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News, opinions and meeting coverage in primary care.

Bone Density Higher in Blacks, Vitamin D Lower

Black Americans had lower levels of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D and vitamin D-binding protein than whites, but similar levels of bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and higher bone density.

Testosterone Levels: Middle Range Best in Old Age

Older men whose natural testosterone levels were in the middle range tended to live longer than those with the highest and lowest levels, a study found.

AMA President Discusses SGR Repeal Efforts

Shortly after the American Medical Association's interim meeting adjourned, Ardis Hoven, MD, president of the American Medical Association, sat down for a one-on-one interview with 麻豆传媒 to discuss the AMA's SGR repeal strategy.

FDA Flags Risk of Nuclear Stress Test Drugs

SILVER SPRING, Md. -- Two agents used in cardiac nuclear stress tests may carry a greater risk of heart attack and death than previously believed, the FDA said Wednesday.

Docs Need Info on 'Grace Period,' AMA Says

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- The American Medical Association wants health plans to notify doctors when patients haven't paid their premiums, a situation that could leave physicians on the hook for unpaid services.

Surgery Beats Medical Tx for Diabetes 'Cure'

ATLANTA -- Bariatric surgery's beneficial effects for type 2 diabetes were significantly greater than even the most rigorous medical and lifestyle interventions, a researcher said here.

SGR Repeal Still Gets AMA Support

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- The AMA's policymaking House of Delegates voted nearly unanimously to continue its support of congressional efforts to repeal Medicare's payment formula despite its opposition to a 10-year pay freeze that's part of a draft proposal.

Fast-Acting AMA Group Hopes to Fix SGR

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- A large coalition of American Medical Association members met in seclusion Sunday morning here at the interim meeting of the House of Delegates and rapidly found consensus on a proposed resolution for the repeal of Medicare's sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula.

Magnet Therapy Cuts Binge-Purge Eating

SAN DIEGO -- A course of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) helped about half of patients with binge/purge eating disorders to cut the frequency of such episodes significantly, a researcher said here.

ACE Inhibitors Linked to Severe Allergic Reactions

BALTIMORE -- Antihypertensive treatment with ACE inhibitors may prime oral allergy syndrome patients for severe reactions, a case-report suggested.

Brain Stimulation Helps Smokers Quit

SAN DIEGO -- Magnetic brain stimulation with a sensory cue was associated with reduced smoking rates and improved quit rates among heavy smokers unaffected by prior therapy, researchers reported here.

Teens More Apt to Fight Than Flee

SAN DIEGO -- Teens were more likely to actively respond to aggressive cues than were children or adults, researchers reported here.

High IgG Signals Autoimmunity in Kids

High levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in children -- and particularly girls -- were associated with the development of autoimmune disease, researchers found.

Exercise May Allay Anxiety, Depression

SAN DIEGO -- Exercise may have modest benefits as a treatment for patients suffering from anxiety or depression, researchers reported here.

Combo Angiotensin Tx Ups Kidney Risks

ATLANTA -- In yet another trial, dual blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (RAAS) didn't slow progression of kidney disease in diabetic patients and carried a higher risk of serious adverse events compared with monotherapy, researchers reported here.

Common Allergy Myths Debunked

BALTIMORE -- Egg allergy is no issue for flu vaccination, allergen avoidance isn't a cure for eczema, and testing tots doesn't make skin prick testing any less accurate, according to allergists taking aim at common misconceptions.

Who's Afraid of Gummy Bears?

BALTIMORE -- From saxophone lung to the strange affair of the gummy bear allergy, case reports take center stage at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

Rape Laws Offer Little Protection

BOSTON -- The world over, laws to protect rape victims are paper tigers, often enacted but rarely enforced, a researcher said here.

ACA: When Is a Screening Not a Screening?

A provision in the Affordable Care Act that waives patients' payments for colonoscopies is an example of how good intentions in the law can lead to a tangle of unforeseen consequences.

Supplements Blamed for Liver Toxicity

WASHINGTON -- The rate of liver damage caused by dietary and herbal supplements -- especially those used for bodybuilding -- appears to be on the rise, a researcher said here.

Prime Time: Skin Docs Name 5 Unnecessary Procedures

The American Academy of Dermatology joined more than 80 other medical societies in the Choosing Wisely campaign, naming five treatments or procedures that may not be necessary. Prime Time is a blog by Chris Kaiser for those interested in primary care.

Baked Goods OK for Most Kids Allergic to Milk

Allergic esophagitis triggered by milk may not require complete avoidance, according to a small study that found most such patients could tolerate dairy if it was baked into bread or other foods.

TCT: Removing Clot During PCI Fails in NSTEMI

SAN FRANCISCO -- Aspiration thrombectomy during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) did not improve outcomes in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), a randomized trial showed.

Stem Cells Help ALD Kids Live Longer

AUSTIN, Texas -- Survival in children with cerebral adrenocerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) appeared to be improved with allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants compared with untreated patients, a researcher said here.

NICU Survivors May See Higher Autism Rates

AUSTIN, Texas -- Autism spectrum disorder incidence was significantly higher in babies who spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit, versus the general population, and was often accompanied by comorbidities, researchers said here.

Autoantibodies a Big Deal in Sjogren鈥檚

SAN DIEGO -- A broader range of autoantibodies may play a role in Sjogren's syndrome than has previously been appreciated, researchers found.

Antidepressants, Lyrica OK Combo in Fibromyalgia

SAN DIEGO -- Patients with fibromyalgia who were taking antidepressants found that their pain was successfully managed with pregabalin (Lyrica), a researcher said here.

Striking a Nerve: Heinz Kerry Recovers

Teresa Heinz Kerry is back at work less than 4 months after a mysterious seizure hospitalized her. Striking a Nerve is a blog by John Gever for readers interested in neurology.

Yoga May Be Good for COPD

CHICAGO -- With its focus on breathing exercises, yoga may improve some of the symptoms of chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD) along with boosting quality of life, researchers said here.

Scoliosis Tied to HTN Risk in Adolescents

ORLANDO -- Children with severe spinal curving from scoliosis were more likely to have worsening risk indicators for pulmonary hypertension, researchers reported here.

CardioBuzz: Turn Off the Wireless on an ICD?

Electrophysiologists described how turning off the wireless function on an ICD -- as former vice-president Dick Cheney had done -- might affect patient care. CardioBuzz is a blog by Todd Neale for readers with an interest in cardiology.

Sleep Problems, Poor Angioplasty Outcomes Linked

Disturbed sleep is common in heart patients following coronary angioplasty and is an independent risk factor for poor cardiac outcomes, researchers reported.

Delayed Measles Vax May Be More Effective

A first measles vaccine given at 12 or 13 months of age is less likely to provide lasting protection than a shot at 15 months or later, researchers reported.

Hyperthyroid Drugs Tied to Birth Defects

SAN JUAN -- Two of the most commonly used drugs for treating hyperthyroidism were linked to birth defects when used in early pregnancy, though they have differing effects, researchers reported here.

TSH Suppression: More Harm Than Good After Cancer Surgery?

SAN JUAN -- Suppressing thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) after thyroidectomy for low-risk cancer increases the risk of osteoporosis in women without cutting back on cancer recurrence, researchers reported here.

Common Cause for Bruxism, Restless Legs, Migraine?

NEW ORLEANS -- About half of patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) seen in a single neurology practice also qualified for diagnoses of bruxism and migraine, suggesting a possible common cause for these disorders, a researcher said here.

Morning Break: Addictive Oreos and Sperm-Slaying Bacon

Health news and commentary from around the Web, gathered by the 麻豆传媒 staff.

MoCA Beats MMSE to Assess Dementia

NEW ORLEANS -- The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was better than the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at teasing out subtle differences in cognitive performance among mildly impaired individuals, researchers reported here.

Xyrem Helps With Nighttime Sleep in Narcolepsy

NEW ORLEANS -- Narcolepsy patients troubled by frequent nighttime awakenings had less sleep disruption when taking sodium oxybate (Xyrem) than modafinil (Provigil) in a randomized trial, a researcher reported here.

Striking a Nerve: MS Cured With an OTC Drug?

A neurology researcher is planning a clinical trial of a widely available drug that he thinks could stave off disability in multiple sclerosis patients. How much should he (or we) say publicly about it?

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