Browse Primary Care/Hospitalist Articles by Topic

Exercise and Gut Flora: Suggestions But No Final Answers

Diversity of gut flora was significantly greater in highly trained athletes than in population controls, even after stratifying on the controls¡¯ body mass index. The athletes¡¯ level of exercise and diet may have been responsible, individually or jointly, for this phenomenon.

Licorice as an Agent in Helicobacter pylori Quadruple Therapy Regime

Individuals having peptic ulcer disease positive for Helicobacter pylori infection (diagnosed by endoscopy and biopsy with positive rapid urease test) were treated with either traditional quadruple therapy or quadruple therapy with licorice as a substitution for bismuth subsalicylate. After 4 weeks of treatment, eradication of H. pylori infection was comparable in both groups.

Vitamin D Supplementation: What's the Verdict?

Large-scale observation data indicate an inverse association with circulating vitamin D levels and risk of death due to all causes, particularly cardiovascular and cancer-related death, while supplementation with vitamin D3 appears to reduce overall mortality among older adults.

Probiotics and the Microbiome

Research about the human microbiome and the therapeutic effect of probiotics is changing fast. It can be difficult to know how to counsel our patients about this important topic.

Run, Don't Walk: Benefits for Older Adults

This study compared the metabolic cost for walking three different speeds in 30 adults at least 65 years of age, and found that those who ran on a regular basis expended less energy walking than the group that walked exclusively.

Integrative Medicine Alert - Full January 2015 Issue in PDF

Treating Diabetes May Impact Thyroid Status

In a longitudinal population-based study, metformin use was associated with an increased incidence of low thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in patients with treated hypothyroidism.

Side Effects of Opioids

More than 40% of ED visits are related to pain.1 The Joint Commission has made the assessment and treatment of pain in the ED one of its standards.2 The use of opioid medications has been increasing in both adults and children.3-5 In 2009 there were more than 200 million prescriptions for opioid medications, with enough medication dispensed to supply every adult in the United States with the equivalent of 5 mg of hydrocodone every four hours for one month.

Primary Care Reports - Full January 2015 Issue in PDF

If Less is More, How Can We Get There?

This study, done at a tertiary care university hospital here in the U.S., was initiated in an attempt to improve patient safety, conserve a vital resource, and reduce costs a laudable tripartite goal.