Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for prostate cancer is controversial. Experts have suggested more personalized or more conservative strategies to improve benefit-risk tradeoffs, but the value of these strategies—particularly when combined with increased conservative management for low-risk cases—is uncertain. A new study published on JAMA suggests that for PSA screening to be cost-effective, it needs to be used conservatively and ideally in combination with a conservative management approach for low-risk disease.
United to End TB
Today is World TB Day and WHO calls on governments, communities, civil society, and the private sector to “Unite to End TB”. WHO and partners are promoting dialogue and collaboration that unites individuals and communities in new ways to end the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic. 43 million lives were saved through effective diagnosis and treatment, 2000-2014, yet 480,000 people developed multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in the world in 2014.
Picks of the Week: New guidelines and safety warnings on opioids
Sharing news within a peer community, such as the Among Doctors network, is a way of socially curating knowledge. Whether you wish to post your own piece of news, a guideline or a recently published article, or just start a new discussion within your own private group, Among Doctors is the right place to do all of that. So let’s have a look at what news have been shared lately on our network by fellow colleagues:
- CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
This guideline provides recommendations for primary care clinicians who are prescribing opioids for chronic pain outside of active cancer treatment, palliative care, and end-of-life care. - Opioid Pain Medicines: New Safety Warnings Added to Prescription Opioid Medications
FDA is warning about several safety issues with the entire class of opioid pain medicines. These safety risks are potentially harmful interactions with numerous other medications, problems with the adrenal glands, and decreased sex hormone levels. We are requiring changes to the labels of all opioid drugs to warn about these risks. - Long-Term Results of Stenting versus Endarterectomy for Carotid-Artery Stenosis
Over 10 years of follow-up, no significant differences were found between patients who underwent stenting and those who underwent endarterectomy with respect to the risk of periprocedural stroke, myocardial infarction, or death and subsequent ipsilateral stroke. - The ABC (age, biomarkers, clinical history) stroke risk score: a biomarker-based risk score for predicting stroke in atrial fibrillation
A novel biomarker-based risk score for predicting stroke in AF was successfully developed and internally validated in a large cohort of patients with AF and further externally validated in an independent AF cohort. The ABC-stroke score performed better than the presently used clinically based risk score and may provide improved decision support in AF.
Opioid Pain Medicines: New Safety Warnings Added to Prescription Opioid Medications
The FDA is warning about several safety issues with the entire class of opioid pain medicines. See the FDA Drug Safety Communication for a complete listing. These safety risks are potentially harmful interactions with numerous other medications, problems with the adrenal glands, and decreased sex hormone levels.
Picks of the Week: Primary care, mental health and more!
A plethora of news were shared on the Among Doctors network last week by fellow physicians; a result of a community which starts to grow with members wishing to share what they have appraised. Primary care and mental health, asthma over diagnosis, updates on the Zika virus and a new report on eHealth from the European office of the WHO. Let’s see the latest top news:
- Getting Primary Care at the Psychiatrist’s Office
People with severe mental illnesses are more likely to die prematurely than those without, and it’s often from treatable chronic diseases—in part because many, don’t receive regular medical care. - Overdiagnosis of asthma in children in primary care: a retrospective analysis
Overdiagnosis of childhood asthma is common in primary care, leading to unnecessary treatment, disease burden, and impact on quality of life. However, only in a small percentage of children is a diagnosis of asthma confirmed by lung function tests. - From innovation to implementation – eHealth in the WHO European Region
A new report on e-Health in the WHO European Region reveals that tangible progress has been made, with clear benefits for many countries. In most Member States, it has become commonplace for technology to be used to deliver health services and public health improvements, such as electronic health records. - Effects of Long-Term Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin on Fractures and Bone Density in Non-Pregnant Adults
Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for 3–6 months may not increase the risk of fractures, but longer exposure for up to 24 months may adversely affect bone mineral density (BMD). Clinicians should consider monitoring BMD in adults on long-term LMWH who are at increased risk of bone loss or fracture.
Picks of the Week: Updates on diabetes mellitus
This week many news updates were shared by fellow colleagues on the Among Doctors network. As many of you have already experienced, with this feature we can all become editors by appraising and sharing new evidence and other piece of news with the rest of your network. Give it try by sharing something interesting from your home page on Among Doctors, and let us know your thoughts!
Let’s see the latest top news:
- Cancer incidence in persons with type 1 diabetes: a five-country study of 9,000 cancers in type 1 diabetic individuals
On average, type 1 diabetes confers an excess incidence of several cancers: persons with type 1 diabetes had a higher incidence of cancer of the liver, pancreas, kidney, endometrium and ovary and a lower incidence of prostate cancer than those in the general population. However, similar to the findings for type 2 diabetes, the HRs of cancer were highest at time of diabetes diagnosis and declined over time. - Diagnosis and Management of Diabetes: Synopsis of the 2016 American Diabetes Association Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes
The synopsis focuses on 8 key areas that are important to primary care providers. The recommendations highlight individualized care to manage the disease, prevent or delay complications, and improve outcomes. - Effect of Behavioral Interventions on Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing Among Primary Care Practices
Among primary care practices, the use of accountable justification and peer comparison as behavioral interventions resulted in lower rates of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory tract infections.