News

The recent discovery of the protein, HVCN1, may provide some insight into the mechanics of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and certain types of cancer.

Patients with advanced knee arthritis tend to experience successful pain relief and improved function with total knee replacement surgery, according to the results of a study presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthapaedic Surgeons.

Over-testing is one of the big stories in healthcare right now. David Lubin, MD, wonders when the screenings and over-testing became "the standard of care."

In a phase II study, eprotirome was shown to be both safe and effective in lowering cholesterol without classic thyroid risks, however it is not known whether this lowering of cholesterol will ultimately protect patients from heart disease.

Purchases of cholesterol and diabetes prescription drugs by elderly Medicare beneficiaries reached nearly $19 billion in 2007 – about 1/4 of the approximately $82 billion spent for medications for the elderly.

Carbamazepine has long been a mainstay of epilepsy pharmacotherapy. However, this agent is not without problems, such as significant rashes and strong hepatic enzyme induction.

A treatment for opioid-induced constipation (OIC) will be advanced into late stage clinical development by Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (www.progenics.com)

Mindfulness meditation intervention may be helpful in reducing pain ratings and sensitivity, according to results of a study published in The Journal of Pain (March).

Unless patients with IBS exhibit "alarming" symptoms, extra colonoscopies are not needed, as they are not at an increased risk for polyps, inflammatory bowel diseases, and/or cancer.

The market for retail health clinics is expected to expand more than 30 percent by 2014, signaling a major opportunity for physicians. Here are three ways in which you can take advantage of this growth trend.

A lack of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid may be the cause of cognitive problems in patients with schizophrenia.

The positive results of the first skin transplant for vitiligo in the United States may mean the beginning of a new treatment option for patients who have yet to find a solution for the problem.

Guidelines place greater emphasis on patients making informed decisions.

The enzyme calmodium kinase II reduces the heart's negative functions while maintaining positive ones, making the enzyme a potential new treatment for heart arrhythmias and failure.

Depressed real estate prices have made private islands an affordable alternative to mainland waterfront property. They'll still set you back six figures, however.

Use the negative financial climate to your advantage when choosing a new banking partner. These ten questions will help you determine whether the banks on your short list can handle your needs.

If you haven't kept your New Years' resolution to rebalance your portfolio, its mix might be seriously out of kilter. You need to right the ship to reduce risk.

Many pediatricians see the treatment of severe, chronic pain as the responsibility of other physicians, according to a new study in the Journal of Palliative Medicine.

Researchers at the medical College of Georgia recently examined the link between diabetes, treatment for the condition, and eating disorders.

We're keeping an eye on the FDA. The following 6 items outline recent actions by the FDA concerning patients with cancer.

I've written about Google Health in the past, and have been watching the development of both the Google tool and Microsoft's HealthVault.

Information about four different types of medications are provided here, cortisol-inhibiting medications that may be used for the treatment of Cushing's Syndrome.

This one-credit CME activity examines the benefits and risks of medical therapy for pituitary tumors, comorbid conditions associated with both Cushing's and acromegaly.

According to this study's authors, physicians do not always check for sarcoidosis after Cushing's, and suggest that checking for the illness may be necessary, because it can missed.

This study examined how often pseuodotumor cerebri occurs after successful surgery for Cushing's disease.

This study determined that posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe procedure for patients with Cushing's syndrome.

This trial will determine if a new imaging technique will be able to localize the source of ectopic ACTH production.

This trial aims to determine if patients who have had Cushing's syndrome in the past maintain characteristics that are different than patients who have never been diagnosed with the disease.

This clinical trial will evaluate the presence of recurrent or persistent Cushing's in patients who have undergone primary treatment for the condition.

This video from the Stanford Pituitary Center includes a discussion of Cushing's Syndrome as part of a larger presentation on the pituitary gland.