Medscape Today Headlines

Stimulant Use Linked to Sudden Death in Pediatric Patients

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:24:43 EDT

In his latest video blog, Dr. Robert Findling comments on a new study that reveals a significant association between the use of stimulants and sudden unexplained death in children and adolescents.
Medscape Psychiatry & Mental Health

Bone Mineral Density Monitoring May Not Be Needed Up to 3 Years After Starting Bisphosphonates

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 14:30:04 EDT

A study suggests that monitoring bone mineral density in postmenopausal women in the first 3 years after starting treatment with a potent bisphosphonate is unnecessary and may be misleading.
Medscape Medical News

Proton-Pump Inhibitor Withdrawal May Cause Rebound Acid Hypersecretion

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 14:24:41 EDT

A study shows that proton pump inhibitor therapy for 8 weeks induced acid-related symptoms in healthy volunteers after withdrawal, suggesting that rebound acid hypersecretion has clinical implications.
Medscape Medical News

New Direction at the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS): An Expert Interview With President Renato Saltz, MD

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 14:19:09 EDT

New President, Dr. Renato Saltz, discusses the current and future goals of the ASAPS.
Medscape Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine

HPV Vaccination Is Not Cost-Effective in the Netherlands

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 09:59:14 EDT

Even under the most favorable assumptions, the HPV vaccine was not found to be cost effective, Dutch researchers report.
Medscape Medical News

We All Need a Little More D. A New Report on The Sunshine Vitamin

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 20:24:58 EDT

Sandra Fryhofer, MD, reviews the new report on vitamin D from the AMA Council on Science and Public Health and warns us that 30% of the American public may be deficient.
Medscape Internal Medicine

Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring Guidelines Updated

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 19:12:41 EDT

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has refined its definitions, classifications, and interpretations of fetal heart rate monitoring.
Medscape Medical News

Survival After in-Hospital CPR Static Since 1992

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 17:23:08 EDT

An analysis of Medicare records for over 433 000 patients who received CPR between 1992 and 2005 showed that the rate of survival to hospital discharge hovered at around 18%, in spite of efforts to improve CPR delivery.
Heartwire

Nobel-Honored Surgeons: From Discovery of Antibiotics to Organ Transplantation

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 15:20:30 EDT

Since the Nobel prize was first presented 100 years ago, only 10 surgeons have been honored. Their contributions range from the discovery of antibiotics to the first organ transplantation. Dr. Albert Lowenfels surveys their lives and accomplishments.
Medscape General Surgery

Prostate Cancer Patients Should Not Take Selenium Supplements

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 15:02:31 EDT

Higher blood levels of selenium were associated with aggressive prostate cancer, particularly in men with a certain variant of the superoxide dismutase gene.
Medscape Medical News

Chantix and Zyban to Receive Boxed Warnings for Serious Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:08:47 EDT

Varenicline and bupropion are receiving boxed warnings regarding the risks for changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts and behavior, and attempted suicide.
Medscape Medical News

FDA Safety Changes: Prevpac, Arava, Treanda

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:05:50 EDT

The FDA has approved safety labeling revisions for a prepackaged regimen of lansoprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin tablets; leflunomide tablets; and bendamustine HCl intravenous infusion.
Medscape Medical News

Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia Score May Help Predict Adverse Outcomes

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:43:32 EDT

The severe community-acquired pneumonia score is at least as accurate as other current scoring systems in predicting adverse outcomes in patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia.
Medscape Medical News

New Hemoglobin Target Levels in Chronic Kidney Disease Suggested

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:39:29 EDT

A meta-analysis shows that targeting hemoglobin levels higher than 12.0 g/dL leads to small and not clinically meaningful improvements in health-related quality of life, despite safety concerns.
Medscape Medical News

Enalapril, Losartan May Have Retinal, but Not Renal, Benefits in Type 1 Diabetes

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:38:52 EDT

In a controlled trial, early blockade of the renin-angiotensin system did not slow the progression of nephropathy but slowed the progression of retinopathy in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Medscape Medical News

FDA May Restrict Acetaminophen

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 11:49:43 EDT

Advisers tell the FDA to lower the over-the-counter dosage of the popular pain drug.
WebMD Health News

Oncology Practice By “Paparazzi”?

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 09:51:10 EDT

Commenting on the frenzy created by short news cycles and anxious patients, Dr. John Marshall cautions oncologists to use critical thinking when evaluating newly reported data.
Medscape Hematology-Oncology

The Emergence of Minimally Invasive Functional Abdominal Wall Reconstruction

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:31:09 EDT

This article details the advantages of a new type of minimally invasive technique - functional abdominal wall reconstruction.
Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons

CRP, Other Biomarkers, Not Clinically Useful to Predict CVD Risk

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:29:04 EDT

Screening for contemporary biomarkers, such as CRP, will not add much to conventional cardiovascular risk factors in terms of helping to predict future events in the primary-prevention setting, say the authors of a new study.
Heartwire

RSV in Young Children: How Many Cases Are Treated in the Outpatient Setting?

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:57:40 EDT

A new study sheds light on the percentage of RSV cases seen in emergency department and office visits.
Medscape Pediatrics