Primary Care Reports articles from November 2004

Primary Care Reports archives from November 2004

Prevention of venous thromboembolism in the medical patient: fact vs. fiction.
November 1, 2004... Physicians increasingly are aware of the need to provide prophylaxis against venous thrombosis for the medically ill patient in the hospital environment. Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes the entities of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)...

Physician CME questions.
November 1, 2004... 26. What is the risk category for venous thromboembolism in medical patients? a. Low risk b. Moderate risk c. High risk d. Very-high risk e. None of the above 27. Ambulation is a well-proven strategy to reduce the...

Functional decline in peripheral arterial disease.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Source: McDermott MM, et al. JAMA. 2004;292:453-461. PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE (PAD) may be stratified in severity by the ankle-brachial index (ABI), measured by dividing the ankle systolic BP by the brachial systolic BP. Normally, this...

Topical Capsaicin for chronic pain.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Source: Mason L, et al. BMJ USA. 2004;4:349-358. TOPICAL ANALGESICS, SUCH AS CAPsaicin CAP), methylsalicylate, and transdermal lidocaine, are agents which are applied topically for a local effect, as opposed to agents applied topically for...

Topical tacrolimus therapy for vitiligo.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Source: Grimes PE, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;51:52-61. VITILIGO (VIT) IS A DISORDER CHARacterized clinically by one or more skin sites of depigmentation caused by loss of melanocyte activity. Demonstrated etiologies include genetic...

US prevalence and impact on axillary hyperhidrosis.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Source: Strutton DR, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;51:241-248. THE DIAGNOSIS OF HYPERHIDROSIS, OR excessive sweating, is achieved by clinical inquiry rather than laboratory testing, though quantitative metrics are available for clinical...

Mortality and incidence of cancer during follow-up of the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Source: Strandberg TE, et al. Lancet. 2004;364:771-777. ALTHOUGH THE VALUE OF STATINS for both primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events is widely accepted, inconsistent background signals of disproportionate cancer risk...

Effects of extended outpatient rehabilitation after hip fracture.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Source: Binder EF, et al JAMA. 2004;292:837-846. FOR SENIOR CITIZENS WHO DO NOT SUCcumb to the sequelae of hip fracture (HFX), the long-term consequences remain daunting for most. Insurers may provide coverage sufficient only to sustain a...

The FDA and Merck fielding concerns about Vioxx.
November 1, 2004... Merck announced on September 30th that it is voluntarily withdrawing rofecoxib (Vioxx) from the worldwide market. The decision was based on data from the APPROVe (Addenomatous Polyp Prevention on Vioxx) trial, a company sponsored perspective...

Erythromycin and the risk of sudden death.
November 1, 2004... Erythromycin may be associated with an increased risk of sudden death, according to new study in the New England Journal of Medicine. Oral erythromycin, which is extensively metabolized by cytochrome P-450 3A (CYP3A), prolongs cardiac...

Vaccine shortage putting Americans at risk.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Just as healthcare providers are about to start their annual flu vaccination program, British regulators have shut down Chiron Corporation's Liverpool flu vaccine manufacturing plant due to sterility problems. Chiron was expected to supply...

FDA actions.
November 1, 2004... The FDA will move ahead with warnings for many antidepressants stating that the drugs sometimes raise the risk of suicidal behavior in youth. The recommendation comes after an agency advisory panel, on a split vote, recommended a Black box...