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Personalized medicine and atrial fibrillation: will it ever happen?
Steven A Lubitz, Patrick T Ellinor BMC Medicine 2012, 10:155 (4 December 2012)
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Editor’s summary
Steven Lubitz and Patrick Ellinor describe recent progress in understanding the genetics of atrial fibrillation, and discuss how genetic information can be applied in the clinic in a personalized approach to risk prediction and treatment.
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The impact of statins on psychological wellbeing: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Adrienne O'Neil, Livia Sanna, Cassie Redlich, Kristy Sanderson, Felice Jacka, Lana J Williams, Julie A Pasco, Michael Berk BMC Medicine 2012, 10:154 (3 December 2012)
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Editor’s summary
Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis reveals mood-related benefits of statins, refuting previous data showing they have adverse effects, and suggests that future trials should examine this effect in patients with depression.
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Metabolic profiles characterizing different phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome: plasma metabolomics analysis
Yue Zhao, Li Fu, Rong Li, Li-Na Wang, Yan Yang, Na-Na Liu, Chun-Mei Zhang, Ying Wang, Ping Liu, Bin-Bin Tu, Xue Zhang, Jie Qiao BMC Medicine 2012, 10:153 (30 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
Amino acid levels are altered in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and are related to insulin sensitivity, suggesting that metabolic profiling could be used to monitor PCOS development and assess the risk of developing diabetes.
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Comparison of efficacy between incretin-based therapies for type 2 diabetes mellitus
Kaustubh Nisal, Ram Kela, Kamlesh Khunti, Melanie J Davies BMC Medicine 2012, 10:152 (30 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
Melanie Davies and colleagues review the differences between two incretin-based therapies for type 2 diabetes, glucagon-like peptide agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors, and recommend effective and safe individualized treatment.
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Pathways to new drug discovery in neuropsychiatry
Michael Berk BMC Medicine 2012, 10:151 (29 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
In an observational study, Wahlquist et al. find a link between oral diabetic drug use and reduced risk of affective disorder; Michael Berk comments on this and other pathways of drug discovery for neuropsychiatry, noting that future discoveries depend on innovation.
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Increased risk of affective disorders in type 2 diabetes is minimized by sulfonylurea and metformin combination: a population-based cohort study
Mark L Wahlqvist, Meei-Shyuan Lee, Shao-Yuan Chuang, Chih-Cheng Hsu, Hsin-Ni Tsai, Shu-Han Yu, Hsing-Yi Chang BMC Medicine 2012, 10:150 (29 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
Type 2 diabetes patients treated with a combination of metformin and sulfonylurea have a lower risk of developing affective disorder than those not on these drugs, which may be relevant to reducing mental health problems in diabetes patients.
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Moving towards a population health approach to the primary prevention of common mental disorders
Felice N Jacka, Arnstein Mykletun, Michael Berk BMC Medicine 2012, 10:149 (27 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
Felice Jacka et al. discuss new evidence from studies on diet quality and common mental disorders, and argue that depression and anxiety be ranked amongst prevalent medical conditions influenced by lifestyle, to help develop prevention strategies.
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Co-prescription of medication for bipolar disorder and diabetes mellitus: a nationwide population-based study with focus on gender differences
Gjertrud Svendal, Ole Fasmer, Anders Engeland, Michael Berk, Anders Lund BMC Medicine 2012, 10:148 (27 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
There is a stronger association between the use of anti-diabetic agents and mood stabilizers in women than in men, indicating that diabetes and bipolar disorder may have shared risk pathways and women are more at risk of having both conditions.
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Mortality and guideline-concordant care for older patients with schizophrenia: a retrospective longitudinal study
Jack Y Tsan, Eileen M Stock, Jazmin M Gonzalez, David S Greenawalt, John E Zeber, Emran Rouf, Laurel A Copeland BMC Medicine 2012, 10:147 (26 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
Schizophrenia is linked to excess mortality and multimorbidity; schizophrenics in the U.S. aged 50 years or over treated appropriately for their comorbidity have improved survival, highlighting the importance of guideline-concordant care.
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The physician's unique role in preventing violence: a neglected opportunity?
John C Umhau, Karysse Trandem, Mohsin Shah, David T George BMC Medicine 2012, 10:146 (23 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
Episodes of rage and violence can have a devastating effect on people's lives, but are rarely mentioned by patients; David T George and colleagues recommend that physicians have an important opportunity to recognize and treat the problem.
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A commentary on evidenced-based parenting programs: redressing misconceptions of the empirical support for Triple P
Matthew R Sanders, John A Pickering, James N Kirby, Karen MT Turner, Alina Morawska, Trevor Mazzucchelli, Alan Ralph, Kate Sofronoff BMC Medicine 2012, 10:145 (22 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
A recent systematic review and meta-analysis on the Triple P parenting programme questioned the long-term effectiveness of the programme; Matthew Sanders and colleagues comment on the potential limitations of the analysis, and highlight the evidence-base upon which the programme has been built.
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Apps for asthma self-management: a systematic assessment of content and tools
Kit Huckvale, Mate Car, Cecily Morrison, Josip Car BMC Medicine 2012, 10:144 (22 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
A systematic assessment of apps for asthma self-management finds that none combine reliable information with appropriate supportive tools, thus physicians considering recommending these should apply caution as some apps may be unsafe.
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Methodological quality of English-language genetic guidelines on hereditary breast-cancer screening and management: an evaluation using the AGREE instrument
Benedetto Simone, Emma De Feo, Nicola Nicolotti, Walter Ricciardi, Stefania Boccia BMC Medicine 2012, 10:143 (21 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
An evaluation using the AGREE instrument indicates potential limitations in hereditary breast cancer testing guidelines, suggesting the guidelines should be improved to make clear and evidence-based recommendations.
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Impact of evergreening on patients and health insurance: a meta analysis and reimbursement cost analysis of citalopram/escitalopram antidepressants
Ali A Alkhafaji, Ludovic Trinquart, Gabriel Baron, Moïse Desvarieux, Philippe Ravaud BMC Medicine 2012, 10:142 (20 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
Pharmaceutical companies employ evergreening strategies to extend their monopoly on a drug; evidence from a meta-analysis of escitalopram versus citalopram suggests that evergreening is economically beneficial, but the clinical effect is uncertain.
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Notch signaling in pediatric soft tissue sarcomas
Rossella Rota, Roberta Ciarapica, Lucio Miele, Franco Locatelli BMC Medicine 2012, 10:141 (16 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
The clinical management of pediatric soft tissue sarcomas is challenging due to limited treatment efficacy; Franco Locatelli and colleagues review the role of notch signaling in these tumors, and discuss how the pathway could be a therapeutic target.
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Mammalian NPC1 genes may undergo positive selection and human polymorphisms associate with type 2 diabetes
Nasser M Al-Daghri, Rachele Cagliani, Diego Forni, Majed S Alokail, Uberto Pozzoli, Khalid M Alkharfy, Shaun Sabico, Mario Clerici, Manuela Sironi BMC Medicine 2012, 10:140 (15 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
Genetic variations in the Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1) gene have sex-specific effects on type 2 diabetes risk in a Saudi Arabian cohort, possibly mediated by evolutionary selection pressures of the immune system against filovirus infection.
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Commentary on the clinical management of metabolic syndrome: why a healthy lifestyle is important
Michel de Lorgeril BMC Medicine 2012, 10:139 (14 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
Michel de Lorgeril comments on a systematic review and meta analysis showing that diet and exercise interventions can help resolve metabolic syndrome, and recommends that lifestyle changes should be used as first-line management.
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Effects of lifestyle modification on metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Kazue Yamaoka, Toshiro Tango BMC Medicine 2012, 10:138 (14 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis shows that lifestyle modification incorporating various diet and exercise programs is an effective way to treat metabolic syndrome (MetS), and can reduce the severity of MetS-related problems.
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Costs of delivering human papillomavirus vaccination to schoolgirls in Mwanza Region, Tanzania
Wilm Quentin, Fern Terris-Prestholt, John Changalucha, Selephina Soteli, W John Edmunds, Raymond Hutubessy, David A Ross, Saidi Kapiga, Richard Hayes, Deborah Watson-Jones BMC Medicine 2012, 10:137 (13 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
An economic analysis of a school-based HPV vaccination project in Tanzania finds that vaccines are delivered in a cost-effective manner, and costs can be reduced further by integrating vaccine delivery with other school-based health interventions.
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A case study using the United Republic of Tanzania: costing nationwide HPV vaccine delivery using the WHO Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control Costing Tool
Raymond Hutubessy, Ann Levin, Susan Wang, Winthrop Morgan, Mariam Ally, Theopista John, Nathalie Broutet BMC Medicine 2012, 10:136 (13 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
Tanzania is presented as a case study to test the WHO C4P tool, which aims to help low- and middle-income countries estimate costs associated with HPV vaccine delivery, showing that the most important costs are related to social mobilization.
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Prognostic value of KRAS genotype in metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC) patients treated with intensive triplet chemotherapy plus bevacizumab (FIr-B/FOx) according to extension of metastatic disease
Gemma Bruera, Katia Cannita, Daniela Di Giacomo, Aude Lamy, Giancarlo Troncone, Antonella Dal Mas, Gino Coletti, Thierry Frébourg, Jean Sabourin, Mario Tosi, Corrado Ficorella, Enrico Ricevuto BMC Medicine 2012, 10:135 (8 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
Clinical outcome for metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) after bevacizumab plus chemotherapy is not significantly affected by KRAS genotype, but wild-type KRAS patients with liver-limited CRC may have better prognosis due to integration with surgery.
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Cardiac-specific catalase overexpression rescues anthrax lethal toxin-induced cardiac contractile dysfunction: role of oxidative stress and autophagy
Machender R Kandadi, Xuejun Yu, Arthur E Frankel, Jun Ren BMC Medicine 2012, 10:134 (7 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
Catalase protects against effects of anthrax infection in mice by rescuing toxin-induced cardiac contractile dysfunction and intracellular calcium anomalies, via regulation of mitochondrial function and autophagy, providing therapeutic promise in the management of toxin induced cardiovascular complications.
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Is belief larger than fact: expectations, optimism and reality for translational stem cell research
Tania Bubela, Matthew D Li, Mohamed Hafez, Mark Bieber, Harold Atkins BMC Medicine 2012, 10:133 (6 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
Tania Bubela et al. provide empirical evidence of a disconnect between the reality of progress in clinical application of stem cell therapies and public expectations, so the reporting of expected benefits and realistic timelines of such therapies should be made more transparent.
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Commentary on a recent review of lithium toxicity: what are its implications for clinical practice?
Bruno Müller-Oerlinghausen, Michael Bauer, Paul Grof BMC Medicine 2012, 10:132 (2 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
Mueller-Oerlinghausen, Bauer and Grof comment on a recent meta-analysis about the toxicity profile of lithium, but caution that toxic effects on the kidneys may be underestimated, and individual patient needs should still be taken into account when lithium use is considered by clinicians.
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Using lithium as a neuroprotective agent in patients with cancer
Mustafa Khasraw, David Ashley, Greg Wheeler, Michael Berk BMC Medicine 2012, 10:131 (2 November 2012)
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Editor’s summary
Mustafa Khasraw and colleagues review the toxic effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and explore recent evidence which indicates lithium can be used to protect against the neurocognitive decline in cancer patients receiving cranial radiation.
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