Challenges and directions in analytical paleobiology.

Over the last 50 years, access to new data and analytical tools has expanded the study of analytical paleobiology, contributing to innovative analyses of biodiversity dynamics over Earth's history. Despite-or even spurred by-this growing availability of resources, analytical paleobiology faces deep-rooted obstacles that stem from the need for more equitable access to data and best practices to guide analyses of the fossil record. Recent progress has been accelerated by a collective push toward more collaborative, interdisciplinary, and open science, especially by early-career researchers. Here, we survey four challenges facing analytical paleobiology from an early-career perspective: (1) accounting for biases when interpreting the fossil record; (2) integrating fossil and modern biodiversity data; (3) building data science skills; and (4) increasing data accessibility and equity. We discuss recent efforts to address each challenge, highlight persisting barriers, and identify tools that have advanced analytical work. Given the inherent linkages between these challenges, we encourage discourse across disciplines to find common solutions. We also affirm the need for systemic changes that reevaluate how we conduct and share paleobiological research.

Text Messaging to Improve Disease Management in Patients With Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.

Purpose The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of educational text messages on diabetes self-management activities and outcomes in patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (pDPN). Methods Patients with pDPN identified from a large integrated health system who agreed to participate were randomized to 6 months of usual care (UC) or UC plus twice-daily diabetes self-management text messages (UC+TxtM). Outcomes included the Pain Numerical Rating Scale, Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA), questions on diabetes health beliefs, and glycated hemoglobin (A1C). Changes from baseline were evaluated at 6 months and compared between groups. Results Demographic characteristics were balanced between groups (N = 62; 53% female, mean age = 63 years, 94% type 2 diabetes), as were baseline measures. After 6 months, pain decreased with UC+TxtM from 6.3 to 5.5 and with UC from 6.5 to 6.0, with no difference between groups. UC+TxtM but not UC was associated with significant improvements from baseline on all SDSCA subscales. On diabetes health beliefs, UC+TxtM patients reported significantly increased benefits and reduced barriers and susceptibility relative to UC at 6 months. A1C declined in both groups, but neither change was significant relative to baseline. Conclusions Patients with pDPN who receive twice-daily text messages regarding diabetes management reported reduced pain relative to baseline, although this change was not significant compared with usual care. In addition, text messaging was associated with increased self-management activities and improved diabetes health beliefs and total self-care. These results warrant further investigation.

Pregabalin for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: strategies for dosing, monotherapy vs. combination therapy, treatment-refractory patients, and adverse events.

OBJECTIVE: Primary care physicians face significant challenges when treating painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (pDPN). The physician must determine the best dosing strategy, consider the use of combination therapy, and decide how best to treat patients who have responded poorly to other treatment options in the past. With a focus on these issues, this paper will review the use of pregabalin for the treatment of pDPN in order to provide physicians with clinical data needed to develop, in combination with real-world prescribing data, effective treatment strategies for this common but challenging type of pain. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A formal PubMed search, along with a search of unpublished data from the Pfizer clinical trial database, was used to identify papers describing results from clinical trials of pregabalin in patients with pDPN. Papers were selected for inclusion in the review if they addressed the use of pregabalin in the context of a head-to-head treatment comparison, use in refractory patients, or as part of combination therapy. A discussion of pregabalin dosing and adverse events is also presented. CONCLUSIONS: There is some difference with respect to the maximum approved dose of pregabalin for the treatment of pDPN in the United States (300 mg/day) and European Union (600 mg/day), though clinical data demonstrate that pregabalin doses >300 mg/day may be beneficial in some patients. Pregabalin has shown efficacy (and is approved) as a monotherapy for pDPN, although several guidelines recommend combination therapy for challenging cases. However, evidence to support combination therapy is sparse and the decision of monotherapy vs. combination therapy should be at the physician's discretion. There are data demonstrating the efficacy of pregabalin in some patients with pDPN who have not responded to other pharmacological treatments, including those unresponsive to treatment with gabapentin. Clinical guidelines acknowledge the paucity of head-to-head data among treatment options, but consistently recommend pregabalin as a first-tier treatment for pDPN.

Efficacy and safety of pregabalin in patients with spinal cord injury: a pooled analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the efficacy and examine the safety and tolerability of pregabalin in patients with central neuropathic pain due to spinal cord injury (SCI). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were pooled from two 12 to 16 week, placebo-controlled trials of pregabalin in patients with neuropathic pain due to SCI. Pain diaries were used to rate pain from 0 = no pain to 10 = worst possible pain. Efficacy measures included: mean change in pain from baseline to endpoint; duration adjusted average change (DAAC) in pain; the percentage of patients with ≥30% or ≥50% reductions in pain score from baseline to endpoint; and Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) score at endpoint. Adverse events (AEs) were also compared between treatment groups. RESULTS: In total 174 patients received placebo and 182 received pregabalin. Mean change in pain from baseline to endpoint was improved in the pregabalin group compared with placebo (placebo-adjusted difference = -0.79; 95% CI = -1.15, -0.43; p < 0.001; baseline-observation-carried-forward). DAAC in pain was improved in patients receiving pregabalin compared with placebo (p < 0.001). The percentage of patients achieving ≥30% and ≥50% reductions in pain from baseline to endpoint was greater in the pregabalin arm compared with placebo (placebo: 30% = 22.5%, 50% = 11.6: pregabalin 30% = 35.6%, 50% = 22.4%) (all p < 0.01). PGIC scores at endpoint were significantly better in the pregabalin arm compared with placebo (p < 0.05). Treatment-related AEs, most commonly somnolence, dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, edema, blurred vision, and constipation occurred more frequently in patients treated with pregabalin than placebo. The majority of AEs were mild to moderate in severity. CONCLUSIONS: Pregabalin reduced neuropathic pain due to SCI over a 12 to 16 week treatment period. Treatment-related AEs were mostly mild to moderate in severity and are consistent with the known safety profile of pregabalin. These findings should not be extrapolated to longer durations of treatment or other patient populations.

Popular sports supplements and ergogenic aids.

This article reviews the evidence-based ergogenic potential and adverse effects of 14 of the most common products in use by recreational and elite athletes today. Both legal and prohibited products are discussed. This is an aggressively marketed and controversial area of sports medicine worldwide. It is therefore prudent for the clinician to be well versed in the more popular supplements and drugs reputed to be ergogenic in order to distinguish fact from fiction.Antioxidants, proteins and amino acids are essential components of diet, but additional oral supplementation does not increase endurance or strength. Caffeine is ergogenic in certain aerobic activities. Creatine is ergogenic in repetitive anaerobic cycling sprints but not running or swimming. Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine may be ergogenic but have detrimental cardiovascular effects. Erythropoietin is ergogenic but increases the risk of thromboembolic events. beta-Hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate has ergogenic potential in untrained individuals, but studies are needed on trained individuals. Human growth hormone and insulin growth factor-I decrease body fat and may increase lean muscle mass when given subcutaneously. Pyruvate is not ergogenic. The androgenic precursors androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone have not been shown to increase any parameters of strength and have potentially significant adverse effects. Anabolic steroids increase protein synthesis and muscle mass but with many adverse effects, some irreversible. Supplement claims on labels of product content and efficacy can be inaccurate and misleading.

Position Statement. Violence and injury in ice hockey.

Ice hockey is a sport enjoyed by many men and women at the spectator and participant level. It is played with high intensity and often involves body contact. Although the women's games is far from injury free, it is the men's game that has drawn criticism for excessive violence. Much attention has been drawn to the serious injuries that have occurred in ice hockey, specifically spinal injuries, concussions, and eye injuries. Many such injuries are the result of illegal and violent acts such as checking from behind or a deliberate high stick. Because of this, some medical organizations have called for changes in the sport, such as minimum age requirements for body-checking. As a practical matter such changes are unlikely to be accepted by hockey governing boards. Many of those involved in the sport consider body-checking a fundamental component of the game. Furthermore, a distinction needs to be made between any kind of injury and a serious, catastrophic injury. For example, although a recent study found that body-checking accounted for up to 38% of ice hockey injuries, none were of the catastrophic type. With respect to catastrophic injuries such as spinal cord trauma or a blinded eye, legal body-checking accounts for significantly less than illegal body-checking (e.g., checking from behind) or violent stick work. To reduce serious injury in ice hockey, we offer 10 recommendations, key among them automatic game suspensions for certain rules violations, and recognition of the coach as the most important figure in promoting a clean, safe game.

Ergogenic aids in aerobic activity.

There are many products that are potentially ergogenic for aerobic exercise, although evidence-based support varies. The most popular supplements or ergogenic aids for the endurance athlete are caffeine, antioxidants, erythropoietin, and the dietary practice of carbohydrate loading. Caffeine and carbohydrate loading have the most evidence-based support of being both ergogenic and safe. Erythropoietin is ergogenic but unsafe, and is banned by all major sport-sanctioning bodies, and antioxidants have potential but warrant further study. Pyruvate is not ergogenic.

Myasthenia gravis.

Preview What are some simple diagnostic tests for myasthenia gravis? When is a patient considered too young or too old for thymectomy? How can a cholinergic crisis brought on by drug therapy be differentiated from an exacerbation of myasthenia gravis? Should prednisone be given in a high or a low dose? Dr Juhn addresses these and other questions.