The Mayo Clinic recently launched their first free iPhone application: Symptom Checker. Geared toward consumers, the app collects adult or child symptoms from the end-user and provides information about self-care at home or guidance on when to seek additional care. In the Clinic’s lingo, the app provides practical “action-oriented” information to consumers. The app also serves as a mobile gateway to the Mayo Clinic and its web empire (i.e., MayoClinic.com). There is information about how to beome a patient and features to facilitate scheduling appointments.
Beyond the patient care aspects of the Symptom Checker, the app is a reflection of the Mayo Clinic’s marketing genius. It not only strengthens the already preeminent reputation of the Mayo Clinic, but attracts new patients in a new and innovative manner.
The “New & Interesting” series is a biweekly compilation of select research findings, news articles, and random tidbits in bullet-point format. The entries are highly abbreviated, but provide links to the original articles or abstracts if you desire to read further.
General Articles
The Sun Herald reports on how cardiologists in Mississippi have been using the iPhone to diagnose patients more quickly through more rapid access to EKGs and other medical information (Sun Herald)
The presence of an infection at the time of gluten introduction in childhood is not a major risk factor for celiac disease (Pediatrics)
Technical Articles
Updated 2009 guidelines on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of catheter-associated urinary tract infections. This was published by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). (Clin Infect Dis)
A meta-analysis of randomized statin trials revealed a 9% increased risk of diabetes with statin use. The study authors nevertheless add that “the risk is low both in absolute terms and when compared with the reduction in coronary events. Clinical practice in patients with moderate or high cardiovascular risk or existing cardiovascular disease should not change.” (Lancet)
Successful development of human liver chimeric mouse model for the study of HBV and HCV infections (J Clin Invest)
Eradication of H pylori may help treat gastric low-grade, B-cell, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma (Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol)
The cost of designing, developing, and marketing a new pharmaceutical drug can literally exceed a billion dollars. Even millions more are invested in non-industry trials to demonstrate the efficacy — or lack thereof — of these drugs with certain medical conditions or clinical parameters. The process of getting FDA approval is another separate adventure in itself. Given the enormous effort in ensuring that drugs are safe and efficacious, it is curious that the same stringency is not applied in prescribing these drugs at the time of health care delivery.
Disclaimer: this is not a critique of health care professionals, but a discussion of some challenges surrounding medication reconciliation. Read more … »
The “New & Interesting” series is a biweekly compilation of select research findings, news articles, and random tidbits in bullet-point format. The entries are highly abbreviated, but provide links to the original articles or abstracts if you desire to read further.
General Articles
The Lancet, a prominent British medical journal, formally retracted the original article that associated the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine with autism. The article, authored by Dr. Andrew Wakefield, had caused mass hysteria among parents who refused to have their children vaccinated, leading to a rise in the incidence of measles. Follow-up studies have however debunked the original hypothesis, and retrospective review by the medical journal reveals “that several elements of the 1998 paper by Wakefield … are incorrect”. (Washington Post)
Automated telephone outreach does not increase colorectal screening rates (Arch Intern Med)
Technical Articles
PRORATA trial: Use of the biomarker procalcitonin to guide treatment of suspected bacterial infections reduced duration of antibiotic use in the intensive care unit (ICU). (Lancet)
Decreased tissue levels of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH2) are associated with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Presumably, abnormalities in autonomic function interferes with the the infant’s ability to detect and/or respond to high CO2 levels, leading to hypoxic death. (JAMA)
Doctor Anonymous hosts this week’s 
The “New & Interesting” series is a biweekly compilation of select research findings, news articles, and random tidbits in bullet-point format. The entries are highly abbreviated, but provide links to the original articles or abstracts if you desire to read further.
The cost of designing, developing, and marketing a new pharmaceutical drug can literally exceed a billion dollars. Even millions more are invested in non-industry trials to demonstrate the efficacy — or lack thereof — of these drugs with certain medical conditions or clinical parameters. The process of getting FDA approval is another separate adventure in itself. Given the enormous effort in ensuring that drugs are safe and efficacious, it is curious that the same stringency is not applied in prescribing these drugs at the time of health care delivery.
