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An oral selective phosphodiesterase 4 (pde4) inhibi-tor has been approved for the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Roflumilast is the first drug of this type to be approved for this indication. It is marketed by Forest Pharmaceuticals as Daliresp.
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In the general population, there is a linear and reversible relationship between salt intake and blood pressure (BP): more salt in begets higher BP, and salt restriction lowers BP.
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In this meta-analysis, individuals who exercised or had sex episodically had an increased risk of acute cardiac events during those activities compared with those who had high levels of habitual physical activity.
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Apixaban and rivaroxaban near approval for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation; fidaxomicin for C. difficile infections; guideline for intensive insulin therapy; and FDA Actions.
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Women who drink little or no coffee appear to be at an increased risk of stroke compared with those who drink moderate amounts of coffee.
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This study concluded that subjects without a known history of any cardiovascular disease who demonstrated ventricular premature complexes on a 2-minute rhythm strip are significantly more likely to die from sudden cardiac death and the effect appears to be additive when atrial premature complexes occur concurrently.
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The FDA has approved the first new treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) since 1955 when hydroxychloroquine and corticosteroids were approved. Belimumab is a recombinant human IgG1l monoclonal antibody specific for soluble human B lymphocyte stimulator protein (BLyS).
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The action to control cardiovascu-lar risk in diabetes (ACCORD) study is really three studies in one, providing information about blood pressure, glucose, and triglyceride treatment in high-risk diabetic patients.
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The ECG above was obtained in the office from a 47-year-old woman who said she had "heart problems" that resulted in hospitalization the month before.
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Pertussis, commonly known as the "whooping cough," is an infection of the upper respiratory tract leading to a protracted cough illness. Emergency physicians should become familiar with the diagnosis and management of this disease, given the potential of pertussis infections to cause serious morbidity and mortality in young infants. Furthermore, treating pertussis in a timely manner has a large public health impact given its extremely contagious nature.
