STAT!Ref Supplemental Updates: Review of Natural Products and ACP Journal Club

©2009 by Facts and Comparisons, A Wolters Kluwer Company
Authors/Editors: Ara DerMarderosian, PhD & John A. Beutler, PhD
As natural products continue to rise in popularity, there is an increased need for unbiased, accurate, scientifically based information on these products. The Review of Natural Products, already well established and highly regarded as a publication to meet this need, has been revised significantly to prove even more useful to health care professionals. Clinical information has been added and highlighted in all of the monographs so users can find critical information quickly.
The editors, contributing editors, and advisory panel have extensive experience in the field of natural product pharmacy and medicine. The Review of Natural Products includes more than 300 monographs and is updated monthly. Each monograph features scientific names, common names, botan or source, history, chemistry, uses and pharmacology, dosing, pregnancy/lactation, interactions, adverse reactions, toxicology, and references. A "Clinical Overview" box at the beginning of each monograph summarizes the use, dosing, contraindication, pregnancy/lactation, interaction, adverse reaction, and toxicology information.
What's New in December 2009:
NEW MONOGRAPHS:
POTATO
Scientific Name(s): Solanum tuberosum L. Family: Solanaceae (nightshade) Common Name(s): Potato, Irish potato, white potato, US russet Uses: Potatoes are rich in starch and may affect glycemic control and insulin levels in people with diabetes. Antioxidant effects and protease inhibitor action are being studied.
METHYLSULFONYLMETHANE (MSM)
Scientific Name(s): Methylsulfonylmethane, DMSO2 Common Name(s): MSM Uses: MSM is commonly used for osteoarthritis, but may also benefit in alleviating GI upset, musculoskeletal pain, and allergies; boosting the immune system; and fighting antimicrobial infection. Clinical trials are needed to verify these potential uses.
YOHIMBE
Scientific Name(s): Pausinystalia yohimbe (K. Schum.) Pierre ex Beille. Family: Rubiaceae. Common Name(s): Aphrodien, Aphrodyne, johimbi, Yocon, yohimbe, yohimbehe, yohimbine . Uses: Yohimbine has been used primarily in the treatment of sexual dysfunction, weight (body fat) loss, and xerostomia (dry mouth). It has also been used in studies investigating autonomic failure and orthostatic hypotension.

©2009 by the American College of Physicians
Authors/Editors: Brian Haynes, MD, PhD
ACP Journal Club, published by the American College of Physicians, is the quintessential EBM journal, and is often positioned near the top of the EBM pyramid.
The combination of ACP Journal Club and PIER provides us with the potential to deliver an EBM product that is superior to competitive offerings. ACP Journal Club is published 6 times per year.
Purpose of ACP Journal Club: "ACP Journal Club's general purpose is to select from the biomedical literature articles that report original studies and systematic reviews that warrant immediate attention by physicians attempting to keep pace with important advances in internal medicine. These articles are summarized in value-added abstracts and commented on by clinical experts."
What's New: November 200 - Volume 151, Number 5
Therapeutics:
- Early transfer for angiography after fibrinolysis reduced ischemic events in patients with STEMI
- Review: Evidence for the effectiveness of vitamin D and calcium for reducing CV outcomes, cancer, and death is limited
- Review: Low BP targets do not reduce mortality or CV events in hypertension
- Tight BP control reduced left ventricular hypertrophy in nondiabetic patients with hypertension
- Preoperative staging using PET-CT reduced futile thoracotomies more than conventional staging in non-small-cell lung cancer
- Disclosure of genetic risk for Alzheimer disease did not increase anxiety or depression in asymptomatic adults
- Percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage was noninferior to warfarin in atrial fibrillation
Diagnosis
- Capsule endoscopy had low sensitivity for detecting colonic lesions and high specificity for large lesions
Etiology
- Use of antipsychotic drugs was associated with increased risk for hyperglycemia in older patients with diabetes
- Prolonged PR intervals were associated with increased risk for atrial fibrillation, pacemaker implantation, and mortality
- Review: PPI use in pregnancy was not associated with increased congenital malformations, spontaneous abortion, or preterm delivery
Economics
- Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in men 65 to 74 years of age was cost-effective for AAA mortality at 10 years


































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