In episode 499, James and Mike invite Tina back again to discuss the evidence we have for dieting to lose weight and the impact of that on osteoarthritis knee pain. Overall, there isn’t a lot of evidence but some observational data suggests a benefit Unfortunately the relatively small weight loss achieved from most diets in RCTs did not demonstrate a difference on OA pain.

Show Notes

Tools for Practice
No Gain, No Pain? – What is the effect of diet-induced weight loss on osteoarthritis-related knee pain?

In episode 498, James and Mike invite Tina back yet again to talk about all the evidence we have for using compression stockings in patients with chronic lower limb edema. The NNT for recurrent cellulitis is pretty good (listen to find out the actual number) on the “NNT scale”.

Show Notes

Tools for Practice
Under Pressure: Compression stockings for recurrent cellulitis?

In episode 497, James and Mike decide to go all in on the evidence around nutrition. We start out by going over how we try to actually figure out if a food is beneficial or harmful for you. And for nutrition is it ever tricky.

Show Notes

The Nutrition Proposition – Coming Soon – I hope

In episode 496, Mike and James continue the discussion with Ricky around the best available evidence we have for heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction. Unfortunately, not much works but at least you’ll know the evidence. 

Show Notes

In episode 495, Mike and James invite Ricky back again to talk about the options (not a lot) we have for heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction. Ricky goes over all the trials and helps put them into context.

Show Notes

In episode 494, Mike and James invite Ricky Turgeon to talk about a potential new use for an old drug – colchicine. Ricky explains all the evidence we have for low-dose colchicine in people with a history of cardiovascular disease. We find out that colchicine reduces the risk of a cardiovascular event in a similar magnitude to statins – but will they be used as much as statins.? Find out what we think.

Show Notes

Tools for Practice

Cardiovascular prevention trials: Now calling colchicine to the stand

In episode 493, Mike and James review all the Long COVID data. We talk about how many people get it, what the symptoms are and how long it can persist – and it can be a long time. COVID long-term is different than what we see with the regular flu.

Show Notes

Tools for Practice

Long COVID: A (somewhat) short summary of risks, symptoms, and natural course

In episode 492, Mike and James delve into a couple of potentially practice-changing results. The first trial looked at the effect of different shoes for knee osteoarthritis. You might be surprised by the results. The second trial is the first ever look at a salt substitute and what it does, believe it or not, to cardiovascular events and death. Yeah! You might also be surprised by the results. Check out what was found in this PREMIUM podcast.

Show Notes

1) The Effect of Flat Flexible Versus Stable Supportive Shoes on Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms: A Randomized Trial

Ann Intern Med. 2021 Apr 174:462-71

2) Effect of Salt Substitution on Cardiovascular Events and Death

N Engl J Med 2021; 385:1067-1077 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2105675

In episode 491, Mike and James invite Mike Kolber to talk about Pink Ladies and White Knights. In medical terms we are referring to whether or not it makes sense to add lidocaine and antispasmodics to antacids in patients who present to an emergency room with dyspepsia. Please ignore the parts when both Mikes battle it out for a place at King Arthur’s Round Table and when one of them wears a pink dress for effect.

Show Notes

Tools for Practice

Keeping it Simple for Emergency Room Dyspepsia 

In episode 490, Mike and James invite Tony and Mike to go over the best available evidence for ivermectin. Overall the evidence shows that ivermectin does not improve clinically important outcomes. Unfortunately, much of the evidence for ivermectin is unpublished and some has even been retracted.

Show Notes

Tools for Practice

Opening a can of helminths: Ivermectin for COVID-19