In the News
Internal medicine residency match results encouraging
The number of U.S. senior medical students choosing categorical internal medicine residencies increased this year for the fourth consecutive year, according to the 2013 National Resident Matching Program.
Chlorthalidone associated with electrolyte abnormalities in older hypertensive patients
Chlorthalidone does not lead to fewer cardiovascular events and deaths than hydrochlorothiazide but may be more likely to cause electrolyte imbalances, especially hypokalemia, according to a new study.
MKSAP Quiz: following chemotherapy in the hospital
A 51-year-old man is being followed in the hospital after receiving chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia 1 day ago. Kidney function was normal at the start of his treatment, which consisted of normal saline at a rate of 200 mL/h and rasburicase on the day of chemotherapy. Following a physical exam and lab results, what is the most appropriate next step in management?
Follow-up MRIs can't distinguish between one-year outcomes after low-back procedures
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed as a one-year follow-up in patients who had been treated for sciatica and lumbar-disk herniation did not distinguish patients with persistent or recurrent symptoms of sciatica from asymptomatic patients, a study found.
Five excuses physicians and patients should question
Yul Ejnes, MD, MACP, immediate past chair of ACP's Board of Regents and a member of ACP Internist's editorial board, continues his column at KevinMD.com on five commonly used excuses for not implementing recommendations for high-value care.
Darbepoetin did not improve clinical outcomes for systolic heart failure, anemia
Darbepoetin alfa did not improve clinical outcomes in patients with systolic heart failure and mild to moderate anemia, a study found.
Outcomes for sleep apnea appear comparable in primary and specialty care
Patients with sleep apnea had comparable outcomes after treatment in primary and specialty care, indicating that primary care physicians may be able to effectively treat the condition, a new study reports.
Warning on irregular heart rhythms with azithromycin
Azithromycin (Zithromax or Zmax) can cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart that may lead to a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm, the FDA warned last week.
Put words in our mouth
ACP InternistWeekly wants readers to create captions for our new cartoon and help choose the winner. Pen the winning caption and win a $50 gift certificate good toward any ACP product, program or service.