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The probiotic movement is rapidly growing and, although to date no probiotics have been approved by the FDA, they are actively marketed to the public as either foods or dietary supplements. It behooves the primary care physician to be familiar with the science, indications, and appropriate usage of probiotic therapies.
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Johnston BC, et al. Comparison of weight loss among named diet programs in overweight and obese adults: A meta-analysis.
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The FDA has approved two drugs for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Pirfenidone is an antifibrotic agent and nintedanib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Both products were approved on a fast-track priority review, with orphan status and breakthrough designation. Pirfenidone is marketed by InterMune as Esbriet and nintedanib as Ofev by Boehringer Ingelheim.
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This 150-day, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial (RCT) with 465 healthy adult volunteers (mean age 37 years old) was designed to examine the effects of probiotics on the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI).
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Patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE) are at high risk of recurrence after discontinuation of vitamin K antagonist (such as warfarin) therapy, with an approximately 10% risk of recurrence within the first year and 5% risk per year thereafter.
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Understanding the information provided in a sleep study report and knowing how to use it is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. The combined information from the sleep history and the sleep report allows diagnosis of all sleep disorders.
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Debate over the cardiovascular effects of COX-2 inhibitors has raged
for more than a year since a special communication was published in
JAMA last August suggesting an increase in cardiovascular events with
rofecoxib (Vioxx). Now a large retrospect, the cohort study from the
Tennessee Medicaid program seems to confirm the prothrombotic effects
of rofecoxib, at least in high dose.
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MRC/BHF Heart Protection Study of Antioxidant Vitamin Supplementation
in 20,536 High-Risk Individuals; Prolonged Erections Produced by
Dihydrocodeine & Sildenafil; Effect of Magnesium Supplementation of
Blood Pressure; Homocysteine-Lowering Therapy with Folic Acid,
Vitamins, and Clinical Outcome after Percutaneous Coronary
Intervention; Effect of Cataract Surgery on Motor Vehicle Accidents in
Older Adults; Inflammatory Biomarkers, Hormone Replacement Therapy, and
Incident Coronary Heart Disease
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The emergence of chronic wasting disease, a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in North American cervids, raises concern about potential transmission to humans, as has occurred elsewhere with bovine spongiform encephalopathy and vCJD.
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Phillips et al have demonstrated that increasing muscular aches and pains often associated with decreased exercise tolerance may, in fact, be due to statin therapy even in patients with normal CPK determinations.
