Medscape Medical News Headlines

FDA Approves Tramadol Extended-Release Formulation for Chronic Pain

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 13:50:50 EST

Labopharm, Inc announced the FDA has approved a once-daily extended release formulation of tramadol (Ryzolt) for the management of moderate to moderately severe chronic pain.
Medscape Medical News

Could an Orange a Day Keep BP Down?

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 13:51:10 EST

A new observational study suggests that vitamin C may favorably influence blood pressure in healthy young adults. While the lead researcher recognizes that a randomized trial will be needed to convince people that this is the case, she says there is no harm in encouraging a good diet or in advocating a multivitamin a day in those with poor diets.
Heartwire

Childhood Physical Fitness May Be Linked With Less Obesity, Hypertension in Early Adulthood

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 14:41:00 EST

In the Oslo Youth Study, childhood physical fitness had some inverse associations with obesity and blood pressure in early adulthood but much less so in middle age.
Medscape Medical News

A Call for Responsible Use of Pink Ribbon for Breast Cancer

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 14:51:12 EST

The pink ribbon is a powerful symbol for breast cancer, but it needs to be used responsibly and with integrity in cause-related marketing.
Medscape Medical News

NIDA Report Sheds Light on Comorbidity of Addiction, Other Mental Health Illnesses

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 15:47:00 EST

A National Institute on Drug Abuse report sheds light on the complex link between addiction and other mental health illnesses.
Medscape Medical News

Childhood Kawasaki Disease Unlikely Cause of Seizures in Travolta's Teenage Son

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 16:18:15 EST

Jett Travolta's childhood brush with Kawasaki disease is highly unlikely to have caused the seizures that may have led to his death, according a Kawasaki expert.
WebMD Health News

Experts Weigh in on Steve Jobs' Disclosure of Hormonal Imbalance

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 16:32:00 EST

Steve Jobs today posted a letter on the Apple web site stating that he has a "hormonal imbalance" that caused him to lose weight throughout 2008, and that he's being treated and staying on the job as Apple's CEO.
WebMD Health News

FDA Safety Changes: Apidra, Ontak, Raptiva

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 16:49:00 EST

The FDA has approved revisions to the safety labeling for insulin glulisine [rDNA origin] injection (Apidra), denileukin diftitox (Ontak), and efalizumab (Raptiva).
Medscape Medical News

Metabolic Syndrome May Predict Depressive Symptoms

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 16:58:00 EST

In a prospective cohort study, metabolic syndrome, particularly the obesity and dyslipidemia components, predicted depressive symptoms.
Medscape Medical News

Childhood Physical Fitness May Be Linked With Less Obesity, Hypertension in Early Adulthood

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST

In the Oslo Youth Study, childhood physical fitness had some inverse associations with obesity and blood pressure in early adulthood but much less so in middle age.
Medscape Medical News

FDA Safety Changes: Apidra, Ontak, Raptiva

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST

The FDA has approved revisions to the safety labeling for insulin glulisine [rDNA origin] injection (Apidra), denileukin diftitox (Ontak), and efalizumab (Raptiva).
Medscape Medical News

Metabolic Syndrome May Predict Depressive Symptoms

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST

In a prospective cohort study, metabolic syndrome, particularly the obesity and dyslipidemia components, predicted depressive symptoms.
Medscape Medical News

No Antiarrhythmic Protection With Fish Oil, New Meta-Analysis Shows

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST

Fish oil supplementation is associated with a significant reduction in death from cardiac causes but has no significant effect on arrhythmias, a new meta-analysis has shown.
Medscape Medical News

FDA OKs New Acne Gel Epiduo

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 17:04:37 EST

Epiduo used once a day combines two acne treatments: benzoyl peroxide and a retinoid.
WebMD Health News

Health Spending Slows, but Will It Last?

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 17:15:00 EST

A slowdown in prescription drug spending is welcome news, but may be short-lived.
WebMD Health News

New Appropriateness Guidelines for Revascularizations Offer Help for 180 Possible Scenarios

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 17:22:34 EST

The document comes amid growing debate over when physicians should or should not move ahead with either PCI or surgery.
Heartwire

Framework for Experimental Drug Use in Terminally Ill Patients

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 13:48:00 EST

Terminally ill patients are often willing to try experimental therapies but are ineligible for clinical trials. A new framework offers strategies for access to experimental compounds, and attempts to balance the interests of patients, manufacturers, and society.
Medscape Medical News

Universal Primer PCR Test May Aid in Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 16:23:00 EST

A prospective study showed that universal primer polymerase chain reaction was accurate in diagnosing neonatal sepsis before but not after antibiotic therapy.
Medscape Medical News

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness More Common in Obese Children With Habitual Snoring

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 16:32:03 EST

A study shows that the likelihood of excessive daytime sleepiness in obese children is greater vs nonobese children at any given level of severity of obstructive sleep apnea.
Medscape Medical News

Second-Generation Antipsychotics Not All Superior to Older Drugs

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST

In a current meta-analysis, only half of second-generation antipsychotic medications were found to be more effective for schizophrenia and reduce symptomatic relapse vs first-generation drugs.
Medscape Medical News