Opinion
Is intra-articular platelet-rich plasma injection an effective treatment for knee OA?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Probably not, based on the balance of evidence. While low-quality evidence may suggest potential benefit,...
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Does amniotomy shorten spontaneous labor or improve outcomes?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: No. Amniotomy neither shortens spontaneous labor nor improves any of the following outcomes: length of first stage of labor...
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What medical therapies work for gastroparesis?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: It’s unclear if there are any highly effective medications for gastroparesis (TABLE1-10). Metoclopramide...
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What’s the best VTE treatment for patients with cancer?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: No head-to-head studies directly compare all the main treatments for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in cancer patients. Long-...
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How effectively do ACE inhibitors and ARBs prevent migraines?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor lisinopril reduces the number of migraines by about 1.5 per month in...
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Do statins alter the risk or progression of dementia?
EVIDENCE-BASED SUMMARY: No. Moderate-intensity statin therapy (with pravastatin or simvastatin) doesn’t prevent progression to dementia in...
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What’s the best secondary treatment for patients who fail initial triple therapy for H pylori?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Treating patients with Helicobacter pylori infection who have failed clarithromycin-based triple therapy with either...
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How effective and safe is fecal microbial transplant in preventing C difficile recurrence?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Fecal microbial transplant (FMT) is reasonably safe and effective. In patients who have had multiple Clostridium difficile...
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How well do POLST forms assure that patients get the end-of-life care they requested?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Quite well, for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Most patients (91%-100%) who select “do not resuscitate” (DNR) on...
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Which interventions are effective in managing parental vaccine refusal?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: It’s unclear whether educational initiatives alone alter vaccine refusal. Although about a third of parents cite herd...
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What effects—if any—does marijuana use during pregnancy have on the fetus or child?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: The effects are unclear. Marijuana use during pregnancy is associated with clinically unimportant lower...
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Do pedometers increase activity and improve health outcomes?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Yes. In overweight and obese patients, exercise interventions using a pedometer increase steps by about a mile per day over...
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Does breastfeeding affect the risk of childhood obesity?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Yes. Ever having breastfed during the first year of life is associated with a 15% lower risk of overweight or obesity over...
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Which patients with metabolic syndrome benefit from metformin?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Patients at highest risk for progression to diabetes benefit from metformin.
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Does knuckle popping lead to arthritis?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: No, habitual knuckle popping, or cracking (over the course of several decades) isn’t associated with clinical or...