Tuesday, March 31, 2009

iPhone Medical News

iPhone Medical News

PEPID Is Embracing iPhone Platform

Posted: 31 Mar 2009 01:26 PM PDT

Pepid, a maker of information software that aids clinicians in their daily tasks, has ported its entire library of products to the iPhone platform.

The company provides details:

Currently, there are numerous channel applications available. Some contain drug information, some have minimal disease profiles, some have several calculators and there are even electronic textbooks. PEPID has achieved the ultimate all-in-one status by including 7,500 drug names, more than 3,000 diseases and conditions, differential diagnostics, illustrations, laboratory values and in excess of 2,000 medical calculators.

PEPID ED Platinum
PEPID Emergency Physician Platinum Suite saves you time and ensures you are making accurate patient-care decisions. Content is written for ED physicians and is easy to find without plowing through extra material you don't need.

PEPID PCP Platinum
PEPID Primary Care Physician Platinum Suite is the most comprehensive, integrated reference tool covering all specialties. PCP Platinum gives you everything you need to support quality care without leaving your patient's side.

PEPID RN Pro Platinum
PEPID Professional Nursing Platinum Suite gives nurses and advanced practice nurses an easy way to bring all the information they need to make accurate decisions at the bedside — improving quality, safety and efficiency of care.

PEPID RN ONS Platinum
Developed with the Oncology Nursing Society, PEPID Oncology Nursing Platinum Suite contains a drug database, dosing and IV drip rate calculators, drug interactions generator, PEP Cards, nursing considerations and more.

PEPID RNCC Platinum
With critical care assessments, fast access to drugs and drips, IV compatibility, symptom checker and nursing considerations, PEPID RN CC Platinum is the only tool that truly supports decisions when treating critically ill patients.

PEPID RN Gero Platinum
Get the leading electronic reference for gerontological nurses — PEPID RN Gero Platinum Suite. RN Gero Platinum gives you access to a drug database, lab manual, dosing calculators, drug interactions generator and assessments.

PEPID CRC Platinum
PEPID Clinical Rotation Companion Platinum is designed for medical students and includes a differential diagnosis generator, step-by-step processes for history and exams, dosing calculators and drug interactions generator.

PEPID RN Student Platinum
Designed for nurses-in-training, PEPID RN Student Platinum is a resource for classroom, lab and clinical settings with a lab manual, NANDA-I wizard, drug database, medical and dosing calculators and symptom checker.

PEPID EMS Plus NAEMSE
Developed with the National Association of EMS Educators, PEPID EMS contains everything you need to make decisions at the emergent scene or en route — drug database, medical reference, toxicology, illustrations and medical calculators.

PEPID PDC Platinum
PEPID Portable Drug Companion Platinum Suite contains 7,500 drug names, 3,000 drug-specific dosing and IV drip rate calculators, IV compatibility tool, drug interactions generator, symptom checker and laboratory manual.

Press release: iPhone Technology Steps up a Notch with PEPID

Link: PEPID on iPhone

Ins and Outs

Posted: 31 Mar 2009 11:12 AM PDT

Amniotic fluid may provide new source of stem cells for future therapies... [American Society of Hematology]
Benefits of Mammogram Under Debate in Britain... [NYTimes]
Electronic Health Records: Lessons from the iPhone... [MIT Tech Review]
Coronary Angiography May Improve Outcomes for Cardiac Arrest Patients... [University of Pittsburgh]
Infant Weight Gain Linked to Childhood Obesity... [Children's Hospital Boston]
A Proposal for a Coordinated Effort for the Determination of Brainwide Neuroanatomical Connectivity in Model Organisms at a Mesoscopic Scale... [PLoS Computational Biology]
FDA Approves Afinitor Oral Tablets (Everolimus) for an Advanced Form of Kidney Cancer... [FDA]
Blood Test for Brain Injuries Gains Momentum... [University of Rochester Medical Center]
Boston Scientific Welcomes House Passage of National Pain Care Policy Act... [Boston Scientific]
New Data Presented at ACC.09 Shows Benefit of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Mildly Symptomatic Heart Failure Patients... [Medtronic]
Results From Medtronic-Supported Clinical Trial Assessing Use of Implantable Cardiac Devices in Certain Heart Attack Patients Show Reduction in Sudden Cardiac Death... [Medtronic]
Autism Skews Developing Brain with Synchronous Motion and Sound... [NIH]
FDA Approves New Vaccine to Prevent Japanese Encephalitis ... [FDA]
Special Webcast: Unified Communications in Health... [Health Blog @ MSFT]
New Radiation-free Targeted Therapy Detects and Eliminates Breast-Cancer Tumors in Mice... [Caltech]
Lice genomes: Pieces of a new puzzle... [Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory]
AMA Wades Into Flap Over JAMA Editors... [WSJ]
It's Time to Make a Coffee Run... [NYTimes]
Women's shopping sprees linked to time of the month... [BBC]

5 Minute Clinical Consult Now on iPhone

Posted: 31 Mar 2009 01:10 AM PDT

Unbound Medicine has released its 5 Minute Clinical Consult application for the iPhone platform. The application is designed to quickly help physicians find relevant information at the point of care regarding "diagnosis, treatment, medications, follow-up, ICD-9 coding and patient teaching".

Features from the product page:

Interface optimized for iPhone and iPod touch Personalized favorites Frequent updates Superior navigation and graphics iPhone and web access

The 5-Minute Clinical Consult delivers fast, to-the-point guidance on the diagnosis and treatment for more than 700 adult and 200 pediatric medical conditions seen in everyday practice. This best-selling clinical reference contains all of the information you need to provide premium care to your patients including diagnosis, treatment, medications, follow-up, ICD-9 coding and patient teaching. Organized in a proven rapid-access format, all topics are concise, consistent and action-oriented. The latest evidence-based practice is incorporated in succinct recommendations for patient care.

Unique bonus features from Unbound Medicine include more than 130 dermatologic images, over 200 common pediatric diseases and 1-year access to www.5mcc.com. At the website, users will find a 4,600 drug database, medical procedure videos, patient handouts, journal search and cross-links for quick navigation between resources.

Animation demo of 5MCC on iPhone...

Product page: 5 Minute Clinical Consult...

Medical News

Medical News

TNF may be genetic link between asthma and RSV bronchiolitis

Posted: 31 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

German researchers have uncovered evidence of a shared genetic link between respiratory syncytial virus infection and bronchial asthma, with both diseases being associated with haplotypes of the tumor necrosis factor gene.

Sequential ventilation shows promise for COPD exacerbations

Posted: 31 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

The sequential use of iron-lung and mask ventilation is a promising approach to treating acute exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a randomized trial has shown.

Breathing–swallowing pattern disrupted in stable COPD

Posted: 31 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exhibit disrupted coordination of breathing and swallowing that could potentially provoke acute exacerbations, a prospective study has shown.

Vocational support effective for first-episode psychosis patients

Posted: 31 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

A UK study has found that having access to a specialist vocational intervention service following first-episode psychosis improves the likelihood of vocational recovery during the subsequent 12 months.

Mood episodes influence psychosocial functioning in bipolar youth

Posted: 31 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Young people with bipolar disorder experience significant impairments in psychosocial functioning both during and between mood episodes, with the greatest impairments occurring during episodes, research shows.

Polypill may reduce heart disease incidence

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

A five-in-one 'polypill' that combines three blood-pressure-lowering drugs, a statin and aspirin could play a major role in reducing heart disease risk, results of a study suggest.

Mood episodes influence social skills in young people with bipolar disorder

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Young people with bipolar disorder experience significant impairments in their ability to function socially both during and between mood episodes, with the greatest impairments occurring during episodes, research shows.

Poor oral health may increase risk of stomach ulcers

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

People with gum disease may face an increased risk of stomach ulcers because they are more likely to harbour the ulcer-causing bacterium Helicobacter pylori than those with good oral health, research suggests.

Asthma and rhinitis sufferers should have formal tests for allergy

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

People suffering from asthma or rhinitis should have their history carefully taken and undergo simple skin-prick tests to accurately determine whether or not the condition is due to an allergy, researchers say.

EARLY ACS results: No benefit from early start

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Treating high-risk non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes patients with the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor eptifibatide within 12 hours of arrival at hospital and before angioplasty does not improve outcomes over its delayed use, research shows.

Coiling versus clipping survival benefits persist in long term

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms treated with coiling rather than clipping maintain their survival advantage over the long term, but the initial benefits for other outcome measures are reduced, show 9 years of follow-up from ISAT.

Psychosis treatment delays linked to worse outcomes in LAMI countries

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

In low and middle income countries, delays in the initiation of psychosis treatment are associated with a poorer treatment response and increased levels of disability, the results of an international study indicate.

Panic disorder increases suicide risk in bipolar patients

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

The presence of comorbid panic disorder is associated with an increased risk for suicide in bipolar disorder patients, results of a review show.

Hyperinsulinemia in breast cancer patients reflects underlying insulin resistance

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

In women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, high levels of insulin are associated with insulin resistance as well as other components of the metabolic syndrome, a Canadian study finds.

Raised ECD/HER2 associated with poor survival in metastatic breast cancer

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Elevated plasma levels of the extracellular domain of the human epidermal growth factor receptor are strongly associated with decreased survival in women with metastatic breast cancer, study results show.

MRI diffusion measure may improve prostate cancer management

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

In prostate cancer, the apparent diffusion coefficient on magnetic resonance imaging is correlated with cell density, which may help to characterize the tumor and aid in management decisions, say UK scientists.

High oxLDL linked to increased arterial stiffness in the elderly

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

High levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol are associated with increased arterial stiffness in the elderly, show study results published in the journal Hypertension.

OMEGA-trial: No extra benefit of fish oils post-MI

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Omega-3 fatty acids do not offer patients who have had an acute myocardial infarction any further benefits over optimal medical therapy, suggest results from the OMEGA trial.

High persistence of abnormal lipids in statin-treated patients from DYSIS

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Results show that a high percentage of statin-treated patients in Europe and Canada have less than optimum lipid levels, demonstrating an important gap between official guidelines and clinical practice.

<i>TCF7L2</i> influence on Type 2 diabetes modified by carbohydrate intake

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

The quality and quantity of carbohydrate consumption modifies the risk for Type 2 diabetes conferred by the risk allele of a variant of the transcription factor 7–like 2 gene, report researchers.

Markers of hyperglycemia-induced tissue damage predict CAD severity

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Increased levels of advanced glycation end-products and reduced expression of their endogenous antagonists correlate with coronary artery disease severity in patients with Type 2 diabetes, a cross-sectional study shows.

Largest ever registry data support DES

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Results of the largest ever "real-world" study to date show that patients who receive drug-eluting stents have better clinical outcomes than those given bare-metal stents, without any increase in their risk for bleeding or stroke.

Renal denervation technique promising in resistant hypertension

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Renal sympathetic denervation can achieve substantial and sustained reductions in blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension, preliminary study findings show.

Daily glass of wine linked with lowered BE risk

Posted: 08 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

A glass of wine a day may be associated with a decreased risk for developing Barrett's esophagus, a US case-control study suggests.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Medical News

Medical News

Petrochemical pollution ‘tied to childhood respiratory disease’

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Children who are exposed to airborne pollution from petrochemical plants are at increased risk for developing asthma, respiratory symptoms, and poor lung function, research suggests.

Traffic exposure linked to impaired lung function in adults

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Daily exposure to traffic-generated air pollution is associated with impaired lung function in adults with asthma and rhinitis, US research shows.

Impaired load/capacity during COPD exacerbation

Posted: 30 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

There is a significant imbalance between the decreased capacity of the respiratory muscles to generate pressure and increased respiratory load during the early phases of an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, research shows.

Bone marrow stem cells may benefit heart attack patients

Posted: 29 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Patients who have suffered a heart attack may benefit from treatment with their own bone marrow stem cells to improve blood circulation within the heart, US study results suggest.

Novel test may predict spread of breast cancer

Posted: 29 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Researchers have developed a novel test that they believe indicates the likelihood of a breast cancer spreading to other parts of a patient's body.

Gene mutations linked to poor lung development in children

Posted: 29 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Mutations in a gene called SOD3 may cause poor lung development in children and increase their risk of developing conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in later life, say researchers.

Panic disorder increases suicide risk in bipolar patients

Posted: 29 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Among patients with bipolar disorder, the presence of co-occurring panic disorder is associated with an increased risk of suicide, results of a review show.

JUPITER trial: Rosuvastatin cuts venous thromboembolism risk by 43%

Posted: 29 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

The lipid-lowering drug rosuvastatin nearly halves the risk for symptomatic venous thromboembolism in apparently healthy people, a new analysis of the JUPITER (Justification for the Use of statins in Primary prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin) trial has found.

PROTECT AF: WATCHMAN device rivals warfarin in AF

Posted: 29 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

A novel implantable device might be a worthy alternative to blood thinners in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, according to the results of the prospective, randomized PROTECT AF trial.

<i>PALB2</i> mutations associated with breast cancer susceptibility in Chinese women

Posted: 29 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Two protein-truncating mutations in PALB2 are present in some BRCA1/2-negative Chinese women with early onset breast cancer, a study shows.

Mutations in <i>GPIHBP1</i> may explain some cases of chylomicronemia

Posted: 29 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Mutations in the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored high-density lipoprotein–binding protein 1 gene may be responsible for some cases of chylomicronemia, report researchers.

Low LDL cholesterol and hsCRP achieves best CVD risk improvement

Posted: 29 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

A subanalysis of data from the JUPITER trial shows that reduction in both low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, obtained using rosuvastatin treatment, produces the optimum reduction in cardiovascular disease risk.

Relaxin gives dyspnea relief in acute HF

Posted: 29 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Results of a Phase II trial show that the hormone relaxin can relieve dyspnea in patients with acute heart failure and normal-to-increased blood pressure.

Insulin treated diabetics have increased risk for road traffic accidents

Posted: 29 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

A survey of the Norwegian population has shown that insulin treated diabetics have a slightly higher risk for road traffic accidents involving personal injuries than nondiabetics and diabetics treated with oral blood glucose-lowering drugs.

Increased calcium and magnesium intake linked with lower diabetes risk

Posted: 29 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Recent findings from the Shanghai Women's Health study show an apparent protective effect of calcium and magnesium against Type 2 diabetes risk.

Relaxin gives dyspnea relief in acute HF

Posted: 29 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Results of a Phase II trial show that the hormone relaxin can relieve dyspnea in patients with acute heart failure and normal-to-increased blood pressure.

HORIZONS-AMI: Stent thrombosis predictors revealed

Posted: 29 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Predictors of early and late stent thrombosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction vary, according to the latest findings from the Harmonizing Outcomes with Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction trial.

TIPS results provide support for polypill

Posted: 29 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

A polypill combining a statin, aspirin, and three antihypertensive agents may be at least as effective for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease events as each of the drugs taken separately, results of a randomized trial suggest.

Quadruple screening best for mammogram review

Posted: 18 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Radiographers can help examine screening mammograms, say Dutch researchers who believe their study may help hospitals with a shortage of screening radiologists.

Novel agent speeds recovery from profound neuromuscular blockade

Posted: 08 Jan 2009 04:00 PM PST

Sugammadex is markedly faster than an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor at reversing profound rocuronium neuromuscular blockade, a randomized trial shows.

Pre-operative briefings cut OR delays by nearly a third

Posted: 08 Jan 2009 04:00 PM PST

Pre-operative team briefings reduce the frequency of communication breakdowns that lead to operating room delays, say researchers.