Brazil Launches Cheap New Malaria Pill
Brazil launched a new treatment for malaria on Thursday, marking the latest step in a global programme to make cheap two-in-one pills available to millions at risk for the disease. The country's state-run drugmaker Farmanguinhos is working with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), a non-profit group based in Geneva, to bring the medicine […]
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 […]
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
Endovascular vs Open Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Any Long-term Difference?
Endovascular vs Open Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in the Medicare Population Schermerhorn ML, O'Malley J, Jhaveri A, Cotterill P; Pomposelli F; Landon BEN Engl J Med. 2008;358:464-474 SummaryHow does endovascular repair (EVAR) of abdominal aneurysms compare with conventional open repair? The authors reviewed results from 22,830 Medicare patients (average age, 74 years) followed for […]
Vaginal Hysterectomy Feasible in Nulliparous Women
Vaginal hysterectomy is preferable for benign uterine pathology even in women without previous vaginal delivery, according to a report in the April Obstetrics & Gynecology. "The advantages of the vaginal route (with or without laparoscopy) are numerous for patients and for society," Dr. Arnaud Le Tohic from Bichat-Claude Bernard University Hospital in Paris told Reuters […]
Hyperglycemia During Cerebral Aneurysm Surgery Linked to Impaired Cognition
Patients with elevated blood glucose levels at the time of cerebral aneurysm clipping are at increased risk for impaired cognition and possibly deficits in gross neurologic function at 3-month follow-up, new research shows. As reported in the April issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Dr. Jeffrey J. Pasternak, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, […]
Bone Biopsy Improves Medical Therapy of Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis
In diabetic patients undergoing medical management of foot osteomyelitis, bone culture-based antibiotic therapy improves the chances of successful treatment, according to findings published in the April issue of Diabetes Care. "The question of surgical versus nonsurgical treatment for diabetic patients with osteomyelitis of the foot remains subject to debate," Dr. Eric Senneville, of Dron Hospital, […]
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 […]
