OVERVIEW
This page is designed to help and organize some of the landmark papers within medicine in a clear manner. For the sake of convenience, these papers are first organized by specialty.
MEDIICNE
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- TORCH 2007 study (PDF): this study helped to characterize the efficacy of using combined salmeterol (a beta-agonist) and fluticasone (inhaled corticosteroid) in patients with COPD. While this drug combo did not reduce mortality in patients with COPD, it did significantly reduce the risk of modern/severe COPD exacerbations. Read more about this study here.
Hyperlipidemia
- CARE 1996 study (PDF): this study was geared towards characterizing the utility of statin therapy in reducing the risk of coronary events in patients who had known coronary artery disease, but normal cholesterol levels. Read more about this study here.
Hypertension
- DASH 1997 study (PDF): this study demonstrated that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low in saturated/total fats reduced blood pressure when compared to the typical American diet. Read more about this study here.
- ALLHAT 2002 study (PDF): this study showed that thiazide diuretics are more effective in preventing major forms of CVD, and are also a less expensive option when compared to ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers. Read more about this study here.
ONCOLOGY
Breast Cancer
- Extending Aromatase-Inhibitor Therapy 2016 study (PDF): this study compared the efficacy of 5 vs. 10 year aromatase inhibitor treatment of hormone-receptor–positive early breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Read more about this study here.
PSYCHIATRY
Antipsychotics:
- CATIE 2005 study (PDF): this study was designed to comparing the efficiency of second generation antipsychotics against each other (using a first generation medication as a control). Read more about this study here.
PEDIATRICS
Traumatic head injury:
- PECARN 2009 study (PDF): this study is dedicated to identifying which children with recent head trauma require a CT and which do not. Read more about the study here.
Pediatric Fever:
- Step-By-Step 2014 study (PDF): this study was conducted to try and create a systematic approach to working up young infants that have a fever. Since the original study this Step-By-Step approach has been validated by other groups (example here). Read more about the study here.
RADIOLOGY
Ankle Injury:
- Ottawa 1992 study (PDF): this study worked to identify which patients with ankle injuries should receive a ankle or foot X-ray. Read more about the study here.
Radiology Procedures:
- Treatment of Acute Esophageal Food Impaction (PDF): this paper discusses how to treat esophageal food impaction with glucagon, an effervescent agent, and water. Read more about the study here.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH)
- Negative Head CT-Scan Is Not Enough To Rule Out SAH (PDF): this paper explains how a negative CT-scan often times is not enough to rule out a SAH, and how a lumbar puncture can be useful for this task. Read more about this study here.
MEDICAL EDUCATION:
Trainees In The Clinic
- OMP and SNAPPS 2011 study (PDF): this study evaluated two teaching strategies (OMP and SNAPPS) that are used to teach medical students and residents in a medical office setting. Read more about the study here.