October 2010 Briefing - Internal Medicine

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Internal Medicine for October 2010. 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.

FDA: Methotrexate Injection Vials Recalled

FRIDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Sandoz have notified health care professionals of a voluntary recall of 24 lots of methotrexate injection (50 mg/2 mL and 250 mg/10 mL vials) due to the presence of small glass particulates in a limited number of vials in four lots.

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BPA Exposure Associated With Poorer Semen Quality

FRIDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to bisphenol-A (BPA) -- a component of many consumer products, including plastic containers and liners of food and beverage cans -- may have an adverse effect on semen quality, according to research published online Oct. 29 in Fertility and Sterility.

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Pneumonia Vaccination Rate Has Increased in Older Adults

FRIDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- The number of elderly Americans who get vaccinated against pneumonia has increased, but the proportion is still less than 60 percent, and disparities exist among ethnic and racial groups, according to the 2009 National Healthcare Disparities Report, published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

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Many Factors Found to Predict Hospital Readmission

FRIDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- In addition to having a chronic disease, many factors, including race, type of payer, depressive symptoms, and even body mass index (BMI), increase the risk of hospital readmission, according to research published online Oct. 12 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

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Sodium Intake in U.S. Adults Not Seen to Fall Over Time

FRIDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Based on data dating back to the 1950s, sodium intake among adults in the United States appears to exceed recommended intakes, with no evident decrease over time, according to research published in the November issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

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NFL Management of Concussion More Conservative Since 2002

FRIDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- The most recent six years of National Football League (NFL) concussion data, published online Oct. 1 in Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach, shows only a slight decline in the incidence of concussions but documents more conservative management by team doctors in their return-to-play recommendations.

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Green Tea Does Not Prevent Breast Cancer

FRIDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Although animal and in vitro studies have shown green tea to be protective against breast cancer, a large prospective trial in Japan has found no such benefit; the findings have been published online Oct. 28 in Breast Cancer Research.

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CDC: Whooping Cough Vaccine Recommended for Elderly

THURSDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended that adults aged 65 years and older who are in close contact with infants be vaccinated against whooping cough.

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Removing Deductible Affects Use of Preventive Screenings

THURSDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Among healthy individuals, the use of first-dollar coverage -- also known as zero-deductible coverage -- may modestly improve utilization of preventive services, especially in people in low-deductible plans, according to research published online Oct. 28 in Health Services Research.

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Imaging IDs Insulin Sensitivity Improvement Factors

THURSDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Assessing adipose body compartments with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and spectroscopy, researchers have identified factors predictive of improved insulin sensitivity in patients undergoing a lifestyle intervention program; their findings have been published in the November issue of Radiology.

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For Coronary Patients, H2RA Plus Clopidogrel Spikes Risk

THURSDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) -- The concomitant use of a histamine2-receptor antagonist (H2RA) and clopidogrel for patients with prior acute coronary syndrome (ACS) more than doubles the risk of rehospitalization or death compared to treatment with clopidogrel only, according to research published in the October issue of Gastroenterology.

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n-3 Fatty Acids May Protect Against Periodontitis

THURSDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as those found in fish oils, may be effective for preventing and treating periodontitis, according to research published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

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Radiation-Induced Cancers Still a Threat in Middle Age

THURSDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) -- While standard models and epidemiological data have suggested that radiation-related cancer risks are higher in children and decrease with increasing age at exposure, mathematical models do not support this for all cancer types, according to research published online Oct. 25 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

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Crizotinib Found to Inhibit Lung Tumor Growth

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Crizotinib, a small-molecule inhibitor of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), appears to be effective in reducing or stabilizing lung tumors with ALK rearrangement, according to research published in the Oct. 28 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Air Pollution Associated With Diabetes Prevalence

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Increasing exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution may be one factor explaining the dramatic rise in diabetes prevalence over the past few decades, according to research published in the October issue of Diabetes Care.

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Guideline for Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents Updated

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) -- A joint committee of the American Society of Hematology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology has published an updated guideline for the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia. The guideline was published online Oct. 25 in both Blood and the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Red Yeast Rice Supplements Lacking Standardization

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Red yeast rice, a popular dietary supplement for reducing cholesterol, contains widely differing concentrations of monacolins, the active ingredients, by brand, and some contain a potentially toxic substance, according to research published in the Oct. 25 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

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Lifestyle Score, Decision Aid Affect Colon Cancer Prevention

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Each additional healthy lifestyle behavior can decrease colorectal cancer risk by 11 percent, according to research published online Oct. 26 in BMJ. In another article in the same issue, a decision aid to help adults with low education levels make informed colorectal cancer screening decisions appears to cause more patients to avoid the screening entirely.

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Opioid Substitution Rx Lowers Mortality Risk for Abusers

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Despite increased risk during the first two weeks, the risk of death during opioid substitution therapy is lower, overall, than the risk of death out of treatment, according to research published online Oct. 26 in BMJ.

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Electronic Tracking Ups Capture of Endoscopy Complications

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) -- An electronic tracking system picks up more outpatient endoscopic-related complications requiring an emergency department visit/hospitalization than does standard physician reporting, according to research published in the Oct. 25 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. These visits add substantially to the real cost of endoscopic procedures.

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Probe-to-Bone Best Test for Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) -- The best and most efficient test for diagnosing chronic osteomyelitis of the foot in patients with diabetes may be the probe-to-bone (PTB) test, according to research published in the October issue of Diabetes Care.

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Sepsis in Elderly Linked to Lost Cognition, Functionality

TUESDAY, Oct. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Elderly patients who are hospitalized for severe sepsis are at increased risk of substantial new cognitive impairment and diminished functionality, according to a study in the Oct. 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Smoking in Midlife Linked to Later Dementia Risk

TUESDAY, Oct. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals who smoke heavily in midlife appear to have a higher risk of dementia -- including Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia -- decades later, according to research published online Oct. 25 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

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Primary Care Trails Other Specialties in Hourly Wages

TUESDAY, Oct. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Primary care physicians have substantially lower hourly wages than other specialists, and although most physicians find Medicare reimbursement inequitable, they show little consensus on how to reform it, according to two studies published in the Oct. 25 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

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Barbershop Program Linked to Blood Pressure Benefits

TUESDAY, Oct. 26 (HealthDay News) -- A program in which barbers with predominantly African-American clients conduct blood pressure monitoring and referral may improve hypertension control among black men, according to research published online Oct. 25 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

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H1N1 Pandemic in 2010/2011 Season Unlikely

TUESDAY, Oct. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers analyzing H1N1 antibody levels after the 2009 pandemic have determined that a third wave in 2010 is unlikely, though people aged 50 to 79 may be more vulnerable; their findings, which support shifting vaccination prioritization from young people to older people, have been published online Oct. 18 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.

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HealthGrades: Lower Mortality Seen at High-Ranked Hospitals

MONDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Patients at hospitals performing better than average on a variety of procedures and diagnoses have a lower risk of mortality compared to patients at low-performing hospitals, according to research released Oct. 20 by HealthGrades.

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FDA: Fentanyl Transdermal System Patches Recalled

MONDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has notified health care professionals and patients that 18 lots of Fentanyl Transdermal System 25 mcg/hour C-II patches (Duragesic) are being voluntarily recalled. The recall was issued due to the potential for the active ingredient, fentanyl, to release faster than indicated, which can lead to adverse events among at-risk patients, including excessive sedation, respiratory depression, hypoventilation, and apnea.

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U.S. Diabetes Prevalence Expected to Skyrocket

FRIDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- By 2050, as many as one in three U.S. adults are expected to have diabetes if current trends continue, according to a new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report published Oct. 22 in Population Health Metrics.

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Infections Exert Heavy Mortality Toll in Cirrhosis

FRIDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with cirrhosis, infections are associated with a steep increase in one-year mortality risk, according to research published in the October issue of Gastroenterology.

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Low-Dose Aspirin Can Reduce Colorectal Cancer Risk

FRIDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Long-term, low-dose aspirin intake may reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) by nearly a quarter, and the risk of death from CRC by more than a third, according to research published online Oct. 22 in The Lancet.

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Bacteriuria Unrelated to Painful Bladder Syndrome Flares

FRIDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Episodes of bacteria in the urine (bacteriuria) do not seem to be related to symptoms of painful bladder syndrome (PBS) in women with interstitial cystitis (IC), according to a study in the October issue of Urology.

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Low Testosterone Linked With CVD-Related Mortality

FRIDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests a link between low testosterone levels and increased risk of death in men who have heart disease, according to a report published online Oct. 19 in Heart.

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Eye Damage Seen in Anorexia Nervosa

FRIDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Anorexia nervosa (AN) may cause serious eye damage, even without noticeable vision loss, according to research published online Oct. 19 in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

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New Guidelines for Recurrent Stroke Prevention Published

FRIDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- A joint committee representing the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association has published updated evidence-based recommendations on the prevention of ischemic stroke among survivors of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack; the statement has been published online Oct. 21 in Stroke.

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HIV Drug Invirase Gets New Label Reflecting Risk

THURSDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- New risk information has been added to the label of the HIV antiviral drug Invirase (saquinavir), notifying patients and health care professionals that the drug can have potentially life-threatening adverse effects when used in combination with another antiviral drug, according to an announcement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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Educational Campaigns May Improve Skin Cancer Screening

THURSDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Educational campaigns that include specific recommendations for who should be screened for skin cancer may improve skin cancer screening rates and increase the understanding of screening benefits, according to a study published Oct. 18 in the Archives of Dermatology.

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Ankle-Brachial Index Linked to Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

THURSDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Having a low or high ankle-brachial index (ABI) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to research published in the Oct. 26 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Most PCPs Not Following Colorectal Screening Guidelines

THURSDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Fewer than one-fifth of primary care physicians (PCPs) comply with practice guidelines for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, according to the results of a National Cancer Institute survey published online Oct. 14 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

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Magnetic Therapy Shows Lasting Benefit in Major Depression

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a noninvasive, non-drug therapy that has been shown to be successful for acute relief of depressive symptoms, appears to have durable long-term benefits as well, according to research published in the October issue of Brain Stimulation.

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Weekly INR Self-Testing Not Superior to Monthly Clinic Tests

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 20 (HealthDay News) -- In patients using warfarin, self-testing of international normalized ratio (INR) doesn't appear superior to clinic testing for reducing the risk of adverse outcomes, including major bleeding and stroke, according to research published in the Oct. 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Corticosteroids Decrease Recurrent A-Fib After Ablation

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 20 (HealthDay News) -- The short-term use of corticosteroids following atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation may safely prevent AF recurrences both immediately after pulmonary vein isolation and over longer follow-up, according to research published in the Oct. 26 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Risk of Restless Legs Found Higher in Fibromyalgia Patients

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals with fibromyalgia appear to have a substantially higher risk of restless legs syndrome (RLS), according to research published in the Oct. 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

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Less Than Half of Encephalitis Due to Infectious Diseases

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Less than one-half of encephalitis cases in England were found to be attributable to infectious diseases, with the cause of encephalitis unclear in more than one-third of patients with a poor prognosis, according to a study published online Oct. 18 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

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Cardiorespiratory Fitness Linked to Cardiac Death Risk

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Although better cardiorespiratory fitness reduces the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in middle-aged and older men, adding this risk factor to a conventional risk-prediction model only modestly improves SCD prediction, according to research published in the Oct. 26 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Spinal Fractures Spotlighted During World Osteoporosis Day

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Spinal fractures worldwide occur at an estimated rate of one every 22 seconds, and health care professionals need to be able to recognize the signs of these fractures in their patients, according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) report, The Breaking Spine.

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Titrated Oxygen Linked to Reduced Mortality in COPD

TUESDAY, Oct. 19 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the use of titrated oxygen -- compared to routine high-flow oxygen -- in the prehospital setting is associated with reduced mortality, according to research published online Oct. 19 in BMJ.

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Vitamin D Levels Lower in Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome

TUESDAY, Oct. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals with basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS), many of whom routinely protect themselves from the sun due to higher risk of skin cancer, appear to be at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency, according to research published in the October issue of the Archives of Dermatology.

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Invasive Dental Procedures May Up Vascular Event Risk

TUESDAY, Oct. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Whether due to inflammatory effects or to a brief cessation of daily aspirin or other antiplatelet therapy, invasive dental treatments appear to be associated with a transient increased risk of a vascular event, particularly in the first four weeks after surgery, according to research published in the Oct. 19 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Very Few Clinical Trials Report Composition of Placebo Drug

TUESDAY, Oct. 19 (HealthDay News) -- The composition of placebos used in clinical trials -- including pills, injectables, and other substances -- are not regulated and rarely reported, which may ultimately compromise the integrity of clinical research, according to a study in the Oct. 19 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Reciprocal Peer Support Promising for Diabetes Care

TUESDAY, Oct. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Compared to a nurse care management (NCM) system, one-to-one reciprocal peer support (RPS) results in greater improvements in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) for patients with diabetes, according to research published in the Oct. 19 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Study Seeks Factors in 'Never-Event' Medical Errors

TUESDAY, Oct. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Wrong-patient and wrong-site procedures -- which are surgical "never events" -- may be continuing at a high frequency, according to research published in the October issue of the Archives of Surgery.

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New CPR Guidelines Emphasize Chest Compression First

TUESDAY, Oct. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Lay and professional rescuers using cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to revive someone stricken by cardiac arrest should begin chest compressions first to quickly restore blood circulation, rather than risk the delay to clear the patient's airway and restart breathing, according to the "2010 American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care," published online Oct. 18 in Circulation.

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Homocysteine, B12 Associated With Alzheimer's Risk

TUESDAY, Oct. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Serum levels of homocysteine (tHcy) and holotranscobalamin (holoTC) -- the active form of vitamin B12 -- may be useful in determining the risk of, and preventing, Alzheimer's disease (AD), with higher holoTC levels being a protective factor, according to research published in the Oct. 19 issue of Neurology.

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CDC Compares Accuracy of Fever Screening Systems

MONDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Two of three infrared thermal detection systems (ITDS) tested by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reliably distinguish people with and without fever better than individual self reports, according to research published in the November issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

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FDA Approves Botox for Chronic Migraine Treatment

MONDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- On Friday, Oct. 15, 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the approval of onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injection for the prevention of headaches in adult patients with chronic migraines.

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Coronary Artery Calcium Aids Risk Classification in Elderly

FRIDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Coronary artery calcium (CAC) levels can be used to fine-tune coronary heart disease (CHD) risk assessment in elderly people with no disease symptoms, according to a study in the Oct. 19 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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FDA Issues Warnings About Unapproved "Chelation" Drugs

FRIDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has notified health care professionals and consumers that no evidence has proved that nonprescription "chelation" products actually rid the body of toxic metals and can treat a variety of serious conditions and diseases.

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Individual BP Goal May Affect Mortality for Dialysis Patients

FRIDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Among patients on hemodialysis, age, race, and diabetes status may affect the relationship between blood pressure and mortality, according to research published online Oct. 14 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

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Experimental HCV Drug Combination Shows Potential

FRIDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- An experimental oral drug combination appears to be well-tolerated and safe, showing promising antiviral activity for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in The Lancet.

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"Natural" Weight Loss Products Pose Danger

FRIDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- An examination of poisoning cases in Hong Kong linked to over-the-counter (OTC) weight loss products often advertised to contain only "natural" ingredients" revealed the products to be laced with multiple illicit ingredients with toxicities that can cause illness or even death, according to a report published online Oct. 13 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

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Rates of Recommended Tdap Vaccination Low

FRIDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Use of tetanus vaccine changed little between 1999 and 2008, and uptake of licensed tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine has been low, according to research published in the Oct. 15 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Expectations Don't Predict Recovery Time for All Injuries

FRIDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Recovery expectations appear to predict future recovery among workers filing injury claims for back pain but not for those filing claims for other musculoskeletal conditions, according to a study published in the October issue of the Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques.

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Chest-Compression-Only CPR Should Be Recommended

FRIDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Chest-compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be recommended by emergency medical services to bystanders caring for individuals experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest rather than standard CPR with mouth-to-mouth, according to research published online Oct. 15 in The Lancet.

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Bioavailable Testosterone Linked to Lower Alzheimer's Risk

THURSDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Higher levels of bioavailable testosterone may be protective against Alzheimer's disease in older men, according to research published online Aug. 6 in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

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Pattern of MRI Findings Predicts Cognitive Decline

THURSDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have more cerebral microhemorrhages and an altered iron distribution on magnetic resonance imaging compared with controls, and analysis using a support vector machine (SVM) may identify patients with MCI at higher risk of cognitive decline, according to research published online Oct. 5 in Radiology.

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Stent and CABG Patients Have Similar Mortality Risk

THURSDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent implantation have similar long-term mortality risk, but a substantially higher revascularization risk, than those who undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), according to a study published in the Oct. 19 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Diabetes Hospitalizations Rise Among Young Adults

THURSDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Hospitalizations associated with diabetes have significantly increased among young adults, in particular young women, according to a study published online Oct. 12 in the Journal of Women's Health.

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Fibromyalgia Sufferers May Benefit From Yoga Practice

THURSDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Yoga might provide an effective counterpart to pharmacotherapy in helping patients cope with and manage fibromyalgia, according to research published in the November issue of Pain.

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Sex Practices Driving Surge in HPV-Linked Oral Cancer

THURSDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Changing sexual practices, including increased oral sex, multiple sex partners, and an early start of sexual activity, are behind an epidemic of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) linked to sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV), according to an article in the November issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

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Online Screening for Cancer-Related Distress Feasible

THURSDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Online screening for distress in cancer patients is feasible and effective, according to research published online Oct. 12 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device Effective

THURSDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Implantation of a percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) can rapidly improve hemodynamic parameters in patients with severe refractory cardiogenic shock (SRCS) despite intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and vasopressor support, according to research published online Oct. 13 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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In Elderly, Algorithm Helps Reduce Number of Medications

THURSDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- A tool known as the Good Palliative-Geriatric Practice algorithm can help safely reduce the use of medications in community-dwelling elderly individuals, according to research published in the Oct. 11 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

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ANGPTL3 Mutations Tied to Lipid Disorder

THURSDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- ANGPTL3 mutations appear to be associated with extremely low plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels among individuals with familial combined hypolipidemia, which may represent a new target for the lowering of LDL cholesterol levels, according to a brief report published online Oct. 13 in The New England Journal of Medicine.

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Long-Distance Walking Ups Gray Matter Volume

THURSDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- In older adults, more physical activity is associated with greater gray matter volume years later, which in turn is linked to a lower risk of cognitive impairment, according to research published online Oct. 13 in Neurology.

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Bisphosphonate Users at Possible Risk of Thigh Fracture

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Bisphosphonates may put users at risk for atypical thigh bone fractures, according to a warning to health care providers and patients issued Oct. 13 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; the risk will be reflected in a labeling change and Medication Guide.

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IOM: Front-of-Package Nutrition Labels Need New Focus

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labeling would be most helpful to consumers if it clearly highlighted the information of greatest concern -- calories, saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium -- according to the findings of an Institute of Medicine committee review released Oct. 13.

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CDC: In U.S., Hispanics Outlive General Population

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Hispanic individuals in the United States live an average 2.5 years longer than non-Hispanic white individuals and 7.7 years longer than non-Hispanic black individuals, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report United States Life Tables by Hispanic Origin, 2006, which was released today.

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Bisphosphonates Up Risk of A-Fib in Cancer Patients

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Older cancer patients who receive intravenous bisphosphonate therapy may be at a modestly increased risk for atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), and stroke, according to research published online Oct. 12 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Prior Aspirin Use Is Marker for Recurrent MI Risk After ACS

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with a history of aspirin use who experience an incident of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are at modestly higher risk of recurrent myocardial infarction (MI), but not mortality, compared with non-prior aspirin users, according to a study in the Oct. 19 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Advanced Cancer Patients Still Getting Cancer Screenings

TUESDAY, Oct. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with advanced cancer continue to undergo common cancer screening tests that are unlikely to provide benefit because of their shortened life expectancy, according to research published in the Oct. 13 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Buprenorphine Implants Effective in Opioid Dependence

TUESDAY, Oct. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Implanted buprenorphine is an effective alternative for treatment of opioid dependency, resulting in fewer withdrawal symptoms and less treatment drop-out than placebo implants, according to research published in the Oct. 13 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.

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New White Paper Issued on Ovarian Cancer

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- The Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) has issued a comprehensive white paper -- as part the organization's professional GynecoLogic Cancer Collaborative education program -- that provides an overview of and background on the screening, diagnosis, and management of ovarian cancer. The report is published in the October issue of Gynecologic Oncology.

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New Method Shows Promise for Detecting Lung Cancer

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- The use of partial wave spectroscopic (PWS) microscopy to evaluate cells from the cheek may provide a minimally intrusive screening tool for lung cancer, according to research published online Oct. 5 in Cancer Research.

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Peripheral Artery Disease Procedures Recurrent, Costly

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Peripheral artery disease (PAD) carries a high economic burden, with many asymptomatic patients going on to experience an ischemic event requiring hospitalization and many symptomatic patients requiring one or more revascularizations and other procedures, according to research published online Oct. 12 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

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Reliability of Primary Care Surveys Assessed

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Questioning patients about their actual health care experiences rather than asking them to rate their level of satisfaction appears to provide a more reliable assessment of performance among general practices, according to a study published online Oct. 12 in BMJ.

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Meta-analysis Shows Reboxetine Likely Ineffective

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Reboxetine is likely ineffective for the treatment of major depressive disorder and associated with harmful adverse events, according to a study published online Oct. 12 in BMJ.

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Lifestyle Can Lower Breast CA Risk Despite Family History

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Following American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines for physical activity, alcohol consumption, and body weight provides similar benefits for postmenopausal women with and without a family history of later-onset breast cancer (FHLBC), according to research published online Oct. 12 in Breast Cancer Research.

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Estrogen Replacement Raises Kidney Stone Risk

TUESDAY, Oct. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Estrogen therapy appears to significantly increase the risk of kidney stone formation in healthy postmenopausal women, according to research published Oct. 11 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

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Nightly Blood Pressure Dosing Improves Outcomes

TUESDAY, Oct. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Administration of at least one blood pressure (BP) medication at night instead of upon waking appears to significantly improve BP control, decrease the prevalence of non-dipping, and reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality, according to a study published in the September issue of Chronobiology International.

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Experts Propose New Lexicon for Alzheimer's Disease

TUESDAY, Oct. 12 (HealthDay News) -- The International Working Group for New Research Criteria for the Diagnosis of AD (Alzheimer's disease) has proposed a new lexicon as a point of reference for earlier diagnosis of AD patients in a position paper published online Oct. 11 in The Lancet Neurology.

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M.D.-Pharmacist Collaboration Helps Hypertensive Patients

TUESDAY, Oct. 12 (HealthDay News) -- A collaborative effort of physicians and pharmacists appears to result in improved blood pressure (BP) control in hypertensive patients, and continued education in cessation counseling may help physicians, but perhaps not pharmacists, do a better job at helping patients quit smoking, according to two articles published Oct. 11 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

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Insulin Resistance Is Potential Marker for Ischemic Stroke

TUESDAY, Oct. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Insulin resistance (IR), as measured by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), appears to be independently associated with an increased risk of first ischemic stroke (IS) among patients without diabetes, potentially providing clinical practitioners with the ability to identify those at high risk of stroke, according to a study published online Oct. 11 in the Archives of Neurology.

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B-Vitamin Therapy May Not Be Useful

MONDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Routine supplementation with folic acid for five years has no effect on cardiovascular outcomes, cancer incidence, or mortality, according to a meta-analysis published Oct. 11 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

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Weight Benefit Seen With Motivational Interviewing

MONDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- During visits with overweight patients, using motivational interviewing techniques while discussing weight may encourage weight loss, according to research published in the October issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

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43% of Orthopedic Patients Have Low Vitamin D Level

MONDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- There is a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D within the adult orthopedic surgery population, according to research published in the Oct. 6 issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

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Physical Activity Program Tied to Significant Weight Loss

MONDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Physical activity and structured weight loss programs appear to be associated with significant weight loss among overweight and obese individuals, according to two studies published online Oct. 9 in JAMA to coincide with presentation at the 28th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Obesity Society, held Oct. 8-12 in San Diego.

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Informant-Based Tool Is Good Screen for Alzheimer's

FRIDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- A brief informant-based dementia assessment can identify Alzheimer's disease better than more traditional methods and may be a lower-cost alternative for Alzheimer's screening, according to a report published online Sept. 7 in Brain.

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Obesity Drug Pulled From U.S. Market

FRIDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Abbott Laboratories, maker of Meridia (sibutramine), agreed to voluntarily withdraw the obesity drug from the market because it might place users at increased risk of heart attack and stroke, according to an Oct. 8 announcement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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Workplace Noise Exposure Linked to Heart Conditions

FRIDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Chronic exposure to workplace noise is associated with substantially increased risk for angina pectoris, myocardial infarction (MI), coronary heart disease (CHD), and isolated diastolic hypertension, according to research published online Oct. 5 in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

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Flu Vaccination Can Prevent Future Epidemic Wave

FRIDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Influenza vaccination can mitigate the impact of additional waves in an influenza epidemic even when it appears an epidemic is subsiding, according to research published online Oct. 5 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

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Faith-Based Intervention Facilitates Lifestyle Change

FRIDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Sisters in Motion, a faith-based intervention designed to increase walking and lower blood pressure in older, sedentary African-American women appears to be effective, according to research published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

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Stress Testing Common in Years After Revascularization

FRIDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- The majority of patients undergoing coronary revascularization are likely to have a stress test in the following two years, with relatively few requiring repeat revascularization, according to research published in the Oct. 12 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Arthritis Prevalence Nearly 25 Percent in U.S. Adults

FRIDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly a quarter of U.S. adults have doctor-diagnosed arthritis and many also have arthritis-attributable activity limitation (AAAL); the prevalence of arthritis is particularly high among obese individuals, according to a report published in the Oct. 8 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Mass Media Campaigns Often Beneficially Affect Health

THURSDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Mass media campaigns geared to promote better health practices can have a beneficial impact, though their effectiveness varies, according to a review published online Oct. 7 in The Lancet.

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Many Americans Do Not Plan to Receive Flu Vaccination

THURSDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Almost all physicians plan to get vaccinated against influenza this season and most also discuss the vaccine with patients. However, more than 40 percent of Americans in general do not plan to get vaccinated this season, many of whom have misconceptions about the vaccine or the disease, according to survey results announced by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) at an Oct. 7 news conference.

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Ambulatory Physical Activity Low in U.S. Adults

THURSDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Adults in the United States appear to take part in less ambulatory physical activity than adults living in other countries, according to a study published in the October issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

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Well-Being, Cardiorespiratory Fitness Key to Survival

THURSDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Low levels of negative emotion and high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are independent predictors of long-term survival, and individuals who have both are at much lower risk of premature death, according to research published in the October issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

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Epinephrine for Anaphylaxis by Trained Individuals Endorsed

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 6 (HealthDay News) -- The Wilderness Medical Society has endorsed the administration of epinephrine to treat anaphylaxis in the field under emergency conditions by trained non-medical professionals, according to a panel statement published in the September issue of Wilderness & Environmental Health.

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Binge Drinking Common in U.S. Adults, High School Students

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Binge drinking occurs among about a quarter of high school students and adults 18 to 34 years of age and is reported by more than 33 million U.S. adults every year, and the levels do not appear to be declining, according to a report published Oct. 5 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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New Insurance Criteria May Adversely Affect Apnea Patients

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 6 (HealthDay News) -- New local coverage determination (LCD) adherence criteria for continued reimbursement of continuous positive airway pressure after 90 days among patients with obstructive sleep apnea may have a negative impact on their clinical care, according to research published in the October issue of Chest.

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Increasing Catheter Size Tied to Greater Thrombosis Risk

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Previous deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and increasing catheter size are related to an increased risk for peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)-associated DVT, according to a study in the October issue of Chest.

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CT, MRI During Injury-Related ER Visits on the Rise

TUESDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) -- The use of advanced radiographic techniques during injury-related emergency department visits has increased despite no real change in the number of life-threatening or admission-requiring diagnoses, according to research published in the Oct. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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New Method Could Improve in Vitro Fertilization Outcomes

TUESDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) -- A noninvasive imaging approach for predicting which embryos will reach the blastocyst phase could be useful in assessing the potential of embryos during assisted reproduction, according to research published online Oct. 3 in Nature Biotechnology.

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Childhood Cancer Survivors Often Forgo Screening

TUESDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Many childhood cancer survivors who are at high risk of second malignancies are not undergoing recommended screening procedures, according to a study in the Oct. 5 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Successful Fat Loss May Require Adequate Sleep

TUESDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Overweight dieters who don't get enough sleep may lose less fat and more fat-free body mass while experiencing greater hunger than those who get adequate nightly rest, according to research published in the Oct. 5 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Age at Cancer Diagnosis Similar in AIDS, General Populations

TUESDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) -- After adjustment for the lower proportion of older-age patients among the AIDS population, most cancers in this population are diagnosed at an age similar to that in the general population, according to research published in the Oct. 5 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Study Validates Noninvasive Blood Test for CAD

TUESDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) -- A new blood test measuring gene expression can modestly increase the accuracy of predicting obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients without diabetes or known CAD, according to research published in the Oct. 5 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Consensus Statement Pushes Lower BP Goals in Blacks

TUESDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) -- The updated International Society on Hypertension in Blacks (ISHIB) consensus statement on the management of hypertension in this population places a major emphasis on comprehensive assessment and appropriate risk stratification of individual patients with hypertension, according to a report published online Oct. 4 in Hypertension.

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Study Highlights U.S. Adult and Adolescent Sexual Behaviors

MONDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Initial findings from the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB), published in nine separate research articles in a special October issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine, highlight the sexual behaviors and condom use of U.S. adolescents and adults.

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Doctors' Exercise Linked to Confidence Counseling Patients

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians' exercise habits and weight are associated with their confidence in their abilities to counsel patients on exercise and diet, as is the level of training they have received in counseling techniques, according to research published in the fall issue of Preventive Cardiology.

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Impaired Kidney Function Linked to Future Stroke Risk

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- A low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is associated with later risk of stroke, and even early stages of chronic kidney disease are associated with a higher risk of subsequent coronary heart disease, according to research published Sept. 30 in BMJ.

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Nearly 10 Percent of Adults Report Depression Symptoms

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly one out of 10 American adults has symptoms of current depression, with estimates of depression varying widely between states, according to research published in the Oct. 1 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Type of Hemodialysis Access Affects Hospitalization Risk

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Long-term hemodialysis patients who switch from catheter access to either fistula or graft access are significantly less likely to be hospitalized than patients who continue with catheter access, according to a report published online Sept. 30 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

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Modest Drinking Tied to Lower Cardiac Death Risk in Women

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Lower levels of alcohol intake are associated with a significantly reduced risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) among women, according to research published in the October issue of Heart Rhythm.

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DMARDs, Glucocorticoids, Biologics Similar for RA

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), glucocorticoids, biologics, or a combination of these agents significantly reduces radiographic evidence of joint destruction, with no advantage seen for patients whose treatment includes biologics, according to research published in the October issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.

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FDA Calls for Halt on Marketing of Unapproved Colchicine

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has ordered companies manufacturing, distributing, or marketing unapproved single-ingredient oral colchicine to cease doing so.

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