Bio-identicals: Sorting myths from facts

"BHRT" is a marketing term not recognized by FDA. Sellers of bio-identicals often claim that these "all-natural" pills, creams, lotions, and gels are without the risks of synthetic FDA-approved drugs for menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). FDA-approved MHT drug products provide effective relief of the symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. They also can prevent thinning of bones. more  

The special risks of pharmacy compounding

Pharmacy compounding is an age-old practice in which pharmacists combine, mix, or alter ingredients to create unique medications that meet specific needs of individual patients. more

Buying fake ED products online

Men looking online for "dietary supplements" to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) or enhance their sexual performance should beware: these products may contain prescription drugs or other undisclosed ingredients that can be harmful. more  

A new view of drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis

Powerful drugs used to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a profound, previously unrecognized effect on the immune system, breaking up molecular “training camps” for rogue cells that play an increasingly recognized role in autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. more

Melanomas may appear noticeably different than other moles  

A preliminary study suggests that melanomas have a different appearance than other irregular skin moles (i.e., are “ugly ducklings”), according to a report in the January issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. more

Kaiser Permanente study shows link between caffeine and miscarriage  

High doses of daily caffeine during pregnancy – whether from coffee, tea, caffeinated soda or hot chocolate -- cause an increased risk of miscarriage, according a new study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research. The study controlled, for the first time, pregnancy-related symptoms of nausea, vomiting and caffeine aversion that tended to interfere with the determination of caffeine’s true effect on miscarriage risk. The research appears in the current online issue of American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. more

Surgical site infections more common than expected following breast procedures

Infections at the incision site occurred in more than 5 percent of patients following breast surgery and cost them more than $4,000 each in hospital-related expenses, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. more

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Information appearing on the Vidyya Medical News Service is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Seek professional medical help and follow your health care provider's advice.

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