Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Family Practice for August 2010. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Neonatal Mortality Risk Higher at Unspecialized Hospitals
TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Very low-birth-weight (VLBW) and very preterm (VPT) infants born at hospitals without specialized neonatal care have higher mortality risks than those born at specialized level III hospitals, according to a meta-analysis published in the Sept. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Gestation Linked to Cerebral Palsy Risk Even in Term Births
TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- An increased risk of cerebral palsy is seen in individuals who were delivered at 37 or 38 weeks of gestation or at 42 weeks or later, compared to 40 weeks, according to research published in the Sept. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Biobehavioral Approach Linked to Benefits in Dementia
TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- A biobehavioral environmental intervention -- Care of Persons with Dementia in their Environments (COPE) -- is associated with better functioning in patients with dementia after four months, as well as benefits for caregivers, according to research published in the Sept. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Blood Pressure-Lowering Diet May Reduce CHD Risk
TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- In individuals with prehypertension or stage-1 hypertension, a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy, and low in fats and cholesterol appears to reduce the long-term risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), according to a study published online Aug. 31 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
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Diverse Veggie Intake May Lower Lung Cancer Risk
TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Eating a variety of vegetables and fruits may reduce the risk of lung cancer in current smokers, according to research published online Aug. 31 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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Costs of Vehicle-Related Injury Exceeded $99 Billion in 2005
TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- In 2005, motor vehicle crashes in the United States resulted in more than 3.7 million deaths or injuries requiring medical care, as well as loss of productivity and medical costs reaching nearly $100 billion, according to research published in the August issue of Traffic Injury Prevention.
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Nearly One in Three Deliveries in U.S. Is Cesarean Section
TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Almost a third of deliveries in the United States are by cesarean section, and more than 30 percent of cesareans can be attributed to pre-labor repeat cesarean delivery due to a previous uterine scar, according to research published online Aug. 13 in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Non-Physiologic Factors Sway Growth Hormone Decisions
TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians' decisions to initiate growth hormone (GH) therapy in children with idiopathic short stature are mostly consistent with established guidelines, but their recommendations regarding GH continuation are more strongly influenced by contextual and attitudinal factors than by growth response to therapy, according to research published online Aug. 30 in Pediatrics.
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Pediatricians Can Often Manage Gynecologic Issues
TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Among pediatric patients, most medical gynecologic issues can be managed in the primary care office setting, usually without a pelvic examination; although, when a pelvic exam is required, the primary care office may be the best setting, according to a clinical report published online Aug. 30 in Pediatrics.
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No Benefit Seen for Vitamin Use With Colon Cancer Chemo
TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Among patients with stage III colon cancer, the use of multivitamins during and after adjuvant chemotherapy is not associated with a lower recurrence rate or improved survival, according to a study published online Aug. 30 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Somatic Depression Symptoms Show Heart Risk Link
TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Somatic symptoms of depression appear to more strongly predict cardiovascular events than cognitive depressive symptoms in individuals with stable coronary heart disease (CHD), according to research published in the Sept. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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AHA/ASA Stroke Program Likely Applicable Outside U.S.
MONDAY, Aug. 30 (HealthDay News) -- The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With the Guidelines-Stroke program (GWTG-Stroke) may be useful for assessing and improving the quality of stroke care and outcomes outside the United States, according to research published online Aug. 30 in Circulation.
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Screening Guidelines Offered for Urinary Tract Conditions
MONDAY, Aug. 30 (HealthDay News) -- The American Urological Association (AUA) has published new guidelines for the screening of siblings and offspring of index patients with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and infants with prenatal hydronephrosis (PNH) in the September issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Exercise Alters Pain Sensitivity in Veterans With Chronic Pain
MONDAY, Aug. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Veterans of the first Gulf War (GVs) with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) appear to be more sensitive to heat-pain stimuli after acute exercise, according to research published in the August issue of the Journal of Pain.
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Pediatricians, Parents Urged to Address Sexuality in the Media
MONDAY, Aug. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Pediatricians and parents have the opportunity to help address unhealthy messages related to sexuality that young people receive from the media, according to a policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics published online Aug. 30 in Pediatrics.
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Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Recommendations Updated
MONDAY, Aug. 30 (HealthDay News) -- The American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee on Infectious Diseases has updated its recommendations on the routine use of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine as well as antiviral medications for the prevention and treatment of influenza among children; the recommendations are part of a policy statement published online Aug. 30 in Pediatrics.
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Sports-Related Concussions Often Occur in Younger Kids
MONDAY, Aug. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Children ages 8 to 13 account for a considerable portion of sports-related concussions (SRCs) that occur among young people, according to research published online Aug. 30 in Pediatrics.
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Opioid Addiction Often Begins With Legal Prescriptions
FRIDAY, Aug. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Many individuals who seek treatment for opioid dependence begin using the drugs legally but later obtain them from illicit sources, according to a study in the June issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine.
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Vaccination Coverage Estimate Shrinks With New Method
FRIDAY, Aug. 27 (HealthDay News) -- As the result of a recent change to the method for measuring Haemophilus influenzae serotype b (Hib) vaccination coverage, the proportion of children aged 19 to 35 months considered fully vaccinated has dropped by nearly a third, according to an article published in the Aug. 27 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Multiple Sclerosis Program Improves Drug Adherence
FRIDAY, Aug. 27 (HealthDay News) -- A specialty care management program for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients may improve medication compliance and reduce both MS-related hospitalizations and MS-related medical costs, though total costs may still increase over time, according to research published in the August issue of Multiple Sclerosis.
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Youth Tobacco Use Down Since 2000; No Drop Since 2006
FRIDAY, Aug. 27 (HealthDay News) -- The use of cigarettes and tobacco products by youths has declined substantially over the past decade -- though not from 2006 to 2009 -- but nearly one in four high school students still used tobacco products in 2009, according to a report in the Aug. 27 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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CDC's Revised Influenza Death Estimates Show Wide Variation
FRIDAY, Aug. 27 (HealthDay News) -- From 1976 through 2007, the number of annual influenza-related deaths in the United States ranged from 3,349 to 48,614, according to a report published in the Aug. 27 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Type 2 Diabetes Susceptibility Alleles Tied to BMI in Children
THURSDAY, Aug. 26 (HealthDay News) -- In children who were born large for gestational age, certain type 2 diabetes susceptibility alleles are linked to low body mass index (BMI) at age 8, according to research published in the August issue of Diabetes.
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Physicians' Religious Views Linked to Care Decisions
THURSDAY, Aug. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Non-religious physicians are more likely than religious physicians to make decisions that could hasten the end of patients' lives, and are also more likely to discuss these types of decisions with patients, according to research published online Aug. 25 in the Journal of Medical Ethics.
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Parents of Children With Autism More Likely to Divorce
THURSDAY, Aug. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to divorce than parents of children who do not have the disorder, and the risk of divorce stays high as the child advances through childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood, according to research published in the August issue of the Journal of Family Psychology.
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Vitamins Don't Reduce Preterm Births in Low-Risk Women
THURSDAY, Aug. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Supplementation with vitamins C and E starting at nine to 16 weeks of gestation in nulliparous women at low risk for delivering prematurely is not associated with a reduced risk of spontaneous preterm birth, according to research published in the September issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Elective Induction Not Always Tied to Higher C-Section Rate
THURSDAY, Aug. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Elective labor induction among nulliparous women with a favorable cervix carries the same possibility of resulting in cesarean delivery as expectant management, though it might require increased resource use, according to a study in the September issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Underinsured Children More Prevalent Than Uninsured
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 25 (HealthDay News) -- In the United States, there are more underinsured children than uninsured children, and both groups have suboptimal health care quality and access, according to research published in the Aug. 26 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Statin Benefits Those With High hsCRP, Intermediate CVD Risk
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Rosuvastatin may reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in men and women with normal cholesterol but elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels who are at intermediate risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to research published online Aug. 24 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
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FDA Warns Against Use of Foot Tanner
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 25 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to consumers about the possible risk of ultraviolet overdose with a portable foot tanning device due to shortcomings in labeling and manufacturing.
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Stress Biomarker Linked to Lower Probability of Conception
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Elevation of a stress biomarker, salivary alpha-amylase, is associated with a reduction in a woman's chances of conceiving during the fertile part of her monthly cycle, according to research published online Aug. 5 in Fertility and Sterility.
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Shorter Cervical Length Tied to Problems in Placenta Previa
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Shorter cervical length during the third trimester of pregnancy among women with placenta previa is linked to a higher risk of hemorrhage, uterine activity, and preterm delivery, according to a study published in the September issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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ACOG Makes Recommendations for Use of HPV Vaccination
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Girls should be routinely vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) at the age of 11 or 12, though vaccination may be advisable in girls as young as 9, according to recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists published in the September issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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ACOG Recommends Antibiotics Before Cesarean Delivery
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 25 (HealthDay News) -- All women undergoing cesarean delivery should receive antimicrobial prophylaxis within 60 minutes of the start of the delivery unless they're already receiving appropriate antibiotics for issues such as chorioamnionitis, according to recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists published in the September issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Moderate Drinking Linked to Lower Mortality Risk in Seniors
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 25 (HealthDay News) -- In older adults, moderate drinking is associated with lower mortality risk than abstention, heavy drinking, and perhaps even light drinking, according to a study published online Aug. 24 in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
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Antiherpetic Antiviral Drugs Not Linked to Birth Defects
TUESDAY, Aug. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to the antiviral drugs acyclovir and valacyclovir during the first trimester of pregnancy is not associated with a higher risk of major birth defects, according to a study in the Aug. 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Rectal Cancer on the Increase in Younger People
TUESDAY, Aug. 24 (HealthDay News) -- The incidence of rectal cancer and rectosigmoid cancer in younger patients appears to have been increasing in recent decades, according to research published online Aug. 23 in Cancer.
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Most Low Weight Infants at 24 Weeks Gestational Age Live
TUESDAY, Aug. 24 (HealthDay News) -- The majority of low birth weight infants with a gestational age (GA) of 24 or more weeks survive, but this population continues to have high rates of morbidity, according to a report published online Aug. 23 in Pediatrics.
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Rotavirus Vaccine Effective in Preventing Hospitalizations
TUESDAY, Aug. 24 (HealthDay News) -- High three-dose coverage with a universal infant pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RV5) is effective in preventing rotavirus and non-rotavirus acute gastroenteritis (AGE) hospitalizations in vaccinated children and older individuals who are unvaccinated, according to a study published online Aug. 23 in Pediatrics.
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Spouse's Deployment Status Tied to Depression Risk
TUESDAY, Aug. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Deployment of a spouse during pregnancy or the postpartum period is associated with an increased risk of a positive depression screening, according to research published in the September issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Adult Victims of Violence More Likely to Spank Children
MONDAY, Aug. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Corporal punishment (CP) is still a prevalent form of child discipline in the United States, and it appears to be meted out more often by adult victims of intimate partner aggression or violence (IPAV), according to research published online Aug. 23 in Pediatrics.
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Thousands of Children Treated for Sledding Injuries Yearly
MONDAY, Aug. 23 (HealthDay News) -- From 1997 to 2007, an average of more than 20,000 children and adolescents per year were treated in U.S. emergency departments for sledding-related injuries, according to research published online Aug. 23 in Pediatrics.
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Antihypertensive Drugs Tied to Pressor Responses
MONDAY, Aug. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Commonly used antihypertensive drugs cause pressor responses fairly frequently, particularly in patients with low renin levels who receive β-blockers or angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in the American Journal of Hypertension.
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Surgery for Undescended Testes Often Occurs After Age 2
MONDAY, Aug. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Clinical guidelines recommend orchidopexy by age 1 for treatment of congenital undescended testes, but a substantial number of boys do not undergo the surgery even by age 2, according to research published online Aug. 23 in Pediatrics.
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More HIV-Exposed Uninfected Infants Have Group B Strep
MONDAY, Aug. 23 (HealthDay News) -- HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants may be more susceptible to invasive group B streptococcal (GBS) infections in terms of incidence and severity than babies born to HIV-uninfected mothers, according to research published online Aug. 23 in Pediatrics.
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Health Costs Likely High in LBP Patients With High Disability
MONDAY, Aug. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Low back pain (LBP) patients with high levels of disability have an increased likelihood of incurring high health care costs, and depression appears to play an important role in back pain patients' direct health care utilization, according to research published in the Aug. 15 issue of Spine.
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Tobacco Depictions in Popular Movies Down Since 2005
MONDAY, Aug. 23 (HealthDay News) -- The number of onscreen smoking incidents depicted in top-grossing U.S. movies has decreased substantially since 2005, though nearly half still contain tobacco imagery, according to research published in the Aug. 20 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Thousands of Heat Illnesses Occur in Teen Athletes Yearly
FRIDAY, Aug. 20 (HealthDay News) -- On average, high school athletes in the United States have an estimated 9,237 time-loss heat illnesses annually, and the highest rate is among football players, according to a report in the Aug. 20 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Low Levels of Tobacco Smoke Exposure Tied to Lung Disease
FRIDAY, Aug. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals exposed to even low levels of tobacco smoke may be at increased risk for developing lung diseases, according to a study published online Aug. 6 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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Recommended Vaccinations Up Among U.S. Teens
FRIDAY, Aug. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Vaccination rates in U.S. adolescents for the vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices have increased since 2008, but there is still room for improvement, according to research published in the Aug. 20 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Elderly Likely to Under- or Overestimate Risk of Falling
FRIDAY, Aug. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Elderly individuals often underestimate or overestimate their risk of falling, and the disparities between their perceived and physiological risk are associated with psychological measures and have a strong influence on the likelihood of actually falling, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in BMJ.
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Leafy Green Vegetables May Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk
FRIDAY, Aug. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Higher daily consumption of green leafy vegetables can significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a meta-analysis published Aug. 19 in BMJ.
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High BP Plus Binge Drinking Tied to Increased Cardio Risk
FRIDAY, Aug. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Korean males with grade 3 hypertension who engage in binge or heavy binge drinking are at substantially increased risk of cardiovascular mortality, even after adjusting for total alcohol consumption, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in Stroke.
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Immediate In-Brace Correction Influences Scoliosis Outcomes
FRIDAY, Aug. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Prior analyses of the effect of bracing on long-term outcomes for correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis identified immediate in-brace correction as influential; a new study confirming these analyses and giving insight into the biomechanics of bracing has been published in the Aug. 15 issue of Spine.
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Diet Soft Drinks May Increase Risk of Preterm Birth
THURSDAY, Aug. 19 (HealthDay News) -- The consumption of artificially sweetened soft drinks, both carbonated and noncarbonated, is associated with an increased risk for births occurring before 37 weeks' gestation, according to research published online June 30, ahead of the print issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
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Pesticide Exposure in Womb May Derail Attention Later
THURSDAY, Aug. 19 (HealthDay News) -- It remains to be determined what impact paraoxonase 1 (PON1) genotypes have on the influence of in utero organophosphate exposure on subsequent childhood mental and motor development, but such exposure does appear to affect attention levels in children, according to two studies published online Aug. 19 in Environmental Health Perspectives.
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Urinary Incontinence Common in Women, Men, Children
THURSDAY, Aug. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Urinary incontinence (UI) is common -- more so in women than in men -- but exact prevalence is difficult to pinpoint due to variables in study methodology, definitions of UI, and populations studied, according to research published in the August issue of Urology.
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Sham, Real Acupuncture Result in Similar Pain Relief in OA
THURSDAY, Aug. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) is no better than sham acupuncture for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, but patients whose acupuncturist communicates positive expectations have better pain reduction and satisfaction than patients whose acupuncturist has a neutral communication style, according to a study in the September issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
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Lifestyle Choices Affect Headache Frequency in Teens
THURSDAY, Aug. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Low physical activity, smoking, and being overweight all significantly increase the odds of recurrent headache in adolescents, according to research published online Aug. 18 in Neurology.
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Tai Chi Shows Benefits in Treating Fibromyalgia
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Tai chi may be useful in treating fibromyalgia, according to research published in the Aug. 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Fatty Acids Beneficial for Metabolic Syndrome Patients
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Low-fat, high-complex carbohydrate diets are often recommended to lower risk for metabolic syndrome (MetS), but this regimen may raise blood lipids; the addition of long-chain (n-3) fatty acids may help alleviate this problem in MetS patients, according to research published online July 14 in the Journal of Nutrition.
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Prevalence of Hearing Loss Up in U.S. Adolescents
TUESDAY, Aug. 17 (HealthDay News) -- The prevalence of hearing loss in U.S. adolescents rose significantly between 1988 to 1994 and 2005 to 2006, and adolescents from impoverished households appear to be at higher risk of hearing loss, according to research published in the Aug. 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Moderate Chocolate Intake Tied to Lower Heart Failure Risk
TUESDAY, Aug. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Regular, moderate chocolate consumption is linked to a lower rate of heart failure hospitalization or death, but no protective association is seen in individuals consuming one or more servings of chocolate daily, according to a study published online Aug. 16 in Circulation: Heart Failure.
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Review Focuses on New Drug Class in the Treatment of Gout
TUESDAY, Aug. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Febuxostat, part of a new drug class to treat gout, may be useful for patients intolerant to long-established gout medication, but clinicians should be sure they are properly using existing therapies first, according to a review published online Aug. 17 in The Lancet.
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FDA Proposes Withdrawal of Approval for Midodrine
TUESDAY, Aug. 17 (HealthDay News) -- In the absence of post-approval trials demonstrating the clinical benefits of midodrine hydrochloride (ProAmatine), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a proposal to withdraw approval of the drug.
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Disclosing Medical Errors May Cut Malpractice Claims, Costs
TUESDAY, Aug. 17 (HealthDay News) -- A malpractice claims management system implemented in Michigan that mandates full disclosure of medical errors accompanied by a monetary offer to the patient has resulted in a reduced claims rate, fewer lawsuits, faster time to resolution of claims, and lower costs, according to a study in the Aug. 17 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Quality of Care Lackluster for Patients With Hepatitis C Virus
TUESDAY, Aug. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Nationwide, the quality of care provided to patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is substantially below proposed Medicare standards, though care that involves both specialists and generalists is associated with the highest quality, according to a study in the Aug. 17 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Red Meat Linked to Increased Risk of Coronary Heart Disease
TUESDAY, Aug. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Higher intakes of nuts, fish, and poultry are associated with a significantly lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), but high intake of red meat and high-fat dairy is significantly associated with an increased risk of CHD, according to research published online Aug. 16 in Circulation.
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Bariatric Surgery for Diabetes Patients Cuts Medication, Costs
MONDAY, Aug. 16 (HealthDay News) -- In type 2 diabetes patients, bariatric surgery is associated with dramatic reductions in the use of diabetes medications and in annual health care costs in the years after surgery, according to research published in the August issue of the Archives of Surgery.
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Lactobacillus Reuteri Is Safe, Effective for Colicky Infants
MONDAY, Aug. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) appears to be a safe and effective treatment for infantile colic in breast-fed infants, and gut microbiota changes induced by this probiotic may play a role in symptom improvements, according to research published online Aug. 16 in Pediatrics.
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Ella Emergency Contraceptive Approved
MONDAY, Aug. 16 (HealthDay News) -- The ella (ulipristal acetate) emergency contraceptive has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It's been available in Europe for more than a year under the brand name ellaOne.
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Racial Disparities Seen in Obesity Prevalence in Children
MONDAY, Aug. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Among children in California, the prevalence of high body mass index (BMI) has declined among some groups, but ethnic/racial disparities exist, according to research published online Aug. 16 in Pediatrics.
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Estrogen Alone Does Not Increase Lung Cancer Risk
MONDAY, Aug. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Postmenopausal women treated with estrogen alone do not have increased incidence of, or mortality from, lung cancer, according to research published online Aug. 13 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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Fish, Fatty Acid Intake Tied to Lower Depression Risk in Boys
MONDAY, Aug. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Higher levels of fish and fatty acid consumption may protect against adolescent depression in boys but not in girls, according to research published online Aug. 16 in Pediatrics.
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Shoulder Height Markings Aid in Car Seat Decisions
MONDAY, Aug. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Shoulder height markings on restraints significantly increase the odds of parents selecting an appropriately-sized child's car seat, according to research published online Aug. 16 in Pediatrics.
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FDA: Aseptic Meningitis Risk Related to Lamictal Use
FRIDAY, Aug. 13 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a drug safety communication to warn that the seizure and bipolar disorder medication Lamictal (lamotrigine) can cause aseptic meningitis. The FDA is revising the Warnings and Precautions section of the drug label as well as the patient Medication Guide to include this information.
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CDC: Expand Food Fortification to Prevent Birth Defects
FRIDAY, Aug. 13 (HealthDay News) -- New opportunities for folic acid fortification in foods may be highly effective in preventing neural tube defects (NTDs), as food fortification makes folic acid accessible to women of childbearing age in a safe, cost-effective manner, according to a report published in the Aug. 13 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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1,097 Foodborne Outbreaks Occurred in U.S. in 2007
FRIDAY, Aug. 13 (HealthDay News) -- In 2007, nearly 1,100 foodborne outbreaks were reported in the United States, resulting in 21,244 cases of illness and 18 deaths, according to data published in the Aug. 13 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Decline Seen in Peptic Ulcer Disease Hospitalizations
FRIDAY, Aug. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Hospitalization rates for peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection have decreased substantially since 1998, according to an analysis in the September issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
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Cholesterol Levels Vary Across the Menstrual Cycle
FRIDAY, Aug. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Serum lipid levels are associated with endogenous estrogen levels in menstruating women, and vary throughout the cycle, according to research published online June 9 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Gets New Classification System
FRIDAY, Aug. 13 (HealthDay News) -- A revised system of classification for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may allow for earlier identification of the disease, earlier treatment, and ultimately better patient outcomes; the new system has been published in the September issues of the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases and Arthritis & Rheumatism.
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Cell Phones Offer New Tool in Infectious Disease Surveillance
THURSDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- A survey invitation sent to hundreds of thousands of cell phone subscribers in Mexico during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic demonstrates a new model for enlisting new technology for surveillance during outbreaks of infectious disease, according to a letter published in the September issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
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Younger Patients Benefit Less From Medicare
THURSDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Medicare does not appear as effective in meeting the health care needs of beneficiaries younger than 65 with disabilities as it is for beneficiaries age 65 and older, according to research published online Aug. 12 in Health Affairs.
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Most Useful Marfan Syndrome Diagnostic Criteria Identified
THURSDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- While features of Marfan syndrome can be found in the general population, clinicians should be alert for craniofacial, thumb and wrist, and other indicators that are highly specific to the condition, according to a study in the Aug. 4 issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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Disparities Exist for Ear Infections Among Children
THURSDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Disparities exist across racial/ethnic and socioeconomic groups in the prevalence of childhood frequent ear infections, with white children and those living below the poverty line more likely to report such infections, according to research published in the August issue of Laryngoscope.
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Specialist Retrieval Teams May Increase Pediatric Survival
THURSDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- The use of specialist retrieval teams to move children from one hospital to another with a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) may result in reduced mortality for those children, according to research published online Aug. 12 in The Lancet.
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Patients Prefer Tablet Over Chocolate for BP Control
THURSDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Chocolate may be more effective than placebo at controlling blood pressure, but it seems patients would rather swallow a capsule than eat a chocolate bar, according to a letter published Aug. 10 in BMJ.
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Culturally Guided Diet Changes May Help Diabetes Prevention
THURSDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Identification of dietary trends, such as levels of carbohydrate, protein, and fiber intake, in African-Americans without diabetes, with pre-diabetes, and with diabetes could potentially guide culturally-targeted diabetes prevention and treatment methods, according to research published in the Spring issue of Ethnicity & Disease.
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Antibiotic Use Rose With Better Drug Coverage After Part D
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 11 (HealthDay News) -- The use of antibiotics in older adults increased after their drug coverage improved with the implementation of the Medicare Part D drug benefit, and Part D has been linked to a drop in beneficiaries' out-of-pocket expenses on drugs, especially if they previously lacked drug coverage, according to research published in the Aug. 9/23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Some Adversity Exposure May Improve Back Pain Outcomes
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Among individuals with chronic back pain (CBP), those with some lifetime exposure to adverse events report less impairment and health care use than those with a high level of exposure to adverse events or no exposure to adversity, according to a study in the September issue of PAIN.
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Modest Visceral Fat Gain Decreases Endothelial Function
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Even modest gains in visceral fat are associated with decreased endothelial function in healthy young adults, according to research published in the Aug. 17 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Primary Dysmenorrhea May Change Brain Structure
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Women with primary dysmenorrhea (PDM) have abnormal changes in brain gray matter volume regardless of whether they are experiencing pain, according to a study in the September issue of PAIN.
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Earlier Weaning of Preterm Infants From Incubator Is Safe
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Transitioning moderately preterm infants from incubators to open cribs when the infants weigh as little as 1,600 g is safe and associated with earlier hospital discharge, according to a study published online Aug. 9 in Pediatrics.
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Longer HRT Duration Tied to Lower Colon Cancer Rate
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Longer duration of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use among women is linked to a greater reduction in distal large bowel cancer incidence, independent of race, according to a study published in the August issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
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Travel Linked to Spread of Antibiotic Resistance Gene
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 11 (HealthDay News) -- A gene that creates antibiotic resistance has been found to be widespread in Enterobacteriaceae of patients in India and Pakistan and in patients from the United Kingdom who have visited India or Pakistan for elective surgery; this could indicate an emerging public health threat, according to research published online Aug. 11 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
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Coagulopathy Often Untreated in Brain Hemorrhage Patients
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 11 (HealthDay News) -- In many patients with symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) associated with thrombolytic therapy for acute stroke, coagulopathy goes untreated, and often, patients experience continued bleeding after diagnosis, according to research published in the August issue of the Archives of Neurology.
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Patients, Doctors Often Have Communication Discrepancies
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Hospitalized patients and physicians may have differing beliefs regarding patients' knowledge and aspects of their care, suggesting a need for improved patient-physician communication, according to research published in the Aug. 9/23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Simplified Tool Assesses Death Risk in Pulmonary Embolism
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 11 (HealthDay News) -- A simplified version of the Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (PESI) has clinical utility and prognostic accuracy that is similar to those of the original index, according to a study published in the Aug. 9/23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Consumer Drug Information Shows Areas of Concern
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Consumer medication information (CMI) accompanying prescription drugs dispensed at retail pharmacies is often subject to concerns about format, comprehensibility, and excessive length, according to research published in the Aug. 9/23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Visits to ERs Increasing; Medicaid May Be Playing Role
TUESDAY, Aug. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Rates of emergency department visits increased during a recent 10-year period, with findings suggesting that emergency departments are growing in importance as a safety net for adults with Medicaid and other underserved patients, according to research published in the Aug. 11 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Health Care-Linked MRSA Rate Shows Recent Decline
TUESDAY, Aug. 10 (HealthDay News) -- In a recent four-year period, rates of invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections declined in patients thought to have hospital-onset infections and those thought to have health care-associated infections that began in the community, according to research published in the Aug. 11 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Bisphosphonate Exposure Not Linked With Esophageal Cancer
TUESDAY, Aug. 10 (HealthDay News) -- There appears to be no association between oral bisphosphonate use and risk of esophageal or gastric cancer, according to research published in the Aug. 11 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Finasteride Use Up in VHA System but Not for Prevention
TUESDAY, Aug. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Finasteride prescriptions in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) increased between 2000 and 2005, but the increase probably was not due to doctors prescribing it for prostate cancer chemoprevention, according to research published online Aug. 10 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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Warning System May Reduce Orders for Inappropriate Meds
TUESDAY, Aug. 10 (HealthDay News) -- The implementation of a computerized provider order entry (CPOE) drug warning system can reduce orders for potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in hospitalized older patients, according to a study published in the Aug. 9/23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Research Confirms Violence Linked to Shaking Infants
TUESDAY, Aug. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Cases of infants referred for abusive head trauma (AHT) are usually, if not always, associated with extremely violent shaking, and shaking is repeated in more than half of cases, according to research published online Aug. 9 in Pediatrics.
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Medication Compliance Three Months After Stroke Is Poor
TUESDAY, Aug. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly one quarter of stroke patients discontinue at least one of their prescribed secondary prevention medications within three months after hospital discharge, leaving this group at higher risk of another stroke, according to research published online Aug. 9 in the Archives of Neurology.
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Vertebroplasty Found Beneficial for Fracture Pain Control
TUESDAY, Aug. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Pain control with percutaneous vertebroplasty is superior to pain control with conservative management for acute osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, according to research published online Aug. 10 in The Lancet.
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Even With Normal BMI, Larger Waist Tied to Higher Mortality
MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Increased waist circumference is associated with a higher mortality risk in normal weight, overweight, and obese individuals, according to research published in the Aug. 9/23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Upgraded Child Restraint Law Cuts Traffic Injury Rate
MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- After the implementation of a 2005 New York State law requiring 4- to 6-year-old children to use a booster seat or restraint system, traffic injuries in the age group fell by 18 percent, according to a study published online Aug. 9 in Pediatrics.
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Tongue Piercing Linked to Orthodontic Issue
MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- A pierced tongue has the potential to lead to a midline diastema in patients with previously well-aligned teeth, according to a case report published in the July issue of the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics.
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Girls Reaching Puberty Earlier Than 10 to 30 Years Ago
MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- The proportion of girls who experience breast development at ages 7 and 8 years is greater in girls today than in those born 10 to 30 years earlier, particularly among white females; and, maternal prenatal characteristics as well as weight and body mass index (BMI) gain during infancy influence various puberty outcomes, according to research published online Aug. 9 in Pediatrics.
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Dry Pet Food May Be Contaminated With Salmonella
MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Household use of dry dog and cat food manufactured at a specific plant has been linked to illness among young children over a three-year period, demonstrating for the first time that dry pet food may be associated with Salmonella infection in humans, according to research published online Aug. 9 in Pediatrics.
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Strep Accounts for 37 Percent of Pharyngitis in Children
MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Group A Streptococcus (GAS) accounts for 37 percent of pediatric pharyngitis cases, though prevalence varies by age, and clinical scoring systems could reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescribing for non-GAS pharyngitis in low-resource settings, according to research published online Aug. 9 in Pediatrics.
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Deep Brain Stimulation May Hold Promise in Alzheimer's
MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- The use of deep brain stimulation may provide benefits in patients with Alzheimer's disease by influencing pathological brain activity, according to research published online Aug. 4 in the Annals of Neurology.
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Coping Style, Depression Linked to Foot Ulcer Outcomes
FRIDAY, Aug. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Depression and a confrontational coping style may be associated with lack of healing of diabetic foot ulcers, according to research published in the August issue of Diabetologia.
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Fractures Comprise Sizable Portion of HS Sports Injuries
FRIDAY, Aug. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Fractures are a common type of injury among high school athletes, with potentially serious repercussions for the students and their families, according to research published in the July issue of the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine.
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Two Surveillance Systems in Haiti Monitor Disease Trends
FRIDAY, Aug. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Two national surveillance systems established in Haiti after the magnitude-7.0 earthquake on Jan. 12 aim to enable government and community organizations to better monitor disease trends and coordinate relief efforts, according to two reports published in the Aug. 6 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Podiatric Care Reduces Amputation Risk in Diabetes
FRIDAY, Aug. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Foot amputation or hospitalization resulting from foot ulcers in diabetes patients can be prevented or delayed with timely care from a podiatrist, and increased podiatry use by diabetes patients may result in substantial health care cost savings, according to research presented at the annual scientific meeting of the American Podiatric Medical Association, held from July 15 to 18 in Seattle.
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2008 Polytobacco Use Rate at 2.5 Percent in U.S. Adults
FRIDAY, Aug. 6 (HealthDay News) -- In 2008, the rate of polytobacco use (mostly cigarettes in combination with other tobacco products) was 2.5 percent among U.S. adults, with prevalence highest among men, young adults, single adults, low-income households, and those with lower levels of education, according to a report published in the Aug. 6 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Mortality Risk Much Higher for Elderly People With Dementia
FRIDAY, Aug. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Elderly people with dementia have a much higher mortality risk than peers without the condition, but the risk of dementia may be reducible by addressing risk factors such as diet, preventable disease, and mental health, according to a pair of studies published Aug. 5 in BMJ.
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Rosiglitazone May Help Maintain Cognition in Diabetes Patients
FRIDAY, Aug. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Adding rosiglitazone to the treatment for type 2 diabetes may help protect against cognitive decline in older patients with mild cognitive impairment, according to a study in the August issue of Diabetes Care.
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Study Supports Early Second Pregnancy After Miscarriage
FRIDAY, Aug. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Women who have a miscarriage in their first pregnancy and get pregnant again within six months have better odds of a successful second pregnancy than with a longer interpregnancy interval, according to a study published Aug. 5 in BMJ.
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Prayer Approach Positively Affects Hearing, Vision Impaired
FRIDAY, Aug. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Proximal intercessory prayer (PIP), a complementary and alternative medicine approach, may improve auditory and visual function in patients with impaired hearing and vision, according to a study published online Aug. 3 in the Southern Medical Journal.
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Diabetes May Alter Obese Adolescents' Brain Structure
THURSDAY, Aug. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Obese adolescents with type 2 diabetes have decreased cognitive functioning and subtle brain abnormalities compared to obese adolescents without diabetes, according to research published online July 29 in Diabetologia.
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Substance Use Among Hispanics Below U.S. Average
THURSDAY, Aug. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Alcohol and illicit drug use is lower among Hispanic-Americans than the national average; nonetheless, their treatment needs for alcohol are slightly higher than the national average, according to a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
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Smoking Tied to Increased Risk for Breast Abscesses
THURSDAY, Aug. 5 (HealthDay News) -- The risk of developing primary or recurring breast abscesses increases with smoking, and subareolar breast abscesses may be associated with nipple piercing, according to research published in the July issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
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Aerobic Training for Asthma Shows Psychosocial Benefits
THURSDAY, Aug. 5 (HealthDay News) -- In adults with asthma, an aerobic training program may reduce anxiety, depression, and asthma symptoms and improve health-related quality of life, according to research published in the August issue of Chest.
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Grand Multiparity Associated With Diabetes
THURSDAY, Aug. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Grand multiparity (giving birth to five or more children)is associated with diabetes in elderly women, but the relationship may be mediated by sociodemographic factors, according to research published in the August issue of Diabetes Care.
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Large Pregnancy Weight Gain Linked to Heavier Newborns
THURSDAY, Aug. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Women who put on excessive weight during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to heavier babies regardless of genetic factors, according to research published online Aug. 5 in The Lancet.
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Diabetes Education for PCPs Improves Disease Management
THURSDAY, Aug. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Diabetes patients from clinics where primary care physicians (PCPs) participate in a program of computer-based diabetes case studies improve glucose control better than patients from clinics where PCPs do not undergo the learning intervention, according to a study in the August issue of Diabetes Care.
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Antiepileptics Don't Raise Risk of Suicide in Epilepsy Patients
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Use of antiepileptic drugs isn't linked to a higher risk of suicide-related events in patients with epilepsy, but it is linked to higher risk in patients with depression and those without epilepsy, depression, or bipolar disorder, according to research published in the Aug. 5 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Rural Collaborative Depression Care May Not be Cost-Effective
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Rural clinic-based collaborative interventions for depression delivered via telemedicine are more costly in terms of quality-adjusted life year (QALY) ratios than similar programs delivering collaborative depression care in urban areas, according to research published in the August issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
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Quality-Adjusted Life Years Lost Due to Obesity Swells
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 4 (HealthDay News) -- The quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) lost among U.S. adults as the result of obesity more than doubled from 1993 to 2008, a period during which the nation's obesity prevalence increased by 89.9 percent, according to a report published online Aug. 3 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
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TNFα Blockers May Raise Risk of Malignancies in Children
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Children taking tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) blockers may be at increased risk for developing malignancies, but confounding factors make it difficult to establish a causal relationship, according to research published in the August issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
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Supportive Intervention May Help Maltreated Foster Children
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Participation in a mentoring and skills group program may have a positive impact on the mental health and quality of life of maltreated children placed in foster care, according to research published in the August issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
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U.S. Obesity Prevalence Among Adults Increased in 2009
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 4 (HealthDay News) -- In 2009, no U.S. state met the Healthy People 2010 adult obesity prevalence target of 15 percent, and the number of states with an obesity prevalence ≥30 increased from zero in 2000 to nine in 2009, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vital Signs report published Aug. 3 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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B Vitamins Do Not Prevent Vascular Events After Stroke
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Supplementation with folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 is safe but does not appear to reduce the incidence of major vascular events in patients who have experienced a recent stroke or transient ischemic attack, according to a study published online Aug. 4 in The Lancet Neurology.
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ER Intervention Addresses Aggression, Alcohol in Teens
TUESDAY, Aug. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Among adolescents seen in the emergency department and reporting recent alcohol use and aggression, a brief intervention may reduce both aggression and alcohol consequences, according to research published in the Aug. 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Parental Psychiatric Illness Ups Risk in Offspring
TUESDAY, Aug. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Having one parent with a history of a mental health disorder is associated with an increased risk of a range of mental health disorders, and offspring have an even stronger risk if both parents have a mental health disorder, according to research published in the August issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
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Fruit-Flavored Rehydration Solutions Preferred by Children
TUESDAY, Aug. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Children appear to have a preference for fruit-flavored, sucralose-sweetened oral rehydration solutions over rice-based solutions, according to research published in the August issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
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Environmental Traits, Mom's Obesity Tied to Type 1 Diabetes
TUESDAY, Aug. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Consistent with the hygiene and overload hypotheses, environmental factors associated with less antigenic exposure in early life and maternal obesity may be associated with risk for type 1 diabetes, according to a study published in the August issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
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Industry-Funded Clinical Trials Yield More Positive Outcomes
TUESDAY, Aug. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Drug clinical trials supported by industry are more likely to produce favorable results than trials supported by government or nonprofit/nonfederal organizations, and they are less likely to be published within two years of the study being completed, according to research published in the Aug. 3 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Diet Appears to Influence Gut Bacteria Types
TUESDAY, Aug. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Gut bacteria may be different in children who eat a high-fiber, vegetation-based diet than in those who consume a typically Western, high-fat, high-sugar, low-fiber diet, and the bacteria may play a role in vulnerability to obesity and allergies, according to research published online Aug. 2 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Deodorant Sprays Can Damage Skin When Used Incorrectly
TUESDAY, Aug. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Deodorant sprays can cause skin-damaging cold burns if improperly applied, according to a case report published online Aug. 10 in Pediatrics.
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Use of Some Common Drugs May Lower PSA Levels
TUESDAY, Aug. 3 (HealthDay News) -- The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), statins, or thiazide diuretics can significantly lower tested levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), according to research published online Aug. 2 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Pathological Internet Use Linked to Teen Depression
TUESDAY, Aug. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Pathological Internet use among adolescents who are initially free of mental health problems may be linked to later depression, according to research published online Aug. 2 in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
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Fever Alone Unreliable Indicator of H1N1 Infection
MONDAY, Aug. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Standard diagnostic criteria used for the diagnosis of 2009 H1N1 influenza infection, based on the presence of fever, may fail to identify patients with the disease, and respiratory symptoms may be more reliable indicators, according to research published in the August issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.
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Specific Behaviors in NICU Grads Predictive of Autism
MONDAY, Aug. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Neurobehavioral testing during infancy in babies who are neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) graduates reveals specific abnormalities in those who are later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to research published online Aug. 2 in Pediatrics.
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Pediatric Injuries From Household Products Declining
MONDAY, Aug. 2 (HealthDay News) -- The number of annual household cleaning product-related injuries in children treated in U.S. emergency departments decreased nearly 50 percent between 1990 and 2006, though the overall number of injuries remains high, according to research published online Aug. 2 in Pediatrics.
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FDA Issues Label Change for Afluria Influenza Vaccine
MONDAY, Aug. 2 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has updated the Warnings and Precautions sections of the Prescribing Information for the influenza virus vaccine Afluria, as the vaccine has been associated with an increased incidence of fever and febrile seizure in children younger than 5 years of age in Australia.
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Increasing Weight, Waist Move Impaired Glucose to Diabetes
MONDAY, Aug. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Increases in both weight and waist circumference in those who already have impaired fasting glucose (IFG) are significantly related to incidence of type 2 diabetes, with an enlarging waist being particularly risky for those with a lower body mass index (BMI), according to research published in the August issue of Diabetes Care.
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Most Pediatricians, Family Doctors Offering HPV Vaccine
MONDAY, Aug. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly all pediatricians and most family physicians were offering human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine by 18 months after licensure, though fewer strongly recommend the vaccine for 11- and 12-year-olds than for 13- to 15-year-olds, according to research published online Aug. 2 in Pediatrics.
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Peers May Strongly Influence Breast-Feeding Duration
MONDAY, Aug. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Attendance at groups for first-time parents where peers breast-feed infants of a similar age appears to strongly influence whether mothers continue breast-feeding to six months, according to research published online Aug. 2 in Pediatrics.
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Oral Antidiabetic Agents Usually Drop A1C 1.5 Percent or Less
MONDAY, Aug. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Oral antidiabetic (OAD) agents generally result in a maximum 1.5 percent drop in A1C levels, with sulfonylureas and thiazolidinediones having a slightly more beneficial effect than other classes of oral agents, according to research published in the August issue of Diabetes Care.
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