Internal Medicine News articles from January 2005

Internal Medicine News archives from January 2005

Febuxostat scores big against gout.(News)
January 1, 2005... SAN ANTONIO -- Febuxostat, the first new urate-lowering agent of consequence to come along in 40 years, has shown superior efficacy for gout compared with allopurinol, Michael A. Becker, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American College...

Percentage of people who think health industries are doing a good job serving customers.(VITAL SIGNS)
January 1, 2005... Percentage of People Who Think Health Industries Are Doing a Good Job Serving Customers Note: Based on a nationwide survey of 979 adults conducted April 8-15, 2004. Source: Harris Interactive

Rise in pertussis spurs efforts to curb transmission: FDA now reviewing two new vaccines.(News)
January 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Physicians are becoming increasingly aware that pertussis is not a bygone illness, but one that is periodically resurfacing, despite rising vaccination rates. In the last 20 years or so, pertussis cases have spiked and...

Low-molecular-weight heparin helps in acute MI.(News)
January 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Antithrombotic treatment, in the form of the low-molecular-weight heparin reviparin, has been shown for the first time to safely improve outcomes after acute myocardial infarction. "Although heparin is often routinely used to...

FDA panel votes no on sex dysfunction patch: safety concerns prompt unanimous vote against indication for treating female sexual dysfunction.(News)
January 1, 2005... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- A federal advisory panel unanimously recommended against approval of a testosterone patch for treating hypoactive sexual desire in surgically menopausal women on estrogen therapy, calling for more long-term safety studies...

Ask young, surgically menopausal women about lost libido.(News)
January 1, 2005... PHILADELPHIA -- Surgically menopausal women under age 50 deserve special attention with regard to sexual desire disorder, results of a new study suggest. "Physicians should routinely inquire about sexual function both pre- and post-surgery...

HHS obtains flu vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline.(News)
January 1, 2005... Federal health officials continue to seek solutions to the U.S. influenza vaccine shortage, including procuring up to 4 million doses from Glaxo-SmithKline, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said at a press conference. ...

Syphilis rate soars in HIV-positive men.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- The overall incidence of syphilis has been dropping in the United States since the mid 1990s, but a syphilis epidemic is raging among men who have sex with men. Several factors appear to be driving this epidemic, the most...

Liability, malpractice top health agenda for 2005.(News)
January 1, 2005... While medical liability and health care reform remain the top issues for many physicians this year, of particular urgency is a fix to Medicare's flawed payment formula, which threatens cuts of up to 5% in 2006 and cumulative cuts of 30% through...

Surgery no better than rehab for low back pain.(News)
January 1, 2005... CHICAGO -- There is no clear evidence that spinal surgery is more effective than an adequate rehabilitation program for chronic low back pain, Dr. James Wilson-Macdonald said at the annual meeting of the North American Spine Society. "For...

A question of values.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I was surprised by your recent choice of contributor for the Guest Editorial ("The Values Debate in Health Care," Oct. 15, 2004, p. 12). Leonard D. Schaeffer was scheduled to receive a payment (cash and stock options) estimated at $337 million...

Bearing the costs.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Arthur Levin, director of the Center for Medical Consumers, said, "It certainly is not fair to be asking patients to underwrite the cost of doing business with physicians" ("Doctors Ask Patients to Pay Malpractice 'Surcharge,'" Nov. 15, 2004,...

Pain relievers.(Opinion)
January 1, 2005... "Your condition isn't hopeless, but your medical insurance is."

Third world disease: our problem.(GUEST EDITORIAL)
January 1, 2005... As part of our work on expanding health care in Africa, my wife and I were invited to visit Queen Elizabeth's Central Hospital in Malawi. It is that nation's leading hospital, and one of the most amazing places in the world for me. I will never...

Why rural hospitals matter.(GUEST EDITORIAL)(Editorial)
January 1, 2005... In the health-planning initiatives of the 1970s, a hub-and-spoke system of health care facilities was envisioned with rural clinics feeding urban hospitals--a system eliminating the "duplication" of the rural hospital. But in reality, all...

Is carotid stenting primary treatment for extracranial carotid artery disease?(PRO & CON)
January 1, 2005... YES Study results have proved that carotid stenting is not inferior to carotid endarterectomy for treating patients with comorbid conditions, and for treating low- to moderate-risk patients. This is supported by the results from two major...

Diabetes screening too slanted toward elderly.(Endocrinology)
January 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Screening for diabetes occurs most commonly among the elderly--the age group least likely to benefit from early detection and treatment of the metabolic disorder, John P. Muench, M.D., said at Wonca 2004, the conference of the...

Type 1 diabetes: no barrier to athletic prowess; A simple formula can help a would-be athlete get started on a moderate exercise program.(Endocrinology)
January 1, 2005... QUEBEC CITY -- Gary Hall Jr. has type 1 diabetes. He also has 10 Olympic medals in swimming and is one of the fastest swimmers in the United States. Hall's trips to the podium are thanks to his own sweat and muscle power, but he also gives...

Advances in insulin pump therapy are on the horizon.(Endocrinology)
January 1, 2005... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Fulfilling the promise of insulin pump therapy first raised 25 years ago will require combining the pump with continuous blood glucose sensing technology to create a closed-loop artificial pancreas with feed-back control of...

Blood test best for preop thyroid Ca detection.(Endocrinology)
January 1, 2005... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- A simple blood test to differentiate benign from malignant thyroid nodular disease has demonstrated great accuracy in early clinical studies--and may eventually enable many patients with thyroid nodules to avoid fine needle...

Anaplastic thyroid Ca: most patients die within 6 months.(Endocrinology)
January 1, 2005... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Anaplastic thyroid cancer patients under age 60 at diagnosis or who have only intrathyroidal tumor are more likely to escape the generally extremely poor prognosis of this malignancy, Electron Kebebew, M.D., said at the...

Troublingly high late mortality seen after teen thyroid cancer.(Endocrinology)
January 1, 2005... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Physicians may be winning the battle against pediatric papillary thyroid carcinoma--while losing the war, Ian D. Hay, M.B., said at the annual meeting of the American Thyroid Association. He based this assessment on his...

FDA imposes new restrictions on isotretinoin.(Dermatology)
January 1, 2005... The Food and Drug Administration will scrap isotretinoin's voluntary risk management programs in favor of one mandatory, more restrictive system like that used for thalidomide. The new program is expected to go into effect this year....

Combination therapy often best for acne management.(Dermatology)
January 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Combination therapy is often more effective than single-agent treatment of mild, moderate, and severe acne, Larry E. Millikan, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the Florida Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery. ...

Psoriatic inflammation tied to diabetes, CHD.(Dermatology)
January 1, 2005... PARIS -- Chronic cutaneous inflammation associated with psoriasis may trigger a cascade of metabolic events leading to serious systemic diseases, including diabetes and coronary heart disease, Enno Christophers, M.D., asserted at the European...

Two cytokines overexpressed in psoriasis.(Dermatology)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... PARIS -- Two newly discovered cytokines--interleukin-19 and interleukin-20--may be important pathogenic markers of psoriasis and may prove to be important therapeutic targets as well, according to a study that Danish researchers presented in...

Burn treatment protocol starts with six C's.(Dermatology)
January 1, 2005... PARIS -- Caring for burn wounds is as simple as following the six C's, Sue Mendez-Eastman, R.N., said at a meeting of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies. The six C's of burn care include clothing, cooling, cleaning,...

Take your pick of multiple wound-care dressings.(Dermatology)
January 1, 2005... Santa Fe, N.M. -- Literally hundreds of wound-care dressings are available, but physicians would do well to choose a single favorite product from each category, Mark D.P. Davis, M.D., said at a dermatology conference sponsored by the Skin...

Endoscopic therapy aids vesicoureteral reflux: successful results suggest VUR treatment guidelines be updated to include this bulking-agent therapy.(Urology)(Vesicoureteral reflux)
January 1, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- Vesicoureteral reflux resolves in 72% of patients after one treatment with endoscopic therapy and in up to 85% after multiple endoscopic treatments, Jack S. Elder, M.D., said in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of...

New drug for overactive bladder lacks cognitive side effects.(Urology)
January 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Darifenacin, a selective muscarinic M3 receptor antagonist being developed for treatment of overactive bladder, does not affect cognition in the elderly at clinically effective doses, Richard B. Lipton, M.D., reported at Wonca...

Homebound, incontinent elderly see general health as OK.(Urology)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Homebound elderly patients with urinary incontinence rated their general health higher than did nonhomebound patients, Sandra Engberg, Ph.D., reported at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America. Dr....

Clomipramine may help men with premature ejaculation.(Urology)
January 1, 2005... SANTA FE, N.M. -- Men with premature ejaculation appear to have weaker erections and abnormal heart-rate responses in addition to their shortened ejaculatory latency, according to a study presented by Wendi L. Tai at the annual meeting of the...

Robotic prostatectomy: less blood, fast recovery.(Urology)
January 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Using a robot to perform a minimally invasive radical prostatectomy resulted in less blood loss, faster recovery, and better surgical outcomes in a case series of 300 men, Vipul Patel, M.D., reported at the annual clinical...

Stinging nettle for benign prostatic hyperplasia.(ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE)
January 1, 2005... History of Use Phytotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is popular in Europe where this treatment approach has a long history of use. In recent years, one herb--saw palmetto or sabal--has received attention in the literature and...

Atorvastatin may slow Alzheimer's progression: high-dose therapy slowed cognitive deterioration and improved depressive symptoms in small study.(Geriatrics)
January 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- High-dose atorvastatin in patients with Alzheimer's disease slowed progressive cognitive deterioration and improved depressive symptoms in a first-of-its-kind small, randomized, double-blind trial, D. Larry Sparks, Ph.D., said at...

Donepezil often reduces behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer's patients.(Geriatrics)
January 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Alzheimer's disease patients who don't obtain clear-cut cognitive benefits with donepezil nonetheless often experience significant improvement in behavioral symptoms of the dementia, Ralf Ihl, M.D., said at Wonca 2004, the...

Cognitive decline linked to worsening depression.(Geriatrics)
January 1, 2005... PHILADELPHIA -- Patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease have a faster rate of cognitive decline as they accumulate more symptoms of depression, Ann Marie Hake, M.D., reported in a poster at the Ninth International Conference on...

Tiny telescope may help in macular degeneration.(Geriatrics)
January 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Preliminary results from the phase II/III trial of an implantable miniature telescope suggest the experimental prosthetic device can enhance the vision of end-stage advanced macular degeneration and Stargardt's disease patients...

Seniors prove receptive to exercise counseling: doctors and their older patients have distinctive perceptions of exercise advice during office visits.(Geriatrics)
January 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- When doctors talk about exercise, older adults listen, Shaun Nelson said at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America. A caring, empathetic physician who counsels patients aged 60 and older about exercise...

Physical activity tied to continued mobility in the elderly.(Geriatrics)
January 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Exercise, and even daily activity, seems key to maintaining mobility in older adults, according to data presented at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America. "It's very clear that in these...

Top 10 causes of death, 2002.(DATA WATCH)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Top 10 Causes of Death, 2002 Diseases of the heart 696,947 Malignant neoplasms 557,271 Cerebrovascular diseases 162,672 Chronic lower respiratory diseases ...

CV risk despite atorvastatin in type 2 diabetics on dialysis.(Nephrology)
January 1, 2005... ST. LOUIS -- Type 2 diabetic patients with kidney failure or end-stage renal disease had significant reductions in LDL cholesterol, but not cardiac death, MI, or stroke, after an average of 4 years of treatment with atorvastatin, Christoph...

Preventing sudden cardiac death from arrhythmia in dialysis cases.(Nephrology)
January 1, 2005... ST. LOUIS -- More aggressive approaches, including implantable cardioverter defibrillators, may be needed to prevent sudden cardiac death from arrhythmia among patients with end-stage renal disease, according to research presented at the annual...

Cardiac troponin T is still useful for ESRD patients.(Nephrology)(End-stage renal disease)
January 1, 2005... Measuring the serum level of cardiac troponin T can help determine if a patient with end-stage renal disease has acute coronary syndrome. Serum levels of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein appear to be the...

ARB equals ACE inhibitor in diabetic nephropathy.(Nephrology)(Angiotensin receptor blocker)
January 1, 2005... MUNICH -- The angiotensin receptor blocker telmisartan offered renoprotection comparable to that of an ACE inhibitor in the first long-term, head-to-head study of the two drug classes in patients with hypertensive type 2 diabetic early...

Five for '05.(THE EFFECTIVE PHYSICIAN)
January 1, 2005... We are now halfway through the first decade of the 21st century and the Effective Physician begins its eighth year. In keeping with tradition, we start the year by highlighting recent and future trends that deserve a little added attention. ...

Frontal sinus fractures less severe with air bags.(Nephrology)
January 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- Strict seat belt laws and improved automobile restraint systems, including air bags, are probably responsible for the dramatic decrease in the severity of frontal sinus fractures seen in Sacramento over the past 28 years. ...

New indication for Caduet.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The combination drug Caduet (amlodipine besylate/atorvastatin calcium) is indicated for the prevention of cardiovascular disease to lower the risk of myocardial infarction in patients with hypertension and other risk factors. For more...

Levoxyl swallowing warning.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Food and Drug Administration and King Pharmaceuticals Inc. have announced revisions to the label of Levoxyl (levothyroxine sodium) tablets. The changes described choking, gagging, tablets stuck in the throat, and dysphagia while taking the...

New OTC Zantac dose.(PRODUCTS)(Over-the-counter Zantac dose )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Zantac is approved in a 150-mcg over-the-counter dose for the relief of heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach, and for the prevention of heart-burn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach brought on by certain...

Orally disintegrating aricept.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Aricept (donepezil HCl) orally disintegrating tablets are approved to treat symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. For more information, contact Eisai Inc. by calling 888-274-2378.

Generic extended-release metformin.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... A generic version of Glucophage XR (metformin hydrochloride extended-release tablets) is approved in a 750-mg dose for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. For more information, contact Barr Laboratories Inc. by calling 800-222-4043...

New delivery system for atrovent.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Atrovent HFA (ipratropium bromide hydrofluoralkane) inhalation aerosol is indicated as a bronchodilator for maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Hydrofluoroalkane is a...

Generic gabapentin approved.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Gabapentin tablets (600 mg and 800 mg) are approved for adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures of epilepsy and postherpetic neuralgia. This product is the generic equivalent of Neurontin. For more information, contact Alpharma...

Generic citalopram approved.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Citalopram hydrobromide tablets (10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg) are approved for the treatment of depression. The product is the generic equivalent of Celexa. For more information, contact Alpharma Inc. by calling 800-638-9096 or 800-645-4216.

Clindamycin foam for acne.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Evoclin (clindamycin 1%) foam is approved for treatment of acne. The foam is available in 50-g and 100-g sizes. For more information, contact Connetics Corp. by calling 888-969-2628 or 650-843-2800.

Post-tamoxifen Tx approved.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Femara (letrozole)--a once-a-day oral aromatase inhibitor--is approved for the extended adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with early breast cancer who have received adjuvant tamoxifen therapy for 5 years. For more information, contact...

Privacy clipboard storage.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Roto Caddy storage unit organizes and stores privacy clipboards and forms in a 36-inch-diameter carousel. Constructed of aluminum, the caddy rotates 360 degrees left or right. Counter-, floor-, or permanent-mount base options are available....

Examination light series.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The HM series of examination lights offers vented shades and finger guards. The lights provide 2,000 foot-candles of illumination with 20-W or 35-W halogen bulbs. The swivel head allows 360-degree rotation. For more information, contact Sunnex...

Billing and reimbursement software.(PRODUCTS)(OmniMD software)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... OmniMD software allows charge capture and creation of superbills at the point of care. The software can be integrated with most leading practice management systems. For more information, contact OmniMD, 914-332-5590, www.omnimd.com.

Intron-A may reduce West Nile complications.(Rx)
January 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Interferon alfa-2b reduced the severity of neurologic symptoms in patients infected with West Nile virus, according to the results of a small pilot study presented at the annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and...

Bicillin C-R and Bicillin L-A labels changed.(Rx)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... King Pharmaceuticals Inc. and the Food and Drug Administration are warning physicians about the inappropriate use of Bicillin C-R (penicillin G benzathine and penicillin G procaine injectable suspension) for the treatment of syphilis. ...

FDA black box warning added to Depo-Provera.(Rx)
January 1, 2005... The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has added a black box warning to Depo-Provera to emphasize the potential for bone mineral density loss with long-term use of the injectable contraceptive. Depo-Provera has been used throughout the world...

Remicade eyed for psoriatic arthritis by FDA.(Rx)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted Centocor Inc.'s application to approve infliximab (Remicade) for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. Already approved for use in rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease in North...

Chronic urticaria.(DRUG UPDATE)
January 1, 2005... Antihistamines are the mainstay of treatment for chronic idiopathic urticaria. Determining which to use depends on symptom severity, cost, tolerability, and other factors. Most allergists initiate treatment with a nonsedating antihistamine or...

Scoring system might reduce need for stress tests.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
January 1, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- In some patients being evaluated for chest pain, stress tests might be avoided through the use of an algorithm designed to predict the probability of cardiac ischemia, David D. Moyer-Diener and his associates said at the annual...

Agonal breathing assessment sharpens dispatchers' cardiac arrest detection.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
January 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Tweaking emergency dispatcher assessment protocols to include simple questions about agonal breathing markedly boosts the rate of cardiac arrest detection over the phone, Ahamed H. Idris, M.D., reported at the annual scientific...

Device improves diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
January 1, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- An ECG mapping device improved the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome, compared with standard ECG, and provided information that could help with treatment, said Gregory J. Fermann, M.D., at the annual meeting of the American...

Electronic alerts curb VTE in high-risk patients.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Venous thromboembolism)
January 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- An automated electronic alert program aimed at physicians responsible for high-risk patients not receiving prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism resulted in a substantial reduction in thromboembolic events in a large...

High prevalence of valvular disease found in the elderly.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
January 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Almost 12% of Americans aged 75 years or older have valvular heart disease, according to echocardiographic findings from an unselected population of 1,745 people. The prevalence of valvular heart disease was also high (7.8%)...

Yoga improved endothelial function in pilot study: in a separate study, marriage was linked with lower cholesterol levels and BMIs in both men and women.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
January 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Six weeks of yoga training and meditation resulted in markedly improved endothelial function in a group of patients with cardiovascular disease, Satish Sivasankaran, M.D., reported at the annual scientific sessions of the...

Low magnesium intake linked with elevated CRP levels.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(C-reactive protein)
January 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Low dietary magnesium may elevate serum levels of C-reactive protein, but high vitamin E intake does not reduce levels of the inflammatory marker among at-risk individuals, according to two separate studies. Both studies...

Postpartum BP management is tricky.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
January 1, 2005... VIENNA -- Guidelines are sorely needed for postpartum blood pressure management in women who experience hypertension during pregnancy, speakers said at the 14th World Congress of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in...

Hypertension in Pregnancy raises heart disease risk.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
January 1, 2005... VIENNA -- Both increasing severity and recurrence of gestational hypertension increase a woman's chances of developing ischemic heart disease later in life, Dr. Anna-Karin Wikstrom said at the 14th World Congress of the International Society...

Coronary artery calcification more common in RA patients.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... SAN ANTONIO -- Coronary artery calcification is significantly more prevalent in women with rheumatoid arthritis than in those without the disease, according to the findings of a case-control study. Such evidence of calcification underscores...

Statin-associated rhabdomyolysis.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The risk of rhabdomyolysis is relatively low for the three most frequently prescribed statins--atorvastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin--but is 10 times higher for cerivastatin, which was taken off the market in August 2001. The risk is more...

Percutaneous PFO closure after stroke.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Patent foramen ovale)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Percutaneous closure of a patent foramen ovale is at least as effective as medical therapy in preventing cerebrovascular recurrences among patients whose initial stroke presumably stemmed from the heart condition, according to Stephan...

Take-along pill for atrial fibrillation.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Patients with occasional atrial fibrillation may eventually be able to treat it by taking a single dose of an antiarrhythmic drug that they carry around with them for that purpose, much as angina patients take nitroglycerin when chest pain...

Biopsy IDs drug-induced myocarditis.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... For the first time, endomyocardial biopsy was used to identify clozapine-induced hypersensitivity myocarditis in a patient who developed a throat infection, dyspnea, and cardiac enlargement while hospitalized for a schizophrenic break,...

Safety, efficacy of pertussis booster for teens similar to current Vaccines.(Infectious Diseases)(Reduced--antigen content tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis booster vaccine)
January 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- GlaxoSmithKline's candidate reduced--antigen content tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis booster vaccine for adolescents compares favorably with other currently licensed vaccines, Leonard Friedland, M.D., reported during the...

Aventis Pasteur's tetanus-diphtheria--acellular pertussis booster appears safe in teens.(Infectious Diseases)
January 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- The safety profile of Aventis Pasteur's reduced-antigen tetanus-diphtheria--acellular pertussis vaccine in adolescents is similar to that of the currently-licensed tetanus-diphtheria vaccine, Michael E. Pichichero, M.D., reported...

Prevalence of tapeworm infection rising in U.S.(Infectious Diseases)
January 1, 2005... MIAMI BEACH -- Public health officials are stepping up efforts to combat cysticercosis, a parasitic infection with dire neurologic consequences that is on the rise in the United States, according to James H. Maguire, M.D., chief of the...

Hantavirus survivors show long-term effects.(Infectious Diseases)
January 1, 2005... MIAMI BEACH -- Hantavirus survivors commonly experience fatigue, shortness of breath, and myalgias up to 5 years after infection, according to the final summary of a longitudinal, prospective study. Proteinuria, which may be clinically...

Microbiology group launches promotion.(Infectious Diseases)
January 1, 2005... The American Society for Microbiology has launched "Take Action: Clean Hands Campaign" to promote hand washing. The campaign includes educational materials for health care professionals and consumers (posters, brochures, stickers). For more...