ABMS Lifelong Learning CME Activity

Red Blood Cell Transfusion- 2023 AABB International Guidelines

Importance  Red blood cell transfusion is a common medical intervention with benefits and harms. Objective  To provide recommendations for use of red blood cell transfusion in adults and children. Evidence Review  Standards for trustworthy guidelines were followed, including using Grading of Recommendations Assessment,…

Hyperthyroidism – A Review

Importance  Overt hyperthyroidism, defined as suppressed thyrotropin (previously thyroid-stimulating hormone) and high concentration of triiodothyronine (T3) and/or free thyroxine (FT4), affects approximately 0.2% to 1.4% of people worldwide. Subclinical hyperthyroidism, defined as low concentrations of thyrotropin and normal concentrations of T3 and FT4, affects…

Diagnosis and Treatment of Bipolar Disorder – A Review

Importance  Bipolar disorder affects approximately 8 million adults in the US and approximately 40 million individuals worldwide. Observations  Bipolar disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of depression and mania or hypomania. Bipolar depressive episodes are similar to major depressive episodes. Manic and…

Cytisinicline for Smoking Cessation – A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance  Cytisinicline (cytisine) is a plant-based alkaloid that, like varenicline, binds selectively to α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which mediate nicotine dependence. Although not licensed in the US, cytisinicline is used in some European countries to aid smoking cessation, but its traditional…

Futility in Clinical Trials

This JAMA Guide to Statistics and Methods discusses the early stopping of clinical trials for futility due to lack of evidence supporting the desired benefit, evidence of harm, or practical issues that make successful completion unlikely.

Patient With Pulmonary Symptoms, Dysphagia, and Raynaud Disease

A nonsmoking patient with gastroesophageal reflux disease and Raynaud disease had 4 weeks of dysphagia and a 4.54-kg weight loss over 3 months, cough productive of yellow sputum, and dyspnea on exertion. White blood cell count and creatine kinase and…

Radiographic Absence of the Left Humeral Head

An older patient with history of surgical decompression for syringomyelia, poor mobility, and frequent falls presented with pain, numbness, and paresthesias in his left upper extremity. Radiograph showed complete absence of the left humeral head. What is the diagnosis, and…