Pathology & Lab Medicine News CME/CE

• Long-Term Use of Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole May Reduce UTIs in At-Risk Children CME In a randomized trial, long-term, low-dose trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole shows a consistent but modest treatment effect across subgroups of children with urinary tract infections.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Pap Tests and Liquid-Based Cytology Equivalent in Detecting Precancerous Lesions CME A large Dutch study reports that liquid-based cytology was neither more sensitive nor more specific than conventional Pap tests in detecting precancerous lesions or cervical cancer.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Drinking Coffee Daily Linked to Lower Risk for Progression of Chronic Hepatitis C CME In a large prospective study, regular coffee drinking consumption was associated with lower rates of progression of advanced hepatitis C–related liver disease.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• NT-ProBNP "Remarkable Predictor" of Incident Atrial Fibrillation CME The fact that elevated baseline NT-proBNP levels predict a diagnosis of AF even 16 years later suggests that peptide elevations precede the onset of arrhythmia, according to the researchers.
  Heartwire CME, October 2009
• Inhaled Corticosteroids May Be Helpful in Steroid-Naive Patients With Moderate to Severe COPD CME/CE In a randomized controlled trial, inhaled corticosteroids reduced inflammation and slowed decline in lung function in these patients; adding a long-acting beta agonist did not enhance these effects.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Low Bioavailable Testosterone Linked to Frailty in Older Men CME Low levels of bioavailable testosterone are associated more frailty in elderly men; as men age, the prevalence of frailty increases and the levels of androgens decrease.
  Reuters Health Information CME, October 2009
• Guidelines Updated on Number of Embryos to Be Transferred During In Vitro Fertilization CME The guidelines advise limiting the number of embryos to be transferred to reduce the number of high-risk multiple pregnancies.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Serum, Cerebrospinal Fluid Urate May Predict Clinical Decline in Parkinson's Disease CME In a Parkinson's disease study, higher baseline concentrations of serum and cerebrospinal fluid urate were associated with slower rates of clinical progression.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Prophylactic Acetaminophen Before Vaccination in Infants Reduces Vaccine Response CME A new study shows that the antipyretic acetaminophen may interfere with the efficacy of vaccines and suggests that their use should not be routinely recommended.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Hepatitis B Foundation Issues Guidelines for Pediatric Screening, Monitoring, and Referral CME The recommendations are for practitioners regarding what additional tests to conduct, how often to monitor, and when to refer to a pediatric liver specialist for chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Herpes Zoster Attacks Increase Stroke Risk By 30% CME A new epidemiologic study shows that the risk for stroke increases after a zoster attack (shingles) by 30% and by up to 4-fold when the attack involves the eye.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Most Patients With Vaccine Allergy May Be Safely Vaccinated CME A practice parameter also recommends that patients with suspected allergy to vaccines or vaccine components be evaluated by an allergist or immunologist.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Nontraditional Risk Factors May Not Help Assess Coronary Heart Disease Risk CME/CE The USPSTF found that there was not enough evidence to evaluate the benefits and harms of using any of the 9 risk factors to screen asymptomatic men and women with no history of coronary heart disease.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Excess Body Weight Linked to Severity of Blood Oxygen Desaturation During Apnea Events CME Excess body weight may predict severity of blood oxygen desaturation during apnea and hypopnea events, exacerbating the impact of sleep-disordered breathing in obese patients.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Strategies for Diagnosing and Treating Dehydration in Children CME/CE A review article for the family practitioner offers strategies for diagnosing and treating dehydration in children; oral rehydration therapy is preferred in most cases.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Maternal Smoking in Pregnancy Linked to Increased Risk for Psychotic Symptoms in Adolescents CME/CE A new cohort study from the United Kingdom shows that maternal (but not paternal) use of tobacco during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for psychotic symptoms in their children.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• FDA Approvals: Mirena, Welchol, FetaLink CME/CE The FDA has approved a new indication for a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device, an expanded indication for colesevelam, and clearance granted to maternal-fetal data-keeping software.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Lupus Anticoagulant a Major Risk Factor for Stroke and MI in Young Women CME Results of the RATIO study suggest lupus anticoagulant, but not anticardiolipin or antiprothrombin antibodies, is associated with increased stroke risk and, to a lesser extent, myocardial infarction.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Daily Soy Supplement May Reduce Whole Body Bone Loss in Healthy Postmenopausal Women CME In a 2-year multicenter clinical trial, daily supplementation with 120-mg soy hypocotyl isoflavones reduced whole body bone loss in this group but did not slow bone loss at common fracture sites.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• ACEIs More Likely Than Other Antihypertensive Drugs to Cause Hyperkalemia; Overall Risk Low in Nondiabetic Kidney Disease CME However, in nondiabetic patients with hypertensive chronic kidney disease treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, the risk for hyperkalemia is small.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009