Internal Medicine Alert – November 15, 2009
November 15, 2009
View Issues
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Do Physicians Believe in Shared Decision Making for Prostate Cancer Screening?
Although health care providers have a major influence on their patients when they decide to undergo screening for prostate cancer, shared decision making often does not occur despite recommendations. -
Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Increased Mortality in Older Adults
Low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in non-institutionalized older adults were associated with future increased mortality from all causes and from cardiovascular disease. -
Dementia Drugs Make the Ticker Sicker
Cholinesterase inhibitors place patients at risk for syncope, bradycardia, permanent pacemaker insertion, and hip fracture. -
Pralatrexate Injection (Folotyn™)
The FDA has approved the first treatment for relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Pralatrexate, an inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase, was granted accelerated approval by the FDA. It will be marketed by Allos Therapeutics as Folotyn™. -
Clinical Briefs By Louis Kuritzky, MD
The antiplatelet effect of clopidogrel is dependent upon its conversion and activation through the 2C19 pathway of the P450 system. Blockade of this pathway occurs because of genetics, in persons who do not have sufficiently active 2C19, and pharmacotherapies that specifically block 2C19. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), particularly omeprazole, are recognized to be 2C19 inhibitors. Is there reason for concern? -
ECG Review: How Many Early/Blocked Findings?
The ECG shown above was obtained from a 72-year-old woman as a baseline. How would you interpret her ECG? How many blocked and early findings can you identify?