Medscape Today News

• Arterial Embolization Useful in Cases of Liver Tumor Rupture Transcatheter arterial embolization appears to increase survival in cirrhotic patients who sustain spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Japanese researchers report in an April 30th publication in BMC Gastroenterology.
  Reuters Health Information, May 2009
• Non-Dipping Pattern in Resistant Hypertension Predicts Cardiovascular Events Among patients with resistant hypertension, those who do not show a dip in blood pressure at night have a two-fold higher risk of death from cardiovascular causes than those with a normal dipping pattern, investigators report in the May 11 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
  Reuters Health Information, May 2009
• Experts Offer EHR Advice in Light of New Federal Incentives The federal government is offering physicians tens of thousands of dollars in incentives beginning in 2011 to use electronic health records (EHRs); Medscape Medical News interviewed experts for advice on how to go paperless and qualify for the federal incentive money.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2009
• Macular Degeneration Linked to Cognitive Decline The study may have an impact on future treatment approaches.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2009
• New Findings Contradict Link Between Periodontal Disease and Pregnancy Risks Contrary to earlier reports, periodontal disease does not appear to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, according to the results of a large prospective study reported in the May issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
  Reuters Health Information, May 2009
• Adolescents With ADHD Often Have Sleep Problems Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with sleep problems in adolescents, results of a study published in the May issue of the journal Sleep suggest.
  Reuters Health Information, May 2009
• FDA Approves Lamictal Orally Disintegrating Tablets for Bipolar Disorder, Epilepsy Lamotrigine orally disintegrating tablets have been approved by the FDA for maintenance treatment of bipolar 1 disorder acute mood episodes and as an antiseizure treatment for epilepsy.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2009
• What's Hot at APA 2009? The San Francisco meeting promises to be an event of seismic importance.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2009
• NHLBI Ends Enrollment in Trial of Hypertonic Saline for Traumatic Brain Injury Analysis of data from more than 1000 participants suggested that hypertonic saline offered no benefit over the standard treatment of normal saline in treatment of patients with TBI; no safety concerns were noted.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2009
• Formaldehyde Exposure Linked to Lymphoma, Leukemia Long-term follow-up of the National Cancer Institute's formaldehyde cohort confirms prior reports that exposure to formaldehyde may increase the risk of Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloid leukemia, and multiple myeloma.
  Reuters Health Information, May 2009
• Researchers Test Stem Cells From Fat Tissue for MS The preliminary results are promising and have implications for treating multiple sclerosis as well as a range of inflammatory illnesses.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2009
• Long-Term Risk of Heart Disease High in Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors Hodgkin lymphoma survivors are at high risk for cardiovascular disease, a Swedish study confirms. The risk is particularly high for patients treated for Hodgkin lymphoma before the age of 40 years and with a family history of heart disease.
  Reuters Health Information, May 2009
• Single Oral Dose of Antiemetic Agent Is Effective Consensus guidelines now recommend that a neurokinin-1-receptor antagonist be used with other antiemetics to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Casopitant might be the first single oral-dose neurokinin-1-receptor antagonist.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2009
• FDA Approvals: Fanapt and Cycloset The FDA has approved iloperidone tablets (Fanapt) and bromocriptine mesylate quick-release tablets (Cycloset).
  Medscape Medical News, May 2009
• Chronic Kidney Disease Increases Risk for Hypoglycemia With or Without Diabetes A retrospective cohort analysis shows an increased incidence of hypoglycemia in patients with chronic kidney disease, as well as excessive mortality rate associated with hypoglycemia.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2009
• Report: Climate Change Threatens Health cientists say global warming will increase malaria and other diseases.
  WebMD Health News, May 2009
• Skin Reactions Lead to Face Paint Recall Fun Express Inc. recalls certain face paints made by Shanghai Color Art Stationery Company Ltd.
  WebMD Health News, May 2009
• New HRS Consensus Statement on Lead Extraction Sets Volume Benchmarks for Operators Physicians trained in lead extraction should extract a minimum of 40 leads as the primary operator under the supervision of a qualified training physician and should extract a minimum of 20 leads annually as the lead operator. These numbers, however, are a "bare-bones" minimum, say researchers, stressing that patient care should always be individualized.
  Heartwire, May 2009
• CHAMPION Trials With Cangrelor Stopped for Lack of Efficacy The trials' interim analysis review committee has decided that the study would not demonstrate the "persuasive" clinical efficacy needed for regulatory approval.
  Heartwire, May 2009
• Epinephrine Plus Dexamethasone May Reduce Hospitalizations for Children With Bronchiolitis In a randomized controlled trial, combined epinephrine plus dexamethasone significantly reduced hospital admissions in children with bronchiolitis seen in the emergency department.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2009