Internal Medicine News articles from May 2005

Internal Medicine News archives from May 2005

CMS projects a 4.3% physician pay cut.(News)
May 1, 2005... Physicians could face a 4.3% cut in their Medicare reimbursements next year due to rising medical spending, Mark McClellan, M.D., administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, announced at a CMS press briefing. The cut...

Complaints of improper disclosure have declined.(VITAL SIGNS)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Complaints of Improper Disclosure Have Declined 1993 2005 Health insurer 15% 8% Clinic, hospital 11% 8% Public health agency 10% 5% Employer 9% 5% Physician ...

Physicians and patients decry COX-2 withdrawals: nonprescription NSAIDs also targeted.(Rheumatology)(Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug)
May 1, 2005... The market withdrawal of valdecoxib and the black box warnings on celecoxib and all other remaining prescription NSAIDs have many physicians fuming and patients worried and confused, experts say. "The American College of Rheumatology has...

Doctors seeking standards for performance measures.(News)
May 1, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- Pay for performance "is a great idea in theory," but so far it has failed to work effectively in the private sector, Eric B. Larson, M.D., said during the annual meeting of the American College of Physicians. "Word on the...

Americans at intermediate CV risk overestimated.(News)(cardiovascular diseases)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- The population of Americans at intermediate risk for cardiovascular disease appears to be much smaller than usually cited, Jon G. Keevil, M.D., asserted at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology. It's...

Ornish program shows benefits in diabetes: two different studies showed significant reductions in weight, blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol.(News)
May 1, 2005... VANCOUVER, B. C. -- Emerging data all point in the same direction: The intensive lifestyle modification program developed by Dean Ornish, M.D., reduces cardiovascular risk, including that of patients with diabetes. The Ornish...

Depressive symptoms predict greater intima-media thickness.(News)
May 1, 2005... VANCOUVER, B. C. -- Symptoms of depression predict increases in intima-media thickness, Jesse C. Stewart, Ph.D., reported at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society. Intima-media thickness (IMT), a measure of the thickness...

Recommended exercise also curbs depression: the 46% therapeutic response and 42% remission rate are comparable with other depression treatments.(News)
May 1, 2005... VANCOUVER, B. C. -- The amount of exercise that is recommended for general public health is also an effective treatment for depression, Andrea L. Dunn, Ph.D., reported at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society. Despite...

Stopping regular exercise can increase depressive symptoms.(News)
May 1, 2005... VANCOUVER, B. C. -- Regular exercisers who are forced to stop may experience depressive symptoms, Ali A. Berlin reported at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society. The findings of a study of 40 regular exercisers do not...

Pertussis transmission begins at home: how do infants get pertussis? They get it from their family. That's right--their moms and dads, brothers and sisters, even grandma and grandpa!
May 1, 2005... Nearly 75% of the time, a family member is the source of pertussis disease in infants (1) According to a recent study of pertussis in 264 infants, a family member was identified as the source of the disease in three quarters of the cases....

Antidepressants often better than bulking agents for IBS.(News)(irritable bowel syndrome)
May 1, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- An antidepressant often is better than a high-fiber bulking agent as first-line treatment for irritable bowel syndrome, at least for the diarrhea-predominant form of the disorder, Philip S. Schoenfeld, M.D., said at the annual...

New drug is approved for endometriosis pain: depo subQ provera 104 is as effective as leuprolide acetate but is associated with fewer adverse effects.(News)
May 1, 2005... Subcutaneous medroxyprogesterone acetate has been approved for the treatment of endometriosis-related pelvic pain. It is the first new treatment to be approved for this indication in 15 years. Depo subQ provera 104 (DMPA-SC), which contains...

Consensus panel cautious on menopause recommendations.(News)
May 1, 2005... BETHESDA, MD. -- Night sweats, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and sleep disturbances appear to be connected to the onset of menopause, but other midlife symptoms--such as mood disorders, urinary incontinence, and somatic complaints--may not be,...

Lupus patients have 15% increase in cancer risk.(News)
May 1, 2005... LONDON -- A large international cohort study has provided the first definitive evidence that patients with systemic lupus erythematosus are at increased risk for cancer, Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman, M.D., reported at the Sixth European Lupus...

FDA alert on NaCl, heparin preloaded IV Flush syringes.(News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The Food and Drug Administration has reissued an alert against the use of preloaded syringes containing heparin or sodium chloride intravenous catheter flushes--manufactured by IV Flush LLC and distributed by Pinnacle Medical Supply--due to...

Learning the true lessons of PEACE.(GUEST EDITORIAL)
May 1, 2005... Has PEACE ever before caused such havoc? The Prevention of Events With Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibition trial has been widely misinterpreted, to the detriment of patient care. PEACE involved the double-blind randomization of...

Acupuncture belongs to physicians.(LETTERS)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Alongside internal medicine, I practice acupuncture, delivering several treatments a week in my office ("Acupuncture Eases Head and Neck Pain," Jan. 15, 2005, p. 1). I concentrate mostly on muscle pain along with the major muscle groups of...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
May 1, 2005... In "FDA Adds Black Box Warning for Elidel, Protopic" (March 1, 2005, p. 49), the headline was overstated. It should have read "FDA to Add Black Box Warning for Elidel, Protopic."

Correction.(Correction Notice)
May 1, 2005... Several errors appeared in the article, "Melanoma Misdiagnosis Often Prompts Lawsuits" (INTERNAL MEDICINE NEWS, April 1, 2005, p. 37). INTERNAL MEDICINE NEWS regrets the errors and apologizes to our readers and our source, Ashfaq Marghoob, M.D....

Recognizing chronic fatigue syndrome in teens.(GUEST EDITORIAL)
May 1, 2005... For adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), one of the most important factors in their successful treatment and recovery is the early recognition of the illness and the support of a caring primary care physician. CFS is most...

Is it better to use radiation as a salvage therapy than as an adjuvant therapy after radical prostatectomy?(PRO & CON)
May 1, 2005... YES The question of whether to administer radiation immediately after radical prostatectomy or to wait for a detectable prostate-specific antigen level is mostly an issue in patients with positive surgical margins. The presence of...

COX-2 inhibitor uproar will alter landscape of drug trials.(Rheumatology)
May 1, 2005... CHICAGO -- Recent events surrounding selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors will have far-reaching implications for future drug trials, Gary S. Hoffman, M.D., said at a symposium sponsored by the American College of Rheumatology. Drugs...

Adults diagnosed with arthritis.(DATA WATCH)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Adults Diagnosed With Arthritis Women 24% Men 18% Notes: Definition of arthritis includes rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, and fibromyalgia. Percentages are age adjusted. Source: 2002 data, Centers for Disease Control and...

Bone density screen tied to fewer hip fractures.(Rheumatology)
May 1, 2005... Bone density screening was associated with fewer hip fractures, compared with usual medical care, in a study of more than 3,000 adults aged 65 years and older. "Although some groups recommend screening, no study had proved that screening...

Fibromyalgia relieved by duloxetine therapy.(Rheumatology)
May 1, 2005... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Duloxetine is a safe and effective treatment for fibromyalgia symptoms in both depressed and nondepressed women, Lesley Arnold, M.D., reported at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society. Duloxetine...

Some fibromyalgia patients benefit from yoga, meditation.(Rheumatology)
May 1, 2005... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Yoga may be an effective adjunct to medical treatment for patients with fibromyalgia, Malinda L. Breda, Ph.D., reported at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society. There are many reasons why yoga is an...

Physical exams alone can overlook myelopathy in diabetics.(Rheumatology)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Physical examinations alone are unreliable for diagnosing myelopathy in diabetic patients, K. Daniel Riew, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Instead, physicians should consider...

Reshaping bone an alternative to shoulder replacement?(Rheumatology)
May 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Osteocapsular arthroscopy aimed at reshaping the glenoid bone may--with more long-term experience--be proven an effective treatment for patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis who do not desire total shoulder replacement, Scott...

Study finds knee arthritis pain does predict changes in barometric pressure, temperature.(Rheumatology)
May 1, 2005... SAN ANTONIO -- Physicians tend to be skeptical of arthritis patients' claims that they can feel bad weather coming on, but maybe they shouldn't be, Timothy E. McAlindon, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology....

To help patients lose weight, think small goals.(Endocrinology)
May 1, 2005... COLORADO SPRINGS -- When it comes to helping patients manage overweight and obesity, the best strategy is to focus on small, concrete, readily achievable goals, Dan Bessesen, M.D., said at a meeting of the Colorado Chapter of the American...

Caution urged with topiramate, bupropion for weight loss.(Endocrinology)
May 1, 2005... COLORADO SPRINGS -- By far, the most effective weight-loss medication on the market is one that isn't even approved for that indication, Dan Bessesen, M.D., said at a meeting of the Colorado Chapter of the American College of Physicians. ...

Young and elderly women less likely than men to engage in regular physical activity.(DATA WATCH)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Young and Elderly Women Less Likely Than Men to Engage in Regular Physical Activity Note: Based on January through June data from the 2004 National Health Interview Survey. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Diabetic ketoacidosis care poses many challenges: after carefully managing the acute condition, look for triggers and educate the patient for future prevention.(Endocrinology)
May 1, 2005... STOWE, VT. -- Uncertain triggers, therapeutic controversies, and potentially fatal complications can compromise emergency management of diabetic ketoacidosis, according to Steven M. Hulsey, M.D. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a major, acute...

Metabolic risks of atypical antipsychotics dissected.(Endocrinology)
May 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- All atypical antipsychotics carry the same risks for the development of diabetes, according to the Food and Drug Administration, but some physicians have a more nuanced view. Everyone agrees that some atypical antipsychotics...

Benefits of moderate drinking.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with an approximately 30% reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes in women and men, regardless of body mass index, reported Lando L.J. Koppes, Ph.D., of the Institute for Research in Extramural...

Decline in life expectancy?(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Life expectancy may decline because of the obesity epidemic, with important implications for the solvency of age-entitlement programs, according to S. Jay Olshansky, Ph.D., of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Obesity prevalence in...

Relatives of type 2 diabetics.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Lifestyle interventions can significantly improve risk factors associated with insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease in healthy first-degree relatives (FDRs) of patients with type 2 diabetes, according to Hilde K. Brekke of Sahlgrenska...

Leukemia drug and diabetes.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Imatinib (Gleevec), an antineoplastic agent used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia, may help to put type 2 diabetes mellitus in regression, according to Dino Veneri, M.D., of the University of Verona (Italy). The investigators reported on...

Prostate cancer screening, treatment revisited: the concept of a normal PSA level is losing its clinical relevance for detecting prostate cancer.(Urology)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Emerging insights into the clinical significance of prostate-specific antigen levels are leading to new approaches to screening, treatment, and patient counseling, speakers said at a symposium on prostate cancer that was...

Prostate ca therapies: comparable sexual function.(Urology)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Posttreatment sexual function in prostate cancer patients differs initially between the various primary treatments, but becomes nearly equal among all modalities after 4 years, Joycelyn L. Speight, M.D., reported at a symposium...

Choosing primary, secondary prostate cancer Tx: PSA changes, p53 gene expression, and the Gleason score can help predict the course of therapy.(Urology)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Looking at prognostic features of prostate cancer may help to chart the course of primary or secondary treatments, investigators reported at a symposium on prostate cancer sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology....

Biomarkers show promise in gauging prostate ca severity.(Urology)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Several biomarkers that may help to distinguish aggressive forms of prostate cancer from less worrisome types could guide physicians in planning treatment, speakers reported at a symposium on prostate cancer sponsored by the...

Markers for death from prostate cancer needed: surrogate factors would be used to guide treatment and to speed phase III comparative clinical trials.(Urology)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Prostate cancer researchers are looking for reliable markers that could serve as surrogates for death and thereby help speed along clinical trials testing new treatments, speakers said at a symposium on prostate cancer...

Novel MRI pinpoints malignant lymph nodes in prostate ca.(Urology)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- New modalities for detecting prostate cancer metastases may help physicians target treatment to diseased tissues more effectively, speakers said at a symposium on prostate cancer sponsored by the American Society of Clinical...

Black box for Elidel, pimecrolimus challenged.(Dermatology)
May 1, 2005... MAUI, HAWAII -- The American Academy of Dermatology and other professional groups maintain that insufficient evidence exists to justify the Food and Drug Administration's announcement that it will add a black box warning to the labels of...

TNF-[alpha] blockers linked to skin reactions in RA patients.(Dermatology)
May 1, 2005... Skin reactions to tumor necrosis factor-[alpha]-blocking drugs for rheumatoid arthritis might be more common and more varied than previous studies have indicated, results of a new prospective study show. The study authors, led by Marcel...

It's time to update melanoma screening criteria: the screening criteria known as ABCD, introduced in 1985, are overdue for a revision, experts say.(Dermatology)
May 1, 2005... Screening for cutaneous melanoma needs to change to encompass selected lesions that fall below the 6-mm threshold set by the ABCD criteria, according to Robert J. Friedman, M.D. "We realize now the importance of being able to identify...

SPF is ideal, not actual protection.(Dermatology)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- No matter what sun protection factor sunscreen you recommend, remember that the SPF system has its limitations, Shanna Meads, M.D., advised at a melanoma update sponsored by the Scripps Clinic. For one thing, SPF measures only...

Dark-skinned patients also face skin cancer risks.(Dermatology)
May 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Melanoma and other skin cancers in blacks and Hispanics are likely to be discovered at a more advanced stage and are associated with significantly poorer survival rates, researchers said at the annual meeting of the American...

Abnormal capilloscopy key in Raynaud's patients: examine the periungual area of the finger under gel with an ophthalmoscope to predict scleroderma.(Dermatology)
May 1, 2005... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- The most significant predictor of progression to systemic scleroderma in a patient with new-onset Raynaud's phenomenon is the presence of capillary abnormalities at the proximal nail fold, according to David H. Collier, M.D....

Red chili pepper extract cools itching in pruritus ani patients.(Dermatology)
May 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- A specially compounded ointment containing 0.006% capsaicin extract is effective at relieving recalcitrant pruritus ani, as well as pruritus of the vulva and scrotum, Timothy Berger, M.D., reported at the annual meeting of the...

Transplant patients need to know skin ca risks: it is likely that 70% of the more than 150,000 living transplant recipients will develop skin cancer.(Dermatology)
May 1, 2005... KEY BISCAYNE, FLA. -- With the growing number of organ transplant recipients living longer, it has become increasingly important to treat and counsel these patients about their significantly higher risk of skin cancers, according to a...

Shedding light on diagnosing photosensitivity diseases.(Dermatology)
May 1, 2005... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- Photosensitivity diseases can often be confused with other dermatologic conditions, but a few key observations can often shed some light on a correct diagnosis, according to David R. Bickers, M.D. Photosensitivity...

Team up to treat chronic kidney disease.(Nephrology)
May 1, 2005... COLORADO SPRINGS -- The sheer magnitude of the epidemic of chronic kidney disease is such that nephrologists simply can't manage it by themselves--general internists and family physicians will have to carry the bulk of the load, Stuart Senkfor,...

Routine creatinine testing spots kidney problem: the strategy 'could ultimately help reduce the incidence of kidney failure in a community.'.(Nephrology)
May 1, 2005... Routine testing of serum creatinine could be an effective way to screen for decreased kidney function and identify patients at risk for renal disease, Amit Garg, M.D., and his colleagues reported. About one-third of adults without diagnosed...

ACE inhibitor slows progression to end-stage renal disease.(Nephrology)
May 1, 2005... ST. LOUIS -- An ACE inhibitor may work as well as combination therapy with a calcium channel blocker in limiting the progress from overt microalbuminuria to end-stage renal disease in hypertensive type 2 diabetics. The finding comes from a...

Nephrologists' advice: know your GFR number.(Nephrology)
May 1, 2005... COLORADO SPRINGS -- Nephrologists believe the time has come for many--perhaps most--adults to know their glomerular filtration rate, Stuart Senkfor, M.D., said at the annual scientific meeting of the Colorado chapter of the American College of...

Chemoradiation can boost lung cancer survival: locally advanced, unresectable non-small cell lung cancers in 'fit' patients responded to this protocol.(Pulmonary Medicine)
May 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD, FLA. -- Aggressive treatment with concurrent radiation and chemotherapy should be standard protocol for "fit" patients with locally advanced, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer who do not have effusions, according to updated...

Study links lupus to a range of pulmonary complications.(Pulmonary Medicine)
May 1, 2005... LONDON -- Long-term follow-up of the 1,500-patient Johns Hopkins lupus cohort is providing some much needed data about the profile and natural history of pulmonary disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, Michelle Petri, M.D.,...

Allergy tests useful in asthma patients.(Pulmonary Medicine)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... SAN ANTONIO -- Consider routine allergy testing for patients with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis, Helen Smith, M.B., advised at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. "There's no doubt that rhinitis...

Race affects response to glucocorticoids.(Pulmonary Medicine)
May 1, 2005... Blacks may have a racial predisposition to diminished glucocorticoid responsiveness, which could account in part for heightened morbidity among black asthmatics, reported Monica J. Federico, M.D., of the University of Colorado, Denver, and her...

Buteyko breathing for asthma.(ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE)
May 1, 2005... History of Use In the 1950s, Ukrainian physician Konstantin Buteyko (1923-2003) developed the technique of breath retraining that bears his name. Based on his observations of patients in the respiratory clinic at the First Medical...

Gastroesophageal reflux may trigger asthma.(Pulmonary Medicine)
May 1, 2005... SAN ANTONIO -- Gastroesophageal reflux is a potential trigger for asthma, and should be investigated in patients with persistent asthma even if they report no symptoms of reflux. Susan Harding, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American...

Four risk factors identified for pulmonary complications.(Pulmonary Medicine)
May 1, 2005... Four perioperative factors independently increase the risk of pulmonary complications after elective nonthoracic surgery, results from a large prospective study have demonstrated. These factors are age greater than 65 years, positive cough...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.(DRUG UPDATE)
May 1, 2005... Bronchodilators are the first-line pharmacologic treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The choices are the anticholinergics ipratropium bromide and tiotropium bromide and the short- and long-acting [beta]-agonists. COPD treatment...

Alzheimer's study will target plaque formation.(Rx)
May 1, 2005... A new treatment in the works for Alzheimer's disease is designed to act at the cellular level to reverse plaque formation and prevent development of further disease. Prana Biotechnology Ltd. has received approval from the Medicines and...

Topical steroids unlikely to switch to OTC soon: manufacturers would need to show that their products caused minimal HPA axis suppression.(Rx)
May 1, 2005... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- Although some manufacturers are seeking Food and Drug Administration approval to sell prescription-strength topical corticosteroids over the counter, it is not likely to happen soon. At a joint meeting of the FDA's...

Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation: try triple therapy.(Rx)
May 1, 2005... MIAMI BEACH -- A three-ingredient topical combination therapy was more effective than dual combination therapy in the treatment of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation secondary to acne, according to the results of a phase III study reported at a...

Lamotrigine goes off label for bipolar depression: most of the several hundred psychiatrists in the audience had prescribed the drug for bipolar disorder.(Rx)
May 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- Since lamotrigine gained approval as maintenance therapy for bipolar disorder, more physicians are using it off label to treat bipolar depression, Andrew J. Cutler, M.D., said. A show of hands at a psychopharmacology congress...

Atypical quetiapine appears to reduce bipolar depression.(Rx)
May 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- The atypical antipsychotic quetiapine led to significantly greater reductions in bipolar depression than did placebo within the first week of treatment and throughout an 8-week randomized, controlled study of 511 patients, Andrew...

Novel antipsychotics prevent bipolar mania in short term.(Rx)
May 1, 2005... STOCKHOLM -- Novel antipsychotics are at least as effective as lithium and anticonvulsants in the short-term prevention of bipolar mania and, when combined with a mood stabilizer, seem to be effective in maintaining long-term remission, Eduard...

Metabolic syndrome raises risks after angioplasty.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
May 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Metabolic syndrome raises the risk of adverse outcomes following percutaneous intervention, Vidyasagar Kalahasti, M.D., reported at the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association. This new finding is...

Metabolic syndrome risks worse in women.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Metabolic syndrome may be a greater risk factor for stroke and vascular events in women than in men, and limited access to social resources appears to contribute to its development, Bernadette Boden-Albala, Ph.D., reported at...

Sirolimus-eluting stents edge past paclitaxel stents.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Three more salvos were fired in the battle of competing drug-eluting coronary stents. When the smoke cleared and findings from the new head-to-head trials were reported at the annual meeting of the American College of...

Three risk factors predict stroke in patients undergoing CABG.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(coronary artery bypass graft)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Age greater than 70 years, abnormal preoperative neurologic status, and prior cardiac surgery are independent risk factors for stroke related to coronary artery bypass graft, Scott Woods, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the...

Strong family history of CHD raises risk 4-fold.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(coronary heart disease )
May 1, 2005... GRAPEVINE, TEX. -- A strong family history of heart disease can increase an individual's future risk for coronary heart disease fourfold, and even a moderate family history can lead to a twofold increase in risk, a population-based study has...

Prevalence of multiple risk factors for heart disesase and stroke among adults, 2003.(DATA WATCH)
May 1, 2005... Prevalence of Multiple Risk Factors for Heart Disesase and Stroke Among Adults, 2003 *Note: Data are age adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population. Source: Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention

Four biomarkers predict cardiovascular events in women.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- The presence of inflammatory markers, a low hemoglobin, or both is superior to traditional cardiovascular risk factors for predicting adverse cardiovascular outcomes in women under evaluation for suspected myocardial ischemia,...

Vitamin E: no CV benefit, possible harm.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Long-term use of the antioxidant vitamin E does not prevent cardiovascular disease, and it may actually raise the risk of heart failure in high-risk patients, reported Eva Lonn, M.D., of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., and her...

Sudden death in obstructive apnea.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... People with obstructive sleep apnea show a marked rise in the incidence of sudden cardiac death during sleeping hours, a striking contrast to the nighttime nadir in sudden cardiac death seen in the general population, said Apoor S. Gami, M.D.,...

Pulmonary effects of antihypertensives.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The antihypertensive agent celiprolol, a cardioselective [beta]-blocker, produced fewer adverse pulmonary effects than propranolol and metoprolol in a small study of patients with mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,...

Oral tobacco raises BP, heart rate.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Chewing tobacco raises blood pressure, heart rate, and plasma epinephrine, which may contribute to intravascular thrombosis and cardiac arrhythmias, reported Robert Wolk, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., and his associates. ...

Antiplatelet therapy is first MI advance in years: combining clopidogrel and aspirin has reduced coronary risk in patients with unstable angina.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Adding a brief course of clopidogrel to standard aspirin therapy in patients with ST-elevation MI improves arterial patency and saves lives, according to two major studies presented at the annual meeting of the American College...

CVD rehospitalization rate after ACS nearly 50% at 1 year.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(cardiovascular disease )(acute coronary syndrome)
May 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Nearly half of patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome at one large HMO were rehospitalized for cardiovascular disease within the next 12 months, Stephen Sidney, M.D., reported at the annual meeting of the American...