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Medical News from Journal Watch
Brief reviews of current news that affects your practice — from medical journals, government agencies, scientific conferences, and major media reports.
A Journal Watch E-mail Alert
November 20, 2008
Genetic Scores vs. Clinical Risk Factors in Predicting Type 2 Diabetes Risk
Knowledge of a patient's genetic-risk score for type 2 diabetes adds only slightly — albeit significantly — to the ability to predict their diabetes risk on the basis of clinical information alone, according to two studies in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The first, a study of some 2400 subjects of European ancestry followed for nearly 30 years, examined genotype scores (a measure of the presence of risk-associated alleles) among those who developed diabetes by midlife and those who didn't. The researchers found that, although the genotype scores correlated significantly with risk, the genotypic information provided only a roughly 2% (nonsignificant) better discernment of risk.
Similarly, the second study, done in Sweden and Finland, found a slightly higher, but statistically significant, predictive value when genetic scores were added to clinical information like BMI and family history.
Identifying clinical risk factors "remains the cornerstone" in predicting diabetes risk, the authors of the first study conclude.
LINK(S):
NEJM article 1 (Free abstract; full text requires subscription)
NEJM article 2 (Free abstract; full text requires subscription)
Published in Physician's First Watch November 20, 2008
November 19, 2008
Ginkgo Doesn't Prevent Dementia
Ginkgo extract "cannot be recommended" as a preventive for dementia, concludes a JAMA study.
Researchers randomized some 3000 patients to receive twice-daily doses of Ginkgo biloba extract or matching placebo. Participants averaged almost 80 years of age at entry, when they were either free of dementia or had only mild cognitive impairment; they underwent assessment every 6 months for a median 6 years' follow-up.
By the end of follow-up, there were no differences between the groups in overall incidence of dementia or Alzheimer disease.
An editorialist, calling this "the largest and longest randomized" trial to examine the effects of ginkgo extract, says it offers the "substantial bulk" of independently funded data on the substance. And writing in Journal Watch Psychiatry, Jonathan Silver comments that "in the present economy, people can put the [estimated annual $100 million expenditure for ginkgo] to better use."
LINK(S):
JAMA article (Free)
JAMA editorial (Subscription required)
Journal Watch Psychiatry summary (Free)
New York Times story (One-time registration required)
Published in Physician's First Watch November 19, 2008
Over-the-Counter Acne Cream Recalled
One-ounce tubes of 10% benzoyl peroxide acne cream have been recalled because the product may contain Burkholderia cepacia, the manufacturer and FDA have announced.
The recall affects all lots of the cream sold under the following names:
- DG Maximum Strength Acne Medicated Gel
- Kroger Acne Gel 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Medication
- Equate Medicated Acne Gel
No adverse events have been reported, but the manufacturer says the product may pose increased risk for infections in people with skin conditions, including cuts, scrapes, and rashes, and in those with compromised immune systems.
Consumers should stop using the cream and return it to the vendor.
LINK(S):
FDA alert (Free)
Manufacturer's press release (Free)
Images of product packaging (Free)
Published in Physician's First Watch November 19, 2008
