Clinical Briefs in Primary Care
RSSArticles
-
Promising News About Zika Vaccine
Clinicians look forward to confirmation of vaccine efficacy in a large population.
-
Influenza Increases Rate of Myocardial Infarction
The proportion of patients who succumb to influenza pneumonia vs. those who incur bacterial pneumonia subsequent to pneumonia vs. all other incident pneumonias that occur concomitantly with flu season is not readily discernible.
-
Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Oral Appliances
The diversity of treatment options currently available should stimulate optimism that the consequences of obstructive sleep apnea can be improved successfully in most patients.
-
Inhaled Corticosteroids and Fracture Risk
Clinicians should strive to use the minimum inhaled corticosteroids necessary to achieve symptomatic improvements in COPD patients.
-
Rivaroxaban vs. Aspirin for Prevention of VTE
Might direct oral coagulants offer some advantage for extended venous thromboembolism (VTE) thromboprophylaxis in patients undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty who are known to suffer an increased risk of VTE in the immediate postoperative period?
-
Comparing GLP-1 Agonists
There are more similarities than differences among the seven currently available glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. The most recently FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonist, once-weekly semaglutide (Ozempic), was compared in a head-to-head trial to once-weekly exenatide-ER (Bydureon).
-
The Vagaries of Reported Penicillin Allergy
The literature says that > 90% of patients who report a history of penicillin allergy can tolerate penicillin. Unstimulated penicillin sensitivity wanes over time: By age 10 years, 80% of allergic subjects are no longer allergic.
-
Osteoblast Modulation in Osteoporosis Treatment
Most pharmacologic interventions currently in use for treatment or prevention of osteoporosis rely on osteoclast inhibition to enhance (or at least maintain) bone mineral density. In contrast, teriparatide primarily works by stimulation of osteoblasts.
-
Cardiovascular Benefits of Pharmacotherapies for Type 2 Diabetes
The most recent American Diabetes Association 2018 guidance for pharmacotherapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus suggests that for patients with existing cardiovascular (CV) disease who are uncontrolled on metformin and lifestyle, consideration should be given to prioritizing agents demonstrated to provide CV risk reduction (empagliflozin, liraglutide, and canagliflozin).
-
Postprandial Glucose Excursions in Type 2 Diabetes
The most recent American Diabetes Association 2018 guidelines suggest that for persons with established cardiovascular disease who have not attained glucose goals, incorporation of agents that have shown cardiovascular risk reduction (i.e., canagliflozin, empagliflozin, liraglutide) should be a priority.