AHA Statement Takes Aim at Hypertension Resistant to Triple-Drug Therapy
News Author: Steve StilesCME Author: Charles Vega, MD A new statement from the American Heart Association zeroes in on a group it says may make up 20% to 30% of patients with hypertension but has received only limited attention in formal guidelines, probably because they have been targeted in few clinical trials [1]. The document […]
2007-2008 Influenza Vaccine Reasonably Effective Despite Mismatch
The trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine used during the 2007-2008 influenza season in the US was 44% effective in preventing infection, even though the match between two of the vaccine strains and circulating strains was "suboptimal," according to an interim, within-season analysis. The results of the study by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and […]
Occupational Exposure to Formaldehyde Linked to Increased ALS Risk
No significant association between ALS and pesticide, herbicide exposure. Preliminary results from a large prospective population-based study has linked occupational exposure to formaldehyde, with an increased rate of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Acupuncture Can Relieve Hot Flushes Caused by Tamoxifen
Acupuncture reduced by half the hot flushes caused by tamoxifen in a small clinical trial involving 59 breast cancer patients after surgery. Relief was experienced both day and night, and the reduction in hot flushes was seen 3 months after the last acupuncture treatment. These results were presented today at the European Breast Cancer Conference […]
U.S. Must Do More to Stem Hospital Infections: Report
The U.S. government could do far more to force hospitals to prevent infections that kill up to 99,000 people every year, according to a nonpartisan congressional report released on Wednesday. It recommended that regulators consider mandating certain core standards — from something as simple as hand-washing to more complex measures — and that the government […]
A New Dawn in Cardio and Vascular Protection V. Cardiovascular High-Risk Patients: Treat to Protect
Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are a major cause of death and disability worldwide; around 7.1 million deaths, as well as two thirds of strokes and one half of ischemic heart disease, are attributable to nonoptimal blood pressure control. Large outcome trials have demonstrated that blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is an important approach to […]
Oral Contrast for Abdominal CT: How Important Is It and How Long Does It Take?
QuestionHow important is oral contrast material to the accuracy of an abdominal computed tomography (CT), and how long does it really take to reach its intended target? Response from Joseph R. Lex Jr., MDAssociate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Efficacy of Lasers and PDT for the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris
Abstract Acne vulgaris can represent a therapeutic challenge in terms of managing ongoing symptoms and preventing scar formation. While the copious variations of available treatments address milder forms of the disease, until recently, therapies for resistant or moderate-to-severe forms were limited to systemic agents that were accompanied by potentially severe side-effects. With the addition of […]
Combination Low-Dose DFMO and Sulindac Reduce Recurrence of Colorectal Adenomas
Combining low-dose difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) sulindac lowers the risk for recurrent colorectal adenomas. The results of the phase 3 randomized trial, which were reported here at the American Association for Cancer Research 2008 Annual Meeting, showed that among patients who received the active drug combination, there was a 70% decrease […]
Gallbladder Removal Through the Mouth Causes Few Adverse Effects
Surgeons from the Legacy Health System in Portland, Oregon, and Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, reported on the first 7 transgastric natural orifice transluminal surgery (NOTES) cholecystectomies ever performed on humans here at the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons 2008 Annual Scientific Session and Postgraduate Course.
