Top articles in medicine in April 2012

Here are my suggestions for some of the top articles in medicine in April 2012 so far:

Dr. Breslow, Who Tied Good Habits to Longevity, Dies at 97 - NYTimes http://goo.gl/ftRDR - It certainly worked for him. His recommendations: do not smoke; drink in moderation; sleep seven to eight hours; exercise at least moderately; eat regular meals; maintain a moderate weight; eat breakfast. Dr. Breslow found that a 60-year-old who followed the seven recommended behaviors would be as healthy as a 30-year-old who followed fewer than three.

Activation of free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1) by experimental drug TAK-875 offers hope as new diabetes therapy j.mp/IQTDnd

Vitamin D Doesn't Improve Academic Performance in Children (study) http://j.mp/ICZpyu - It also doesn't help patients with pneumonia

Phthalates May Double Diabetes Risk - Phthalates are chemicals found in cosmetics, scented candles, plastics http://j.mp/ICZ5j7

Endangered species found in Chinese herbal medications... http://j.mp/HF001J

Google starts ranking journals http://j.mp/HBGIez -- using Google Scholar Metrics for Publications http://j.mp/HBGK6f. Google ranks the top 100 journals and NEJM is no more the "top dog" http://j.mp/HBGYKB according to G Scholar Metrics for Publications. The most cited NEJM article is "Vitamin D Deficiency" followed by "CT - An Increasing Source of Radiation Exposure" http://j.mp/HBHsAi

NEJM now has 17 Interactive Medical Cases - free full text online http://j.mp/Hw5F59

12-Word Social Media Policy by Mayo Clinic: Don’t Lie, Don’t Pry, Don’t Cheat, Can’t Delete, Don’t Steal, Don’t Reveal http://bit.ly/Hr8c1E

Chinese herbal medicines made from Aristolochia plants might be responsible for urinary tract cancer - BMJ http://j.mp/I1pCD5

5 Futures for Academic Medicine. "Drivers of Change in Academic Medicine: “Big hungry buyers” demanding more from health care" - PLoS Medicine http://j.mp/Hw07t4

FDA Approves "Alzheimer's PET scan" by Eli Lilly - radioactive agent florbetapir tags clumps of sticky amyloid in brain http://goo.gl/VbQi7

The articles were selected from my Twitter and Google Reader streams.