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Discusses the proliferation of Internet brokerage sites for capitalists and financiers. Implication of electronic trading on investment habits of people; Simple steps of electronic trading; features of several sites.

Discusses the online services offered by the pharmaceutical companies. Companies setting up Web network; Access to medical and pharmaceutical information; Daily maintenance of internal or external Internet sites; Patient education through Internet.

States that according to New York researchers, an increase in the consumption of calcium, may reduce discomfort associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Details on the methodology used to make this determination, by researcher Susan Thys-Jacob, doctor of medicine, and colleagues at Saint Luke's Roosevelt Hospital in New York; Comments made by Thys-Jacob in an interview; What findings suggested as reported in the 1998 `American Journal of Obstetrics.'

Presents information on two studies which focused on anorexia therapy, highlighting the impact the studies findings could have on doctors understanding and treatment of anorexia nervosa. Psychological problems which could be caused by anorexia; Comments from Patrick F. Sullivan, a researcher; Comparison of the physical and psychological symptoms of anorexia; Finding of the studies.

Presents information on montelukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, and salmeterol, two drugs which can be used to treat asthma induced by exercise, while highlighting two studies which were conducted on the drugs. Number of patients examined in each study; Reference to the medical results obtained from patients treated with these drugs; Comments from Robert A. Nathan, an associate clinical professor at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado.

Reports that according to a study conducted, 18 percent of children in the United States are affected with chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions. In-depth look at the study conducted; Comments from Margaret McManus, co-director of the Maternal and Child Health Policy Research Center; Indication that all children should have access to a `medical home.'

Reports on a study conducted on patients with coronary-heart disease, to examine the use of the 1993 Adult Treatment Panel II/National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines by primary-care physicians. Patients which showed levels of low-density lipoprotein; Comments from Patrick McBride, of the HEART Preventive Cardiology Program at the University of Wisconsin Medical School in Madison; Reference to findings published in the `Archives of Internal Medicine' of 1998.

Reports that according to researchers of the Institute of Child Health in London, England, not all childhood food allergies persist through adulthood, referencing peanut hypersensitivity. Basis of the findings of a study by the researchers; Health conditions of children which were likely to outgrow their peanut hypersensitivity; Process in which the study was conducted; Why children should not be labeled as allergic to any food unless a proper diagnosis is made.

Reports that according to a study conducted on Japanese women with primary breast carcinoma, tamoxifen may not increase the risk of endometrial cancer. Benefits of the findings of the study to clinicians and women at risk for breast cancer; Number of women who participated in the study; Findings reported in the 1998 `Cancer' journal; Reference to previous studies.

Presents information on controversy surrounding the demand for primary-care physicians in the United States, while offering the views of medical student, Edie Kagan. Reference to a survey conducted by the American Medical Association on the job market for primary-care physicians; What findings of the survey indicate; Average number of medical students who are awaiting jobs.

Reports that elderly patients should be encouraged to lower their salt intake and promote weight loss to reduce the need for antihypertensive medications, when being counseled by their physicians. Findings of a study of 975 hypertensive people aged 60 to 80 years; Comments from Theodore Kotchen, a professor and chairman of the department of medicine at College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. INSET: Key points.

States that there is a need for physicians to improve how they communicate with patients. Reference to a nationwide survey which indicated that serious medical conditions could have been prevented if patients were more willing to discuss problems with doctors; Comments from C. Everett Koop, former American Surgeon General; Indication that doctors should portray a sensitive demeanor toward patients.

Examines the results of a study which concluded that fluvoxamine, paroxetine or sertraline when taken for the treatment of depression during pregnancy, does not affect the risk of birth defects in the fetus. Number of women who participated in the study; Description of infants born to mothers who took the drug; Details on the study.

Looks at the results of a study which suggests that women doctors were less likely to smoke or consume large amounts of alcohol. Regularity of women doctors to take regular screening tests; Views of lead research of the survey Erica Frank, M.D.

Looks at a study which states that thyroid disease is misdiagnosed, and may be presented as depression. Reference to a meeting which was sponsored by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE); Comments from Stanley Feld, chief of endocrinology at Presbyterian Hospital and clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas; Other detailed information on thyroid disease and depression.

Focuses on some of the guidelines that were released, in an effort to reduce Lyme disease misdiagnosis. Features of the disease; Type of examination that doctors should give patients to determine if the Lyme disease is present; Symptoms of the disease.

Reports that experts are debating which is the best way to treat acute otitis media (AOM) in infants and young children. Information on two articles that have increased debate; Reasons for the debate; Views of some experts regarding treatment.

Reports on a study conducted in the United States, which found that high cholesterol levels in people aged 85 and over, may have some benefits. Questions raised about the benefits of prescribing cholesterol-lowering drugs to elderly patients; How the researchers arrived at their findings.

Focuses on a collection of medical antiques, focusing on the wooden stethoscope developed by Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laennec (1781-1826). How the stethoscope was redesigned for the 1990s; Description of the stethoscope; Sorts of material from which stethoscopes are made; Types of medical curiosities found at the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia; When the museum was first opened.

Reports on two studies on maternity stays in hospitals, which emitted conflicting conclusions about infant safety following early discharge after routine vaginal delivery. Reference to national legislation aimed at eliminating `drive-through' deliveries; Provisions of the new federal law, which becomes effective in 1998; Findings of study of more than 310,000 births from 1991 to 1994 and another which looked at 210 rehospitalized newborns and 630 control subjects.

Provides information on various online information sites in the United States. Names and addresses of sites; Type of information seen on site; Features of sites; Details on sites. INSET: A novel idea.

Focuses on a study which states that various forms of moderate aerobic exercises may help patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Other findings of the study; Comments from Dr. Peter D. White, a senior lecturer in the department of psychological medicine at St. Bartholomew's Hospital.

Discusses the results of a study on potassium and how it effects blood pressure levels. Evidence of augmentation and treatment options; Views of Paul K. Whelton, dean of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine; Benefits of increased potassium intake.

Discusses the results of a study on screening tests for breast cancer. Details on studies conducted; What studies revealed; Analysis of data collected.

Discusses the results of a study which revealed that the explanation given to patients when being discharged from hospital is frequently obscure. Beliefs of doctors on patients' understanding of the adverse effects of their medicines; What was also identified in the study; Suggestion to physicians.

Examines the effect of regular exercise on the prevention of breast cancer. Decline in the risk of cancer for postmenopausal women; Studies suggesting that physical activity may reduce a woman's exposure to estrogen; Effect of the variables age, body-mass index, height, parity on the risk of breast cancer.

Reveals some research sponsors' practice of withholding the negative results of a research study from the public. Dangers in withholding information; Difficulties faced in getting a research published due to professional agendas of several medical journals; Recommendations of researchers to address the issue.

Reports on the study on the use of the C-reactive protein in the prediction of risk for cardiovascular diseases. Role of anti-inflammatory agents in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases; Effectiveness of aspirin therapy in reducing the risk of myocardial infarction; Reexamination of the pathogenetic components of myocardial infarction.

Reports on the increase risk of hypertension in patients who have symptoms of anxiety or depression. Study done on the relationship of hypertension to anxiety in black and white patients; More severe implication of the study among blacks than whites; Effect of the study on the treatment process of hypertension.

Features the algorithm developed to enable physicians to estimate a patient's risk of dying from community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Help extended to physicians in making more rational decisions about hospitalization for pneumonia; Categories of ascending pneumonia severity; Social factors needed to be considered in discharging patients with pneumonia.

Studies the frequency of drug-prescribing errors in hospitals, the types of errors the physicians make as well as the impact of adverse drug events on patients' hospital stays and health care costs in the United States. Lack of knowledge of physicians about a drug; Awareness of patient factors that may drug therapy; Number of deaths occurring from adverse drug events.

Focuses on survey results indicating that majority of patients want their physicians to disclose any mistakes made concerning their health. Lower likelihood for malpractice suits with physicians who admit their mistakes as compared to patients finding out about the error personally; Emphasis on the importance of honest communications between physicians and patients.

Reveals the possible estrogen link between osteoporosis and breast cancer. Higher risk for women with the highest-bone mineral density (BMD); Effects of hormone therapy on bone mineral density; Tailoring of hormone-replacement therapies to address a woman's specific risk and preferences.

Reports on the effectiveness of Tandem-R Ostase, a newly approved serum assay developed by Hybritech, in helping physicians assess and manage post menopausal osteoporotic women. Demonstration of the anticipated biochemical response to therapy of postmenopausal women treated with alendronate; Measurement of biochemical markers for bone turnover including bone alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin.

Reports on the issuance of new guidelines for the prevention and treatment of steroid-induced bone loss at the 1996 of the American College of Rheumatology. Recommended amount of calcium and vitamin D intake for patients taking corticosteroids; Hormone-replacement therapy and regular exercise; Need for baseline bone density measurements of the lumbar spine; Lifestyle modifications.

Reports on the substantial benefits of cholesterol-lowering therapy to normolipidemic coronary heart-disease (CHD) patients. Decrease in the low-density-lipoprotein upon the stepped care therapy with pravastatin and nicotinic acid; Stepped-care algorithm as a practical clinical approach for drug selection and use of drugs at a tolerable doses; Need for an aggressive treatment of the cholesterol levels of CHD patients.

Reports on the physiological effects of steroids. Use of testosterone enanthate, steroids to help build muscle size and strength; Side effects; Observation of negative effects in mood and behavior in men; Effects on muscle size, strength and free body mass; Percentage increase in squatting strength; Recommended dosage of testosterone enanthate.

Reports that physicians should help their female patients learn to differentiate between vulvovaginal candidiasis and more serious gynecologic conditions according to Georgia researchers. Misdiagnosis of candidiasis by women; Advice for women who have never been diagnosed with a yeast infection; Caution against self medication.

Focuses on the residency programs that are available for United States medical school seniors, which will prepare them for general practice. Average number of students participating in the programs for 1996; Remarks from past students of the program; Overall match rate for both United States and international medical school graduates; When the National Residents Match Day was held.

Stresses on the importance of physicians to be educated about alternative products their patients may be taking, unknown to them. Reason; Comments from Hank Black, medical doctor and professor at Temple University in Philadelphia; Clinical studies being conducted to investigate healing and pain-relieving power of shark cartilage.

States that according to statistical data, one in every three women who visit emergency departments in the United States, said they were physically or emotionally abused by intimate partners. Comments from Stephen R. Dearwater of the Allegheny University of Health Sciences, who conducted a study which provided these statistics; In-depth look at the study's findings.

States that according to a study by Baltimore, Maryland-based scientists, sexually active teenagers should be screened twice a year for chlamydia trachomatis. Methodology used by Gale R. Burnstein, M.D., M.P.H., and colleagues of the John Hopkins University in Baltimore, to make this assessment; Statistical data on the prevelance of chlamydia among the youth; Details on the study's findings as reported in the 1998 `Journal of the American Medical Association.'

Suggests that oral contraceptives may reduce the risk of hereditary ovarian cancer. Details on a study conducted to make this determination, by Steven A. Narod, M.D., and colleagues, of the Center for Women's Health at the University of Toronto Women's College Hospital in Toronto, Ontario; What findings suggested, as stipulated in the 1998 `New England Journal of Medicine.'

Presents information on various studies conducted to assess whether infectious diseases could be transmitted from one specie to another. Findings of a study conducted by Ulrich Martin, Ph.D., and colleagues at the Hannover Medical School in Germany, as reported in the 1998 `Lancet' periodical; What was reported by Clive Patience and colleagues at the Institute for Cancer Research in London, England, in 1997; Details on other studies done.

States that elevated blood levels of collagen may be linked to cardiac failure in hypertensive patients. Details on a study conducted to make this determination, by researchers from the University of Navarra School of Medicine in Pamplona, Spain; Indication that results of this study were posted within the 1998 `Circulation' journal; Details on the role of angiotensin conversion enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in the prevention of heart failure.

Presents information on a research which concluded that lower-than-usual doses of tamoxifen can help prevent bone fractures in elderly patients with breast cancer. Number of nursing home residents with breast cancer examined; How the drug reduces fracture risks; Comments from Brenda Breuer, the associate director of research at the Jewish Home and Hospital in New York; Reference to a report on the finding published in the `Journal of the American Geriatric Society.'

Looks at the findings of two studies which focuses on nicotine addiction in African Americans. Why black smokers have trouble trying to stop smoking; Lung cancer rates among African Americans; Reference to a report in the `Journal of the American Medical Association'; Health effects of smoking on African Americans.

Focuse on the effectiveness of Zinc lozenges as a means of protection against the common cold. Details on a study conducted to ascertain this by Michael L. Macknin, MD, chairman of the department of general pediatrics at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio; Comments from Macknin; What findings indicated.

Focuses on the reaction of American women to the abortion pill, RU-486. Details on a study conducted by Beverly Winikoff, MD, director of reproductive health at the Population Council, a New York-based non-profit group, and colleagues; Details on The abortion pill; Comments from Winikoff; What the results suggested.

Compares the effectiveness of braces as opposed to tape in the prevention of ankle sprains and injuries in athletes, as reported at the annual meeting of he American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine in Vancouver, British Columbia, during 1998. Details on an eight-year study conducted to make this comparison, by Monte Hunter, doctor of medicine (MD), chief resident at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Findings of study.