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News, opinions and meeting coverage in primary care.

DSM-5 Panel Tiptoes on Grief, Depression

PHILADELPHIA -- Psychiatrists writing new diagnostic criteria for major depression hope an explanatory note will mollify critics of a proposal to let patients grieving a dead loved one receive a formal diagnosis.

Brain Bleed Size Affects Therapy in Afib Patients

NEW ORLEANS -- The size of a brain bleed appears to determine which medications, if any, are given to atrial fibrillation patients after an intracerebral hemorrhage, a retrospective study showed.

Eye Tremors May Be Early Sign of Parkinson's

Eye tremors are pervasive in Parkinson's disease and could be an early warning sign of the neurodegenerative movement disorder, according to a case-control study.

Doctors Say 45 Common Tests 'Overused'

Nine specialty groups have listed tests and treatments that are frequently overused, such as antibiotics for sinus attacks and CT scans for low back pain, in the first phase of a long-term project.

FDA Adds Diabetes Warning to Statin Label

WASHINGTON -- The FDA is changing the labeling on statins to include a warning about increased risks of hyperglycemia and transient memory problems, but the agency is no longer recommending routine liver function testing.

Big BP Variation Between Arms Raises Red Flag

A substantial difference in blood pressure from one arm to the other could be a warning sign for overall cardiovascular and mortality risk, a meta-analysis determined.

Breast Reduction Riskier After 50

Outcomes of breast reduction surgery worsen with age, with more infections and a tendency toward wound-healing problems in women older than 50, researchers found.

Use of Psych Drugs Up, Women Biggest Users

One American in five takes psychiatric medication for conditions such as depression and anxiety, and use of the drugs is more common among women, researchers found.

Life Expectancy Shorter After TIA

Nine years after discharge, the survival of patients hospitalized with a transient ischemic attack was 20% lower than expected, with older patients more likely to be affected, according to an Australian study.

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 番茄社区 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.

FDA Blocks Sale of Supplements for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's

WASHINGTON -- The FDA filed a permanent injunction against two Minnesota companies that distributed amino acid products marketed as treatments for Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and a number of other neurological disorders.

Knee Pain Eased With Combo Treatment

Combination treatment using ibuprofen plus acetaminophen provided better relief of chronic knee pain than acetaminophen alone -- but at the cost of increased side effects, a British randomized study found.

Heart, Not Ear, Main Source of Dizziness in Elderly

Heart disease, not inner ear problems, appears to be the most common cause of dizziness in elderly patients seen in primary care offices, researchers say.

Nursing Homes Called 'Dumping Grounds' for Mentally Ill

BALTIMORE -- Young and middle-aged people with serious mental illnesses are increasingly being housed in nursing homes alongside elderly residents, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data show.

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.

Topical Retinol Bolsters Elderly Skin and Reduces Wrinkles

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Topical vitamin A (retinol) may improve fine wrinkles, collagen deficiency, and atrophy in the fragile skin of elderly patients.

AGS: Geriatricians Go Slow with Newer Chronic Constipation Therapies

SEATTLE -- Few geriatricians appear willing to try newer medications to treat chronic constipation in older adults, an informal survey here showed.

Accelerated Weight Loss May Signal Imminent Dementia Onset

ST. LOUIS -- An early warning sign for Alzheimer's disease could be accelerated weight loss, found a study of aging and memory.

High Blood Pressure Lowers Walking Ability in Elderly

CHICAGO -- High blood pressure appears to impair older patients' ability to walk, and the reason may be more than just peripheral arterial disease.

DDW: Constipation Drug Seen Safe and Effective for Long Term Use in Elderly

Los Angeles 芒鈧€� The new medication Amitiza (lubiprostone) is safe and effective as long-term therapy for chronic constipation in older patients, researchers reported here. Results were at least as good in seniors as in the more general populations studied earlier.

Certain Exercise Proposed to Reduce Hip Fracture Risk in Elderly

CAMBRIDGE, England-If hip fractures in the elderly are caused by thinning of the femur that leads to bone buckling in a fall, as a team here contends, cycling, rowing or gymnastics might strengthen the femoral neck and reduce the fracture risk.