Recent
reports in Science and Medicine for December 2004
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 recommended article.
Holiday
Break - Posting will resume 3 January 2005
MedWatch: Bextra (valdecoxib) New
information on side effects associated with the use of Bextra,
a "boxed" warning, strengthening previous warnings about
the risk of life-threatening skin reactions, and a new bolded warning
contraindicating the use of Bextra in patients undergoing coronary
artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery were added to the label.
FDA
Statement on Iressa (gefitinib). A large
clinical trial comparing Iressa (gefitinib) with placebo in patients
with non-small cell lung cancer who had failed other courses
of cancer therapy showed no survival benefit from taking Iressa
FDA
Talk Paper: New Warning for Strattera (atomoxetine).
Labeling is being updated with a bolded warning about the potential
for severe liver injury following two reports (a teenager and
an adult) in patients who had been treated with Strattera for
several months, both of whom recovered.
FDA
Talk Paper: Approval of Vision Blue (trypan
blue ophthalmic solution) for staining the anterior lens capsule
during cataract surgery.
FDA
Talk Paper: Approval of biotechnology drug Kepivance (palifermin)
to treat mucositis associated with cancer treatments.
FDA
Approval of Macugen (pegaptanib sodium injection)
for age-related macular degeneration
Estimated Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among
Adults and Children --- United States, September 1--November 30,
2004
Experiences with Obtaining Influenza Vaccination
Among Persons in Priority Groups During a Vaccine Shortage ---
United States, October--November, 2004
Experiences with Influenza-Like Illness and Attitudes
Regarding Influenza Prevention --- United States, 2003--04 Influenza
Season
Early online publication: Analysis of air contrast barium enema, computed
tomographic colonography, and colonoscopy: prospective comparison. Lancet
Volume 364, Number 9452 18 December 2004
Syncope Evaluation in the Emergency Department Study (SEEDS) A Multidisciplinary
Approach to Syncope Management Circulation.
2004;110:3636-3645. Published online. (Editorial:
Specialized Syncope Evaluation)
Decision-Making About Tamoxifen in Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer:
Clinical and Psychological Factors. JCO
published online December 14, 2004. [Medscape Many
Women at High Risk of Breast Cancer Decline Tamoxifen]
Weekend
Reading - Basic Science and general interest articles
FDA
Talk Paper: Bextra label updated with boxed warning
concerning severe skin reactions and warning regarding cardiovascular
risk
FDA Approvals: Omega-3 Acid Ethyl Esters (Omacor) reduces
high triglyceride levels; 1% Sodium Hyaluronate (Nuflexxa)
for osteoarthritic knee pain; Oxycodone/Ibuprofen 5 mg/400 mg (Combunox)
for acute short-term pain; IV administration approved for Treprostinil
(Remodulin); Once-Daily Mesalamine Suppository (Canasa 1
g) for ulcerative proctitis. [Medscape report]
§Obituaries::
November 25, 2004 Sir John Vane, Ingenious and perceptive
pharmacologist who won the Nobel Prize for Medicine after discovering how
aspirin worked.
§WHO
Statement: Estimating the impact of the next influenza pandemic:
enhancing preparedness.
Why a Pug is Not a Collie. Science
now Dec 15 2004report from PNAS: Molecular origins of rapid and continuous
morphological evolution. PNAS
published December 13, 2004, 10.1073/pnas.0408118101
Caloric restriction increases neurotrophic factor levels and attenuates
neurochemical and behavioral deficits in a primate model of Parkinson's
disease. PNAS
published December 16, 2004 . [Science now
report]
Report: Loss-of-Function Mutation in Tryptophan Hydroxylase-2 Identified
in Unipolar Major Depression. Neuron.
Published online Dec. 9, 2004 [Eurekalert:
Genetic defect confers risk of major depression, resistance to SSRI drug
therapy]
Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2b vs Standard Interferon
Alfa-2b, Plus Ribavirin, for Chronic Hepatitis C in HIV-Infected
Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA.
2004;292:2839-2848.
§ Association
Between Cardiovascular Outcomes and Antihypertensive Drug Treatment
in Older Women. JAMA.
2004;292:2849-2859.
Reviews: Implantable Defibrillators for the Prevention
of Mortality in Patients With Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy: A Meta-analysis
of Randomized Controlled Trials. JAMA.
2004;292:2874-2879.
§ Editorials:
Unregulated Direct-to-Consumer Marketing and Self-referral for
Screening Imaging Services: A Call to Action. Arch
Intern Med. 2004;164:2406-2408.
Tobacco Use and Increased Colorectal Cancer Risk
in Patients With Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (Lynch
Syndrome). Arch
Intern Med. 2004;164:2429-2431.
Hostility and Physiological Risk in the National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study. Investigators
of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study. Arch
Intern Med. 2004;164:2442-2447.
Deferment of Objective Assessment of Deep Vein
Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Without Increased Risk of Thrombosis:
A Practical Approach Based on the Pretest Clinical Model, D-Dimer
Testing, and the Use of Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins. Arch
Intern Med. 2004;164:2477-2482.
Clinical Usefulness of D-Dimer Depending on Clinical
Probability and Cutoff Value in Outpatients With Suspected Pulmonary
Embolism. Arch
Intern Med. 2004;164:2483-2487.
Effects of Anorexia Nervosa on Clinical, Hematologic, Biochemical, and
Bone Density Parameters in Community-Dwelling Adolescent Girls. Pediatrics
2004; 114: 1574-1583.[Medscape:
Anorexia Nervosa Consequences Demand Vigilant Clinical Monitoring]
MMWR December 10, 2004 / 53(48);Fall-Related Injuries During the Holiday
Season --- United States, 2000--2003. 1127-1129.
MMWR December 10, 2004 : Treating Opportunistic Infections Among HIV-Exposed
and Infected Children Recommendations from CDC, the National Institutes
of Health, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. 53(RR14);1-63
Editorial: HRT: what are women (and their doctors)
to do? [Full
Text]
Landmines and their victims remain priorities [Full
Text]
§ Geographical
patterns and time trends of cancer incidence and survival among
children and adolescents in Europe since the 1970s (the ACCIS project).
[Full
Text]
A serum autoantibody marker of neuromyelitis optica:
distinction from multiple sclerosis [Summary]
§ Clinical
features of dominant and recessive interferon receptor 1 deficiencies [Summary]
§ Parenteral
metoclopramide for acute migraine: meta-analysis of randomised
controlled trials . BMJ 2004;329:1369-1373
Randomised controlled trial of an occupational
therapy intervention to increase outdoor mobility after stroke. BMJ 2004;329:1372-1375.
Research pointers: Taking folate in pregnancy
and risk of maternal breast cancer. BMJ 2004;329:1375-1376.
Commentary: Folic acid fortification remains
an urgent health priority . BMJ 2004;329:1376,
Death rates in England and Wales and the United
States: variation with age, sex, and race. BMJ 2004;329:1367.
United Kingdom back pain exercise and manipulation
(UK BEAM) randomised trial: effectiveness of physical treatments
for back pain in primary care . UK BEAM Trial Team. BMJ 2004;329:1377
United Kingdom back pain exercise and manipulation
(UK BEAM) randomised trial: cost effectiveness of physical treatments
for back pain in primary care. UK BEAM Trial Team. BMJ 2004;329:1381
Clinical review: Recent developments in non-invasive
cardiology . BMJ 2004;329:1386-1389.
ABC of preterm birth: Neurodevelopmental outcomes
after preterm birth. BMJ 2004;329:1390-1393
Do biomedical models of illness make for good healthcare
systems? BMJ 2004;329:1398-1401.
December
13
Prevalence of hepatic steatosis in an urban population in the United
States: Impact of ethnicity. J. D. Browning, and Others. Hepatology
2004;40:1387-1395. [Eurekalert]
Noninvasive identification of patients with early coronary atherosclerosis
by assessment of digital reactive hyperemia. J
Am Coll Cardiology 2004; 44: 2137-2141 (via CardioSource) [WebMD report]
Psychological effects of a suspicious prostate
cancer screening test followed by a benign biopsy result. (pages
719-725)
§ Effects
of guideline-concordant antimicrobial therapy on mortality among
patients with community-acquired pneumonia. (pages
726-731)
Antidepressants and risk of first-time hospitalization
for myocardial infarction: A population-based case-control study.
(pages
732-737)
§ Association
of body weight with condition-specific quality of life in male
veterans. (pages
738-746)
§ Clinician
awareness of adherence to hypertension guidelines. (pages
747-754)
Life expectancy and prognostic factors for survival
in patients with polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia.
(pages
755-761)
Reviews: Long-term effectiveness of lifestyle and
behavioral weight loss interventions in adults with type 2 diabetes:
A meta-analysis. (pages
762-774)
Review: sEffects of statins on vascular structure
and function: A systematic review. (pages
775-790)
Incidence and predictors of renal disease in Chinese
patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. (pages
791-795)
Editorials: Reducing PSAnxiety: The importance
of noninvasive chronic disease management in prostate cancer detection
and treatment . (pages
796-798)
Editorials: Community-acquired pneumonia guidelines:
Peering back through the looking glass…clearly? (pages
799-800)
Weekend
Reading - Basic Science and general interest articles
FDA Safety Labeling Changes: (Medscape
review) Epivir and Combivir, (Discontinuation
of Lamivudine in Epivir, Epivir-HBV, and Combivir associated with HBV
exacerbation in HIV/HBV coinfection); Advair Diskus (Salmeterol
Xinafoate in Advair Diskus linked to risk of asthma-related deaths), Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
and Ofloxacin (Floxin) associated with peripheral neuropathy,
tendon effects; Infant's Ibuprofen Suspension (Infant's
Advil) May Cause Stomach Bleeding at High Doses,
FDA
Medwatch: Procrit (epoetin alfa) important labeling
changes to recommended hemoglobin rate of rise and target target hemoglobin
in patients with cancer should not exceed 12 grams per deciliter in men
and women.
§ Researchers
trace how virus that causes AIDS spreads following oral exposure. Eurekalert from
the journal AIDS.[limited access]
Dogs with severe back injuries respond to a new method for treating spinal
cord trauma. [Science
now report from December issue of the Journal of Neurotrauma.]
December
9
Prevalence of hepatic steatosis in an urban population in the United
States: Impact of ethnicity. J. D. Browning, and Others. Hepatology
2004;40:1387-1395. [Eurekalert]
Psychological effects of a suspicious prostate
cancer screening test followed by a benign biopsy result. (pages
719-725)
§ Effects
of guideline-concordant antimicrobial therapy on mortality among
patients with community-acquired pneumonia. (pages
726-731)
Antidepressants and risk of first-time hospitalization
for myocardial infarction: A population-based case-control study.
(pages
732-737)
§ Association
of body weight with condition-specific quality of life in male
veterans. (pages
738-746)
§ Clinician
awareness of adherence to hypertension guidelines. (pages
747-754)
Life expectancy and prognostic factors for survival
in patients with polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia.
(pages
755-761)
Reviews: Long-term effectiveness of lifestyle and
behavioral weight loss interventions in adults with type 2 diabetes:
A meta-analysis. (pages
762-774)
Review: sEffects of statins on vascular structure
and function: A systematic review. (pages
775-790)
Incidence and predictors of renal disease in Chinese
patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. (pages
791-795)
Editorials: Reducing PSAnxiety: The importance
of noninvasive chronic disease management in prostate cancer detection
and treatment . (pages
796-798)
Editorials: Community-acquired pneumonia guidelines:
Peering back through the looking glass…clearly? (pages
799-800)
§ Early
Release: Patients Exposed to Rofecoxib and Celecoxib Have Different
Odds of Nonfatal Myocardial Infarction. Kimmel,
and Others.
Early Release: Cardiovascular Risks of Cyclooxygenase-2
Inhibitors: Where We Stand Now. Finckh
and Aronson
Early Release: Meta-Analysis: High-Dosage Vitamin
E Supplementation May Increase All-Cause Mortality. Miller,
and Others.
Vitamin E Supplements: Good in Theory, but Is the
Theory Good? Greenberg
Sudden Death in Young Adults: A 25-Year Review
of Autopsies in Military Recruits. Eckart,
and Others
Management of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators
in End-of-Life Care. Goldstein,
and Others
Negative D-dimer Result To Exclude Recurrent Deep
Venous Thrombosis: A Management Trial. Rathbun,
and Others.
§ Sleep
Curtailment in Healthy Young Men Is Associated with Decreased Leptin
Levels, Elevated Ghrelin Levels, and Increased Hunger and Appetite. Spiegel,
and Others [Eurekalert news]
IMPROVING PATIENT CARE: Systematic Review: Effects
of Resident Work Hours on Patient Safety. Fletcher,
and Others.
Systematic Review: Transient Left Ventricular Apical
Ballooning: A Syndrome That Mimics ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial
Infarction . Bybee,
and Others.
Meta-Analysis: Outcomes in Patients with Suspected
Pulmonary Embolism Managed with Computed Tomographic Pulmonary
Angiography. Moores,
and Others.
EDITORIALS: Sudden Cardiac Death in Young Military
Recruits: Guarding the Heart of a Soldier. Balady
§ A
Good Night's Sleep: Future Antidote to the Obesity Epidemic? Flier
and Elmquist
§ Risk
of cardiovascular events and rofecoxib: cumulative meta-analysis [Full
Text]
Monetary incentives in primary health care and
effects on use and coverage of preventive health care interventions
in rural Honduras: cluster randomised trial [Full
Text]
Effects of repeated prenatal ultrasound examinations
on childhood outcome up to 8 years of age: follow-up of a randomised
controlled trial [Summary]
Seminar: The eye in neurological disease [Summary]
Microscopic colitis: a missed diagnosis? [Summary]
Non-specific effects of vaccination on child survival:
prospective cohort study in Burkina Faso. BMJ 2004;329:1309.
Maternal blood pressure in pregnancy, birth weight,
and perinatal mortality in first births: prospective study. BMJ 2004;329:1312.
Surgical management of inguinal hernia: retrospective
cohort study in southeastern Scotland, 1985-2001. BMJ 2004;329:1315-1316.
DRUG POINTS: Sibutramine may be associated with
memory impairment. BMJ 2004;329:1316.
§ Non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs, including cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors,
in osteoarthritic knee pain: meta-analysis of randomised placebo
controlled trials. BMJ 2004;329:1317.
Prospective observational study on the incidence
of medication errors during simulated resuscitation in a paediatric
emergency department. BMJ 2004;329:1321.
Clinical review: Tibialis posterior dysfunction:
a common and treatable cause of adult acquired flatfoot . BMJ 2004;329:1328-1333
Lesson of the week: Clomipramine induced neuroleptic
malignant syndrome and pyrexia of unknown origin. BMJ 2004;329:1333-1335
Including Walnuts in a Low-Fat/Modified-Fat Diet Improves HDL Cholesterol-to-Total
Cholesterol Ratios in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes
Care 2004 27: 2777-2783. [Medscape]
Weekend
Reading - Basic Science and general interest articles
FDA News:
FDA
Talk Paper: FDA Announces Enhancement to Isotretinoin Risk
Management Program
FDA
News: Monoclonal Antibody (Natalizumab) Treatment For Multiple
Sclerosis Approved
FDA
News: FDA Acts to Remove Ephedra-Containing Dietary Supplements
From Market
MedWatch:
Bicillin C-R (penicillin G benzathine and penicillin G procaine
injectable suspension) inappropriate use of Bicillin C-R to treat
patients infected with syphilis. Bicillin L-A is the only currently
approved penicillin G benzathine product indicated for the treatment
of syphilis. BLACK BOX WARNING: these products should only be administered
by deep intramuscular injection.. [Medscape alert]
FDA
Talk Paper: FDA Strengthens Labels of Two Specific Types
of Antibiotics to Ensure Proper Use
NegGram (nalidixic acid)
linked to peripheral neuropathy and tendon effects: contraindicated
in patients taking melphalan, having porphyria, or history
of convulsive disorders
Nitrolingual Pumpspray (nitroglycerin
lingual spray) interacts with phosphodiesterase inhibitors
Serevent (salmeterol) linked
to risk of asthma-related death
Obese Americans Overwhelm Diagnostic Devices [Medscape report
from Radiological Society of North America Meeting]
December
2
Myeloablative radiochemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation
in first remission prolongs progression-free survival in follicular lymphoma:
results of a prospective, randomized trial of the German Low-Grade Lymphoma
Study Group. Blood
2004 104: 2667-2674.[Medscape review]
§ Incidence
of Hospitalized Rhabdomyolysis in Patients Treated With Lipid-Lowering
Drugs. JAMA.
2004;292:2585-2590.
Thyroid Status, Disability and Cognitive Function,
and Survival in Old Age. JAMA.
2004;292:2591-2599.
Thyroid Neoplasia, Autoimmune Thyroiditis, and
Hypothyroidism in Persons Exposed to Iodine 131 From the Hanford
Nuclear Site. JAMA.
2004;292:2600-2613.
§ Potential
for Conflict of Interest in the Evaluation of Suspected Adverse
Drug Reactions: Use of Cerivastatin and Risk of Rhabdomyolysis. JAMA.
2004;292:2622-2631.
Controversies : Bayer’s Response to "Potential
for Conflict of Interest in the Evaluation of Suspected Adverse
Drug Reactions: Use of Cerivastatin and Risk of Rhabdomyolysis". JAMA.
2004;292:2655-2657.
Authors’ Reply to Bayer’s Response
to "Potential for Conflict of Interest in the Evaluation of
Suspected Adverse Drug Reactions: Use of Cerivastatin and Risk
of Rhabdomyolysis" JAMA.
2004;292:2658-2659.
Review Articles: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
of Studies Comparing Readmission Rates and Mortality Rates in Patients
With Heart Failure. Arch
Intern Med. 2004;164:2315-2320.
§ The
SU.VI.MAX Study: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of the
Health Effects of Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals. Arch
Intern Med. 2004;164:2335-2342. [Medscape review]
Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in HIV-Infected
Veterans With and Without the Hepatitis C Virus: A Cohort Study,
1992-2001. Arch
Intern Med. 2004;164:2349-2354.
Association of Risk of Abnormal Bleeding With
Degree of Serotonin Reuptake Inhibition by Antidepressants. Arch
Intern Med. 2004;164:2367-2370.
Incidence of Thyroid Dysfunction During Interferon
Alfa-2b and Ribavirin Therapy in Men With Chronic Hepatitis C:
A Prospective Cohort Study. Arch
Intern Med. 2004;164:2371-2376.
Neuropsychological Outcome After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention or
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Results From the Stent or Surgery (SoS)
Trial. Circulation
2004 110: 3411 - 3417. [Editorial]
One-Year Coronary Bypass Graft Patency: A Randomized Comparison Between
Off-Pump and On-Pump Surgery Angiographic Results of the PRAGUE-4 Trial. Circulation
2004 110: 3418 - 3423