Grand Rounds on October 3
Grand rounds volume 3 number 2.
Welcome to the Grand Rounds. October 3, 2006.
It is my pleasure to host the third edition of Grand Rounds, a weekly best of the medical weblogs. That’s already the 3rd year of the famous Blog carnival
The first one was published exactly on Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Nick kindly interviewed me at Medscape pre-rounds. I am really impressed by how he is able to maintain such high quality process of gathering everybody in medical community for several years straight with no interruptions. It’s like a full time job.
Over the years there were different forms of the presentations
There were letters (to son), there were staged performances.
The previous one was the magnificent party.
Many thanks to Nick for giving me the opportunity to host this edition of Grand Rounds. (Look Medscape’s Pre-Rounds)
Well, I will probably just describe the submitted entries and what I liked about them. You will taste yourself and I am sure you will like the entries too. There are many fascinating articles this week.
Several entries are about food, several about politics. Also read about too much drugs and antibiotics.
As Dr. Choi said the week before: join the party and add to the buzz!
Editor’s Picks
Tundra Medicine Dreams presents Really Bad Eczema
Eczema is a common, often severe problem among the children. It looks like this is one of those cases. Look at the pictures of the child with eczema.
Henry Stern, LUTCF presents A Package Deal…
Blue Cross of Minnesota has taken the lead in health care transparency. Henry Stern conducts an exclusive interview with the Blues’ Chief Innovation Officer
The Brain on the brain cartoon – just for fun.
Clinical Practice, Medical Politics
Sumer Sethi presents
How To Interpret a CXR-Good Article
He writes: “Most approaches to the teaching of radiographic interpretation involve a combination of systematic analysis and looking for remembered patterns.” I was wondering if an AI program could really read x-rays. Aren’t AI programs also perform systematic database searches and looking for patterns? Or is this just a human who can do it?
“One by one, all journals in the elite club of the “Big Five” are offering a podcast/audio summary of contents.” That’s looks like big help for those who used to listen.
BMJ Audio Pilot is presented by Ves at Clinical Cases and Images – Blog.
BMJ just launched an audio pilot: “a magazine programme with the latest medical news, opinion, and issues that matter to doctors.”
KidneyNotes writes about How to Get Doctors to Wash their Hands. So, how?
Kevin, M.D. from Medical Weblog writes that In-store health clinics start closing.
Dr. Robert W. Donnell presents Abraham Flexner’s legacy—NEJM authors miss the point. A critical response to the recent NEJM review on medical education in light of the Flexner Report. He writes: “Almost a year ago I pointed out that medical schools had backslidden from the recommendations of the Flexner Report as evidenced by their promotion of homeopathy, Reiki, Ayurvedic medicine and innumerable other unscientific claims.” Hmm, I did not know that. I thought they teach classics.
Do you know the most important things needed to preserve primary care in USA?
Dr. Charles presents “Family Doctors Protest on Capitol Lawn”. It’s the summary of the rally held on capitol hill by family doctors last week. Also Dr. Charles put together the 5 most important things needed to preserve primary care in this country.
Classically ovarian cancer is diagnosed too late. Don’t get into that classic pattern.
The Silent Killer is Making Some Noise. Healthline Editors of Health Observances comment on ovarian cancer. “…many everyday symptoms, which are often dismissed or attributed to other conditions, are present before ovarian cancer is diagnosed months down the road.” So check it and be sure, you do not have the symptoms.
Jay Norris presents Financial Incentives For Good Health posted at Colorado Health Insurance Insider. “Since so many of the major illnesses we face are caused or exacerbated by behavior (smoking, overeating, sedentary lifestyles, too much stress, etc.) it seems that any encouragement to improve behavior related to health would be a step in the right direction.“ I totally agree with that notion.
Nancy L. Brown, PhD of Teen Health 411 reviews the latest CDC recommendation for regular HIV testing. She writes “These recommendations are not legally binding, but they influence what doctors and health insurance companies provide, requiring time, money, counseling and consent procedures.” Read more in “Routine HIV Testing”.
Patient Perspectives:
Dr. Choi, host of the previous edition provides hints on How to take your daily aspirin if you also use an NSAID - non-steroidal anti-inflammitory such as ibuprofen. He writes
“They’ve found that aspirin may not help you if you take it at the same time as one of the most common pain killers available over-the-counter, ibuprofen”. How to deal with that problem? Well, you can find the answer at Technology in Medicine.
Dr. Choi also sent a bunch of links from Healthline bloggers. I just shuffled them around.
GruntDoc discusses: CDC: Almost Half of Hospitals Experience Crowded Emergency Departments. The caveat: If you go to any ED, be prepared to wait.
WV presents Title:TV, Tele, Televisor, Or Whatever You Wanna Call It
He discusses TV and its effects based on an article from Scientific American.
He writes:'’ Probably that we should be more aware of getting sucked in by the tube. That anything done in excess is not a good thing.” And I agree with that notion.
What Should Cancer Patients and Family Do About the Flu Vaccine? Cyndy King, PhD comments on concerns that cancer patients have about taking the flu shot. “The best time to get the flu shot is NOW (October or November)…”
Patient Experiences:
Neonatal Doc presents an article: “Parent”. Just one quote; “Fifty years ago a small baby lived for one day, and every single day since then his father must have thought of him.” A touching story.
Thomas presents Out of work, out of mind... posted at Anonymous_X blog. The patient’s experience with the case of ‘premolar impaction’.
From Expatica:
”A typical doctor’s visit always includes filling out paperwork, updating your medical history, submitting insurance information and waiting, waiting, and waiting to see the doctor, who is normally overworked and visibly frazzled by the incredible pace and hours he/she is expected to keep.” There is the comparison of the medical care in Belgium and healthcare in the US
TSCD presents Celebrating living - a powerful story about patient’s experience. Not overly medical, but touchy. Makes some commentators to cry.
DifficultPt presents “No means no. Period.” posted at ” Ripple of Hope.
This is a “blurb” regarding consent with a link to a post on Kevin, MD. “A woman claims battery after a medical student botched an intubation” , posted by Kevin. So, what do you think about that? The discussion is very avid. We all were students sometimes. Yet no one wants to be a dummy for training. What is your opinion?
Too much Meds?
Medpundit discusses the yearly American Academy of Family Physicians Scientific Assembly… There are some quotes:
“Follow the recommendations of the evidence and they could end up on nine or ten different medications. This is not necessarily a good thing.”
“More drugs means more potential for side effects, interactions, and medication errors ”
“Medical research funding is dominated by pharmaceutical companies.”
Since I work in clinical a trial, that bothers me too.
Postmortem Postscript : Staphlycoccal Pneumonia by Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD. Doctor shares a sad case report of a woman he delivered and then lost to MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus) pneumonia, an increasingly common resistant bacteria. Overuse of antibiotics leads to some nasty -multi resistant mutant bacteria.
Gerry Pugliese presents Ear Infections and Antibiotics posted at Disease Proof.
“…antibiotics should only be administered if the condition lingers or worsens. Not a bad idea considering all the news about the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and viruses…” What do you think about that? Isn’t it also in line with the other post on MRSA pneumonia? Do we really need to use antibiotics so often?
David Williams (Co-founder of MedPharma Partners LLC) presents Clarinex, Nexium, Nexperdal? posted at Health business blog.
”J&J hasn’t picked a brand name for paliperidone yet. Here are a few suggestions: Nexperdal Ripofferdal Desperal.”
Hmm, Desperal… A really catchy name.
About FAT
Dr Emer presents:
FAT MALAYSIA - that’s commentary on the results a recent survey that Malaysia has the most number of overweight adults in the whole Southeast Asian region.
Well, I thought that mostly western countries suffer these problems. However it looks like obesity is pandemic. He writes: “The more developed a country becomes, the better the lifestyle. More cars mean less time walking. Extra calories always translate to fat and waist circumferences of more than 90cms or 35.4 inches for men and more than 80cms or 31.5 inches for women. ”
Personally, I like potato chips. Yet eating a lot makes them not so tasteful.
Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD presents A Hearty Life? The post is about the British Heart
Foundation’s latest ad campaign against potato chips.
Look at the picture - nice ad campaign. Do you like that picture?
Hsien-Hsien is also an Editor at b5media.com Science and Health - GeneticsAndHealth.com.
Dr. Jon Mikel Iñarritu presents National Survey for Health and Nutrition in Mexico (2006).
It’s some summary of what’s going on in Mexico regarding the health and nutrition. There are problems with obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. It looks like it all over the world
Tony Chen presents “That’s just brilliant by Nick Jacobs” at Hospitalimpact
A big shot- hospital CEO - decided to eliminate all trans fat from hospital’s food.
Do you think Common Sense should rule? Let’s just read the post.
Fruits and vegetables:
Cynthia Sass, MPH of The Diet Dish comments on the exotic fruits she’s trying in Hawaii, with tantalizing pictures. Fruits are loaded with nutrients including fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, vitamins A and C, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. I am sure everybody needs vitamins. Let’s get them naturally.
Besides fruits there are vegetables. I like tomatoes. However, here is about “More Spinach”. Paul Auerbach, MD writes “…Common sense and avoiding obvious risks can do much to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.”The facts about E. coli 0157:H7 (just as the CDC lifts the ban on spinach), to reassure people about how to prevent illness.
A Salad a Day Keeps the Doctor Away. Andrea Giancoli, MPH of The Family Fork reviews a large study showing the health benefits of fresh vegetables. Eating a salad before a meal can help you eat fewer calories overall.
Diabetes:
Amy Tenderich at Diabetes Mine presents DogFight” for Control of the Continuous Monitoring Market
Some quote: “All I can say regarding a dogfight is “bring it on.” As consumers and people who need improved technology, it benefits us!” Would you agree with that statement?
and
Rent, Don’t Buy, Your Insulin Pump?
Patients could consistently upgrade to new and improved pumping technology. Sort of a car lease. Would you rent your pump?
Soul Treatments
Susan Palwick from Reno, Nevada presents:
Emergency Baptism for Everybody. That post is about religion in clinics.
I actually had a friend who was a chaplain in our hospital. I saw it commonly in the hospitals, though Susan Palwick notices that she hardly ever sees chaplains on TV medical shows like ER or Scrubs. Do we need to treat souls too? What is your opinion?
Susan actually corrects me:
I think saying my post is about “religion in clinics” is too general, though. (And yes, most hospitals, including mine, have lots of chaplains; I’m a chaplain myself!) A better description might be that the post is about common misconceptions about chaplains — including the misconception that only chaplains can perform emergency baptism. In fact, anyone who’s baptized can do one, and I wrote the post to try to educate people about that.
I hope this makes sense!
Thanks,
Susan
Exercises
Exercise is always good for you health. Right? I always thought so.
Jolie Bookspan, M.Ed, PhD of The Fitness Fixer says a resounding NO! Exercise right or suffer physical strain from your bad exercises. Read more in “Is Bad Martial Arts Good Exercise?” Actually, I like martial arts, just do not like blows in the head.
And there some other form of exercise. The pleasant one. Not martial. Marital - I guess. How Often Should You Have Intercourse?
Dr. Carl Herbert, MD of The ART of Conception advises to have intercourse as frequently as possible when you know you are soon to be, or in the process of, ovulating to maximize fertilization.
Let’s go walk outside. Paul Auerbach, M.D. presents Outdoor Adventurer’s Pledge posted at healthline. 14 Points for your outdoor adventure.
Student’s life:
Vitum Medicinus presents ”Um, is this your first time examining a woman there?” posted at Vitum Medicinus ::: A Life of Medicine. A first-year medical student at a Canadian medical school, confronts his initial hesitations about attending a “hands-on maternity club night,” advertised as offering “vaginal exam practice and free pizza.”
“I delivered a baby, determined how dilated a woman’s cervix was, and felt for the position of a baby inside a woman’s stomach!” Interesting? Read it.
Do you like cartoons?
William Rubin presents The Brain on the brain posted at Billy Rubin. The adventures of a pre-clerkship medical student.
Odd:
Mark A. Rayner presents Professor Quippy: High Turbulence Shaving
That’s something from the Odd Science.
Last Moment Submissions:
In the last day of this week edition we got several more great submissions
IT more stressful than medicine? From mylifemypace.
Read the Commentary on a recent survey showing that the IT field is “more” (97 vs 96.8% of respondents) stressful than the healthcare field with some examples of how the two fields are similar.
My Korean Medical Adventure from Skillet Blogging . Patient’s story from this week… by jeonjutarheel.
Allen Institute Completes Landmark Brain Imaging Work from Anxiety, Addiction and Depression Treatments
By Jon Schnaars. The privately funded Allen Institute has completed work on a massive database that should help doctors and researchers more effectively and efficiently study the brain. That’s should be really interesting
E. coli, grass, and pasteurization from Aetiology
Tara Smith remarks on one NY Times writer has stated that controlling E. coli O157 is as simple as making all cows just eat grass, and extols an “natural and raw is always better” philosophy. Several reasons why raw isn’t always better.
To Work In The Service of Life and the Living from Emergiblog by Kim. She is also interested in artificial intelligence.
Ripple of Hope by DP
——————————————– Next week’s host is Unbounded Medicine
Please send submissions to: j o n m i k e l (AT) g m a i l . c o m
Upcoming schedule
Please email Nick at Blogborygmi if you are interested in hosting future Grand Rounds.
Submit entries to: NICK
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Grand Rounds
Grand Rounds (a blog ‘carnival’ which collates links to the best of the week’s medical blog entries)
Posts are to be written for a general audience
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http://blogborygmi.blogspot.com/2004/09/grand-rounds-submission-guidelines.html
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