Case Reports

Daily episodes of confusion • altered behavior • chronic sleep deprivation • Dx?

Author:

Gholam K. Motamedi, MD

Margot G. Wheeler, MD

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Case Reports

Sharp, left-sided back pain • bilateral leg weakness • degenerative disc disease • Dx?

Author:

Nicole Abel, MD

Rocco Terrigno, MD

Nami Kim, DO

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Clinical Inquiries

What is the best beta-blocker for systolic heart failure?

Author:

Stephen Hulkower, MD

Benjamin A. Aiken, MD, MSPH

Sue Stigleman, MLS

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Three beta-blockers—carvedilol, metoprolol succinate, and bisoprolol—reduce mortality equally (by about 30% over one year)...

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Clinical Inquiries

Does topical diclofenac relieve osteoarthritis pain?

Author:

Bryan Hodge, DO

Debbie Skolnik, MLS

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Yes, at least in the short term. Topical diclofenac, with and without dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), modestly improves pain and...

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Clinical Inquiries

Does frenotomy help infants with tongue-tie overcome breastfeeding difficulties?

Author:

Jeanne Cawse-Lucas, MD

Shannon Waterman, MD

Leilani St. Anna, MLIS, AHIP

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Probably not. No evidence exists for improved latching after frenotomy, and evidence concerning improvements in maternal...

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Clinical Inquiries

Is red-yeast rice a safe and effective alternative to statins?

Author:

Hsiang-Hwa Shawn Chen, MD

Jon Neher, MD

Sarah Safranek, MLIS

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Yes, but perhaps not the red-yeast rice extracts available in the United States. In patients with known coronary artery...

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Commentary

Making a diagnostic checklist more useful

Author:

E. Chris Vincent, MD

Joseph E. Scherger, MD, MPH

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Medical Verdicts

Would a cholesterol medication have made a difference? … More

Author:

John Hickner, MD, MSc

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PURLs

Skip this step when checking lipid levels

Author:

Michael Wootten, MD

Debra B. Stulberg, MD

Shailendra Prasad, MBBS, MPH

Although most guidelines recommend that patients fast before lipid testing, this study found no difference between fasting and nonfasting testing...

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