Family Practice News articles from April 2004

Family Practice News archives from April 2004

Group rates efficacy of herbs: evidence-based medicine.
April 15, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- A group based at Massachusetts General Hospital has begun to rate efficacy of herbal medicines according to the published evidence, the way that conventional clinical guidelines now grade the strength of the evidence behind their...

Avian flu: spark that ignites the next pandemic? Extremely lethal to humans: expert calls for better surveillance systems, research into the Asian strain.
April 15, 2004... ATLANTA -- The question is not if another influenza pandemic is coming, but when, Dr. Keiji Fukuda said at the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases. One worst-case scenario would be if the avian influenza that has...

High-risk heart patients not getting transferred; crusade registry findings: lack of guideline knowledge is obstacle.
April 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Evidence-based national guidelines calling for early transfer of high-risk patients with unstable angina or non-ST-elevation MI generally aren't being followed at community hospitals without cardiac catheterization facilities,...

Pregnant women urged to eat less tuna; children should eat smaller portions.(News)
April 15, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Women who are pregnant or lactating and those who may become pregnant should eat no more than 12 ounces (two average meals) of a variety of fish and shellfish per week, a new federal advisory recommends. No more than 6 of...

Transplanted ovarian tissue yields human embryo; morphologically correct.(News)
April 15, 2004... Researchers have created the first morphologically normal human embryo using an egg obtained from ovarian tissue that was transplanted heterotopically. Although the embryo was subsequently transferred to the patient's uterus, the...

WHO and collaborators in race to develop avian flu vaccine: viral libraries needed.(News)(World Health Organization )
April 15, 2004... ATLANTA -- In response to the potential threat of an influenza pandemic, the World Health Organization and its collaborating laboratories are working to develop a prototype vaccine that could go into manufacture immediately should an outbreak...

Antivirals prevent spread of flu.(News)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2004... Postexposure prophylaxis with oseltamivir prevents the spread of influenza within households when the index patient is also treated, Dr. Frederick G. Hayden of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, and his colleagues reported. ...

FDA wants new warnings on 10 antidepressants; citing suicidality, worsening depression.(News)
April 15, 2004... The Food and Drug Administration has asked the manufacturers of 10 antidepressant drugs to include on their labels stronger warnings about the need to monitor adult and pediatric patients for symptoms of worsening depression and the emergence...

Gonococcal resistance continues eastward spread: CDC releases preliminary data.(News)
April 15, 2004... PHILADELPHIA -- The rate of fluoroquinolone resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae doubled from 2.2% in 2002 to greater than 4% in 2003, and resistant isolates are now surfacing at several sites around the country, according to an official with...

Implantable defibrillator drops CHF mortality; the SCD-HeFT study.(News)(congestive heart failure)(sudden cardiac death in heart failure trial)
April 15, 2004... New Orleans -- Placing an implantable cardioverter defibrillator in patients with moderate congestive heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction of 35% or less reduces their risk of dying by 23% in the next 5 years, according to...

Diagnosing infant hearing loss.(Guest Editorial)
April 15, 2004... Cochlear implants have been a viable option for deaf and hard-of-hearing children since Food and Drug Administration approval in 1990. Since that time, the appropriate age of implantation has continued to decrease while cochlear implant...

Is it time to dump the pump for coronary artery bypass surgery?(Pro & Con)
April 15, 2004... YES Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) is not the only approach to surgical coronary revascularization, but I do believe it is the optimal approach. Of the hundreds of peer-reviewed articles published in the past 7 years comparing...

Elderly get inappropriate meds at 8% of visits: EMR seen as one solution.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... A handful of pain relievers and central nervous system drugs topped the list of inappropriate medications prescribed to elderly patients at almost 8% of their ambulatory care doctor visits in 2000, a study has shown. Interventions...

Monitor subsyndromal depression in your elderly patients: depression hx ups risk for recurrence.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... BALTIMORE -- It might be a good idea for physicians to keep an eye on elderly patients who have some symptoms of depression but don't fit the clinical definitions of major or minor depression, according to research presented at the annual...

Advanced dementia not seen as a terminal illness: inadequate palliative care offered.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... Patients with advanced dementia are not recognized as having a terminal condition and so do not receive adequate palliative care in the final phase of the illness, reported Dr. Susan L. Mitchell and her associates at Beth Israel Deaconess...

Treat elder depression to ease suicidal ideation: intervention tested in primary care.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... BALTIMORE -- Primary care physicians who recognize and adequately treat depression in elderly patients can quickly reduce suicidal ideation in an age group that is particularly prone to death by suicide. This finding comes from the first...

Most suicides take place during spring, not winter holidays; media faulted for myth's endurance.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... T.S. Eliot opens his famous poem, "The Waste Land," with the line "April is the cruelest month." Statistically that may be true, because the springtime--not the winter holiday season--has the highest rate of suicides. "April...

Normal ALT in chronic HCV: OK to treat: no flaring seen.(Clinical Rounds)(alanine aminotransferase)(hepatitis C virus)
April 15, 2004... BOSTON -- Persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels should not preclude standard treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C, Dr. Stefan Zeuzem said at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver...

Accepted ALT upper levels below normal: factor in age, gender.(Clinical Rounds)(Alanine Amino Transferase)
April 15, 2004... BOSTON -- The upper limit of normal for serum alanine aminotransferase that is used to evaluate liver disease should be redefined, Dr. Revital Kariv said at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. ...

Online information about hepatitis C.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2004... The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse Web site offers health care professionals a comprehensive review of available testing, diagnostic, and treatment options for hepatitis C. The site also lists contacts that provide free...

Web sites gain ground as source of information on smoking cessation; quality criteria still being developed.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Web-based smoking cessation programs can be useful for some smokers, but better quality standards need to be established for them, several speakers said at the annual meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and...

Handheld device useful in helping patients quit: PDA tool.(Clinical Rounds)(Personal digital assistant)
April 15, 2004... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- A handheld device programmed with guidelines for smoking cessation and information on pharmacotherapy can be a useful tool for physicians trying to advise patients on quitting smoking, Dr. Scott Strayer said in a poster...

Cigarette price hikes may increase quit attempts; can be motivational.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Increasing the price of cigarettes appears to lead more people to attempt to quit smoking, Mark Reed, Ph.D., said in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. ...

Laparoscopic colectomy still controversial option: controversy continues.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- The jury is still out on whether laparoscopic colectomy is a more appropriate intervention than open colectomy for colorectal cancer, Dr. Fumio Konishi said at a colorectal disease symposium sponsored by the Cleveland...

Reader's skills = colonoscopy success: detection accuracy depends on experience.(Clinical Rounds)(virtual colonoscopy)
April 15, 2004... BOSTON -- A virtual colonoscopy exam is only as good as the reader interpreting it, but the technology has tremendous potential. That is the consensus of investigators involved in the first multicenter retrospective performance evaluation...

Treatment is key to cancer prevention in FAP patients; genetic testing indicated.(Clinical Rounds)(familial adenomatous polyposis)
April 15, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Although relatively rare, familial adenomatous polyposis is a major concern for individuals and families affected by it, Dr. Randall Burt said at a meeting on gastrointestinal cancers sponsored by the American Society of...

Aggressive treatment best for Barrett's esophagus: chemoprevention may be possible.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- The weight of the evidence suggests that aggressive treatment of acid and bile reflux has the best chance of preventing the progression of Barrett's esophagus to esophageal adenocarcinoma, Dr. George Triadafilopoulos said at...

Anti-HIV microbicides probably a decade away: dozens in development.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- More than 20 years into the HIV epidemic, advances in understanding the disease have enlivened the quest for an effective microbicide, but it will be another decade or so before one becomes available, Dr. Robin J. Shattock...

Valerian for insomnia.(Alternative medicine: an evidenced-based approach)
April 15, 2004... * Products made from extracts of the root of Valeriana officinalis are widely used as sleep aids for insomnia. * Clinical studies have suggested efficacy, but long-term safety data are lacking. History of Use The ancient...

Adjustable inhalant dosing eases asthma flare-ups; tied to 57% fewer exacerbations.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Permitting patients with persistent asthma to adjust the dosage of their inhaled medications significantly reduced exacerbations, decreased their overall drug use, and led to lower costs, according to a large Canadian trial...

FDA effort focuses on OTC drug safety.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2004... The Food and Drug Administration has launched a campaign that highlights the salt use of over-the-counter analgesics and antipyretics. Campaign materials, including a brochure to be distributed by health care providers, are available at...

Anti-IgE Tx cuts asthma exacerbations: Omalizumab.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- The anti-IgE therapy omalizumab reduces the rate of significant asthma exacerbations by as much as 60% in patients also using standard therapies, according to data presented at the annual meeting of the American College of...

Primary care task: sexual hx in diabetics: refer men to urologists when needed.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors remain the treatment of choice for sexual dysfunction in diabetic men, but it's important to take a thorough sexual history and to refer patients to urologists when indicated, Dr. Thomas C....

Suppressing anger exacerbates headache disability: study of 52 adults.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... BOSTON -- Blowing off steam may be one way to ease the pain of chronic headache. The extent to which headache sufferers hold in their anger is a significant predictor of headache-related disability, even alter controlling for such...

Next major DSM edition is under development: top tasks targeted.(Clinical Rounds)(diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders)
April 15, 2004... MIAMI -- Many changes are in the works for the next major edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, according to a presentation at the annual conference of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. The...

PTSD level tied to early trauma, low combat exposure: study of 120 Gulf War veterans.(Clinical Rounds)(posttraumatic stress disorder)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2004... CHICAGO -- Veterans of the first Gulf War who experienced childhood trauma but low levels of combat exposure were more likely to have more severe symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder than those with childhood trauma and high combat...

Depression undercuts joint replacement benefits; quality of life still poor 2 years later.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- The roughly 20% of patients who are depressed before undergoing total hip or knee replacement surgery are unlikely to benefit as much as nondepressed patients in terms of pain relief, diminished stiffness, and overall total...

High patient volume linked to better outcomes following knee arthroplasty: fewer complications.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Hospitals where high numbers of knee arthroplasty procedures are performed have fewer complications postoperatively, compared with centers where patient volume is comparatively low. Such findings are likely to fuel the...

Obesity thwarts knee replacement; infection risk.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Obese patients are likely to develop severe arthritis of the knee, and they risk serious infection if they undergo joint replacement surgery for it. The increased likelihood of perioperative infection among obese...

Skin changes give clues to dermatomyositis dx; beyond Bohan and Peter?(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... STOWE, VT. -- Skin changes associated with dermatomyositis can hold clues to help manage the disease, but physicians dealing with the systemic condition too often "look through the skin, not at it," Dr. Richard D. Sontheimer said. For...

Aging and rising BMIs herald growing gout prevalence: data from the U.K.(Clinical Rounds)(body mass index)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- About 1.3% of the United Kingdom population was diagnosed with gout in 1999, based on a general practice database that included more than 800,000 patients. This figure is probably a good estimate of the prevalence of gout...

Epidural steroids offer no benefit in lumbar pain; randomized, double-blind study.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Epidural corticosteroid injections provided no significant short-term or lasting benefit to patients with lumbar spine pain, according to the findings of a well-designed study released at the annual meeting of the American...

High rate of adjacent fractures after kyphoplasty: shift in stress load.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- More than 20% of patients who undergo balloon kyphoplasty for vertebral body compression fractures experience a subsequent fracture in an adjacent vertebra within 2 months, Dr. David Fribourg reported at the annual meeting of...

Detection, Tx of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis often missed: comparison by speciality.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... MIAMI -- Rheumatologists may be doing a better job of screening for glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis than their primary care colleagues, but there's still a lot of room for improvement, according to a poster presented at the annual meeting...

Ankylosing spondylitis patients miss effective Tx due to lack of referrals; primary care docs 'a major barrier'.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- Primary care physicians have proved to be one of the biggest obstacles to getting the new highly effective therapies for ankylosing spondylitis to affected patients, Dr. Christopher T. Ritchlin said at a symposium sponsored...

Daily NSAID use may slow spondylitis progression; celecoxib studied.(Clinical Rounds)(nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug)
April 15, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Continuous treatment with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug slowed the radiographic progression of ankylosing spondylitis in a controlled study involving 150 evaluable patients. "This is the first trial in ankylosing...

AS diagnosis delayed by x-ray reliance; MRI, CT are faster.(Clinical Rounds)(Magnetic resonance imaging)(CAT scans)(ankylosing spondylitis)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2004... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- One big reason so many patients with ankylosing spondylitis are misdiagnosed or diagnosed late is heavy reliance on the modified New York diagnostic criteria, Dr. Christopher T. Ritchlin said at a symposium sponsored by the...

Antibiotic resistance.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2004... Streptococcal resistance is directly associated with antibiotic use, a multinational ecologic study shows. The findings validate ongoing efforts to discourage inappropriate antibiotic use, Dr. Werner C. Albrich of Emory University,...

Stroke risk after TIA.(Clinical Capsules)(transient ischemic attack )(Brief Article)
April 15, 2004... The risk of stroke in the week following a transient ischemic attack or a minor, "warning" stroke is estimated to be 8%-12%, so TIAs and warning strokes must be investigated and treated urgently, despite the 7- to 14-day window recommended in...

Disulfiram, cocaine dependence.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2004... Cocaine-dependent patients without alcohol abuse or dependence who are treated with disulfiram and a structured therapy decrease the use of cocaine more than do patients with cocaine and alcohol dependencies, reported Kathleen M. Carroll,...

HIV and unemployment.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2004... Most HIV-positive gay men who are unemployed don't return to work, so physicians shouldn't recommend that those patients leave their jobs unless it is medically necessary, Judith G. Rabkin, Ph.D., of the New York State Psychiatric Institute,...

Depression, CRP interact to up cardiovascular risk: large database.(Clinical Rounds)(C-reactive protein)
April 15, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- A population-based study has shown that men who had both depressed mood and high levels of C-reactive protein were at significantly greater risk for cardiovascular events than men with high CRP alone, Dr. Karl-Heinz Ladwig...

Depression linked to lower omega-3 fatty acid levels: among acute coronary syndrome patients.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Fish oil may benefit the soul as well as the heart, Nancy Frasure-Smith, Ph.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society. In a case control study, serum levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)....

Depression's link to post-MI events found significant: death and nonfatal MI.(Clinical Rounds)(myocardial infarction)
April 15, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Depression is a significant independent predictor of recurrent infarction or death following acute myocardial infarction, Kenneth E. Freedland, Ph.D., reported at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society. ...

MRI useful in identification of heart failure causes: cardiomyopathy assessment.(Clinical Rounds)(Magnetic resonance imaging)
April 15, 2004... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- Cardiovascular MRI can reliably distinguish left ventricular systolic dysfunction clue to coronary artery disease from that related to dilated cardiomyopathy, Dr. Dudley J. Pennell reported at a conference sponsored by the...

Handheld ultrasound device boosts diagnostic accuracy; potential billing gray area.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- A handheld ultrasound device and 18 hours of training turned a pair of first-year medical students into diagnosticians whose cardiovascular assessments were more accurate than those of board-certified cardiologists not given...

Low-tech approach sufficient for syncope: take a good history.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... SANTA FE, N.M. -- The etiology of syncope will remain unclear in the majority of patients, despite extensive investigation, and the best solutions for most patients will be simple, rather than high tech, Dr. Fred M. Kusumoto said at a meeting...

Do-not-resuscitate utilization by hospitals found to vary widely: California hospital study.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Hospital use of do-not-resuscitate orders varied widely in a study of all patients treated for ischemic stroke during a 2-year period in California. Dr. S. Claiborne Johnston reported at the annual meeting of the American...

Cognitive performance deficits linked to elevated risk of stroke: early intervention needed.(Clinical Rounds)
April 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Up to 10 years before they have a stroke, certain individuals show deficits in specific areas of cognitive performance that could suggest an elevated stroke risk, researchers reported at an American Medical Association briefing on...

Low education level a risk for glyburide failure: gestational diabetes.(Women's Health)
April 15, 2004... BOCA RATON, FLA. -- Almost 80% of patients with gestational diabetes achieved blood sugar control in a small open-label trial of glyburide, Dr. Adiam Haileleul reported at the annual meeting of the South Atlantic Association of Obstetricians...

Antiretroviral combos may raise preterm delivery risk; no rise in birth defects.(Women's Health)
April 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Antiretroviral exposure during pregnancy is not associated with an increased risk of birth defects, but certain antiretroviral drug combinations may increase the risk of preterm delivery, studies presented at the annual meeting...

Too many women use potentially harmful meds in pregnancy: increase awareness.(Women's Health)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2004... New ORLEANS -- Potentially harmful medications are commonly used during pregnancy, suggesting a need for improved awareness and education of patients, Dr. Jerrie Refuerzo reported in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the Society...

Maternal alcohol counseling boosts development in siblings; brief intervention.(Women's Health)
April 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- A brief intervention designed to reduce drinking during a second pregnancy not only improved developmental outcomes for those infants, but for their older siblings as well, Janet R. Hankin, Ph.D., said in a poster presentation...

Drinking during pregnancy changes infant nerve conduction; damage may be permanent.(Women's Health)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2004... Add abnormal nerve conduction to the list of neonatal problems resulting from heavy maternal drinking during pregnancy, said to Dr. Maria de los Angeles Avaria of the University of Chile, Santiago, and her associates. The first...

PTSD prevalence in some female veterans at 22%: bigger risk for duty-related trauma.(Women's Health)(post-traumatic stress disorder)
April 15, 2004... Female veterans seeking their medical care from the Veterans Affairs Department are at significantly elevated risk for posttraumatic stress disorder, associated psychiatric and health problems, and functional impairment, a new study says. ...

Optical device improves cervical disease detection; used with colposcopy after abnormal Pap.(Women's Health)
April 15, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- An investigational optical detection system used in conjunction with colposcopy increased the detection of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia by 26.5%, compared with colposcopy alone in the first randomized controlled...

More cervical ca patients go back to PCP for followup; too costly for gyn. oncologists.(Women's Health)
April 15, 2004... BIG SKY, MONT. -- In a reversal of their longstanding practice, gynecologic oncologists are increasingly sending cervical cancer patients back to their primary care physician or gynecologist for posttreatment surveillance, said Dr. Ira R....

Heavier women get better cancer protection from high-progestin OCs: 70% drop in risk of endometrial ca.(Women's Health)(oral contraceptives)
April 15, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- All oral contraceptives offer some protection against endometrial cancer, but heavier women get better protection from pills that contain high-potency, rather than low-potency, progestins, Dr. Larry Maxwell reported at the annual...

Localized immunity may mediate Candida infection: .(Women's Health)
April 15, 2004... PLAYA HERRADURA, COSTA RICA -- A live intravaginal challenge with Candida albicans indicates that local immunity at the vulvovaginal epithelium protects some women from symptomatic infection while promoting symptomatic infection in others,...

Risk of near-fatal asthma attacks may be highest on first day of menstruation: study of 44 women.(Women's Health)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2004... Menstruation may be a contributing factor in near fatal asthma attacks in patients with unstable asthma, reported Dr. Eva Martinez-Moragon of Hospital de Sagunto, Valencia, Spain, and her colleagues. This is the first study associating...

Bacterial vaginosis prevalence high in teens at STD clinics: alcohol, Tx don't mix.(Women's Health)(Sexually transmitted diseases)
April 15, 2004... PLAYA HERRADURA, COSTA RICA -- Almost 25% of adolescent girls studied at two STD clinics had at least one episode of bacterial vaginosis, suggesting that this high risk group could benefit from diagnosis, treatment, and intervention to...

CDC: watch for congenital West Nile infection: details of maternal transmission unknown.(Women's Health)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
April 15, 2004... ATLANTA -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is asking clinicians to be on the alert for cases of possible West Nile virus in pregnant women this summer, as investigators attempt to determine the effects of intrauterine exposure....

SARS had impact on in-hospital prenatal education, births: unexpected consequences.(Women's Health)(Severe acute respiratory syndrome)
April 15, 2004... AMELIA ISLAND, FLA. -- Besides the many reported public health consequences of the severe acute respiratory syndrome crisis in Toronto last spring, childbirth preparedness efforts during the peak of the crisis took a direct hit. ...

Upright exam key to stress urinary incontinence dx: essential part of good evaluation.(Women's Health)
April 15, 2004... BIG SKY MONT. -- Examination of the patient in an upright position is a key component of a good office evaluation for stress urinary incontinence, and it's one many physicians overlook, Dr. Steven D. McCarus said at a meeting on ob.gyn.,...

Simple bladder retraining effective for incontinence: no age limit, no medication.(Women's Health)
April 15, 2004... UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. -- What patient wouldn't opt for stress and urgency incontinence therapy that is simple, noninvasive, inexpensive, and uncomplicated by side effects? Such an alternative exists in the form of bladder retraining, but...

Immunomodulators.(Drugs, Pregnancy, And Lactation)
April 15, 2004... Several immunologic agents--adalimumab, anakinra, etanercept, three classes of interferons, and thalidomide--are classified in the general category of immunomodulators. They are used for various approved and off-label indications, including...

Bupropion Xl effective, safe for adult ADHD: randomized controlled trial.(Rx)(attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder)
April 15, 2004... BAL HARBOUR, FLA. -- Extended-release bupropion appears to be a safe and effective treatment for adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, with more than 50% of patients experiencing at least a 30% reduction in core symptoms while...

Use small doses, short courses of benzodiazepines in elderly: higher risk of adverse events.(Rx)
April 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Benzodiazepines should be prescribed for the elderly only when absolutely necessary, and in small, short-term doses, Dr. Olivera J. Bogunovic said in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of...

New & approved: Spiriva Handihaler, Sensipar.(Rx)
April 15, 2004... Spiriva Handihaler (tiotropium bromide inhalation powder, Boehringer Ingelheim) An inhaled anticholinergic for long-term, Once-daily, maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),...

Fluoroquinolone drops useful in ear infection: few adverse effects.(Children's Health)
April 15, 2004... MIAMI Beach -- Fluoroquinolones are often safe and effective against both acute otitis media in children with tympanostomy tubes and acute otitis externa, Dr. Ramzi Younis said at a pediatric update sponsored by Miami Children's Hospital. ...

Pneumonia is emerging as biggest Third World mortality threat: especially in children under age 5 years.(Children's Health)
April 15, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Pneumonia is the next big disease that needs to be tackled in the Third World, the way diarrhea has been since the late 1970s, infectious disease experts said at a conference sponsored by the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society....

Rapid testing aids adenoviral treatment: DFA test shows promise.(Children's Health)(direct fluorescent assay)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2004... The direct fluorescent assay allows for diagnosis of adenovirus more quickly than does clinical examination alone, according to Dr. Christian Rocholl of Brown University, Providence, R.I., and colleagues. Adenovirus (ADV) is often missed...

Autism-MMR vaccine link partially retracted: refute charges of scientific breaches.(Children's Health)(Measles-mumps-rubella vaccines)
April 15, 2004... British researchers who were charged with scientific and ethical misconduct in their study of autism have refuted the allegations and retracted only a single comment in the "interpretation" section of their paper linking autism to MMR...

Pentacel combo may be viable answer to separate vaccinations: in phase III clinical trials in U.S.(Children's Health)
April 15, 2004... CANCUN, MEXICO -- The levels of antibody titers were similar in infants immunized with a combination vaccine to those given three separate vaccines, Dr. Mark Blatter reported at the 11th International Congress on Infectious Disease. ...