Internal Medicine News articles from February 2007

Internal Medicine News archives from February 2007

'Medical home' leads ACP agenda.(News)(American College of Physicians)
February 1, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Sensing an opportunity to advance its agenda with the Democratic-controlled congress, the American College of Physicians has set its sights on implementation of the medical home concept by Medicare. The ACP also is proposing...

U.S. medical school applicants on the rise.(VITAL SIGNS)
February 1, 2007... U.S. Medical School Applicants on the Rise. Source: Association of American Medical Colleges ELSEVIER GLOBAL MEDICAL NEWS

Parkinson's agents linked with 'fen-phen'--like effects: cardiac valvulopathy risk is increased.(News)
February 1, 2007... Patients with Parkinson's disease who received the drugs pergolide or cabergoline had profoundly higher rates of clinically significant valvular heart disease than did those taking other dopamine agonists, in two European studies. The...

Low-fat diet may prevent recurrent breast cancer.(News)
February 1, 2007... SAN ANTONIO -- A low-fat diet that achieved modest weight loss in women with early-stage breast cancer resulted in a striking 54% reduction in cancer relapse or death among those with hormone receptor-negative tumors, according to a second...

Byetta.(NEW & APPROVED)
February 1, 2007... Byetta (exenatide injection, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly & Co.) An incretin mimetic approved as adjunctive therapy for people with type 2 diabetes who are using a thiazolidinedione (TZD) alone or with metformin but have not...

Elestrin.(NEW & APPROVED)(Drug overview)
February 1, 2007... Elestrin (estradiol gel, BioSante Pharmaceuticals Inc.) A topical estradiol formulation approved for treating moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. * Recommended Dosage: Applied in a thin layer to upper...

When skepticism is a bad thing.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... The anecdote about the rejection of the original Fogarty catheter in vascular surgery was reminiscent of my experiences in urology ("Physician Inventors Pioneer New Devices," The Rest of Your Life, Nov. 15, 2006, p. 45). I was in community...

Enlist the media in 'war on STDs'.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... I agree that we have a long fight ahead of us in reducing the incidence of STDs ("Making Progress Against STDs," Guest Editorial, Nov. 1, p. 10). But I get the impression that Dr. John M. Douglas Jr. feels the burden is only on those of us...

Pain relievers.(Opinion)(Cartoon)
February 1, 2007... "When I pay for a second opinion I expect it to be different!"

Do we really need the gifts?(GUEST EDITORIAL)
February 1, 2007... How many physicians have ever accepted a free pen with a company's name on it? Or any gift from the pharmaceutical or medical industries? Virtually every physician has accepted such gifts, including me. Should we? I don't propose to have...

Should the extreme elderly be screened for colorectal cancer?(POINT/COUNTERPOINT)
February 1, 2007... Healthy elderly patients benefit from screening. Imagine that a healthy, vigorous woman in her 80s desires screening for colon cancer. She is asymptomatic and has never been screened before. Her request leaves us in a conundrum, since...

Breast tomosynthesis may improve sensitivity.(Women's Health)
February 1, 2007... CHICAGO -- A prototype breast tomosynthesis system improved the sensitivity of lesion detection by 29% and reduced the callback rate by 33% in its initial clinical experience with 144 women, Joseph Y. Lo, Ph.D., and his colleagues reported at...

Breast density predicts recurrence risk after treatment for DCIS.(Women's Health)(ductal carcinoma in situ)
February 1, 2007... SAN ANTONIO -- Women who are treated for ductal carcinoma in situ are threefold more likely to develop invasive breast cancer in the other breast if their breasts are mammographically dense, Dr. E. Shelley Hwang said at a breast cancer...

NSAIDs tied to lower breast cancer risk in some women.(Women's Health)
February 1, 2007... BOSTON -- Long-term use of NSAIDs other than aspirin may significantly reduce breast cancer risk in African American and Caucasian women, according to data from a multiethnic study. Among women overall, however, no associations were seen...

Radiation for older breast Ca patients questioned.(Women's Health)
February 1, 2007... SAN ANTONIO -- Lumpectomy and tamoxifen without radiotherapy is a reasonable choice for women aged 70 years or older with early-stage estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, Dr. Kevin S. Hughes said at a breast cancer symposium sponsored by...

Folate levels decline in women; impact unknown.(Women's Health)
February 1, 2007... Women appear to be consuming less folate, according to federal data showing an 8% drop in red blood cell folate levels among nonpregnant women of childbearing age between 1999-2000 and 2003-2004. But whether this trend will result in a...

Assay identifies thyroid problems in pregnancy.(Women's Health)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... PHOENIX -- Screening pregnant women using a dried-blood-spot assay is both feasible and beneficial for detecting thyroid disorders during pregnancy, based on data from 161,612 women presented in a poster at the annual meeting of the American...

Lupus patients at elevated risk for malignancy.(Rheumatology)
February 1, 2007... SORRENTO, ITALY -- Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus are at high risk for the development of certain types of malignancy, particularly non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and cervical cancer, Dr. Emese Kiss said at the Fifth International Congress...

FDA reports deaths with rituximab for lupus.(Rheumatology)(Food and Drug Administration)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The Food and Drug Administration has announced that two fatal cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) have been reported in patients given rituximab for off-label treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. The statement...

Evidence-based hand arthritis guidelines issued.(Rheumatology)
February 1, 2007... The first evidence-based recommendations on the management of hand osteoarthritis have been developed by a multidisciplinary group commissioned by the European League Against Rheumatism. Previous European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)...

Forget about sitting up straight for best posture.(Rheumatology)
February 1, 2007... CHICAGO -- Straight backed isn't the optimal sitting position for the spine, according to a study conducted in Scotland using positional magnetic resonance imaging. The study demonstrated that a 135-degree body-thigh sitting posture, in...

MRIs done for acute low back pain rarely show new changes.(Rheumatology)(magnetic resonance imaging)
February 1, 2007... SEATTLE -- MRI findings within 12 weeks of serious low back pain inception are unlikely to represent new structural change, according to a study at Stanford (Calif.) University. "We had hypothesized that serious low back pain episodes would...

Early methotrexate may slow or prevent onset of RA.(Rheumatology)(rheumatoid arthritis)
February 1, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Early methotrexate treatment in patients with undifferentiated arthritis who test positive for autoantibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide can prevent or slow the progression to rheumatoid arthritis, Dr. Tom W.J. Huizinga...

Teen drug picture better, but still not rosy.(Adolescent Health)(Survey)
February 1, 2007... More U.S. teens are saying no to illicit drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol, but they are abusing prescription drugs at about the same rate they did last year, the 2006 Monitoring the Future Survey shows. The annual assessment of adolescent...

Many young smokers have tried to quit or want to stop.(DATA WATCH)(Table)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Many Young Smokers Have Tried to Quit or Want to Stop Tried to quit in past 12 months Want to stop MIDDLE SCHOOL Male 52% 48% Female 60% 52%...

Violent videos alter brain functioning, study shows.(Adolescent Health)
February 1, 2007... CHICAGO -- Adolescents who play violent video games demonstrate distinct alterations in brain activation on functional magnetic resonance imaging, investigators have shown for the first time. In a study of 44 healthy adolescents, the teens...

More adolescents at risk for insulin resistance.(Adolescent Health)
February 1, 2007... TUCSON, ARIZ. -- There are 1.2 million previously unidentified normal-weight adolescents nationally who may be at increased risk of insulin resistance, Dr. Ann Rodden said at the annual meeting of the North American Primary Care Research Group....

Gastric banding helps youths shed 60% of excess weight.(Adolescent Health)
February 1, 2007... CALGARY, ALTA. -- Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding resulted in a mean excess weight loss of 42% at 6 months and 60% at 1 year in a study of 51 obese pediatric patients, Dr. Aayed R. Al-Qahtani reported at the annual Canadian Surgery...

Overweight teens benefit from group visits to support healthy habits.(Adolescent Health)
February 1, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Group visits involving overweight adolescents and their parents led to an 8-pound average weight loss over 10 weeks, Dr. Jonathan Fanburg reported at a congress on childhood obesity. The program relied on weekly group visits...

Oral appliances helpful for mild sleep apnea.(Pulmonary Medicine)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... MONTREAL -- Oral appliances are equally effective as continuous positive airway pressure therapy in patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, but not in those with severe disease, according to a randomized trial. "We've now...

Support and education for CPAP patients can improve compliance.(Pulmonary Medicine)(continuous positive airway pressure )
February 1, 2007... MONTREAL -- The dismal compliance of sleep apnea patients with continuous positive airway pressure treatment could be significantly improved with simple measures such as education and support, according to several experts. "We need to...

Snoring or stridor? It could be a lifesaving distinction.(Pulmonary Medicine)
February 1, 2007... MONTREAL -- The distinction of nocturnal stridor from simple snoring can allow the initiation of potentially lifesaving therapy in patients with multiple system atrophy, according to Dr. Michael H. Silber. "If you miss this diagnosis, the...

COPD: data reassure on long-acting [beta]-agonists.(Pulmonary Medicine)(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
February 1, 2007... SALT LAKE CITY -- Reassurance about the cardiovascular safety of long-acting [[beta].sub.2]-agonists in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was provided by two large studies presented at the annual meeting of the American...

Statins may slow lung impairment in smokers.(Pulmonary Medicine)
February 1, 2007... SALT LAKE CITY -- Statin therapy may slow the decline in lung function in smokers and ex-smokers with chronic lung disease, Dr. Walid G. Younis said at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians. This preliminary...

Spirometry is underused for diagnosis and staging of COPD.(Pulmonary Medicine)(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
February 1, 2007... TUCSON, ARIZ. -- Few patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease receive spirometry, recommended medication combinations, and stage-appropriate therapy, results of a retrospective analysis of 200 outpatients demonstrated. Instead,...

Migraine treatment hampered by poor interviews.(Neurology)
February 1, 2007... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Open-ended questions during the patient interviews elicit the best information for guiding the management of patients with migraine headache, Dr. Richard B. Lipton said at a symposium sponsored by the American Headache...

Statin curbs Alzheimer's, Parkinson's.(Neurology)
February 1, 2007... ATLANTA -- The use of simvastatin for at least 7 months reduced the incidence of Alzheimer's disease by 30% and that of Parkinson's disease by 24% in older people, according to an analysis of a Department of Veterans Affairs pharmaceutical...

Program helps doctors manage chronic pain.(Neurology)
February 1, 2007... ORLANDO -- A supportive, interdisciplinary program can help primary care physicians in the community overcome their reluctance to treat patients with chronic pain, according to early results from a small trial presented at the annual clinical...

Physician bias hinders proper pain management.(Neurology)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... ORLANDO -- Bias on the part of physicians and other health care providers may result in their categorizing certain patients as being difficult or as drug seekers, which could prevent them from providing effective pain relief to those patients,...

Stroke centers grow, but still face hurdles.(Neurology)
February 1, 2007... Six years after experts called for a concerted effort to establish dedicated acute stroke treatment centers and organized systems of stroke care, several hundred hospitals have become designated centers, and the program can be called a...

New indications for once-daily Coreg.(PRODUCTS)(drug approval)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new application for Coreg CR (carvedilol phosphate) extended-release capsules for the treatment of mild to severe heart failure, the reduction of cardiovascular mortality in patients who have...

Nitroglycerin spray approved.(PRODUCTS)(NovaDel Pharma Inc.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... NitroMist (nitroglycerin lingual aerosol), an oral spray formulation of nitroglycerin, is approved for acute relief of an attack or acute prophylaxis of angina pectoris due to coronary artery disease. Each actuation delivers 400 mcg of...

New HBV treatment.(PRODUCTS)
February 1, 2007... Tyzeka (telbivudine) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in adults. The drug, a new molecular entity manufactured by Novartis Pharma, is taken once a day with or without food and acts...

Skin cream soothes radiation effects.(PRODUCTS)
February 1, 2007... Remedy skin repair cream offers breast cancer patients relief from radiation dermatitis, a side effect of radiation treatment. The cream restores and nourishes damaged skin by delivering a blend of amino acids, antioxidants, and vitamins to the...

Noxafil for oropharyngeal fungus.(PRODUCTS)(drug approval)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... An oral suspension of Noxafil (posaconazole), a triazole antifungal agent, has been FDA approved to treat oropharyngeal candidiasis, a fungal infection of the mouth and throat. However, check patients' other drugs against product labels,...

Low-potency steroid gel.(PRODUCTS)(drug approval)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Desonate (desonide) gel 0.05% has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis. The topical steroid is formulated in a water-based hydrogel vehicle and is free from alcohol,...

New Kadian dose approved.(PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The Food and Drug Administration has approved an 80-mg capsule of Kadian, a sustained-release morphine sulfate product. The drug currently is available in 20-, 30-, 50-, 60-, and 100-mg doses. The new dose should be available during the fourth...

Shampoo rids scalp of scales.(PRODUCTS)(Salex)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Salex shampoo is a prescription-strength formulation of 6% salicylic acid that helps remove scales and reduce plaque in individuals with hyperkeratotic scalp conditions. The nonsteroidal shampoo's ingredients are released in a controlled...

Examination and surgery light.(PRODUCTS)(Sunnex Inc.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The TriStar medical light provides illumination for examinations and minor surgery. It comes in two models, the mobile TriStar with stand and telescoping pole (height adjustment from 27 to 80 inches) and the wall model with 55-inch extension...

Allergy nasal spray approved.(PRODUCTS)(Omnaris)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The Food and Drug Administration approved Omnaris (ciclesonide nasal spray) for the treatment of nasal symptoms associated with seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis in patients aged 12 years and older. The inhaled intranasal corticosteroid...

Anger is linked to ICD shocks, arrhythmias.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(implantable cardioverter defibrillator)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... CHICAGO -- Episodes of extreme anger were linked to ventricular arrhythmias and shocks from implantable cardioverter defibrillators in a study of more than 1,000 patients. Although the findings do not prove that severe anger triggers...

Counseling curbs anxiety and depression in ICD recipients.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(internal cardiac defibrillator)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... CHICAGO -- A brief psychoeducational intervention quelled anxiety and depression during the year after implantable cardioverter defibrillator insertion in the randomized multicenter PEACE trial, Sandra B. Dunbar, D.S.N., reported at the annual...

Apnea seen as an independent cardiovascular risk factor.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... CHICAGO -- Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with subclinical coronary artery disease independent of the traditional cardiovascular risk factors, Dr. Dan Sorajja reported at the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association....

Novel drug shows promise for resistant hypertension.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(darusentan)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... CHICAGO -- The oral type-A-selective endothelin receptor antagonist darusentan achieves impressive blood pressure reduction in patients who remain hypertensive despite full-dose therapy with three or more concurrent antihypertensive agents, Dr....

BP screen for stroke offspring warranted.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(blood pressure)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... TUCSON, ARIZ. -- Patients with a parental history of stroke should be screened early for raised blood pressure, Dr. Nigel Hart said at the annual meeting of the North American Primary Care Research Group. The recommendation was drawn from...

Guided breathing lowers blood pressure in type 2 diabetes.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... COPENHAGEN -- Self-treatment with a biofeedback device that guides breathing can significantly lower blood pressure among patients with type 2 diabetes, Dr. Moshe H. Schein reported at the annual meeting of the European Association for the...

Young patient with chest pain? Suspect cocaine.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... SAN FRANCISCO -- Consider cocaine use as a cause of chest pain, especially in young patients, Dr. Priscilla Hsue advised at a meeting sponsored by the California chapter of the American College of Cardiology. In 2004, 2 million Americans...

Risk score stratifies peripheral arterial disease.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... CHICAGO -- A risk index for patients with peripheral arterial disease stratifies patients into four risk categories with substantially different mortality risks. The risk categories were first defined with a derivation cohort of 1,498...

Healthy heart guide targets all age groups.(Cardiovascular Medicine)('Your Guide to Physical Activity and Your Heart')(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's "Your Guide to Physical Activity and Your Heart" is aimed at educating the public about the importance of regular physical activity for adults and children. It is the latest in NHLBI's Your...

Obesity no hurdle to combination HCV therapy.(Gastroenterology)(hepatitis C virus)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... BOSTON -- Combination therapy with peginterferon [alpha]-2b and weight-based ribavirin produces consistent rates of sustained virologic response in obese patients with chronic hepatitis C virus in the largest U.S. hepatitis C virus study ever...

Posttransplant HCV prophylaxis shows promise.(Gastroenterology)(hepatitis C virus)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... BOSTON -- Prophylaxis with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin is relatively safe and well tolerated following liver transplantation for hepatitis C, a study has shown. Preliminary findings from the first randomized control trial of...

Ulcerative colitis guidelines favor combo Rx.(Gastroenterology)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... BERLIN -- Combined therapy with a systemic drug and a topical drug is the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with ulcerative colitis, according to new consensus guidelines developed by the European Crohn's and Colitis Organization. ...

Holistic approach may benefit irritable bowel.(Gastroenterology)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... RENO, NEV. -- The treatment of irritable bowel syndrome could benefit from a more holistic approach including comprehensive dietary changes, nutritional supplements, exercise and relaxation therapy, and acupuncture, Dr. Joel S. Edman said at...

Milk appears promising as oral contrast agent.(Gastroenterology)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... CHICAGO -- Milk may be a useful oral contrast agent for computed tomographic imaging of the gastrointestinal tract, and may offer several advantages over standard contrast agents, research has shown. In a study of 168 adult patients...

Denver: MRSA linked to necrotizing fasciitis.(Infectious Diseases)(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... TORONTO -- Early, empiric antimicrobial therapy for possible necrotizing fasciitis should include coverage for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in regions of the United States where the bacteria are endemic, according to Dr. Lisa S....

Study pinpoints clinical risk factors for vancomycin failure in MRSA.(Infectious Diseases)(study by the University of California, Davis Medical Center; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... SAN FRANCISCO -- Independent clinical risk factors for vancomycin failure in patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection were infection of the lung or pleura and, to a lesser extent, infection of the bone, results from a...

MRSA outcomes improved by empiric treatment algorithm.(Infectious Diseases)(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... SAN FRANCISCO -- An empiric antibiotic treatment algorithm for community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft tissue infections improved clinical outcomes, according to the results of a small study. "We...

Acinetobacter antibiotic resistance climbs, mainly in northeast.(Infectious Diseases)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... SAN FRANCISCO -- Antibiotic resistance increased rapidly in nosocomial Acinetobacter infections from 1994 to 2004, growing almost fourfold, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During that 10-year...

New antibiotic works in bronchitis flare-up.(Infectious Diseases)(cethromycin; levofloxacin)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... SAN FRANCISCO -- Clinical signs and symptoms of acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis improved in patients treated with 5 days of an experimental ketolide antibiotic, cethromycin, or 7 days of levofloxacin, David A. Eiznhamer,...

Four-hour antibiotic rule for CAP may hamper care.(Infectious Diseases)(community-acquired pneumonia)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... TORONTO -- Adherence to guidelines that recommend early use of antibiotics may lead to inaccurate diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia and inappropriate use of antibiotics, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the...

Pertussis prevention.(THE EFFECTIVE PHYSICIAN)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2007... Background Pertussis is an acute cough illness that remains endemic in the United States despite routine childhood immunization since the 1940s. In June 2005, a vaccine containing acellular pertussis antigens, tetanus toxoid, and reduced...

FDA seeks to increase fees for drug makers.(Practice Trends)(food and drug administration)
February 1, 2007... The Food and Drug Administration has proposed greatly increasing the fees its drug division collects from pharmaceutical manufacturers, saying that current fees collected under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act have not kept pace with...

Despite congressional fix, SCHIP faces shortfalls.(Practice Trends)(State Children's Health Insurance Program)
February 1, 2007... Stopgap funding passed at the end of the last Congress may not be enough to keep the State Children's Health Insurance Program afloat until its expected reauthorization this year, experts said in interviews with INTERNAL MEDICINE NEWS. The...

Technology set to alter colonoscopy practices.(Practice Trends)
February 1, 2007... In response to new technologies and expected decreases in reimbursement for "traditional" procedures, gastroenterologists "will need to change what they do, where they practice, and how they practice," according to a report issued by the...

Part D battle begins.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Medicare; drug coverage)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... As promised during the midterm elections, House Democrats began work immediately on tweaking Medicare's Part D drug coverage. Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), with 189 colleagues, introduced H.R. 4, the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation...

2007 advocacy agenda.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(American Medical Association; Medicare)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Finding a permanent solution to how Medicare pays physicians is at the top of the agenda for both the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Congress acted at the end of last year to stop a 5% Medicare pay...

Unique new drugs on decline.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(new molecular entities)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The Food and Drug Administration approved 18 new molecular entities last year, on par with the previous year, but close to a historic low. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the agency approved at least 20-30 NMEs annually. Among the 18 were 4...

FDA panels held less often.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(food and drug administration)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... An advocacy group is charging that the FDA is holding outside advisory panel meetings less often than it did a decade ago. Public Citizen's Health Research Group analyzed the 275 advisory committee meetings held from 1997 to 2006. In 1998 and...

Cancer care time costs add up.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The cost of the time spent by cancer patients in fighting their illness amounted to about $2.3 billion in 2005, according to a study in the January issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Researchers analyzed the time that cancer...

New osteoporosis health claims.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... FDA officials are proposing to allow a new health claim stating that foods and dietary supplements containing both calcium and vitamin D have the potential to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Currently, only calcium supplements may claim they...

Doctor's tablet PC enhances patient encounters.(REINVENTING YOUR PRACTICE)(personal computer)
February 1, 2007... For Dr. Rod Tanchanko's patients, his tablet PC has become as emblematic of the internist as the traditional stethoscope. That ever-present computer is the locus of a complete electronic medical records (EMR) and practice management system,...

Paperless admit forms increase efficiency.(REINVENTING YOUR PRACTICE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... If you're tired of filling out hospital admission forms by hand, Dr. Arnold Jay Simon offers a suggestion: Switch to a paperless direct admission form. "My hospital created a paperless direct admission form for me using the Microsoft Word...

Small offices underutilize electronic records.(Practice Trends)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... WASHINGTON -- A growing number of small medical practices are turning to electronic health records to help the office run more smoothly, but few of these practices are using them to directly improve patient care, according to findings from a...

Don't overlook elderly patients' religious beliefs.(Practice Trends)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... PHILADELPHIA -- Religious and spiritual beliefs often play an important role in the lives of the elderly and should be taken into account by health care workers who care for geriatric patients. Physicians and others who care for the elderly...