Episode 209: cocoa, best UTI antibiotic, LAA closure for AF, and evolocumab for primary (sort of) prevention

Join our intrepid primary care experts Kate Rowland, Mark Ebell, Henry Barry and Gary Ferenchick as they tell you about 4 new primary care relevant studies: self-management and manipulation for low back pain, nasal saline for treating adults with URIs, non-gated CT scans and coronary calcium measurement, and statins after age seventy. Links:Low back pain: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42223934/ Nasal saline spray for URI: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41136239/Recipe for spray: https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/saline-sinus-rinse-recipeGated vs non-gated CT: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42507772/ Statins after 70: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42670961/ Permanent link to the John Hickner Scholarship Fund: https://give.msu.edu/?sid=17374 

This week, primary care experts Drs. Kate Rowland, Gary Ferenchick, Mark Ebell and Henry Barry discuss 4 new studies: The post-Papanicolau era of HPV self collection, electroacupuncture for post-herpetic neuralgia, AI-based app for melanoma detection, and the onset age of silent atherosclerosis. Links:Self-collected HPV: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42509175/ Electroacupuncture: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42189557/ AI skin cancer app: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41701029/ Silent plaques: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42670946/

Primary care physicians Kate, Mark, Henry and Gary discuss 4 new studies that could change your practice: treatments for hyperemesis gravidarum, calcium and vitamin D to prevent falls and fractures in older adults, the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor, and oral semaglutide to treat dementia .The John Hickner Memorial fund at MSU: https://give.msu.edu/?sid=17374 Hyperemesis gravidarum treatments: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41478546/ Supplementing with calcium or vitamin D: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42161415/ Oral PCSK-9 enlicitide:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41879224/ Cochrane review of PCSK-9s: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011748.pub3/full Semaglutide for dementia: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41865758/

This week, Kate, Gary and Mark discuss 3 new studies: whether we can do anything about modifiable risk factors for dementia, whether COVID-19 vaccines are still useful, and how to interpret abnormal shoulder MRIs.

Primary care docs Kate Rowland, Mark Ebell, Henry Barry and Gary Ferenchick talk about 4 new studies: prevention of multimorbidity in people at high risk of diabetes, high-dose vitamin D in healthy older adults, whether screening for skin cancer reduces melanoma mortality, and tirzepatide withdrawal and weight maintenance .

Join primary care professors Mark Ebell, Kate Rowland, Gary Ferenchick and Henry Barry as they discuss 4 new studies: semaglutide for alcohol use disorder, a vibrating cool pack to prevent post vaccination syncope, PCR for 23 respiratory pathogens in primary care to reduce antibiotic use, and fluvoxamine for Long-COVID Fatigue.LinksSemaglutide for AUD: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42070571/Vibrating cool pack for vaccine syncope: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41692229/ Point of care PCR for acute RTI: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42149561/Likelihood that pathogen is commensal vs pathogenic: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39864052/ Fluvoxamine and long COVID: Ann Intern Med. 2026;179(5):621-628  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41911553/

This week primary care physicians Kate Rowland, Mark Ebell, Gary Ferenchick and Henry Barry discuss four new studies: screentime for children, discontinuing levothyroxine, a new mRNA flu vaccine from Moderna, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) Supplementation for healthy aging.Links to articles:AAP screen time policyDiscontinuing levothyroxine studymRNA flu vaccine from ModernaNAD supplementsQuiz: Bixomania study

Primary care docs Mark Ebell, Kate Rowland, Henry Barry and Gary Ferenchick tackle 4 new studies: health benefits of cocoa supplements, the best antibiotic for managing uncomplicated UTIs in women, left atrial appendage closure for AF with high bleeding or stroke risk, and evolocumab for primary (sort-of) prevention of MACE in patients with diabetes.Essential Evidence Plus: www.essentialevidenceplus.comhttps://www.iafp.org/2026ac Cocoa and health: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35294962/ Antibiotics for UTI: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42026010/ Left atrial appendage closure and AF: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41849741/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41903215/

This week, primary care doctors Mark Ebell, Kate Rowland, Henry Barry and Gary Ferenchick discuss four new studies: whether water is better than diet drinks in diabetes, a new RCT of Paxlovid for COVID in contemporary patients, to switch or not to switch antiplatelet agents after a stroke, and the latest AHA 2026 dietary advice for heart health.Drinks for diabetes: ttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41369640/ Antiplatelet agents after stroke on aspirin: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41347302/ New Paxlovid trial: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42019019/ AHA 2026 dietary guidance: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41914202/

This week Kate, Mark and Henry talk about empathetic robots, mother-baby singing groups for postpartum depression, and new American College of Cardiology lipid guidelines.Indiana AFP POEMs course in French Link: https://www.iafp.org/2026ac Empathetic robots: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41359230/ Weekly singing groups for postpartum depression: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41087020/ACC/AHA/etc lipid guidelines: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41824552/A 2025 study in the journal Family Practice finding that the two most trustworthy lipid guidelines recommended against using CAC, while all five less trustworthy guidelines due to poor methods or COI recommended it. Go figure.Smartphones in schools: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41489912/