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Internal Medicine Alert – November 15, 2014

November 15, 2014

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  • Who Is Shopping for You?

    In a study of young adults, attempted physician deception to obtain a pharmaceutical drug was found to exist in a limited manner along with general characteristics of those patients who may divert medications.
  • Medical Treatment Is Effective, ­But Only if It is Used

    In this randomized controlled trial, those sleep apnea patients who received a brief (< 1 hour, total) motivational education program had substantially better continuous positive airway pressure adherence in a short-term follow-up.
  • Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir Tablets (Harvoni ® )

    The first fixed-dose combination drug product has been approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection. The combination contains a previously approved HCV nucleotide analog NS5B polymerase inhibitor, sofosbuvir (SOF), and a NS5A inhibitor, ledipasvir (LDV). This represents the first treatment option for HCV genotype 1 that does not require ribavirin or interferon.
  • Insulin Pump Outperforms Multiple Injections in Type 2 Diabetes

    Sometimes despite best efforts on the part of the clinician and the type 2 diabetes patient, A1c goals are not met. Although in some circumstances the underlying limitation to goal attainment is readily discernible (hypoglycemic episodes, non-compliance, medication misadministration, excessive weight gain, other adverse effects), it is not always so clear.
  • Chest Pain and an Anterior ‘Culprit’

    The ECG in the Figure was obtained from a patient with new-onset chest pain. What is the likely culprit artery? Is this patient a good candidate for acute reperfusion?