2014 immunization guidelines […]
Primary care corner with Dr. Geoffrey Modest: CVS (major US drugstore chain) to stop selling tobacco!!!
CVS drugstores to stop selling tobacco products […]
Primary Care Corner with Dr. Geoffrey Modest: Tracking blood pressure and sub-clinical coronary artery disease
“prehypertension” risks coronary artery disease…? […]
Primary Care Corner with Dr. Geoffrey Modest: Drug company shenanigans yet again
Dabigatran – drug company shenanigans […]
Primary care corner with Dr. Geoff Modest: FDA testosterone alert
here is the Jan 31 FDA alert about testosterone (also see link: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm384225.htm): AUDIENCE: Cardiology, Urology, Family Practice ISSUE: FDA is investigating the risk of stroke, heart attack, and death in men taking FDA-approved testosterone products. We have been monitoring this risk and decided to reassess this safety issue based on the recent publication of two […]
Primary care corner with Dr. Geoff Modest: scientific “objectivity”
sobering article in NY Times yesterday exploring the subjectivity of science (see http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/02/opinion/sunday/scientific-pride-and-prejudice.html ). we all know intuitively that behind the mystique of the rigors of science and the dispassionate quest for knowledge, there is a large human incentive to create the results we hope to find. (this is beyond the greed motive, wherein a drug company […]
Primary Care Corner with Dr. Geoff Modest: Preop testing–Many studies, little evidence
agency for healthcare research and quality (AHRQ) just came out with their synthesis of the data on routine preoperative testing (see link: http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/search-for-guides-reviews-and-reports/?pageaction=displayproduct&productID=1846 ). assessed literature on kids and adults of routine testing vs no testing or ad hoc testing, and routine vs per-protocol testing (per-protocol testing is testing a subset, eg EKG for those > 50yo, […]
PC Corner with Dr. Geoff Modest: Testosterone and CV risk
there seems to be much more demand for testosterone (i assume promoted by advertising and men’s magazines), even in inner city Boston. there have been a couple of cautionary articles in the past year or so (small RCT in 2010 of testosterone gel in men with decreased muscle function, stopped because of excess cardiovasc events; […]
PC Corner with Dr. Geoffrey Modest: CT and radiation–another view
i realize that i have spent a disproportionate amount of time writing about the risks of CT scan (and xray exposure in general). but there was a really good editorial in the NY times today by a cardiologist and radiologist (see http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/31/opinion/we-are-giving-ourselves-cancer.html?ref=todayspaper). their points: –cancer deaths are increasing relatively, as heart disease (the major killer) […]
Primary care corner with Dr. Geoff Modest: Just say water
the boston globe today had an interesting article on artificial sweeteners (see http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2014/01/27/are-calorie-sweeteners-safe/B56kqUuKVJwcEfcWx2PmhO/story.html?s_campaign=email_BG_TodaysHeadline). deborah kotz quotes some studies and interviews several people (including walt willett at harvard school of public health, who does lots of nutrition studies). their points: –more than 12% of children now drink artificially-sweetened beverages (twice the rate of 15 yrs ago) […]