Medscape Today Headlines

Cancer Patients May Fare Better Under Obama Plan, Many Experts Believe

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:53:00 EDT

Continuing its coverage of how the impending US election might affect cancer care, Medscape Oncology reports that many experts believe that the proposals for healthcare reform laid out by the Democrats will be kinder to cancer patients.
Medscape Medical News

Daily Vitamin K May Not Reduce Age-Related Decline in Bone Mineral Density

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EDT

In postmenopausal women with osteopenia, daily vitamin K supplementation was not effective in reducing age-related decline in bone mineral density but seemed to protect against fractures and cancers.
Medscape Medical News

FDA Safety Changes: Diovan HCT, Primaquine, Lopressor/Lopressor HCT

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EDT

The FDA has approved revisions to the safety labeling for valsartan plus hydrochlorothiazide tablets (Diovan HCT), primaquine phosphate tablets, and metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor and Lopressor HCT).
Medscape Medical News

Antimuscarinic Drug Found Effective for Nonneurogenic Overactive Bladder in Children

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EDT

In a new study, propiverine, an antimuscarinic drug used in Europe, has been shown to be efficacious and well tolerated in children with nonneurogenic overactive bladder and urinary incontinence.
Medscape Medical News

Smoking Cessation Must Not Be an Afterthought, New Studies Say

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EDT

Two new studies suggest that smoking cessation advice within hospitals needs more structure. A related article finds that smoking in midlife shortens life expectancy and quality of that life.
Medscape Medical News

Very-Low-Calorie Diet Before Bariatric Surgery Reduces Risk in Superobese Patients

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EDT

In superobese patients undergoing bariatric surgery, the outcomes of comorbidities and surgical technique improve with a preoperative very-low-calorie diet weight loss regimen.
Medscape Medical News

Smoking Multiplies Risk for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair or Rupture in Women

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EDT

A study shows that abdominal aortic aneurysm repair or rupture is 4 times more likely to occur in women who smoke vs women who have quit smoking and 8 times more likely vs women who have never smoked.
Medscape Medical News

US Ranks in Lowest Third for Infant Mortality

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:24:00 EDT

The U.S. ties Slovakia and Poland for the 29th place in infant deaths.
WebMD Health News

School-Based Physical Activity Interventions Ineffective for Childhood Obesity

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:46:22 EDT

However, experts say that results of the new meta-analysis should not be taken out of context.
Medscape Medical News

Genetic Test May Help Assess Autism Risk in Siblings of Affected Children

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:02:00 EDT

A multigene risk-assessment test for autism in families that already have an affected first child may help to predict the risk of the disorder in siblings, but some pediatricians have concerns about its specificity and sensitivity.
Medscape Medical News

American Academy of Pediatrics Updates Guidelines for Vitamin D Intake

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EDT

Updated guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend 400 IU per day of vitamin D intake for all infants, children, and adolescents to prevent rickets and vitamin D deficiency.
Medscape Medical News

New Rofecoxib Data Will Help Inform Treatment Decisions With Other Coxibs, NSAIDs

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EDT

New results from the extended follow-up of a rofecoxib trial provide a more complete assessment of the cardiovascular toxicity of the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor than previously reported.
Medscape Medical News

Probiotics May Not Be Effective for Eczema in Children

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EDT

A review shows that probiotics may not be an effective treatment of eczema in children and may slightly increase the risk for adverse effects.
Medscape Medical News

Pediatric Guidelines Updated for Influenza Vaccination in 2008-2009 Season

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EDT

The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued updated guidelines for routine use of influenza vaccine in children and adolescents in the 2008-2009 influenza season.
Medscape Medical News

Pulse Oximetry in the Screening of Congenital Heart Disease: Easy to Perform, Cost-Effective, Low False-Positive Rates

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:57:00 EDT

Pulse oximetry, a screening tool for the detection of congenital heart disease in neonates, is most likely to be valuable outside the tertiary-care environment where other methods of detecting congenital heart disease in asymptomatic newborns may not be as robust, the authors of a new study conclude.
Medscape Medical News

Good and Bad News on Hypertension in US

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:24:00 EDT

A new report shows that more US adults have hypertension than ever before, and the increase is primarily due to the rising rates of obesity in recent times, say the NHLBI researchers. However, awareness, treatment, and control of blood pressure have also improved. Nevertheless, much work remains, specifically with certain subgroups, they say.
Heartwire

Colesevelam May Improve Glycemic and Lipid Parameters in Type 2 Diabetes

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EDT

A randomized controlled trial shows that colesevelam improves glycemic and lipid parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin-based therapy.
Medscape Medical News

Low Antioxidant Levels, Blue-Light Sun Exposure May Be Linked With Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EDT

A study shows that the combination of low plasma levels of antioxidants and blue light exposure from the sun is associated with certain forms of age-related macular degeneration.
Medscape Medical News

Screening Tool for Hepatitis C Virus Risk May Guide Serologic Screening

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EDT

In a prospective study, a screening tool for hepatitis C virus effectively identified patients at high risk for the infection who may benefit from serologic screening.
Medscape Medical News

Management of Multiple Myeloma Reviewed

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EDT

A review provides recommendations for diagnosing and treating multiple myeloma, typically with chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation if possible.
Medscape Medical News