Internal Medicine News articles from February 2003

Internal Medicine News archives from February 2003

Device can remove liver failure toxins. (All-Artificial Liver Support System).(from Teraklin AG)
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- The management of acute liver failure has entered an exciting new era with the long-sought creation of an effective extracorporeal temporary liver-support device, Dr. Roger Williams declared in the J. Edward Berk Distinguished...

Public Split on Best Policy to Protect Against Smallpox Bioterror Attack. (Vital Signs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... VITAL SIGNS Public Split on Best Policy to Protect Against Smallpox Bioterror Attack Offer vaccine now to everyone eligible 42% Don't vaccinate now, but prepare to do so 18% Offer vaccine to...

Statin therapy cuts coronary mortality by 24% in elderly: 'There is clearly no justification now' for withholding statins from the elderly. (3-Year Placebo-Controlled Trial).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Three years of pravastatin reduced coronary deaths by 24% in the first large trial to examine statin therapy's effects specifically in the elderly. "We believe that PROSPER [the Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at...

Progestin-containing HRT linked to breast Ca risk: Estrogen-only regimens not implicated. (Large Swedish Study).(hormone replacement therapy, cancer)
February 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- Progestin-containing hormone replacement therapy was associated with a markedly increased breast cancer risk, but estrogen-only replacement therapy was not, a huge Swedish study has shown. The yearly risk of breast cancer in...

Acute decompensation in chronic liver failure? Think infection. (News).
February 1, 2003... It's impossible to exaggerate the importance of bacterial infection in patients with acute hepatic decompensation superimposed upon end-stage liver disease, Dr. Williams said. Bacterial infection often is the cause of the acute...

Screening alcoholics helps predict liver transplant success. (Evidence-Based Outcomes).
February 1, 2003... TUSCON, ARIZ. -- Patients with alcoholic liver disease are good candidates for liver transplants if they are screened using rigorous criteria, Dr. Terry D. Schneekloth said at the annual meeting of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. ...

Dietary counseling a must for high-risk patients. (Task Force Recommendations).
February 1, 2003... What troubles many physicians about dietary counseling is how to do it. But do it they must--for high-risk patients--according to new recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The task force found sufficient evidence...

Guidelines take new look at management of hypogonadism in men. (Testosterone Replacement Options).
February 1, 2003... Updated guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of hypogonadism in men reflect advances in treatment and more robust data about the short-term benefits of testosterone replacement therapy. The guidelines, issued by the American Association of...

Regular periods do not rule out low testosterone in young women. (Patients with Low Libido).
February 1, 2003... MONTREAL -- When a young woman complains of low libido, the problem could be low testosterone even if she has regular menstrual periods. That point was made by several experts in female sexual dysfunction (FSD) at the 10th World Congress of...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2003... Drug Use in Pregnancy There were several inaccuracies relating to the use of agents in pregnancy and breastfeeding in "Drug Update: Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in Women" (July 1, 2002, p. 10). It was stated that nitrofurantoin...

The death of common sense.(Editorial)
February 1, 2003... The legal tort system of America is corroding the fabric of our society and we need a radical overhaul of the underlying philosophy. The harm to society of our tort system is not the occasional crazy verdict, but the fear and distrust of...

Pro & Con: Is antireflux surgery still a reasonable option in patients with GERD?(gastroesophageal reflux disease)
February 1, 2003... YES Antireflux surgery remains an excellent alternative to medication. It's particularly attractive for patients who have moderate to severe disease that is not easily controlled medically, as well as for those who just don't want the...

Leech treatment eases pain from osteoarthritis. (Overwhelming and Rapid Relief).
February 1, 2003... EXETER, ENGLAND -- The therapeutic leechmania that swept Europe during the mid-19th century is staging a 21st century comeback for osteoarthritis. German researchers have found that treatment with the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis can...

Implants best for full-thickness articular cartilage knee lesions. (Autologous Chondrocytes).
February 1, 2003... TORONTO -- Autologous chondrocyte implantation beat marrow stimulation for treating full-thickness articular cartilage lesions of the knee, according to the results of a multicenter, prospective, controlled trial. At 3-5 years after...

Stem cell migration in cartilage regeneration raises concerns. (Use Standard Techniques Instead).
February 1, 2003... TORONTO -- Prominent joint disease specialists are calling for a more cautious approach to articular cartilage regeneration in light of mounting concern about unwanted effects. "We have to stay with the present techniques for at least 5-10...

Musculoskeletal imaging use shows 4% increase. (MRI Use Grew 114% from 1996 to 2000).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Per capita use of musculoskeletal imaging procedures in the Medicare population grew a modest 4% between 1996 and 2000, yet population-adjusted costs for the procedures rose about 23% over that time period, Laurence Parker, Ph.D.,...

Behavioral Tx helps arthritis patients cope. (No Effect on Pain).(treatment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... RENO, NEV. -- A course of cognitive-behavioral therapy helped patients with rheumatoid arthritis in several psychological spheres, but did not appear. to reduce pain, functional disability; or disease activity, Dr. Piet van Riel said at the...

Images often viewed without radiology reports. (Use of Electronic Imaging System).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Physician access to an electronic imaging system at a hospital may lead to a fragmented review of radiology reports, according to a study conducted at a community hospital. The main problem is that when a film-less enterprise...

Try paper-patch myringoplasty before surgery. (Outpatient Procedure).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Paper-patch myringoplasty should be tried before a patient is referred for myringoplasty surgery, especially if the perforation is no larger than 5 mm, Dr. Avishay Golz advised at the annual meeting of the American Academy of...

Lack of data clouds prostate Ca screening. (Benefits of Early Detection Unclear).(cancer)
February 1, 2003... Men who are not at high risk for prostate cancer may or may not benefit from routine screening tests, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggested. The task force concluded that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against...

New booklet presents the pros and cons of PSA screening test. (Prize-Winning Education Tool).(prostate-specific antigen)
February 1, 2003... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- A new, easy-to-read booklet that explains both the positive and negative impacts of the prostate-specific antigen screening test is helping veterans who don't have prostate cancer make informed choices about whether or...

Extreme mountain biking may unseat male fertility. (Lower Sperm Count).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Compared with noncyclists, roughly 90% of mountain bikers who logged 3,000 miles or more a year had lower sperm count, decreased sperm motility, and scrotal abnormalities, Dr. Ferdinand Frauscher said at the annual meeting of the...

Nonconvulsive status epilepticus needs EEG. (Necessary for Diagnosis).
February 1, 2003... BALTIMORE -- A patient who appears to be psychotic, confused, or unresponsive may actually be in a nonconvulsive status epilepticus state, Dr. Peter W Kaplan said at a conference on clinical electrophysiology sponsored by the BEG and Clinical...

Australian registry suggests valproate, birth defect link. (Registry of 12 Antiepilepsy Drugs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- Sodium valproate had the highest rate of birth defects of any of 12 antiepileptic drugs in the first 30 months of an Australian epilepsy/pregnancy registry. A total of 132 epileptic patients were exposed to valprosate during...

Coding applications: STAT E&M Coder. (Digital Assistance).(from Austin Physician Productivity LLC, or StatCoder.com)
February 1, 2003... Overview: STAT E&M Coder is a Palm OS handheld computer application that helps health care providers enumerate clinical encounter elements to determine appropriate evaluation and management (E&M) codes. Practitioners of any specialty will...

Lidocaine in OTC products is causing reactions. (Allergic Contact Dermatitis).(over the counter)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... CLEVELAND -- Allergic contact dermatitis caused by lidocaine is on the rise because of increased use of the anesthetic in many over-the-counter topical products, adding to the number of traditional postsurgical cases, Dr. James C. Marks Jr....

Food reactions often slide by in college students. (Lack of Follow-Up).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- Food reactions often aren't followed up in college students living away from home, Dr. Andrew M. Singer reported at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy Asthma, and Immunology. College students with food...

Imiquimod looks promising for epithelial skin tumors. (Searching for Proper Dose).
February 1, 2003... PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC -- The immunomodulator imiquimod shows promise for treatment of epithelial skin tumors, but optimal dosing remains a question, according to two presentations at the 11th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and...

IL-12 may shrink cutaneous T-cell lymphomas in some. (Promising Early Results).(interleukin-12)
February 1, 2003... CAMBRIDGE, MASS. -- Recombinant human interleukin-12 induces lesion regression in some cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, reported Dr. Alain H. Rook of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. The therapeutic cytokine produced significant...

Tacrolimus for atopic dermatitis. (Bottom Line).
February 1, 2003... Topical tacrolimus is significantly more cost effective than high-potency topical steroids as monotherapy in patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, Dr. Charles N. Ellis reported at the 20th World Congress of Dermatology. In a...

Estradiol patch may be effective antidepressant. (Perimenopausal Women).
February 1, 2003... ALBUQUERQUE -- Transdermal estradiol appears to be an effective antidepressant in perimenopausal women with various forms of depression, Dr. Paula Hensley said at a psychiatric symposium sponsored by the University of New Mexico. But that...

CBT may curb SADness better than light therapy. (One-Year Follow-Up).(cognitive behavioral therapy for seasonal affective disorder)
February 1, 2003... RENO, NEV. -- A 1-year follow-up of a study on cognitive-behavioral therapy, light therapy, and their combination for seasonal affective disorder revealed that patients receiving CBT are less likely to experience a relapse. The initial...

Dense-dose chemo boosts breast cancer survival. (Lymph Node-Positive Breast Cancer).
February 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- Many women with lymph node--positive breast cancer are likely to receive chemotherapy on a novel compressed schedule as a result of a major clinical trial showing that this markedly improves outcomes. Moreover, this...

Molecular profiling predicts breast Ca outcomes. (New Epoch in Medicine).(cancer)
February 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- The recent successful demonstration that molecular profiling markedly improves prediction of outcome in breast cancer signals the beginning of a broad new epoch in medicine, Dr. Stephen H. Friend said at a breast cancer symposium...

Mistletoe can make cancer therapy easier to tolerate. (Multicenter Cohort Study).
February 1, 2003... EXETER, ENGLAND -- Adjuvant treatment with mistletoe extract can increase the tolerability of conventional cancer treatment, improve patient quality of life, and lengthen tumor-free survival, Dr. Paul R. Bock reported. In a multicenter,...

Another study supports breast conservation over mastectomy. (For Phase I or II Cancer).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Follow-up to a National Cancer Institute trial indicates a modified. radical mastectomy is no better for women with phase I or II cancer than breast-conserving surgery. These results echo the recently released findings of a...

Free mammograms don't boost compliance rate. (Inducement for Low-Income Women).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Offering free mammograms to low-income women was not enough to convince them to get screened in a study of 371 urban patients. More than 90% of the women who were offered free mammograms agreed to schedule appointments for the...

Cushion helps alleviate pain of mammography. (After Lumpectomy).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- The use of a special radiolucent foam cushion markedly lessens the discomfort of mammography in women who've undergone lumpectomy and radiotherapy. The scar tissue resulting from breast-conserving therapy often makes...

More fiber, less fat may reduce breast Ca risk. (Fatty Meats Raise Risk 10-Fold).(cancer)
February 1, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Women whose diets are rich in high-fat meat are at increased risk of developing breast cancer, while those who consume high amounts of fiber and vitamin E are at decreased risk of benign breast disease. Those conclusions...

Weight loss helps improve urinary incontinence. (Overweight, Moderately Obese Women).
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Overweight or moderately obese women with urinary incontinence decreased their incontinence episodes by 53% following a 3-month weight-loss program in a randomized study of 47 women. Women who were randomized to...

Paralysis common in victims of sexual assault. (Involuntary Response).
February 1, 2003... RENO, NEV. -- A large proportion of sexual assault victims experience an involuntary paralysis during the assault, according to studies presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy. In one study,...

Radio-frequency ablation alleviates bone Ca pain. (Helpful Even at the End of Life).(cancer)
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Radio-frequency ablation can substantially reduce pain and improve quality of life in most patients with metastatic bone cancer, Dr. Matthew R. Callstrom reported at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America....

Predicting CAD death: History beats exercise test. (Asymptomatic Patients).(coronary artery disease)
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- A person's history was better than an exercise test for predicting death in the ensuing 3 years in people without documented coronary artery disease in a study with 374 people. "Many physicians run exercise tests on people who...

Cardiovascular problems often behind erectile dysfunction. (Start with Cardiology Work-Up).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Erectile dysfunction flags uncontrolled cardiovascular disease in men. This maxim and its clinical implications were spelled out in the Princeton Consensus Panel guidelines on erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease that...

C-reactive protein levels may predict cardiovascular risk. (Patients on Statins).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Elevated levels of C-reactive protein could help predict the risk for future cardiovascular events in patients taking statin therapy for symptomatic coronary artery disease, Dr. Guy Friedrich said at the annual meeting of the...

Women sicker than men before and after coronary artery bypass. (Beware of Gender-Specific Risks).
February 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Female gender is a predictor of increased morbidity in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery and a lack of awareness of certain gender-specific risks among physicians may be partially to blame. Women who...

Two drugs to prevent contrast nephropathy found unsuitable. (Case-Control Data).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- One new therapy to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy was ineffective, and a second actually raised the risk of nephropathy in a case-control study Dr. Peter J. Casterella reported at a meeting sponsored by the Cardiovascular...

Post- CABG depression tied to worse outcomes. (5-Year Follow-Up).(coronary artery bypass graft)
February 1, 2003... TUCSON, ARIZ. -- Depression that occurs soon after coronary artery bypass graft surgery is associated with an elevated risk of cardiac events during the next 5 years, Dr. Constantine Lyketsos reported at the annual meeting of the Academy of...

Feedback cuts contrast agent use. (Volume Cut by Nearly 60%).
February 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- One hospital cut down on the volume of radiocontrast material used during cardiac catheterization through a simple monitoring and reporting procedure, Dr. Zafir Hawa reported at a meeting sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research...

Mercury may boost MI risk. (Clinical Capsules).(myocardial infarction, the medical term for a heart attack)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Mercury levels are directly linked to the risk of myocardial infarction-to an extent that could erase the cardioprotective effects of dietary fish, said Dr. Eliseo Guallar of the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, and associates....

Post-CABG effusion in CHF. (Clinical Capsules).(coronary artery bypass graft, congestive heart failure)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... When patients with congestive heart failure develop an exudative pleural effusion with no apparent cause, the CHF itself generally is not to blame. These exudates appear to be linked to prior CABG, perhaps due to surgical injury to the...

Thrombolysis not helpful in PE. (Clinical Capsules).(pulmonary embolism)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Thrombolytic agents don't appear to be more beneficial than standard heparin therapy for acute pulmonary embolism, and they markedly raise the risk of major hemorrhage, said Dr. Gabriel Thabut of Beaujon Hospital, Clichy France, and associates....

Correcting aortic coarctation. (Clinical Capsules).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Balloon angioplasty can relieve the obstruction caused by native coarctation of the aorta, obviating the need for surgical intervention, said Dr. Mustafa Akin and his associates at Ege University Medical Faculty Izmir, Turkey. "There is...

Risk assessment is key in acute HIV infection. (Beware of False Positives).
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- A 37-year-old gay man presents to your office complaining of malaise, night sweats, and rash for 1 week. He reports a single instance of unprotected insertive anal sex with an anonymous partner 6 weeks previously He reports...

Transaminitis signals elevated risk of death in HIV-infected patients. (High AST Raised Death Rate Fivefold).(aspartate aminotransferase)
February 1, 2003... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- Transaminitis in patients infected with HIV is a marker for death. In a study with 6,866 patients infected with HIV those with an aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level that was more than twofold above the normal...

Short, intense chemotherapy may boost Burkitt's survival. (Study of 10 HIV Patients).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... BETHESDA, MD. -- "A short course of intensive combination chemotherapy provides a reasonable likelihood of long-term disease-free survival in patients with advanced HIV-related Burkitt's lymphoma," Dr. G. Tarabay reported at an international...

Initial MRI can miss West Nile encephalitis. (May Not be Evident Until 7-14 Days).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Magnetic resonance imaging may be able to identify specific changes in the deep brain tissue of patients with West Nile virus encephalitis if done on a serial basis for a week or more, Dr. John Butman said at the annual meeting of...

West Nile virus passed from infected mother to fetus. (Unclear If Infant's Brain Damage Related).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A New York woman infected with the West Nile virus gave birth to a brain-damaged infant in November who was also infected with the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. This is the first documented case of...

Smallpox. (The Effective Physician).
February 1, 2003... Background The last natural case of smallpox was documented in Somalia in 1977. Concern about the use of smallpox as a bioterror agent has prompted recommendations from President Bush to resume preventive vaccination of health care...

Diabetes and bacteriuria. (Clinical Capsules).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Diabetes should not be considered an indication for screening or treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria, because such treatment does not improve results in the long term, the results of a prospective, randomized study suggest. In a study of...

Protease inhibitors and MI risk. (Clinical Capsules).(myocardial infarction, the medical term for a heart attack)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Protease inhibitors appear to be associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction in patients with HIV-1, Dr. Scott D. Holmberg of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and his colleagues reported. Of 3,247...

H. pylori and Gum disease. (Clinical Capsules).(Helicobacter)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Helicobacter pylori infection may be associated with advanced periodontal disease, reported Bruce A. Dye, D.D.S., and his colleagues at the National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Md. In 4,504 adults aged 20-59 years who were...

MRSA mortality. (Clinical Capsules).(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Mortality due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is on the rise, according to an analysis of death certificates in England and Wales by Dr. N.S. Crowcroft and Dr. M. Catchpole of the Public Health Laboratory Service, London. Of...

Imatinib beats interferon for first-line initial CML therapy. (Chronic Myeloid Leukemia).(chronic myeloid leukemia)
February 1, 2003... PHILADELPHIA -- Imatinib (Gleevec) is now the first-line, initial treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia, based on results of a phase III trial with more than 1,000 patients. Imatinib beat the standard treatment, interferon-[alpha] plus...

Peptide vaccine shows promise for leukemia. (Remissions in 5 of 15).
February 1, 2003... PHILADELPHIA -- A peptide vaccine led to remissions in 5 of the first 15 leukemia patients who received the treatment. The immunizing peptide was derived from proteinase 3, a protein that is overexpressed on the surface of leukemia cells in...

Oral iron chelator found safe and effective, moves to phase III. (Avoids Overnight Infusion).(ICL-670)
February 1, 2003... PHILADELPHIA -- An oral, iron-chelating drug was as safe and effective as the standard agent, deferoxamine, in a phase II study with 71 patients. If the new drug, ICL-670, shows similar safety and efficacy in a phase III study it stands to...

New oral anticoagulant may safely prevent VTE. (After Orthopedic Surgery).(venous thromboembolism)
February 1, 2003... PHILADELPHIA -- A new oral anticoagulant was safe and effective at preventing venous thromboembolism after orthopedic surgery and after an initial thrombotic event, based on three studies reported at the annual meeting of the American Society...

Drug update: Alzheimer's Disease.
February 1, 2003... With the recent approval of galantamine, clinicians can now choose among four cholinesterase inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. These agents appear to be most useful when started early in the disease. Their effects are...

Medicare may cover more colorectal Ca screening tests. (2003 Physician Fee Schedule).(cancer)
February 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- The final rule implementing the 2003 physician fee schedule lets Medicare expand coverage of certain colorectal cancer screening tests. This follows a recommendation from the Practicing Physicians Advisory Council of the...

Chemoprevention doesn't curb metachronous colorectal polyps. (Ursodeoxycholic Acid Trial).
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- Ursodeoxycholic acid has struck out for the prevention of metachronous colorectal polyps in a large multicenter trial, Dr. Mark V. Larson said at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology. He reported on 716...

Fecal DNA test effective at detecting colorectal cancer. (Beats Other Noninvasive Tests).
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- A novel DNA stool test showed sensitivities of 64% for detection of colorectal cancer and 50% for high-grade dysplasia in an early clinical trial, Dr. Sapna Syngal reported at the annual meeting of the American College of...

NSAIDs, aspirin show protective effect against colorectal cancer. (Benefits Accrue After 2 Years).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- Regular use of aspirin or NSAIDs for longer than 2 years appears to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by one-third, Dr. Jia-Qing Huang said at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology. His metaanalysis...

Coherin peptide shots may improve Crohn. (Injected Pituitary Extract).
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- An extract of the posterior pituitary of pigs or cows is creating a buzz among gas-troenterologists intrigued by its ability to induce remission in patients with severe Crohn's disease. The novel substance is a...

Test for fructose intolerance may help in functional GI disorders. (Simple Hydrogen Breath Test).(gastrointestinal)
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- A hydrogen breath test for fructose intolerance may help in assessment of patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders, Peter Beyer said at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology. Malabsorption of...

Peppermint oil for irritable bowel syndrome. (Alternative Medicine).
February 1, 2003... * Peppermint oil, long a popular aid for gastrointestinal symptoms, has shown benefits in some, though not all, studies evaluating its use in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. * Enteric-coated capsules reduce the likelihood of...

Proton pump inhibition cuts rebleeding, mortality. (High-Dose Formulation).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- High-dose proton pump inhibitor therapy in patients hospitalized for upper GI bleeding reduces mortality and rebleeding risk, Dr. Sandrine Sabbah said at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology. She...

Renal disease boosts upper GI bleed risk. (In Dialysis Patients).(gastrointestinal)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... PHILADELPHIA -- Patients with end-stage renal disease have a sharply increased risk of an upper gastrointestinal bleed, based on national U.S. data. But the best way to manage patients with both disorders is not known, so for the time...

HIV plus HBV spells mortality. (Clinical Capsules).(hepatitis B virus)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Coinfection with HIV-1 and hepatitis B virus increases the risk of death from liver disease more than infection with either virus alone, reported Dr. Chloe L. Thio of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and her associates. Among 5,293...

Pathology of IBS. (Clinical Capsules).(irritable bowel syndrome)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Inflammation and neuropathology may be common factors in irritable bowel syndrome, reported Dr. Hans Tornblom of Huddinge (Sweden) University Hospital and his associates. The researchers compared 10 patients with severe irritable bowel...

Hyponatremia in cirrhosis. (Clinical Capsules).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The vasopressin receptor antagonist VPA-985 improves renal free water excretion and dilutional hyponatremia in patients with advanced cirrhosis and ascites, or with congestive heart failure, said Dr. Florence Wong of the University of Toronto...

Bevacizumab for colorectal Ca. (Clinical Capsules).(cancer)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Combining bevacizumab with fluorouracil and leucovorin slows colorectal cancer progression more than chemotherapy alone, said Dr. Fairooz Kabbinavar of the University of California, Los Angeles, and colleagues. Disease progression occurred...

Eggs and Salmonella infection. (Clinical Capsules).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... An upsurge in the number of outbreaks of Salmonella enteritidis infection occurred in the Southeastern United States in 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. The number of reported outbreaks has declined since the...

Wound adhesive. (Products).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Indermil (N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate) tissue adhesive has been approved for the closure of topical skin incisions and lacerations. It comes with an applicator tip that does not need to come in direct contact with the wound surface during...

Adjunct diabetes Rx. (Products).(treatment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Avandamet (rosiglitazone maleate/metformin) is approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, who are already treated with a combination of rosiglitazone and metformin, or who...