Internal Medicine Alert – December 15, 2007
December 15, 2007
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Diabetes and Heart Failure: Which Drug Is Best?
In patients with heart failure and diabetes, metformin is not associated with harm and may reduce all cause mortality. -
Incidental Findings on Brain MRI in the General Population
Asymptomatic brain MRI findings of infarct, cerebral aneurysms and benign tumors were fairly common in the general population. The clinical significance of these findings is unknown. -
Resolution of Chest X-ray Abnormalities in Pneumonia
Two hundred eighty-eight patients hospitalized with severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) were followed for 28 days in a prospective multicenter study. At day 7, 25% of patients had resolution of CXR abnormalities and 56% had improvement. At day 28, 53% of patients had resolution of CXR abnormalities and 78% had clinical cure. By multivariate analysis, delayed resolution of CXR abnormalities by day 7 was associated with multilobar disease, dullness to percussion by physical exam, elevated CRP (> 200 mg/L), and tachypnea (respiratory rate > 25/min.) on admission. -
Tai Chi Prevents Falls in the Elderly
A randomized controlled trial in Australia showed that a 16 week program of tai chi reduced falls by 33% in a group of elderly persons. -
Ixabepilone Injection (Ixempra™)
The FDA has approved a new drug for the treatment of advanced breast cancer. -
Clinical Briefs by Louis Kuritzky, MD
Can Exenatide be Substituted for Insulin?, Treatment of Osteoporosis Saves Bones AND Lives, and MRSA in These United States -
ECG Review: Sepsis and Tachypnea
12-lead ECG and rhythm strip obtained from an older woman with urinary sepsis and acute tachypnea. -
Pharmacology Watch
Updated Immunization Guidelines from the CDC; Do antivirals have a role in the treatment of Bell's palsy? Topiramate is a promising treatment for alcohol dependence; and FDA Actions.