Spironolactone, an aldosterone receptor antagonist, has been FDA-approved for many years for treatment of edema, hypertension and primary hyperaldosteronism. Recently, it was reported to improve morbidity and mortality in patients with severe heart failure.

Quinupristin and dalfopristin, two streptogramin antibacterials marketed in a 30:70 combination as Synercid, have received accelerated approval from the FDA for intravenous treatment of bacteremia and life-threatening infection....

The FDA has approved exemestane, an aromatase inhibitor, for the treatment of postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer that has progressed during treatment with tamoxifen.

CroFab, an antigen-binding-fragment (Fab) antivenom of ovine origin, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of North American rattlesnake envenomation.

Most angioplasty procedures for coronary artery disease now include placement of stents, which have improved both short- and long-term success rates. The main limitation is restenosis, which occurs in about 25% of patients. Drug-eluting stents intended to reduce the incidence of restenosis have been approved for use in Europe, but not yet in the US.

The fixed-dose combination of olanzapine and fluoxetine (Symbyax - Lilly) has been approved by the FDA for treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder. Olanzapine alone (Zyprexa), which is mainly used as an antipsychotic (Medical Letter 2003; 45:102), is FDA-approved for treatment of acute manic episodes and for maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. Fluoxetine alone (Prozac, and others), which is mainly used as an antidepressant (Medical Letter 2003; 45:93), has no specific approval for use in bipolar...

Botulinum toxin type A (Botox - Allergan) has been approved by the FDA for treatment of severe underarm sweating ("primary axillary hyperhidrosis"). Injected into the skin, botulinum toxin decreases sweating by causing chemical denervation of the sweat gland.

Melamine present in infant formula and other milk products has been associated with widespread illness and some deaths among infants in China. It was also identified in pet food sold in North America after a large number of pets became ill and some died. In both the infants and the pets, renal injury appeared to be the cause.1Melamine (C3H6N6) is a heterocyclic compound, two-thirds nitrogen by weight, that is slightly soluble in water. When combined with formaldehyde, it forms melamine resin, which has a wide variety of industrial applications including the manufacturing of kitchenware,...

A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine confirms something that others, including The Medical Letter (Treat Guidel Med Lett 2008; 6:23), have been saying for years: no particular combination of protein, carbohydrate and fat in the diet offers any advantage in losing weight. This randomized 2-year trial followed 800 overweight and obese subjects on low fat/average protein, low fat/high protein, high fat/average protein, and high fat/high protein diets. Carbohydrate intake varied from 35% (in the high fat/high protein diet) to 65% (in the low fat/average protein diet). All...

Sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn) have become the standard treatment for erectile dysfunction. Head-to-head comparisons of these agents are still lacking, but some differences between them and new recommendations for their dosing (see Table 2) are worth noting.