Family Practice News articles from February 2003

Family Practice News archives from February 2003

Multiple benefits to group visit model. (Provides Patients Support Network).(physician visits patient group)
February 1, 2003... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- Group visits in one family practice residency program are providing patients with better care and residents with an innovative learning experience. Dr. Devin Sawyer first encountered the group visit model during his...

Large study links HRT to higher breast cancer risk: increased breast, endometrial cancer risk offset by lowered risk of other tumors. (Combined Continuous HRT).(hormone replacement therapy)
February 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- Progestin-containing hormone replacement therapy was associated with a markedly increased breast cancer risk, but estrogen-only replacement therapy was not, according to the findings of a huge Swedish study. Indeed, the...

Budget woes force states to cap SCHIP enrollment: sharp rise in uninsured children expected. (Insufficient Federal Funding).(State Children's Health Insurance Program)
February 1, 2003... Crippled by mounting budget deficits and dwindling funds, some states have begun to cap enrollment for the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Budget problems are making it difficult for states to meet their share of State...

Breast ca patients fare better with dense-dose chemotherapy. (Possible Applications in other Diseases).
February 1, 2003... than patients who lacked an [epsilon]4 allele. The differences in both disease severity and age of onset were statistically significant. Two other alleles can potentially fill the apo E locus: [epsilon]2 and [epsilon]3. People who carried one...

Physicians ponder the boom in full-body CT scans. (Most Patients Self-Refer).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO--As emotional advertising campaigns continue to urge consumers to undergo full-body CT screening, radiologists are struggling to establish guidelines for the hotly debated diagnostic procedure. There is a need for a standardized...

Prozac gains FDA approval for use in children and teens. (Do thorough Clinical Evaluation First).
February 1, 2003... The Food and Drug Administration approved Prozac for treating major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents aged 7-17 years. "It is reassuring for physicians that a certain threshold of evidence...

Calcium, vitamin D urged for epilepsy patients. (Bone Loss, Fractures a Problem).
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- Bone loss in epilepsy patients is a serious problem that has not received enough attention, experts said at the annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society. Some of those experts urged that all epilepsy patients, regardless...

Apo E [epsilon]4 allele also boosts risk of Parkinson's. (Gene Tied to Alzheimer's).(apolipoprotein E)
February 1, 2003... BALTIMORE -- People who carry at least one [epsilon]4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene have an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease earlier in life or in a more severe form. About a decade ago, the apolipoprotein E (apo E)...

Centers for Reducing Asthma Disparities.(National heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to fund five new centers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has created and is funding five new Centers for Reducing Asthma Disparities. The centers will focus on research and education aimed at understanding why certain racial, ethnic, and...

FPs join the fight against psychologist prescribing. (New Mexico Law Seen as Call to Arms).(family physicians)
February 1, 2003... In the wake of last spring's historic decision by New Mexico to allow psychologists to prescribe psychotropic drugs, family physicians have joined their psychiatrist colleagues in fighting against such laws. At its October meeting, the...

Team approach brings treatment to depressed elderly patients. (Use Nurses as Case Managers).
February 1, 2003... TUCSON, ARIZ. -- Depressed elderly patients who might otherwise go overlooked may benefit from a team approach provided in their usual primary care setting, Dr. Jurgen Unutzer reported at the annual meeting of the Academy of Psychosomatic...

Earning teens' trust. (Guest Editorial).(developing a successful physician-patient relationship)
February 1, 2003... By the time children are 8 or 9 years old, physicians should start paving the way to discuss personal issues. That's when you should mention to parents that in the next 2-3 years, you'll need to spend more private time with their...

Pro and Con: should C-reactive protein be a standard measure for cardiac risk assessment?
February 1, 2003... YES Detailed screening recommendations issued by the American Heart Association don't help the many patients who sustain acute cardiovascular events despite "normal" risk factor profiles. There is an urgent need to identify additional risk...

Dietary counseling effective for high-risk patients. (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force).
February 1, 2003... What troubles many physicians about dietary counseling is how to do it. But do it they must--for high-risk patients--according to new recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The task force found sufficient evidence...

Milder coronary events seen in aspirin users. (Works Even When it Fails).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO--Using aspirin for the primary prevention of coronary disease works even when it fails. People who had a first-time coronary event even though they were regularly taking aspirin had milder events than similar people who were...

Cardiologist care less likely in women, blacks. (Post-Mi Care).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The patients least likely to receive ambulatory care from a cardiologist have the most to gain from receiving such care. Among elderly patients who were hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction, those who were older, female, and black...

Depression after bypass linked to worse outcomes. (Post-CABG Depression is Recurrent).(coronary artery bypass graft surgery)
February 1, 2003... TUCSON, ARIZ. -- Depression that occurs soon after coronary artery bypass graft surgery is associated with an elevated risk of cardiac events during the next 5 years, Dr. Constantine Lyketsos reported at the annual meeting of the Academy of...

Anxiety impedes men's compliance with heart healthy regimen. (Not Seen in Women).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Middle-aged men with clinically significant levels of anxiety are far less adherent to recommended lifestyle modifications for coronary risk reduction than their nonanxious peers, Dr. Fabrice Bonnet said at the annual scientific...

Follow post-MI patients for signs of depression. (Not Part of Cardiology Routine).(heart attack )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- Primary care physicians should be screening heart attack patients for depression because cardiologists are not likely to make that a routine part of care, Dr. Paul Monson said in a poster presented at a conference on...

Time urgency/impatience in young adults portend later hypertension. (Health Risks of Type a Behavior).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- A feeling of time urgency and impatience in young adults is a strong predictor that they will develop hypertension within the next 13 years, Lijing L. Yan, Ph.D., reported at the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart...

Peppermint oil for irritable bowel syndrome. (Alternative Medicine).
February 1, 2003... * Peppermint oil, long a popular aid for gastrointestinal symptoms, has shown benefits in some, though not all, studies evaluating its use in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. * Enteric-coated capsules reduce the likelihood of...

Heart hospital offers designer supplements. (Crafted for Cardio Benefits).(Arizona Heart Institute in Phoenix offers Essentum supplement)
February 1, 2003... Designer supplements have arrived at the Arizona Heart Institute in Phoenix, where physicians offer patients a prescription-only product, Essentum, which is specially formulated for cardiovascular benefits. "We realized that many of our...

Slow-release garlic may counter atherosclerosis. (Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial).(Allicor garlic preparation )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... BETHESDA, Mo. -- A sustained-release garlic preparation led to decreased intima-media thickness of the common carotid arteries in a 24-month study of 103 men with atherosclerosis, Dr. Igor Sobenin reported at a meeting on the cardiovascular...

Two factors refine diagnosis in fatty liver disease. (Biopsy Still Necessary).(type 2 diabetes and elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... BOSTON -- The presence of type 2 diabetes or ALT enzyme levels greater than twice the upper limit of normal was tied to a fourfold increase in the risk of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in a study of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver...

Glitazones may benefit fatty liver disease. (No Approved TX for NASH).(nonalcoholic steatohepatitis)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... BOSTON -- Two small studies of glitazones presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for the Study of Liver Diseases indicate that two of these insulin sensitizing drugs approved for the treatment of diabetes may be useful in the...

Novel dialysis quells toxicity in liver failure. (MARS has no Biologic Components).(molecular adsorbents recirculating system)
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- The management of acute liver failure has entered an exciting new era with the long-sought creation of an effective extracorporeal temporary liver-support device, Dr. Roger Williams declared in the J. Edward Berk Distinguished...

Screening can help predict success in alcoholic liver transplant. (Evidence-Based Outcomes).
February 1, 2003... TUCSON, ARIZ. -- Patients with alcoholic liver disease are good candidates for liver transplants if they are screened using rigorous criteria, Dr. Terry D. Schneekloth said at the annual meeting of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. ...

Early response essential with HCV retreatment. (Lasting Results More Likely).(hepatitis C)
February 1, 2003... BOSTON -- An early virologic response is a key to a sustained virologic response in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection who have previously failed treatment and are being retreated with combination peginterferon plus ribavirin. ...

Psychiatric disorders common in HCV patients. (Substance Abuse in 88%).(hepatitis C)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... TUCSON, ARIZ. -- Substance abuse/dependence and mood, anxiety, personality, and psychotic disorders were all more prevalent in patients with chronic hepatitis C than in a group of patients without the virus, Dr. Muhamad Aly Rifai reported at...

Treat allergic rhinitis, sinusitis in asthma patients. (Unified Airway Hypothesis).
February 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO-Treating upper airway disease should be considered as adjunctive therapy for patients with asthma, according to Dr. Michael A. Kaliner. The relationship between upper and lower airway disease has been recognized since 200 A.D.,...

Nasal irrigation recipe provides sinusitis relief. (Daily Practice Minimizes Symptoms).(hypertonic saline solution for treatment of sinusitis)
February 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Daily nasal irrigation with hypertonic saline solution improves sinus symptoms and quality of life and decreases medication use in adults with a history of sinusitis. One teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 pint...

Adjunct intranasal corticosteroid Tx may benefit acute sinusitis. (Addresses Inflammation).
February 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- Intranasal corticosteroids may benefit patients with acute and recurrent sinusitis, Dr. Eli O. Meltzer said at an Aventis Pharmaceuticals--sponsored symposium held at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma,...

Proton-pump inhibitor helps asthma patients with reflux. (Improved Quality of Life).(lansoprazole)
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- Six months of high-dose lansoprazole significantly improves difficult to control asthma in patients with acid reflux symptoms, a major new study has shown. At the annual meeting oy results maintaining a patient on methotrexate....

Booklet provides patients with pros, cons of PSA screening. (Award-Winning Guide).(prostate-specific antigen)("The PSA Test for Prostate Cancer: Is It Right for Me?" booklet from the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center)
February 1, 2003... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA, -- A new, easy-to-read booklet that explains the positive and negative impacts of the prostate-specific antigen screening test is helping veterans who don't have prostate cancer make informed choices about whether or not...

Deaths drop with high-dose PPIs for GI bleeding. (Rebleeding Risk Reduced 47%).(proton-pump inhibitor therapy for gastrointestinal bleeding)
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- High-dose proton-pump inhibitor therapy in patients hospitalized for upper GI bleeding reduces mortality and rebleeding risk, Dr. Sandrine Sabbah said at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology. She...

Women's fair skin reacts to common sunscreen ingredient. (Facial Erythema).(benzophenone-3 can cause facial erythemia)
February 1, 2003... CLEVELAND -- A common ingredient in sunscreens can trigger facial erythema in fair-skinned women who use products with a high sun protection factor, Dr. Susan T. Nedorost said at a meeting on contact dermatitis. Benzophenone-3 is widely...

Popularity of botanical extracts means more contact dermatitis. (Chamomile, Tea Tree Oil Top Offenders).
February 1, 2003... CLEVELAND -- Chamomile and tea tree oil top the list of botanical extracts most likely to trigger allergic contact dermatitis, according to a prospective study presented at a meeting on contact dermatitis. Increasing clinical awareness and...

Handbook offers algorithms for treating resistant psoriasis, comorbid conditions. (From National Psoriasis Foundation).("Psoriasis: Treatment Options and Patient Management" )
February 1, 2003... A new psoriasis management guide from the National Psoriasis Foundation offers detailed treatment algorithms for patients with comorbid conditions or psoriasis that resists standard therapy. The comprehensive handbook, designed to fit into...

Derm diagnosis. (Clinical Rounds).(aquagenic urticaria )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A 38-year-old Hispanic male taking morphine to control chronic headaches presented complaining that he developed hives whenever he came into contact with water. The reaction began shortly after beginning the morphine regimen. On day that the...

Revised guidelines address hypogonadism in men. (Benefits of Testosterone Replacement TX).
February 1, 2003... Updated guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of hypogonadism in men reflect advances in treatment and more robust data about the short-term benefits of testosterone replacement therapy. The guidelines, issued by the American...

Mountain bike aficionados suffer low sperm count, decreased fertility. (Use Bikes With Shock Absorbers).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Compared with noncyclists, roughly 90% of mountain bikers who logged 3,000 miles or more a year had lower sperm count, decreased sperm motility and scrotal abnormalities, Dr. Ferdinand Frauscher said at the annual meeting of the...

Cardiac risk factors are key issues in treatment of ED. (Impacts Vascular Flow).(erectile dysfunction)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... MONTREAL -- Treatment of erectile dysfunction needs to emphasize management of risk factors--heart disease, depression, diabetes, and hypertension, several experts said at the 10th World Congress of the International Society for Sexual and...

Registry to look for hereditary pancreatic cancer. (The Aim is Earlier Detection).
February 1, 2003... NEW YORK--A new cancer registry has been established at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in an effort to detect cases of familial pancreatic cancer in early, potentially curable stages. Despite the recognition that heredity plays a...

Mercury may boost MI risk. (Clinical Capsules).(heart attack)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Mercury levels are directly linked to the risk of myocardial infarction--to an extent that could erase the cardioprotective effects of dietary fish, said Dr. Eliseo Guallar of the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, and associates....

H. pylori and gum disease. (Clinical Capsules).(Helicobacter pylori infection and periodontal disease)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Helicobacter pylori infection may be associated with advanced periodontal disease, reported Bruce A. Dye, D.D.S., and his colleagues at the National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Md. In 4,504 adults, aged 20-59 years, who...

SAD and smell. (Clinical Capsules).(seasonal affective disorder connected with lower smell detection threshold)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Adults with seasonal affective disorder have lower thresholds for smell detection than healthy controls, said Dr. Teodor T. Postolache of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., and his associates (Arch. Gen. Psychiatry...

New Cafergot contraindication. (Clinical Capsules).(interaction with GYP 3A4 inhibitors causes peripheral ischemia)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The coadministration of Cafergot--a drug for treating migraines--with potent GYP 3A4 inhibitors, such as protease inhibitors and macrolide antibiotics, has been associated with serious and life-threatening cases of peripheral ischemia. ...

Make Fitness the focus of weight loss efforts. (Moderate Activity Essential).
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Weight management efforts should emphasize making patients more fit rather than less fat, Dr. Robert B. Baron said at a conference on women's health sponsored by the University of California, San Francisco. When patients...

Athletic amenorrhea can lead to higher risk of heart disease. (Is it the Female Athletic Tetrad?).
February 1, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Premature cardiovascular disease can be added to the list of adverse results stemming from athletic amenorrhea, Dr. Anne Zeni Hoch said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. ...

Higher morbidity for women before, after bypass. (Ignorance of Gender-Specific Risks Blamed).
February 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS--Female gender is a predictor of increased morbidity in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and a lack of awareness of certain gender-specific risks among physicians may be partially to blame. Women who...

Close follow-up OK for many small ovarian cysts. (Asymptomatic Postmenopausal Women).
February 1, 2003... NEW YORK--The development of high-resolution ultrasound in the past decade has improved ovarian imaging so well that many small, simple ovarian cysts that previously went unnoticed are now commonly detected in asymptomatic postmenopausal women....

Some relief often sufficient for perimenopausal symptoms. (Promote a Healthy Lifestyle).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO--Many women presenting with symptoms of perimenopause aren't looking for complete elimination of the symptoms; they just want a little relief, Dr. Nanette Santoro said at the annual meeting of the North American Menopause Society. ...

FDA approves uterine artery embolization beads. (Hysterectomy Alternative).(for uterine fibroid treatment)
February 1, 2003... The use of miniature acrylic copolymer beads in uterine artery embolization has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating symptomatic uterine fibroids. The material, Embosphere Microspheres manufactured by Biosphere...

MRI-guided ultrasound to treat fibroids moves to phase III trial. (Successful in 43 of 55 Women).
February 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Focused ultrasound guided by MRI accurately treated 43 of 55 women with uterine fibroids in a multicenter phase II study prompting initiation of a phase III clinical trial. This procedure may provide a less painful and less...

Free mammograms do not boost compliance. (Study of 371 Urban Patients).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Offering free mammograms to low-income women was not enough to encourage them to receive the tests in a study of 371 urban, low-income patients. Although more than 90% of the women who were offered free mammograms agreed to...

NSAIDs may slow breast cancer growth, metastasis. (Large, Case-Control Study).(nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were associated with slower growth of breast tumors and prevention of distant metastasis in a large case-control study. Increasing exposure to the drugs during the 2-5 years preceding diagnosis was...

Group therapy benefits breast ca patients, partners. (Strategy for PTSD Still Needed).(posttraumatic stress disorder)
February 1, 2003... Baltimore -- Women with metastatic breast cancer and their partners benefit from regular group psychotherapy sessions that emphasize emotional processing. But mental health professionals need to devise a separate strategy for helping women...

Mistletoe improves tolerability of breast cancer treatment. (Multicenter Cohort Study).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... EXETER, ENGLAND -- Adjuvant treatment with mistletoe extract can increase the tolerability of conventional cancer treatment, improve patient quality of life, and lengthen tumor-free survival, Dr. Paul R. Bock reported. In a multicenter,...

Depression not tied to breast cancer outcomes. (Lets Women be Themselves).
February 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- Psychosocial factors aren't related to outcome in women with early-stage breast cancer, Dr. Pamela J. Goodwin reported at a breast cancer symposium sponsored by the San Antonio Cancer Institute. Contrary to popular belief,...

Experimental system may offer a less invasive way to diagnose breast cancer. (Clinical Trials Set to Begin).(magnetic resonance spectroscopy)
February 1, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- A diagnostic system that quickly identifies breast cancer and predicts metastasis from a small cell sample could eventually replace surgical biopsy for diagnosis and sentinel node biopsy if upcoming clinical trials confirm...

Artificial sphincter: A good call for the right patient. (Intractable Fecal Incontinence).
February 1, 2003... ST. LOUIS -- An artificial sphincter for intractable fecal incontinence provides impressive quality of life benefits-when implanted in the right patients. Who's a good candidate? Far and away the largest pool consists of patients with...

Radiofrequency may help fecal incontinence. (Device Recently Approved by FDA).
February 1, 2003... ST. LOUIS -- Targeted radiofrequency energy may have a vibrant future for treatment of fecal incontinence. Two recent prospective studies have shown that radiofrequency energy using the Secca system reduces symptoms of fecal incontinence...

Milk of magnesia may help ease urinary urge incontinence. (Beats Placebo in Randomized Trial).
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- A wee bit of milk of magnesia maybe just the thing to treat urinary urge incontinence, Dr. Ralph R. Chesson Jr. suggested at the annual meeting of the American Urogynecologic Society. A randomized, double-blind,...

Cervical ca in Hispanic women. (Clinical Capsules).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The incidence of invasive cervical cancer decreased significantly among Hispanic women (by 4.4%) and among non-Hispanic women (by 2%) between 1992 and 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. Despite those declines,...

Keep colonoscopy at 50. (Clinical Capsules).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Calls to begin screening colonoscopy in women a decade later than in men are off base, according to Dr. Philip S. Schoenfeld. Current American College of Gastroenterology guidelines recommend that both women and men begin having screening...

'Hurried woman syndrome'. (Clinical Capsules).(stress-induced fatigue, weight gain, and decreased libido may be signs of minor depression)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The stress-induced fatigue, weight gain, and decreased libido experienced by many women constitute minor depression and should be treated as such, Dr. Brent W. Bost said at the annual scientific assembly of the Southern Medical Association. ...

More Mothers breast-feed. (Clinical Capsules).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... U.S. breast-feeding rates continue to increase, according to data from a large national survey conducted in 2001. In-hospital breast-feeding grew about 2% per year--and more than 3% in some groups--compared with 1996 rates. The largest...

Drug update: lipid modification for secondary prevention of coronary events.
February 1, 2003... Current consensus is that virtually everyone with known coronary disease ought to be on an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, regardless of LDL cholesterol level. These well-studied drugs, commonly known as statins, cut risk by lowering LDL...

Teen survey: booze is out, narcotics are in. (Serious Drug Problem Persists in U.S.).
February 1, 2003... The latest Monitoring the Future survey of substance use among adolescents in the United States has yielded mixed results. Cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and Ecstasy (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) use declined; however, the use of...

Data Watch.(Substance Abuse: Early Teens Are Dangerous Years )
February 1, 2003... DATA WATCH Substance Abuse: Early Teens Are Dangerous Years Average Age at First: cigrette use 12.25 years drink of alcohol 12.5 years use of marijuana ...

Postneonatal deaths high among teen mothers. (Neglect or Abuse a Factor).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Healthy infants born to mothers aged 15 years and younger are three times as likely to die between the ages of 1 and 12 months, compared with infants born to mothers aged 23-29 years, reported Dr. Maureen Glennon Phipps and her colleagues at...

Sertraline use safe, effective long-term in children. (Studied in 226 Patients).(Zoloft)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO--Sertraline is effective and well tolerated in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder for up to 24 weeks of treatment, Dr. Karen Dineen Wagner reported in a poster session at the annual meeting of the American...

Beyond sprains: advice on treating ankle injuries. (Range of Differential Diagnoses is Small).
February 1, 2003... KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. -- The ankle's relatively simple anatomy makes it one of the least intimidating aspects of sports medicine, Dr. Paul Stricker said at a meeting on pediatric and adolescent sports medicine sponsored by the American Academy of...

'Colic clinic' takes multidisciplinary approach. (Empathy, Parental Support not Enough).
February 1, 2003... BOSTON -- Manage a newborn or infant with colic according to whether or not they have gastroesophageal reflux, Dr Pamela High said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She has studied 50 consecutive infants referred...

Sleep apnea effectively detected with polysomnography. (Can be Prohibitively Expensive).
February 1, 2003... BOSTON -- Polysomnography is the preferred method for detecting sleep apnea, although it is expensive and may be most often used for children at high risk, Dr. Sukgi S. Choi said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics. ...

Packaging issues restrict EMLA use to hospitals. (Substitute Ela-Max for Painful Procedures).(topical anesthetic cream use restricted until child-resistant packaging meets standards)
February 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Distribution of the topical anesthetic cream EMLA will be restricted to hospitals until about mid-2003, pending redesign of its child-resistant packaging, according to a spokeswoman for AstraZeneca, manufacturer of the product...

Diabetes Web site for children, parents. (Children's Health).(National Diabetes Education Program)(www.ndep.nih.gov)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The National Diabetes Education Program, a joint effort of the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has developed a series of Web-based educational materials for children and parents. Visitors to the...

Reactions to college dorm food often unevaluated. (Must Carry Epi-Pen).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- Food reactions often aren't followed up in college students living away from home, Dr. Andrew M. Singer reported at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. College students with food...

Boost for vaccines. (Policy and Practice).(physician reimbursement for flu and other vaccines to be increased)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Medicare's 2003 physician fee schedule is increasing reimbursement for flu shots and other vaccinations. The new fee schedule nearly doubles the Medicare payment for administration of some vaccinations, from $3.98 to about $7.26. Tom Scully,...

WellPoint offers drug coupon. (Policy & Practice).(WellPoint Health Networks offers discount on Alavert)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... WellPoint Health Networks is offering its members coupons to buy an over-the-counter antihistamine at a reduced price. The health care company is partnering with Wyeth, manufacturer of Alavert (loratadine), to offer the discount. The discount...

Managed care: thumbs down. (Policy & Practice).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Managed care plans did not improve health care quality in 2002, according to providers and other health care professionals surveyed by the Managed Care Information Center. Overall, 59% of the survey respondents did not think managed care plans...

Cloning criticism. (Policy & Practice).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... New revelations have poked some holes in a company's claim that it produced a cloned human baby. Clonaid, a firm founded by the U.S.-based Raelian sect, made the announcement of an infant clone at the end of December. Now, Michael Guillen, an...

Health care deficit. (Policy & Practice).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... State budget deficits spell trouble for publicly funded health insurance programs, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reports. Budget deficits looming overstate governments are expected to reach from $60 billion to $85 billion in fiscal...

Public coverage for children. (Policy & Practice).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Peters, Sally SCHIP in the meantime continues to be an important health care coverage source for children. The Department of Health and Human Services reports that the percentage of uninsured children declined from 13.9% in 1997 to 9.8% in...