Article
What is the best imaging method for patients with a presumed acute stroke?
- Author:
- Roya Sadeghi, MD
- Jon Neher, MD
- Sarah Safranek, MLIS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: It depends on whether the stroke is schemic or hemorrhagic. For early detection of ischemic stroke, magnetic resonance...
Article
Does ultrasound guidance improve outcomes for steroid joint injections?
- Author:
- Andrew Lawson, DO
- Gary Kelsberg, MD
- Sarah Safranek, MLIS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Patients yes, at least in the short term. Ultrasound-guided (USG) injections of triamcinolone into the shoulder improve...
Article
How best to treat agitation in patients with irreversible dementia?
- Author:
- Stacie Beck, MD
- Mary Jo Ludwig, MD
- Sarah Safranek, MLIS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Atypical antipsychotics modestly reduce agitation compared with placebo but have significant adverse effects (strength of...
Article
Do any topical agents help prevent or reduce stretch marks?
- Author:
- Jeanne Moore, MD
- Gary Kelsberg, MD
- Sarah Safranek, MLIS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: NO TOPICAL AGENT has been proven to prevent or reduce stretch marks. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) show that cocoa...
Article
Which treatments relieve painful muscle spasms from a black widow spider bite?
- Author:
- Rob Prongay, MD
- Gary Kelsberg, MD
- Sarah Safranek, MLIS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: OPIOIDS RELIEVE PAIN and benzodiazepines ease muscle spasms in most patients with latrodectism—widespread, sustained spasms...
Article
Does anal cancer screening reduce morbidity and mortality in men who have sex with men?
- Author:
- Elizabeth Eaman, MD
- Mary Jo Ludwig, MD
- Sarah Safranek, MLIS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: IT’S UNCLEAR whether anal cancer screening benefits men who have sex with men because high-quality studies on this subject...
Article
Can probiotics safely prevent recurrent vaginitis?
- Author:
- Lucinda Jurden, MD
- Megan Buchanan, PharmD, MS
- Gary Kelsberg, MD
- Sarah Safranek, MLIS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: YES, using vaginal suppositories or eating yogurt with Lactobacillus may reduce recurrences of bacterial vaginosis...
Article
What drugs are effective for periodic limb movement disorder?
- Author:
- Yuri A. Lee, MD
- Philip Huynh, PharmD
- Jon O. Neher, MD
- Sarah Safranek, MLIS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: CLONAZEPAM improves subjective sleep quality and polysomnogram (PSG) measures of leg movements more than placebo (strength...
Article
Medication vs radioablation for Graves’ disease: How do they compare?
- Author:
- Justin Ford, MD
- Jon O. Neher, MD
- Sarah Safranek, MLIS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: THE BENEFITS ARE SIMILAR; the risks vary. Treating Graves’ disease initially with medication or radioablation (or surgery)...
Article
How does smoking in the home affect children with asthma?
- Author:
- Tina Neogi, MD
- Jon O. Neher, MD
- Sarah Safranek, MLIS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA who are exposed to smoking in the home are likely to have more severe asthma symptoms, more asthma-...
Article
Is high-dose oral B12 a safe and effective alternative to a B12 injection?
- Author:
- Jeff Lin, MD
- Gary Kelsberg, MD
- Sarah Safranek, MLIS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: YES. Both high-dose oral B12 and injected B12 raised low vitamin B12 levels and improved hematologic parameters and...
Article
Which drugs work best for early Parkinson’s disease?
- Author:
- Liza Jain, MD
- Rebecca Benko, MD
- Sarah Safranek, MLIS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: LEVODOPA/CARBIDOPA is the most effective medical therapy for Parkinson’s disease, but it’s associated with dyskinesia (...
Article
What’s best for croup?
- Author:
- Jessica Danielle Pitluk, MD
- Howard Uman, MD
- Sarah Safranek, MLIS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: A SINGLE DOSE OF CORTICOSTEROIDS is the first-line treatment for croup, resulting in fewer return visits and hospital...
Article
Does brief physician counseling promote weight loss?
- Author:
- Jessica Cabodi, MD
- Gary Kelsberg, MD
- Sarah Safranek, MLIS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: IN SOME CASES, it may. While physician counseling alone isn’t more effective for weight loss than usual care (strength of...
Article
What is the long-term educational outlook for youngsters with ADHD?
- Author:
- Jaime Payne, MD, MPH
- Gary Kelsberg, MD
- Sarah Safranek, MLIS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) complete fewer years of school, graduate from...