The American journal of medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Superficial needling acupuncture versus sham acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial.
Acupuncture has been an alternative approach for pain management, but trial evidence is conflicting. ⋯ Acupuncture for 4 weeks is not superior to non-penetrating sham acupuncture. The current study cannot confirm that superficial acupuncture has efficacy for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.
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"Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble." - Representative John Lewis It is time now for organized medicine to make "good trouble" and call for racial justice in medical education and health care. It is also time to have an honest confrontation with reality in order to bring about racial healing and become anti-racist organizations. Using a racial justice framework, 4 elements described here can chart our course. Organized medicine must come together in solidarity to make "good trouble" and fight collectively for racial justice so that every community we serve can achieve their full health potential and achieve racial equity-that is, giving people what they need to enjoy full, healthy lives regardless of race.
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Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Chemotherapy-induced arrhythmia is a potential complication of treatment that confers increased morbidity and mortality. The relationship between chemotherapeutic agents and arrhythmias is poorly established. ⋯ Multiple agents are implicated in prolonging the QTc, and this can often have adverse consequences for both the patient and the treatment of their cancer. This can manifest as torsades de pointes and sudden cardiac death. It is advised that, during treatment, oncologists should have close liaison with cardio-oncologists to ensure optimum patient management.
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The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to widespread implementation of public health measures, such as stay-at-home orders, social distancing, and masking mandates. In addition to decreasing spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, these measures also impact the transmission of seasonal viral pathogens, which are common triggers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. Whether reduced viral prevalence mediates reduction in COPD exacerbation rates is unknown. ⋯ The implementation of public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with decreased COPD admissions. These changes are plausibly explained by reduced prevalence of seasonal respiratory viruses.