Continuing Medical Education

After evaluating an article designated for Continuing Medical Education (CME) in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN), participants in the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) CME program should be able to show that their knowledge of clinical nutrition has increased. Participants should also be able to evaluate whether the clinical information provided in the CME-designated article is relevant to the provision of patient care.

Accreditation and credits

The ASN is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The ASN designates each CME program for 1 hour of category 1 credit toward the American Medical Association (AMA) Physician’s Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he or she actually spent on the education program.

Instructions

Each issue of the AJCN will usually include at least 2 articles designated for CME credit. After reading the CME-designated article, select the best answer to each exam question listed below and complete the evaluation. To receive CME credit, you should return the exam and evaluation pages along with the CME Participant Response Form by March 31, 2007. Please fax the pages to the ASN at 301-634-7351 or mail them to the following address: American Society for Nutrition, CME Program, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814. Note that all responses must be prepaid. Answers to the questions will be mailed to all participants, and certificates of credit will be sent to participants who successfully complete each exam. Please be sure to make a photocopy of the exam for your records before submitting it to the ASN.

Article: Schleithoff SS, Zittermann A, Tenderich G, Berthold HK, Stehle P, Koerfer R. Vitamin D supplementation improves cytokine profiles in patients with congestive heart failure: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2006;83:754–9.

One hour of category 1 credit will be issued for successful completion of this entire exam.

CME exam

1. Which of the following circulating substances is commonly associated with congestive heart failure?

1. Increased hydrocortisone.
   
2. Increased renin-angiotensin.
   
3. Increased tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 6.
   
4. Increased blood urea nitrogen.
   

2. What unique property of supplemental vitamin D suggests that it may be useful in the treatment of congestive heart failure?

1. It enhances calcium absorption, thereby stabilizing the electrophysiological properties of the heart.
   
2. It reduces circulating concentrations of parathyroid hormone, thereby reducing bone depletion.
   
3. It suppresses tumor necrosis factor , a cytokine that is implicated in congestive heart failure.
   
4. None of the above.
   

3. What is now considered a safe and effective supplemental daily dose of vitamin D?

1. 400 IU (10 µg) to achieve a circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration of 20 ng/mL.
   
2. 2000 IU (50 µg) to achieve circulating 25(OH)D concentrations between 33 and 90 ng/mL.
   
3. 1000 IU (25 µg) to achieve a circulating 25(OH)D concentration of 25 ng/mL.
   
4. None of the above.
   

CME exam evaluation

1. Were the CME program objectives successfully met?

1. Yes
   
2. No
   
3. Partially (please explain)
   

2. Did you find this article and its CME questions relevant to your practice?

1. Yes
   
2. No
   
3. Partially (please explain)
   

3. Will completion of this CME exam affect the way that you treat your patients?

1. Yes
   
2. No (please explain)
   

4. Was the information presented in this article objective, balanced, and free of commercial bias?

1. Yes
   
2. No
   

Comments

Related articles in AJCN:

Vitamin D supplementation improves cytokine profiles in patients with congestive heart failure: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Stefanie S Schleithoff, Armin Zittermann, Gero Tenderich, Heiner K Berthold, Peter Stehle, and Reiner Koerfer
AJCN 2006 83: 754-759. [Full Text]