FROM THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
The big news from the NEJM this week is about the PSA test
Two very large studies reported that routine screening for prostate cancer does not save many lives. The PSA (protein-specific antigen) blood test does its job of reporting the presence of prostate cancer. However, there is no way of knowing whether the cancer found should or should not be treated.
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European study
American study
NEJM Editorial
FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES
The PSA studies made the front page of the NY Times
This article summarizes the study results about what the NEJM calls “The Controversy That Refuses To Die.”
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Peanut allergies may eventually be treated by small doses of peanuts
***DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS AT HOME***
Under strict medical supervision, children’s allergies to peanuts were reduced by administering very small doses of peanuts in gradually increasing doses over long periods of time. THIS REQUIRES STRICT MEDICAL SUPERVISION.
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Off label use of botulinum toxin helps reduce post-stroke spasticity
Deep muscle injections of the toxin most often associated with reducing age-related facial wrinkles can make activities of daily living easier for individuals who have suffered a stroke.
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Allergies transfer from pollen to foods
Allergic to ragweed? You may also be allergic to zucchini.
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Pre-eclampsia may be a harbinger of heart disease
Pre-eclampsia, a serious disease of pregnancy, may indicate a higher than normal risk of developing heart disease.
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Another reason to keep that belt notched in
Waist circumference was found to have an inverse relationship to lung function.
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The results of this study seem counter intuitive
The more religious a person is, the more aggressive the treatment at the end of life is desired. Perhaps this is really an artifact of a belief in an individualized life after death rather than a relationship to just religious belief.
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Smile, kids! This dentist brings a fire truck not a drill
Dr. Robert Grunstein drives his red fire truck to schools to provide dental exams to children who would otherwise go without.
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African-Americans are at much higher risk for heart failure
There is no clear-cut reason. It may be a combination of limited access to healthcare and lifestyle.
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An alternative to deep brain stimulation for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease
Rather than stimulating the brain, researchers are heartened by the results of stimulation to the spinal cord. So far, only in rodents.
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