Internal Medicine Alert – November 15, 2008
November 15, 2008
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Vitamin D Levels and the Risk of Mortality in the General Population
Correlating the findings in the 13,331 adults 20 years or older in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) revealed that vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease and is associated with increased all-cause mortality. -
An Update on Tiotropium for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Among almost 6000 patients with COPD who were using other classes of respiratory therapies, the addition of tiotropium, compared with placebo, was associated with improvements in lung function, quality of life, and exacerbations during a 4-year period, but did not result in benefits in the rate of decline in FEV1. -
Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent Recombinant Vaccine (Gardasil®)
The FDA has extended the approval for the Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent Recombinant Vaccine to include the prevention of vaginal and vulvar cancer. The vaccine, originally approved in 2006, is already approved for the prevention of cervical cancer and genital warts. -
Clinical Briefs By Louis Kuritzky, MD
Opinions on the consequences of marijuana use are wide-ranging: Some experts express grave concern that it may induce COPD, increase risk of lung cancer, promote the emergence of schizophrenia, and lead to "heavy drug" use; others essentially dismiss these (potential) adversities as inadequately established to permit accusations that marijuana has any commonplace serious adverse effects. -
ECG Review: A Fast Heart with Chest Pain
The patient whose 12-lead ECG and rhythm strip is shown above had chest discomfort at the time this tracing was recorded. In light of this history, how do you interpret the tracing? -
Pharmacology Watch
Ongoing safety review of tiotropium; raloxifene reduces the risk of endometrial cancer; one-day treatment with famciclovir may be as effective as 3-day treatment with valacyclovir; new Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians regarding pharmacologic treatment for low bone density and osteoporosis; FDA Actions.