1.   An epidemiological case-control study conducted by scientists at the University of Washington at Seattle compared patients on calcium channel blockers with those who take diuretics.

2.   Bayer, the maker of one calcium channel blocker, helped write and distribute the news release about his findings.

3.   Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers slow down the heart muscles to decrease the demand for blood and its oxygen.

4.   A furor has arisen in medical circles over several published reports that have questioned the safety of short-acting calcium channel blockers.

5.   A few calcium channel blockers have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to relieve pain from angina and to control irregular heartbeat.

6.   A recent report in The Lancet added to fears that calcium channel blockers may increase the risk of developing a variety of cancers.

7.   All the studies had been published in peer-reviewed medical journals that directly compared calcium channel blockers and other antihypertensive drugs.

8.   But recent studies have raised red flags about the use of calcium channel blockers.

9.   But studies now show that short-acting calcium channel blockers can increase the number of heart attacks, heart failure and strokes, Furberg said in an interview.

10.   But the panel concluded that the data were insufficient to merit a warning against other calcium channel blockers.