Recent studies suggest that timely use of automated external defibrillators operated by laypersons with minimal training can save lives. Purchase of these devices for public places or home use requires authorization from a physician.

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

Private cord blood banks continue to advertise their services to couples expecting a child. Cord blood can be stored safely for many years. Public cord blood banks accept collections only from affiliated hospitals (Medical Letter 2001; 43:84). Units are available for any patient; there is no guarantee that a particular donor's blood will be available if the donor or a family member needs a stem cell transplant. Many patients can find an unrelated match in a public cord blood bank, but members of minority ethnic groups are often more difficult to match (www.marrow.org). Private cord blood banks...

For patients with radicular pain unresponsive to conservative treatment after 1-2 months and no progressive neurologic deficit, epidural corticosteroid injections are often tried before surgical intervention.

The FDA has approved the Minimed 670G (Medtronic), a hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery system for use in patients ≥14 years old with type 1 diabetes. The system uses an algorithm to automatically adjust basal insulin doses based on readings from a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). It fully automates basal insulin delivery in "auto" mode, but is considered a "hybrid" system (not a true "artificial pancreas") because it requires some action by the patient. The 670G system is expected to become available in Spring 2017.

The FDA has amended its Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty) and Moderna (Spikevax) to permit use of bivalent formulations of the products as a single booster dose in persons ≥12 years old (Pfizer) or ≥18 years old (Moderna) whose most recent COVID-19 vaccine dose was a monovalent product given ≥2 months previously as a booster or for completion of a primary series. The bivalent formulations are not authorized for primary immunization. Monovalent Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are no longer...

Most patients with lung cancer present with advanced disease, and fewer than 20% live for five years after diagnosis. Earlier detection of lung cancer, when it is potentially resectable, might improve survival. Recent studies have led some radiology centers to promote spiral computed tomography (CT), which involves much less exposure to radiation than standard CT, as a screening tool for lung cancer.

High doses of beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc oxide are now being promoted to the general public to "preserve eye health" (Ocuvite PreserVision), "promote retinal and visual health" (VisiVite) and "preserve healthy vision" (ICaps). Internet advertisements for these products all refer to a clinical trial, the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), which was conducted in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Testing for HIV infection in the US typically has been a two-step process that requires patients to return for results. This review describes two rapid tests currently FDA-approved, OraQuick and Reveal. It includes a table with the cost and characteristics of each test (result time, device type, equipment needed, etc.).

An FDA Advisory Committee has recommended over-the-counter (OTC) marketing of Plan B (Barr), an emergency contraceptive "pill pack" that contains two 0.75-mg tablets of levonorgestrel to be taken 12 hours apart (Medical Letter 2000; 42:10). Plan B is one of two FDA-approved products for this indication. The Preven Emergency Contraceptive Kit (Medical Letter, 40:102, 1998) includes four tablets, each containing 0.25 mg of levonorgestrel and 50 ╡g of ethinyl estradiol; these are taken 2 at a time 12 hours apart (the "Yuzpe regimen") and are available only by...