http://www.imng.com Elsevier Global Medical News Group has provided physician specialists with authoritative coverage of medical meetings, breaking medical news and analysis, clinical trial results, updates on drug prescribing, pertinent summaries of clinical guidelines, and perspective and opinion from medicine thought leaders. Copyright 2012 Elsevier Global Medical News. All rights reserved. en-us Sat, 19 May 2012 06:30:10 GMT InfoDesk http://media.ny.idsk.com/multimedia/logos/rsslogo_imng.gif http://www.imng.com http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051820121644542418.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 All adults born between 1945 and 1965 should have a one-time blood test for hepatitis C, according to recommendations proposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. BY ELIZABETH MECHCATIE Fri, 18 May 2012 20:44:54 GMT imn051820121644542418 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051720121719572377.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 Just as Sanofi-Aventis loses its exclusivity for its blockbuster drug Plavix (clopidogrel) this month, several generic formulations of the antiplatelet agent have been approved, the Food and Drug Administration announced on May 17. BY ELIZABETH MECHCATIE Thu, 17 May 2012 21:19:57 GMT imn051720121719572377 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051720121620592372.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 Combining the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib with the MEK inhibitor trametinib dramatically delays metastatic melanoma progression without the skin toxicities associated with vemurafenib therapy. BY PATRICE WENDLING Thu, 17 May 2012 20:21:05 GMT imn051720121620592372 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051720121548542369.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 The recently approved cancer drug crizotinib draws strong responses in children whose cancers have mutations in the gene targeted by the drug, according to early data from a phase I dose-escalating study. BY KERRI WACHTER Thu, 17 May 2012 19:48:54 GMT imn051720121548542369 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051720121404202356.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 The number of reported wild polio virus cases decreased by 52% worldwide, from 1,352 cases in 2010 to 650 cases in 2011, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. BY SHARON WORCESTER Thu, 17 May 2012 18:04:21 GMT imn051720121404202356 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051720121000502346.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 Many primary care physicians – and even some oncologists – are unaware of common long-term side effects of four widely used breast and colorectal cancer drugs, a national survey by the National Cancer Institute reveals. BY PATRICE WENDLING Thu, 17 May 2012 14:00:50 GMT imn051720121000502346 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051620121941512342.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 The shifting balance of data for and against broader use of statin treatment tilted again toward more liberal use, with results from a meta-analysis of more than 170,000 participants showing a clear, positive, overall effect from statin treatment in all types of adults, even those with a relatively low baseline risk for major vascular events. BY MITCHEL L. ZOLER Thu, 16 May 2012 23:41:51 GMT imn051620121941512342 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051620121846502339.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 Neoadjuvant abiraterone helped clear tumors in one-third of men with localized, high-risk prostate cancer in an ongoing randomized phase II trial, investigators report. BY PATRICE WENDLING Wed, 16 May 2012 22:46:50 GMT imn051620121846502339 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051620121828502338.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 The antipsychotic olanzapine trounced standard therapy for breakthrough chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in a clinical trial that could change the way some cancer patients are treated. BY KERRI WACHTER Wed, 16 May 2012 22:28:50 GMT imn051620121828502338 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051620121700152321.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 The Food and Drug Administration reviewed new drug applications significantly faster, and approved more new drugs first, than did its European and Canadian counterparts between 2001 and 2010. BY ELIZABETH MECHCATIE Wed, 16 May 2012 21:00:15 GMT imn051620121700152321 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051620121700152322.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 A small absolute increase in the risk of cardiovascular death occurs during a 5-day course of azithromycin therapy, according to a report in the May 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. BY MARY ANN MOON Wed, 16 May 2012 21:00:15 GMT imn051620121700152322 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051620121700162326.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 Drinking at least one cup of coffee daily may be linked to reduced mortality risks, and people who consume more may enjoy even lower risks, according to a report examining coffee consumption among more than 400,000 people in the May 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. BY MARY ANN MOON Wed, 16 May 2012 21:00:16 GMT imn051620121700162326 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051620121700172329.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 The risk of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy from natalizumab therapy appears to be greater than previously thought, being greatest in multiple sclerosis patients with certain risk factors, according to an updated analysis. BY ALICIA AULT Wed, 16 May 2012 21:00:17 GMT imn051620121700172329 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051520121650012282.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 BETHESDA, MD. (EGMN) – The first-ever primary prevention trial for Alzheimer’s disease will investigate whether immunotherapy can delay – or even stop – the disease in a group of subjects who are genetically destined to develop it. BY MICHELE G. SULLIVAN Tue, 15 May 2012 20:50:01 GMT imn051520121650012282 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051420121741592238.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 Routine exercise stress echocardiography may not be warranted in asymptomatic patients after coronary revascularization because even though it may identify those at high risk, this does not improve patient outcomes, according to a report published online May 14 in Archives of Internal Medicine. BY MARY ANN MOON Mon, 14 May 2012 21:41:59 GMT imn051420121741592238 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051420121634222234.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 An article titled “Athletes With ICDs Have a Sporting Chance for Safe Play,” published May 11, 2012, misstated the number of patients enrolled in the study and the number in the analysis. There were 372 patients enrolled in the study, of which 351 were in the analysis. The percentage of athletes with ICDs that received a shock from their device during competition or practice also was misstated. That figure should have been 10%. Mon, 14 May 2012 20:34:22 GMT imn051420121634222234 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051420121600022230.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 Exposure to “aged” secondhand smoke – even to a small amount and even for a brief time – impairs endothelial function, according to a report in the May 22 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. BY MARY ANN MOON Mon, 14 May 2012 20:00:02 GMT imn051420121600022230 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051120121541552177.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 BOSTON (EGMN) – An independent investigation by seven U.S. centers has shown that recently recalled Riata implantable cardioverter defibrillator leads are significantly more prone to failure than are leads made by a different manufacturer. BY NEIL OSTERWEIL Fri, 11 May 2012 19:41:55 GMT imn051120121541552177 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051120121206512158.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 BOSTON (EGMN) – Athletes with implantable cardioverter defibrillators may not need to be sidelined when the action gets fast and furious, say investigators in a multicenter study presented at the annual meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society. BY NEIL OSTERWEIL Fri, 11 May 2012 16:06:51 GMT imn051120121206512158 http://infoviewer.biz/infodisplay/story/imn051020122050292134.html?APP=7&CU=imn5804 SILVER SPRING, MD. (EGMN) – The majority of a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on May 10 supported the approval of lorcaserin, voting 18-4 with 1 abstention that the potential benefits of the centrally acting drug outweighed its potential risks as a long-term weight loss treatment in obese and overweight people. BY ELIZABETH MECHCATIE Fri, 11 May 2012 00:50:32 GMT imn051020122050292134