Family Practice News back issues from May 2000:
HRT Should Not Be Used for Heart Disease Prevention.(hormone replacement therapy)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... Early data link HRT to slightly more heart attacks, strokes, and thrombolysis. Hormone replacement therapy should not be prescribed as firstline medication for prevention of heart disease, according to preliminary findings of the Women's Health Initiative. Early data ...
FPs Rally to Patient Bill of Rights.(family physicians)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... WASHINGTON -- Family physicians converged on Washington last month in an effort to inject new life into efforts to pass "Patient Bill of Rights" legislation. At a press briefing outside the Capitol, 50 family physicians gathered before a small crowd to express their support for ...
Antioxidants Can Be Dangerous at High Levels.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... It won't necessarily prevent disease. Taking large amounts of antioxidant nutrients will not necessarily prevent chronic disease and can be dangerous if daily intake is too high, an Institute of Medicine panel concluded. As part of a general overhaul of official ...
Pressing Patients to Quit Smoking Can Have an Impact.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Even the most minimal intervention by a physician can have a striking effect when it comes to convincing patients to quit smoking, Dr. Glenn R. Rechtine II reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. In a study of more than ...
Frequent Tofu Eating Tied to Cognitive Decline.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... Elderly Japanese American men living in Hawaii who ate tofu regularly during midlife showed a greater degree of cognitive decline in later life than did their counterparts who consumed little or none of the soy-based food. This finding emerged from an analysis of data from the ...
Rapid Enterovirus Test.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... Use of a rapid enterovirus polymerase chain reaction test can reduce charges at a children's hospital, Dr. Mary P. Glode reported in Philadelphia at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Nonpolio enteroviruses cause 5-10 million symptomatic infections ...
Hot Flashes Chilled by Paroxetine.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... TAMPA, FLA. -- Hot flashes appear to be reduced by the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetine. In a 30-patient pilot study, paroxetine (Paxil) significantly relieved the hot flashes of breast cancer survivors experiencing premature menopause as a result of their ...
Viagra Appears Safe for Some CV Patients.(cardiovascular disease)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... ANAHEIM, CALIF. -- The effectiveness and tolerability of sildenafil were confirmed in a double-blind, controlled trial of more than 200 Swedish men with cardiovascular disease and erectile dysfunction. Accumulating data continue to be reassuring that select men with ...
Arrhythmia Worries Limit Access to Cisapride.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... A pediatric protocol will be included in a limited-access program for cisapride; the program will soon be the only way to obtain the drug for patients, said a spokesperson for Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. Janssen will stop marketing cisapride tablets and suspension on July 14 in ...
When the Patient Is Family.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... Breakfast was delicious. My Aunt Marlyn was on a rare excursion from her home in Omaha, Neb., to visit my father and her three favorite nephews in Texas. We were eating pancakes and sipping coffee when my aunt said she "just didn't feel right." As we sat outside the restaurant ...
Looking for a New Voice.(Family Practice News looks for new "Resident's Viewpoint" columnist)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... FAMILY PRACTICE NEWS is looking for a family practice resident to serve as our next "Resident's Viewpoint" columnist. The job calls for writing a monthly column on issues concerning residents, the family practice specialty, and medicine in general, drawing on the resident's personal ...
PRO & CON.(collective bargaining for physicians)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... Is allowing physicians to bargain collectively a good idea? YES Right now, only two groups of physicians can organize: medical residents and employed physicians (meaning those who are not in a supervisory role). Employed physicians represent only about one in seven ...
LETTERS.(emergency medical practice by general practitioners; Helicobacter pylori infection treatment costs; medical professionalism; attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis by computer)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
May 01, 2000; ... Citing Medicare I just read Dr. Graeme M. Rodgman's letter Help For General Practitioners" (Feb. 1, 2000, p. 10). He stated that "according to current Medicare regulations, the governing body of a hospital must 'ensure that under no circumstances is the accordance of ...
Medical Error Accountability.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... In February, President Clinton announced an initiative to improve patient safety and reduce the number of medical errors by 50% over the next 5 years. The plan was developed by the Quality Interagency Coordination Task Force, which was established by the President in 1998 to coordinate ...
Atopic Dermatitis Tx Safe in Children.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Phase III trial data confirm what study investigators have been hinting for months: 0.1% tacrolimus ointment is safe and dramatically effective in treating atopic dermatitis in children. Results from two large multicenter pediatric trials and a quality of life ...
Waiting for Topical Tacrolimus Approval.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... PALM BEACH, FLA. -- For many patients with atopic dermatitis and the dermatologists who treat them, the wait for the approval of topical tacrolimus is beginning to feel a bit like the Samuel Beckett play, "Waiting for Godot." Will it ever arrive? Over the last several years, a ...
Tacrolimus Eased Atopic Dermatitis in Adults.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Topical tacrolimus ointment appeared to be safe and effective for adults with atopic dermatitis in two separate multicenter trials presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. A randomized, controlled U.S. study of 328 adults compared ...
Data Back Aerollergens' Link to Atopic Dermatitis.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... PALM BEACH, FLA. -- The evidence supporting the hypothesis that aeroallergens can trigger and exacerbate atopic dermatitis is becoming too strong to ignore, Dr. Richard Clark said at the annual colloquium on clinical dermatology sponsored by the Dermatology Foundation. In the ...
'Stinging' Topical Medications Hurt Compliance.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... HAPUNA BEACH, HAWAII -- The "sting factor" can hamper compliance with eczema medications and can buzz through family bliss like an angry swarm of killer bees. Concerned that pediatric patients are running to the sink screaming to wash off topical medications, Dr. Mary K. Spraker ...
'Mummifying' Eczema Patients Can Bring Relief.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... HAPUNA BEACH, HAWAII -- If you can make a child look like a mummy for Halloween, you can bring relief to the most seriously affected eczema patients in your practice. So says Dr. Sheila Fallon Friedlander, a pediatric dermatologist who shared a trick of the trade at the annual ...
Vascular Invasion Predicts Risk of Melanoma Spread.
May 01, 2000; ... HAPUNA BEACH, HAWAII -- Histologic evidence of vascular invasion is a significant predictor of metastasis in melanoma, conferring roughly the same risk as tumor ulceration, a large prospective study has shown. Evidence from the prospective study of 526 patients is the first to ...
Melanoma Epidemic Declines Worldwide.(Statistical Data Included)
May 01, 2000; ... PHOONIX, ARIZ. -- The reported decline in the incidence of melanoma in people under 50 years old appears to be a real trend because it has been confirmed in three different countries--Australia, Scotland, and the United States, Dr. Alan M. Yahanda said at a conference on melanoma sponsored ...
Longitudinal Melanonychia in Children: How Aggressive Do You Get?
May 01, 2000; ... INDIAN WBLLS, CALIF. -- A pig-merited band in a child's nail creates a rough choice for a physician. Only a painful and potentially scarring biopsy can rule our melanoma, but rarely will melanoma be the cause in children. "The biggest dilemma we have with longitudinal ...
Twice-Daily Foam Can Improve Body Psoriasis.
May 01, 2000; ... HAPUNA BEACH, HAWAII -- Foam isn't just for the scalp anymore. The fluffy stuff appears to greatly improve psoriasis on elbows, knees, and torsos, too. Twice-daily applications of betamethasone valerate foam 0.12% produced a 50% or greater improvement of body psoriasis in 26 of ...
Clobetasol Propionate Foam Reduced Scalp Psoriasis.
May 01, 2000 ... Dr. Stein also compared the bioavailability of a super high-potency topical steroid, clobetasol propionate, in a foam delivery system. The randomized, double-blind study involved 188 patients at 12 centers, all of whom had moderate to severe scalp psoriasis. Both the clobetasol ...
Topical Calcipotriol, Methotrexate Gel Treat Scalp Psoriasis.
May 01, 2000; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Topical calcipotriol and an experimental spray gel containing methotrexate both got good marks in treating scalp psoriasis, according to two separate studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. Dr. Diamant Thaci reported data ...
Hearing Meditation Tapes Sped Psoriasis Healing.
May 01, 2000; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Psoriasis clears far faster when patients undergoing phototherapy listen to guided meditation tapes while in the UV light box, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., reported at a conference on complementary and alternative medicine sponsored by Stanford University. This ...
Pitfalls That Can Lead to Acne Treatment Failures.
May 01, 2000; ... MIAMI BEACH -- Acne treatment failures can often be avoided by sidestepping some common pitfalls. Dr. Lawrence Schachner outlined some of these pitfalls at the annual Masters of Pediatrics conference sponsored by the University of Miami. * Treating an Unwilling ...
Azithromycin Causes Less GI Upset in Teen Acne Patients.(gastrointestinal )
May 01, 2000; ... MIAMI BEACH -- Azithromycin is a good choice for treating acne in adolescents, Dr. Lawrence A. Schachner said at the annual Masters of Pediatrics conference sponsored by the University of Miami. Some other antibiotics, such as erythromycin, can cause a lot of gastrointestinal ...
Adapalene Clears Acne With Fewer Side Effects.
May 01, 2000; ... HAPUNA BEACH, HAWAII -- Adapalene gel worked just as quickly and as effectively as Retin A Micro in clearing acne, but it caused less dryness, stinging, burning, erythema, and scaling in a 12-week trial that included 168 patients. "I don't think for a second there is an irritant ...
Clindamycin-Benzoyl Peroxide Combination May Offer Some Advantages in Acne Vulgaris.
May 01, 2000; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Treating acne vulgaris with a combination of benzoyl peroxide plus clindamycin appeared to have some advantages over benzoyl peroxide monotherapy in three separate randomized, controlled studies that produced somewhat conflicting results. In all three ...
Lindane Cost Effective for Older Children.
May 01, 2000; ... LAS VEGAS -- Lindane remains a reasonable, cost-effective, and convenient treatment for scabies in older children, according to pediatric dermatologist Raymond V. Caputo. "Let's not forget about gamma benzene hexachloride [lindane]. It is available and still a good product. It ...
History, Not Skin Changes, Pinpoints Adult Scabies.
May 01, 2000; ... COLORADO SPRINGS -- In diagnosing scabies in adults, it's not what you see on the skin that matters, it's the tale that the patient relates to you, Dr. Barbara R. Reed said at a meeting of the Colorado chapter of the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine. ...
Louse Egg Look-Alikes Mislead Diagnosticians.
May 01, 2000; ... INDIAN WELLS, CALIF. -- Look for hair shaft disorders as the root of so-called resistant head lice infestation, Dr. Michael J. Scott III advised at the annual meeting of the Noah Worcester Dermatological Society. During epidemic infestations of head lice--Pediculus ...
Reports of Superlice May Really Be Reinfestation.
May 01, 2000; ... SNOWBIRD, UTAH -- Maybe those "superlice" aren't so super after all. According to one pediatric dermatologist, recent reports of treatment-resistant lice may reflect failure to prevent reinfestation. "Parents have to be really fastidious about environmental control ...
BMD Loss in First Year of Tx? Don't Switch Agents.(bone mineral density)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... BETHESDA, Mn. - Patients who lose one mineral density during the first year of treatment with agents that generally are effective for osteoporosis should not be automatically switched to another therapy. They most likely will gain bone mineral density in the second year of treatment, Dr ....
Be Aware That Osteoporosis Also Affects Young Women and Men.
May 01, 2000; ... BETHESDA, MD. -- The clinical view of osteoporosis needs to be expanded to address patients' bone health throughout the life span. Osteoporosis is not an age- or gender-dependent disease, panelists agreed at a conference on osteoporosis sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. ...
Postprandial Blood Sugar: Tighter Diabetic Control.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Regulating postprandial blood sugar levels provides tighter control of diabetes than does monitoring of only preprandial blood sugar levels, according to Dr. Nancy Bohannon. The problem with testing only preprandial blood sugar levels is that these are probably ...
Homegrown Nomenclature Can Impede Care.(diabetes care)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... Is diabetes by any other name still as sweet? A screening of 403 rural African Americans found that those who use the term "sugar" to describe diabetes may believe it is a separate condition, and that it is less serious than diabetes and more likely to be caused by diet, said ...
Tighter Regulation Urged For Herbal Medicine.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- More research and tighter regulations are essential to ensure that medicinal herbs are used safely and responsibly, according to an international panel of experts in herbal medicine. At one of the first conferences to assemble a worldwide array of ...
Feverfew May Be Able to Reduce Migraine Frequency.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Feverfew is a promising herbal remedy for reducing the frequency of migraines, Dr. Edzard Ernst reported at an international conference on the efficacy and safety of medicinal herbs. He based that conclusion on the findings of a systematic review of clinical ...
Natural Supplements Can Play a Role in Migraine Therapy.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... COLORADO SPRINGS -- Magnesium or riboflavin supplements are useful options for migraine patients who want natural therapy, Dr. Judy Lane said at the annual meeting of the Colorado chapter of the American College of Physicians--American Society of Internal Medicine. These ...
Not All Echinacea Preparations Are Created Equal.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The echinacea your patients are taking to prevent or cure colds and infections probably is not the same as the echinacea approved in Germany for these purposes, according to Dr. Rudolph Bauer, professor of pharmaceutical biology at the University of Dusseldorf ...
IV Histamine Desensitization for Cluster Headache.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. -- Patients with chronic cluster headaches recalcitrant to standard prophylactic agents have an alternative before resorting to surgery--intravenous histamine desensitization. The approach, which involves a series of infusions with increasing amounts of ...
Watch Geriatric Crowd for Flare-ups of Old Infections and Entirely New Strains.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... ATLANTA -- Globetrotting seniors may be the population to target for monitoring the status of emerging infections, Dr. Larry Strausbaugh said at an international conference on nosocomial infections sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The burgeoning ...
Increased Immunization Of Staff Credited With Drop In Hospital Flu Outbreaks.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... ATLANTA -- Influenza vaccination of health care workers is responsible for the decline in flu outbreaks in hospitals, but immunization still falls short, especially among office-based health care workers, according to experts. Dr. Frederick Hayden and other researchers at an ...
Rapid Test Helps Identify Cause of Dyspnea.(point-of-care brain natriuretic peptide immunoassay)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... ANAHEIM, CALIF. -- A new rapid bedside test greatly enhances the ability to differentiate congestive heart failure from other common causes of dyspnea in the emergency room, Dr. Alan S. Maisel said at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology The point-of-care ...
Morning MI Symptom Onset Is Not Predictive.(myocardial ischemia)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... ANAHEIM, CALIF. -- Onset of symptoms suggestive of acute myocardial ischemia may peak in the morning, but that information is not diagnostically helpful. In fact, among patients who go to the emergency department with symptoms suggestive of cardiac ischemia, there's a morning ...
Electron Beam CT vs. Traditional CHD Assessment.(coronary heart disease)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... SAN DIEGO -- Electron beam CT appears to offer incremental value over standard risk factor assessment in determining a patient's risk for coronary heart disease, Dr. Ming Wei said at the annual meeting on cardiovascular epidemiology and prevention sponsored by the American Heart ...
MI Management Unchanged by Chest Pain Units.(myocardial infarction)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... ANAHEIM, CALIF. -- Chest pain evaluation units don't improve the process of care or clinical outcomes in patients with acute MI, according to a national study of about 128,000 patients with documented MI. Strong data show that chest pain units are a safe and cost-effective way ...
Aspirin-Allergic Patients Can Try Clopidogrel.(for coronary heart disease care)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... COLORADO SPRINGS -- Give four tablets of clopidogrel immediately when an aspirin-allergic patient presents with an acute coronary syndrome, Dr. Alan Jacobson advised at a meeting of the Colorado chapter of the American College of Physicians--American Society of Internal Medicine. ...
Give Every Patient With Diarrhea Oral Rehydration.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... NEW YORK -- "Every patient with diarrhea should be given oral rehydration therapy" said Dr. Cynthia L. Sears, of the divisions of infectious diseases and gastroenterology at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Alternatively, "we need to put the brakes on and choose very carefully who gets ...
Comfrey Is Tied To Fatal Vein Occlusions.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Comfrey, popularly used for its alleged laxative and anti-inflammatory properties, has been associated with a nonthrombotic obliteration of small hepatic veins that can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and death, according to Dr. Felix Stickel of the University of ...
Ginkgo biloba Modestly Effective in Alzheimer's.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... KEY WEST FLA. -- The herb Ginkgo biloba appears to effect modest cognitive improvements in Alzheimer's disease patients with reasonable safety, Dr. Maria D. Llorente said at a meeting on psychiatry sponsored by the University of Miami. Active components in the plant preparation ...
Chronic Pancreatitis May Signal Cystic Fibrosis.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Check for mutations of the cystic fibrosis gene in a patient who has several episodes of acute pancreatitis or chronic pancreatitis and no evidence of alcohol abuse, Dr. James A. Stockman III advised at a pediatric update sponsored by the Medical University of South ...
Indian Roots, Homocysteine.(East Indians living in the United Kingdom have higher plasma homocysteine levels)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... Men originally from India who now live in the United Kingdom have higher plasma homocysteine levels than do whites, which may account for their twofold higher rate of coronary heart disease, according to Dr. John C. Chambers of the Heart and Lung Institute, London, and his associates. ...
Oral Glycoprotein Inhibitor.(sibrafiban and aspirin tested for viability in secondary prevention of major ischemic events)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... The oral glycoprotein inhibitor sibrafiban is no better than aspirin in secondary prevention of major ischemic events, even though it is the more potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation, reported Dr. L. Kristin Newby of Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, N.C., and her associates. ...
Rubella Strikes Immigrants.(Hispanic adults who did not receive the rubella vaccine become infected with rubella)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... Rubella has been nearly eradicated in the United States, but epidemics still occur among Hispanic adults who did not receive the rubella vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A 1998 outbreak of rubella occurred among Kansas meat-packing workers ....
Short-Course TB Prevention.(using rifampin and pyrazinamide has been proven to be safe and effective in preventing tuberculosis)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... A 2-month course of rifampin and pyrazinamide was as safe and effective as a 12-month course of isoniazid in preventing active tuberculosis in HIV-infected individuals, a randomized trial showed. The international study involved nearly 1600 HIV-positive individuals with a ...
Citalopram Controls Phobia.(panic disorder)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... A daily dose of 20-30 mg citalopram was optimal for reducing phobic symptoms in a placebo-controlled study of patients with panic disorder. The 58 patients taking this dose achieved a significant reduction in total phobia scores after 3 months, compared with the 36 patients ...
Role-Playing Game.(High Consciousness Games Co. offers the Assert With Love assertiveness training game)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... The Assert With Love game teaches children and adults how to interact assertively and respond appropriately to aggression. Players explore 48 different situations, such as a roommate conflict, pressure ...
New Dose for Diabetes Rx.(Glucotrol XL available from Pfizer Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... Glucotrol XL (glipizide) extended release tablets for type 2 diabetes are now available in doses of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg. The drug, which is taken once per ...
Four Percocet Dosages.(available from Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... Percocet (oxycodone HCI and acetaminophen), indicated for the relief of moderate to severe pain, is available in three new dosage strengths, Percocet-2.5/325, Percocet-7.5/500, and Percocet-10/650, in addition to the original dosage strength, now known as ...
Blood Analysis System.(Careside Inc. offers the Careside Analyzer)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... The desktop Careside Analyzer can carry out 37 blood tests for chemistry, electrochemistry, and coagulation, representing more than 80% of all routine blood tests ordered on an outpatient basis, with results in 15 ...
Rehab Supplier Web Site.(National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers offers website at www.nrrts.org)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... The National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers offers a searchable database of suppliers of rehabilitation and assistive ...