Internal Medicine News articles from January 2006

Internal Medicine News archives from January 2006

CPR update: chest compression is key.(News)(cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
January 1, 2006... Improving the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills among both the lay public and health care professionals is the theme of the American Heart Association's new guidelines--and optimizing chest compression is the means to that end....

Medical schools with the largest increase in first-year enrollment from 2004 to 2005.(VITAL SIGNS)(Illustration)
January 1, 2006... Medical Schools With the Largest Increase in First-Year Enrollment From 2004 to 2005 Florida State University 38% Brown University 20% Marshall University 15% University of Miami ...

Statins may curb ER-negative breast cancer risk: benefit associated with lipophilic statins.(Women's Health)(estrogen receptor)
January 1, 2006... SAN ANTONIO -- Women on a lipophilic statin have a markedly reduced likelihood of developing estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer, Dr. Anjali Kumar reported at a breast cancer symposium sponsored by the Cancer Therapy and Research Center....

IOM calls for standard set of performance measures.(News)(Institute of Medicine)
January 1, 2006... As efforts to develop health care performance measures accelerate, a report from the Institute of Medicine is being welcomed by the American College of Physicians and other groups that favor nationwide use of a standard set of measures. ...

C-section rate in U.S. hits all-time high at 29%.(News)
January 1, 2006... Cesarean sections constituted 29% of all U.S. births in 2004--a record high, government officials have reported. The increase reflects an 8% increase in primary cesareans and a 13% decrease in vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) since 2002,...

Short CPR course for nonmedical trainees takes 22 minutes.(News)
January 1, 2006... DALLAS -- The American Heart Association has begun marketing a stripped down 22-minute program in adult basic life support CPR designed to replace the standard 4-hour course for nonmedical trainees. The self-guided video program is a key...

FDA strengthens paxil pregnancy warning again: analysis of registries' data ties the drug's use in the first trimester to a higher risk of infant heart defects.(News)
January 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration has stepped up warnings that paroxetine increases the risk of congenital defects, especially cardiovascular malformations. In September, GlaxoSmithKline, which markets the antidepressant under the trade...

Medicare 'e-prescribing' costly but optional for physicians.(News)
January 1, 2006... Without the proper technology, physician practices may find it difficult to participate in Medicare's new "e-prescribing" standards under the Part D drug benefit, physician groups claim. "Most primary care physicians will be unable to...

Manipulating statistics often raises false hopes.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2006... I am concerned about the continuing publication of studies that magnify positive results inappropriately ("Fondaparinux Beats Enoxaparin Overall in ACS," Nov. 1, 2005, p. 61). The problem occurs when the relative risk reduction (RRR) is...

Patient age matters when treating dental injuries.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2006... An important issue was omitted in your recent article on the proper management of tooth avulsions and extrusions ("Sideline Care Is Vital for Dental Injuries," Aug. 15, 2005, p. 28). This article failed to address the issue of patient age...

Selecting patients for vagus nerve stimulation.(GUEST EDITORIAL)
January 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration's approval of vagus nerve stimulation for the long-term treatment of severe depression can benefit patients with major depressive disorder who do not adequately respond to other treatments. But we must be...

Is interventional aortic valve implantation for aortic stenosis unnecessary and dangerous?(PRO & CON)
January 1, 2006... YES Aortic valve replacement is one of the most important medical advances in the last 50 years. Hundreds of thousands of patients have been helped by this amazing technology since the first successful implant in the late 1950s and early...

Switch to aromatase inhibitor improves breast ca survival.(Women's Health)
January 1, 2006... SAN ANTONIO -- Switching postmenopausal women with hormone-responsive breast cancer from adjunctive tamoxifen to anastrozole after 2-3 years has now for the first time been shown to result in significantly improved overall survival compared...

Hormone therapy not effective for hot flashes induced by tamoxifen.(Women's Health)
January 1, 2006... SAN ANTONIO -- Hormone therapy isn't effective for hot flashes in women on tamoxifen, Ivana Sestak, Ph.D., reported at a breast cancer symposium sponsored by the Cancer Therapy and Research Center. This was the clear-cut conclusion of a new...

Placental size may reflect breast ca risk.(Women's Health)
January 1, 2006... A woman's risk of premenopausal breast cancer appears to be related to the weight of the placentas from her pregnancies, Dr. Sven Cnattingius of the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, and his associates reported. The heavier the placental...

Thermoablation found simple and effective for menorrhagia.(Women's Health)
January 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Thermal balloon endometrial ablation is a safe and effective option for the treatment of women with idiopathic menorrhagia, results from a 3-year study of 330 women have shown. "The procedure is simple, does not require...

Laparoscopic subtotal hysterectomy can be safe as outpatient procedure.(Women's Health)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomies can be done safely on an outpatient basis, a review of 190 cases suggests, Dr. Stefanos Chandakas reported. The surgeries were performed over a 14-month period by a two-surgeon team at...

Hysteroscopic sterilization device nears market.(Women's Health)
January 1, 2006... The Adiana transcervical sterilization system appears to be easy to use, safe, and effective, according to phase III data, Dr. Alan Johns reported at the annual meeting of the AAGL (formerly known as the American Association of Gynecologic...

Mifepristone may increase bleeding with progesterone-releasing IUD.(Women's Health)
January 1, 2006... MONTREAL -- Contrary to its effect with other progesterone-only contraceptives, mifepristone increases breakthrough bleeding in patients using the levonorgestrel intrauterine system, according to a new study. "Mifespristone cannot be...

Reasons women give for not using birth control.(DATA WATCH)(Illustration)
January 1, 2006... Reasons Women Give for Not Using Birth Control Want to get pregnant 33% Don't care if they get pregnant 12.1% Don't think they can get pregnant 8.6% Don't like it/don't want to use it 6.3% Do not know/no...

Nesiritide may raise risk of acute renal failure.(Nephrology)
January 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- Patients with heart failure who are taking nesiritide and who develop acute renal failure may be at an increased risk of death, Dr. Jose Iglesias said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology. He...

Homocysteine not predictive of CKD mortality.(Nephrology)(chronic kidney disease)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- An elevated homocysteine level in the presence of cardiovascular disease has come to be recognized as a potential indicator of more severe illness, but an early study in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease shows it...

Rate of new cases of kidney failure stabilizes.(DATA WATCH)
January 1, 2006... Rate of New Cases of Kidney Failure Stabilizes Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Oral mycophenolate mofetil looks promising for lupus nephritis.(Nephrology)
January 1, 2006... Oral mycophenolate mofetil was safer and significantly more effective than intravenous cyclophosphamide for inducing remission of lupus nephritis in a randomized open trial. A total of 140 patients with active lupus nephritis were enrolled...

CKD patients burdened with many comorbidities.(Nephrology)(chronic kidney disease)
January 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- New data show that patients with chronic kidney disease, including those on renal dialysis, have strikingly high rates of cardiovascular-related events, cancer, hip fracture, and infections. The findings come from the United...

Data lacking to guide CVD prevention in kidney disease.(Nephrology)(cardiovascular diseases)
January 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- Cardiovascular-related mortality remains high in patients on renal dialysis, as well as in other patients with chronic kidney disease. Yet there is still a paucity of high-quality evidence to guide medication use for...

Statins may curb mortality in elderly with renal disease.(Nephrology)
January 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- Cholesterol reduction using a statin appears to confer protective effects in elderly patients with chronic kidney disease, Dr. Pradeep Arora reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology. Previous...

Fitness cuts mortality in metabolic syndrome.(Endocrinology)
January 1, 2006... DALLAS -- Physical fitness cancels out the excess mortality risk associated with the metabolic syndrome in asymptomatic women, Dr. Martha Gulati said at the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association. This finding from a...

Lactation linked to decreased risk of maternal diabetes.(Endocrinology)
January 1, 2006... The longer a woman breast-feeds her offspring, the less likely she is to develop type 2 diabetes, Dr. Alison M. Stuebe and her colleagues have reported. Their analysis of more than 157,000 women concluded that every year of lactation...

Best obesity treatment.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Group lifestyle modification should be prescribed along with weight-loss medication to obese patients trying to lose weight, said Thomas A. Wadden, Ph.D., of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and his colleagues. In a 1-year...

Leptin, adiponectin, and exercise.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Leptin and adiponectin responses to exercise were related to the intensity of the physical activity in a study of 50 inactive men aged 65-78 years, reported Dr. Ioannis G. Fatouros of Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece, and...

Vaspin gene and obesity.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Vaspin, a recently identified cytokine with insulin-sensitizing effects, appears to be associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and impaired glucose metabolism, reported Nora Kloting of the University of Leipzig (Germany) and her...

Teens' perception of body weight.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Many young teens from disadvantaged backgrounds do not perceive obesity as unacceptable, and despite common perceptions, not all are striving for thinness, said Wendy Wills of the Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care, University of...

Bone structure ages differently in men, women.(Rheumatology)
January 1, 2006... NASHVILLE, TENN. -- Three-dimensional, high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography reveals significant differences in the way that trabecular bone microstructure changes with age in men and women. The technique allows for...

Sex-specific T scores questioned.(Rheumatology)
January 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- A trend toward using one set of parameters to diagnose osteoporosis in both men and women hasn't caught on in the United States, where sex-specific bone density scores are the norm, Dr. Eric S. Orwoll said at a meeting on...

Half of women with fractures had no osteoporosis follow-up.(Rheumatology)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... QUEBEC CITY -- Women who have had a low-trauma fracture are not getting the follow-up they need for osteoporosis, Dr. Sonia Singh reported in a poster at the annual meeting of the North American Primary Care Research Group. History of a...

OA of hand predicts arthritic hips, knees.(Rheumatology)(osteoarthritis)
January 1, 2006... Patients with hand osteoarthritis are significantly more likely to develop disease of the hip or knee--particularly of the hip--later in life, a prospective, population-based study has shown. The new findings are consistent with reports...

Bisphosphonate therapy shown beneficial for some knee OA.(Rheumatology)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Risedronate treatment preserved trabecular bone in patients with advanced medial compartment knee osteoarthritis, and at a high dose even appeared to build it, Christopher Buckland-Wright, Ph.D., said at the annual meeting of the...

Rose hip powder for osteoarthritis.(ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE)
January 1, 2006... Rationale for Use Studies of the mechanisms of action of a standardized formulation of rose hip powder showed that it lowered in vivo levels of C-reactive protein, from a mean of 8.25 mg/L to 6.67 mg/L. In addition, it reduced the in vitro...

Hylan injections beat steroids for arthritic thumb.(Rheumatology)
January 1, 2006... SAN ANTONIO -- Injections of a hyaluronic acid derivative provide a safer and more effective alternative to corticosteroids for nonoperative treatment of trapeziometacarpal arthritis, according to a report presented at a joint annual meeting of...

Thumb arthritis relieved by simple procedure.(Rheumatology)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... SAN ANTONIO -- A simple treatment for basilar thumb arthritis that requires minimal convalescence may be just as effective as more complex procedures requiring a longer healing period, Dr. Nicholas J. Meyer said at the joint annual meeting of...

Rosacea subsets call for tailored treatment.(Dermatology)
January 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- When rosacea overlaps with another skin disease, certain topical treatments are better than others, Dr. Guy F. Webster said at the Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference. "I'm finding there are subsets of topical treatments that...

Genetics and melanoma: minimal sun can pose risk.(Dermatology)
January 1, 2006... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Genetic studies suggest that certain people are susceptible to melanomas caused by early, minimal sun exposure, according to speakers at the Sixth World Congress on Melanoma. The problem with explaining melanoma risk...

Statins and melanoma: no answer yet.(Dermatology)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... The jury is still out, but for now there is no clear evidence that statins or fibrates can decrease the risk of melanoma, according to a new literature review conducted by The Cochrane Collaboration. Cochrane investigators identified 16...

Expert advises vigilance when assessing possible melanomas.(Dermatology)
January 1, 2006... SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. -- The melanomas that students are taught to recognize in medical school are often tough to miss--ugly, misshapen, and black, maybe with tinges of blue and red. In real life, it's not always that easy, Dr. Clay J....

Bipolar disorder.(DRUG UPDATE)
January 1, 2006... Patients with bipolar I disorder, who typically alternate between mania and depression over several months or years, usually present to primary care physicians in the depressed phase. Misdiagnosis and treatment with an antidepressant alone may...

FDA panel backs low-dose MAO inhibitor patch.(Rx)
January 1, 2006... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- The lowest dose of a transdermal formulation of an MAO inhibitor could become available for treating depression, with no dietary restrictions, if the Food and Drug Administration follows the majority opinion of one of its...

FDA plans reorganization to improve drug safety.(Rx)
January 1, 2006... Officials at the Food and Drug Administration are planning to reorganize its Center for Drug Evaluation and Research in an effort to improve the agency's approach to drug safety and to help improve drug development. The FDA plans to...

New indication for diovan.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Diovan (valsartan) is now approved to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in patients with left ventricular failure or dysfunction following myocardial infarction. The drug's heart failure labeling also has been expanded to include use in...

Expanded labeling for pap test.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... The ThinPrep pap test label now includes the detection of endocervical and endometrial glandular lesions. For more information, contact Cytyc Corp. by visiting www.cytyc.com or by calling 800-442-9892.

Cardiac lead system approved.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... The SelectSecure pacing lead (model 3830) is approved for use with pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices. The lead has a lumenless design that allows for flexibility and a smaller...

Dermatitis/psoriasis shampoo.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Bandruff (hydrocortisone, 1%) shampoo is indicated for the treatment of scalp seb-orrheic dermatitis and psoriasis. For more information, contact Pure USA by visiting www.pureusalabs.com or by calling 800-787-3872.

Blood glucose monitoring system.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... The FreeStyle Connect blood glucose monitoring system interfaces with any point-of-care data management system. The monitoring system provides results in about 15 seconds and requires only 0.3 [micro]L of blood. For more information, contact...

Support for heel injuries.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... The Thermoskin Heel Jack provides support for a wide variety of conditions, including Achilles tendonitis, heel spurs, apophysitis, heel bruises, and Achilles tendon ruptures. For more information, contact Swede-O Inc. by calling 866-317-5678...

Medication for neuropathy, epilepsy.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Lyrica (pregabalin) capsules are available for the management of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia, and as an adjunctive treatment for partial-onset seizures in adults with epilepsy. For...

Error-prevention packages.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Novo Nordisk Inc. has initiated changes in packaging for NovoLog Mix 70/30 premixed insulin analog and Novolog rapid-acting insulin analog to help avoid dispensing errors. The box for Novolog Mix 70/30 remains white with a blue band. Packaging...

Combo assay tests for STDs.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Liquid pap specimens collected and processed with the Cytyc Corp.'s Thin-Prep system can now be used with the Gen-Probe Inc. APTIMA Combo 2 assay to test for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. For more information, contact...

Corticosteroid approved for psoriasis.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Vanos (fluocinonide) cream 0.1%, is approved for treatment of plaque-type psoriasis affecting up to 10% of body surface area. The cream is a new class I topical corticosteroid. For more information, contact Medicis by visiting...

Aromasin approved as adjuvant.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Aromasin (exemestane tablets) is approved as an adjuvant treatment for postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer who have had 2-3 years of tamoxifen and are switched to Aromasin for a total of 5 consecutive years of...

Single-clinician closure.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... The Insorb 1 single-user forceps works with the Insorb 20 subcuticular skin stapler to allow a single clinician to close a surgical incision without help. For more information, contact Incisive Surgical Inc. by calling 877-246-7672 or by...

Fish oil added to statin boosts coronary benefits.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
January 1, 2006... DALLAS -- Adding high-dose fish oil to a low-dose statin provided a 19% further reduction in major coronary events, compared with statins alone, Dr. Mitsuhiro Yokoyama reported at the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart...

Decreased blood pressure may reduce coronary atheroma load.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
January 1, 2006... DALLAS -- Regression of coronary atheroma load was linked with cuts in systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure in an analysis of data from 274 patients. Patients whose average systolic pressure fell below 120 mm Hg or those whose pulse...

Higher glucose levels in women tied to atherosclerosis progression.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
January 1, 2006... DALLAS -- Postmenopausal women with coronary artery disease and no diabetes who had a high-normal response to an oral glucose tolerance test had faster progression of atherosclerosis, compared with women who have lower glucose levels following...

Imaging agent tied to complications.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Palatin Technologies, manufacturer of NeutroSpec, is voluntarily suspending U.S. sales and marketing of the radiodiagnostic agent, according to a public health advisory issued by the Food and Drug Administration. The action was taken "pending...

Blacks have worse outcomes after ACS.(acute coronary syndrome)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Black patients with acute coronary syndrome face worse angina, physical impairment, and quality of life 1 year later than their white counterparts, reported Dr. John Spertus of Mid America Heart Institute of Saint Luke's Hospital, Kansas City,...

HCM diagnosed later in women.(hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is diagnosed later in women than in men, and is more likely to progress to severe, disabling symptoms or death, reported Dr. Iacopo Oliv-otto of Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy, and...

Weight gain may save a heart failure patient's life.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
January 1, 2006... DALLAS -- Bigger is better for patients with heart failure. Increased weight was associated with a lower risk of death or hospitalization during nearly 5 years of follow-up in a post hoc analysis of more than 2,500 patients with heart...

Physicians unsure about handling end-of-life issues in heart failure.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
January 1, 2006... BOCA RATON, FLA. -- When it comes to treatment options, palliative care, and decision making for patients with end-stage heart failure, cardiologists, internists, family physicians, and geriatricians are similarly lacking in awareness,...

Smaller LVAD may be beneficial for women with heart failure.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
January 1, 2006... BOCA RATON, FLA. -- A new and smaller left ventricular assist device now in clinical trials is appropriate for most women and provides similar outcomes, compared with a larger device already used for patients with heart failure, according to a...

Avoid missing an MI diagnosis: use objective tests.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
January 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Don't exclude a diagnosis of myocardial infarction unless you have done objective testing first, Dr. Corey M. Slovis said at the annual meeting of the American College of Emergency Physicians. A missed diagnosis of myocardial...

NSAID use after acute MI linked to increased mortality.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
January 1, 2006... DALLAS -- The use of NSAIDs--whether cyclooxyge-nase-2-selective or not--in patients who've had an acute MI increases their risk of death, especially in higher doses, according to data from the Danish National Patient Registry. To patients...

Act quickly if patient on TNF inhibitor has possible infection.(Infectious Diseases)(tumor necrosis factor inhibitor)
January 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- If a patient on a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor such as infliximab or etanercept presents with the signs and symptoms of infection, stop the drug immediately, Dr. Robert Orenstein advised at a dermatology seminar sponsored by the...

Chronic hepatitis C linked to Male Sexual dysfunction.(Infectious Diseases)
January 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- A high rate of sexual dysfunction in 112 men with chronic hepatitis C infection was independent of depression and led to reduced quality of life, Dr. David W. Wan reported at the annual meeting of the American Association for...

HIV/AIDS incidence falls in blacks and injection drug users, CDC says.(Infectious Diseases)
January 1, 2006... The annual incidence of HIV/AIDS among African Americans dropped significantly between 2001 and 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. As a result of advances in treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy,...

Hepatitis C infection estimate in U.S. revised to exceed 5 million.(Infectious Diseases)
January 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Estimates of the number of U.S. residents who have been infected with hepatitis C virus missed about 1.1 million cases, bringing the true total of infections close to 5.2 million, Dr. Brian R. Edlin said at the annual meeting...

Intranasal flu vaccine looks safe.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... No unexpected serious adverse events were reported with appropriate use of live, attenuated intranasal influenza vaccine in the first two seasons after its U.S. approval. About 2.5 million people have received the vaccine since June 2003....

West Nile virus Assay approved.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... An assay used to screen blood, organ, cell, and tissue donations for West Nile virus recently has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The Procleix West Nile Virus Assay has been used on an investigational basis to screen...

Pneumonia hospitalization up for aged.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... The burden of pneumonia among U.S. patients aged 65 and older is large and increasing, according to Dr. Alicia M. Fry and her colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. Among the 173 million people aged over 64...

Infection tied to macular degeneration.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... A common infection may trigger the development of neovascular age-related macular degeneration in genetically susceptible individuals. Dr. Murat Kalayoglu and his colleagues at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary at Harvard Medical...

Assess mental health in bariatric surgery patients.(Gastroenterology)
January 1, 2006... ORLANDO -- Psychiatric conditions are more common among patients who seek bariatric surgery than among the general population, according to preliminary results from a study reported by Melissa A. Kalarchian, Ph.D., at the annual meeting of the...

Low literacy can impede colorectal ca screening: provider education and feedback boosted screening rates in a randomized study.(Gastroenterology)
January 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Physician-directed interventions can increase rates of colorectal cancer screening in patients with low literacy skills, Dr. Charles Bennett reported at a conference on health literacy sponsored by the American College of...

Colectomy not a final cure for ulcerative colitis, data show.(Gastroenterology)
January 1, 2006... HONOLULU -- The widely held view that surgery is the "curative" option in patients with severe ulcerative colitis could not be further from the truth, according to the results of a large, population-based study presented at the annual meeting...

GERD vs. Barrett's esophagus.(gastroesophageal reflux disease)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... A study of 3,000 randomly sampled residents of two Swedish communities found that 1.6% of the general population tested had Barrett's esophagus. Dr. Jukka Ronkainen of the Karolins-ka Institute, Sweden, and colleagues found that Barrett's...

Treating chronic cough in GERD.(gastroesophageal reflux disease)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Use of a proton pump inhibitor to treat persistent cough associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease has some effect in some adults, but the effect is less universal than suggested in consensus guidelines on chronic cough, according to a...