Dyslipidemia patterns among U.S. Hispanics/Latinos
Dyslipidemia is highly prevalent among U.S. Hispanics/Latinos; Cubans seem particularly at risk. Determinants of dyslipidemia varied across Hispanic backgrounds, with socioeconomic status and acculturation having a significant effect on dyslipidemia prevalence. This information can help guide public health measures to prevent disparities among the U.S. Hispanic/Latino population. The American Journal of Medicine
(9/2014) Share: 
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GFR decline as an end point for clinical trials in CKD
Determining the optimal outcomes for clinical trials in kidney disease is difficult, as kidney disease is often slowly progressive and subclinical in its early stages. Levey et al. report on the conclusions drawn at a recent National Kidney Foundation- and FDA-sponsored workshop examining alternative surrogate end points in trials of chronic kidney disease. The workshop concluded that a confirmed decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate of 30% over two to three years may be an acceptable surrogate end point for some patients. It further noted that a 40% decline may be a more reliable surrogate outcome, though case-by-case consideration is vital. American Journal of Kidney Diseases
(12/2014) Share:
The fentanyl story
Fentanyl, introduced more than 50 years ago, has become the most often used opioid for intra-operative analgesia. Since the early 1990s, the fentanyl patch has been available for the management of chronic pain of all forms of cancer as well as for persistent, intense noncancer pain. This paper describes why this opioid has become so important in the treatment of pain. The data indicate that fentanyl's popularity has occurred because it has minimal cardiovascular effects, does not result in increases in plasma histamine, is relatively short in onset of action and duration of effect, is easy and inexpensive to synthesize and prepare for the market place, and is now familiar to clinicians working in pain and perioperative medicine all over the world. The Journal of Pain
(10/2014) Share:
Increasing colorectal screening for underserved populations
Low-income and racial/ethnic minority populations are less likely to receive colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in spite of disproportionate CRC burden and poorer survival. To address barriers to screening, an "implementation intentions" intervention was implemented for unscreened adults in safety-net clinics. Participants who received implementation intentions were more likely to complete CRC screening than those in the comparison group. Those most likely to complete screening included participants with a history of asthma, no history of diabetes and those who had had never heard that "cutting on cancer" makes it spread. (Available for CME Credit) American Journal of Preventive Medicine
(11/2014) Share:
Staff attitude influence on hospice referral
Timely referral to hospice care for dying patients is important, but attitudes of nursing home staff toward hospice can influence hospice referral rates. More than 1,800 nursing home staff (certified nursing assistants, nurses and social workers) from 52 Indiana nursing homes were asked six survey questions. Those who had cared for hospice patients were asked six additional questions. The majority of staff favored hospice care. Some opportunities for improvement that were highlighted were coordination of care and responsiveness to patient needs. (Free abstract only.) Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
(9/2014) Share:
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Report: Disabilities affect 40% of adults over age 65
A National Institute on Aging report that analyzed U.S. Census data from 2008 to 2012 found almost 40% of adults over age 65 had at least one disability and nearly 15% had three or more. Disabilities studied included problems with hearing, sight, cognition, walking, self-care and independent living. Problems with walking and climbing stairs were most common, affecting two-thirds of elderly adults who have a disability, the report said. HealthDay News
(12/2) Share:
Study suggests link for Mediterranean diet, longer lifespan
People whose diets were closest to a Mediterranean-style plan had longer cell telomeres, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital reported in the British Medical Journal. Shorter telomeres have been linked to greater disease risk and a shorter lifespan. The study says other healthy diets also were associated with longer telomeres compared with a typical American diet, but that the Mediterranean plan led to the longest on average. The Boston Globe (tiered subscription model)
(12/3) Share:
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Physician website ratings don't align with care quality, study finds
A study in JAMA Internal Medicine found that while 1 in 3 patients use online physician ratings to select a doctor, website ratings did not appear to reflect a clinician's quality of care based on standard measures. The study "highlights the need for more valid and reliable physician quality information to be made publicly available," said lead author Bradley Gray. BeckersHospitalReview.com
(12/2) Share:
U.S. sees higher health costs, less access to care
A Radius Global Market survey revealed about 25% of American families visited doctors less often and were less likely to gain access to branded drugs due to health insurance limitations. Data also showed almost 50% of respondents reported higher health care costs over the past year, and nearly half of them said higher premiums contributed to the increase in spending. BeckersHospitalReview.com
(12/2) Share:
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Study: Many celiac disease patients have nontraditional symptoms
Italian researchers said that patients diagnosed with celiac disease who reported traditional symptoms decreased from 47% in the first 10 years of a study to 13% in the final five years. The study in Gastroenterology found that many patients reported nonclassical symptoms, such as bloating, osteoporosis and anemia, while only 27% said they experienced diarrhea, a common symptom. Reuters
(11/26) Share:
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The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship."
-- William Blake, British painter and poet Share:
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