Obese women who consume moderate amounts of alcohol have a risk of developing cirrhosis nearly twice that of normal-weight women who drink the same amount, and obesity and heavy alcohol consumption act in concert to increase deaths from liver disease in men, according to two linked studies published online March 12 in BMJ.

WASHINGTON (EGMN) – New federal data highlighted on March 11 show that among 12-year-olds, inhalants are the most abused drug, exceeding abuse of marijuana, cocaine, and hallucinogens combined.

Early results from two small studies show that the long-term use of oral bisphosphonates could harm bone quality and potentially lead to an increased risk for femur fractures, but the Food and Drug Administration is advising patients to stay on their medication unless advised by their physicians to stop.

Nearly half of patients with hyperlipidemia are given the wrong cholesterol-lowering targets by their primary care physicians, and women are particularly vulnerable to having their risks underestimated and their targets too lenient, German researchers have found.

A National Institutes of Health consensus panel concluded on March 10 that vaginal birth after a cesarean section is appropriate for most women and should be encouraged.

Oral ivermectin was found superior to malathion lotion in eliminating persistent head lice infestation in a study of children and their household contacts, according to a report in the March 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Only 38% of people who underwent elective coronary angiography were found to have obstructive coronary artery disease in a large, representative U.S. registry, according to a report in the March 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Adding eprotirome to statin therapy further reduced serum LDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B in a phase II study published in the March 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

WASHINGTON (EGMN) – Alzheimer’s disease is twice as likely to develop in blacks as it is in whites, and 1.5 times more common among Hispanics, a new national report has found.

Immunizing children aged 3-15 years in isolated rural communities against influenza conferred substantial immunity to unvaccinated members of the communities, according to a report in the March 10 issue of JAMA.

A review of the recent literature confirms that “comparative effectiveness” research – studies designed to help physicians use existing treatments and treatment strategies more effectively – is severely lacking.

Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator raised the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage when used to treat acute ischemic stroke in patients who were already taking warfarin, even if they had an international normalized ratio less than 1.7, according to a study published online March 8 in Archives of Neurology.

Taxing soda and restaurant pizza could discourage U.S. adults from consuming those foods, ultimately helping them reduce long-term weight gain and insulin resistance, according to a 20-year longitudinal study.

Early topical treatment of ocular hypertension appears to be worthwhile in patients at high risk of developing glaucoma, but watchful waiting still may be the best course for those at low risk, based on results of phase I and phase II trials.

SAN FRANCISCO (EGMN) — Patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who develop hypertension when treated with sunitinib are less likely to have disease progression and to die than were their counterparts whose blood pressure remained within normal bounds, researchers reported at a symposium on genitourinary cancers.

MIAMI (EGMN) – The use of complementary and alternative medicine is increasing among patients with self-reported skin disease, and patients are also discussing this use more with their physicians, supplementary data from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey indicate.

MIAMI (EGMN)–“Sofa dermatitis,” a new type of allergic contact dermatitis, gives new meaning to the hazards of too much time spent sitting on the couch.