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ACIP Calls for Universal Tdap Vaccination

(MedPage Today) -- A government vaccine advisory panel has voted 14-1 that all adults 65 and older should receive the tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. (Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:23:21 -0400)

MRSA from Farm Animals Has Human Roots (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- A form of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus often seen in farm workers appears to have originated in humans, a study suggested. (Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:30:19 -0400)

Familiar Stroke Tool Predicts Early Death Risk (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- The NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) score is a strong predictor of 30-day mortality among Medicare beneficiaries with acute ischemic stroke, even without other clinical information, researchers found. (Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:52:49 -0400)

Possible ICD-10 Delay Rankles IT Industry

?LAS VEGAS (MedPage Today) -- The possible delay in implementing the new ICD-10 coding system may make physicians happy, but the health information technology industry is not so thrilled. (Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:46:10 -0400)

FDA Skeptical of Hypotension Drug

(MedPage Today) -- FDA staff have recommended against approving droxidopa (Northera) for treating neurogenic orthostatic hypotension in patients with certain neurological diseases. (Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:19:48 -0400)

Army Probes Reversals of PTSD Diagnosis

(MedPage Today) -- The U.S. Army is investigating suggestions that diagnoses of posttraumatic stress disorder in 14 soldiers were changed to limit their eligibility for disability benefits. (Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:52:18 -0400)

Mortality Risk Quantified for Diabetes Plus Kidney Disease (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Chronic kidney disease more than doubles mortality risk in patients with type 2 diabetes, researchers found. (Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:13:33 -0400)

Genetic Data Nix Folate Role in Heart Disease (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- The final nail may have been placed in the coffin of homocysteine-lowering therapy as a preventive measure for coronary heart disease. (Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:47:09 -0400)

Spine Monitoring Prevents Disability from Surgery (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Spinal cord monitoring during spine or aorta surgery can help prevent disability, according to the authors of a guideline update. (Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:08:09 -0400)

Specific Types of Ovarian Ca Linked to Endometriosis (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Endometriosis confers a two- to threefold increased risk of three types of ovarian cancer, pooled data from an international consortium showed. (Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:33:55 -0400)

Newer Pneumonia Vaccine May Be Better Deal (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- The 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine may be more cost-effective in adults than the currently recommended 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide version, according to a modeling study. (Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:23:44 -0400)

Foreign Birth Offers Stroke Protection to Hispanics (CME/CE, with audio)

NEW ORLEANS (MedPage Today) -- Hispanics who immigrate to the U.S. may be less likely to suffer a stroke than whites, researchers found. (Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:16:50 -0400)

Higher Mortality for Women With MI and No Chest Pain (CME/CE, with audio)

(MedPage Today) -- Women more often have no chest pain with a myocardial infarction (MI) and have a greater risk of dying in hospital than men do, analysis of a large clinical registry showed. (Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:08:23 -0400)

Meaningful Use Tops IT Issues for Hospitals

?LAS VEGAS (MedPage Today) -- Meeting federally mandated health information technology benchmarks will be a top priority for hospital IT departments over the next two years, according to survey results presented here. (Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:37:30 -0400)

Combo Pertussis Vaccine Has Low Risk of Seizure (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- The risk of febrile seizure is elevated on the day a combination shot containing acellular pertussis vaccine is administered, although the absolute risk remains low, a Danish study showed. (Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:01:00 -0400)

Anticholinergic Works in COPD, FDA Staff Says

(MedPage Today) -- Aclidinium bromide appears to be effective in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but a small patient database and cardiovascular events raise concerns, an FDA staff review found. (Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:37:46 -0400)

More Derms Equals Fewer Melanoma Deaths (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Having more dermatologists in a geographic area may substantially cut down on deaths from melanoma, researchers found. (Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:30:16 -0400)

Maker Says Drug Has Pancreatic Cancer Benefit

(MedPage Today) -- An investigational drug that targets areas of oxygen starvation within a tumor had promising results against advanced pancreatic cancer in a phase IIb clinical trial, the drug's maker reported. (Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:54:44 -0400)

Senators Want Medical Boards Investigated

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- Three top-ranking senators have asked for a federal investigation into how effective state medical boards are at tracking and disciplining doctors who have been sanctioned by their hospitals or managed care organizations. (Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:16:27 -0400)

CAD Events High Even After Stenting (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Coronary artery disease continues to progress long after stenting, particularly in sites remote from the original lesion, researchers found. (Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:25:30 -0400)