Article
Childhood alopecia areata: What treatment works best?
- Author:
- James W. Haynes, MD
- Robert Persons, DO
- Barbara Jamieson, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: IT’S UNCLEAR; there are no validated effective treatments for alopecia areata (AA). Topical immunotherapy (squaric acid...
Article
How does electronic fetal heart rate monitoring affect labor and delivery outcomes?
- Author:
- Craig Barstow, MD
- Robert Gauer, MD
- Barbara Jamieson, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: CONTINUOUS ELECTRONIC FETAL MONITORING (EFM) REDUCES THE RISK OF NEONATAL SEIZURE BY 50% compared with intermittent...
Article
Which drugs should post-MI patients routinely receive?
- Author:
- Victor Lin, MD
- John R. Holman, MD, MPH
- Barbara Jamieson, MLS
Article
What’s the best way to manage upper extremity venous thrombosis?
- Author:
- Clayton Rabens, MD
- Patricia Goodemote, MD
- Barbara Jamieson, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: STANDARD MANAGEMENT IS BEST: Start with unfractionated heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin and follow with long-term...
Article
How can you help prevent a recurrence of diverticulitis?
- Author:
- Lise Weisberger, MD
- Barbara Jamieson, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: A high-fiber diet may help; available evidence doesn’t support other interventions. A high-fiber diet is often prescribed...
Article
Do abnormal fetal kick counts predict intrauterine death in average-risk pregnancies?
- Author:
- Andrea L. Darby-Stewart, MD
- Carmen Strickland, MD
- Barbara Jamieson, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: No. Structured daily monitoring of fetal movement doesn’t decrease the rate of all-cause antenatal death in average-risk...
Article
What is the best way to manage phantom limb pain?
- Author:
- Lance M. Black, MD
- Robert K. Persons, DO
- Barbara Jamieson, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: No single best therapy for phantom limb pain (PLP) exists. Treatment requires a coordinated application of conservative,...
Article
What is the best treatment for oral thrush in healthy infants?
- Author:
- Cindy W. Su, MD
- Sean Gaskie, MD
- Barbara Jamieson, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Nystatin oral suspension is a safe first-line therapy; fluconazole is more effective (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B,...
Article
Are DMARDs effective for rheumatologic diseases besides rheumatoid arthritis?
- Author:
- Patricia Goodemote, MD
- Barbara Jamieson, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: It’s unclear whether disease-modifying antirheumatic agents (DMARDs) as first-line therapy in nonrheumatoid rheumatologic...
Article
Do COX-2 inhibitors worsen renal function?
- Author:
- Richard Wall, MD
- Carmen Strickland, MD, MPH
- Barbara Jamieson, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: No, COX-2 inhibitors, as a class, do not worsen renal function for those without renal disease. Celecoxib is the only COX-2...
Article
What treatment approach to intrapartum maternal fever has the best fetal outcomes?
- Author:
- Matthew Snyder, DO
- Paul Crawford, MD
- Barbara Jamieson, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: A combination of beta-lactam and aminoglycoside antibiotics are the recommended empiric agents for the treatment of acute...
Article
Does warfarin prevent venous thromboembolic events in aPL-positive patients?
- Author:
- Michael F. Mazzone, MD
- Barbara Jamieson, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Yes, warfarin is effective in the secondary prevention of venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) for patients positive for...
Article
How effective are hypertension self-care interventions?
- Author:
- Anthony J. Viera, MD, MPH
- Barbara Jamieson, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Simplification of the dosing regimen (eg, once-daily instead of multiple dosing) improves patients’ adherence to...
Article
Do topical antibiotics improve wound healing?
- Author:
- Sabina Diehr, MD
- Andrew Hamp
- Barbara Jamieson, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: The use of topical triple-antibiotic ointments significantly decreases infection rates in minor contaminated wounds...
Article
How should we manage a patient with a positive PPD and prior BCG vaccination?
- Author:
- Kathleen Rowland, MD
- Richard Guthmann, MD
- Barbara Jamieson, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Prior bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination increases the likelihood of a positive tuberculosis (TB) 5TU purified...