Summer heat waves cause thousands of cases of heat-related illness in the US each year and hundreds of heat-related deaths, especially among the elderly. This review describes the contributing factors, clinical signs, and ways to prevent and treat heat injury.

High plasma homocysteine concentrations, like high cholesterol, have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death (O Nygσrd et al, N Engl J Med 1997; 337:230; RS Vasan et al, JAMA 2003; 289:1251). In one meta-analysis, 25% lower plasma homocysteine concentrations were associated with 11% less coronary heart disease and 19% less stroke (Homocysteine Studies Collaboration, JAMA 2002; 288:2015). Should we be trying to lower serum homocysteine concentrations in our patients?

Bexxar, a combination of the monoclonal antibody tositumomab and radiolabeled Iodine-131 tositumomab (Corixa Corp/GlaxoSmithKline) has been approved by the FDA for a single treatment of relapsed follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in patients who are refractory to rituximab (Rituxan - Medical Letter 1998; 40:65). It is the second radioimmunoconjugate to be approved for refractory NHL; yttrium-90 linked to ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin) was approved in 2002. Tositumomab, like ibritumomab, is a monoclonal antibody of mouse origin that binds to the CD20 antigen present on the surface of >90%...

Tadalafil (Cialis - Lilly Icos) is the third oral drug to be approved by the FDA for treatment of erectile dysfunction. It has a longer duration of action than sildenafil (Viagra) or vardenafil (Levitra - Medical Letter 2003; 45:77).

Zolmitriptan (Zomig - AstraZeneca) nasal spray was recently approved by the FDA for treatment of migraine. It is the second selective serotonin receptor agonist ("triptan") to become available as a nasal spray; sumatriptan has been available in this form since 1997. Some patients with migraine cannot take tablets because of nausea and vomiting, and nasal sprays are more convenient than subcutaneous injections.

Daptomycin (Cubicin - Cubist), a cyclic lipopeptide (a new class of antibiotics), has been approved by the FDA for intravenous (IV) treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections. It is being promoted as a once-daily bactericidal alternative to vancomycin (Vancocin, and others) for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureusinfections.

Venlafaxine (Effexor, Effexor XR - Wyeth), an antidepressant that inhibits both norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake, was first approved by the FDA in 1993. It has been used mainly as a second-line agent for patients who have not responded to a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Some Medical Letter consultants have had the clinical impression that venlafaxine is more effective than an SSRI, particularly for patients with severe, classic depression (melancholia), and believe it should be considered a first-line drug (Treatment Guidelines from the Medical Letter 2003, 1:69). Is...

Epinastine HCl, an H₁-receptor antagonist and mast cell stabilizer, has been approved by the FDA for use in a 0.05% ophthalmic solution (Elestat - Allergan/Inspire) for prevention of itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis. The drug is available orally in Europe and Asia.

The FDA has approved a new formulation of carbidopa/levodopa (Rytary – Impax) in extended-release capsules for treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD).

The FDA has approved ceftazidime/avibactam (Avycaz – Actavis) for IV treatment of complicated urinary tract and intra-abdominal infections in adults who have limited or no other treatment options. Ceftolozane/tazobactam (Zerbaxa – Cubist), another cephalosporin/beta-lactamase inhibitor combination, was approved in 2014.