Internal Medicine News articles from June 2006

Internal Medicine News archives from June 2006

New teams focus on rapid response.(News)
June 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- It was 8 a.m., and a nurse at Kaiser Permanente's Santa Clara (Calif.) Medical Center was puzzled about a patient who had been admitted for a small bowel obstruction. Everything seemed fine, but the patient was hypotensive. What...

Percentage of IMGs in primary care increasing.(VITAL SIGNS)
June 1, 2006... Percentage of IMGs in Primary Care Increasing Source: American Medical Association ELSEVIER GLOBAL MEDICAL NEWS

Hip protectors fail to benefit nursing home residents: randomized U.S. trial shows no benefit.(News)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- The first randomized controlled trial of hip protectors in U.S. nursing home residents was unable to detect a protective effect, even in residents with high compliance. European and Asian studies have resulted in conflicting...

Naltrexone-based therapy best for alcoholic patients.(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- A study that is perhaps the most important conducted on alcohol dependence treatment in recent years has found that the use of the opiate antagonist naltrexone reduces drinking, but the use of acamprosate does not. The study,...

Fight nursing home flu outbreaks on two fronts.(News)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- For substantial reduction of influenza outbreaks in nursing facilities to be achieved, immunization rates of both staff and residents must be high, a new study suggests. In a retrospective study of 301 nursing facilities operated...

FDA panel reviews nitroglycerin for anal fissure: opinion was divided on whether three phase III trials demonstrated a 'clinically meaningful' effect.(Food and Drug Administration)
June 1, 2006... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel reached a mixed verdict on whether to recommend 0.4% nitroglycerin ointment for the treatment of pain associated with chronic anal fissures. Half of the 12 voting members...

A spoonful of jelly may ease pills down the esophagus.(News)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Using jelly, applesauce, or another semisolid chaser instead of water is a better way to have patients swallow pills or tablets, particularly in patients with dysphagia. Pills that are swallowed with water tend to get...

Vitamin D may reduce risk of breast cancer.(News)
June 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Women who are exposed to plenty of vitamin D, especially early in life, are less likely to develop breast cancer than are women with a history of less exposure, according to data from two studies presented at the annual meeting of...

HT report based on 'flawed study'.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... Imagine my consternation upon your advising against hormone therapy based on the Women's Health Initiative--now discredited as a flawed study ("WHI Documented Risks of Hormone Therapy," April 1, 2006, p. 15). A recent study from Brigham...

Faith in pomegranate juice.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... The report about Dr. Dean Ornish's pomegranate juice trial was very impressive ("Pomegranate for Cardiovascular Disease," Alternative Medicine, April 1, 2006, p. 51). I have been using pom juice in my practice for the last 3 years, and I...

MIST: not the end of the story.(Migraine Intervention with starflex Technology)
June 1, 2006... For years the exact relationship, if any, between migraine and patent foramen ovale was long on speculation and short on data. In the late 1990s, anecdotal evidence began to hint at some relationship when migraineurs who had a PFO closed for...

Is brain imaging clinically useful in psychiatry?(PRO & CON)
June 1, 2006... YES Psychiatry is the only medical specialty that rarely looks at the organ it treats. Yet if mental disorders and aberrant behaviors are related to functional brain problems, and if single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)...

Bronchoscopic procedure targets severe asthma.(Pulmonary Medicine)
June 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- An investigational bronchoscopic procedure marketed as Bronchial Thermoplasty may offer an effective, safe, and permanent treatment for the small proportion of patients with severe asthma that cannot be controlled with...

Asthma deaths declining overall, most common in elderly.(Pulmonary Medicine)
June 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- Preliminary data from a fatal asthma registry suggest that asthma deaths continue to decline and are more common in the elderly, Dr. Carlos Camargo Jr. said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and...

Late-onset anaphylaxis to omalizumab reported.(Pulmonary Medicine)(Drug overview)
June 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- Two patients developed anaphylaxis in response to the popular allergic asthma medication omalizumab after months of successful treatment, Dr. Kursteen Price reported in a poster at the annual meeting of the American Academy of...

Annual CT scan for smokers safer at older ages.(Pulmonary Medicine)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... BETHESDA, MD. -- For smokers, the benefits of annual lung cancer screening with helical CT scanning may outweigh any risks in older patients, according to new estimates presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Preventive...

Lung cancer resection tied to 6% mortality for octogenarians.(Pulmonary Medicine)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- Congestive heart failure and previous myocardial infarction significantly increase the risk of death in octogenarians undergoing pulmonary resection for lung cancer, a retrospective analysis shows. Surprisingly, prior myocardial...

Three plasma assays predict lung cancer progression in small study.(Pulmonary Medicine)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Pretreatment plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor, IGF-binding protein 3, and vascular endothelial growth factor were highly predictive of disease outcomes in a study of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer,...

Probability of developing invasive lung and bronchus cancers by age.(DATA WATCH)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Probability of Developing Invasive Lung And Bronchus Cancers by Age Notes: For those free of cancer at beginning of age interval. Based on cancer cases diagnosed during 2000-2002. Sources: National Cancer Institute, American Cancer...

Nasal spray shows promise for allergic rhinitis.(Pulmonary Medicine)
June 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- A new intranasal corticosteroid available as a hypotonic solution significantly reduced nasal symptoms associated with perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults and adolescents in two phase III trials. Based on the...

New assay promising for confirming anaphylaxis.(Pulmonary Medicine)
June 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- Mast cell carboxypeptidase shows promise as a new clinical marker for anaphylaxis, Dr. Xiaoying Zhou and her associates reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Assays for...

ED treatment of acute allergic reaction assessed.(Pulmonary Medicine)(Emergency department)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- Autoinjectable epinephrine is underprescribed to patients presenting with acute allergic reactions in emergency departments, Dr. Sreenivasrao Amara reported in a poster at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy,...

Treating comorbid rhinitis improves sleep apnea.(Pulmonary Medicine)(Disease/Disorder overview)
June 1, 2006... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- All patients with obstructive sleep apnea should be evaluated and treated for rhinitis, an extremely common coexisting condition, Dr. Robert Ballard said at a meeting sponsored by the National Jewish Medical and Research...

FDA holds up guidelines on generic insulin, HGH.(Food and Drug Administration )(human growth hormones)
June 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration plans to hold off on issuing approval guidelines for generic insulin and human growth hormones, despite pressure from congressional leaders. Instead, the agency will offer broader guidance on follow-on...

More than 20% of diabetics nonadherent to key meds.(Endocrinology)
June 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- More than one in five diabetic patients are nonadherent to their key medications--and the consequences soon show up in increased rates of hospitalization and mortality, Dr. P. Michael Ho said at the annual meeting of the American...

Sleep apnea may worsen insulin resistance in women with PCOS.(Endocrinology)(polycystic ovary syndrome)
June 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- A high risk for sleep apnea was common in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and was linked to high fasting insulin levels, Dr. Esra Tasali reported at a conference sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. Among...

Paget's disease of bone.(biphosphonates administration )(Disease/Disorder overview)
June 1, 2006... Paget's disease of bone can be focal or multifocal and affects both men and women. A patient with Paget's may be asymptomatic or may present with musculoskeletal pain or disability. The disease occurs in 2% of people older than age 60, and is...

Goiter: boost thyroxine if gastric acid low.(Endocrinology)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... Patients with multinodular goiter required a thyroxine dosage increase of 22%-34% if they had impaired secretion of stomach acids, results from a large controlled study demonstrated. The finding suggests that "normal gastric acid secretion...

Early conventional polytherapy slows RA course.(rheumatoid arthritis)
June 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- In the era of biologically active agents for rheumatoid arthritis, it is worth remembering that early treatment with other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs such as methotrexate, either alone or in combination, also can preserve...

In early active RA, adding infliximab to methotrexate found beneficial.(rheumatoid arthritis)(Drug overview)
June 1, 2006... The patients with early rheumatoid arthritis who are most likely to benefit from early introduction of infliximab plus high-dose methotrexate are those with high C-reactive protein levels, a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate, or persistent...

Best first-line drug for OA is debatable.(Oral acetaminophen )
June 1, 2006... Oral acetaminophen is the drug of first choice for patients with osteoarthritis, reported Dr. Bernard Bannwarth. "According to current guidelines, this drug is the oral analgesic to try first and, if successful, the preferred long-term oral...

Bromelain for osteoarthritis.(ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... History of Use Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme present in the stem and fruit of the pineapple plant (Ananas comosus), which was encountered by Christopher Columbus in Guadaloupe during his second voyage to the Caribbean in 1493....

Criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome revised.(Rheumatology)
June 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- A group of international experts has revised criteria and issued a consensus statement on the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome following a workshop held in Sydney, Australia, according to Dr. Michael D. Lockshin. The...

New guidelines target diabetic kidney disease.(Nephrology)
June 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- New guidelines developed for the first time by the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative provide detailed information on how to improve clinical outcomes in patients who have both diabetes and chronic kidney disease, Dr. Robert...

Optimize blood pressure control in pregnacy with nephropathy.(Nephrology)
June 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- Tight blood pressure control is crucial in caring for pregnant women with diabetic nephropathy, but medication management must factor in potential fetal risks, Dr. Phyllis August said at a meeting on clinical nephrology sponsored by...

Preeclampsia and LBW infants linked to later kidney disease.(Nephrology)(low birth weights)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... Women who experience preeclampsia and deliver babies with low birth weights or have short gestations may be at increased risk for kidney disease later in life, reported Dr. Bjorn Egil Vikse and his colleagues. In a study of 756,420 women...

National program screens for early kidney disease.(Nephrology)
June 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- A grassroots program aimed at improving early diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease is picking up steam, speakers said at a meeting on clinical nephrology sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation. With...

In-home dialysis becoming an option, with major advantages.(Nephrology)
June 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- New hemodialysis technology is making it easier for more patients to receive this treatment at home, rather than using already burdened dialysis centers. Although very few patients currently use in-home hemodialysis, those who...

Nocturnal hypertension may promote diabetic nephropathy.(Nephrology)(Disease/Disorder overview)
June 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- With the goal of preventing renal complications in type 1 diabetics, nephrologists have begun to focus on subtle increases in nighttime blood pressure as a risk factor for the subsequent development of overt nephropathy. "It is...

Premature ejaculation drug passes tolerance test.(Urology)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... PARIS -- Investigators have reported that an experimental on-demand drug for premature ejaculation was well tolerated in a 9-month open-label extension of two 12-week randomized controlled trials supporting its effectiveness. A total of...

Alfuzosin slows clinical progression of BPH.(benign prostatic hyperplasia)(Drug overview)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... PARIS -- The [alpha]-1 blocker alfuzosin prevented overall clinical progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia but had no impact on acute urinary retention in a 2-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multinational study that enrolled 1,522...

Patient brochure on medical errors.(Urology)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The Patient Safety Authority has released a new brochure to help patients avoid medical errors. "Speak Up: Help Prevent Errors in Your Care" offers tips for ensuring quality care and avoiding medical errors. To download the brochure, visit...

Saw palmetto ineffective vs. prostatic hyperplasia.(Urology)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... Saw palmetto was not significantly more effective than placebo in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, based on results at 1 year in a randomized, double-blind study. Prior randomized clinical trials in which some benefit was seen with...

Carotenoids not linked to lower prostate ca risk.(cancer)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Contrary to previous findings, a high intake of lycopene and other carotenoids was not associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer in a large case-control study, Ulrike Peters, Ph.D., said at the annual meeting of the...

Zoledronic acid protects bone in prostate cancer: the drug reduced the risk of skeletal complications in patients receiving androgen-deprivation therapy.
June 1, 2006... PARIS -- Zoledronic acid significantly reduced repeated skeletal complications in advanced prostate cancer patients and prevented bone loss in men receiving androgen-deprivation therapy, according to two studies presented at the annual congress...

Prostate cancer risk linked to intake of trans fatty acid.(Urology)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- High blood levels of a trans fatty acid found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oil were linked to an increased risk of nonaggressive prostate cancer in a review of data from the Physicians' Health Study, Dr. Jorge E. Chavarro...

Complexed PSA could cut prostate biopsies.(Prostate cancer screening)(Disease/Disorder overview)
June 1, 2006... A prostate cancer-screening strategy using complexed PSA rather than total PSA would reduce the occurrence of needless biopsies without compromising sensitivity, according to a series of analyses that compared the detection accuracy of various...

PSA data can't safely guide treatment decisions.(Prostate cancer diagnosis )(Disease/Disorder overview)
June 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Initial prostate-specific antigen levels at the time of prostate cancer diagnosis and changes in those levels over the next 2 years provide important prognostic clues, but are not definitive enough to inform clinical treatment...

Prostate cancer related to high cholesterol.(Disease/Disorder overview)
June 1, 2006... Hypercholesterolemia was directly associated with the incidence of prostate cancer in a retrospective case-control analysis of nearly 2,800 men. Dr. Francesca Bravi, of the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Milan, and...

Assessing dizzy patients: don't lead the witness.
June 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- Dizziness--a leading reason that patients seek medical care--poses a diagnostic challenge because patients can be easily prompted to mislabel their symptoms, Dr. Martin A. Samuels said at the annual meeting of the American...

Defects found in Diastat syringes for Epilepsy Rx.(Causes and treatment)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration advises patients with epilepsy and their caregivers to check the applicator tips of Diastat AcuDial (diazepam rectal gel) delivery systems for cracks that may result in patients not receiving enough medication...

High-dose Copaxone well tolerated in ms study.(Neurology)
June 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Doubling the approved dose of glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis appeared to be safe and well tolerated in a 9-month study of 90 patients, Dr. Jeffrey A. Cohen reported at the annual meeting of...

Observational scale may aid in Pain assessment: the structured, itemized tool is user friendly and may work better than a subjective impression.(Neurology)
June 1, 2006... NASHVILLE, TENN. -- Pain assessment is moving beyond listening for a patient to say "ouch." One possible way to estimate pain in all patients is to apply an observational scale that was first used on patients with advanced dementia. ...

Don't withhold opioid pain therapy from recovering addicts.
June 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Pain patients with a history of substance abuse who are otherwise appropriate candidates for opioid medications should receive the same consideration from their physician as patients without the disease of addiction, said Dr....

CT angiography effective for low-risk chest pain: the technique quickly excluded clinically significant CAD in 67% of emergency department patients with low-risk chest pain.
June 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Immediate 64-slice CT angiography in patients with low-risk acute chest pain definitively excludes significant coronary artery disease faster--and at less cost--than the standard emergency department work-up, Dr. Gilbert L. Raff said...

MI presentation different in kidney disease: only 44% have chest pain.(Myocardial Infarction)(Disease/Disorder overview)
June 1, 2006... People with kidney disease have a somewhat different symptom profile when they present with acute myocardial infarction than those without kidney disease, reported Dr. Jonathan Sosnov of Tufts--New England Medical Center, Boston, and his...

Depression in elderly tied to risk of chest pain, stroke, heart failure, MI.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... DENVER -- Depression significantly increased the rates of four types of cardiovascular conditions among Medicare patients aged 65 and older, compared with patients without depression, Dr. Lawson R. Wulsin reported in a poster presented at the...

Combined torcetrapib-atorvastatin provides many lipoprotein benefits.
June 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- The novel HDL cholesterol-boosting drug torcetrapib, which is being developed solely as a combination pill with atorvastatin, results in favorable lipoprotein changes of unprecedented magnitude, Dr. Tom Thuren reported at the annual...

Higher statin copays cut adherence by 37%.
June 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Higher prescription statin copayments have unintended negative consequences, Teresa B. Gibson, Ph.D., said at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology. Her study of the health records of more than 93,000 statin...

Pill burden influences patient adherence to heart drugs.
June 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Adherence to concomitant lipid-lowering and antihypertensive medications falls by an average of 9% with each additional background prescription drug a patient is on, Joshua S. Benner, Pharm.D., said at the annual meeting of the...

Could health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids be just a fish story?
June 1, 2006... A systematic review of data on the risks and benefits of omega-3 fatty acids showed no clear benefit for mortality, cardiovascular disease, stroke, or cancer. In a metaanalysis that included 48 randomized, controlled trials and 41 cohort...

JCAHO measures boost heart failure survival.(Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations)
June 1, 2006... MADRID -- The four criteria now used to measure hospitals' performance in treating patients with heart failure also have a significant impact on patient survival, based on a review of more than 2,000 patients. In 2002, the Joint Commission...

Heart failure.(Causes and Treatment)(Disease/Disorder overview)
June 1, 2006... Background Despite recent advances in diagnosis and treatment, heart failure continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality in adults. To help address these issues, the Heart Failure Society of America released guidelines in...

[beta]-blocker at discharge improves HF survival.(Heart Failure)
June 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Predischarge initiation of [beta]-blocker therapy in patients with heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction halved mortality during the next 60-90 days among 5,791 patients in a registry, Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow reported...

Candesartan therapy hikes hyperkalemia risk.(Disease/Disorder overview)
June 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Candesartan therapy triples the already significant background risk of potentially serious hyperkalemia in patients with heart failure, according to a new secondary analysis of the Candesartan in Heart Failure--Assessment of...

BiDil beneficial in HF with low blood pressure.(Heart Failure)(Disease/Disorder overview)
June 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Heart failure patients placed on fixed-dose isosorbide dinitrate-hydralazine derive similar morbidity and mortality benefits regardless of baseline blood pressure, Dr. Inder S. Anand said at the annual meeting of the American College...

Calipers help measure ECGs.(electrocardiograms)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The Cardio Calipers help to quickly and accurately measure electrocardiograms on a computer screen. The calipers run on Windows 2000 and XP operating systems and work with ECGs in any format. For more information, contact Iconico Inc. by...

Test detects influenza A and B.(Clearview Exact Influenza A and B test )(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The Clearview Exact Influenza A & B test detects influenza A and B viral antigens in roughly 15 minutes. The test is designed for use and interpretation by nonlaboratory personnel. For more information, contact Inverness Medical by visiting the...

Easy-to-use ankle brace.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... The Swede-O X8 ankle brace uses dual-purpose straps that function as both the figure eight and the top-locking straps to secure the brace snugly around the top of the ankle. For more information, contact Swede-O Inc. by visiting www.swedeo.com...

Humalog Mix available.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... Humalog Mix 50/50 contains 50% insulin lispro protamine suspension and 50% insulin lispro injection (rDNA origin). The increased insulin concentration can be used for mealtime or between-meal control. It is available in a prefilled pocketsized...

Vivitrol for alcohol dependence.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... Vivitrol (naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension) is indicated for once-monthly treatment of alcohol dependence in patients who are able to abstain from drinking in an outpatient setting and are not actively drinking when...

Levemir available in FlexPen.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... Levemir (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection) is now available in prefilled FlexPen format. The long-acting basal insulin analogue is indicated for once- or twice-daily injection for the treatment of adults and children with type 1 diabetes...

Poison Ivy treatment.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... The IvyStat! Poison Ivy Kit is a two-step treatment that starts with a poison ivy scrub to remove the plant's oils, followed by a mentholated 1% hydrocortisone gel to control itching. For more information, contact Tec Laboratories Inc. by...

Topical emulsion aids healing.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... Biafine is an oil-in-water emulsion formulated for the dressing and management of superficial wounds, minor abrasions, dermal ulcers, and first- and second-degree burns. The emulsion is available by prescription in 45-g or 90-g tubes. For more...

Device aids urine collection.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... Tru-Catch is designed for use by women, children, and the physically challenged to collect sterile and nonsterile urine and stool samples. For more information, contact Cherie Enterprises LLC by visiting www.tru-catch.com or by calling...

Cervical Imaging System.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... The Luma Cervical Imaging System is an FDA-approved optical imaging device for examining women with abnormal Pap tests and is designed to be used as an adjunct to colposcopy. For more information, contact MediSpectra Inc. by visiting...

Free online drug guide.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... Physicians can now access an online version of the Epocrates Rx mobile drug and formulary guide. The guide provides information on more than 3,300 drugs, including dosing, pricing, potential drug interactions, and Medicare Part D formulary...

Vaprisol available for hyponatremia.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... Vaprisol (conivaptan hydrochloride injection), an arginine vasopressin receptor antagonist, is available for the intravenous treatment of euvolemic hyponatremia in hospitalized patients. For more information, contact Astellas Pharma U.S. Inc....

Tests spot 90% of primary immunodeficiencies: patients with recurrent infections can be screened for an immune deficiency by using two blood tests.(Infectious Diseases)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Two screening lab tests--a CBC and quantitative immunoglobulins--are sufficient to diagnose more than 90% of all patients with primary immune deficiencies, Dr. Erwin W. Gelfand said at a meeting sponsored by the National...

Think stress hyperglycemia in nondiabetic sepsis patients.(Infectious Diseases)(Disease/Disorder overview)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... NICE, FRANCE -- A new study suggests that stress hyperglycemia may be an important predictor of morbidity and mortality in nondiabetic patients with sepsis. The study included 242 nondiabetic patients hospitalized with severe sepsis in...

New test for identifying sepsis outlined by Swiss researcher.(copeptin detection in sepsis patients )(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... GLASGOW, SCOTLAND -- Swiss researchers have identified a hormonal precursor that may make it easier for physicians to identify patients suffering from sepsis, according to a study presented at the 8th European Congress of Endocrinology. ...

High-dose aspergillosis treatment not superior.(invasive aspergillosis)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- The use of high-dose liposomal amphotericin B was no more effective than standard doses for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis in a large randomized study, and was associated with significantly more adverse effects. ...

Web site offers flu information.(Infectious Diseases)(www.pandemicflu.gov.)(Website overview)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The Department of Health and Human Services has launched a Web site to provide one-stop access to U.S. government information about avian and pandemic influenza. Visitors can access up-to-date response plans; learn about current tests,...

Tigecycline matches levofloxacin vs. pneumonia.(Infectious Diseases)(Drug overview)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2006... NICE, FRANCE -- Tigecycline is as effective as levofloxacin in treating patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia, results of a phase III clinical trial suggest. Tigecycline appeared safe and was effective against the most...