Heparin Contaminant Identified
The contaminant found in samples of heparin that had been linked to an increase in adverse reactions has now been identified as oversulfated chondroitin sulfate.
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.
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
Opioid and Nonopioid Therapies for the Management of Pain
Lynn R. Webster, MD, FACPM, FASAM IntroductionThe evolving need of pain patients for safe, effective analgesia is driving research into new therapeutic modalities and fresh approaches to familiar treatments. Innovation, involving both opioid and nonopioid pain therapies, dominated discussion at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine held February 7-10 in […]
New Statement on Safety of MRI With CV Devices
News Author: Lisa NainggolanCME Author: Désirée Lie, MD, MSEd The American Heart Association has published a scientific statement on the safety of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with cardiovascular devices, which has also been endorsed by the American College of Cardiology, the North American Society for Cardiac Imaging, and the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic […]
Changing the Paradigm of Anticoagulation Management
Dr. AnsellInterview: Jack Ansell, MDProfessor of MedicineBoston University School of MedicineVice Chairman for Clinical AffairsDepartment of MedicineBoston University Medical CenterBoston, Massachusetts Medscape had the opportunity to discuss laboratory and office-based anticoagulation monitoring with Jack Ansell, MD, Professor of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, and Vice Chairman for Clinical Affairs, Department of Medicine, Boston University […]
Alternative Treatments for Wounds: Leeches, Maggots, and Bees
Karen M. Dente, MA, MDIntroduction The recalcitrant nature and complexity of chronic wounds continue to challenge health practitioners in the field, with many of the standard treatment options often failing to provide good outcomes. Chronic wounds are often infected with bacteria resistant to antibiotics, compounding the problem. Some alternative biologic forms of treatment have been […]
