Clinical Correlations

By Steven R. Liu, MD

Peer Reviewed

“And the award goes to…” – for those of you who watched the Academy Awards this week, you will have been an admirer of Neil Patrick Harris’ opening, his presence in the audience, and his underwear spoof of “Birdman”. The event made for glamorous viewing, and also included heartfelt speeches from winners about the lingering state of race relations, suicide, and equality for women among some of the topics.

In the journals this week…

Nitric oxide, antihypertensive treatment…

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By Ian Henderson, MD

Peer Reviewed

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, right? Viewed by the public to be so healthy as to prevent doctor’s visits, the apple may be losing its health luster in the eyes of some Americans. This past Friday, the US government approved the planting of genetically modified apples . Called Arctic apples, they have been genetically engineered to be resistant to turning brown when cut or bruised. The fruit, while deemed safe to eat and not harmful to…

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By Shyam Amin, MD

Peer reviewed

In the news…

Congratulations to the New England Patriots and their fans for a thrilling Super Bowl victory this past week. A full ten years since their last Super Bowl win, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are champions once again in a truly memorable game that featured an historic fourth quarter comeback and a wild final Seahawks drive that was ultimately thwarted by the unlikeliest of heroes.

In health-related news, an investigation led by the New York State attorney…

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By Kelley Coffman, M.D.

Peer Reviewed

The anti-vaccine movement appears to be gathering steam on social media and major media networks despite a growing outbreak of measles spreading to 8 states, according to California health officials report(1). The outbreak started in California’s Disneyland and has infected over 94 people. Once declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, measles is a highly contagious childhood viral respiratory illness characterized by fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, sore throat with white spots on the oral mucosa,…

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By Meng Chen, MD

Peer Reviewed

Last Friday, in an announcement of hope and optimism, Reuters quoted a senior health official from Liberia as reporting only five remaining confirmed cases of Ebola in Liberia, which was once an epicenter of the deadly disease outbreak that has killed more than 8,600 people in western Africa. Deputy Health Minister Tolbert Nyenswah, who leads Liberia’s Ebola task force, believes that Liberia could be Ebola-free by the end of February, saying “It means that we are going down…

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By Jovan Begovic, MD

Peer Reviewed

Last Friday, Aetna and Gilead Sciences, the well-known maker of Sovaldi, the “$1000-a-pill” treatment for Hepatitis C, reached a discount agreement that will allow Sovaldi to populate Aetna’s reimbursement lists . Aetna’s decision came after a thorough clinical review of all advanced treatment courses currently available on the market, most of which are priced just under the $100k mark.

Sovaldi also gained mention last week in Malcolm Gladwell’s review of “America’s Bitter Pill,” Steven Brill’s newly published account…

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