Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Internal Medicine for January 2010. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
UV-Blocking Contact Lens May Protect Eye From Damage
FRIDAY, Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- A contact lens that blocks ultraviolet (UV) light protects the eye from damage better than a lens that does not block UV light or no lens, according to an animal study in the January issue of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.
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Transient Elastography Offers Liver Disease Screening Tool
FRIDAY, Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Transient elastography offers a new noninvasive screening test to detect or rule out significant fibrosis and early cirrhosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), according to a study in the February issue of Hepatology.
Three Autoantibodies Appear Common in Chagas' Disease
FRIDAY, Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Three autoantibodies (AAB) are often present in patients with Chagas' disease and may identify asymptomatic patients most likely to develop clinical manifestations and serious complications, according to a study in the Feb. 2 Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Colorectal Cancer Screening Approach Studied in Seniors
FRIDAY, Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- The use of computed tomographic (CT) colonography appears safe and effective for colorectal cancer screening in older individuals, according to research published in the February issue of Radiology.
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Elevated Cytokines May Point to RA Before Disease Onset
FRIDAY, Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Rheumatoid arthritis patients develop elevated levels of several cytokines, cytokine-related factors, and chemokines before onset of the disease, thus providing a potential opportunity for early identification, according to a study in the February issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Relationship of Knee Abnormalities, Activity Studied
FRIDAY, Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Middle-aged, asymptomatic individuals at risk of knee osteoarthritis commonly have cartilage and meniscus lesions, particularly if they are physically active, with patellar cartilage T2 values significantly correlated with the severity and grade of such lesions, according to a study in the February issue of Radiology.
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Brain Vessel Disease May Help Predict ESRD in Diabetes
FRIDAY, Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with type 2 diabetes who have cerebral microvascular disease are more likely to develop renal disease, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Pilot Study Finds Bacterial Vaginosis Self-Test Effective
FRIDAY, Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- A self-test for vaginosis may enable women to accurately diagnose the condition and results in women seeking professional diagnosis and treatment, according to a study in the February issue of Applied Nursing Research.
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Imaging for Coronary Artery Disease Diagnosis Examined
FRIDAY, Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Computed tomographic (CT) angiography and first-pass magnetic resonance (MR) myocardial perfusion imaging provide complementary capabilities; the first to detect or rule out coronary artery disease (CAD), and the second to detect any resulting myocardial ischemia, according to a study in the February issue of Radiology.
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Rural and Urban Care Quality Compared for CAD
FRIDAY, Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- After adjustment for variables, hospital quality of care for coronary artery disease (CAD) in rural areas is on a par with care in urban areas, according to a study in the Jan. 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
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T Cells Linked to Skin Cancer After Kidney Transplant
FRIDAY, Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Components of the immune system, particularly high numbers of regulatory T cells, predict whether a kidney transplant recipient is likely to develop a type of skin cancer, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Immunotherapy for Metastatic Prostate Cancer Explored
FRIDAY, Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Treatment with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-targeted poxviral vaccine substantially improves overall survival among metastatic prostate cancer patients, according to the results of a phase II study published online Jan. 25 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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No-Sedation Protocol Shown to Reduce Ventilation Time
FRIDAY, Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- In critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation, a protocol of no sedation may reduce the number of days that ventilation is required, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in The Lancet.
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Photodynamic Therapy Linked to Oral Cancer Benefit
THURSDAY, Jan. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Photodynamic therapy (PDT) appears useful in treating early-stage cancer of the mouth or oropharynx, either as a primary treatment or as an addition to unsuccessful surgery or radiation, according to research published in the January issue of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
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Clues Found to Pathogenesis of Lupus Kidney Complication
THURSDAY, Jan. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Infiltrating macrophages and interferons play a key role in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis, a complication of lupus characterized by abnormal growth of kidney cells leading to kidney damage, according to a study published online Jan. 26 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging Examined in Multiple Sclerosis
THURSDAY, Jan. 28 (HealthDay News) -- The use of functional MRI to assess patterns of brain activation in adults and children with multiple sclerosis (MS) may offer insight into disease progression among these groups, according to research published in the February issue of Radiology.
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Policies on Newborn Hospital Discharge Updated
THURSDAY, Jan. 28 (HealthDay News) -- The length of the hospital stay for healthy term newborns should be based on a range of factors unique to each mother-child pair, according to a policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics published online Jan. 25 in Pediatrics.
Lifestyle Affects Incontinence Risk After Prostatectomy
THURSDAY, Jan. 28 (HealthDay News) -- In men who undergo radical prostatectomy, obesity and physical inactivity are associated with an increased prevalence of urinary incontinence, according to a study in the February issue of The Journal of Urology.
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More Patient Surveillance Needed to Reduce Nurse Errors
THURSDAY, Jan. 28 (HealthDay News) -- It is common for nurses to commit errors in the course of their work, and nurse educators are urged to improve training in strategies to improve patient surveillance, according to a study in the February issue of Applied Nursing Research.
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Obesity Shown to Impact Incontinence Severity
THURSDAY, Jan. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Obese women with urinary incontinence have more severe symptoms than their overweight or normal weight counterparts, according to trial results published in the February issue of The Journal of Urology.
Electrocardiogram Test for Long QT Syndrome Assessed
THURSDAY, Jan. 28 (HealthDay News) -- The response of the QT interval to a sudden heart rate acceleration as seen on an electrocardiogram (ECG) offers diagnostic information helpful in the challenging diagnosis of long QT syndrome (LQTS), according to a study published online Jan. 27 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Intensive Glycemic Control May Spike Diabetes Mortality
THURSDAY, Jan. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Intensive treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus that drives the patient's glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level too low, or insufficient treatment that leaves it too high, both increase mortality risk, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in The Lancet.
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Serotonergic Drugs May Delay Lactation
THURSDAY, Jan. 28 (HealthDay News) -- In new mothers, the use of medications affecting the balance of serotonin may have an adverse effect on lactation, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
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Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Supported by Evidence
THURSDAY, Jan. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Psychodynamic psychotherapy, the treatment approach similar to, but less extensive than, full psychoanalysis, is efficacious and well-supported by scientific evidence, despite a perception that it lacks empirical support, according to an article published online Jan. 25 in the American Psychologist.
Increased Medicare Copayments Affect Care Usage
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27 (HealthDay News) -- In elderly patients, increasing copayments for ambulatory care may result in adverse health consequences and increased health care spending, according to a study in the Jan. 28 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Flame Retardant Linked to Reduced Fertility
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27 (HealthDay News) -- A class of flame retardants is associated with reduced fertility, according to a study published online Jan. 26 in Environmental Health Perspectives.
U.S. Birth Weights Show Decline During Recent Period
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Birth weights among term births have declined in the United States in recent years, a trend not explained by maternal or neonatal factors or changes in induced labor or Caesarean delivery, according to research published in the February issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Biomarker May Benefit Risk Stratification in Older Adults
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Higher levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are associated with the development of heart failure, as well as cardiovascular death, in older adults, according to research published in the Feb. 2 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Neoadjuvant Therapy Found Beneficial in Rectal Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with poor-risk, potentially operable rectal cancer, intensification of systemic therapy with neoadjuvant combination chemotherapy before standard treatment may result in good long-term outcomes, according to a study published online Jan. 26 in The Lancet Oncology.
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New Coronary Angiography Method Provides 3-D Images
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27 (HealthDay News) -- A new method of coronary angiography provides largely high-quality three-dimensional images of the coronary arteries, often providing information not obtainable by two-dimensional projection imaging, according to a study published online Jan. 26 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions.
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Impact of Hemodialysis-Induced Hemoglobin Release Studied
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Hemoglobin released after hemodialysis is associated with nitric oxide scavenging and worse endothelial function, according to a study in the Feb. 2 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Velcade Prescribing Information Changed
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Takeda Oncology and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have announced important revisions to the prescribing information for the drug Velcade (bortezomib) related to dosing in patients with hepatic impairment.
Safety Alert
Velcade Prescribing Information
Takeda Letter to the Health Care Professional
Low-Carb Ketogenic Diet Gets Better Results Than Diet Pill
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Adhering to a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet produces similar outcomes to the weight-loss drug orlistat and a low fat diet in terms of weight loss, serum lipid profile and blood sugar, but it is more effective at lowering blood pressure, according to a study in the Jan. 25 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Extreme Obesity Can Be Treated in Primary Care
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Non-surgical weight-loss programs delivered in a primary care setting can yield results with extremely obese patients, according to a study in the Jan. 25 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Study Supports Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
TUESDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- In individuals with atrial fibrillation and a history of non-response to antiarrhythmic drugs, radiofrequency catheter ablation is associated with improved outcomes compared to alternate drug therapy, according to research published in the Jan. 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
FDA Issues Recall of Nipro Medical's Infusion Needles
TUESDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a Class I recall of Exel/Exelint Huber needles, Exel/Exelint Huber Infusion Sets, and Exel/Exelint "Securetouch+" Safety Huber Infusion Sets, manufactured by Nipro Medical Corporation for Exelint International Corporation.
Press Release
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Insulin Treatments for Septic Shock Compared
TUESDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Among septic shock patients treated with hydrocortisone, intensive insulin therapy did not improve mortality compared to conventional insulin therapy, with or without the further addition of fludrocortisone, according to a study in the Jan. 27 Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Study Assesses Statin Efficacy in Pneumococcal Disease
TUESDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- The use of statins might help protect individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) from pneumococcal disease, according to research published online Jan. 19 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Premature Births Not Reduced With Omega-3 Fatty Acids
TUESDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Among pregnant women with a history of premature delivery already taking 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate to reduce the risk of premature delivery, omega-3 fatty acids provide no additional benefit, according to a study in the February issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Prophylactic Use of Antiretrovirals Studied in Mice
TUESDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Pretreating mice with a human immune system with antiretroviral drugs is highly effective in preventing HIV-1 transmission via the rectal, intravenous, and vaginal routes, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in PLoS ONE.
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Race, Ethnicity Linked to Liver Cancer Survival
TUESDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- African-American patients with liver cancer have the worst survival among racial and ethnic groups even when they receive appropriate and equivalent treatment, according to a study published online Jan. 25 in Cancer.
Study Looks at Effect of Smoke on Infant Heart Function
TUESDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Early exposure to cigarette smoke may lead to a persistent reprogramming of infant blood pressure control mechanisms, according to a study published online Jan. 25 in Hypertension.
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Physical Activity May Preserve Cognitive Function in Elderly
TUESDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Regular physical activity can help an older person preserve their cognitive function and mental health, according to a pair of studies in the Jan. 25 Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Physical Activity Ups Women's Odds of Healthy Aging
TUESDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Elderly women who follow a program of exercise are less likely to have falls and can improve bone mineral density compared to their non-exercising counterparts, according to a study in the Jan. 25 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, while another study found that higher levels of physical activity in middle age are associated with better health later in life.
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Serum Procalcitonin Levels May Help Guide Antibiotic Use
MONDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with suspected severe bacterial infection, employing antibiotics judiciously based on the serum levels of the calcitonin precursor hormone procalcitonin can reduce antibiotic exposure without increased mortality, according to a study published online Jan. 23 in The Lancet.
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Insulin Syringe Recalled Because of Defective Needle
MONDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- According to a Jan. 21 press release issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Nipro Medical Corporation has voluntarily recalled all of its GlucoPro Insulin Syringes because of a defect that may cause the needle to detach from the syringe, resulting in its being stuck in the insulin vial, pushed back into the syringe, or lodged in the patient's skin.
Safety Alert
Press Release
FDA MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting
Car Crash Trauma Often Under-Detected in Elderly
MONDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Elderly people involved in motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are often under-triaged and inappropriately treated for injuries that go undetected, according to a study in the January issue of the Journal of Emergency Nursing.
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Common Chemicals Linked to Risk of Thyroid Problems
MONDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- High serum levels of the widely used chemicals perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoroctane sulphonate (PFOS) are associated with thyroid disease in adults, according to research published Jan. 20 in Environmental Health Perspectives.
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Treatment of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Studied in Mice
MONDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Two peptides can reverse learning deficits in grown mice due to prenatal exposure to alcohol in a mouse model of fetal alcohol syndrome, according to a study in the February issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Researchers Explain Link Between Obesity, Liver Cancer
MONDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Obesity promotes hepatocellular carcinoma by stimulating production of two inflammatory cytokines, according to an animal study in the Jan. 22 issue of Cell.
Mixed-Handedness Linked to Scholastic Problems and ADHD
MONDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Mix-handedness, an indication of atypical cerebral laterality, may be an early indicator of children who will have language and scholastic performance problems and possibly attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study published online Jan. 25 in Pediatrics.
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Most Combat Zone Soldier Evacuations Not Battle Related
FRIDAY, Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- In Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, non-battle-related injuries and disease account for more medical evacuations of military personnel than combat injuries, according to a study in the Jan. 23 issue of The Lancet.
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Quitting Smoking Can Increase Lung Cancer Survival Odds
FRIDAY, Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Early-stage lung cancer patients who are smokers when they are diagnosed may significantly increase their chances of survival if they quit smoking, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in BMJ.
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Vitamin D Levels May Affect Risk of Colon Cancer
FRIDAY Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- There is an inverse association between pre-diagnostic circulating levels of vitamin D and the risk of colorectal cancer, although more research is needed to see whether increasing vitamin D concentration could lower the risk of the cancer, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in BMJ.
Cortisol Level Shows Effect of Stress on Low-Income Youth
FRIDAY, Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Children from low socioeconomic status families have a steeper trajectory of cortisol secretion than their counterparts from more advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, which may leave them vulnerable to health problems when they get older, according to a study in the January issue of Psychological Science.
Mail-Order Pharmacy Use May Improve Drug Adherence
FRIDAY, Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Patients who refill prescriptions for diabetes medications by mail order have higher rates of drug adherence than their counterparts who refill at local pharmacies, according to a study in the January issue of the American Journal of Managed Care.
Screening for Postpartum Depression Can Be Beneficial
FRIDAY, Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Many women experience depression during and after pregnancy and could benefit from screening and treatment, although there is not enough evidence to support a recommendation for universal screening, according to a committee opinion published in the February issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Malnutrition Studied in Babies Born to Child Brides
FRIDAY, Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Babies born to women who were married as minors are at higher risk of malnutrition than those whose mothers were married at majority age, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in BMJ.
Electrocardiogram in Field Can Benefit Heart Attack Response
FRIDAY, Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Patients suspected of having a heart attack have a shorter door-to-balloon (D2B) time and are able to start reperfusion therapy faster if they have an electrocardiogram (ECG) taken in the field by emergency response personnel rather than in the hospital, according to a study in the Feb. 1 issue of Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions.
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FDA Warns Certain Patients Against Using Meridia
FRIDAY, Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- The weight-loss pill sibutramine hydrochloride (Meridia) can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with a history of heart problems and, therefore, should not be used in those patients, according to a Jan. 21 announcement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Palestinian Turmoil Linked to Domestic Abuse
FRIDAY, Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- In the occupied Palestinian territory, intimate-partner violence is strongly associated with exposure to political violence, according to a study in the Jan. 23 issue of The Lancet.
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Disease Now Main Cause of Death in Darfur Conflict
FRIDAY, Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Since 2005, disease has replaced violence as the leading cause of death in Darfur, especially among displaced populations, according to a study in the Jan. 23 issue of The Lancet.
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Degree of Obesity Linked to Increased Risk of Stroke
THURSDAY, Jan. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Obesity increases the risk of stroke independently of race and gender, although the risk appears to be largely explained by associated hypertension and diabetes, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in Stroke.
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Drug Found Effective During Spinal Deformity Surgery
THURSDAY, Jan. 21 (HealthDay News) -- In adult patients undergoing lumbar pedicle subtraction osteotomy, treatment with aprotinin may be associated with significantly less blood loss than treatment with tranexamic acid, according to a study in the Jan. 15 issue of Spine.
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Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery Revision Rates Likely Low
THURSDAY, Jan. 21 (HealthDay News) -- In patients undergoing definitive spinal instrumented fusion for primary adult deformity, the revision rate may be relatively low, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of Spine.
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Study Finds Red Yeast Rice Efficacy Comparable to Statin
THURSDAY, Jan. 21 (HealthDay News) -- The alternative therapy red yeast rice performs comparably to the lipid-lowering drug pravastatin in reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in patients who had previously had to discontinue statin therapy because of muscle pain, according to a study in the Jan. 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
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Hyaluronic Acid Found Helpful After Knee Arthroscopy
THURSDAY, Jan. 21 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with early osteoarthritis and a symptomatic meniscus tear, those who receive sodium hyaluronate injections after knee arthroscopy may experience more pain relief and functional recovery than those treated with arthroscopy alone, according to a study in the December issue of the American Journal of Orthopedics.
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Nurse Education Can Improve Elderly Pain Monitoring
THURSDAY, Jan. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Barriers to timely documentation must be addressed and specific training given if nurses are to adhere to best practice in reporting patients' pain levels before and after analgesic treatment, according to a study in the January issue of the Journal of Emergency Nursing.
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Untreated Scoliosis Patients Show High Quality of Life
THURSDAY, Jan. 21 (HealthDay News) -- In their 30s, patients with moderate idiopathic scoliosis report a good quality of life regardless of whether or not they were braced during adolescence, according to a study in the Jan. 15 issue of Spine.
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Virus Testing Most Effective in Detecting Cervical Cancers
THURSDAY, Jan. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Screening women 35 and older for human papillomavirus (HPV) is more effective than conventional cytology in detecting invasive cervical cancers, while HPV screening in younger women leads to over-diagnosis of precancerous lesions that often regress, according to a study published online Jan. 19 in The Lancet Oncology.
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Higher Rate Than Estimated of H1N1 in U.K. Children
THURSDAY, Jan. 21 (HealthDay News) -- In the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, children were much more vulnerable to infection than older people and, therefore, should be the primary target group for vaccination, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in The Lancet.
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Factors Help Predict Continued Opioid Use for Back Pain
THURSDAY, Jan. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with chronic back pain are more likely to use opioid analgesics long term if they smoke and had non-surgical treatment, according to a study in the January issue of the Journal of Pain.
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Transcatheter Aortic Procedure Assessed in High-Risk Patients
THURSDAY, Jan. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), using either transfemoral or transapical approaches, produces similar mortality, and both are viable alternatives for patients with severe aortic stenosis who are at too high a risk for surgery, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Standards Revised for Diabetes Self-Management Education
THURSDAY, Jan. 21 (HealthDay News) -- A task force, including diabetes educators, researchers and clinicians, has produced the first update of the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) since 2000. The new standards have been published in a supplement of the January issue of Diabetes Care.
Triple, Dual Restenosis Prevention Therapies Studied
THURSDAY, Jan. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Antiplatelet therapy including aspirin, clopidogrel and cilostazol helps prevent late stenosis following stent placement better than standard therapy with only aspirin and clopidogrel, according to a study in the Jan. 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
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Coronary Events Not Uncommon on Vacation Cruises
THURSDAY, Jan. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Passengers embarking on cruises who are at risk for cardiovascular events should have a pre-cruise medical evaluation and bring along a copy of their electrocardiogram if abnormal, according to a study in the Jan. 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
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Emphysema Associated With Left Ventricular Issues
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20 (HealthDay News) -- A greater extent of emphysema and more airflow obstruction is linked with poorer left ventricular filling and reduced cardiac output, according to research published in the Jan. 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Study Finds Oral Drug to Be Effective in Multiple Sclerosis
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, once-daily oral fingolimod is more effective than once-weekly intramuscular interferon injection at preventing relapses, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Treatments Linked to Lower Risk of C. difficile Recurrence
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20 (HealthDay News) -- The use of two monoclonal antibodies targeting Clostridium difficile toxins was associated with fewer recurrences of infections, according to research published in the Jan. 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Acyclovir for Herpes Not Found to Reduce HIV Transmission
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20 (HealthDay News) -- The use of acyclovir to suppress herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2) infection does not appear to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV-1 from infected individuals to uninfected heterosexual partners, according to research published online Jan. 20 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Reducing Dietary Salt Could Substantially Impact Health
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Even modest reductions in Americans' dietary salt could substantially reduce cardiovascular events, including death, myocardial infarction and stroke, and should be a public health goal, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Tylenol Recall in Effect Includes Several Other Drugs
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20 (HealthDay News) -- McNeil Consumer Healthcare has recently expanded its voluntary recall of some over-the-counter drugs to include about 500 lots of products, according to officials from the Office of Compliance in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Diabetes Patients May Be at Higher Risk for Lung Diseases
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20 (HealthDay News) -- The declining lung function of patients with diabetes puts them at increased risk of a range of lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia and asthma, but not lung cancer, according to a study in the January issue of Diabetes Care.
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Survival Improving for Children With Birth Defects
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Long-term survival in children with at least one birth defect depends on the type of defect as well as the birth year and proportion of pregnancy terminations, possibly because pregnancies with the worst outlook are being terminated, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in The Lancet.
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Serotonin-1A Receptor Gene Linked to Depression
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20 (HealthDay News) -- In a mouse model, researchers were able to manipulate the level of serotonin-1A (5-HT1A) autoreceptors to affect both the mice's vulnerability to stress as well as their response to antidepressants, according to a study in the Jan. 14 issue of Neuron.
Skin Cancer Checks Needed for Patients on Voriconazole
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Patients receiving long-term treatment for fungal infections who show signs of photosensitivity or chronic photodamage should be monitored for skin cancer formation, according to an article published online Jan. 18 in the Archives of Dermatology.
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Cognitive Fluctuations May Predict Alzheimer's Severity
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with Alzheimer's disease, the presence of cognitive fluctuations, spontaneous alterations in cognition, attention, and arousal, may be associated with greater disease severity and poorer neuropsychological performance, according to a study published in the Jan. 19 issue of Neurology.
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Synthetic Polymer Graft Aids in Nasal Septum Reconstruction
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20 (HealthDay News) -- A compound graft made of cartilage attached to a plate made of the synthetic polymer polydioxanone can effectively reconstruct and stabilize a badly damaged nasal septum without complications until healing, according to a case report in the January/February issue of the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery.
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Omega-3 Fatty Acids Linked to Less Change in Telomeres
TUESDAY, Jan. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids are associated with a slower rate of telomere shortening in individuals with coronary artery disease, according to research published in the Jan. 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Erectile Dysfunction May Not Aid Heart Disease Prediction
TUESDAY, Jan. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Although erectile dysfunction (ED) is associated with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), it does not appear to improve upon the prediction provided by the Framingham risk score, according to research published in the Jan. 26 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Rising Psoriasis Therapy Costs Far Outstrip Inflation
TUESDAY, Jan. 19 (HealthDay News) -- The price of brand-name drugs, and thus the overall cost of treating systemic psoriasis, rose steeply from 2000 to 2008, with the average 66 percent price hike far outstripping the rate of inflation over the same period, according to a study in the January issue of the Archives of Dermatology.
Periconditioning Associated With Heart Protection
TUESDAY, Jan. 19 (HealthDay News) -- A strategy known as remote ischemic periconditioning (RIPC) may help prevent reperfusion injury to the heart during percutaneous coronary intervention, according to research published in the January issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions.
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Cells Linked to Outcomes After Coronary Intervention
TUESDAY, Jan. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Different subtypes of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are associated with different outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention, according to research published in the January issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions.
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