This is a collection of articles I have found interesting in the weekly editions of the "big five" medical journals: NEJM, JAMA, Annals, Lancet and BMJ (a few more journals are included occasionally). The review is a weekly feature of Clinical Cases and Images - Blog. Please see the end of the post for a suggested time-efficient way to stay up-to-date with the medical literature.------------------
Electronic Health Records in Ambulatory Care — A National Survey of Physicians.
NEJM Volume 359:50-60 July 3, 2008
This is a national survey of 2758 physicians, which represented a response rate of 62%. Four percent of physicians reported having an extensive, fully functional electronic-records system, and 13% reported having a basic system. Physicians who use electronic health records believe such systems improve the quality of care and are generally satisfied with the systems.
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A Population Study of Endomyocardial Fibrosis in a Rural Area of Mozambique.
NEJM, Volume 359:43-49, July 3, 2008
Endomyocardial fibrosis is the most common restrictive cardiomyopathy worldwide. It has no specific treatment and carries a poor prognosis. Endomyocardial fibrosis is common in a rural area of Mozambique.
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New Drug Class: Crohn's disease: beyond antagonists of tumour necrosis factor.
The Lancet 2008; 372:67-81.
Therapeutic paradigm is also shifting from mere immunosuppression to the reinforcement of the intestinal barrier.
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Perspectives, The art of medicine: John Snow: the making of a hero?
The Lancet 2008; 372:22-23.
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World Report: Controlling Chagas' disease in urban Peru.
The Lancet 2008; 372:16-17.
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Related:
5 Tips to Stay Up-to-Date with Medical Literature
Make Your Own "Medical Journal" with iGoogle Personalized Page
Share iGoogle Tabs with Medical Journals, Podcasts and Gadgets
Text-to-Speech Programs and Continuous Medical Education
Image source: OpenClipArt, public domain.