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Report: Hormonal Contraception Safer Than Expected for Women with Diabetes
Study results expand pregnancy planning options for women who present with diabetes.
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Calcium and Cardiovascular Risk Updates: The Bare Bones
Calcium plays a significant role in the function and diseases of the muscles (skeletal and smooth), nerves, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and renal systems. As a nutrient, it is one of the most recognized by the public for its use for osteoporosis and bone health. However, its association with cardiovascular disease risk is a more recent example of the growing understanding of calcium’s role in our health. A number of recent updates over the past year (cardiovascular disease risk in particular) are noteworthy.
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Discharge Antibiotic Prescriptions Often Are Inappropriate with Regard to Choice, Dose, Duration
Seventy percent of discharge antibiotic prescriptions are inappropriate.
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Bezlotoxumab Injection (Zinplava)
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Flu in Pregnancy: Increased Inflammation Demonstrated
In pregnant women, monocytes and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) exhibit an exaggerated proinflammatory immune response to influenza A virus compared to nonpregnant women.
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Ventilator-associated Pneumonia with Minimal Ventilatory Requirements — Discontinuing Antibiotics After Three Days
Discontinuation of empiric antibiotic therapy given for treatment of presumed ventilator-associated pneumonia can be discontinued safely after three days in patients with minimal ventilator requirements.
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Decreasing Malaria Mortality in Africa
Malaria mortality in Africa has decreased by approximately 57% during the past 15 years, but some areas still have low level use of bed nets, low coverage with antimalarial medication, and higher death rates due to malaria. At the same time, anti-malarial measures are still important for individuals traveling to endemic areas.
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A Short Course of Antibiotics for Acute Otitis Media in Children Leads to Worse Outcomes Compared to Standard Course Therapy
A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial determined that in children 6-23 months of age with acute otitis media, five days of amoxicillin-clavulanate resulted in more clinical failure compared to a 10-day course of therapy.
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Intrauterine Zika Virus Infection — Not Just Microcephaly at Birth
Manifestations of intrauterine Zika infection may not be clinically apparent at birth, warranting the use of early neuroimaging and careful follow-up.
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Zika Virus and Risk of Congenital Abnormalities
Two recent studies clarify the substantial risk of congenital abnormalities following maternal Zika virus infection. The risk is highest in the first trimester of pregnancy, and appears similar following symptomatic and asymptomatic maternal infection.