More articles from From the editor
- A New Year’s toast
With so many important clinical trials being published each year, it is easy to focus on the study methodology and conclusions, overlooking the years of careful clinical observaton that preceded the trial development.
- Physician, editor, and much more, John D. Clough, MD, retires
Dr. John D. Clough, the previous Editor-in-Chief of the CCJM, is much more to all of us than the sum of his accomplishments.
- The arrival of ‘hunt-and-peck’ medicine
I initially had concerns when told that we would be typing all of our visit notes directly into the computer, but I was pleasantly surprised by the benefits of adopting electronic health records.
- Back to the basics on pressure and fat
Sometimes we may be too smart about the nuances of clinical science and get distracted from our goal of improving patient outcomes.
- ECT: Bad reputation, but often effective
It may come as a surprise that psychiarists still use electroconvulsive therapy. Books and movies have not portrayed it in a flattering light.
- The art and evidence of medical practice
A message from the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) could be that the artful judgment of a seasoned clinician, with patient input, may actually be a valid way to make decisions.
- Zoster is more than ‘just’ a viral infection
For some viruses, such as varicella-zoster virus, striking and confusing clinical manifestations can appear long after the initial infection.
- A defense of apple pie
Vaccination against pneumococcal pneumonia is widely accepted, although we underuse it, and data to support its efficacy are scarce.
- Old drug, new data, continued vigilance
Colchicine, an old and familiar drug for gout, has found another use in preventing and treating pericarditis. But familiarity should not dampen vigilance.