Internal Medicine News articles from November 2004

Internal Medicine News archives from November 2004

Endoscopic images to replace biopsy?(News)
November 1, 2004... A new generation of "optical biopsy" instruments is poised to change medical practice by giving physicians a powerful tool for visualizing cellular structure and pathology. The leading edge of this technology, confocal laser microscopy, is...

HT stance clarified in Menopause Society statement: while easing time limits on therapy, NAMS warns about false product claims.(News)
November 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- The latest position statement on hormone therapy in peri- and post-menopausal women issued by the North American Menopause Society moderates prior guidance on treatment duration and adds a new warning about "bioidentical" hormone...

Web messaging increases productivity and revenue: practice saw 11% more patients per day.(News)
November 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Giving patients access to online communications with physicians and their offices not only decreased phone calls but also decreased the volume of all messages and increased revenues in a controlled study, said Eric M....

MDs react to antidepressant label rule.(News)
November 1, 2004... The Food and Drug Administration's new requirements for warning labels on antidepressants given to children and adolescents are drawing mixed reviews from physicians. On the positive side, "this announcement will raise the level of...

Aventis working with feds to redistribute limited flu vaccine.(News)
November 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Vaccine manufacturer Aventis Pasteur is working with federal health officials to ensure that influenza vaccine doses are rerouted to high-risk individuals. "The overall goal of this is to target the vaccine that we do have to...

Bone health is 'often overlooked' in exams.(News)
November 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- More than enough is known about how to promote bone health and prevent fractures, yet too few health care providers make use of this information, according to the first-ever U.S. Surgeon General's report aimed at raising the...

Coronary calcium unmasks CAD risk in diabetics.(News)
November 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- A coronary calcium score was an effective, initial screen for coronary artery disease in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes in a study of 510 patients. Coronary calcium "may be the most cost-effective and feasible way"...

Cut lipids after ischemic stroke to ward off CV events.(News)
November 1, 2004... TORONTO -- Patients who have had an ischemic stroke should be targeted for aggressive therapy to lower their levels of low-density lipoproteins, even in the absence of coronary artery disease, Mandip S. Dhamoon said at the annual meeting of the...

ICDs unlikely to reduce mortality rates in patients with very low risk.(News)
November 1, 2004... TORONTO -- A subset analysis of the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial II suggests that select patients at low risk for death don't benefit from an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, Arthur J. Moss, M.D., reported at...

Federal policies encourage use of information technology.(News)
November 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- The federal government has stepped up its initiatives pushing for the adoption of electronic health records and other information technologies, Eduardo Ortiz, M.D., said at the triennial congress of the International Medical...

Are we ready for EHRs?(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... Electronic health record systems are promoted seemingly more for the sake of acquiring and using the technology than for specific benefits that cannot be gained in some other way ("Federal Plan Aims to Boost EHR Use," Aug. 15, 2004, p. 1). ...

Open source EHRs.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... We read with interest the article on open source EHR, and welcome the appointment of fellow internist David Brailer as the National Health Information Technology Coordinator ("Open Source EHR Systems Can Be an Option," Aug. 15, 2004, p. 60)....

Barriers to EHRs.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... Regarding barriers to using electronic health records in medical practice, I would list these: * My practice is small and can't afford a $30,000, or even a $5,000, EHR system on top of the cost for the computers. The software would need to...

Not user friendly.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... I see two barriers to using electronic health records: * Typing. I can't type fast enough to be productive. * Platforms. There are too many of them. The variety of proprietary software products precludes ease of use for review and...

Treating acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis: how can therapy be optimized?(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is the fourth leading cause of death in the US. (1), (2) In 1997, chronic bronchitis cost one corporate benefits system almost $6,000 per beneficiary, and over...

Don't avoid opioids in the elderly.(GUEST EDITORIAL)
November 1, 2004... Opioids can be extremely safe drugs for many elderly patients with any type of chronic pain. When used correctly, they enhance well-being and quality of life immensely. But older patients do not receive these products as often as they...

Is liability the reason for the flu vaccine shortage?(PRO & CON)
November 1, 2004... YES There is strong evidence that our nation's culture of lawsuit abuse is a contributing factor to the current flu vaccine crisis--a crisis that undermines public health and threatens public safety. This shortfall in flu vaccine will have...

Most adrenal incidentalomas are not malignant: for most patients with clinically inapparent adrenal masses, conservative management is appropriate.(Endocrinology)
November 1, 2004... LISBON -- Growth and malignancy occur infrequently among adrenal incidentalomas, according to data from three studies presented at the 12th International Congress of Endocrinology. The findings of the studies--one each from Italy, Greece,...

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Tx raises risk of bone loss.(Endocrinology)
November 1, 2004... LISBON -- Women who receive long-term glucocorticoid treatment for congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency are at risk for decreased bone mineral density, Jeremy A. King, M.D., reported in a poster presentation at the...

Adipocytes may have role in obesity-related Ca.(Endocrinology)
November 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Investigators are examining the roles of estrogen, insulin, and their related growth factors in obesity-related cancer, Andrew Renehan, Ph.D., of Christie Hospital, Manchester, England, said in an interview at the annual meeting...

Pumping iron gets a grip on glycemic control.(Endocrinology)
November 1, 2004... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Weight lifting is an attractive option to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes, Richard Weil said at a conference on management of diabetes in youth. The great majority of research on the metabolic...

Downhill walking improves glucose tolerance more than walking uphill.(Endocrinology)
November 1, 2004... MUNICH -- An exercise regime of regular downhill walking improved glucose tolerance substantially more than did walking uphill in a study reported by Heinz Drexel, M.D., at the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology. That's...

Intermittent intensive insulin may be possible for diabetics.(Endocrinology)
November 1, 2004... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- The concept of "metabolic memory" has emerged as a focus of intense interest among diabetologists, Satish K. Garg, M.D., said at a conference on management of diabetes in youth. The metabolic memory hypothesis holds that...

DHEA supplements may enhance exercise benefits.(Endocrinology)(Dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation)
November 1, 2004... LISBON -- Dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation may enhance the glucose- and lipid-lowering effects of resistance exercise in women, Chia-Hua Kuo, Ph.D., reported at the 12th International Congress on Endocrinology. The findings suggest...

Stress seriousness of metabolic syndrome early.(Endocrinology)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... LAS VEGAS -- Early action is essential in preventing serious illness or death in patients with metabolic syndrome, Matthew Phillips, M.D., said at a meeting on primary care sponsored by the Southern Medical Association. "You need to let...

ACOG simplifies Hormone Therapy guidance.(Women's Health)(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
November 1, 2004... The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has issued a report with evidence-based clinical recommendations in an effort to simplify the increasingly complex task of counseling patients about hormone therapy. The Hormone...

Metformin first-line Tx for some PCOS patients.(Women's Health)
November 1, 2004... LAS VEGAS -- Metformin may be a good first-line therapy for inducing ovulation in selected patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, Rogerio Lobo, M.D., said at the Fifth World Congress on Controversies in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and...

Cardiac markers seen in nonobese PCOS patients.(Women's Health)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Women in their early 20s who have polycystic ovary syndrome have signs indicative of a risk of early heart disease, even when their weight is normal, Francesco Orio Jr., M.D., and his colleagues reported. The researchers matched 30 young...

Most at-risk women ineligible for Tamoxifen.(Women's Health)
November 1, 2004... Tamoxifen probably won't prevent many cases of breast cancer in women at risk for the disease because most are ineligible for treatment, and the women most likely to be eligible are the least likely to develop cancer, according to Carmen L....

Exemestane beats Tamoxifen for advanced breast cancer.(Women's Health)
November 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Tamoxifen's days may be numbered as the adjuvant therapy of choice for women with advanced breast cancer, based on findings presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Data from a major...

Women with breast cancer more likely to have thyroid disorders.(Women's Health)
November 1, 2004... LOS ANGELES -- The prevalence of goiter and thyroid antibodies is higher than average in women with breast cancer, M. Ramazan Sekeroglu, Ph.D., and colleagues said at the annual meeting of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry. ...

Try, try again to find a vaccine for melanoma.(Dermatology)
November 1, 2004... VIENNA -- Three decades of attempts to develop a vaccine therapy for melanoma have yielded results best characterized as "disappointing," Georg Stingl, M.D., declared at the annual meeting of the European Society for Dermatological Research....

Perineural invasion in aggressive skin cancer often missed.(Dermatology)
November 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- New evidence suggests that perineural invasion may occur in aggressive nonmelanoma skin cancers more frequently than previously reported and is often overlooked in the examination of margins, speakers said at the Sixth...

Control dermatitis herpetiformis with diet.(Dermatology)
November 1, 2004... BUDAPEST, HUNGARY -- Adherence to a gluten-free diet is the treatment of choice for the blistering rash of dermatitis herpetiformis, Timo Reunala, M.D., said at an international symposium sponsored by the European Academy of Dermatology and...

Infection, cutaneous B-cell lymphoma may be linked.(Dermatology)
November 1, 2004... VIENNA -- Routine screening for evidence of infection by Borrelia burgdorferi, or hepatitis C virus, is warranted in patients with primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma, Antonio Cozzio, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the European Society for...

Immune response boost benefits patients with T-cell lymphoma.(Dermatology)
November 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Normalizing the immune system with biologic response modifiers is perhaps the best hope for increasing disease-free intervals and improving quality of life for patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Evidence supports the...

HPV may play role in nonmelanoma skin Ca.(Dermatology)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... VIENNA -- Cutaneous human papillomavirus infection may play a role in the development of skin cancer, Ingo Nindl, Ph.D., reported at the annual meeting of the European Society for Dermatological Research. Infection by the same HPV variants...

Self-exams help patients see skin lesion changes.(Dermatology)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Patients who have learned how to perform skin self-examinations are moderately accurate at discerning new lesions and recognizing whether changes have appeared, Mohsin Malik, M.D., reported at the annual meeting of the...

Topical steroids don't help irritant dermatitis.(Dermatology)
November 1, 2004... SANTA FE, N.M. -- Despite the widespread use of topical corticosteroids for irritant contact dermatitis, there is little evidence that they work any better than moisturizers, and they may make the dermatitis worse, Howard I. Maibach, M.D., said...

Endocrinologic factors worsen acne in women.(Dermatology)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Severity of acne in postpubertal women appears to depend on peripheral hyperandrogenism, with a negative relationship between the acne severity and serum sex hormone-binding globulin levels, according to results from a large study of Italian...

Proposed Hb[A.sub.1c] target levels for kids draw fire.(Adolescent Health)
November 1, 2004... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Proposed new American Diabetes Association glycosylated hemoglobin goals for children have come under strong criticism from some prominent pediatric endocrinologists. This is the first time that the ADA has set...

Reset patients' target glucose levels to regain hypoglycemia awareness.(Adolescent Health)
November 1, 2004... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Hypoglycemia unawareness is a common problem constituting a major risk factor for severe hypoglycemic episodes involving seizures or coma, Georgeanna Klingensmith, M.D., said at a conference on management of diabetes in youth...

Neuropsychiatric, type 2 diabetes diagnoses linked.(Adolescent Health)
November 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Nearly 20% of children and adolescents diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have a neuropsychiatric diagnosis at the time, according to retrospective data presented at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes...

Diabetes poses unique challenges in adolescents.(Adolescent Health)
November 1, 2004... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Comorbid conditions including psychiatric illness make the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adolescents different from that of adults with the disease, Phil Zeitler, M.D., said at a conference on management of diabetes in...

Metformin seen as first-line Tx for teens.(Adolescent Health)
November 1, 2004... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- An "unscientific but rational" approach to the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adolescents is metformin as first-line therapy, with a low threshold for addition of insulin, Phil Zeitler, M.D., said at a conference on...

Nicotine patch efficacy unaffected by bupropion.(Adolescent Health)
November 1, 2004... Bupropion hydrochloride does not improve smoking cessation rates among adolescents when added to nicotine patch therapy, according to a randomized clinical trial. There is a paucity of controlled studies assessing strategies for adolescent...

More adolescents being treated for substance abuse.(Adolescent Health)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The number of adolescents who were admitted to substance abuse-treatment facilities rose for the 10th consecutive year, according to a report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The report, "Treatment...

Medicare to cover PET for some dementia Dx.(Geriatrics)
November 1, 2004... Medicare is extending coverage of PET scans to include patients who meet the criteria for both frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease but for whom the diagnosis remains unclear. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services...

Cognitive changes identified in tape-recorded self-test.(Geriatrics)
November 1, 2004... BAL HARBOUR, FLA -- A tape-recorded, self-administered test appears to be an accurate and inexpensive means of diagnosing early cognitive dysfunction--particularly memory failure--in adults. When compared with the Mini-Mental State...

General vs. local anesthesia tied to lower Alzheimer's risk.(Geriatrics)
November 1, 2004... PHILADELPHIA -- Can general anesthesia prevent Alzheimer's disease? That was the intriguing suggestion from a retrospective epidemiologic study done with patients in the Veterans Affairs health system who had prostate or hernia surgery and...

Donepezil boosts AD patients' behavior over time.(Geriatrics)
November 1, 2004... PHILADELPHIA -- Some patients with Alzheimer's disease may derive behavioral benefits from drug treatment, even when their cognition and global status appear unchanged or deteriorate, Peter Johannsen, M.D., reported at the Ninth International...

Atypical antipsychotics favored for dementia, despite modest effects.(Geriatrics)
November 1, 2004... SANTA FE, N.M. -- Atypical antipsychotics remain the treatment of choice for the agitation and psychosis that often accompany dementia, but these agents have only modest effects, Murray A. Raskind, M.D., said at a psychiatric symposium...

Galantamine safe, effective for dementia with lewy bodies.(Geriatrics)
November 1, 2004... PHILADELPHIA -- Treatment with galantamine was safe and effective for improving behavior and global function in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies in an uncontrolled study of 40 patients. Galantamine treatment also improved clinical...

Quetiapine quiets dementia-related agitation.(Geriatrics)
November 1, 2004... PHILADELPHIA -- Quetiapine is effective and safe in treating dementia-related agitation in long-term care residents, Pierre Tariot, M.D., reported at the Ninth International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders. ...

Depression rates differ by dementia subtype.(Geriatrics)
November 1, 2004... PHILADELPHIA -- Rates of depression vary by dementia subtype, Annette L. Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., said in a poster presentation at the 9th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders. The prevalence of depression among...

Depression tied to mild cognitive impairment risk.(Geriatrics)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... PHILADELPHIA -- Depressive symptoms are associated with an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment, Deborah E. Barnes, Ph.D., reported at the Ninth International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders. Depressive...

Two SSRIs useful in long-term generalized anxiety: efficacy was similar, but a direct comparison showed that escitalopram was better tolerated than paroxetine.(Psychiatry)(Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
November 1, 2004... MIAMI -- Escitalopram is as effective as paroxetine, but is better tolerated, for long-term treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, Robert J. Bielski, M.D., said at the annual conference of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. ...

Venlafaxine and paroxetine both benefit social anxiety.(Psychiatry)
November 1, 2004... PHOENIX, ARIZ. -- Venlafaxine XR and paroxetine appear equally effective in the treatment of generalized social anxiety disorder, according to a poster presentation by Nicholas DeMartinis, M.D., at a meeting of the New Clinical Drug Evaluation...

Escitalopram eases long-term anxiety.(Psychiatry)
November 1, 2004... PHOENIX, ARIZ. -- Anxiety scores continuously improve over at least 24 weeks in patients with generalized anxiety disorder who take escitalopram, Jonathan R.T. Davidson, M.D., said in a poster presentation at a meeting of the New Clinical Drug...

Early sexual abuse linked to suicidal ideation.(Psychiatry)
November 1, 2004... Women aged 50 and older with major depression were nearly seven times more likely to have considered suicide in the past week if they had a history of childhood sexual abuse, a study of 127 patients found. The 18 women in the study who...

Stress fractures stem from overuse, fatigue over time.(Clinical Rounds)
November 1, 2004... MONTEREY, CALIF. -- Pain relief and injury prevention should guide the management of stress fractures, Daniel Kraft, M.D., said at a meeting on pediatric and adolescent sports medicine sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics. ...

Use of [beta]-blockers, thiazides may decrease fracture risk.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... [beta]-Blockers and thiazide diuretics appear to provide protection against osteoporosis, according to the findings of a case-control study. In the investigation, [beta]-blockers--alone or in combination with thiazide diuretics--were...

Diet & Exercise Assistant, PDA GPS.(DIGITAL ASSISTANCE)
November 1, 2004... Featured App: Diet & Exercise Assistant Extra Halloween candy, Thanksgiving turkey and gravy, Christmas treats--these are only a few of the delicacies we have to look forward to in this rapidly approaching holiday season. But New Year's...

Does egg freezing offer insurance or false hope?(Clinical Rounds)(Extend Fertility )
November 1, 2004... When a Boston-based company called Extend Fertility hit the headlines in recent months--promoting egg freezing as the fountain of female reproductive youth--many fertility experts felt torn. Faced with an expanding clientele of childless...

CHF guidelines to expand scope of treatments.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
November 1, 2004... TORONTO -- A preview of the Heart Failure Society of America's new guidelines confirms ACE inhibitors as first-line therapy for patients with chronic heart failure, but is also bullish on the use of [beta]-blockers. Slated for release in...

High body fat linked to lower CHF mortality.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Chronic Heart Failure)
November 1, 2004... MUNICH -- High body fat is a powerful independent predictor of better survival in patients with chronic heart failure, Mariantonietta Cicoira, M.D., said at the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology. "We believe that the...

Less in-stent restenosis seen with sirolimus.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... MUNICH -- Coronary-disease patients who received a sirolimus-eluting stent had significantly better outcomes than did those who were treated with a paclitaxel-eluting stent in the first reported results from a head-to-head comparison between...

Bioabsorbable coronary stents enter clinical trials in Europe.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
November 1, 2004... MUNICH -- Bioabsorbable stents have, for the first time, been placed in the coronary arteries of patients. Starting last July, five cardiology patients at the University of Essen, Germany, each received a single, bioabsorbable stent in one...

Diabetics took CV risk profiles to heart.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
November 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Giving patients with diabetes printed reports with individualized cardiovascular risk profiles helped the patients improve their cholesterol levels in a randomized study. "It's like a report card. It makes a difference when...

Repeat cardiac events triggered by exposure to auto exhaust pollutants.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... MUNICH -- Urban air pollution from auto exhaust increases the risk of cardiac events in persons who've experienced a prior myocardial infarction, Stephanie Von Klot, Ph.D., reported at the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology....

Dobutamine stress echo predicts long-term mortality in diabetics.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
November 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- An abnormal dobutamine stress echocardiography study is an independent predictor of long-term mortality in patients with diabetes, Nithima Chaowalit, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Echocardiography. ...

Hospitalizations rise with diabetes.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... ATLANTA -- Diabetes is known to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but it also increases the risk of CVD-related hospitalizations, hospital discharge data suggest. Of nearly 4 million hospital discharges in...

Poor oral hygiene hurts the heart.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... ATLANTA -- The extent of tooth loss was significantly associated with heart disease prevalence in a large population-based study. After adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and marital status, the prevalence of heart disease...

Ginkgo for intermittent claudication.(AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH)
November 1, 2004... History and Rationale for Use The ginkgo, or maidenhair, tree is often called a "living fossil"--it has existed for about 200 million years and is thought to be one of the oldest surviving plants. Extracts of the leaves of Ginkgo...

Metabolic syndrome doubles risk of stroke.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
November 1, 2004... ATLANTA -- Metabolic syndrome appears to confer a twofold increase in the risk of stroke, Xuejuan Jin, M.D., reported at a prevention conference on heart disease and stroke sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In an...

Literature review backs JNC 7's emphasis on prehypertension.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... ATLANTA -- The controversial emphasis on "prehypertension" in the latest national high blood pressure guidelines is warranted, George A. Mensah, M.D., said at a prevention conference on heart disease and stroke sponsored by the Centers for...

Diuretics may keep heart failure at bay.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
November 1, 2004... MUNICH -- Additional results from the landmark ALLHAT have given physicians yet another reason to reach for a diuretic first when treating patients with hypertension. Treatment with the diuretic chlorthalidone was associated with...

Adults are still consuming too much sodium.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... ATLANTA -- Sodium intake is significantly lower in hypertensive than in normotensive adults, but is much higher than recommended in both groups, survey data suggest. Mean estimated daily sodium intake in the more than 4,000 adults aged at...

Erythromycin, CYP3A-inhibitor danger.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Patients taking CYP3A inhibitors such as diltiazem, verapamil, and azole antifungals should not be given oral erythromycin at the same time because the risk of sudden cardiac death surges by a factor of five when these agents are combined,...

High EPO means poor CHF prognosis.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Elevated plasma levels of erythropoietin indicate poor survival in patients with chronic heart failure, independently of their hemoglobin status, reported Peter van der Meer, M.D., and his associates at the University of Groningen, the...

Pulmonary fibrosis drugs still lacking.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Neither ACE inhibitors nor statins appear to improve survival in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, reported Hassan F. Nadrous, M.D., and his associates at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. No drugs have yet been found to improve...

[beta]-blockers not enough in LQTS.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A "high rate of cardiac events" occurred in a study of patients with long QT syndrome who were taking prophylactic [beta]-blockers, indicating that this mainstay of therapy doesn't provide adequate protection for many. Silvia G. Priori,...

Influenza hospitalizations rising, especially in elderly.(Infectious Diseases)
November 1, 2004... Influenza-related hospitalizations have increased significantly in the United States since 1979, due in part to the increase in the elderly population, William W. Thompson, Ph.D., and colleagues reported. But increases were also seen in the...

Accuracy, sensitivity vary in herpes simplex virus tests.(Infectious Diseases)
November 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Make sure to order commercially available herpes simplex virus serology tests from your laboratory by name because not all such tests are created equal, Anna Wald, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society...