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CT colonography is a screening tool that appears to be reasonably good at identifying colorectal cancer in asymptomatic patients at increased risk for colorectal cancer when compared to colonoscopy. Increased risk is defined as those with a family history of advanced neoplasia in first-degree relatives, personal history of colorectal adenomas, or positive results from fecal occult blood tests (FOBTs).
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Bromocriptine, a dopamine receptor agonist initially approved in 1978 as Parlodel®, has been approved for the treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. The drug is marketed as a quick release formulation by VeroScience LLC as Cycloset™.
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Group visits of diabetic patients have the power to foster lifestyle change, improve the control of diabetes and related cardiovascular risk factors, and lower health care costs.
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Aspirin reduces the risk for myocardial infarction in men ages 45-79 and for stroke in women ages 55-79; however, its use must be balanced against the increased risk of serious bleeding events in each individual patient.
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A variety of highly effective agents for primary insomnia are currently available including benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine receptor agonists, and other classes. Agents that impact the benzodiazepine receptors (i.e., either benzodiazepines or benzodiazepine receptor agonists) are controlled substances and have occasional problematic issues such as misuse, diversion, cognitive clouding, and rebound upon withdrawal.
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In elderly patients hospitalized with heart failure and LVSD, beta-blocker use was clinically effective in reducing mortality and rehospitalization, but patients with preserved systolic function had poor outcomes and beta-blockers did not significantly influence the mortality and rehospitalization rate for these patients.
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Iloperidone is the newest atypical antipsychotic agent to be approved by the FDA. It is chemically similar to risperidone and ziprasidone. Vanda Pharmaceuticals will market iloperidone as Fanapt™.
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In patients with proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT), tailoring the duration of oral anticoagulation based on serial ultrasonography reduces the rate of recurrent DVT. Prolongation of chronic anticoagulation may accelerate vein recanalization. Residual DVT on ultrasonography is a marker of hypercoagulability.
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For patients with chronic insomnia, sleeping pills in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) resulted in improved sleep satisfaction during acute therapy, but long- term treatment was enhanced by stopping the medication and continuing only CBT.
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NSAIDs in the elderly; managing GI and CVD risk with NSAIDs; low-dose naltrexone and fibromyalgia; treating glucocorticoid-induced bone loss; FDA Actions.
