Internal Medicine News articles from September 2006

Internal Medicine News archives from September 2006

Robots can assist in improving care.(News)
September 1, 2006... PHOENIX -- Advanced technology--in the form of surgical robotics--is opening up new possibilities for improving the care of patients who need to undergo delicate surgical procedures. The transition to robot-assisted surgery is still...

World prescription generic drug market is expected to climb.(VITAL SIGNS)
September 1, 2006... World Prescription Generic Drug Market Is Expected To Climb (revenues in millions) Note: Based on U.S. manufacturers' revenues in 2005 dollars. Source: Kalorama Information ELSEVIER GLOBAL MEDICAL NEWS

STD treatment guidelines revise some regimens: first update since 2002 released by CDC.(News)(sexually transmitted diseases)
September 1, 2006... MONTEREY, CALIF. -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its guidelines for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases for the first time since 2002. As well as reiterating many of the 2002 recommendations for...

Anastrozole earns place as a first-line breast ca drug.(News)
September 1, 2006... Investigators of a key international trial comparing anastrozole to tamoxifen have concluded that their long-term safety results support up-front use of the aromatase inhibitor as an adjuvant treatment for hormone-sensitive early-stage breast...

College athletes risk disability.(News)
September 1, 2006... DENVER -- Former collegiate athletes have six times the rate of physical activity limitations and five times the rate of daily life activity limitations as demographically similar control subjects, according to a poster presentation by Kelly B....

New federal regs aim to speed EHR adoption.(News)
September 1, 2006... Hospitals, health plans, and other health care organizations will soon be able to assist physicians in obtaining health information technology without running afoul of federal fraud laws under regulations issued last month by the Department of...

Less than a quarter of office-based physicians use electronic medical records.(DATA WATCH)(Survey)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Less Than Quarter of Office-Based Physicians Use Electronic Medical Records 2001 18% 2002 17% 2003 17% 2004 21% 2005 24% Note: Based on an annual survey that included 1,281 physicians in 2005. Source: Centers for...

Flu pandemic would weaken global economy.(News)
September 1, 2006... PARIS -- A worldwide influenza pandemic resulting from a mutation of the H5N1 avian influenza virus could restrain global economic growth by as much as $2 trillion, or more than 3%, as a result of voluntary or mandatory restrictions on travel,...

Famvir.(NEW & APPROVED)
September 1, 2006... Famvir (famciclovir, Novartis) An antiviral approved as a single-day treatment for recurrent genital herpes and as a single-dose treatment for recurrent herpes labialis (cold sores) in immunocompetent adults. Previously approved for...

Humira.(NEW & APPROVED)
September 1, 2006... Humira (adalimumab, Abbott) A tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker for reducing signs and symptoms in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Previously approved for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis....

Include the elderly in cardiovascular trials.(Editorial)
September 1, 2006... We desperately need more and better data on how to manage cardiovascular diseases in elderly patients, and in particular in the advanced elderly. Most of the studies that have assessed diagnostic methods or treatments for cardiovascular...

Pain relievers.(Opinion)(Cartoon)
September 1, 2006... "The results were inconclusive. I'm having your colonoscopy digitally remastered."

Discouraging numbers for PCPs.(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' proposal to increase reimbursement for cognitive services was recently reported by American College of Physicians President Lynn Kirk ("Medicare Proposal Would Hike Pay for Cognitive Services,"...

What drives us to concierge care.(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... The article on concierge motives was informative, but it raised more questions than answers ("Concierge Motives Include Money and Quality of Care," July 15, 2006, p. 64). I have a fee-for-service rheumatology/pain management practice. I've...

Aromatase inhibitors aid cancer survival.(Women's Health)
September 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Switching from tamoxifen to aromatase inhibitors improved overall survival for 8,794 breast cancer patients in four randomized phase III trials, according to a pooled analysis presented at the annual meeting of the American Society...

Hormone combo cuts blood pressure, hot flashes.(Women's Health)(drospirenone and estradiol )
September 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The combination of drospirenone (a progestin with antialdosterone effects) and 17-[beta]-estradiol as hormone therapy for hypertensive postmenopausal women not only reduces hot flashes, but lowers blood pressure as well, according...

Low-dose estrogens help hot flashes.(Women's Health)
September 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- A 0.45-mg daily dose of synthetic conjugated estrogens-A improves moderate to severe menopausal vasomotor symptoms, compared with placebo, according to data presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Obstetricians...

Nonhormonal treatments for hot flashes rated not so hot.(Women's Health)
September 1, 2006... Despite the avid interest in finding nonhormonal therapies for menopausal hot flashes, most alternative treatments have demonstrated only limited efficacy, and their safety remains in question, according to a systematic review of the...

Patient selection, patience key to pessary success.(Women's Health)
September 1, 2006... TUCSON, ARIZ. -- A randomized crossover trial suggests that symptom relief and satisfaction can be obtained with either of two commonly used pessary types, but that patient selection and patience are both key to success. The multicenter...

New test allows assessment of pelvic floor musculature.(Women's Health)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- The Colpexin sphere, an intravaginal device for women with advanced genital prolapse that supports the prolapse above the levator musculature and helps patients strengthen their pelvic floor muscles, can also serve as a...

Image-guided steroid injections urged in hip OA.(Rheumatology)(hip osteoarthritis)
September 1, 2006... AMSTERDAM -- Radiologically guided corticosteroid injections brought marked symptomatic improvement to patients with advanced hip osteoarthritis in a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial, Dr. Walter P. Maksymowych reported at the...

Celecoxib deemed safer than NSAIDs in osteoarthritis patients.(Rheumatology)
September 1, 2006... Celecoxib is just as effective as naproxen and diclofenac for treating osteoarthritis, and it causes significantly fewer serious upper GI events than the other agents, according to data from a large international study. The finding "shows...

Trials back weight loss in obese knee OA patients.(Rheumatology)
September 1, 2006... AMSTERDAM -- Obese patients with knee osteoarthritis can be told with confidence that a sustained weight loss of at least 5% of their body weight will typically lead to a moderate reduction in physical disability, while a greater weight loss...

Brisk walking stresses knee joints in obese people.(Rheumatology)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... DENVER -- Brisk walking appears to place significant stress on knee joints, especially in obese individuals, and that may contribute to musculoskeletal injuries, Ray Browning, Ph.D., reported at the annual meeting of the American College of...

Extended-release acetaminophen eased knee OA.(Rheumatology)
September 1, 2006... AMSTERDAM -- For pain associated with knee osteoarthritis, extended-release acetaminophen is a possible alternative to cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, Dr. Thomas J. Schnitzer reported at the annual European Congress of Rheumatology. Current...

Aspirin may offset NSAIDs' cardiovascular risk.(Rheumatology)
September 1, 2006... AMSTERDAM -- Concomitant aspirin use may fully reverse the increased atherothrombotic risk associated with cyclooxygenase-2 selective NSAIDs, Dr. Gurkirpal Singh reported at the annual European Congress of Rheumatology. In addition,...

Persistent response noted after infliximab halted.(Rheumatology)
September 1, 2006... AMSTERDAM -- Early and aggressive therapy with infliximab and methotrexate may favorably alter the course of rheumatoid arthritis, according to new data from the Dutch BEST trial. After 3 years of follow-up, 55% of the 120 BEST participants...

Primary care tool predicts adolescent depression.(Adolescent Health)
September 1, 2006... SAN ANTONIO -- Primary care physicians may be able to quickly and accurately assess and stratify an adolescent's 1-year risk of developing new-onset major depression using a 20-item checklist, Dr. Benjamin W. Van Voorhees said at the annual...

Hospitalization for depression on the rise in 5- to 19-year-olds.(DATA WATCH)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Hospitalization for Depression On the Rise in 5- to 19-Year-Olds Males Females 1990-1992 11.2 15.4 2002-2004 14.5 27.8 Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ELSEVIER GLOBAL MEDICAL NEWS ...

Depo Provera may raise insulin in obese teens.(Adolescent Health)
September 1, 2006... BOSTON -- The use of medroxyprogesterone may impair insulin and glucose metabolism in obese adolescents, thus increasing the long-term health risks of young women in an already vulnerable population, Dr. Nancy E. Fritz said at the annual...

Early education needed to deter sexual risks.(Adolescent Health)
September 1, 2006... Sexually risky behaviors on the part of adolescents is nothing new, but the age at which these behaviors begin is. In fact, new data suggest that sexual risk taking often begins in middle school. Baseline data collected in spring 2005 from...

One-third of girls sexually active by age 15 but only 44% say partners use condoms.(Adolescent Health)
September 1, 2006... BOSTON -- By age 15, more than a third of American girls say they are sexually active, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey. About 26% have had oral sex, 26% have had vaginal intercourse, and another 8% have had oral...

Comprehensive intervention limits repeat pregnancies.(Adolescent Health)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Pregnant adolescents who receive interdisciplinary prenatal and postpartum care and psychosocial support have lower rates of rapid pregnancy recurrence, Amanda Melhado reported at the annual meeting of the Society for Adolescent Medicine. ...

Systemic contact dermatitis tracked to allergens in foods.(Dermatology)
September 1, 2006... PORTLAND, ORE. -- A broad and diverse group of foods contains nickel, and consumption of these foods has the potential to exacerbate allergic contact dermatitis, particularly in patients receiving more than one exposure per day, Dr. David E....

Nail melanomas, benign lesions look similar.(Dermatology)
September 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- A longitudinal pigmented streak beneath the nail could either be a benign melanonychia striata or a far-from-benign subungual melanoma, but despite the vast difference in prognosis, the two conditions are very difficult to tell...

Trial targets siblings of melanoma patients.(Dermatology)
September 1, 2006... Providing telephone counseling and targeted educational materials to the siblings of recently diagnosed melanoma patients can help improve the rate and quality of skin self-screening, according to the results of new research. In a...

Is It melanoma? Pigmented lesions give few clues.(Dermatology)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Pigmented lesions revealed few clues as to their true histologic identities in a 5-year retrospective study, Dr. Roland M. Strauss said in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. ...

Menstrual migraines: are they double the trouble?(Neurology)
September 1, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- Migraine headaches were twice as likely during the menstrual cycle, and menstrual migraines lasted longer, were somewhat more painful, and proved significantly more resistant to treatment than migraines suffered during other...

Frovatriptan appears to curb menstrual migraine.(Neurology)
September 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Women who took 2.5 mg of frovatriptan either once or twice daily for 6 days at the time of menstruation had significantly fewer--and less severe--menstrual migraines, compared with women who took a placebo, reported Dr. Marie...

Migraine with aura raises risk of coronary heart disease.(Neurology)
September 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Healthy women aged 45 years and older who have migraine with aura have a significantly increased risk of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and angina, results from the largest study of its...

Novel agent helps cut opioid-induced GI adverse events.(Neurology)(alvimopan in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases)
September 1, 2006... SAN ANTONIO -- Alvimopan is effective in relieving gastrointestinal adverse events associated with opioid administration, according to preliminary data. "We were able to demonstrate that alvimopan, a [mu]-opioid receptor antagonist that is...

No needle needed: postop pain controller gains FDA approval.(Neurology)(Food and Drug Administration)
September 1, 2006... A patient-activated transdermal product for short-term management of acute postoperative pain in adults requiring opioid analgesia has received Food and Drug Administration approval. The fentanyl iontophoretic transdermal system, marketed...

Tysabri is back, with black box warning.(Neurology)
September 1, 2006... Safety information that has been added to the revised label of natalizumab is highlighted in a "dear healthcare professional" letter and timed to coincide with the reintroduction of the monoclonal antibody in the United States as monotherapy...

Avoid diagnostic pitfalls for Parkinson's disease.(Neurology)
September 1, 2006... BALTIMORE -- Be sure to reevaluate a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease in a patient at every visit, Dr. Stephen G. Reich advised at a meeting sponsored by the American Geriatrics Society and Johns Hopkins University. The false-positive rate...

Possible biomarker for preclinical AD found.(Geriatrics)(Alzheimer's disease)
September 1, 2006... Cerebrospinal fluid levels of amyloid-beta 42 may be a biomarker for the early, asymptomatic phase of Alzheimer's disease--a long-awaited leap forward in the quest for preclinical diagnosis, reported Dr. Elaine R. Peskind of the University of...

New dementia risk score targets modifiable factors.(Geriatrics)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Advancing age, limited education, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and obesity at midlife are significantly associated with the later development of dementia, according to findings from a 20-year follow-up study. A new, simple...

Huperzine a for Alzheimer's disease.(ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE)
September 1, 2006... History of Use Extracts of the club moss Huperzia serrata have been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine to treat conditions including inflammation, fever, and schizophrenia. Plants such as this one from the lycopod family...

Drug combo improves outcome in head, neck ca.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- The addition of docetaxel to the standard initial chemotherapy regimen of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil has been shown to improve survival in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. In an international,...

FDG-PET guides therapy for head and neck cancer.(Clinical Rounds)(fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Integration of fluorodeoxyglucose PET and CT for radiotherapy planning is a promising approach for patients with head and neck cancer, a small, single-center German study showed. Compared with CT alone, the combined approach...

Cancer patients need fertility preservation advice.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2006... New guidelines issued by the American Society of Clinical Oncology advise discussion of fertility preservation options with cancer patients as early as possible in treatment planning. Sperm banking and embryo cryopreservation are proven...

Aliskiren boosts diuretic's benefit.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
September 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- A new oral antihypertensive drug, the renin inhibitor aliskiren, was effective when given with a diuretic, and also achieved consistent, 24-hour blood pressure control as monotherapy in a pair of studies that together included about...

ARB increases insulin sensitivity in hypertensives.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(angiotensin I receptor blockade)
September 1, 2006... MADRID -- Angiotensin I receptor blockade with losartan improves insulin sensitivity independent of its effects on blood pressure in hypertensive individuals at risk for metabolic syndrome, reported Dr. Tonje Aksnes at the annual meeting of the...

Is catheter ablation best for refractory atrial fib?(Cardiovascular Medicine)
September 1, 2006... BOSTON -- Catheter ablation is superior to an assortment of antiarrhythmic drugs in the treatment of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who have previously failed at least one AAD, according to a new study. At 1-year follow-up,...

Statins cut deaths in nonischemic ICD users.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(implantable cardioverter defibrillators)
September 1, 2006... BOSTON -- Statin use was associated with startling reductions in mortality and in sudden death among patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, according to a new subanalysis from a multicenter trial of implantable cardioverter...

Functional performance measures assess PAD.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(peripheral arterial disease)
September 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Using validated functional performance measures is better than relying on patient reporting to determine walking ability and the effects of treatments in peripheral arterial disease, according to Dr. Mary McGrae McDermott. ...

Statins reduced vascular events in peripheral arterial disease.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
September 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- Statin use cut the incidence of major vascular events in patients with peripheral arterial disease in a subanalysis of results from the Heart Protection Study. The results show that "all patients with peripheral arterial...

New questions on PAD alter Framingham risk assessment.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(peripheral artery disease)
September 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Asking patients two brief questions about self-reported peripheral artery disease, as a supplement to the standard Framingham cardiovascular risk assessment, results in reclassification of a substantial proportion of patients as...

Lab test flags those at low risk for repeat VTE.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(venous thromboembolism)
September 1, 2006... A simple and inexpensive laboratory test that measures thrombin generation can be used to identify venous thromboembolism patients at low risk of recurrence--those who are unlikely to benefit from indefinite anticoagulant treatments, reported...

Three false truths?(THE EFFECTIVE PHYSICIAN)
September 1, 2006... Since it is often said that half of what one learns in medical school is not true, it should be useful to review common assumptions that we employ in daily practice. Recent publications have prompted serious discussion about some widely...

Novel renin blocker effective in diabetics.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
September 1, 2006... MADRID -- Aliskiren, the novel renin-blocking drug, improved 24-hour blood pressure control and showed greater systolic pressure reductions, compared with ramipril, in diabetics with uncontrolled hypertension, according to data presented at the...

Arrhythmia monitor.(PRODUCTS)(Dual Alert AF)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The Dual Alert AF monitor uses proprietary algorithms to detect and record arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, tachycardia, and bradycardia. The device offers single- or double-channel capability and can be programmed to capture specific...

Generic Zocor approved.(PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The first generic version of Zocor (simvastatin) has been approved as a dietary adjunct for the management of patients with coronary heart disease or hypercholesteremia. For more information about 5-, 10-, 20-, and 40-mg tablets, contact IVAX...

Heart-healthy women.(PRODUCTS)("Heathy From the Heart" by the National Women's Health Resource Center)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The National Women's Health Resource Center has put out a new educational brochure to educate women about the treatment of coronary artery disease. "Heathy From the Heart" is available in English and Spanish. To download a copy, visit...

Computer-assisted colonoscopy.(PRODUCTS)(NeoGuide Endoscopy System by NeoGuide Systems Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The NeoGuide Endoscopy System uses a colonoscope made of multiple segments, which can be actively controlled. The system creates a 3-D map of the colon and then directs the segments to follow the path taken by the tip, minimizing the chance for...

Diabetes management software.(PRODUCTS)(DiaTrends)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... A new version (3.1.29) of DiaTrends diabetes management software is now available. This version features user-friendly data entry and tracks multiple data types (relevant exams, chemistries, patient history). For more information, contact...

Zelapar available for Parkinson's.(PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Zelapar (selegiline HCl, orally disintegrating tablets) is available for use as a once-daily adjunct therapy for patients with Parkinson's disease who are being treated with levodopa/carbidopa. For more information, contact Valeant...

Generic Lamictal approved.(PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Generic Lamictal (lamotrigine, 5-mg and 25-mg tablets) is approved for adjunctive therapy for partial seizures in adults and pediatric patients aged 2 years and older. The drug is also indicated as adjunctive therapy for the generalized...

Focalin XR label updated.(PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The Focalin XR (dexmethylphenidate HCl) label has been updated to include information from two additional studies, which showed that the drug works quickly and is effective for up to 12 hours. The drug is indicated for the treatment of...

Interactive patient education tool.(PRODUCTS)(Emmi Solutions LLC)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The Emmi interactive patient education service walks patients through surgical procedures. Patients learn what to expect from preop to postop, including risks and alternatives. Available modules include ob.gyn., cardiothoracic, orthopedics, and...

Drive contains personal medical data.(PRODUCTS)(LifeKey)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... LifeKey, a portable USB flash drive, allows people to carry their medical records with them at all times. Doctors can view a chart immediately on any computer without installing additional hardware or software. Doctors or patients need only...

Delayed mortality seen after pneumonia: pneumonia patients discharged with high blood cytokine levels showed greater 90-day mortality.(Infectious Diseases)
September 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Community-acquired pneumonia patients are significantly more likely to die within 3 months of leaving the hospital if they have high concentrations of inflammatory cytokines before discharge, Dr. Sachin Yende reported at the...

Flu expert urges more research on statins.(Infectious Diseases)
September 1, 2006... PARIS -- Public health authorities should develop a research agenda on the use of statins as treatment and prophylaxis in the event of an influenza pandemic, a top researcher said at an international conference on avian influenza in humans. ...

Strategies launched for global TB.(Infectious Diseases)
September 1, 2006... LISBON -- This year will be the one with the most cases of tuberculosis worldwide in all of history--and the greatest number of deaths due to the disease, Dr. Peter Godfrey-Faussett said at the 12th International Congress on Infectious...

Two avian flu vaccines for birds okayed in Europe.(Infectious Diseases)
September 1, 2006... The European Medicines Agency has approved the first two avian influenza vaccines for birds that the agency says will reduce mortality and virus excretion in poultry exposed to the disease. The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) gave a...

Clinical trial finds good response to avian flu vaccine.(Infectious Diseases)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... GlaxoSmithKline has announced that its H5N1 vaccine achieved a high immune response in a clinical trial in Belgium. Investigators immunized 400 healthy adults with a vaccine that contained an inactivated H5N1 virus and a proprietary...

New topical antibiotic may thwart resistance.(Infectious Diseases)
September 1, 2006... LISBON -- Five days of the novel topical antibiotic retapamulin is as effective in the treatment of uncomplicated skin infections as 10 days of an oral cephalosporin, Dr. Lawrence C. Parish reported at the 12th International Congress on...

Iowa mumps outbreak not necessarily the last.(Infectious Diseases)
September 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The mumps outbreak that occurred in Iowa earlier this year is not necessarily the end of the illness in the United States, Dr. Anne Schuchat said at a press briefing sponsored by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases....

Low-dose steroids cut septic shock mortality.(Infectious Diseases)
September 1, 2006... LISBON -- After decades of controversy, a consensus has emerged that corticosteroids provide major benefits in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock, Dr. Djillali Annane said at the 12th International Congress on Infectious Diseases. ...

Is addition of fludrocortisone to steroids effective in severe sepsis?(Infectious Diseases)
September 1, 2006... LISBON -- A key unresolved clinical issue regarding the use of corticosteroids in septic shock patients is whether the addition of fludrocortisone to low-dose hydrocortisone provides incremental benefit over hydrocortisone alone, Dr. Djillali...

Early Administration of antibiotics, fluids save lives in septic shock.(Infectious Diseases)
September 1, 2006... HALIFAX, N.S. -- A protocol of early antibiotics and hemodynamic stabilization decreases mortality in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock, Dr. Robert Stenstrom said at the 11th International Conference on Emergency Medicine. ...

Virtual colonoscopy could become widespread: most of the obstacles to using this noninvasive screening technique have been addressed.(Gastroenterology)
September 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Improvements in technology and technique are helping to overcome some of the limitations of CT colonography, and this may ultimately lead to its widespread use in screening for colorectal cancer, Dr. Jay P. Heiken said at the...

Mortality equal in laparoscopic, open colorectal ca surgery.(Gastroenterology)
September 1, 2006... SEATTLE -- Patients who undergo a laparoscopic procedure for colon or rectal cancer have no worse mortality beyond 5 years than those who have an open procedure, according to a prospective, randomized trial presented at the annual meeting of...

Preoperative radiation cut rectal ca recurrence.(Gastroenterology)
September 1, 2006... SEATTLE -- Rectal cancer patients who got radiotherapy before their surgery had a lower local recurrence rate--even in T1 and T2 stage tumors--than those who did not receive prior radiotherapy, according to preliminary results of a British...

Genetics important in Barrett's, esophageal cancer.(Gastroenterology)
September 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- Family history plays a larger role in Barrett's esophagus and associated cancers than was previously recognized, according to Dr. Amitabh Chak. "There's clearly an inheritance pattern that suggests an autosomal dominant...