Smell and Taste Disorders in Primary Care.

Disorders of smell and taste are reported by approximately one-fifth of people 40 years and older, and one-third of people 80 years and older. These disorders affect quality of life and the ability to identify smoke and toxins. Smell and taste disorders can be early signs of dementia or Parkinson disease and are associated with increased mortality.

Effects of Delivering SLCO1B1 Pharmacogenetic Information in Randomized Trial and Observational Settings.

Background: Outcomes of tailoring statin-type based on solute carrier organic anion transporterfamily member 1B1 ( SLCO1B1)pharmacogenetic toxicity information on patient, provider, and pharmacological outcomes are unknown.

Methods: The trial randomized 159 patients not taking statins because of prior statin myalgia 1:1 to receiving SLCO1B1 GIST (Genotype Informed Statin Therapy) versus usual care (UC) and followed for up to 8 months. The UC arm received their SLCO1B1 results post-trial.

Developmental Delay: When and How to Screen.

An estimated 15% of children in the United States have at least one developmental delay, yet less than one-fifth of those children receive early intervention services before three years of age. Many barriers exist to implementing initial screening and referral, but screening tools can be easily incorporated into the workflow of the primary care practice with preparation. The use of a validated screening tool at regular, repeated intervals, in addition to physician surveillance at well-child visits, may improve early detection.

Paraneoplastic granulocytosis in an advanced lung cancer patient.

Paraneoplastic syndromes (PNPs) refer to cancer-associated signs and symptoms arising in organs and tissues that are remote from the cancer and unrelated to metastasis. Currently the best described PNPs are attributed to tumor secretion of functional peptides and hormones or immune cross-reactivity between tumor and normal host tissues. Paraneoplastic hematologic syndromes are observed more rarely.