Annals of Internal Medicine is published by the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine (ACP-ASIM), an organization of more than 115,000 internal medicine physicians and medical students. The following highlights are not intended to substitute for articles as sources of information. For an embargoed fax of an article, call 1-800-523-1546, ext. 2656 or 215-351-2656. Full content of the issue is available on the Internet at http://www.annals.org on January 16, 2001.
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Physical Activity Reduces Heart Disease Risk in Women with Diabetes
In a study of 5,125 women with diabetes, women who were physically active had substantially reduced risk for heart disease and stroke (Article, p. 96). Exercise, such as regular walking, reduced risk for cardiovascular disease; faster walking pace was associated with even lower risk. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in persons with diabetes mellitus.
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Drug May Lower Colon Cancer Risk for Some with Ulcerative Colitis
In a study of 59 patients with the combination of ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), those who had received the drug ursodiol were less likely to develop colon cancer or precancerous changes in the colon than those who did not (Article, p. 89). People with both ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory disease of the colon, and PSC, a disease of the bile ducts or biliary tract, are at very high risk for colorectal cancer. Ursodiol is a drug with relatively few side effects that is sometimes used to treat liver abnormalities in PSC patients. Although it is not clear that ursodiol would reduce cancer risk in other groups of high-risk patients, the authors and an editorial say a randomized trial should be done (Editorial, p. 158).
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Alcohol Abuse Increases Risk for Cirrhosis in Patients with Hepatitis C
(Brief Communication, p. 120.)
Multicenter Clinical Trials and Institutional Review Boards
(Perspective, p. 152; Editorial, p. 161.)
Prednisone Plus Methotrexate Treat Giant-Cell Arteritis, with Less Prednisone Needed
(Article, p. 106.)
Journal
Annals of Internal Medicine