U.S. Lawmakers Probe FDA Approval of Ranbaxy Drugs
Two leading U.S. Democrats said on Tuesday they are investigating whether Food and Drug Administration knowingly allowed the sale of Ranbaxy drugs that may have been backed by fraudulent data. The congressional investigation stems from information released as part of a probe by U.S. law enforcement authorities into whether the Indian drugmaker submitted false data […]
Vancomycin Underdosing Very Common in the Obese
More than 70% of obese patients do not receive adequate doses of vancomycin, possibly resulting in subtherapeutic concentrations, according to Dallas-based researchers. Criteria that are more stringent suggest that this may also be true of a much wider group of patients. In the June issue of the American Journal of Medicine, Dr. Ronald G. Hall […]
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension More Severe in Carriers of BMPR2 Mutation
Among patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), those with germline mutations in the gene encoding bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2) present at an earlier age and with more severe hemodynamic compromise, according to findings from a French study. Dr. Marc Humbert of Universite Paris-Sud 11 and colleagues screened 223 consecutive patients with PAH for […]
Cymbalta® is now approved for fibromyalgia
Cymbalta is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI) indicated in adults for Acute and maintenance treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) Management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP) Treatment of acute generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) The management of fibromyalgia, with or without depression Although the mechanism of the antidepressant action of Cymbalta in […]
Effective Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer Remains Elusive
Although therapeutic strategies have advanced for many common gastrointestinal cancers, significant progress in the treatment of pancreatic cancer remains elusive. The eagerly anticipated results of randomized trials that evaluated gemcitabine-based combination regimens have proven to be disappointing, researchers report in a review paper that discusses the use of systemic therapy in advanced pancreatic cancer. Whereas […]
The Effect of Live Classical Piano Music on the Vital Signs of Patients Undergoing Ophthalmic Surger
AbstractContext: Music and surgery.Objective: To determine the effect of live classical piano music on vital signs of patients undergoing ophthalmic surgery.Design: Retrospective case series.Setting and Patients: 203 patients who underwent various ophthalmologic procedures in a period during which a piano was present in the operating room of St. Francis Medical Center. [Note: St. Francis Medical […]
High-Intensity Ultrasound Destroys Esophageal Tumors
Intraluminal high-intensity ultrasound appears to be an effective treatment for esophageal tumors, which are usually not amenable to curative resection, and can even achieve complete tumor necrosis, according to French researchers who are the first to use this approach in a small pilot study. Their findings are published online on June 5 by the Journal […]
Increasing Global Surgery Volume Mandates Improved Safety, Availability
Surgery now occurs at a tremendous volume worldwide, resulting in a great need for public health efforts to improve the safety and availability of surgical services, according to the results of a study reported in The Lancet, published online June 25. "Little is known about the amount and availability of surgical care globally," write Thomas […]
New Bariatric Technique Using Gastric Tube Retains Duodenal Function, Avoids Dumping
A new surgical procedure for the treatment of morbid obesity produces better results than sleeve gastrectomy alone, and resolves many comorbidities. The new technique, called sleeve gastrectomy with enteral bypass (SGEBP), was described here at the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery 25th Annual Meeting.
Option of Open or Endovascular AAA Rupture Repair Cuts Mortality
In a single-center study, the availability of both open and endovascular repair significantly improved postoperative survival in patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA), according to a report in the Archives of Surgery for June.
