Comment: While this is an observational study and cannot prove causation, the findings are nonetheless concerning, especially as it’s not the only study showing an association of levothyroxine use and cancer. A nation-wide study identifying a 24% increase in the odds of breast cancer associated with levothyroxine use (AOR 1.24) warrants serious attention from the […]
Comment: This is an important, large-scale population study, even with the weaknesses of the study design. An adjusted odds ratio of 1.50 for any cancer is a significant signal that cannot be easily dismissed, particularly given the strong associations noted for brain (AOR 1.90) and breast (AOR 1.24) cancers. While the authors rightly point out […]
Comment: A critical takeaway from this real-world data is the apparent lack of protection for oncology patients. The finding for the immunocompromised subgroup—which includes many patients with active cancer or on immunosuppressive therapy—is stark. A vaccine effectiveness of 30% that is not statistically significant (95% CI, -9% to 55%) means we cannot conclude there is […]
Comment: This is a crucial systematic review that directly addresses a common clinical misconception. For years, the standard advice has been to stop fish oil before surgery due to a theoretical risk of bleeding based on its known effects on platelet aggregation. What this review clearly demonstrates is that this theoretical risk does not […]
Comment: This study is a critical piece of evidence that directly challenges a long-standing piece of medical dogma. For decades, we have routinely advised patients to stop fish oil supplements before surgery, fearing an increased risk of bleeding. This was solely based on hypothesis. This robust analysis of the OPERA trial not only debunks that […]
OncWonk – Oncology Research Reviews
Comment: I am in general not a fan of intermittent fasting as my experience is it puts the body in a state of stress, which may give short term gains, but longer term negative outcomes. This is a study showing that skipping breakfast increases metabolic syndrome, including blood sugar, blood pressure, blood lipids and central […]
Meta-analyses showed reductions in the absolute risk of 0.8% (95% CI, 0.4%-1.2%) for all-cause mortality, 1.3% (95% CI, 0.9%-1.7%) for myocardial infarction, and 0.4% (95% CI, 0.2%-0.6%) for stroke in those randomized to treatment with statins,
Comment: The traditional cardiological focus on lowering LDL-C in the elderly rests on a foundation of biochemical plausibility that is increasingly dismantled by actual survival data. This systematic review identified a critical physiological disconnect: for those over age 60, high LDL-C is not a mortality stressor but is actually associated with a longer lifespan. In […]
Comment: Another in a line of studies showing that our concept of cholesterol is wrong when it comes to the outcomes that matter. This one is particularly interesting as it breaks it down by age, showing that as we get older, higher cholesterol becomes more protective. The Wonk Debate – Audio Critique & Clinical Commentary: […]
