Dr. Eileen Murray
Oct 03, 2017
Whether or not to use systemic corticosteroids to treat a skin disease
When I started out in dermatology, corticosteroids were the only systemic drug available to treat patients with severe allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), atopic dermatitis (AD), drug reactions and those with bullous diseases. Corticosteroids are potent and excellent immunosuppressive agents. The main problem with systemic use is the high risk of drug interactions, as well as multiple serious acute and long-term side effects. read more...
Dr. Taryl Felhaber
Sep 20, 2017
The risks of worklessness
Why should physicians encourage early and ultimate return to work whenever they can? In a nutshell, because it is usually in the patient’s best interest to remain in the workforce. read more...
Dr. Jennifer Grant
Sep 06, 2017
Evaluation of penicillin allergy
Recent data show that up to 90% of patients with a reported penicillin allergy are mislabelled and of those who are allergic, many beta-lactams can still be safely prescribed due to low risk of cross-reactivity. Mislabelling of penicillin allergy is due to many things including misdiagnosis (confusing a viral exanthema for allergy), purer formulations of antibiotics, loss of allergy and differences in side-chain structure. read more...
Drs. Christopher Cheung and Kenneth Gin
Aug 09, 2017
Management of Perioperative Bridging Anticoagulation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Perioperative management of anticoagulation is challenging as physicians must consider the risks of stroke, systemic embolism, and perioperative bleeding. read more...
Michael Lee & Isabeau Iqual
Aug 08, 2017
Backward Course Design
Like many teachers, I begin to plan my course by creating course-level learning objectives and after that design the course to meet these. read more...
Dr. Anne Antrim
Jul 18, 2017
Review of the topic of Autism Spectrum Disorder
The current definition of Autism Spectrum Disorder has 2 criteria: “persistent impairment in reciprocal social communication and social interactions” AND “restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior”. The symptoms must be present from early childhood, but may not manifest till the social demands exceed the capacity of the child to respond. read more...
Dr. Roberto Leon
Jun 20, 2017
Step by step approach to determine the safety of prescribing Hormone Replacement Therapy
One of the most complex decisions that women (and their physicians) occasionally need to take in mid-life is whether to use prescription medications for their menopausal symptoms. Previously known as Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) is an effective and evidence based treatment for moderate to severe hot flashes and/or night sweats (defined as bothersome enough to interfere with daily activities, impair quality of life and/or interrupt sleep). read more...
Cait O'Sullivan
May 31, 2017
Seeking collateral information when clinical practice guidelines deliver strong recommendations for drug therapies on the basis of a single clinical trial
When I identify strong drug therapy recommendations of particular relevance to my practice scope, I seek collateral information and there are two resources I routinely incorporate into my literature search. I start with the Cochrane Library and then check to see whether a FDA advisory committee has weighed in on key issues. read more...
Dr. Randall White
May 10, 2017
Long-term benzodiazepine use is associated with increased mortality in people with schizophrenia
When psychiatric patients are treated in an emergency department, they are often hypervigilant, manic, or otherwise in an excited, agitated state. The current standard of care to manage acute agitation in adults is using an antipsychotic medication and a benzodiazepine, often loxapine or haloperidol and lorazepam. read more...
Dr. Gordon Francis
Apr 26, 2017
Elevated Lipoprotein (a) is a common reason for unexplained premature or recurrent coronary heart disease and stroke
High Lp(a) is a major CVD risk factor that should be measured and acted upon in patients and families where there is history of premature CV events but lack of clear risk factors, and in patients with known CVD and recurrent events despite treatment to LDL-C target. read more...
Drs. Charlie Chen and Hayden Rubensohn
Apr 12, 2017
Serious illness conversations and capturing advance care planning
What is the patient willing to consent to as treatment if his/her condition were to seriously deteriorate? The Serious Illness Conversation Guide developed by Ariadne Labs provides a framework for physicians to engage in care planning with patients in a manner acceptable to the patient. read more...
Drs. Terence Yung and Erin Morley
Mar 22, 2017
First Canadian guideline on perioperative cardiac risk assessment and management for patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery
Physicians who see patients for preoperative assessment often face the dilemma of accurately determining a patients’ cardiac risk. Patients may have limited mobility and thus do not necessarily elicit cardiac symptoms even if there is significant flow-limiting coronary artery disease. read more...
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