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Probiotics for the Primary Prevention of Clostridium difficile Infection
The authors of a before-and-after intervention study and a meta-analysis found that probiotics reduce the incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). The strategy seems to work best in hospital settings where the incidence of CDI is ≥ 5% and for patients receiving two or more antibiotics.
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Clinicians Prescribe Antibiotics for Excessive Duration in Patients With a Diagnosis of Acute Sinusitis
Clinicians inappropriately prescribe antibiotics most often to patients with a diagnosis of acute sinusitis for durations much longer than recommended.
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A Grossly Inadequate Global Response to Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection
Only 1.5% of all individuals in the world with chronic hepatitis B virus infection are receiving treatment.
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Latent Tuberculosis Treatment With Four Months of Rifampin Compared to Nine Months of Isoniazid
In an open-label trial, adults with latent tuberculosis infection were randomized to either four months of treatment with rifampin or nine months of treatment with isoniazid. The four-month rifampin regimen was non-inferior to nine months of isoniazid for prevention of active tuberculosis. It also was associated with a higher treatment completion rate and superior safety.
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Measles From Coast to Coast: Risks, Costs, and Potential Interventions
It is expensive to respond to and control measles outbreaks in the United States. Primary outbreak prevention should focus on vaccination of travelers and encouragement of routine vaccine acceptance by those who currently are hesitant to have their children vaccinated.
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Can Hormone Therapy Prevent the Development of a ‘Dowager’s Hump’?
Postmenopausal hormone therapy may reduce the risk of developing age-related hyperkyphosis, commonly known as a “Dowager’s hump,” and the benefit from hormone therapy use in early menopause may provide long-term benefit.
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Screening for von Willebrand Disease: Warranted in Young Women With Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
A large, retrospective cohort study using a national claims database revealed that fewer than 20% of young women with heavy menstrual bleeding were screened for von Willebrand disease.
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A New Treatment for Early Pregnancy Loss
In a recent trial, researchers found that pretreatment with mifepristone followed by treatment with misoprostol resulted in a higher likelihood of successful management of first-trimester pregnancy loss than treatment with misoprostol alone. The rate of surgical evacuation also was reduced in the mifepristone pretreatment arm compared to the misoprostol-alone arm.
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Marijuana in Pregnancy
A group of investigators posing as pregnant patients called marijuana dispensaries in Colorado to determine whether the stores’ staff recommended it for nausea and vomiting, if there were risks in pregnancy, and if providers should be consulted. The results were enlightening.
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Cannabidiol Oral Solution (Epidiolex)
Epidiolex is indicated for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome in patients ≥ 2 years of age.