OB GYN News articles from April 2004

OB GYN News archives from April 2004

Reducing fetal exposures: more isotretinoin restrictions likely.(News)
April 1, 2004... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- The current risk management program for isotretinoin has failed, and a more stringent program is needed to reduce fetal exposures to the drug, members of two Food and Drug Administration advisory panels agreed at a recent...

Results qualified; Estrogen not tied to endometrial ca recurrence: trial stopped early due to low enrollment, but still the largest study of its kind.(News)
April 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Estrogen therapy was not associated with an increased risk of disease recurrence in women who'd undergone surgery for endometrial cancer, according to the lead investigator of the largest study ever to examine the effects of...

Malpractice crisis blamed; Fewer U.S. seniors match to ob.gyn. residency slots: the fill rate for this group falls to 65.1%.(News)
April 1, 2004... Fewer U.S. medical students matched to ob.gyn. residency positions again this year, renewing concerns that the medical liability crisis is driving students away from the profession. A total of 1,142 ob.gyn. positions were offered this year,...

Clinical Pearls contest!(Nine New Prizes)
April 1, 2004... It's that time again! Polish up your clinical pearls and send them to our Pearls columnist, Dr. Bruce L. Flamm. He will select the top nine entries, which will be featured in upcoming columns. The following prizes will be awarded: *...

FDA raises regulatory issues: validity testing indefinitely delays OvaCheck release.(News)
April 1, 2004... Expanded validity testing has delayed the release of OvaCheck, a new ovarian cancer screening test, and a government inquiry may complicate the test's journey to market. The blood test, which identifies a specific pattern of metabolites...

Coincidental miscarriage an issue; CDC advisory panel: flu vaccine in first trimester is OK.(News)
April 1, 2004... ATLANTA -- All women who will be pregnant during the influenza season should receive the influenza vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted at its winter meeting. The new...

24 organizations: Coalition pushes initiative to increase influenza immunization of health workers beyond 'dismal' 36% rate.(News)
April 1, 2004... ATLANTA -- A new initiative aimed at improving the "dismal" 36% rate of influenza vaccination among health care workers is being led by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, Dr. Kristin Nichol announced at a meeting of the Centers...

AMA happy about nothing.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... Once again, the American Medical Association has shown its impotence by failing to help those of us in the trenches of real-world medicine ("AMA Pursues Tort Reform Strategy," Jan. 1, 2004, p. 1). That the AMA negotiators are "happy with...

Consider IVF cost, efficiency.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... In the early days of in vitro fertilization, low success rates, high financial costs, and possibly questionable success-rate reporting led to increased public scrutiny of assisted reproductive technology programs ("Talk Back Online: Should the...

Curtailing cervical cancer.(Guest Editorial)
April 1, 2004... Updated guidelines on cervical cancer screening, released last year by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Cancer Society, present both opportunities for improved screening and challenges in implementation....

Upright exam underused: preop office evaluation for stress urinary incontinence.(Gynecology)
April 1, 2004... BIG SKY, MONT. -- Examination of the patient in an upright position is a key component of a good office evaluation for stress urinary incontinence, and it's one most gynecologists overlook, Dr. Steven D. McCarus said at a meeting on ob.gyn.,...

Iom report: psychosocial needs in breast cancer.(Gynecology)
April 1, 2004... Providers need to pay more attention to the psychosocial needs of breast cancer patients, according to an Institute of Medicine report. "Surveys suggest that perhaps 10%, and at the most 30%, of women with breast cancer have used...

Advanced ultrasound techniques: 'one-stop fertility diagnosis' visit said to save time, money.(Gynecology)
April 1, 2004... UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. -- A quick, noninvasive, comprehensive evaluation of fertility can be accomplished in a single patient visit using advanced ultrasound techniques, Dr. Stuart Campbell said at the annual meeting of the Obstetrical and...

Data watch.
April 1, 2004... Number of Embryos Transferred During ART Cycles Using Fresh Nondonor Eggs or Embryos, 2001 One 6.2% Two 27.3% Three 34.5% Four 20.6% Five 7.2% Six 2.8% Seven or...

Counsel about douching: bacterial vaginosis a risk for teens at STD clinics.(Gynecology)
April 1, 2004... PLAYA HERRADURA, COSTA RICA -- Almost 25% of adolescent girls studied at two STD clinics had at least one episode of bacterial vaginosis, Rebecca Brotman said at a conference on vaginitis sponsored by Imedex. Although sexually active...

CDC data: rates of heterosexually acquired HIV.(Gynecology)
April 1, 2004... More than a third of new HIV cases in the United States between 1999 and 2002 were heterosexually acquired, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those, 35% were in persons aged 30-39 years, 64%...

Goal is early diagnosis: multipronged approach for detecting ovarian Ca.(Gynecology)
April 1, 2004... UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. -- No single test will revolutionize the diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer, but success may come in the form of a multipronged detection paradigm being developed by the National Ovarian Cancer Early Detection...

Growth factor LPA may be key player in metastatic ovarian cancer.(Gynecology)
April 1, 2004... The growth factor lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is emerging as a key player in the cascade of events that lead to metastatic ovarian cancer, Dr. Fishman said. "It's intraabdominal disease that kills," he said, emphasizing that numerous...

Data watch.
April 1, 2004... Incidence of Invasive Ovarian Cancer per 100,000 In Selected 5-Year Age Groups, 1996-2000 Age at Diagnosis 80-84 60.0 70-74 58.8 60-64 43.9 50-54 30.0 40-44 13.9 30-34 6.1 20-24 3.2 10-14 0.8 Source:...

Pilot study: COX-2 inhibitors may offer chemoprotection.(Gynecology)
April 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors may offer chemoprotection against ovarian cancer by decreasing serum, and possibly follicular, levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, according to results of a small pilot study. "This is a...

Rectovaginal exam key: steps to prevent, detect early ovarian Ca.(Gynecology)
April 1, 2004... UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. -- The most effective thing ob.gyns. can do to detect ovarian cancer is to perform regular rectovaginal examinations on their patients, according to Dr. David A. Fishman, director of the National Ovarian Cancer Early...

Study of 2,200 elective inductions: tips on labor induction using oral misoprostol.(Obstetrics)
April 1, 2004... BIG SKY, MONT. -- Oral misoprostol is far and away the most cost effective labor induction method, Dr. Arthur S. Maslow asserted at a meeting on ob.gyn., gynecologic oncology, and reproductive endocrinology. "The best part about it is that...

Low sensitivity, positive predictive value: low PAPP-A tied to poor pregnancy outcomes.(Obstetrics)
April 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- A low first-trimester serum level of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A is an independent risk factor for several adverse obstetric outcomes, Dr. Lorraine Dugoff reported at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal...

No change, improvement in 71%: CFS usually does not worsen during pregnancy.(Obstetrics)
April 1, 2004... While many women with chronic fatigue syndrome fear that pregnancy will worsen their condition, symptoms improved or remained unchanged during pregnancy in 71% of women answering a questionnaire. The study involved 86 women with chronic...

Lower adhesion risk: peritoneal closure after primary cesarean.(Obstetrics)
April 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Peritoneal closure at the time of primary cesarean section decreases adhesion formation, Dr. Deirdre Lyell reported at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. In a prospective study of 175 women...

Early pregnancy: low adiponectin tied to gestational diabetes risk.(Obstetrics)
April 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Low plasma adiponectin in early pregnancy is associated with development of gestational diabetes, Dr. Surab Vadachkoria reported at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. In a nested case-control...

Uterine rupture, endometritis: prospective study gauges attempted VBAC risks.(Obstetrics)
April 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- The risks associated with attempting a vaginal birth after a prior cesarean delivery are important, but they are small and don't necessarily preclude an attempted VBAC, findings from a large prospective study suggest. "While...

Not so in preterm infants: severe IUGR at term linked to cerebral palsy.(Obstetrics)
April 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Intrauterine growth restriction is associated with cerebral palsy in infants born at term, but not in those born preterm, Dr. Bo Jacobsson said at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. In a...

Pemphigoid gestationis, cholestasis: dermatoses of pregnancy may recur with OC use.(Obstetrics)
April 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Women who had either pemphigoid gestationis or cholestasis of pregnancy should be counseled that later oral contraceptive use may trigger a flare-up of dermatoses, Dr. Thelda M. Kestenbaum said at the annual meeting of the...

Data watch.(Obstetrics)
April 1, 2004... Rates of Selected Congenital Anomalies Per 100,000 Live Births, 2002 Central Nervous System Anomalies Anencephalus 10 Spina bifida/meningocele 20 Hydrocephalus ...

Increase awareness: too many women use potentially harmful medications in pregnancy.(Obsetrics)
April 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Potentially harmful medications are commonly used during pregnancy, suggesting a need for improved awareness and education of patients, Dr. Jerrie Refuerzo reported during a poster presentation held as part of the annual meeting...

SSRIs plus migraine medications: few data for serotonin syndrome precaution.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2004... RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. -- The fear that combining migraine medication with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome may be over-stated, Dr. Stewart J. Tepper said at a meeting sponsored by the Diamond...

Overcoming GI stasis: new fast-dissolving sumatriptan relieves migraine.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2004... RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. -- A new rapid-release formulation of sumatriptan has proved superior to placebo at relieving migraines within 2 hours when taken early in the attack, according to the findings of a randomized, double-blind, multicenter...

Domestic violence screening.(Women's Health Adviser)
April 1, 2004... Domestic violence exacts a tremendous toll on women. Every year nearly 5 million American women experience it. Up to 20% of emergency department visits by women are related to domestic violence. Because of its prevalence, and because...

Bitter orange: FDA called upon to ban ephedra substitutes.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2004... Rapidly proliferating "ephedra-free" weight loss supplements containing bitter orange are not a safe alternative to ephedrine-based products, experts say. A compound present in Citrus aurantium, synephrine, is chemically similar to...

Assessing dietary supplements: evidence helps clarify alternative medicine.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2004... LA JOLLA, CALIF. -- Vitamins, soy protein, chondroitin, and other dietary supplements once thought to be of dubious therapeutic value are playing a growing role in medical practice, thanks to evidence supporting their use, speakers said at a...

Say cultural shift is needed: physician authors take on medical mistakes.(Practice Trends)
April 1, 2004... Dr. Robert M. Wachter transported a teenager to a pediatric intensive care unit in an ambulance without a cardiac monitor or a defibrillator. No one--not Dr. Wachter, the nurse, or the emergency room clerk who called in the transport...

Building a culture of safety.(Practice Trends)
April 1, 2004... The authors recommend these strategies to help prevent medical mistakes: * A core group of clinicians--doctors, nurses, and others--should be trained in modern safety principles at every hospital. * Two patient safety directors--a...

Fumbling the handoff.(Practice Trends)
April 1, 2004... Every day, millions of patients are transferred between and among primary care physicians and specialists in laboratories, hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient care. Each "handoff" carries the risk of a fumble in which vital patient...

Online claims processing: Sen. Clinton eyes EMRs as new key to reform.(Practice Trends)
April 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Get ready for a new Clinton plan. A decade since she and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, tried to overhaul the nation's health care system. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) is hard at work on a new agenda aimed...

Morphologically normal: transplanted ovary yields embryo.(News)
April 15, 2004... Researchers have created the first morphologically normal human embryo using an egg obtained from ovarian tissue that was transplanted heterotopically. Although the embryo was subsequently transferred to the patient's uterus, the procedure...

FDA, EPA issue advisory: pregnant women warned about fish consumption; Eat no more than 12 ounces of fish per week. Special limits placed on albacore.(News)
April 15, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Women who are pregnant or lactating and those who may become pregnant should eat no more than 12 ounces (two average meals) of a variety of fish and shellfish per week, a new federal advisory recommends. No more than 6 of...

CDC surveillance project: gonococcal resistance to quinolones on the rise; National rate increases from 2.2% to 4%.(News)
April 15, 2004... PHILADELPHIA -- The rate of fluoroquinolone resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae doubled from 2.2% in 2002 to greater than 4% in 2003, and resistant isolates are now surfacing at several sites around the country, according to an official with...

Cites suicidality, worsening depression: FDA wants to strengthen warnings on 10 antidepressants.(News)
April 15, 2004... The Food and Drug Administration has asked the manufacturers of 10 antidepressant drugs to include on their labels stronger warnings about the need to monitor adult and pediatric patients for symptoms of worsening depression and the emergence...

Warning information.(News)
April 15, 2004... The FDA has requested that the following warning information be placed on the packaging of fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), fluvoxamine (Luvox), citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), bupropion (Wellbutrin),...

CF screening costs.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 15, 2004... Dr. David R. Witt said that cystic fibrosis screening was cost effective, but the numbers just don't make sense ("Prenatal Screening Halves CF Births," Dec. 15, 2003, p. 1). In the reported study, 56,000 patients were screened, 2,003...

Clarification.(Correction Notice)
April 15, 2004... The article, "Help for Uninsured to Be Congressional Priority in 2004," (Feb. 1, 2004, p. 9), should have said that under federal law, physicians may charge Medicare patients less than the amount allowed by the Medicare fee schedule, but may...

Are tax credits the best way to cover the uninsured? Yes.(Pro & Con)
April 15, 2004... Providing health insurance to the swelling ranks of the uninsured has become one of America's most pressing health care issues. As physicians, we know that when our patients don't have insurance, their health is in jeopardy. In fact,...

Are tax credits the best way to cover the uninsured? No.(Pro & Con)
April 15, 2004... Tax credits are not the best way to cover the uninsured. The goal of reform should be to provide comprehensive, but affordable, coverage for everyone. Tax credits fall short on these goals. Tax credit proposals are designed to provide...

Said to have 100% specificity, sensitivity: investigational ovarian Ca test proves accurate.(Gynecology)
April 15, 2004... UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. -- Researchers who reported in 2002 that they could identify ovarian cancer by viewing serum protein patterns with a mass spectrometer now say that with advanced techniques, the test is 100% accurate. "A blood test...

Preliminary results: individualize CA 125 levels for ovarian cancer risk assessment.(Gynecology)
April 15, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- A prospective, multicenter screening trial is investigating whether a longitudinal pattern of CA 125 measurements, rather than a single measurement, offers better sensitivity for detecting ovarian cancer in women at high risk for...

Endometrial cancer: high-potency OCPs in heavier women protective.(Gynecology)
April 15, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- All oral contraceptives offer some protection against endometrial cancer, but heavier women get better protection from pills that contain high-potency, rather than low potency, progestins, Dr. Larry Maxwell reported at the annual...

Postmenopausal women with breast CA: exemestane after tamoxifen increases survival.(Gynecology)
April 15, 2004... Switching to exemestane therapy after 2-3 years of tamoxifen treatment improves disease-free survival in postmenopausal women with breast cancer, according to Dr. R. Charles Coombes and his associates in the Intergroup Exemestane Study, a large...

Gyn. oncologists relying more on PCPs: changing physician roles in cervical cancer surveillance.(Gynecology)
April 15, 2004... BIG SKY, MONT. -- In a reversal of long-standing practice, gynecologic oncologists are increasingly sending cervical cancer patients back to their primary care physician or gynecologist for posttreatment surveillance, Dr. Ira R. Horowitz...

Ages 70-79: late-life mammography screening is cost effective.(Gynecology)
April 15, 2004... CHICAGO -- A theoretical analysis of the use of mammography to screen women aged 70-79 for breast cancer has revealed that such screening would cost $16,948 per year of life saved, investigators reported at the annual meeting of the...

Stress urinary incontinence: improved periurethral bulking options on horizon.(Gynecology)
April 15, 2004... UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. -- Transvaginal tension-free tape procedures have become so popular for treating stress urinary incontinence that some physicians have forgotten about a nonsurgical alternative, periurethral bulking, that works "extremely...

Used with colposcopy: investigational device improves CIN 2, 3 detection.(Gynecology)
April 15, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- An investigational optical detection system used in conjunction with colposcopy increased the detection of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia by 26.5%, compared with colposcopy alone in the first randomized controlled...

Analysis of whi data: wider bowel screening needed in HT users.(Gynecology)
April 15, 2004... Hormone therapy with estrogen and progestin does not appear to play a significant role in reducing the risk of developing colorectal cancer, according to a recent analysis of data from the Women's Health Initiative. Hormone therapy (HT)...

British and U.S. guidelines: agreement on steroid-induced osteoporosis tx.(Gynecology)
April 15, 2004... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- Consensus is emerging on both sides of the Atlantic regarding the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Soon-to-be-published recommendations developed by the Southeast Alliance for Bone Health,...

Almost one-fourth had fractures: bone health poor in young adult survivors of pediatric solid tumors.(Gynecology)
April 15, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Half of young adult survivors of pediatric solid cancers had low bone mineral density and nearly a fourth had suffered at least one fracture since completion of their treatment, according to a cross-sectional study conducted at...

Postmenopausal women: osteoporosis linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease.(Gynecology)
April 15, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and those with cardiovascular disease are at increased risk of osteoporosis, Dr. Cheryl A. Keech reported in a poster presentation at a...

Inexpensive, well tolerated: consider calcium supplements for PMS treatment.(Gynecology)
April 15, 2004... BIG SKY, MONT. -- Calcium supplementation is the most promising and best-supported alternative therapy to date for premenstrual syndrome. Dr. Eric J. Bieber said at a meeting on ob.gyn., gynecologic oncology, and reproductive endocrinology. ...

Contradicts long-held belief: mouse study: oocyte and follicle renewal ongoing.(Gynecology)
April 15, 2004... A new study in mice raises the possibility that oocyte and follicle renewal are still ongoing in the postnatal ovary, contradicting a central tenet of reproductive biology that most mammalian females are born with a finite, nonrenewing pool of...

First day of cycle riskiest: menstruation linked to near-fatal asthma.(Gynecology)
April 15, 2004... Menstruation may be a contributing factor in near-fatal asthma attacks in patients with unstable asthma, reported Dr. Eva Martinez-Moragon of Hospital de Sagunto, Valencia, Spain, and her colleagues. This is the first study associating...

Births between 23 and 34 weeks: risk factors for neonatal white matter injury.(Obstetrics)
April 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Culture-positive neonatal infection is associated with development of white matter injury, which is a major precursor of neurologic impairment and cerebral palsy, Dr. Cynthia Holcroft said at the annual meeting of the Society for...

Cervical length: CF antibodies don't predict preterm labor.(Obstetrics)
April 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Concentrations of antibodies in cervical fluid don't appear to enhance the predictive value of cervical length in assessing preterm labor, Dr. Rodney Edwards reported at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal...

Results of faster trial: ART fetuses not at higher risk for anomalies.(Obstetrics)
April 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Singletons conceived through artificial reproductive technology do not have an increased risk of a chromosomal anomaly or fetal malformation, compared with singletons conceived naturally. Dr. Tracy Shevell said at the annual...

Poor outcomes at 5-minute mark: avoid postmortem C-sections after 4 minutes.(Obstetrics)
April 15, 2004... BIG SKY, MONT. -- Consider a postmortem cesarean section only if the procedure can be initiated within 4 minutes of maternal cardiac arrest, Dr. Arthur S. Maslow urged at a meeting on ob.gyn., gynecologic oncology, and reproductive...

Large retrospective analysis: prenatal assaults linked to high risks of maternal, fetal morbidity.(Obstetrics)
April 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- A large proportion of women who are injured during pregnancy are the victims of assaults that drastically increase their risk of poor outcomes, including a 41-fold increase in the risk of uterine rupture before labor and an...

Expert opinion: lower the threshold for TSH normal limits.(Obstetrics)
April 15, 2004... UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. -- A number of patients can fall through the cracks when it comes to ordering thyroid testing in early pregnancy, so Dr. Jorge H. Mestman likes to set a low threshold for screening, he said at a meeting of the Obstetrical...

Brief intervention: maternal alcohol counseling May improve development in older siblings.(Obstetrics)
April 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- A brief intervention designed to reduce drinking during a second pregnancy not only improved developmental outcomes for those infants, but for their older siblings as well. Janet R. Hankin, Ph.D., said in a poster presentation at...

First study of its kind: mothers' drinking can damage fetal nerve conduction.(Obstetrics)
April 15, 2004... Add abnormal nerve conduction to the list of neonatal problems resulting from heavy maternal drinking during pregnancy, according to Dr. Maria de los Angeles Avaria of the University of Chile, Santiago, and her associates. The first...

Grimaces, grins, yawns, cries: 3D/4D ultrasound captures fetal behaviors.(Obstetrics)
April 15, 2004... UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. -- Three-dimensional and four-dimensional ultrasound images may signal the birth of a new medical field of study: that of fetal behavior, Dr. Stuart Campbell predicted at a meeting of the Obstetrical and Gynecological...

Cost-utility analysis: prenatal testing cost-effective regardless of age.(Obstetrics)
April 15, 2004... Prenatal testing is cost-effective for pregnant women of any age or risk level, reported Dr. Ryan A. Harris of the University of California, San Francisco, and his colleagues. Current prenatal testing guidelines suggest offering...

Prescribe sleep post partum: monitor bipolar patients during, after pregnancy.(Obstetrics)
April 15, 2004... TUCSON, ARIZ. -- Bipolar disorder can present an array of challenges during and after pregnancy, with the same influences that can make treatment most urgent also making it most complicated, Dr. Marlene Freeman said at a psychopharmacology...

Immunomodulators.(Drugs, Pregnancy, and Lactation)
April 15, 2004... Several immunologic agents--adalimumab, anakinra, etanercept, three classes of interferons, and thalidomide--are classified in the general category of immunomodulators. They are used for various approved and offlabel indications: multiple...

Expert medical witnesses: medical community targets false testimony.(Practice Trends)
April 15, 2004... The role of physicians as expert witnesses, particularly in medical malpractice cases, has caused some professional medical societies to set ethical guidelines for providing testimony. Over the last 2 years, the American College of...

'Technical correction' being considered: republicans, democrats say Medicare bill needs fixing.(Practice Trends)
April 15, 2004... WASHINGTON -- The new Medicare reform law has some significant holes that need to be fixed, several experts and Congressional staff members said at a health policy conference sponsored by Academy Health and Health Affairs. Overall, the...

Consolidation, lawsuits: mail-order Rx numbers may be on the rise.(Practice Trends)
April 15, 2004... The recent consolidation among pharmaceutical benefit managers may mean more mail-order prescriptions in physicians' futures, several experts said. "Doctors will clearly notice they're writing prescriptions for longer duration, which is...

Two groups merge: health insurance lobby states priorities.(Practice Trends)
April 15, 2004... WASHINGTON -- The health insurance industry has a new champion--America's Health Insurance Plans. That's the new moniker of the recently merged American Association of Health Plans and Health Insurance Association of America. "I think...

Payments affected: technical problems cause Medicare enrollment delays.(Practice Trends)
April 15, 2004... The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is experiencing some technical difficulties enrolling new physicians in Medicare. The enrollment delay stems in part from data entry glitches with a new software system called the Provider...

Somatic cell nuclear transfer not used: researchers offer access to 17 new stem cell lines.(Practice Trends)
April 15, 2004... The announcement last month by a team of Harvard University researchers that 17 new human embryonic stem cell lines are now freely available to other scientists represents one step in a long journey before cell-based therapies could become a...

Said to streamline workflow: online patient communication may ease workload.(Practice Trends)
April 15, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Online communication with patients can ease physician workloads and help patients better manage their health, Dr. Paul Tang said at a health policy conference sponsored by Academy Health and Health Affairs. Patients like...

Policy & practice.(Practice Trends)
April 15, 2004... SILDENAFIL NOT FOR WOMEN Pfizer will not seek regulatory approval for the use of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) as a treatment for female sexual arousal disorder, the company recently announced. Pfizer said the results from clinical studies did...