In episode 457, James and Mike yet again invite Joey Ton to go through the evidence around reaching a target serum urate level in patients with gout. As with many arbitrary thresholds determined from observational studies (sometimes), or just made up, when you properly study if there is a benefit to achieving these levels the theory really crumbles under the weight of the evidence. We also briefly talk about the febuxostat vs allopurinol data and the outcomes that matter.

Show notes 

Tools for Practice

Who let the Gout Out? Targeting Uric Acid Levels in Treating Gout

In episode 456, James and Mike and Nic continue to go through all the evidence (primarily RCTs) around the use of masks and reducing the risk for viral illnesses. In this episode we talk about our systematic review and what we found for the public. Please also check out our simplified tool that describes all the information we found.

Show notes 

1) Masks for prevention of viral respiratory infections among health care workers and the public – PEER umbrella systematic review

Canadian Family Physician 2020;66:509-17

2) PEER simplified tool: mask use by the general public and by health care workers

3) Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Lancet 2020 Jun 27;395:1973-1987

In episode 455, James and Mike invite Nic Dugré to go through all the evidence (primarily RCTs) around the use of masks and reducing the risk for viral illnesses for both healthcare workers and the public. In this episode we talk about our systematic review and what we found for healthcare workers – the following episode will be about the general public. Please also check out our simplified tool that describes all the information we found.

Show notes 

1) Masks for prevention of viral respiratory infections among health care workers and the public – PEER umbrella systematic review

Canadian Family Physician 2020;66:509-17

2) PEER simplified tool: mask use by the general public and by health care workers