Internal Medicine Alert – August 30, 2023

Alcohol: Double-Edged Sword, or Hatchet?

Researchers reported consuming two to 14 alcoholic drinks per week was associated with fewer major adverse cardiovascular events, which the authors noted could be explained in part by less stress-related neural activity demonstrated on PET and CT scans.

Antidepressants for Chronic Pain: Do They Work?

Antidepressant medications have been widely used for treating a variety of chronic pain disorders, but strong evidence to support their efficacy is lacking. Some patients may respond, but available data do not help us determine which agents may be helpful in a specific type of chronic pain condition.

Walk! A Long-Term Observational Investigation of Knee Osteoarthritis

The results of an observational study of more than 1,000 individuals age 50 years and older with knee arthritis revealed regular walking for exercise correlated with fewer reports of new knee pain and slower disease progression, as verified by radiographic evidence at eight-year follow-up.

Can Physical Activity Thwart the Negative Cardiometabolic Effects of Obesity?

Compared to normal-weight workers, overweight or obese employees in Spain exhibited a higher prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which can be partially mitigated by regular exercise.

Nirsevimab-alip Injection (Beyfortus)

Nirsevimab can be prescribed to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract disease in neonates and infants born during or entering their first RSV season.