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March, 2003 - The Medical Letter
Many readers have asked for reprints of our articles on biologic, chemical and nuclear weapons. |
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December 8, 2003 - The Medical Letter
Questions have been raised in the US press recently about the safety of Canadian drugs. The process of drug approval in Canada is similar to that in the US (D Paul, Int J Med Marketing 2001; 1:224). More than 90% of drugs available in Canada have also been approved by the FDA. Most of these drugs come from the same manufacturers as drugs in the US. Health Canada takes longer on average to release drugs than the FDA does; more than half the drugs discontinued for safety reasons by the FDA between 1992 and 2001 had not been approved for use in Canada (NS Rawson and KI Kaitin, Ann Pharmacother 2003; 37:1403). Websites claiming to sell Canadian drugs, however, may be selling counterfeit drugs from unregulated sources. |
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April 2007 - Treatment Guidelines
Although immunization programs have produced high vaccination rates in US infants and children, similar successes have not been achieved in adults. Vaccines recommended for routine use in adults are reviewed here. Vaccines for travel are reviewed separately. |
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May 26, 2003 - The Medical Letter
Insect repellents have been used on the skin for many years, primarily to prevent mosquito bites, which transmit malaria, West Nile virus infection, and various types of encephalitis. With increased concern about Lyme disease in recent years, skin and clothing repellents are now also recommended for protection against ticks. |
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December 5/19, 2005 - The Medical Letter
Many patients planning to travel seek advice about prevention of malaria. No drug is 100% effective fort his indication; travelers should be told to take other protective measures as well. Malaria in pregnancy is particularly serious for both mother and fetus; prophylaxis is indicated if travel cannot be avoided. Countries with a risk of malaria are listed in the table on page102. Some countries with endemic malaria transmission may not have malaria in the most frequently visited major cities and rural tourist resorts. |
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June 6, 2005 - The Medical Letter
Picaridin (KBR 3023), which has been used as an insect repellent for years in Europe and Australia (Autan Repel, and others), is now available in the US in a 7% solution as Cutter Advanced (Spectrum Brands). The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending it as an alternative to DEET. |
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June 15, 2009 - The Medical Letter
A 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23; Pneumovax 23 – Merck) is the only pneumococcal vaccine approved for use in adults. A more immunogenic conjugate vaccine containing 7 pneumococcal serotypes (PCV7; Prevnar – Wyeth) is generally used only in children <5 years old, but apparently has reduced the incidence of pneumococcal disease due to these serotypes in adults as well, presumably as a result of herd immunity. Some authors have suggested that perhaps PPSV23 should be withdrawn. |
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January 6, 2003 - The Medical Letter
Because of concerns about the possibility of bioterrorism involving
smallpox, the US government is reinstituting smallpox vaccination
(www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/index.asp;
www.idsociety.org/bt/toc.htm).
Vaccination is currently expected to proceed in three phases:
the military and hospital smallpox response teams first, other
health care workers, police and firefighters second, and the
general public in the third phase. Except for the military,
vaccination will be voluntary. |
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June 7, 2004 - The Medical Letter
Solar ultraviolet (UV) light capable of injuring the skin is classified by wavelength into UVA I (340-400 nm), UVA II (320-340 nm) and UVB (290-320 nm). UVB is responsible for most of the erythema of sunburn. UVA has been implicated in the development of phototoxicity and photoaging. The FDA permits sunscreen manufacturers to claim broad-spectrum protection if their products block at least part of UVA II in addition to UVB. |
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