Issues

Abraham J. Kandathil, PhD; Florian P. Breitwieser, PhD; Jaiprasath Sachithanandham, PhD; Matthew Robinson, MD; Shruti H. Mehta, PhD; Winston Timp, PhD; Steven L. Salzberg, PhD; David L. Thomas, MD, MPH; Ashwin Balagopal, MD

In this study, the authors used next-generation metagenomic sequencing to explore the plasma virome of injection drug users and characterized its sensitivity and accuracy compared with quantitative clinical standards. The findings included presence of a novel RNA virus (human hepegivirus-1) in several participants.

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):1-7. doi:10.7326/M17-0085

Nick Bansback, PhD; Ciaran S. Phibbs, PhD; Huiying Sun, PhD; James R. O'Dell, MD; Mary Brophy, MD, MPH; Edward C. Keystone, MD; Sarah Leatherman, PhD; Ted R. Mikuls, MD, MSPH; Aslam H. Anis, PhD; for the CSP 551 RACAT Investigators

Bansback and colleagues used data from a recently published randomized controlled trial to examine the cost-effectiveness of triple therapy versus adding etanercept to methotrexate as a first-line strategy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis not controlled by methotrexate monotherapy.

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):8-16. doi:10.7326/M16-0713

Raffaele Piccolo, MD; Giuseppe Gargiulo, MD; Anna Franzone, MD; Andrea Santucci, MD; Sara Ariotti, MD; Andrea Baldo, MD; Carlo Tumscitz, MD; Aris Moschovitis, MD; Stephan Windecker, MD; Marco Valgimigli, MD, PhD

In this study, the authors apply the dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) score to a study that enrolled patients randomly assigned to a prolonged (24 months) versus short (≤6 months) DAPT regimen after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):17-25. doi:10.7326/M16-2389

Ajay Malhotra, MD, MMM; Xiao Wu, BS; Howard P. Forman, MD, MBA; Holly K. Grossetta Nardini, MLS; Charles C. Matouk, MD; Dheeraj Gandhi, MD; Christopher Moore, MD; Pina Sanelli, MD, MPH

Small intracranial aneurysms are sometimes detected incidentally on brain imaging. This systematic review of 26 observational studies assesses and summarizes evidence about the growth and rupture risk of small and very small intracranial aneurysms.

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):26-33. doi:10.7326/M17-0246

Aïda Bafeta, PhD; Amelie Yavchitz, MD, PhD; Carolina Riveros, MSc; Rui Batista, PharmD; Philippe Ravaud, MD, PhD

Fecal microbiota transplantation is a novel treatment option for some chronic diseases with altered gut microbiota. This analysis of 85 published reports examines studies in humans that assessed the efficacy or safety of fecal microbiota transplantation.

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):34-39. doi:10.7326/M16-2810

Isabelle Boutron, MD, PhD; Douglas G. Altman, DSc; David Moher, PhD; Kenneth F. Schulz, PhD, MBA; Philippe Ravaud, MD, PhD; for the CONSORT NPT Group

This article describes updates to the CONSORT extension on methodological issues specific to trials of nonpharmacologic treatments and an extension for reporting abstracts of trials of nonpharmacologic treatments.

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):40-47. doi:10.7326/M17-0046

Samyukta Mullangi, MD, MBA; Andrew M. Ibrahim, MD, MSc; Vineet Chopra, MD, MSc

Hospitals are still behind when it comes to implementing patient-friendly processes to improve the access and layout of hospital services. Could hospitals learn from airports in meeting the needs of patients?

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):48-49. doi:10.7326/M17-0484

A. Thomas McLellan, PhD

The Department of Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense recently revised guidelines on prescribing opioids for the management of chronic noncancer pain. This commentary discusses the guidelines and why they are a welcome and timely update.

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):50-51. doi:10.7326/M17-0814

David Shulkin, MD

The newly appointed secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) describes the response to the access crisis and his vision for the VA that is based on how veterans want to receive care.

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):52-54. doi:10.7326/M17-0900

Elena Losina, PhD; Jeffrey N. Katz, MD, MSc

Bansback and colleagues reported a cost-effectiveness analysis of triple therapy with conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs compared with etanercept and methotrexate. The editorialists discuss the findings.

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):55-56. doi:10.7326/M17-1176

J. Dawn Abbott, MD

The editorialist discusses the findings of Piccolo and colleagues' study as well as strategies to individualize decision making about DAPT duration.

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):57-58. doi:10.7326/M17-1211

Robert M. Starke, MD, MSc

Malhotra and colleagues' review examined the risk for growth and rupture of small unruptured intracranial aneurysms. The editorialist discusses the importance of the clinical question the review attempts to answer but believes that the poor quality of the available evidence makes the answer elusive.

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):59-60. doi:10.7326/M17-1215

Vincent B. Young, MD, PhD

The editorialist discusses Bafeta and colleagues' systematic review, which examined the methods described in 85 studies of fecal microbiota transplantation.

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):61-62. doi:10.7326/M17-1157

Darren B. Taichman, MD, PhD; Peush Sahni, MBBS, MS, PhD; Anja Pinborg, MD; Larry Peiperl, MD; Christine Laine, MD, MPH; Astrid James, MBBS; Sung-Tae Hong, MD, PhD; Abraham Haileamlak, MD; Laragh Gollogly, MD, MPH; Fiona Godlee, FRCP; Frank A. Frizelle, MBChB, FRACS; Fernando Florenzano, MD; Jeffrey M. Drazen, MD; Howard Bauchner, MD; Christopher Baethge, MD; Joyce Backus, MSLS

Participants in clinical trials often place themselves at risk to help the medical community learn how to improve care. To make the most of these efforts, the editors of 13 major medical journals have adopted new criteria on sharing data from clinical trials.

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):63-65. doi:10.7326/M17-1028

Darren B. Taichman, MD, PhD; Darilyn V. Moyer, MD; Christine Laine, MD, MPH

This issue includes 2 Annals Graphic Medicine pieces about the beginning of internship. This editorial discusses what residents face during this time.

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):66-67. doi:10.7326/M17-1293

Franklin J. Canady, BA

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):68-69. doi:10.7326/M16-2226

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):70-71. doi:10.7326/L16-0651

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):71-72. doi:10.7326/L17-0189

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):72-73. doi:10.7326/L17-0188

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):72. doi:10.7326/L17-0192

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):73-74. doi:10.7326/L17-0231

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):74-75. doi:10.7326/L17-0233

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):75-76. doi:10.7326/L17-0234

Venetta Masson, RN, MA

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):16. doi:10.7326/M17-0373

Brenda Butka, MD

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):65. doi:10.7326/M17-0257

Stanley Cohen, MD

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):76. doi:10.7326/M17-0409

Judith Feinberg, MD; Susana Keeshin, MD

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):ITC1-ITC16. doi:10.7326/AITC201707040

Darren B. Taichman, MD, PhD

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):ED1. doi:10.7326/AFED201707040

Michael Natter, MD

Annals Graphic Medicine brings together original graphic narratives, comics, animation/video, and other creative forms by those who provide or receive health care. They address medically relevant topics—whether they be poignant, thought-provoking, or just plain entertaining.

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):W1-W2. doi:10.7326/G17-0008

Jason Bitterman, MD

Annals Graphic Medicine brings together original graphic narratives, comics, animation/video, and other creative forms by those who provide or receive health care. They address medically relevant topics—whether they be poignant, thought-provoking, or just plain entertaining.

Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(1):W3-W6. doi:10.7326/G17-0001