Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Family Practice for June 2008. 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.
Gastric Bypass May Raise Risk of Kidney Stones
MONDAY, June 30 (HealthDay News) -- Morbidly obese patients who undergo Roux-en-Y gastric bypass are at risk of developing kidney stones as early as three months after surgery, researchers report in the June issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Waist Size Determines Cardiovascular Disease Risk
MONDAY, June 30 (HealthDay News) -- Waist circumference is effective in determining the risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease, and is as effective as body mass index (BMI) in identifying individuals with cardiovascular risk factors, according to the results of a study published in the July 1 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
CDC: Diabetes Prevalence on the Rise in the United States
MONDAY, June 30 (HealthDay News) -- The prevalence of diabetes in the United States rose more than 3 million in roughly two years, according to data released June 24 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
More Information
More Information
Sexually Transmitted Infections Rising Among Older Adults
MONDAY, June 30 (HealthDay News) -- Between 1996 and 2003, the rate of sexually transmitted infections other than HIV more than doubled among people older than age 45 in the United Kingdom, according to a report published online June 27 in Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Physical Activity Improves Children's Metabolic Health
MONDAY, June 30 (HealthDay News) -- In pre-pubertal schoolchildren in the United Kingdom, sustained physical activity above the government-recommended intensity of three metabolic equivalents of thermogenesis for 60 minutes per day is associated with improved metabolic health without affecting body mass index (BMI). But fewer than half of boys and only one in eight girls meet this guideline, according to the results of a study published online June 30 in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Medicaid Mental Services Increase with More Funding
MONDAY, June 30 (HealthDay News) -- Increased funding of Medicaid mental health services and expansion of Medicaid's Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program in California resulted in increased delivery of mental health services, especially in rural areas and communities historically receiving low levels of funding, according to study findings published in the June issue of Medical Care.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Drug Therapy Found Effective in Crohn's Disease
MONDAY, June 30 (HealthDay News) -- Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents are effective in treating both luminal and fistulizing Crohn's disease but further safety studies need to be done, according to an article published in the June issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Declining Hospitalizations for Bleeding Esophageal Varices
MONDAY, June 30 (HealthDay News) -- While the incidence of esophageal bleeding may be declining due to primary and secondary prophylaxis, the pervasiveness of portal hypertension is leading to an increased incidence of non-bleeding esophageal varices, according to an article published in the June issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Gastroenterology Malpractice Claims Analyzed
MONDAY, June 30 (HealthDay News) -- While the procedural nature of gastroenterology leads to a perception of increased legal risk, there are relatively few malpractice claims and payments, according to an article published in the June issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
CDC: 2007-2008 Rotavirus Season Unusually Mild
MONDAY, June 30 (HealthDay News) -- The 2007-2008 rotavirus season began three months later than usual and has been significantly milder, suggesting that 2006 recommendations for infants to be vaccinated at ages 2 months, 4 months and 6 months with the RotaTeq vaccine may be having an impact, according to an interim report issued June 25 in the early release edition of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Exercise-Related Cardiac Arrest Survival Poor in Youth
MONDAY, June 30 (HealthDay News) -- Incidents of exercise-related sudden cardiac arrest in youths in the United States have generally resulted in poor survival during the past seven years, although a trend toward improved survival has developed recently, researchers report in the June issue of Heart Rhythm.
Sudden Hearing Loss Linked to Increased Stroke Risk
MONDAY, June 30 (HealthDay News) -- After an acute episode of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), individuals have an increased risk of stroke, according to research published online June 26 in the journal Stroke.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Higher Albuminuria Levels Associated with Hypertension
MONDAY, June 30 (HealthDay News) -- Having a higher albumin/creatinine ratio -- even if it's in the range considered "normal" -- is associated with an increased risk of incident hypertension in women without diabetes, according to a report published online June 25 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
One in Eight Taiwanese Has Chronic Kidney Disease
FRIDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- About 12 percent of the Taiwanese population has chronic kidney disease, which nearly doubles their risk of death, though most are unaware that they have the disorder, researchers report in the June 28 issue of The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Program Improves Outcomes in Pregnant Substance Abusers
FRIDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- Perinatal outcomes are significantly better when women with substance abuse problems receive treatment integrated with prenatal visits, according to research published online June 26 in the Journal of Perinatology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
U.K. Doctors Must Change View of National Health Service
FRIDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- As the U.K.'s National Health Service reaches its 60th anniversary, its doctors should revise their vision of the organization from one primarily based on the employee/employer relationship to grapple with the true scale of the challenges that the NHS faces, according to an opinion piece published in the June 28 issue of The Lancet.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Clean Water for All Can Cut Global Disease Burden
FRIDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- Safe supplies of drinking water, along with improved sanitation and hygiene, could reduce the global burden in disease by 9.1 percent and reduce it by 15 percent in the 32 worst-affected countries, according to an editorial published in the June 28 issue of The Lancet.
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Most Heterosexual HIV Spread in Africa Within Couples
FRIDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- More than half of heterosexually acquired HIV transmission in urban Zambia and Rwanda occurs within married or cohabitating couples, suggesting that voluntary counseling or testing for couples is needed, according to a report in the June 28 issue of The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Merits of International Medical Conferences Debated
FRIDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- Are international medical conferences an outdated luxury the planet can't afford? That's the subject of a "Head to Head" debate published in the June 28 issue of BMJ.
Full Text - Green
Full Text - Drife
Buprenorphine Maintenance Best for Heroin Addicts
FRIDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- Maintenance treatment of detoxified heroin addicts with buprenorphine is more effective in sustaining abstinence and delaying resumption of heroin use compared with naltrexone or placebo, researchers report in the June 28 issue of The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Guanylyl Cyclase C May Offer Therapeutic Cancer Target
FRIDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- Guanylyl cyclase C (GCC), which is expressed in intestinal epithelial cells and colorectal tumors, may represent a therapeutic target for metastatic colon cancer, according to the results of a study in mice published in the July 2 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Screening Vital for Relatives of Long-QT Patients
FRIDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- It is becoming increasingly common for children to be identified with congenital long-QT syndrome because of family screening, and with appropriate therapy, survival is excellent among both probands and non-probands, according to a report published in the June 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Silent Infarcts Found in Many Without Stroke History
FRIDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- More than 10 percent of subjects without a history of clinical stroke showed at least one silent cerebral infarction on MRI, according to research from a Framingham Offspring Study sample published online June 26 in the journal Stroke.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Proteins Mediate Inflammatory Response in Arthritis Model
FRIDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- Two proteins involved in the recognition of pathogens are also involved in the inflammatory response in a mouse model of arthritis, according to study findings published online June 23 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Improvements Needed for Research Reporting Guidelines
FRIDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- There are dozens of scientific research reporting guidelines and the way in which they are developed is broadly similar, but they also differ in crucial aspects and many developers lack a strategy for the dissemination and implementation of research guides, according to an article published in the June issue of PLoS Medicine.
Doctors Urged to Take Action on Climate Change
FRIDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- Just as doctors helped change public attitudes about smoking, they should lead the way in changing attitudes about climate change, according to a Views & Reviews article published June 28 in BMJ.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Error in CALHM1 Gene Linked to Alzheimer's Disease
FRIDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- A single-nucleotide polymorphism in the gene CALHM1, found on chromosome 10, may increase the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease, researchers report in the June 27 issue of Cell.
Marijuana Component is Anti-Inflammatory
FRIDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- A compound found in marijuana acts as an anti-inflammatory agent without the psychoactive effects of the drug, according to research published online June 23 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Non-Steroidal Drugs Don't Protect Against Melanoma
THURSDAY, June 26 (HealthDay News) -- The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) doesn't appear to be associated with a lower risk of melanoma, contrary to data supporting their chemopreventive effects for other site-specific cancers, according to research published in the July 2 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Bisphosphonates Linked to Osteonecrosis of the Jaws
THURSDAY, June 26 (HealthDay News) -- Because breast cancer patients receiving intravenous bisphosphonates may be at higher risk of developing osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ), they should receive early referral by oncologists for baseline dental evaluation, according to a report published online June 23 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Video May Help Trim Sexually Transmitted Disease Rates
THURSDAY, June 26 (HealthDay News) -- New infections among patients at sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics can be reduced by up to 10 percent by showing a brief educational video in the waiting room, according to an article published in the June issue of PLoS Medicine.
Mothers Often Engage in Risky Infant Care Practices
THURSDAY, June 26 (HealthDay News) -- Mothers often engage in infant care practices that increase the risk of sudden infant death, including bed-sharing, placing infants in a prone position for sleep in a bassinet, or cluttering the bassinet with objects that can cause suffocation, according to two studies published online June 26 in the Journal of Pediatrics.
Abstract - Fu
Full Text
Abstract - Pike
Full Text
Socioeconomic Status Linked to Post-Cancer Mortality
THURSDAY, June 26 (HealthDay News) -- Low socioeconomic status appears to influence mortality after cancer diagnosis, but community health advocates and patient assistants may help improve the stage of breast cancer diagnosis among a largely underinsured or uninsured population, according to two studies published online June 25 in Cancer.
Abstract - Byers
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract - Gabram
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Variant Linked to Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity
THURSDAY, June 26 (HealthDay News) -- In children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, those with the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val108/158Met polymorphism are more likely to demonstrate poor task-oriented behavior, according to a report published online June 25 in Neuropsychopharmacology.
Childhood Intelligence Affects Vascular Dementia Risk
THURSDAY, June 26 (HealthDay News) -- Adults with vascular dementia are more likely to have had lower cognitive ability scores in childhood than their counterparts without vascular dementia, although there is no association between lower childhood cognitive ability and risk of Alzheimer's disease, according to the results of a study published online June 25 in Neurology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
High C-Reactive Protein Level Tied to Failed Cardioversion
THURSDAY, June 26 (HealthDay News) -- Increased levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with a greater risk of electrical cardioversion failure in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, researchers report in the June 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Pain Measurement Tools May Be Too Blunt for Infants
THURSDAY, June 26 (HealthDay News) -- Behavioral assessment may not give an accurate picture of pain in infants because they may process pain at the cortical level and not exhibit any behavioral changes, according to research published in the June issue of PLoS Medicine.
Screening Tool May Aid Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer
THURSDAY, June 26 (HealthDay News) -- A composite tool consisting of a symptom index and the CA-125 blood test identified more than 80 percent of women with early-stage ovarian cancer and may be useful as part of a multi-step screening process for the disease, which is extremely difficult to detect in its early stages, according to study findings published online June 25 in Cancer.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Rosuvastatin Effective When Taken Twice Weekly
THURSDAY, June 26 (HealthDay News) -- Twice-weekly doses of rosuvastatin in patients intolerant of daily statins reduces total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, according to a report published in the June 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
Angiotensin II-Receptor Blockers Effective in Marfan's
WEDNESDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with Marfan's syndrome, the use of angiotensin II-receptor blockers is associated with a significant decrease in the rate of progressive aortic-root dilation, according to the results of a small study published in the June 26 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Organ Transplants in Need of Up-Front Consent Policy
WEDNESDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) should create a policy requiring potential organ transplant recipients to go through a comprehensive consent process that allows them to specify whether they'll accept or decline all non-standard organs, according to a Sounding Board feature in the June 26 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Rivaroxaban Found Superior to Enoxaparin
WEDNESDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- In patients undergoing either total hip replacement or total knee replacement, thromboprophylaxis with rivaroxaban is significantly more effective at preventing adverse events than thromboprophylaxis with enoxaparin, according to two studies published in the June 26 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine and one study published online June 25 in The Lancet.
Abstract - Eriksson
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract - Lassen
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract - Kakkar
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Common Risk Alleles Could Help in Breast Cancer Screening
WEDNESDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- Assessing a small number of susceptibility alleles could be helpful in identifying women who are genetically at higher risk of breast cancer and make screening programs more efficient, according to the authors of an article in the June 26 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Mouse Model Replicates Some Aspects of Learning Disorders
WEDNESDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- A mouse model of tuberous sclerosis, a disorder associated with mental retardation, autism and epilepsy, replicates some aspects of the disorder such as the defects in learning and memory, which can be reversed with a drug, according to study findings published online June 22 in Nature Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Source of Cardiomyocyte Progenitors Identified
WEDNESDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- A subset of cells present in the epicardium, the epithelial sheet lying over the heart, can migrate into the heart and differentiate into cardiomyocytes, which could be used someday to repair the heart, according to the results of a study published online June 22 in Nature.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Discovery Points to Factors in Imatinib Resistance
WEDNESDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- LYN kinase may play a role in imatinib resistance in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia who don't have BCR-ABL mutations, according to research published in the July 2 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Cannabinoids Don't Alleviate Acute Nociceptive Pain
WEDNESDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- Orally administered cannabis extract did not produce significant analgesic or anti-hyperalgesic effects in two well-established human pain models -- sunburn and intradermal capsaicin -- according to study findings published in the July issue of Anesthesiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Imaging Identifies Risk of Recurrent Breast Cancer
WEDNESDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- A high-resolution imaging method can accurately predict the risk of tumor recurrence in women with invasive breast cancer, researchers report in the July issue of Radiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Pharmaceutical Firms at Cornerstone of Drug Discovery
WEDNESDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- Research and development by private sector pharmaceutical companies complements the work of publicly funded research organizations, and they played a crucial role in bringing to market the 35 most important and most commonly prescribed drugs, according to a report published in June in the Manhattan Institute's sixth Medical Progress Report.
Nurses' Health Study Meets Many Criteria for Success
WEDNESDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- The long-running Nurses' Health Study (NHS) has been successful in terms of three purposes of epidemiology -- discovery of information, development of control and prevention strategies, and delivery of findings -- according to a commentary in the July 2 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Prediction Rule Identifies Risk of Osteoporotic Fracture
WEDNESDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- A prediction rule based on a heel stiffness index and four clinical factors can identify which elderly women are at high risk of osteoporotic fracture, according to a report in the July issue of Radiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Anesthesia Types Used in Combat Injuries Compared
WEDNESDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- Total intravenous anesthesia, often including ketamine, did not produce better outcomes than volatile gas anesthesia in patients who underwent neurosurgery for combat-related traumatic brain injury, according to a report in the July issue of Anesthesiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Radio Frequency Identification May Be Hazardous
TUESDAY, June 24 (HealthDay News) -- Radio frequency identification can induce potentially hazardous electromagnetic interference in critical care medical equipment, according to research published in the June 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
New Care Model Improves Blood Pressure Control
TUESDAY, June 24 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with uncontrolled hypertension can achieve blood pressure control by participating in a new model of care that combines patient Web services, home blood pressure monitoring and pharmacist-assisted care, researchers report in the June 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Outcomes of Drug-Eluting Versus Bare-Metal Stent Analyzed
TUESDAY, June 24 (HealthDay News) -- The widespread use of drug-eluting stents has decreased the incidence of repeat revascularization but has not increased the risk of death or ST-elevation myocardial infarction compared to the use of bare-metal stents, according to a report published in the June 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Coronary Calcium Score Shows Usefulness in Two Studies
TUESDAY, June 24 (HealthDay News) -- Coronary artery calcium (CAC) score was a better predictor for coronary heart disease and total cardiovascular disease than carotid intima-media thickness in middle-aged and older adults, and CAC scoring is effective for stratifying risk even in the elderly, according to studies in the June 23 Archives of Internal Medicine and the July 1 Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Abstract - Folsom
Full Text
Abstract - Raggi
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Weight Gain Increases Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease
TUESDAY, June 24 (HealthDay News) -- Weight gain over time increases the risk of developing chronic kidney disease, even in men whose weight is in the normal range, according to the results of a study released online May 21 in advance of publication in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Statins Linked to Rise in Some Oxidized Biomarkers
TUESDAY, June 24 (HealthDay News) -- The use of statins in individuals with coronary obstructions leads to increases in oxidized phospholipids on apolipoprotein B-100 particles (OxPL/apoB) and malondialdehyde epitopes on apoB particles (MDA/apoB), though these aren't associated with changes in atheroma volume, according to research published in the July 1 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Guidelines for Treatment of Thrombosis Updated
TUESDAY, June 24 (HealthDay News) -- The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) has published updated guidelines for the prevention, treatment and management of thrombosis in populations such as pregnant women, children and hospitalized patients in a supplement to the June issue of Chest.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Seniors Can Sustain Brain Trauma from Falls
TUESDAY, June 24 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly 8,000 American seniors died in 2005 due to traumatic brain injury sustained as the result of a fall, and almost 56,000 were hospitalized, according to a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published in the June issue of the Journal of Safety Research.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
More Information
Overcrowding, Understaffing Stressing Health Care Systems
TUESDAY, June 24 (HealthDay News) -- Hospital overcrowding and understaffing are putting stress on health care systems and increasing the risk of spreading methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), according to a review in the July issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Automated Imaging Method Identifies Alzheimer's Patients
TUESDAY, June 24 (HealthDay News) -- An automated method to measure hippocampal volume can accurately distinguish between patients with Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment or healthy elderly patients, according to research published in the July issue of Radiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Triage Must Comply with Emergency Treatment Act
TUESDAY, June 24 (HealthDay News) -- In an emergency department setting, how triage is conducted and who is qualified to conduct triage are two aspects that must comply with the Emergency Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), and compliance is an on-going process, according to an article published in the June issue of the Journal of Emergency Nursing.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Preeclampsia May Lead to Decreased Insulin Sensitivity
TUESDAY, June 24 (HealthDay News) -- Women with a history of preeclamptic pregnancy respond to increased visceral fat in an enhanced insulin-resistant manner that may be associated with impaired vasodilatation. Also, early-onset preeclampsia is associated with impaired insulin sensitivity later in life, according to the results of a study released online June 23 in advance of publication in the August issue of Hypertension.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Study Sheds Light on Link Between Smoking, Blood Clots
TUESDAY, June 24 (HealthDay News) -- Cigarette smokers show a considerable impairment in thrombin-mediated vascular responses, with inhibition of protease-activated receptor type 1 (PAR-1)-mediated endothelial vasomotor and fibrinolytic ability, according to research published in the July 1 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Greater Adherence to Healthy Diet Cuts Women's Death Risk
TUESDAY, June 24 (HealthDay News) -- Women who eat a prudent diet high in vegetables, fruit, legumes, fish, poultry and whole grains may have a significantly reduced risk of cardiovascular and total mortality compared to women who eat a typical Western diet, according to a report published in the July 15 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Racial Disparities Exist in Colorectal Cancer Screening
MONDAY, June 23 (HealthDay News) -- There are racial disparities in the rate of colorectal cancer screening between different ethnic groups, and interventions are required to mitigate these inequalities, researchers report in the June 23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Personal Benefit Motivates Medical Research Participation
MONDAY, June 23 (HealthDay News) -- Patients participated in the Evaluation of Subcutaneous Proleukin (Interleukin-2) in a Randomized International Trial (ESPRIT) study because they hoped to personally benefit from the results, but they also felt a sense of pride in participating to help others, according to a report published in the June 23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Subtle Signs Can Reveal Cognitive Decline
MONDAY, June 23 (HealthDay News) -- Older community-dwelling adults who have no overt signs of neurological disease but who have multiple subtle neurological abnormalities are at increased risk of cerebrovascular events and mortality, according to study findings published in the June 23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Vitamin D Deficiency Related to Cardiovascular Mortality
MONDAY, June 23 (HealthDay News) -- There is an independent association between low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, although a causal link has yet to be established, according to an article published in the June 23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Weight Loss Linked to Low Levels of Fat Hormone
MONDAY, June 23 (HealthDay News) -- Weight loss in obese individuals is associated with changes in brain activity in areas associated with eating behavior that can be reversed by injections of leptin, a hormone secreted by fat cells whose levels appear to fall with weight loss, according to a report published online June 20 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Protein Mediates Damage from Tobacco Pollutants
MONDAY, June 23 (HealthDay News) -- Compounds present in cigarette smoke responsible for inflammation of lung nerve endings and respiratory hypersensitivity mediate their effects via an excitatory ion channel, according to a report published online June 20 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Saturated Fat Linked to Poorer Memory, Brain Changes
MONDAY, June 23 (HealthDay News) -- A diet high in cholesterol and saturated fat was associated with memory impairment and hippocampal changes in rats, according to research published in June in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Poor Fitness Linked to Mitochondrial Problems
MONDAY, June 23 (HealthDay News) -- Obesity is associated with poorer physical fitness, decreased insulin sensitivity, and decreased expression of mitochondrial genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, independent of genetic factors, according to the results of a twin study released online May 6 in advance of publication in the American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Low-Dose Ionizing Radiation Seen As Healthful
MONDAY, June 23 (HealthDay News) -- Chronic whole-body exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation -- principally gamma radiation -- could reduce the incidence of cancer and cancer mortality, according to an article published in the summer issue of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons.
Combined Therapy May Overcome Cancer Drug Resistance
MONDAY, June 23 (HealthDay News) -- A network of signaling is disrupted in cancer cells resistant to gefitinib, and combination treatment with gefitinib and another inhibitor may be able to overcome this resistance, researchers report in the June 20 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Myelomas Lacking Master Regulator Gene Die
MONDAY, June 23 (HealthDay News) -- Myelomas lacking a protein that acts as a master regulator of gene expression die, regardless of the underlying genetic abnormalities, according to research published online June 22 in Nature.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Lack of Nursing Faculty Threatens Health Care Quality
MONDAY, June 23 (HealthDay News) -- The shrinking pool of experienced nurses and nurse faculty is a direct threat to the quality of health care in the United States, according to an article published in the June issue of the Journal of Emergency Nursing.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Peacetime Surveys Estimate War Deaths Over 50 Years
FRIDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- Using data on sibling deaths reported after the end of conflict, over 5 million people died due to war injuries in 13 countries during the period from 1955 to 2002, a far higher estimate than that obtained through eyewitnesses and media reports, according to a report published online June 19 in BMJ Online First.
Surveillance Systems Could Reduce Injuries in Children
FRIDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- The creation of a country-wide injury surveillance system for unintentional child and adolescent injuries could help monitor risk and identify ways to reduce injuries in the United Kingdom, according to an editorial published in the June 21 issue of BMJ.
Allergies Rampant, Poorly Treated in United Kingdom
FRIDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- Allergies exert a major expense on society and appear to be rising in prevalence, yet the medical profession in the United Kingdom is handling allergies poorly, according to an editorial published in the June 21 issue of The Lancet.
Article Examines Use of 'Key Opinion Leaders' in Drug Sales
FRIDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- Influential doctors known as "key opinion leaders" are paid generous fees to influence their peers to prescribe a company's drugs and may in fact be considered salespeople by the industry, according to an article in the June 21 issue of BMJ.
Full Text - Moynihan
Editorial - Buckwell
Editorial - Fava
Combination Asthma Therapy Compared with Steroids Alone
FRIDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- Salmeterol plus inhaled corticosteroids may decrease the risk for severe exacerbations, but does not appear to lower the risk of hospitalization, asthma-related deaths or intubations compared with inhaled corticosteroids alone, according to a new meta-analysis published in the July issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Bosentan Beneficial in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
FRIDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- Bosentan, a dual endothelin receptor antagonist, was associated with improvements in pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with mildly symptomatic pulmonary arterial hypertension, according to research published in the June 21 issue of The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Oral Fluid Rapid HIV Test Accuracy Questioned
FRIDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- Oral fluid testing with the OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test is associated with episodic increases in the number of false-positive results, according to a report published in the June 20 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Diabetics May Be at Increased Risk of Hearing Loss
FRIDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- Hearing loss is more prevalent among adult diabetics than among the non-diabetic population, according to the results of a study released online June 17 in advance of publication in the July 1 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Medical Students Need Consent for 'Intimate' Exams
FRIDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- Asking medical students to perform "intimate" examinations on anesthetized patients without their informed consent is a violation of basic human rights, according to an editorial in the July issue of Student BMJ.
Full Text - Oren and Grunfeld
Full Text - Stott
Experts Discuss Cardiovascular Risks in HIV/AIDS Patients
FRIDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- The success of antiretroviral drugs has enabled HIV-infected patients to live longer, but recent studies indicate that they are at higher risk of coronary heart disease, which is now a leading cause of death in this population, according to the proceedings of an American Heart Association scientific conference on the topic, published online June 19 in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Statins Benefit Kidney Disease Patients with Dyslipidemia
FRIDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with mild-to-moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) are prone to abnormal lipid metabolism, which can be treated effectively with statins, but evidence of statins' effectiveness in hemodialysis patients is inconclusive, researchers report in the June 24 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Teletriage May Reduce Misuse of Emergency Departments
FRIDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- A teletriage program based on standardized guidelines and protocols was potentially helpful in alleviating the chaos in emergency departments caused by misuse by non-emergent cases, according to an article published in the June issue of the Journal of Emergency Nursing.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Herpes Suppression Drug Not Linked to Less HIV
FRIDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- Although herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection is associated with increased risk of HIV-1 acquisition, HSV-2 suppressive therapy with acyclovir wasn't associated with a reduced incidence of HIV-1, according to research published in the June 21 issue of The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Multiple Sclerosis Drug Reduces Active Lesions
FRIDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, treatment with a higher dosage of laquinimod reduces the formation of active lesions and is well tolerated, according to the results of a study published in the June 21 issue of The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Too Many Asthmatics Don't Get Flu Shots, CDC Warns
FRIDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- Among asthmatics, influenza vaccination coverage is increasing but remains far below the Healthy People 2010 targets of 60 percent for persons aged 18 to 64 with high-risk conditions and 90 percent for all persons aged 65 and older, according to a report published in the June 20 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Non-Adherence Raises Mortality Risk for Epilepsy Patients
THURSDAY, June 19 (HealthDay News) -- Epilepsy patients who regularly fail to take their anti-epileptic drugs have increased risks of mortality and serious clinical events, according to a study published online June 18 in Neurology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Drug Improves Islet Transplant in Diabetic Mice
THURSDAY, June 19 (HealthDay News) -- Diabetic mice receiving a transplant of pancreatic islet cells have improved islet engraftment and function if given liraglutide, a long-acting human glucagon-like peptide 1 analogue, starting on the day of the transplant, according to the results of a study published online May 29 in Endocrinology.
Vitamin D May Reduce Mortality in Colorectal Cancer
THURSDAY, June 19 (HealthDay News) -- Having high blood levels of vitamin D reduces the risk of death in patients subsequently diagnosed with colorectal cancer, according to a report in the June 20 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Apnea Linked to Lower Mammillary Body Volume
THURSDAY, June 19 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) showed lower mammillary body volumes compared to control subjects, which may be a factor in the memory deficits known to accompany the condition, according to research published in the June 27 Neuroscience Letters.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Surface Adhesion Molecule Promotes Immune Signaling
THURSDAY, June 19 (HealthDay News) -- Surface adhesion molecules can affect normal immune responses by stabilizing the interaction between antigen receptors and cellular structures, favoring the transmission of stimulatory signals, researchers report in the June 13 issue of Immunity.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
High-Fat Diet-Induced Diabetes Involves Brain Pathway
THURSDAY, June 19 (HealthDay News) -- Mice fed a high-fat diet do not become diabetic if a signaling pathway in the brain regulating insulin levels and insulin resistance is blocked, according to research published online June 12 in Endocrinology.
Anemia Treatment Benefits Myelodysplastic Syndrome
THURSDAY, June 19 (HealthDay News) -- Among patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, a bone marrow malignancy, treatment with erythropoietin plus granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) for anemia can improve survival without affecting the risk of leukemia, according to a report published online June 16 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Low Income Linked to Post-Heart Attack Death
THURSDAY, June 19 (HealthDay News) -- Residing in a neighborhood with low income is associated with a higher risk of mortality following a myocardial infarction, according to research published in the June issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Radiofrequency Ablation Benefits Lung Cancer Patients
THURSDAY, June 19 (HealthDay News) -- Radiofrequency ablation, an accepted treatment for non-surgical liver cancers, can yield sustained complete responses in patients with primary and metastatic lung tumors, according to an article published online June 18 in The Lancet Oncology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Stent Thrombosis Patients Require Better Management
THURSDAY, June 19 (HealthDay News) -- ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients who have had stent thrombosis have more adverse events and poorer early clinical outcomes than de novo STEMI patients, and require better care to narrow the gap, according to a paper published in the June 24 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Olfactory Bulb Volume Is Indicator of Smell Function
THURSDAY, June 19 (HealthDay News) -- Olfactory bulb volume is a useful prognostic indicator of impaired sense of smell caused by trauma or infection because of its plasticity and responsiveness to individual changes in olfactory function, according to a report in the June issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Ultrasonic Instruments Linked to Some Surgical Benefits
THURSDAY, June 19 (HealthDay News) -- The use of ultrasonic surgical instrumentation such as scalpels and shears is safe and effective in a variety of surgical procedures, and is associated with some procedure-specific advantages, researchers report in the June Archives of Surgery.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Central Blood Pressure Beats Brachial As Prognostic Tool
THURSDAY, June 19 (HealthDay News) -- Central blood pressure is a superior predictor of cardiovascular events than brachial blood pressure and should be considered in determining the effectiveness of treatment on patients, according to research published in the June 24 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
No Advances Made in Two Studies of Heart Failure Patients
WEDNESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- A rhythm-control strategy didn't reduce the death rate from cardiovascular causes compared to a rate-control strategy in patients with atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure, and the antiarrhythmic drug dronedarone was associated with worsening heart failure, according to two studies published in the June 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract - Roy
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract - Kober
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Electronic Records Lacking in Many U.S. Doctors' Offices
WEDNESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Only a small minority of U.S. physicians have electronic health record systems in their offices, with cost the most commonly cited barrier to adoption among those without access to a system, according to an article released online June 18 in advance of publication in the July 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Patient's Immune System Eradicates Melanoma
WEDNESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- A patient's own T cells primed against a melanoma antigen can eradicate metastatic melanoma with no evidence of toxicity, according to a case report published in the June 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Cardiac Abnormality Predicts Death in Myotonic Dystrophy
WEDNESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Severe electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities and diagnosis of atrial tachyarrhythmia are independent predictors of sudden death in adults with myotonic dystrophy type 1, according to research published in the June 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Drugs Modulate Protein Important in Alzheimer's
WEDNESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can bind to the amyloid-β protein, affecting the production of a pathogenic peptide and inhibiting its aggregation, which may be useful in reducing the deposition of amyloid-β in patients with Alzheimer's disease, researchers report in the June 12 issue of Nature.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Older Patients May Only Need Systolic Pressure Measured
WEDNESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Patients 50 years of age or older are best tested for high blood pressure using systolic blood pressure only, because the burden of cardiovascular disease is due largely to systolic pressure, according to an editorial published online June 17 in The Lancet.
Test May Help Clarify Tinnitus Status in Normal Listeners
WEDNESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- People with normal hearing and tinnitus performed slightly differently than normal listeners without tinnitus on an auditory brainstem response test, indicating the test may be useful in evaluating these patients and providing possible evidence of subtle hearing loss, according to a report in the June issue of the Archives of Otolarynology -- Head & Neck Surgery.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Positive Outcomes for Drug-Eluting Stents in Diabetics
WEDNESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Two types of drug-eluting stents result in a low need for repeat revascularization in patients with diabetes, with similar rates of revascularization, major adverse cardiac events and stent thrombosis, according to research published in the June 24 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Lifestyle Changes Lead to Benefits in Prostate Cancer
WEDNESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Men with low-risk prostate cancer who undertake an intensive nutrition and lifestyle intervention have beneficial changes at the molecular level in the prostate, according to the results of a study in the June 17 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Nature of Casualties Changed in Iraq Following Invasion
WEDNESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- The types of casualties that the U.S. Marine Corps Forward Resuscitative Surgery System units in Iraq have treated have evolved since the invasion of Iraq due to factors including improvised explosive devices and longer transport times, according to research published in the June issue of the Archives of Surgery.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Sixty-Second Hair Count Assesses Shedding
WEDNESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Counting the number of hairs shed after combing for 60 seconds in the morning is a simple and reliable way to assess hair shedding, according to a report in the June issue of the Archives of Dermatology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Squirt System Best Way to Apply Nasal Dysfunction Drugs
WEDNESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Sinonasal disease patients' poor response to treatment with corticosteroids may be due to the way therapies are applied, according to a paper published in the June 16 issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
HIV Screening in Those Over 55 Often Cost-Effective
WEDNESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- In tested populations with an HIV prevalence of at least 0.1 percent, it is cost-effective to screen those in the 55 to 75 age group as long as streamlined counseling is offered and screened patients have an at-risk partner, researchers report in the June 17 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Endovascular Aortic Repair Shows Mortality Benefit
WEDNESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- The availability of endovascular repair for patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm led to a reduction in early overall mortality, according to research published in the June issue of the Archives of Surgery.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Ketosis-Prone Diabetes Associated with Herpes Virus
TUESDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- In a sub-Saharan African patient population, antibodies for the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) are associated with ketosis-prone type 2 diabetes mellitus, researchers report in the June 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Salvage Radiation Improves Prostate Cancer Survival Time
TUESDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- In men with a recurrence of prostate cancer and a prostate-specific antigen doubling time of less than six months, salvage radiation can increase disease-specific survival, according to a report published in the June 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Two-Way Link Between Depression and Diabetes
TUESDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- There is a modest association between incident type 2 diabetes and depressive symptoms at baseline, according to the results of a study published in the June 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
U.S. Survey Highlights Newborn Breast-Feeding Practices
TUESDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- Maternity practices that could potentially interfere with breast-feeding are common in U.S. hospitals and birth centers, according to survey results published June 13 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Electronic Linkage Most Accurate in Recording AIDS Deaths
TUESDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- An electronic record linkage found that a large number of deaths in people with AIDS who lived in or received their diagnosis in Washington, D.C. had not previously been reported to the D.C. HIV/AIDS Reporting System (HARS), according to research published in the June 13 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Amniotic Membranes Effective for Serious Skin Disease
TUESDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- A patient with a rare life-threatening skin disease involving detachment of the skin over half the body recovered completely after being given intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and placing amniotic membranes on the affected areas, according to a case study reported in the June issue of the Archives of Dermatology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Blood Pressure Tracking from Childhood Important
TUESDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- Blood pressure tracking from childhood to adulthood is useful because childhood blood pressure is correlated with blood pressure in adulthood, according to a report published online June 16 in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
FDA Issues Safety Warning for Older Antipsychotic Drugs
TUESDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- Labels for older or so-called "conventional" antipsychotic drugs will have to carry boxed warnings of increased risk of death among elderly dementia patients who take the drugs off-label for behavioral problems, similar to warnings already required for newer or "atypical" antipsychotic drugs, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced June 16.
Genetic Variant Affects Response to Cholesterol Drugs
TUESDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- A genetic variation called alternative splicing may explain why some individuals respond poorly to cholesterol-lowering drugs, according to research published online June 16 in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Insulin Resistance Linked to Peripheral Arterial Disease
TUESDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- Insulin resistance is strongly associated with peripheral arterial disease, and modifies the relationship between inflammation and peripheral arterial disease, according to research published online June 16 in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Heavy Coffee Consumption May Lower Risk of Death
TUESDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- Drinking large amounts of coffee lowers the risk of death, mostly due to fewer deaths from cardiovascular disease, according to the results of a study published in the June 17 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Similar Risk of Lung Cancer in Male and Female Smokers
MONDAY, June 16 (HealthDay News) -- Female smokers are no more likely than male smokers to develop lung cancer, although among never-smokers, women may be at modestly higher risk compared with men, according to the results of a study published online June 14 in The Lancet Oncology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Intervention Increases Teens' Dual Contraceptive Use
MONDAY, June 16 (HealthDay News) -- In high-risk women, a transtheoretical model-tailored intervention significantly increases dual contraceptive use but does not affect the incidence of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, according to study findings published in the June issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Blood Substitute Can Be Alternative to Transfusion
MONDAY, June 16 (HealthDay News) -- In the largest randomized controlled study to date of hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC) use in elective orthopedic surgical patients, the majority of patients treated with HBOC-201 were able to safely avoid red blood cell transfusions, researchers report in the June issue of the Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Surgical Technique More Effective for Low Rectal Cancer
MONDAY, June 16 (HealthDay News) -- Abdominoperineal excision of low rectal cancer removes more tissue around the tumor if a cylindrical technique performed in the prone position is used rather than the standard approach, according to a report published online June 9 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Severe Diarrhea May Be Rising Threat to Pregnant Women
MONDAY, June 16 (HealthDay News) -- In pregnant women, severe Clostridium difficile-associated disease may be an emerging threat, according to a report published in the June issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Vitamin D May Reduce Children's Diabetes Risk
MONDAY, June 16 (HealthDay News) -- Lower exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation in regions that are more distant from the equator is associated with a higher incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes, supporting the concept that vitamin D may play a role in reducing risk of the disease, according to research published online June 12 in Diabetologia.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Overtime Workers Prone to Anxiety and Depression
MONDAY, June 16 (HealthDay News) -- Employees who work overtime are at increased risk of anxiety and depression, according to the results of a study published in the June issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
U.S. Death Rates Declined Sharply in 2006
MONDAY, June 16 (HealthDay News) -- Death rates in the United States dropped significantly in 2006, and life expectancy reached a record high, according to a report released this week from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.
Weight Not a Factor in Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Outcomes
MONDAY, June 16 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with multivessel coronary artery disease who are treated with sirolimus-eluting stents, body mass index has no effect on short-term outcomes, according to the results of a study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Red Yeast Rice Extract Shows Heart Benefits
FRIDAY, June 13 (HealthDay News) -- Long-term use of an extract of red yeast rice in patients with a previous myocardial infarction and average low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels significantly reduced the recurrence of coronary events, according to research published in the June 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Nurse-Led Cardiology Program Shows Some Benefits
FRIDAY, June 13 (HealthDay News) -- A preventive cardiology program coordinated by nurses that encouraged family lifestyle change, dietary changes and other improvements in risk factors helped patients with coronary heart disease and those at high risk make some healthier changes compared to usual care, according to research published in the June 14 issue of The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Melanoma Should Trigger Regular Eye Checks
FRIDAY, June 13 (HealthDay News) -- The incidence of melanoma is increasing more quickly than any other cancer in the United States, and patients with metastatic cutaneous melanoma should be periodically given an ophthalmic examination to screen for metastasis to the eye, lids and orbit, according to a study published in the May/June issue of the Survey of Ophthalmology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Carbocisteine Linked to Fewer COPD Exacerbations
FRIDAY, June 13 (HealthDay News) -- The use of carbocisteine reduced the number of exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and improved their quality of life, according to research published in the June 14 issue of The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
S. Maltophilia Hasn't Earned Its 'Superbug' Label
FRIDAY, June 13 (HealthDay News) -- Despite public concerns about the threat of the "superbug" Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, the bacterium actually has trouble meeting the criteria of a true superbug, according to an editorial in the June 14 issue of BMJ.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Fish, Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Reduce Macular Degeneration
FRIDAY, June 13 (HealthDay News) -- Consumption of fish twice or more per week and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may lower the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but the meta-analysis which led to this observation was based on very limited studies, according to a report published in the June issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Subclinical Hypothyroidism Linked to Kidney Disease
FRIDAY, June 13 (HealthDay News) -- People with poor kidney function appear to have a greater frequency of subclinical primary hypothyroidism than those with normal kidney function, with the prevalence rising as kidney function declines, according to a report published online June 11 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
CT Lung Cancer Screenings Show Mixed Results
FRIDAY, June 13 (HealthDay News) -- In patients at high risk for lung cancer, regular helical computed tomographic screening may reduce long-term lung cancer-specific mortality. Because of other mortality risks associated with smoking, however, it may have a less significant effect on reducing overall mortality, according to research published in the July issue of Radiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Aspergillosis Is Potentially Serious Hazard for Gardeners
FRIDAY, June 13 (HealthDay News) -- A 47-year-old U.K. man died of aspergillosis after exposure to aspergillis spores in decaying plant matter, which he inhaled during the course of working on his garden, according to a case report published in the June 14 issue of The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
'Transplant Tourism' May Be Inappropriate Term
FRIDAY, June 13 (HealthDay News) -- When patients cross borders to receive organ transplants, there may be serious ethical, clinical, social and economic problems, which the term "transplant tourism" does not suggest, according to an article in the June 14 issue of BMJ.
Abstract - Turner
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract - Noorani
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Smoking Needs Recognition as a Chronic Disorder
FRIDAY, June 13 (HealthDay News) -- Tobacco addiction must be recognized as a chronic disorder that may require long-term treatment, which will have more success when treatments are better matched with patients, according to an article published in the June 14 issue of The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Rate of Underinsured Adults Climbing in United States
FRIDAY, June 13 (HealthDay News) -- The number of underinsured adults in the United States climbed steeply between 2003 and 2007, with the risks of being underinsured often affecting those with higher incomes, according to a report published online June 10 in Health Affairs.
Early Stroke Risk High After Transient Ischemic Attack
FRIDAY, June 13 (HealthDay News) -- Patients who have recently had a transient ischemic attack (TIA) and intracranial atherosclerosis are at high risk of having a subsequent stroke in the region of the blocked artery within 90 days, researchers report in the June issue of the Archives of Neurology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Hereditary Rickets and Multiple Sclerosis Linked
THURSDAY, June 12 (HealthDay News) -- Hereditary rickets due to altered vitamin D metabolism is associated with multiple sclerosis, according to study findings published in the June issue of the Archives of Neurology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Death Risk Charts Put Disease Risk in Context
THURSDAY, June 12 (HealthDay News) -- Simple charts that give the 10-year risk of death based on age, sex and smoking status could help put disease risk in context and help patients decide where to focus on reducing risk, researchers report in the June 18 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Study of Cancer Stem Cells Marks Paradigm Shift
THURSDAY, June 12 (HealthDay News) -- The field of cancer stem cell research represents a paradigm shift in cancer diagnosis and treatment, according to a series of articles on the role of stem cells in various malignancies published in the June 10 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Alcohol Use Doesn't Raise Risk of Aging Macula Disorder
THURSDAY, June 12 (HealthDay News) -- Alcohol consumption is not a risk factor for early or late aging macula disorder (AMD) in the general population, according to a paper published in the June issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Oxypurinol May Not Improve Heart Failure
THURSDAY, June 12 (HealthDay News) -- Treatment with oxypurinol didn't result in improvements in individuals with moderate to severe heart failure, although the underlying mechanism of oxypurinol may benefit patients with elevated serum uric acid, according to the results of a study published in the June 17 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Skin Patch Helps Prevent Traveler's Diarrhea
THURSDAY, June 12 (HealthDay News) -- A skin patch vaccine containing heat-labile enterotoxin from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli may either help prevent traveler's diarrhea or lessen its effects, according to research published online June 12 in The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Golf Cart-Related Injuries Have Soared Since 1990
THURSDAY, June 12 (HealthDay News) -- Since 1990, the number of golf cart-related injuries has steadily increased, and the high rate of injuries among children suggests that new guidelines are needed, according to a report published in the July issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Additional Funding Sought for FDA in Fiscal Year 2009
THURSDAY, June 12 (HealthDay News) -- The Bush administration has submitted a budget amendment that would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) an additional $275 million in 2009 to improve food and medical product safety, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt announced this week.
Once Daily Leukemia Drug Dose Effective, Less Toxic
THURSDAY, June 12 (HealthDay News) -- Dasatinib, a BCR-ABL inhibitor considerably more potent than imatinib, has similar efficacy but less toxicity at a dose of 100 mg once a day compared with the approved 70 mg twice a day in patients with chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia who have failed imatinib treatment, according to study findings published online June 9 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Vaccine Shows Promise Against H5N1 Avian Influenza
WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- Two doses of a whole-virus vaccine against H5N1 avian influenza produced on Vero cell cultures induced neutralizing antibodies against multiple H5N1 strains, indicating its usefulness against this virus with pandemic potential, according to research published in the June 12 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Drug Effective for Severe Hemangiomas in Children
WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- Propranolol is effective in treating severe capillary hemangiomas in children, relieving redness, and softening and flattening the lesions, according to an article in the June 12 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Brain Hemorrhage Risk Higher Among Mexican Americans
WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- Mexican Americans and women appear to be at higher risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage compared with non-Hispanic whites and men, respectively, according to a report published online June 11 in Neurology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Myeloma Drug Relieves Lupus Pathology in Mice
WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- Treating mice with lupus with bortezomib, a drug approved to treat multiple myeloma, eliminates autoreactive plasma cells, reduces glomerulonephritis and improves survival, according to study findings published online June 8 in Nature Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Drug May Cut Risk of Invasive Breast Cancer in Some Women
WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- Raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator, lowers the risk of invasive ER-positive breast cancers but not other types of breast cancers in women who have or are at high risk of coronary heart disease, researchers report in the June 18 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Vitamin D Synthesis Linked to Colitis in Mice
WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- Levels of the enzyme that synthesizes vitamin D3, the active form of vitamin D important in immunity, are altered in the kidney and colon of a mouse model of colitis, and mice lacking the enzyme are more susceptible to colitis, according to a report published online June 5 in Endocrinology.
Colorectal Cancer Screening Lacking Among At-Risk Blacks
WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- Black patients with a family history of colorectal cancer have lower rates of risk-appropriate colorectal cancer screening than either blacks at average risk or whites at increased risk, according to the results of a study published in the July 15 issue of the journal Cancer.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
ASIC1a May Have Role in Stopping Seizures
WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- Adding to previous discoveries linking acidosis with seizure inhibition, investigations with mice found that acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) may mediate the seizure-terminating effects when brain pH falls, according to research published online June 8 in Nature Neuroscience.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Toothbrushing May Pose Greater Risk of Endocarditis
WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- Because it is done so frequently, routine toothbrushing may pose a greater cumulative threat to people at risk of infective endocarditis than single-tooth dental extractions, undertaken with or without prophylactic amoxicillin, according to research published online June 9 in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Middle-Aged Smokers at Risk of Memory Loss
WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- Middle-aged smokers are at greater risk of poor memory, but studying the impact of smoking on cognition is hampered by the greater rate of loss to follow-up by death and non-participation in tests compared to non-smokers, according to study findings published in the June 9 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
CRP Has Poor Predictive Value for Later Heart Events
WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- C-reactive protein (CRP) measurement at three time points in patients with acute coronary syndromes was unable to predict a composite of death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and unstable angina at one year, according to research published in the June 17 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Cancer Costs Increasing Due to More Treatment
WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- The costs associated with treating cancer in the elderly have largely increased due to more patients receiving surgery and adjuvant treatment, and rising prices for these therapies, researchers report in the June 18 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Medical School Performance Predicts Licensing Board Action
WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- Medical students who have low scores for professionalism are more likely to face disciplinary action by state licensing boards later in their careers, according to a report published in the June 3 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Vitamin D Deficiency Increases Myocardial Infarction Risk
WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- Men with low levels of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D are more likely to have a myocardial infarction, even when other coronary artery disease risk factors are taken into account, according to the results of a study published in the June 9 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Bright Light Can Help Treat Dementia Symptoms
TUESDAY, June 10 (HealthDay News) -- Bright light can be used to treat patients with dementia and has a modest positive effect on some cognitive and non-cognitive symptoms, but melatonin should be used only in combination with lights to counteract its negative impact on mood, according to a report published in the June 11 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Electrical Dyssynchrony Studied in Heart Failure Patients
TUESDAY, June 10 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction who are hospitalized for worsening heart failure are likely to have a prolonged QRS duration, which is an independent risk factor for high rates of post-discharge morbidity and mortality, researchers report in the June 11 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
St. John's Wort Does Not Help Treat Hyperactivity Disorder
TUESDAY, June 10 (HealthDay News) -- The herb Hypericum perforatum, more commonly known as St. John's wort, has no effect on the symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to the results of a study published in the June 11 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Peptide Level Points to Future Decompensated Heart Failure
TUESDAY, June 10 (HealthDay News) -- B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) assessment six months after hospital discharge for decompensated heart failure identifies a long-term risk of future decompensation even in low-risk individuals with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, according to research published in the June 17 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Infant Pertussis Outbreak Traced to Hospital Worker
TUESDAY, June 10 (HealthDay News) -- An outbreak of pertussis in the summer of 2004 in 11 infants born in a Texas hospital was linked to a health care worker at the hospital's newborn nursery with the illness, according to a report in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's June 6 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Hispanic Work-Related Deaths Higher Than U.S. Average
TUESDAY, June 10 (HealthDay News) -- The death rate due to work-related injuries was consistently higher for Hispanic workers than the general U.S. workforce from 1992 to 2006, according to a report in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's June 6 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Blocking TGF-β Signaling Reduces Plaques in Mice
TUESDAY, June 10 (HealthDay News) -- Blocking innate immune transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling in mice resulted in up to a 90 percent reduction of β-amyloid plaques in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, contrary to expectations of researchers who were anticipating the opposite scenario, according to research published online June 1 in Nature Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Blood Urea Nitrogen Helps Predict Heart Failure Mortality
TUESDAY, June 10 (HealthDay News) -- Blood urea nitrogen may be a better predictor of mortality than glomerular filtration rate in patients with stage B and C heart failure, according to research published in the June 1 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Gender Doesn't Affect Post-PCI Mortality
TUESDAY, June 10 (HealthDay News) -- After adjusting for risk, men and women have similar mortality rates following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), with overall mortality declining in the past 25 years, particularly for women, researchers report in the June 17 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Douching Cessation May Reduce Risk of Bacterial Vaginosis
TUESDAY, June 10 (HealthDay News) -- Women who regularly use douching products to cleanse the vagina after menstruation may reduce the risk of bacterial vaginosis by stopping the practice, according to research published in the June issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Racial Disparities Widespread in Diabetes Care
TUESDAY, June 10 (HealthDay News) -- Racial disparities in diabetes outcomes are largely the result of variations in individual physicians' care of patients and, to a lesser extent, of sociodemographic factors, according to a report published in the June 9 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
FDA Adds Cancer Warning to Regranex Label
MONDAY, June 9 (HealthDay News) -- Officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have added a boxed warning to the label of Regranex (becaplermin) -- a cream that is used to treat diabetic foot ulcers that fail to heal -- due to an increased risk of cancer mortality in patients who use three or more tubes of the drug.
New PET Probe Images Immune System
MONDAY, June 9 (HealthDay News) -- A new probe for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging targeting the immune system allows imaging of lymphoid organs and can be used to monitor treatments involving the immune system, according to research published online June 8 in Nature Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Nocturia Linked to Sleep Apnea in Younger Men
MONDAY, June 9 (HealthDay News) -- Nocturia -- defined as two or more voidings per night -- may be associated with obstructive sleep apnea in men younger than age 50, according to the results of a study published in the June issue of Urology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Exercise Blood Pressure Responses Predict CVD
MONDAY, June 9 (HealthDay News) -- In middle-aged adults, elevated diastolic blood pressure -- but not elevated systolic blood pressure -- during low-intensity exercise and recovery is associated with an increased long-term risk of incident cardiovascular disease, researchers report in the June issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Long Distance Mentors Do Not Prevent Burnout
MONDAY, June 9 (HealthDay News) -- Long-distance mentoring of new chairs of departments of obstetrics and gynecology does not reduce the risk of burnout, according to an article published in the June issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Dietary Interventions Benefit Heart Attack Survivors
MONDAY, June 9 (HealthDay News) -- In heart attack survivors who adopt either a low-fat or a Mediterranean-style diet, overall and cardiovascular event-free survival is similar and significant, according to study findings published in the June issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
Needle Guide Type Affects Prostate Biopsy Complications
MONDAY, June 9 (HealthDay News) -- In men undergoing transrectal prostate biopsy, the use of a disposable ultrasound needle guide may significantly reduce the rate of infectious complications, according to research published in the June issue of Urology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Obesity in Pregnancy Increases Risk of Neural Tube Defects
MONDAY, June 9 (HealthDay News) -- Being overweight or obese increases the risk of having a pregnancy affected by neural tube defects, with the risk for severely obese women triple that of normal weight women, according to a review published in the June issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Human Fetal Cells Rescue Mouse Myelination Defect
FRIDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- Transplanting human fetal cells into the brains of newborn mice lacking myelin leads to widespread myelination, restoration of normal neural function and increased survival, according to research published in the June issue of Cell Stem Cell.
Prevalence of Conn's Syndrome Lower Than Thought
FRIDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- The prevalence of hyperaldosteronism, also known as Conn's syndrome, in people with hypertension is much lower than previously thought, according to a report in the June 7 issue of The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Drug Relieves Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease
FRIDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- Intravenous ferumoxytol, an iron oxide nanoparticle, is more effective than oral iron in alleviating anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease, according to the results of a study published online June 4 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
NHS Reforms Threaten Best Aspects of U.K. Patient Care
FRIDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- Changes under way in the U.K. National Health Service (NHS) threaten to destroy patient-led personal care that is at the heart of the organization's ethos and success, according to an article published in the June 7 issue of BMJ.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Membrane Sweeping Doesn't Increase Prelabor Ruptures
FRIDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- The overall rate of prelabor rupture of membranes in women with uncomplicated pregnancies was not significantly higher among those who received membrane sweeps than among those who did not, researchers report in the June issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Meningitis C Vaccine Booster Dose May Help Protect Teens
FRIDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- Despite the fact that meningitis C vaccination is part of the United Kingdom's routine infant vaccination program, one in five adolescents has insufficient protection from the disease and may need a booster shot to maintain immunity, according to a report published June 5 in BMJ Online First.
Trachoma Eradication Effort May Be Nearing Success
FRIDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- Trachoma -- a keratoconjunctivitis caused by ocular infection with Chlamydia trachomatis -- is still common in many poor regions of the world. But a World Health Organization (WHO) program launched in 1998 -- the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 -- has helped place this blinding disease on the brink of extinction, according to a seminar published in the June 7 issue of The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Osteoporosis Coordinators Seen As Beneficial
FRIDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- At tertiary care centers, the hiring of a part-time osteoporosis coordinator to manage outpatients and inpatients who have fragility fractures may reduce the incidence of future hip fractures and save significant hospital costs, researchers report in the June issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
For U.K. Patients, Consent Becoming a Matter of Choice
FRIDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- New guidelines from the U.K. General Medical Council lack the detail necessary to help clinicians change the way they seek patient consent for surgical procedures, but they are part of a broader trend toward perceiving consent as a form of choice rather than acceptance of advice, according to an editorial published in the June 7 issue of BMJ.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Knee Problems Linked to Cartilage Loss in Osteoarthritis
FRIDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- Medial meniscal damage and varus malalignment, and lateral meniscal damage predicted tibial and femoral cartilage loss over a two-year period in patients with knee osteoarthritis, according to research published in the June issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Alcohol May Protect Against Rheumatoid Arthritis
FRIDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- Alcohol consumption reduces the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, particularly in smokers, with the degree of reduction dependent on the amount of alcohol consumed, according to a report published online June 5 in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Fewer U.S. Physicians Training in Pediatric Neurosurgery
FRIDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- Very few physicians are training and becoming certified in pediatric neurosurgery, suggesting an upcoming crisis in the workforce of this subspecialty that may put children at risk, according to a report in the June issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Low Doses of Resveratrol Slow Aging in Mice
FRIDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- Resveratrol, a natural molecule found in red wine, appears to be as effective as calorie-restricted diets in slowing some aspects of aging in mice, based on gene expression profiling analysis, according to study findings published in the June 4 issue of PLoS One.
Researchers Find Childhood Epilepsy Genetic Link
THURSDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- Mutations in the GABAA receptor β3 subunit gene (GABRB3) are implicated in childhood absence epilepsy, according to research published online May 29 in the American Journal of Human Genetics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
B Cell Subsets Point to Effects of Rituximab
THURSDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- In people with rheumatoid arthritis, the behavior of certain memory B cell subsets may play a role in the efficacy of rituximab, response to the drug and disease relapse after taking it, according to research published in the June issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Stimulation May Help Gait in Parkinson's Patients
THURSDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- Functional electrical stimulation can improve some gait-related measurements and reduce falls in patients with Parkinson's disease, with some lasting benefits after discontinuation of use, according to research published in Neuromodulation in April.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Serotonin Regulates Fat and Feeding Independently
THURSDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- Serotonin regulates fat content and feeding rate independently in worms, suggesting that weight is not solely determined by feeding behavior, researchers report in the June 4 issue of Cell Metabolism.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Diabetes Adds to Risk for Liver Cancer in Hepatitis C
THURSDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- Patients who have chronic hepatitis C and advanced cirrhosis face an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma if they also have diabetes, according to research published in the June issue of Hepatology.
Study Says ICU Patients' Death Risk Higher with Certain Doctors
THURSDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- Critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs) in the United States are more likely to die if they receive care entirely from physicians trained in critical care medicine, even after taking illness severity into account, according to an article in the June 3 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.
Hospital Factors Affect Pay-for-Performance Outcomes
THURSDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- If pay-for-performance programs are enacted nationwide, teaching hospitals that perform a high volume of hip and knee replacements may be most likely to benefit, according to a report published in the June issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Low-Dose Estradiol Spray Decreases Hot Flashes
THURSDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- A low-dose estradiol spray (E2) may significantly decrease hot flashes in healthy postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms, according to a new study published in the June issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Methotrexate for Rheumatoid Arthritis Linked to Cancer Risk
THURSDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- Rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate have a higher risk of developing cancer than the general population, particularly melanoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and lung cancer, researchers report in the June 15 issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Experts' Evaluation of Cervical Images Often Differ
THURSDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- Experienced colposcopists' evaluations of cervical lesion grades based on static digital images have fair to poor reproducibility, according to a report published in the June issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Metals in Canadian Farmed and Wild Salmon at Safe Levels
THURSDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- Levels of mercury and other metals are low enough to account for only 2 percent of dietary intake and the fish continue to be a safe source of omega-3 fatty acids, according to the results of a study published in the June issue of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Higher Quality Foster Care Produces Healthier Adults
THURSDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- Better quality foster care has important repercussions for the mental and physical well being of foster care alumni, according to a report published in the June issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Long-Term Outcomes Differ After Adolescent Back Surgery
THURSDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- Although the long-term health-related quality of life is good for patients who received surgical treatment for idiopathic scoliosis or spondylolisthesis during adolescence, long-term outcomes are better among those treated for scoliosis, researchers report in the June issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
One Billion Dollars Slated for Health Hazard Preparedness
THURSDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has allocated almost $1.1 billion to be made available to public health departments, hospitals and other health care organizations in order to help them better respond to public health and medical emergencies of a terrorist or naturally occurring nature.
Excision Rates Useful Measure of Rectal Cancer Treatment
THURSDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- Although the overall rates of abdominoperineal excision for rectal cancer have declined in the United Kingdom, there are significant variations in its application that cause unequal quality of care, according to a report published online June 5 in Gut.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Hypothermia Ineffective in Severe Childhood Brain Injury
WEDNESDAY, June 4 (HealthDay News) -- Severely head-injured children who were treated with hypothermia post-injury fared worse than those who did not receive hypothermia treatment and had higher mortality rates, according to a research paper published June 5 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Aliskiren May Protect Against Diabetic Nephropathy
WEDNESDAY, June 4 (HealthDay News) -- Type 2 diabetics struggling with nephropathy and hypertension had significantly lower albumin levels following treatment with losartan and aliskiren, a newly FDA-approved drug, according to a report in the June 5 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Weaning Doesn't Improve HIV-Free Survival for Infants
WEDNESDAY, June 4 (HealthDay News) -- Studies seeking an optimal approach to preventing HIV transmission between HIV-infected breast-feeding mothers and their newborn babies found that stopping breast-feeding early (at 4 months) ultimately did not reduce HIV-free survival in infants; however, giving extended preventative therapy demonstrated a short-term positive impact. The studies were published online June 4 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract - Kuhn
Full Text
Abstract - Kumwenda
Full Text
Editorial
FDA Performing Safety Review of TNF Blockers
WEDNESDAY, June 4 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is performing a safety review of drugs that block tumor necrosis factor (TNF), used to treat diseases such as arthritis and psoriasis, due to reports of cancers in young patients prescribed the drugs.
Assays of Cholesterol Function Needed to Evaluate Therapies
WEDNESDAY, June 4 (HealthDay News) -- Measuring changes in circulating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) levels is inadequate to determine the effectiveness of a therapeutic intervention designed to lower atherosclerotic risk, and reliable assays of HDL function and surrogate markers of efficacy are needed, according to a review in the June 10 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Drug Improves Outcomes in Diabetics with Stents
WEDNESDAY, June 4 (HealthDay News) -- Diabetics who receive stents have a reduced risk of death or myocardial infarction with longer clopidogrel use, according to the results of a study published in the June 10 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. In a related study, patients receiving drug-eluting stents for unprotected left main coronary artery disease generally have good long-term outcomes.
Abstract - Brar
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract - Meliga
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Dietary Flavonoids Linked to Lower Lung Cancer Risk
WEDNESDAY, June 4 (HealthDay News) -- A diet that supplies greater amounts of flavonoid compounds such as epicatechin, catechin, quercetin and kaempferol may help lower the risk of lung cancer in smokers, according to research published in the May 15 issue of the journal Cancer.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Gene Variants May Influence Smoking Cessation Success
WEDNESDAY, June 4 (HealthDay News) -- An investigation into genes that may help smokers achieve successful cessation suggests that molecular genetics may soon help provide anti-smoking therapies to those most likely to benefit from them, according to research published in the June Archives of General Psychiatry.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Rise in Sweetened Beverage Intake Among U.S. Youth
WEDNESDAY, June 4 (HealthDay News) -- Reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and fruit juices and changing parental interventions are potentially important factors in reducing obesity in children and adolescents, two studies report in the June issue of Pediatrics.
Abstract - Wang
Full Text
Abstract - Neumark-Sztainer
Full Text
Schizophrenia Linked to Genetic Copy Number
WEDNESDAY, June 4 (HealthDay News) -- Sporadic cases of schizophrenia lacking a family history are strongly associated with newly arising variations in genetic copy numbers, according to study findings published online May 30 in Nature Genetics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Drug Reduced Symptoms in Parkinson's Patients
WEDNESDAY, June 4 (HealthDay News) -- Treatment with istradefylline resulted in a reduction in daily awake time in the "off" state in patients with Parkinson's disease, without a significant increase in "on" time with troublesome dyskinesia, according to research published in the June 3 issue of Neurology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
No Consensus on Screening Tests for Psoriasis Patients
WEDNESDAY, June 4 (HealthDay News) -- There is no strong evidence either for or against the use of screening and monitoring of psoriasis patients treated with biologic agents, and the extent of monitoring should be decided on an individual patient basis, according to a report published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Liver, Kidney Disease Linked in Type 2 Diabetes
WEDNESDAY, June 4 (HealthDay News) -- In people with type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with a moderately increased risk of chronic kidney disease, according to research released online April 2 in advance of publication in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Vitamin D Deficiency Prevalent in Young Children
WEDNESDAY, June 4 (HealthDay News) -- Vitamin D deficiency is common among infants and toddlers, and may be associated with demineralization, according to two studies published in the June issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. But calls for routine supplementation may be premature, according to an accompanying editorial.
Abstract - Gordon
Full Text
Abstract - Rovner
Full Text
Editorial
Heart Failure Patients Overestimate Life Expectancy
TUESDAY, June 3 (HealthDay News) -- Ambulatory patients with heart failure tend to overestimate how long they will live relative to life expectancy predicted by a well-validated model, researchers report in the June 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Genetic Lowering of 'Good' Cholesterol May Not Be Bad
TUESDAY, June 3 (HealthDay News) -- While low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are a known risk factor for ischemic heart disease, genetically reduced HDL levels due to mutations in a cholesterol transport gene do not confer an increased risk of heart disease, according to an article published in the June 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Diabetes Trials Tend to Assess Surrogate Outcomes
TUESDAY, June 3 (HealthDay News) -- Many planned and ongoing diabetes trials do not measure patient-important outcomes, such as mortality and quality of life, but rather assess laboratory or surrogate outcomes, researchers report in an article published in the June 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Family History of Colon Cancer Portends Better Prognosis
TUESDAY, June 3 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with stage III colon cancer who receive adjuvant chemotherapy and who have a family history of colorectal cancer have an improved prognosis compared to those without a family history, according to an article published in the June 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Black Athletes at Higher Risk of Heart Abnormalities
TUESDAY, June 3 (HealthDay News) -- Elite black athletes are more likely to have abnormal electrocardiograms and left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy than white athletes, according to two studies published in the June 10 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Abstract - Magalski
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract - Basavarajaiah
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Mechanism Proposed
TUESDAY, June 3 (HealthDay News) -- Metastatic prostate cancers may adapt to low systemic testosterone levels and maintain intratumoral androgens by modulating enzymes involved in intracrine steroidogenesis and androgen catabolism. This mechanism may explain why nearly all patients eventually develop castration-resistant disease despite anorchid serum androgen levels, researchers report in the June 1 issue of Cancer Research.
Low Birth Weight May Increase Autism Risk
TUESDAY, June 3 (HealthDay News) -- The prevalence of autism is higher among low birth weight or preterm children, particularly in females and in children with other developmental disabilities, according to research published in the June issue of Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Northeast Has Highest Rates of Childhood Cancer in U.S.
TUESDAY, June 3 (HealthDay News) -- Young people living in the Northeast region of the United States have a significantly higher incidence of childhood cancer than those in other parts of the country, according to a report published in the June issue of Pediatrics. The study is the first to document regional differences in childhood cancer rates.
Eating Disorder Risk Factors Vary with Gender and Age
TUESDAY, June 3 (HealthDay News) -- The risk factors for eating disorders such as binge eating and purging are different for boys and girls, and change from one age group to another in females, according to the results of a study published in the June issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Heavy Cannabis Use Causes Structural Brain Damage
TUESDAY, June 3 (HealthDay News) -- Heavy daily use of cannabis over a prolonged period of time causes structural damage to the hippocampus and amygdala, researchers report in the June issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Exposure Therapy Can Avert Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
TUESDAY, June 3 (HealthDay News) -- Among patients with acute stress disorder, exposure-based therapy prevents progression to post-traumatic stress disorder better than trauma-focused cognitive restructuring, according to an article published in the June issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Injuries Common Among High School Baseball Players
TUESDAY, June 3 (HealthDay News) -- Although baseball is relatively safe compared to other high school sports, injuries are common -- including serious injuries resulting from being hit with a batted ball -- and could be reduced by requiring players to use appropriate safety equipment, according to a report published in the June issue of Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Tuberculosis False Positive Rate High in U.S. Army
MONDAY, June 2 (HealthDay News) -- Outbreaks of tuberculin skin test conversions among U.S. Army personnel are likely to be false positives, and the personnel have a low risk of tuberculosis infection due to limited exposure to locals, researchers report in the June 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Tomato Ingredient May Offer Prostate Protection
MONDAY, June 2 (HealthDay News) -- The ketosamine FruHis, found in tomato powder, may interact with lycopene to offer protection against prostate cancer, according to research from rat studies published in the June 1 issue of Cancer Research.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Compound Promising for Neurodegenerative Diseases
MONDAY, June 2 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists have discovered that a small polyphenol molecule that interferes with protein folding can be used to block the formation of toxic β-sheet-rich amyloid aggregates implicated in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, according to an article published online May 30 in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.
Guidelines Address Vaccination During Pregnancy
MONDAY, June 2 (HealthDay News) -- A new report -- Guiding Principles for Development of ACIP Recommendations for Vaccination During Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding -- approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in March, may help standardize procedures for policy formulation and presentation of the rationale and recommendations for the vaccination of pregnant and breast-feeding women, according to an article published in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's May 30 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Prenatal Cigarette Smoke May Affect SIDS Risk
MONDAY, June 2 (HealthDay News) -- Rats prenatally exposed to cigarette smoke are more likely to have gasping breathing patterns after hypoxia and take longer to recover normal breathing after hypoxia at higher temperatures, investigators have found. The research suggests that prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke may affect the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), according to a report in the June 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Adverse Events Lengthen Stays at Pediatric Hospitals
MONDAY, June 2 (HealthDay News) -- Adverse events experienced by hospitalized children may increase length of stay and costs, and pediatric-specific quality indicators are useful in calculating these effects, according to research published in the journal Pediatrics in June.
Following Quake, China Responds to Medical Challenges
MONDAY, June 2 (HealthDay News) -- The massive earthquake in southwestern China on May 12 left more than 62,000 people dead, over 23,000 missing and an estimated 360,000 injured survivors, creating a multitude of medical challenges, according to an article in the May 31 issue of The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Low-Dose Rotigotine Can Help Treat Restless Legs Syndrome
MONDAY, June 2 (HealthDay News) -- Both the daytime and nighttime symptoms of restless legs syndrome can be relieved using a 24-hour transdermal patch containing low-dose rotigotine, according to study findings published online May 31 in The Lancet Neurology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Nearly 14 Million Young U.S. Adults Lack Health Insurance
MONDAY, June 2 (HealthDay News) -- In 2006, 13.7 million U.S. adults aged 19 to 29 lacked health insurance, according to a report published May 30 by The Commonwealth Fund.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Cell Proliferation Plays Role in β-Thalassemia
MONDAY, June 2 (HealthDay News) -- The results of a study in mice challenge the conventional wisdom that apoptosis is the sole cause of ineffective erythropoiesis in β-thalassemia, by showing that limited differentiation of a large number of proliferating cells is also partly responsible, according to the results of a study published online May 14 in Blood.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)