Comment: Although we are all used to seeing troponin used to rule in or out a heart attack, this study shows it can be used for prognostic chronic risk stratification. It shows there is a population of older, asymptomatic people who, despite having no history of MI or overt CVD, are walking around with a […]
Comment: A more recent study, this one was in women and showed that nuts and this time seeds are perfectly safe for diverticulitis. Corn actually decreased the risk. Summary: 🎯 Clinical Bottom Line This large prospective cohort study provides compelling evidence to refute the historical dogma that women should avoid “particulate” foods—specifically nuts, seeds, corn, […]
Comment: Not only do nuts not increase incidence, but they actually decrease the incidence. Another example of ‘logical’ thinking that was wrong on testing, but still endures. One of my favorite quotes ever, from the lead researcher, in that it underlines so much of medical thinking:“It is not exactly clear where this idea came from […]
Comment: I don’t usually review abstracts, but I think this is interesting enough that it’s worth posting at the very least to mark the dosing strategy, which finally mimics what we do clinically. The most compelling takeaway from the TARGET-D trial isn’t just the reduction in recurrent Myocardial Infarction (MI), but how they achieved it: through […]
Comment: This massive Swedish cohort study serves as a critical update for anyone managing contraception. While the absolute risk remains low—approximately 1 extra case per 7,752 users per year—the relative increase in breast cancer risk is substantial, driven largely by specific hormonal components. The overall Hazard Ratio of 1.24 suggests a 24% increase in relative […]
Comment: It’s not like using B12 is a shocking new concept – it’s commonly used for brain and memory issues. This study adds that measuring serum B12 alone isn’t sufficient. The protective association was driven by the composite score, not standard cobalamin levels. To truly ensure our patients are utilizing B12 for neuroprotection, we must […]
Comment: This one’s a bit of a favorite, as I don’t think anyone who measures vitamin D serum levels in clinical practice believes the IOM suggested dose could possibly be accurate. Here the authors point out a statistical mistake that was made and reassesses the same data to come to extrapolate to a far higher […]
Comment: This is a graph that I keep close at hand as I share it with patients very frequently. It shows how diverse the requirements are to achieve adequate serum vitamin D levels, and how the actual supplementation level to get most people into target range is far higher than the IOM recommendations, which were […]
Comment: The evidence summarized here makes a powerful case for melatonin as a therapeutic agent in cardiovascular health, a potent, naturally occurring neuroendocrine hormone with impressive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. What stands out most is the breadth of its potential benefits: from protecting the heart muscle during a heart attack (I/R injury) to suppressing damage […]
Comment: This meta-analysis offers a compelling signal for melatonin’s role in palliative care for Heart Failure (HF). The statistically significant and moderate-certainty finding that melatonin improves Quality of Life (QoL) is highly relevant for patients struggling with chronic symptoms. The observed reduction in fatigue and improvement in sleep quality strongly supports this benefit. However, the […]
