In episode 147, Mike and James cover the issue of humor in teaching, put drugectomies in LTC facilities into perspective, discuss the use of antibiotics in COPD, and finally contextualize bisphophonates and estrogen for fracture reduction. At the end they agree that the 30 minutes of podcast excellence should leave the audience laughing and crying but not for the right reasons.

Show notes

1) Chronic antibiotics in COPD

Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2008;178:1139-47

N Engl J Med 2011;365:689-98

2) Bisphosphonates/zoledronic acid

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2011,12:209

N Engl J Med 2007; 356:1809-1822

3) Lower doses of estrogen

Fertil Steril 2001;75:1065-79

In episode 146, a PREMIUM podcast, Mike and James talk about some timely studies. Mike discusses some interesting results from a study that looked at the simple intervention of taking antihypertensives at bedtime and we find out that this intervention not only has an impact on blood pressure but also produces a further reduction in cardiovascular events. James then discusses the latest atrial fibrillation study which looked at what happens to cardiovascular events when you compare warfarin to apixaban. 

Shownotes

1) Taking antihypertensives at bedtime

Chronobiology International 2010;27:1629–51

2) Apixaban versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation

N Engl J Med 2011;365:981-92

In episode 145, Mike and James bring you, live on-tape from down-under, our presentation at the 2011 Conference for General Practice in New Zealand. We talk about why most new things aren’t much if any better and then discuss the issue of things like surrogate markers, physiological mechanisms, meta-analyses, selective publication/reporting, measurement/scales and “Risky” superlatives.