Leilani St. Anna, MLIS, AHIP

Article

Do statins increase the risk of developing diabetes?

Author:: Leilani St. Anna, MLIS, AHIP

Publish date: April 1, 2015

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Yes. Statin therapy produces a small increase in the incidence of diabetes: one additional case per 255 patients taking stat...

Article

Does frenotomy help infants with tongue-tie overcome breastfeeding difficulties?

Author:: Leilani St. Anna, MLIS, AHIP

Publish date: February 1, 2015

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Probably not. No evidence exists for improved latching after frenotomy, and evidence concerning improvements in maternal com...

Article

What are the benefits and risks of inhaled corticosteroids for COPD?

Author:: Leilani St. Anna, MLIS, AHIP

Publish date: April 28, 2014

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), either alone or with a long-acting β agonist (LABA), reduce the frequency of exacerbations of...

Article

How do hydrochlorothiazide and chlorthalidone compare for treating hypertension?

Author:: Leilani St. Anna, MLIS, AHIP

Publish date: April 1, 2014

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Both medications reduce theincidence of cardiovascular events in patients with hypertension, but chlorthalidone may confer a...

Article

Do dietary choices alone alter the risk of developing metabolic syndrome?

Author:: Leilani St. Anna, MLIS, AHIP

Publish date: August 26, 2013

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: YES, but not in the short term. In studies of patient populations controlled for differences in dietary content alone, indep...

Article

Which oral antifungal works best for toenail onychomycosis?

Author:: Leilani St. Anna, MLIS, AHIP

Publish date: February 1, 2013

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: TERBINAFINE, 250 mg daily for 12 to 16 weeks, produces higher clinical cure rates than either pulsed-dose itraconazole or we...

Article

Do venlafaxine and gabapentin control hot flashes in women with a history of breast cancer?

Author:: Leilani St. Anna, MLIS, AHIP

Publish date: December 1, 2012

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: YES. Venlafaxine reduces hot flashes more than placebo in women with a history of breast cancer; adverse effects include dry...

Article

What treatments relieve painful heel cracks?

Author:: Leilani St. Anna, MLIS, AHIP

Publish date: October 1, 2012

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Emollient cream may alleviate pain and dryness and improve the appearance of heel cracks (strength of recommendation [SOR]: ...

Article

Do inhaled steroids reduce bone mineral density and increase fracture risk?

Author:: Leilani St. Anna, MLIS, AHIP

Publish date: August 1, 2012

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: NO, except perhaps at high doses. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) at low to medium doses (<1500 mcg beclomethasone hydroflu...

Article

Multivitamins for healthy children: What are the true benefits?

Author:: Leilani St. Anna, MLIS, AHIP

Publish date: August 1, 2012

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: THE BENEFITS APPEAR TO BE LIMITED. It’s doubtful that multivitamin with mineral (MVM) supplementation improves IQ in h...

Article

Intranasal steroids vs antihistamines: Which is better for seasonal allergies and conjunctivitis?

Author:: Leilani St. Anna, MLIS, AHIP

Publish date: July 1, 2012

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: INTRANASAL STEROIDS PROVIDE BETTER RELIEF for adult sufferers, according to nonstandardized, nonclinically validated scales....

Article

Postcholecystectomy diarrhea: What relieves it?

Author:: Leilani St. Anna, MLIS, AHIP

Publish date: October 1, 2011

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: A TRIAL OF A BILE ACID BINDER such as cholestyramine or colestipol may benefit patients with postcholecystectomy diarrhea (s...

Article

What’s the best way to relieve mastitis in breastfeeding mothers?

Author:: Leilani St. Anna, MLIS, AHIP

Publish date: September 1, 2011

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: FREQUENT BREAST EMPTYING helps both infectious and noninfectious mastitis (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, 1 randomized...

Article

What is the prognosis for patients with chronic urticaria?

Author:: Leilani St. Anna, MLIS, AHIP

Publish date: March 1, 2011

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: THE PROGNOSIS FOR CHRONIC URTICARIA IN PRIMARY CARE IS UNKNOWN; studies in dermatology clinics in multiple countries report ...

Article

Is cinnamon safe and effective for treating lipid disorders?

Author:: Leilani St. Anna, MLIS, AHIP

Publish date: January 1, 2011

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: IT’S PROBABLY SAFE, BUT ITS EFFECTIVENESS IS UNCERTAIN. Insufficient evidence exists to determine whether cinnamon imp...