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Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is common in both the general population, as well as in patients with cryptogenic stroke, with an estimated prevalence somewhere between 15-35%. Recurrent neurovascular events, both recurrent ischemic stroke as well as transient ischemic attacks, are frequent in these patients, but it is not clear whether patients with PFOs have an increased rate of recurrent events compared to those patients who do not have PFOs.
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This article originally appeared in the November 29, 2014, issue of Internal Medicine Alert. It was edited by Stephen A. Brunton, MD, and peer reviewed by Gerald Roberts, MD. Dr. Brunton is Adjunct Clinical Professor, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and Dr. Roberts is Senior Attending Physician, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, NS/LIJ Health Care System, New Hyde Park, NY.
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The probiotic movement is rapidly growing and, although to date no probiotics have been approved by the FDA, they are actively marketed to the public as either foods or dietary supplements. It behooves the primary care physician to be familiar with the science, indications, and appropriate usage of probiotic therapies.
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Johnston BC, et al. Comparison of weight loss among named diet programs in overweight and obese adults: A meta-analysis.
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An objective, laboratory based diagnostic tool for depression would be extremely helpful to primary care physicians. This study using nine biomarkers holds promise that a blood test may be able to identify depressed patients among non-depressed primary care patients
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The FDA has approved two drugs for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Pirfenidone is an antifibrotic agent and nintedanib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Both products were approved on a fast-track priority review, with orphan status and breakthrough designation. Pirfenidone is marketed by InterMune as Esbriet and nintedanib as Ofev by Boehringer Ingelheim.
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This 150-day, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial (RCT) with 465 healthy adult volunteers (mean age 37 years old) was designed to examine the effects of probiotics on the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI).
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Patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE) are at high risk of recurrence after discontinuation of vitamin K antagonist (such as warfarin) therapy, with an approximately 10% risk of recurrence within the first year and 5% risk per year thereafter.
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This study examines and describes the occurrence of an inverse neurovascular coupling response in peri-contusional brain tissue as a potential and novel mechanism for secondary brain injury.
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In addition to autoantibodies directed against the acetylcholine receptor (AchR) and the receptor-associated protein muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) demonstrate a host of other antibodies.
