GLG News by Pulmonologists (US)

Not surprisingly the BLues are cutting reimbursement to physicians yet their rates continue to rise and their employee compensation continues to rise. It is time for employeers to demand that the highly paid executives of the Blues justify their excessive salaries and efficiencies of the Blues be fixed....

Medimmunes novel mAb to the Il5 receptor represents a novel way to decrease eosinophils. While this represents a potentially important therapeutic modality in asthma mangement, previous attempts with mepolizumab ( anti IL 5 ) proved disaapointing. Mepolizumab like medimmune's new agent was able to decrease...

Safety and extreme efficacy are what MDs thqat treat Asthma are searching for.  Not a novel approach , but rather a sure, safe bet.  Jacqueline Proner, MD  Board Certified Allergist/ Immunologist  Private Practice Queens, NY

While these data seem to be good for medimmune, it is at least the third anti IL5 therapy that has been developed (others by GSK and Schering) . The others have been more extensively studied and if successful will more likely come to market sooner. Furthermore, while it is hoped to make a dent into...

Fexofenadine-Allegra is usually perceived as slightly less effective than Claritin for seasonal allergic rhinitis. Both of these drug are non-sedating. Zyrtec, however, with slight sedation potential is the most powerful of the group.

In Phase I studies, anti-IL-5 receptor antibody was shown to deplete eosinophils, which are cells associated with asthma and allergies, and which express the IL-5 receptor.  The antibody is distinct from previous related studies with anti-IL-5 antibody, which neutralized the activity of IL-5, which...

The cliffhanger we physicians see at the end of each year is fast approaching. Medicare cuts are looming and much higher than previous years. I am barely hanging on to my practice as it is, 10% cuts will be the end of it. I contact the legislators dutifully when the AMA asks and when ACP asks. The legislators...

Presently, peripheral lesions are ususally biopsied percutaneously under radiological guidance with only light sedation being required. Nevertheless, many of these lesions should not be biopsied since a positive biopsy usually means that the patient will require surgery for its removal and a negative...

Peripheral lung nodules have been difficult for the bronchoscopist in the past to biopsy in order to identify the etiology. Using these two techniques, which requires some increased training by the interventionalist, the bronchoscopist may be able to now diagnose malignancy vs infection to help with...

I can understand how mail order can allow for some savings for payors. But personally as a physician and daughter of older parents, they can be a little ridiculous. Just last week I received a fax asking that I change a proton pump inhibitor from Brand A to Brand B for a patient so that the PATIENT...