Authors

Community-acquired MRSA pericarditis

Only 2 cases of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) pericarditis have been reported in the English literature. Over the last 15 years, CA-MRSA has emerged as an increasingly common pathogen that is genetically and epidemiologically different from hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA).

Can Tamoxifen Prevent Breast Cancer?

The IBIS-I randomized control trial included women of ages 35-70 from 37 health centers in eight countries from April, 1992, until March, 2001 that were deemed to be at increased risk of developing breast cancer (by virtue of family history of breast cancer or abnormal benign breast disease), and randomized to treatment with oral tamoxifen or placebo for 5 years.

Assessing prognosis in heart failure: What is the role of the 6-minute walk test?

Heart failure affects approximately 5 million Americans, and more than 500 000 new cases are diagnosed each year.

Use of Social Media by Health Care Professionals

Sometimes the line between personal and professional gets blurred.

Vitamin D and Hypertension in Older Patients

Noninvasive assessment of coronary artery bypass grafts with 64-slice computed tomographic angiography

We evaluated the accuracy of the 64-slice computed tomography (CT) angiography scanner in subjects who were scheduled to undergo invasive angiography for possible stenosis in coronary artery bypass grafts. Results showed that the improved resolution of CT scanners with 64-slice technology allowed for a precise delineation of bypass graft occlusion or stenosis. It permitted an accurate noninvasive assessment of bypass grafts, even in subgroups of subjects with suboptimal scan conditions, such as those with arrhythmias or higher heart rates.

7 Geriatric Conditions You Should Not Overlook

Medication May Worsen Sleep Instability in Patients with Parkinson Disease

Patients with Parkinson disease had more pronounced sleep instability than those with other disorders marked by alpha-synuclein buildup, but those differences diminished after adjusting for medication differences, a new study found.

Extreme lipoprotein(a) levels and myocardial infarction

We conducted a study to determine whether high lipoprotein(a) levels predicted the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemic heart disease. Unlike other studies, we measured lipoprotein(a) levels shortly after sampling and corrected for regression dilution bias.

Trends in stroke over the past 50 years: The Framingham Study

A significant reduction in the age-adjusted incidence of stroke in men and women and 30-day mortality in men was shown in a community-based cohort study with biennial assessment of vascular risk factors and active surveillance for incident stroke over the past 50 years. Lifetime risk, severity of stroke, and 30-day mortality in women were stable. Increased life expectancy results in an increase in lifetime risk. This increased longevity is balanced by improvements in risk factor management, yielding no significant change.

Older Woman With Scaling Behind Her Ears

This 69-year-old woman requested evaluation of scaling behind her left ear, which has been present for 8 months after she started a new shampoo.