Welcome to the November 2018 edition of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s (BIDMC) Research & Health News Digest.
This month’s update includes:
- Beyond bone mineral density: assessing additional bone traits helps ID those at risk for fracture (Orthopaedics)
- Study finds tennis elbow treatments provide little to no benefit (Orthopaedics)
- Bloodstream infection rates as a measure of quality in hemodialysis facilities (Nephrology)
- Five foods to strengthen bones and joints (Orthopaedics)
- OpenNotes: More than 30 million Americans have access to their clinical notes (Digital health)
- What's behind flawless skin? We asked a dermatologist (Dermatology)
- Diabetes and the feet (Podiatry)
If any of these briefs pique your interest and you’d like to speak with one of our experts, please contact us at [email protected] or at 617-667-7300. You can also reach the BIDMC communications team member on call through the BIDMC page operator at (617) 667-4700 and asking for pager ID #33880.
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The BIDMC Media Relations Team
BIDMC Research & Health News Digest: November 2018
Beyond Bone Mineral Density: Assessing Additional Bone Traits Helps ID Those at Risk for Fracture
In the largest prospective study of its kind, researchers – including Mary L. Bouxsein, PhD, director of the Center for Advanced Orthopedic Studies at BIDMC and colleagues at the Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife – used high-resolution tomography imaging to assess whether other bone characteristics besides bone mineral density can determine fracture risk. The team found that assessing the microstructure of two different types of bone tissues – compact bone and spongy bone – may be useful in predicting the incidence of fragility fractures among people who would not otherwise be identified as at risk. The study is published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology. (November 2018)
https://www.bidmc.org/about-bidmc/news/2018/11/beyond-bone-mineral-density
Study Finds Tennis Elbow Treatments Provide Little to No Benefit
Researchers and clinicians led by Ara Nazarian, PhD, a principal investigator in the Center for Advanced Orthopaedic Studies at BIDMC, have compared the efficacy and safety of non-surgical treatment options for tennis elbow – also called enthesopathy of the extensor carpi radialis brevis (eECRB). Published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, the meta-analysis reveals that none of the 11 non-surgical treatment options – including physical therapy, acupuncture, oral anti-inflammatory medications, local botulinum toxin injection therapy, ultrasound, laser therapy and more – performed significantly better than placebo in addressing patients’ pain and that all treatments increased patients’ odds of adverse events. (November 2018)
Bloodstream Infection Rates as a Measure of Quality in Hemodialysis Facilities
A team of researchers led by Robert S. Brown, MD, associate chief for Academic Affairs of the Division of Nephrology at BIDMC, investigated rates of bloodstream infection among patients with and without catheters in outpatient hemodialysis facilities in New England. The team found that four dialysis provider groups had significantly higher bloodstream infection rates in their patients with catheters compared to the best-performing dialysis provider group. The findings appear in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. (September 2018)
Five Foods to Strengthen Bones and Joints
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, about 54 million Americans have osteoporosis or low bone density. Many, however, have no symptoms until they suffer a bone fracture. Kathryn Weatherford, RD, LDN, CNSC, a registered dietitian at BIDMC offers five food suggestions for strengthening bones and joints. (November 2018)
OpenNotes: More Than 30 Million Americans Have Access to Their Clinical Notes
OpenNotes announced that more than 30 million Americans now have access to notes written by their clinicians in fully transparent medical records. OpenNotes is a call to action committed to improving health care by offering patients the opportunity to read notes written by their doctors, nurses, physician assistants, therapists, and other clinicians. Previously hidden from patients, these notes can be an essential tool for increasing communication, patient safety and the quality of care. “Our research shows that patients benefit from reading their notes. They report doing a better job taking their medications and finding serious mistakes in their visit notes,” said Catherine DesRoches, DrPH, executive director, OpenNotes, BIDMC. (November 2018)
What's Behind Flawless Skin? We Asked a Dermatologist
There are endless products on the market that promise to erase wrinkles, shrink pores, lighten scars – to give you perfect, glowing skin. Dermatologist Alexa Boer Kimball, MD, who is also president and chief executive officer at Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians at BIDMC, shares important factors that influence how our skin looks and behaves, including genetics. (November 2018)
Diabetes and the Feet
How can diabetes impact the feet? John Giurini, DPM, chief of podiatric surgery at BIDMC, discusses diabetic neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease and how experts at BIDMC can help. (November 2018)
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The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology; American Journal of Sports Medicine; Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN)