Statins May Decrease Risk of Colorectal Cancer
November 16th 2010Statins are associated with a slight reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer, according to the results of a recent meta-analysis presented at the 2010 American College of Gastroenterology meeting. Investigators at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor conducted a systematic review that included 22 studies with a total of more than 2.5 million participants.
A Spicy Weapon Against C difficile Infection?
October 23rd 2010Turmeric, a spice used in curry, may help prevent Clostridium difficile infection. Rattan Patel, MD, of Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and his colleagues found that curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) inhibited the growth of various strains of C difficile in vitro.
Dye Enhances Surveillance Colonoscopy in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis
October 23rd 2010Does dye-based chromoendoscopy improve dysplasia detection in patients undergoing surveillance colonoscopy for long-term ulcerative colitis? It does, according to Anna Buchner, MD, PhD, and her coauthors, and this raises the question of whether US guidelines should endorse dye-based chromoendoscopy for dysplasia screening in patients with ulcerative colitis.
So Sweet It Hurts: Fructose and Chronic Abdominal Pain
October 23rd 2010Consider fructose intolerance in children with chronic abdominal pain, after you have ruled out more serious GI disorders such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. A low-fructose diet can be an effective treatment, according to the results of a recent study reported at the ACG 2010 Annual Scientific Meeting.
Clinical Case Challenges in IBD: 5 Take-Home Messages
October 22nd 2010In this engaging session, 5 patients with complex and difficult cases of ulcerative colitis were presented to an expert panel, which consisted of Maria Abreu, MD, Edward Loftus, MD, and David Rubin, MD. The panel moderator was Jean-Paul Achkar, MD.
Preparing for the “Tsunami of Older Adults”
April 28th 2010Two of the numerous geriatrics offerings at this year’s ACP convention were part of a series entitled “Modifying Your Office Practice for the Tsunami of Older Adults.” This eminently apropos title was actually something of a theme for the convention as a whole. This year, only 3 clinical categories boasted more offerings than geriatrics. Clearly, primary care physicians are beginning to feel the impact of the baby boomers’ coming of age.
Vitamin D Deficiency: Hypothesis or Hype?
April 27th 2010Michael F. Holick, MD, PhD, the Boston University professor of medicine and well-known “apostle of vitamin D,” attracted a standing-room-only crowd Friday for a presentation on his favorite topic. It was a performance that had the audience at rapt attention for a full hour-not just because of the celebrity of the speaker, but because of the extraordinarily clever and engaging nature of his presentation.
What Physicians Can Do to Reduce Inequity in Global Health
April 24th 2010Early in his keynote address, James Orbinski, MD, Senior Fellow at the University of Toronto and one of the world’s leading scholars and scientists in global health, complimented the United States on the recent passage of its health care bill, a “seminal achievement” that he said brought the US “just a hair’s breadth away” from achieving universal health care.
Top 5 Courses to Attend at the AAFP Scientific Assembly
October 15th 2009To help busy primary care clinicians sort through the many offerings at the American Academy of Family Physicians Scientific Assembly this year, the editors of Consultant have prepared a short list of courses that are sure to please.
Migraine, Chronic Daily Headache, and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Researchers Establish Links
September 16th 2009Migraine and chronic daily headache may be risk factors for the development of complex regional pain syndrome, according to the results of a study led by B. Lee Peterlin, DO, assistant professor of neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia.