HIV Co-Infection Speeds HCV-Induced Liver Fibrosis
Although HIV does not directly infect the liver, HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection is associated with more severe HCV-induced liver fibrosis than is HCV infection alone.
Community-Associated MRSA Strains May Be Supplanting Traditional Nosocomial Strains
Community-associated strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were responsible for an increasing proportion of all nosocomial MRSA cases over a 7-year period at a large inner-city hospital, according to a retrospective study reported in the March 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Review of Adverse Effect Profile, Safety, and Dosing of Antidepressants
Brooke Parish, MD University of New Mexico In 2002, 8.5% of the US population purchased at least one prescription antidepressant.1 Given this relatively high rate of antidepressant use, best practices should be followed in choosing the correct medication and dosing, to avoid adverse events or ineffective treatment.
FDA Goes After ‘Natural’ HRT Claims
Todd ZwillichFederal regulators warned several pharmacy companies Wednesday to stop marketing so-called "natural" hormone replacement therapy, calling their sales to women "false and misleading." The FDA took aim at seven compounding pharmacy companies that it says use a product called estriol in reformulated hormone replacement therapy for women.
Expert Viewpoint: William J. Gradishar, MD
Professor, Division of Hematology and Medical OncologyNorthwestern UniversityThe Feinberg School of MedicineChicago, IL William J. Gradishar, MD, is Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, and a member of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. […]
HIV Infection Increases Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Risk
By Will Boggs, MDPatients infected with HIV have an increased risk of developing heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), according to a report in the November 15th issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Risks of Transfusion
Bruce D. Spiess, MD, FAHAIntroductionBlood transfusion has evolved into a mainstay medical therapy. It has never undergone efficacy and safety testing the way in which a drug would be tested for approval by the US Food and Drug Administration.[1,2] Today, some 107 years after Karl Landsteiner discovered the ABO histocompatibility antigens, we are still learning […]
ACP Addresses Potential Outcomes of Pay for Performance
News Author: Laurie Barclay, MDCME Author: Charles Vega, MD The American College of Physicians has issued recommendations to offset the potential adverse effects of pay-for-performance programs and to redirect the focus to the patient. Their position paper, which highlights the ethical implications of pay for performance and potential effects on the clinician-patient relationship, is published […]
Risk for Second Nonlymphoid Neoplasms in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Constantin A. Dasanu, MD, PhD; Doru T. Alexandrescu, MDAbstract Major advances have occurred in understanding the biology, immunology, and modalities of treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in the last decade. B-cell CLL is the most common type of leukemia occurring in the US and Western nations. B-cell CLL is characterized by progressive defects in […]
Science and Sensibility: An Interview With Professor Rolf M. Zinkernagel
Science and Sensibility: An Interview With Professor Rolf M. Zinkernagel, Nobel Prize Winner for Medicine 1996 Interviewers: Hrishikesh Satish Kulkarni; Ajit H. Goenka, MBBSInterviewee: Rolf M. Zinkernagel, MD, PhDIntroduction Science is perceived to be the panacea to many of the world's problems. No wonder then that scores of brilliant minds are busy applying time-tested scientific […]
