Medscape Medical News Headlines

Off-Pump CABG Shows No Benefit Over On-Pump Approach: ROOBY Study

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 18:01:01 EST

A 2203-patient randomized trial of off-pump vs on-pump CABG surgery found no differences in neuropsychological outcomes and worse overall outcomes for the off-pump group at one-year follow-up.
Heartwire

Adding Fuel to the J-Curve Fire; Debate Is Reignited

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST

More discussion about the J-curve in hypertension is published this week; one expert believes the undue attention being paid to this subject might discourage doctors from treating high blood pressure aggressively.
Heartwire

VELETI in Print: Plaque Sealing of SVGs a Strategy "Ahead of Its Time"?

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST

The imaging study was the first to show that stenting a non-flow-limiting stenosis of an SVG may help slow or halt the accelerated atherosclerosis that takes place in these vessels. An accompanying editorial cautions that the study does little more than "infer a trend toward anatomic benefit."
Heartwire

Another in-Hospital CV Risk Marker: 24-Hour Shifts With Overnight On-Call Duty

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST

Long work shifts with nighttime on-call duty, with the inevitable interruptions of sleep, are associated with ECG, blood-pressure, and biochemical changes associated with increased cardiovascular risk, suggests a randomized crossover study that hints at a sustained effect on the risk markers if the 24-hour shifts happen too frequently.
Heartwire

First-Ever Evidence-Based Guidelines on Treatment of Brain Metastases

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 16:45:25 EST

The first-ever set of evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of brain metastases is about to be published
Medscape Medical News

Educating CKD Patient's Family Encourages Kidney Donation

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 14:57:19 EST

Informal gatherings where social workers and nurse clinicians chat with friends and relatives of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) promote kidney donation.
Medscape Medical News

Recommended Childhood Vaccines Safe for Children With Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 14:31:10 EST

A preliminary study found no evidence of serious adverse events, including autism, in children with inborn errors of metabolism who received recommended childhood immunizations.
Medscape Medical News

Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter Infections Remain Prevalent In and Out of Hospital

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 13:50:21 EST

Infection control practices reduced the rate of multidrug resistant Acinetobacter in an intensive care unit and should be implemented in patients at risk for community-onset infections.
Medscape Medical News

Low Vitamin D Linked to High Risk for Kidney Disease in African-Americans

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 13:13:31 EST

African Americans with low serum vitamin D levels are at nearly triple the risk for end-stage renal disease than whites with normal levels of vitamin D.
Medscape Medical News

For Inoperable Early Lung Cancer, "First Significant Change in 50 Years"

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 12:27:06 EST

Stereotactic body radiation therapy provided a high rate of local control of smaller peripheral lung cancers in patients with inoperable disease.
Medscape Medical News

FDA Safety Changes: DepoDur, Neoral, Lexiva

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 12:14:25 EST

The FDA has approved safety labeling revisions for morphine sulfate extended-release liposome injection, cyclosporine capsules and oral solution, and fosamprenavir calcium tablets and oral suspension.
Medscape Medical News

Three-Day Course of Antibiotics May Be Effective After Pediatric Tonsillectomy

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 12:08:54 EST

In a small, randomized trial, a 3-day course of antibiotics was as effective as a 7-day course in terms of postoperative analgesic use and resumption of normal diet and activity.
Medscape Medical News

Preemies Raise U.S. Infant Mortality Rate

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 12:00:19 EST

A high percentage of premature births are contributing to the nation's high infant mortality rate.
WebMD Health News

Psychiatric Training in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders "Inadequate"

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 11:55:12 EST

Training in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders is inadequate, and a significant proportion of psychiatric trainees believe drinking during the third trimester of pregnancy is safe.
Medscape Medical News

High Fructose Intake Correlated With High Blood Pressure

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 11:45:06 EST

Consumption of 74 grams of fructose (2.5 cans of soda) is correlated with an increased systolic blood pressure; the relation between fructose intake and blood pressure appears to be linear.
Medscape Medical News

Pain Specialists Push for Funding of National Prescription Monitoring Program

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 11:42:35 EST

The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians continues to look for the funding already approved, in theory at least, for a national electronic prescription monitoring program.
Medscape Medical News

Steroid Abuse Among Bodybuilders Linked to Kidney Damage

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 11:11:00 EST

Anabolic androgenic steroid use has a toxic effect on the kidneys, resulting in proteinuria, biopsy-confirmed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, glomerulomegaly, or even full nephrotic syndrome.
Medscape Medical News

Many Common Loci Associated With Early- and Adult-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 10:42:12 EST

Colonic expression of interleukin-27 is lower in patients with Crohn's disease than in normal control subjects.
Medscape Medical News

Family Health History May Not Improve Clinical Decision Making

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 10:34:33 EST

An NIH conference found insufficient evidence that family health history improves clinical decision making, with many questions about its role in risk prediction and chronic disease management.
Medscape Medical News

Two Multivitamin Preparations Ineffective for Biliary Atresia

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 10:04:16 EST

Commonly used multivitamin supplements containing fat-soluble vitamins fail to prevent fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies.
Medscape Medical News