PCWorld.com - Study Details Mobile Phone Dangers

"The study, conducted by the Institute of Environmental Medicine at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm found that the risk of developing the tumors, known as acoustic neuromas, almost doubled for persons who started using their mobile phone at least 10 years before diagnosis."

Air, Not Oxygen, Should Be Used First for Neonatal Resuscitation

"Air should be used for initial neonatal resuscitation, and oxygen should be reserved for backup, according to a meta-analysis published in the Oct. 9 issue of The Lancet. 'International consensus statements for resuscitation of newborn infants recommend provision of 100% oxygen with positive pressure if assisted ventilation is required,' write Peter G. Davis, MD, from Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, and colleagues. 'However, 100% oxygen exacerbates reperfusion injury in animals and reduces cerebral perfusion in newborn babies.'"

Cystatin C Improves Early Risk Stratification of Patients With...

"Plasma cystatin C level is an accurate marker of renal function and an independent predictor of mortality, suggesting that its measurement can improve early risk stratification of patients with suspected or confirmed non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS), according to the results of a prospective study published in the Oct. 19 issue of Circulation and published online Oct. 11. However, elevated cystatin C levels were found to be positively but not independently associated with risk of subsequent myocardial infarction (MI)."

Vioxx Withdrawal Prompts Reevaluation of COX-2 Inhibitor Safety

"Mechanistically speaking, there are reasons why inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2 might affect cardiovascular risk. Because COX-1 helps promote thrombosis and COX-2 helps inhibit it, blocking COX-2 but not COX-1 could theoretically increase the risk of myocardial infarction and other thrombotic events. On the other hand, inflammation has also been implicated in cardiovascular events, so controlling inflammation via COX-2 inhibition could conceivably be protective."

Vioxx Withdrawal Prompts Reevaluation of COX-2 Inhibitor Safety

"Mechanistically speaking, there are reasons why inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2 might affect cardiovascular risk. Because COX-1 helps promote thrombosis and COX-2 helps inhibit it, blocking COX-2 but not COX-1 could theoretically increase the risk of myocardial infarction and other thrombotic events. On the other hand, inflammation has also been implicated in cardiovascular events, so controlling inflammation via COX-2 inhibition could conceivably be protective."

Esterified Estrogen Not Linked to Increased Risk of Venous Thrombosis

"Esterified estrogen is not linked to increased risk of venous thrombosis, according to the results of a population-based, case-control study published in the Oct. 6 issue of JAMA. However, in this study and in the Women's Health Initiative, there was about a twofold risk of venous thrombosis from conjugated estrogen."

Blood Transfusion May Be Associated With Higher Mortality in ACS Patients

"Blood transfusion in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is associated with an increased risk of 30-day mortality, according to the results of a post-hoc analysis of data from three large trials published in the Oct. 6 issue of JAMA. The investigators suggest caution in using transfusions to maintain arbitrary hematocrit levels in stable patients."

Cough-Induced Anal Reflex Validated

"The cough-induced anal reflex has been validated, according to the results of a study published in the October issue of the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, & Psychiatry. The investigators suggest that this test should be incorporated in clinical neurologic practice."