Rahul Ganatra
@rbganatra.bsky.social
Medical Attending and Director of CME at VA Boston | Critical Appraisal enthusiast @thecurbsiders.bsky.social & Journal Watch. Easily fascinated. Views mine, but I'll share.
It feels like critical appraisal is about to have a bit of a moment... let's do it right, people!
September 22, 2025 at 11:17 PM
It feels like critical appraisal is about to have a bit of a moment... let's do it right, people!
Reposted by Rahul Ganatra
One insurance denial for Teressa's husband stated, “your newborn does not meet the criteria for coverage.”
“This is when I really start to think they’re just denying,” she recalled. “They’re not even looking. They’re just ‘deny, deny, deny.’”
➡️ Full story: www.propublica.org/article/ment...
“This is when I really start to think they’re just denying,” she recalled. “They’re not even looking. They’re just ‘deny, deny, deny.’”
➡️ Full story: www.propublica.org/article/ment...
September 17, 2025 at 3:15 AM
One insurance denial for Teressa's husband stated, “your newborn does not meet the criteria for coverage.”
“This is when I really start to think they’re just denying,” she recalled. “They’re not even looking. They’re just ‘deny, deny, deny.’”
➡️ Full story: www.propublica.org/article/ment...
“This is when I really start to think they’re just denying,” she recalled. “They’re not even looking. They’re just ‘deny, deny, deny.’”
➡️ Full story: www.propublica.org/article/ment...
Reposted by Rahul Ganatra
After a North Carolina man attempted suicide twice, his wife tried to get him help at an inpatient clinic.
But their insurance provider refused to cover the treatment, deeming it “not medically necessary.”
But their insurance provider refused to cover the treatment, deeming it “not medically necessary.”
“Just Let Me Die”: After Insurance Repeatedly Denied a Couple’s Claims, One Psychiatrist Was Their Last Hope
After a North Carolina man attempted suicide twice, his wife tried to get him help at an inpatient clinic. But their insurance provider refused to cover the treatment, deeming it “not medically necess...
www.propublica.org
September 15, 2025 at 12:00 AM
After a North Carolina man attempted suicide twice, his wife tried to get him help at an inpatient clinic.
But their insurance provider refused to cover the treatment, deeming it “not medically necessary.”
But their insurance provider refused to cover the treatment, deeming it “not medically necessary.”
Question for folks in medicine and science:
What are some of the best invited editorials you have ever read?
What made them so good?
What are some of the best invited editorials you have ever read?
What made them so good?
August 29, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Question for folks in medicine and science:
What are some of the best invited editorials you have ever read?
What made them so good?
What are some of the best invited editorials you have ever read?
What made them so good?
Lots of gold in this list!
💯 this
Forget the introduction
Never read the discussion
Make up your own mind
www.nephjc.com/news/10steps
Forget the introduction
Never read the discussion
Make up your own mind
www.nephjc.com/news/10steps
August 28, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Lots of gold in this list!
Reposted by Rahul Ganatra
🥞 #496 Hotcakes are here! 🩺
www.thecurbsiders.com
We’re diving into:
🌿 CBD-induced liver injury
💉 IV iron for HFrEF
🛏️ Bedtime BP meds
✋ Carpal Tunnel & RA
❤️ FDA approval of finerenone for HFpEF
✨ featuring @paulnwilliams.bsky.social @rbganatra.bsky.social, Dr. Nora Taranto, Dr. Matthew Watto
www.thecurbsiders.com
We’re diving into:
🌿 CBD-induced liver injury
💉 IV iron for HFrEF
🛏️ Bedtime BP meds
✋ Carpal Tunnel & RA
❤️ FDA approval of finerenone for HFpEF
✨ featuring @paulnwilliams.bsky.social @rbganatra.bsky.social, Dr. Nora Taranto, Dr. Matthew Watto
August 26, 2025 at 12:39 AM
🥞 #496 Hotcakes are here! 🩺
www.thecurbsiders.com
We’re diving into:
🌿 CBD-induced liver injury
💉 IV iron for HFrEF
🛏️ Bedtime BP meds
✋ Carpal Tunnel & RA
❤️ FDA approval of finerenone for HFpEF
✨ featuring @paulnwilliams.bsky.social @rbganatra.bsky.social, Dr. Nora Taranto, Dr. Matthew Watto
www.thecurbsiders.com
We’re diving into:
🌿 CBD-induced liver injury
💉 IV iron for HFrEF
🛏️ Bedtime BP meds
✋ Carpal Tunnel & RA
❤️ FDA approval of finerenone for HFpEF
✨ featuring @paulnwilliams.bsky.social @rbganatra.bsky.social, Dr. Nora Taranto, Dr. Matthew Watto
Reposted by Rahul Ganatra
“The study authors asked GPT 4o-mini to evaluate the quality of 217 papers. The tool didn’t mention in any of the reports that the papers being analyzed had been retracted or had validity issues.
In 190 cases, GPT described the papers as world leading, internationally excellent, or close to that”
In 190 cases, GPT described the papers as world leading, internationally excellent, or close to that”
ChatGPT tends to ignore retractions on scientific papers
Study finds the chatbot doesn’t acknowledge concerns with problematic studies
cen.acs.org
August 25, 2025 at 8:56 AM
“The study authors asked GPT 4o-mini to evaluate the quality of 217 papers. The tool didn’t mention in any of the reports that the papers being analyzed had been retracted or had validity issues.
In 190 cases, GPT described the papers as world leading, internationally excellent, or close to that”
In 190 cases, GPT described the papers as world leading, internationally excellent, or close to that”
Reposted by Rahul Ganatra
"Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who oversees the CDC, did not make a statement the day of the shooting.
Late the following morning, more than 30 minutes after posting photos of fishing with his family, Kennedy posted condolences on his official X account..."
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...
Late the following morning, more than 30 minutes after posting photos of fishing with his family, Kennedy posted condolences on his official X account..."
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...
After Years of Anger Directed at C.D.C., Shooting Manifests Worst Fears
www.nytimes.com
August 10, 2025 at 6:25 PM
"Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who oversees the CDC, did not make a statement the day of the shooting.
Late the following morning, more than 30 minutes after posting photos of fishing with his family, Kennedy posted condolences on his official X account..."
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...
Late the following morning, more than 30 minutes after posting photos of fishing with his family, Kennedy posted condolences on his official X account..."
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...
Fewer than 10% of published observational studies in this sample used DAGs to justify confounder selection.
This is a huge missed opportunity for both readers and researchers.
DAGs are invaluable in research design and critical appraisal.
This is a huge missed opportunity for both readers and researchers.
DAGs are invaluable in research design and critical appraisal.
Enjoyed reading this review from @jamanetworkopen.com !
I have been providing an educational series for team members about reseach methods. We had lots of discussions about how to manage confounding in observational studies.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
I have been providing an educational series for team members about reseach methods. We had lots of discussions about how to manage confounding in observational studies.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Confounder Selection in Observational Studies in High-Impact Journals
This cross-sectional study investigates whether there have been improvements over time in the methods reported for selecting confounders in observational studies published in the highest impact factor...
jamanetwork.com
August 4, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Fewer than 10% of published observational studies in this sample used DAGs to justify confounder selection.
This is a huge missed opportunity for both readers and researchers.
DAGs are invaluable in research design and critical appraisal.
This is a huge missed opportunity for both readers and researchers.
DAGs are invaluable in research design and critical appraisal.
Reposted by Rahul Ganatra
Why do treehoppers look so weird?! Our latest paper, out this week in @pnas.org, suggests a perhaps unexpected reason - static electricity ⚡ We show that treehoppers can detect the electrostatic cues of predators and that their crazy shapes may boost their electrosensitivity! doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
Electroreception in treehoppers: How extreme morphologies can increase electrical sensitivity | PNAS
The link between form and function of an organism’s morphology is usually apparent
or intuitive. However, some clades of organisms show remarkable ...
doi.org
July 24, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Why do treehoppers look so weird?! Our latest paper, out this week in @pnas.org, suggests a perhaps unexpected reason - static electricity ⚡ We show that treehoppers can detect the electrostatic cues of predators and that their crazy shapes may boost their electrosensitivity! doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
Updated CAP and UTI guidelines??? Yes please!
Bill Hader Eating Popcorn GIF
Alt: Bill Hader Eating Popcorn GIF
media.tenor.com
July 20, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Updated CAP and UTI guidelines??? Yes please!
Reposted by Rahul Ganatra
🔥🔥Just published 🔥🔥
ATS CAP guidelines 2025
Diagnosis and Management of Community-acquired Pneumonia. An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline
Free access pdf #IDsky#EMIMCC
www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/...
ATS CAP guidelines 2025
Diagnosis and Management of Community-acquired Pneumonia. An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline
Free access pdf #IDsky#EMIMCC
www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/...
Diagnosis and Management of Community-acquired Pneumonia. An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline | American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine | Articles in P...
www.atsjournals.org
July 20, 2025 at 6:45 AM
🔥🔥Just published 🔥🔥
ATS CAP guidelines 2025
Diagnosis and Management of Community-acquired Pneumonia. An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline
Free access pdf #IDsky#EMIMCC
www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/...
ATS CAP guidelines 2025
Diagnosis and Management of Community-acquired Pneumonia. An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline
Free access pdf #IDsky#EMIMCC
www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/...
Reposted by Rahul Ganatra
Bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Australia, use sponges on their beaks while hunting fish to protect them from sharp rocks while they forage at the expense of echolocation. Only about 5% of the population has mastered this culturally transmitted skill! 🧪
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
July 18, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Australia, use sponges on their beaks while hunting fish to protect them from sharp rocks while they forage at the expense of echolocation. Only about 5% of the population has mastered this culturally transmitted skill! 🧪
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Did you know that a subset of patients with atrial fibrillation have symptoms triggered by cold drinks?!
Neither did I!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Neither did I!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Characterizing Patients With Cold Drink‐Triggered Atrial Fibrillation
Introduction
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia with significant health implications. Identifying modifiable lifestyle triggers is important in mitigating recurrence and improving patie.....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
July 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Did you know that a subset of patients with atrial fibrillation have symptoms triggered by cold drinks?!
Neither did I!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Neither did I!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Rahul Ganatra
Wake up new cause of liver enzyme elevation just dropped
July 9, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Wake up new cause of liver enzyme elevation just dropped
Reposted by Rahul Ganatra
You're looking at three golden tortoise beetles (Charidotella sexpunctata). They're native to the Americas, generally the east coast of North America all the way down to Argentina.
The gold coloration is structural, semi-reflective layers in the cuticle selectively reflect wavelengths of light.
The gold coloration is structural, semi-reflective layers in the cuticle selectively reflect wavelengths of light.
March 26, 2025 at 12:39 PM
You're looking at three golden tortoise beetles (Charidotella sexpunctata). They're native to the Americas, generally the east coast of North America all the way down to Argentina.
The gold coloration is structural, semi-reflective layers in the cuticle selectively reflect wavelengths of light.
The gold coloration is structural, semi-reflective layers in the cuticle selectively reflect wavelengths of light.
Reposted by Rahul Ganatra
I'm not saying you can't generate a hypothesis from data.
I'm just saying that generating a hypothesis from the entirety of human knowledge that preceded your data is a much safer bet.
I'm just saying that generating a hypothesis from the entirety of human knowledge that preceded your data is a much safer bet.
July 4, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I'm not saying you can't generate a hypothesis from data.
I'm just saying that generating a hypothesis from the entirety of human knowledge that preceded your data is a much safer bet.
I'm just saying that generating a hypothesis from the entirety of human knowledge that preceded your data is a much safer bet.
Reposted by Rahul Ganatra
Reposted by Rahul Ganatra
This little fart-squirrel (Mephitis mephitis) is stamping, a warning behavior before the *big show*.
She's hoping to scare you off with her ferocity so she doesn't have to use her scent glands.
These types of bluffing moves are "deimatic" behaviors, from Greek 'deimatóo' = "to frighten".
She's hoping to scare you off with her ferocity so she doesn't have to use her scent glands.
These types of bluffing moves are "deimatic" behaviors, from Greek 'deimatóo' = "to frighten".
June 17, 2025 at 1:22 PM
This little fart-squirrel (Mephitis mephitis) is stamping, a warning behavior before the *big show*.
She's hoping to scare you off with her ferocity so she doesn't have to use her scent glands.
These types of bluffing moves are "deimatic" behaviors, from Greek 'deimatóo' = "to frighten".
She's hoping to scare you off with her ferocity so she doesn't have to use her scent glands.
These types of bluffing moves are "deimatic" behaviors, from Greek 'deimatóo' = "to frighten".
Reposted by Rahul Ganatra
new IBCC chapter: constipation!
most ICU patients are constipated, so we manage this on a daily basis.
but our approach is often super random ("I was taught this in residency")
so I tried to create an evidence-based treatment strategy for constipation...🧵 #1/7 #EMIMCC
emcrit.org/ibcc/constip...
most ICU patients are constipated, so we manage this on a daily basis.
but our approach is often super random ("I was taught this in residency")
so I tried to create an evidence-based treatment strategy for constipation...🧵 #1/7 #EMIMCC
emcrit.org/ibcc/constip...
a cartoon character from south park is sitting on the floor and making a surprised face .
ALT: a cartoon character from south park is sitting on the floor and making a surprised face .
media.tenor.com
June 16, 2025 at 12:57 PM
new IBCC chapter: constipation!
most ICU patients are constipated, so we manage this on a daily basis.
but our approach is often super random ("I was taught this in residency")
so I tried to create an evidence-based treatment strategy for constipation...🧵 #1/7 #EMIMCC
emcrit.org/ibcc/constip...
most ICU patients are constipated, so we manage this on a daily basis.
but our approach is often super random ("I was taught this in residency")
so I tried to create an evidence-based treatment strategy for constipation...🧵 #1/7 #EMIMCC
emcrit.org/ibcc/constip...
Reposted by Rahul Ganatra
what we truly care about is tonicity (forces that pull H2O across membranes) not osmolality
sodium is actually a pretty good proxy of tonicity (ie “effective” osm), maybe better than measured osm
also if we start juggling sodium levels and osmolarity at the same time it gets too damn complicated
sodium is actually a pretty good proxy of tonicity (ie “effective” osm), maybe better than measured osm
also if we start juggling sodium levels and osmolarity at the same time it gets too damn complicated
a man with a beard is surrounded by mathematical equations on his face .
ALT: a man with a beard is surrounded by mathematical equations on his face .
media.tenor.com
May 29, 2025 at 11:40 AM
what we truly care about is tonicity (forces that pull H2O across membranes) not osmolality
sodium is actually a pretty good proxy of tonicity (ie “effective” osm), maybe better than measured osm
also if we start juggling sodium levels and osmolarity at the same time it gets too damn complicated
sodium is actually a pretty good proxy of tonicity (ie “effective” osm), maybe better than measured osm
also if we start juggling sodium levels and osmolarity at the same time it gets too damn complicated
Really enjoyed this one despite @paulnwilliams.bsky.social abstaining from some top-shelf trial name-related humor with "the eagle has landed" - take a listen and see what i mean!
New!!! 🥞 #484 Hotcakes: Vitamin D3, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Physical Performance, Gabapentin and Falls, Gepotidacin for UTI, and Intermittent Fasting for Weight Loss
www.thecurbsiders.com
www.thecurbsiders.com
May 29, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Really enjoyed this one despite @paulnwilliams.bsky.social abstaining from some top-shelf trial name-related humor with "the eagle has landed" - take a listen and see what i mean!
Reposted by Rahul Ganatra
I had google AI create this podcast for tonight's NephJC podcast. Take a listen. Tell me what you think
Would you like NephJC to produce this as a regular part of the educational package?
This would not replace the irreplaceable Freely Filtered.
notebooklm.google.com/notebook/8e8...
Would you like NephJC to produce this as a regular part of the educational package?
This would not replace the irreplaceable Freely Filtered.
notebooklm.google.com/notebook/8e8...
Sign in - Google Accounts
notebooklm.google.com
May 27, 2025 at 7:13 PM
I had google AI create this podcast for tonight's NephJC podcast. Take a listen. Tell me what you think
Would you like NephJC to produce this as a regular part of the educational package?
This would not replace the irreplaceable Freely Filtered.
notebooklm.google.com/notebook/8e8...
Would you like NephJC to produce this as a regular part of the educational package?
This would not replace the irreplaceable Freely Filtered.
notebooklm.google.com/notebook/8e8...