Primary Care Update

This week, primary care experts Drs. Kate Rowland, Gary Ferenchick, Mark Ebell and Henry Barry discuss 4 new studies: The post-Papanicolau era of HPV self collection, electroacupuncture for post-herpetic neuralgia, AI-based app for melanoma detection, and the onset age of silent atherosclerosis. Links: Self-collected HPV: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42509175/ Electroacupuncture: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42189557/ AI skin cancer app: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41701029/ Silent plaques: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42670946/

Primary care physicians Kate, Mark, Henry and Gary discuss 4 new studies that could change your practice: treatments for hyperemesis gravidarum, calcium and vitamin D to prevent falls and fractures in older adults, the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor, and oral semaglutide to treat dementia . The John Hickner Memorial fund at MSU: https://give.msu.edu/?sid=17374 Hyperemesis gravidarum treatments: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41478546/ Supplementing with calcium or vitamin D: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42161415/ Oral PCSK-9 enlicitide: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41879224/ Cochrane review of PCSK-9s: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011748.pub3/full Semaglutide for dementia: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41865758/

This week, Kate, Gary and Mark discuss 3 new studies: whether we can do anything about modifiable risk factors for dementia, whether COVID-19 vaccines are still useful, and how to interpret abnormal shoulder MRIs.

Primary care docs Kate Rowland, Mark Ebell, Henry Barry and Gary Ferenchick talk about 4 new studies: prevention of multimorbidity in people at high risk of diabetes, high-dose vitamin D in healthy older adults, whether screening for skin cancer reduces melanoma mortality, and tirzepatide withdrawal and weight maintenance .

Join primary care professors Mark Ebell, Kate Rowland, Gary Ferenchick and Henry Barry as they discuss 4 new studies: semaglutide for alcohol use disorder, a vibrating cool pack to prevent post vaccination syncope, PCR for 23 respiratory pathogens in primary care to reduce antibiotic use, and fluvoxamine for Long-COVID Fatigue. Links Semaglutide for AUD: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42070571/ Vibrating cool pack for vaccine syncope: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41692229/ Point of care PCR for acute RTI: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42149561/ Likelihood that pathogen is commensal vs pathogenic: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39864052/ Fluvoxamine and long COVID: Ann Intern Med . 2026;179(5):621-628 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41911553/

This week primary care physicians Kate Rowland, Mark Ebell, Gary Ferenchick and Henry Barry discuss four new studies: screentime for children, discontinuing levothyroxine, a new mRNA flu vaccine from Moderna, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) Supplementation for healthy aging. Links to articles: AAP screen time policy Discontinuing levothyroxine study mRNA flu vaccine from Moderna NAD supplements Quiz: Bixomania study

Primary care docs Mark Ebell, Kate Rowland, Henry Barry and Gary Ferenchick tackle 4 new studies: health benefits of cocoa supplements, the best antibiotic for managing uncomplicated UTIs in women, left atrial appendage closure for AF with high bleeding or stroke risk, and evolocumab for primary (sort-of) prevention of MACE in patients with diabetes. Essential Evidence Plus: www.essentialevidenceplus.com https://www.iafp.org/2026ac Cocoa and health: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35294962/ Antibiotics for UTI: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42026010/ Left atrial appendage closure and AF: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41849741/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41903215/

This week, primary care doctors Mark Ebell, Kate Rowland, Henry Barry and Gary Ferenchick discuss four new studies: whether water is better than diet drinks in diabetes, a new RCT of Paxlovid for COVID in contemporary patients, to switch or not to switch antiplatelet agents after a stroke, and the latest AHA 2026 dietary advice for heart health. Drinks for diabetes: ttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41369640/ Antiplatelet agents after stroke on aspirin: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41347302/ New Paxlovid trial: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42019019/ AHA 2026 dietary guidance: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41914202/

This week Kate, Mark and Henry talk about empathetic robots, mother-baby singing groups for postpartum depression, and new American College of Cardiology lipid guidelines. Indiana AFP POEMs course in French Link: https://www.iafp.org/2026ac Empathetic robots: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41359230/ Weekly singing groups for postpartum depression: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41087020/ ACC/AHA/etc lipid guidelines: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41824552/ A 2025 study in the journal Family Practice finding that the two most trustworthy lipid guidelines recommended against using CAC, while all five less trustworthy guidelines due to poor methods or COI recommended it. Go figure. Smartphones in schools: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41489912/

Join primary care faculty Gary Ferenchick, Kate Rowland, Henry Barry and Mark Ebell as they discuss 4 important new studies: the value (?) Of biomarkers in cognitive impairment, toilet training, bleeding risk with apixaban versus rivaroxaban for VTE, and diagnosing volume overload in adults from the JAMA Rational Clinical Exam series.

This week, primary care doctors Kate, Gary, Mark and Henry discuss high vs low dose inhaled steroids for high risk patients with asthma, click based semaglutide titration to reduce GI problems, zoster vaccine and dementia risk, and whether we are trusting AI too much.

This week primary care physicians Kate Rowland, Mark Ebell, Gary Ferenchick and Henry Barry tackle 4 new POEM-worthy studies: new therapy for elevated triglycerides, cannabinoids for chronic pain in adults, the best antithrombotic for patients with AF + drug eluting cardiac stent, and lower versus standard LDL targets for patients with heart disease Essential Evidence Plus: https://www.essentialevidenceplus.com/ Lower triglycerides: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41211918/ Cannabinoids for pain: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41429020/ Antithrombotics for AF + stent: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41211917/ LDL target 55 vs 70 for CAD: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41910315/

This week, primary care physicians Henry Barry, Gary Ferenchick and Mark Ebell discuss several new studies: melatonin for older adults with cognitive impairment, new pulmonary embolism guidelines, and inhaled corticosteroid dosing for children and adults with asthma. Kate has the week off.

This week, primary care docs Mark, Kate, Henry and Gary discuss skin lotions to prevent eczema, adding an opioid to ibuprofen for kids with acute injuries, evolocumab (Repatha) for very high risk persons, and 10 year follow-up of antibiotics vs surgery for uncomplicated appendicitis.

This week, we cover a range of topics: urinary vs cervical HPV collection, the benefits and harms of Tramadol, whether patients need anticoagulation after successful ablation for afib, and the ongoing value of COVID vaccines in the omicron era. Plus a quiz: is TAVR now indicated for everyone with severe aortic stenosis? Stay tuned!

Join primary care faculty Kate Rowland, Gary Ferenchick, Henry Barry and Mark Ebell as they discuss 4 practice changing studies: norethindrone acetate for uterine bleeding with the contraceptive implant, introducing yourself to a new patient, avoiding LPs in febrile infants, and antithrombotic strategies after ischemic stroke with AF and atherosclerosis. And an Olympic quiz!

Join primary care physicians Kate Rowland, Gary Ferenchick, Henry Barry and Mark Ebell as they discuss 4 new POEMs (Patient Oriented Evidence that Matters): cardiovascular outcomes of GIPs (vs GLP), risk-based breast cancer screening (WISDOM Trial), whether a single dose of HPV vaccine is as good as two, and surgery (or not) for shoulder impingement syndrome. Plus Kate has a great Groundhog Day quiz!

Join Mark, Kate, Henry and Gary as they discuss 4 new POEMs (Patient Oriented Evidence that Matters, studies with the potential to change practice): a summary of the evidence on tirzepatide (Zepbound) for weight loss, using the Beers list with your patients, high vs standard dose flu vaccine and the risk of hospitalization, and whether stent or endarterectomy are better than maximal medical therapy for patients with asymptomatic carotid stensosis. Here are the links: Essential Evidence Plus: www.essentialevidenceplus.com Tirzepatide systematic review: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41015578/ Tirzepatide vs dulaglutide: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41406444/ Applying the Beers list: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40697073/ High vs standard dose flu vaccine: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41115437/ Another high dose flu trial: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39230284/ Asymptomatic carotid stenosis treatment: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41269206/

This week, primary care physicians Kate Rowland, Mark Ebell, Gary Ferenchick and Henry Barry tackle 4 new practice changing studies (POEMs): bathing frequency for people with eczema, tirzepatide in obese children and adolescents with T2DM, a new flu vaccine, and whether beta-blockers still matter after MI.

Join primary care physicians Kate, Gary, Henry and Mark as they discuss 4 new POEM (Patient Oriented Evidence that Matters), chosen for their potential to change practice and improve patient outcomes: Mediterranean diet to prevent diabetes, an update to the community-acquired pneumonia guideline, coffee or decaf for afib, and safety of meds for acute agitation in the elderly. North Dakota Academy of Family Physicians Conference in Big Sky: https://www.ndafp.org/cme/big-sky-conference/ Essential Evidence Plus and all the POEMs: www.essentialevidenceplus.com Med diet to prevent diabetes: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40854218/ Safety of meds for agitation in elderly: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40275439/ Updated pneumonia guidelines from ATS/IDSA: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40679934/ Coffee or decaf with afib: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41206802/