Recent reports in Science and Medicine for March 2003

Some of these links are very transient and may expire within days of posting. Check-in and view frequently to avoid missing great news items. I welcome any suggested articles. (email link)

31 march

  1. Cross sectional survey of effectiveness of lipid lowering drugs in reducing serum cholesterol concentration in patients in 17 general practices. Hippisley-Cox J, et al.BMJ 2003;326:689
  2. Early intervention with budesonide in mild persistent asthma: a randomised, double-blind trial Pauwels RA, et al. Lancet 2003; 361: 1071-76
  3. Editorials : Doctors, their wellbeing, and their stress BMJ 2003;326:670-671
  4. Information in practice: Internet based consultations to transfer knowledge for patients requiring specialised care: retrospective case review. Kedar, et al BMJ 2003;326:696-699
  5. Increase in blood glucose concentration during antihypertensive treatment as a predictor of myocardial infarction: population based cohort study.Dunder K, et al BMJ 2003;326:681

28 March

  1. FDA Approves First in a New Class of Medicines To Treat Acromegaly (FDA news)
  2. FDA Approves New Drug to Combat Nausea and Vomiting for Cancer Patients Getting Chemotherapy (FDA News)
  3. Cardiovascular Effects of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Patients with Heart Failure and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Y, et al N Engl J Med 2003;348:1233-1241
  4. Silent Brain Infarcts and the Risk of Dementia and Cognitive Decline. Vermeer SE, et al. N Engl J Med 2003; 348:1215-1222.
  5. Oral Opioid Therapy for Chronic Peripheral and Central Neuropathic Pain. Rowbotham MC, et al N Engl J Med 2003;348:1223-1232
  6. A Tyrosine Kinase Created by Fusion of the PDGFRA and FIP1L1 Genes as a Therapeutic Target of Imatinib in Idiopathic Hypereosinophilic Syndrome Cools J, et al N Engl J Med 2003;348:1201-1214.

27 march

  1. Differential Effects of Lipid-Lowering Therapies on Stroke Prevention: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials Corvol JC, et al. Arch Intern Med.  2003;163:669-676.
  2. Screening for Statin-Related Toxicity: The Yield of Transaminase and Creatine Kinase Measurements in a Primary Care Setting. Smith CC, et al Arch Intern Med.  2003;163:688-692.
  3. Prevalence of Current DSM-IV Alcohol Use Disorders in Short-Stay, General Hospital Admissions, United States, 1994. Smothers BS, et al. Arch Intern Med.  2003;163:713-719

26 march

  1. Recent renal references from 03/25/03 lecture: Nephrotoxic Effects in High-Risk Patients Undergoing Angiography. Aspelin P, et al N Eng J Med 2003; 348:491-499
  2. Multiple Sclerosis and Epstein-Barr Virus. Levin LI, et al. JAMA.  2003;289:1533-1536.
  3. Smallpox Vaccine Adverse Events Among Civilians—United States, January 24–February 18, 2003. JAMA.  2003;289:1497-1498. MMWR. 2003;52:136
  4. Unexpected adverse reactions to smallpox vaccinations (news reports from ABC, MSNBC) and official CDC Smallpox website

25 march

  1. CDC site for SARS Information (Servere Acute Respiratory Syndrome) for clinicians including reporting and travel advisories.(Also, a status report from ABC News) and (Reuters report posted on Medscape: New Coronavirus Suspected as Cause of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome )
  2. Relation of Inflammation and Benefit of Statins After Percutaneous Coronary Interventions Chan AW, et al. Published online before print March 24, 2003 (Circulation 2003, 10.1161/01.CIR.0000060541.18923.E9)
  3. Racial Differences in the Prevalence of Hypertensive Retinopathy. Wong TY, et al. Published online before print March 24, 2003 (Hypertension 2003, 10.1161/01. HYP.0000064181.63546.53)

24 March

  1. ACADEMIA AND CLINIC: The Mini-CEX: A Method for Assessing Clinical Skills JJ, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:476–481.
  2. The Relative Safety of Ephedra Compared with Other Herbal Products Bent S, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:468–471.

21 March

  1. An Outbreak of Conjunctivitis Due to Atypical Streptococcus pneumoniae. Martin M, et al. N Engl J Med 2003;348:1112-1121.
  2. Inhaled glucocorticoids versus leukotriene receptor antagonists as single agent asthma treatment: systematic review of current evidence. Ducharme FM. BMJ 2003;326:621
  3. Emergency Calls in Acute Stroke, Handschu R, et a. Stroke published March 20, 2003, doi:10.1161/01.STR.0000063366.98459.1F
  4. Increased Risk of Atherosclerosis Is Confined to CagA-Positive Helicobacter pylori Strains: Prospective Results From the Bruneck Study. Mayr M, et al.Stroke. 2003;34:610.
  5. A prospective, blinded determination of the natural history of aspirin resistance among stable patients with cardiovascular disease. Gum PA, et al. J Am Coll Card 2003; 41: 961-965.
  6. What's important about elderly women's fat? Amount or location? AHA news report of rapid access issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

20 March

  1. Follow Up: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

    Mystery illness may be related to mumps, measles (AP news)
    CDC suspects 11 cases in U.S. are 'mystery flu' (AP news)
    Identity of mystery pneumonia bug sharpens: Questions raised over readiness for lethal SARS epidemic.Nature Science UpdateNews 20 March 2003

  2. Nature Reviews: THE DEVELOPMENT OF COX2 INHIBITORS Rod J. Flower Drug Discovery 2, 179 -191 (2003); doi:10.1038/nrd1034

19 March

  1. Variations in Lung Cancer Risk Among Smokers. Bach PB, et al. J Natl Cancer Ins; 95:470-478 .
  2. Brief Report: Trends in Incidence Rates of Invasive Lobular and Ductal Breast Carcinoma. Li CI, et al. JAMA.  2003;289:1421-1424.
  3. Prospective Study of Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Dementia in Older Adults Mukamal KJ, et al. JAMA.  2003;289:1405-1413.
  4. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Aerobic Exercise for Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Donta ST, et al. JAMA.2003;289:1396-1404

18 March

  1. Relationship Between Postconcussion Headache and Neuropsychological Test Performance in High School Athletes. Collins MW, et al. Am J Sports Med 2003;31:168-173
  2. Enfuvirtide, an HIV-1 Fusion Inhibitor, for Drug-Resistant HIV Infection in North and South America. Lalezari JP, et al. Published at www.nejm.org March 13, 2003 (.1056/NEJMoa035026)
  3. Effects of Estrogen plus Progestin on Health-Related Quality of Life. Hays J, et al. Published at www.nejm.org March 17, 2003 (10.1056/NEJMoa030311)
  4. Primary and Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty for Patients 90 Years of Age and Older Pagnano MW, et al. Proc Mayo Clin 2003;78:285-8.

17 March

News releases on the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (these are transient postings)

  1. CDC Issues Health Alert About Atypical Pneumonia
  2. CDC's Response to Atypical Pneumonia in Southeast Asia and Canada
  3. WHO Calls Mystery Illness Global Threat World Health Organization Warns Pneumonia-Like Illness Is Quickly Becoming a Global Threat The Associated Press;ABC News , MSN,
  4. China Provides Information on Deadly Health Threat (NY Times)
  5. WHO Issues A Global Alert About Cases Of Atypical Pneumonia; Cases Of Severe Respiratory Illness May Spread To Hospital Staff (press and World Health Organization)
  6. BBC News Series: Q&A: Mystery killer illness; UK man may have 'mystery illness' , Flu: A warning from history

14 March

  1. FDA Approves First Drug in New Class of HIV Treatments for HIV Infected Adults and Children With Advanced Disease. (FDA news release) (Trimeris and FUZEON site)

13 March

  1. FDA OKs Low-dosage Form of PremPro, (FDA news release)
  2. In vitro detection of ( S)-naproxen and ibuprofen binding to plaques in the Alzheimer's brain using the positron emission tomography molecular imaging probe 2-(1-{6-[(2-[ 18 F]fluoroethyl)(methyl)amino]-2-naphthyl}ethylidene)malononitrile. Agedeppa ED, et al. Neuroscience 2003;114:723-30.(Neuroscience not available to non-subscribers, see press report: Common Painkillers May Help Protect Against Alzheimer's Disease )

12 March

  1. Single Dose Oral Smallpox Drug Shown Effective In Cowpox-infected Mice (news release about the Biodefense Symposium of the American Society for Microbiology and preceeding conference)
  2. CLINICIAN'S CORNER: Colorectal Cancer Screening, Clinical Applications.Walsh and Terdiman. JAMA. 2003;289:1297-1302
  3. Efficacy and Safety of Ephedra and Ephedrine for Weight Loss and Athletic Performance: A Meta-analysis.Shekelle.JAMA. 2003;289:1537-1545
  4. Review: Voriconazole: A New Triazole Antifungal Agent. Pearson MM, et al. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy: Vol. 37, No. 3, pp. 420–432.

11 March

  1. Management of High Blood Pressure in African Americans: Consensus Statement of the Hypertension in African Americans Working Group of the International Society on Hypertension in Blacks. Douglas JG, et al.Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:525-541.
  2. Review Article: A Comprehensive Evidence-Based Approach to Fever of Unknown Origin. Mourad O, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:545-551
  3. Reduction of Hospital Utilization in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Disease-Specific Self-management Intervention. Bourbeau J, et al.  Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:585-591.
  4. Factors Associated with the Development of Peanut Allergy in Childhood. Lack G. et al.Early release: Published at www.nejm.org March 10, 2003 (10.1056/NEJMoa013536).

10 March (03.07.03 no news worth posting)

(03.07.03 no news worth posting!)

  1. Dietary factors protecting women from urinary tract infection Kontiokari, T., et al.American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 77, No. 3, 600-604, March 2003
  2. MICROBIOLOGY: Stomachs Out of Africa Brian G. Spratt (comment on Traces of Human Migrations in Helicobacter pylori Populations. Falush D, et al.) Science 2003:299:1582-1585.
  3. Use of an Electronic Medical Record Improves the Quality of Urban Pediatric Primary Care. Adams WG, et al. Pediatrics 2003; 111:626-632.

6 March

  1. Incidence and Preventability of Adverse Drug Events Among Older Persons in the Ambulatory Setting  GurwitzJH, et al.JAMA. 2003;289:1107-1116
  2. Preliminary Assessment of Inhaled Nitric Oxide for Acute Vaso-occlusive Crisis in Pediatric Patients With Sickle Cell Disease. Weiner DL. et al. JAMA. 2003;289:1136-1142.
  3. Inhibition of DNA Methylation and Reactivation of Silenced Genes by Zebularine Cheng JC, et al . JNCI 2003;95:399-409.
  4. Teaching Testicular Self-Examination: Education and Practices in Pediatric Residents. BrennerJS, et al Pediatrics 2003;111:3 e239-e24 .
  5. A Randomized Trial of Aspirin to Prevent Colorectal Adenomas. Baron JA, et al. N Engl J Med 2003;348:891-899
  6. Trial of Aspirin to Prevent Colorectal Adenomas in Patients with Previous Colorectal Cancer. Sandler, RS, et al. N Engl J Med 2003; 348:883-890.
  7. Monoclonal antibodies inhibit prion replication and delay the development of prion disease. White AR, et al. Nature 2003;422:80-83.

5 March

  1. Randall’s plaque of patients with nephrolithiasis begins in basement membranes of thin loops of Henle.Evan AP, et al. J. Clin. Invest. 111 :607-616 (2003). (news release)
  2. Soluble VEGF receptor Flt1: the elusive preeclampsia factor discovered? Luttun and Carmeliet J. Clin. Invest. 111 :600-602 (2003)
  3. SCIENCE IN MEDICINE: The emerging science of body weight regulation and its impact on obesity treatment. Korner and Aronne. J. Clin. Invest. 111 :565-570 (2003)
  4. Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc announces that it has received an approvable letter from the U.S Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for FOSRENOL®
    (lanthanum carbonate) (external information site)

4 March

  1. Intentional Weight Loss and Death in Overweight and Obese U.S. Adults 35 Years of Age and Older. Gregg EW, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:383–389.
  2. Importance of Identifying the Overweight Patient Who Will Benefit the Most by Losing Weight .Reaven GM.Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:420–423.
  3. Effect of a Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement on Infection and Quality of Life: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial Barringer TA, et al.Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:365–371
  4. Frequent Ventricular Ectopy after Exercise as a Predictor of Death. Frolkis JP, et al.N Engl J Med 2003 348:781-790.
  5. Residents' Suggestions for Reducing Errors in Teaching Hospitals. Volppand Grande.N Eng J Med. 2003. 348:851-855

3 March

  1. Patients' and Physicians' Attitudes Regarding the Disclosure of Medical Errors. Gallagher TH, et al. JAMA. 2003;289:1001-1007
  2. Medscape: Clinical Updates: Adult Immunizations: A Review of Current Recommendations (with CME) Author: Kathleen M. Neuzil, MD, MPH (pre-registration required)
  3. Update in Pulmonary Medicine. John H. Hansen-Flaschen, MD. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:319–325.