Lifestyle choice generally shouldn’t influence clinical decisions – but there are exceptions

Treatment Decisions When There Are Multiple Options

This paper suggests a simple framework for analyzing treatment decisions when a patient is faced with multiple options, all of which are uncertain, and differ in terms of duration, sideeffects, and outcomes. The model allows for a fallback plan if the first treatment fails so that simply ranking treatments by their expected return is not optimal. The optimal treatment plan is patient specific. ...

P30: Are There Anxious Genes?

Anxiety comprises many clinical descriptions and phenotypes. A genetic predisposition to anxiety is undoubted; however, the nature and extent of that contribution is still unclear. Extensive genetic studies of the serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) transporter (5-HTT) gene have revealed how variation in gene expression can be correlated with anxiety phenotypes. Complete genome-wide linkage s...

Intra-articular corticosteroids are effective in osteoarthritis but there are no clinical predictors of response.

OBJECTIVES To show whether intra-articular steroid injections are effective in osteoarthritis; to determine factors that predict response; and to determine whether injection has a beneficial effect on muscle strength. METHODS Double blind, placebo controlled, crossover study in 59 patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee. Outcome measure-Primary outcome measure: change in visual a...

The influence of controllable lifestyle on medical student specialty choice.

Optimal Disclosure Decisions When There are Penalties for Nondisclosure∗

We study a model of the seller of an asset who is liable for damages to buyers of the asset if, after the sale, the seller is discovered to have failed to disclose an estimate of the asset’s value that the seller knew prior to sale. The model yields some surprising predictions concerning how the seller’s disclosure decision changes with changes in the severity of this liability, and with other ...