The American journal of medicine
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The Weekend Effect in Internal Medicine Admissions: A Limited Impact at a Large Tertiary-Care Center

Mar 24, 2026

This study aimed to determine whether a "weekend effect" exists in terms of in-hospital mortality for patients admitted to internal medicine wards at a large tertiary-care center in Israel. The findings indicated that while weekend admissions showed a slight increase in unadjusted mortality risk, this association was not statistically significant after adjusting for various factors, except for patients in the hematologic/oncologic category, who exhibited higher mortality rates. Overall, the research suggests that weekend admissions do not significantly impact short-term mortality in this well-resourced setting, though specific patient groups may still be at risk.

Relationship of early rapid weight loss to efficacy and safety of tirzepatide and semaglutide for obesity: SURMOUNT-5 post hoc analysis

Mar 22, 2026

This post hoc analysis of the SURMOUNT-5 trial aimed to investigate how early rapid weight loss affects the efficacy and safety of tirzepatide compared to semaglutide in obesity management. The study found that a higher proportion of participants treated with tirzepatide were rapid responders, achieving greater weight loss by Week 72, although rapid responders experienced more gastrointestinal adverse events without impacting treatment completion rates. Overall, tirzepatide demonstrated superior outcomes in weight reduction compared to semaglutide among both rapid and non-rapid responders.

Association of serum albumin level with bleeding event in patients with venous thromboembolism treated with oral anticoagulants

Mar 21, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate the relationship between serum albumin levels and bleeding events in patients with venous thromboembolism receiving oral anticoagulants. Their analysis of 732 patients revealed that lower serum albumin levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of bleeding events within 180 days, particularly in patients with active cancer. This suggests that serum albumin may serve as a useful biomarker for assessing bleeding risk in this patient population.

The Ciprofloxacin QTc Alarm: What Every Hospitalist Needs to Know Ciprofloxacin and QTc Alarm

Mar 21, 2026

The authors aim to address the concerns surrounding QTc prolongation associated with ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, which is often avoided in inpatient settings despite its minimal QTc effects. By reviewing pharmacologic and real-world data, they highlight ciprofloxacin's favorable cardiac safety profile and advocate for aligning evidence with clinical practice to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and support safer antibiotic transitions.

Association Between Pet Ownership and Incident Dementia: A Systematic Review

Mar 21, 2026

This systematic review investigates the association between pet ownership and the incidence of dementia, aiming to clarify whether owning pets, particularly dogs, can contribute to cognitive health and reduce dementia risk. While the evidence is mixed, with some studies suggesting a protective effect of dog ownership and related activities on cognitive decline, others found no significant association. The authors conclude that the type of pets and specific behaviors associated with pet ownership may play a more crucial role than ownership alone.

Chest Compression-Only vs Standard CPR in Adult OHCA: Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials and Observational Cohorts on Cardiac and Neurological Outcomes

Mar 12, 2026

The authors aimed to compare the effectiveness of chest compression-only CPR (CCO) versus standard CPR (sCPR) with ventilation in adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) cases. Their meta-analysis of 18 studies found that both CCO and sCPR resulted in similar survival rates to hospital discharge and neurological outcomes, suggesting that CCO is an effective and simpler strategy for bystander CPR.

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist and Lupus Nephritis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Type 2 Diabetes

Mar 11, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate the association between glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) exposure and renal and inflammatory outcomes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Their findings suggest that GLP-1 RA exposure is linked to a reduced risk of lupus nephritis and SLE flares over one year, indicating potential therapeutic benefits for this patient population.

Reassessing the association between celiac disease and cardiovascular events: A large propensity-matched analysis from a global federated research network

Mar 11, 2026

The authors aimed to evaluate the independent association between celiac disease and cardiovascular outcomes using a large real-world database. Their analysis found that patients with celiac disease had lower risks of all-cause death, acute myocardial infarction, and incident heart failure compared to matched controls, suggesting that previous associations between celiac disease and increased cardiovascular risk may be due to residual confounding rather than a direct link.

Ten Reasons to Treat All Individuals with a Positive Coronary Artery Calcium Score

Mar 11, 2026

The authors aim to highlight the necessity of treating all individuals with a positive coronary artery calcium (CAC) score through aggressive anti-atherogenic therapy to combat the epidemic of coronary artery disease. They present ten compelling reasons for this approach, emphasizing the preventability of atherosclerosis, the progressive nature of CAC scores, and the effectiveness of early treatment in reducing myocardial infarction rates. The review advocates for immediate intervention to lower the significant incidence of cardiovascular events in the United States.

A four-year longitudinal study of once weekly multi-joint resistance training and aerobic training vs. resistance training only

Mar 10, 2026

This study aimed to compare the effects of a four-year exercise program involving combined resistance and aerobic training versus resistance training alone in older men aged 60 to 82 years. Results indicated that both training regimens significantly improved muscle strength and reduced body fat, but the combined training group also enhanced aerobic fitness, highlighting its time efficiency and superiority in improving overall fitness compared to resistance training alone.