Short-term radiotherapy with preoperative chemotherapy followed by surgery (total neoadjuvant therapy, TNT) was compared to standard long-term chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. At a median follow-up of 35.0 months, 3-year DFS was 64.5% and 62.3% in the TNT and CRT groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in metastasis-free survival or locoregional recurrence, but the TNT group had better 3-year overall survival than the CRT group (86.5% v 75.1%; P = .033). Treatment effects on DFS and overall survival were similar regardless of prognostic factors. The prevalence of acute grade III-V toxicities during preoperative treatment was 26.5% in the TNT group versus 12.6% in the CRT group (P < .001).

Two large scale studies featured in The British Medical Journal concluded that mRNA-based vaccines do not appear to be associated with an increased risk of neurological adverse events; and secondly, that risks of Guillain-Barré syndrome and Bell’s palsy are slightly increased after immunization. Overall, the findings of both studies are reassuring about the safety of the vaccines, particularly compared with the observed risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Given the high burden of shoulder conditions, clinicians should pay attention to any factors that may further increase risks. This study found a low incidence of shoulder issues following vaccination in the deltoid muscle but does delineate population at higher risk for developing these issues.

The study reviewed 806 patients in Norway and Sweden with AMI and found no increase in MI risk for patients undergoing ophthalmologic procedures done in an outpatient setting.

A strongly worded opinion piece in The British Medical Journal argues that evidence-based medicine has been corrupted. Specifically, the editorial piece argues that the pharmaceutical industry’s responsibility to its shareholders means that priority must be given to their hierarchical power structures, product loyalty, and public relations propaganda over scientific integrity.

What do family physicians and infectious disease doctors have in common? They are both medical specialties that pay the lowest when factored for number of hours worked. Read the full list to see if your specialty is among the lowest paid in the US. The results might be surprising.