A "no-biopsy" approach to diagnosing celiac disease.

This noninvasive alternative to the diagnostic gold standard may cut risk and expense for adult patients.

Restoration of common loons following the North Cape Oil Spill, Rhode Island, USA.

Oil spills are a widespread problem in the marine environment and can have extensive acute and chronic adverse impacts to resident and migratory biota. On 19 January 1996, the North Cape oil tanker caught fire and grounded on the coast of Rhode Island resulting in the spill of 828,000 gal (3134 metric tonnes) of home heating oil. It resulted in the estimated death of nearly 2300 birds, including a projected 402 common loons (Gavia immer) and 12 red-throated loons (Gavia stellata).

Songbirds as sentinels of mercury in terrestrial habitats of eastern North America.

Mercury (Hg) is a globally distributed environmental contaminant with a variety of deleterious effects in fish, wildlife, and humans. Breeding songbirds may be useful sentinels for Hg across diverse habitats because they can be effectively sampled, have well-defined and small territories, and can integrate pollutant exposure over time and space. We analyzed blood total Hg concentrations from 8,446 individuals of 102 species of songbirds, sampled on their breeding territories across 161 sites in eastern North America [geometric mean Hg concentration = 0.

CMS coverage for obesity management.

Intensive behavioral management of obesity is now covered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This article reviews strategies for managing obesity in primary care.

Impact of the STAR*D trial from the perspective of the payer.

The authors discuss implications for private and public insurers of the STAR*D trial (Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression), which found evidence that for second- and third-line treatment, no second-generation antidepressant was superior to another in terms of effectiveness or of the overall incidence of harmful effects. These findings have permitted payers to construct formulary coverage rules with more confidence and have highlighted the benefits of policies that improve access to care (for example, encouraging primary care treatment of depression) or promote treatment adherence (for example, implementing pay-for-performance initiatives).