Internal Medicine News articles from May 2006

Internal Medicine News archives from May 2006

ACP charts new path for internists.(News)(American College of Physicians are proposing major changes )
May 1, 2006... PHIL ADELPHIA -- Officials at the American College of Physicians are proposing major changes in the way general internists practice, get paid, and are trained. These changes are crucial to reversing a looming shortage of general...

PDE-5 inhibitors may relieve male urinary symptoms: agents tested alone and with alfuzosin.(News)
May 1, 2006... PARIS -- Phosphodieterase-5 inhibitors may have a role in the relief of lower urinary tract symptoms, according to two studies presented at the annual congress of the European Association of Urology. Daily tadalafil (Cialis) therapy...

Test accurately predicted early-stage ovarian ca.(Cancer)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... PASADENA, CALIF. -- A panel of biomarker proteins developed by California researchers was able to diagnose early-stage mucinous ovarian cancer tumors with 100% sensitivity and specificity in a small study. In contrast, the biomarker CA 125...

CMS proposes 4.6% physician pay cut for 2007.(News)
May 1, 2006... In a not unexpected, but definitely unwelcome move, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced that it will cut physician pay by 4.6% for 2007. The federal health program said the scheduled decrease in physician fees is...

EHR system certification may be available this summer.(Electronic health record )
May 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- Physicians purchasing an electronic health record will be able to consult a list of certified products as early as this summer, according to Dr. Mark Leavitt, chair of the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information...

ACP calls for actions to prepare for pandemic flu.(American College of Physicians)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- The American College of Physicians is calling for more involvement of primary care physicians in pandemic influenza preparedness than the U.S. government's plan specifies. The ACP's new policy paper, "The Health Care...

Two programs offer options for helping in an emergency.
May 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- Two government-affiliated programs provide a way for physicians and other health care professionals to serve as volunteers in the event of a national, regional, or local emergency, Dr. Anand K. Parekh said at the annual meeting...

Avian flu avoids upper airway, thwarting spread in humans.
May 1, 2006... Receptor binding preferences of the H5N1 avian-influenza virus make it difficult for the infection to be transmitted between humans, two new studies show. Using human cadaver tissues, both studies showed that H5N1 binds only to cells with...

Avian influenza vaccine does well in early test.(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... As authorities continue to prepare for a potential avian influenza pandemic, researchers are working to develop an effective vaccine against the disease. An inactivated subvirion influenza A vaccine was recently shown to be safe in a...

Contact solution pulled in wake of Fusarium cases.(Fusarium keratitis )
May 1, 2006... Federal, state, and local health officials are investigating at least 109 cases of Fusarium keratitis in which the use of a contact lens solution may have played a role. Bausch & Lomb, which had stopped shipment of the product, ReNu with...

Guidelines for thyroid nodules, cancer.(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... In January 2006, two new major thyroid guidelines were independently released, one by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the other by the American Thyroid Association. These guidelines, developed by different teams of...

Is sublingual immunotherapy better than subcutaneous immunotherapy?
May 1, 2006... YES I personally do quite a lot of injection immunotherapy, but I do think sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is worth researching. My colleagues and I think there's merit in asking whether this might be a better option for allergic patients...

ABIM leadership is out of touch.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... As a practicing general internist, I feel like an endangered species ("ABIM Links Recertification and Pay for Performance," March 1, 2006, p. 1). I am in my mid-50s, and planning my retirement. I have watched many of my colleagues leave...

Using credit cards for medical care.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... Dr. Joseph S. Eastern's account of using credit cards in medical practices is most intriguing ("Slash Accounts Receivable: Stop Extending Credit," Guest Editorial, March 15, 2006, p. 13). We have flirted with the idea and found resistance,...

Diabetes registry not a solution.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... Dr. Lynn Silver and others have decided that collecting patients' data on diabetes and then sending them letters will help control diabetes, and they maintain that "the potential benefit in light of the epidemic condition outweighs any risk to...

Time to demand prescribing equality.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... As a board-certified endocrinologist in practice for 20 years, I am greatly concerned about the avalanche of activity by Medicare Part D plan administrators and pharmacy benefits companies interfering with the best interests of my patients and...

A previously established link.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... I was quite surprised to read the assertion by Dr. Anuja Dokras of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics that the results of research she had conducted showed "for the first time that depression in PCOS patients is significantly...

Pain relievers.(Opinion)(Cartoon)
May 1, 2006... PAIN RELIEVERS

Oracea is promising nonantibiotic Tx for rosacea: conventional antibiotics work well for rosacea, but it is not caused by bacteria.(Dermatology)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... KOLOA, HAWAII -- With marketing approval of the anti-inflammatory, nonantibiotic formulation of doxycycline for treatment of rosacea widely anticipated by the end of May, this new once-daily oral medication is likely to be viewed as the best...

New MetroGel formulation offers advantages in rosacea.(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... KOLOA, HAWAII -- The metronidazole gel 1% approved by the Food and Drug Administration last year for the treatment of rosacea is a better product in two distinct ways than the 0.75% preparation it replaces, Dr. Guy F. Webster said at the annual...

Patient-initiated therapy speeds herpes healing.(Famciclovir cut short recurrent outbreaks of herpes labialis)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- A single, patient-initiated dose of famciclovir cut short recurrent outbreaks of herpes labialis by 2 days, Dr. Marcus Conant said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. Viral replication of herpes...

Maggots can debride and heal refractory wounds: in addition to removing dead and infected tissue, maggots appear to release growth factors that promote healing.
May 1, 2006... NASHVILLE, TENN. -- Maggots provide a gentle and safe "biological debridement" of refractory wounds and can promote wound healing. Using maggots to clear infection and dead tissue from a wound is cost effective, usually painless, and well...

Negative pressure helps some diabetic ulcers.(Negative-pressure vacuum therapy )(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Negative-pressure vacuum therapy appears to speed healing and increase the likelihood of complete closure of nonhealing diabetic foot ulcers, Dr. David G. Armstrong said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of...

Polypodium leucotomos for skin protection.
May 1, 2006... History of Use The rhizomes and leaves of ferns have been used for a variety of medicinal purposes at least since the days of the Greek physician and botanist Dioscorides. The prominent Elizabethan herbalist John Gerard noted in his 1633...

PFO closure with implant tested for migraine.(Patent foramen ovale)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Patent foramen ovale closure with a septal repair implant gave a modest benefit to patients with migraine and PFO, according to preliminary results of a study with 163 patients. The enrollment phase of the study also showed that...

Handheld device can spot brain hematomas.(Disease/Disorder overview)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... An investigational near-infrared imaging technology in a handheld device can detect brain hematomas soon after trauma. The Infrascanner detects hematomas based on the differential near-infrared light absorption of hemoglobin in the bleeding...

Don't overlook drug-induced parkinsonism: the older, conventional antipsychotic drugs have been most commonly associated with the problem.(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The diagnosis of drug-induced parkinsonism often gets missed, even by neurologists, according to an informal study of patients at one movement disorder clinic presented at the World Parkinson Congress. Of all new patients...

Changes to tolcapone labeling allow less liver monitoring.(Neurology)
May 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration has approved new labeling that relaxes the liver enzyme monitoring recommendations for tolcapone, an adjunctive treatment for Parkinson's disease, according to the drug's manufacturer. The new label...

Selegiline serves as effective adjunct for PD symptoms.(Parkinson's disease)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- An orally disintegrating formulation of selegiline appears to be a safe and effective adjunct for patients with Parkinson's disease who are experiencing a deterioration of levodopa response, according to data presented in a poster...

High BMI, blood glucose tied to blood ca deaths.(Cancer)(Body mass index)
May 1, 2006... BETHESDA, MD. -- High body mass index and high plasma glucose levels after an oral glucose challenge are independently associated with an increased risk of dying of hematopoietic cancer, Dr. Brian Chiu reported at the annual meeting of the...

Diabetes Mellitus.(THE EFFECTIVE PHYSICIAN)
May 1, 2006... Background With the increase in obesity in our society, diabetes--always a common issue in adult medical care--will only grow in prominence in our practices. The American Diabetes Association updated its standards for medical care of...

Slowing nephropathy in hypertensive diabetes.
May 1, 2006... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- Quick: What's the preferred first-line antihypertensive agent in type 2 diabetic patients with hypertension and macroalbuminuria? Most non-diabetologists will probably be surprised to learn that it's an angiotensin II...

FDA warns of illegal steroids sold as dietary supplements.(Endocrinology)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers about manufacturers and distributors that still sell illegal steroid products as dietary supplements without the agency's approval. Consumers who have purchased Anabolic Xtreme Supredrol...

WHI results support existing calcium RDA.(Women's Health Initiative)(Recommended dietary allowance)
May 1, 2006... BETHESDA, MD. -- The recommended dietary allowance for calcium of 1,200 mg/day for people older than 50 was supported by results of the Women's Health Initiative's calcium and vitamin D trial. The trial's results failed to prove the study's...

Watch for adverse effects of bisphosphonates in Paget's.(Paget's Disease of Bone )
May 1, 2006... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- Bisphosphonate therapy has dramatically improved the lives of patients with Paget's disease, but it's important to keep in mind the caveats when prescribing them, Dr. Kenneth W. Lyles said at a meeting sponsored by the...

Cathepsin K predicts response in Paget's.(Paget's disease of bone)(Disease/Disorder overview)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- Serum cathepsin K levels could be used to measure treatment response in patients with Paget's disease of bone, Dr. Daniela Merlotti said at a meeting sponsored by the Paget Foundation for Paget's Disease of Bone and...

Vitamin D deficiency often present in Paget's disease.(Disease/Disorder overview)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- Screening for vitamin D deficiency should be part of the initial evaluation of patients with Paget's disease, Dr. Jennifer J. Kelly and Dr. Arnold M. Moses said in a poster presentation at a meeting sponsored by the...

Pagetic activity tracked in monostotic disease.(Endocrinology)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- The use of [.sup.18]F-fluoride positron emission tomography may be useful in the follow-up of patients with monostotic forms of Paget's disease, Dr. Jean-Pierre Devogelaer said at a meeting sponsored by the Paget...

Small thyroid nodules may pose high ca risk: preliminary data suggest a possible rise in the risk of papillary carcinoma in nodules of 1 cm or less.
May 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- Solid thyroid nodules smaller than 1 cm in diameter tend to carry a greater risk of papillary carcinoma than do larger nodules, Dr. Nagesh Ragavendra reported at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. ...

Local anesthesia for thyroidectomy.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Outpatient thyroidectomies performed with local anesthesia on eligible patients can achieve clinical results and patient satisfaction comparable with those done under general anesthesia, according to results of a prospective, randomized...

EBRT for local control of thyroid ca.(Cancer)(External beam radiotherapy)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... High-dose external beam radiotherapy was effective in controlling locally advanced, differentiated thyroid cancer in a retrospective study of 42 patients. There is little information on the efficacy of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) as...

Cardiac effects of hyperthyroidism.(Disease/Disorder overview)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Subclinical hyperthyroidism was linked to atrial fibrillation but not to other clinical cardiovascular conditions or deaths in a new study. The research, conducted by Dr. Anne R. Cappola from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia...

Thyroidectomy safe for Grave's.(Grave's Disease)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... Total thyroidectomy can be performed more safely than many clinicians realize, and offers more durable results for people with Grave's disease than do antithyroid drugs or radioiodine, according to Dr. Kaare J. Weber of Mount Sinai School of...

Panel: modafinil not safe for ADHD in teens.(Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
May 1, 2006... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee declared that modafinil is not safe for treating ADHD in children and adolescents by a 12-1 vote, although committee members unanimously agreed the drug was effective for...

Quetiapine has efficacy for adolescent mania.(Disease/Disorder overview)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Quetiapine was at least as effective as divalproex in alleviating manic symptoms in adolescents in a randomized, double-blind pilot study, wrote Dr. Melissa P. DelBello and her colleagues at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio. The 28-day...

Weigh gastric bypass risks differently in youths.(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... DALLAS -- With obesity in children and adolescents growing at an alarming rate, patients seeking bariatric surgery are younger than ever, Dr. Scott A. Shikora said at a conference sponsored by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral...

Six tips can help avert obesity in youngsters.
May 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- There are at least six behavior change strategies physicians can recommend to prevent child and adolescent obesity, Dr. William H. Dietz said at a meeting sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics' California Chapters 1, 2,...

EBV may be implicated in lupus pathogenesis.(Epstein-Barr virus)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Evidence is mounting that implicates the Epstein-Barr virus as the trigger that sets off the autoantibody production central to the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus, according to Dr. John B. Harley. It has long been...

CellCept, Rituxan said to show promise for lupus: the two medications are expected to be particularly useful in the treatment of refractory lupus nephritis.(Rheumatology)
May 1, 2006... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- Mycophenolate mofetil and rituximab are expected to join the lupus armamentarium, promising to be particularly useful for lupus nephritis, Dr. Susan M. Manzi predicted at a symposium sponsored by the American College of...

Methotrexate may help patients with resistant cutaneous lupus.(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... ABANO TERME, ITALY -- Intravenous methotrexate proved to be an effective steroid-sparing treatment for recalcitrant cutaneous lupus, Dr. Joerg Wenzel reported at a congress on skin, rheumatism, and autoimmunity. Dr. Wenzel and his...

Nonmyeloablative stem cell transplant promising for SLE.(Systemic lupus erythematosus)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... An autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation technique that achieves lymphoablation without myeloablation proved effective against severe refractory systemic lupus erythematosus in a preliminary study. Serology, complement,...

Collagen biomarkers predict OA progression: measuring the collagen degradation chemicals may help identify high-risk knee OA patients.(Osteoarthritis)
May 1, 2006... BOSTON -- Disease progression in early osteoarthritis is associated with combined increases in biochemical markers for the synthesis and degradation of type II collagen, and these changes can be identified before radiologic evidence of the...

Patellar immobility associated with severe chondral damage.(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Restricted patellar mobility in patients with anterior knee pain is associated with chondral damage in the patellofemoral compartment, results from a large study demonstrated. Knees with patellar tightness were three times more...

Functional therapy aids knee OA rehab.(Osteoarthritis)
May 1, 2006... BOSTON -- Exercises that simulate the mechanically challenging activities of daily living lessen energy expenditures and compensations associated with knee osteoarthritis, Dr. Anthony M. Reginato said at the 10th World Congress on...

Chronic gout.
May 1, 2006... For the first time since allopurinol [Zyloprim] was introduced in 1964, the medical management of chronic gout may soon include new treatment options. The xanthine oxidase inhibitor febuxostat is expected to be approved by the Food and Drug...

Primary lytics early in MI still have key role: delayed access to percutaneous intervention often makes IV thrombolysis more timely and practical.(Myocardial infarction)
May 1, 2006... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- The demonstrated superiority of primary percutaneous coronary intervention over fibrinolytics for acute MI in randomized trials has led to a "transfer mania" that is at times counterproductive, Dr. Bernard J. Gersh said at a...

Bivalirudin may reduce need to use IIb/IIIa agents in ACS.(Acute coronary syndrome)
May 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Treatment of patients with moderate to high-risk acute coronary syndrome with the antithrombotic bivalirudin was as effective as regimens that also contained a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor in a controlled study with more than...

ICD components can cause contact dermatitis.(Implantable cardioverter defibrillators)
May 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Allergy to the materials in an implanted cardioverter defibrillator can cause a contact dermatitis over the implantation site that may be mistaken for infection, Dr. Margaret Lee-Bellantoni said. Although allergic...

Regular moderate exercise prevents sudden cardiac death in women.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
May 1, 2006... Sudden cardiac death due to physical exertion is extremely rare in women, and the small increase in risk can be minimized through regular exercise, reported Dr. William Whang of Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and his colleagues. ...

Phobic anxiety ups mortality in coronary artery disease patients.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... DENVER -- Phobic anxiety was significantly associated with both ventricular arrhythmia and mortality in coronary artery disease patients during a median 3-year follow-up, Lana Watkins, Ph.D., said at the annual meeting of the American...

Drugs, devices differ for two heart failure types.(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... BALTIMORE -- With at least six drugs and several devices to choose from for heart failure, it's important to approach asymptomatic and symptomatic patients differently, Dr. Edward Kasper said at a cardiovascular conference sponsored by Johns...

Presurgical cardiac screens are often unneeded.
May 1, 2006... BALTIMORE -- Preoperative screening to identify potential cardiac complications is often unnecessary and may not help a surgeon to map out how to reduce risk during an elective procedure, said Dr. Richard Lange at a cardiovascular conference...

Paclitaxel-eluting stents top brachytherapy for restenosis.(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Paclitaxel-eluting coronary stents were more effective for treating in-stent restenosis than was vascular brachytherapy in results from a study with almost 400 patients reported at the annual meeting of the American College of...

Absorbable metal stent is found safe, effective.(Coronary artery care)
May 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- A metal stent that provides scaffolding for a vessel wall for about 2 months before being absorbed was found safe and effective in a small, first-in-man trial in bioabsorbable stenting, Dr. Raimund Erbel reported at a conference...

Norovirus in deli meats takes toll on rafters.
May 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Just when you thought that prepackaged deli meat was safe, a gastroenteritis outbreak among river rafters in Colorado was traced to norovirus in prepackaged chicken and beef, Dr. Ezra J. Barzilay said at the International Conference...

Most cases of salmonella occurring in the United States are isolated events.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- About 80% of Salmonella cases in the United States in 2004 and 2005 were domestically acquired isolated incidents, Dina Hoefer reported in a poster presented at the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases. In...

Raspberries implicated in outbreaks of norovirus.(Infectious Diseases)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- As summer approaches, it may be wise to be wary of berries. Five norovirus outbreaks affecting several hundred people in Denmark in 2005 were traced to a single batch of contaminated frozen raspberries, Dr. Gerhard Falkenhorst...

Proxy clinical markers for Shiga toxin disease identified.(Infectious Diseases)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The severity of disease caused by Shiga toxin-producing bacteria may be tracked with a new scale in development that uses clinical markers of disease rather than direct measurement of toxin load, Dr. Martin M. Bitzan reported at a...

Immigrants in need of comprehensive care.(Health Aspects)
May 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Health care for U.S. immigrants needs to go beyond screening for a few specific infectious diseases by providing care addressing the long-term needs of individuals as well as public health concerns, Dr. Elizabeth D. Barnett said...

New varicella postexposure prophylaxis available.(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... The dwindling supply of varicella-zoster immune globulin in the United States has been replenished with a new unlicensed product that has been made available under a Food and Drug Administration investigational new drug application, according...

Iowa mumps outbreak spreads to nearby states.(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... More than 1,000 cases of mumps in nine states have been confirmed in the nation's largest mumps outbreak in decades, announced Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. The outbreak began in...

Aerosol amphotericin B in the works as fungal prophylaxis.
May 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- An inhaled formulation of amphotericin B in clinical development may answer the unmet need for antifungal prophylaxis in immunocompromised patients, said Michael J. Weickert, Ph.D. Regimens that protect against bacterial,...

Probiotics may undo immune deficiency in fatigued athletes.(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2006... Elite athletes with a syndrome of fatigue, recurrent sore throat, and shedding of Epstein-Barr virus in the saliva appear to have an exercise-induced defect of mucosal T-cell immunity that can be reversed with probiotic therapy, said Dr. R.L....

FDA panel: approve daptomycin for S. aureus Tx.(Food and Drug Administration)(Staphylococcus aureus )
May 1, 2006... ROCKVILLE, MD. -- The Food and Drug Administration's Anti-Infective Advisory Committee unanimously supported the approval of daptomycin (Cubicin) for Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, but was not as certain that the drug was safe and effective...

EKG over the phone.(PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2006... E.K.Guard provides patients with a hand-held personal EKG device, capable of recording a 12-lead cardiogram and sending the results via telephone, for immediate, 24-hour access to cardiologists and nurses who are able to access patient medical...

Self-adhesive eye shields.(PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2006... MEDshields eyewear are disposable, antifog eye shields that adhere to the user's face with a medical-grade, hypoallergenic adhesive. For more information, contact SharkLids EyeGear Inc. by visiting www.medshields.com or by sending an e-mail to...

Disposable germicidal wipes.(PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2006... Super Sani-Cloth and Sani-Cloth Plus wipes are presaturated with germicidal solutions and designed for use on hard, non-porous surfaces such as carts, counters, exam tables, and monitoring equipment. For more information, contact Professional...

Recorder tracks vaccine temperatures.(PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2006... The Dickson VFC70 temperature chart recorder allows clinicians to document the temperature of vaccines to ensure vaccine quality. The recorder includes ranges for both standard refrigerator and freezer vaccines. For more information, contact...

Mealtime insulin comes in cartridges.(PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2006... Apidra (insulin glulisine [rDNA origin] injection) is designed to control hyperglycemia in adult patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Apidra can be taken either before or after a meal and should normally be used in regimens that include a...

OTC antihistamine/decongestant.(PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2006... Clarinex-D 12 Hour is now available over the counter for relief of nasal and non-nasal symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis in patients aged 12 years and older. The tablets combine desloratadine (2.5 mg) with pseudoephedrine sulfate (120 mg)....

Neurostimulation Tx for chronic pain.(PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2006... RestorePrime Neurostimulation System is approved for the treatment of chronic bilateral and complex pain in the trunk and/or multiple limbs that is associated with failed back surgery syndrome, post-laminectomy pain, unsuccessful disk surgery,...

Erbitux approved for head/neck cancer.(PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2006... Erbitux (cetuximab) is indicated for use in combination with radiation therapy to treat patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck that cannot be removed by surgery. The drug also is indicated for use as a monotherapy to treat...

Tablets available for birth control.(PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2006... Loestrin 24 Fe (norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets and ferrous fumarate tablets) is indicated for the prevention of pregnancy. The birth control regimen provides 24 days of active hormonal therapy and 4 days of iron-containing...

Medical keyboard is waterproof.(PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2006... The "Really Cool" keyboard is waterproof and can be cleaned with water, soap, alcohol, a 10% bleach solution, and other disinfectants to promote infection control. The keyboard retails for $169 and is USB and PS/2 compatible. For more...