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News, opinions and meeting coverage in primary care.

Komen Official Quits After Controversy

A vice-president at the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation has resigned in the wake of the controversy surrounding the organization's decision -- since reversed -- to stop funding Planned Parenthood's breast cancer programs.

Docs Contradict NCAA on Sickle Cell Trait Tests

The American Society of Hematology is challenging the major college sports organization over its policy on sickle cell trait testing for athletes.

Ski Helmets Not Best for Sledding

To protect kids' noggins before setting them on toboggans parents should ditch ski helmets for hockey or cycling ones, results of a study suggest.

Higher LDL Level Linked to Lower Incidence of Afib

Although physicians usually aim to lower patients' total and, in particular, LDL cholesterol, lower LDL levels are associated with developing atrial fibrillation, a study has found.

Diabetes Expert Disses Weight-Loss Programs

WASHINGTON -- Community-based weight-loss programs have not been shown to be effective at reducing the incidence of diabetes, so implementing a national program would likely be money down the drain, a diabetes expert said at a symposium on Tuesday.

Herpes Drugs Work, but Not Forever

Anti-herpetic agents reduce recurrence of herpes simplex-2 (HSV-2) symptoms but do not completely block subclinical shedding of virus, even at high doses, researchers reported.

FDA Issues Second Contact Lens Recall

WASHINGTON -- The FDA has issued a class I recall 芒鈧€� the agency芒鈧劉s most serious 芒鈧€� for a second brand of CooperVision芒鈧劉s AVAIRA Aquaform contact lenses that may cause serious eye injury.

Fructose No Substitute for Glucose in Diabetes

NEW YORK -- Although it negates the dumping of glucose directly into the bloodstream, fructose may not be the choice sweetener for diabetics, researchers said here.

Systolic BP That's Too Low After Stroke Not Good Either

Systolic blood pressure that is too low -- as well as too high -- may put patients who have had a noncardioembolic ischemic stroke at risk for another one, researchers found.

AMA Adopts Policies on Circumcision, Gun Safety

The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates has adopted a number of new policies at its interim meeting, including policies on male circumcision, physician discussion of gun safety, and a new medical coding system that will go into effect in 2013.

Training Technique Stresses Athletes' Spines

CHICAGO --The squat lift, an exercise that has long been a standard training technique for athletes, puts inordinate stress on the spine and likely is the cause of chronic stress fractures in young athletes.

Vodka, Malt Liquor Most Likely to Buy Trip to Emergency Room

WASHINGTON -- Vodka and malt beverages were the forms of alcohol most likely to have been consumed by patients who wound up at the emergency department, seeking treatment for an injury, according to a small study.

Air Temp, Moisture Determine How Stuffy Nose Feels

Complaints of a "stuffy" nose may have as much to do with air temperature and humidity as with actual congestion of nasal passages, researchers said.

Teen Sex Down, Condom Use Up

The percentage of teens reporting that they have had sexual intercourse has continued a long-term decline and now stands at just over 40% for both adolescent men and women, according to CDC survey data from 2006 to 2010.

Calif. 12-Year-Olds Can Get HPV Vaccine Without Parental OK

Minors as young as 12 can consent to preventive measures against sexually transmitted diseases, including vaccination, according to a new California law that has sparked an outcry over parents' rights.

Septra, Bactrim Linked to 'Serious' Side Effects

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole -- a widely used antibiotic sold as Septra, Bactrim, and others -- has a set of adverse reactions that range from minor to potentially fatal, according to a literature review.

Readers Say Vitamin Levels Should Be Checked Yearly

Processed foods, mineral-depleted soil, overcooked vegetables, increased stress levels -- all of these increase the chances of having a vitamin deficiency, according to a vocal majority of 麻豆传媒 readers who commented on last week's poll.

FDA Okays ED Drug for Enlarged Prostate

Tadalafil (Cialis), currently marketed for erectile dysfunction, also may be used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, the FDA said.

Brain Takes Multiple Hits from Low B12 Levels

Low levels of vitamin B12 may contribute to cognitive problems for older adults in more than one way, according to a cross-sectional study.

Time Is Money and Some Doctors Are Paying the Price

No one likes to wait and the waiting can be even more tiresome when it is a worried patient who is waiting to see his or her physician. So it's not surprising that patients are speaking out about -- and in some cases billing for -- time spent waiting for to hear, "The doctor will see you now."

Lab Notes: Red Wine Before Radiation and Red Clover for Hair Loss

Red is the color of the day, as components of red wine and red clover lead this week's Lab Notes, but the blues get their turn in the spotlight, too, as depressed people outshine cheerier folks in some elements of decision making.

Tetanus Rare but Still Deadly

Although rare, tetanus is still a life-threatening disease in the U.S., largely because of inadequate vaccination and wound care prophylaxis, CDC researchers said.

Cephalexin Useful in Pediatric MRSA

Children with uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infections can still be treated with cephalexin -- along with drainage and careful wound care -- even though community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has reached epidemic proportions worldwide, a randomized study suggested.

All Tobacco Ads Should be Banned, Says AAP

Tobacco advertising should be banned in all media and limitations placed on alcohol advertising to prevent exposure of substance-related content to children and adolescents, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Scrubbing Away Germs Can Backfire on Backsides

Rashes from toilet seats are once again afflicting American children, and the rare condition is often misdiagnosed, which may delay proper treatment.

ACR: Drinking Water May Wash Away Gout Attacks

PHILADELPHIA -- A half-gallon of drinking water a day may keep gout attacks away, researchers said here.

Medicare Finalizes Denial of Virtual Colonoscopy Coverage

BALTIMORE -- CT colonography for colorectal cancer screening will not be covered under Medicare, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has confirmed.

Men Encouraged to Consider Medication to Prevent Prostate Cancer

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Millions of healthy men ages 55 and older should talk to their physicians about taking a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor such as finasteride (Proscar) or dutasteride (Avodart) to prevent prostate cancer, according to a guideline issued by two medical groups.

No Need for PSA Testing After Age 75

BALTIMORE -- PSA testing for prostate cancer can be safely discontinued at age 75 in men who have PSA values less than 3 ng/mL, data from a large cohort study suggest.

President Bush Sails Through Annual Physical

BETHESDA, Md.-President George Bush, eight pounds lighter than he weighed in December, was declared fit for duty by doctors at the Bethesda Naval Medical Center here over the weekend.

Swimming After a Fourth Cookout? Maybe Not

LITTLE FALLS, N.J.-It turns out mothers were giving sound advice when they told their children to avoid swimming right after eating, but not for the reasons they thought.

Colonoscopy Patients Put at Infection Risk

MONROEVILLE, Pa.-About 200 patients who underwent colonoscopy at a Pittsburgh-area hospital were urged to undergo hepatitis and HIV testing because the colonoscopes were improperly disinfected.