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2, 2000 |
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Inhaled
Zanamivir to Prevent Influenza in Families
Zanamivir is a selective inhibitor of influenza A and B virus neuraminidases.
In this placebo-controlled trial, persons who had index cases of symptomatic
influenza were treated with inhaled zanamivir (10 mg twice daily) for
5 days, and their family members received it as prophylaxis (10 mg daily
for 10 days). The proportion of families in which at least one additional
member had symptomatic influenza was smaller in the zanamivir group than
in the placebo group (4 percent vs. 19 percent, P<0.001).
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Comparison
of Treatments for Opioid Dependence
Opioid dependence is an important health problem, for which pharmacologic
treatments often fail. This study compared four treatments for opioid dependence
‹ levomethadyl acetate, buprenorphine, and high-dose and low-dose methadone
‹ in 220 patients who were addicted to opioids. As compared with low-dose
methadone, the other three treatments substantially reduced the use of illicit
opioids.
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Lack
of Correlation between Psychological Factors and Subclinical Coronary
Artery Disease
It has been commonly assumed, and previous studies have suggested, that
there is an association between certain psychological factors, such as depression,
anxiety, and hostility, and the risk of coronary artery disease. In this
study, an association was sought between these factors, as assessed by psychological
testing, and subclinical coronary disease, identified noninvasively by electron-beam
computed tomography, in healthy military personnel. No association was found.
Surprisingly, an inverse relation was found between somatization (the presence
of troublesome physical symptoms without any apparent physical cause) and
coronary-artery calcification.
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Obesity,
Hypertension, and Kidney Cancer in Men
Obesity and hypertension are risk factors for renal-cell cancer. This study
involved 363,992 Swedish men who had at least one physical examination and
were then followed for an average of about 16 years. Renal-cell cancer was
diagnosed in 759 of these men. As compared with men with the lowest values
for these variables, the risk of renal-cell cancer was nearly doubled in
men with the highest body-mass index, more than doubled in those with a
diastolic blood pressure over 90 mm Hg, and significantly increased in those
with a systolic blood pressure over 150 mm Hg. Body-mass index and blood
pressure were independent risk factors. Decreases in diastolic blood pressure
over time reduced the risk of renal-cell cancer.
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