Recent reports in Science and Medicine for September 2003

Some of these links are very transient and may expire within days of posting. Some may require prior registration. Check-in and view frequently to avoid missing great news items. I welcome any suggested articles. (email link). "§" indicates a faculty recommended article.

September 30

1. Editor's choice Communicating risk: the main work of doctors. Edwards BMJ   2003;327:691-692 (27 September)
2. Association between falls in elderly women and chronic diseases and drug use: cross sectional study. Lawlor, et al. BMJ   2003;327:712-717 (27 September) [Eurekalert news report]
3. British Journal of Medicine Volume 327, Number 7417, Issue of 27 Sep 2003
   • Individualised risk communication increases screening but not informed choice
   • Public perceptions do not equate to risks, but reflect controversies
   • Do you ever mix up sensitivity and specificity?
   • Midazolam calms agitation faster than haloperidolpromethazine
4. Depression in Association With Severe Obesity: Changes With Weight Loss Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:2058-2065. [Medscape report]

September 29

This Week in JAMA 2003;290:1549.

1. Evaluation of Prolonged Antithrombotic Pretreatment ("Cooling-Off" Strategy) Before Intervention in Patients With Unstable Coronary Syndromes: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Neumann, et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1593-1599.
2. Ability of Exercise Testing to Predict Cardiovascular and All-Cause Death in Asymptomatic Women: A 20-Year Follow-up of the Lipid Research Clinics Prevalence Study. Mora, et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1600-1607. (See also Sept 30 Circulation and Medscape news report)
3. Educational Levels of Hospital Nurses and Surgical Patient Mortality. Aiken, et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1617-1623.
4. Practical Clinical Trials: Increasing the Value of Clinical Research for Decision Making in Clinical and Health Policy. Tunis;et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1624-1632.
5. Also:
• Health Status of Adult Long-term Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Report From the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. JAMA. 2003;290:1583-1592
• Effectiveness of Inactivated Influenza Vaccine in Preventing Acute Otitis Media in Young Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial JAMA. 2003;290:1608-1616.
• EDITORIALS: Health Status of Childhood Cancer Survivors: Cure Is More Than the Eradication of Cancer JAMA. 2003;290:1641-1643.

September 26

1. L-type Ca 2+ channels provide a major pathway for iron entry into cardiomyocytes in iron-overload cardiomyopathy. Oudit GY, et al. Nature Medicine 2003; Published online: 24 August 2003, doi:10.1038/nm920   pp 1187 - 1194 {Science Daily news report]
2. Hospital care quality differs markedly by state: annual HealthGrades study [Eurekalert news report from HealthGrades.com]
3. New Treatment For People Who Experience Dizziness Upon Rising [Eurekalert news report from Journal of Neurology and Neurosurgical Psychiatry -link on page]
4. Exercise Capacity and the Risk of Death in Women. The St James Women Take Heart Project Gulati M, et al. Circulation 2003: published online
5. The medical office of the 21st century (MOXXI): effectiveness of computerized decision-making support in reducing inappropriate prescribing in primary care Tamblyn R, et al. CMAJ 2003 169: 549-556.

Weekend Reading - Basic Science and general interest articles

1. AGING: It's Never Too Late Vaupel JW, et al. Science 2003; 301: 1679-1681. [Discovery news report]
2. Erythrocyte G Protein-Coupled Receptor Signaling in Malarial Infection Harrison, et al. Science Sep 19 2003: 1734-1736. [Eurekalert news report: Hormones and drugs that control blood pressure also control malaria infection ]
3. Patients on Warfarin Advised Against Drinking Cranberry Juice [Medscape news report]
4. Regular Cola Consumption Linked to Lower Bone Density in Women [Medscape news report from meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.]
5. Morning Light Therapy Augments Citalopram Treatment in Major Depression. [Medscape report from the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology meeting.]
6. UCLA scientists invent search-and-destroy method to flush HIV out of hiding places in body [Eurekalert news report]
7. Could diabetes treatments fight cancer? [Eurekalert news report; link to Journal of Biology article on newspage]
8. First Steps Towards A Vaccine For Pancreatic Cancer [Science Daily report from The European Cancer Conference]
9. Fracture Risk Associated With Long-term Diabetes [Medscape report from the meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research]
10. Can Heart Failure Impair Thinking? The American Physiological Society news report of study in the Journal of Applied Physiology (not available online). (Science Daily news)

September 25

1. Imaging HIV-1 infection .Lancet. 2003;362:945, 959-961
2. Occurrence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis among Gulf War veterans Neurology 2003 61: 742-749. [Abnormally High Number Of Lou Gehrig's Disease Cases Identified Among Gulf War Veterans Science Daily news report]
3. Disruption of the expected positive correlation between breast tumor size and lymph node status in BRCA1 -related breast carcinoma (p NA). Foulkes WD, et al. Cancer 2003; Published Online: 8 Sep
4. Biochemical Diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease by Measuring the Cerebrospinal Fluid Ratio of Phosphorylated tau Protein to -Amyloid Peptide 42 Maddalena A, et al. Arch Neurol.  2003;60:1202-1206.
5. Self reported stressful life events and exacerbations in multiple sclerosis: prospective study D Buljevac, et al BMJ 2003; 327: 646. [Eurekalert news]
6. Caloric restriction reduces age at menopause: the effect of the 1944-1945 Dutch famine Elias, et al. Menopause 2003; 10; 399-405
7. Better oral reading and short-term memory in midlife, postmenopausal women taking estrogen Shaywitz, et al. Menopause 2003; 10: 420-426
8. Cardiovascular malformations in infants of diabetic mothers. C Wren, et al. Heart 2003; 89: 1217-1220.
9. Is aortic dilatation an atherosclerosis-related process? Agmon Y, Bet al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2003;42: 1076-1083 
10. Surrogate End Point for Prostate Cancer–Specific Mortality After Radical Prostatectomy or Radiation Therapy D’Amico AV, et al. J Natl Cancer Inst 2003; 95: 1376-1383. [and editorial: Surrogate End Points for Prostate Cancer: What Is Prostate-Specific Antigen Telling Us? Sandler and DeSilvio J Natl Cancer Inst 2003; 95: 1352-1353.]
11. Eurekalert news report: Uninsured face higher death risk from aorta problems from Surgery, Vol. 134, No. 2, August, 2003, pp. 142-145 (not online)
12. New England Journal of Medicine early release:
    1. The Effects of Parathyroid Hormone and Alendronate Alone or in Combination in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis. Black et al.
    2. The Effects of Parathyroid Hormone, Alendronate, or Both in Men with Osteoporosis Finkelstein et al.
    3. Editorial: Parathyroid Hormone plus Alendronate -- A Combination That Does Not Add Up Khosla

September 24

In This Issue of Archives of Internal Medicine Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:1993.

1. An Update on Aspirin in the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease. Eidelman et al. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:2006-2010.
2. Pharmacists on Rounding Teams Reduce Preventable Adverse Drug Events in Hospital General Medicine Units. Kucukarslan;, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:2014-2018.
3. Maintenance Treatment Is Not Necessary After Helicobacter pylori Eradication and Healing of Bleeding Peptic Ulcer: A 5-Year Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study. Liu; et al. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:2020-2024.
4. Low Frequency of Treatment of Osteoporosis Among Postmenopausal Women Following a Fracture. Andrade, et al Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:2052-2057.
5. Also:
   • Problems in the Therapy for Imported Malaria in the United States Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:2027-2030.
   • Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Suspected Acute Pulmonary Embolism and Negative Helical Computed Tomographic Results in Whom Anticoagulation Was Withheld. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:2033-2038.
   • Prevalence and Correlates of Panic Attacks in Postmenopausal Women: Results From an Ancillary Study to the Women's Health Initiative Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:2041-2050.
   • Depression in Association With Severe Obesity: Changes With Weight Loss Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:2058-2065.
   • Clinical Identifiers of Complicated Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:2066-2072.
   • One-Day Quadruple Therapy Compared With 7-Day Triple Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Infection Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:2079-2084.

September 23

New England Journal of Medicine September 18, 2003

• Expression of Human Herpesvirus 8 in Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. C. D. Cool and Others N Engl J Med 2003; 349:1113
• Withdrawal of Mechanical Ventilation in Anticipation of Death in the Intensive Care Unit D. Cook and Others N Eng J Med 2003; 349:1123
• A Comparison of Two Intensities of Warfarin for the Prevention of Recurrent Thrombosis in Patients with the Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome M. A. Crowther and Others N Eng J Med 2003; 349:1133.
• Brief Report: Growth Hormone Insensitivity Associated with a STAT5b Mutation E. M. Kofoed and Others N Eng J Med 2003; 349: 1139
• Current Concepts: Molecular Epidemiology of Tuberculosis P. F. Barnes and M. D. Cave N Eng J Med 2003; 349: 1149
• Drug Therapy: Developmental Pharmacology — Drug Disposition, Action, and Therapy in Infants and Children G. L. Kearns and Others N Eng J Med 2003; 349:1157
• Kaposi's Sarcoma–Associated Herpesvirus — The High Cost of Viral Survival E. Cesarman N Eng J Med 2003; 349:1107
• Decisions at the End of Life J. M. Drazen N Eng J Med 2003; 349l1109
• New Revelations about the Role of STATs in Stature E. A. Eugster and O. H. Pescovitz N Eng J Med 2003; 349:1110
• Treatment of the Antiphospholipid Syndrome M. D. Lockshin and D. Erkan N Eng J Med 2003; 349:1117.

September 22

This Week in JAMA. 2003;290:1417.

1. Azithromycin for the Secondary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease Events: The WIZARD Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial O'Connor CM, et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1459-1466.
2. Suicide Risk in Bipolar Disorder During Treatment With Lithium and Divalproex Goodwin FK, et al.JAMA. 2003;290:1467-1473.
3. Effect of Magnetic vs Sham-Magnetic Insoles on Plantar Heel Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial Winemiller MH; et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1474-1478.
4. Retrospective Drug Utilization Review, Prescribing Errors, and Clinical Outcomes. Hennessy S, et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1494-1499.
5. Effect of St John's Wort on Drug Metabolism by Induction of Cytochrome P450 3A4 Enzyme. Markowitz JS, et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1500-1504.
6. SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS: Internet Marketing of Herbal Products Charles A. Morris; Jerry Avorn JAMA. 2003;290:1505-1509.
7. Update on Syphilis: Resurgence of an Old Problem Golden M, et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1510-1514.
8. EDITORIALS:
   • Antibiotic Therapy for Coronary Artery Disease: Can a WIZARD Change It All?
   • Suicide Risk and Treatments for Patients With Bipolar Disorder
   • Drugs Alias Dietary Supplements

September 19

1. Early Mobilization of Patients Hospitalized With Community-Acquired Pneumonia. Mundy LM, et al. Chest 2003 124: 883-889.
2. Quality of Life in Bed Partners of Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea or Hypopnea After Treatment With Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Parish and Lyng Chest 2003 124: 942-947.
3. Asthma and Influenza Vaccination: Findings From the 1999–2001 National Health Interview Surveys Ford ES, et al. Chest 2003 124: 783-789.

Weekend Reading - Basic Science and General Interest Articles

4. Computerized Order Entry Lowers Medication Errors in Children [Medscape news report] from The Effect of Computerized Physician Order Entry on Medication Errors and Adverse Drug Events in Pediatric Inpatients. King WJ, et al. Pediatrics 2003; 112: 506-509.
5. Effect of caffeine on perceptions of leg muscle pain during moderate intensity cycling exercise.Motl RW, et al. [Eurekalert news report from August issue of Journal of Pain]
6. What are all the things that aspirin does? Rod Flower BMJ 2003; 327: 572-573.
7. Special online Collection fom Science: The SARS Epidemic
8. Comfort-food cravings may be body’s attempt to put brake on chronic stress published this week on-line in the Early Edition of PNAS [Eurekalert news report]
9. Transcriptional Repression of Atherogenic Inflammation: Modulation by PPAR Published online September 11 2003; 10.1126/science.1087344 (Science Express Reports )
10. Resistance to Enediyne Antitumor Antibiotics by CalC Self-Sacrifice. Biggins JC, et al. Science Sep 12 2003: 1537-1541. . [ScienceDaily news report:Potent Toxin Reveals New Antibiotic Resistance Mechanism ]
11. Vestibular Exercises Helpful in Unilateral Vestibular Hypofunction [Medscape review of Archives of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery]
12. Glycosylation Restores Survival of Chilled Blood Platelets Hoffmeister, et al. Science 2003 301: 1531-1534. (subscribers) [Platelets Chilled to Order [ScienceNOW report]
13. Acid-Related Disorders, September 2003 Medscape Journal Scan Chey WD, et al.
14. Prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism during treatment for cancer: questionnaire survey C C Kirwan, et al. BMJ 2003; 327: 597-598. (Eurekalert news)
15. Molecular identification of a danger signal that alerts the immune system to dying cells. Shi Y, et al.Nature DOI:10.1038/nature01991[Uric acid speaks of danger The Scientist news report of article in Nature (text not available online: , September 7, 2003).

September 18

1. Early Release Articles in Annals of Internal Medicine:
   • Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in 267 Patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in Hong Kong
   • An Outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome among Hospital Workers in a Community Hospital in Hong Kong
   • Listening to SARS: Lessons for Infection Control
2. The Relationship among Previous Antimicrobial Use, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Treatment Outcomes for Helicobacter pylori Infections. McMahon, and others Ann Int Med 2003; 139: 463-469
3. Brief Communications: Long-Term Persistence of Resistant Enterococcus Species after Antibiotics To Eradicate Helicobacter pylori. Sjölund M, et al. Annals 2003 139: 483-487. See also the Editorial: Collateral Damage Rice Annals 2003 139: 523-524.
4. Thiazide Diuretics and the Risk for Hip Fracture. Schoofs, et al. Ann Int Med 2003;139: 476.
5. Update in Pulmonary Diseases Wallace Ann Int Med 2003:139:499-504.
6. Ultrasonographic Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms. Lederle Ann Int Med 2003; 139:516-522
7. Also from the current Annals of Internal Medicine:
   • The Rate of Progression to Polycythemia Vera or Essential Thrombocythemia in Patients with Erythrocytosis or Thrombocytosis
   • Hepatic Injury in 12 Patients Taking the Herbal Weight Loss Aids
   • Academia and Clinic  Standardized Reporting of Clinical Practice Guidelines: A Proposal from the Conference on Guideline Standardization

September 17

Archives of Internal Medicine Vol. 163 No. 16, September 8, 2003 :

1. Effects of Exercise and Weight Loss on Cardiac Risk Factors Associated With Syndrome X Watkins et al. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:1889-1895.
2. Role of Environmental Contamination as a Risk Factor for Acquisition of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in Patients Treated in a Medical Intensive Care Unit Martínez; et al. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:1905-1912.
3. Also:
   • Dietary Fiber Intake and Reduced Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in US Men and Women: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study
     Bazzano et al. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:1897-1904.
   • Thrombosis Prophylaxis in Patient Populations With a Central Venous Catheter: A Systematic Review . Klerk; Set al. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:1913-1921.
   • Lipid-Lowering Drugs and the Risk of Depression and Suicidal Behavior. Yang; et al. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:1926-1932.
   • Association of Elevated Homocysteine Levels With a Higher Risk of Recurrent Coronary Events and Mortality in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.Matetzky; et al. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:1933-1937.
   • The Ankle-Brachial Index in the Elderly and Risk of Stroke, Coronary Disease, and Death: The Framingham Study. Murabitoet al. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:1939-1942.
   • Clinical Spectrum and Prevalence of Neurologic Events Provoked by Tilt Table Testing. Passman; et al. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:1945-1948.

September 16

1. FDA Talk Paper: September 12, 2003 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the approval of Cubicin (daptomycin for injection) for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections. Cubist Pharmaceuticals
2. Disruption of the expected positive correlation between breast tumor size and lymph node status in BRCA1 -related breast carcinoma (p NA).Foulkes WD, et al.Oct. 15 issue of Cancer published early online.[Not All Breast Cancers Created Equal- [HON news news report]
3. Women who drink may be at greater risk of cardiovascular complications than men [Eurekalert news report of article in September issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research - not online].
4. DNA Repair Activity for Oxidative Damage and Risk of Lung Cancer Paz-Elizur T, et al. J Natl Cancer Inst 2003; 95: 1312-1319.
5. Brain cells found to hold key to growth of certain breast cancers Polyak et al. [Eurekalert news report from PNAS Sept 16]
6. Telltale prostate cancer protein key to breast cancer, too. Test for EZH2 protein reveals how aggressive — and deadly — breast tumors will be. Kleer et al. [Eurekalert news report from online early PNAS ]

September 15

1. New England Journal of Medicine Vol. 349
   • Effect of Intensity of Oral Anticoagulation on Stroke Severity and Mortality in Atrial Fibrillation. Hylek and Others. N Engl J Med 2003; 349:1019
   • Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction and Prognosis in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Cecchi and Others N Engl J Med 2003; 349:1027
   • Substitution of Nevirapine, Efavirenz, or Abacavir for Protease Inhibitors in Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection. Martinez and Others N Engl J Med 2003; 349:1036
   • Health, Life Expectancy, and Health Care Spending among the Elderly. Lubitz N Engl J Med 2003; 349:1048.
   • Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke Prevention. Hart N Engl J Med 2003; 349:1015.
   • Assessing Risk in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Cannon N Engl J Med 2003; 349:1016
   • Early Alzheimer's Disease. Kawas N Engl J Med 2003; 349: 1056
   • Sudden Death in Young Athletes.Maron N Engl J Med 2003: 349:1064

September 12

Weekend Reading - Basic Science and general interest articles

1. Louis C. Lasagna dies: Pathfinder in pharmacology brought rigor to the study of drug effectiveness [TheScientist news report]
2. Don't flush old medicine. Discarded drugs contaminating U.S. waterways [MSNBC news report]
3. National Women's Health Information Center [HHS website]
4. Bacterial barrier to HIV: An engineered vaginal Lactobacillus expressing a two-domain CD4 inhibits HIV infectivity September 8 early edition of PNAS: [The Scientist and New Scientist news report].
5. Subversive strep bug strategy revealed [Eurekalert news] Reference: S D Kobayashi et al. Bacterial pathogens modulate an apoptosis differentiation program in human neutrophils.September 8 early edition of PNASi DOI: 10.1073.pnas.1833375100.
6. Production of Complex Human Glycoproteins in Yeast. Stephen R. Hamilton, et al. Science 2003 301: 1171. (in News of the Week) [New Scientist summary: Modified yeast produces fully human proteins ]
7. Effectiveness of diabetes mellitus screening recommendations Dallo and Weller. PNAS 10.1073/pnas.1733839100
8. Cardiac vanilloid receptor 1-expressing afferent nerves and their role in the cardiogenic sympathetic reflex in rats Zahner MR, et al. J Physiol (Lond) 2003 551: 515-523. [Eurekalert news: Hot pepper chemical links tongue to heart ]
9. New Perspectives on the Quality of Care: Reducing Medical Errors Through Cultural Change and Clinical Transformation.Hobbs et al.[Medscape]
10. The American Academy of Pain Medicine has developed a Web-based textbook that will be available to medical students without charge beginning September 2004.[news report]

September 10

1. DNA Repair Activity for Oxidative Damage and Risk of Lung Cancer Paz-Elizur et al., JNCI 2003;95:1312-1319. and EDITORIAL
2. One-Year Outcome of a Combination of Weight Loss Therapies for Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes: A randomized trial. Redmon JB, et al. Diabetes Care 2003 26: 2505-2511. [Medscape review]
3. AHA/ASA Scientific Statements: Coronary Risk Evaluation in Patients With Transient Ischemic Attack and Ischemic Stroke: A Scientific Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the Stroke Council and the Council on Clinical Cardiology of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.. Adams RJ, et al. Circulation 2003 108: 1278 - 1290.
4. Systematic review of role of bisphosphonates on skeletal morbidity in metastatic cancer Ross Jr, et al. BMJ 2003; 327: 469.
5. Effectiveness of dynamic muscle training, relaxation training, or ordinary activity for chronic neck pain: randomised controlled trial.Viljanen M, et al BMJ 2003; 327: 475.
6. Alcohol Drinking Patterns Differentially Affect Central Adiposity as Measured by Abdominal Height in Women and Men Dorn JM, et al. J. Nutr. 2003 133: 2655-2662.
7. The utility of MRI in suspected MS: Report of the Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology Frohman EM, et al. Neurology 2003 61: 602-611. [Medscape news summary]
8. Cholesterol Reduction With Atorvastatin Improves Walking Distance in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease Mohler ER, et al. Circulation 2003: published online. [Eurekalert news]
9. Determinants of Bone Density in 30- to 65-Year-Old Women: A Co-Twin Study. Macinnis RJ, et al. .JBone Miner Res 2003;18:1650-1656 (news release: Smoking appears to be the most important lifestyle risk factor for bone loss in older women)

September 9

1. Early online publication The Lancet Vol 362
   1. CHARM trials (candesartan in chronic heart failure)
   2. The EUROPA study (perindopril in stable coronary artery disease)
   3. The ESTEEM trial (ximelagatran for secondary prophylaxis after myocardial infarction)
2. Prognostic importance of initial response in HIV-1 infected patients starting potent antiretroviral therapy: analysis of prospective studies.Lancet 2003; 362: 679-86

New England Journal of Medicine Volume 349 September 4, 2003 Number 10 

1. Chronic Renal Failure after Transplantation of a Nonrenal Organ. Ojo, et al. N Engl J Med 2003; 349:93
2. Office-Based Treatment of Opiate Addiction with a Sublingual-Tablet Formulation of Buprenorphine and Naloxone P. J. Fudala et al. N Engl J Med 2003; 349:949
3. Genomic Medicine: Genomics as a Probe for Disease Biology W. Burke N Engl J Med 2003; 349:969
4. Mechanisms of Disease: Drug Addiction J. Camí and M. Farré N Engl J Med 2003; 349:975
5. Prescription-Drug Coverage for Medicare Beneficiaries J. K. Iglehart N Engl J Med 2003; 349:923
6. Office-Based Practice and Opioid-Use Disorders H. W. Clark N Engl J Med 2003; 349: 928
7. The Growing Problem of Chronic Renal Failure after Transplantation of a Nonrenal Organ C. Magee and M. Pascual N Engl J Med 2003; 349:994
8. Welcome to the Genomic Era A. E. Guttmacher and F. S. Collins N Engl J Med 2003; 349:996

September 8

1. Management of Influenza in Adults Older than 65 Years of Age: Cost-Effectiveness of Rapid Testing and Antiviral Therapy. Rothberg, et al. Ann Int Med 2003: 139: 321-329
2. Annals of Internal Medicine, September 2, 2003 Determinants of Successful Aging: Developing an Integrated Research Agenda for the 21st Century
   • Successful Aging and the Humility of Perspective
   • The Need for an Integrated Biopsychosocial Approach to Research on Successful Aging
   • Social Capital and Successful Aging: The Role of Senior Housing
   • Psychosocial Interventions To Improve Successful Aging
   • Ten Recommendations for Advancing Patient-Centered Outcomes Measurement for Older Persons
   • Measuring and Improving the Quality of Dying and Death
   • Trajectories of Health for Older Adults Over Time: Accounting Fully for Death
   • Improving Health Care for Older Persons
   • Improving Medication Use for Older Adults: An Integrated Research Agenda
   • Using Information Technology To Improve the Health Care of Older Adults
   • Gene–Environment Interactions and the Etiology of Common Complex Disease
   • Gene–Diet Interactions in Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Disorders
   • Understanding the Determinants of Exceptional Longevity
   • Healthy Aging and Dementia: Findings from the Nun Study
   • Measuring and Monitoring Success in Compressing Morbidity
   • The Contribution of Geriatric Health Services Research to Successful Aging

Septermber 5

In the news:

• Oleylethanolamide regulates feeding and body weight through activation of the nuclear receptor PPAR-  90  Fu J, et al. Nature 2003; doi:10.1038/nature01921 [Natural Fat Compound May Be Basis For New Class Of Drugs Targeting Obesity ; ScienceDaily news report]
• Inhibition of Food Intake in Obese Subjects by Peptide YY 3–36 R. L. Batterham et al. N Engl J Med 2003; 349: 941
• To Eat or Not to Eat — How the Gut Talks to the Brain J. Korner and R. L. Leibel N Engl J Med 2003; 349:926
• Mouse, stripped of a key gene, resists diabetes [Eurekalert nws] Published in online edition of the PNAS.

Weekend Reading - Basic Science and general interest articles

1. A dually active anthrax vaccine that confers protection against both bacilli and toxins,G-E Rhie et al. PNAS , DOI:cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1834478100, September 2, 2003. (Scientist news)
2.  EDITORIALS: Aggressive Treatment for the Fit Elderly With Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer? Yes! Sequist and Lynch J Clin Oncology 2003; 21 3186-3188 (See articles' links)
3. Human Pulmonary Chimerism after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Suratt BT et al., Am J Resp and Critical Care Med. 2003;168.318-322.[Eurekalert news: Stem cells shown to regenerate damaged lung tissue for first time ]
4. Vaccination With Irradiated, Autologous Melanoma Cells Engineered to Secrete Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor by Adenoviral-Mediated Gene Transfer Augments Antitumor Immunity in Patients With Metastatic Melanoma Soiffer R, et al. JCO Sep 1 2003: 3343-3350
5. Bacillus anthracis lethal toxin induces TNF- –independent hypoxia-mediated toxicity in mice. Moayeri M, et al. JCI 2003 112: 670-682.
6. FGF-23 in fibrous dysplasia of bone and its relationship to renal phosphate wasting. Riminucci, et al.JCI 2003; 112 :683-692.(Evidence for a bone-kidney axis regulating phosphate homeostasis)
7. Group B streptococcal ß-hemolysin/cytolysin activates neutrophil signaling pathways in brain endothelium and contributes to development of meningitis. Doran et al. JCI 2003 112: 736-744.
8. Modulation of the molecular composition of large conductance, Ca 2+ activated K +channels in vascular smooth muscle during hypertension. Amberg GC, JCI 2003 112: 717-724. (Angiotensin-induced hypertension results in a marked decrease in expression of the ß subunit of the BK channel, suggesting a role for this critical subunit in the regulation of vascular tone.)

September 4

This Week in JAMA 2003;290:1127.

1. Effect of Communications Training on Medical Student Performance. Yedidia, et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1157-1165.
2. Effect of Ethics Consultations on Nonbeneficial Life-Sustaining Treatments in the Intensive Care Setting. Schneiderman, et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1166-1172.
3. Influence of Controllable Lifestyle on Recent Trends in Specialty Choice by US Medical Students. Dorsey; et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1173-1178.
4. Trends in Career Choice by US Medical School Graduates. Newton and Grayson JAMA. 2003;290:1179-1182.
5. SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS Physician Clinical Performance Assessment: Prospects and Barriers. Landon, et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1183-1189.
6. Educational Programs in US Medical Schools, 2002-2003 Barzansky and I. Etzel. JAMA. 2003;290:1190-1196.
7. US Graduate Medical Education, 2002-2003 Brotherton, et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1197-1202.
8. CONTEMPO UPDATES: Home Care. Levine, et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1203-1207.
9. EDITORIALS
   • Answers and Questions About Ethics Consultations . Lo JAMA. 2003;290:1208-1210.
   • Raising the Passing Grade for Studies of Medical Education. Lurie JAMA. 2003;290:1210-1212.
10. LETTERS: Industry Sponsorship of Continuing Medical Education (starting with JAMA. 2003;290:1149.)
11. RESEARCH LETTERS: Cost and Quality of Industry-Sponsored Meals for Medical Residents. Grande and Volpp JAMA. 2003;290:1150-1151.
12. Teaching and Evaluating Students' Professionalism in US Medical Schools, 2002-2003 Kao, et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1151-1152.
13. Relationship Between Wages and Presence of a Match in Medical Fellowships. Niederle and Roth JAMA. 2003;290:1153-1154.

September 3

1. Composite Spirometric–Computed Tomography Outcome Measure in Early Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease. Robinson TE, et al. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2003; 168: 588-593.
2. Changes in Clinical and Physiologic Variables Predict Survival in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Collard HR, et al.Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2003; 168: 538-542.
3. Early lung-cancer detection with spiral CT and positron emission tomography in heavy smokers: 2-year results. Pastorino U, et al. Lancet 2003; 362: 593-97 See accompanying commentary:: Screening for early lung cancer with low-dose spiral computed tomography Stefan Diederich.
4. Predictive Nomogram for Prostate Cancer May Reduce Unnecessary Biopsies {Medscape review of Cancer 2003;98:000-000.]
5. From guidelines to clinical practice: the impact of hospital and geographical characteristics on temporal trends in the management of acute coronary syndromes. Fox KAA, et al, Eur Heart J 2003;24:1414-1424 [Medscape review]
6. Effect of fasting glucose levels on mortality rate in patients with and without diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Muhlestein JB, et al. Am Heart J2003 Aug;146(2):351-8

September 2

This Week in JAMA  2003;290:989.

1. Efficacy of Sertraline in the Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Major Depressive Disorder: Two Randomized Controlled Trials. Wagner et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1033-1041.
2. Ultralow-Dose Micronized 17 -Estradiol and Bone Density and Bone Metabolism in Older Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Prestwood et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1042-1048.
3. A Risk Score for Predicting Stroke or Death in Individuals With New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in the Community: The Framingham Heart Study. Wang et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1049-1056.
4. Provision of Pneumococcal Prophylaxis for Publicly Insured Children With Sickle Cell Disease.Sox, et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1057-1061.
5. Methodological Differences in Clinical Trials Evaluating Nonpharmacological and Pharmacological Treatments of Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis. Boutron, et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1062-1070.
6. BRIEF REPORTS: D-Dimer Levels and Risk of Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism Eichinger, et al. JAMA. 2003;290:1071-1074.
7. SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS Ethics of Phase 1 Oncology Studies: Reexamining the Arguments and Data. Agrawal and Emanuel. JAMA. 2003;290:1075-1082.
8. CONTEMPO UPDATES: Update on Genital Lesions. Ted Rosen JAMA. 2003;290:1001-1005.
9. CLINICAL CROSSROADS A 41-Year-Old Woman With Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Joseph H. Antin JAMA. 2003;290:1083-1090.
10. EDITORIALS Psychopharmacological Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in Children and Adolescents Christopher K. Varley JAMA. 2003;290:1091-1093.
11. Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation. Albert L. Waldo. JAMA. 2003;290:1093-1095.