USDA Bans Downer Cattle From Human Food

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Wednesday, December 31, 2003

Happy New Year from all of us at Medscape and best wishes for a prosperous 2004.

Infectious Diseases

USDA Bans Downer Cattle From Human Food

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said on Tuesday the government was banning downer cattle -- animals too sick or injured to walk on their own at the slaughter plant -- from being used as food for humans.

Reuters Health Information 2003

FDA Says Anthrax Vaccine Safe for Troops

The anthrax vaccine is safe for use in protecting U.S. troops against inhaled exposure to the potentially deadly bacteria, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday.

Reuters Health Information 2003

EUS May Be Procedure of Choice to Evaluate Clinically Suspected Pancreatic Cancer

In a long-term follow-up study, EUS could definitively rule out the presence of pancreatic cancer in clinically indeterminant cases.

Medscape Medical News 2003

Pharmacists

U.S. Announces Ban on Ephedra Diet Supplement

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday it will ban the weight-loss aid ephedra, saying it is unsafe and can cause heart attacks and stroke.

Reuters Health Information 2003

Cardiology

Clinical Factors Predict Development of A-Fib After Radioablation of Atrial Flutter

Atrial fibrillation occurs commonly among certain patients after radiofrequency catheter ablation of typical atrial flutter, according to findings from a new study in the January 2004 issue of Heart. Younger age and prior atrial enlargement are predictive factors.

Reuters Health Information 2003

Neurology & Neurosurgery

Topiramate Decreases Serum Bicarbonate

In a letter to healthcare professionals, the drug's maker recommends measurement of baseline and periodic serum bicarbonate during topiramate treatment.

Medscape Drug Alert 2003

Head CT Findings Predict Short-Term Stroke Risk in Patients With Transient Ischemic Attack

The findings support current guidelines that recommend the use of CT in the evaluation of patients with TIA, according to researchers in the December issue of Stroke.

Reuters Health Information 2003

Gastroenterology

Volatile Gases Accompanying Diarrhea May Help Diagnose Infectious Cause

The main causes of infectious diarrhea in hospitals had characteristic gas patterns, such as furan species without indoles in Clostridium difficile, and ethyl dodecanoate in rotavirus, according to the results of a study published in the January issue of Gut.

Medscape Medical News 2003

Family Medicine

Chinese Herbalists Laud U.S. Exemption for Ephedra

When U.S. regulators said they would ban the use of ephedra in weight-loss supplements on Tuesday they allowed an exemption for practitioners of Chinese medicine who have been using the herb for thousands of years to treat ailments ranging from asthma to fevers.

Reuters Health Information 2003

Diabetes & Endocrinology

Preprandial Inhaled Insulin as Effective as Preprandial Subcutaneous Insulin in Type 2 Diabetes

Researchers found no statistically significant difference in HbA1c between the two groups after 12 weeks of treatment, according to a randomized, multicenter, multinational trial published in the January issue of Diabetes Care.

Medscape Medical News 2003

Urology

Tamsulosin Reduces Voiding Impairment After Prostate Biopsy

A randomized trial in the December issue of Urology finds tamsulosin reduces voiding impairment after TRUS-guided biopsy.

Medscape Medical News 2003

Focus on Lung Cancer

Medscape's Lung Cancer Resource Center promotes a better understanding of the disease and of the latest therapeutic strategies.

Medscape News

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