Family Practice News articles from August 2003

Family Practice News archives from August 2003

Medical bills behind many bankruptcies: health care financing woes.(News)
August 1, 2003... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- More than 1 million American adults each year face bankruptcy because of medical issues, according to estimates based on a new survey. Among all debtors filing for bankruptcy, 55% of those surveyed cited one or more...

Expect an upsurge in West Nile virus cases this month: fight the bite rapid lab test approved in July as first cases were reported by the CDC.(News)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
August 1, 2003... Federal health officials are hailing blood screening assays and the first rapid laboratory test for diagnosis of West Nile virus as major developments in the fight against the summer scourge, but they warn that early signs point to...

Feds take gentle approach to enforcing HIPAA: compliance update physicians erring on side of caution.(News)(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996)
August 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- After 3 months of required compliance for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, it appears that physicians are erring on the side of caution while the government continues to err on the side of gentle...

Majority of UV exposure comes after childhood: misplaced patient education.(News)
August 1, 2003... The widely accepted belief that Americans get about 80% of their lifetime UV exposure by age 18 may be based on a misconception. Americans, in fact, receive only 23% of their lifetime exposure by that age, according to a study by Dianne E....

Lipid management important for children, teens with diabetes: Ada consensus statement.(News)(American Diabetes Association)
August 1, 2003... Management of dyslipidemia helps minimize cardiovascular risk in children and adolescents with diabetes, according to a new consensus statement from the American Diabetes Association. In 2001, the association formulated lipid guidelines and...

Oral insulin won't delay type 1 diabetes in family: moderate risk.(News)
August 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Oral insulin does not prevent type 1 diabetes in people at moderate risk for the disease, Dr. Jay Skyler reported at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association. The disappointing findings are from the...

Type 2 diabetes is different in adolescents than in adults: higher comorbidity.(News)
August 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Type 2 diabetes has distinctive features in adolescents, Dr. Phil Zeitler said at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association. Adolescents generally are more obese, are more sedentary, and have poorer...

Carvedilol improves heart failure survival more than metoprolol: questions remain.(News)
August 1, 2003... The first large study to compare carvedilol and metoprolol for reducing mortality in congestive heart failure showed a "clear difference" favoring carvedilol, according to Dr. Philip Poole-Wilson. All-cause mortality, the primary end...

The 2003 image of the year.(News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... The 2003 Society of Nuclear Medicine human image of the year, selected by Dr. Henry N. Wagner Jr. as part of his annual highlights lecture, was a PET/CT image of a 60-year-old patient with recurrent head and neck cancer. The image shows a...

Fifth dose of DTaP vaccine wins approval from FDA: single-brand vaccinations.(News)(Food and Drug Administration)(diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, and acellular pertussis)
August 1, 2003... In July, the Food and Drug Administration approved a fifth dose for a second diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, and acellular pertussis vaccine on the U.S. market. Approving a fifth dose of Infanrix, the DTaP vaccine manufactured and marketed by...

Education before economics.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2003... Dr. Lawrence G. Smith appears to admit that limitations of resident work hours are necessary. He also "strongly oppose[s] micromanagement" of work hours ("Limiting Resident Work Hours," Guest Editorial, May 15, 2003, p. 9). His objection...

Talk back online.(Opinion)(hormone therapy dosage)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Are you prescribing lower-dose hormone therapy in the wake of Women's Health Initiative results? (July 1, 2003, p. 10) No 50% Yes 50% To Talk Back, visit www.efamilypracticenews.com Note: Table made from pie chart.

Building trust.(Guest Editorial)(physician-patient relations)(Editorial)
August 1, 2003... Trust is the glue that binds physician to patient and patient to physician. Having a trusting relationship is critical in a physician's ability to dispense good medical care. It is also a way to minimize malpractice claims. At a time when...

Should women be allowed to eat and drink while in labor?(Pro & Con)
August 1, 2003... YES We don't allow laboring women to eat or drink for fear that they might aspirate should they need general anesthesia. What we call aspiration deaths today, however, are really due to badly managed airway problems that would result in death...

Set realistic goals for metabolic syndrome patients: assess readiness for change.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Setting realistic, incremental goals for weight loss and physical activity can help patients succeed in their struggle with metabolic syndrome, Dr. Daniel Bessesen said at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes...

Waist size nails diagnosis of metabolic syndrome: efficient shortcut.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2003... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Measuring waist circumference is an efficient shortcut in screening women for the metabolic syndrome, Dr. Matthew S. Freiberg reported at the annual meeting of the Society of General Internal Medicine. Without a waist...

Capsule endoscopy approved as first-line diagnostics: small bowel disorders.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... A video capsule endoscopy system previously approved only for adjunctive use in the diagnosis of small bowel disorders has been deared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a first-line diagnostic tool. The M2A capsule endoscope, the...

Panel: side effects acceptable for BPH, ED drugs: Alfuzosin, Vardenafil.(Clinical Rounds)(benign prostatic hypertrophy)(erectile dysfunction )
August 1, 2003... SILVER SPRING, MD. -- New drugs for benign prostatic hypertrophy and erectile dysfunction are closer to becoming available in the United States, now that a Food and Drug Administration expert panel has agreed that the QT-interval prolongation...

Male sexual dysfunction guidelines stress taking a comprehensive view: involve the sexual partner.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Male sexual dysfunction is a couple's problem, often replete with emotional undercurrents and medical components, and as such, usually deserves a comprehensive evaluation rather than just a prescription. That's the message in...

Biopsy at PSA levels of 2.5 ng/mL or higher: more appropriate standard.(Clinical Rounds)(prostate-specific antigen)(diagnosing prostate cancer)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... CHICACO -- A prostate-specific antigen threshold of 2.5 ng/mL is more appropriate than the standard level of 4.0 ng/mL in determining the need for prostate biopsy; according to findings reported at the annual meeting of the American Urological...

Closely monitor chronic kidney disease patients for dyslipidemias: new NFK practice guidelines.(Clinical Rounds)(National Kidney Foundation)
August 1, 2003... DALLAS -- Patients with chronic kidney disease are at high risk for cardiovascular disease and should be closely monitored for dyslipidemias, according to new practice guidelines presented at a meeting on clinical nephrology sponsored by the...

Managing bone disorders in chronic kidney disease: draft practice guidelines.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2003... DALLAS -- Bone disorders are common in chronic kidney disease, but diagnostic biopsies are rarely necessary, according to draft practice guidelines presented at a meeting on clinical nephrology sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation. ...

Control BP in diabetics with kidney disease: combination therapy.(Clinical Rounds)(Blood pressure )
August 1, 2003... DALLAS -- Patients with kidney disease and/or diabetes who have blood pressures over 130/80 mm Hg should be treated with ACE inhibitors, diuretics, and perhaps other agents for reducing blood pressure, Dr. George L. Bakris said at a meeting on...

Lifetime risk of melanoma in U.S. increases to 1 in 67: incidence rates soar.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2003... SEVILLE, SPAIN -- Melanoma is growing. "The incidence rates of melanoma are increasing faster than for any other cancer," Dr. Darrell S. Rigel said at the Ninth World Congress on Cancers of the Skin. The pace of the increase has been...

Imiquimod shows promise for treating BCCs, AKs: company seeks FDA approval.(Clinical Rounds)(basal cell carcinoma)(actinic keratosis)
August 1, 2003... SEVILLE, SPAIN -- Imiquimod, a topical immune stimulator, showed efficacy for treating superficial basal cell carcinoma and actinic keratosis in phase III trials. Based on these results, 3M, which makes imiquimod (Aldara) has filed...

Derm diagnosis.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2003... A 64-year-old man had a stellate pit on the dorsal tip of his nose that measured less than 5 mm in diameter. The patient had Fitzpatrick skin type III, with a history of solar elastosis and actinic keratoses. He also had a history of three...

Add lidocaine patch to gabapentin for pain relief: three painful conditions.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- The lidocaine patch improved pain relief for patients with postherpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, and low back pain in a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. The 2-week,...

Gabapentin cuts postherpetic neuralgia pain scores by 73%: acute zoster outbreak.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Patients who received the anticonvulsive drug gabapentin in addition to antiviral medication at the time of an acute herpes zoster episode experienced a 73% reduction in postherpetic neuralgia pain within 6 months, compared...

Most oxycodone-related deaths occur due to abuse: polypharmacy prevalent.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- The vast majority of deaths reported in association with the use of oxycodone were related to drug abuse and not patient use, according to a study conducted by Purdue Pharma L.P. The study, conducted in response to intense...

Advanced dementia mishandled in nursing Homes: not considered terminal.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2003... BALTIMORE -- Patients with advanced dementia are generally not recognized as having a terminal condition and may not receive palliative care until death is perceived as imminent, Dr. Susan L. Mitchell said at the annual meeting of the American...

Memantine plus donepezil good for severe Alzheimer's: halts cognitive decline.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2003... A combination therapy of memantine plus donepezil halts the cognitive decline of patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease more than donepezil plus placebo, according to a poster presented at the annual meeting of the American...

Brush sampling screen preferred for colorectal ca: patient friendly.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- New fecal immunochemical technology that uses brush sampling is superior to standard guaiac fecal occult blood testing as a screening tool for colorectal cancer, Dr. Graeme P. Young reported at the annual Digestive Disease...

Male eating frequency tied to colon ca risk: fewer meals, less risk.(Clinical Rounds)(cancer)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Daily eating frequency appears to be associated with variation in the risk for colon cancer in men, Dr. Jeffrey T. Wei reported at the annual Digestive Disease Week. Men in the population-based case-control study who ate...

Thromboembolism in elderly: think colon ca: strong harbinger in women.(Clinical Rounds)(colon cancer risk)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- The occurrence of an idiopathic thromboembolic event in an elderly patient is associated with an increased risk of being diagnosed with colon cancer within the next 2 years, Dr. Blase Polite reported at the annual meeting of...

NSAID damage shows up on video capsule: significant lesions in 24%.(Clinical Rounds)(nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents)
August 1, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- About one in four arthritis patients who swallowed a video capsule for endoscopy had small bowel injury associated with chronic NSAID use, according to a study presented at the annual Digestive Disease Week. The new...

Multispecialty approach works for depression: greater adherence, half the cost.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2003... TORONTO -- Collaborative treatment of mental illness by psychiatrists and primary care physicians significantly improved patient adherence, increased physician satisfaction, and cut health care costs almost in half, Dr. Wayne J. Katon reported...

Patient input improves depression outcomes in primary care: promising strategy.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2003... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Greater patient involvement in treatment decision making is a promising strategy to improve outcomes of depression in primary care settings, Dr. Sarah L. Clever said at the annual meeting of the Society of General Internal...

Younger, less educated patients are less compliant: depression in primary care.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... ARLINGTON, VA. -- Primary care patients who do not adhere to a regimen for antidepressants have several defining characteristics, Rollin Nagel, Ph.D., reported at a meeting sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians National...

Spinal manipulation may increase risk of stroke: under age 60 years.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2003... People under aged 60 who had strokes or transient ischemic attacks from vertebral artery dissection were 6.6 times more likely to have undergone spinal manipulation in the 30 days preceding their strokes, compared with people who had strokes...

West Nile paralysis.(Clinical Capsules)(symptoms and causes of )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Acute flaccid paralysis, seen in a small number of cases of West Nile virus, appears to be associated with spinal anterior horn cell involvement and resultant poliomyelitis-like syndrome, a review of cases suggests. Previously, the...

Heart attacks and vacations.(Clinical Capsules)(physical and mental challenges trigger heart conditions)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Myocardial infarction that occurs during a vacation is significantly more likely to happen during the first 2 days, said Willem J. Kop, Ph.D., of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md., and his colleagues....

Flu prevention and treatment.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Oseltamivir and zanamivir are effective against influenza, a metaanalysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials shows. Intention-to-treat analysis of data from 17 treatment trials and 7 prevention trials showed that zanamivir reduced...

GERD and respiratory disease.(Clinical Capsules)(gastroesophageal reflux )
August 1, 2003... Severe gastroesophageal reflux is associated with an impaired exchange of carbon monoxide through the lungs, reported Dr. Linda M. Schachter of the Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, Heidelberg, Australia, and her associates. The...

Cardiovascular risk factors hinder antidepressant response: another puzzle piece.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- The total burden of cardiovascular risk factors in a patient with major depressive disorder is an independent predictor of lack of response to antidepressant therapy with fluoxetine, Dr Dan V. Iosifescu reported at the annual...

Portable rapid assay identifies aspirin-resistant patients who have coronary artery disease: critical to find early.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- A commercially available rapid assay has proved highly useful in identifying the roughly one in five patients with coronary artery disease who have complete or partial aspirin resistance, Dr. Brian L. Walton said at the annual...

Slide in fitness, stress endanger firefighters' hearts: from hunk to heart attack.(Clinical Rounds)(heart attack risks)
August 1, 2003... ATLANTA -- Firefighters may start their careers as buff hunks, but neglect of primary health care combined with the physical stress of the job apparently predisposes them to at-work coronary fatalities. Empirical evidence has long suggested...

Cranberry juice for UTI prevention.(Alternative medicine: an evidence-based approach)(urinary tract infections)
August 1, 2003... * Current research, suggests that tannin compounds in cranberries may prevent the adhesion of pathogenic bacteria to uroepithelial cells. * Evidence for clinical efficacy is limited, but studies continue with funding from the National...

Alternative medicine use common in teens: teas, ginseng most popular.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- Thirty-eight percent of adolescents have used some kind of an herbal supplement or treatment, according to a Harris Interactive survey that used the Internet as a new method for questioning individuals. The study, which sampled...

Screen prenatally for postpartum depression risk: one-page questionnaire.(Women's Health)
August 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- A one-page checklist can help identify women at risk for postpartum depression even before they give birth, Holly Powell Kennedy, Ph.D., said at a meeting on antepartum and intrapartum management. The checklist includes...

3-D power Doppler may defer need for sonohysterogram: abnormal uterine bleeding.(Women's Health)
August 1, 2003... MONTREAL -- Three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound can be used as a screening tool to evaluate abnormal uterine bleeding in premenopausal women, thereby avoiding the need for more invasive 3-D transvaginal sonohysterography in about...

Cryotherapy nearly halved size of uterine fibroids: pilot trial.(Women's Health)
August 1, 2003... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Freezing uterine fibroids nearly halved fibroid size and eliminated fibroid symptoms in nearly all of 20 patients at a 6-month follow-up in a pilot trial. Cryomyolysis was performed using the Her Option system, which is...

Survival in invasive epithelial ovarian ca has improved: older patients still lag.(Women's Health)(cancer)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- The survival rate in women with primary invasive epithelial ovarian cancer has steadily improved over the past 30 years, Dr. Adnan Munkarah said at the annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists. The findings...

Endometrial thickness no real help: premenopausal women.(Women's Health)
August 1, 2003... MONTREAL -- Ultrasound measurement of a thin endometrium does not rule out pathology in premenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding, results of a retrospective study suggest. "We were trying to find a measurement to be able to say,...

Brief screening test effective for osteoporosis: five-item questionnaire.(Women's Health)
August 1, 2003... LOS ANGELES -- A brief questionnaire is proving to be a highly effective screening test for osteoporosis in women. The Osteoporosis Risk Assessment Tool (ORAT) consists of five questions that women can answer in the waiting room. It was...

Try estrogen patch in young women with osteoporosis risk: endocrine disorders.(Women's Health)
August 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Young women who face a high risk of osteoporosis due to endocrine disorders need more estrogen than they can receive through a standard 0.625-mg dose of conjugated equine estrogen or standard doses of oral contraceptives, several...

Head-to-head comparison of osteoporosis drugs: alendronate vs. raloxifene.(Women's Health)
August 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Once-weekly Fosamax produced a twofold greater increase in bone mineral density than daily Evista after 1 year of treatment in a head-to-head trial sponsored by Merck, which markets alendronate as Fosamax. The study did not...

Weekly risedronate same as daily dose: 'reasonable alternative'.(Women's Health)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO--A 35-mg weekly dose of risedronate is just as effective as a 5-mg daily dose, according to results of a detailed bone study. The findings suggest that weekly dosing of the agent for postmenopausal women "is a reasonable...

No racial disparity in self-reported mammograms: results of large survey.(Women's Health)
August 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- White women are no longer more likely to receive periodic screening mammograms than black and Hispanic women, Dr. Alma Jones reported at the annual meeting of the American College of Preventive Medicine. The findings are...

Exemestane may avoid bone loss in breast ca patients: aromatase inhibitor.(Women's Health)(cancer)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- The steroidal antiaromatase agent exemestane may not be saddled with the bone loss problems that have emerged as a significant drawback to the use of nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors as adjuvant therapy in breast cancer, Dr....

Folic acid not protective in antiepileptic users: congenital anomalies.(Women's Health)(anticonvulsant drugs cancel out benefits of folic acid supplements)
August 1, 2003... PHILADELPHIA -- Use of folic acid at the time of conception was not associated with a statistically significant reduction in the risk of having an infant with a major congenital anomaly in women taking antiepileptic drugs. That finding...

GERD, obesity, and estrogen.(Clinical Capsules)(gastroesophageal reflux disease)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... The likelihood that a woman will develop gastroesophageal reflux symptoms rises with increasing body mass index and is exacerbated by postmenopausal hormone therapy, reported Dr. Magnus Nilsson of Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, and his...

Risk factors for constipation.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... A wide variety of commonly used drugs are associated with chronic constipation in primary care patients, reported Dr. Nicholas J. Talley of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and his colleagues. In a retrospective analysis of data from...

Boost mothers' moods.(Clinical Capsules)(treating postpartum depression)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Psychological intervention results in short-term improvement of symptoms of postpartum depression, said Peter J. Cooper, D. Phil., of the University of Reading (England) and his colleagues. A group of 193 women who met the American Psychiatric...

Uterine papillary serous ca.(Clinical Capsules)(carcinoma)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Surgical staging has improved the detection of localized uterine papillary serous carcinoma. Relative survival per 100,000 patients with localized disease, at 82%, is comparable with that associated with other endometrial adenocarcinomas (86%),...

Automated defibrillators okay for young children: as young as 1 year.(Children's Health)
August 1, 2003... Automated external defibrillators may be used for children as young as 1 year old, concluded the Pediatric Advanced Life Support Task Force of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation. The task force also recommended that a lone...

Expert panel tackles heat-related illnesses: first-ever consensus statement.(Children's Health)
August 1, 2003... Not long ago, it was considered macho for young athletes to abstain from taking water breaks during team practices in the sweltering summer heat. "It was just the 'wusses' who drank the water," recalled Dr. Stephen Cantrill, associate...

Athletes may be asymptomatic carriers of ringworm: 'infection control nightmare'.(Children's Health)
August 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Some high school and college wrestlers are asymptomatic carriers of ringworm infection, Dr. Thomas D. Kohl said at the annual meeting of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. Wrestlers are more likely to become...

Few athletic youths with asthma carry bronchodilators: needed on the sidelines.(Children's Health)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Among 80 asthmatic children playing on suburban soccer or baseball teams, 62 did not have a bronchodilator nearby during games, Dr. Ivan Cardona reported in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of...

Children have best kidney transplant outcomes: with living donors.(Children's Health)
August 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Children less than 10 years of age now have the best graft survival of all kidney transplant recipients, Dr. William E. Harmon reported at the American Transplant Congress. Advances in immunosuppressive treatment in the last...

Take charge of treating obese adolescents: stay up to date.(Children's Health)
August 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- Primary care physicians need to stay up to date on dealing with adolescent obesity and understand the types of weight loss medications used, Dr. Marjorie A. Boeck said at the annual meeting of the Society for Adolescent. Medicine....

Device helps curb TV viewing to prevent childhood obesity: electronic TV time manager.(Children's Health)
August 1, 2003... DENVER -- A modest-looking little box that sits atop the family television set can be a powerful ally in preventing pediatric obesity. "I think this is a fabulous device," Dr. Susan Z. Yanovski said at an international conference of the...

Newer contraceptive options for adolescent girls: patch becoming popular.(Children's Health)
August 1, 2003... HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- New contraceptive technologies are. providing a wider array of options for sexually active adolescent girls, Dr. Linda Grant said at a meeting on clinical pediatrics sponsored by Boston University. After years...

Early respiratory illness impacts asthma risk: complex picture.(Children's Health)
August 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- The connection between asthma and day care has a new wrinkle, one that further supports the idea that early immune system exposure is critical in the development of asthma, but also adds a level of complexity. Looking at the...

In utero fetal surgery looks promising for spina bifida: short-term data.(Children's Health)
August 1, 2003... LISBON -- In utero surgery for spina bifida is a risky but promising procedure that appears to improve short-term outcomes, and now, thanks to a recently initiated multicenter trial, long-term results are being evaluated as well. The...

Growing pains may impact bone strength: lower pain threshold.(Children's Health)
August 1, 2003... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- Children with growing pains have decreased bone strength and lower pain thresholds at typical tender points, compared with healthy controls, two studies have shown. The results suggest that reduced bone strength may be a...

OTC omeprazole is set to hit stores this fall: concerns remain.(Rx)(over the counter drug prices and availability)
August 1, 2003... The Food and Drug Administration has approved over-the-counter sales of Prilosec, and the drug is slated to hit store shelves nationwide this fall accompanied by a massive advertising campaign. Although the use of omeprazole (Prilosec)...

Genetics will guide prescribing for hypertension: genotype predicts response to drug.(Rx)
August 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Advances in pharmacogenomics will help physicians "use genetic information rather than a person's skin color" when make certain prescribing decisions, Julie A. Johnson, Pharm.D., predicted at the annual meeting of the American...

Drug update: irritable bowel syndrome.(Rx)
August 1, 2003... A few short years ago, even gastroenterologists cringed when a patient with irritable bowel syndrome walked in. Today, thanks in large part to a public relations push and a better understanding of the disorder, primary care physicians can...

FDA gets fibromyalgia trial design advice: arthritis advisory panel.(Rx)(Food and Drug Administration)(drug evaluation standards)
August 1, 2003... BETHESDA, MD. -- Encouraged by several pharmaceutical companies investigating drugs for fibromyalgia, the Food and Drug Administration may for the first time lay some ground rules for conducting such studies. At a meeting of the FDA's...

Push-button blood collection.(Products)(blood collection equipment with needlestick prevention device)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... The BD Vacutainer push-button blood collection set retracts the needle with the push of a butten when collecting blood samples, protecting health care workers from accidental needle sticks. For more information, contact Becton, Dickinson & Co.,...

Reyataz approved.(Products)(protease inhibitor approved for treatment of HIV infections)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Reyataz (atazanavir sulfate) is the first once-daily protease inhibitor approved for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in combination with other antiretroviral agents. For more information, contact Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co., 212-546-4000,...

Gel for secondary amenorrhea.(Products)(Prochieve progesterone gel )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Prochieve progesterone gel is available in a 4% strength. The bioadhesive vaginal gel is used to treat secondary amenorrhea. For more information about this product, contact Columbia Laboratories Inc., 973-9943999, or visit their Web site at...

Depo-Provera safety needle.(Products)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Depo-Provera contraceptive injection (medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension) now has a safety needle on all prefilled syringes to help prevent needle stick injuries. The new needle is the BD SafetyGlide shielding hypodermic needle....

Preservative-free vaccine.(Products)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... A preservative-free formulation of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids adsorbed USP (for pediatric use) is now available in the United States. The thimerosal-free vaccine is indicated for children with hypersensitivity to the pertussis component in...