Internal Medicine News articles from July 2007

Internal Medicine News archives from July 2007

Addiction medicine seeks ABMS status.(News)(American Board of Medical Specialties)
July 1, 2007... MIAMI -- The field of addiction medicine is preparing to take a major step to enhance its authority and expand its professional ranks. The American Society of Addiction Medicine plans to form a certification board and seek official...

Medicare expected to increase at a faster rate than Medicaid as percent of GDP.(VITAL SIGNS)(Gross Domestic Product)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Medicare Expected to Increase at a Faster Rate Than Medicaid as Percent of GDP Notes: Based on 2005 and 2006 data. GDP is gross domestic product. Source: Government Accountability Office ELSEVIER GLOBAL MEDICAL NEWS

Bevacizumab aids survival of renal cancer patients: combination regimen may improve safety.(News)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2007... CHICAGO -- Bevacizumab in combination with interferon-[alpha] nearly doubled survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma in a phase III trial reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. ...

Data suggest sunscreen prevents BCC, melanoma.(News)(basal cell carcinomas)
July 1, 2007... AMSTERDAM -- A landmark Australian study has provided the first glimmer of evidence that daily sunscreen use might reduce the incidence of both basal cell carcinoma and melanoma years later, Dr. Adele Green reported at the 11th World Congress...

Sorafenib extends survival in liver cancer patients.(News)
July 1, 2007... CHICAGO -- The oral multikinase inhibitor sorafenib significantly extended overall survival by 44%, compared with placebo in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in a phase III trial presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of...

Neupro.(NEW & APPROVED)
July 1, 2007... Neupro (Rotigotine Transdermal System, Schwarz Pharma) A transdermal patch containing rotigotine, a nonergotamine dopamine agonist, for treating the signs and symptoms of early-stage idiopathic Parkinson's disease. This is the first...

Lovenox.(NEW & APPROVED)
July 1, 2007... Lovenox (enoxaparin, Sanofi-Aventis) A low-molecular-weight heparin approved for treating patients with acute ST-segment-elevation MI (STEMI). Previously approved for other indications, including prophylaxis of ischemic complications...

Citing safety, FDA panel advises against Zimulti approval.(News)
July 1, 2007... SILVER SPRING, MD. -- The Food and Drug Administration's Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee voted unanimously against recommending approval of Sanofi-Aventis' weight-loss drug Zimulti (rimonabant). Though panel members...

Choosing to tune out Dr. House.(Guest editorial)
July 1, 2007... I have never watched Fox TV's "House." This is a choice I have made for myself. The show, of course, is a blockbuster hit and its star, Hugh Laurie, has received praise for his acting skill. Laurie portrays a flawed doctor who is a genius...

Should high-risk women take tamoxifen for breast cancer prevention?(POINT/COUNTERPOINT)
July 1, 2007... Make chemoprevention an option now. Breast cancer is still the No. 1 cancer among women. For patients who carry a gene that predisposes them to breast cancer, the weight of that possibility is ever present on their minds. What do we...

P4P's unintended consequences.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... I am very concerned about potential "unintended" consequences of pay for performance programs ("Incentives May Pose Ethical Concerns," May 15, 2007, p. 1). In my experience with Medicare and insurance companies, they use virtually every...

Reversing the 'diabesity' epidemic.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... I prescribe metformin very frequently, and have done so for years, for prediabetics struggling to accomplish weight loss despite decent attempts at exercise and diet ("Metformin Cited as Option for Some Prediabetes Cases," April 1, 2007, p. 1)....

Best tools needed to fight AIDS.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... Dr. Harold Jaffe's comments regarding the HIV epidemic in the United States and the best tools to stem it are praiseworthy and should be an example for all physicians to follow ("Expert Warns of Omnious Signs in AIDS Fight," April 1, 2007, p....

Waistline can predict health problems in men.(Urology)
July 1, 2007... ANAHEIM, CALIF. -- A tape measure may be one of the most useful tools to predict whether male patients have diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, a large prostate, a high prostate-specific-antigen level, erectile...

Flaxseed may slow growth of prostate cancer.(Urology)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2007... CHICAGO -- Adding flaxseed to the diets of men with prostate cancer appears to slow tumor growth, according to data presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. In a study of 161 men with prostate cancer,...

Cyproterone acetate reduces side effects of ADT.(Urology)(androgen deprivation therapy)
July 1, 2007... ORLANDO -- Cyproterone, an investigational antiandrogen, reduced the frequency and severity of hot flashes in men receiving palliative androgen deprivation therapy tor prostate cancer, Dr. William B. Monnig reported in a poster at a symposium...

Statin use tied to lower incidence of prostate ca.(Urology)(cancer)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2007... LOS ANGELES -- The use of statins--but not other lipid-lowering drugs--was associated with a substantial decrease in the incidence of prostate cancer in a large study of Finnish men, according to a poster presentation by Teemu Murtola at the...

Only well-done meat associated with increased prostate cancer risk.(Urology)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2007... LOS ANGELES -- Finally, some good news for carnivores. Although several studies have linked a Western diet--including a high intake of red meat--to an increased risk of prostate cancer, a large prospective cohort study has narrowed the risk...

10 most expensive urologic diseases.(DATA WATCH)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... 10 Most Expensive Urologic Diseases (in billions of dollars) Urinary tract infection $3.5 Kidney stones $2.1 Prostate cancer $1.3 Bladder cancer $1.1 Benign prostatic...

Free card can cut prescription costs.(Urology)
July 1, 2007... The Together Rx Access Card is a free prescription savings card for people who are legal residents of the United States, are not eligible for Medicare, do not have prescription drug coverage, and meet certain household income levels. Most...

Bladder ca screening requires repeated testing.(Urology)(Bladder cancer)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... HOUSTON -- Multiple testing is the key to finding bladder cancer in patients at high occupational risk. Smoking is the major cause of bladder cancers, but up to 25% are attributed to occupational exposures to dyes, rubber, pesticides, and...

Migraine associated with anemia, ADD in youth.(Adolescent Health)(attention-deficit disorder)(Survey)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... BOSTON -- Approximately one in four adolescents aged 16-18 years in the United States is affected by severe headache or migraine, Dr. Tarannum Lateef reported in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology....

Brief screen for teen alcohol use has merit.(Adolescent Health)
July 1, 2007... MIAMI -- A one-page instrument to screen and identify adolescents at risk for alcohol use can be easily implemented in a primary care setting, although reimbursement and additional counseling time are concerns, Dr. John Femino said at the...

Cervical ca screening may miss at-risk subgroup.(Adolescent Health)
July 1, 2007... ATLANTA -- Current cervical cancer screening guidelines may be insufficient for a subgroup of adolescent girls with high-grade dysplasia who are at risk for the development of invasive lesions, Dr. Michelle Vichnin reported at the annual...

Repeat pregnancy risk persists in teens despite access to ECPs.(Adolescent Health)(emergency contraceptive pills)
July 1, 2007... ATLANTA -- Advance provision of emergency contraceptive pills did not significantly decrease the rapid repeat pregnancy rate in a racially and ethnically diverse group of adolescents enrolled in a Colorado study "because many of the young women...

For best adherence, start teens on OCs immediately.(Adolescent Health)(oral contraceptives)
July 1, 2007... DENVER -- Starting adolescent girls immediately on oral contraceptives without waiting until the next menstrual period improves continuation to the second pack of pills and beyond, Dr. Sharon M. Edwards said in a poster presentation at the...

Bariatric surgery in teens normalizes heart size.(Adolescent Health)
July 1, 2007... ORLANDO -- Abnormalities in cardiac size and shape significantly improved after gastric bypass surgery and weight loss in a series of 33 morbidly obese adolescents. This finding suggests that early intervention with bariatric surgery may...

Adolescents undergoing bariatric surgery need age-tailored approach to care.(Adolescent Health)
July 1, 2007... Bariatric surgery in adolescents, while still uncommon, has increased substantially in the United States in the past decade, according to a recent study. And the trend may require an age-tailored approach. "Because the long-term metabolic...

Estimated number of adolescent bariatric surgery procedures has more than quadrupled.(DATA WATCH)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Estimated Number of Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Procedures Has More Than Quadrupled 1996 188 1997 185 1998 161 1999 240 2000 222 2001 408 2002 568 2003 771 Note: Based on data from the Nationwide Inpatient...

Metabolic syndrome tied to liver problems.(Adolescent Health)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... DENVER -- Screening for metabolic syndrome may identify adolescents at increased risk for hepatic steatosis and other comorbidities of obesity, according to researchers at the University of Colorado, Denver. Dr. Kathy Love-Osborne presented...

Drug lengthened survival in non-small-cell lung ca.(Pulmonary Medicine)(cancer)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2007... CHICAGO -- The addition of either of two doses of bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody, to standard chemotherapy prolonged progression-free survival in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. "Progression-free survival was...

Brain irradiation boosts survival in SCLS patients.(Pulmonary Medicine)(small-cell lung cancer)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2007... CHICAGO -- Radiation therapy to the brain given prophylactically to patients with advanced stage small-cell lung cancer prolongs survival, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. ...

Incense use associated with cancers of the respiratory tract.(Pulmonary Medicine)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2007... LOS ANGELES -- A large prospective cohort study has found an association between long-term exposure to burning incense and cancers of the respiratory tract, according to a poster presentation by Dr. Jeppe T. Friborg at the annual meeting of the...

Smokers with low BMI at greater risk of developing lung cancer.(Pulmonary Medicine)(body mass index)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... LOS ANGELES -- High body mass index is associated with a lower risk of lung cancer among smokers, Jian-Min Yuan, Ph.D., reported in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research. The study...

Advair blunts COPD, but pneumonia a concern.(Pulmonary Medicine)
July 1, 2007... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- A federal advisory panel unanimously agreed that studies of the Advair Diskus 500/50 combination dose of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder for maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary...

Sales of most timed-release guaifenesin products to stop.(Pulmonary Medicine)
July 1, 2007... With one exception, timed-release drug products available in the United States that contain the expectorant guaifenesin have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and should be taken off the market, according to an announcement...

Home allergy test kits deemed substandard and incomplete.(Pulmonary Medicine)
July 1, 2007... SAN DIEGO -- An increasing number of allergy tests are available on the Internet, and many are of unproven value, Dr. Helen Smith reported during a poster session at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology....

Neurologic sequelae tied to gastric bypass surgery.(Neurology)
July 1, 2007... A retrospective review of 26 patients presenting with disabling neurologic symptoms weeks to years after undergoing bariatric surgery illustrates the breadth of the potential neurologic sequelae and the lifelong risk of nutritional deficiencies...

Add-on agent boosts control of Parkinson's.(Neurology)
July 1, 2007... BOSTON -- The addition of safinamide to ongoing dopamine agonist monotherapy lessened motor and cognitive symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease, according to the results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, multinational phase III...

Brain tumor risk not tied to cell phone use.(Neurology)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Cell phone users do not appear to have an overall increased risk of developing brain tumors, according to the results of a meta-analysis of nine case-control studies. Dr. Peter Kan and his associates at the University of Utah,...

Opioid regulations are widely misunderstood.(Neurology)
July 1, 2007... SALT LAKE CITY -- State laws governing the availability and use of opioid analgesics are becoming less onerous, but confusion and misunderstanding persist among regulators and practitioners, according to David E. Joranson. States "are more...

Combo therapy best for taming neuropathic pain.(Neurology)
July 1, 2007... NEW ORLEANS -- Antidepressants and anriepileptics are both effective in treating neuropathic pain, but a combination performs best, according to Dr. Damon Robinson. Dr. Robinson and colleagues found that nearly 80% of patients who took a...

Lung transplants succeed in select older patients.(Geriatrics)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Patients who are age 65 or older can successfully undergo lung transplantation, based on an experience with 48 patients treated at a single center. "Our results suggest that a select group of older patients can safely undergo...

Many PPI scripts may be unnecessary in elderly.(Geriatrics)(proton pump inhibitors)
July 1, 2007... SEATTLE -- Almost one-third of prescriptions for proton pump inhibitors in the elderly may be unnecessary, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Geriatrics Society. Long-term use of a PPI can delay the...

PPIs overused in elderly at transfer into nursing facilities.(Geriatrics)(proton pump inhibitor)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2007... HOLLYWOOD, FLA. -- Many elderly patients might be entering nursing facilities on a proton pump inhibitor that is unnecessary, according to research presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Directors Association. In a study...

Osteoporosis-related fractures costly in elderly: fewer than half of osteoporosis patients received drug treatment, which averaged $500 per patient.(Geriatrics)
July 1, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Osteoporosis-associated fractures among patients 65 and older cost an estimated $17 billion in 2006, based on an analysis of Medicare claims and payment data presented at an international symposium sponsored by the National...

Previous falls and age over 80 years predict future falls.(Geriatrics)
July 1, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Postmenopausal women with a prior fall or those 80 years of age or older have a significantly greater risk of having a subsequent fall, according to data presented at an international symposium sponsored by the National...

Dual treatment best for co-occurring disorders.(Psychiatry)
July 1, 2007... MIAMI -- In people with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, optimal treatment consists of brief screening and ongoing monitoring by primary care physicians, coupled with addiction psychiatry assessment and treatment,...

Adding alcohol intervention can improve smoking cessation results.(Psychiatry)
July 1, 2007... AUSTIN, TEX. -- Adding a brief alcohol intervention to treatment for smoking cessation can improve patients' odds of quitting smoking, Christopher Kahler, Ph.D., reported at the annual meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and...

Brief stop-smoking advice as useful as other interventions.(Psychiatry)
July 1, 2007... NEW ORLEANS -- Behavioral interventions aimed at smoking cessation showed modest albeit statistically significant efficacy in a new meta-analysis of 51 randomized controlled trials totaling nearly 27,000 smokers, Salvatore Mottillo reported at...

After disasters, assume resilience, not pathology.(Psychiatry)
July 1, 2007... RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. -- The first principle of psychiatric assistance for survivors of a disaster--and the principle most often overlooked--is that most people do not become psychiatrically ill afterward, Dr. Carol S. North said. She and...

Intervention aims to curb violence in military families.(Psychiatry)
July 1, 2007... CAMP PENDLETON, CALIF. -- A family-focused intervention has helped curb domestic violence among Marine Corps families in Southern California, a judge said at an international conference on civilian and military combat stress. Judge Pamela...

New SAMHSA Web page focuses on vets.(Psychiatry)(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)(Website overview)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Web site has a new page called "Resources for Returning Veterans and Their Families." The site contains a searchable directory of mental health and substance abuse services...

New HIV cases still increasing in MSM population.(Infectious Diseases)(men who have sex with men)(Human immunodeficiency virus)
July 1, 2007... SAN FRANCISCO -- New HIV and AIDS cases still occur most commonly in the gay male population, and one of the reasons may be because a substantial proportion of infected persons do not know that they are infected. "We increasingly have been...

HAART halt did not lead to neuro decline.(Infectious Diseases)(Highly active antiretroviral therapy)
July 1, 2007... LOS ANGELES -- Relatively healthy individuals who opted to discontinue highly active antiretroviral therapy did not appear to suffer any neurocognitive repercussions and in fact performed better on a standard battery of neuropsychological tests...

Chlamydia screening shortfall has dire results.(Infectious Diseases)
July 1, 2007... SAN DIEGO -- Roughly two-thirds of new chlamydia cases are currently being missed because of lax attention to screening guidelines by primary care physicians, obstetrician gynecologists, and pediatricians, Dr. David E. Soper said at the annual...

Antimicrobial medical garb considered by FDA.(Infectious Diseases)
July 1, 2007... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- Clinical data would be needed to back manufacturers' claims that medical and surgical gowns, gloves, and masks containing antimicrobial agents prevent infections, when these types of products are reviewed for approval,...

Mumps outbreak points to system weaknesses.(Infectious Diseases)
July 1, 2007... KANSAS CITY, MO. -- The resurgence of mumps in 2006 was unexpected but provided the medical community with some valuable lessons, two infectious disease experts reported at the National Immunization Conference sponsored by the Centers for...

Poor post-MI outcomes in women tied to depression.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(myocardia infarction)
July 1, 2007... ORLANDO -- The higher incidence of depression after a myocardial infarction in women, compared with men, contributes to the worse outcomes that women face, according to data from a study with more than 2,400 patients. "The clinical...

Diesel exhaust triggers myocardial ischemia.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
July 1, 2007... NEW ORLEANS -- Brief inhalation of dilute diesel exhaust at levels comparable to those encountered curbside along city streets promotes myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary heart disease, Dr. David E. Newby reported at the annual...

Depression lowers adherence to cardiac rehab programs.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Depressed or anxious patients who are referred to cardiac rehabilitation programs are significantly more likely to comply poorly or have a poorer outcome than are patients without the conditions, Angele McGrady, Ph.D., reported at...

Mild renal impairment increases risk of AF.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
July 1, 2007... DENVER -- Mild renal impairment constitutes an important new predictor of new-onset atrial fibrillation, Dr. Nicholas S. Peters reported at the annual meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society. The most likely pathophysiologic mechanism for this...

Psychosocial factors increase risk of death and CVD events.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(cardiovascular diseases)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Psychosocial risk factors contribute a level of risk for cardiovascular events in clinically symptomatic women similar to that of the traditional major risk factors, Thomas Rutledge, Ph.D., reported at the annual meeting of the...

Endocarditis prophylaxis.(THE EFFECTIVE PHYSICIAN)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2007... The American Heart Association has issued guidance for the prevention of endocarditis for more than 50 years, and recently issued its first update in a decade. The new guidelines markedly reduce the number of patients who should receive...

Fish oil fails to boost secondary CVD prevention.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
July 1, 2007... NEW ORLEANS -- The value of fish oil for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease events was placed in some doubt with results from a diet study that involved about 200 patients. "We saw no difference between the American Heart...

Hawthorn safe but not effective in heart failure.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
July 1, 2007... NEW ORLEANS -- Hawthorn extract, a widely used over-the-counter remedy, was found to be safe in heart failure patients in the first large, randomized, placebo-controlled mortality trial involving an herbal compound. At several time points...

Standard hepatitis C treatment highly effective.(Gastroenterology)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Findings from the largest study of the standard treatment for hepatitis C infection, peg-interferon and ribavirin, indicate that nearly all patients achieved a durable sustained virologic response--a cure, in the words of Dr. Mark...

Serum markers may help diagnose nonalcoholic fatty liver.(Gastroenterology)
July 1, 2007... GLASGOW, SCOTLAND -- Serum fibrosis markers--currently used as a research tool--have high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing more severe forms of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, according to a presentation at the Diabetes U.K. Annual...

Pillcam shows promise for colorectal screening.(Gastroenterology)
July 1, 2007... WASHINGTON -- In a multicenter study, capsule endoscopy showed promise in the detection of significant colorectal polyps, and the technique may someday offer a noninvasive alternative to conventional colonoscopy, Dr. Jacques Deviere said at the...

Aspirin's chemopreventive effects seen 10 years after Tx initiation.(Gastroenterology)
July 1, 2007... Taking 300 mg of aspirin daily for at least 5 years was shown to prevent colorectal cancer in an analysis of two large randomized trials. The effect was seen beginning 10 years after treatment was initiated. Although this strategy might be...

Aspirin may reduce risk of certain colorectal cancers.(Gastroenterology)
July 1, 2007... Regular aspirin use for at least 10 years appears to reduce the risk of colorectal cancers that overexpress cyclooxygenase-2, Dr. Andrew T. Chan and his associates reported. The researchers mailed questionnaires every 2 years to 121,701...

IBS drug pipeline offers some promise.(Gastroenterology)(Irritable bowel syndrome)
July 1, 2007... MILWAUKEE -- There are a number of drugs in the developmental pipeline that likely will offer benefits to different categories of patients with irritable bowel syndrome, Dr. William D. Chey reported at an international symposium sponsored by...

Hotline focuses on colorectal ca.(Gastroenterology)(Patient Advocate Foundation Colorectal CareLine)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The Patient Advocate Foundation is offering the Colorectal CareLine, a hotline designed to assist people who have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer and are seeking education and access to care. The CareLine is staffed by case managers...

Probiotics for irritable bowel syndrome.(ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE)
July 1, 2007... History and Rationale for Use The concept of probiotics as beneficial for intestinal health began with Nobel Prize-winning Russian scientist Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov. He viewed the large intestine as a vestigial organ that harbored dangerous,...

New certificate option endorsed for internists.(Practice Trends)
July 1, 2007... Over the next several months, officials at the American Board of Internal Medicine will be developing requirements for enhanced certification in comprehensive internal medicine. The new optional certification would be called Recognition of...

Most internists surveyed would not choose primary care again.(DATA WATCH)(Statistical table)(Survey)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Most Internists Surveyed Would Not Choose Primary Care Again Would stay in primary care 23% Would become a surgical/diagnostic specialist 46% Would not choose medicine 31% Note: Based on...

IOM offers smoking measures.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... A combination of increased excise taxes, nationwide indoor smoking bans, and other measures would significantly lower the U.S. smoking rate, which now hovers at around 21% of the adult population, according to a report from the Institute of...

Retiree plans offer Rx coverage.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... A majority of retiree health benefit sponsors said that for 2006 they continued to offer prescription drug coverage, despite the availability of the new Medicare Part D drug benefit, according to a Government Accountability Office report. Most...

Group medical costs rise.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The cost of providing group health benefits to employees increased sharply during the past 6 months, with the vast majority of employers, regardless of business size, paying significantly more for account renewals than in the fall of 2006,...

AMA fights Medicare cuts.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Survey)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Physicians report that they will severely limit the numbers of Medicare patients they treat if Congress doesn't act to avert planned Medicare physician payment cuts, which will total 10% on Jan. 1, 2008, and will reach about 40% over the next 9...

Call to share student mental info.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives would allow schools and universities to share a student's mental health information with parents or guardians, but only if the student is considered a danger to himself or others. Rep. Tim Murphy...

Bipolar disorder more common.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Survey)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... A new survey indicates that as many as 4% of American adults might have bipolar disorder at some point in their lifetime, higher than the 1% prevalence found in previous surveys. Researchers from the National Institute of Mental Health queried...

Paths to practice success: two physicians' stories.(Practice Trends)
July 1, 2007... SAN DIEGO -- Physicians are finding ways to redesign their practices and improve efficiency, both with and without the use of electronic medical records. Dr. Kevin D. Egly of Sandwich, Ill., has used his comprehensive electronic medical...

GAO report prompts hearing on nursing homes.(Practice Trends)(Government Accountability Office )(Report)
July 1, 2007... The Government Accountability Office has called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to strengthen enforcement for nursing facilities that violate federal quality standards, particularly those with histories of deficiencies. The...