Health News:

Bisphosphonates Tied to Esophageal Cancer (CME/CE)

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 02, 2010.

(MedPage Today) -- A second look at British registry data indicates that esophageal cancer may be more common after all in patients taking oral bisphosphonate drugs for long periods.

Age No Barrier to Oral Anticoagulants (CME/CE)

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 02, 2010.

(MedPage Today) -- Age alone shouldn't deter appropriate oral anticoagulant use in elderly atrial fibrillation patients, according to a review.

For Resistant Asthma, First Check the Basics (CME/CE)

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 02, 2010.

(MedPage Today) -- At least half of children with severe, apparently treatment-resistant asthma can be successfully managed with conventional treatments using a thorough, multidisciplinary approach, researchers suggested.

ESC: In CABG, Two Grafts as Safe as One (CME/CE)

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 02, 2010.

STOCKHOLM (MedPage Today) -- Using two internal mammary arteries instead of one for CABG does not increase mortality, MI, stroke, or revascularization, one-year results of the multicenter randomized Arterial Revascularization Trial (ART) showed.

More Americans Taking Rx Drugs (CME/CE)

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 02, 2010.

(MedPage Today) -- Nearly half of all Americans -- 48% -- took at least one prescription drug in a one-month period in 2007-2008, a four percentage point hike over a decade, researchers found.

Growth of Employer Plans Foreseen With Health Reform

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 02, 2010.

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- Employer-sponsored insurance will not only remain a cornerstone of the American healthcare system, but it will increase in prevalence in the post-healthcare reform environment, according to several researchers.

Rapid TB Test Shows High Accuracy (CME/CE)

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 02, 2010.

(MedPage Today) -- A two-hour molecular diagnostic test detected tuberculosis bacteria, including rifampin-resistant strains, with sensitivity and specificity well over 90%, researchers found.

Attitudes More than Growth Response Drive Growth Hormone Therapy (CME/CE)

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 02, 2010.

(MedPage Today) -- While a physician's decision to start a child on growth hormone is usually consistent with evidence-based guidelines, continuation or intensification of therapy is strongly influenced by factors other than treatment response, according to a new survey.

ESC: Novel Agent Blocks Hyperkalemia in Heart Failure (CME/CE)

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 02, 2010.

STOCKHOLM (MedPage Today) -- An investigational potassium binder prevented hyperkalemia in at-risk patients with heart failure, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial showed.

Increased Cardiac Events Seen With Sibutramine (CME/CE)

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 02, 2010.

(MedPage Today) -- Overweight patients with cardiovascular risks who took the weight-loss drug sibutramine had an increased likelihood of experiencing a cardiac event, a large randomized trial found.

Few Conn. Physicians Treat Chronic Lyme Disease

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 02, 2010.

(MedPage Today) -- Only a very small number of physicians in Connecticut -- the epicenter of Lyme disease -- diagnose and treat patients with the controversial chronic form of this tick-borne infection, a survey found.

Spoonful of Sugar Debunked as Baby Painkiller (CME/CE)

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 01, 2010.

(MedPage Today) -- Sugar given to blunt pain in newborns undergoing invasive procedures may only mask signs of distress, researchers found.

ESC: Pre-Procedure Statins May Cut MI Risk (CME/CE)

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 01, 2010.

STOCKHOLM (MedPage Today) -- Statins delivered before invasive procedures appear to reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular events, a meta-analysis showed.

Similar Survival with Two Ovarian Cancer Strategies (CME/CE, with audio)

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 01, 2010.

(MedPage Today) -- Patients with bulky, advanced ovarian cancer survived just as long whether treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery or with primary surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, investigators in a multinational trial reported.

Tight BP Control Flops for Most CKD Patients (CME/CE, with audio)

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 01, 2010.

(MedPage Today) -- Intensive blood pressure control doesn't slow progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in hypertensive patients overall but may help those with baseline proteinuria, according to a randomized trial.

'Brain Exercise' May Worsen Existing Alzheimer's (CME/CE)

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 01, 2010.

(MedPage Today) -- Keeping mentally active may help stave off Alzheimer's disease, but once patients are diagnosed with the condition, "brain exercise" may actually speed up cognitive decline, researchers said -- adding that that may not be a bad thing.

JAMA Editor to Step Down in 2011

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 01, 2010.

(MedPage Today) -- After more than 10 years leading the Journal of the American Medical Association, editor-in-chief Catherine D. DeAngelis, MD, MPH, has announced plans to leave the post next June.

Selenium Linked to Lower Bladder Cancer Risk (CME/CE)

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 01, 2010.

(MedPage Today) -- The trace mineral selenium may help prevent bladder cancer, especially in women, according to a meta-analysis.

Allergan Settles Civil and Criminal Charges

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 01, 2010.

(MedPage Today) -- Botox manufacturer Allergan will pay $375 million after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor misbranding charge related to off-label use of the cosmetic drug, a statement on the company's website said.

HHS to Begin Paying Employers for Early Retirees' Health Insurance

From MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians. Published on Sep 01, 2010.

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- The federal government will begin paying nearly 2,000 employers from a $5 billion fund to provide health insurance for employees who have retired early, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced Tuesday.