Effects of e-cigarettes
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) were introduced into the U.S. market in 2007 and have quickly become a popular source of nicotine for many patients. They are designed to simulate smoking by heating a nicotine-containing solution producing an aerosol that the user inhales. The short- and long-term effects of e-cigarette use are still unclear, but their use is increasing. Some acute effects of e-cigarettes on heart rate, blood pressure, and airway resistance are reported. Although there are some reports of improved cessation in a subset of users, there are also studies reporting decreased cessation in dual users of regular and e-cigarettes. Additionally, there is no current regulation of these devices, and this allows virtually anyone with a form of online payment to obtain them. The American Journal of Medicine
(7/2015) Share: 
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Calciphylaxis
In this month's AJKD, Nigwekar et al. discuss the risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment of calciphylaxis in the context of a case vignette: a 62-year-old obese woman treated with maintenance hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease secondary to diabetes mellitus. The authors emphasize that, because calciphylaxis is so uncommon, treatment and management of the condition lack consensus. However, based on their understanding, a multidisciplinary approach with careful attention to wound management and aggressive treatment of risk factors might reduce complications and mortality. American Journal of Kidney Diseases
(7/2015) Share:
Eating alone leads to depression
Older folks who live with relatives but eat alone are at particular risk of depression according to the geriatric depression scale. This was the discovery of Japanese researchers who looked at living arrangements, eating habits, and measurements of depression. Eating alone was a greater predictor of depression than living alone. As mealtime is usually a time of social engagement, those who ate alone were socially disengaging. This can lead to being depressed, which in turn can lead to physical frailty. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
(7/2015) Share:
Artemin immunotherapy for bladder pain
Pelvic/suprapubic pain is a cardinal symptom of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS), a chronic condition affecting 2.7-6.5% of women in the U.S. Injury- or disease-induced artemin (ARTN) signaling can sensitize primary afferents and contribute to persistent pain. The authors demonstrate that administration of an anti-artemin (a- ARTN) neutralizing antibody can block the development of, and reverse already established, bladder hyperalgesia associated with cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced cystitis in mice. This indicates its potential as an efficacious treatment strategy for ongoing bladder pain associated with IC/PBS. The Journal of Pain
(7/2015) Share:
Increasing chlamydia retesting rates with a dual intervention
Chlamydia retesting rates are low, in spite of the recommendation to retest three months after treatment. A randomized controlled trial was created to determine whether the addition of a postal home collection kit to a short message service (SMS) reminder at 3 months increases the percentage of patients retested for chlamydia at 1-4 months, compared to SMS alone. Chlamydia retesting rates substantially improved with addition of the postal home collection kit to routine SMS reminders in all three risk groups. Extending the intervention to other primary care settings with low retesting rates should be considered. (Available for CME credit.) American Journal of Preventive Medicine
(7/2015) Share:
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Study finds link between trauma, cardiovascular trouble in women
An analysis of nearly 50,000 women, about 35,000 of whom had experienced a traumatic event, found that those who developed severe post-traumatic stress disorder were 60% more likely to experience a heart attack or stroke than those who did not go through a traumatic event. Women who experienced a traumatic event but did not develop PTSD were 45% more likely to have a heart attack or stroke, researchers report in the journal Circulation. Researcher Jennifer Sumner said 10% of women will develop PTSD, and they are more likely to do so than men, so it's important to understand the physical health effects. HealthDay News
(6/29) Share:
Study: Hispanics may have greater cystic fibrosis mortality risk
Hispanic patients with cystic fibrosis face almost three times the risk of death as non-Hispanic patients, according to a study in the journal Chest. The research, based on data from over 1,700 patients, also found that Hispanics are more likely to have uncommon mutations in the gene that causes cystic fibrosis and they tend to develop complications sooner than other patients. HealthDay News
(6/30) Share:
Study ties rosacea to cardiovascular diseases
Researchers in Taiwan compared 33,553 patients with rosacea and 67,106 control subjects and found that those with the disease were more likely to develop hypertension, dyslipidemia and coronary artery disease than the control group. The study also found a high risk of diabetes, peripheral artery occlusive disease and cerebral infarction among men with the disease. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Family Practice News
(6/27) Share:
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Study: Too much time spent on completing infection reports
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(OLI SCARFF/Getty Images)
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A study to be discussed at the 2015 conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology showed that health care-acquired infection reporting is time-consuming and is hindering providers from effectively protecting patients from HAIs. After analyzing the laboratory test reports at Somerville, N.J.-based Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, researchers found that more than five hours daily were spent by infection preventionists to prepare their HAI reports. Researchers suggested that hospitals pay more attention to staff members' adherence to infection prevention practices instead of focusing on completing HAI reports. Healthcare Informatics online
(6/26) Share:
Study: Web-based tools show promise in helping patients with chronic pain
A study in Pain found that Web-based tools could reduce chronic pain patients' need for frequent face-to-face doctor consultations and help them manage their conditions. Researchers revealed that the anxiety, disability and average pain levels experienced by participants significantly decreased after they received online pain management programs for eight weeks, regardless of the frequency of their office visits with clinicians. Reuters
(6/26) Share:
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Love the moment and the energy of that moment will spread beyond all boundaries."
-- Corita Kent, nun, artist and educator Share:
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