Medscape Today News

• Air Pollutants Mediate Effects on Heart Health The Chinese policy of restricting air-pollution emissions during the 2008 Olympic Games allowed researchers to assess the acute effects of air pollution, with the decrease in air pollution reducing von Willebrand factor and P-selectin, two markers of platelet adhesion and activation, as well as C-reactive protein levels in a group of healthy adults.
  Heartwire, May 2012
• EuroPCR TAVI Numbers Rise in Europe as Reimbursement New data unveiled at EuroPCR yesterday are offering a fresh snapshot of just how quickly the number of TAVI procedures is increasing in Europe and where these are taking place.
  Heartwire, May 2012
• Britain Leads Underage Drinking Fight, WHO Report Shows A report on health behaviors of school-aged kids shows Britain has made great strides in reducing underage drinking and levels of drunkenness, especially in 13- and 15-year-olds.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2012
• Checklist Improves Childbirth Practices A pilot study at a hospital in India showed a 150% improvement in delivery of essential childbirth practices with the use of a 29-item checklist.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2012
• So Long, Plavix, What a Ride! Clopidogrel Patent Expires Expiration of the clopidogrel patent draws a close to a "fascinating era" in cardiovascular medicine, say experts, having had its largest impact in the ACS and poststenting settings. Yet even as the patent expires there remain some unanswered questions, particularly given the emergence of platelet function and genetic testing for clopidogrel metabolism.
  Heartwire, May 2012
• Noncommunicable Disease Burden Rising Worldwide Worldwide, high blood pressure affects 1 in 3 adults and diabetes affects 1 in 10 adults, according to a World Health Organization report highlighting increases in noncommunicable risk factors.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2012
• Head Hits During a Single Season May Affect Learning, Memory Overall, there was no detrimental effect, but for some susceptible young players, repeated hits to the head could affect cognition.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2012
• Alert FDA Approves Generic Versions of Plavix Nine pharmaceutical companies will produce 2 different generic versions of the ubiquitous blood thinner.
  FDA Approvals, May 2012
• More Evidence Links Early Cannabis Use to Psychosis Independent of other factors, adolescent cannabis use may fuel the development of attenuated psychotic symptoms, including odd and withdrawn behavior.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2012
• Inturned Eyelashes: A Temporary Fix With Adhesive Tape A common medical adhesive tape can be used to provide effective but temporary relief of symptoms caused by inturned upper eyelid eyelashes.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2012
• ARVO Patients With Glaucoma Have a Heightened Fear of Falling Patients with bilateral visual field loss from glaucoma have a heightened fear of falling, which can keep them away from physical activity and travel outside the home.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2012
• Congenital CMV Shows Low Rate of Progression After Age 2 A more consistent approach is needed for the research and management of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2012
• Genetic Study Questions HDL Levels and the Risk of MI The data, from a large-scale genetic analysis, throw cold water on the potential clinical benefits of raising HDL-cholesterol levels to reduce the risk of MI, say investigators.
  Heartwire, May 2012
• Lack of Awareness of Late Drug Effects in Cancer Survivors Very few primary care physicians are aware of all the main long-term complications from 4 commonly used chemotherapies.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2012
• Whistleblower Suit Involving Alzheimer's Grant to Proceed Federal appeals court rules that the lower court failed to consider expert testimony and that 'genuine issues of material fact remain.'
  Medscape Medical News, May 2012
• 'One-Two Punch' for Advanced Melanoma Is Less Toxic Skin toxicities are a concern with new treatments for metastatic melanoma.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2012
• Olanzapine Reduces Breakthrough Chemo-Induced Emesis In the first study of its kind, olanzapine was significantly more effective than metoclopramide in stopping breakthrough chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2012
• APA 2012 Stalking by Patients Not Limited to Mental Health Clinicians Stalking of healthcare professionals by patients is becoming more prevalent, but most clinicians are unsure of how to deal with it.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2012
• EuroPCR Nobori Biolimus Stent Matches Everolimus Stents in All-Comers While equal to the market-leading Xience/Promus stents in terms of efficacy and safety, the Nobori failed to show an edge where many hope stents with bioerodable polymers will have their niche--in reducing stent thrombosis.
  Heartwire, May 2012
• US Asthma Rates at Record High, CDC Says Asthma rates increased by nearly 15% from 2001 to 2010; annual costs skyrocketed.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2012