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Recent reports in Science and Medicine for October 2005

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). An "*" indicates a recommended article.

:::::::       October 31      :::::::      
  1. JAMA Vol. 294 No. 16, pp. 1993-2122, October 26, 2005
    • Supplemental Perioperative Oxygen and the Risk of Surgical Wound Infection: A Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA. 2005;294:2035-2042.
    • Changing Epidemiology of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Among Older Adults in the Era of Pediatric Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine. JAMA. 2005;294:2043-2051. [Medscape]
    • Relevance of Urine Telomerase in the Diagnosis of Bladder Cancer. JAMA. 2005;294:2052-2056.
    • Predictors and Prevalence of Paraganglioma Syndrome Associated With Mutations of the SDHC Gene. JAMA. 2005;294:2057-2063.
    • Reviews: Suicide Prevention Strategies: A Systematic Review. JAMA. 2005;294:2064-2074.
    • The Patents-Based Pharmaceutical Development Process: Rationale, Problems, and Potential Reforms. JAMA. 2005;294:2075-2082.
    • Improving Relations Between Attorneys and Physicians. JAMA. 2005;294:2083-2085.
    • Provision or Distribution of Growth Hormone for "Antiaging": Clinical and Legal Issues. JAMA. 2005;294:2086-2090. [Medscape]
    • Editorials: Increasing Inspired Oxygen to Decrease Surgical Site Infection: Time to Shift the Quality Improvement Research Paradigm.. JAMA. 2005;294:2091-2092.
    • From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
      • Trends in Cholesterol Screening and Awareness of High Blood Cholesterol—United States, 1991-2003. JAMA. 2005;294:2021-2022.
      • Direct and Indirect Effects of Routine Vaccination of Children With 7-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine on Incidence of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease—United States, 1998-2003. JAMA. 2005;294:2022-2026.
      • Hurricane Katrina Response and Guidance for Health-Care Providers, Relief Workers, and Shelter Operators. JAMA. 2005;294:2026.
:::::::       October 28       :::::::    
  :::::::  Weekend Reading - Basic Science and general interest articles  :::::::  
 
  1. FDA News
    • FDA Approvals: [Medscape]
      • Hyzaar (losartan + HCTZ) approved a new 100-mg/12.5-mg dose
      • Levemir (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] SQ) expanded indication for once- or twice-daily use in the management of type 1 diabetes mellitus in pediatric patients.
      • NovoLog/Novolin R (insulin aspart [recombinant] + human insulin [recombinant]) intravenous injection of the products under proper medical supervision in a clinical setting for glycemic control.
    • FDA Safety Labeling Changes: [Medscape] intravenous administration for
      • Mifeprex (mifepristone) warningof the rare risk of serious bacterial infection (eg, Clostridium sordellii), including rare cases of fatal septic shock, associated with its us
      • Flovent Diskus (fluticasone) warning against its use in patients receiving concurrent ritonavir therapy.
      • Enbrel (etanercept) warning against its use in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis who receive immunosuppressive agents and in patients who receive concurrent cyclophosphamide therapy.
    • FDA MedWatch: [Medscape]
      • Cylert and generic pemoline products. FDA has concluded that the overall risk of liver toxicity from pemoline outweighs the benefits of this drug. All generic companies have also agreed to stop sales and marketing of this product. Cylert, a central nervous system stimulant indicated for the treatment of ADHD, is considered second line therapy because of its association with life threatening hepatic failure. Cylert will remain available through pharmacies and wholesalers until supplies are exhausted. No additional product will be available.
  2. *   CDC:
  3. Threat of flu pandemic [BMJ review - registration required]
  4. Editorial: Left behind: the legacy of hurricane Katrina. BMJ 2005;331:916-918 (22 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7522.916. [Eurekalert]
  5. Tuberculosis, Bronchiectasis, and Infertility: What Ailed George Orwell? Clinical Infectious Diseases 1 December 2005 [IDSA news]
  6. Chromatin Remodeling Is a Key Mechanism Underlying Cocaine-Induced Plasticity in Striatum. Neuron, Vol 48, 303-314, 20 October 2005. [ news release ]
  7. *   Cooperative effects of Rho and mechanical stretch on stress fiber organization. PNAS published October 24, 2005. [Eureklaert: Researchers learn how blood vessel cells cope with their pressure-packed job.]
  8. Marathoners Warned About Too Much Water. [NYT Science By Gina Kolata , Published: October 20, 2005]
:::::::       October  27      :::::::      
  1. Mortality After Acute Myocardial Infarction in Hospitals That Disproportionately Treat Black Patients. Circulation 2005 112: 2634 - 264. [Medscape]
  2. Sildenafil Inhibits ß-Adrenergic–Stimulated Cardiac Contractility in Humans. Circulation 2005 112: 2642 - 2649.
  3. Relation between dietary n–3 and n–6 fatty acids and clinically diagnosed dry eye syndrome in women. Am J Clin Nutr 2005 82: 887-893. [Eurekalert]
  4. Cutting Edge: Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Is Necessary for Progression of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis. J Immunol 2005 175: 5611-5614. [Eurekalert: Multiple sclerosis progression linked to immune-cell substance]
  5. Longitudinal Changes in Post-Void Residual and Voided Volume Among Community Dwelling Men. Journal of Urology 2005; 174. [Medscape: Bladder problems increase in men as they age]
  6. Strategy of Following Voriconazole versus Amphotericin B Therapy with Other Licensed Antifungal Therapy for Primary Treatment of Invasive Aspergillosis: Impact of Other Therapies on Outcome. CID 2005;41:1448-1452. [Eurekalert]
:::::::       October  26      :::::::      
  1. JAMA-EXPRESS Early release - Effect of Muraglitazar on Death and Major Cardiovascular Events. [Medscape]
  2. Archives of Internal Medicine Vol. 165 No. 19, pp. 2183-2304, October 24, 2005
:::::::       October  25      :::::::      
  1. *   Tositumomab and Iodine-131 Tositumomab Produces Durable Complete Remissions in a Subset of Heavily Pretreated Patients With Low-Grade and Transformed Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas. JCO Oct 20 2005: 7565–7573. [Eurekalert]
  2. *  Impact of Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Prophylaxis on Falciparum Malaria Infection and Disease. J Inf Dis 2005;192:1823-1829. [Eurekalert]
  3. Cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator gene carrier status is a risk factor for young onset pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Gut 2005; 54: 1661-1662. [Eurekalert]
  4. Television Viewing in Early Childhood Predicts Adult Body Mass Index. J Pedi 2005; 147: 429-435. [Eurekalert]
  5. Links between Parents' and Girls' Television Viewing Behaviors: A Longitudinal Examination. J Pedi 2005; 147: 436-442.
  6. Relation between dietary n–3 and n–6 fatty acids and clinically diagnosed dry eye syndrome in women. Am J Clin Nutr 2005 82: 887-893. [Eurekalert]
  7. Colorectal carcinoma screening procedure use among primary care patients . Cancer 2005;104:1356-1361. [Medscape]
  8. Age at retirement and long term survival of an industrial population: prospective cohort study. BMJ, doi:10.1136 published 21 October 2005. [Eurekalert]
  9. Comparison of the Effects of Vitamins and/or Mineral Supplementation on Glomerular and Tubular Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care 2005;28:2458-2464. [Medscape]
:::::::       October  24      :::::::      
  1. Should β blockers remain first choice in the treatment of primary hypertension? A meta-analysis. The Lancet Early Online Publication, 18 October 2005. [Eurekalert]
  2. New England Journal of Medicine   |  Volume 353 October 20, 2005 Number 16
:::::::       October 21       :::::::    
  :::::::  Weekend Reading - Basic Science and general interest articles  :::::::  
 
  1. FDA Approvals: [Medscape]
    • Aromasin (exemestane ) approval of a new indication allowing its use for the treatment of estrogen receptor–positive invasive early breast cancer after two to three years of initial adjuvant tamoxifen therapy in postmenopausal women.
    • Norvir (ritonavir) dosing recommendations for pediatric patients aged one month to two years.
    • Helixate/Kogenate FS (antihemophilic factor VIII [recombinant] injection) approval of new storage guidelines allowing storage at room temperature (77°F, 25°C) for up to three months.
  2. FDA Approvals: [Medscape]
    • Havrix (hepatitis A vaccine) allowing its use in children aged 12 months and older. The vaccine was previously approved for use in children and adolescents aged 2 to 18 years.
    • Venofer (sucrose injection) allowing its use for the treatment of iron-deficiency anemia in peritoneal dialysis-dependent patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are receiving erythropoietin therapy.
    • Allegra (fexofenadine) approved for once-daily use in the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria in adult and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older.
  3. FDA Medwatch :
  4. FDA Update on Influenza Vaccine Supply
  5. * Eighth Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study Released; 2006 ratings of 5,000 hospitals launched at HealthGrades.com. [Eurekalert]
  6. * WWOX gene restoration prevents lung cancer growth in vitro and in vivo. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 10.1073/pnas.0505485102 online publication. [Press release] [ news release ]
  7. Timing of the brain events underlying access to consciousness during the attentional blink. Nature Neuroscience 2005; 8: 1391 - 1400. [news release]
  8. * T cells targeted against a single minor histocompatibility antigen can cure solid tumors. Nature Medicine Published online: 16 October 2005 [Eurekalert]
  9. Synthesis and properties of crosslinked recombinant pro-resilin. Nature 2005 doi: 10.1038/nature04085. [Nature's Super-Rubber Made in Lab. ScienceNOW report]
  10. An interstitial deletion-insertion involving chromosomes 2p25.3 and Xq27.1, near SOX3, causes X-linked recessive hypoparathyroidism. J. Clin. Invest. 2005 115: 2822-2831. [Eurekalert]
  11. Don’t be stupid about intelligent design. J. Clin. Invest. 2005 115: 2586.
  12. Transvenous Access to the Pericardial Space: An Approach to Epicardial Lead Implantation for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy. Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology (PACE 2005; 28:1018-1024). [* Eurekalert: a medical-student researcher developed a technique that--at least in pigs--overcomes the procedure's main shortcomings]
:::::::       October  20      :::::::      
  1. JAMA   Vol. 294   No. 15   October 19, 2005
  2. * Slow Breathing Improves Arterial Baroreflex Sensitivity and Decreases Blood Pressure in Essential Hypertension. Hypertension 2005;46:714-718. [Medscape]
  3. Prevalence and Correlates of Perceived Societal Racism in Older African-American Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. J Am Ger Soc 2005; online early publication. [Eurekalert]
:::::::       October  19      :::::::      
  1. *  Derivation and Validation of a Prognostic Model for Pulmonary Embolism. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2005; 172: 1041-1046. [Eurekalert]
  2. Melatonin improves abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome patients who have sleep disturbances: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study. Gut. 2005;54:1402-1407. [Medscape]
  3. Association Between a Dopamine-4 Receptor Polymorphism and Blood Pressure. Am J Hypertension 2005; 18: 1206-1210. [Eurekalert]
  4. Chest. 2005;128:2130-2137. [Medscape]
  5. MMWR: Adult Immunization Schedule for 2005-2006
  6. Annals of Internal Medicine 18 October 2005 Volume 143 Issue 8

 

:::::::       October  18      :::::::      
  1. *   Effect of BCG vaccination on risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in children with household tuberculosis contact: a prospective community-based study. The Lancet Early Online Publication, 13 October 2005 (registration required) [Medscape report from The Lancet]
  2. Infliximab induction and maintenance therapy for moderate-to-severe psoriasis: a phase III, multicentre, double-blind trial. The Lancet 2005; 366:1367-1374.(limited access) [Eurekalert]
  3. New England Journal of Medicine Volume 353 October 13, 2005 Number 15
:::::::       October  17      :::::::      
  1. JAMA Vol. 294   No. 14   October 12, 2005
    1. Trends in Serum Lipids and Lipoproteins of Adults, 1960-2002. JAMA. 2005;294:1773-1781.
    2. Incidence of End-stage Renal Disease in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes. JAMA. 2005;294:1782-1787.
    3. Early Experience With Pay-for-Performance: From Concept to Practice. JAMA. 2005;294:1788-1793.
    4. Impact of Candesartan on Nonfatal Myocardial Infarction and Cardiovascular Death in Patients With Heart Failure. JAMA. 2005;294:1794-1798.
    5. Plasma Fibrinogen Level and the Risk of Major Cardiovascular Diseases and Nonvascular Mortality: An Individual Participant Meta-analysis. Fibrinogen Studies Collaboration*. JAMA. 2005;294:1799-1809.
    6. Perspectives on Care at the Close of Life: Palliative Sedation in Dying Patients: "We Turn to It When Everything Else Hasn’t Worked" JAMA. 2005;294:1810-1816.
    7. Legal Concerns and the Influenza Vaccine Shortage. JAMA. 2005;294:1817-1820.
    8. Editorials: Pay-for-Performance Research: How to Learn What Clinicians and Policy Makers Need to Know. JAMA. 2005;294:1821-1823.
:::::::       October 14       :::::::    
  :::::::  Weekend Reading - Basic Science and general interest articles  :::::::  
 
  1. FDA Safety Labeling Changes: [Medscape]
    • Vytorin (estizimibe/simvastatin tablets) to advise of certain drug interactions with the simvastatin component that increase the risk of myopathy and/or rhabdomylosis.
    • Topamax (topiramate) to advise of new clinical trial data regarding the risks of metabolic acidosis and neuropsychiatric adverse events associated with its use.
  2. Carboxylated Glycans Mediate Colitis through Activation of NF-B. J Immunol 2005 175: 5412-5422. [Eurekalert: Antibody to a naturally-occurring sugar chain in colon inhibits inflammatory bowel disease]
  3. *  EGFR Activation Mediates Inhibition of Axon Regeneration by Myelin and Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans. Science, Vol 310, Issue 5745, 106-110 , 7 October 2005. [ScienceNOW]
  4. *   Germinal center exclusion of autoreactive B cells is defective in human systemic lupus erythematosus. JCI Online published October 6, 2005. 10.1172/JCI24179
  5. *   Transactivation of CXCR4 by IGF-1R in human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer epithelial cells. J Biol Chem. 2005 Sep 19; [Epub ahead of print]. [NewScientist: Survival trick of loose cancer cells]
  6. *  New class of antibiotics effective against drug-resistant bacteria discovered in fungi. [Eurekalert and ScinceNOW report from Nature]
  7. *  "Painless" basic science learning [Podcasts of recent scientific advances]
  8. News: Chiron Hopes to Ship Flu Vaccine Within Days [Medscape]
  9. FDA Talk Paper: FDA Awards Contracts on Databases of Adverse Effects of Marketed Drugs Ability to Monitor Approved Drugs Enhanced
:::::::       October  13      :::::::      
  1. Archives of Internal Medicine Vol. 165 No. 18, October 10, 2005
:::::::       October  12      :::::::      
  1. Headaches and the Treatment of Blood Pressure: Results From a Meta-Analysis of 94 Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials With 24 000 Participants. Circulation 2005 112: 2301 - 2306. [Medscape]
:::::::       October  11      :::::::      
  1. New England Journal of Medicine   Volume 353 October 6, 2005 Number 14
  2. The effect of trauma center designation and trauma volume on outcome in specific severe injuries. Annals of Surgery 2005;242: 512-519. [Eurekalert]
  3. *   Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the risk of oral cancer: a nested case-control study. The Lancet Early Online Publication, 7 October 2005. [Eurekalert]
:::::::       October  10      :::::::      
  1. *  Impaired Insulin Sensitivity as an Independent Risk Factor for Mortality in Patients With Stable Chronic Heart Failure . J Am Coll Cardiol 2005;46:1019-1028. [Medscape]
  2. *  Improvement in Blood Pressure With Inhibition of the Epithelial Sodium Channel in Blacks With Hypertension. Hypertension 2005 46: 481-487. [Eurekalert]
  3. *  Hypoxic stress in diabetic pregnancy contributes to impaired embryo gene expression and defective development by inducing oxidative stress. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 289: E591-E599, 2005. [Eurekalert]
  4. Preventing Communication Errors in Telephone Medicine. J Gen Int Med 2005; 20: 959-963. [Eurekalert]
  5. The neglected epidemic of chronic disease. The Lancet Early Online Publication, 5 October 2005 (requires registration/subscription)
    • Preventing chronic diseases: how many lives can we save? Lancet 2005; published online Oct 5
    • Preventing chronic diseases: taking stepwise action. Lancet 2005; published online Oct 5
    • Responding to the threat of chronic diseases in India. Lancet 2005; published online Oct 5
    • Preventing chronic diseases in China. Lancet 2005; published online Oct 5
    • Leisure-time physical activity at midlife and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Lancet Neurology Early Online Publication, 4 October 2005
:::::::       October 7       :::::::    
  :::::::  Weekend Reading - Basic Science and general interest articles  :::::::  
 
  1. FDA Safety Labeling Changes: [Medscape]
    • Raptiva (efalizumab) risks of immune-related hemolytic anemia, serious infection, thrombocytopenia, and psoriatic worsening associated with its use.
    • Xeloda (capecitabine) risk of severe diarrhea associated with its use, particularly in the elderly.
  2. FDA Medwatch:
  3. Leo Sternbach, 97, Valium Creator, Dies. [New York Times Obituary]
  4. *   The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2005 awarded to Barry J. Marshall and J. Robin Warren for their discovery of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori and its role in gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. [Investigators website] [New Scientist] [NPR audio file]
  5. Maintenance of B cell anergy requires constant antigen receptor occupancy and signaling. Nature Immunology Published online: 2 October 2005 [Eurekalert: A newly described T helper cell is the culprit for initiating chronic inflammation and autoimmunity in a variety of body tissues.] . (news release) [Science Daily]
  6. Prefrontal white matter in pathological liars. Br J Psychiatry 2005 187: 320-325. [New Scientist: The brains of pathological liars have structural abnormalities.] [BBC News]
  7. Long-term renewal of hair follicles from clonogenic multipotent stem cells. PNAS published October 3, 2005, [Eurekalert: Hair-raising stem cells identified]
  8. Merck investigational vaccine GARDASIL prevented 100 percent of cervical pre- & non-invasive cancers. Phase III study will be presented for the first time at IDSA. Gardasil™ HPV Vaccine Reduced Infection and Disease in New Clinical Study. a Phase II study published for the first time in The Lancet Oncology. [Medscape and Eurekalert]
  9. Influenza:
  :::::::       October  6      :::::::      
  1. Comparison of Pharmacological Treatments for Opioid-Dependent Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005;62:1157-1164.
  2. * Nocturnal hemodialysis is associated with restoration of impaired endothelial progenitor cell biology in end-stage renal disease. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 289: F679-F684, 2005. [news report]
  3. JAMA Vol. 294 No. 13, pp. 1589-1722, October 5, 2005
  :::::::       October  5      :::::::      
  1. *   Coronary Calcium Independently Predicts Incident Premature Coronary Heart Disease Over Measured Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Mean Three-Year Outcomes in the Prospective Army Coronary Calcium (PACC) Project. J Am Coll Cardiol 2005 46: 807-814. [Medscape ]
  2. Should Resistance Testing Be Performed for Treatment-Naive HIV-Infected Patients? A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis. Clin Inf Dis 2005;41:4109. [IDSA Report]
  3. The Association of Gastrointestinal Symptoms With Weight, Diet, and Exercise in Weight-Loss Program Participants. Clin Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2005; 3[Eurekalert ]
  4. Annals of Internal Medicine 4 October 2005 Volume 143 Issue 7
  ::::::       October  4      :::::::      
  1. Effect of sublingual misoprostol on severe postpartum haemorrhage in a primary health centre in Guinea-Bissau: randomised double blind clinical trial. BMJ 2005;331:723. [Medscape]
  2. Comparison of the Effects of Vitamins and/or Mineral Supplementation on Glomerular and Tubular Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care 2005 28: 2458-2464. [Medscape]
  3. Monotonicity of Nerve Tests in Diabetes: Subclinical nerve dysfunction precedes diagnosis of polyneuropathy. Diabetes Care 2005 28: 2192-2200. [Eurekalert]
  4. Chronic Arthritis Down-Regulates Peripheral u-Opioid Receptor Expression With Concomitant Loss of Endomorphin 1 Antinociception," Arthritis & Rheumatism, October 2005; 52:10; pp. 3210-3219. [Eurekalert]
  5. Effect of Initial Corticosteroid Therapy on Coronary Artery Aneurysm Formation in Kawasaki Disease: A Meta-analysis of 862 Children. Pediatrics 2005; 116: 989-995. [Euekalert]
  :::::::       October  3      :::::::      
  1. New England Journal of Medicine   Volume 353 September 29, 2005 Number 13
  2. *  Football Equipment Design Affects Face Mask Removal Efficiency. Am J Sports Med 2005 33: 1210-1219. (Med-News net report: Effective removal of face masks from players who sustain c-spine injuries)
  3. Identifying Pediatric Age Groups for Influenza Vaccination Using a Real-Time Regional Surveillance System. Am. J. Epidemiol. 2005 162: 686-693. [Eurekalert: Surveillance data suggest that preschoolers drive flu epidemics]
  4. Tacrolimus Ointment 0.03% Is Safe and Effective for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis in Pediatric Patients: Results From a Randomized, Double-Blind, Vehicle-Controlled Study. Pediatrics 2005; 116: e334-e342. [Medscape]

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