OB/GYN Clinical Alert articles from January 2004

OB/GYN Clinical Alert archives from January 2004

Are you screening for depression in your practice?( )(Author Abstract)
January 1, 2004... WE ARE FREQUENTLY REMINDED THAT DEPRESSION IS MORE common in women (2:1 vs men), significantly increases morbidity and mortality, and even affects the development of the patients' children. Because the United States Preventive Services Task...

How much does tight glucose control diminish fetal macrosomia in diabetes?( )(Author Abstract)
January 1, 2004... Synopsis: Fetal growth acceleration is identifiable by ultrasound at about 24 weeks. "Normal" parameters of glucose control during the first trimester and throughout pregnancy do not seem to be related to the growth potential of the LGA fetus...

CT virtual colonoscopy to screen for colorectal neoplasia in asymptomatic adults.( )(Author Abstract)
January 1, 2004... Synopsis: When analyzed using 3-dimensional methods, virtual colonoscopy achieves comparable accuracy in screening asymptomatic adults for colonic polyps as optical colonoscopy. Source: Pickhardt PJ, et al. N Engl J Med. 2003;...

Discontinuing dopamine agonist treatment for hyperprolactinemia.( )(Author Abstract)
January 1, 2004... Synopsis: Cabergoline can be safely withdrawn in patients with normalized prolactin levels and no evidence of tumor. However, because the length of follow-up in this study was insufficient to rule out a delayed increase in the size of the...

Differences in treatment and outcome between African-American and white women with endometrial cancer.(Author Abstract)
January 1, 2004... Synopsis: African-American women with endometrial cancer are significantly less likely to undergo primary surgery and have significantly shorter survival than white women with endometrial cancer. Source: Randall RC, Armstrong KJ. Clin...

Unilocular ovarian cysts in postmenopausal women: surgery vs expectant management.(Special Feature)
January 1, 2004... WHEN I WAS A RESIDENT IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY in the mid-1970s, and well beyond, the dogma was that any ovarian cyst or mass in a postmenopausal woman was abnormal and required surgical resection. Postmenopausal women weren't supposed to...

CME question.(continuing medical education)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... 1. The following statements regarding prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors are true except: a. Prolactin levels always return to baseline elevations after treatment with dopamine agonists. b. Microadenomas do not always need to be...

St John's Wort and drug interactions.(Author Abstract)
January 1, 2004... Source: Markowitz JS, et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1500-1504. THE CYTOCHROME P450 SYSTEM IS responsible for the metabolism of the majority of currently prescribed medications. The 2 most common P450 pathways involved in drug metabolism are CYP 3A4...

Serum potassium and stroke risk among hypertensive adults.(Author Abstract)
January 1, 2004... Source: Smith NL, et al. Am J Hypertens. 2003;16:806-813. OBSERVATIONAL DATA INDICATE THAT persons who consume greater levels of dietary potassium have both lowered blood pressure and reduced risk of stroke. This protective effect of...

Skin cancer prevention and detection practices among siblings of patients with melanoma.(Author Abstract)
January 1, 2004... Source: Geller AC, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003;49:631-638. MORE THAN ONE-HALF MILLION Americans have invasive malignant melanoma (MEL), and the incidence of this disorder has risen an alarming 15-fold since World War II. Family members...

TZDs and HF in people with type 2 diabetes.(thiazolidinediones; heart failure)(Author Abstract)
January 1, 2004... Source: Delea TE, et al. Diabetes Care. 2003;26:2983-2989. THIAZOLIDINEDIONES (TZDS) OFFER numerous potential benefits in diabetic patients, including improved insulin-stimulated glucose disposal, decreased insulin resistance, and favorable...

Exercise plus behavioral management in patients with AD.(Alzheimer's disease)(Author Abstract)
January 1, 2004... Source: Teri L, et al. JAMA. 2003; 290:2015-2022. ALTHOUGH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD) prompts clinicians to immediately address cognitive function, there is much less awareness of AD effect upon physical conditioning. AD patients have been...

Spironolactone in resistant HBP.(high blood pressure)(Author Abstract)
January 1, 2004... Source: Nishizaka MK, et al. Am J Hypertens. 2003;16:925-930. A COMMONLY ACCEPTED DEFINITION of resistant hypertension (r-HTN) is failure to obtain blood pressure control (ie, In the past, use of aldosterone antagonists like...

Vioxx might control postoperative knee pain.(Author Abstract)
January 1, 2004... Oral rofecoxib (Vioxx) may have a role in controlling postoperative pain patients undergoing knee surgery. Researchers in Chicago enrolled 70 patients who were undergoing total knee arthroplasty and randomized them to rofecoxib 50 mg the day...

Echinacea has no value for URIs.(upper respiratory tract infections)(Author Abstract)
January 1, 2004... Just in time for winter, another study showed that Echinacea has no value for reducing the duration or severity of upper respiratory tract infections (URIs). The herbal remedy is commonly used worldwide for this indication. In this study of...

Valsartan, Captopril have similar benefits.(Author Abstract)
January 1, 2004... Valsartan and captopril have similar benefits in patients with myocardial infarction complicated by left ventricular systolic dysfunction, heart failure, or both, according to a new study. Previous studies have shown that ACE inhibitors reduce...

In-patients likely to continue lipid use.(Author Abstract)
January 1, 2004... In-patients who are started on lipid-lowering therapy following coronary intervention are 3 times more likely to continue on the drugs compared to patients who are started on the same therapy as outpatients. Using data from the EPILOG trial in...

More on metformin/lactic acidosis.(Author Abstract)
January 1, 2004... When it comes to the relationship between metformin and lactic acidosis, the emperor may have no cloths. The drug, which has been used to treat type 2 diabetes for more than 40 years, has always carried with it the stigma that it may cause...

FDA notes.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The FDA has approved tadalafil (Cialis), Eli Lilly and Icos Corp's entry into the lucrative phosphodiesterase inhibitor market. With the success of sildenafil (Viagra), and newcomer vardenafil (Levitra) already generating huge profits, Cialis...