Family Practice News articles from September 2003

Family Practice News archives from September 2003

Adolescent CAQ serves FPs well: second exam coming.(News)(certificate of added qualification; family practitioners)
September 1, 2003... In November 2001, Dr. Christopher Reif joined 126 other family physicians in sitting for their first-ever opportunity to earn a certificate of added qualification in adolescent medicine. Pediatricians and internists had been eligible for such...

Vital signs.(News)(How Closely Do Americans Follow Health-Related News? )
September 1, 2003... How Closely Do Americans Follow Health-Related News? Very Closely Fairly Closely SARS outbreak 42% 35% Mad cow disease outbreak 21% 33% Bush's...

Most doctors not ready for Oct. 16 HIPAA deadline: electronic health transactions rule: there is leeway for those who are working on compliance, HHS says.(News)(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
September 1, 2003... Harry Reynolds is worried. Mr. Reynolds is responsible for making sure that his health plan, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, is ready on Oct. 16, the deadline for complying with the part of the Health Insurance Portability and...

Three studies further confirm ill effects of HRT: heart disease risk rises first year of use: continuing analysis of WHI data.(News)(hormone replacement therapy)
September 1, 2003... For anyone who held out some hope that the Women's Health Initiative would show that combination hormone replacement therapy isn't so bad in certain subgroups of women, that hope is fading fast. Results from two recent studies in the New...

West Nile prognosis linked to clinical symptoms: neurologic manifestations.(News)
September 1, 2003... The poliomyelitis-like syndrome that is sometimes associated with West Nile virus is linked with a poor long-term outcome and may be irreversible; researchers reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association in two articles that...

Rosuvastatin approved for hypercholesterolemia: most potent statin to date.(News)(Crestor from AstraZeneca PLC)
September 1, 2003... BETHESDA, MD. -- Rosuvastatin, the most potent statin to be reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration, has been approved by the agency as an adjunct to diet for treating hypercholesterolemia and mixed dyslipidemia. At a meeting in July,...

Guidelines agree: yearly Pap not for every woman: screen on the basis of risk.(News)
September 1, 2003... The annual Pap smear that has become a ritual for most American women is becoming a more risk-directed test The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in July issued evidence-based guidelines that largely conform to recent...

Early control predicts diabetic complication risk: blood pressure, glucose in type 2 patients.(News)
September 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Preliminary data suggest that early glucose and blood pressure control predict later complication risks in type 2 diabetes, Dr Rury Holman reported at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association In a...

Knee replacement infection risk not higher in diabetics: less pain, impairment.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Rates of deep infection following total knee replacement are not significantly greater in diabetic patients than in nondiabetic patients, Dr. John B. Meding of Mooresville, Ind., reported at the annual meeting of the American...

Type 1 patients also benefit from early control: eight-year diabetes follow-up.(News)
September 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Sooner is better when it comes to preventing microvascular complications in patients with type 1 diabetes, John M. Lachin, Sc.D., reported at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association. Among 1,375...

Patient education succeeds even in diabetes capital of the U.S.: early insulin therapy essential.(News)
September 1, 2003... If you think your type 2 diabetes caseload is overwhelming, talk to Dr. Scott Nelson. "In Sunflower County, Miss., where I practice, we have the dubious honor of having the highest incidence of diabetes in the country," said the Cleveland,...

Classes most effective at boosting breast-feeding: USPSTF report.(News)(U.S. Preventive Services Task Force)
September 1, 2003... Breast-feeding education classes with a nurse or a midwife are the most effective way to increase the number of women who initiate breast-feeding and sustain it for up to 3 months, according to an evidence review by the U.S. Preventive Services...

Schedules examined.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2003... The Talk Back question--"Do you recommend routine annual physical examinations for your patients?"--that appeared in the July 15, 2003 issue (p. 5) was too broad, and therefore the results could be misleading. In our practice, we recommend...

Smallpox smokescreen.(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2003... The headline "ACIP: Smallpox Vaccination Plan Expansion Is 'Unwise'" is an understatement (July 15, 2003, p. 2). Variola has joined the politically correct list of conditions--along with herpes, AIDS, and now SARS--that keep us off balance...

Defending the physical.(Guest Editorial)
September 1, 2003... Among other thing, medicine is, a mystery story. Who dunnit? Which is the guilty organ? Where is the pathology? Why does it hurt? Or, in an asymptomatic patient, where will it hurt? Does it make sense to fragment the crime scene by...

Would reimporting drugs compromise public health?(Pro & Con)
September 1, 2003... YES The reimportation legislation recently passed by the House of Representatives will leave America's patients in grave danger. The bill would not include the same safeguards for reimported drugs that we currently have on prescription...

Omega-3 level could be predictive of CHD death: modifiable via diet, supplements.(Clinical Rounds)(coronary heart disease)
September 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- The Omega-3 Index could serve as a simple, independent, and clinically modifiable marker for the risk of death from coronary heart disease, William S. Harris, Ph.D., said at a symposium sponsored by the Giovanni Lorenzini Medical...

One step beyond: tissue Doppler echocardiography: assess myocardium.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Echocardiography has advanced to a point where the long-time focus on ejection fraction and global ventricular function is no longer sufficient, Dr. Thomas H. Marwick said at the annual meeting of the American Society of...

Screening echo predicts first cardiovascular events in elderly: supplements conventional assessment.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Echocardiography may be an important noninvasive screening tool for stratifying elderly patients for risk of a first cardiovascular event, Dr. Teresa S.M. Tsang reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of...

Metabolic syndrome: control lipids aggressively: industry sponsored symposium.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Aggressive lipid lowering is increasingly viewed as critical to the management of patients with the metabolic syndrome, speakers said at a symposium sponsored by the Giovanni Lorenzini Medical Foundation. Most of the relevant...

Reduced mortality shown by raising HDL level: atherosclerotic regression too.(Clinical Rounds)(high density lipoprotein level)
September 1, 2003... CHICAGO--Pharmacologic boosting of HDL cholesterol in patients with known coronary artery disease not only induces angiographic regression of their stenoses but also prevents coronary events, according to two studies presented at the annual...

Duloxetine relieves painful physical symptoms: investigational antidepressant.(Clinical Rounds)(Cymbalta from Eli Lilly and Co.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Duloxetine, an investigational drug, can be effective in treating depressed patients with painful physical symptoms, Dr. Madelaine Wohlreich reported in a poster session at the annual meeting of the American Pain Society. ...

Chronic mental illness can lead to social problems: physical disorders.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... VANCOUVER, B.C.-- Patients with chronic mental illness have a demonstrably high rate of comorbid physical disorders and social problems that if left untreated are likely to seriously hamper reintegration into the community, Dr. Harry B. Burke...

Address psychosocial aspect of back pain: get them back to work.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... ATLANTA -- Managing the psychosocial issues that can prolong work-associated low back pain helps get patients back to work sooner and helps prevent long-term disability. "In the Western culture, we tend to work off a biological model of...

Chiropractic for back pain.(Alternative Medicine: an evidence-based approach)
September 1, 2003... * Many patients with back pain experience at least short-term benefits with chiropractic treatments. * A very small but real risk of injury exists with cervical spinal adjustment. History of Use Spinal manipulation has been used...

Preop steroids advisable for asthma patients: reduces complications.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... DENVER -- Corticosteroids can safely be given to asthmatics before surgery to improve lung function and reduce pulmonary complications, Dr. Fanny W. Su said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. ...

Use caution when interpreting asthma studies: IV magnesium sulfate, heliox.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Studies looking at the use of novel treatments for severe acute asthma need to be interpreted with caution, Dr. Carlos A. Camargo warned at a meeting sponsored by the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. To...

Adult asthma rates stabilize after rising for almost 2 decades: ethnicity a factor?(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The number of adults with asthma is holding after rising steadily for almost 2 decades. The lifetime prevalence of adult asthma in 2001 was 11.0%, an insignificant increase from the 10.5% rate in 2000. The current prevalence of adult...

Sibutramine scores hat trick in eating disorder: bingeing, obesity, depression.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... DENVER -- The use of sibutramine as a treatment for binge eating disorder in obese patients is now supported by two "very lovely" randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials that have moved the appetite suppressant to the head of the list...

Obesity, sleeplessness could mean night eating syndrome: seldom discussed.(Clinical Rounds)(night eating syndrome)
September 1, 2003... DENVER -- Night syndrome may yet have its day in the sun. This common but underappreciated condition was first described by Dr. Albert J. Stunkard, professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in 1955. Four years...

New pyramid reflects preventive role of nutrients: food and supplements for older adults.(Clinical Rounds)(new version of the food pyramid)
September 1, 2003... ALBUQUERQUE -- In a nod to the growing body of evidence that good nutrition may help prevent many of the health problems associated with aging, the National Academy of Sciences and its Canadian counterpart have revamped the North American...

Too many drugs, prescribers are causes of overmedication in elderly: long-term prescriptions.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... HONOLULU -- The overmedication of the elderly is tied to five major explanations, Dr. Helen Edelberg said. Among the most likely possibilities: 1. The patient has been at the same dose for many years. Physiologic changes associated...

Derm diagnosis.(Clinical Rounds)(rash caused by malnutrition in an infant with cystic fibrosis)
September 1, 2003... A 4-month-old girl presented with a worsening erythematous scaly eruption that had been present for 2 months. She also was anemic with elevated liver function tests. She had been breast-feeding with slow weight gain, What's your diagnosis?...

Steroids still tops for treating atopic, dermatitis: guidelines from dermatologists.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... Emollients and topical corticosteroids remain the standard of care in the treatment of atopic dermatitis, although convincing evidence also supports the efficacy of the new calcineurin inhibitors, pimecrolimus and tacrolimus, according to new...

Bexarotene gel reduces severe hand dermatitis: stable remissions, acceptable tolerability.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... MAUI, HAWAII -- Bexarotene 1% gel appears to be a highly effective and surprisingly well tolerated therapy for Chronic severe hand dermatitis, Dr. Jon Hanifin said at the annual Hawaii dermatology seminar sponsored by the Skin Disease Education...

Topical tacrolimus ideal for facial, genital psoriasis: sensitive sites.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Topical immunomodulators such as tacrolimus and pimecrolimus may not clear thick, scaly plaque psoriasis on the trunk and limbs, but for thin plaques on the face and intertriginous areas, they are excellent therapies, said Dr. Mark...

Medication error guide for patients.(Clinical Rounds)("Your Medicine: Play It Safe" brochure from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Council on Patient Information and Education)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... "Your Medicine: Play It Safe" is a brochure geared to helping patients avoid medication errors. The 12-page guide is available in English and Spanish from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Council on Patient...

Diabetes self-management services are underutilized, even where widely availble: two-part study.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Diabetes self-management training is underused in primary care, even where it's readily available, Gretchen A. Piatt reported at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association. Strong evidence shows...

Diabetes education: teach heart health: emphasize cardiac risks.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Diabetes education doesn't focus enough on reduction of cardiovascular risk factors, Paula Giesler, R.N., said at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association. Recent data overwhelmingly confirm the...

Combine two noninvasive tests to predict joint pain: bone scan, paxinos test.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Bone scanning and a test in which the clavicle and acromion are compressed effectively and noninvasively screen patients for possible acromioclavicular joint pain, Dr. George Murrell reported in a poster session at the annual...

Nonsurgical treatment relieves low back pain: cognitive therapy, exercise.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... LISBON -- The combination of cognitive therapy and an exercise program was as effective as lumbar fusion surgery in patients with chronic low back pain and disc degeneration, a randomized controlled trial has shown. Additionally, patients...

Inject steroids sooner for fast, long relief of plantar fasciitis pain: patient satisfaction high.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Corticosteroid injections provide faster and more prolonged relief of plantar fasciitis pain than traditional therapy and should be used sooner in the course of treatment than is common, Dr. Jeremy J. Hunt said at the annual...

Coronary risk factors flag future erectile woes: may motivate lifestyle improvements.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- If men with an unfavorable coronary disease risk factor profile can't be persuaded to embrace lifestyle modification to reduce cardiovascular risk, perhaps they will do so to prevent future erectile dysfunction Coronary...

Testosterone gel + Viagra aids hypogonadic men: when Viagra alone fails.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Testosterone replacement therapy in conjunction with sildenafil significantly improved erectile function over placebo in men with low levels of testosterone who had previously shown poor response to sildenafil alone, said Dr. Ridwan...

HIV triggers brain loss despite antiviral therapy: heavy drinking exacerbates condition.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... TORONTO -- HIV-infected patients have progressive loss of brain tissue, even if they have undetectable plasma levels of virus on combination antiviral therapy, according to results from a preliminary study of 72 patients. Also, heavy...

Syphilis on the rise among HIV+ patients: multiple outbreaks.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... OTTAWA -- The great imitator is resurgent in cities throughout North America and Europe, and is defeating public health efforts to contain it. New York City is a case in point. The city. recently experienced a fivefold increase in the...

Aggressive treatment of anal warts called for in HIV+ patients: may progress to cancer.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Patients with HIV often have anal warts that can be tough to treat, Dr. Toby A. Maurer said at a meeting on HIV management sponsored by the University of California, San Francisco. Aggressive treatment is indicated,...

Few complications among living organ donors: increasing numbers of living organ donors.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Preliminary data suggest that short-term complication rates among living organ donors are low, Mary D. Ellison, Ph.D., said at the American Transplant Congress. The year 2001 was the first in which the number of living organ...

Echo finds LVH in hypertension.(Clinical Capsules)(echocardiography diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Echocardiography detected left ventricular hypertrophy in 32% of primary care patients with mild hypertension, compared with a 9% rate based on ECG. As a result, nearly half of those who had been classified as being at medium...

Aspirin and adenomas.(Clinical Capsules)(aspirin reduces recurrence of colonic adenomas)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Chemoprevention with aspirin reduced the recurrence of colonic adenomas greater than 5 mm in diameter after 1 year in patients who had previous colorectal adenomas, reported Dr. Robert Benamouzig of Avicenne Hospital, Bobigny, France, and his...

HIV, smoking, and respiration.(Clinical Capsules)(greater risk of respiratory symptoms in HIV patients who smoke)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... HIV patients have an increased risk of respiratory symptoms and greater susceptibility to the effects of cigarette smoking, and their respiratory risk is further increased if they are current or former smokers, a study suggests. The study...

Cognitive impairment in lupus.(Clinical Capsules)(systemic lupus erythematosus )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... A remarkably large proportion of systemic lupus erythematosus patients are cognitively impaired at some stage in their disease, Dr. Robin Brey said at a meeting sponsored by the American College of Rheumatology. A subset analysis of 57...

OTC product bests triptan in small migraine treatment trial: acetaminophen/aspirin/caffeine.(Rx)(combination of acetaminophen/aspirin/caffeine)
September 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- The first prospective trial pitting an over-the-counter product against a prescription medication gave the edge to the OTC product for the earliest treatment of migraine headache. Results of a multicenter trial showed that...

Bevacizumab stalls metastatic kidney Ca growth: no increase in overall survival rate.(Rx)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The humanized monoclonal antibody bevacizumab provides a small yet clinically significant increase in progression-free survival in patients with metastatic renal-cell cancer, according to the results of a phase II trial. The tumors of 39...

Valproate use linked to major birth defects: based on U.S. registry.(Rx)
September 1, 2003... ROCKVILLE, MD. -- In utero exposure to the antiepileptic drug valproate is associated with major malformations, Dr. Lewis Holmes said at a meeting of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Among 140...

Drug update: Parkinson's disease.(Rx)(overview of antiparkinsonian agents)
September 1, 2003... Levodopa has been the mainstay treatment of Parkinson's disease for more than 30 years, but it no longer reigns supreme. The dopamine precursor has had to make room for the dopamine agonists, a class that historically has had an adjunctive role...

High-dose estrogen patch may prevent migraine: after medical oophorectomy.(Women's Health)(transdermal estradiol patch)
September 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Dosage may be an important factor in the use of transdermal estradiol for prevention of headache in female migraineurs, Dr. Vincent T Martin said at the annual meeting of the American Headache Society He reported new evidence...

Small study claims menstrual migraines are not harder to treat: no more severe.(Women's Health)
September 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- A New study suggests there is no significant difference in the way menstrual-related and nonmenstrual migraines respond to initial treatment. There was no significant difference between the two groups in associated symptoms,...

Zolmitriptan appears effective in menstrual migraine patients: significant, sustained relief.(Women's Health)
September 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- The first randomized controlled trial to prospectively evaluate the efficacy of a triptan in the acute treatment of true menstrual migraine found that oral zolmitriptan provides significant and sustained relief, said Dr. Michael...

Tetravalent HPV vaccine now in phase III trials: preventing cervical cancers.(Women's Health)(human papillomavirus vaccine)
September 1, 2003... OTTAWA -- A tetravalent human papillomavirus vaccine now in international phase III trials is expected to prevent up to 70% of invasive cervical cancers, Dr. Laura A. Koutsky said at a congress of the International Society for Sexually...

Depression can impact general health, fertility: volumetric brain changes.(Women's Health)
September 1, 2003... CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. -- Women's mental health can have direct repercussions on their reproductive and endocrine health, Dr. Roger McIntyre said at the annual clinical meeting of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. ...

Stress-induced amenorrhea responds to psychotherapy: effective in randomized trial.(Women's Health)
September 1, 2003... DENVER -- Cognitive-behavioral therapy is an effective treatment for women who have stress-induced anovulation, Rebecca M. Ringham reported at an international conference of the Academy for Eating Disorders The psychological intervention...

Triple therapy for obesity: meds, diet, exercise: new credibility for Atkins.(Women's Health)
September 1, 2003... DENVER -- Weight-loss medications arguably should never be prescribed without also enrolling patients in some sort of behavioral modification program as well as a dietary intervention, Dr. Samuel Klein said at an international conference of the...

Biofeedback, Kegels can ease pain in women with vestibulitis: improves muscle tone, sexual function.(Women's Health)
September 1, 2003... HOUSTON -- Kegel exercises and biofeedback can improve pelvic muscle function, provide significant relief from the pain of vulvar vestibulitis, and, in many cases, allow patients to engage in normal sexual activity, Dr. Esperanza McKay reported...

No need to discourage pregnancy in Ca survivors: low risk of recurrence, complications.(Women's Health)
September 1, 2003... NEW 0RLEANS -- Pregnancy should not be discouraged in women who have undergone cancer therapy because they have a low risk of cancer recurrence and pregnancy complications, Dr. Elyce Cardonick said at the annual meeting of the American College...

Verbal memory may be improved with ERT: menopause transition studied.(Women's Health)(estrogen replacement therapy)
September 1, 2003... PHILADELPHIA -- Estrogen replacement therapy was linked to modest improvement in one measurement of verbal memory but did not improve other measures of cognitive function in a small study of perimenopausal or recently menopausal women. The...

Functional bowel disorder Tx.(Clinical Capsules)(cognitive behavior therapy may help treat women with functional bowel disorders)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Women with moderate to severe functional bowel disorders may benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy or treatment with desipramine, said Dr. Douglas A. Drossman of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his associates. In a...

Chinese herb is estrogen-active.(Clinical Capsules)(fo-ti may be a potential natural alternative to estrogen replacement therapy)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The ancient Chinese herb fo-ti has estradiol-like activity in laboratory tests, Dr. Karen Klein said in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society. This discovery adds fo-ti to the list of potential natural...

CHD prevention underutilized.(Clinical Capsules)(coronary heart disease prevention underutilized in postmenopausal women)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Preventive therapies are underprescribed for postmenopausal women with preexisting coronary heart disease, according to data from the Heart and Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study Research Group. The study included 2,763 postmenopausal...

FDA drops olestra warning.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Foods that contain the zero-calorie fat substitute olestra no longer have to include a label warning consumers about possible abdominal cramping and loose stools, the Food and Drug Administration said. The decision followed a scientific...

Thyroid cancer risk may rise after hysterectomy: highest rate seen up to 17 months later.(Women's Health)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Women who undergo a hysterectomy face a higher risk of thyroid cancer soon after surgery, reported Dr. Riitta Luoto of the University of Tampere (Finland) School of Public Health and colleagues. Of 93,282 Finnish women who underwent a...

'Overweight' now federal child health statistic: annual 'America's children' report.(Children's Health)
September 1, 2003... Obesity is emerging as a serious problem in children's health, as the number of teen births and adolescent smokers continues to drop, according to "America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2003," the seventh annual monitoring...

Children respond better to obesity treatment than do adults: multicomponent behavioral program.(Children's Health)
September 1, 2003... DENVER -- In the midst of an unprecedented and alarming epidemic of pediatric obesity, there remains a bright spot: Treatment outcomes are much, much better than in obese adults, Marsha D. Marcus, Ph.D., said at an international conference of...

Keeping teens with HIV/AIDS in treatment: primary care.(Children's Health)
September 1, 2003... MIAMI -- More than half of all new HIV infections in the United States now occur in people under age 25 years, so strategies that retain adolescents in health care are crucial, two experts reported at a meeting sponsored by the American...

Antiretroviral studies to continue in HIV+ infants: FDA pediatric advisory subcommittee.(Children's Health)
September 1, 2003... ROCKVILLE, MD. -- Pharmacokinetics and safety studies of antiretroviral drugs under development for infants infected with HIV should continue, according to a Food and Drug Administration pediatric subcommittee of the Anti-Infective Drugs...

Imaging reveals aneurysms in Kawasaki disease: magnetic resonance angiography.(Children's Health)
September 1, 2003... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- In children with Kawasaki disease, whole-body magnetic resonance angiography identifies peripheral aneurysms that may be missed on physical exam and echocardiography, Dr. Barry L. Myones said at an international conference on...

Resume growth hormone therapy to avoid osteoporosis: once patients reach final height.(Children's Health)
September 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- Resumption of growth hormone treatment after final height in patients with childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency induces statistically and clinically significant effects on bone mass, Dr. Charmian A. Quigley reported in a poster...

Muscle-strengthening exercises during teens boost bone mass: grip strength predictive.(Children's Health)
September 1, 2003... SNOWMASS, COLO -- Higherbone mineral density in adolescence is associated with greater muscle strength, a longitudinal cohort investigation has shown. Such results suggest that muscle-strengthening exercises initiated during the teenage...

Tanning bed risk underappreciated, surveys note: worse for children.(Children's Health)
September 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- The general public fails to adequately appreciate tanning beds' potential hazards, and users typically lie in the beds for much longer than current safety standards recommend, Dr. Robin Hornung said at the annual meeting of the...

New skin cancer organization.(Children's Health)(International Transplant--Skin Cancer Collaborative)(www.itscc.org)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The International Transplant--Skin Cancer Collaborative is a newly formed nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of clinical care and research related to the issues of organ transplant recipients with skin cancer. The organization...

Consistency is key in fighting atopic dermatitis: triggers remain a mystery.(Children's Health)
September 1, 2003... ST. JULIAN'S, MALTA -- Atopic dermatitis in infants appears to involve a malfunction of the peripheral immune system that frequently resolves spontaneously, Dr. Kristian Thestrup-Pedersen said at an international symposium sponsored by the...

Revived hypothesis strives to explain rise in allergies: too few early viral infections?(Children's Health)
September 1, 2003... MAUI, HAWAII -- The hygiene hypothesis as an explanation for the ongoing pandemic of atopic and autoimmune diseases in the United States and other developed nations has recently received new life. The hypothesis holds that the marked...

Small study defines alopecia areata patterns in children: clobetasol appears effective.(Children's Health)
September 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- Results from the first study of alopecia areata in North American children suggest that high-potency clobetasol propionate is effective and does not appear to have long-term adverse clinical effects in this patient population, Dr....

Cochlear implants raise meningitis risk 30-fold: vaccinate against pneumococcus.(Children's Health)
September 1, 2003... The incidence of bacterial meningitis among children who received cochlear implants is more than 30 times that of an age-matched cohort in the general population, report Jennita Reefhuis, Ph.D., and her colleagues at the National Center on...