Internal Medicine Alert – March 30, 2014
March 30, 2014
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Are Hospitalists Associated with Improvements in Quality of Care?
This study demonstrates an association between the use of hospitalists by a hospital and a reduction in 30-day excess readmission rates for heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, and pneumonia. -
Inhaled Apomorphine as a Rescue Treatment in Parkinson’s Diseas
Inhaled apomorphine, at doses up to 0.8 mg, appears safe and well tolerated by patients with Parkinsons disease, but does not result in significant improvement in wearing off periods, at the tested doses. -
Choosing Myeloma Maintenance Therapy: Patient Choice
In a survey of consecutive myeloma patients from the Mayo Clinic on hypothetical constructs with varying expectations regarding overall survival benefit, toxicity, and financial burden, it was found that the majority of patients would not choose maintenance if toxicity was more than just mild and overall survival benefit was less than 1 year. Increasing financial burden (drug cost) also reduced the numbers that would choose maintenance therapy. Males were more likely than females to choose treatment in each of the scenarios presented. -
Curcumin Comparable to Fluoxetine for Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder
Curcumin, the primary active constituent of curcuma longa, is well known for its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory actions, but also has been used traditionally for conditions including depression and anxiety in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine -
Pharmacology Update: Droxidopa Capsules (Northera)
A new drug for the treatment of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH) has been approved by the FDA under its accelerated approval program. Droxidopa is a prodrug to norepinephrine. -
Clinical Briefs
The consequences of vitamin b12 (B12) deficiency most commonly include neurologic (CNS and peripheral nervous system) and hematologic (megaloblastic anemia).