Healio Minute Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014 Edition: Antibiotic targets missed in critically ill, implantable cardiac device models lack fresh data, cirrhosis mortality scoring improved

What just happened in medicine and why do you care?

Critically ill patients may not receive adequate antibiotics

Healio.com/Infectious Disease: With significant pharmacokinetic variability observed, a more personalized approach to antibiotic dosing would ensure target drug exposures are achieved. Read more.

Fresh clinical data not part of approval for many cardiac implantable device models

Healio.com/Cardiology: Researchers say the FDA could mandate an expert review panel of each premarket approval application every 5 to 7 years or require rigorous postmarket studies to evaluate device performance once approved for clinical use. Read more.

Scoring system more accurately predicted cirrhosis mortality

Healio.com/Hepatology: Comorbidity is prevalent and strongly affects the mortality of cirrhosis, say researchers, so it must be described, quantified and controlled for in epidemiologic studies of cirrhosis patients. Read more.

Simple written test helps detect early Alzheimer’s symptoms

Healio.com/Geriatric Medicine: SAGE test can be taken at home by patients, who can then share results with their physicians to help spot early symptoms. Read more.

Surgeon General report tallies more health hazards from smoking

Healio.com/Cardiology: New risks of smoking or secondhand smoke exposure include diabetes, colorectal and liver cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, erectile dysfunction and age-related macular degeneration. Read more.