and mortality among severely obese individuals with diabetes, according to research published in the
September issue of Diabetes Care.
Archaeologists in Turkey have unearthed two obsidian blades used as bronze age surgical tools and skulls showing evidence of scarring. What makes you think they were used for surgery? We have found traces of cuts on skulls in a nearby graveyard. Out of around 700 skulls, 14 have these marks. They could only have been [...]
After more than 50 years as a dermatologist, Denny Tuffanelli, M.D., considers it an honor and a
privilege to care for patients. He spends five-and-a-half days a week at a group dermatology practice in San
Francisco, where he practices with his daughter, general dermatologist Lucia Tuffanelli, M.D. The patriarch,
clinical professor emeritus at the University of California, San Francisco, continues to see consults at four
hospitals.
The science to prove claims that oral supplements help reduce the signs of skin aging is lacking. But
one dermatologist says she believes that supplementing with specific vitamins, oils and other nutrients plays an
important role in anti-aging treatments — especially when patients do not get enough of these
nutrients in their diets.
A novel triceps augmentation procedure using specially designed silicone implants is becoming
increasingly popular in the cosmetic surgery arena, allowing patients to realize their desired aesthetic muscle
contour quickly and safely.
The mind can initiate various diseases and conditions, generally termed psychosomatic medicine, and
this may include unexplained pain after cosmetic procedures. Integrating this concept into therapy and addressing
the psyche and psychosocial issues in patients with psychosomatic disease are the first steps toward achieving
lasting relief of their symptoms.
Patients with heart failure with normal ejection fraction have a similar peak exercise pulmonary
capillary wedge pressure compared to controls but at a lower workload, and the condition is marked by depressed
reserve capacity with a variety of issues related to cardiovascular function, according to two studies published in
the Sept. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
While surgical and medical oncologists do not think twice about combining treatments such as surgery,
chemotherapy and radiation therapy, in the treatment of cancer patients, dermatologists rarely use adjuvant
therapies once they have excised skin cancers, according to one dermatologist.
In overweight or obese subjects with cardiovascular disease and diabetes, long-term use of sibutramine
is associated with an increased risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction and nonfatal stroke but not cardiovascular
death or any-cause death, according to a study in the Sept. 2 issue of the New England Journal of
Medicine.
The excimer laser is proving to be the most effective treatment for vitiligo, at least for
dark-skinned patients who are afflicted with the disease on their faces. According to one expert, the condition
greatly affects the self-esteem of patients, especially when it's on the face.
Exercise, sun, a nice meal and a little wine sounds like the perfect prescription for a good and
healthy life, and it might be — unless this is a patient who suffers from rosacea. But how should a
physician approach the treatment of a condition when contributing factors consist of daily living?
The perception of beauty can vary greatly between cultures. Nevertheless, one plastic surgeon believes
that the outcomes of cosmetic rejuvenation should be approximated to the age of the patient, so that the final
aesthetic results are natural-looking.
Third-generation radiofrequency (RF) technology such as that used in the EndyMed PRO device (EndyMed
Medical) not only targets deeper tissues for more effective skin tightening, but also it can do so painlessly. The
novel 3DEEP technology is an innovative advance in RF therapy used in aesthetic skin-rejuvenation
treatments.
One of the most difficult lessons that I have had to learn since entering private practice four years
ago is that patients want to have their say. In fact, sometimes this is the main reason for the office visit. If we
do not understand the full motivation of the person seeking our care, we may fail that patient in a very profound
way.
Nonablative fractional resurfacing with a 1,927 nm thulium laser (Fraxel re:store Dual System, Solta
Medical) is showing promise for offering a well-tolerated, safe and effective treatment for multiple facial actinic
keratoses (AKs), according to the results of a study presented by Roy G. Geronemus, M.D., at Laser 2010, the 30th
annual American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery conference.
A near-infrared pulsed laser is being developed as a novel skin-rejuvenation technology. Initial
studies show the nonthermal treatment is safe, well tolerated and can be used to create lesions isolated within the
dermis that lead to new collagen formation.
The newest theory of wrinkle formation is that wrinkles are related to a defective clone of cells that
reproduce over a lifetime to produce a skin fold. DNA damage is at the center of the wrinkle.
To successfully treat lentigo maligna melanoma and its precursor, lentigo maligna, Mohs micrographic
surgery using MART-1 immunostains is a technique touted by experts, according to David Brodland, M.D., who
practices in Pittsburgh.
A trio of studies published online Sept. 1 in Cancer Prevention Research highlight the possibility
that metformin and possibly other biguanide drugs may eventually prove useful in chemoprevention of various
cancers, including lung and colon cancer.
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can distinguish mice with the Huntington's disease (HD)
mutation from normal mice, and it holds promise for rapidly and non-invasively diagnosing neurological degenerative
diseases, according to a study in the Oct. 15 issue of the Journal of Comparative Neurology.
Intensive blood pressure therapy does not affect hypertensive chronic kidney disease progression in
most black patients compared to standard blood pressure control, but a potential benefit has been seen for some
patients with proteinuria, according to a study in the Sept. 2 issue of the New England Journal of
Medicine.
Insomnia with objective short sleep duration is related to an increased risk of mortality among men,
according to research published in the Sept. 1 issue of SLEEP.
Implementation of the Red Flags Rule by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which would require
doctors and other businesses to take specific steps to minimize identity theft, has been delayed until a federal
appeals court rules on a lawsuit by the American Bar Association (ABA).
Increased selenium intake may decrease bladder cancer risk by 39 percent, according to a meta-analysis
published online Aug. 31 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
If congenital nevi are small, there is insufficient evidence to suggest they should be removed, for
they are not likely to transform into melanoma, according to the chief dermatologist at Phoenix Children's
Hospital, Phoenix. However, giant nevi present a much higher risk, says Ron Hansen, M.D., F.A.A.D., a
board-certified dermatologist and board-certified pediatrician.
The prevalence of intra-atrial re-entrant tachycardia in a large group of survivors of the Fontan
operation is lower than that reported in previous studies, and certain factors appear to be linked to development
of this problem, according to research published in the Sept. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of
Cardiology.
Dermatologists may be able to breathe a sigh of relief over the final rules for the government's
electronic health record (EHR) incentive program released July 13 — but only a small sigh. Although
the rules are hardly light reading, understanding them and putting them into operation is essential to successful
participation in the government's bonus payment program for EHRs.
In obese adolescents, fatty liver -- independent of visceral fat and intramyocellular lipid content --
is associated with impaired insulin activity in the muscles and liver; along with other findings, this suggests the
liver plays a key role in insulin resistance in these individuals, according to research published in the August
issue of Diabetes Care.
Although many dermatologists have not yet embraced social media — such as the wildly
popular Facebook — for their practices, others are finding that these tools can provide a targeted,
cost-efficient and increasingly useful channel for connecting with patients, experts say.
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Clinicians can opt to switch patients to another therapy if they develop drug-induced pigmentation,
can consider opting to prescribe a therapy that won't produce dermatological toxicity from the outset, or they can
maintain patients on the therapy if the hyperpigmentation is tolerable.
Dermatologists should be able to diagnose and treat disorders of the oral and vaginal mucous membranes
with the same authority they bring to skin problems, experts say.
Experts say a few clear rules will help physicians effectively engage patients via social media. They
advise making a plan and writing a policy that delineates privacy and other requirements. Avoid postings that sound
like sales pitches, and don't "friend" your patients.
Mid-level caregivers are taking on an ever-larger role in dermatologic care. According to professional
organizations, about 11,500 board-certified dermatologists practice in the United States. In addition, there are
about 3,000 dermatology physician assistants and 1,650 nurse practitioners working in dermatology offices
— or the equivalent of about one mid-level dermatologic caregiver for every 2.5
dermatologists.
Debulking surgery for advanced ovarian cancer results in similar outcomes whether it is done before or
after adjuvant chemotherapy, according to a study published in the Sept. 2 issue of the New England Journal of
Medicine.
Cognitively stimulating activity may slow cognitive decline prior to dementia onset in Alzheimer's
disease but lead to faster decline after onset, according to a study published online Sept. 1 in
Neurology.
A major cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the Finnish population is the chromosome
9p21 locus that overlaps with a haplotype recently reported to be associated with frontotemporal dementia,
according to research published online Aug. 31 in The Lancet Neurology. A second study published in the same issue
found strong evidence of a genetic association of two single nucleotide polymorphisms on chromosome 9 with sporadic
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
The American College of Cardiology Foundation, the American Association of Cardiovascular and
Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and the American Heart Association have issued updated performance measures on cardiac
rehabilitation and secondary prevention services for patients who have experienced a cardiac event. The new
performance measures were published online Aug. 30 in the Journal of the American College of
Cardiology.
Two years ago, Dr. Reputation noticed a slowdown in his practice, which he attributed to the poor
national economy. Recently, however, other dermatologists have reported an upturn in their schedules. One day, a
loyal patient tells Dr. Reputation that a popular physician grade website gives Dr. Reputation a failing grade. Can
Dr. Reputation sue to find out the methods used by the website?
Surgeons are achieiving more reliable outcomes with fewer complications when performing browlifts,
according to Angelo Cuzalina, M.D., D.D.S, a maxillofacial surgeon and cosmetic surgeon who is board-certified by
the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.
Because the pharmacokinetics of three popular botulinum toxin products differ, there's no shortcut to
determining equivalent therapeutic doses, according to one expert.
Anti-aging strategies have been growing in popularity for the past decade, and even though the world
economy continues to struggle and these interventions are inarguably elective, they show no signs of
decline.
Although setting up a cosmetic practice requires commitment and creativity, such practices can help
insulate dermatologists against the impact of a sluggish economy, an expert says.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) announced at press time that it is scuttling a proposal to
adopt British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) guidelines for management of actinic keratoses (AKs). The move
follows a June public comment period during which academy members expressed "significant concerns"
about the proposal, sources say.
A system for generating a 3-D photo simulation of augmentation mammaplasty outcomes is still a work in
progress, but it offers a number of benefits as a tool for patient consultation and planning of breast implant
surgery, according to Brett Kotlus, M.D., M.S.
Inhibiting transforming growth factor-β1 expression in CD34+ cells may prove therapeutic
for patients with type 2 diabetes by increasing the cells' vascular repair ability, according to research published
in the August issue of Diabetes.
: skip to main skip to sidebar HMS Countway Library of Medicine Director's Blog Harvard Medical School's Countway Library of Medicine and the new frontiers in biomedical computing 2010-08-31 What does a Harvard Medical or School of Public Health student think when she first tours the library Circulation and reference staff gave tours and orientations to the incoming medical and public health students and just wrote down every question that the students asked . The students volunteered these questions , and they were not prompted . The word cloud below represents their questions . It will be interesting to see if this cloud will change with time for this group . Hat tip Wendy Brown Posted by Isaac Zak Kohane at 3:49 PM Email This BlogThis Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Google
A chemical analysis of the bones belong to ancient Nubians show that they regularly consumed tetracycline. A chemical analysis of the bones of ancient Nubians shows that they were regularly consuming tetracycline, most likely in their beer. The finding is the strongest evidence yet that the art of making antibiotics, which officially dates to the [...]
Somatic symptoms of depression appear to more strongly predict cardiovascular events than cognitive
depressive symptoms in individuals with stable coronary heart disease, according to research published in the Sept.
7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Among women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, risk-reducing mastectomy is linked to a lower risk of
breast cancer, and risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy is associated with numerous benefits, including lower risk
of ovarian cancer and first breast cancer diagnosis, according to research published in the Sept. 1 issue of the
Journal of the American Medical Association.
Among pediatric patients, most medical gynecologic issues can be managed in the primary care office
setting, usually without a pelvic examination; although, when a pelvic exam is required, the primary care office
may be the best setting, according to a clinical report published online Aug. 30 in Pediatrics.
Among patients with stage III colon cancer, the use of multivitamins during and after adjuvant
chemotherapy is not associated with a lower recurrence rate or improved survival, according to a study published
online Aug. 30 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Very low-birth-weight and very preterm infants born at hospitals without specialized neonatal care
have higher mortality risks than those born at specialized level III hospitals, according to a meta-analysis
published in the Sept. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Almost a third of deliveries in the United States are by cesarean section, and more than 30 percent of
cesareans can be attributed to pre-labor repeat cesarean delivery due to a previous uterine scar, according to
research published online Aug. 13 in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Multiple sclerosis activity -- both incidence and severity -- appears to be higher in the spring and
summer, according to research published in the Aug. 31 issue of Neurology.
An increased risk of cerebral palsy is seen in individuals who were delivered at 37 or 38 weeks of
gestation or at 42 weeks or later, compared to 40 weeks, according to research published in the Sept. 1 issue of
the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Among women who previously were diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, alcohol drinking may
increase the risks for disease recurrence and death, especially in postmenopausal and overweight and obese women,
according to research published online Aug. 30 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Eating a variety of vegetables and fruits may reduce the risk of lung cancer in current smokers,
according to research published online Aug. 31 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers &
Prevention.
In 2005, motor vehicle crashes in the United States resulted in more than 3.7 million deaths or
injuries requiring medical care, as well as loss of productivity and medical costs reaching nearly $100 billion,
according to research published in the August issue of Traffic Injury Prevention.
In individuals with prehypertension or stage-1 hypertension, a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and
low-fat dairy, and low in fats and cholesterol appears to reduce the long-term risk of coronary heart disease,
according to a study published online Aug. 31 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
A biobehavioral environmental intervention -- Care of Persons with Dementia in their Environments --
is associated with better functioning in patients with dementia after four months, as well as benefits for
caregivers, according to research published in the Sept. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical
Association.
Compared with standard unfractionated heparin, low-dose unfractionated heparin does not appear to
reduce peri-percutaneous coronary intervention bleeding and vascular access-site complications in patients with
non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes, according to research published online Aug. 31 in the Journal of
the American Medical Association to coincide with the European Society of Cardiology Congress, held from Aug. 28 to
Sept. 1 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Physicians' decisions to initiate growth hormone therapy in children with idiopathic short stature are
mostly consistent with established guidelines, but their recommendations regarding growth hormone continuation are
more strongly influenced by contextual and attitudinal factors than by growth response to therapy, according to
research published online Aug. 30 in Pediatrics.
Dry weather in the UK has revealed “cropmarks” indicating the presence of hundreds of previously unknown archaeological sites. The surveys show marks made when crops growing over buried features develop at a different rate from those nearby. The newly-discovered Roman and prehistoric settlements include a site near Bradford Abbas, Dorset. The Roman camp was revealed [...]
The American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee on Infectious Diseases has updated its recommendations
on the routine use of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine as well as antiviral medications for the prevention and
treatment of influenza among children; the recommendations are part of a policy statement published online Aug. 30
in Pediatrics.
The American Urological Association has published new guidelines for the screening of siblings and
offspring of index patients with vesicoureteral reflux and infants with prenatal hydronephrosis in the September
issue of The Journal of Urology.
Veterans of the first Gulf War with chronic musculoskeletal pain appear to be more sensitive to
heat-pain stimuli after acute exercise, according to research published in the August issue of the Journal of
Pain.
In individuals who have a history of myocardial infarction and are receiving state-of-the-art
antithrombotic, antihypertensive, and lipid-modifying treatment, low-dose n-3 fatty acid supplementation does not
appear to reduce the rate of major cardiovascular events, according to a study published online Aug. 29 in the New
England Journal of Medicine to coincide with the European Society of Cardiology Congress, held from Aug. 28 to
Sept. 1 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Ivabradine significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization due to
worsening heart failure in patients with a high heart rate, which itself appears to be an independent risk factor
for heart failure, according to two studies published online Aug. 29 in The Lancet to coincide with the European
Society of Cardiology Congress, held from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Researchers have identified clinical descriptors that can help clinicians identify which patients with
atherothrombosis are at highest risk for future cardiovascular events. This research has been published online Aug.
30 in the Journal of the American Medical Association to coincide with the European Society of Cardiology Congress,
held from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1 in Stockholm, Sweden.