Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Internal Medicine for April 2009. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Cancer Society Issues Health Disparities Policy Statement
THURSDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is launching an all-out campaign to eliminate cancer health disparities among Hispanics, blacks, Native Americans, and other minorities, who together will account for more than half of the United States' population by the year 2050, according to a policy statement released during a media telebriefing and published online ahead of print April 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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New Web-based Information Source to Support UK Clinicians
THURSDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- The United Kingdom's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has announced the launch of NHS Evidence, a Web-based evidence resource for clinicians, public health professionals of the National Health Service, and others involved in making patient care decisions. The announcement came in the April 30 issue of The Lancet.
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Aging, Changing Nation Will Affect New Cancer Diagnoses
THURSDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- Demographic changes in which older adults and minorities account for an increasing share of the population are expected to result in a soaring number of cancer cases in the next 20 years, according to a study released during a media telebriefing and published online ahead of print April 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Thromboembolism Linked to Cytotoxic Cancer Treatment
THURSDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- Cisplatin may be more thrombogenic than oxaliplatin in patients with advanced gastroesophageal cancer, and thromboembolism may shorten patients' survival, according to research published online April 27 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Smoking, Hypertension Judged the Leading US Death Risks
THURSDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- Smoking and high blood pressure are the leading risk factors contributing to death in the United States, according to a study reported April 28 in PLOS Medicine.
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Abciximab, Small Molecules Linked to Similar Outcomes
THURSDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- Abciximab was associated with similar outcomes compared to the small molecules eptifibatide and tirofiban in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary angioplasty, according to research published in the May 5 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Estrogen Status Affects Breast Cancer Resistance Mechanisms
THURSDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- Breast cancer cells develop different mechanisms of resistance to compounds such as tamoxifen depending on whether the cells are grown under premenopausal or postmenopausal conditions, researchers report in the May issue of Endocrinology.
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NEJM Commends New Conflict of Interest Proposal
THURSDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- A new proposal to control conflict of interest is notable for its breadth and variety of recommended solutions, according to a Perspective article published online April 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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WHO Rasies Influenza Epidemic Alert Level From 4 to 5
THURSDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that the United States has had its first fatality as a result of swine flu. The case was a 23-month-old Mexican boy who was in Houston for medical treatment. Also, on April 29, the World Health Organization raised the influenza epidemic alert level from 4 to 5, meaning a pandemic is imminent.
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Aggressive Atorvastatin Use Cuts Detectable Inflammation
THURSDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- Aggressive use of atorvastatin therapy over a three-month period produces anti-inflammatory results that can be detected using ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO)-enhanced MRI, according to a study published online ahead of print April 29 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Critically Ill Patients May Often Be Vitamin D Deficient
WEDNESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- High percentages of critically ill patients in intensive care may be vitamin D deficient, potentially worsening outcomes, according to an article published in the April 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Telaprevir-Based Drugs Show Promise to Treat Hepatitis C
WEDNESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Phase 2 clinical trials of treatment regimens based on telaprevir in combination with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin show significantly improved virologic responses in chronic hepatitis C virus patients, according to two studies published in the April 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Poisoning Deaths Prompt Methadone Outreach
WEDNESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- A more than threefold increase in the number of deaths linked to methadone poisoning in recent years is prompting a new public information campaign on the safe use of the prescription drug in both addiction treatment and as a pain reliever, according to a statement released April 28 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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FDA Requires OTC Pain Relievers to Display Warnings
WEDNESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Popular over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers and fever medications containing acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) will be required to display prominent warnings about the risks of liver damage and internal bleeding, under a new rule announced April 28 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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Dietary Acrylamide Link to Lung Cancer Studied
WEDNESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Higher intake of dietary acrylamide, a probable carcinogen found in heat-treated foods, may be associated with a lower risk of lung cancer in women, according to research published online April 28 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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Protein Reverses Diabetes-Associated Bone Loss in Mice
WEDNESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) can reverse the bone loss associated with reduced osteoblastic function due to diabetes, according to the results of a study in mice published in the May issue of Endocrinology.
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Consider Heart and Bones With Androgen-Deprivation Therapy
WEDNESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Androgen-deprivation therapy for men with prostate cancer carries significant risk for cardiovascular and bone-related side effects, as well as for diabetes, according to a review of the medical literature published online April 27 in the journal Cancer.
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China's Organ Procurement Troubles Most US Clinicians
WEDNESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Because of China's organ procurement practices, including organ harvesting from executed prisoners, most health care professionals involved in liver transplantation do not recommend patients seek a transplant in that country, according to a study released online Jan. 12 in advance of publication in Clinical Transplantation.
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Female Sexual Dysfunction Common in Type 1 Diabetes
WEDNESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Depression may raise the risk of female sexual dysfunction in women with type 1 diabetes, many of whom have sexual difficulties, according to research published in the May issue of Diabetes Care.
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CDC Confirms 64 Swine Flu Cases in United States
WEDNESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 64 cases of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus in the United States as of April 28, including five cases requiring hospitalization. The cases have occurred across five states, including 45 in New York, 10 in California, six in Texas, two in Kansas and one in Ohio, according to a dispatch on April 28 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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H1N1 Swine Flu Susceptible to Oseltamivir and Zanamivir
WEDNESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- The swine-origin influenza A virus H1N1 is susceptible to both neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir, but is resistant to the M2 ion channel blockers amantadine and rimantadine, according to a dispatch on April 28 from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Breech Presentation Linked to Autism Spectrum Disorders
WEDNESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- An association between breech presentation and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children may point to a shared etiology between the two, according to research published in the May issue of Pediatrics.
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Naltrexone Linked to Improved Fibromyalgia Symptoms
WEDNESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) may be useful in treating fibromyalgia, according to research published online April 22 in Pain Medicine.
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FDA Issues Emergency OK for Broad Use of Antiviral Drugs
TUESDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- In response to the threat of a swine flu epidemic, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to permit broader use of the antiviral medications zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu), and the use of the rRT-PCR Swine Flu Panel diagnostic test.
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Pharmacist Involvement May Decrease Medication Errors
TUESDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- Adding a pharmacist to health care teams may significantly decrease patients' risk of adverse drug events and medication errors, according to a report published in the April 27 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. A second study indicates that an interdisciplinary medication reconciliation intervention can also reduce unintentional medication discrepancies with potential for harm.
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Lapatinib Can Be Effective in Relapsed HER+ Breast Cancer
TUESDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- Lapatinib is a potentially effective treatment for women with relapsed HER2-positive breast cancer, but one with frequent adverse events, according to a report published online April 27 in The Lancet Oncology.
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Glucose Control During Surgery Linked to Better Outcomes
TUESDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- Aggressive glycemic control during surgery reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events, researchers report in the May issue of Anesthesiology.
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Gene Variant Linked to Worse Outcomes in Pneumonia
TUESDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- Patients hospitalized with severe pneumonia have a higher risk of death and spend a longer time on mechanical ventilation if they have a variant of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) gene, according to a study in the May issue of Anesthesiology.
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Imaging Exams Found to Be on Rise in Pregnant Women
TUESDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- Imaging examinations, particularly with computed tomography (CT), may be growing more common in pregnant women, according to research published in the May issue of Radiology.
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Survival Poor in Adults with Rhabdomyosarcoma
TUESDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- Adults with rhabdomyosarcoma, though rare, have significantly worse long-term survival than children with the disease, although many of the same factors predict survival in both cases, according to a study published online April 27 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Computed Tomography May Help Early Chest Pain Triage
TUESDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- Early use of coronary computed tomography angiography in the early triage of patients presenting with acute chest pain can play an important role in improving emergency department patient management, according to a study published in the May 5 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Steep Copayments Increase Risk of Non-Adherence
TUESDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- In patients who are newly diagnosed with a chronic disease, higher out-of-pocket costs for medications are associated with an increased likelihood of non-treatment, according to a study published in the April 27 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Number of US Swine Flu Cases Rises, CDC Reports
TUESDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- At least 40 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the United States, prompting a wide range of governmental actions to counter what could become a worldwide pandemic, according to Richard Besser, M.D., acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Fatty Fish Consumption Linked to Less Heart Failure
TUESDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- Although middle-aged and elderly men who have a moderate intake of fatty fish have lower incidence of heart failure than their counterparts who do not eat the food, the reduction is not statistically significant, and eating larger amounts confers less not more benefits, according to a study published online April 21 in the European Heart Journal.
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Fewer Heart Attacks After Drop in Hormone Therapy Use
MONDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- The drop in the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in 2002 has resulted in a noticeable decrease in acute myocardial infarction among women aged 40 to 79 since then, according to a report released online March 23 in advance of publication in the journal Medical Care.
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Mesothelioma Deaths Expected to Peak in 2010
MONDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- After decades on the increase, the number of U.S. deaths from malignant mesothelioma should peak next year, according to a statistical analysis published in the April 24 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Swine Flu Declared Public Health Emergency in US
MONDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Two recent cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in Southern California raised the possibility that the virus can be transmitted by human-to-human contact, according to a report published in the April 24 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Subsequently, the number of U.S. cases continues to rise and U.S. officials have declared it a public health emergency.
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Ranolazine Shows Angina Benefits in Broader Group
FRIDAY, April 24 (HealthDay News) -- Ranolazine may be effective in treating chronic angina, but does not appear to serve as a disease-modifying secondary preventive therapy, according to research published in the April 28 Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Grafts Can Improve Outcome For High-Risk Dialysis Patients
FRIDAY, April 24 (HealthDay News) -- Autologous tissue-engineered vascular grafts can help end-stage renal disease patients gain a better outcome from hemodialysis, according to a study published in the April 25 issue of The Lancet.
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Dialysis Knowledge May Be Linked to Vascular Access
FRIDAY, April 24 (HealthDay News) -- Patients who are more knowledgeable about dialysis when they begin hemodialysis may be more likely to use an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft (AVG) compared to a catheter, according to research published online ahead of print April 23 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Electronic Medical Records Have Proven Their Worth
FRIDAY, April 24 (HealthDay News) -- The electronic medical record system that has been used by the Department of Veterans Affairs health care facilities since the mid-1980s has proven to be a useful way to reduce costs and errors and improve hands-off communication in the surgical setting, according to an article published in the April issue of the AORN Journal.
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Medicare Dialysis Payment Proposal Ignores Patient Race
FRIDAY, April 24 (HealthDay News) -- A new Medicare reimbursement scheme for patients on hemodialysis would shortchange centers for treating black patients who often need extra medication to increase hemoglobin levels, according to a study published online ahead of print April 23 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrologists.
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Range of Motion May Not Predict Spinal Surgery Outcome
FRIDAY, April 24 (HealthDay News) -- Preoperative segmental lumbar range of motion (s-ROM) and total range of motion (t-ROM) do not appear to predict postoperative range of motion following lumbar total disc replacement, according to research published in the April 20 issue of Spine.
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Teen Binges Linked to White Matter Changes in Brain
FRIDAY, April 24 (HealthDay News) -- In adolescents, binge drinking may be associated with reduced white matter integrity in the frontal, cerebellar, temporal, and parietal regions of the brain, according to research published online April 21 in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
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Perioperative Bullying Reduces Nurses' Effectiveness
FRIDAY, April 24 (HealthDay News) -- The perioperative setting is vulnerable to workplace bullying, but interventions to eliminate intimidating and unsettling behavior among nursing staff can help eliminate the problem, according to an article published in the April issue of the AORN Journal.
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Shoe Insoles Don't Appear to Prevent Back Pain
THURSDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- Shoe insoles do not appear to be effective for preventing back pain, and limited evidence neither supports nor discourages their use for treating low back pain, according to research published April 20 in Spine.
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Rate of Obstetric Complications Unchanged
THURSDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- The rate of intrapartum maternal morbidity related to obstetric complications was similar between two periods in the 1990s and the 2000s, according to research published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Two Urologic Conditions Have Similar Economic Impact
THURSDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) and interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) have a similar and significant economic impact, according to a study published in the April issue of Urology.
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In-Office Visit Offers Benefits Compared to Teledermatology
THURSDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- In general, the use of teledermatology resulted in poorer diagnostic accuracy when evaluating nonpigmented lesions than clinic-based dermatology, according to research published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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Maternal Obesity Linked to Lower Ultrasound Ability
THURSDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- Maternal weight may affect the ability of ultrasound to detect fetal abnormalities during the second trimester, according to research published in the May Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Prenatal Flu Exposure Linked to Lower Intelligence Scores
THURSDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to the Hong Kong flu in utero may be associated with lower intelligence in adulthood, according to research published online ahead of print March 18 in the Annals of Neurology.
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Side Effect Connection with Antidepressant Use Examined
THURSDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- Many side effects reported by women who take a tricyclic antidepressant to treat functional gastrointestinal disorder, where symptoms are not explained by observable morphologic abnormalities, do not appear to be due to the drug and may be due to psychologic distress, according to a study in the April issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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Biopsy Variability Affects Diagnosis of Liver Disease
THURSDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- The number of liver biopsies analyzed, biopsy length, and number of independent biopsy readings affects the variability of histologic findings and diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in patients with suspected nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), according to a study in the April issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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Treatment Reduces Ovulation Time in Ovarian Syndrome
THURSDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- Treatment consisting of gradually increasing doses of clomiphene followed by ultrasound is effective in reducing the time to ovulation and often improves the ovulation rate in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) who do not respond to lower doses of the drug, according to a study in the May issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Discontinuing Drugs for BPH May Prove Harmful
THURSDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- Discontinuing combination therapy for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) leads to increased prostate volume and worsening of symptoms, according to a study in the April issue of Urology.
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Heavy NSAID Use Linked to Dementia in Elderly
THURSDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- Contrary to earlier studies suggesting that users of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have a reduced risk of developing dementia, heavy NSAID use in the elderly is associated with a higher risk of developing dementia, according to a study published online April 22 in Neurology.
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Having Health Insurance May Not Improve Mortality Risk
THURSDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- People without health insurance have about the same mortality rate as people with health insurance, according to an observational study published online April 21 in Health Services Research.
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Oral Bisphosphonates Link to Esophageal Cancer Analyzed
WEDNESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- Oral bisphosphonate does not appear to increase risk for esophageal cancer, according to analyses of Danish and U.S. data reported by separate researchers in the April 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Stretches Without Health Insurance More Common
WEDNESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- Periods of uninsurance have become more common in recent decades, particularly among those with less education, according to research published in the April 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Gene Defect Found in Patients with Small-Vessel Disease
WEDNESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- A gene defect has been identified in patients with a hereditary cerebral small-vessel disease, according to a study in the April 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Melanoma Screening Strategies Examined
WEDNESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- In middle-aged and older men, new strategies are needed to foster the early detection and treatment of melanoma, according to two studies published in the April issue of the Archives of Dermatology.
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Voglibose May Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Development
WEDNESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- Patients who have impaired glucose tolerance and who are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes are less likely to do so if they are treated with voglibose (an α-glucosidase inhibitor) compared with placebo, according to a study published online on April 22 in The Lancet.
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Breastfeeding May Lower Women's Heart Disease Risks
WEDNESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- Breastfeeding may be associated with a later decrease in risk of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease during women's postmenopausal years, according to research published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Omega-3 Fatty Acids Inhibit Ovarian Cancer Growth
WEDNESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and plant oils inhibit the growth of some ovarian cancer cells, where growth inhibition correlates with changes in the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signaling pathway, according to a study in the May issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Organ Donation Consent Depends on Diverse Factors
WEDNESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- The number of organs available for transplantation could be significantly increased by improving the rate of consent for organ donation by relatives of people who have died, according to a study published in the April 21 issue of BMJ.
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Sirolimus-Eluting Stents Show Long-Term Effectiveness
WEDNESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with simple and medium complexity native coronary lesions, treatment with sirolimus-eluting stents reduces the long-term risk of subsequent revascularization events compared to bare-metal stents without adversely affecting safety, according to a study published in the April 28 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Absorbable Metal Stents Degrade Within Months
WEDNESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- Absorbable metal stents degrade within four months of implantation in patients with coronary artery disease but are associated with high restenosis rates, primarily due to early recoil, according to a study in the April issue of Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions.
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Superobese Patients Benefit From Bariatric Surgery
WEDNESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- Superobese patients gain quality of life benefits from bariatric surgery, even though they may remain severely obese after surgery, according to a study published in the April issue of the Archives of Surgery. In the same issue, another study shows that bariatric surgery does not need to be performed in a center of excellence to get optimum results.
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Continuity of Care Declining for Medicare Beneficiaries
TUESDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- Medicare beneficiaries in the hospital in 2006 were much less likely to be seen there by a familiar physician than those in the hospital a decade earlier, according to a study reported in the April 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Transplant Center Distance No Factor in Kidney Transplant
TUESDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- Living in a rural area or far from a kidney transplant center does not significantly affect a patient's chances of getting a transplant, according to a study in the April 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Defibrillator Implant Success Varies by Specialty
TUESDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- Patients who receive an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) are more apt to get the most appropriate device and are less likely to suffer complications if an electrophysiologist performs the procedure, according to a study reported in the April 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Genetic Score Can Help Identify High Diabetes Risk
TUESDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- A risk score based on 10 polymorphisms associated with diabetes can help identify those at particularly high risk for the disease, but overall such tests are not a big improvement on conventional clinical screening tests, according to a study published in the April 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Group Covers Cardiovascular Imaging Use in Myocarditis
TUESDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- The proper assessment of myocarditis using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is the subject of a white paper in the April 28 Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Prehospital Heart Attack Diagnosis Speeds Treatment
TUESDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- Independent regional networks in the United States that integrate a prehospital diagnosis of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), by emergency medical personnel, with specialized receiving centers achieve the recommended door-to-balloon time in 86 percent of cases, according to a study in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions.
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Glycemic Control Targets Can Be More Flexible
TUESDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- Setting rigid glycemic control targets is of dubious benefit, and targets should be tailored to individual patients based on lifestyle and clinical factors, according to a study published online ahead of print April 21 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Oral Carbohydrates Linked to Boost in Cycling Performance
TUESDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- The improvement in athletic performance that follows the presence of carbohydrates in the mouth may be due to brain responses linked to reward, according to research published April 1 in the Journal of Physiology.
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Robotic Surgery Safe For Some Head And Neck Tumors
TUESDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- Robot-assisted surgery to treat upper aerodigestive tract tumors is feasible and safe provided certain criteria are met, according to a study published in the April issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery.
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Pulmonary Vein Stenosis Can Follow Arrhythmia Treatment
TUESDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- Pulmonary vein stenosis can be a serious complication following ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation, which are becoming a more commonly used treatment, according to a review published in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions.
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Leisure Sports, Exercise May Not Be Back Pain Risk Factors
TUESDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- Participating in leisure time sports or exercise does not appear to be a risk factor for developing lower back pain (LBP), but the evidence is conflicting when it comes to other leisure and work activities, according to a review of medical literature reported in the April 15 issue of Spine.
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Psoriasis Associated With Higher Diabetes Risk
TUESDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with psoriasis are more likely to have diabetes and hypertension compared to their counterparts without the skin condition, according to a study published in the April issue of the Archives of Dermatology.
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Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Disparities Persist
TUESDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- Despite the fact that among patients with cardiovascular disease and diabetes there have been improvements in the control of blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol levels since 1999, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic differences persist, according to a study published in the April 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Web-Based System Can Help Track Surgical Adverse Events
TUESDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- A simple to use Web-based system can be used to track surgical complications and identify patterns of adverse events, according to a study published in the April issue of the Archives of Surgery.
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Infertility Period Linked to Pregnancy Rate in Varicocele
MONDAY, April 20 (HealthDay News) -- Following varicocelectomy, men with longer periods of infertility achieve lower pregnancy rates, indicating a harmful effect from the varicocele on the testicles over time, according to research published in the April issue of Urology.
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Phenol Peels Show Benefit in Treating Skin Conditions
MONDAY, April 20 (HealthDay News) -- Phenol peels may be effective in treating actinic keratosis and Bowen disease, according to research published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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Antibody Effective Against Pancreatic Cancers in Mice
MONDAY, April 20 (HealthDay News) -- An antibody against the insulin-like growth factor type I receptor (IGF-IR) reduces the growth and survival of pancreatic cancers in mice, according to a study published online April 14 in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.
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Triple Vaccine Approval Expanded To Cover Adults
MONDAY, April 20 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded the approved age indication for the tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine, Boostrix, to cover patients aged 10 to 64 years instead of the previous age indication of 10 to 18 years, according to an article published in the April 17 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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AACR: Genetic Profiling May Optimize Cancer Treatment
MONDAY, April 20 (HealthDay News) -- Testing for genetic variations may allow clinicians to adjust cancer treatments that optimize progression-free survival, according to several studies presented at the 100th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research held from April 18 to 22 in Denver.
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Merchant Compliance Linked to Reduced Teen Smoking
MONDAY, April 20 (HealthDay News) -- Greater merchant compliance with laws restricting the sale of tobacco to underage consumers has helped reduce smoking among adolescents, according to a study published online April 17 in BMC Public Health.
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More Fat Burned after a Low-Glycemic Breakfast
MONDAY, April 20 (HealthDay News) -- Healthy sedentary women who eat a breakfast consisting of low-glycemic carbohydrates burn more fat during exercise and feel fuller after lunch than women who eat a breakfast consisting of high-glycemic carbohydrates, according to a study in the May issue of the Journal of Nutrition.
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Neoplasm Death Rates High for Retinoblastoma Survivors
FRIDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- People who have had retinoblastoma, especially the hereditary form of the disease, have a high risk of dying from subsequent malignant neoplasm, according to a study reported April 7 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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High Barriers for Access to Mental Health Care
FRIDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- Approximately two-thirds of primary care physicians have difficulty securing mental health care services for their patients, according to a report published online April 14 in Health Affairs.
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Revascularization Not Linked to Long-Term Benefit
FRIDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with high cardiac risk undergoing major vascular surgery, preoperative coronary revascularization was not associated with better long-term outcomes, according to research published April 1 in the American Journal of Cardiology.
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Secondary Stroke Prevention Lower in Elderly Patients
FRIDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- In stroke survivors, secondary prevention is essential regardless of age, according to a study published online April 16 in BMJ.
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Statins Lower Lipids Better in Summer Than Winter
FRIDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- Statins more effectively lower cholesterol in the summer than in the winter, a fact that may need to be considered by clinicians prescribing the medications to patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), according to a study in the April 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
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Soldiers' Health Status Predicts Combat-Related PTSD
FRIDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- Soldiers with low mental or physical health status before combat exposure are at significantly increased risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a study published online April 16 in BMJ.
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Statins May Prevent Stroke, Another Drug Improves Outcome
FRIDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- Statins may help prevent stroke among high-risk patients, but when stroke occurs, controlling the patient's post-stroke body temperature may help improve the outcome, according to separate studies reported in the May issue of The Lancet Neurology.
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Spine Patients Choose Surgery to Improve Functioning
FRIDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- Improving daily functioning, such as walking, rather than relieving pain is the primary reason that people with back deformities choose risky surgery over nonoperative therapies, according to a report in the April 15 issue of Spine.
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Elderly May Be Shortchanged in Stroke Care
FRIDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- Current stroke care practices shortchange the elderly, who undergo fewer diagnostic investigations than their younger counterparts, and who also receive less advice on how to modify their lifestyles in order to prevent stroke recurrence, according to a study published in the March issue of the Postgraduate Medical Journal.
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Disturbed Sleep Common in Patients With Psoriasis
FRIDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and several other factors are predictors of sleep interference, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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Drug's Effect on Macular Edema in Type 2 Diabetics Studied
FRIDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with type 2 diabetes who have mild-to-moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, calcium dobesilate does not reduce the risk of development of clinically significant macular edema, according to a study published in the April 18 issue of The Lancet.
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New Cancer Drug Gets First Trial in Humans
THURSDAY, April 16 (HealthDay News) -- The first human trial of the experimental cancer drug poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor ABT-888 has successfully demonstrated its inhibitory effect and paved the way for a phase I clinical trial, according to a report published online April 13 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Depression Boosts Heart Failure Risk After Heart Disease
THURSDAY, April 16 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with coronary artery disease who are depressed are more likely to have heart failure, even if they take antidepressants, according to a study in the April 21 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Gastrointestinal Symptoms Common in Fibromyalgia
THURSDAY, April 16 (HealthDay News) -- A large majority of individuals with fibromyalgia also had functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID), which may be related to psychological distress, according to research published in the April issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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Genetic Link to Prevalence of Albuminuria Explored
THURSDAY, April 16 (HealthDay News) -- A study of American Indians has pinpointed a number of candidate genes that influence urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio and may explain why albuminuria has a higher prevalence in this population compared to others, according to research published online April 15 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Drug-Resistant TB Remains a Worldwide Threat
THURSDAY, April 16 (HealthDay News) -- Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious worldwide problem with the median prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains of TB as high as one in five new cases in some hot spots, according to the results of a survey by the World Health Organization reported in the April 16 online edition of The Lancet.
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Anemia Spikes Coronary Death Risk in Blacks
THURSDAY, April 16 (HealthDay News) -- Black patients with anemia are at higher risk of dying after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) than their non-anemic cohorts, researchers report in the April 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
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Slow Infusion Coronary Magnetic Resonance Imaging Effective
THURSDAY, April 16 (HealthDay News) -- Whole-heart coronary magnetic resonance angiography (CMRA) at 3.0-T, which has a higher signal-to-noise ratio, accurately identifies and rules out coronary artery disease, according to the results of a study published online April 15 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Hormone Levels Affect Perception of Jaw Pain
THURSDAY, April 16 (HealthDay News) -- Hormone levels in female rats can affect the perception of pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), providing a possible explanation for the higher incidence of TMJ pain in females, according to a study published online April 9 in Endocrinology.
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome Linked With Celiac Disease
THURSDAY, April 16 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with irritable bowel syndrome are more than four times as likely as those without the condition to have biopsy-proved celiac disease, according to research published in the April 13 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Mismatched Protein Can Hinder Hemophilia Therapy
WEDNESDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- Mismatched factor VIII proteins used in infusion therapy in black hemophiliacs increase the likelihood of producing inhibitors that can neutralize the treatment, according to a study reported in the April 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Valsartan Not Linked to Fewer Atrial Fibrillation Recurrences
WEDNESDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- The use of valsartan was not associated with a decrease in recurrences of atrial fibrillation in patients with underlying cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or left atrial enlargement, according to research published in the April 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Genetic Link Seen in Ischemic, Atherothrombotic Strokes
WEDNESDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- A locus on chromosome 12p13 may be linked to an increased risk of stroke, according to research published online April 15 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Valproate in Pregnancy Linked to Lower IQ in Children
WEDNESDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- The use of valproate in pregnant women with epilepsy is associated with a higher risk of impaired cognitive function in their children at the age of 3, according to research published in the April 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Mechanism of Compound Neurotoxicity Identified
WEDNESDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may act through ryanodine receptors, which are calcium ion channels, to mediate their neurotoxic effects, according to several new studies.
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Study Finds Smoking Marijuana Not Linked to Risk of COPD
WEDNESDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- Though smoking only marijuana wasn't linked to higher risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), smoking tobacco or both marijuana and tobacco was associated with higher risk, according to research published in the April 14 issue of CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
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National Patterns of Frequent Mental Distress Vary Widely
WEDNESDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- The prevalence of frequent mental distress has remained consistently high or low in some geographic areas of the United States, but others show substantial shifts since the early 1990s, according to a report published online April 14 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
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Outcomes Similar for Off-Label and On-Label Stent Use
WEDNESDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- On-label and off-label uses of bare-metal and drug-eluting stents are associated with similar rates of heart attack and death across the range of clinical indications, researchers report in the April 21 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Laser Treatment Effective for Mouth Ulcers
WEDNESDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- Low-power laser treatment is effective in treating or preventing oral mucositis, a painful side effect of radiotherapy, in cancer patients, according to a study published online April 3 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
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Intervention May Improve Cholesterol Management
WEDNESDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- Cholesterol management in primary care practices may be improved by a multifaceted intervention that includes guideline dissemination, academic detailing audit and feedback, and provision of a personal digital assistant to provide Framingham risk scores and National Cholesterol Education Program Third Adult Treatment Panel (ATP III) recommended treatment, according to a study published in the April 13 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Imaging Method Predicts Coronary Artery Disease
WEDNESDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is effective in predicting cardiac events in patients with suspected coronary artery disease, according to a study in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Imaging.
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Exercise Prescription May Get Patients Moving
WEDNESDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- In primary care practices, prescribing a physical activity plan specifying the frequency, intensity, duration and progression over time may prompt patients to start exercising regularly, researchers report in the April 13 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Vision Safety of Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Examined
WEDNESDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- Daily use of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors in men with mild erectile dysfunction is not associated with abnormalities in electroretinography or visual function, according to research published in the April issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.
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Hypoglycemic Events Increase Dementia Risk with Diabetes
TUESDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) -- Incidents of hypoglycemia in older patients with type 2 diabetes increase the risk of their eventually developing dementia, according to a study in the April 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Heart Screening of Diabetics May Not Improve Outcomes
TUESDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) -- Screening type 2 diabetes patients for asymptomatic coronary artery disease does not significantly reduce the number of heart attacks or improve outcomes compared to unscreened patients, according to a study in the April 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Stem Cell Therapy Weans New Diabetics Off Insulin
TUESDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) -- In a Brazilian study, autologous nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) successfully weaned 20 of 23 newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus patients off insulin and restored good glucose control, according to a study in the April 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Stricter Alcohol Laws Cut Youngsters' Fatal Car Crashes
TUESDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) -- Laws aimed at reducing drinking-and-driving activities among young people have a beneficial effect on the number of young fatalities due to car crashes, according to a study published online April 9 in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
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Researchers Describe Epidemiology of Heart Failure
TUESDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) -- Among older Americans, heart failure is a common condition that disproportionately affects blacks. But many cases could be prevented if risk factors were modified, according to a study published in the April 13 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Fluoroquinolones Show Benefit in Certain Cirrhosis Patients
TUESDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) -- Daily oral fluoroquinolone prophylaxis may reduce the risk of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and other adverse outcomes in patients with cirrhosis and low total protein in the ascitic fluid, according to research published in the April Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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Ovarian Germline Stem Cells Present in Mice
TUESDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) -- Mouse ovaries contain germline stem cells that can divide and produce normal and fertile offspring, according to a study published online April 12 in Nature Cell Biology.
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Clinicians Often Unaware of Alternative Medicine Trials
TUESDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) -- Among practicing clinicians, awareness of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) randomized controlled trials and confidence in ability to interpret the results is generally low, according to study findings published in the April 13 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Antithrombotic Drugs May Cause Microbleeds in Brain
TUESDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) -- Patients who take antithrombotic drugs such as aspirin and carbasalate calcium may be at increased risk of cerebral microbleeds, according to a report published online April 13 in the Archives of Neurology.
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Sharp Rise in Macular Degeneration Cases Expected
TUESDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) -- Although the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration is set to significantly increase by 2050, the advent of new treatments will help to mitigate the health care burden, according to a report published in the April issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.
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Fungal Infection Still Stalks Tennessee Mountain Region
TUESDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) -- The Appalachian Mountains of northeastern Tennessee around Johnson City remain a hotspot for the fungal infection blastomycosis, according to study findings published in the April issue of the journal Chest.
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Stem Cells Offer Potential Multiple Sclerosis Treatment
MONDAY, April 13 (HealthDay News) -- Oligodendrocytes generated from human embryonic stem cells that produce myelin offer novel possibilities for basic and clinical research into treatments for multiple sclerosis, but the process is more protracted than in mouse cells, according to a study published online April 10 in Development.
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Pancreatic Cancer Biomarkers Systematically Examined
MONDAY, April 13 (HealthDay News) -- A compendium of biomarkers for pancreatic cancer has for the first time gathered together information on detection of the disease from multiple sources in a systematic fashion, according to an article published April 7 in PLoS Medicine.
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Rate of Gastric, Duodenal Ulcers Declines in Taiwan
MONDAY, April 13 (HealthDay News) -- A drop in hospitalizations for peptic ulcer disease in Taiwan may be associated with an increase in Helicobacter pylori therapy and proton pump inhibitor use, according to research published in the April issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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Intensive Bladder Cancer Care May Not Improve Mortality Risk
MONDAY, April 13 (HealthDay News) -- Intensive treatment in early-stage bladder cancer does not appear to affect patient survival or avert major interventions later, according to a study published online April 7 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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Cigarette Smoke Alters Lungs' Inflammatory Response
MONDAY, April 13 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to cigarette smoke exacerbates and skews the respiratory system's inflammatory response to bacteria in mice, which may shed light on smoking's role in the development of inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in humans, researchers report in the April 15 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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Blacks Less Likely to Receive Lung Cancer Treatment
MONDAY, April 13 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), racial disparities in treatment did not significantly narrow during a recent 12-year period, according to an article published online April 13 in Cancer.
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Magnesium Improves Function After Spinal Cord Injury
MONDAY, April 13 (HealthDay News) -- Magnesium treatment shortly after spinal cord injury in rats improves motor function and spares white matter, according to study findings published in the April issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.
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Chronic Opioid Use for Pain Impairs Functional Rehab
MONDAY, April 13 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with musculoskeletal injuries are more likely to benefit from a functional restoration program if they are not chronic users of opioids for pain, researchers report in the April issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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Low Risk of Thromboembolism Found in Podiatric Surgery
MONDAY, April 13 (HealthDay News) -- Venous thromboembolism presents a low risk in podiatric surgery, but practitioners should consider prophylactic treatment if the patient has at least two risk factors, according to a study reported in the April issue of the journal Chest.
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New Test May Predict Risk of End-Stage Renal Disease
MONDAY, April 13 (HealthDay News) -- In the general population, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin excretion -- even in the range of microalbuminuric values -- are powerful predictors of end-stage renal disease, according to study findings published online April 8 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Pain Requires Meticulous Attention in Intensive Care Units
MONDAY, April 13 (HealthDay News) -- In intensive care units, the evaluation and management of pain is a significant clinical challenge, according to two Contemporary Reviews in Critical Care Medicine published in the April issue of the journal Chest.
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Drugs Effective in Treating Advanced Prostate Cancer
MONDAY, April 13 (HealthDay News) -- Two compounds are effective in treating advanced prostate cancer resistant to first-line treatments, according to research published online April 9 in Science.
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Little Progress in Reducing Foodborne Illness
FRIDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- Gaps in the current food safety system undermine efforts to reduce the incidence of foodborne disease, and the incidence of food poisoning has changed little in the past three years in the United States, according to a report published in the April 10 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Injecting-Drug Users Still Put Themselves at Risk for HIV
FRIDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- Injecting-drug users accounted for 6,600 (12 percent) of the new cases of HIV detected in the United States in 2006, and many report engaging in HIV-associated behaviors, according to a report published in the April 10 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Avoterim May Speed Healing, Reduce Scarring
FRIDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- Transforming growth factor β3 (TGFβ3), also known as avotermin, significantly improved the appearance of scars in both the short term and long term in a series of three studies conducted in the United Kingdom, according to research published in the April 11 issue of The Lancet.
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Genetic Components Affect Liver Transplant Prognosis
FRIDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- In liver transplant recipients, killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor genotype and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor-human leukocyte antigen C ligand compatibility may significantly affect the recurrence and progression of hepatitis C disease, according to a study published in the April issue of Liver Transplantation.
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Hepatitis B Infection Often Severe in Hepatitis C Carriers
FRIDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- In chronic carriers of hepatitis C virus, superinfection with hepatitis B virus is frequently severe but it also may lead to clearance of hepatitis C virus infection, according to study findings published in the April issue of Hepatology.
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Financial Rewards for Healthy Behavior Can Be Effective
FRIDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- Although paying people to engage in healthy behaviors or successfully tackle unhealthy ones can be effective, it may carry unintended consequences, according to an editorial published online April 9 in BMJ.
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New Vaccine Successfully Tested in Latent TB Infection
FRIDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- A new vaccine for tuberculosis produced immunogenic response without immunopathology in patients with latent tuberculosis infection, according to the results of a study published in the April 15 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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Zoledronic Acid Improves Bone Loss From Glucocorticoid Use
FRIDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- A single yearly infusion of zoledronic acid improved bone mineral density better than daily doses of risedronate among patients at risk for osteoporosis due to glucocorticoid use for inflammatory or immune-mediated disorders, researchers report in the April 11 issue of The Lancet.
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Therapy Slows Kidney Function Decline in Fabry Disease
FRIDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- Enzyme replacement therapy with agalsidase alfa in patients with Fabry disease, an X-linked disorder of glycosphingolipid metabolism, slows the rate of decline of kidney function, according to research published online April 8 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Blacks, Whites Differ in Arthritis Treatment Concerns
FRIDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- Blacks and whites with rheumatoid arthritis attach greater importance to differing factors related to treatment, according to research published in the April 15 issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
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Golimumab Linked to Psoriatic Arthritis Improvements
FRIDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- Golimumab, a human monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), showed benefits in adults with psoriatic arthritis, according to research published in the April issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
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Shoulder Dislocations Plague US Military
FRIDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- In the U.S. military population, shoulder dislocation is an endemic problem, according to a report published in the April issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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Vitamin D Deficiency Common in Breast Cancer Patients
THURSDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- In premenopausal breast cancer patients who are undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy, vitamin D supplementation at even double the current recommended dietary allowance is too low to increase serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) to sufficient levels, according to a report published online ahead of print April 6 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Cardiac Outcomes of Sleep Apnea Studied in Rats
THURSDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- The endothelin system, a potent vasoconstrictor and promoter of vascular growth, plays a major role in the cardiovascular consequences of obstructive sleep apnea in a rat model of the condition, researchers report in the April 14 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Accelerated Care Cost-Effective After Joint Replacement
THURSDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- In patients who receive total hip and knee arthroplasty, an accelerated perioperative care and rehabilitation protocol is more cost-effective than a more standard protocol, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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Smoking May Increase Effectiveness of Heart Drug
THURSDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- Smoking at least half a pack of cigarettes a day increases the effectiveness of clopidogrel in patients who have had a heart attack, according to the results of a study published in the April 14 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Lumbar Arthrodesis Good Option for Older Patients
THURSDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- In selected older patients with degenerative disc disease, single-level posterolateral lumbar arthrodesis with an iliac crest bone graft is a beneficial treatment, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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Minimum Threshold Suggested for HIV Antiretroviral Therapy
THURSDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- In AIDS-free HIV-infected patients, a CD4 cell count of 350 should be the minimum threshold for initiation of antiretroviral therapy, according to a study published online April 9 in The Lancet.
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Sorafenib May Improve Portal Hypertension
THURSDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with advanced portal hypertension may benefit from sorafenib, researchers report in the April issue of Hepatology.
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Diverticular Perforation Up Sharply in United Kingdom
THURSDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- Diverticular perforation poses a growing threat in the United Kingdom's aging population, including an increasing incidence and high mortality rates, according to a report in the April issue of the journal Gastroenterology.
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Abdominal Obesity Predicts Death in Kidney Failure
THURSDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- Measures of abdominal obesity such as waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio are associated with a higher risk of death in patients with end-stage renal disease, according to a report in the April 14 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Chronic Drinking Increases Risk of Essential Tremor
THURSDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- High levels of daily consumption of alcohol increases the risk of subsequently developing involuntary -- or essential -- tremor, according to a study published online April 9 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
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Work Atmosphere Influences Employees' Risk of Depression
THURSDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- People who work in environments with a poor team climate are more likely to be diagnosed with depression and be prescribed antidepressants compared to their counterparts in a healthier workplace environment, according to study findings published online April 9 in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
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Reduced Tube Voltage Linked to Less Radiation Exposure
THURSDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- Lower tube voltage was linked to reduced radiation exposure in patients undergoing coronary dual-source computed tomography (CT) angiography, according to research published in the April issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.
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No Role of Antibody in Arthritis Heritability
THURSDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- The presence of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, which are highly predictive of the disease course, does not have a role in the heritability of the disease, according to research published in the April issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
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Gastric Drug Does Not Improve Asthma Control
WEDNESDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Treating asymptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease with a proton-pump inhibitor in patients with poorly controlled asthma does not improve asthma control, researchers report in the April 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Brown Fat Present and Active in Adults
WEDNESDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Brown adipose tissue, whose function in small mammals is to maintain body temperature, is present in adult humans and becomes more active after mild cold exposure, suggesting that it could be targeted to modulate energy expenditure, according to three studies published in the April 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Tax on Sugared Drinks Can Help Tackle Obesity Epidemic
WEDNESDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- A penny-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages would result in a more than 10 percent reduction in consumption, and as such would be a significant contributor to the fight against obesity in America, according to an article published online April 8 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Two Industrial Chemicals Not Implicated in Risk of Cancers
WEDNESDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- In the general population, plasma concentrations of perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctanesulfonate do not seem to be linked to the risk of several types of cancers, according to research published in the April 15 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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Treatment May Be Helpful at Various Stages of Cirrhosis
WEDNESDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with primary biliary cirrhosis may have a better long-term outlook if ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment normalizes their abnormal bilirubin or albumin concentrations, according to research published in the April issue of Gastroenterology.
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Lifestyle Changes Key to Cutting Colorectal Cancer in UK
WEDNESDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Improved diet, exercise and reduced alcohol consumption could substantially reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer in the United Kingdom by 2024, according to a report released online Feb. 20 in advance of publication in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention.
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Insulin Resistance Linked to Fat and Amino Acid Breakdown
WEDNESDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Obese individuals differ from lean individuals in the breakdown of certain amino acids, which can lead to insulin resistance in the context of a high-fat diet, researchers report in the April 8 issue of Cell Metabolism.
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Body Fat, Heart Failure Association Declines With Age
WEDNESDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Overall and abdominal fat were linked to hospitalization or death due to heart failure in middle aged and older individuals, though the association lessened with age, according to research published online April 7 in Circulation: Heart Failure.
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Results Not Yet Seen for Mexico's Insurance for the Poor
WEDNESDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Mexico's Seguro Popular, which aims to help 50 million uninsured Mexicans get access to health insurance, preventive medical care, treatment, drugs and health facilities is not yet showing concrete results other than reaching its target population, according to an article published online April 8 in The Lancet.
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Oral Contraceptive Use May Increase Risk of Lupus
WEDNESDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Using combined oral contraceptives increases the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus, particularly when starting to use the drug, according to research published in the April 15 issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
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Personality Traits May Be Key to Longevity
WEDNESDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- The offspring of centenarians, who tend to have more successful aging, also exhibit higher than average scores on personality tests for positive personality traits, according to the results of a study published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Exercise Modestly Benefits Patients With Heart Failure
TUESDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with heart failure have modest reductions in mortality and hospitalization, as well as improvements in self-reported health status, after implementation of an aerobic exercise program, according to two studies published in the April 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract - O'Connor
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Behavioral Therapy Improves Anxiety Symptoms in Elderly
TUESDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is better than enhanced usual care in improving symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder in older patients in primary care, according to a report in the April 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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New Cerebrovascular Intervention Statement Issued
TUESDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- In response to the rapid pace of technological development in the field of intracranial endovascular cerebrovascular interventions, the American Heart Association has released guidelines on performance of such procedures to treat a range of cerebrovascular disorders. The indications were laid out in a statement published online April 6 in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
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Combination Pharmacotherapy Helps Ill Smokers Quit
TUESDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- Smokers with medical conditions are significantly more likely to become abstinent with flexibly dosed triple combination pharmacotherapy than with standard-duration nicotine patch therapy. In addition, smokers on pharmacotherapy who are intensively managed may be more likely to quit, according to two studies published in the April 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Abstract - Steinberg
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Abstract - Ellerbeck
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LDL Cholesterol Subfraction Testing of Limited Value
TUESDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- Measures of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subfractions -- such as small dense LDL particles, medium LDL particles or large LDL particles -- do not add incremental benefit to traditional risk factor assessment for cardiovascular disease, according to a report published in the April 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Healthy Seniors Likely to Forgo Colorectal Screening
TUESDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- Among older veterans, colorectal cancer screening rates are low among those without comorbidities, suggesting that many healthy older patients with substantial life expectancies are not being screened, according to study findings published in the April 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Cognitive Behavior Therapy Combats Post-Surgery Blues
TUESDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- Patients who develop depression after undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery can be successfully treated with cognitive behavior therapy, according to an article published in the April issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
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Boyhood Psychiatric Issues Predict Later Suicide Attempts
TUESDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- Boys who show signs of psychiatric problems at the age of 8 years are at higher risk of suicide or attempted suicide later in life compared with their mentally healthy counterparts, but female suicidality cannot be predicted in childhood, according to study findings published in the April issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
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Compassion Fatigue in Cancer Care Poorly Understood
TUESDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- Compassion fatigue is a familiar problem for cancer care professionals, yet compassion fatigue is vaguely defined, its effects are not clearly understood and its management is inadequately addressed, researchers report in the March issue of the Journal of Health Psychology.
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Obesity Linked to Higher Risk of Restless Legs Syndrome
TUESDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- Obesity may put individuals at higher risk of developing restless legs syndrome, according to research published in the April 7 issue of Neurology.
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Broccoli Sprouts Show Effects Against Helicobacter pylori
TUESDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- Consumption of broccoli sprouts may reduce gastric inflammation in individuals with H. pylori infection, according to research published in the April Cancer Prevention Research.
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Cholesterol Level Linked to Death After Coronary Intervention
TUESDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were associated with higher one-year mortality in patients following percutaneous coronary intervention, according to research published in the April 1 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
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Erythropoietin Improves Functioning in Kidney Disease
MONDAY, April 6 (HealthDay News) -- Treatment to increase hemoglobin levels in kidney disease patients with severe anemia can improve cardiac function and quality of life, according to two studies reported in the April 1 issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Abstract - Parfrey
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Bleeding Linked to Cardiovascular Events After PCI
MONDAY, April 6 (HealthDay News) -- Bleeding complications associated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may raise the risk of adverse outcomes in patients, according to research published in the April 1 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
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Economic Status a Prime Factor in Sleep Device Rejection
MONDAY, April 6 (HealthDay News) -- Socioeconomic status is a leading factor in the rejection of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in adults with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, according to a report in the April 1 issue of Sleep.
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Men With Heart Disease Less Likely to Find Full-Time Work
MONDAY, April 6 (HealthDay News) -- Males who have had surgery for congenital heart disease are more likely than males in the general population to find a part-time job or minor employment than a full-time job, according to a study published online February 5 in Congenital Heart Disease.
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Caffeine Reduces Leg Pain During Heavy Exercise
MONDAY, April 6 (HealthDay News) -- A moderate dose of caffeine moderately reduces leg muscle pain during high-intensity exercise even in men who habitually drink high levels of caffeine, researchers report in the April issue of the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism.
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More Effective Hepatitis Drugs Needed, Math Model Predicts
MONDAY, April 6 (HealthDay News) -- A new mathematical model indicates that more efficacious drugs are needed to overcome severe hepatitis infection and trigger a sustained-virologic response (SVR), especially for those with cirrhosis, according to a report in the April issue of the journal Gastroenterology.
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Cutting Out Soda Helps Weight Loss Efforts
MONDAY, April 6 (HealthDay News) -- Limiting consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks helps with weight loss, according to a study published online April 1 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, while another study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that obese people are at higher risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease if they consume drinks sweetened with fructose rather than glucose.
Abstract -- Chen
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Abstract -- Teff
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Binge Drinking Causes Half of Alcohol-Related Deaths
MONDAY, April 6 (HealthDay News) -- Binge drinking caused an estimated 43,731 (54.9 percent) of the 79,646 alcohol-related deaths each year from 2001 to 2005 in the United States, and is more common among men than women, with whites aged 18 to 34 those most likely to drink in this way, according to a report published in the April 3 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Exercise Improves Academic Performance in Children
MONDAY, April 6 (HealthDay News) -- Short periods of moderate exercise such as walking improve attention and academic performance in pre-adolescent children, researchers report in the March 31 issue of Neuroscience.
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Complications Linked to Laser Skin Resurfacing
MONDAY, April 6 (HealthDay News) -- Severe dermatologic complications can develop in patients who undergo fractional CO2 laser resurfacing, according to a study published online March 16 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
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Cardiac Cells Renew Throughout Life in Humans
FRIDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- Cardiac muscle cells continue to renew after birth and throughout life in humans, according to a study in the April 3 issue of Science. In a related study in the April 3 issue of Cell Stem Cell, inhibition of DPP-IV combined with treatment with granulocyte colony stimulating factor increases the recruitment of stem cells to the heart, increases the formation of new blood vessels, and improves survival and cardiac function in mice surgically induced to have a myocardial infarction.
Abstract - Bergmann
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Abstract - Zaruba
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Nicotine Replacement Can Help Smokers Quit Gradually
FRIDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- Smokers who are unwilling or unable to quit abruptly may still find nicotine replacement therapy useful as a means to gradually stop smoking, according to a study published online April 2 in BMJ.
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Intensive Dialysis Restores Renal Function in Myeloma
FRIDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- An intensive dialysis regimen can restore renal function in patients with multiple myeloma-induced cast nephropathy, but only when there is effective concurrent chemotherapy, according to research published in the April 1 issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Modification of Huntington's Protein Reverses Degeneration
FRIDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- Chemical modification of the mutant protein that accumulates in neurons in patients with Huntington's disease leads to clearance of the protein and reversal of neurodegeneration, researchers report in the April 3 issue of Cell.
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Inhaled and Oral Corticosteroid Link to Cataracts Examined
FRIDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals who use both inhaled and oral corticosteroids may face increased long-term risks of posterior subcapsular (PSC) cataracts and nuclear cataracts, according to research published in the April issue of Ophthalmology.
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Catheter-Based Therapies May Benefit Stroke Patients
FRIDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- In some patients who aren't candidates for intravenous thrombolysis, catheter-based therapy (CBT) provides an optional treatment for acute ischemic stroke, according to research published in the April 1 issue of Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions.
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Light-Sensitive Drug Delivery Under Development
FRIDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- Light-sensitive intelligent materials that can selectively deliver drugs to appropriate sites or in response to changes in the body have been developed but still need improvement, according to a review published online Feb. 13 in Photochemistry and Photobiology.
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Grapefruit Breakfast Shares Blame in Leg Thrombosis
FRIDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- A defective gene, a long car ride, a daily contraceptive dose and grapefruit for breakfast added up to a limb-threatening medical emergency for a woman in a case reported in the April 4 issue of The Lancet.
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Marijuana Active Ingredient Stimulates Cancer Cell Death
FRIDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- Treatment with the active ingredient of marijuana, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can destroy human and mouse cancer cells by stimulating autophagy, the natural process leading to cell death, according to a report in the April 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
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Rare Pregnancy Blood Disorders Can Elude Diagnosis
FRIDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- Clinicians need to be alert for the telltale signs of two rare but potentially lethal blood disorders that strike pregnant women, according to a report in the April issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Moxifloxacin May Accelerate Tuberculosis Cure by Months
FRIDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- The standard first-line tuberculosis treatment regimen enhanced with the fluoroquinolone moxifloxacin can cure the disease three times faster than standard treatment alone, researchers report in the April 4 issue of The Lancet.
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Physician Roles Unclear in Cancer Survivor Care
FRIDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- Cancer survivors, their oncologists and primary care physicians (PCPs) have divergent views of their respective roles in follow-up cancer screening and general health care, potentially leading to gaps or overlaps in care, according to a report published online March 30 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Social Deprivation Impairs Cardiac Surgery Prognosis
FRIDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- Potentially modifiable risk factors that are associated with social deprivation -- such as smoking, extremely high or low body mass index, and diabetes -- adversely affect the outcome of cardiac surgery, according to a report published online April 2 in BMJ.
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Concurrent Radiation, Chemo Tolerated After Lumpectomy
THURSDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- For women who have undergone lumpectomy, partial breast irradiation (PBI) and chemotherapy can be used concurrently without producing intolerable toxicities, according to a report published online March 30 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Timing of Adverse Outcomes After Stenting Identified
THURSDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) stenosis are at highest risk of death or heart attack from one to six months after stenting if they are taking dual antiplatelet therapy and within three months of stopping clopidogrel treatment, with the highest risk being during the first month after stenting, according to a study in the April 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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New Guidelines Published for Managing Hypoglycemia
THURSDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- Hypoglycemia should only be evaluated and managed in patients with documented hypoglycemia, and hypoglycemia in the absence of diabetes should be investigated for the root causes, according to guidelines published in the March issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
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Young Vegetarians Eat Better But Have More Disorders
THURSDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- Young adult and adolescent vegetarians tend to eat more fruit and vegetables than their non-vegetarian counterparts and are at lower risk of obesity, but they are also more prone to unhealthy weight control activities and binge eating, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
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Early Antiretroviral Therapy Benefits HIV-Positive Patients
THURSDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- In asymptomatic HIV-positive patients, early initiation of antiretroviral therapy significantly improves survival compared to deferred initiation, according to a report published online April 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Birth Weight Associated With Leukocyte Count in Adults
THURSDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- Adult levels of leukocytes -- the primary cells behind the inflammation that is associated with chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes -- vary according to weight at birth, according to study findings published online March 10 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
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Three Popular Diets Studied for Effects on Lipid Profile
THURSDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- The maintenance phases of the South Beach and Ornish diets reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, whereas levels are increased by the maintenance phase of the Atkins diet, according to research published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
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Exercise Program Appears Helpful in Migraine Patients
THURSDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- Though migraine patients frequently cite exercise as a migraine trigger, a cycling-based exercise program improved the exercise capacity of migraineurs without a reported increase in migraines, according to research published in the April issue of Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain.
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Biomarker Predicts Outcomes in Pulmonary Hypertension
THURSDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- High blood levels of a marker of inflammation and tissue damage, C-reactive protein (CRP), are associated with disease severity and survival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), according to a report in the April 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Electronic Prescribing Online-Learning Tools Launched
THURSDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. physicians will be able to better evaluate electronic prescribing systems thanks to a new online learning center on ePrescribing launched April 1 by the American Medical Association.
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Survey Looks at Smokers and Health Care Providers
THURSDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- A considerable number of smokers have never discussed smoking with a health care provider, according to the results of a survey from the American Legacy Foundation that was released on April 1.
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Estrogen Levels Mediated By Placenta May Signal Labor
THURSDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- A shift in the ratio of estradiol and estriol mediated by a hormone produced in the placenta may be the factor that signals the onset of labor, according to a study published online March 3 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
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Cetuximab Plus Drug Combo Slows Colorectal Cancer
WEDNESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- Adding cetuximab to the combination treatment of fluorouracil and leucovorin (FOLFIRI) for the first-line treatment of metastasized colorectal cancer can retard disease progression, according to a report in the April 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Rampant Rehospitalization Costs Medicare Big Bucks
WEDNESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- Medicare fee-for-service patients in 2003-2004 were frequently rehospitalized, often within 30 days of initial discharge, at an estimated cost of $17.4 billion nationally in 2004, according to a report in the April 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Stem Cells Show Potential in Researching Deafness
WEDNESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- The use of human fetal auditory stem cells (hFASCs) could serve as the basis for the development of cell-based therapies to treat deafness, according to research published online March 23 in Stem Cells Express.
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Changes Needed in New-Drug Evaluation Process
WEDNESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- The evaluation process for new drugs is overdue for an overhaul, which could provide benefits for the public and the pharmaceutical industry, according to a point-counterpoint commentary published online March 31 in BMJ.
Abstract - Garattini
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Abstract - Tremblay
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Adult Spinal Stem Cells Reverse Paralysis in Rats
WEDNESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- Spinal stem cells taken from adult rats with an injured spinal cord are effective at differentiating into oligodendrocytes and motor neurons and can reverse paralysis when transplanted into rats with a spinal cord injury, according to a study published in the March issue of Stem Cells.
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Oxycodone Effective for Herpes Zoster Pain Relief
WEDNESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with herpes zoster, controlled-release oxycodone effectively relieves pain and is generally well-tolerated, according to a study published in the April issue of Pain.
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Computerized System Reduces Growth of Medical Imaging
WEDNESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- Implementing a computerized order entry and decision support system reduces the growth rate in the usage of outpatient advanced imaging, researchers report in the April issue of Radiology.
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New Health Program Leads to Questions in the UK
WEDNESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- A new British program to improve patient choices and competition in the health care marketplace may lead to excess capacity in some areas and instability in others, according to a commentary published online March 31 in BMJ.
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Radiation Exposure Linked to Increased Cancer Risk
WEDNESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- The cancer risk from computed tomographic (CT) scanning increases incrementally with repeated scans and should be part of the risk-benefit consideration for each patient, according to a report in the April issue of Radiology.
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Pain Reliever Warnings Not Prominent or Conspicuous
WEDNESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- Warnings on over-the-counter pain relievers are often not looked at or recalled and are often not legible compared with other elements of the label, according to a report published online March 30 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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