Browse Primary Care/Hospitalist Articles by Topic

COVID-19 Vaccination, Pregnancy, Lactation, and Fertility

Vaccination rates are notably low among pregnant women. Clinicians should underscore the safety of vaccination and the risks of natural infection, particularly in pregnancy and in patients with underlying comorbidities.

Meat Consumption Associated with Less Anxiety and Depression

A meta-analysis of 20 studies showed meat consumption resulted in better mental health, with less anxiety and depression vs. meat abstinence.

Recognizing Stroke Mimics: A Guide for Primary Care

Acute ischemic stroke is a common and significant cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States, ranking fifth among all causes of death. However, timely recognition and treatment is complicated by the fact that there are multiple conditions that mimic acute ischemic stroke. A comprehensive review suggested that approximately 74% of patients presenting with apparent acute stroke symptoms ultimately were diagnosed with stroke, thus indicating that 26% of patients had their symptoms produced by “stroke mimics.” Therefore, prompt diagnosis is complicated by a multitude of stroke mimic etiologies, including structural intracranial abnormalities, infection, syncope, vertigo, seizure, and migraine patterns, as well as underlying psychiatric causes and demyelinating diseases.

Plant-Based Diets and Menopausal Hot Flashes

In this clinical trial, women randomized to a low-fat, vegan diet including one-half cup of cooked whole soybeans daily experienced a reduction in total hot flashes of 79% compared to 49% in the control group over 12 weeks of observation.

Children and Electronics: A Longitudinal Study

This Finnish investigation of electronic media (e-media) use in young children revealed 95% of 5-year-olds studied exceeded guidelines for time spent with e-media. The authors noted an association between more screen time and additional psychosocial symptoms at 5 years old and found these associations were less prominent when measuring use of electronic games alone.

Fish Consumption, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Cardiovascular Disease

Is there enough scientific evidence to suggest there are associations between fish consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease, or of mortality, among people who consume fish compared to those who do not consume fish?

Celecoxib and Tramadol Hydrochloride Tablets (Seglentis) C-IV

Seglentis can be prescribed to adults to help them manage acute pain that is severe enough to require an opioid analgesic.

Surgical Approaches to Decompression in Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis

For patients with symptomatic lumbar stenosis and single-level spondylolisthesis who were refractory to conservative treatment, there was no significant difference between outcomes in those who underwent decompression surgery with instrumented fusion vs. decompression surgery without fusion.

Homelessness and COVID-19

Extra screening in care for homeless persons can help solve many problems, including the administration of COVID-19 vaccination to this vulnerable population.

Slow, Steady, and Synchronized Wins the Race

In patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure, definitive rate control via atrioventricular junction ablation and biventricular pacing resulted in a significant reduction in all-cause mortality vs. pharmacologic rate control.