Calendar

        Dr. Mom: Dr. Marianne Neifert, nationally known as “Dr. Mom,” will offer practical suggestions for improving parenting skills and strengthening families at 7 p.m. March 29 in the Sabin Education Center auditorium at Children's Hospital Medical Center. Cost is $10 per person or $15 per couple. Call 636-7606 by March 23 to register.

        Author speaks: Dr. F. Batmanghelidj will talk about the dangers of dehydration and its complications for chronic disease at 7 p.m Thursday at Joseph Beth Booksellers. He is the author of Your Body's Many Cries for Water (Global Health Solutions; $14.95, paperback) and ABC of Asthma, Allergies and Lupus (Global Health Solutions; $17).

Shelf Help

        For parents: Kids with Celiac Disease: A Family Guide to Raising Happy, Healthy, Gluten-Free Children (Woodbine House; $17.95) by Danna Korn is a practical guide for families affected by celiac disease. The only known treatment for the disease, which is marked by chronic diarrhea, irritable bowel-type symptoms, anemia and bloating, is a gluten-free diet. The book includes tips on getting a diagnosis, coping with emotional turmoil and planning meals and shopping for groceries.

Research

        No more pills: An Australian study says patients who have been able to control their hypertension with medication can stop taking those drugs without increasing their blood pressure.

        Researchers at Alfred Hospital in Prahran, Australia, found that 42 percent of the patients whose medication was withdrawn were likely to maintain normal blood pressure for more than a year.

        The researchers say patients most likely to be successfully withdrawn from blood pressure medicine are those with mildly elevated uncomplicated blood pressure that has been controlled by one medication.

        Researchers also emphasize that patients must be carefully screened and willing to accept significant lifestyle changes, including losing weight, reducing salt and alcohol intake and increasing physical activity. Long-term follow-up of patients is also necessary.

        The researchers, headed up by Dr. Mark Nelson, based their recommendations on an analysis of 12 major studies published since the 1950s on the withdrawal of antihypertensive therapies.

        The study was published in the February edition of the American Journal of Hypertension.

Help Wanted

        New study: Physicians at University Hospital are looking for volunteers to participate in a national clinical study to evaluate new treatment options for heart failure patients.

        The COMPANION investigational study will involve up to 2,200 patients at 80 medical centers across the United States. COMPANION is being headed up at University Hospital by cardiologist Dr. Santosh Menon.

        The study will evaluate the effectiveness of standard drug regimens alone or in combination with implanted Guidant medical devices designed to resynchronize the heart's contractions and make its pumping action more effective.

        For information about the COMPANION study, call 584-0323.

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