Internal Medicine News articles from June 2004

Internal Medicine News archives from June 2004

Enhanced external counterpulsation for RLS.(Neurology)(restless legs syndrome)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Enhanced external counterpulsation therapy appears to markedly improve the symptoms of restless legs syndrome, according to the findings of an intriguing albeit highly preliminary pilot study. The most exciting observation...

Keep restless legs syndrome in mind.(Neurology)
June 1, 2004... BETHESDA, MD. -- Physicians owe it to their patients to learn about restless legs syndrome, a neurologic disorder that usually presents as a sleep complaint and is remarkably disabling--more than even most sleep experts appreciate, Dr. Mark W....

Ten highest selling prescription drugs in 2003.(Vital Signs)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 1, 2004... VITAL SIGNS Ten Highest Selling Prescription Drugs in 2003 2003 Sales % Growth ($Billions) From 2002 Lipitor (atorvastatin) 6.8 11 Zocor (simvastatin) ...

Ultralow-dose estradiol boosts BMD after age 60: unopposed hormone led to 3% rise in spinal BMD in women after 2 years.(News)(bone mineral density)
June 1, 2004... PHILADELPHIA -- A quarter of the standard, hormone-therapy estradiol dose was safe and effective for boosting bone mineral density in postmenopausal women aged 60-80 years in a randomized trial with 417 women. After 2 years, women who used...

Panel eyes 'black cloud on Medicare's horizon': annual fee cuts of 5% to begin in 2006.(News)
June 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Last year's Medicare reform legislation forestalled cuts to the physician fee schedule for the next couple of years, but starting in 2006, doctors are in line for 5% annual cuts in payment for the following 6 years. At a...

Medicare overpayments could offset physician pay increases.(News)
June 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Congress could tap into the overpayments made to Medicare Advantage plans to help offset the cost of adequately reimbursing Medicare physicians, House Democrats proposed at a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Health...

FDA under fire for Plan B decision, OC labeling: 'this was a hairsplitting decision, and the hairsplitting has no basis in science.'.(News)(oral contraceptives)
June 1, 2004... The Food and Drug Administration's recent decision against over-the-counter status for the emergency contraceptive pill known as Plan B enraged many women's health advocates, who say the decision marks a departure from science and represents a...

NuvaRing still effective if used with broad-spectrum oral antibiotics.(News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... MIAMI BEACH -- Concomitant use of broad-spectrum oral antibiotics does not appear to affect absorption of the combination hormones released by the NuvaRing vaginal contraceptive device, reported Peter Dogterom, Ph.D. Dr. Dogterom and his...

Rosuvastatin helps lipids in metabolic syndrome.(News)
June 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Rosuvastatin has a more favorable effect on the dyslipidemic pattern characteristic of the metabolic syndrome than do the other approved statins, Dr. Prakash C. Deedwania reported at the annual meeting of the American College of...

The face of medicine.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... Medicine is, and has always been, a charitable profession--not only in a financial sense, but in a personal and spiritual sense ("Internists Grapple with Charity Care," March 1, 2004, p. 1). The failure of policy makers to recognize that...

Tort Reform opposition.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... I read with interest the article "Specialty Societies Join Forces in Campaign for Federal Tort Reform" (March 1, 2004, p. 110). The article implies that only Democrats oppose tort reform. There is, however, at least one Republican senator...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
June 1, 2004... The article "Carvedilol Praised for Its Antidiabetic Effects" (March 1, 2004, p. 77) should have stated that "the difference between carvedilol and the other [beta]-blockers amounted to a 25%-40% change in insulin sensitivity." The article...

Treating psoriatic arthritis.(Guest Editorial)
June 1, 2004... The time has come to start considering tumor necrosis factor-inhibiting agents as early therapy, if not first-line therapy, for patients with psoriatic arthritis. The inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) with biologic therapies is...

Is it useful to label a patient with fibromyalgia?(Pro & Con)
June 1, 2004... YES Like Dr. Wolfe, I was part of the team that helped define fibromyalgia with the creation of the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria. But unlike Dr. Wolfe, I believe that the label that these criteria define is still a...

Gay men at higher risk for depression.(Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... Gay men are significantly more likely than adult U.S. men in general to be clinically depressed or distressed, reported Dr. Thomas C. Mills and his colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco. Based on an analysis of...

Past depression boosts risk of physical problems.(Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Middle-aged women who have a history of depression are at increased risk for physical and functional problems even if they are not currently depressed, Joyce Bromberger, Ph.D., reported at the annual meeting of the American...

Binge drinking may be rising in young adults.(Psychiatry)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The prevalence of binge drinking among young adults decreased from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, but may be rising among current drinkers, reported Dr. Mary K. Serdula and her colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ...

Genetics may affect nicotine patch's success.(Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... Nicotine patch replacement therapy seems to be more effective in women who have a specific variant genotype. Such a genetic effect on response therapy was not seen in men, reported Dr. Patricia Yudkin and her associates of the University of...

Adults unaware of how smoking hurts children.(Psychiatry)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... OLD GREENWICH, CONN. -- Adults knew lots of reasons why smoking is bad for them in a recent study. What few knew is how it hurts children, Dr. Iman Sharif reported at a meeting of the Eastern Society for Pediatric Research. Only a third of...

Use your power to help patients quit smoking: about 5% of patients will quit smoking after just one 3-minute, clear message from a physician.(Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Yes, you can get your patients to quit smoking. Physicians "really do have the tools to get people to quit smoking. We need to give patients a clear and unambiguous message," Dr. William C. Bailey said at the annual meeting...

Anti-TNF Tx for resistant Takayasu's arteritis.(Rheumatology)(tumor necrosis factor )
June 1, 2004... SNOWMASS, COLO -- Anti-tumor necrosis factor therapies show great promise in the treatment of Takayasu's arteritis resistant to conventional high-dose corticosteroids, Dr. Gary S. Hoffman reported at a symposium sponsored by the American...

Fibromyalgia disturbs sensory volume control.(Rheumatology)
June 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- Fibromyalgia research suggests that the condition is a diffuse problem of sensory volume control in which patients' thresholds are altered not just to pain, but to other stimuli such as heat, noise, and strong odors, Dr. Daniel...

Duloxetine benefits women with fibromyalgia, not men.(Rheumatology)
June 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Duloxetine improves fibromyalgia symptoms significantly more than placebo in women with the condition, but the dual serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake blocker appears ineffective in men, Dr. Lesley M. Arnold said at the annual...

It's confirmed: meat and seafood raise risk of gout, dairy foods lower it.(Rheumatology)
June 1, 2004... A 12-year study has largely confirmed the conventional wisdom about the dietary causes of gout. Diets high in purine-rich beef, pork, lamb, and seafood were found to increase the risk of gout. Diets high in dairy foods that are rich with...

New gout quality-of-care standards take aim at medication-related errors.(Rheumatology)
June 1, 2004... Newly released quality of care indicators for the management of gout aim to improve treatment efficacy, while stemming the frequency of medication-related errors. Gout care is often suboptimal, and the new indicators will help define...

Imaging unit simplifies hip, spine scans.(Rheumatology)
June 1, 2004... MIAMI -- A densitometer with a movable detector system that allows hip and spine scans to be combined into one exam doesn't appear to compromise accuracy or precision, according to the findings of an independent assessment. The new device,...

Try behavioral Tx first for urinary incontinence.(Urology)
June 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Treatment of urinary incontinence in the elderly involves a multifaceted stepwise approach using behavior therapy first, and then medications, Dr. Michelle S. Eslami said at the annual meeting of the American College of...

Handouts spur interest in prostate ca screening; patients given handouts in the waiting room were more likely to ask their doctor about screening.(Urology)
June 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Use of a simple patient-education tool in populations with low health literacy may help promote patient-physician discussions about prostate cancer screening. Little research has been done to examine how to best promote such...

Brothers of men with prostate cancer fail to learn about risks.(Urology)
June 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- Even when they have a brother diagnosed with prostate cancer, most men acknowledge that they know little about the disease and do not undergo screening that could save their lives, according to a study conducted at the University of...

Daily aspirin associated with lower prostate cancer incidence.(Urology)
June 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Daily aspirin use was linked to a 14% reduction in the incidence of prostate cancer in a prospective, observational study in more than 29,000 men. The finding is consistent with the results of prior epidemiologic studies...

RLS noted in 3% of patients making primary care visits.(Neurology)(restless legs syndrome)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- About 3% of all visits to primary care physicians involve patients who are experiencing at least twice-weekly symptoms of restless legs syndrome, which are appreciably impairing their quality of life, according to the findings...

Medications being investigated for restless legs syndrome.(Neurology)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Restless legs syndrome, a common and sometimes disabling disorder that's long been below the radar of most nonneurologists, is likely to finally become a hot topic now that effective therapies have been identified in randomized...

Epilepsy guidelines focus on newer agents.(Neurology)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Major new evidence-based guidelines on epilepsy treatment from the American Academy of Neurology encourage physicians to make far greater off-label use of seven antiepileptic medications that have come on the market in the last...

Psychiatric issues cloud frontal lobe epilepsy Dx.(Neurology)
June 1, 2004... BAL HAROUR, FLA. -- Patients with frontal lobe epilepsy experience a very high incidence of psychiatric symptoms that can contribute to misdiagnosis and can unnecessarily delay treatment, Dr. Elliott Lee reported in a poster at the annual...

Concussive brain injuries from blasts overlooked: undiagnosed postconcussive symptoms baffle soldiers and their physicians after their return from combat.(Neurology)
June 1, 2004... BAL HARBOUR, FLA. -- Clinicians across the country are facing the realities of the war in Iraq, as veterans with concussive blast brain injuries rejoin their communities. These soldiers are also giving researchers valuable insight into the way...

Brain injury, loss of consciousness, and PTSD.(Neurology)(Posttraumatic stress disorder )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The loss of consciousness for an extended period after a traumatic brain injury appears to protect against the development of posttraumatic stress disorder, reported Judith Glaesser of the University of Konstanz (Germany) and her colleagues....

Dermatomyositis diagnosis: look for skin clues.(Dermatology)
June 1, 2004... STOWE, VT. -- Skin changes associated with dermatomyositis can hold clues to help manage the disease, but physicians dealing with the systemic condition too often "look through the skin, not at it," Dr. Richard D. Sontheimer said. For the...

Desloratadine improves quality of life in chronic idiopathic urticaria.(Dermatology)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Once-daily desloratadine (5 mg) improved quality of life and decreased sleep disturbance and daily activity disturbance scores for patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria, Dr. J.J. Grob reported in a poster presentation at...

Additional primary melanomas a problem in 12%.(Dermatology)
June 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- One primary cutaneous melanoma was followed by another in 12% of 1,258 patients seen over a 10-year period, and the lesions often appeared many years apart, Dr. William M. Burrows said at a melanoma update sponsored by the Scripps...

Family history is greatest risk for melanoma.(Dermatology)
June 1, 2004... WHISTLER, B.C. -- Belonging to a melanoma-prone family is the single greatest risk factor for the disease, Dr. Sancy Leachman said at a clinical dermatology seminar sponsored by Medicis. For someone with at least one first-degree relative...

After lung transplant, inhaled cyclosporine.(Dermatology)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- An aerosolized cyclosporine preparation that patients inhaled after pulmonary transplantation was associated with a fourfold reduction in mortality, compared with patients on placebo, Dr. Aldo Iacono reported at the annual...

Intranasal steroid improves sleep in allergic rhinitis.(Dermatology)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Intranasal budesonide significantly improved sleep in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis, Dr. Timothy Craig reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Sleep problems...

Adult Cystic Fibrosis care.(The Effective Physician)
June 1, 2004... Background Cystic fibrosis is often considered a pediatric problem; however, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation patient registry reports an average patient age of 16 years and median survival into the third decade of life, with predicted...

Calcium may boost weight loss in low-cal diets.(Dermatology)
June 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Intake of calcium, especially from dairy products, may influence how the body metabolizes energy, Dr. Michael B. Zemel said at a meeting on experimental biology sponsored by the American Physiological Society. Dr. Zemel and...

Tai Chi for fall prevention in the elderly.(Alternative Medicine)
June 1, 2004... History of Use The philosophical origins of the system of slow, controlled, meditative movements known as tai chi lie in the Taoism of ancient China, where, in the sixth century B.C., Lao Tsu wrote in the Tao Te Ching, "Yield and overcome;...

Written test flags poor driving skills.(Dermatology)
June 1, 2004... BAL HARBOUR, FLA. -- The driving scenes test from the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery appears to be an excellent measure of real-world driving skills, Laura Brown, Ph.D., reported in a poster at the annual meeting of the American...

Ovarian ca screening cuts two ways on quality of life.(Dermatology)
June 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Women at increased risk for ovarian cancer who undergo screening for the disease could experience either a positive or negative impact on their quality of life, and physicians who suggest such screening should discuss both...

MRI enhances value of transvaginal ultrasound in adenomyosis diagnosis.(Dermatology)(Magnetic resonance imaging)
June 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- Magnetic resonance imaging offers valuable information following transvaginal ultrasound diagnosis of adenomyosis, Dr. Thomas Zacharia reported at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. Recent studies...

AntiVirus for handhelds, PDA cameras.(personal digital assistants)
June 1, 2004... Featured App: AntiVirus for Handhelds Recent news items or bulletins from system administrators have made us all too familiar with the increasing phenomena of computer viruses and Trojan horse programs. These small fragments of malicious...

Hepatic failure reports added to Zafirlukast label.(Rx)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Reports of life-threatening hepatic failure in people taking zafirlukast for asthma have been reported in patients on the asthma drug and the label has been revised to reflect these reports, according to a Food and Drug Administration Med-watch...

Novartis adds warnings to Zelnorm label.(Rx)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. has changed the professional labeling of Zelnorm (tegaserod maleate) to include new warnings about diarrhea, ischemic colitis, and adverse events. The drug is used for the short-term treatment of women with...

Chronic hepatitis C.(Drug Update)
June 1, 2004... Treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection has improved tremendously over the past decade. The current standard of care is a regimen that combines a pegylated, long-acting form of interferon plus the oral antiviral ribavirin. This...

Drug reimportation debate is still heating up: any new drug reimportation legislation needs to ensure that reimported drugs are FDA approved.(Rx)(Food & Drug Administration)
June 1, 2004... For Dr. Ronald 1. Blum of Island Falls, Maine, the national debate on drug reimportation is old news. As a family physician whose practice is just 25 miles from the Canadian border, Dr. Blum said he estimates that at least one in 10 and...

St. John's Wort can affect metabolism of the cancer medication imatinib.(Rx)
June 1, 2004... MIAMI BEACH -- St. John's Wort can alter the clinical effectiveness of the cancer drug imatinib and could lead to a relapse of disease among patients taking both products concomitantly, Reginald Frye, Ph.D., reported at the annual meeting of...

FDA adds new rules for over-the-counter labeling.(Rx)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Oral over-the-counter drugs that contain specific levels of calcium, magnesium, sodium, or potassium must now include the amount of these ingredients in the labeling, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The change is aimed at...

Protonix I.V. reformulation.(Products)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The reformulation of acid suppressant Protonix I.V. (pantoprazole sodium) for injection is approved for 2-minute or 15-minute infusion regimens. For more information, contact Wyeth Pharmaceuticals at 800-934-5556 or visit their Web site at...

Rapid influenza test.(Products)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The QuickVue Influenza A+B test is available for rapid diagnosis of acute influenza type A or B. The test uses a nasal swab or nasal aspirate sample and delivers results in 10 minutes. For more information, contact Quidel Corp. at 800-874-1517...

Nasal mask minimizes contact.(Products)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The ComfortLite nasal mask is smaller and lighter than others in the Comfort mask series. It offers two interchangeable cushions to provide minimal mask contact. For more information, contact Respironics Inc., 800-345-6443, www.respironics.com....

Automatic checks for glucose testing.(Products)(Ascensia Contour)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The Ascensia Contour blood glucose monitoring system automatically corrects for several common testing mistakes, such as detecting improper sample size and adjusting for variations in temperature. For more information, contact Bayer...

Prenatal vitamin with folate.(Products)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Prenate Elite prenatal vitamin is now available. This new formula contains Metafolin (L-methylfolate), the biologically active form of folate. For more information, contact First Horizon Pharmaceutical Corp., 866-846-4731, www.prenate.com.

Lower strength of hectorol.(Products)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Hectorol (doxercalciferol) 0.5-[micro]g capsules are approved for the management of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with moderate to severe chronic renal insufficiency who are not yet on dialysis. For more information, contact Bone...

Extended-release metformin.(Products)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Fortamet (metformin HCI) extended-release tablets in 500-mg and 1,000-mg doses are approved for use as an adjunct to diet and exercise to treat patients with type 2 diabetes. For more information, contact Andrx Corp., 800-621-7143 ext. 7254,...

Apidra approved for diabetes.(Products)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Apidra (insulin glulisine [rDNA origin]) injection is approved for the treatment of adult patients with diabetes mellitus for the control of hyperglycemia. The rapid acting insulin analogue is available for injection or insulin pump. For more...

Imaging software tracks skin moles.(Products)(DermAlert software)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... DermAlert software allows patients at risk for melanoma to track new and changing skin moles. The software compares images that are taken using a digital camera. For more information, contact DermAlert Inc., 866-461-3376, www.dermalert.com.

Saline nasal wash for rhinitis.(Products)(SinuCleanse)(Med-System Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The SinuCleanse nasal wash system is a drug-free treatment option for patients suffering from sinusitis, congestion, and rhinitis. The system, sold for $14.95, includes a neti pot, saline solution packets, and instructions. For more...

Urinalysis test system.(Products)(Urisys 1100)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The Urisys 1100 urinalysis system has a 100-result memory and can interface with a PC or network. The system uses Chemstrip urine test strips. For more information, contact Roche Diagnostics Corp., 317-521-2000, www.diavant.com.

Decapper removes vial seals.(Products)(Kebby Industries Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The plier decapper removes crimped aluminum seals from vials and bottles. The tool comes in 8 mm, 11 mm, 13 mm, 20 mm, and 30 mm sizes and can be sterilized or autoclaved. For more information, contact Kebby Industries Inc., 815-963-1466,...

Medical records service.(Products)(Mobile Medical Information Services)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Mobile Medical Information Services allows patients to compile all of their medical records in one place for easy access. With patient authorization, physicians can have access to a patient's complete medical history. For more information,...

Vioxx for migraines.(Products)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Vioxx (rofecoxib) oral tablets are approved for the acute treatment of migraine in adults. For more information, contact Merck & Co., 908-423-1000, or visit www.vioxx.com.

LVAD users rarely cross bridge to recovery.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(left ventricular assist device )
June 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- A left ventricular assist device permits myocardial recovery sufficient for device explantation without heart transplantation in a disappointingly small fraction of patients with chronic heart failure, according to the first...

Adding eplerenone to optimal Rx adds value.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
June 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Routine addition of eplerenone to optimal multidrug therapy in patients with heart failure following an acute MI is highly cost effective, Dr. William S. Weintraub said at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology....

Long-term use of anticoagulants cuts in-hospital mortality by 38%.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- The long-term use of anticoagulants in patients with congestive heart failure treated in community hospitals rose by 56% from 1999 to 2002--with an associated marked reduction in in-hospital mortality and acute renal failure, Dr....

Sildenafil for pulmonary HT.(Clinical Capsules)(hypertension)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... A small, randomized, controlled trial has confirmed what several uncontrolled studies had suggested: Sildenafil improves exercise tolerance, cardiac index, and quality of life for patients with primary pulmonary hypertension, reported Dr....

MRI safe with pacemaker.(Clinical Capsules)(magnetic resonance imaging)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The presence of a pacemaker should no longer be considered an absolute contraindication to MRI, according to Dr. Edward T. Martin of the Oklahoma Heart Institute, Tulsa, and his associates. In their prospective study of 54 consecutive...

[beta]-Blockers, even with allergies?(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... [beta]-Blockers improve survival in heart disease patients who are also at risk for anaphylaxis, even though the drugs may render emergency epinephrine treatment ineffective, according to Dr. John A. Tenbrook of Tufts-New England Medical...

Walnuts improve vasodilation.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Walnuts improve vasodilation and reduce levels of vascular adhesion molecules--beneficial cardiovascular effects that extend beyond walnuts' known ability to reduce cholesterol, reported Dr. Emilio Ros and his associates at August Pi I Sunyer...

Enoxaparin matches heparin's efficacy in ACS.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(acute coronary syndrome )
June 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- In a major trial with more than 10,000 patients, enoxaparin was as effective as unfractionated heparin in patients who had acute coronary syndrome and no ST-segment elevation and who underwent early coronary catheterization. ...

Early stress test can be done safely after acute coronary syndrome.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
June 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- A stress test can safely be done within 72 hours of onset of acute coronary syndrome in patients receiving aggressive antithrombotic therapy, based on data from 847 patients. "These are the first study results to show the...

Anxiety plus depression common following MI.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(myocardial infarction)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Symptoms of anxiety and depression are common and strongly associated with development of clinical depression in patients with myocardial infarction, Johan Denollet, Ph.D., reported at the annual meeting of the American...

Refining ablate-and-pace Tx for chronic atrial fib: 'biventricular pacing should be the preferred mode of therapy in patients undergoing AV nodal ablation.'.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
June 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Biventricular pacing resulted in markedly better functional capacity than standard right ventricular pacing in the first large multicenter randomized comparative trial in patients undergoing ablate-and-pace therapy for chronic...

ACE inhibitors cut shock rate for ventricular arrhythmias.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor)
June 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy markedly reduces the rate of shocks for ventricular arrhythmias in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, Dr. Fei Lu reported at the annual meeting of the American...

Large database solves obesity paradox in PCI outcomes.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(percutaneous coronary intervention)
June 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- The obesity paradox of percutaneous coronary intervention is real, but largely explicable by the demographic and comorbidity characteristics of obese patients. The obesity paradox, which dates to the early days of...

Vaccines cut hospitalizations in nursing homes.(Infectious Diseases)
June 1, 2004... PHILADELPHIA -- Immunization against influenza and pneumococci led to substantial reductions in the hospitalization rate of nursing home residents in a study of more than 35,000 people. These results are the first to show the positive...

FluMist flop may stymie vaccine development.(Infectious Diseases)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Last year's experience with the FluMist vaccine will put a chill on the development of other new, live vaccines for some time to come, Dr. Harry B. Greenberg predicted at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy,...