Articles Tagged With:
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Baloxavir Marboxil Tablets (Xofluza)
For the first time in nearly 20 years, the FDA has approved a new antiviral drug for the treatment of influenza.
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Does CPAP Improve the Sex Lives of People With Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Among men using CPAP, prior noncontrolled case series have suggested an improvement in sexual function, albeit primarily among subjects who reported prior sexual difficulties. Although hormonal effects have been implicated in obstructive sleep apnea, no one has confirmed that low testosterone is a consequence of sleep-disordered breathing or that testosterone can rise with the use of CPAP. However, factors that clearly can improve with CPAP, such as weight gain and poor sleep quality, have shown a definite relationship to testosterone levels.
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LDL Cholesterol: How Low Do We Go?
A meta-analysis of 29 cholesterol-lowering outcome studies with baseline average low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels ≤ 70 mg/dL showed consistent major adverse cardiovascular event risk reductions down to average LDL levels of 21 mg/dL without any increase in adverse events.
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Values-based Advance Care Planning in Outpatient Oncology
A values-based advance care planning paradigm was acceptable to the vast majority of cancer outpatients but may increase distress, found a recent study.
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Primary Headaches: Look, Listen, and Diagnose Rather Than Image
The diagnosis of primary headache disorders by a computerized and clinical paradigm can predict a baseline prevalence of intracranial abnormalities on brain imaging. Some historical “red flags” in children with headaches, including morning headaches and occipital pain, are not associated with increased intracranial abnormalities.
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Code Status Conversations Often Lacking: Ethics ‘Great Resource’
Patients routinely are asked about code status upon admission, yet communication breakdowns too often occur. Expecting ethicists to sort out this important issue with every patient is, of course, unrealistic.
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Conflicts on Discharge Decision: Home or Skilled Nursing Facility?
Discharge to a skilled nursing facility is sometimes recommended in order to ensure continued independent community living for frail patients. Conflicting views as to what’s best for the patient sometimes raise ethical concerns.
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Prophylactic Antibiotics for Acute Aspiration
Researchers compared outcomes in patients with aspiration pneumonitis who received prophylactic antibiotics during the first two days after macroaspiration to patients who received only supportive care during this time. Among 200 patients meeting the acute aspiration pneumonitis case definition, antimicrobial prophylaxis was not associated with improvement in mortality.
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Students Unable to Identify Ethical Dilemmas
Faculty members in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Portland noticed a concerning pattern: Graduate students were not able to identify ethical dilemmas.
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Infections Associated With Travel to the United States
Infectious illness is common in travelers from other countries visiting the United States. Skin and soft tissue infections, respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal illness are most likely, but specific geographic illnesses such as Lyme disease also occur.