Clinical Conversations » Podcast Feed

It’s the usual offering: the week’s news summarized, an interview, and a quick exit. This week we talk with Steven DeKosky about his JAMA paper on the (lack of) usefulness of ginkgo extract in preventing dementia. The links will point you to a good resource on these alternative therapies and what’s known about them. Don’t hesitate to leave us a comment at 617-440-4374. News links: Statins and cardiovascular risks Journal Watch Cardiology Physician’s First Watch New England Journal of Medicine article Guidelines on second-generation antidepressants Physician’s First Watch Annals of Internal Medicine article Interview links: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine site Journal Watch Psychiatry coverage Physician’s First Watch coverage JAMA article The post Podcast 21: An interview with Dr. Steven T. DeKosky about his JAMA paper showing that ginkgo extract does not prevent dementia first appeared on Clinical Conversations.

We interviewed Steven Woloshin back in June about a method of showing patients the magnitude of the risks they face from habits like smoking. We reprise the interview while we take some time off to recharge our batteries. Interview link: First Watch coverage of Woloshin’s study in JNCI The post Podcast 20: While we take a week off, we offer the reprise of an interview with Dr. Steven Woloshin of Dartmouth Medical School. first appeared on Clinical Conversations.

This week’s podcast features an interview with the Australian researcher Susan Davis. She’s just had a study in NEJM about the effect of testosterone on low libido in postmenopausal women. We also have the usual news roundup. Enjoy! (If you don’t, let us know at 1-617-440-4374.) Journal Watch links: CDC: Most Americans with Prediabetes Don’t Know They Have It Low Maternal Caffeine Intake Linked to Fetal Growth Restriction FDA Approves Drug Treatment for Overactive Bladder Testosterone Patch Improves Sexual Desire in Postmenopausal Women Interview link: New England Journal of Medicine abstract Journal links: MMWR article on prediabetes BMJ article on maternal caffeine intake FDA announcment on bladder drug New England Journal of Medicine abstract on testosterone Election links: The 2008 election results The post Podcast 19: An interview with Dr. Susan Davis about using testosterone in postmenopausal women who have low libido. Plus, the week’s news. first appeared on Clinical Conversations.

This week we look at why infective endocarditis among the elderly has characteristics very different from its manifestations in younger patients. Prof. Riccardo Utili of the Second University of Naples is our guest. And of course we start with a brief news roundup. Journal Watch links: Breast Cancer Less Likely to Recur in Women with Vasomotor, Joint Symptoms During Early Treatment Comorbidities Associated with Delays in MS Diagnosis Statin Use Associated with Drops in PSA Levels Age Determines Clinical Characteristics of Infective Endocarditis Journal links: Breast cancer article from the Lancet Oncology Multiple sclerosis article from Neurology JNCI article on statins and PSA levels Interview links: Archives of Internal Medicine study on age and endocarditis Voting links: Federal Election Commission Presidential voting history The post Podcast 18: News plus an interview with Prof. Riccardo Utili about infective endocarditis in the elderly first appeared on Clinical Conversations.

This week Dr. Arto Strandberg, a general practitioner who does his research at the University of Helsinki, talks with us about the effects of midlife smoking on later-life living. Plus we have the usual news roundup. Journal Watch links: ACIP Recommends Pneumococcal Vaccine for Smokers ADA Updates Algorithm for Management of Hyperglycemia in Type 2 Diabetes Guidelines on GERD Management Issued Hip Fracture Risk Elevated in Heart Failure Patients Journal links: Associated Press story Diabetes Care guidelines Gastroenterology guidelines Circulation article Interview links: Archives of Internal Medicine article X-ray story links: Nature video The post Podcast 17: News plus an interview with Dr. Arto Strandberg regarding midlife smoking first appeared on Clinical Conversations.

We had trouble reaching our intended interviewee in Finland. so we rescheduled that for next week. Instead, we’re bringing you an interview with Dr. John Douglas of the CDC that we recorded in March. He talks with us about the implications of a finding that one in four young women in the U.S. has a sexually transmitted disease. But first, news. Journal Watch Links: Aspirin, Antioxidants Offer No Primary Cardiovascular Protection in Diabetes Homocysteine-Lowering with B Vitamins Doesn’t Slow Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer Disease AAP Guidelines Recommend Doubling Children’s Vitamin D Intake Smoking in Middle Age Confers Poor Quality of Life Years Later Journal Links: BMJ on aspirin and antioxidants in diabetics at risk for CVD JAMA on B-vitamin supplementation in AD Pediatrics guidelines on Vitamin D Archives article on midlife smoking Brian Eno and Will Wright discuss creativity and music and much else. The post Podcast 16: This week’s news, plus an interview recorded earlier this year with Dr. John Doug

The medical news gods were generous this week, providing a wealth of stories to choose from. Plus, the Nobel prizes were announced. We’re especially fortunate to have an interview with a researcher whose findings relate directly to your clinical work. Journal Watch links: Patients and Caregivers Benefit from End-of-Life Discussions Tiotropium Alleviates Symptoms, Doesn’t Reduce Rates of FEV1 Decline in COPD USPSTF Updates Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines Carotid Stenting vs. Endarterectomy: Longer-Term Outcomes News story links: JAMA abstract on end-of-life discussions NEJM article (free) on tiotropium USPSTF recommendations (free) in Annals of Internal Medicine Lancet Neurology abstract of first carotid study Interview links: JAMA abstract on end-of-life discussions Nobel links: Nature news article The post Podcast 15: The week’s news, plus an interview with Dr. Alexi A. Wright about her article in JAMA on end-of-life conversations and their cascading benefits first appeared on Clinical Conver

The week ending Oct. 3, 2008, was relatively slow for medical news, but crammed with news of every other sort. This week’s interview features Michael Hochman, a third-year resident in internal medicine who has just published a paper on how the media cover research on new drugs. It seems they don’t make a habit of reporting funding sources. Journal Watch links: AHA Recommends Screening Patients with Coronary Heart Disease for Depression News Media Coverage of Drug Trials Faulted Journal links: Circulation article on screening Simple screening questionnaire Interview links: JAMA abstract Science link: Scientific illustration The post Podcast 14: News roundup and interview with Dr. Michael Hochman about his JAMA paper on how the news media cover drug research. first appeared on Clinical Conversations.

This week’s podcast includes an interview with Stephen Hetz, co-editor of the recently published book “War Surgery in Afghanistan and Iraq.” Journal Watch links Thrombolysis for Stroke Within 4.5 Hours Is Safe and Effective Extending the Time Frame for Alteplase: The ECASS III Trial Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Diabetic Pregnant Women Maternal Influenza Vaccination Reduces Infant Influenza, Febrile Respiratory Illness Maternal Influenza Immunization Protects Infants Novel Approach to Infant Influenza Survival After MI Better with Drug-Eluting Than with Bare-Metal Stents Story links NEJM alteplase abstract NEJM alteplase editorial BMJ glucose monitoring article NEJM on maternal influenza vaccination NEJM stents abstract Interview link Ordering “War Surgery” through the Government Printing Office New Yorker link Finnegan article online The post Podcast 13: News and interview with Dr. Stephen Hetz, co-editor of “War Surgery in Afghanistan and Iraq” and director of medical education at Beaumont Ar

This week’s podcast includes an interview with Anne Schuchat about U.S. childhood immunization rates, along with the usual news roundup. Journal Watch links Physical Activity May Boost Cognitive Function in Older Adults Vytorin (Simvastatin + Ezetimibe) Shows Little Benefit for Aortic Stenosis New Questions and a Few Answers on Vytorin and Cancer Risks Vytorin: Navigating Uncharted Waters Omega-3s Improve Outcomes in Heart Failure Patients, Rosuvastatin Does Not Exercise and cognitive impairment http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/903/3 http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/300/9/1027 http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/extract/300/9/1077 Vytorin’s risks and efficacy http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMoa0804602 http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMsa0806603 http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/NEJMe0807200v1 http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/902/1 http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/902/2 http://cardiology.jwatch.org/cgi/content/

This week we talk with the CDC’s Irene Hall about the finding of an increased incidence of HIV infection in the U.S. Journal Watch links Do Not Screen for Prostate Cancer in Men 75 or Older, USPSTF Advises Specialties Disagree on Need for ECG Evaluations Before Prescribing ADHD Drugs Common Fertility Treatments of Little Benefit in Unexplained Infertility Prostate screening http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/805/1 http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/149/3/185 ADHD and ECG screening http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/122/2/451 http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/117/18/2407 http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/804/1 Infertility http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/808/1 http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/337/aug07_2/a716 Dr. Hall interview http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/300/5/520 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/health/03aids.html http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2008/r080803.htm Acanthamoeba polyphaga ma

This week, after our usual news roundup, Michel Ovize is our guest, and he talks about preventing reperfusion injury during interventions for myocardial infarction. It all has to do with mitochondrial pores. Journal Watch links New NAMS Position Statement on Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy Cyclosporine Attenuates Reperfusion Injury During Stenting Does Cyclosporine Protect Against Myocardial Reperfusion Injury? Pregestational diabetes http://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(08)00639-X/abstract Chronic lymphocytic leukemia http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18216293?dopt=Abstract Encephalitis http://infectious-diseases.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/730/3 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18582201?dopt=Abstract Postmenopausal hormone therapy http://www.menopause.org/PSHT08.pdf http://womens-health.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/731/3 Professor Ovize interview http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/359/5/473 http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/extract/359/5/518 http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/

This week, Robert Hogg gives us his perspective on the increasing longevity seen with HIV infection in high-income countries. Journal Watch links Lipid Screening in Childhood – New Recommendations from the AAP Consensus Statement Issued for Managing Prediabetes Medicare to Reimburse Doctors Extra for Electronic Prescriptions Lipid screening in children http://pediatrics.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/716/1 http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/122/1/198 Corticosteroid insufficiency http://hospital-medicine.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/721/1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18496365?dopt=Abstract Managing prediabetes http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/724/1 http://www.aace.com/meetings/consensus/hyperglycemia/hyperglycemia.pdf Medicare reimbursement http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/723/3 http://www.hhs.gov/news/facts/eprescribing.html Shoot Out the Lights http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121692767218982013.html The post Podcast 9: Ne

We talk with Mary Tinetti about falls in the elderly and how to prevent them. Journal Watch links It’s Safe to Eat Tomatoes Again, FDA Says U.S. Measles Hits 11-Year High – Most Cases Were Unvaccinated Which Lipids Mark MI Risk Best? Elderly Benefit from Joint Replacement, but Many Never Get the Option FDA and Tomatoes http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/718/3 http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01862.html Measles http://www.cdc.gov/Features/MeaslesUpdate/ http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/714/1 Apolipoprotein B/A1 ratio. http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/718/2 http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673608610764/abstract Joint replacement in the elderly http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/715/1 http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/168/13/1430 Dr. Tinetti interview http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/359/3/252 http://www.fallprevention.org/ http://nihseniorhealth.gov/ The post Podcast 8: News

Nelson Adams, president of the National Medical Association, joins us to discuss the American Medical Association’s apology to black physicians for its past efforts to exclude them from membership. Journal Watch links AMA Apologizes for Past Discrimination Against African-Americans FDA Calls for Boxed Warning on Fluoroquinolones Treating Hypertension Only Marginally Reduces Dementia Risk in the Very Elderly HER2 Gene Test for Patients with Breast Cancer Approved American Medical Association apology http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/711/1 Fluoroquinolones http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/709/1 Hypertension in the elderly http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/708/1 Herceptin http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/709/3 “The Americans” http://www.amazon.com/Robert-Frank-Americans-Jack-Kerouac/dp/386521584X The post Podcast 7: Interview with Dr. Nelson Adams, President, National Medical Association first appeared on Clinical Conversations.

Luigi Ferrucci joins us to discuss the prognostic value of subtle neurologic abnormalities in the elderly. Journal Watch links Mortality Rates During First 5 Years of HIV Infection Similar to Rates in General Population Survival With and Without HIV: Getting Closer Management of Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes in Men vs. Women Survival trends in HIV http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/702/1 http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/300/1/51 http://aids-clinical-care.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/701/1 Management of non-ST-elevation coronary syndromes http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/702/2 http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/300/1/71 http://content.onlinejacc.org/cgi/content/full/50/7/e1 Voyager II http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_2 The post Podcast 6: News and interview with Dr. Luigi Ferrucci, NIH Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD first appeared on Clinical Conversations.

Jack Hirsh discusses the American College of Chest Physicians’ new guidelines on antithrombotic and thrombolytic therapy. Home blood pressure monitoring http://general-medicine.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/624/2 Depression and diabetes http://psychiatry.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/623/2 http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/618/1 Stroke risk http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/624/1 Rivaroxaban http://oncology-hematology.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/625/1 The post Podcast 5: News and interview with Dr. Jack Hirsh, Professor Emeritus, Dept of Medicine, McMaster and Founding Director of the Henderson Research Centre, Hamilton Ontario first appeared on Clinical Conversations.

Larry Allen talks with us about patients’ estimates of their life expectancy, compared with what disease models predict. Antiepileptic drugs http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/619/1 Antipsychotic drug http://general-medicine.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2007/315/5 Inhalers http://pediatrics.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/618/1 Induced labor http://womens-health.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/619/1 Rate vs. rhythm http://cardiology.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/618/2 Dr. Allen interview http://depts.washington.edu/shfm/ http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/299/21/2533 http://cardiology.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/618/5 http://cardiology.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/618/5 http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/604/1 The post Podcast 4: News and interview with Dr. Larry Allen, Clinical Instructor in Cardiology, Duke first appeared on Clinical Conversations.

An interview with Steven Woloshin explores his work in showing patients the magnitude of the risks they face from, for example, smoking. Avian flu vaccine http://infectious-diseases.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/611/1 Dementia and melatonin, according to a JAMA study http://psychiatry.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/610/1 ADHD http://pediatrics.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/610/1 Revised guidelines for treating cardiac arrhythmias http://cardiology.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/611/1 Patients in ICUs http://hospital-medicine.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/609/1 Interview http://firstwatch.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/611/1 Motorcycle helmet law http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/uops-hii061008.php The post Podcast 3: Interview with Dr. Steven Woloshin of Dartmouth Medical School first appeared on Clinical Conversations.

In this week’s interview, Joseph Ross talks with us about the prevalence of guest-authorship and ghostwriting in the medical literature. Diabetes research. http://content.nejm.org/ Asthma http://general-medicine.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/603/1 Aliskiren http://cardiology.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/604/1 http://general-medicine.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/604/1 Post-stroke depression http://psychiatry.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2008/528/1 Cell phones and brain cancer http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/health/03well.html?ref=health The post Podcast 2: Interview with Dr. Joseph Ross of Mt. Sinai School of Medicine first appeared on Clinical Conversations.