Highlights from the February 17th issue of CMAJ, presented by Dr. Kirsten Patrick, deputy editor, and Dr. Matthew Stanbrook, deputy editor. In this issue: adverse outcomes among patients co-prescribed clarithromycin and statins, cost-effectiveness of screening for hepatitis C, sofosbuvir to treat hepatitis C, unsanctioned travel restrictions related to Ebola, caring for Aboriginal patients, lung-protective ventilation, living with ALS, and more. Full issue table of contents: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/187/3.tocTo request a transcript of this podcast, contact [email protected]

Interview with Dr. Raza Naqvi, assistant professor of geriatrics at Western University. In their systematic review and meta-analysis published in CMAJ, Dr. Naqvi and colleagues found that the RUDAS, a brief and freely available tool, compares well with standard tools assessing cognitive deficits. It was developed for particular use among patients whose first language is not English, which makes it useful in settings where patient groups are diverse. Full article: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2015/02/17/cmaj.140802To request a transcript of this podcast, contact [email protected]

Interview with Dr. Christopher Parshuram, critical care specialist with the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. He is the lead author of a randomized trial published in CMAJ looking at patient safety, resident well-being and continuity of care for three resident duty schedules in the ICU. Work schedules incorporating shorter periods of continuous duty affected neither doctors' daytime sleepiness nor adverse outcomes in patients. Full article: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2015/02/09/cmaj.140752 First published: February 9, 2015, doi: 10.1503/cmaj.140752To request a transcript of this podcast, contact [email protected]

Interview with Dr. Thomas Maniatis, internal medicine training program director and clinical ethicist at McGill. Dr. Maniatis is the author of a commentary published in CMAJ. He argues that resident duty-hour reform must be further evaluated in order to design systems that provide maximal benefit and minimal harms for all involved. Full article: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2015/02/09/cmaj.150010. First published February 9, 2015, doi: 10.1503/cmaj.150010.To request a transcript of this podcast, contact [email protected]

Highlights from the February 3rd issue of CMAJ, presented by Dr. John Fletcher, editor-in-chief, and Dr. Ken Flegel, senior editor. In this issue: HPV vaccination and its effects on sexual behaviour in adolescent girls, and discovery of a founder mutation for congenital sucrase-isolmaltase deficiency in an Inuit community, CHEP recommendations on sodium intake, cancer and pre-cancer of the anus, the dangers of floppy eyelid syndrome, grief's extraordinary power, ethical approval for studies involving human participants, and more. Full issue table of contents: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/187/2.tocTo request a transcript of this podcast, contact [email protected]

Interview with Dr. Scott Garrison, associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta, and lead author of the prospective cohort study. This time-series analysis used data from BC for new quinine prescriptions, as well as search data from Google Trends. The authors found that nocturnal leg cramps display striking seasonal variability, with incidence highest in summer and lowest in winter. Full article: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2015/01/26/cmaj.140497. First published January 26, 2015, doi: 10.1503/cmaj.140497.To request a transcript of this podcast, contact [email protected]

Audio interview with Dr. David Hogan, geriatric medicine specialist at the University of Calgary. Quinine sulfate is widely used off label to treat nocturnal leg cramps in Canada. Although modestly effective for this indication, the drug has many potential moderate and severe adverse effects. Full article: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2015/01/26/cmaj.150044. First published January 26, 2015, doi: 10.1503/cmaj.150044To request a transcript of this podcast, contact [email protected]

Highlights from the January 6th issue of CMAJ, presented by Dr. John Fletcher, editor-in-chief, and Dr. Moneeza Walji, editorial fellow. In this issue: diversity of ethnic groups and socioeconomic barriers in medical education, testing for group A streptococcal infection in children, harms from amoxicillin, world region-specific birth-weight curves, drug interactions in HIV-infected patients, syncope, case of recurrent rheumatic fever, venous thromboembolism in IBD, and more. Full issue table of contents: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/187/1.tocTo request a transcript of this podcast, contact [email protected]

Highlights from the December 9th issue of CMAJ, presented by Dr. John Fletcher, editor-in-chief, and Dr. Diane Kelsall, deputy editor. In this issue: what matters to patients and their families in end-of-life discussions, ibuprofen versus morphine for post-fracture pain in children, how to engage in deprescribing meds, adverse health effects of solitary confinement, head-tilt chin-lift in CPR, pap smears, diagnosis in progressive headache, Holiday Reading highlights, and more. Full issue table of contents: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/186/18.tocTo request a transcript of this podcast, contact [email protected]

Highlights from the November 18th issue, presented by Dr. John Fletcher, editor-in-chief, and Dr. Kirsten Patrick, deputy editor for CMAJ. In this issue: vitamin D levels in non-dairy milk alternatives, research on Mediterranean diet and metabolic syndrome in the PREDIMED trial, C-CHANGE cardiovascular guidelines, nutrition in dementia, hallucinations case, physician-assisted dying viewpoints, and more. Full issue table of contents: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/186/17.tocTo request a transcript of this podcast, contact [email protected]