BMJ  2003;327:E104 (4 October), doi:10.1136/bmjusa.02040003 (published 12 August 2002)

BMJ USA: Journal rack

Journal rack

This article originally appeared in BMJ USA

This section calls attention to new studies and systematic reviews, selected by the Editor from journals published just as this issue went into production (approximately 2 months before publication). The Journals hand-searched for the Journal Rack are: American Journal of Medicine, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, Circulation, JAMA, Journal of Family Practice, Journal of General Internal Medicine, Journal of the American Board of Family Practice, JNCI, Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, and Pediatrics. Studies are noted that might directly influence clinical practice decisions in primary care and have been classified by type of problem addressed.

Cardiovascular—A RCT involving 7705 osteoporotic women reported that raloxifene did not reduce cardiovascular risk (Barrett-Connor et al. JAMA Feb 20 2002;287:847-857).

Cardiovascular—A 14-country study involving 9251 patients reported that 30% of those presenting with ST-segment elevation within 12 hours of symptom onset did not receive reperfusion therapy. The rate for the US was 33% (Eagle et al. Lancet Feb 2 2002;359:373-377).

Cardiovascular—A RCT involving 5059 patients who had had acute myocardial infarction found that the combination of warfarin and low-dose aspirin provided no added benefit over aspirin alone (Fiore et al. Circulation Feb 5 2002;105:557-563).

Endocrine—A RCT involving 3234 persons with impaired glucose tolerance found that intensive weight management and physical activity reduced the incidence of diabetes by 58% (Knowler et al for the Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group. N Engl J Med Feb 7 2002;346:393-403).

Endocrine—When 111 patients measured their blood glucose levels using their own monitors, 53% of the values fell within 10% of the reference standard and 84% fell within 20% of the standard (Alto et al. J Am Board Fam Pract Jan-Feb 2002;15:1-6).

Gastroenterological—A study involving 84 patients found that the stool antigen test for Helicobacter pylori had a sensitivity and specificity of 94% and 97%, respectively, in detecting persistent infection 35 days after triple eradication therapy (Vaira et al. Ann Intern Med Feb 19 2002;136:280-287).

Endocrine—Among 355 residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota diagnosed with hepatitis C in 1990-1999, follow-up testing, referral to a gastrointestinal specialist, and treatment for hepatitis C occurred in 49%, 60%, and 14% of patients, respectively (Yawn et al. J Fam Pract Feb 2002;51:135-140).

Geriatric—A systematic review of 38 trials found that home- and group-based interventions to increase physical activity among older adults achieved participation rates of 84–90% (van der Bij et al. Am J Prev Med Feb 2002;22:120-133).

Geriatric—Modeling data from 801 subjects suggested an inverse association between cognitively stimulating activities and the development of Alzheimer's disease (Wilson et al. JAMA Feb 13 2002;287:742-748).

Geriatric—A systematic review of 18 trials concluded that home visits help prevent nursing home admissions if they involve multidimensional geriatric assessment and multiple visits, and they are targeted at persons at lower risk of death (Stuck et al. JAMA Feb 27 2002;287:1022-1028).

Infectious Diseases—Surveillance in 3 US communities found that introduction of varicella vaccination was followed by a significant decline in new cases and varicella-related hospitalizations (Seward et al. JAMA Feb 6 2002;287:606-611).

Infectious Diseases—A survey of 728 adults aged 18-35 found that 8% had untreated gonococcal or chlamydial infection, more than the number diagnosed and treated annually (Turner et al. JAMA Feb 13 2002;287:726-733).

Mental Health—Interviews with 12 physicians caring for 66 patients who were not receiving recommended treatment for depression found that, after weighting, 76% of the barriers related to the patient rather than to the physician or system (Nutting et al. J Gen Intern Med Feb 2002;17:103-111).

Mental Health—A RCT involving 2763 postmenopausal women reported that hormone replacement therapy was associated with improved mental health and fewer depressive symptoms in women who had flushing at study entry, but it was associated with greater declines in physical function and energy in women without flushing (Hlatky et al. JAMA Feb 6 2002;287:591-597).

Musculoskeletal—A Dutch RCT involving 185 patients found that corticosteroid injections were more effective for lateral epicondylitis at 6-week follow-up, but physiotherapy was more effective at 52 weeks (Smidt et al. Lancet Feb 23 2002;359:657-662).

Musculoskeletal—A RCT involving 351 postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density reported that daily oral zoledronic acid, a potent bisphosphonate, was no more effective than intravenous infusion once per year (Reid et al. N Engl J Med Feb 28 2002;346:653-66).

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