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UK Doctors to Face Regular Tests of Competence
Britain's 150,000 doctors will have to show they are fit to practice once every five years in the nation's biggest change to medical regulation for 150 years.
Reuters Health Information, July 2008
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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.
Reuters Health Information, July 2008
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WellPoint Profit Beats Estimates, Shares Rise
Health insurer WellPoint Inc said on Wednesday profit fell 10 percent, as medical costs ate further into premiums, but its shares rose more than 6 percent as results beat projections, helped by strength in its pharmacy and behavioral health businesses.
Reuters Health Information, July 2008
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Novel Vaccine Boosts Survival in Glioblastoma Patients
A dendritic cell vaccine significantly increased time to survival and time to tumor progression in glioblastoma patients, and a correlation was shown between cancer clinical outcome and T cell responsiveness after therapeutic vaccination.
Medscape Medical News, July 2008
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Vytorin Misses Primary End Point in SEAS Study
The combination of ezetimibe and simvastatin was no better than placebo in reducing the primary composite end point of aortic-valve and cardiovascular events but was significantly more effective in reducing the risk of ischemic events, a secondary composite end point. An increased cancer risk, however, got everybody's attention, although investigators and outside experts do not believe the hazard to be real.
Heartwire, July 2008
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A Bridge Too Far: Too Soon to Consider CTA for Screening of Healthy Individuals
In one of the first studies to examine the utility of computed tomography angiography as a screening tool for the detection of coronary artery disease in asymptomatic individuals, South Korean researchers conclude it is too soon to recommend this.
Heartwire, July 2008
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MI at Night May Be Caused by Sleep Apnea
Patients who have had a nighttime MI should be checked out for obstructive sleep apnea, a new study suggests.
Heartwire, July 2008
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Screening for Risk Factors or Detecting Disease? DEBATE Divides the CV Community
Proponents of a novel screening algorithm say cardiologists can no longer ignore the "pathophysiologic reality" that heart attacks don't occur in the absence of detectable vascular disease, while proponents of risk-factor identification and prevention say their methods, while imperfect, have at least been linked to improved outcomes.
Heartwire, July 2008
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Early, Aggressive Treatment Warranted in Pediatric Status Epilepticus
Convulsive status epilepticus in children warrants early, aggressive treatment that includes rapid transport to the emergency department as well as very early prehospital treatment with intravenous lorazepam.
Medscape Medical News, July 2008
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CME
Recommendations Issued for Geriatric Screening and Prevention in Primary Care
A review suggests that life expectancy, functionality, and comorbidities with older patients should be considered when cancer screening recommendations are made.
Medscape Medical News, July 2008
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CME
Embolization of Varicoceles May Improve Male Infertility
A study shows that embolization of varicoceles in men with infertility may be considered a useful adjunct to in vitro fertilization.
Medscape Medical News, July 2008
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CME/CE
Breast Examination May Not Improve Breast Cancer Survival
According to a Cochrane review, breast cancer self-examination or physical examination does not improve breast cancer survival and may increase biopsies of benign lumps.
Medscape Medical News, July 2008
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CME/CE
Risk Assessments, Strategies May Prevent Fall-Related Injuries in Older Adults
A study shows that fall-related injuries in older adults are reduced when primary care clinicians adopt effective risk assessments and strategies to prevent falls.
Medscape Medical News, July 2008
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CME/CE
Perceived Accessibility of Smoking May Increase Risk of Smoking Among Youths
A study shows that perceived accessibility of smoking increases the risk of smoking among youths and has a stronger effect among those with peer smokers.
Medscape Medical News, July 2008
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CME/CE
Low GI Diets Better for Weight Loss, Lipid Profiles, Finds Cochrane Review
Overweight or obese people lost more weight on diets with low glycemic index or load vs other comparison diets; low glycemic index diets also improved lipid profiles more than the other diets.
Medscape Medical News, July 2008
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CME
Simvastatin Linked to Reduced Incidence of Dementia, Parkinson's Disease
Simvastatin was linked to a reduction in the incidence of both dementia and Parkinson's disease of more than 50%; atorvastatin was linked with a modest reduction and lovastatin had no impact.
Medscape Medical News, July 2008
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FDA Approves Genetic Test for Patients With Breast Cancer
This novel genetic test, SPOT-Light HER2 CISH, should help predict the response of patients with breast cancer to trastuzumab treatment.
Medscape Medical News, July 2008
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Combination of Gene Expression Data With Clinical Data Best Predicts Survival in Lung Adenocarcinoma
A large study found that hazard ratios for predictive models of early-stage lung cancer increase when clinical data are included.
Medscape Medical News, July 2008
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GORE-TEX Implants Seen as Safe Alternative to Graft for Rhinoplasty
GORE-TEX (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) implants are a safe and inexpensive alternative to autografts for use in rhinoplasty, according to the results of a 17-year retrospective review.
Reuters Health Information, July 2008
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Inhaled Mannitol Improves Lung Function in Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Treatment with inhaled mannitol leads to significantly improved lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), according to a report by Australian researchers in the June issue of Chest.
Reuters Health Information, July 2008
