In episode 230, Mike and James get back to discussing the CMAJ article “Prevention and Treatment of the Common Cold: making sense of the evidence”. We discuss all the evidence surrounding the use of drugs for the treatment of the common cold and find out that not much really works.
Show notes
1) Prevention and Treatment of the Common Cold: making sense of the evidence
In episode 229, Mike and James start a short podcast series based on the CMAJ article “Prevention and Treatment of the Common Cold: making sense of the evidence”. The article was written by Mike and Bruce Arroll and in this first episode we briefly discuss the basics of the common cold and then delve into the evidence for cold prevention. At the end, we realize there is very little that works and therefore we fall back on common sense recommendations and suggest hand washing and avoiding people with colds.
Show notes
1) Prevention and Treatment of the Common Cold: making sense of the evidence
In episode 228, Mike and James deconstruct the most recent JNC 8 high blood pressure guidelines. We discuss what is good and bad and we debate the issues and what the changes might mean for practice. At the end we decide that it really isn’t a guideline but really a useful synopsis of the evidence around a number of key issues and questions that surround the management of elevated blood pressure.
Show notes
1) 2014 Evidence-Based Guideline for the Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults Report From the Panel Members Appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8)
In episode 227, James and the Mikes finish off vaccines. We discuss why people do or don’t take vaccines, the evidence around the pneumococcal vaccine, the zoster vaccine and pertussis vaccine. Ironically, one of the Mike’s got the flu a few days after this podcast – life is amazing.
Show notes
1) Pneumococcal Vaccine
In episode 226, James and the Mikes continue on their merry way down influenza vaccine lane. We finish up by talking about its use in healthy adults and then look to the most recent information on its impact on cardiovascular disease. We give you all the numbers, now you go and make up your mind.
Show notes
1) Meta-analysis of the influenza vaccine in healthy adults
2) Best RCT on influenza vaccine in Healthy Adults
3) Does the influenza vaccine decrease cardiovascular events
In episode 225, James and the Mikes talk about vaccines for adults. In part one of this series, we discuss the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine, the benefit seen in the elderly and what happens when we vaccinate health care providers. We find that the evidence is not bad, but it is not overwhelming either, and so at the end we all make different decisions as to what to do and we are all correct. You have to love informed decision making.
Show notes
1) Tools for practice
Effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine for healthy, working age adults
Will the flu shot help my Grandma and Grandpa?
2) Vaccines for preventing influenza in the elderly
3) Vaccinating health care providers
In episode 224, James and Mike talk generically about generic medications and come up with some generic recommendations for how to generically use generic medications. At the end of the podcast they brand their podcast as being excellent.
Show notes
1) Backlash against bioequivalence
2) Bioequivalence
Ann Pharmacotherapy 2009;43:1583-97
3) Clinical comparisons
4) Generic deception trial
In episode 223, Mike and James get back to being PREMIUM and briefly discuss 4 new studies that we think you might find interesting. These studies primarily back up a lot of what we have said in the past so we present this evidence with vigour and ignore the rest of the contradictory data – JUST kidding.
Show notes
1) Pioglitazone
2) Treatment of fever
3) Bone density measurements
4) Steroids for tennis elbow
In episode 222, James, Mike and Tina discuss why calcitonin was taken off the market and then what is still available to reduce the pain associated with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. At the end we realize we really don’t have a lot and there is no evidence to really guide us so basically all we can do is use analgesics. So, Mike and Tina give James some morphine and they notice absolutely no change at all in his demeanour.
Show notes
1) Calcitonin withdrawal: Now what for acute vertebral fractures?
In episode 221, James, Mike and Tina delve into the newly released 2013 ACC/AHA guideline on the treatment of blood cholesterol to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk in adults. We discuss the highlights of the guidelines and how it appears the guidelines are, low and behold, actually following the evidence. The only caveat is we felt they should have had a stronger focus on patient preferences rather than the somewhat black and white approach they took to who should get a statin. Nonetheless, we discuss how this can be done yet still be true to the guideline. At the end we all decide we are basically happy – at least on the inside.
Show notes
THE NUTRITION PROPOSITION BOOK
Check it out at nutritionproposition.com and think about picking up a copy on Amazon. All the evidence you ever wanted about nutrition and the only nutrition book that won’t tell you what to eat.
