May 2006 Briefing - Family Practice
Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Family Practice for May 2006. 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.
Total Pollen Level Declining in New York City Area
WEDNESDAY, May 31 (HealthDay News) -- Levels of pollen from trees, grass and weeds have declined in the northern New Jersey-New York City metropolitan area since the early and mid-1990s, according to a study published in the May issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
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Rise in BMI Aggravates Gastroesophageal Reflux
WEDNESDAY, May 31 (HealthDay News) -- A higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with more severe gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms, even in normal-weight women and those who experience a moderate weight gain, according to research published in the June 1 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Medicare Drug Benefit Limit Linked to Mortality Risk
WEDNESDAY, May 31 (HealthDay News) -- Limiting Medicare+Choice recipients' drug benefits means lower drug costs but is associated with poorer health, according to research published in the June 1 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Loneliness Linked to High Blood Pressure in Elderly
WEDNESDAY, May 31 (HealthDay News) -- High systolic blood pressure is associated with loneliness in elderly individuals, according to a report in Psychology and Aging.
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Canadians Have Better Access to Health Care Than Americans
WEDNESDAY, May 31 (HealthDay News) -- The Canadian health care system affords its citizens more equitable access to health care compared with their counterparts in the United States, thanks to universal coverage, according to a study published online May 30 by the American Journal of Public Health.
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HPV Tests More Sensitive Than Cytology for Cervical Cancer
WEDNESDAY, May 31 (HealthDay News) -- Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing may be more sensitive than cytology in detecting grade 2 or higher cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), according to a report published online in the International Journal of Cancer. The authors suggest HPV testing should replace cytology, the current standard for cervical cancer screening.
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Smoking, Lipids and Diabetes Have Different Impact on PAD
TUESDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- While smoking, lipids and inflammation are known to contribute to the progression of large-vessel (LV) peripheral arterial disease (PAD), only diabetes significantly predicts small-vessel (SV) PAD, according to a study published online May 30 in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
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Female Asthmatics More Likely to Be Hospitalized
TUESDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- Women account for a disproportionate share of asthma-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations, suggesting a need for improved ambulatory care strategies aimed at female patients, according to a study published in the May issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
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Few Patients Consume Major Slice of U.S. Health Care Pie
TUESDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- A small percentage of the U.S. population continues to account for a disproportionate share of total U.S. health care spending for doctors, hospitals, prescription drugs and other personal health care services, according to a May report published by the U.S. Health and Human Service's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
Higher Fasting Leptin Levels May Cut Appetite in the Elderly
TUESDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- Altered fasting and postprandial leptin and insulin levels may cause elderly patients to experience longer periods of satiation after meals, a phenomenon that could explain the so-called "anorexia of aging," according to a report in the May issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
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Imaging Technique May Detect Early Emphysema
TUESDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- An imaging technique called diffusion-weighted hyperpolarized helium 3 magnetic resonance imaging (3He MRI) may detect early signs of emphysema more accurately than standard computed tomography, according to a study published in the June issue of Radiology.
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Iowa Mumps Outbreak Largest Since 1991
TUESDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- An ongoing investigation of the mumps outbreak originating in Iowa and involving at least 11 states has marked this as the highest outbreak in a single year since 1991, with a total of 2,597 cases so far, according to a report in the May 26 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Diabetes Prevalence on the Rise in U.S. Adults
TUESDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- The crude prevalence of diagnosed diabetes among the U.S. adult population rose from 5.1 percent for the years 1988-1994 to 6.5 percent for the years 1999-2002, but the crude prevalence of undiagnosed cases remained stable, at 2.7 percent for the first period and 2.8 percent for the second period, according to a study published in the June issue of Diabetes Care.
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Starch and Fiber Reduce Glucose and Insulin Response
MONDAY, May 29 (HealthDay News) -- Increasing consumption of resistant starch and soluble fiber can significantly reduce the glucose and insulin response in both normal-weight and overweight women, according to a study in the May issue of Diabetes Care.
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Mid-Life Metabolic Syndrome Increases Heart Failure Risk
FRIDAY, May 26 (HealthDay News) -- Middle-aged men with metabolic syndrome may have a nearly doubled risk of developing subsequent heart failure, according to a study published online May 22 in Heart.
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Statin Treatment May Benefit Scleroderma Patients
FRIDAY, May 26 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc, or scleroderma), atorvastatin treatment can increase blood flow and improve symptoms, suggesting that the root of SSc may be defective vasculogenesis instead of an autoimmune inflammatory disorder, according to a small study published online May 25 by Arthritis & Rheumatism.
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Teens' Urge to Smoke Can Lie Dormant for Years
FRIDAY, May 26 (HealthDay News) -- Adolescents' urge to smoke after trying a cigarette just once can lie dormant for years, according to a study published in the May issue of Tobacco Control.
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FDA Approves Shingles Vaccine for Patients Over 60
FRIDAY, May 26 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the new vaccine Zostavax to help prevent herpes zoster, or shingles, in those aged 60 years or more. Zostavax, a live virus vaccine, is made by Merck & Co. and administered by a single injection to the upper arm.
Caesarean Deliveries May Cause Harm in Latin America
THURSDAY, May 25 (HealthDay News) -- In Latin America, high rates of Caesarean delivery may be associated with an increased risk of maternal and newborn illness and death, according to a study published online May 23 by The Lancet.
SIV Found in Wild Chimpanzees for the First Time
THURSDAY, May 25 (HealthDay News) -- Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), the chimpanzee version of HIV previously found only in captive animals, has now also been found in fecal samples from wild chimpanzees in southern Cameroon, according to a report published online May 25 in Science. The prevalence of the virus is as high as 35 percent and offers a picture of the "seeds of the AIDS pandemic," the authors report.
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NSAID Use Linked to Hospital Admission for Heart Failure
THURSDAY, May 25 (HealthDay News) -- The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, is associated with an increased risk of being hospitalized for those with prior diagnosis of heart failure, according to a study published online May 22 in Heart.
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Seven-Item Scale Can Help Diagnose Anxiety Disorder
THURSDAY, May 25 (HealthDay News) -- Possible cases of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) can be screened using a self-administered, seven-item anxiety scale (GAD-7) that can also be used to assess the severity of the condition, according to a study in the May 22 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Diabetic Teens Limit Carbohydrates But Not Fat
WEDNESDAY, May 24 (HealthDay News) -- Adolescents with type 1 diabetes obtain more calories from fat than carbohydrates and exceed the recommended fat intake compared with adolescents without diabetes, according to a study in the May issue of Diabetes Care.
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U.K. Statin Threshold Found Cheaper, But Less Effective
WEDNESDAY, May 24 (HealthDay News) -- The U.K. national recommendation for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease with statin medications is significantly less expensive but also less effective than the U.S. and European recommendations, according to a study published online May 22 in Heart.
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More Poor Adolescents 15-17 Years Old Are Overweight
TUESDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) -- The prevalence of being overweight is more than 50 percent higher in poor adolescents aged 15 to 17 years than in non-poor adolescents in the United States, possibly due to less physical activity, drinking sugary beverages and skipping breakfast, according to a report in the May 24/31 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Computer Screening Boosts Domestic Violence Disclosure
TUESDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) -- A computer-based screening method may increase the odds that a female victim of domestic violence will talk to a health professional about the topic when in the emergency department, according to a report in the May 22 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Unnecessary Tests During Physicals Could Cost Millions
TUESDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) -- Unnecessary medical interventions during routine office visits for preventive medical exams could be costing $47 million to $194 million a year in the United States, according to a report in the June issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
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Male Partner Over 40 Contributes to IVF Failure
TUESDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) -- Couples who choose to postpone childbearing should not only consider the age of the woman but that of the man as well, according to a report in the May issue of Fertility and Sterility that finds that when the male partner is aged 40 and older, couples are less likely to achieve a pregnancy with in vitro fertilization.
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Shortage of Pharmacists Predicted in Next Decade
MONDAY, May 22 (HealthDay News) -- The United States will likely face a worsening shortage of pharmacists in the next decade as more men retire and more men and women opt for part-time work, according to a study published in the May/June issue of the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association.
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Low Physical Function Linked to Dementia, Alzheimer Risk
MONDAY, May 22 (HealthDay News) -- Lower levels of physical function may be associated with the onset of dementia and Alzheimer disease, according to a study in the May 22 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Higher Flu Vaccine Doses Safe and Effective in Elderly
MONDAY, May 22 (HealthDay News) -- Increasing the dosage of influenza vaccine for elderly patients may safely offer added protection without significant side effects, according to a report in the May 22 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Medicare Advantage Plans Hit Sickest Patients Hard
MONDAY, May 22 (HealthDay News) -- Medicare Advantage managed care plans may be an expensive option for beneficiaries in poor health who use more health services, according to a report published online May 19 by The Commonwealth Fund.
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Uncharacterized Gene Linked to Age-Related Hearing Loss
FRIDAY, May 19 (HealthDay News) -- An uncharacterized gene located on chromosome 3 appears to be associated with age-related hearing loss, according to the results of a twin study reported in the May issue of Archives of Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery.
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Aspirin and Dipyridamole Best Treatment After Stroke
FRIDAY, May 19 (HealthDay News) -- A combination of aspirin and dipyridamole works better than aspirin alone to prevent further circulatory problems after cerebral ischemia of arterial origin, according to a study published in the May 20 issue of The Lancet.
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Depressed, Anxious Children More Likely to Be Bullied
FRIDAY, May 19 (HealthDay News) -- Children who are depressed and anxious are more likely to be bullied, and bullied children often develop a range of psychosomatic and psychosocial health problems, according to a study published in the May issue of Pediatrics.
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Delaying Appendectomies Up to 24 Hours May Be Safe
THURSDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- Delaying emergency appendectomies for acute appendicitis by up to 24 hours does not affect clinical outcome, suggesting these surgeries could be delayed until day-shift hours, according to a report in the May issue of the Archives of Surgery.
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Children in Day Care Still Most Strongly Attached to Parents
THURSDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- Children who are placed in home-based or center-based childcare settings do not develop stronger relationships with their childcare providers than with their parents, according to a study published in the May/June issue of Child Development.
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FDA Approves New Parkinson Disease Treatment
THURSDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new Parkinson disease treatment called Azilect (rasagiline), a monoamine oxidase type-B inhibitor that blocks the breakdown of dopamine. The FDA approved Azilect for use as an initial single drug therapy for patients with early Parkinson disease and as an addition to standard levodopa treatments for patients with advanced disease.
Anti-TNF Antibody Therapy May Boost Infection, Cancer Risk
THURSDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- Anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) antibody therapy may increase the risk of serious infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and there is a dose-dependent increase in risk of malignancies, according to a study published in the May 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Early Hearing-Impairment Detection Improves Language
WEDNESDAY, May 17 (HealthDay News) -- Language skills, but not necessarily speech, are better in school-age children if their bilateral hearing impairment is confirmed by 9 months of age (usually after detection during universal newborn screening) compared with children whose hearing impairment is confirmed after that age, according to a study published in the May 18 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Sugar Cane Product Not Effective for Lipid Lowering
WEDNESDAY, May 17 (HealthDay News) -- Policosanol, a natural product derived from sugar cane, is no more effective at lowering lipids than a placebo in patients with high cholesterol or lipid levels, contradicting a multitude of studies, according to a report in the May 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Three Questions Can Identify Type of Incontinence
WEDNESDAY, May 17 (HealthDay News) -- Three simple questions can enable primary care practitioners to distinguish between urge and stress incontinence in women, obviating the need for extensive evaluation, according to a study published in the May 16 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Advair Diskus, Serevent Diskus Product Labels Updated
WEDNESDAY, May 17 (HealthDay News) -- In response to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration public health advisory issued in November 2005, GlaxoSmithKline has updated the product labels for its Advair Diskus (fluticasone propionate; salmeterol xinafoate) and Serevent Diskus (salmeterol xinafoate) to note that the medications may increase the risk of severe asthma episodes or death when severe episodes occur. GlaxoSmithKline has also issued new medication guides, according to an update published this week by the FDA.
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Brain Scans Measure Lesbian Response to Pheromones
WEDNESDAY, May 17 (HealthDay News) -- A brain imaging study suggests that women who are lesbians respond to putative human pheromones with some similarity to heterosexual men rather than to heterosexual women, according to a report published online May 16 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition.
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Trials Funded by For-Profits Still Favor New Treatments
TUESDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- Cardiovascular trials published between 2000 and 2005 were more likely to favor new treatments than the standard care if they were funded by for-profit organizations, despite recognition of this bias in the 1990s, according to a report in the May 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Statin Use Not Linked to Increased Breast Cancer Risk
TUESDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- In postmenopausal women, statin use is not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, while one class of drugs -- hydrophobic statins -- may actually reduce the risk, according to a study in the May 17 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Simulation of Long-Haul Flight Does Not Alter Hemostasis
TUESDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- The low blood-oxygen that occurs in conditions similar to those in a long-haul flight does not cause hemostasis changes in healthy individuals at low risk of developing venous thromboembolism, according to a report in the May 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Lung Cancer Deaths Not Higher in Female Non-Smokers
TUESDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- Contrary to widely held views, the lung cancer death rate is not higher in female than in male never-smokers, but it may be higher in black female never-smokers than in white female never-smokers, according to a study in the May 17 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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British Study Discounts Iraq War Syndrome
TUESDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- So far, little evidence suggests the development of an Iraq War syndrome among British soldiers similar to the Gulf War syndrome observed in their counterparts after the 1991 conflict, according to a study published online May 16 by The Lancet.
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Bausch & Lomb Issues Global Recall of Contact Solution
TUESDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- Bausch & Lomb has issued a global recall of its ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens cleaning solution product because it can increase the risk of Fusarium infection, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
U.S. Kids' Tennis Success Often Fostered by Parents
TUESDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- Among families of junior tennis players, 59 percent of parents help their kids succeed at junior tennis, but more than one-third hinder their children by being overly critical or expecting too much, according to a study published online May 15 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
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Some 4.1 Million Americans Infected with Hepatitis C
TUESDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- The prevalence of antibodies to the hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) in the United States was 1.6 percent in 1999-2002, the equivalent of an estimated 4.1 million Americans, according to a study in the May 16 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Working Women Report Better Health in Middle-Age
TUESDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- Stay-at-home mothers tend to be heavier and to report poorer health in middle-age than working mothers, according to a study in the June issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
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Aggressive Management of Heart Disease Recommended
MONDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- Aggressive management of coronary heart disease risk factors improves patient survival and quality of life, and reduces repeat events and interventional procedures, according to a report published in the May 16 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
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Mortality Low After Bariatric Surgery at Academic Centers
MONDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- A national audit of bariatric surgeries performed at academic centers in the United States suggests that the risk of mortality within 30 days of surgery is less than 1 percent, and many hospitals are performing laparoscopic procedures, according to a report published in the May issue of the Archives of Surgery.
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Infant Eczema Predictor of Atopic Dermatitis at 3 Years
MONDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- Infants who develop eczema at the arms and joints are most likely to have atopic dermatitis at 3 years of age, according to a study published in the May issue of the Archives of Dermatology.
Topical Acne Treatments Alone Effective for Maintenance
MONDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with acne, topical gels alone are as effective as combined therapy in maintaining the benefits achieved with oral antibiotics and topical medication, according to two studies published in the May issue of the Archives of Dermatology.
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Ventricular Assist Devices Help Kids Awaiting Transplant
MONDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- Ventricular assist devices can help children with congenital heart disease or cardiomyopathy survive until heart transplantation surgery, according to a report in the May 16 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
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Carcinogens Found in Urine of Infants Exposed to Smokers
MONDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- Almost half of infants under a year old who are exposed to cigarette smoke in the home or car have detectable levels of a marker of tobacco smoke in their urine, according to a study in the May issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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Study Confirms Rofecoxib Increases Cardiovascular Events
MONDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- Rofecoxib and naproxen both have an effect on the rate of cardiovascular events, with rofecoxib increasing the rate and naproxen decreasing it, according to a study in the May issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
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Treatment Benefits Children with Congenital Toxoplasmosis
MONDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- Using pyrimethamine plus sulfadiazine to treat children with congenital toxoplasmosis can result in normal cognitive, neurologic and auditory function and no new eye lesions, according to a study in the May 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
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One in Four U.S. Adults is Obese or a Smoker
FRIDAY, May 12 (HealthDay News) -- Almost a quarter of U.S. adults are obese, nearly as many U.S. adults smoke cigarettes, and 4.7 percent run extra health risks by being both smokers and obese, according to a study published online May 12 in BMJ.
Poverty Not Linked to Delay in 911 Response for Stroke
FRIDAY, May 12 (HealthDay News) -- Residents of low-income areas do not have meaningfully longer delays between calling 911 and receiving medical care for a stroke than those in higher-income areas, but low socioeconomic status is linked to a substantially increased risk of stroke in people between the ages of 65 and 74, according to two studies published online May 12 in Stroke.
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One-Quarter of Elders May Have Poor Health Literacy
THURSDAY, May 11 (HealthDay News) -- Almost one-quarter of elderly people surveyed in two U.S. cities have only limited health literacy, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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FDA Approves New Smoking Cessation Drug
THURSDAY, May 11 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Chantix, a smoking cessation drug made by Pfizer, Inc. The drug was given accelerated approval because its active ingredient, the new molecular entity varenicline tartrate, can help cigarette smokers kick the habit, according to an FDA statement.
Fever Risk After Bronchoscopy No Higher for Elderly
THURSDAY, May 11 (HealthDay News) -- The incidence of fever and pneumonia after fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) is no higher in patients 70 or older than in younger patients, according to a study in the May issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Caregiver Influences Reports of Dementia in Alzheimer's
THURSDAY, May 11 (HealthDay News) -- Clinicians should consider the characteristics of caregivers assisting patients with Alzheimer disease since they may influence reports of neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia (NPS), according to a study in the May issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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New ASCO Guidelines for Use of Colony-Stimulating Factors
THURSDAY, May 11 (HealthDay News) -- The American Society of Clinical Oncology has issued new guidelines for use of hematopoietic colony stimulating factors (CSF) for treatment of febrile neutropenia in patients undergoing chemotherapy, according to a report published online May 8 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Frivolous Claims Account for Small Fraction of Costs
WEDNESDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- The majority of resources involved in malpractice claims go toward resolving and paying those that involve errors, indicating it may be more cost-effective to streamline claims processing rather than discourage claims, according to a study in the May 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Inhaled Corticosteroids Don't Prevent Asthma Development
WEDNESDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- In infants and young children at high risk for asthma, inhaled corticosteroid therapy does not modify the subsequent development of asthma, nor the progression from episodic to persistent wheezing, according to a pair of studies in the May 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Gleevec May Alter Bone Metabolism in Cancer Patients
WEDNESDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia or gastrointestinal stromal tumors, including those with normal serum phosphate levels, imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) therapy may cause changes in bone and mineral metabolism and inhibit bone remodeling, according to a study in the May 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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New Donor Factor May Affect Kidney-Graft Outcomes
WEDNESDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- A newly identified donor factor, an allotype of the C3 complement molecule, may be associated with better long-term outcomes for patients who receive cadaveric kidney grafts, according to a study in the May 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Antiviral Regimen Promising for Post-Shingles Pain
WEDNESDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- Antiviral treatment with intravenous acyclovir followed by oral valacyclovir shows promise for treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia, according to the results of a prospective, open-label study published in the May 8 issue of the Archives of Neurology.
Cause of Grapefruit Juice Drug Interaction Identified
WEDNESDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- The active ingredients in grapefruit juice that cause potentially dangerous interactions with some drugs are furanocoumarins, not, as previously suspected, the flavonoids that give the drink its bitter taste, according to a study published in the May issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
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Alcoholism a Risk Factor for S. pneumoniae
WEDNESDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- Alcoholism is an independent risk factor for contracting community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), according to a study published in the May issue of Chest.
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Causes of Cough Differ in Adults and Children
WEDNESDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- The management of chronic cough should be approached differently in adults and children because the causes of cough are so different between the two groups of patients, according to a study published in the May issue of Chest.
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Tailored Chemo More Effective with Amplified Cancer Genes
WEDNESDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- Breast cancer patients whose tumors have amplifications of two genes have better relapse-free survival if treated with individually tailored and dose-escalated adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy, according to a report published online May 8 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Health Insurance Premiums Higher in Smaller Firms
WEDNESDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- Health care premiums for employees in firms with one to nine workers are on average 18 percent higher than those paid by employees in companies with 1,000 or more staff, after adjusting for the quality of the benefits, according to a study published in the May/June issue of Health Affairs.
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Early Detection May Be Reason for More Thyroid Cancer
TUESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- The incidence of thyroid cancer has increased in the United States over the past 30 years, though this appears to be due to the increased detection of small papillary cancers, according to a study in the May 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Collaborative Care Benefits Alzheimer Disease Patients
TUESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- Alzheimer disease patients cared for by an interdisciplinary team within their primary care setting are more likely to receive drugs and have fewer behavioral and psychological symptoms than other patients, according to a study in the May 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Revascularizations Lower in States with Medicare Restrictions
TUESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- A study of more than 1.1 million Medicare beneficiaries with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) shows that those living in states with certificate-of-need regulations have lower rates of coronary revascularization than patients living in other states, according to a report in the May 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
About 11 Million in U.S. Could Use Refractive Correction
TUESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- More than 11 million people in the United States who are 12 or older have impaired vision that could be helped with refractive correction, according to a study in the May 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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New RNA-Based Drug Class Tested Successfully in Monkeys
TUESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have used RNA interference, or RNAi, to limit liver production of apolipoprotein B in monkeys, reducing their cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels and marking a significant advance towards a new class of drugs, according to a report in the May 4 issue of Nature.
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Growth Hormone Key to Calorie-Restricted Longevity
TUESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- Growth hormone signaling could be key to the life-extending effects of calorie restriction, since mice lacking its receptor live as long as calorie-restricted mice, according to a report published online May 8 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
High-Dose Corticosteroids May Increase Stroke Risk
TUESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- Patients undergoing high-dose corticosteroid therapy are at increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF), therefore increasing their risk of stroke, according to a study in the May 8 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Radiation Effective for Younger Men with Prostate Cancer
TUESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- Men who are 55 years of age or younger with localized prostate cancer experience outcomes as good as older men when treated with external beam radiation, according to a study published online May 8 in Cancer.
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Off-Label Prescribing Common in Doctors' Offices
TUESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- Office-based physicians frequently prescribe drugs off-label, with approximately one-fifth of drugs prescribed in this way, often without scientific support, according to a study in the May 8 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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CVD Mortality Declines, But Less So for Women and Elderly
MONDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality has declined over the past 25 years, but the rate of decline is less pronounced among women, the elderly and those with non-coronary heart diseases, according to a study in the May 9 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
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Many Breast Cancer Survivors Skip Mammograms
MONDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- During the five years after breast cancer treatment there is a steady decline in the number of patients who receive annual mammograms, according to a study published online April 24 in the journal Cancer.
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Lung Cancer Outcomes Better in Never-Smokers
MONDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- Never-smokers with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) respond better to treatment and have improved overall survival compared to NSCLC patients with a smoking history, according to a study published online April 24 in the journal Cancer.
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Pulmonary Illnesses Linked to Boot Waterproofing Spray
MONDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. health officials are evaluating the safety of boot sealants after 172 people and 19 pets in five states developed respiratory symptoms after exposure to boot waterproofing agents in 2005 and early 2006, according to a report in the May 5 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Obesity Evident by Age 11 Unlikely to Resolve with Age
FRIDAY, May 5 (HealthDay News) -- About 25 percent of children are obese or overweight by age 11 or 12, and the excess weight is likely to persist into adolescence, according to a study of London schoolchildren published online May 5 in BMJ.
ACE Inhibitor Angioedema Reaction Higher in Blacks
FRIDAY, May 5 (HealthDay News) -- Patients in some ethnic groups have higher risks of adverse events when taking cardiovascular drugs, according to a review published online May 5 in BMJ. For example, black patients who are taking angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have three times the risk of developing angioedema as other patients, the report indicates.
B Cells Detect Antigen by Spreading Membrane Over Cells
FRIDAY, May 5 (HealthDay News) -- During an immune response, B cells stretch their cell membrane over an antigen-presenting cell and aggregate the offending proteins into a central clump, according to a report in the May 5 issue of Science. The process, termed dynamic spreading, may help fine-tune B-cell activation, the researchers suggest.
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High Folate Levels Increase Likelihood of Twins After IVF
FRIDAY, May 5 (HealthDay News) -- High levels of folate are associated with an increased likelihood of a twin birth after in vitro fertilization (IVF) with multiple embryo transfer, suggesting that fortifying foods with folic acid could lead to an increase in twin births after fertility treatment, according to a report in the May 6 issue of The Lancet.
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Hand Exercises Improve Arm Function in Arthritis Patients
FRIDAY, May 5 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis can significantly improve their arm function through a program of hand-strengthening exercises that can be done at home, according to a report in the May issue of Rheumatology.
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Corticosteroid Use Associated with Adrenal Insufficiency
FRIDAY, May 5 (HealthDay News) -- Patients taking oral or inhaled corticosteroids are at a dose-related increased risk of developing adrenal insufficiency, according to a study in the May issue of Thorax.
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Randomized Trials Lack Information to Assess Quality
THURSDAY, May 4 (HealthDay News) -- Most randomized controlled trials do not include information necessary to assess their quality based on criteria established a decade ago, according to an article in the May 3 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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FDA Approves Drug for Myelodyplastic Syndromes
THURSDAY, May 4 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Dacogen (decitabine) injection for the treatment of myelodyplastic syndromes (MDS). The drug, which is a new molecular entity, was given orphan status under the Orphan Drug Act, and therefore has a seven-year period of exclusive marketing because it is used to treat a condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States.
One-Quarter of Older Cancer Patients Don't Finish Chemo
THURSDAY, May 4 (HealthDay News) -- About one in four elderly patients with stage III colon cancer do not complete adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery, possibly due to physical frailty, treatment complications or a lack of social and psychological support, according to a study in the May 3 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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Teens Likely to Deny Making Virginity Pledges After Sex
THURSDAY, May 4 (HealthDay News) -- Adolescents who take virginity pledges are likely to deny having made a pledge if they break their promise of sexual abstinence, according to a study in the June issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
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Emergency Rooms Report Dire Shortage of Specialists
THURSDAY, May 4 (HealthDay News) -- About three in four emergency department directors report inadequate on-call specialist coverage at their facilities in 2005, compared with two in three directors who reported the problem in 2004, according to a new report from the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).
B-Cell Mutation Can Cause Hypogammaglobulinemia
WEDNESDAY, May 3 (HealthDay News) -- Mutations in the gene that codes for the B-cell surface protein CD19 can cause hypogammaglobulinemia due to impaired signaling through the B-cell receptor, according to a study in the May 4 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Hyperbilirubinemia Not Linked to Later Neurologic Deficit
WEDNESDAY, May 3 (HealthDay News) -- Infants with elevated levels of bilirubin who are treated with either phototherapy or exchange transfusion show neurodevelopmental progress similar to that of normal children, according to a report in the May 4 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Teens Involved in Sports Have Better Dietary Habits
WEDNESDAY, May 3 (HealthDay News) -- Teens who participate in weight-related and power team sports have better nutrient intake and eating habits compared to their counterparts who do not play sports, according to a study in the May issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
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Middle-Aged Patients in U.K. Healthier Than Americans
TUESDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- Despite spending about twice as much per capita on medical care in the United States, middle-aged and older Americans are more likely than Britons the same age to have a range of serious ailments, according to a study published in the May 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Naltrexone Plus Management Best for Alcohol Dependence
TUESDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with alcohol dependence do best if treated with naltrexone combined with sessions with a medical professional to enhance adherence to medication and to encourage abstinence from drinking, according to the results of a large-scale, randomized, controlled study published in the May 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Higher-Income Uninsured Lack Preventive Screening
TUESDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- A higher income does not ensure that adults without health insurance will receive needed screening tests for cancer, diabetes and heart disease, according to a study published in the May 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Elderly Patients' Ratings of Health Care Quality Unreliable
TUESDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- Frail and elderly adults' global ratings of health care quality may not take sufficient account of technical quality and should be supplemented with independent evaluations, according to a study in the May 2 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Prevalence of Diabetes Rising in U.S. Adolescents
TUESDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- Some 134,000 U.S. adolescents may have diabetes and another 2.8 million may have impaired fasting glucose levels, according to a study in the May issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
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More Than Half of Diabetic Youths Have Bad Eating Habits
TUESDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- Fewer than half of young people with diabetes adhere to the American Diabetes Association's dietary recommendations, according to a study in the May issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
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Doctors and Pharmacists Often Cannot ID Common Meds
TUESDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- More than one-third of the time, medical practitioners fail to identify three commonly used oral tablets, with brand-name medications more recognizable than generic products, according to research published in the May 1 issue of the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy.
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Surgery Better for Weight Loss Than Diet, Lifestyle Changes
TUESDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with mild to moderate obesity, gastric banding is more effective in reducing weight and resolving the metabolic syndrome than non-surgical weight-loss therapy, according to a study in the May 2 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Low Estrogen Levels in Men Increase Risk of Hip Fracture
MONDAY, May 1 (HealthDay News) -- Men with low levels of estrogen are at greater risk for hip fracture than other men, while those with low estrogen and low testosterone are at highest risk, according to a study in the May issue of the American Journal of Medicine.
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Underage Drinkers Spent $22.5 Billion on Alcohol in 2001
MONDAY, May 1 (HealthDay News) -- Underage drinkers are responsible for 17.5 percent of alcohol sales in the United States, spending about $22.5 billion in 2001, according to a study in the May issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Underage drinking and adult alcohol abuse and dependence accounted for $48.3 billion or 37.5 percent of alcohol sales, the study notes.
Parents Unaware That Children Know Firearms Are in Home
MONDAY, May 1 (HealthDay News) -- Parents in the United States who own firearms are often unaware that their children know where the guns are kept and have handled them, according to a survey of rural residents published in the May issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. In 22 percent of the gun-owning homes, children said they had handled guns without the parent's knowledge.
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Bone Marrow Stem Cells Repair Kidney Damage
MONDAY, May 1 (HealthDay News) -- Bone marrow cells can repair kidney damage and restore kidney function in a mouse model of Alport syndrome, a kidney disease associated with collagen mutations that destroy glomeruli and lead to renal failure, according to a report published online April 28 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition.
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Circadian Clock Shift May Help Seasonal Affective Disorder
MONDAY, May 1 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, may respond to treatment intended to shift their circadian rhythm to earlier in the day, according to a report published online April 28 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition.
