Latest Story

Are Fasting Lipids Necessary?

April 20, 2018
Are Fasting Lipids Necessary?

By Anthony Marte
Peer Reviewed

It is a common sequence of dialogue in clinic: “I’d like to draw some blood for cholesterol,” says the doctor. “Have you eaten today?” With downcast eyes, the patient replies, “Yes, I had a snack. I just got so hungry.” The well-intentioned physician concedes, “That’s okay. Another time, then.”

Patients requiring lipid panels frequently report to their clinic appointments in the non-fasting state. These patients often leave clinic without having their blood drawn for lipids, with instructions to return early …

Read more »

Core IM: 5 Pearls on Chronic Adrenal Insufficiency

April 18, 2018

By Daniel Sartori MD, Marty Fried MD, Shreya Trivedi MD; Illustration by Michelle Lo MD and Amy Ou MD. Quiz yourself on the 5 Pearls we will be covering:

  1. What are signs and symptoms of chronic adrenal insufficiency (AI)? What is the most sensitive? (2:02)
  2. How do we diagnose and differentiate types of adrenal insufficiency? (6:05)
  3. How sensitive and specific are the diagnostic tests for AI  and at what cutoffs? (12:06)
  4. Can we both test and treat adrenal insufficiency at the same time? (16:40)
  5. Throwback: How do hypokalemia and hepatic encephalopathy connected? (24:55)
  6. Dr. Nidhi Agrawal Recap (19:20)

A special thank you to Dr. Nidhi Agrawal for peer-reviewing this podcast!

Subscribe to CORE IM on any podcast app! Follow us on Facebook @Core IM || Twitter @COREIMpodcast || Instagram @core.im.podcast. Please give any feedback at COREIMpodcast@gmail.com.

Read more »

Gamechanger? The Effect of Intra-articular Triamcinolone vs Saline on Knee Cartilage Volume and Pain in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis – A Randomized Clinical Trial

April 6, 2018
Gamechanger? The Effect of Intra-articular Triamcinolone vs Saline on Knee Cartilage Volume and Pain in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis – A Randomized Clinical Trial

By Rebecca Lazarus, MD

Peer Reviewed

Why does this matter?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability in the United States and is the most common type of arthritis. The pathogenesis involves the progressive destruction of articular cartilage in a joint, which is accompanied by new bone formation and synovial proliferation. On a cellular level, this process is believed to involve mononuclear cells and pro-inflammatory mediators that promote synovitis, as well as the up-regulation of aggrecanases and collagenases that promote cartilage catabolism . Based …

Read more »

Primecuts – This Week in the Journals

April 3, 2018
Primecuts – This Week in the Journals

By Maya Madhavan, MD

Peer Reviewed

Last week, over a people million took to the streets to march for gun control as part of the March for Our Lives movement. It was noted to be one of the biggest youth protests since the Vietnam War1. Across the nation, medical students and housestaff also participated in institution wide protests and discussions, as many consider gun-related violence to be a public health crisis. Let’s take a look at what else went on in the medical community over …

Read more »

A Rare Complication of Diabetes: Diabetic Myonecrosis

March 29, 2018
A Rare Complication of Diabetes: Diabetic Myonecrosis

By Allison Harrington, MD

Peer Reviewed

Learning Objectives:

1) When should diabetic myonecrosis be suspected?

2) What are the diagnostic criteria for diabetic myonecrosis? What is the pathophysiology?

3) What is the management of diabetic myonecrosis? How can it be prevented?

A 41-year-old female with a past medical history of poorly controlled type I diabetes (hemoglobin A1C , 13%), a right lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) status post inferior vena cava filter placement in March 2017 presents with persistent weakness and left lower extremity …

Read more »

Core IM: 5 Pearls on Latent Tuberculosis Infection

March 28, 2018

By Raphael Rabinowitz MD, Viren Kaul MD, Marty Fried MD, Shreya Trivedi MD; Illustration by Ramon Thompson. Quiz yourself on the 5 Pearls we will be covering:

  1. Who should be screened for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI)? (1:45)
  2. What screening tests are available and how do they differ? (6:30)
  3. What are the LTBI treatment options available? (10:24)
  4. What are the major adverse drug effects to consider? (13:28)
  5. How frequently should you check liver function tests in a patient being treated for LTBI? What do you do with the results? 17:43
  6. Dr. Caplan-Shaw Recap (21:29)

A special thank you to Dr. Caralee E. Caplan-Shaw for peer-reviewing this podcast!

Subscribe to CORE IM on any podcast app! Follow us on Facebook @Core IM || Twitter @COREIMpodcast || Instagram @core.im.podcast. Please give any feedback at COREIMpodcast@gmail.com.

Read more »

Primecuts – This Week in the Journals

March 27, 2018
Primecuts – This Week in the Journals

By Lauren Yokomizo, MD

Peer Reviewed

One of the most underappreciated aspects of the current opioid epidemic is over prescribing in the elderly. In 2016, one in three patients on Medicare, approximately 14.4 million patients, was prescribed opioids. As part of the federal government’s response to the opioid epidemic, Medicare will no longer pay for long term, high dose opioid prescriptions. The new regulation is expected to take effect April 2nd. The rule has been met with a divided response. Supporters praised it as a …

Read more »

Smoking Cessation: Are all Modalities the Same?

March 22, 2018
Smoking Cessation: Are all Modalities the Same?

By  Monil Shah, MD

Peer Reviewed

Each year around 6 million people are killed by tobacco worldwide.1 Tobacco remains a leading preventable cause of death worldwide.2 From 1965 to 2010, the prevalence of cigarette smoking in the United States has declined from 42.4% to about 19%. This decline is mainly due to public awareness regarding harmful effects of smoking, increase in prices of tobacco products, and implementation of smoke-free policies.3 Despite tremendous strides made in raising public awareness regarding the adverse health effects of smoking …

Read more »