Cochlear Dysfunction Apparent in Migraineurs
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Apr 11 – Otoacoustic emission testing, which allows monitoring of minute changes in cochlear status, shows dysfunction of cochlea and cochlear efferents in patients with migraine, Turkish researchers report in the April issue of Cephalalgia.
Physician-Directed Home Care Reduces COPD Exacerbations in Elderly
A system employing hospital levels of care delivered at home to elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations provides results superior to those with inpatient treatment, according to Italian and US researchers.
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.
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.
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.
Acupuncture Shows Promise In Improving Rates Of Pregnancy Following IVF
A review of seven clinical trials of acupuncture given with embryo transfer in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) suggests that acupuncture may improve rates of pregnancy. An estimated 10 to 15 percent of couples experience reproductive difficulty and seek specialist fertility treatments, such as IVF.
Congress passes “skinny” Medicare payment bill and averts SGR cut through June 2008
Unable to reach consensus on a meaningful Medicare reform package, Congressional leaders and the Bush Administration have cobbled together a last–minute, barebones package to temporarily avert the 10% across-the-board Medicare physician payment cut scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2008. President Bush is expected to sign the bill into law soon.
President Bush signs Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007
President Bush signed into law the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act (P.L. 110-173), and some of the bill’s provisions will affect Medicare payments to anesthesiologists. The legislation provides a temporary 0.5 percent increase to Medicare payments for physicians for dates of service through June 30, 2008. This increase, combined with the 32 percent anesthesia […]
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. […]
