Sarah Safranek, MLIS

Article

What is the best imaging method for patients with a presumed acute stroke?

Author:: Sarah Safranek, MLIS

Publish date: January 1, 2014

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: It depends on whether the stroke is schemic or hemorrhagic. For early detection of ischemic stroke, magnetic resonance imagi...

Article

Does ultrasound guidance improve outcomes for steroid joint injections?

Author:: Sarah Safranek, MLIS

Publish date: December 2, 2013

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Patients yes, at least in the short term. Ultrasound-guided (USG) injections of triamcinolone into the shoulder improve func...

Article

How best to treat agitation in patients with irreversible dementia?

Author:: Sarah Safranek, MLIS

Publish date: July 11, 2013

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Atypical antipsychotics modestly reduce agitation compared with placebo but have significant adverse effects (strength of re...

Article

Do any topical agents help prevent or reduce stretch marks?

Author:: Sarah Safranek, MLIS

Publish date: December 1, 2012

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: NO TOPICAL AGENT has been proven to prevent or reduce stretch marks. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) show that cocoa but...

Article

Which treatments relieve painful muscle spasms from a black widow spider bite?

Author:: Sarah Safranek, MLIS

Publish date: November 1, 2012

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: OPIOIDS RELIEVE PAIN and benzodiazepines ease muscle spasms in most patients with latrodectism—widespread, sustained s...

Article

Does anal cancer screening reduce morbidity and mortality in men who have sex with men?

Author:: Sarah Safranek, MLIS

Publish date: July 1, 2012

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: IT’S UNCLEAR whether anal cancer screening benefits men who have sex with men because high-quality studies on this sub...

Article

Can probiotics safely prevent recurrent vaginitis?

Author:: Sarah Safranek, MLIS

Publish date: June 1, 2012

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: YES, using vaginal suppositories or eating yogurt with Lactobacillus may reduce recurrences of bacterial vaginosis ...

Article

How does smoking in the home affect children with asthma?

Author:: Sarah Safranek, MLIS

Publish date: May 1, 2012

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA who are exposed to smoking in the home are likely to have more severe asthma symptoms, more asthma-rela...

Article

What drugs are effective for periodic limb movement disorder?

Author:: Sarah Safranek, MLIS

Publish date: May 1, 2012

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: CLONAZEPAM improves subjective sleep quality and polysomnogram (PSG) measures of leg movements more than placebo (strength o...

Article

Medication vs radioablation for Graves’ disease: How do they compare?

Author:: Sarah Safranek, MLIS

Publish date: May 1, 2012

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: THE BENEFITS ARE SIMILAR; the risks vary. Treating Graves’ disease initially with medication or radioablation (or surgery) p...

Article

Is high-dose oral B12 a safe and effective alternative to a B12 injection?

Author:: Sarah Safranek, MLIS

Publish date: March 1, 2012

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: YES. Both high-dose oral B12 and injected B12 raised low vitamin B12 levels and improved hematologic parameters and neurolog...

Article

Which drugs work best for early Parkinson’s disease?

Author:: Sarah Safranek, MLIS

Publish date: February 1, 2012

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: LEVODOPA/CARBIDOPA is the most effective medical therapy for Parkinson’s disease, but it’s associated with dyski...

Article

What’s best for croup?

Author:: Sarah Safranek, MLIS

Publish date: November 1, 2011

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: A SINGLE DOSE OF CORTICOSTEROIDS is the first-line treatment for croup, resulting in fewer return visits and hospital admiss...

Article

Does brief physician counseling promote weight loss?

Author:: Sarah Safranek, MLIS

Publish date: September 1, 2011

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: IN SOME CASES, it may. While physician counseling alone isn’t more effective for weight loss than usual care (strength...

Article

What is the long-term educational outlook for youngsters with ADHD?

Author:: Sarah Safranek, MLIS

Publish date: June 1, 2011

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) complete fewer years of school, graduate from ...