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Cardiology
In this meta-analysis, rosiglitazone, a peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor agonist used for glucose control in type 2 diabetes, was found to be associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and death from cardiovascular causes. These findings raise safety concerns, but further analyses of patient-level data are needed to draw definitive conclusions.
New England Journal of Medicine - Thu, 14 June 2007
http://www.nejm.org
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Obstetrics and Gynecology
Echinocandins are emerging as important new therapeutic agents for the treatment of candida infections. In this randomized, double-blind, international, multicenter study, anidulafungin was shown to be noninferior to fluconazole in the treatment of invasive candidiasis.
New England Journal of Medicine - Thu, 14 June 2007
http://www.nejm.org
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Pediatrics
Invasive candida infections are an important cause of morbidity in low-birth-weight infants (<1500 g). In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 322 infants received either placebo or fluconazole from birth until day 30 of life (day 45 for neonates who weighed <1000 g at birth). The incidence of invasive fungal infections was 13.2% in the placebo group and 3.2% in the fluconazole groups combined; the difference was statistically significant.
New England Journal of Medicine - Thu, 14 June 2007
http://www.nejm.org
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Hematology
Five-year leukaemia-free survival rates in children are similar after either allele-matched bone-marrow transplantation or transplantation of umbilical cord blood.
The Lancet - Thu, 14 June 2007
http://www.thelancet.com
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Transplant Surgery
Initiatives to dramatically increase the legal supply of organ donation, such as the proposal for the European Union (EU) - wide donor card, are urgently needed to prevent organ trafficking.
The Lancet - Thu, 14 June 2007
http://www.thelancet.com
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Obstetrics and Gynecology
Giving misoprostol under the tongue (sublingually) is most effective when taken in three-hour intervals, although this can cause more side effects than when taken every 12 hours.
The Lancet - Thu, 14 June 2007
http://www.thelancet.com
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General Surgery
The study hypothesized that lung-volume reduction surgery for pulmonary emphysema would improve body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity (BODE) index, a multidimensional predictor of survival in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery - Thu, 14 June 2007
http://jtcs.ctsnetjournals.org/
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General Surgery
Elderly patients are at high risk of both abnormal hematocrit values and cardiovascular complications of noncardiac surgery. Despite nearly universal screening of patients for abnormal preoperative hematocrit levels, limited evidence demonstrates the adverse effects of preoperative anemia or polycythemia.
Journal of the American Medical Association - Thu, 14 June 2007
http://jama.ama-assn.org/
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Cardiology
The study sought to determine whether nonresponsiveness to clopidogrel as revealed by high in vitro post-treatment platelet reactivity is predictive of drug-eluting stent (DES) thrombosis.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology - Thu, 14 June 2007
http://content.onlinejacc.org/
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Cardiology
This study investigated whether reduced levels of circulating endothelial progenitors cells (EPCs) in chronic heart failure (CHF) are secondary to an exhaustion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the bone marrow or to reduced mobilization.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology - Thu, 14 June 2007
http://content.onlinejacc.org/