September 2011 Briefing - Geriatrics

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Geriatrics for September 2011. 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.

Topiramate Effective in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

FRIDAY, Sept. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Topiramate effectively improves avoidance/numbing symptom clusters and re-experiencing of symptoms in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a study published in the October issue of CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Doctors, Patients Identify Tacit Clues in Their Interactions

FRIDAY, Sept. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Both doctors and patients identify tacit clues as well as judgments based on these clues during video elicitation interviews of health maintenance examinations, according to a study published in the October issue of the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Advanced Directive Discussions Do Not Appear to Affect Survival

FRIDAY, Sept. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Having advanced directive (AD) discussions or the presence of an AD in the medical records does not appear to result in increased mortality of patients at low or medium risk of death within one year, according to a study published online Sept. 29 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Prehypertension Tied to Higher Risk of Incident Stroke

THURSDAY, Sept. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals with prehypertension are at significant risk of incident stroke, with the risk increasing substantially among those with higher prehypertensive values, according to a meta-analysis published online Sept. 28 in Neurology.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

More Frequent Doctor Visits Improve Diabetes Control

THURSDAY, Sept. 29 (HealthDay News) -- More frequent encounters between patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and physicians decrease the time needed to control elevated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood pressure (BP), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), according to a study published in the Sept. 26 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Hip Fracture Increases Short-Term Mortality in Older Women

THURSDAY, Sept. 29 (HealthDay News) -- There is an increased risk of mortality within the year after hip fracture in women aged 65 to 79 years, and in those older than 80 years who are in exceptionally good health, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Abstract
Full Text

Burdensome Transitions Impact End-of-Life Care Quality

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Burdensome health care transitions in the last months of life are common and are associated with poor quality end-of-life care, according to a study published in the Sept. 29 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Elderly Recover Adequately After Cervical Laminoplasty

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Elderly patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) can benefit from laminoplasty and have adequate recoveries in terms of achieved Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores for cervical myelopathy, according to a study published online Sept. 8 in Spine.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

AHA: Tools, Challenges for Assessing Adiposity Identified

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) should be used as primary tools for assessing adiposity, according to an American Heart Association scientific statement published online Sept. 26 in Circulation.

Full Text

Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia IDs Lethal Cancer

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) is prognostic of lethal prostate cancer (PCa), according to a study published online Sept. 27 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Cognition Similar for Standard, Intensive Glycemic Control

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Intensive glycemic lowering is not better than standard glycemic control for preventing cognitive decline in patients with type 2 diabetes, despite a higher total brain volume, according to a study published online Sept. 28 in The Lancet Neurology.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Increasing Dose of Saw Palmetto No Better Than Placebo in BPH

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Saw palmetto fruit extract (Serenoa repens) at doses up to three times the standard daily dose has no greater effect than placebo on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) attributable to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), according to a study published the Sept. 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Operator Experience Tied to Carotid Stenting Mortality Risk

TUESDAY, Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Carotid stenting in older patients performed by operators with low annual volume or less experience is associated with higher 30-day mortality risk, according to a study published in the Sept. 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

U.S. Docs Feel They Give More Patient Care Than Required

TUESDAY, Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Many primary care physicians in the United States believe that their patients are receiving too much medical care, and that the pressure to do more than is necessary could be reduced by malpractice reform, adjusting financial incentives, and spending more time with patients, according to a study published in the Sept. 26 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Lower Cancer Fatalism Tied to Increased Cancer Screening

TUESDAY, Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Better self-rated health and lower cancer fatalism are associated with greater participation in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in England, and mediate the effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on fecal occult blood test (FOBt) uptake, according to a study published online Sept. 27 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Benefits, Harms With Off-Label Atypical Antipsychotic Use

TUESDAY, Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- There are varying benefits and adverse effects from using atypical antipsychotic medications for conditions which do not have labeling and marketing approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (off-label), according to a meta-analysis published in the Sept. 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Caffeinated Coffee Reduces Women's Depression Risk

TUESDAY, Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- The risk of depression in U.S. women decreases in a dose-dependent manner with increasing consumption of caffeinated coffee, according to a study published in the Sept. 26 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Vitamin B12 Markers Tied to Cognition, Brain Volume

TUESDAY, Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Serum vitamin B12 markers are associated with total brain volume and global cognitive function, with homocysteine affecting global cognitive performance and methylmalonate affecting total brain volume, according to a study published in the Sept. 27 issue of Neurology.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Colorectal Cancer Subsite Risk Tied to Fruit/Vegetable Intake

TUESDAY, Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- The risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) associated with different fruit and vegetable (F/V) consumption varies depending on the tumor location within the large bowel, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Full Text

Reasons for Referral to Specific Docs Differ Among Physicians

TUESDAY, Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Primary care physicians (PCPs) and medical and surgical specialists differ in their reasons for selecting specific colleagues for referrals, with PCPs more concerned about physician communication and medical record sharing than specialists, according to a study published online Sept. 16 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Cardiovascular Death Risk Increased for Childless Men

MONDAY, Sept. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Married childless men have an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease developing after age 50 compared with men who have two or more offspring, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in Human Reproduction.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Updated Guides Compare Treatments for GERD

MONDAY, Sept. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Updated, evidence-based, reader-friendly reports comparing treatments for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to help guide patient and physician decision-making in treating this condition that affects up to 4 percent of Americans.

More Information

Lower Walking Speed, Altered Gait in Overweight Women

MONDAY, Sept. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Overweight, older women have altered gait and reduced walking performance due to poor relative strength and rate of torque development (RTD) of lower-extremity muscles compared to older women of normal weight, according to a study published in the October issue of the Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Rate of Change of FEV1 Highly Variable in COPD Patients

MONDAY, Sept. 26 (HealthDay News) -- The rate of change of forced expiratory volume in 1-second (FEV1) is highly variable among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a study published online Sept. 26 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with late-breaking presentations at the European Respiratory Society Congress, held from Sept 24 to 28 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Abstract
Full Text
Editorial

Distinct Prognosis for Gleason Scores 4 + 3 and 3 + 4

MONDAY, Sept. 26 (HealthDay News) -- A Gleason score of 4 + 3 = 7 is correlated with pathological stage and increased risk of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP), according to a study published in the October issue of The Journal of Urology.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Hospitalization, Complication Risk Up After Prostate Biopsy

FRIDAY, Sept. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Men who undergo prostate biopsy have nearly double the risk of hospitalization within 30 days versus those who do not, and the rate of infectious complications after prostate biopsy has increased in recent years, according to a study published online Sept. 23 in The Journal of Urology.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Multilevel Hemilaminectomy Economical for Lumbar Stenosis

FRIDAY, Sept. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Multilevel hemilaminectomy is a cost-effective treatment for lumbar stenosis-associated radiculopathy, and it improves pain, disability, and quality of life among patients, according to a study published in the August issue of The Spine Journal.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

FDA Expands Age Indication for Boostrix

THURSDAY, Sept. 22 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded the age indications for Boostrix, the tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap), to include people 65 and older, according to an article published in the Sept. 23 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Full Text

Group Living Homes Provide Good Care for Patients With Dementia

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Group living homes for older people with dementia provide good care, and stimulate the values of attentiveness and responsiveness, but residents, family, and nursing staff may disagree on the phases of taking responsibility for care, and performing care-giving activities, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Mortality Up in Hospitals With More Minority Trauma Patients

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 21 (HealthDay News) -- The odds of in-hospital mortality for trauma patients are associated with the proportion of minority patients in the hospital, according to a study published online Sept. 19 in the Archives of Surgery.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Model Predicts Erectile Function After Prostate Cancer Therapy

TUESDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Erectile function two years after prostate cancer treatment can be predicted based on patient and treatment characteristics, according to a study published in the Sept. 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Abstract
Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Diabetes Ups Risk of All-Cause Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease

TUESDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with diabetes have an increased risk of developing all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD) than those with normal glucose tolerance, with elevated two-hour postload glucose (PG) but not fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels associated with the increased risk, according to a study published in the Sept. 20 issue of Neurology.

Abstract
Full Text

Payer Status Affects Health Care Quality and Outcomes

TUESDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with heart failure who have no insurance, or have Medicaid or Medicare, have lower quality of care and worse outcomes than those with private/health maintenance organization (HMO) insurance, according to a study published in the Sept. 27 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Prolia Approval Expanded to Fracture Prevention in Cancer

MONDAY, Sept. 19 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded approval for the Amgen bone-building drug Prolia (denosumab) to include prostate cancer or breast cancer patients who are taking certain hormonal therapies.

more

Work Intensity Similar Across Physician Specialties

MONDAY, Sept. 19 (HealthDay News) -- The level of physician work intensity appears to be similar among specialties, with variations in the specific dimensions of stress, physical demands, performance, and temporal demand, according to a study published online Sept. 3 in Medical Care.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

MS-Related Disorders ID'd by Proteomic Pattern Analysis

MONDAY, Sept. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Proteomic pattern analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI) mass spectrometry distinguishes between similar multiple sclerosis (MS)-related disorders, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in the Annals of Neurology.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Posterior Shoulder Dislocation Has Low Prevalence

MONDAY, Sept. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Prevalence of posterior dislocation is low, with recurrent instability the most common complication after injury, and functional deficit persisting at two years after injury, according to a study published in the Sept. 7 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Racial Disparities in Radical Prostatectomy Decreasing

MONDAY, Sept. 19 (HealthDay News) -- The racial disparity in the utilization rates of minimally invasive radical prostatectomy (MIRP) in the United States is decreasing, according to a study published online Sept. 6 in Cancer.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Fluoroquinolones Up Risk of Post-Biopsy Acute Prostatitis

FRIDAY, Sept. 16 (HealthDay News) -- In patients who undergo transrectal prostate biopsy, prior use of fluoroquinolones is the most significant risk factor for developing post-procedure acute prostatitis, according to a study published in the September issue of Urology.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Treatable Disorders Often Misdiagnosed As Creutzfeldt-Jakob

FRIDAY, Sept. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with potentially treatable disorders may be misdiagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), according to a study published in the September issue of the Annals of Neurology.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Thrombomodulin Gene Variants Up Post-CABG Mortality Risk

FRIDAY, Sept. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Genetic variants in the thrombomodulin gene (THBD) are independently associated with an increased risk of long-term all-cause mortality after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, according to a study published in the Sept. 13 issue of Circulation.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Xanthelasmata Predict Death, Ischemic Vascular Disease

FRIDAY, Sept. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Xanthelasmata either individually or in combination with arcus corneae, but not arcus corneae alone, predict the risk of ischemic vascular disease and death in the general population, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in BMJ.

Abstract
Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Statins After Ischemic Stroke Not Tied to Brain Hemorrhage

FRIDAY, Sept. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to statins after acute ischemic stroke is not associated with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), according to a study published online Sept. 12 in the Archives of Neurology.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

White Fruits, Vegetables Tied to Lower Incident Stroke Risk

FRIDAY, Sept. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Higher consumption of white fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of incident stroke, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in Stroke.

Abstract
Full Text
Editorial

Subjective Memory Complaints Herald Cognitive Issues in Elderly

FRIDAY, Sept. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Specific subjective memory complaints (SMCs) are associated with increased odds of cognitive impairment in older adults, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Optimal CRC Screening Varies With Age, Family History

FRIDAY, Sept. 16 (HealthDay News) -- The optimal colonoscopy screening strategy for individuals with colorectal cancer (CRC) varies considerably with the number of affected first-degree relatives and their age at diagnosis, according to a study published in the Sept. 15 issue of Cancer.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Anti-Nausea Drug May Lead to Dangerous Heart Rhythms

THURSDAY, Sept. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Zofran (ondansetron), used to prevent nausea in patients receiving cancer treatment, is undergoing an ongoing safety review and labeling change by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because it may cause potentially fatal changes in heart rhythm, according to a Sept. 15 FDA safety alert.

More Information

Global Rates of Breast, Cervical Cancer Up Over Last 20 Years

THURSDAY, Sept. 15 (HealthDay News) -- The global incidence of breast and cervical cancer increased from 1980 to 2010, with breast cancer mortality rates increasing and cervical cancer mortality rates decreasing during the same period, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in The Lancet.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Women Older Than 50 Years Aware of Sexual Health Risks

THURSDAY, Sept. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Sexually active women over the age of 50 years are aware of the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), but are hesitant to consult their physicians for health information, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in the Journal of Consumer Affairs.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Glare Disability Predicts Post-Cataract Surgery Visual Gains

THURSDAY, Sept. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Preoperative questionnaire score and preoperative mesopic and photopic glare disability (GD) show significant correlation with improvements in visual functioning after surgery for symptomatic nonadvanced cataract, according to a study published in the September issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.

Abstract
Full Text

Long-Term Nonaspirin NSAID Use Ups Renal Cell Cancer Risk

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Use of nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but not aspirin and acetaminophen, is associated with an increased risk of renal cell cancer (RCC), with increased duration of use correlated with an elevated risk, according to a study published in the Sept. 12 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Mammography Screening Ups Breast Cancer Surgery Rates

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14 (HealthDay News) -- The annual rate of breast surgery increased significantly from 1993-1995 to 2005-2008 for women in Norway aged 50 to 69 years who were invited to undergo mammography screening, according to a study published online Sept. 13 in BMJ.

Abstract
Full Text

Modifiable Lifestyle Factors Tied to Heart Failure Risk

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Modifiable lifestyle factors, including smoking, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and vegetable consumption, decrease the risk of heart failure in Finnish men and women, according to a study published online Sept. 13 in Circulation: Heart Failure.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Mortality Gap Widening for Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14 (HealthDay News) -- By 2006, the standardized mortality ratios for individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder was approximately double the population average, with the mortality gap increasing over time, according to a study published online Sept. 13 in BMJ.

Abstract
Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Many Mistakenly Believe FDA OKs Only Safe, Effective Drugs

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14 (HealthDay News) -- A considerable proportion of the U.S. public mistakenly believes that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves only effective and safe drugs, but providing consumer explanations can lead to better drug choices, according to a study published in the Sept. 12 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Aortic Dissection Incidence Higher in Individuals With BAV

TUESDAY, Sept. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Aortic dissection incidence is higher in individuals with bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs) than in the general population, according to a study published in the Sept. 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Dyslipidemia Ups Neuritic Plaque Risk in Alzheimer's

TUESDAY, Sept. 13 (HealthDay News) -- An abnormal lipid profile with high levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) is significantly associated with neuritic plaque (NP)-type Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology in a general Japanese cohort, according to a study published in the Sept. 13 issue of Neurology.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Current Smoking Tied to Higher Risk of Hodgkin's Lymphoma

TUESDAY, Sept. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Current cigarette smoking is associated with an increased risk of developing Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), with an elevated risk for men and older individuals, which increases with intensity and duration of smoking, according to a meta-analysis published online Sept. 12 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Insulin Therapy May Slow Alzheimer's Progression

TUESDAY, Sept. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Intranasal administration of insulin may delay or improve cognitive decline, functional ability, and cerebral glucose metabolism in adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) or Alzheimer's disease, according to research published online Sept. 12 in the Archives of Neurology.

Abstract
Full Text

Clopidogrel Adherence Tied to Daily Pre-PCI Med Adherence

MONDAY, Sept. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Low patient adherence to daily medication regimens before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a good predictor of low clopidogrel adherence after PCI, according to a study published in the Sept. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

About One in Four Adults at Risk of Physician-Diagnosed COPD

FRIDAY, Sept. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Lifetime risk of physician-diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is 27.6 percent, and is higher among men, rural inhabitants, and those with a lower socioeconomic status, according to a study published Sept. 10 in the special European Respiratory Society issue of The Lancet.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Arterial Calcification Tied to Vascular Brain Disease

FRIDAY, Sept. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Arterial calcification in various vessel beds is associated with larger white matter lesion (WML) volume and the presence of cerebral infarcts, according to a study published online Aug. 25 in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Moderate Drinking at Midlife Improves Aging for Women

FRIDAY, Sept. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Regular and moderate alcohol consumption in midlife is associated with successful aging in women who survive to older ages, according to a study published online Sept. 6 in PLoS Medicine.

Abstract
Full Text

No Sustainable Benefits Seen for Airway Bypass in Emphysema

FRIDAY, Sept. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Airway bypass offers no sustainable benefits for patients with severe homogeneous emphysema, according to a study published Sept. 10 in the special European Respiratory Society issue of The Lancet.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Smoking Ups Postmenopausal Sex Hormone Levels

THURSDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Postmenopausal women who smoke have increased levels of androgens, estrogens, 17-hydroxprogesterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), according to a study published online Aug. 10 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Cognitive, Not Bio, Markers Predictive of Cognitive Decline

THURSDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Cognitive markers are more effective predictors of conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease than biomarkers, according to a study published in the September issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Cardiac Mortality Rates in Women Progress at Constant Rate

THURSDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Heart disease mortality rates in women progress at a constant rate as they age, which contradicts the belief that the risk of cardiovascular death for women increases sharply after menopause, according to a study published online Sept. 6 in BMJ.

Abstract
Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Comparative Efficacy Proposed for European Drug Approval

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- New drugs should be compared with existing treatments instead of placebo before their approval in Europe, according to a report published online Sept. 6 in the BMJ.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Many Hospital Staff Uniforms Contaminated With Bacteria

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- More than 60 percent of hospital staff uniforms are contaminated with potentially pathogenic bacteria, including drug-resistant species, according to a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Medical Students Show Racial, Cultural Patient Preference

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Medical students may have a preferential bias toward whites and wealthier patients, but this does not appear to influence their clinical decision making or physician-patient interactions, according to a study published in the Sept. 7 medical education-themed issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Odds of Board Certification Vary in New Doctors

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Certification of recent U.S. medical school graduates by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) varies across specialties by educational and demographic factors, according to a study published in the Sept. 7 medical education-themed issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Combined Lifestyle Factors Cut Risk of Diabetes

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- A combination of lifestyle factors is associated with lower risk of new-onset diabetes in older adults, according to a study published in the Sept. 6 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Physical Activity in Adulthood Ups Midlife Performance

MONDAY, Sept. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Physical activity across adulthood has cumulative benefits on physical performance in midlife, according to a study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Full Text

FDA: New Contraindication, Updated Warning for Reclast

FRIDAY, Sept. 2 (HealthDay News) -- The drug label for Reclast (zoledronic acid) has been updated to reflect the risk of kidney failure, according to a safety alert issued Sept. 1 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

More Information

Cerebrovascular Pathologies Tied to Mild Parkinsonian Signs

FRIDAY, Sept. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Cerebrovascular pathologies, such as macroscopic infarcts, microinfarcts, and arteriolosclerosis, are associated with mild parkinsonian signs in old age, particularly parkinsonian gait, according to a study published online Sept. 1 in Stroke.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

High Adiposity Tied to Fewer Hot Flashes in Older Women

FRIDAY, Sept. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Having a higher body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference is associated with fewer physiologically measured hot flashes in older postmenopausal women with hot flashes, according to a study published online July 21 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Sexual Satisfaction, Quality of Life Tied to Successful Aging

FRIDAY, Sept. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Although sexual activity and function decline with age, self-rated successful aging and quality of life are positively correlated with sexual measures in older postmenopausal women, according to a study published in the August issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
www.healthday.com