hydroxyzine (brand names: Vistaril, Atarax)-

An antihistamine with anticholinergic (drying) and sedative properties that is used to treat allergic reactions and to relieve nasal and nonnasal symptoms such as those from seasonal allergic rhinitis. Histamine is released by the body during several types of allergic reactions and to a lesser extent during some viral infections, such as the common cold. When histamine binds to its receptors on cells, it causes changes within the cells that lead to sneezing, itching, and increased mucus production. Antihistamines compete with histamine for cell receptors; however, when they bind to the receptors, antihistamines do not stimulate the cells. In addition, antihistamines prevent histamine from binding and stimulating the cells. Generic is available.

methotrexate (brand names: Rheumatrex, Trexall)-A

A drug that is capable of blocking the metabolism of cells (an antimetabolite). As a result of this effect, methotrexate has been found to be helpful in treating certain diseases associated with abnormally rapid cell growth, such as cancer of the breast and psoriasis. Recently, methotrexate has been shown to be effective in inducing miscarriage (for example, in patients with ectopic pregnancy). This effect of methotrexate is attributed to its action of killing the rapidly growing cells of the placenta. Methotrexate has also been found to be very helpful in treating rheumatoid arthritis, although its mechanism of action in this illness is not known. Methotrexate seems to work, in part, by altering aspects of immune function that may play a role in causing rheumatoid arthritis. Generic is available.

heart surgery

A nurse prepares a robotic surgery system for heart surgery. The three approaches to robot surgery are shared-control, supervisory-controlled and the da Vinci surgical system. "Telesurgery" might also be an option in the future. Next, see heart technology that might keep you alive.

modern medicine

Vaccines developed in the 20th century took medicine to a new level, eradicating and preventing many illness. See the next page to take a look at what other modern medicine marvels and experimental treatments are available today.

Misdiagnosis of carcinoid syndrome

Some patients with carcinoid syndrome present with chronic pain in the lower right abdominal quadrant, and the condition is therefore frequently misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome.

Medicine Reading Room Collection

The History of Medicine Reading Room collection includes the major bibliographic resources necessary for historical research, as well as standard works in the history of medicine.
The collection includes general histories of medicine, histories of diseases, medical directories, encyclopedias, biographies and collective biographies, and reprints of medical classics. Reference sources, such as directories, handbooks, regulations, abstract tools, statistical sources, and prepared bibliographies, are used by patrons and by staff to answer reference questions

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

This review gives an account of recent advances in our knowledge of the intestinal immune system and how it becomes perturbed in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The importance of genetic factors in these diseases

A Man with Cough, Hoarseness, and Abnormalities on Chest Imaging

A 23-year-old man had cough, hoarseness, fever, and dyspnea on exertion. Imaging studies showed pulmonary and mediastinal masses and a lesion in the pelvis.

Pancreatic Cancer and the Hedgehog

Treatment of a mouse model of aggressive pancreatic cancer with an inhibitor of the hedgehog pathway enhanced tumor sensitivity to gemcitabine and resulted in the stabilization of disease.

Lobbying, Campaign Contributions, and Health Care Reform

If current trends continue, the health sector is likely to spend more than a half billion dollars on lobbying of Congress and federal agencies in 2009. Dr. Robert Steinbrook reports on industry’s efforts to influence health care reform.

Medicaid and National Health Care Reform

Medicaid has once again become central to the U.S. health policy debate, this time figuring as a key to national health care reform. Sara Rosenbaum examines Medicaid under the House and Senate health care reform proposals.

About ClinicalTrials

ClinicalTrials.gov offers up-to-date information for locating federally and privately supported clinical trials for a wide range of diseases and conditions. A clinical trial (also clinical research) is a research study in human volunteers to answer specific health questions. Interventional trials determine whether experimental treatments or new ways of using known therapies are safe and effective under controlled environments. Observational trials address health issues in large groups of people or populations in natural settings.

A Message from the Director

Welcome to MedlinePlus, a goldmine of good health information from the world's largest medical library, the National Library of Medicine. Health professionals and consumers alike can depend on it for information that is authoritative and up to date. MedlinePlus has extensive information from the National Institutes of Health and other trusted sources on over 800 diseases and conditions. There are directories, a medical encyclopedia and a medical dictionary, easy-to-understand tutorials on common conditions, tests, and treatments, health information in Spanish, extensive information on prescription and nonprescription drugs, health information from the media, and links to thousands of clinical trials. MedlinePlus is updated daily and can be bookmarked at the URL: medlineplus.gov. There is no advertising on this site, nor does MedlinePlus endorse any company or product.

About MedlinePlus

MedlinePlus will direct you to information to help answer health questions. MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations. Preformulated MEDLINE searches are included in MedlinePlus and give easy access to medical journal articles. MedlinePlus also has extensive information about drugs, an illustrated medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials, and latest health news.

HealthSmart Completes Recapitalization to Support Continued Growth, Daniel D. Crowley Named Chairman

HealthSmart, an innovative healthcare benefit solutions company, today announced that it has successfully completed a recapitalization with Silver Point Capital, L.P. and the Company’s other lenders. Silver Point Capital, L.P. is a private investment firm based in.

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Osteoplug Bioresorbable Implant for Trephination Burr Holes

Description:Posteoplug is a bioresorbable implant that is used for covering trephination burr holes in neurosurgery. This proprietary, user-friendly design, shaped like a flattened button mushroom, allows a snap fit into burr holes and requires no fixation by screws, unlike titanium plates. It has superior mechanical strength and the scaffold architecture minimizes potential injuries to the exposed brain th...Company:Osteopore International

AMD Now

Description:AMD Now is a forum presenting interactive education on Age- related Macular Degeneration (AMD), AMD diagnosis and treatments, VEGF, aseptic technique and supportive care for patients and caregivers....Company:ASORN

Osteomesh Bioresorbable Implant for Craniofacial Surgery

Description:Osteomesh is a bioresorbable implant used in craniofacial surgery to repair various types of fractures, like the orbital floor fracture and to fill surgical defects. It has interconnected pores which allow rapid saturation with marrow, blood and nutrients, thus providing the patients own cells with chemical signals that are required for bone growth and remodeling. The mesh is malleable and can be...Company:Osteopore International

Go Healthy, Not Hungry for Holiday Eating

Planning ahead can help keep eating under control, expert says SUNDAY, Nov. 22 (HealthDay News) -- The holiday season means you'll be faced with a seemingly endless buffet of food temptation. While some people simply give in and eat too much, others deny themselves any holiday treats. But there are ways to navigate between overindulgence and deprivation, according to Julie Red..

New cancer target for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

NEW YORK (Nov. 22 2009) -- Physician-scientists from Weill Cornell Medical College have discovered a molecular mechanism that may prove to be a powerful target for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects lymphocytes, or white blood cells. By exploiting this mechanism, researchers have been able to powerfully suppress tumor formation in lab testing and in animal .

Surface bacteria maintain skin's healthy balance

On the skin's surface, bacteria are abundant, diverse and constant, but inflammation is undesirable. Research at the University of California, San Diego School of medicine now shows that the normal bacteria living on the skin surface trigger a pathway that prevents excessive inflammation after injury. "These germs are actually good for us," said Richard L. Gallo, MD, PhD, professor of med.

Latest Invention: Brain Implants to Ease Serious Neurological Conditions

Recently a team of researchers from Medtronic of Minneapolis, Minnesota, announced about the development of a neurostimulator.

Latest Invention: Biogel that Heals Brain Injuries

Recently it was announced that in the next three years the field of medicine will benefit from the latest invention of U.S. researchers - an injectable biogel that can cure brain injuries

InfoNIAC Presents: Top 6 Latest Inventions of August 2009

InfoNIAC Presents is our new section in which we bring you the top 10 latest inventions selected from www.InfoNIAC.com each month.

Latest Invention: Liquid Condom Blocks HIV, Herpes, Papilloma Viruses

Researchers managed to come up with the latest invention in medicine called vaginal liquid condom that has the ability to block semen and anything that is contained in it, including viruses such as the human immunodeficiency virus.

Latest invention in medicine

Speaking about the latest invention in medicine, it is worth mentioning that scientists have invented drugs that not only improve the endurance of athletes, but also imitate the beneficial effects of exercising. These drugs will be used for treating a variety of muscle diseases, for example, wasting and frailty, and will be given to hospital patients unable to exercise, veterans and other people with disabilities, obesity and metabolic disorders, in order to provide them with the benefits of exercise.