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Cardiology
The presence of treatment-resistant hypertension implies an increased cardiovascular risk and can be caused or favoured by old age, obesity, diabetes and chronic renal diseases. In order to effectively face this situation, endothelin was considered, a powerful vasoconstrictor, which can have an important role in resistant hypertension: darusetan, not approved by FDA yet, is an experimental endothelin antagonist.
MedNews - Tue, 31 August 2010
http://mn.medsurfnews.com/
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Oncology
After 1998, there has been a higher and higher intake of folic acid, because of some trials showing the importance of this substance in the prevention of neural tube defects, and following the fashion of these prescriptions the prophylactic indication has been spread also to the prevention of cardiovascular events (through the reduction of homocysteine levels), even if there is no evidence showing benefits in this indication.
MedNews - Tue, 31 August 2010
http://mn.medsurfnews.com/
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Urology
Since independently from the use of PSA the number of diagnosed prostate cancers is increasing, there is the problem to choose the least possible radical surgical approach; so, the interest towards laparoscopic techniques, robot-assisted or not, which should ensure a lower incidence of secondary effects than traditional retropubic surgery, is increasing.
MedNews - Tue, 31 August 2010
http://mn.medsurfnews.com/
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Nephrology
Patients with chronic renal failure under dialysis treatment present high risks of mortality for cardiovascular causes. In order to verify whether also general mortality is increased, a cohort of 120,000 subjects recently enrolled in a dialysis program (average age 63; 61% males) in nine European countries has been studied.
MedNews - Tue, 31 August 2010
http://mn.medsurfnews.com/
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Dermatology
In this issue of the Archives, Ryan et al1 report the results of a well-designed prospective controlled study of patients with psoriasis from an outpatient dermatology department based in Dublin, Ireland. The UV-mediated increase in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was assessed in 30 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis at baseline, after 4 weeks, and on completion of treatment with narrowband UV-B (NB–UV-B) therapy during wintertime and compared with a control group of patients who had not been treated with phototherapy.
Archives of Dermatology - Tue, 31 August 2010
http://archderm.ama-assn.org/
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Cardiology
What Is Important and to Whom?
The association between procedural volume and short-term mortality has been repeatedly demonstrated for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.1-3 By virtue of this association it has been proposed that procedural volume, which can be easily measured, be used as a surrogate for quality, which is difficult to define and measure.
Archives of Internal Medicine - Tue, 31 August 2010
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/
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Neurology
Minocycline is a clinically available antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drug that also demonstrates neuroprotective properties in a variety of experimental models of neurological diseases. There have thus far been more than 300 publications on minocycline neuroprotection including a growing number of human studies. Our objective is to critically review the biological basis and translational potential of this action of minocycline on the nervous system.
Archives of Neurology - Tue, 31 August 2010
http://archneur.ama-assn.org/
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Ophthalmology
Retinal ganglion cells are usually not able to regenerate their axons after optic nerve injury or degenerative disorders, resulting in lifelong visual loss. This situation can be partially reversed by activating the intrinsic growth state of retinal ganglion cells, maintaining their viability, and counteracting inhibitory signals in the extracellular environment. Advances during the past few years continue to extend the amount of regeneration that can be achieved in animal models. These findings give hope that clinically meaningful regeneration may become a reality within a few years if regenerating axons can be guided to their appropriate destinations.
Archives of Ophthalmology - Tue, 31 August 2010
http://archopht.ama-assn.org/
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Pediatrics
Because scientists who evaluate the association or causal relationship of chronic hunger with child well-being are not able to reliably measure this sensation over time, the measure of food security/insecurity has become the criterion standard in such research.
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine - Tue, 31 August 2010
http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/
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Obstetrics and Gynecology
When a couple decides to have a child, it is important for the future mom to be in optimal condition, both physically and emotionally, said a maternal fetal medicine expert from Baylor College of Medicine . "There are a lot of different elements of a woman's health that ideally ought to be taken into account before she tries to get pregnant," said Dr. Kjersti Aagaard , assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and maternal-fetal medicine at BCM. An option is participation in a preconception consultation with an obstetrician, general practitioner, genetic counselor, or midwife to discuss genetic and medical history, work and home environment, nutritional intake and lifestyle behaviors, Aagaard said. Genetic history A complete family history can help identify elevated risks for disease and/or pregnancy complications, Aagaard said.
Baylor College of Medicine - Tue, 31 August 2010
http://www.bcm.edu