Primary Care Reports articles from August 2004

Primary Care Reports archives from August 2004

Recognizing and treating chronic kidney disease.
August 1, 2004... End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a devastating condition that, according to the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), plagued approximately 406,000 individuals in the United States in 2001 and is projected to increase to a prevalence of...

Physician CME questions.
August 1, 2004... 8. The target low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level in patients with chronic kidney disease is: a. less than 130 mg/dL. b. less than 100 mg/dL. c. less than 160 mg/dL. d. less than 100 if the patient has diabetes or...

Audio conference prepares you for influenza season.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Brace yourself: Flu season is right around the comer. Are you prepared? If an influenza pandemic hits, the entire U.S. population could be at risk. The annual impact of influenza on the United States is staggering: 10% - 20% of the...

The importance of publishing negative clinical studies.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Sources of funding for pharmaceutical research has come under scrutiny in the last decade as academic and government sources of funding have become increasingly scarce and the pharmaceutical industry has become the main source of research...

Cognitive effects of estrogen therapy.
August 1, 2004... Two studies in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggest that estrogen alone therapy may be associated with a decline in cognitive function in post-menopausal women and may increase the risk of dementia. Both studies are...

Vitamin therapy and restenosis.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Vitamin therapy to lower homocysteine levels has been touted as an effective way to prevent restenosis after coronary angioplasty. A new study, however, suggests that vitamin combination may actually increase the risk of restenosis in these...

Echinacea and the common cold.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Echinacea purpurea, the commonly prescribed herbal remedy, may have no effect on the common cold, according to a new study. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 128 patients with early symptoms of the common cold were...

Effects of Paxil in children under 18.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... GlaxoSmithKline has been accused of suppressing negative data about its antidepressant paroxetine (Paxil), showing that it is broadly ineffective in children and adolescents, and could increase the risk of suicidal behavior. The accusation...

FDA actions.(drug approval)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Schering has received approval from the FDA to market a new low dose estrogen patch for the treatment of osteoporosis. The patch, which is dime sized, is applied once a week, and delivers 14 micrograms per day of estradiol. It will be marketed...

Glucose metabolism and coronary heart disease in patients with normal glucose tolerance.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Source: Sasso FC, et al. JAMA. 2004;291:1857-1863. THERE IS A CLEARLY ESTABLISHED relationship between frank diabetes (DM) and increased vascular risk, especially coronary heart disease. Whether more modest perturbations in glucose...

Evidence of airborne transmission of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus.
August 1, 2004... Source: Yu ITS, et al. N Engl J Med. 2004;350:1731-1739. FOR THE MOMENT, THE IMMEDIATE threat of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus (SARS) appears to have passed in the United States. The serious morbidity and mortality of the virus...

Alcohol intake and risk of incident gout in men.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Source: Choi HK, et al. Lancet. 2004; 363:1277-1281. THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN GOUT AND alcohol consumption has been oft quoted, though never previously established by a prospective trial. It has been confirmed that alcohol loading acutely...

Prevention of strokes by successful carotid endarterectomy in patients without recent neurological symptoms.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Source: MRC Asymptomatic Carotid Surgery Trial Collaborative Group. Lancet. 2004;363:1491-502 CLEAR-CUT BENEFIT FROM CAROTID endarterectomy for secondary prevention of stroke amongst persons with carotid stenosis who have suffered a...

Cox-2 inhibitors vs nonselective NSAIDs and CHF outcomes in elderly patients.(congestive heart failure)(Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Source: Mamdani M, et al Lancet. 2004;363:1751-1756. USE OF NON-SELECTIVE NSAIDS CAN induce retention of Na+, K+, and water. Whether selective Cox-2 inhibitors (COXIBs) are fraught with an equally daunting likelihood of potential for fluid...

Interventions for the prevention of falls in older adults.(multifactorial fall risk assessment and management program)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Source: Chang JT, et al BMJ USA. 2004;4:223-226. ONE-THIRD OF PERSONS OLDER THAN age 65, and one-half of those older than 80 sustain a fall annually, many of which result in hospital admission, impairment of mobility, or even death. A...