Internal Medicine News articles from April 2005

Internal Medicine News archives from April 2005

Match Day reflects shift in IM training.(News)
April 1, 2005... The 2005 Match Day results underscore a growing trend among U.S. medical school seniors--using internal medicine residencies as a stepping-stone to careers in other medical specialties. Data from the National Resident Matching Program...

Medical care spending outstrips inflation.(VITAL SIGNS)
April 1, 2005... Medical Care Spending Outstrips Inflation Note: Based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

New data confirm value of Intensive LDL reduction: TNT trial shows a 22% reduction in risk.(News)
April 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- "Lower IS better" was the mantra at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology following the presentation of the Treating to New Targets trial of intensive lipid lowering in patients with stable coronary heart...

Depressed elderly missing treatment in primary care.(Geriatrics)
April 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- Results from two studies presented during poster sessions at the annual meeting of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry paint a bleak picture of how primary care physicians are treating late-life depression. ...

Symptom scale useful for identifying depressed elderly.(Geriatrics)
April 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- A multisymptom scale identified elderly primary care patients with depression and anxiety symptoms who were missed by the standard 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, results from a large pilot study have found. The finding...

Many COPD patients have both anxiety and depression.(Geriatrics)(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
April 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- Most patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have at least moderate levels of anxiety or depression, results from a Veterans Affairs hospital study showed. In fact, most such patients have anxiety as well as...

Aspirin helps prevent strokes in healthy women: women aged 65 or older had reductions in ischemic stroke, MI, and all major cardiovascular events.(News)
April 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Aspirin's role in preventing initial cardiovascular events in women was clarified by the results of the first study to test aspirin prophylaxis in a large number of apparently healthy women, the Women's Health Study. Among...

Five factors tied to increased cardiac risk after stroke, TIA.(News)(transient ischemic attack)
April 1, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- Patients with at least two of five risk factors after a transient ischemic attack or acute ischemic stroke deserve to be admitted to a hospital's scarce telemetry beds, because they have a higher risk for a significant cardiac...

New study links lupus and skin cancer risk.(News)
April 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus have a 50% increased risk of also having skin cancer compared with people who don't have lupus, according to findings from a study involving nearly 500,000 people. This is the first...

X-rays, gamma rays added to list of human carcinogens.(News)
April 1, 2005... The addition of x-rays and gamma rays to a national list of carcinogens has prompted some concern among physicians that the inclusion could unnecessarily deter patients from under-going diagnostic tests. Three types of ionizing...

Prescribing buprenorphine: my story.(GUEST EDITORIAL)
April 1, 2005... My involvement with the buprenorphine office-prescribing program of the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration happened unexpectedly. But now that I am involved, I believe that more primary care physicians ought to...

Should red and processed meats be removed from U.S. dietary guidelines?(PRO & CON)
April 1, 2005... YES The recent study by Ann Chao, Ph.D., et al. in the Journal of the American Medical Association linking red and processed meat intake with an increased risk of colon cancer is but one example of the problems with a meat-based diet....

Staying connected with patients.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... As usual for him, Dr. Michael Norins made all the correct observations ("Hospitalists vs. Internists," Letters, Jan. 15, 2005, p. 13). The real danger of 100% hospitalist care is the disconnect and loss of continuity between the patient...

A hospitalist's view.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... I respectfully disagree with some of Dr. Michael Norins' comments regarding quality of care ("Hospitalists vs. Internists," Letters, Jan. 15, 2005, p. 13). Dr. Norins argued that a hospitalist's "lack of knowledge of the patient" can...

Murky waters.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... As a first time reader of your publication, I was excited by the clear and concise presentation of a broad variety of current medical developments. Your newspaper serves as a valuable aid in navigating the expansive ocean of medical...

A-HeFT trial results.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... The recent article on the A-HeFT trial neglected an important issue ("A-HeFT Results Held Applicable to All Races," Dec. 15, 2004, p. 1). I would like to point out that the rationale for A-HeFT, as well as the African American Study of...

Pain relievers.(Opinion)
April 1, 2005... "Jerry, the Hermans take the same pharmaceuticals we do!"

What to do if breast MRI isn't a screening option.(Women's Health)
April 1, 2005... SAN ANTONIO -- Combining annual breast ultrasound with mammography and clinical breast examination is the next best option when MRI isn't available for screening a woman at high hereditary risk of breast cancer, Ellen Warner, M.D., said at a...

Cryoablation effective for breast fibroadenomas: breast fibroadenomas up to 4 cm in diameter can be treated using the minimally invasive procedure.(Women's Health)
April 1, 2005... SAN ANTONIO -- Cryoablation is an attractive alternative to surgery as primary definitive therapy for breast fibroadenomas, Sheldon Feldman, M.D., said at a breast cancer symposium sponsored by the Cancer Therapy and Research Center. ...

Circulating tumor cells predict outcome in metastatic breast Ca.(Women's Health)
April 1, 2005... SAN ANTONIO -- An elevated circulating tumor cell count at any point during systemic therapy for metastatic breast cancer indicates a high likelihood of rapid disease progression and mortality from that time on, Daniel F. Hayes, M.D., said at a...

Prophylactic mastectomy reduces cancer risk by 90%.(Women's Health)
April 1, 2005... SAN ANTONIO -- Prophylactic mastectomy results in an adjusted 90% reduction in the risk of breast cancer, according to new results from the world's largest prospective study of the procedure. During a median follow-up of 4.1 years in the...

Genital atrophy common after stopping HT: the dyspareunia many women experience has more to do with introital stenosis than vaginal dryness.(Women's Health)
April 1, 2005... WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.VA. -- Within just 6-12 months of discontinuing hormone therapy, more than 96% of postmenopausal women will show altered vaginal pH, a marker for tissue change and its associated genital atrophy, Murray Freedman, M.D.,...

HT risks, benefits unclear to many physicians.(Women's Health)(hormone therapy)
April 1, 2005... WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.VA. -- Most physicians who prescribe hormone therapy still overestimate both its long-term risks and benefits, R. Stan Williams, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the South Atlantic Association of Obstetricians and...

Alternative medicine use common in epilepsy.(Adolescent Health)
April 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- More than one-third of children and adolescents with chronic neurologic conditions are exposed to some form of alternative or complementary medicine, sometimes without their physicians' knowledge, Laurie A. Yuncker reported in a...

Parents of eating disorder patients join forces.(Adolescent Health)
April 1, 2005... A new group skills-training program is exploring the vital role of parents as part of the treatment team for adolescents with eating disorders. "Most families have neither the skills nor the support to address eating disorders at home,"...

Fasting plasma glucose test can miss diabetes, prediabetes.(Adolescent Health)
April 1, 2005... QUEBEC CITY -- The fasting plasma glucose test is inadequate, compared with the oral glucose tolerance test, in screening high-risk pediatric patients for type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, according to results of a new study. "This is...

Teen drug experimentation rates same as in 1970s: conversion from initial use to addiction is most strongly influenced by the nature of the drug itself.(Adolescent Health)
April 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- The number of teenagers who experiment with recreational drugs is nearly the same as it was during its peak years in the early 1970s, James Anthony, Ph.D., reported at the annual conference of the Association for Research in Nervous...

Teenagers who abuse alcohol need the facts, not lectures.(Adolescent Health)
April 1, 2005... MIAMI BEACH -- Physicians can help teenagers who binge drink by asking about alcohol consumption, presenting the facts, and not giving lectures, Lorena M. Siqueira, M.D., said at a pediatric update sponsored by Miami Children's Hospital. ...

Chronic benzodiazepines appear safe in elderly.(Geriatrics)
April 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Chronic benzodiazepine use by the elderly does not necessarily lead to an increased risk of death, hospital readmission, institutionalization, or functional decline, Christophe J. Bula, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the...

Resources for older patients.(Geriatrics)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The National Institutes of Health has developed a senior-friendly Web site that provides up-to-date information on aging-related health topics. The site features large print and a "talk" function that reads aloud. Topics include arthritis,...

Memantine may reduce agitation in AD patients: the investigators were surprised by the magnitude and consistency of the drug's effect on behavior.(Geriatrics)(Alzheimer's disease)
April 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- Use of memantine in patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease significantly reduced their behavioral disturbances and psychiatric symptoms, compared with placebo, Jeffrey L. Cummings, M.D., reported in a poster session...

Low plasma n-3 fatty acids associated with dementia.(Geriatrics)
April 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Higher intake of n-3 fatty acids may protect against cognitive impairment, according to data presented at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America. In a study of almost 1,000 people aged 65 and older, those...

Studies link cardiovascular fitness with enhanced cognitive function in the elderly.(Geriatrics)
April 1, 2005... SANTA FE, N.M. -- Cardiovascular exercise improves cognitive performance and cortical function in elderly people, and appears to roll back age-related losses in brain volume, according to a series of studies that Stanley J. Colcombe, Ph.D.,...

Moderate alcohol use may help aging brain.(Geriatrics)(Brief Article)
April 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...

Diabetics' memory deficits localized in brain.(Endocrinology)
April 1, 2005... QUEBEC CITY -- Magnetic resonance imagery and spectroscopy of the brain show decreased hippocampal volume in children with type 1 diabetes, and evidence of neuronal damage in a subgroup of those children who have hypoglycemic seizures,...

Drinking patterns matter.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... High body mass index is associated with heavy drinking sessions, but not with frequent drinking, reported Rosalind A. Breslow and Barbara A. Smothers of the division of epidemiology and prevention research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse...

Estimating energy intake.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Patients with type 2 diabetes who accurately estimate their energy intake appear to have better controlled disease than do those who don't, said Yumi Matsushita of the Tokyo Medical and Dental University. In a cross-sectional study of 46...

Costs of diabetes complications.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)
April 1, 2005... Preventing hospitalizations for diabetes complications could save the health care system up to $2.5 billion of the approximately $3.8 billion in costs of such complications in 2001, including $1.3 billion paid by Medicare and $386 million paid...

Early intervention may curb metabolic syndrome: pregnancy-induced hypertension, PCOS identified as risk factors for later development of the disorder.(Endocrinology)
April 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Pregnancy-induced hypertension and polycystic ovarian syndrome may be risk markers for later development of metabolic syndrome, Stephen Franks, M.D., said at an international conference on women, heart disease, and stroke. ...

Orlistat appears effective for weight loss, and as adjunctive PCOS Tx.(Endocrinology)(polycystic ovarian syndrome)
April 1, 2005... The weight loss drug orlistat may prove to be a useful adjunct in the treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome, according to findings from a small randomized study that compared the drug with metformin. "[We've] demonstrated the therapeutic...

Put responsibility for losing weight in patient's hands.(Endocrinology)
April 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Obese patients must take personal responsibility for their condition and its treatment, Gerard Musante, Ph.D., said at a meeting on obesity sponsored by Global Business Research Ltd. "It's commendable that society is taking...

Stay alert for atypical Sjogren's signs, symptoms: atypical patients are challenging 'because they don't have an accompanying autoimmune disease.(Rheumatology)
April 1, 2005... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- Sjogren's syndrome is the second most common autoimmune disorder that affects the musculoskeletal system, and yet the average time to diagnosis is 6 years, Yvonne Sherrer, M.D., said at a meeting sponsored by the...

Lifestyle modifications can reduce dental decay in Sjogren's.(Rheumatology)
April 1, 2005... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- The chronic dry mouth that characterizes Sjogren's syndrome can accelerate dental decay in approximately 70% of patients with the disease, Steven J. Kusnick, D.D.S., said at a meeting sponsored by the Sjogren's Syndrome...

Injection cuts shoulder surgery pain.(Rheumatology)
April 1, 2005... CHICAGO -- Intraarticular hyaluronan injections immediately after shoulder arthroscopy reduce postoperative pain and analgesia use, Lennard Funk, M.D., reported in a poster presentation at the 2004 World Congress on Osteoarthritis. ...

Two studies link SSRIs to substantial bone loss.(Rheumatology)(selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
April 1, 2005... SEATTLE -- Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors is associated with bone loss comparable to that associated with glucocorticoid therapy, according to the findings of two studies. In the first study (involving nearly 6,000 men), the...

Daily drinking associated with increased bone mineral density.(Rheumatology)
April 1, 2005... SEATTLE -- Beer and wine increase bone mineral density in a dose-dependent fashion, according to data from the Framingham Offspring Study. "I think the major effect is an estrogenic or hormonal effect of the alcohol itself," Katherine L....

Melanoma misdiagnosis often prompts lawsuits.(Dermatology)
April 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- A high level of suspicion and consistent follow-up of even treated lesions will help physicians avoid lawsuits over missed melanoma diagnoses, Ashfaq Marghoob, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of...

Use caution in diagnosing regressed malignant melanoma.(Dermatology)
April 1, 2005... BOSTON -- Dysplastic nevi on the back may exhibit histopathologic changes of focal regression similar to melanoma, according to findings from a retrospective study. Physicians who rely on the histopathologic features of regression could...

Incidence of skin melanomas slowly rising.(DATA WATCH)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Incidence of Skin Melanomas Slowly Rising 1999 2000 2001 Male 18.9 19.4 19.8 Female 11.8 12.3 13.0 Note: Rates are per 100,000 persons and are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population. Source:...

Standard form helps make referrals easier.(Dermatology)
April 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- A simple form could help ease communication between primary care physicians and the dermatologists to whom they refer patients, Wake Forest University researchers wrote in a poster presented at the annual meeting of the American...

Advances bring clarity to diagnosis of genodermatoses.(Dermatology)
April 1, 2005... FLORENCE, ITALY -- A decade of remarkable progress in molecular genetics has brought new clarity to the diagnosis of skin diseases, providing important information to clinicians and offering families predictions about potentially lethal...

Shark cartilage for cancer.(ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE)
April 1, 2005... History and Rationale for Use In "Sharks Don't Get Cancer," I. William Lane, Ph.D., described his circuitous journey from being president of the American Fishmeal Trade Association with a degree in agricultural biochemistry and nutrition...

Controversy continues over use of high-dose vitamin C as cancer Tx.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- A long-simmering controversy concerning the use of high-dose vitamin C as a treatment for advanced cancer erupted during a meeting on complementary and alternative therapies, with Barrie R. Cassileth, Ph.D., director of integrative...

CAM pain relief eyed for inflammatory disease.(Clinical Rounds)(complementary and alternative medicine)
April 1, 2005... LA JOLLA, CALIF. -- The recall of Vioxx and safety warnings about Celebrex and Bextra created "a very insecure time for pain management," Robert Bonakdar, M.D., said at a meeting on natural supplements in evidence-based practice sponsored by...

Hand transplant recipient doing well at 6 years.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2005... FAJARDO, P.R. -- The first American hand transplant recipient--who currently has the longest surviving hand transplant in the world--is doing well 6 years after the groundbreaking surgery, Vijay S. Gorantla, M.D., said at the annual meeting of...

Biologic agents for psoriasis.(DRUG UPDATE)
April 1, 2005... A National Psoriasis Foundation survey in 2001-2002 reported that half of all people with moderate to severe psoriasis were very dissatisfied with the care they had received. Overall, 78% of all responders said they did not use aggressive...

New Rx for chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis.(Rx)
April 1, 2005... SAN ANTONIO -- Saforis has been shown to reduce the incidence and severity of oral mucositis in patients undergoing chemotherapy, Douglas E. Peterson, D.M.D., reported at a breast cancer symposium sponsored by the Cancer Therapy and Research...

FDA adds black box warning for Elidel, Protopic: the manufacturers have agreed to conduct research to determine if there is a risk of cancer in humans.(Rx)
April 1, 2005... ROCKVILLE, MD. -- The Food and Drug Administration is adding a black box warning to the health professional labels of pimecrolimus and tacrolimus and is recommending that the topical formulations be prescribed only as directed and only as...

Skin cancer chemoprevention agents are showing promise.(Rx)
April 1, 2005... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- Skin tumors and their precursors possess potentially attractive targets for chemoprevention, and many are being actively investigated, according to David R. Bickers, M.D. Exposure to UV light causes mutations in several...

Patients influenced by brand power of drugs.(Rx)
April 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- The branding of pharmaceuticals--the creation and manipulation of product identity through such media as direct-to-consumer advertising--exerts a potent influence on the way patients think and feel about their medication and their...

Urge warfarin users to avoid cranberry juice.(Rx)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... BRECKENRIDGE, COLO. -- Warfarin plus cranberry juice can add up to big trouble. A series of five case reports of a suspected clinically significant drug-food interaction between warfarin (Coumadin) and cranberry juice has prompted the...

Psychosocial risk factors raise CV disease risk: the INTERHEART study confirms 'the similarly large role of multiple risks across populations.'.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
April 1, 2005... Psychosocial risk factors such as stress, depression, and low generalized locus of control are associated with an increased risk of acute MI among patients of all ages and of both sexes from every region of the world, according to two reports...

Chinese green tea appears to lower cholesterol and blood pressure.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Chinese green tea has beneficial blood pressure-lowering and antihypercholesterolemic effects, Teresa Tricia Bautista, M.D., reported at Wonca 2004, the conference of the World Organization of Family Doctors. Japanese...

Public overestimates monthly cost of statins, [beta]-blockers.(DATA WATCH)
April 1, 2005... Public Overestimates Monthly Cost of Statins, [beta]-Blockers Notes: Based on a nationwide study of 2,366 adults conducted June 24-28, 2004. Numbers may not add to 100% because of rounding. Sources: Harris Interactive, Wall Street...

Thromboembolism prevention.(THE EFFECTIVE PHYSICIAN)
April 1, 2005... Background The incidence of objectively confirmed deep venous thrombosis in hospitalized patients is at least 10% in general medical and surgical patients and as high as 60% after major orthopedic surgery. Preventive interventions such as...

Hypothermia devices may improve outcomes.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
April 1, 2005... PHOENIX, ARIZ. -- Faster patient cooling and more precise temperature control features in the new generation of hypothermia devices may increase the use of hypothermia therapy in stroke and cardiac arrest, Michael A. DeGeorgia, M.D., said at a...

CRP level before PCI predicts clopidogrel benefit: a year of clopidogrel cut the risk of atherosclerotic events in those with elevated CRP pre-angioplasty.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
April 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Measuring high-sensitivity C-reactive protein prior to elective percutaneous coronary intervention may be useful for identifying the subset of patients who will derive greatest benefit from long-term clopidogrel, Steven R....

Rescue PCI beats repeat thrombolysis for myocardial infarction.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
April 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- When thrombolysis fails to fully unblock the infarct-related artery of a patient with an acute myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention is the best next step, according to the results of a controlled study with...

Uses of drug-eluting stents grow quickly, despite cost.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
April 1, 2005... Despite their higher cost, and despite recent concerns about late thrombosis, drug-eluting stents now own coronary stenting. In the final 3 months of 2004, drug-eluting stents were estimated to have been used for 87% of all U.S....

Type D personality signals stent risk.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
April 1, 2005... MUNICH -- Type D personality is an independent risk factor for death or acute MI following coronary stent placement, regardless of whether a bare metal or drug-eluting stent is deployed, Susanne S. Pedersen, Ph.D., reported at the annual...

Hyperbaric chamber protects against post-CABG cognitive decline.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(coronary artery bypass graft surgery)
April 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Spending a few hours in a hyperbaric chamber before undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery markedly reduces post-operative neurocognitive dysfunction, according to the findings of a randomized double-blind trial....

Carvedilol for Post-MI arrhythmia.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)
April 1, 2005... Carvedilol has a "striking" antiarrhythmic effect after acute MI, suppressing both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias and benefiting even high-risk patients already taking an ACE inhibitor, reported John McMurray, M.D., of the Western...

Disparities in hypertension care.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Ethnic disparities in the diagnosis, treatment, and control of hypertension persist, with African Americans continuing to show a higher prevalence than other populations and with Mexican Americans having the lowest rates of treatment and blood...

Statins don't cut dementia risk.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Statins do not appear to decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, as at least six observational studies have suggested, said Peter P. Zandi, Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and his associates. Three...

Migraineurs at higher CVD risk.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... People who have migraine headaches, particularly those who experience auras, are at greater risk for early-onset cardiovascular disease than people without migraines, according to Ann I. Scher, Ph.D., of the National Institute on Aging,...

Combination antiretrovirals double risk of MI in patients with HIV.(Infectious Diseases)
April 1, 2005... BOSTON -- Patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy to suppress HIV are at significantly increased risk for myocardial infarction, and the longer they take the drugs, the higher the risk, according to recent findings from an ongoing...

Fish oil can improve triglyceride levels.(Infectious Diseases)
April 1, 2005... BOSTON -- Daily ingestion of fish oil tablets can decrease blood lipid levels in HIV-infected patients with hypertriglyceridemia associated with antiretroviral drug therapy, a French study has shown. The prospective study included 122...

Markers for cardiovascular risk assessed in HIV infection.(Infectious Diseases)
April 1, 2005... BOSTON -- The concurrent presence of metabolic syndrome and subclinical atherosclerosis in HIV infection may help identify individuals at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, a study has shown. The findings, reported by Alexandra...

Warts do not always indicate recent infection: only 20% of new human papillomavirus infections produce lesions within the first few months.(Infectious Diseases)
April 1, 2005... HOUSTON -- Diagnosis of human papillomavirus infection in a genital wart should not trigger a rush to judgment regarding recent sexual transgression or child abuse, Peter J. Lynch, M.D., said at a conference on vulvovaginal diseases. Only...

Cancer concerns, patient wishes drive genital wart Tx.(Infectious Diseases)
April 1, 2005... HOUSTON -- Whether to treat genital warts may seem like a no-brainer, but Peter J. Lynch, M.D., has a list of reasons for not trying to eradicate some vulvar lesions. Many genital warts resolve spontaneously. The underlying cause, human...

Patient-delivered Tx for partners lowers rates of some STDs.(Infectious Diseases)
April 1, 2005... The provision of chlamydia or gonorrhea treatment directly to patients' sexual partners, without requiring the partners to visit a physician, significantly improved infection control in patients, researchers at the University of Washington in...

Pertussis cases show threat to infants, health care staff.(Infectious Diseases)
April 1, 2005... Three recent hospital pertussis out-breaks and one infant death from the disease strongly point to the need for improved recognition and protection against transmission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The cases, from...

Pertussis outbreak reflects growing problem in teens.(Infectious Diseases)
April 1, 2005... ATLANTA -- Pertussis in adolescents is an increasingly reported problem across the United States. Margaret M. Cortese, M.D., said at a meeting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. ...

Pneumococcal vaccination rate reaches 56% in adults aged 65 years and older.(DATA WATCH)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Pneumococcal Vaccination Rate Reaches 56% In Adults Aged 65 Years and Older Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention