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In this issue: Antiviral drugs and birth defects, bisphosphonates and esophageal cancer, naltrexone plus bupropion for weight loss, 2010-11 influenza vaccine, FDA Actions.
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In a large, well-designed observational study of patients with COPD, treatment with β-blockers during a mean follow-up period of 7.2 years was found not only to reduce the risk of exacerbations, but also to improve survival.
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Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of incident heart failure in community-dwelling middle-aged and older men, but not in women.
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Use of simply obtained historical, physical, and laboratory data can distinguish gout from other forms of arthritis in many patients and avoid joint aspiration.
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The FDA has approved the combination of dutasteride (DUT) and tamsulosin (TAM) in a single capsule. Dutasteride is a 5-a reductase inhibitor and tamsulosin is an a-adrenergic antagonist. The combination is marketed by GlaxoSmithKline as Jalyn™.
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Of late, there has been a renaissance of interest in identification and management of hypogonadism in older men.
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The addition of CACS to a prediction model based upon the traditional risk factors significantly improved the classification of risk and helped to place more individuals in their appropriate risk categories.
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The ECG shown above was obtained from a 77-year-old woman with chest discomfort and a permanent pacemaker. Do you see any abnormality on this paced tracing?
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Aggressive approach to CVD reduces MI, folic acid and vitamin B12 for CAD, corticosteroids for acute exacerbations of COPD, prescription drug abuse among young adults, and ARBs and cancer risk.
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A systematic review of 9 studies showed that the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib and ibuprofen cause less upper GI bleeding than other NSAIDs. Diclofenac, meloxicam, ketoprofen, indomethacin, and naproxen have intermediate risk. Piroxicam and ketorolac have the highest risk. In general, drugs that have a long half-life or slow-release formulation have the greatest risk of GI bleeding.