Reviving Penmanship: "Ink is forever"

From DW: "Handwritten texts are experiencing a boom. A Berlin startup offers invitations, cards and love letters written by hand: it's more personal and original. And calligraphers who copy famous people's handwriting or important documents are more in demand than ever."

Leading causes of death in 2030, if we continue down the current path

This CDC video provides information about the leading causes of death in the U.S. and where we may be in 2030, if we continue down the current path. It suggests small steps that providers can take now to make a difference in the future health of our nation.

Police officers’ risk of sudden cardiac death is 34-69 times higher during restraints or altercations

This BMJ study found that police officers’ risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) was 34 to 69 times higher during restraints or altercations; 32 to 51 times higher during pursuits; 20 to 23 times higher during physical training; and 6 to 9 times higher during medical or rescue operations, as compared with routine or non-emergency activities. The researchers also found that SCD accounts for up to 10% of all U.S. on-duty police deaths.



References:

Law enforcement duties and sudden cardiac death among police officers in United States: case distribution study. BMJ 2014; 349 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g6534 (Published 18 November 2014).
http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g6534

Around the table - National Geographic video

Chefs and authors discuss the importance of the communal meal:



The Future of Food. Chefs Jose Andres and Barton Seaver talk about the importance of food as a resource and how we can save it:

Top medicine articles for November 2014

A collection of some interesting medical articles published recently:

'To Burn Off Calories in This Soda, Walk 5 Miles' - new label http://buff.ly/1vzbCKH

Two new medications for IPF: Pirfenidone (Esbriet) affects scarring, Nintedanib (Ofev) is a kinase inhibitor http://buff.ly/1psam6m

80% of people have at least 1 distressing symptom in a given month, yet fewer than 1 in 4 persons sees a doctor. At least one third of common symptoms do not have a clear-cut, disease-based explanation. History and physical examination alone contribute 73% to 94% of the diagnostic information. The patient's history alone yields 75% of the diagnostic information. Most patients have multiple symptoms rather than a single symptom. Symptoms become chronic or recur in 20% to 25% of patients. http://buff.ly/1yf7S0w

A Small Practice's Fight to Stay Independent: Can It Work? Walk-ins only mornings work for this Chicago practice. 40% of patients seen at convenience clinics do not have a "medical home" or regular primary care physician http://buff.ly/1yfa87N

9 Brain Boosters to Prevent Memory Loss http://buff.ly/1ps8VVn

History and physical examination alone contribute 73% to 94% of the diagnostic information http://buff.ly/1yf7cIk

New 2-in-1 diabetes pill approved, Xigduo XR once-daily combines SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin and metformin http://buff.ly/1ujxOtN

Running is a Life-Saver, Study Finds - running even as few as 5 to 10 minutes each day is fine http://buff.ly/10mYFrV

Fixing the EHR Beast: Old, Unfriendly, Decentralized, and Incompatible - by Medscape editor-at-large http://buff.ly/10mZGjy

How to Make Published Research True: many published research findings are false/exaggerated, 85% of resources wasted http://buff.ly/10n1Ekc

Men often don't appreciate their fathers until it's too late - Telegraph http://buff.ly/1tQDZp0

The articles were selected from Twitter and my RSS subscriptions. Please feel free to send suggestions for articles to clinicalcases AT gmail.com and you will receive acknowledgement in the next edition of this publication.

How to Teach Teens to Drive Safely - WSJ video

Along with parking and steering, parents also need to teach teenagers how to spot crash hazards. WSJ's Sue Shellenbarger and Tanya Rivero discuss some tips.

Adrenal insufficiency - 2014 Lancet review

Adrenal insufficiency is the deficient production or action of glucocorticoids, with or without deficiency also in mineralocorticoids and adrenal androgens.

It is a life-threatening disorder that can result from:

- primary adrenal failure
- secondary adrenal disease due to impairment of the hypothalamic—pituitary axis

Prompt diagnosis and management are essential.

The clinical manifestations of primary adrenal insufficiency result from deficiency of all adrenocortical hormones, but they can also include signs of other concurrent autoimmune conditions.

In secondary or tertiary adrenal insufficiency, the clinical picture results from glucocorticoid deficiency only, but manifestations of the primary pathological disorder can also be present.

Diagnostic investigation can be challenging, especially in patients with secondary or tertiary adrenal insufficiency.

References:

Adrenal insufficiency : The Lancet http://buff.ly/1r18eER

A company called I Heart Guts makes a whole range of plush toys and lapel pins based on anatomical organs:

Why use Twitter - tips from Mayo Clinic's social media director

In this video, Dr. Timimi discusses the quiet revolution of Twitter in healthcare, including how it can be used in practice and in education. Of time spent online in the US, one in six minutes is spent in a social network. Of the popular social networks, Twitter is one of the best introductory platforms, with one in five adult Internet users in the United States maintaining a presence on Twitter.

Understanding Drug Resistance - video by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Resistance to antimicrobial drugs is a growing public health concern. Watch this NIAID video to learn more about how antimicrobial resistance develops and what scientists are doing to fight it.

Trying to Walk After the New York City Marathon (video)

After completing the 2014 New York City Marathon, participants fight through fatigue and physical exhaustion on the streets of Manhattan. Produced by: Deborah Acosta for The New York Times.