Family Practice News articles from May 2005

Family Practice News archives from May 2005

CMS projects 4.3% cut in physician pay.(News)
May 1, 2005... Physicians could face a 4.3% cut in their Medicare reimbursements next year due to the rising cost of medical spending, Mark McClellan, M.D., administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced during a press briefing...

COX-2 withdrawals complicate pain relief decisions: few options left for patients with pain.(Musculoskeletal Disorders)(Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors)
May 1, 2005... The market withdrawal of valdecoxib and the black box warnings on celecoxib and all other remaining prescription NSAIDs have many physicians fuming and patients worried and confused, experts say. "We still feel that these drugs play an...

Consensus panel cautious on menopause treatment.(News)(Panel Discussion)
May 1, 2005... BETHESDA, MD. -- Night sweats, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and sleep disturbances appear to be connected to the onset of menopause, but other midlife symptoms--such as mood disorders, urinary incontinence, and somatic complaints--may not be,...

Top 10 diagnoses by family physicians in 2004.(VITAL SIGNS)(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... Top 10 Diagnoses by Family Physicians in 2004 Hypertension 8.9% Diabetes mellitus 3.3% Hyperlipidemia 3.3% Acute URI * 2.6% Chronic sinusitis ...

CDC: under twos are undervaccinated.(News)
May 1, 2005... Most children in the United States are significantly under. vaccinated during their first 2 years because of delayed immunization schedules, according to results of a new study. "Few children receive all vaccinations on time. Moreover we...

Decline in estrogen levels affects peripheral vasculature.(News)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Declining estrogen levels during late perimenopause and postmenopause substantially affect the peripheral vasculature, recent study data suggest. Lower estrogen levels during these periods were associated with larger...

Study suggests M. genitalium present in 10% of sexually active adolescents.(News)
May 1, 2005... Los ANGELES -- Mycoplasma genitalium infection had an incidence of 11% in the first study to investigate the epidemiology of this newly recognized sexually transmitted disease in female adolescents, Aneesh K. Tosh, M.D., said at the annual...

Recommended exercise level curbs depression, too: the therapeutic response and remission rate were comparable with those of other depression treatments.(News)
May 1, 2005... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- The amount of exercise that is recommended for general public health is also an effective treatment for depression, Andrea L. Dunn, Ph.D., reported at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society. Despite...

Halting exercise can increase symptoms of depression.(News)
May 1, 2005... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Regular exercisers who are forced to stop may experience depressive symptoms, Ali A. Berlin reported at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society. The findings of a study of 40 regular exercisers do not...

Data reveal three risk factors for prostate cancer: high body mass index, low levels of vitamin D, and high levels of ALS glycoprotein seem to have impact.(News)(Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Three new risk factors for prostate cancer are associated with an increased likelihood of developing aggressive prostate cancer or dying of the disease, researchers reported at a symposium on prostate cancer sponsored by the...

Aspirin below 100 mg/day is safest, metaanalysis shows.(News)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- When it comes to prescribing daily aspirin for the prevention or treatment of vascular events, the lowest risk of bleeding complications in a new metaanalysis involving more than 192,000 patients was seen at dosages less than...

Topical steroids not likely to switch to OTC soon: once it's OTC, it's available for any age, for any amount, for any body part, said one FDA advisor.(News)(Panel Discussion)
May 1, 2005... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- Although some manufacturers are seeking Food and Drug Administration approval to sell prescription-strength topical corticosteroids over the counter, it is not likely to happen soon. At a joint meeting of the FDA's...

Most FPs have standing orders for influenza vaccination.(News)(family physicians )
May 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Seventy percent of family physicians said they use standing orders for immunizations, with the majority (90%) saying they do so for influenza vaccination, according to preliminary results of a survey that was presented at the...

Penicillin allergy? Cephalosporins okay--really!(Guest Editorial)(Editorial)
May 1, 2005... Recent guidelines for the treatment of acute bacterial sinusitis and otitis media advise physicians to do something that most of us were taught never to do: use a cephalosporin in a penicillin allergic patient. Unfortunately, those documents...

Preventive medicine for the mind.(Editorial)
May 1, 2005... Can mental health conditions be prevented as part of well-child care? Certainly, little can be done about the genetic and biological bases of entities such as depression, attention-deficit disorder, or oppositional defiant disorder. ...

New recertification is worse than bad.(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... L. Thomas Wolff, M.D., may fit the definition of an expert by virtue of being someone from out of town with slides ("New Recertification Is Not So Bad, Expert Says," Feb. 1, 2005, p. 91). Or, as author and journalist Benjamin Stolberg said,...

MOC: a tip for passing the test.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... To prevent my colleagues from making the same mistake, I would like to relate my experience with taking the 2004 self-assessment module ("Next Up for MCFP: Chart Review Process," March 1, 2005, p. 86). I chose the module pertaining to...

Patient safety in hands of FPs.(Letters)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... As I see it, the foremost safety issue in the practice of medicine today is the development of "physician extenders" acting as primary caregivers ("Patient Safety Center Sets Firsts for Training," March 1, 2005, p. 91). It has always been...

Look deeper to find impact of family history: stroke in the family also increases an individual's risk of coronary heart disease, a study shows.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
May 1, 2005... GRAPEVINE, TEX. -- A strong family history of heart disease can increase an individual's future risk for coronary heart disease fourfold, and even a moderate family history can lead to a twofold increase in risk, a population-based study has...

Four biomarkers predict cardiovascular events in women.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- The presence of inflammatory markers, a low hemoglobin, or both is superior to traditional cardiovascular risk factors for predicting adverse cardiovascular outcomes in women under evaluation for suspected myocardial ischemia,...

Half of ACS patients rehospitalized yearly.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(acute coronary syndrome)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Nearly half of patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome at one large HMO were rehospitalized for cardiovascular disease within the next 12 months, Stephen Sidney, M.D., reported at the annual meeting of the American...

More men than women are receiving ICDs.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(implantable cardioverter defibrillator)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Men with heart failure and/or bundle branch block appear to be preferentially treated more aggressively with implantable devices than are women with similar health status, a review of nearly 11,000 cases suggests. The...

Hospital is 'teachable moment' for heart failure: heart failure patients started on [beta]-blocker, ACE inhibitor in hospital are likely to stay on them.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(American College of Cardiology)(Angiotensin converting enzyme)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, F L a. -- Starting heart failure patients on a [beta]-blocker and ACE inhibitor before hospital discharge sharply increases the likelihood that they will be on these key medications at follow-up 6090 days later, Gregg C. Fonarow, M.D.,...

Hypoalbuminemia predicts mortality in heart failure.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
May 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Patients with heart failure who also have hypoalbuminemia have a two- to threefold increased risk of death, compared with patients with normal serum albumin levels, according to results from a study in about 1,000 patients. ...

Using standard digoxin nomogram can lead to deadly overdoses.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
May 1, 2005... MUNICH -- Patients with heart failure who are treated with digoxin administered according to the standard nomogram risk getting an overdose that might kill them. "We recommend treating patients who get digoxin with half the dose from the...

New DVT recommendations for cancer patients.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(deep vein thrombosis )
May 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD, FLA. -- Low-molecular-weight heparin should be the drug of choice for the initial treatment of deep vein thrombosis in cancer patients, according to new management recommendations developed by the National Comprehensive Cancer...

Electronic alerts reduce venous thromboembolism.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
May 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- An automated electronic alert program aimed at physicians responsible for high-risk patients not receiving prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism resulted in a substantial reduction in thromboembolic events in a large...

DVT prophylaxis underused in acutely ill patients, study finds.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(deep vein thrombosis )
May 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- Deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis practice in hospitalized, acutely ill patients is clearly underused in the United States and Europe, results from a large international trial suggest. "Despite the [American College of Chest...

Quell adolescent rebellion against diabetes.(Metabolic Disorders)
May 1, 2005... HOUSTON -- Mental health issues can loom large in the treatment of diabetes in adolescents, especially when barriers to compliance arise, Scot G. McAfee, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry. ...

Gastric bypass: diabetes reversal almost universal.(Metabolic Disorders)
May 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- The pronounced weight loss experienced by obese patients following gastric bypass surgery is almost always accompanied by a rapid resolution of diabetes, David E. Cummings, M.D., said. Restoration of normoglycemia in these...

Metabolic Dx often missed in female patients.(Metabolic Disorders)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Middle-aged women should routinely be assessed for metabolic syndrome, Ana M. Schaper, Ph.D., said at an international conference on women, heart disease, and stroke. In a retrospective study of the charts of 147 women...

Ornish program shows benefit in diabetes: the individual components all seem involved in improving coronary heart disease in diabetic patients.(Metabolic Disorders)
May 1, 2005... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Emerging data all point in the same direction: The intensive lifestyle modification program developed by Dean Ornish, M.D., reduces cardiovascular risk, including that of patients with diabetes. The Ornish...

Exenatide benefits hold up long term in type 2 diabetes.(Metabolic Disorders)
May 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- The glucose-lowering effects of the investigational agent exenatide were maintained for 80 weeks in an open-label extension study, Daniel J. Drucker, M.D., reported at a conference sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. ...

Consider West Nile for sudden-onset paralysis.(Infectious Diseases)
May 1, 2005... SAVANNAH, GA. -- Any patient who presents with the neurologic symptoms of acute-onset weakness or paralysis during mosquito season should be evaluated for West Nile virus infection, regardless of whether there was a viral prodrome. Only...

Unusual remedies may help in the fight against mosquitoes.(Infectious Diseases)
May 1, 2005... NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF. -- The hands-down winner in the mosquito wars is DEET, but for those who don't want to use it, there are other ways of fighting off mosquitoes, according to two presentations at the annual meeting of the Pacific...

Feds spell out plan for dealing with flu pandemic: draft of federal plan calls for stockpiling vaccines and developing antiviral drugs and prophylaxis.(Infectious Diseases)
May 1, 2005... BALTIMORE -- Acknowledging that "flu has a huge news factor," Bruce Gellin, M.D., spelled out the federal influenza pandemic preparedness plan at a biodefense research meeting sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology. The...

Many high-risk patients got flu shots.(Infectious Diseases)
May 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Despite the severe shortage of influenza vaccine this winter, the elderly, young children, and others at risk were able to find and receive shots, officials said at the National Immunization Conference sponsored by the Centers for...

HHS hopes to speed production of pandemic vaccine with contract.(Infectious Diseases)(Department of Health and Human Services)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently awarded $97 million to Sanofi Pasteur to speed development of a manufacturing technique that could cut the time it takes to get an influenza vaccine to market. But the technique, which...

New antifungals boast fewer drug interactions: the echinocandins' lower potential for interactions makes them "ideal" for combination therapies.(Infectious Diseases)
May 1, 2005... MIAMI -- The echinocandin antifungal agents appear to have little significant toxicity and may ultimately prove to be safer than the azoles Or amphotericin B in terms of potential interactions, according to Paul O. Gubbins, Pharm.D. ...

Micafungin approval strengthens antifungal armamentarium.(Infectious Diseases)
May 1, 2005... MIAMI -- Approval of micafungin by the Food and Drug Administration in March added another option for combatting infections caused by Candida or Aspergillus species, John R. Perfect, M.D., said at a meeting on fungal infections sponsored by...

Nevirapine monotherapy needs to be reassessed: giving HIV+ women multidrug regimens in late pregnancy may do more to reduce virus transmission.(Infectious Diseases)
May 1, 2005... BOSTON -- Short-term treatment with one or more antiretroviral drugs starting in late pregnancy--in addition to or instead of single-dose nevirapine--may reduce the likelihood that HIV-infected women will transmit the virus to their newborns...

Antiviral therapy missed by those in need.(Infectious Diseases)
May 1, 2005... BOSTON -- Almost half of HIV-positive individuals in the United States who meet federal guidelines for antiretroviral therapy may not be receiving the treatment, according to a recent estimate by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....

OraQuick test doubles HIV detection rates.(Infectious Diseases)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- The first 1,000 uses of the OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV-1 Antibody Test in New Jersey identified nearly double the number of HIV-positive patients, compared with the traditional blood tests, Evan Cadoff, M.D., wrote in a poster...

HIV drugs in breast milk may help at-risk babies.(Infectious Diseases)
May 1, 2005... BOSTON -- High levels of antiretroviral drugs measured in the breast milk of HIV-positive mothers and in the blood of their breast-fed infants could protect against transmission of the virus from mother to baby, Roger L. Shapiro, M.D., said at...

Lymphogranuloma venereum poised to make comeback in men.(Infectious Diseases)
May 1, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- Lymphogranuloma venereum, once common among gay men but rare in the United States for the last decade, may be poised to make a comeback, Gail Bolan, M.D., said at a meeting on HIV management sponsored by the University of...

Treat pregnant HIV patients even if asymptomatic.(Infectious Diseases)
May 1, 2005... HOUSTON -- Pregnant women should be treated for human immunodeficiency virus infections even if they are asymptomatic with normal CD4 counts and have a low viral load, said Hunter A. Hammill, M.D. Pregnancy itself does not affect the...

Pegasys-Copegus, Symlin.(New & Approved)
May 1, 2005... Pegasys-Copegus (peginterferon-alfa-2a and ribavirin, Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.) A pegylated (long-acting) form of interferon alone or in combination with the antiviral ribavirin for treating chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in...

Skin infection type dictates antibiotic choice.(Skin Disorders)
May 1, 2005... MIAMI BEACH -- There are many options for antibiotic treatment of uncomplicated and complicated skin infections, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, according to a presentation by Richard K. Scher, M.D., at a symposium sponsored by...

Epidermolysis bullosa forms look similar, show few clues.(Skin Disorders)
May 1, 2005... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- Physicians diagnosing epidermolysis bullosa in a newborn have few initial clues about which type of the disease their patient has, or the course it will take, until they do electron microscopy and immunofluorescence testing,...

Derm Dx.(Skin Disorders)
May 1, 2005... A 46-year-old white male with a long history of atopic dermatitis was admitted to the hospital for urinary frequency and incontinence considered secondary, to his multiple sclerosis. He developed a scalp rash and atopic dermatitis was again...

Primary care physicians often mistake lesions.(Skin Disorders)
May 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Dermatologists diagnosed nearly twice the number of neoplastic and cystic skin lesions correctly than did nondermatologist physicians, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology....

Dark-skinned patients are still at risk for skin cancers.(Skin Disorders)
May 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Melanoma and other skin cancers in blacks and Hispanics are likely to be discovered at a more advanced stage and are associated with significantly poorer survival rates, researchers said at the annual meeting of the American...

5-FU cream well tolerated for superficial basal cell carcinoma.(Skin Disorders)
May 1, 2005... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Although 5% 5-fluorouracil cream received Food and Drug Administration approval for treatment of superficial basal cell carcinoma nearly 4 decades ago, the cream is underused for that indication today, even though it is...

OCs are best used as an adjunct acne therapy.(Skin Disorders)(oral contraceptives)
May 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Oral contraceptives are a safe and effective treatment for acne but are best used as adjunct therapy, Julie C. Harper, M.D., reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. Topical retinoids such as...

Talking with your doctor.(Skin Disorders)
May 1, 2005... The National Institute on Aging has released a Spanish version of its "Talking With Your Doctor" publication. The brochure addresses choosing a physician, working with an interpreter, and discussing sensitive issues (memory loss, incontinence,...

Pertussis transmission begins at home: how do infants get pertussis? They get it from their family. That's right--their moms and dads, brothers and sisters, even grandma and grandpa!(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... According to a recent study, of pertussis in 264 infants, a family member was identified as the source of the disease in three quarters of the cases. In fact, the infant's mother was positively identified as the source in 32% of the cases. In...

Sarcoidosis imitates other skin disorders in blacks.(Skin Disorders)
May 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Because of its myriad presentations on black skin, sarcoidosis can be called "the great imitator," Rebat Halder, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. "The appearance on the skin can have...

Sequential therapy is way to go in psoriasis: after the combo achieves good control, the plan should downshift, eliminating the more toxic agent.(Skin Disorders)
May 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Sequential therapy is a great way to get quick, effective control of chronic psoriasis while keeping costs down and minimizing the patient's exposure to potentially toxic systemic agents, John Koo, M.D., said at the annual...

Pimecrolimus thorough and fast for inverse psoriasis.(Skin Disorders)
May 1, 2005... KOHALA COAST, HAWAII -- Pimecrolimus cream 1% did a better and faster job of clearing inverse psoriasis in a randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study of 57 patients, according to Mark Lebwohl, M.D. The patients applied either the...

Methylphenidate may be OK for preschoolers: 'the take-home message is that 85% of the children responded' to the [drug] during the crossover period.(Mental Health)
May 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Methylphenidate appears to be effective and safe for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in preschool-age children, according to preliminary data presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of...

Aggression in young children requires close attention.(Mental Health)
May 1, 2005... BAL HARBOUR, FLA. -- Aggression is an increasing and troubling problem among young children, but there are things physicians can do to help parents address the matter, Barbara J. Howard, M.D., said at the annual Masters of Pediatrics conference...

Monitor children on antidepressants, FDA urges.(Mental Health)
May 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- Now that all antidepressants carry a black box warning regarding pediatric suicidality, physicians who treat children with depression need to institute closer monitoring and pay careful attention to informed consent, Bruce Waslick,...

Dextromethorphan abuse now 'rampant' among teens.(Mental Health)
May 1, 2005... INCLINE VILLAGE, NEV. -- A 14-year-old intoxicated and confused girl is brought into the emergency department by her parents. She has nystagmus and is extremely ataxic. One of her friends reports that she may have taken some "skittles." ...

Tune in to sleep problems in ADHD patients.(Mental Health)
May 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- Insomnia is a real and pressing concern for children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and their families, Judith A. Owens, M.D., said at a psychopbarmacology update sponsored by the American Academy of Child and...

Higher prevalence of autism is real, expert says.(Mental Health)
May 1, 2005... The apparent increase in autism disorders reflects an actual increase in prevalence, rather than a reclassification of other developmental disorders as autism, reported Craig Newschaffer, Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and his...

Movement therapy can help autistic children's socialization.(Mental Health)
May 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Parents whose autistic children turn life upside down might turn to a movement therapist for help. Understanding children's nonverbal expressions can be a springboard for managing their tantrums and improving their...

Add a rung to the WHO analgesic ladder.(Mental Health)(World Health Organization)
May 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- Add a half step and a new rung to bring the World Health Organization's three-step "analgesic ladder" into the 21st century, Joshua P. Prager, M.D., said at a psychopharmacology congress sponsored by the Neuroscience Education...

Talk therapy helps patients regain their lives despite pain.(Mental Health)
May 1, 2005... PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. -- Physicians who doubt that chronic pain patients need and deserve cognitive-behavioral therapy as an adjunct to other treatments need to take an honest look at how well modern medicine treats pain, Dennis C. Turk, Ph.D.,...

Oral bacteria may affect pregnancy outcome.(Women's Health)
May 1, 2005... The oral pathogen Actinomyces naeslundii appears to be associated with shorter gestation resulting in preterm low birth weight, while oral Lactobacillus casei is associated with longer gestation and higher birth weight. Increased levels of...

Preeclampsia counseling: don't limit advice to childbearing years.(Women's Health)
May 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- Women who develop preedampsia should be counseled about the risk in subsequent gestations and strategies to contain these risks, according to Baha M. Sibai, M.D. In addition, more general implications about health in later life...

Comparable neonatal outcomes reported for uninsured women.(Women's Health)
May 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Neonatal outcomes were the same for uninsured mothers as for those who had health insurance in a study of nearly 8,000 births in Tennessee, Mark E Sewell, M.D., reported at the annual meeting of the Central Association of...

Cytokine tied to depression in pregnant women: macrophage migration inhibitory factor is a fairly recent discovery and has attracted wide attention.(Women's Health)
May 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- Macrophage migration inhibitory factor, a newly characterized cytokine that inhibits cortisol and increases production of inflammatory cytokines, may be the key to understanding depression during pregnancy, Brad D. Pearce, Ph.D.,...

Drug Tx may be appropriate for depression during pregnancy.(Women's Health)
May 1, 2005... LOS ANGELES -- Caring for a pregnant woman with a history of depression means weighing the risks of fetal exposure to psychotropic medication against the consequences of the untreated illness, Vivien Butt, M.D., said at a psychopharmacology...

VBAC has more risks than second elective Cesarean section.(Women's Health)(vaginal birth after a cesarean section )
May 1, 2005... LOS ANGELES -- Women who choose vaginal birth after a cesarean section have a 2.5 times greater risk of major complications than if they were to opt for a second elective cesarean section, according to a poster presentation at the annual...

Musculoskeletal dysfunction has role in pelvic pain.(Women's Health)
May 1, 2005... CHICAGO -- Up to one-fourth of women with chronic pelvic pain also have piriformis or levator ani tenderness, according to a study presented by Dr. Frank Tu at a meeting sponsored by the International Pelvic Pain Society. Musculoskeletal...

Interstitial cystitis often seen with adenomyosis.(Women's Health)
May 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- Interstitial cystitis frequently coexists with adenomyosis, just as it does with endometriosis, Stephen A. Grochmal, M.D., said at an international congress of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. "How many patients do we...

Women with vulvar disease more likely to have bladder, bowel pain.(Women's Health)
May 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Women who have vulvar disease should be asked specifically about bladder and bowel pain, and treated accordingly, Colleen M. Kennedy, M.D., advised. Such women are twice as likely as are general gynecology patients to have...

Chronic pelvic pain could signal interstitial cystitis.(Women's Health)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- In a large majority of women presenting with chronic pelvic pain, the bladder is the pain-generating organ, Edward J. Stanford, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists. In...

HPV DNA test reduces unneeded surgery.(Women's Health)(Papillomavirus infections)
May 1, 2005... WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. VA. -- A treatment algorithm based on DNA identification of high-risk human papilloma virus subtypes could eliminate much unnecessary surgical intervention for women eventually found to have no cervical abnormality,...

A toast for the aging brain.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A drink a day appears to protect elderly women from cognitive decline, according to new data from the ongoing Nurses' Health Study. During a 2-year follow-up study, interviewers administered four cognitive tests to more than 11,000 women...

Symptoms predict hysterectomy.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Persistence of symptoms and dissatisfaction with their health are significant predictors of hysterectomy in women with fibroids. A total of 633 ethnically diverse women with fibroids who sought care were followed for 2 years. They completed...

Women's CV risk underestimated.(Clinical Capsules)(cardiovascular diseases)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Fewer than 20% of 500 physicians participating in a national survey realized that heart disease kills more women than men every year. When assessing hypothetical patient profiles, many of the physicians surveyed consistently underestimated...

Excessive vomiting poses OB problems.(Clinical Capsules)(hyperemesis gravidarum )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Women who experienced hyperemesis gravidarum had a significantly increased risk of preedampsia, compared with controls, wrote Michele Soltis, M.D., and colleagues in a poster presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Preventive...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.(Drug Update)
May 1, 2005... Bronchodilators are the first-line pharmacologic treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and should be prescribed for every patient, whether he or she has mild, moderate, or severe COPD. The choices are the anticholinergics...