Pathology & Lab Medicine News CME/CE

• A1C Variability Linked to Diabetes Complications CME A Finnish study shows that variability in glycosylated hemoglobin level vs the actual level itself predicts the development of complications in patients with type 1 diabetes.
  Reuters Health Information CME, November 2009
• Declining Renal Function Linked to Worse Cardiovascular Outcomes CME In individuals with or without kidney disease at baseline, declining kidney function was linked to a higher risk for heart failure, myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial disease, and early death.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Hypothermia Decreases Brain Injury in Hypoxic Infants; MRI Aids in Predicting Prognosis CME A new study confirms that therapeutic hypothermia is helpful in reducing brain tissue injury in infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and establishes MRI as a useful biomarker of outcome at 18 months.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Prone Positioning May Not Improve Survival Duration in Patients With ARDS CME In a randomized controlled trial, prone positioning did not provide survival benefit in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome or in subgroups of patients with moderate and severe hypoxemia.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Sole Use of Monofilament Testing Not Recommended to Diagnose Peripheral Neuropathy CME A systematic review suggests that despite the frequent use of monofilament testing, little can be said about the test accuracy to detect neuropathy in feet without visible ulcers.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Serum Phosphorous, Kidney Function Predict CAC CME High serum phosphorus levels and reduced kidney function at levels considered normal predict coronary artery calcification, which shed light on a nontraditional mechanism for cardiovascular disease.
  Heartwire CME, November 2009
• Hematuria/Dysuria May Be Inconstant in Children With Recurrent Abdominal Pain/Urolithiasis CME In children younger than 8 years, abdominal pain is often central or diffuse; additional warning signs of urinary stones are infrequent pain attacks and a family history of urolithiasis.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Postnatal HIV Transmission Seen After Infant Prophylaxis Stopped CME HIV virus transmission via breast milk occurred after antiretroviral prophylaxis was stopped, suggesting that infant prophylaxis was only effective while the agents were being administered.
  Reuters Health Information CME, November 2009
• Management of Diverticular Bleeding Reviewed CME A review provides clinical recommendations for treating diverticular bleeding in the family practice setting.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Pain Control Recommended for Newborns CME/CE In a prospective study, any method of pain control for newborns was better than none, and feeding and breast-feeding during heel-lancing were found to be the most effective methods of pain relief.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Role of Primary Care Clinicians in HIV Management Reviewed CME/CE A review describes the role of primary care clinicians in the treatment of patients with HIV infection.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• 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 Crelated 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