In episode 351, Mike and James welcome Danielle and Joey to the podcast and they go all PREMIUM on us. The new dynamic duo go over studies from 2 important areas – O2 for COPD and bariatric surgery for diabetes. At the end of the podcast we realize that Mike and James are superfluous when it comes to the podcast quality and usefulness – sad!

Show notes

1) O2 in COPD

A Randomized Trial of Long-Term Oxygen for COPD with Moderate Desaturation

N Engl J Med 2016;375:1617-27

Effect of Home Noninvasive Ventilation With Oxygen Therapy vs Oxygen Therapy Alone on Hospital Readmission or Death After an Acute COPD Exacerbation: A Randomized Clinical Trial

JAMA 2017;317:2177-86

2) Bariatric surgery for diabetes

Bariatric Surgery versus Intensive Medical Therapy for Diabetes – 5-Year Outcomes 

N Engl J Med 2017;376:641-51

In episode 350, Mike and James talk about the evidence around sleep restriction. The evidence is fairly solid and the results typically suggest an impact greater than sleeping pills with sleep restriction improving sleep for one in every two to six patients compared to sleep hygiene alone.  At the end of the podcast, James realises that Mike presented the evidence while being fast asleep – showing that the concept of sleep restriction actually works.

Show notes

Tools For Practice

Trouble Sleeping: Spend less time in Bed? 

Simplified Sleep Restriction for Insomnia handout

In episode 349, Mike and James talk about the evidence around screening otherwise asymptomatic adults with a complete blood count. While it feels like it should be a good thing to do, the evidence is pretty clear that it doesn’t provide any benefit even though ~ 10% of tests will be abnormal. Basically no one benefits and serious disease is virtually never found.

Show notes

Tools For Practice

CBC (Confusing Broad Check) for Screening?