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.. Weekly Health News + Safety Alerts Shildt Financial Services hopes that you find the following news items to be helpful and informative. We specialize in NO FEE Employee Benefits Insurance: Health/Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Life, Legal, 401(k)/Pension and Long Term Care. Please Select Your Choice Of News items from our WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS IN REVIEW for each week dating back to December, 2008 that is located below the SAFETY ALERTS Links. SAFETY ALERTS: go to CPSC, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, to help keep your family and yourself safe by checking product recalls and safety news. Or go to FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, for recalls, market withdrawals and safety alerts.   WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS                    IN REVIEW:   Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar   Health News Back To December 2008 March 12, 2010 to March 19, 2010Health Highlights **Graco Harmony High Chairs Recalled: Pose A Fall Hazard. **Traumatic Brain Injury Major Cause of Death in U.S. **EPA to Tighten Flea, Tick Product Regulations: Complaints of Harm or Death to Dogs and Cats. **Many Cleansers Ineffective Against Flu-Causing Noroviruses. **FDA Cites Companies for Unapproved Nitroglycerin Tablets. **Reports of Pine Nut Syndrome Increasing. **Drug Combo Reduces Heart Patients' Risk of Bleeding Ulcers. **Boston Scientific Recalls Heart Defibrillators. **Mitral Valve Clip Nearly as Effective as Open Heart Surgery for Repairing Leaky Heart Valves. **High Lead Levels in Some Indian Food Spices. Plavix Puts Some Patients At Risk for Heart Attack and Stroke: FDA calls for 'black box' warning to alert those who don't metabolize drug well The anti-clotting drug Plavix must now carry a "black box" warning on its label, alerting patients and doctors that some people don't metabolize the medication properly. Patients with a certain genetic variation can't convert the blood thinner into its active form, which puts them at risk for heart attack and stroke, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned. About 2 percent to 14 percent of people fall into this category, with the percentages varying by race. About 2 percent of whites have the variation, while 4 percent of blacks and 14 percent of Chinese people do, Mary Ross Southworth said. But patients should not stop taking Plavix without consulting their doctor, the FDA said, noting a test to assess the CYP2C19 genotype can determine if a patient is a poor metabolizer. Newer Blood Thinner Beats Plavix for Bypass Patients: More people taking Plavix before surgery died soon after than those using Brilinta, study finds In a trial comparing two anti-clotting drugs, patients given Brilinta before cardiac bypass surgery were less likely to die than those given Plavix, researchers found. Both drugs prevent platelets from clumping and forming clots, but Plavix, the more popular drug, has been linked to potentially dangerous side effects in cancer patients. In addition, some people don't metabolize it well, making it less effective. "We did see about a 50 percent reduction in mortality in these patients [who took Brilinta], but without any increase in bleeding complications," said Dr. Claes Held. The two drugs work in different ways. Brilinta, which is in a different class of drugs, does not rely on metabolic conversion, so it acts faster and clears the body faster than Plavix. This enables quicker recovery of normal platelet function, the researchers say. Stenting May Save Legs: Many with severe peripheral arterial disease can avoid amputation, researchers find When angioplasty fails, patients with severe peripheral arterial disease may now have another option. A drug-releasing stent placed in the blocked artery below the knee might re-establish blood flow, new research shows. Critical limb ischemia, the most severe form of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), causes more than 100,000 leg amputations in the United States each year. Now, researchers from Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City say insertion of a stent can prevent many of these amputations. A year after the procedure, 81.8 percent of the stented arteries were still open, allowing blood to flow freely, the researchers found. And, over an average of 17 months' follow-up, fewer than 10 percent of the patients required a major amputation, Dr. Robert A. Lookstein noted. Radiation May Help Those With Inoperable Lung Tumors: 3-year survival doubled after the treatment, study found A carefully targeted and powerful regimen of radiation therapy kept early-stage lung tumors stable in patients who had inoperable cancers. Almost 56 percent of patients who underwent the therapy, called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), were still alive three years after their treatment. By contrast, only about 25 percent to 30 percent of patients who receive conventional fractionated radiotherapy survive that long. "It's provocative but it's not for all patients with lung cancer. This is for people who can't undergo surgery, so I think surgery is still the best way to treat early lung cancer," Dr. Jay Brooks said. "The radiation was effective at controlling the cancer in the spot but the cancer still has a high risk of spreading to other parts of the body," he added. Implant Shows Promise for Hard-to-Treat Epilepsy: Pacemaker-like device cut frequency of seizures in study participants Deep-brain electrical stimulation reduced the frequency of epileptic seizures in people who had not responded to other treatments, a new study has found. With the deep-brain stimulation, seizure frequency decreased by 40 percent in the first three months after the device was implanted, the study found. After about two years, seizures had decreased 56 percent, on average. Adverse effects reported by the participants included infection at the site of implantation, misplaced electrical leads that had to be repositioned and tingling sensations. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering whether to approve the device for treatment of epilepsy in people who don't respond to other therapies. A New Way to Zap Away Uterine Fibroids: High-energy ultrasound waves avoid surgery by destroying the benign tumors Dr. John Lipman called the technique promising, but noted that it's not for every woman and does not replace the techniques currently in use. "It's very exciting and innovative, but there are some limitations," said Lipman. "It's important to keep in mind this treatment can only address a small fraction of the symptomatic fibroid population." Because it takes two to three hours to zap each fibroid, it's not practical to offer the technique to women who have a uterus full of larger fibroids. Concerns about altering or damaging the uterus in some way also led many doctors to steer women who wanted to become pregnant away from UFE [Uterine Artery Embolization] Dr. Gina Hesley added. But a second study to be presented at the same meeting found that women who had UFE done were just as likely to conceive as those who underwent myomectomy. March 5, 2010 to March 12, 2010Health Highlights **More Food Products Added to Recall List. **FDA Reviews Safety of Bone-Building Drugs. **Cholesterol, Diabetes Drugs at Top of Medicare List. **High Failure Rate for ASR Hip Implant. **Baby-Sling Warning Expected: They Pose A Suufocation Hazard. **FDA Panel Gives Blessing to Drug for Rare Lung Disease. **Pet Food Recall Expanded: Possible Salmonella Contamination. **Two Flavors of Pringles Chips Recalled: Concerns About Possible Salmonella Contamination. **New Technique Reduces Brain Damage Risk in Premies. **Heartburn Drug's Name Changed to Prevent Errors: FDA. Two New Studies Report a High Rate of Severe Injuries Among Children Who Ride All-Terrain Vehicles -- including amputations, spinal injuries and even death "A spine injury is such a devastating injury for a young person," said Dr. Jeffrey R. Sawyer. The same goes for amputations, which, as a result of these types of injuries, have typically been of legs, toes and fingers. Three-wheeled ATVs have been banned (although some do still exist), but four-wheeled, multi-rider ATVs are gaining in popularity and it appears they are not necessarily any safer, the researchers said. "It's night and day. If you get injured on one of these it's going to be bad," said Dr. Gregg Wendell Schellack. And children just shouldn't be riding these vehicles, added Dr. Mike Gittelman. "They don't possess the maturity or ability to operate these vehicles," he said. "If you're not going to let a kid drive [a car], why would you let them drive a vehicle that's just as powerful?" Sudden Protein Intake Harmful for Some Hospitalized Patients: Syndrome affects those given dietary supplements after not eating for a while, study finds The syndrome -- called supplement-associated hyperammonemia after cachectic episode (SHAKE) -- appears to cause difficulty walking and alters mental status, leading to symptoms such as diminished attention, impaired thinking, altered consciousness and reduced awareness. But the syndrome can be prevented, researchers report, by making sure at-risk patients don't consume high-protein supplements if they've failed to eat properly for more than a week before admittance. The sudden reintroduction of protein to the diet appears to be the problem. "With advances in nutritional education and supplements, this syndrome likely occurs thousands of times per year in hospitals across the United States. We believe it may account for more than 10,000 hospital days, countless morbidity and even some mortality," said Dr. Michael Perloff. High Natural Estrogen Might Raise Women's Stroke Risk: The link seemed especially strong for overweight females, study found Higher levels of naturally occurring estrogen are tied to a rising risk of stroke in postmenopausal women who aren't on hormone therapy, a new study finds. The researchers found that women with the highest levels of estradiol (the most potent naturally occurring estrogen) were 2.3 times more likely to suffer a stroke than those with the lowest levels. "These results raise the possibility that estradiol levels might be a decision-making tool for health care providers and their female patients when discussing stroke and weighing the option of estrogen therapy," said study leader Jennifer Lee. The researchers also found that women with waist sizes larger than 34 inches had higher estradiol levels and greater stroke risk than those with smaller waist sizes. "In women with waist girths greater than 34", high estradiol levels conferred a 6 fold greater stroke risk..... Processed Meat May Harm the Heart: Salt and preservatives may be the culprits, researchers suggest The researchers found that people who ate unprocessed red meat did not significantly increase their chances of developing heart disease or diabetes. However, eating processed meat was linked to an increased risk for the two conditions. In fact, for every 50-gram (1.8-ounce) serving, the risk for heart disease jumped 42 percent and the risk for diabetes increased 19 percent. "In contrast to unprocessed meats, processed meats contained, on average, four times higher amounts of sodium and two times higher amounts of nitrate preservatives," said Renata Micha. "A study of over 500,000 people found that people who ate the most both red and processed meats had a higher risk of mortality, cancer and cardiovascular disease than those who ate lesser amounts of these foods," said Samantha Heller. "Processed meat" is any meat preserved by smoking, curing or salting or with the addition of chemical.... Electromagnetic Pulses May Stem Arthritic Knee Pain: New device could improve life quality without side effects, expert says Researchers gave a battery-operated device to 34 people, who used it to emit a low-intensity, pulsating, electromagnetic frequency to their knees. The participants experienced pain relief of more than 40 percent on the first day of treatment, according to the study. The approach has no side effects, is "relatively low-cost in the long-run and the onset of pain relief is immediate," said Dr. Fred Nelson. The electromagnetic pulses are thought to reduce the level of calcium in cartilage cells and set off a process that reduces inflammation. For the study, people wore the device around their knees for 15 minutes, twice a day for six weeks. The study was funded by Ivivi Health Sciences, which developed the device. Diet, Exercise Can Improve Thinking: Study finds benefits for the mind, not just the body "It looks like exercise and diet improve the range of cognitive function," said Patrick Smith. "It helps executive function, learning and psychomotor speed." The group that ate well and exercised regularly had an overall 30 percent improvement in mental function by the end of the four-month period, the researchers noted. Physical activity does seem to have a direct effect on brain cells, Smith said. "There are neurochemical changes that happen with exercise, he said. There is increased production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which stimulates connection with other brain cells, he said, but also there is some evidence that it helps grow new brain cells." Feb. 26, 2010 to March 5, 2010Health Highlights **Recalled Pepper Linked to Salmonella Cases. **Medical Scan Makers Propose System to Cut Radiation Risks. **Scientists Spot Breast Cancer Genes That Influence Drug's Effectiveness. **Study May Lead To New Prostate Cancer Treatment. **Violent Video Games Linked To Aggressive Behavior. **More U.S. Teens Using Alcohol and Marijuana. **FDA Warns Food Makers of Label Violations. **FDA to Discuss Insulin Pump Recalls. **Popular Fish Oil Products Contain PCBs. Radiation Most Effective Soon After Breast Cancer Surgery: Analysis finds greater risk of recurrence in those who delay it For women who have had breast cancer surgery, the question of whether or not to wait before receiving radiation therapy has been answered by new research that suggests that the longer women wait, the greater the chance of cancer recurrence. Among the 30 percent of the women in the study who began radiation therapy more than six weeks after surgery, the researchers found that 4 percent went on to develop local recurrences within five years. The researchers also discovered that the risk of recurrence appeared to decline the sooner radiation treatment began. This suggests that it's a bad idea to wait to begin radiation therapy, and the treatment should start as soon as possible after surgery, the authors of the report noted. Reading Remediation Seems to Rewire the Brain: Study findings could have implications for autism, stroke and other conditions Remedial training for poor readers results in a growth of white matter tracts in the brain, and the increase correlates with the level of improvement in sounding out words. "This is the first evidence for an increase in white matter in response to a remedial behavioral intervention," said lead author Marcel Just. "It provides evidence that repeated cognitive exercises can alter the cortical connectivity of the human brain." The finding could have potential beyond enhancing reading ability. If a behavioral intervention can cause brain growth, benefits might be reflected in any number of brain conditions, including autism, stroke, multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury, experts say. Secondhand Smoke Starts Damaging Arteries in Childhood: Passive exposure tied to blood vessel damage in 13-year-olds, research shows The authors of the new study examined 494 children and found that those exposed to secondhand smoke between the ages of 8 and 13 were more likely to show thickening of blood vessel walls, a precursor to hardening -- clogging -- of arteries. The researchers also found that the kids who were exposed to the most tobacco smoke had higher levels of apolipoprotein B, which contributes to "bad" cholesterol, another heart disease risk factor. "These findings suggest that children should not face exposure to tobacco smoke at all,"Dr. Katariina Kallio said. "Even a little exposure to tobacco smoke may be harmful for blood vessels. We need to provide children a smoke-free environment." Marijuana Use Can Increase Risk of Psychosis, Hallucinations and Delusions: Association found between length of use and mental health "Compared with those who had never used cannabis, young adults who had six or more years since first use of cannabis [i.e., who commenced use when around 15 years or younger] were twice as likely to develop a non-affective psychosis and were four times as likely to have high scores on the Peters et al Delusions Inventory [a measure of delusion]," wrote Dr. John McGrath. "There was a 'dose-response' relationship between the variables of interest: the longer the duration since the first cannabis use, the higher the risk of psychosis-related outcomes." Future Heart Disease May Be in Store for Obese Kids: Warning signs start to show up as early as age 3, researchers say Obese children as young as 3 could harbor a warning sign that they're at risk of heart disease in the future, new research suggests. "Most adults understand that being overweight or obese isn't good for them. But not as many people realize that it may be unhealthy for young children to be overweight," said Asheley Cockrell Skinner. "A lot more work needs to be done before we figure out the full implication of these findings," said Dr. Eliana Perrin. "But this study tells us that very young, obese children already have more inflammation than children who are not obese, and that's very concerning. It may help motivate us as physicians and parents to take obesity at younger ages more seriously." Feb. 19, 2010 to Feb. 26, 2010Health Highlights **Avastin Effective Against Advanced Ovarian Cancer. **Fatty Foods Increase Women's Stroke Risk. **Pet Turtles Caused Salmonella Outbreak. **FDA Approves Updated Prevnar Vaccine For Pneumococcal Disease. **HIV Drug Combination, Norvir and Invirase, Poses Heart Risk: FDA. **Drug Companies Help Fund Doctors' Schooling. **Singing Helps Stroke Patients Recover Speech. **Large Health Insurance Hikes Justified. Remove Diabetes Drug Avandia From Market: FDA Documents Controversial medicine raises users' heart risk, leaked files suggest The New York Times on Saturday reported on documents from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that find that if people now taking Avandia (rosiglitazone) switched to a similar medication, Actos, about 500 heart attacks and 300 cases of heart failure would be eliminated each month. And in a report from the Institute for Safe Medication Practice, Avandia was linked to 304 deaths in the third quarter of 2009 alone, the highest for any prescribed drug in that time period. In one of the FDA documents, dated October 2008, Drs. David Graham and Kate Gelperin -- drug safety officials at the agency -- agreed that "rosiglitazone should be removed from the market." Still, "hundreds of thousands" of people still take Avandia, the Times noted. Wii-Gaming Could Aid Stroke Rehab: Physical therapy centered around the high-tech games surpassed standard exercises, study finds "We ran a pilot study to see whether this is doable, safe, and more effective than routine therapy," he said. "And we found it was," said Dr. Gustavo Saposnik. The Wii-based therapy involved movements that mimic the arm strokes required in a tennis match or those needed for cutting potatoes, peeling onions, slicing meat and shredding cheese. "Basically, we found that Wii therapy produced a 30 percent better improvement than recreational therapy in the time it took for the Wii patients to execute a task, and in how well they were able to execute a task," said Saposnik. Saposnik said that if the apparent benefits of Wii therapy hold up to further scrutiny, the high-tech physical therapy approach could help address two paramount challenges patients face when embarking on a recovery program: time and access. Statins May Benefit Prostate Cancer Patients: Cholesterol-lowering meds linked to significantly reduced tumor inflammation, research shows Cholesterol-lowering statins significantly reduce prostate tumor inflammation, which may help lower the risk of disease progression, new study findings suggest. Duke University Medical Center researchers found that the use of statins before prostate cancer surgery was associated with a 69 percent reduced likelihood of inflammation inside prostate tumors. But that doesn't mean that all prostate cancer patients should take statins, said Dr. Stephen Freedland. "More studies have to be done before such a recommendation can be made. However, men taking statins for heart health may already be enjoying a beneficial side effect against prostate cancer," Freedland said. Fitness Boosts Brain Power in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: MRI scans show less structural damage in those who exercise "We found that aerobic fitness has a protective effect on parts of the brain that are most affected by multiple sclerosis," said Ruchika Shaurya Prakash. "As a result, these fitter patients actually show better performance on tasks that measure processing speed." The researchers also found that fitter MS patients showed less deterioration of brain white matter. "Our hypothesis is that aerobic exercise enhances these nerve growth factors in MS patients, which increases the volume of the gray matter and increases the integrity of the white matter. As a result, there is an improvement in cognitive function," Prakash said. "For a long time, MS patients were told not to exercise because there was a fear it could exacerbate their symptoms. But we're finding that if MS patients exercise in a controlled setting, it can actually help them with their cognitive function," she..... Hospital-Acquired Sepsis and Pneumonia a 'Growing Menace': With nearly 50,000 killed a year, better infection control is needed Sepsis is a life-threatening immune response to infection. Nearly 20 percent of patients who developed sepsis after surgery died, said the study. "That's the tragedy of such cases," said Anup Malani. "In some cases, relatively healthy people check into the hospital for routine surgery. They develop sepsis because of a lapse in infection control -- and they can die." "In many cases, these conditions could have been avoided with better infection control in hospitals," said Ramanan Laxminarayan. "Infections that are acquired during the course of a hospital stay cost the United States a staggering amount in terms of lives lost and health care costs. Hospitals and other health care providers must act now to protect patients from this growing menace." Two Treatment Methods for Severe Sepsis Achieve Similar Short-Term Survival Rates: Study attempts to settle ongoing debate about which method is better Reeseachers compared lactate clearance (using lactate levels measured in blood samples) with a treatment involving central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) measured using a catheter connected to a computerized system. The Carolinas Medical Center team found that 34 patients (23 percent) in the ScvO2 group died while in hospital, compared with 25 (17 percent) of patients in the lactate clearance group. There were no differences in treatment-related adverse events. "These data support the substitution of lactate measurements in peripheral venous blood as a safe and efficacious alternative to a computerized spectrophotometric catheter in the resuscitation of sepsis," the researchers concluded. Each year in the United States, at least 750,000 people are hospitalized with severe sepsis..... Antidepressants in Pregnancy May Delay Developmental Milestones: Children exposed in womb slower to sit without support, walk, study finds Using data on more than 81,000 babies born in Denmark, researchers found that children whose mothers took antidepressants during the second or third trimester sat without support later and walked later than children of depressed mothers who did not take medication. This was especially true for boys. Children whose mothers took antidepressants sat about 16 days later and walked nearly a month later than the children of mothers who didn't take the drugs. By 19 months, they found no differences in motor skills between kids exposed and not exposed to antidepressants. But the 19-month-old children whose mothers had taken antidepressants were less able to occupy themselves for more than 15 minutes than toddlers whose mothers hadn't taken antidepressants. Women should not make hasty decisions about discontinuing the drugs & consult with their doctors first. Feb. 12, 2010 to Feb. 19, 2010Health Highlights **Nature Variety Pet Food Recalled. **California Meat Recall Expanded: USDA. **At-Home Stool Tests Boost Colon Cancer Screening. **Traffic Pollution Accelerates Hardening of Arteries. **Kellogg Told To Fix Sanitary Issues at Eggo Plant. **More Salami Products Recalled. **More Than Half of U.S. Hospital Procedures Now Outpatient. **Denture Creams Pulled Because of Nerve Damage Claims. **Maalox Product Confusion Could Cause Harm: FDA. **Exjade to Carry Warning. Aspirin May Boost Breast Cancer Survival: Risk of death, recurrence halved for those who took it, study finds A new study of more than 4,000 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer shows that taking aspirin appears to significantly increase survival and reduce the risk of recurrence. Exactly how aspirin confers a risk reduction is not known, Dr. Michelle Holmes said. But the new research is in line with some previous studies. "We're appreciating more and more that cancer is an inflammatory disease, and aspirin is an anti-inflammatory," she said. Aspirin might lower estrogens in the blood or might prevent early spread of cancer, the researchers speculated. Aspirin would never be a substitute for recommended cancer treatments, Holmes said. And aspirin does have negative effects in some. "It can cause bleeding of the GI tract," she noted. Women should talk to their doctor about what's best for them. FDA Issues Warning on Key Asthma Drugs: Advair, Foradil, Serevent and Symbicort should not be used alone due to safety concerns A new label warning will caution users of four widely used asthma drugs to avoid using these medicines as a sole or long-term means of symptom control, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday. LABAs [long-acting beta agonists] should no longer be used alone in treating adults and children, the FDA said. In making its decision, the agency cited studies that found that using the drugs alone can actually increase the severity of asthma, leading to hospitalizations and even death. The drugs should only be used for the shortest time possible, until asthma symptoms are under control, and be "discontinued, if possible, once asthma control is achieved," the agency said in a statement. People should then switch to another medication to maintain symptom control, the FDA said. FDA Tightens Controls on Anemia Drugs: Procrit, similar medicines have been tied to stroke, heart failure, tumor promotion and death in cancer patients "The plan requires the drug manufacturer to implement a program to ensure that health-care professionals understand the appropriate use of these drugs and adequately inform patients of the drugs' risks," said Dr. Richard Pazdur. Procrit is one of three so-called erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) manufactured by Amgen (the other two are Epogen and Aranesp), all of which are covered under the new plan. The new rules do not apply to indications other than use by cancer patients. The FDA has also recommended that the medications be prescribed at the lowest doses possible because trials generally indicated an increased risk when blood levels were raised above 12 grams per deciliter. Ibuprofen May Help Stave Off Parkinson's: Finding suggests need to look closer at the disease as inflammatory, expert says People who took three or more tablets a week showed a 40 percent lower risk than those who didn't take the common pain reliever. Dr. Xiang Gao said the findings are important for anyone at increased risk for Parkinson's because most people with the disease eventually become severely disabled. No other pain reliever was found to lower the risk for Parkinson's. Dr. Michele Tagliati called the study "eye-opening." Parkinson's is not considered an inflammatory disease, he said, adding: "We might be missing something. There is more work to be done." But in the meantime, Tagliati said, he would "definitely discuss ibuprofen use" with his patients because, if it works to protect against the disease, it could very well benefit those who already have it. Early On, Hormone Therapy May Raise Women's Heart Risks: Study reports little coronary benefit, regardless of when treatment begins Hormone replacement therapy does not lower the odds of heart trouble in women who take the regimen to ease hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause, a new study reports. In fact, the researchers say, it will probably elevate the risk for heart attacks for the first two years of use. "If women are thinking about using hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms, they should use the lowest dose and for the shortest duration possible," said Sengwee Darren Toh. Analysis found that, overall, women who took combined hormone therapy for the first two years of the study had more than double the risk for heart attack and other coronary problems. Device Helps Kids With Single-Sided Deafness: In study, bone-anchored hearing aids boosted hearing in such children Bone-anchored hearing aids provide noticeable hearing improvement for children and teens with single-sided deafness, a new study finds. Traditional external hearing aids are effective, but compliance is low among children, particularly outside the classroom, according to background information in the study. "Thus, treatment options for [single-sided deafness] in children are limited, thereby creating a source of frustration and a need for alternative treatments," wrote Lisa Christensen. "These findings are helpful in counseling children 5 years and older and their families regarding treatment options for single-sided deafness," the researchers concluded. Feb. 5, 2010 to Feb. 12, 2010Health Highlights **Applegate Farms Sausage Recalled. **FDA Announces Recall of Cardiac Science Defibrillators. **Cribs Linked to Three Deaths Recalled. **Target Pulls Valentines Day Bears From Shelves. **Boredom May Be Deadly. **New Guidelines Coming on Use of Newborn Blood Samples. **Poor-Quality Malaria Pills Worry Experts. **FDA Wants Realistic Serving Sizes on Food Packaging. **Exercise Protects Against Painful Gallstones. **Dissolvable, Flavored Tobacco Products Concern Health Regulators. Paxil Blocks Tamoxifen, Lowers Survival Odds Against Breast Cancer: Patients should avoid taking the two drugs together, researchers say Women with breast cancer who take both tamoxifen and the antidepressant Paxil may increase their risk of dying because Paxil reduces tamoxifen's effectiveness. "Paxil can deprive women of the benefit of tamoxifen, especially when it is used in combination with tamoxifen for a long time," said Dr. David Juurlink. "Patients who are on tamoxifen and who require an antidepressant should probably be given something different," he added. But he advised against abruptly discontinuing Paxil. "There is a very real danger to stopping Paxil suddenly. There is a well-described withdrawal syndrome and the risk of depression becoming more severe," he said. In addition, any transition to another antidepressant should be done gradually over several weeks, he said. Soft Drinks Could Boost Pancreatic Cancer Risk: People who down two or more soft drinks a week may have double the risk of developing deadly pancreatic cancer The analysis involved more than 60,000 middle-aged or older Chinese Singaporeans. Researchers calculated how much juice and soda the participants drank on average and followed them for 14 years to see how many developed cancer of the pancreas. The researchers speculate that elevated blood sugar levels associated with soda-drinking and the associated increase in insulin levels prompt pancreatic cells to divide abnormally. "Drinking sugar-sweetened soft drinks has been linked to weight gain, obesity and diabetes. Both obesity and diabetes are associated with higher risk of pancreatic cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer death in the United States," Eric Jacobs said. Migraine Linked to Increased Heart Attack Risk: The incidence of heart attacks in people with migraine is almost double that of people who don't suffer the headaches Cardiologists, especially those who treat women, should pay attention to those results and the current study, even though they appear in a neurology journal, said Dr. Holly Andersen. "Clearly, the majority of people who have migraines are women, often young women," Andersen said. "This is a marker that might help prevent cardiac disease. There have been several large population studies that show women with migraines have an increased risk of cardiovascular events. These are the women we should be intervening with. If they use oral contraceptives there should be a concern, because they can form blood clots, particularly if they smoke." And since the risk of stroke in women who have migraine is clear, "it's not too much of a stretch to think they have a threat with heart disease," said Dr. Dara Jamieson. Vaccine May Prevent TB in People With HIV: Clinical trial results mark 'significant milestone,' expert says Phase III trials of 2,000 HIV-infected people in Tanzania found that the mycobacterium vaccae (MV) vaccine reduced the rate of definite tuberculosis (TB) by 39 percent. TB is the most common cause of death among people in developing countries who have HIV/AIDS, and the results of the clinical trials are a "significant milestone," according to principal investigator Dr. Ford von Reyn. The next step, he said, involves improving manufacturing methods so that sufficient quantities of the MV vaccine can be produced for further studies and possible use in patients. Because people newly infected with HIV risk contracting TB almost immediately, the researchers said, it's important that they get the MV vaccine before they begin taking antiretroviral drugs to fight the HIV infection. Inflammatory Bowel Ups Risk for Blood Clots: Doctors should consider preventive measures, study suggests The researchers said the findings suggest that active IBD might be a far greater risk factor for blood clots than previously believed. "We believe that the medical profession needs to recognize the increased risk in people with inflammatory bowel disease when assessing the likelihood of venous thromboembolism and to address the difficulty of reducing this risk in patients with a flare who are not admitted to hospital," wrote Dr. Matthew J. Grainge. They suggested that "strategies to achieve a reduction in risk might include those used for inpatients, such as brief courses of low-molecular weight heparin or, perhaps, newly available oral anticoagulants." Drinking Milk While Pregnant May Lower Kids' MS Risk: Finding suggests that the effect of vitamin D begins in the womb, expert says Children born to mothers who drink lots of milk and have a high dietary intake of vitamin D during pregnancy have a much lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis later in life. "The risk of MS among daughters whose mothers consumed four glasses of milk per day [during pregnancy] was 56 percent lower than daughters whose mothers consumed less than three glasses of milk per month," said Dr. Fariba Mirzaei. "We also found the risk of MS among daughters whose mothers were in the top 20 percent of vitamin D intake during pregnancy was 45 percent lower than daughters whose mothers were in the bottom 20 percent for vitamin D intake during pregnancy," Mirzaei added. The three most important sources of vitamin D are fortified milk, fatty fish such as salmon and exposure to sunlight. Jan. 29, 2010 to Feb. 5, 2010Health Highlights **High Levels of Cadmium Found in Adult Jewelry. **Fashion Industry Pressures Teen Girls to Be Skinny: Survey. **New Drugs May Help Treat Intellectual Disabilities. **Scientists Identify Farsightedness Gene. **Anesthesia Brain Patterns Resemble Deep Sleep. **Anti-HIV Drugs Carry Risk of Liver Problems: FDA. **Vitamin D Protects Against Crohn's Disease. **Healthy Older Adults Require Less Sleep. **Cell Phone Bans May Not Reduce Crashes. **Children's Pendants Recalled Because of Cadmium. **Ground Pepper Could Be Culprit in Salmonella Outbreak. **Program Offers Free Health Text Messages To New Moms. Serotonin May Be Key to Sudden Infant Deaths: Deficiency hampers babies' ability to respond to low oxygen, study suggests Researchers have long suspected that a lack of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter in the brain, may be a factor in SIDS deaths. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit messages from one brain cell to another. Experts have theorized that a lack of serotonin affects the way a baby responds to a loss of oxygen and a buildup of carbon dioxide while sleeping. In babies with a normally functioning system, the lack of oxygen would cause them to awaken and turn their head to get fresh oxygen. In babies who die of SIDS, this important protective mechanism is either underdeveloped or lacking, and they don't awaken. That may be one reason why the Back-to-Sleep campaign was so successful in reducing SIDS. By putting babies to sleep on their backs & taking soft, fluffy bedding out of the crib, parents are taking away environmental stressors that may contribute to SIDS Experts Issue Warning on Prostate Hormone Therapy: Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) might increase risk of heart attack and stroke ADT reduces or eliminates the male hormones that can promote growth of prostate cancer. About one-third of all men with prostate cancer are given ADT, Dr. Otis Brawley noted. "Many people underestimate the harm of hormonal therapy and overestimate the potential benefits of hormonal therapy," he said. Six studies -- two done in Europe, four in the United States -- have shown increased incidence of cardiovascular problems in men, Brawley said. Herceptin Again Proves Mettle Against Breast Cancer: High-risk breast cancer patients with HER2-positive tumors benefit from receiving the targeted therapy Herceptin while undergoing chemotherapy "The reason why Herceptin is so valuable to patients who have locally advanced breast cancer is they have a very bad prognosis," Dr. Jay Brooks continued. "The cancers are usually bigger. They may have spread to the lymph nodes in the armpits and they're usually not small enough to be cut out to preserve the breast." When Brooks sees a patient with locally advanced breast cancer, he treats them first with chemotherapy, to shrink the tumor, along with trastuzumab (Herceptin). Once chemo is completed -- after about six months -- it's easier to operate and remove the tumor. Then the patient is continued on Herceptin for a year, followed by radiation. 71% of women who received Herceptin were alive without a recurrence at the end of three years, versus 56% of women in the control group. Too Little Vitamin D May Worsen Asthma: Low levels may also hinder response to steroid treatment Dr. Michael F. Holick called this "a very nice study that confirms previous observations that vitamin D enhances lung function." "It is also known that glucocorticoids [steroids] increase the destruction of vitamin D, thus making patients with asthma at higher risk for vitamin D deficiency, which in turn decreases lung function and makes their disease worse," he said. Holick thinks most people, asthmatic or not, get too little D and should take supplements. "It's pretty clear that you need a minimum of 1,400 and up to 2,000 IU a day, and if you are obese, you probably need at least one and a half to two times as much, because the fat sequesters the vitamin D," Holick said. "We now recognize that you can take up to 10,000 IUs a day and not worry about any untoward toxicity." Fish Oil Helped Stave Off Psychosis in Study Patients: Supplements may benefit those at high risk of schizophrenia The beneficial effects of fish oil capsules with omega-3 fatty acids may result from changes in cell membranes and interactions with neurotransmitter systems in the brain, the researchers explained. Dr. G. Paul Amminger and colleagues noted that many young adults are reluctant to take antipsychotic drugs due to perceived stigma and side effects such as sexual dysfunction, metabolic changes and weight gain. Omega-3 fatty acids may offer an natural alternative. "Long-chain omega-3 fatty polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce the risk of progression to psychotic disorder and may offer a safe and efficacious strategy for indicated prevention in young people with subthreshold psychotic states," the authors concluded. Poor Mental Functioning May Predict Stroke: Men who scored lowest on test also had worst outcomes, study reports Problems with memory or thinking abilities could signal an increased likelihood for a stroke in the future. Swedish researchers found that older men who were not diagnosed as having dementia but who did poorly on a test of mental function had a greatly increased risk for stroke. "Our results support the idea that cognitive decline, regardless of whether a person has dementia, may predict risk of stroke," Dr. Bernice Wiberg said. "If you have a bad test result at 70 years and if you do get a stroke, you have a lessened chance to survive for a long time," she said. Another recent study found the most obese individuals were more than three times as likely to have a stroke as the leanest. Smoker's Own Secondhand Smoke Adds to Health Risks: In addition to the risks associated with directly inhaling cigarette smoke, smokers also face significant risk from their own secondhand smoke The finding challenges the widely held belief that the threat posed to smokers by secondhand smoke is negligible. Maria Teresa Piccardo and her colleagues concluded that secondhand smoke could have a major impact on smokers' health. For example, smoking 14 cigarettes a day results in secondhand smoke exposure that's equivalent to smoking an extra 2.6 cigarettes, they found. "Both active and passive smoking contributions should always be considered in studies about health of active smokers," Piccardo said. CT Scans Deemed Best for Checking Heart Arteries: But if it's heart muscle tissue that needs examining, use MRI, expert says CT is the preferred noninvasive technology for assessing the condition of heart arteries, whether there is narrowing that might end with the total blockage that causes a heart attack, Dr. Uwe Joseph Schoepf said. "MRI is not in current use to look at coronary artery disease," he said. "We use MRI angiography if we are interested in heart muscle, as when there are congenital heart abnormalities in children. The strength of MRI is that it shows tissue configuration." Though that difference is well established among radiologists, the new study may be of assistance in the general medical community, including general cardiologists, because "it summarizes the advantages of CT at this point in time," Dr. Ricardo Cury said. Indeed, CT appears to be better for assessment of coronary artery disease, matched against not only MRI but other methods, such as echocardiography,.. Jan. 22, 2010 to Jan. 29, 2010Health Highlights **States Weigh Tougher Rules on Head Injuries of Young Athletes. **Vital Social Skill Seems to Develop at Young Age. **Antibiotics Combo More Effective Than Single Drug. **New Disinfectant Kills Wide Range of Pathogens. **Defect Prompts Recall of 2 Million Hypodermic Needles. **Victoza Approved for Type 2 Diabetes. **Blood Glucose Level Affects Decision Making After Drinking Just One Soda. **Herpes Drug Doesn't Reduce HIV Infection Risk. Flame-Retardant Chemical Linked to Conception Problems: High levels of PBDEs can reduce chance of pregnancy by up to 50%, researchers say The chemicals, called PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers), are found in a variety of products including foam furniture, electronics, fabrics, carpets, plastics and other common household items and have been linked to a variety of health problems, researchers say. PBDEs became common after the 1970s with new fire-safety standards in the United States. Studies have found that 97 percent of Americans have detectable levels of PBDEs in their blood. These levels are 20 times higher than found in Europeans. According to Harley, Californians have some of the highest exposures to these chemicals due to strict fire laws in that state. Kim Harley said the best way to reduce your exposure to PBDEs is to reduce your exposure to house dust, by using a wet mop and vacuuming with a filtered vacuum cleaner and washing your hands often. New Drug Slows Advanced Kidney Cancer: Pazopanib may double time to disease progression, study finds Treating advanced kidney cancer patients with the drug pazopanib (Votrient) slowed their disease progression by 54 percent, a new study has found. In the pazopanib group, it took an average 9.2 months for the cancer to progress, vs. an average 4.2 months in the placebo group. The difference was greatest in previously untreated patients (11.1 months for the pazopanib group and 2.8 months for the placebo group), but also was found among patients previously treated with cytokines (7.4 months in the pazopanib group vs. 4.2 months in placebo group). Pazopanib inhibits the development of blood vessels that tumors need to grow and spread. Intensive Rectal Cancer Treatment Shows Promise: Tumors were down-staged in most patients following chemo-surgery regimen, researchers say The phase 2 study included 105 patients with poor-risk rectal cancer, meaning they have a high likelihood of disease recurrence and poor survival odds despite receiving standard chemotherapy and optimum surgery. For this study, the patients underwent 12 weeks of chemotherapy treatment with capecitabine and oxaliplatin, followed by chemoradiotherapy with capecitabine and surgery, followed by another 12 weeks of capecitabine treatment. After three years, 68 percent of the patients had no cancer progression, and the overall survival rate was 83 percent. After five years, the overall survival rate was 75 percent. Very Tight Blood Sugar Control May Raise the Risk of Premature Death in People with Type 2 Diabetes: With the risk even higher among patients taking insulin, a new study reveals The study authors suggest revising diabetes guidelines to include a low threshold for blood sugar levels in addition to the well-known upper thresholds. But other experts familiar with the study said the issue is still up for debate and that diabetics should by no means abandon their efforts to lower blood sugar whether it be through medication, insulin or lifestyle changes, but should avoid efforts to go too low if possible. "The first thing you want to avoid almost no matter what is low blood sugar. If you're driving and you have hypoglycemia, you can get in a car wreck," said Dr. Daniel Bessesen. "[But] this doesn't completely change the ballgame." And few people actually achieve the really low levels that seemed to cause problems in this study, he added. Early EKG Seems to Improve Odds After Heart Attack: Administration by paramedics shortens time to specialized treatment, study finds Researchers report that people with chest pain who are given an electrocardiogram by paramedics before reaching the hospital don't wait as long to receive treatment to open their arteries. They often were able to bypass the emergency room and go directly to the cardiac catheterization laboratory for treatment with what's commonly known as an angioplasty, the study found. They were treated 60 minutes, on average, after reaching the hospital, compared with 91 minutes for people who did not have an EKG before arriving at the hospital. Research has shown that rapid angioplasty treatment reduces the chances of dying within the next year. Of those who did not have an EKG done before arrival, 2 percent (seven of 241 patients) died in the hospital. None of the 108 patients who were given pre-arrival EKGs died in the hospital, the study reported. For Lower Blood Pressure, Low-Carb Diet May Be Best: But for weight loss alone, other plans also work well, studies find A low-carbohydrate diet helps people shed as many pounds as a low-fat diet plus the weight-loss drug orlistat does, and the low-carb plan may be better at helping lower blood pressure, researchers report. "Weight loss was similar but substantial in both groups we studied, but blood pressure improved more in the low-carb dieters," said study author Dr. William Yancy Jr. "There are options out there. Pick a diet you think you could stick to better, and work with your physician to help you target the right intervention for you," he advised. Obesity is a significant contributor to many illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and many cancers according to Dr. Robert Kushner. More Proof Exercise Leads to Healthier Aging: Good for the mind and body, series of studies finds Just in case the world needed more evidence on the matter, along come four new studies verifying that exercise is indeed good for you, even critical if you plan to survive to a vigorous, hardy and tough-boned old age. "I like to see this laid out, but every bit of information [already] suggests that being active is the healthier way and being inactive is the abnormal, unhealthy way," said James O. Hill. "Exercise is better than any drug or anything else we have for aging. There's no downside. If this were a drug, it would be the safest, most effective drug in the universe." An accompanying commentary pointed out that pretty much all physical ailments in later life result at least partly from lack of physical activity. Meanwhile, exercise has been shown to improve arthritis, osteoporosis, heart disease, lung disease, cancer and many more woes. Jan. 15, 2010 to Jan. 22, 2010Health Highlights **Recalled Dorel Asia Cribs Linked to Infant's Death. **Too Much Sitting May Harm Health. **Exercise Increases Memory-Related Brain Cells. **Dietary Supplements Recalled by MuscleMaster.com. **Ground Beef Recalled by California Company. **FDA Wants to Tighten Tanning Bed Regulations. **New Bone Marrow Transplant Technique Promising: May Eventually Eliminate Need to FInd Matching Donors. **FDA Warns of Counterfeit and Potentially Harmful Alli Weight-Loss Drug. **Recalled Dog Treats May Contain Salmonella: FDA. **Doctor Accused of Faking Painkiller Studies. Health Agencies Express Concern Over BPA: The chemical is ubiquitous in plastic products, including baby bottles and sippy cups, as well as metal linings of some cans, including those containing infant formula William Corr detailed four steps that consumers can take to reduce their BPA exposure: [1] As recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies should be breast-fed for 12 months if possible. The safest and most nutritious alternative is iron-fortified infant formula, even if there are trace amounts of BPA. [2] Discard scratched baby bottles and cups as they may harbor germs and may release small amounts of BPA. [3] Very hot infant formula should not be put into BPA-containing bottles as BPA could leach from the container to the food. [4] Check labels of all bottles and cups to make sure they are microwave and dishwasher safe. BPA has been linked to heart disease, sexual dysfunction, cancer, diabetes and hyperactivity, aggression in girls,& may effect the developing fetus. Tylenol Recall Expands to Include Other OTC Meds: FDA criticizes manufacturer for slow reaction to consumer complaints To date, there have been some 70 reports from consumers about the problem, and in some cases using these products has resulted in nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea, Deborah M. Autor said. The company believes the contamination was caused by a chemical used to treat the wooden pallets on which packaging material is transported and stored. Recalled products include specific lots of: Regular Strength Tylenol; Extra Strength Tylenol; Children's Tylenol; Tylenol 8-Hour; Tylenol Arthritis; Tylenol PM; Tylenol Simply Sleep; Children's Motrin; Motrin IB; Benadryl; Rolaids; St. Joseph aspirin. Overdoses From Prescription Painkillers on the Rise: Use of opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone soaring, researchers say The risk of overdosing increased with the amount of drug prescribed, according to the study. Those given higher doses had nearly nine times the chance of overdosing as those given lower doses of opioids. The greater availability of the drugs has led to an increase in abuse, A. Thomas McLellan noted. Opioids are frequently "diverted," meaning one person gets the prescription and then gives it or sells it to another. A recent study found that less than half of those who died due to accidental overdose had actually received the drugs from a physician. Symptoms of people who overdosed were delirium, loss of consciousness, confusion, respiratory problems and falling. Because of the risks, physicians should closely monitor patients who are on long-term opioid therapy, prescribe as low a dose as possible to control pain and frequently re-evaluate whether the benefit of... Adding Fish Oil to IV May Speed Sepsis Recovery: Omega-3 fatty acids in the solution reduce inflammation, researchers note Adding fish oil to intravenous solutions proved beneficial for intensive care patients with the potentially lethal blood infection known as sepsis, a new study finds. The patients who received the fish oil had lower levels of inflammatory chemicals in their blood, achieved better lung function, and had a shorter hospital stay. "Traditional solutions use soybean oil, which does not contain the omega-3 fatty acids contained in a fish oil that act to reduce inflammatory responses. In fact, soybean oil is rich in omega-6 acids that may actually promote inflammation in an excessive or unbalanced supply," Philip Cader explained. The Pill May Decrease Bone Density: Long-term use of low-dose versions affect women most, study finds Oral contraception may decrease bone density in young women. Those taking birth control pills for more than two years, and those on the low-dose estrogen pills appear to have the greatest risk of decreased bone density in the spine and whole body, according to the researchers. Almost 12 million American women are currently using oral contraception. And, the use of oral contraception is highest in women under 30, reports the study. That's important because the 20s are generally a time of peak bone mass production. Delia Scholes said the researchers suspect that the hormones in birth control pills are likely affecting normal hormone levels -- perhaps lowering normally circulating estrogen levels -- which then affects bone production. Dual Treatment Cuts Dangerous Hospital Infection: A new treatment for a widespread and virulent bacterial infection, Clostridium difficile, appears to dramatically cut recurrence C. difficile infections have doubled in recent years, and one epidemic strain has caused severe outbreaks in hospitals and long-term care facilities, where the infection is most common. About 300,000 to 500,000 Americans contract C. difficile infections each year, and recurrences are common. "Treatment of patients with C. difficile with two novel antibodies resulted in a 72 percent reduction in the number of patients that would recur with that disease," said lead researcher Dr. Donna Ambrosino. C. difficile, which settles in the gastrointestinal tract, often strikes people receiving prolonged antibiotic treatment for other infections. It can cause severe diarrhea and damage the lining of the large intestine. New Disinfectant Could Help Hospitals Fight Germs:Solution is touted as less corrosive, cheaper and more effective than existing products Researchers report that they've developed a new formula for a disinfectant that's effective against bacteria, viruses, fungi and even prions, the proteins that cause mad cow disease. The fast-acting disinfectant, they say, could be especially helpful to hospitals, where it could, for instance, be used to rid surgical instruments of germs. The disinfectant kills a variety of pathogens. Examples include those that are resistant to ordinary disinfectants, such as the germs that cause a tuberculosis-like illness in people with weakened immune systems and viruses that apparently could cause polio, the report says. Even prions, which can malfunction and cause diseases that poke holes in the brain, fell victim to the disinfectant. U.S. Kids Using Media Almost 8 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week: Survey finds few parents set rules as use of 'smart' phones, computers soars Media use goes up dramatically when kids hit 11. Problems with media include obesity from inactivity, and potential harm for viewing sexual or violent content. There also appear to be impacts from media use on sleep, attention and school performance. One problem is not what the children are doing with all this time, but what they are not doing, Douglas A. Gentile said. "The more time we spend not being active, just being passive, we are losing skills that need practice...Using media to connect with others -- rather than in the "real world" -- may also be affecting the kind of social interaction children learn, he said. "The research is getting clearer that multitasking really damages productivity," Gentile said. "We are raising a generation of kids who may have a problem maintaining sustained and focused attention, because.... Jan. 8, 2010 to Jan. 15, 2010Health Highlights **HappyTot, HappyBaby Meals Recalled. **Parenthood Linked With Lower Blood Pressure. **FDA Warns Drug Companies About Promotional Materials. **Criticism Labels The Swine Flu Outbreak A "False Pandemic" and Claims Pressure from Drug Makers Influenced How It Was Managed. **Chinese-Made Children's Jewelry Pulled From Wal-Mart Stores. **Pavement Sealant Chemicals Tracked Indoors. **Asian Firms Warned Against Using Toxins in Toys. **Mental Health Issues Up for High School, College Students. **Huge Increases in Drug Prices. **Soda Fountains Dispense Fecal Bacteria. Transplanted Trachea [Windpipe] Grows Own Blood Supply in Patient's Arm: 'Breakthrough' procedure also avoided tissue rejection issues, surgeons say Belgian transplant surgeons are reporting a medical first: They coaxed a donor trachea to grow its own network of blood vessels before transplantation by first embedding it for months in the recipient's arm. The innovative approach not only brought the patient a healthy, functional trachea (windpipe), but it did so without the need for taking lifelong immunosuppressive drugs, as is common with most transplant operations. According to Dr. Pierre Delaere, it's tough to say just how many patients could benefit from this type of procedure in the future. However, because of its high level of safety and the lack of need for immunosuppressive therapy, "this procedure may become the standard of care," he said. "It's a way of repairing large tracheal defects that couldn't be repaired before," said Dr. Megan Sykes. New Anti-Clotting Drug Outperforms Plavix: Trial shows Brilinta boosts patient outcomes with no added bleeding risk A new clot-busting drug, Brilinta, may soon take the place of Plavix in treating patients with acute coronary syndrome, which includes angina and heart attack. In a new trial, the upstart drug, ticagrelor (Brilinta) reduced the risk of second heart attacks and death without raising the risk of bleeding, as clopidogrel (Plavix) can do. Because it is processed as soon as it's swallowed (meaning it doesn't have to go through the liver), Brilinta kicks in faster than Plavix, Dr. Christopher Cannon explained. "At the dose we've chosen, it has about twice the level of anti-clotting effect, hence its benefit in preventing heart attacks and stent thrombosis [closure]." And unlike Plavix, Brilinta is quickly reversible. This means patients could have surgery with a lower risk of bleeding. Newer Drug More Effective in Psoriasis Treatment: Stelara tops Enbrel in head-to-head comparison and requires fewer injections, researchers say "Ustekinumab [Stelara] is a more effective and faster acting therapy for psoriasis than the current biologic market leader for this condition," said Dr. Christopher E.M. Griffiths. After 12 weeks of treatment, 67.5 percent of the patients receiving 45 milligrams of Stelara had a 75 percent improvement in their condition, as did 73.8 percent of those receiving 90 milligrams of Stelara. Only 56.8 percent of those receiving Enbrel showed a similar improvement, the researchers found. Dr. Paolo Romanelli advises patients receiving Enbrel to stay on the drug if they are doing well. For those who do not respond to Enbrel, there is "incredible hope to have a new medication that may help them," he added. Patients who don't respond to Enbrel may respond to Stelara, the study found. The safety of the two biologics appeared similar, Griffiths said. Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Rituxan Lowers Flu Shot Effectiveness: But patients should still get vaccinated, researchers say New research offers a caution to rheumatoid arthritis patients who take the drug rituximab (Rituxan): The flu vaccine is safe, but it's ineffective during the first six months following treatment with Rituxan. The researchers also found that previous flu vaccination does help provide some protection against the flu, and the vaccine won't make the arthritis symptoms worse. "Individuals who have compromised immune systems, such as with rheumatoid arthritis, are at risk for complications from contracting the flu virus," Dr. Sander van Assen said. "We recommend yearly influenza vaccination for all rheumatoid arthritis patients and pre-emptive vaccination for flu should be considered by those patients who start rituximab treatment." Loss of Smell Could Be Early Sign of Alzheimer's: In mice, even small amount of amyloid plaques affected olfactory sense People with Alzheimer's are already known to suffer from loss of smell. But the new research pinpoints a direct link between development of amyloid plaques -- the bits of gunk in the brain that cause Alzheimer's disease -- and a worsening sense of smell. Researchers found that the plaques first develop in the part of the mouse brain that's devoted to the sense of smell. "What was striking in our study was that performance of the mouse in the olfactory behavior test was sensitive to even the smallest amount of amyloid presence in the brain as early as 3 months of age (equivalent to a young adult)," said Daniel W. Wesson. "This is a revealing finding because, unlike a brain scan, a laboratory-designed olfactory test may be an inexpensive alternative to early diagnosis of Alzheimer's," Wesson said. Faster Heart Rate May Raise Risk of Heart Attack Death: But for women, exercise cuts that risk significantly, study finds For women under age 70, every 10-beat-per-minute increase in resting heart rate boosts the risk of dying from a heart attack by 18 percent, a new study has found. The higher a person's resting pulse, the greater their risk of death from cardiovascular disease, particularly from ischemic heart disease (heart attack and angina). Men with a pulse of 101 beats per minute or more were 73 percent more likely to die of ischemic heart disease than those with a rate of 61 to 72 beats per minute -- the normal healthy range. Women with a resting heart rate of 101 beats per minute were 42 percent more likely to die of ischemic heart disease than those with a normal pulse. This was particularly true among women younger than 70 with a high resting heart rate -- they were more than twice as likely to die of a heart attack, the study found. PET Scan Improves Diagnosis of Parkinsonism: Early identification then leads to better treatment, researchers say New research shows that PET brain scans can diagnose which type of Parkinson's-related disease a person has. The researchers found that the scans allowed them to differentiate between idiopathic Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy, although the diagnoses sometimes differed from those of doctors who assessed the patients. According to the researchers, early diagnosis helps doctors place patients in proper drug trials. "The clinical and research relevance of these findings should not be underestimated. Neuroprotective and disease-modifying drug research is intensifying, and results mostly rely on accurate early diagnosis," wrote Professor Angelo Antonini. Exercise May Stave Off Mental Decline: Regular workouts protected cognitive function of older adults in two studies Exercise appears to help prevent and improve mild cognitive impairment, two new studies show. Researchers found that people who did moderate physical activity in midlife or later had a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment and that six months of high-intensity aerobic exercise improved cognitive function in people with mild cognitive impairment. Mild cognitive impairment is an in-between state between the normal changes in thinking, learning and memory changes that come with age and dementia, one of the studies explained. Jan. 1, 2010 to Jan. 8, 2010Health Highlights **CDC Says Swine Flu Now Widespread in Only 4 States. **Leukemia Vaccine Shows Promise. **Gene May Be Linked to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. **No Evidence Supports Special Diets for Autistic Children: Experts. **No Proof Virus Causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Study. **Full-Body Airport Scanners No Health Threat: Experts. **No Big Change in FDA Drug Approvals Last Year: Obama Does Not Take A Much Tougher Stance on Drug Safety. Using Kitchen Spoons Raises The Risk of Potentially Dangerous Dosing Mistakes: Researchers recommend sticking with measuring devices that come with medicines When using the medium-sized tablespoon, the students under dosed by more than 8 percent, on average. And when using the larger tablespoon, they overdosed by nearly 12 percent, on average. The researchers concluded that if even well-educated individuals make mistakes after having essentially been trained to pour correct dosages into a spoon, then anyone -- even experienced pourers, such as nurses or caregiving parents -- run the risk for making similar dosing errors. "So in this case, you have an idea in your mind of what the right dosage should be, but when given an inappropriately sized spoon, you end up pouring to compensate for the mismatch, and that ends up meaning you are likely to overcompensate or undercompensate...., said Koert van Ittersum. This may have real consequences, particularly for children, over an extended time. Hazards of Obesity Now Rival Smoking in U.S.: Little difference seen in loss of quality-of-life years between the two, study finds Obesity now poses as great a threat to Americans' quality of life as smoking, a new study shows. The results showed that the quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) lost to obesity are equal to, or greater than, those lost because of smoking. From 1993 to 2008, the number of adult smokers decreased 18.5 percent and smoking-related QALYs lost remained relatively stable at 0.0438 QALYs lost per population. Over that same time, the proportion of obese Americans increased 85 percent, resulting in 0.0464 QALYs lost. Obesity had a larger effect on disease, while smoking had a greater impact on deaths, the researchers found. Start Mammograms by 40, Breast Imaging Experts Say: The new guidelines challenge controversial U.S. Preventive Task Force recommendations issued late last year Annual breast cancer screening should begin at age 40 for most women and start earlier -- between 25 and 30 -- for those at high risk for the disease, say new recommendations from the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI). The new guidelines challenge controversial U.S. Preventive Task Force recommendations issued late last year that said women don't need to start having mammograms to screen for breast cancer until they're 50, and only need to be screened every other year. "Evidence to support the recommendation for regular periodic screening mammography comes from the results of several randomized trials [RCTs] that included a total of nearly 500,000 women. Overall, based on a meta-analysis of the RCTs, there was a 26 percent reduction in mortality," said Dr. Carol H. Lee. For Baby and Mom Alike, Breast-Feeding May Be Best: Experts explore the why and wherefore of method's benefits "The nutrition [provided by breast-feeding] is perfect for the growing child," Melinda Johnson said. The presence of DHA in breast milk, she said, might explain the finding that breast-fed kids do better academically. Breast milk also contains the amino acid taurine, considered important for neurological development, said Dr. Ruth Lawrence. "Newborns and preemies cannot manufacture taurine," Lawrence said. Breast milk also has been shown to jump-start a baby's immune system. Experts have found that breast-fed babies' guts have different bacteria than those of formula-fed babies. The intestinal bacteria present early in life play a role in whether a person will suffer from allergies, have an overactive immune system or tend to put on excess weight later in life, Johnson said. Breast-feeding also has emotional and bonding benefits. Ear Infections: New Thinking on What to Do: Doctors today often opt for pain relief and observation to see if antibiotics are needed But observation isn't advised for all kids, even if they're healthy and 2 years or older, Dr. David Tunkel said. For instance, a child with a fever of 102 or more would typically be treated. "We don't want to withhold antibiotics from kids," he said. Rather, the guidelines are aimed to address concerns about resistance to antibiotics that can develop from overuse, he said. Also, a study reported in the British journal BMJ in July found that ear infections come back more often in kids who've been treated with antibiotics. In the three years after being treated for an ear infection, 63 percent of the kids who were given the antibiotic amoxicillin had recurrent ear infections, compared with 43 percent of those not treated with an antibiotic. Dec. 25, 2009 to Jan. 1 , 2010Health Highlights **Ammoniated Beef Treatment Questioned. **FDA to Tighten Standards on Human Trials. **Beef Recalled Because of E. Coli Concerns. **Brain Blood Flow Controlled by Inner Ear. **Extremely Drug-Resistant TB Diagnosed in Florida. **Moldy Smell Prompts Recall of Tylenol Arthritis Caplets. **Music Therapy May Help Chronic Tinnutis [Constant Ringing in the Ears]. **Antibody Destroys Prostate Cancer in Mice Even in Advanced Stages. In U.S., Prescription Drug Abuse Is Growing: Medicine cabinets have replaced the street as easy source of medications, experts say One of every five teenagers and adults -- about 50 million Americans -- have used prescription drugs for a non-medical purpose at some point in their lives. Abuse of prescription pain relievers by young adults rose 12 percent between 2006 and 2007, even as their use of street drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine decreased. Experts believe that prescription drug abuse is on the rise in part because access to these medications has become easy and routine. People also appear to feel more comfortable taking prescription drugs because they mistakenly believe they will be safer than street drugs, Dr. Wilson Compton added. "Somebody can overdose on a prescription drug because it wasn't made for them. What would be safe for one individual could be lethal to another individual." Signs of drug abuse include slurring of words or not making any sense when speaking. Kids Can Pass Potentially Deadly Pneumonia Germs to Older Relatives During Holidays: Kids may carry germs that they themselves may not get sick from, but the elderly are more susceptible to these germs Seniors can shield themselves from the threat of pneumonia, however. "People over 65 should get the pneumococcal vaccine -- it lasts for six years," Dr. Marc Siegel said. They found that before the vaccine was made available, spikes in pneumococus-related disease occurred every year during the holidays. After the vaccine was introduced these spikes happened only one out of five winters. There were no spikes in pneumococcal diseases during any other season, they add. Heart Attacks More Common in Winter : Exercise caution when shoveling, working out to avoid cardiac emergency Frigid air causes blood vessels to constrict as the body tries to prevent heat loss, said Dr. Holly Andersen. The narrowing raises blood pressure and can reduce oxygen flow to the heart. Combined with a strenuous activity, such as shoveling snow, this can strain the heart, triggering a heart attack in those at risk. Symptoms of a heart attack may include pain, discomfort or a squeezing sensation in the chest, pain in the arms, back, neck or jaw, shortness of breath, nausea or a cold sweat, according to the American Heart Association. Though women may also experience pain, they are more likely than men to experience shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting and back or jaw pain. A heart attack can be mistaken for a pulled muscle, so take any post-shoveling symptoms seriously. Caution Can Help Keep Elderly Safe During Winter: Hazards exist both indoors and outdoors Age-related changes in vision, reflexes and response times make toppling over more likely. Medications -- including cough and cold remedies, sleep aids and anti-anxiety drugs -- can also impact equilibrium. Seniors are both more likely to be taking multiple drugs and to be affected by side effects, experts say. Older people often have difficulty adjusting to changes in light, so make sure all rooms are well lit. At night, use night lights in the hallway and bathroom. Seniors are also less able to a regulate their body temperature, putting them at increased risk of hypothermia. Keeping the thermostat set to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, even when no one is at home, can prevent this. Never use a gas stove or oven to heat the home. Make sure there are working smoke alarms in each area of the home. And for those who live in a house rather than an apartment, carbon monoxide alarms should also be installed. Children Living With a Smoker Puts Them at Risk for Emphysema: Such lung damage seen in otherwise healthy nonsmoking adults, study finds Children who are around smokers face a higher risk of early emphysema when they become nonsmoking adults, perhaps because their lungs never totally recovered from secondhand smoke exposure, new research suggests. Researchers reached their conclusions after conducting CT scans on 1,781 non-smokers from six communities in the United States. About half of them grew up in homes with at least one smoker. "Some known harmful effects of tobacco smoke are short-term, and this new research suggests that effects of tobacco smoke on the lungs may also persist for decades," said Gina Lovasi. Indoor Allergies Common in Winter: To keep sneezing and wheezing at bay, follow these expert tips Colder temperatures can bring some relief to those allergic to mold and pollen. But winter doesn't mean the end of runny noses, itchy eyes and wheezing for asthma and allergy sufferers. Spending more time indoors can mean more problems with dust mites, pet dander, cigarette smoke, gas fumes and household sprays and chemicals, any of which can trigger asthma symptoms. Even the beloved Christmas tree can harbor mold spores that can bring on an allergic reaction, said Dr. David J. Resnick. Resnick and Dr. Stefan Worgallb offer tips for minimizing the chances of an allergic reaction or asthma flare-up during the holidays. Dec. 18, 2009 to Dec. 25 , 2009Health Highlights **Eleven Infant Deaths Linked to Simplicity Cribs: CPSC. **Pressure Drug Cleviprex Recalled Due To Particulate Contamination. **Early Treatment for Ear-Ringing DisorderTinnitus May Be Possible. **Cell Phone Warning Pushed by Maine Legislator Despite Scientific Evidence That Overwhelmingly Indicates No Health Risk. **Texas Must Destroy 5 Million Blood Specimens From Babies. **Seniors' Flu Vaccine Approved by FDA. Experts Say CPR by Untrained Bystander a Good Idea: Study found little harm done even when collapsed person didn't need it The risk that an untrained bystander can do harm by giving cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, to someone who collapses in public is almost vanishingly small, a new study indicates. And so the dispatchers who send emergency medical help when 911 is called should routinely tell the caller to start CPR, said Dr. Thomas D. Rea. "There have been concerns expressed by laypeople and dispatchers that doing CPR might cause damage," Rea said. "Our study shows that you can help the person at risk and the chances that you can injure someone who is not in cardiac arrest are very, very small, and those injuries are not serious." "The key finding here is that when a well-meaning member of the general public starts CPR and the victim is not in cardiac arrest, it will probably cause no injury at all," said Dr. Michael Sayre. Breast-Feeding May Protect a Woman's Heart: Arteries appear to be less clogged in those who nurse infants, study finds Dr. Eleanor Schwarz said the researchers suspect that the apparent benefit from breast-feeding on later heart health stems from how a woman's body stores fat and how that fat is released -- or not released -- after pregnancy. "A woman's body expects to go through pregnancy and then lactation," Schwarz explained. "During pregnancy, a woman's body stores fat that it expects to release during lactation. If women don't breast-feed, then the body has to deal with excessive fat." The bottom line is that "it's really important to try to breast-feed," she said. "If you can breast-feed for three months after each pregnancy, your blood vessels are likely to be in better shape down the road." Doctors Urge Parents to Lower Volume Controls on Holiday Electronics: Many music players have maximum levels that could cause hearing loss If you're giving your teenager an iPod or other music player this holiday season, consider a bonus present to help their hearing: Preset the top volume level to one-half or two-thirds of the actual maximum. Sound over 85 decibels -- well short of the volume limit some music players carry -- can cause hearing loss. "I can tell you that if you hear the music coming from their headphones, it is too loud, but an easier way to know for sure is to preset the device...." said Dr. Ron Eavey. Anne Marie Tharpe said that hearing loss isn't always obvious, especially in kids. "The symptoms can initially be subtle and include difficulty hearing when there is background noise. Such losses can result in significant challenges for children in classroom settings." Diabetes Insight Could Lead to Better Treatments: Inhibiting a key inflammatory pathway brought powerful results in mice and people, researchers say Scientists have identified a protein that may be involved in the development of type 2 diabetes, a finding that could lead to new drugs to fight this growing worldwide scourge. Studies in humans are already under way. According to Jurg Tschopp, "clinical studies with type 2 diabetes patients have already been initiated and the first results are again incredibly encouraging. With a single injection of IL-1b inhibitors, glucose levels in diabetes patients are highly reduced during six months. This treatment could replace the standard treatment currently used." Alcoholics May Never Fully Regain Balance: Ex-drinkers still tend to sway, study finds Long-term sobriety can improve balance problems in alcoholics, but they may not be able to regain full stability while standing, a new study has found. "With sobriety, gait and balance become stable. However, even with prolonged sobriety, people with long-term chronic alcohol dependence can have difficulty in standing upright. Their balance can be marked by sway that exceeds what most of us experience while standing still in one place, especially with feet together and hands down by one's side, that is, without use of natural stabilizing factors," said Edith V. Sullivan. This lack of stability -- the result of alcohol-related brain injury -- can increase the risk of fall-related injury and death, the study authors noted. Dec. 11, 2009 to Dec. 18 , 2009Health Highlights **Strangulation Risk Prompts Recall of Shades and Blinds. **BPA [A Chemical Used in Baby Bottles] Affects Functioning of Intestines. **Fewer U.S. Seniors Hospitalized for Preventable Conditions. **Major Problems in U.S. Food Tracing Program. **Senate Bill Would Let Insurers Limit Annual Medical Costs. **Consumerism Boosts Teen Mental Health Problems: Study. **Bionic Fingers Function Like Real Ones. **Less Sodium in SpaghettiOs. **Atlas Sexual Enhancement Products Recalled: FDA. **Scientists Crack Genetic Codes of Lung, Skin Cancer. **FDA Panel Backs Crestor for People With Normal Cholesterol. Almost A Third of U.S. Doctors Unaware of Deadly 'Choking Game': 11 to 20 percent of teenagers have played the game and between 1995 and 2007 at least 82 youths died Also known as the "blackout game," "pass-out game," "scarf game" and "space monkey," among other monikers, the activity involves intentionally trying to strangle oneself or another, using hands or some sort of noose to briefly achieve an euphoric state. The "game" can also cause seizures, headaches, bone breaks and brain injury -- if not death. According to McClave, warning signs parents and physicians should be aware of include bruise marks or red marks around the neck; severe frequent headaches; blood vessel breaks on the face or eyes; red eyes; aggressive behavior or a change in behavior; unusual demands for privacy, such as locked bedroom doors; and wear marks on furniture, such as bunk beds or closet rods. Blood Thinner Combos Risky for Heart Attack Patients: Bleeding risk highest for those taking both warfarin and clopidogrel, study finds "In patients with first-time heart attack, all combinations of aspirin, clopidogrel and vitamin K antagonists are associated with increased risk of nonfatal and fatal bleeding, apart from monotherapy with a vitamin K antagonist, compared with aspirin alone," the study authors wrote. "Increased risk of bleeding was proportional to the number of drugs used. Nonfatal bleeding is an independent predictor associated with increased risk of recurrent heart attack or death. We propose that treatment with triple therapy or dual therapy with clopidogrel plus vitamin K antagonist should be prescribed only after thorough individual risk assessment and careful consideration of the risk-benefit ratio," they concluded. Adding Chemo to Tamoxifen Helps Some Breast Cancer Patients: Combo extended survival for certain women with estrogen-positive tumors, study found Adding chemotherapy to standard cancer-suppressing tamoxifen can boost survival in postmenopausal women with the most common type of breast cancer, known as estrogen receptor-positive, and it's best given before the tamoxifen regimen starts, according to a new study. "Chemotherapy with Adriamycin adds to your survival benefit over and above what tamoxifen would do if you are postmenopausal and have positive lymph nodes and estrogen receptor-positive cancer [the most common type]," explained Dr. Kathy Albain. And in another study, Albain found that screening breast tumors with an available multi-gene test spots patients who may not need this form of chemotherapy, despite fitting the standard profile. Tweaks to Breast Cancer Treatments Boost Outcomes: In one study, longer Herceptin use helped beat back the disease "The most dramatic finding [presented at the briefing] is that continuing Herceptin therapy after tumor progression improves survival," said Dr. Edith Perez. "It is the first time this has been shown." In that study, Dr. Kimberly Blackwell reported that combining the drug lapatinib (Tykerb) with trastuzumab (Herceptin) was better than single-drug therapy in women who have HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread. The findings: "There was significant improvement in overall survival in favor of the combination of lapatinib and trastuzumab compared to the single agent lapatinib," Blackwell said. There was a 26 percent reduction in the risk of death if both agents were used. Put in more human terms, that means that "15 more out of 100 women are alive at a year because of combination therapy." New Drugs, New Combinations Fight Breast Cancer: Targeted therapies could make inroads against metastatic disease, researchers say One study found that a higher (500-milligram) dose of Faslodex (fulvestrant) works better than the currently approved 250-milligram dose in hormone receptor-positive breast tumors that had already spread to other parts of the body. A second study found that adding Nexavar (sorafenib) -- a drug already used to treat liver and kidney cancer -- to chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer patients with HER2-negative tumors extended the time to disease progression, another hint of increased survival. A third study gives added credibility to the stem cell theory of cancer that is currently gaining prominence in the medical community. The hypothesis holds that tumors are propelled forward by a small group of stem cells or "mother" cells that are resistant to existing therapies, explained Dr. Jenny Chang;chemotherapy may actually increase the number of such stem cells Needle Biopsy Works Well in Diagnosing Breast Cancer: It's nearly as accurate a surgical method, with fewer complications, analysis finds New research suggests that the less invasive "core needle biopsy" procedure is nearly as effective in diagnosing breast cancer as an open surgical procedure is, with fewer complications than the surgical version. "Our findings were that any core needle biopsy has a lower risk of complications, and was almost as accurate as surgical biopsy," said Wendy Bruening. Additionally, Bruening said that "women diagnosed with core needle biopsy were more likely to be treated with just one surgical procedure." "Most of the time, core needle biopsy is reliable enough to gather information about the diagnosis, and it may be the only procedure that women need because most breast biopsies are negative. For that reason, if we can do a minimal procedure, it's best for patients," said Dr. Karen Stanford. Bone Drugs May Beat Back Breast Cancer: Bisphosphonates seem to prevent recurrence, researchers find Bone-building drugs used by tens of millions of women to fight osteoporosis also cut the risk of breast cancer, suggesting the drugs may play a dual role in keeping women healthy. "Bone loss and potential fractures are a known complication of breast cancer therapy. Our feeling is that bisphosphonates may actually prevent disease recurrence through a variety of mechanisms," said Dr. Adam Brufsky. The women taking bisphosphonates, namely Fosamax (alendronate), had a 32 percent reduction in their rate of invasive breast cancer compared to women who were not taking one of these drugs. In another study, Israeli researchers found that postmenopausal women taking bisphosphonates for one or more years had a 29 percent reduction in their risk of breast cancer. Dec. 4, 2009 to Dec. 11 , 2009Health Highlights **Label Error Prompts Recall of Alka-Seltzer Cold Capsules. **Antipsychotic Drugs May Carry Weight Gain Warning: Drugs that may be affected by the label change include Seroquel, Abilify, Zyprexa, Risperdal and Geodon. **WHO Urges Stronger Action Against Smoking: Smoking Kills at least 5 million people worldwide each year. **FDA Lags on Recommended Drug Safety Changes: GAO. **Medicare Now Covers HIV Screening. **Safety Violations Common in U.S. Water Treatment Systems. **10 Million Slim-Fast Drinks Recalled for Bacterial Contamination. **FDA Issues CT Scan Safety Guidelines. **Cattle Vaccines May Reduce E. coli Outbreaks in Humans. **Toxic Chemicals Found in Many Popular Toys. **Screening Reveals Heart Conditions in Grade 6 Students: Nearly half of screened students were overweight. Many Dialysis Patients Get Wrong Blood Thinners for Angioplasty: Some docs not following FDA directive urging against use of Lovenox, Integrilin, study shows More than one-fifth of patients on dialysis who undergo angioplasty are given blood thinners they should not be given, new research shows. As a result, these patients are subject to a higher rate of bleeding during their hospital stay and may even be at a higher risk of dying. "I was surprised by this," said Dr. Gregory Dehmer. "Clearly this indicates there's a tremendous opportunity for improvement on the part of interventional cardiologists." "This reflects poorly on the entire process of care, which may start at the outlying hospital or may start in the cath lab," he said. "This represents a very strong call to action on the part of all those who are involved with the care of patients who ultimately wind up having PCI [angioplasty]," Dehmer said. Blood Clot Threat After Surgery Worse Than Thought: Risk remains high for at least 12 weeks and includes minimally invasive procedures, study finds "What is most striking is that not only is the risk higher, but that it lasts much longer than people have thought," said Dr. Jane Green. One of every 140 women who had surgery that required a hospital stay was readmitted for venous thromboembolism within 12 weeks of the operation. The incidence after operations not requiring a hospital stay was one in 815, the researchers found. By contrast, the incidence of venous thrombosis during a 12-week period for women who did not have surgery was one in 6,200. The study punctures a belief that surgery done through small incisions -- called keyhole surgery in England, minimally invasive or laparoscopic in the United States -- reduces the risk of venous thromboembolism, Dr. Alexander Cohen said. "A lot more surgery is being done by keyhole surgery, and they are not getting treatment to prevent........ Soy Beneficial for Breast Cancer Survivors: Surprising finding shows it reduces risk of death, recurrence Regular, moderate consumption of soy foods can help lower the risk of death and cancer recurrence in women who've had breast cancer, new research shows. What's more, the association between soy and a reduced risk of death held true even for women with estrogen receptor-positive cancers and women taking tamoxifen. "We found that women with a history of breast cancer who consumed moderate amounts of soy food were doing better in terms of prognosis. They had reduced mortality and reduced recurrence," said Dr. Xiao Ou Shu. "In our study, we found that soy food has a very similar effect to tamoxifen," said Shu. Tamoxifen is a drug that blocks the action of estrogen in the body, which can be helpful for treating cancers that are fueled by estrogen."...."But try to get it [soy] in natural sources, not from processed food," said Shu. Breast Cancer's Spread Now Better Understood: Findings offer hope for future treatments targeting growth factor, researchers say The researchers found that single breast cancer cells broke away from the main tumor and entered the blood system when TGFb turned on messenger genes in the cancer cells and then turned them off. When TGFb was inactive, clumps (but not single cells) of breast cancer cells broke away from the main tumor. Because these clumps can spread only through the lymphatic system, not through the blood, the spread of cancer was local. "The results helped us to find the set of genes that are behind the spread of breast cancer -- and that the genes need to be first turned on and then off in order for single cancer cells to be able to 'relocate,'" Erik Sahai said. He noted that in "a medium-sized tumor there could be a billion cells -- and only a small proportion might break away and spread. So it is like trying to find a moving needle in a very big haystack." Vitamin D Linked to Survival in Lymphoma Patients: Supplementation might slow cancer, preliminary study suggests "These are some of the strongest findings yet between vitamin D and cancer outcome," said Dr. Matthew Drake. The study authors looked at 374 patients who had been newly diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Tests suggested that half of the patients didn't have enough vitamin D in their systems, and those patients had a 1.5-fold greater risk of disease progression. After the researchers adjusted their figures to account for the influence of other factors, the risk of death among patients with vitamin D deficiency during the study period was doubled compared to patients with ideal levels of vitamin D. "The exact roles that vitamin D might play in the initiation or progression of cancer is unknown, but we do know that the vitamin plays a role in regulation of cell growth and death, among other processes important in limiting cancer," Drake said. Review Questions Tamiflu's Effectiveness: Finds no proof the drug prevents flu complications such as pneumonia Based on the data available to them, the authors of the new review concluded they have "no confidence in claims that Tamiflu reduces the risk of complications of influenza in otherwise healthy adults," and said the drug should not be used in routine control of seasonal flu. Because previous evidence about Tamiflu's effects on flu complications may be unreliable, governments should establish studies to monitor the safety of Tamiflu and other neuraminidase inhibitors, said Chris Del Marr. The review findings call into question "not only the effectiveness of oseltamivir but the whole system by which drugs are evaluated, regulated and promoted," Dr. Fiona Godlee and a BMJ colleague wrote. "Once a trial is completed, there needs to be ready access to the raw data behind any analyses used to license and market a drug," they said. New Blood Thinner Could Replace Warfarin to Fight Venous Clots: Dabigatran equals older anti-clotting drug, with fewer hassles, study finds Dr. Bernard Gersh said: "I think there are still questions that need to be answered, but it's fair to say that warfarin has been around for many, many years and everybody hates warfarin. Patients hate warfarin. Doctors hate warfarin. It's not the most convenient drug, but it's effective and it is cheap." "It's premature to say that a drug like dabigatran will take the place of warfarin," Gersh added. "There will be a lot of discussion about cost and convenience. It's a twice-daily dose and there are some questions about a possible higher rate of heart attack. I don't think this is truly resolved yet, but I think we can say that for the first time we have seen a drug that certainly has the potential to be an alternative to warfarin, and maybe even superior." Swine Flu Pandemic May Be Less Severe Than Had Been Feared: Data indicates that, while serious, virus impact predicted to be mild Fortunately, the virus now appears to be near the milder end," said Marc Lipsitch. "The good news is that, along with previous work by the CDC and others, our work shows that the severity of the H1N1 flu may be less than initially feared," Lipsitch said. But between one in 70 and one in 600 people who get the illness will be hospitalized, he noted. "This is a serious disease," he added. "The CDC and others have shown that certain high-risk groups, including pregnant women, people with asthma and people with compromised immune systems, should be vaccinated and should seek prompt treatment if they suspect they are sick with H1N1. Even for people outside these high-risk groups, vaccination is an important way to reduce the risk of what can be a serious illness." Nov. 27, 2009 to Dec. 4 , 2009Health Highlights **Label to Warn of Heart Risks From The Antidepressant Norpramin: FDA. **Obesity Increases Kids' Risk of Spinal Problems: Study. **USADA Targets Easy Availability of Steroids. **Tyson Foods Warned About Seafood Storage. **Patient Uses Mind to Control Robotic Hand. **Thiamine Deficiency Spurs Cat Food Recall. **Kangaroo Enzyme May Hold Clues to Skin Cancer Prevention. **Magnetized Discs Kill Cancer Cells: Study. **Genes Linked to Gray Hair in Women. MRI Highly Effective in Detecting Life-Threatening Pregnancy Complication, Placenta Accreta: Dramatic increase caused by surgeries such as C-Sections coupled with women giving birth later in life The condition occurs when the placenta surrounding a fetus attaches too deeply to a woman's uterus. During delivery, the placenta can pull out parts of the uterine wall, rupturing blood vessels and putting the mother at risk of severe hemorrhaging. Routine prenatal ultrasound often detects placenta accreta, but can't always definitively diagnose subtle cases, the study authors noted. "Our findings demonstrate that MRI is an extremely useful adjunct to ultrasound for assessing this potentially life-threatening obstetric condition," Dr. Reena Malhotra said. CT Scan May Predict Colon Cancer Survival: Could identify those who would benefit from liver surgery after chemo, study finds Adding bevacizumab (Avastin) to cytotoxic chemotherapy has been shown to improve survival in patients with late-stage colorectal cancer and to produce better results in patients having surgery to remove colorectal cancer from the liver, the researchers said. But how this treatment relates to survival has not been known. Evelyne M. Loyer said: "The scoring system we developed provides a noninvasive, simple tool to assess response to bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy in patients with colorectal metastasis." The researchers found that survival was directly related to the amount of residual tumor cells left in the liver after chemotherapy. Based on the percentage of tumor cells left in the liver, the researchers could estimate overall survival. They confirmed their results in patients whose livers could not be operated on. Beverage Can Tabs Remain a Risk for Kids: Though designed to stay on, tabs still end up being swallowed, study finds About three decades ago, beverage makers starting using what they call stay-tabs instead of pull-tabs, which were believed to pose a swallowing hazard for children and for anyone who stepped on them. But the new finding raises "the possibility that the redesign of beverage cans may not have reduced the number of ingestions," said Dr. Lane F. Donnelly. Swallowing objects, particularly those with sharp edges, can cause injury to the gastrointestinal tract, sometimes requiring surgery. A major challenge for doctors in such cases, Donnelly said, is that the beverage can tabs are difficult to see on X-rays. "Clinicians and radiologists should be aware that this does occur," Donnelly said. "Not seeing the tab on the X-ray does not mean it was not swallowed." ...."ingested stay-tabs at a single children's hospital suggests that such occurrences are not uncommon," Donnelly said. Breast-Feeding Can Help Mom's Heart Decades Later: 20-year study shows it cut risk factors linked to diabetes, cardiovascular trouble In women who didn't have pregnancy-related (gestational) diabetes, breast-feeding between one and five months lowered a woman's risk of developing metabolic syndrome by 39 percent, while breast-feeding for the same duration lowered the risk of the syndrome by 44 percent in women with gestational diabetes. And, the longer a woman breast-fed, the better it was for her later health. Breast-feeding for longer than nine months dropped the risk of metabolic syndrome by 86 percent in women with gestational diabetes. Women without gestational diabetes saw a 56 percent reduction in their risk of metabolic syndrome. The benefits of breast-feeding for infants are well-documented and include lower risk of ear infections, stomach problems, respiratory illnesses, asthma, skin allergies, diabetes and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Sleep Apnea May Cause Nighttime Urination: Many doctors unaware the sleep disorder boosts urine production, experts say A new study suggests that nighttime urination, or nocturia, is comparable to loud snoring as a marker for obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder in which soft tissue in the throat blocks the flow of air into the lungs, disrupting sleep. "When you ask people about symptoms like snoring and gasping, they tend to say, 'No, I don't have them'," said study author Edward Romero. "But it's very easy for them to realize that they wake up at night to go to the bathroom." "I see patients all the time who think they're waking up to urinate because they have prostate trouble or a small bladder," Dr. Barry Krakow said. "About 80 percent of the time we discover that apnea is the cause of their problem." Besides nocturia and snoring, symptoms of sleep apnea include daytime drowsiness, memory problems and depression. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, blood clots.... Smoking Exposure Now Linked to Colon, Breast Cancers: New studies also find that children exposed to smoke are at risk of lung cancer One study found that long-term smokers have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer, a finding that factored into the recent decision by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to assert that there is "sufficient" evidence to link the two, up from its previous "limited" evidence. Two other studies focused on the risk of secondhand smoke. In one, children exposed to secondhand smoke had a higher risk of developing lung cancer as adults. In another, California researchers found that adult non-smoking women who had spent long periods of time in smoking environments upped their odds of developing postmenopausal breast cancer. In another study, people who smoked cigarettes and drank alcohol after a diagnosis of head and neck cancer had a worse prognosis than those who abstained from these habits. Exercise Guards White Blood Cell Telomeres Against Aging: In study, athletes had 'younger' immune cells than sedentary, healthy adults Telomeres can be thought of as the plastic tips on the end of shoelaces, which prevent the lace from fraying, explained Emmanuel Skordalakes. Over the life span, cells continue to divide. Each time a cell divides, the telomere is shortened. When the telomere gets too short, the cell stops dividing. When this happens, people age -- gradually losing muscle strength, skin elasticity, vision, hearing and mental abilities, and so on, Skordalakes said. The athletes had longer telomeres than those who were of similar age but did not exercise, and the athletes showed increased activity of the enzyme telomerase, which maintains the telomere. "This is direct evidence of an anti-aging effect of physical exercise," said study author Dr. Ulrich Laufs. This may also explain why exercise can protect against developing cancer and heart disease. Nov. 20, 2009 to Nov. 27, 2009Health Highlights **Infant Deaths Spur Recall of 2.1 Million Stork Craft Cribs. **Vicks Nasal Spray Recalled Due to Bacteria. **Movie Theater Popcorn High In Calories and Fat: Study. **FDA Sends Warning Letters to Drug Web Sites. **U.S. Military Studying PTSD Risk Factors. **Law Offers Genetic Testing Protections. **Common Skin Germs May Protect Against Allergies. **Man in Coma for 23 Years Was Actually Conscious. **Use of A Batch of Swine Flu Vaccine Stopped in Canada: May Trigger Life-Threatening Allergies. **Many Type 2 Diabetes Patients Morbidly Obese: U.S. Study. **Injection Drug Users at High Risk for HIV. Former Head of the U.S. National Institutes of Health Advises Women To Ignore New Mammogram Guidelines "Because Unequivocally This Will Increase The Number of Women Dying of Breast Cancer" "I'm saying very powerfully ignore them, because unequivocally this will increase the number of women dying of breast cancer," said Dr. Bernadine Healy, who was nominated to head the federal agency in 1991. "Women in their 40s have a very aggressive kind of breast cancer. They tend to progress fast. And to not screen women in that age group is astounding to me, and it goes against the bulk of individuals who are actually caring for patients," said Healy, the first woman to lead the National Institutes of Health and currently the health editor at U.S.News & World Report. Some Prescription Meds May Raise Seniors' Risks of Falling: Significant association between the use of sedatives, hypnotics, antidepressants and benzodiazepines and the risk of falls After pooling the data and adjusting for other factors, the review authors concluded that there was a significant association between the use of sedatives, hypnotics, antidepressants and benzodiazepines and the risk of falls in older adults. More than 30 percent of people older than 65 suffer a fall at least once a year. Falls and their complications are the fifth-leading cause of death in the developed world, according to background information in the study. Dangerous Toys Still on Store Shelves, Report Finds: Report focuses on toys that pose a choking hazard, are excessively loud, or contain the toxic chemicals phthalate and lead Phthalates have been linked to premature delivery, reproductive defects, early onset of puberty, and lower sperm counts. Lead exposure can cause lowered IQ, delayed mental and physical development, and death in children, researchers have found. Along with the Trouble in Toyland report, PIRG said it will unveil a new interactive tool -- accessible via computer or smart phone -- that will help parents and other purchasers avoid hazardous toys. Consumers will also be able to report dangerous toys to the new Web tool (www.toysafety.mobi). "Now parents can shop safely and avoid purchasing potentially dangerous toys for their kids," said Elizabeth Hitchcock. In 2008, toy-related injuries caused the deaths of 19 children and resulted in more than 82,000 emergency room visits by children under age 5, according to......... Vigorous Exercise Cuts Stroke Risk for Men, Not Women: Older males saw their odds drop by 63 percent with moderate-to-high intensity workouts Moderate-to-high intensity exercise such as jogging, swimming or tennis may help reduce stroke risk in older men but not in women, researchers report. Men who did moderate-to-high intensity exercise were 63 percent less likely to have a stroke than people who didn't exercise. Over five years, the baseline risk of ischemic stroke (the leading type of stroke) for all study participants was 4.3 percent; 2.7 percent for those who did moderate-to-high intensity exercise and 4.6 percent for those who didn't exercise. "A large percentage of the participants were not taking part in any physical activities. This may be true of many elderly people who live in cities. Identifying ways to improve physical activity among these people may be a key goal for public health," Dr. Joshua Z. Willey said. Smoking During Pregnancy, Lead Exposure Raise ADHD Risk in Kids: Study found one more than doubled chances, while both increased risk eightfold The researchers concluded that about 38 percent of ADHD cases among children aged 8 to 15 in the United States may be caused by prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke, while 25 percent of ADHD cases are due to lead exposure, according to the study in the Nov. 23 online issue of Pediatrics. Though much remains unknown about the specific causes of ADHD, "we have long believed ADHD is at least in large part due to abnormalities of dopamine in the brain," Dr. Andrew Adesman said. Previous research has shown lead exposure and cigarette smoking may alter the brain's metabolism of dopamine. Leaded paint was banned for most residential uses in the United States over 30 years ago in 1978. Children may also ingest lead from old water pipes, soil and toys. In the last few years there have been multiple recalls, some by major toy manufacturers such as......... Smokers Double Their Risk for Heart Disease: Study finds that quitting improves heart prospects, but cancer risk remains A new study offers yet more proof that smoking is a major risk factor for death from heart disease and cancer. Current smokers were 4.16 times more likely to die of cancer, 2.26 times more likely to die of heart disease and 2.58 times more likely to die from any cause than were former or nonsmokers. Current smokers were also more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke. There were no significant differences between former smokers and nonsmokers in the risk for dying from heart disease or any cause, but former smokers were more likely to die of cancer than those who'd never smoked. "The analysis provides further strong evidence that people with heart disease who continue to smoke take a very high risk of increasing their chances of death in the short term," said Dr. Deepak L. Bhatt. Nov. 13, 2009 to Nov. 20, 2009Health Highlights **FDA Warns of Adverse Effects Caused By Contaminants in Five Drugs Made By Genzyme Corp. **RockHard Dietary Supplement Recalled: FDA. **Hyper-Resistant Bacteria Major Health Threat: Experts. **Mini Pump Improves Heart Failure Patients' Survival: Study. **Ketamine Drug [Dubbed Special K], Popular Among Club Goers, Causes Memory Problems. **Critics Question Prescription Drug Price Increases. **Only A Few Hospitals are Using the Full Capabilities of Electronic Health Records. **Brain Scans Detect Hypnosis Effects: Study Shows Hypnosis Is Real. **Texting Linked to Shoulder Pain: Study. Heartburn Drugs Can Thwart Popular Blood Thinner: Combination can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, U.S. officials say Combining the antacid Prilosec with the popular blood thinner Plavix (clopidogrel) can cut the effectiveness of Plavix by half, putting patients at risk for heart attack or stroke. "The results of those studies are to avoid the combination of those two medications,"Mary Ross Southworth said, adding that the tandem should be avoided even if the two drugs are taken hours apart. Combining the two drugs is common because Plavix can upset the stomach. The FDA said patients taking Plavix can take alternatives to Prilosec, such as Mylanta, Maalox, or Zantac, Southworth said. However, proton-pump inhibitors similar to Prilosec -- such as Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid and Protonix -- should also be avoided when taking Plavix, Southworth said. Other drugs that may also interact with Plavix, making it less effective include:...... Certain Reflux Drugs Tied to Higher Post-Angioplasty Death Rate: Study suggests interaction between Prilosec, Protonix and blood-thinners such as Plavix People taking the acid reflux drugs Prilosec or Protonix in combination with blood thinners such as Plavix have a higher risk for death after angioplasty than people who don't take the two popular antacids, a new study has found. "All this shows is that people taking PPIs have a worse outcome than those not taking PPIs," said Dr. Chet Rihal. "This does not prove there's causation." "These data do not show that patients should stop taking PPIS, and, in fact, it would be dangerous for patients to stop PPIs or other medication without a physician's advice," Rihal said. The mortality increase shown by the study is not surprising, he added. "People who are older are the ones who get stents and tend to get ulcers and stomach problems [warranting use of PPIs] so we would expect them to have a worse prognosis" Rihal said. "Whether it's due to.. Immunity to Swine Flu May Be Broader Than Thought: And that may explain why the disease hasn't posed more problems, study says The swine flu virus that's sweeping across the United States isn't a total stranger to your immune system, a new study shows -- a finding that should ease the most drastic worries about the lethality of the pandemic. "What has been widely reported in the general press is that the swine flu is totally new, so there is no immunity to it," said Bjoern Peters. "But the severity of infections that have been seen is not greater than usually seen in seasonal flu." The reason why the swine flu virus -- officially designated H1N1 -- isn't the killer it was feared seems to be that the various protective mechanisms of the immune system have been primed by exposure to previous flu viruses, said Alessandro Sette. "Immunity to influenza viruses varies," Dr. Marc Siegel said. "The older we are, the more likely we are to have immunity to this virus." Rapid Cooling Might Help Heart Attack Patients: Pumping coolant into the nose right away seems to prevent brain damage, study finds Rapid cooling of heart attack patients may boost their chance of survival without brain damage, Swedish researchers report. They examined the use of a device called RhinoChill, which cools the brains of heart attack patients during ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). RhinoChill is a non-invasive device that pumps coolant into a patient's nose. "We now have a method that is safe and can be started within minutes of cardiac arrest to minimize (brain) damage during this very critical period," said study lead author Dr. Maaret Castren. "Our results show that the earlier you can do the cooling, the better. When resuscitation efforts were delayed, there was no significant difference in survival," Castren said. Heart Failure Drug, Losartan, May Help More in Higher Doses: Study finds increase lowers chance of hospitalization or death The study included 3,846 people in 30 countries who had heart failure, a left-ventricular ejection fraction of 40 percent or less and intolerance to angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. When looked at separately, the risk for death was 6 percent lower for the high-dose group, and the risk for hospital admission for heart failure was 13 percent lower. Kidney impairment, low blood pressure and hyperkalemia (high levels of blood potassium that can cause potentially fatal abnormal heart rhythm) were more common in the high-dose group, the study reported. "These findings suggest that increased doses of an ARB are needed to achieve the maximum benefit for clinical outcomes and symptoms related to heart failure in this population," wrote Dr. Marvin A. Konstam. Elderly Treated Less Aggressively for Heart Attack: Hospitals less likely to follow guidelines for patients 80 and older, study finds While overall care of heart attack patients in the United States is good, gaps remain in the treatment of patients 80 and older, a new study suggests. The analysis revealed that 86 percent of patients aged 80 and older received early beta blocker therapy, compared with 90 percent of patients aged 64 or younger. Only 43 percent of patients 80 and older received balloon angioplasty within 90 minutes of hospital arrival, compared with 54 percent of younger patients. Older patients had a far higher rate of in-hospital deaths (11.8 percent vs. 2.4 percent) and were less likely than younger ones to be taking statins when discharged from hospital (76 percent vs. 92 percent). Why Watching TV Sports Increases Heart Attacks: For those who've had an attack already, stressful games raise blood pressure, study finds Reduced blood flow to the heart may help explain why men who've had a heart attack are at increased risk for another while watching exciting sporting events, Chinese researchers report. The study included 38 male heart attack survivors who watched live broadcasts of Olympic Games competitions or entertainment television programs. Overall, blood flow to the heart was generally stable. But when the men watched an exciting sporting event, blood pressure increased, heart rate variability decreased, and platelet aggregation (the building blocks of blood clots) increased. All these factors increase the risk of heart attack, the study authors noted. Mammography: What to Do Now?: Three doctors weigh in on what women should do about the new guidelines When a U.S. government task force recommended that women wait until they're 50 to get their first mammogram to check for breast cancer, reaction was swift. Critics such as the American Cancer Society vowed to stand by its advice that annual screening begin at age 40 for women of average risk. The American College of Radiology agreed. But what will doctors who see female patients day after day suggest they do? Three such providers -- an internist, a family physician and a gynecologist -- weigh in on what they will advise their patients to do. Moderate-Fat Diet May Be Better at Reducing Heart Risks: People with metabolic syndrome should steer clear of low-fat meal plans, study says A moderate-fat diet may work better than a low-fat regimen for people suffering from metabolic syndrome, a collection of conditions putting them at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, new research finds. "This is a good study that essentially confirms that the current recommendations are appropriate," said Alice Lichtenstein. "Since 2000, the AHA has been recommending not a low-fat diet, but one that is low in saturated fats and trans fatty acids." "This diet looks like it does a good job of altering the negative metabolic effects of early diabetes or high carbohydrate stimulation," Dr. Alfred Bove said. "Much of this we've known before, but the idea is that a moderate-fat diet is something most people can tolerate," Bove said. "It probably affects the way insulin is released because if you have a lot of carbohydrates in the diet, you tend..... Nov. 6, 2009 to Nov. 13, 2009Health Highlights **Maclaren Strollers Pose Amputation Hazard. **Pet Treats May Be Salmonella-Tainted: FDA. **FDA Issues Warning Letters To Flavored Cigarette Sellers. **FDA Warns About Sexual Enhancement Product. **HIV/AIDS Leading Killer of Childbearing-Age Women. **Vets Face Barriers to Getting Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment. **FDA to Consider Easing Rules on the Listing of Side Effects for Online Drug Ads. **FDA Approves Glaxo Swine Flu Vaccine. **Ricin Antitoxin First to Go Into Production: U.K. Scientists. **Genes Linked to Melanoma Patients' Survival. Anemia Drugs May Cause Deadly Blood Clots: Study raises more concerns about common treatment for chemo patients New research on cancer patients adds to the controversy surrounding anemia drugs such as Procrit and Aranesp, concluding that they increase the risk of venous thromboembolism, potentially fatal blood clots. These drugs, called erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), are commonly prescribed to fight anemia associated with chemotherapy and chronic kidney disease. Recent studies have linked them with increased risk of death, stroke and new cancers. "If you are going to be treated with these drugs, do so with caution, do so with understanding, have a discussion with your physician about the need for these drugs and what the potential difficulties may be," said Dr. J. Leonard Lichtenfeld. Students with Dyslexia Have Difficulty Tuning Out School Noise: But sitting in front of teacher or using wireless technologies might help, experts say Researchers found that the brains of non-dyslexic children could ignore distractions and automatically focus on relevant, predictable and repeating auditory information. Dyslexic children didn't have this ability. These findings confirm previous research that found children with developmental dyslexia have difficulty separating relevant auditory information from competing noise. The new study also offers biological evidence that children who have difficulty hearing speech in noisy settings also have a measurable neural impairment that hampers their ability to utilize regularities in the sound environment. "The ability to sharpen or fine-tune repeating elements is crucial to hearing speech in noise because it allows for superior 'tagging' of voice pitch, an important cue in picking out a particular voice within background noise" said...... Binge Drinking Puts the Brain, and Life Itself, at Risk: Nearly half of students at four-year colleges do it regularly "People have a hard time identifying alcohol as a drug," said Jenny Hwang. In fact, she said, heavy drinking is glamorized as a rite of passage in college years. Alcohol-related deaths have increased in this group from 1,440 in 1998 to 1,825 less than a decade later, in 2005. Researchers om San Diego reported that young people who binge drink can seriously damage the white matter in their brain, which is crucial for relaying information between brain cells. Though damage to white matter has long been observed in the brains of adult alcoholics, the researchers expressed surprise at seeing it in young drinkers. Obesity Seems to Alter Heart Structure: Result may be left atrial enlargement which increases the risk of atrial fibrillation, stroke and death The study authors concluded that obesity and hypertension cause structural and functional changes in the heart and are independent predictors of left atrial enlargement (LAE). The findings confirm the strong association between obesity and LAE reported in previous research. Some of those studies found that excess weight may affect left atrial size at an early age, potentially predisposing young obese people to future heart problems. The authors of the new study said early assessment and intervention, especially among younger obese patients, is crucial to prevent the premature onset of cardiac remodeling -- changes in heart size, shape and function -- caused by LAE. Teen Obesity Ups Multiple Sclerosis [MS] Risk in Women: Researchers suspect lower vitamin D levels and/or fat tissue secretions may be to blame Harvard researchers found that being obese at age 18 more than doubles a woman's risk of developing MS later in life compared to her slimmer peers. Women who were obese at age 18 had a 2.25 times greater risk of developing MS, according to the study. Being overweight seemed to increase the risk slightly, but not to a level that was statistically significant. A large body silhouette at age 20 increased the risk of MS by 96 percent, the researchers found. A large body size at age 5 or 10 was not associated with an increased risk of MS, provided that the woman had slimmed down by age 20. Breast-Feeding Benefits Moms and Babies: Nursing exclusively for six months, then with foods until at least 12 months is ideal, dietitians say The health benefits of breast-milk for infants include: A stronger immune system, Decreased risk of asthma, lower respiratory tract infections and gastroenteritis, Improved protection against allergies and intolerances, Proper development of jaw and teeth, Association with higher IQ and better grades in school, and Reduced risk for sudden infant death syndrome, as well as chronic diseases. The benefits of breast-feeding for mothers include: Lowered risks for breast and ovarian cancer, as well as type 2 diabetes, Better bone density with less risk of hip fracture, Less postpartum bleeding, faster shrinking of the uterus and return to menstrual cycle, Improved self-esteem and less risk of postpartum depression, Quicker return to pre-pregnancy weight due to increased calorie expenditure, and Quality time spent bonding with baby. Oct. 30, 2009 to Nov. 6, 2009Health Highlights **Recalled Dietary Supplements May Contain Steroids. **BPA in Canned Foods Cause for Concern. **Breast Cancer May Change When It Spreads. **Tests Can Detect Early Dementia. **Cereal's 'Immunity' Claim Outrages Experts. **Diabetes Drug Label to Address Safety Concerns: FDA. **Recalled Ground Beef Possibly Tied to Two Deaths. **Chinese Drywall Contains Higher Chemical Content. **Academy of Family Physicians' Deal with Coca-Cola Co. Sparks Outrage. **Obesity Linked to Cancer. Anemia Drug, Aranesp, Appears to Double the Risk of Stroke in Patients with Diabetes and Kidney Disease Without Substantially Improving Their Quality of Life Darbepoetin alfa, marketed as Aranesp and known as an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA), is often prescribed for diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease and mild anemia. Dr. Ajay Singh, clinical chief of the renal division and director of dialysis at Brigham and Women's Hospital, said this "landmark study" raises the fundamental question of whether epoetin or darbepoetin should routinely be used in treating anemia of chronic kidney disease. "In my own practice, I will be cautious in using ESAs for most patients with chronic kidney disease, balancing risk with benefits and reserving treatment largely for patients who need frequent blood transfusions or who are candidates for a kidney transplant," he said. FDA Issues Warning for Diabetes Drug: Reports of kidney problems for those using Byetta prompted action FDA Issues Warning for Diabetes Drug: Reports of kidney problems for those using Byetta prompted action "Patients also should be aware that problems with kidney function could lead to changes in urine color, frequency of urination or the amount of urine, unexplained swelling of the hands or feet, fatigue, changes in appetite or digestion, or dull ache in the mid- to lower back," Dr. Amy Egan said. She advised patients with any of these symptoms to immediately consult with a health-care professional. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are the most common side effects associated with the drug. These side effects may contribute to the development of kidney malfunction, which can lead to a build-up of waste products in the blood, resulting in serious illness and potentially life-threatening conditions. CDC Study Links 2 Antibiotics to Birth Defects: No added risk was found, however, for most commonly used infection-fighters The study found that two types of antibiotics were linked with a higher risk for several birth defects: nitrofurantoins and sulfonamides, sometimes called "sulfa drugs," which are prescribed for urinary tract and other infections. Women whose children had anencephaly, a fatal malformation of the skull and brain, were three times more likely to have taken sulfonamides, the study found. Sulfonamides were also tied to an increased risk for such heart defects as hypoplastic left heart syndrome and coarctation of the aorta, choanal atresia (a blockage of the nasal passage), transverse limb deficiency and diaphragmatic hernia, an abnormal opening in the diaphragm that results in severe breathing difficulties. Nitrofurantoins were also associated with multiple birth defects, including anophthalmia and microphthalmos (eye defects) and several congenital heart defects..... Focused Radiation May Help Some With Lung Cancer: Study reports successes, especially for those with good lung function Three-year survival was 100 percent for people with early-stage lung cancer and good lung function who were treated with radical stereotactic radiosurgery using CyberKnife, according to a new study funded by the product's maker. Stereotactic radiosurgery, despite its name, is not surgery but rather a type of radiation therapy that focuses high-powered X-rays on abnormal tissue only, sparing nearby healthy tissue. "What we also learned from this study is that patients with poorer lung functioning don't do nearly as well," Dr. Brian T. Collins stated in the news release. The overall survival in this group of patients was only 30 percent, the researchers found. "This information is important for the doctor and patient when making treatment decisions. In treating someone with poor lung function, it would seem prudent to..... Diet Soda, Sodium Tied to Kidney Trouble: It's more proof that what you eat and drink affects health, researchers say A diet high in salt or artificially sweetened drinks increases the risk of kidney function decline, two studies show. "While more study is needed, our research suggests that higher sodium and artificially sweetened soda intake are associated with greater rate of decline in kidney function," said Dr. Julie Lin. The association between artificially sweetened beverages and kidney function decline persisted after Lin and colleague Dr. Gary Curhan accounted for other factors, such as age, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, physical activity, caloric intake and cardiovascular disease. Virulent Strain of MRSA Resists Treatment: Type that causes bloodstream infections can be quickly fatal, study finds New research holds bad news for health officials worried about a potentially lethal infection called MRSA that haunts hospitals: A strain that infects the bloodstream is five times more deadly than other strains. To make matters worse, the USA600 strain appears to be at least partially immune to an antibiotic that's used to treat the condition. A full half of patients infected with the strain died within a month. That's nearly five times the death rate of other people infected with MRSA, and 10 to 30 percent of those who acquire MRSA infections in the bloodstream die within a month, the study found. MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, causes infections in the skin and bloodstream. It can also infect surgical wounds and cause pneumonia. In most cases, it sickens people in the hospital, but cases are becoming more common outside the health-care community. Nicotine Patch Plus Lozenge Best for Quitting Smoking: This combo wins out in first head-to-head study of various smoking-cessation aids The first head-to-head comparison of different quit-smoking products finds that a nicotine patch combined with a nicotine lozenge had the most success. More than other methods, including antidepressants, this combination best mimics the actual highs and lows of smoking to help smokers kick their habit, experts said. "The reasoning behind it is that the patch supplies a steady supply of nicotine replacement and the lozenges give a boost of nicotine which you can use when you have an extra craving. It gives people control," said Dr. Whiteson, who was not involved in the research. "But also remember that in this study people got a lot of counseling. It was that combination that resulted in a 40 percent quit rate [at six months out]," added Megan E. Piper. Coupling the patch with the lozenge was the only intervention that performed better than a placebo. Switch to 'Light' Cigarettes Makes Quitting Tougher: Smokers may mistakenly believe they're 'healthier,' researchers say According to the authors, an estimated 84 percent of cigarettes sold in the United States are so-called low-tar and low-nicotine, with many of them called "lights." Some smokers may assume they're healthier than other cigarettes, but medical researchers say smokers still suck in about the same level of carcinogens. And research has shown that "lighter" cigarettes don't reduce smoking-related illness and death. Regardless of what brand they smoke, "the average smoker dies 13 to 14 years earlier than he or she would die if he or she did not smoke," Dr. Hilary Tindle said. Regardless of how cigarettes are marketed, Tindle said, "the best solution for the problem of how to live longer and healthier is to quit smoking now." Oct. 23, 2009 to Oct. 30, 2009Health Highlights **FDA Warns of Bogus Swine Flu Products. **EPA Seeks to Expand Lead Safety Rules. **Cancer Drug Prevents Premature Labor. **FDA Lax on Drug Follow-Up Studies. **Cell Phones Linked To Brain Tumors. **Unhealthy Breakfast Cereals Heavily Marketed to Children. **Antibody May Benefit Trauma Patients. **Enzyme May Be Key in Nerve Fiber Regeneration. **Cars Big Threat To Trick-or-Treaters. **High-Fiber Foods May Protect Against Inflammatory Diseases. **Immune-Suppressing Drugs May Boost Bladder Cancer Risk. **Curry Spice Chemical Kills Esophageal Cancer Cells. **Radiation Treatment Required For Fresh Gulf of Mexico Oysters. **Antibody May Benefit Trauma Patients. **FDA Panel Recommends First Non-Drug Asthma Treatment. Adding Chemo Helps Head, Neck Cancer Patients: Study found it doubled survival time Combining chemotherapy with radiation treatment for patients with advanced head and neck cancer increases their event-free survival to 2.2 years from just one year with radiotherapy alone, finds a new study. According to the study authors, "events" include cancer recurrence, new tumors or death. Overall, non-platinum-based chemotherapy given at the same time as radiotherapy reduced deaths and cancer recurrence in patients who hadn't undergone surgery, with acceptable toxicity. But patients who'd undergone surgery didn't benefit from this combined treatment. The researchers also found that chemotherapy given after radiotherapy was ineffective, didn't improve survival, and doubled the rate of toxicity. Migraine With Aura Can Double Stroke Risk: Young women who smoke and use birth control pills are most susceptible, researchers say Women who get migraine headaches with aura should stop smoking and using birth control pills because they may increase their risk of stroke, researchers say. For people who suffer migraine headaches with aura -- visual disturbances before or during the migraine -- the risk for ischemic stroke is doubled, they found. Being female, under 45, smoking and using oral contraceptives that contain estrogen added to the risk. "The risk of stroke for most people with migraine is low -- stroke is an uncommon event -- and so a doubling of that low baseline risk is not cause for alarm,"Dr. Elizabeth Loder said. "Although it's not a reason for panic, having aura is a reason to pay extra attention to other stroke risk factors that can be modified. These include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and use of estrogen-containing contraceptives." Toxins Make Halloween Face Paints Scary: Report finds all products tested contained lead and some had known skin allergens "All 10 face paint products tested contained lead, and six out of 10 had known skin allergens, including nickel, cobalt or chromium, at levels above recommendations of industry studies," said Stacy Malkan. Dr. Wally Ghurabi believes that even once-a-year use of the face paints may not be worth it. "Concerned parents should skip it," he said. If those who apply the paints aren't careful, he said, and get the paint too close to the eyes or nose, that could be potentially harmful. Another option is to "go natural," said Jessa Blades. First, look up "safe" or green cosmetics on the campaign's Web site. Then, consider black eye pencil for whiskers. Or mix a quarter teaspoon of the spice turmeric with unscented lotion to make "war paint." For fake blood, mix corn syrup, Castile liquid soap and a dash of red food coloring, Blades said. Antipsychotic Drugs Spur Rapid and Dramatic Weight Gain in Kids: Researchers urge other alternatives, close monitoring of patients Children and teens who take medicines for conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and autism tend to put on a substantial amount of weight, a new study finds. The worry is that excessive weight gain and other metabolic changes in childhood can place kids at risk for chronic health problems as adults. The study focused on four antipsychotics commonly prescribed to children: aripiprazole (Abilify), olanzapine (Zyprexa), quetiapine (Seroquel) and risperidone (Risperdal). After nearly 11 weeks, the treated kids gained an average of 18.7 pounds on Zyprexa, 13.4 pounds on Seroquel, 11.7 pounds on Risperdal and 9.7 pounds on Abilify, while the control group gained less than half a pound. Even Light Smoking Affects Young Adults' Arteries: Damage makes it harder to run and climb steps, researcher says Smoking just one cigarette stiffens the arteries of young adults by 25 percent, says a new study. The stiffer a person's arteries, the greater their risk for heart disease or stroke, noted researcher Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou. "Our results are significant because they suggest that smoking just a few cigarettes a day impacts the health of the arteries," Daskalopoulou said. "In effect, this means that even light smoking in otherwise young healthy people can damage the arteries, compromising the ability of their bodies to cope with physical stress, such as climbing a set of stairs or running to catch a bus," she said. "It seems that this compromise to respond to physical stress occurs first, before the damage of the arteries becomes evident at rest." Light Touch Helps Grip of MS Patients: Study shows ways to optimize hand movements People with MS use excessive force when lifting objects, which can lead to fatigue and make everyday tasks difficult, physical therapists from the University of Illinois at Chicago explained. Using the finger of the opposite hand to apply a gentle touch to the affected hand may help improve control and coordination, they stated. In each case, the grip force required to lift an object decreased," said Alexander Aruin. "When we use our second hand and touch the wrist of the target hand, available information to the central nervous system about the hand-object interaction may increase. Without the touch, the information needed to manipulate an object comes only through vision and sensory input from just the target arm and hand." Radiation From Medical Scans Soaring: Americans now get 6-fold more exposure than in 1980, researchers say In 2006, almost 380 million diagnostic and interventional radiological procedures were performed in the United States, on top of 18 million nuclear medicine examinations. "Back in about 1980, 15 percent of radiation that the U.S. population got was from medicine and the rest was predominantly from natural background radiation," noted Dr. Fred Mettler Jr. In the last 20 years, medical exposure has gone up between 600 and 700 percent from what it was, and it is now the biggest source of radiation to the U.S. population." "The issue," Mettler continued, "is that this is a controllable source. We regulate the effluent from nuclear power plants so the public doesn't get exposure but medical exposure is essentially unregulated. The largest source in the U.S. is essentially unregulated, and it's up to your family doctor or any other doctor to hand it out." New Clues to How Fish Oils Help Arthritis Patients: Findings may boost treatments for other inflammatory diseases, researchers say The body converts an ingredient in fish oils called DHA into a chemical called Resolvin D2, which reduces the inflammation that can lead to various diseases. "We have known for some time that fish oils can help with conditions like arthritis, which are linked to inflammation. What we've shown here is how the body processes a particular ingredient of fish oils into Resolvin D2. We've also looked in detail at this chemical, determining at least some of the ways it relieves inflammation. It seems to be a very powerful chemical and a small amount can have a large effect," said Mauro Perretti. Unlike current anti-inflammatory drugs, Resolvin D2 doesn't appear to suppress the immune system, the researchers noted. Tai Chi May Help Ward Off Knee Pain in Seniors: Two hours per week can improve osteoarthritis symptoms in older patients Half of the group took part in Yang-style Tai Chi sessions for an hour at a time, twice weekly over a period of three months. The Tai Chi session consisted of 10-minutes of self-message and review, a half hour of movement, 10 minutes of breathing exercises and 10 minutes of relaxing. The other participants took two 60-minute classes per week for three months and learned about issues such as diet and nutrition, and treatments for osteoarthritis. They also stretched for 20 minutes. Those who practiced Tai Chi had significantly less knee pain than the other group and also reported less depression, more physical function and better overall health. Oct. 16, 2009 to Oct. 23, 2009Health Highlights **Botulism Fears Trigger Baby Food Recall. **Turtle-Related Salmonella Outbreak in 2007-2008 Sickened 107 People. **Car Booster Seats Significantly Reduce Crash Injuries Among Children Ages 4 to 8. **FDA Cracks Down on Misleading Food Labels. **Check Commercial Drivers, Ship Pilots for Sleep Apnea: NTSB. **German Study Suggests the Placebo Effect Isn't in Your Head; It's in Your Spinal Cord. **Suspected Negative Health Effects Associated With Regular Marijuana Use Include Breathing and Cardiovascular Harm, Psychotic Episodes, Poor School Grades and Car Accidents. **Special Bracelets Don't Help Arthritis Patients. Babies Injured in Car Seats Used Outside of Cars: Study found more than 43,000 emergency-room visits during five-year period Accidents occur when unrestrained babies, especially those older than 2 months, rock and fidget inside an unattended seat, causing the device to tip over or fall, said Dr. Peter Richel. According to Parikh, the most common injuries during the five-year period were to the head, followed by fractures and dislocations. Three babies died. The study comes two months after another study advised parents to remove their children from infant car seats after a car trip because the seats can compress the chest and lower levels of oxygen. However, experts all agree that car seats are critical inside a vehicle to protect children from injury in a collision, just like seatbelt restraints protect adults. Suicidal Thoughts May Vary by Antidepressant: Men face higher risk when taking nortriptyline than escitalopram, study finds Men who take the antidepressant nortriptyline (Aventyl) are nearly 10 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than those who use the antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex), a new study has found. The study included 811 people with moderate to severe unipolar depression. Though it found an overall reduction in suicidal thoughts, men who took nortriptyline were found to have a 9.8-fold increase in emerging suicidal thoughts and a 2.4-fold increase in worsening suicidal thoughts, compared with those who took escitalopram. "The study also refutes the idea that newer antidepressants such as the SSRIs [selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors] are worse than older medications in terms of increasing suicidal thoughts," Dr. Nader Perroud added. Breast Cancer Gene Tied to Diagnosis at Younger Age: Researchers concerned that disease may be developing earlier Women with a high genetic risk of developing breast cancer are being diagnosed sooner than similar women in the past, which may suggest that tumors are developing earlier in the younger generation, researchers say. The median age of diagnosis in the newer generation was 42, but 47 in the older women. The study authors report that this is worrisome because it could mean that the cancer is developing earlier. "These findings are certainly concerning and could have implications on the screening and genetic counseling of these women," said study co-author Dr. Jennifer Litton. "In BRCA-positive women with breast cancer, we actually might be seeing true anticipation -- the phenotype or cancer coming out earlier per generation. This suggests more than the mutation could be involved, perhaps lifestyle and environmental factors are also coming into play." Timing of Oxygen After a Stroke May Matter: Treatment while blood flow is blocked protects tissue, animal study finds Contradicting previous research, scientists have shown in animal studies that providing supplemental oxygen during an ischemic stroke can reduce brain damage. But it's not a simple matter. Success in preventing brain damage, their new study says, depends on when 100 percent oxygen is given. "The use of supplemental oxygen after blood flow is restored in the brain appears to actually cause harm by unleashing free radicals," said Savita Khanna. "Ultimately, the supplemental oxygen after blood flow is restored is more than the tissue can handle and is more than it needs," said Cameron Rink. "Why add oxygen on top of tissue that's already oxygenated? Supplemental oxygen during the blockage, on the other hand, is highly protective." Heart Failure Treatment Underused: Two-thirds of patients in U.S. hospitals fail to get recommended therapy, study finds The use of aldosterone antagonist therapy in patients with heart failure is designated as "useful and recommended" in chronic heart failure guidelines established by the ACC/AHA but this study found that less than one-third of patients hospitalized for heart failure receive the treatment. "These data confirm that in the context of a hospital-based performance improvement program, aldosterone antagonist therapy can be used according to guidelines with little inappropriate use. Given the substantial morbidity and mortality risk faced by patients hospitalized with HF and the established efficacy of aldosterone antagonist prescription in HF, a stronger uptake of aldosterone antagonist therapy indicated by evidence-based guidelines may be warranted," the researchers concluded. Tylenol May Weaken Effectiveness of Kids' Vaccines: Giving analgesic to prevent fever at shot time could be counterproductive, researchers say Fever after a vaccination is a normal and essential part of building an immune response, and giving children acetaminophen -- best known in the U.S. as Tylenol -- after a shot could dampen that response, a new study finds. Therefore, "unless your doctor specifically recommends it, do not administer fever-reducing medicines at the same time as vaccination to prevent your child from developing a fever," said Dr. Robert T. Chen. "It is still okay to use antipyretics [acetaminophen or ibuprofen] to treat a fever, but just not recommended to prevent fever," he added. "High fevers can be serious, especially in infants. It is important to work with your doctor to provide the best care for your child." Prolonged Use of Pacifier Linked to Speech Problems: Kids with sucking habit for more than 3 years may be at increased risk, researchers say In a study of 128 children aged 3 to 5 in Patagonia, Chile, researchers found that children who used a pacifier or sucked their fingers for more than three years were three times as likely as other kids to develop speech impediments. The study also found that children will have a lower risk of developing speech disorders if they don't start using bottles until they're at least 9 months old. "These results suggest extended use of sucking outside of breast-feeding may have detrimental effects on speech development in young children," study author Clarita Barbosa said. Radiation Treatments Made Safer for Cancer Patients: In mice, scientists say they can protect healthy tissue The key is a biochemical signaling pathway that can influence how radiation exposure affects both healthy and cancerous cells. In experiments with mice, the researchers found that blocking a molecule called thrombospondin-1 from binding to its cell surface receptor (CD47) resulted in nearly total protection for normal tissue when exposed to standard and very high doses of radiation. "This dramatic protective effect occurred in skin, muscle and bone marrow cells, which is very encouraging. Cells that might have died of radiation exposure remained viable and functional when pre-treated with agents that interfere with the thrombospondin-1/CD47 pathway," Dr. Jeff S. Isenberg said. The researchers also found that blocking this pathway delayed the regrowth of tumor cells after radiation exposure. Want Sun Protection? Wear Deep Blue or Red: Fabric color affects absorption of UV radiation, researchers say Deep blue and red cotton fabrics are better than yellow at protecting skin against damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, according to Spanish scientists. The researchers dyed cotton fabrics in a wide range of red, blue and yellow shades and measured the ability of each to absorb UV light. Deep blue shades had the highest UV absorption, while yellow shades had the least, they found. The results could be used by clothing makers to design more effective anti-sun clothing, Ascension Riva and colleagues suggested. Oct. 9, 2009 to Oct. 16, 2009Health Highlights **Immune System Linked to Osteoporosis In Celiac Patients. **Falls Common Cause Of Seniors' ER Visits. **Web Site Evaluates Swine Flu Severity. **Breast Cancer Cells Mutate As Disease Progresses. **Ill College Students Can Keep Health Insurance. **FDA Considers New Insulin Inhaler. **Death Caused By Improper Relenza Use. **Adult Stem Cells Used to Create Jaw Joint. **Learning Juggling or Other Complex New Skills Benefits Brain. **Aspirin Overdoses May Have Caused Some 1918 Pandemic Deaths. Shared Bed May Raise SIDS Risk: Parental use of alcohol, drugs noted in about a third of deaths, study finds Researchers analyzed 80 cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in southwest England between January 2003 and December 2006. Of the deaths, 54 percent occurred while parent and child were sharing a bed or sofa, called co-sleeping. Parental use of alcohol or drugs before co-sleeping occurred in 31 percent of the cases, and 17 percent of the deaths occurred while co-sleeping on a sofa. One-fifth of the infants were found with a pillow and one-quarter were swaddled, the study authors noted, suggesting these situations as potential risk factors. The study included a number of different social groups, and the results suggest that the risk factors were similar throughout the entire community, which the study said indicates that the deaths were not related to social deprivation. Swine Flu Can Move Quickly to Severe Illness: Canadian, Mexican studies suggest U.S. hospitals need to be ready for surge of cases Canadian and Mexican intensive care units were swamped with patients who rapidly became critically ill with H1N1 flu this past spring and summer, new reports find. Many of these patients were relatively healthy adolescents and young adults who needed to be treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) within a day or two of being admitted to the hospital, note doctors from both countries. Many patients required mechanical ventilators. Indications are that, overall, most cases of H1N1 flu remain mild. But with more people getting sick overall, the number falling severely ill will swell. The average age of the 168 confirmed or probable H1N1 swine flu cases in the Canadian study was 32.3 years. In Mexico the mean age was older (44 years) but still relatively young. Shingles Raises Stroke Risk: Patients with the virus should be monitored for high blood pressure, expert says Adults with the skin disease shingles appear to be at raised risk for stroke, especially when it affects the area around the eyes, researchers report. Kang and his colleagues studied data on 7,760 adult Taiwanese who were treated for shingles between 1997 and 2001. In the year after treatment, 133 of them, or 1.7 percent, had strokes. The incidence in a control group of 23,280 adults who were not treated for shingles was 1.3 percent (306 people). Analysis of the data found that the risk of stroke in that one-year period was 31 percent higher in the shingles group. The incidence was dramatically higher for those with a shingles infection in or around the eye -- nearly 4.3 times higher than in the control group. With Hormone Therapy, Tender Breasts May Signal Cancer Risk: Symptom might warrant a reassessment of treatment, experts suggest Women taking estrogen plus progestin who reported developing breast tenderness after starting the hormone therapy were 48 percent more likely to develop invasive breast cancer than women on hormone therapy who did not experience breast tenderness. Researchers said more study is needed before they would recommend that women who experience this symptom discontinue taking the hormones. But women who develop breast tenderness might want to reassess if the hormones are really necessary to control their menopausal symptoms. Researchers aren't certain why some women on hormone therapy develop breast cancer while others don't, though the breast tenderness may provide a clue, Crandall said. Tenderness could be a sign that the cells of the breast are multiplying rapidly. Cell proliferation is a risk factor for cancer. Vitamin D Good for Breast Cancer Patients: Supplements help fight treatment-related bone loss, researchers say "Vitamin D is essential to maintaining bone health, and women with breast cancer have accelerated bone loss due to the nature of hormone therapy and chemotherapy. It's important for women and their doctors to work together to boost their vitamin D intake," said Luke Peppone. Peppone and colleagues studied 166 women undergoing treatment for breast cancer and found that nearly 70 percent had low levels of vitamin D in their blood. The researchers found that weekly supplementation with high doses of vitamin D (50,000 IU or more) boosted the levels of the vitamin among all the women. Along with strengthening bones, vitamin D plays an important role in cell growth and keeping the immune system strong. Impotence, Incontinence Risk Casts Doubt on High-Tech Prostate Surgery: Marketing is buoying use of the technique, researchers say, but surgeon's experience is key The presumed good stemming from the robotic technique are being oversold to a public that is all too willing to believe, said Dr. Jim C. Hu. "Given the expense of the procedure and the hype around it, expectations are being raised that are too high," said Hu. "Patients are demanding it," agreed Dr. Stephen J. Freedland. The numbers in the new study "are really worrisome," Freedland said. "They are finding an incontinence rate that is 30 percent higher and an erectile dysfunction rate that is 40 percent higher, and those are really important." And the robotic technique is not readily mastered by surgeons, he said. "The learning curve is 150 to 200 patients, so the first 150 you do, you're practicing on them," Freedland said. Drop in Certain Visual Skills May Precede Alzheimer's: Decline in spatial understanding can occur 3 years before diagnosis, study finds The ability to perceive relationships between objects (visuospatial skills) may decline years before a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests. The researchers used data from the cognitive assessments to chart declines in various areas before participants were diagnosed with dementia. They found an inflection point (sudden change to a steeper slope of decline) in visuospatial abilities three years before clinical diagnosis of dementia. Declines in overall cognition occurred the next year, while inflection points for verbal and working memory weren't seen until one year before diagnosis. "These findings suggest that research into early detection of cognitive disorders using only episodic memory tasks, such as word lists or paragraph recall, may not be sensitive to all of the earliest manifestations...." wrote David K. Johnson. Oct. 2, 2009 to Oct. 9, 2009Health Highlights **Web Site Evaluates Swine Flu Severity. **Convertibles Pose Serious Hearing Threat. **Exercise Helps Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients. **Menu Calorie Info Doesn't Change Eating Habits. **Eating Licorice During Pregnancy May Harm Children. **FDA Panel Backs PegIntron as Skin Cancer Treatment. **EU Regulators Approve Diabetes Drug Onglyza. **U.S. Poisoning Deaths Nearly Double Since 1999: Drugs Played a Major Role. **No Scientific Evidence for Probiotic Health Claims: EU Panel. **Kidney Cancer Drug May Cause Liver Damage: FDA. Fresh Blood Boosts Survival in Trauma Patients: Death risk rises when transfused blood is more than 28 days old, study finds People who've suffered severe trauma and are given a major transfusion of red blood cells that have been stored for a month or longer are twice as likely to die as those who receive fresher red blood cells, U.S. researchers have found. Reseachers found that even one unit of red blood cells stored more than 28 days doubled the incidence of deep vein thrombosis and increased death secondary to multiple organ failure. The increased risk of death persisted for up to six months after the transfusion. "With the widespread use of red blood cell transfusion for critically injured patients, this study has the potential to cut deaths in hospitals around the world," they wrote. Cow's Milk Protein Could Help Save Preemies' Lives: Bovine Lactoferrin could cut serious blood infections by about two-thirds in babies born weighing less than 3.3 pounds However, when isolated from milk and then concentrated -- as it was in this study -- bovine lactoferrin is not yet approved for use in the United States. "Preventive strategies in these infants are really critical. Many preterm babies don't survive because of infection. I hope this treatment gets fast-tracked for approval, because this is a big effect from what seems like a safe and minimal intervention," said David Kaufman. He explained that in these small infants, the lining of the gastrointestinal tract is often underdeveloped, which can allow bacteria to migrate from the digestive system into the bloodstream, causing infection. Lactoferrin helps kill bacteria and fungi, first in the stomach and then in the gastrointestinal tract. Liver Cancer Patients May Get Hope: Finding could help identify patients who will benefit from interferon therapy, researchers say A short strand of RNA (microRNA) may help doctors identify liver cancer patients who would benefit from treatment with interferon, say U.S. and Chinese researchers. "Our findings are exciting because we are rediscovering a drug that may have great potential for patients with a particular genomic profile," added senior author Xin Wei Wang. A separate analysis of liver tumor samples from 135 patients who had had surgery revealed that those with low levels of miR-26 benefitted from receiving adjuvant interferon therapy. Patients who received interferon lived at least 7.7 years longer than those who didn't receive the drug. Interferon didn't benefit patients with normal levels of miR-26. The findings suggest that checking miR-26 levels in liver tumors may help determine patient prognosis and identify patients who might benefit from interferon treatment..... Tiny Batteries Can Cause Big Problems for Young Children: Ingestion of 'button' batteries may have serious consequences, researchers say Some kids swallow the batteries, while others stick them up their nose. An estimated 3,000 people of all ages accidentally ingest the batteries each year in the United States. About two-thirds of the cases involve children under age 5, with 1- and 2-year-olds at highest risk, the researchers noted. In the most severe cases, serious consequences can develop, such as vocal paralysis, the need for throat and gastrointestinal tubes, and perforation of nasal passages, according to the study authors. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, ingested batteries can cause a variety of symptoms, including abdominal pain, chest pain and vomiting. Drug Combo May Prevent Heart Attacks, Strokes: 'Inexpensive, well-proven medications' could have huge impact, expert says Giving daily doses of a statin and a blood pressure-lowering ACE inhibitor to people at high risk for a heart attack or stroke reduced their incidence by more than 60 percent in two years, researchers report. People in the study all had diabetes or a history of cardiovascular disease, but the drug regimen probably could provide similar benefits to anyone vulnerable to cardiovascular trouble because of obesity, high blood pressure or simply old age, said Dr. R. James Dudl. "This was accomplished by using three inexpensive, well-proven medications that don't have significant side effects," Dudl said. Daily Dose of Vitamin D Helps Prevent Falls in Seniors: Supplements of 700 to 1,000 IU linked to reduced risk, study finds The analysis revealed that taking between 700 and 1,000 international units (IU) of supplemental vitamin D per day (vitamin D2 or D3) reduces falls by 19 percent and by up to 26 percent with vitamin D3. The beneficial effect was significant within two to five months of starting treatment, extended beyond 12 months, and was independent of age, type of dwelling, or additional calcium supplementation, the researchers noted. Supplemental vitamin D doses of less than 700 IU per day didn't reduce falls, wrote Dr. Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari. Active forms of vitamin D didn't appear to be more effective than the 700 to 1,000 IU supplemental vitamin D, said the study authors. They added that active forms of vitamin D cost more than standard supplemental vitamin D and are associated with increased risk for hypercalcemia -- elevated calcium levels in the blood. As TV Drug Ads Increase, So Do Concerns: There is concern in the medical community that the drug ads could be damaging to both patients and the health-care system,br>You can't channel surf at all these days without stumbling across drug advertisements featuring happy people, sunny days, vague descriptions and a quickly mumbled list of side effects. The amount of money spent by pharmaceutical companies on direct-to-consumer advertising more than tripled between 1997 and 2005, growing from $1.3 billion to $4.2 billion since restrictions governing drug ads were relaxed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Only the United States and New Zealand allow pharmaceutical companies to advertise their medications directly to consumers, according to the FDA. Concerns about drug ads focus on several issues: Do they prompt patients to ask for the wrong treatment?; Do the ads lead to overprescribing?; and Do the ads increase medical costs and patient risks? Sept. 25, 2009 to Oct. 2, 2009Health Highlights **Drug Deaths Outnumber Traffic Fatalities In 16 States: CDC. **Tylenol Maker Recalls Some Products for Kids. **FDA Advisers Back New OxyContin Pill. **Possible Link Between Diabetes Treatment Januvia and Pancreatitis. **Whooping Cough Vaccination Recommended for Adults and Teens. **Toxins in Drinking Water at Thousands of U.S. Schools. **Hundreds More Nursing Homes Candidates for Inspection. **Switch to Digital Patient Records Driven by Big Hospitals. **Neocate Infant Formula Recalled: FDA. **EPA Warns About PCBs in School Window/Door Caulking. **Swine Flu-Related School Closings Could Cost $47 Billion. FDA Issues Health Alert on Kids' Tamiflu Dosages: Warning follows report that dosing instructions for liquid medication don't match syringe measurements The alert, issued late Thursday, followed a warning by scientists that parents could give the wrong dose of Tamiflu to their children as treatment for the H1N1 swine flu because the dosing instructions don't always coincide with the measurement markings on the syringe that comes with the liquid medication. It advised health-care providers to "write doses in mg [milligrams] if the dosing dispenser with the drug is in mg. Pharmacists should ensure that the units of measure on the prescription instructions match the dosing device provided with the drug." "Tamiflu is one of the main courses of treatment right now for H1N1, and it is being widely used among children, even infants." Michael Wolf warned that an overdose could be toxic, and an underdose could be ineffective. New Treatment May Beat Melanoma: In trials, advanced cancers shrunk rapidly, researchers say "We are very excited about these results. Of the 22 patients we have been able to evaluate so far, 20 have had some objective tumor shrinkage. This is impressive as they all had metastatic disease, and most of them had failed several prior therapies," said Dr. Paul Chapman. "A lot of these patients were pretty sick, but many of them had a significant and rapid improvement in the way they function. We've had patients come off oxygen, and we've got several patients who have been able to come off narcotic pain medication soon after starting treatment," Chapman said. "PLX4032 is different because it attacks the genetic program that is causing the cells to divide uncontrollably, and we think the BRAF mutation is driving that program. The drug is blocking the genetics of the tumor, rather than trying to interfere with the proliferation of the cells and....." Smoking in Pregnancy Linked to Psychotic Symptoms in Kids: Study also connects maternal alcohol use to psychiatric disturbances If women need yet another reason to avoid smoking during pregnancy, researchers now say that tobacco use by expectant mothers may raise the risk that their children will develop psychotic symptoms. The researchers found that the children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy were more likely to have the symptoms, and the risk rose in those whose mothers smoked the most while pregnant. The study authors suspect that tobacco exposure in the womb may indirectly affect the development and function of a child's brain, impacting impulsivity, attention or cognition. Men Not Being Told Enough About PSA Tests: Pros, cons of cancer screen not understood, research shows Although PSA tests can detect prostate cancer, they can't predict which cancers are aggressive and which are so slow-growing that they don't need to be treated. This leads to over-treatment, which can have immediate consequences, such as impotence and incontinence, and only a tiny increase in survival, researchers say. Pignone noted that the consequences of prostate cancer treatment, such as impotence and incontinence, occur with treatment. "You suffer the down sides right away," he said. "You only get the benefits, in most cases, far into the future." Pignone noted that even men with prostate cancer are more likely to die from heart disease or dementia than their cancer. Your chance of dying from prostate cancer is one in a 1,000, while the odds of dying from another cause is 113 in 1,000, he said. Type 2 Diabetes Drug May Increase Fracture Risk: Study adds to evidence of possible link between thiazolidinediones and bone fractures, researchers say In the study, Dr. Ian Douglas of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and colleagues searched a database of more than 6 million patients in the United Kingdom and found 1,819 people aged 40 and older who had had a bone fracture and had been prescribed a type of thiazolidinedione. The drugs were introduced in the 1990s and are used to treat type 2 diabetes. After adjusting their figures to account for the fact that older people are more likely to break bones, the researchers found that those taking thiazolidinediones had almost 1.5 times as many fractures while taking the drugs as they did when they weren't taking the drugs. The risk grew the longer the people took the medications. New Hope for Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: By inhibiting key enzyme, researchers shrank tumors, prolonged survival in mice Inhibiting the action of an enzyme called TAK-1 reverses pancreatic cancer resistance to chemotherapy, a finding that could lead to the development of a new way to treat the disease, researchers say. Pancreatic cancer is resistant to every currently available anti-cancer treatment. "The use of this TAK-1 inhibitor increased the sensitivity of pancreatic cells to all three chemotherapeutic drugs," Dr. Davide Melisi said. "By combining it with classic anti-cancer drugs, we were able to use doses of drugs up to 70 times lower in comparison with the control to kill the same number of cancer cells. In mice, we were able to reduce significantly the tumor volume, to prolong the mice survival, and to reduce the toxicity by combining the TAK-1 inhibitor with very low doses of a classic chemotherapeutic drug, gemcitabine, that would have been ineffective otherwise." New Treatments Hold Hope for Failing Eyes: As the U.S. ages, macular degeneration rates are expected to swell Macular degeneration comes in two forms, wet and dry. Current treatments for the wet form of the disease -- in which abnormal new blood vessels in the eye cause leakage and bleeding -- have proven quite successful. The wet form is more rare but can cause rapid vision loss if not caught early. Researchers have discovered a combination therapy of vitamins and antioxidants that reduces the risk of progressive vision loss by more than 20 percent, said Dr. David W. Parke II. Other progress against the wet form of the disease has come through the use of drugs that target vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF, a substance in the body that promotes the growth of new blood vessels. No effective treatments have been found for the dry form of macular degeneration, which causes less catastrophic vision loss but accounts for 85 percent of all macular degeneration cases. Sept. 18, 2009 to Sept. 25, 2009Health Highlights **Obesity Could Become Leading Cause of Cancer in Women. **FDA Requests Review Of Medical Device Approval System. **Green Tea May Protect Bones. **Personal Emergency Response Button Poses Choking Hazard: FDA. **New OxyContin Offers 'Limited' Resistance to Abuse. **Exercise Boosts Postmenopausal Women's Cardiovascular Fitness. **Eye Test Detects Stroke Better Than MRI. **U.S. Issues Alert About Cocaine Laced With Veterinary Drug. **Model Predicts Postnatal Depression Risk. **Sunshine, Vacation Linked to Lower Summer Death Rate. **Aspirin May Reduce Colon Cancer Risk. **Patients in Vegetative State Able to Learn. **Delinquents Misinterpret Facial Expressions. **FDA Approves New AIDS Test. **FDA Warns About Stolen Respiratory Medicines. **Brain Infection Warning Added To Safety Info About MS Drug. Leukemia Drug in High Dose Helps Survival in Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia [AML]: Two trials find daunorubicin benefits certain subsets of patients A pair of studies independently reported higher rates of complete remission and overall survival in those who received high doses of the chemo drug daunorubicin, compared to those who receive the standard dose. Though those benefits were mostly limited to specific subsets of patients -- those younger than 50 or between 60 and 65, who had so-called "favorable" or "intermediate" genetic profiles -- they also came without any apparent increase in serious side effects. "The bottom line is survival," Dr. HUgo Fernandez said. "We achieved it without great cost to the patients, and without any new fancy drugs, either. This wasn't reinventing the wheel; it was using the drugs optimally. We finally got the right dose." Fernandez noted there are "nay-sayers"...."But my retort is, with the high dose, they are more likely to be alive." Leukemia Cells May Hide in Fat Tissue: Finding explains why obese children are more likely to develop chemotherapy resistance and have higher relapse rates, researchers say A previous study found that obese children with leukemia are 50 percent more likely to relapse than lean children. Dr. Steven D. Mittelman and his colleagues also found that four chemotherapy drugs used in children -- vincristine, nilotinib, daunorubicin and dexamethasone -- all worked less effectively in culture when fat cells were nearby. The study findings offer "striking experimental support for the clinical observations that obesity is associated with poor prognosis in multiple cancers," said Dr. David Hockenbery. New Chemo Regimen May Benefit Ovarian Cancer Patients: Dose-dense treatment improved survival, but too toxic for some Currently, paclitaxel and carboplatin given every three weeks is considered standard first-line chemotherapy for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. However, dose-dense weekly treatment with paclitaxel is seen as a way to increase progression-free and overall survival in these patients, according to the new study findings. Women in the dose-dense group had a 29 percent lower risk of cancer progression and a 25 percent lower risk of death, the authors explained. Toxicity forced 113 patients in the dose-dense group and 69 patients in the conventional therapy group to stop treatment, the researchers noted. Severe anemia occurred in 214 patients (69 percent) in the dose-dense group and in 137 (44 percent) of the standard therapy group. The survival benefits seen in the dose-dense group are rare in patients with advanced ovarian cancer....concluded Dr. Noriyuki Katsumata. New Drug May Offer Hope to Some With Lung Cancer: Pemetrexed improves survival with advanced non-small-cell tumors, study finds Maintenance therapy with the drug pemetrexed improves the survival of people with non-small-cell lung cancer whose disease has not progressed after chemotherapy, a new study has found. Those in the pemetrexed group had a 50 percent reduction in the risk for disease progression or death and a 21 percent reduction in the risk of death only, the researchers said. "Pemetrexed maintenance therapy is well tolerated and offers significantly improved progression-free and overall survival compared with placebo, making it a new treatment option for patients with advanced non-squamous, non-small-cell lung cancer who do not progress after initial induction therapy," Dr. Chandra Belani and her colleagues concluded. Hormone Therapy May Make Lung Cancer More Likely: Expert says finding supports doubts about value of treatment After eight years, 73 women taking the hormone therapy and 40 women in the placebo group had died of lung cancer. That meant, according to the researchers, that women who took the drug were 71 percent more likely to die from the disease. The researchers urged that the findings "be incorporated into risk-benefit discussions with women considering combined hormone therapy, especially those with a high risk of lung cancer ... such as current smokers or long-term past smokers." Dr. Apar Kishor Ganti questioned whether hormone therapy should be used at all. "These results, along with the findings showing no protection against coronary heart disease, seriously question whether hormone-replacement therapy has any role in medicine today," he wrote..... Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer Raises Heart Risks: Treatment methods should take into account side effects, researchers say "We found that prostate cancer patients treated with hormone therapy had an elevated risk of developing all of the individual types of heart problems and that they were more likely than normal to die from those causes," said Mieke Van Hemelrijck. "In a more detailed analysis by type of hormone therapy, the lowest increase in risk for ischemic heart disease, heart attack and heart failure was seen in the group taking anti-androgen therapy, and we saw no increase in risk of death from heart disease in this group. Patients on gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy had the highest risk of these problems," Van Hemelrijck said. The findings suggest that physicians should consider heart-related side effects when prescribing hormone therapy for prostate cancer patients and may want to refer patients to a cardiologist before the start of hormone therapy.... Could Swine Flu Panic Be Worse Than Outbreak Itself?: With infections typically causing only mild illness, experts point to exaggerated fears as the real threat "We have limited resources in the U.S. -- if this [swine flu] captures our negative imagination, it's going to hurt our health-care system," said Dr. Marc Siegel. "Our emergency rooms will be flooded with worried people, doctors' phones will be hanging off the hook, everyone will be afraid of every sniffle and wanting to get tested for the flu." Some examples of moves that many believe are stoking Americans' flu fears this season: Numbers out of context: nearly 600 Americans have died from H1N1 swine flu. That sounds like a scary number, until you realize that the "regular" seasonal flu kills about 36,000 Americans each year; Dramatic moves by public health officials: The widespread U.S. school closings ordered when H1N1 flu first surfaced in the spring can incite societal fear. With Alcohol, Starting Young May Lead to Dependency: Study suggests teens who drink could trigger genetic predisposition Teens who start drinking before age 15 could jump-start any genetic conditions they might have that predispose them to developing alcohol dependency, according to an Australian study. From a biological perspective, taking that first drink at a young age "may induce changes in the highly sensitive adolescent brain, which may also modify an individual's subsequent genetic vulnerability to [alcohol dependence]," said Arpana Agrawa. The younger people were when they had their first drink, especially if that occurred before age 15, the more symptoms of alcohol dependency they developed, the study found. Early drinkers also tended to have an increased genetic vulnerability for alcohol. Agrawal said the findings should be used to discourage young people from experimenting with drinking early because such behavior might trigger an onset of alcohol abuse. Lower Drinking Age Linked to Later-Life Problems: Study finds more alcohol, drug abuse among those who could drink before 21 People who grew up in a place and time when they could legally buy alcohol before age 21 are more likely than others to be alcoholics or have a drug problem, even well into adulthood, new research shows. In the study, people who had been allowed to buy liquor legally before age 21 were 33 percent more likely to have suffered from alcoholism in the year before they were surveyed. Drinking at a younger age also was found to increase the risk of abusing other drugs. Those allowed to drink legally before age 21 were 70 percent more likely to have had a problem with drugs than were those who had to wait until 21 to drink legally, the study found. The study "substantiates something that has not been substantiated this way before -- that the [legal] drinking age really has long-term impact," said Dr. Marc Galanter. "Even in [people's] 40s and 50s, this impact was felt." Sept. 11, 2009 to Sept. 18, 2009Health Highlights **Antihistamine and Anti-Nausea Drug Promethazine Must Carry Warning About Possible Tissue Damage: FDA. **35 Percent Of Iraq War Vets Will Seek Treatment for PTSD. **Pneumonia Replaces Coronary Artery Disease As Top Cause of Hospitalization in U.S. In 2007. **Broken Heart Increases Heart Attack Risk. **Swine Flu Shots May Come Earlier; New Flu Drug Shows Promise. **Drug-Resistant Bacteria Found at 5 Washington Beaches. **Battery Warning Issued on Implanted Defibrillators. **Ghostwriting Rampant in Medical Journals. More Chest Compressions During CPR Improves Survival Odds: Amount of time spent doing them directly related to success, study shows The study found that survival was directly related to the percentage of CPR time spent doing chest compressions. Heart function returned to normal in 58 percent of cases when that time was less than 20 percent. Normal function was restored in 79 percent of cases when the time spent in chest compressions was 81 percent or more, the researchers found. While no exact rate has been set, "we do believe that compressions at about 100 per minute and two inches of depth should be maintained while CPR is being delivered," Benjamin S. Abella said. How long should it be delivered? "Until a pulse is restored or it is deemed futile," Abella said. Traffic Deaths Near Peak in September: School children, school buses, wet leaves and deer pose driving challenges this time of year, safety group says Last year, September had the second-highest number of deaths per mile driven of any month in the U.S. -- 1.42 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles. To avoid accidents, NSC urges drivers to buckle up and avoid texting and using cell phones while driving. Also, it asks parents to review the traffic safety tips in this article with your children. Drivers should remember that fall is deer breeding season, so be on the lookout and keep in mind that deer travel in groups. When you see one deer, be alert for more. Remember that deer are in suburban and urban locales as well as rural settings. If you hit a deer, call 911. Scientists Spot Key to Breast Cancer Spread: Have discovered a key molecular mechanism for the deadly transition of non-invasive breast cancer into invasive disease Scientists found that the overproduction of the protein 14-3-3 zeta, when combined with the known breast cancer protein ErbB2, or HER2, can change premalignant epithelial cells into mobile mesenchymal-like cells. The resulting process, known as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, triggers cancer spread from one site in the body to another. The researchers identified a biomarker in 14-3-3 zeta that may help doctors identify these high-risk patients so that more aggressive treatment can be given before the breast cancer has a chance to convert to an invasive kind. The findings may have far-reaching implications. Yu and her team had previously found that lung, liver, uterine, stomach and several other cancers also overproduce the 14-3-3 zeta protein. Medications That Lower Breast Cancer Risk Carry Other Dangers: Analysis notes tamoxifen, raloxifene can up chances of other cancers, clots While the medications provided similar reductions in breast cancer risk, each carries its own level of side effects. "They did differ on the harm side," Dr. Heidi D. Nelson said. "That's important to know." Dr. Scott Maul urged women to talk it over with their doctors first. Nelson encourages women to get genetic testing and to use that genetic information...."The discussion on whether to use these drugs is a very detailed one with women," Maul said. While the decision is extremely individual, he did offer this advice: "Women should only take these [to reduce first-time breast cancer risk] if they are truly at higher risk for breast cancer." Even then, they may decide not to take them, he said, for good reasons. "If someone has risk factors for heart attack or stroke, these medications may not be a good idea." Timing, Type of HRT May Determine Breast Cancer Risk: Starting estrogen-progestagen therapy early may up odds of disease, study shows Overall, starting estrogen-progestagen therapy soon after menopause appears to boost the risk of breast cancer, even when only used for short periods of time. Women who began the therapy in the three years after menopause and took it for two years or less had a 54 percent higher risk of breast cancer compared to those who never used the therapy, said study co-author Francoise Clavel-Chapelon. They also found that short-term treatment of two years or less that was started more than three years after the beginning of menopause didn't increase breast cancer risk. However, longer duration of use elevated risk, no matter when the therapy was begun. "I see this paper as a warning," Leslie Bernstein said. "You want to take a conservative approach." Discovery May Pave Way to Better Diabetes Care Newly discovered gene affects insulin resistance, study finds This gene, instead, "has to do with the function of the other tissues in the body," Dr. Robert Sladek said. "Rather than reduce production of insulin, this gene reduces the effect of insulin in muscles, liver and fat, a process called insulin resistance." Diabetes occurs when the body fails to produce or process insulin properly. The gene "basically tells the rest of the cell, 'Hey, insulin is here, start taking in glucose from the blood!'" Dr. Robert Sladek said. If that fails to happen, the body's processing of insulin is disrupted. "It's possible that in diabetic patients, the signal to turn this gene on and off might be impaired," Sladek said. "But we might be able to use one of the other pathways to turn it on." Curbing Obesity Epidemic Key to Health Care Reform: Overweight is major contributing factor for chronic disease, U.S. health groups say "We are in essence addicting our children to sedentary lifestyles; we're addicting them to high-salt, high-sweet, high-fat diets,"Dr. David Satcher said, "and then we pay for it later on when they come to us with cancer, heart disease, [and] diabetes." America's weight problem is pervasive. Two-thirds of the population is now overweight and obese, according to the CDC, and as many as 72 million adults are considered obese. In fact, obesity rates have doubled for adults and tripled for children since 1980. Obesity accounts for 9.1 percent of annual health-care spending in the United States, or nearly $150 billion annually. Sept. 4, 2009 to Sept. 11, 2009Health Highlights **One-Dose Swine Flu Vaccine Looks Promising. **ADHD Drug Approved for Children and Teens. **Glaxo Cervical Cancer Vaccine Up for Approval. **Baby Boomers' Hospital Care Costs Mounting. **Poor Trial Results a Setback for First Stem Cell Drug. Even Mild Infections Hasten Decline With Alzheimer's: They speed memory loss as much as 10-fold, researchers find For people with Alzheimer's disease, even a minor infection can double the rate of memory loss, British researchers report. In this new study, researchers found that Alzheimer's patients who had respiratory, gastrointestinal or other infections -- even minor bumps and bruises -- can have high levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), in their blood. TNF-a is a protein linked to inflammation, and has been associated with memory loss or other types of cognitive decline. "Illnesses that we normally consider to be of little consequence in the healthy aged person need to be taken more seriously in patients with Alzheimer's disease," said lead researcher Clive Holmes. "The effect of these illnesses on memory function is most marked in subjects who also have existing chronic inflammatory conditions," Holmes said. "Here, the rate of memory decline is 10-fold." Severe, Lasting Depression Tied to Heart Patient Deaths: For those who have been hospitalized, risk may double over 7 years, research shows The patients most at risk are those who suffer from the most severe depression within a few weeks of being hospitalized for a cardiac event, such as a heart attack, and those whose depression doesn't get better within six months. The study authors noted that about one out of every five people who survive a heart attack hit a patch of major depression over the next few weeks. Regardless of whether the patients took antidepressants, those whose depression didn't improve within six months were more likely to die. In patients with active coronary heart disease, it seems likely that the association with depression is a two-way street, and each can aggravate the other," the study authors concluded. Scientists Find Clue to Dangerous Side Effect of MS Drug: Tysabri appears to awaken dormant, common virus that crosses over into brain Scientists may have discovered part of the reason why Tysabri, a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis, may lead to the development of a rare but potentially deadly brain disease, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), in some patients. "We don't advocate a change in management [of the disease] at this point because the clinical relevance of these findings is still unknown," said Dr. Igor J. Koralnik. The JC virus is present yet dormant in about 90 percent of people. It can reactivate in people with AIDS or otherwise compromised immune systems. Until there is a good way to predict who is at risk for PML, experts urged doctors to be alert for early signs of this brain infection. "Patients and physicians still need to have tight vigilance for any new symptoms that can occur while a patient is on Tysabri," Patricia O'Looney said. Giving Swine Flu Drug by IV Could Save Lives: British case supports using Relenza in this as-yet-unapproved form, experts say Their success in bringing this very sick patient back from the brink augurs for the wider acceptance of intravenous Relenza for patients seriously affected by the swine flu this fall and winter, Dr. Michael Kidd said. "We consider it very important to further investigate this approach as soon as possible, since apart from the obvious individual patient benefit, it could help relieve the pressure on beds that is likely to occur in critical care facilities during the colder seasons," he said. According to Kidd, the woman he treated exhibited no side effects from the strategy. "IV Relenza is well-tolerated in adults at quite high doses, previously shown in clinical trials, and it can be used in children from 6 months of age," he said. There are certain "contraindications" for its use --...... Metabolic Syndrome May Raise Risk of Peripheral Artery Disease: Women much more likely to develop PAD if they had constellation of other symptoms, researchers found Women with metabolic syndrome had a 62 percent increased risk of developing peripheral artery disease (PAD) compared to those without metabolic syndrome. Each metabolic syndrome symptom raised the risk of PAD by 20 percent, the study found. About 8 million Americans have peripheral artery disease, which typically affects the arteries in the pelvis and legs. Symptoms include cramping and pain or tiredness in the hip muscles and legs when walking or climbing stairs, although not everyone who has PAD is symptomatic. The pain usually subsides during rest. Metabolic syndrome is a collection of symptoms including abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, low HDL ("good") cholesterol, high triglyceride levels and insulin resistance. Nicotine Plays Tricks on Brain: Environmental cues then trigger urge to smoke, researchers say Researchers have found that nicotine, the addictive component in cigarettes, "tricks" the brain into creating memory associations between environmental cues and smoking behavior. This could help explain why former smokers miss lighting up when they are in a bar or after a meal. "The brain sends a reward signal when we act in a way that contributes to our well being," said Dr. John A. Dani. "However, nicotine commandeers this subconscious learning process in the brain so we begin to behave as though smoking is a positive action." Dani said that environmental events linked with smoking can become cues that prompt the smoking urge. Those cues could include alcohol, a meal with friends or even the drive home from work. Chinese 'Devil Dung' Plant Could Be a Swine Flu Fighter: Extract used in 1918 pandemic may have antiviral properties, scientists say A plant with a particularly malodorous sap has components that show great efficacy in killing off the H1N1 swine flu virus, Chinese scientists report. In their laboratory experiments, researchers Fang-Rong Chang, Yang-Chang Wu and colleagues identified a group of chemicals in the plant's extracts that appear to have a stronger potency against H1N1 flu than a prescription antiviral medication already in use against the flu. They write that these compounds "may serve as promising lead components for new drug development against influenza A (H1N1) viral infection." The plant, Ferula assa-foetida, grows throughout Iran, Afghanistan and mainland China, and is commonly dubbed "Dung of the Devil" due to its ill-smelling sap. August 28, 2009 to Sept. 4, 2009Health Highlights **Pregnant Women, New Parents Urged to Get Swine Flu Vaccine. **U.S. Issues New Guidelines for Treating Children With HIV. **UN Wary of Swine Flu in Birds. **Docs to Watch for Guillain-Barré Syndrome After H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine. **Workouts Trump Angioplasty for Heart Woes, Experts Say. **2-in-1 Heart Device Cuts Heart Failure. **Communities Can Do More to Stop Childhood Obesity. New Technique Offers Hope for Kids With Immune Deficiency: Stem-cell transplant without chemo can help avoid treatment toxicity, research shows For children born with immunodeficiencies, researchers may have found a better way for them to get the help they need from stem-cell transplants. A regimen using antibodies instead of high-dose chemotherapy may help even in the sickest children, according to Dr. Persis J. Amrolia. With this approach, the 16 children with primary immunodeficiencies in this study, who were too sick for a traditional stem-cell transplant, were able to avoid much of the toxicity caused by chemotherapy. The approach was well-tolerated despite the fact that most patients were extremely sick at the time of transplant. Patients recovered twice as fast as those given standard treatment, and almost all are doing well and are expected to have few problems associated with the treatment later in life, the study authors added. New Therapy Spares Organ in Early Esophageal Cancer: Less invasive procedure shaves off lesions, researchers say Esophageal cancer arising from Barrett's esophagus is increasing in frequency faster than any other cancer in the United States, and 90 percent of patients die within five years of being diagnosed. Dr. Ganapathy Prasad said: "Our team compared surgery to the use of endoscopic therapy, where a scope is inserted in the esophagus and the cancer cells are shaved off. Our results showed the less invasive therapy was just as effective as surgery for early-stage cancers." Esophagectomy surgery patients typically are in hospitalized for a week, and up to 50 percent of patients have complications after the surgery. In addition, patients whose esophagus has been removed face lifelong dietary restrictions. On the other hand, endoscopic treatments are performed in an outpatient setting, and patients are allowed to eat full meals within days of the procedure, the researchers explained. Hormone Therapy for Early Prostate Cancer Not Always Best: Study finds treatment raises death risk in those who also have heart disease Hormone therapy, when used with radiation therapy, can increase survival in more aggressive cases of prostate cancer. But this benefit tended to shrink in men who also suffered from other conditions. Hormone therapy was not linked with a higher risk of death from any cause in men who had no underlying cardiac conditions or only one risk factor for coronary artery disease. But men who had congestive heart failure or who had suffered heart attacks as a result of coronary artery disease had almost double the risk of death, the researchers found. "Our results would suggest that if they do have preexisting heart disease that either hormone therapy not be used or that their underlying heart disease be initially addressed by their primary care physician and/or a cardiologist," Dr. Akash Nanda added. "The risks need to be balanced with the benefits....." Treating COPD Early Improves Outcomes: New drug might slow the destructive lung condition, studies show Although there is no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), starting treatment early may slow progression of the illness and add years to the lives of sufferers, new research finds. In the first report, patients who began treatment early with the inhaled drug tiotropium (Spiriva) had better outcomes compared with untreated patients. Two other reports show the benefit of the new drug roflumilast (Daxas) in treating COPD. Daxas, an anti-inflammatory, is still going through the drug approval process in the United States and elsewhere. Statins Before Vascular Surgery Cut Deaths, Complications: Problems halved in patients getting blood-vessel repairs done, study finds The study of nearly 500 patients who had surgery for a variety of blood-vessel problems found the incidence of heart artery blockage and deaths was halved in those who received an 80-milligram dose of fluvastatin before their operation, compared to those given a placebo. The new study confirms the growing idea that statin therapy is a valuable tool in blood-vessel surgery, American experts said. Statins can cause acute muscle pain in a minority of people, and they can be dangerous in people with poor liver function, but are otherwise safe, Dr. Louis E. Teichholz said. One practical reason why physicians might not prescribe a statin before vascular surgery is that so many people already are taking them, Dr. Bruce A. Perler said. "In my practice, it is very unusual to see patients who are not on statins," he added. Colon Cancer Stopped in Its Tracks In Swiss Study: Gene-based treatment could help prevent colon cancer from reaching advanced stages and moving to other organs, researchers say Swiss scientists report that they may have found a way to stop colon cancer in its tracks by tinkering with a genetic pathway that allows cells to communicate with one another. The research could lead to new anti-cancer treatments that may help prevent colon cancer from metastasizing to other areas of the body, even after a patient appears to have recovered. "Recurrence is a major problem in cancer treatment," Ruiz i Altaba added. The researchers used cyclopamine, a product derived from plants, to block the pathway in mice with cancer shortly after their tumors disappeared. The mice lived up to one year and remained tumor-free. Colon and rectal cancer kill an estimated 50,000 Americans each year, according to the American Cancer Society. New Anti-Clotting Drug Beats Plavix: Ticagrelor prevents heart attacks and improves survival, researchers say The greatest risk associated with these drugs is life-threatening bleeding, but there was no significant difference between the drugs in the risk of bleeding, the researchers noted. However, patients taking ticagrelor were more likely to have spontaneous intracranial and gastrointestinal bleeding than people taking clopidogrel. Dr. Lars Wallentin noted that ticagrelor and clopidogrel work differently. "Clopidogrel has an irreversible affect on the platelets, so platelets remain inactive for up to a week. With ticagrelor, as soon as you stop the treatment the effect stays for one to two days," he said. This difference is important for patients who need surgery where excess bleeding is a major risk, Wallentin explained. Also, about 30 percent of patients do not respond to clopidogrel, Wallentin said. Ticagrelor is not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Driving After Binge Drinking More Common Than Believed: Study finds nearly one in eight drinkers drive within two hours Binge drinking was defined as having five or more drinks during an occasion, such as an evening out or at a party. According to the CDC, about 1.5 billion binge drinking episodes occur in the United States each year. If you look only at bars and clubs, Nick Ellinger said, one of five binge drinkers who drink at those locations drive afterwards. "It's wise ahead of time to make your plans for how you are going to get home safely because after you have begun drinking that decision-making process breaks down," Ellinger said. But designated drivers have not been shown to work, David Jernigan added. "It creates a carload of designated drunks," he said, some of whom may insist on driving. Public transportation is another, and sometimes safer, option. August 21, 2009 to August 28, 2009Health Highlights **Lead Dust on Child Safety Seats Poses Risk. **Meningitis Vaccine Given Accelerated Approval by FDA. **To Fight HIV, U.S. May Urge Circumcision for Baby Boys. **Herbicide in Drinking Water May Pose Hazard. **Many Doctors Unfamiliar With 'Off-Label' Use of Drugs. **U.S. Issues New Guidelines for Treating Children With HIV. **FDA Approves Swine Flu Test for Troops. **Extreme Obesity Takes Years Off Life. Car Seats Can Limit Kids' Oxygen Supplies: Experts say risk is small but warrants reminder about proper use Kids should be put in car seats only when traveling, not while sleeping or "hanging out" at home, child health experts warn. That's because sitting upright in a car seat -- the position that's recommended -- can compress the chest and lead to lower levels of oxygen. "There are people who have no baby beds and have their kids sleep in the car seat all the time," noted Dr. Iley Browning. "That's not a good choice. And dropping oxygen levels are going to get worse when children have colds so you're making your child worse by putting them in a car seat when they're sick. And I guarantee that parents do this more when their child is sick." As Waistlines Widen, Brains Shrink: For every excess pound piled on the body, the brain gets a little bit smaller New research found that elderly individuals who were obese or overweight had significantly less brain tissue than individuals of normal weight. "The brains of obese people looked 16 years older than their healthy counterparts while [those of] overweight people looked 8 years older," said Paul Thompson. "Obesity affects every system in your body. The body can't be splintered. It's completely linked. We are what we eat and we eat too much," Dr. Mitchell Roslin said. "The bottom line is that an obese, sedentary person is going to have a breakdown of every organ system, and that includes a greater chance of impotence and infertility and other things that people don't generally think are directly related to obesity." FDA Investigating Weight-Loss Drug Orlistat: 32 cases of serious liver injury reported since Orlistat came on market in 1999 As U.S. health officials announced Monday that they are investigating the weight-loss drug orlistat for possible incidents of liver damage, experts noted the drug might not even work well enough to warrant such potential risks. Orlistat is available in the United States, both as a prescription product (Xenical) and as an over-the-counter medication (Alli). The agency does recommend that patients tell their doctor if they are having symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, fever, jaundice or brown urine. Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, itching and loss of appetite might also signal trouble. According to the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, 30 percent of American adults aged 20 and older -- more than 60 million people -- are obese. Another 36 percent are considered overweight. Tobacco Use Kills 6 Million People Annually: And costs the global economy $500 billion each year Tobacco use kills an estimated six million people worldwide each year and drains $500 billion annually from the global economy in lost productivity, misused resources, and premature deaths. By 2015, an estimated 2.1 million cancer deaths annually will be caused by tobacco products. And by 2030, most of these deaths -- 83 percent -- will occur in poor and middle-income countries, the atlas reported. The Tobacco Atlas, Third Edition also pointed to what it called an "undeniable trend" -- the tobacco industry has shifted its marketing and sales efforts to less-developed countries that have less effective public health policies and fewer tobacco-control resources. Experimental Treatment Could Fight Muscular Dystrophy: In some patients, injected molecule appears to restart production of missing protein Injecting a therapeutic molecule into muscle appears to jump-start the production of a crucial protein that's missing in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The treatment so far is only applicable to about 13 percent of people with the debilitating and ultimately fatal disease, but scientists are hopeful that similar molecules might expand the treatment to a wider range of patients. Annemieke Aartsma-Rus and Gert-Jan van Ommen noted that while only about 13 percent of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients can be expected to be helped by AVI-4658, molecules that skip other exons on the gene could be used, potentially spreading the benefit to more than 70 percent of patients. Tamoxifen May Up Risk of Second, More Aggressive Breast Cancer: But survivors shouldn't stop taking the anti-cancer drug, experts say New research suggests Tamoxifen raises the risk of getting a more aggressive cancer in the healthy breast by more than four times. However, the finding is no reason to ditch the anti-cancer drug, as even the lead researcher emphasized. "All treatments have risks and benefits," said Dr. Christopher Li. "We know that the benefits of tamoxifen treatment clearly outweigh the risks. This study adds another risk, but doesn't change the overall balance. If you consider the full balance, for most women the benefits are going to far outweigh the risks." "The thing we have to remember is tamoxifen saves lives," said Dr. Victor Vogel. "Even though the risk of ER-negative goes up, only with five years or more, the risk of ER-positive [second breast cancer] goes down," Vogel said. "We shouldn't lose sight of that." Abuse of ADHD Drugs on the Rise: Jump in poison control center calls mirrors increasing prescriptions, study shows As more and more prescriptions are being written for medications to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), more and more children are abusing these drugs. That's the conclusion of new research in the September issue of Pediatrics that found the rate of ADHD medication abuse was up 76 percent from 1998 to 2005, and at the same time, the rates of prescriptions for these medications rose about 80 percent. The study also reports that next to marijuana, prescription medications are the most common drugs that teenagers use to get high. This may be because teens believe these medications are safe because they've been prescribed by a doctor, or simply because of their availability. August 14, 2009 to August 21, 2009Health Highlights **Childhood Radiation Tied to Pregnancy Problems. **Fatty Foods Impair Memory and Exercise Performance. **German Doctors Implant World's Smallest Artificial Heart Pump. **FDA Approves New Drug For Gaucher Disease. **Researchers Sequence Exomes of 12 People. **Blood Sugar Testing Strips Sometimes Wrong: FDA. **Grassley Wants Tougher Stance Against Medical Ghostwriting. **Nestle Starts Shipping New Cookie Dough Products. Sleep Apnea Raises Risk of Death, Especially for Men: Major study links disordered breathing to deadly cardiovascular complications The classic manifestations of sleep apnea -- loud snoring, interrupted breathing and sleep disruption -- nearly double the risk for chronic disease and premature death among middle-aged and elderly men. "The primary finding of our study is that sleep apnea can increase the risk of death by about 40 percent, even after other factors have been accounted for," said study lead author Dr. Naresh Punjabi. "Our study also shows that it is the decrease in oxygen levels during sleep from sleep apnea that explains the increased risk of death," added Punjabi. Men with sleep apnea between the ages of 40 and 70 are particularly at risk of death from any source, but especially from cardiovascular disease, the researchers found. Sleep apnea is a common, chronic condition that affects about one in four men and about one in 10 women, the authors note. Newer Drug Beats Tamoxifen for Older Breast Cancer Patients: Letrozole boosted survival and should be first-line treatment, experts say For postmenopausal women with breast cancer, treatment with the drug letrozole (Femara) increases survival after surgery more than the widely used tamoxifen, a new study confirms. "This study reinforces the benefits of letrozole over tamoxifen, and leaves five years upfront use [of letrozole] as the preferred option, especially in patients judged to be at higher risk for recurrence," said Dr. Alan Coates. "The message to lay people is letrozole is better. That's the unequivocal, unconfused message," Dr. Victor Vogel said. "If you are a postmenopausal women taking tamoxifen for early breast cancer, it's probably a good idea to switch from tamoxifen to letrozole." However, tamoxifen should be used for patients who find it difficult to take letrozole, Vogel said. Estrogen Plays Surprise Role in Breast Cancer Treatment: Study finds it may slow disease if anti-estrogen therapies stop working Researchers report that the paradoxical strategy of treating breast cancers that have become resistant to anti-estrogen therapies with estrogen actually shrank some tumors. Not only that, but the estrogen made some of the tumors sensitive to anti-estrogen drugs once again. "Giving estrogen actually was a standard-of-care practice prior to tamoxifen approval, so this trial simply confirms previously known knowledge, that estrogen can be used to treat metastatic hormone-dependent breast cancer in postmenopausal women," said Dr. Ramona Swaby. The researchers said they were planning further studies to see which group of women might benefit most from the protocol. Avandia Raises Heart Failure Risk More Than Actos: Diabetes drug shouldn't be used when there's a safer alternative, study says The type 2 diabetes drug Avandia (rosiglitazone) increases the risk of heart failure and death more than another drug in the same class, Actos (pioglitazone), new Canadian research contends. There is increasing evidence that Actos is safer than Avandia, Dr. David Juurlink said. "Not a single study has suggested that pioglitazone might be less safe than rosiglitazone," he said. "And rosiglitazone doesn't have a single advantage -- not even a theoretical one." "As a clinician, I cannot envision an instance in which I would recommend rosiglitazone," Juurlink said. "Until then, this current study provides further ammunition against using Avandia or at least for trying Actos first......." Dr. Carl J.Lavie said. "Most will, and should, avoid either agent in a patient with heart failure or high heart failure risk." Some Birth Control Pills Safer Than Others: European studies find types of hormones used raise or lower blood clot risk Pills containing a second-generation progestogen -- levonorgestrel or norgestrel -- and a low dose of estrogen are safest, they concluded. Older contraceptive pills double or triple that risk, and the newest generation of oral contraceptives increase the risk fourfold or fivefold, Dr. Ojvind Lidegaard said. It won't be easy for a woman to act on the information in the studies, Dr. Astrid van Hylckama said. "By just looking at the package, you can't tell which generation of progestogen is used," she said. A consultation with the physician writing the prescription is advisable, she said. "Women with any sort of family history should think very carefully before taking any contraceptive pill," he said. "These papers strongly suggest that there are safer pills among the choices that are available," Dr. Nick Dunn said. Ibuprofen Rated Best for Pain of Broken Arms: Study finds kids don't do as well when given acetaminophen with codeine For a child with a broken arm, ibuprofen is as effective at treating pain as acetaminophen with codeine, U.S. researchers report. "Our study calls into question the practice of using acetaminophen with codeine as a rescue medicine if ibuprofen fails to treat fracture pain for children," the study's leader, Dr. Amy Drendel. The study found no overall difference in the number of cases of pain treatment failure in the two groups but did find that those who were given ibuprofen reported better functional outcomes and higher satisfaction than those given acetaminophen with codeine, and fewer had adverse effects -- 29.5 percent vs. 50.9 percent. Nearly 90 percent of the children who took ibuprofen said they would prefer the same treatment for future fractures, compared with 72 percent of those who took acetaminophen with codeine. Antioxidants Abound in Cereals, Popcorn, Whole-Grain Snacks: Study finds these foods contain high levels of polyphenols "We found that, in fact, whole-grain products have comparable antioxidants per gram to fruits and vegetables," Joe Vinson said. As for snacks, Vinson found that popcorn had the most polyphenols (2.6 percent), followed by whole-grain crackers (0.45 percent). "But moderation is the key. Many cereals contain ingredients that may not be very good for you, such as excessive sugar," said EvaTo. Also, she added, "cereals are easy to binge on. It is very important to follow the serving size suggestions." To Vinson, the benefits of eating more cereals may outweigh the negatives. "We always think of fruits and vegetables as the primary sources of polyphenols," he said. "But many people, especially students, don't eat enough of them. Here we have a product that is very familiar in the diet and that people like to eat. We can push kids to eat more whole grains." August 7, 2009 to August 14, 2009Health Highlights **Ground Beef Recalled Over Salmonella Concerns. **The Antiviral Drugs Tamiflu and Relenza Rarely Prevent Complications In Children With Seasonal Flu. **U.S., Canada, Mexico to Unite Against Swine Flu. **Many Older Drivers Unaware That Drugs Affect Their Driving Ability: Study. **U.S. Birth Rate Declined in 2008: First Annual Decline Since the Start of the Decade. **Chocolate Helps Heart Attack Survivors. Suicide Risk With Antidepressants Falls With Age: Study reiterates that young are most vulnerable The report was criticized by Dr. John Geddes. "These are hard trials to do so they exclude people who are very ill," he said. Because of this, he said, "they can't possibly observe how the drugs affect such people." "One of the things that we need to be clear about is that we can't rely on placebo-control trials of new medications done by the industry," Geddes said. Geddes also criticized the report for lumping together all SSRIs. Studies cited in the report indicate that sertraline, the generic name for Zoloft, carries only half the risk for suicidal thoughts and behavior of some other SSRIs, Geddes said. Blows to the Chest Up Death Risk for Lacrosse Players: Injuries are fatal far more often than in other contact sports, study finds Contact occurs between a lacrosse stick and an opponent's body, called a "body check". Hard hits to the chest, according to the American Heart Association, can cause what's called commotio cordis, a Latin term meaning "commotion of the heart." The mortality rate for deaths attributed to commotio cordis was higher in lacrosse than in all other sports except hockey. It accounted for 43 percent of all deaths in the sport, according to the study. Deaths from commotio cordis occurred in lacrosse at more than double the rate for baseball, about 15 times greater than for football, 20 times greater than for soccer.....The study's authors also contended that commercially available chest protectors are not adequate. Several researchers indicated that they were working on better versions. Drinking Moderately or More Ups Men's Cancer Risk: Canadian study links regular alcohol consumption to six cancers Among men considered "regular drinkers," defined as drinking on a daily or weekly basis, alcohol was linked to an increased risk for nearly half of the cancer types -- specifically, esophageal, stomach, colon, liver, lung and prostate cancer. And the more alcohol that such regular drinkers consumed, the higher their risk rose relative to those who did not drink at all or drank infrequently, the study reported. One recent study specifically revealed that heavy drinking in particular raises the risk for developing aggressive prostate cancer in men while undermining the effectiveness of the popular prostate cancer prevention drug finasteride (Proscar). Another study suggested that, among women, even moderate drinking might elevate risk for breast, liver and other cancers. Fertility Can Be Preserved in Ovarian Cancer Patients: Conservative approach worthwhile in young women with early-stage malignancy, study shows Saving the uterus or one ovary of a young woman with early-stage ovarian cancer can preserve her fertility without compromising her survival, a new study has found. Researchers at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons found that survival rates during the first five years following the cancer diagnosis were similar between women who had one ovary or their uterus spared and those who had a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) or both ovaries removed. A hysterectomy or removal of both ovaries, in addition to ending a woman's reproductive ability, can cause estrogen deprivation that leads to many other health issues, but is often viewed as the best surgical treatment for the cancer. New Bone-Building Drug [denosumab (Prolia)] Promising Against Prostate Cancer: Monoclonal antibody denosumab counters effects of hormone therapy, study finds Over 24 months, bone density increased 5.6 percent in men who got denosumab and decreased 1 percent in men given a placebo, the researchers found. The 36-month incidence of spinal fractures was 1.5 percent among those receiving denosumab, while it was 3.9 percent among those given placebo. Anywhere from one-third to one-half of the 2 million American men receiving hormone-blocking therapy as treatment for prostate cancer are potential users of denosumab, said study author Dr. Matthew R. Smith. The prostate cancer study was pioneering because "there have been no prior, large-scale fracture-preventing studies in men," Smith said. It enrolled more than 900 men being treated at 156 medical centers in the United States and Europe. Stray Breast Cancer Cells Yield to Post-Op Chemo: Women with microscopic disease helped by additional treatment, research shows The researchers followed the women for a median of 5.1 years (half followed longer, and half for less time) to see if the extra therapy reduced cancer recurrence and increased disease-free survival. Those with the tiny cancer cells present who are treated with additional therapy had a nearly 10 percent improvement in disease-free survival at five years, they found. "So, five years after the diagnosis of every 100 patients with micrometastases or isolated tumor cells, 10 more will have a disease event compared with 100 patients with comparable primary tumor characteristics who did not have metastases in the axillary nodes," Dr. Vivianne Tjan-Heijnen said. The study proves that the micrometastases and the isolated tumor cells are important considerations when evaluating the prognosis, she said. Weight Lifting Can Ease Painful Arm Swelling in Breast Cancer Survivors: Finding runs counter to standard advice doctors have given for years "The significance of the study is that women who have had breast cancer surgery or radiation treatment have been told that they shouldn't lift any weight and to avoid repetitive motions. As a result, we have a generation of women who have almost become incapacitated," Wendy Demark-Wahnefried said. "They've been leery to lift groceries or their children, or fail to go back to jobs due to the risk of lymphedema. This study helps to lift some of that concern." For some of the women in the study, the weight-lifting regimen, which was done at YMCAs in the Philadelphia area with fitness instructors who had received a three-day training in lymphedema care, left them feeling fitter than even before they had cancer, Kathryn Schmitz said. Steroid Can Ease Severe Sore Throat: Single dose speeds relief but should be reserved for worst cases, researchers say A single dose of a corticosteroid, given along with antibiotics, can relieve severe sore throat pain faster and more effectively than antibiotics alone, a new study suggests. "In people with severe sore throat, a single dose of an oral steroid is effective in relieving pain in 24 and 48 hours," said researcher Dr. Carl Heneghan. This treatment is not advised for a mild sore throat, which will go away by itself, Heneghan stressed. Dr. Julie Wei agreed that steroids work well in relieving severe sore throat pain, but she cautioned that they are not a substitute for antibiotics, which treat the infection, not the pain. "The use of steroid should never be for the purpose of replacing antibiotics," Wei said. "Based on the current information, that is not the conclusion people should have." Beetroot Juice May Boost Physical Stamina & Increase Exercise Endurance: Study findings could apply to athletes, elderly, researchers say The researchers found that nitrate in beetroot juice reduces oxygen uptake to a degree that can't be achieved by any other means. The findings could benefit endurance athletes, elderly people and those with cardiovascular, respiratory or metabolic diseases. "We were amazed by the effects of beetroot juice on oxygen uptake because these effects cannot be achieved by any other known means, including training. I am sure professional and amateur athletes will be interested in the results of this research. Andy Jones and his colleagues don't know the exact mechanism that causes nitrate in beetroot juice to increase stamina, but they suspect that nitrate may turn into nitric oxide in the body, leading to a reduction in oxygen uptake and making exercise less tiring. July 31, 2009 to August 7, 2009Health Highlights **House Passes Food Safety Bill. **FDA Approves Once-a-Day Pill for Type 2 Diabetes. **Clarcon Skin Products Pose Health Threat: FDA. **FDA Approves Avastin for Most Common Kidney Cancer. **Blocking Protein May Prevent Premature Labor. **Pneumonic Plague Outbreak In China Claims Second Victim. **Swine Flu Deaths Surge, WHO Reports. **Novartis Starts Swine Flu Vaccine Test in Humans. **Ghostwriters Produced Journal Articles Promoting Hormone Therapy. **Seasonal Flu Vaccines Shipped Early. Certain Arthritis, Crohn's Drugs May Raise Kids' Cancer Risk: FDA Agency strengthens 'black box' warning on medicines such as Enbrel, Remicade Drugs widely used to fight rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and other inflammatory disorders must now carry an updated "black box" warning label cautioning patients and doctors that the medicines may boost cancer risk in children and adolescents, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday. The drugs, called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers, work by interrupting a protein that causes inflammation and damage to bones, cartilage and other tissue. They include Remicade (infliximab), Enbrel (etanercept), Humira (adalimumab), Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) and Simponi (golimumab). TNF blockers already carry FDA-mandated warning labels for other potential safety issues, including fungal infections. Antidepressant Use in U.S. Has Almost Doubled: Study also finds increases in use of other psychotropic medications Antidepressant use among U.S. residents almost doubled between 1996 and 2005, along with a concurrent rise in the use of other psychotropic medications, a new report shows. The increase seemed to span virtually all demographic groups. "Over 10 percent of people over the age of 6 were receiving anti-depression medication. That strikes me as significant," said study author Dr. Mark Olfson. "Who's really taking these medications?" Dr. Eric Caine said. "It's not clear that it makes anyone healthier. That's a fundamental issue that we don't know. We don't have any way of telling if this made people's lives better." Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Heart Risk Factors in Kids Studies find many U.S. children not getting enough Most American youngsters aren't getting enough vitamin D, and that deficiency is associated with an increased incidence of risk factors for cardiovascular problems such as heart attack and stroke, two new studies find. The 25 percent of youngsters with the lowest levels of vitamin D were 2.36 times more likely to have high blood pressure, 54 percent more likely to have low HDL cholesterol levels, 2.54 times more likely to have elevated blood sugar levels and 3.88 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome. Adequate vitamin D intake can be achieved with 15 minutes a day of exposure to sunlight or consuming fortified milk, bread and other wheat products, among other foods, Jared P. Reis said. Fish Oils May Prevent and Treat Heart Disease: Review of studies involving 40,000 people points up benefits A new review shows that the omega-3 fatty acids found in certain fish not only prevent cardiovascular disease, but may even help treat it. "For the general population, it should be 500 milligrams a day [of omega-3 fatty acids]," Dr. Carl J. Lavie said. "If you have heart disease, it should be 800 or 1,000 milligrams a day." Lavie includes himself in the second category, because "I have a family history of heart disease. I eat a lot of fish and take a supplement just to be sure." It's got to be the right kind of fish, the oily species that have a lot of omega-3 fatty acids, Lavie added. "Redfish, trout, salmon," he said. "Salmon is my favorite." Not much effort is needed for most people to achieve the recommended intake, Lavie said. "Five hundred milligrams a day is two fatty fish meals per week," he added. Periodic Dieting May Cut Breast Cancer Risk: In lab studies, intermittent calorie restriction led to dramatic decrease in tumors Periodically cutting calories may lower the risk of developing breast cancer better than full-time dieting, according to a new study published in Cancer Prevention Research. Three sets of mice predisposed to developing breast tumors were put on different diets: unlimited eating, intermittently cutting calories by 25 percent, or permanently reducing caloric intake 25 percent. Those on the intermittent diet fared best, with only 9 percent developing mammary tumors compared to 35 percent of those chronically restricted and 71 percent of those that ate all they wanted. This study "contributes to accumulating evidence that caloric restriction acts by altering hormone levels rather than by directly starving cancers of energy," said Dr. Michael Pollak. "In particular, lower levels of insulin are associated with reduced food intake, & this may be protective," he said. Special Eye Drops May Reverse Glaucoma Damage: More testing still needed, but nerve growth factor proved effective in study A new type of eye drop appears to protect retinal and optic nerve cells -- and even reverse some sight loss -- in patients battling glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness, new research suggests. Italian researchers found that the topical use of nerve growth factor, which is easily absorbed by the eye in drop form, spares retinal ganglion cells from nerve damage caused by the build-up of eye pressure associated with glaucoma. "These impressive findings are promising, but still far from any broad clinical application, since nerve growth factor is not currently available for clinical use," said Dr. Stefano Bonini. "And these pilot clinical results should be confirmed in large clinical trials. But the study team suggested that the findings could theoretically pave the way for new options in treating eye disease and a range of other neurodegenerative diseases. Social Stress Sends Body Fat to the Stomach: In turn, that meant heart risks were raised, researcher says Social stress may cause the body to deposit more fat in the abdomen, which increases the risk of heart disease, a new study of monkeys suggests. The findings could lead to new ways to combat rising rates of obesity in the United States and other Western nations, according to principal investigator Carol A. Shively. "Much of the excess fat in many people who are overweight is located in the abdomen, and that fat behaves differently than fat in other locations. If there's too much, it can have far more harmful effects on health than fat located in other areas," she said. This abdominal (visceral) fat promotes the build-up of plaque in blood vessels that leads to heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. July 24, 2009 to July 31, 2009Health Highlights **FDA Warns About Body Building Products. **Texting Greatly Increases Crash Risk. **Probiotics May Help Fight Flu in Children. **Swine Flu Death Toll 816: WHO. **Chemical In Some IV Bags May Cause Infant Liver Damage. **Trans Fats Eliminated From Unilever Soft-Spread Margarines. **Study Looks at Implanted Pig Cells to Treat Type 1 Diabetes. **Major Medicare Fraud Bust Targets 'Arthritis Kits'. **Dietary Supplements Recalled. **Perfume Sickens 144 People. Resistance to Malaria Drug Reported in Cambodia: Millions of Lives at risk if artemisinin treatment becomes ineffective, study says Artemisinin-based drugs are the first-line treatment for malaria, which kills more than a million people a year, mainly children and pregnant women. Artemisinin causes fewer side effects than other anti-malaria drugs and, until recently, malaria parasites had no resistance against it. "Our study suggests that malaria parasites in Cambodia are less susceptible to artemisinin than those in Thailand," Dr. Arjen Dondorp said. "This means that it takes longer to kill the parasites. Artemisinin should clear the parasites at an early stage, preventing them further maturing and reproducing. When the drug's action is impaired, it becomes more difficult to eliminate the parasites from the body." "Artemisinins are essential weapons in our war against malaria," Nick White said. "If they become ineffective, we have no immediate replacement....." Fresh-Meat Additives May Be Dangerous for Kidney Patients: High potassium and phosphate content is common, but labeling is not required, report states Many fresh meat and poultry products are injected with water, sodium, potassium salts, antioxidants and flavorings that are not required to be listed on food labels. But dialysis patients must limit their intake of dietary phosphate, which can boost levels in the blood and cause premature death. Kidney disease patients also need to limit the potassium they consume, because high levels in the blood can cause sudden death, the study authors note. Many meat and poultry items contain elevated levels of these minerals. Older Diabetics Should Avoid Dementia Meds: Combo linked to higher risk for hyperglycemia hospitalization in study "Our study indicates that the initiation of antipsychotic therapy represents a critical period during which seniors with diabetes are particularly vulnerable to metabolic decompensation [the failure of the metabolic system to function adequately]," the authors wrote in a news release. "The new use of both atypical [newer] and typical antipsychotic drugs was associated with a significant increase in hospitalizations for hyperglycemia, which appeared independent of baseline diabetes treatment and was strikingly high during the initial period of antipsychotic therapy." Until experts do more studies, "other options to manage behavioral symptoms of dementia should be considered among older persons with diabetes," the authors concluded. Ovary Removal May Play a Role in Lung Cancer: Nearly doubles a younger woman's risk for developing lung cancer Medically induced menopause, particularly when it involves removal of both ovaries, nearly doubles a younger woman's risk for developing lung cancer, a new Canadian study has found. "It's possible that vulnerability to lung cancer is caused by early and sudden decrease in estrogen levels or potentially long-term use of hormone replacement therapy, and further research is needed to explore these hypotheses," said study co-author Jack Siemiatycki. "Although smoking is the dominant cause of lung cancer, we know other factors can play an important role in enhancing the impact of tobacco carcinogens," Anita Koushik added. "This research suggests that, in women, hormonal factors may play such a role." Radiation Plus Chemo a Good Option in Lung Cancer: Surgery alone not linked to improved survival in non-small-cell lung cancer study Radiotherapy plus chemotherapy, with or without surgery, works well for people with stage 3A non-small-cell lung cancer, a new study has found. In an exploratory analysis, the researchers found that overall survival did improve for patients who only had part of a lung removed (lobectomy) rather than an entire lung. They speculated that removing an entire lung left patients more likely to die from acute respiratory distress syndrome or other respiratory diseases. "On the basis of the findings of our study, patients should be counseled about the risks and potential benefits of definitive chemotherapy plus radiotherapy with, and without, a surgical resection (preferably by lobectomy)," the authors concluded. Giving Statins to Kids Provokes Debate: Cholesterol-lowering drugs may help young hearts, but long-term use raises concerns Dr. Simeon Margolis is concerned that many more children than that will be put on statin treatment by doctors who are not strictly following the guidelines. If that happens, families will find themselves paying potentially large amounts of money for drugs and follow-up health screenings that aren't necessary, he said. Beyond that, there's also the cost to the child's self-image. "The child will find that they are no longer a healthy 8-year-old but are sick," Margolis said. The overuse of statin drugs could also cause families to miss out on the chance to improve every member's health. "Rather than have the family as a whole initiate healthy lifestyle habits, they'll instead say, 'Well, we'll just take this pill,'" Margolis said. Some doctors are also concerned about the effects that decades of statin treatment could have on the long-term health..... Swine Flu Could Eventually Affect 40% of Americans: CDC. Vaccine testing -- set to begin next week -- could lessen impact The H1N1 swine flu could end up affecting as many as 40 percent of Americans, if one includes workers who stay home to care for people who contract the illness, U.S. health officials said Friday. The projection from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is based on the influenza pandemic in 1957, when almost 70,000 people in the United States died from the flu. The CDC also reported Friday that there have been 43,771 confirmed cases of H1N1 infection and 302 deaths in the United States, although officials believe more than 1 million Americans have been stricken with swine flu. The reason for the disparity: The virus continues to produce mild symptoms and patients typically recover quickly. July 17, 2009 to July 24, 2009Health Highlights **Swine Flu Vaccine Could Get Scarce: Experts. **Hepatitis C Investigation Is Widened. **Male Enhancement Products Recalled. **Experimental Lupus Drug Shows Some Promise. **Worldwide Death Toll From Swine Flu Surpasses 700. FDA Investigating Safety of Asthma Drug Xolair: Injected medication may be linked to higher risk of heart attack, stroke, agency says The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has begun a safety review of the asthma drug Xolair (omalizumab) after reports of an increased risk of heart attack, abnormal heart rhythm, heart failure and stroke. Currently, the FDA is not telling people using Xolair to stop taking the drug. However, the agency believes that patients and doctors should be aware of potential problems when taking Xolair, including the possible risk for heart attack and stroke. Two years ago the FDA asked Genentech to update the existing label warning and to provide a Patient Medication Guide with a strengthened warning for anaphylaxis [a sudden, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction]. Baking Soda May Be Key Ingredient for Kidney Patients: Progression of chronic disease appears to slow with daily tablet, study finds The rate of kidney function decline was about two-thirds slower in the patients who took sodium bicarbonate than in other patients. Rapid progression of kidney disease occurred in 9 percent of patients taking sodium bicarbonate, compared with 45 percent in other patients, the researchers found. The study found that patients taking sodium bicarbonate showed improvement in several measures of nutrition, and, even though their sodium levels increased, there were no problems associated with higher blood pressure. These patients were also less likely to develop end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis. "This cheap and simple strategy has the potential of translating into significant economic, quality of life and clinical outcome benefits," said researcher Dr. Magdi Yaqoob. E-Cigarettes Pose a Health Hazard, FDA Warns: Agency says testing shows devices contain carcinogens, other toxins Testing of electronic cigarettes, known as e-cigarettes, has shown that they contain cancer-causing chemicals and other toxins. E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that contain cartridges filled with nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals. "The device turns nicotine, which is highly addictive, into a vapor that is inhaled," according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "E-cigarettes might encourage children, preteens and young adults to take their first step toward smoking cigarettes, Dr. Jonathan Winickoff said." Fetal Alcohol Disorders Often Misdiagnosed as ADHD: Behavioral difficulties can look the same, researchers note Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are often initially diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, since the two problems can manifest in similar ways, a new study shows. However, children with FASD have more difficulty interpreting social information than children with ADHD, and this results in more severe behavioral problems, the researchers found. The study also found that children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have a high risk of psychiatric problems. "Our findings show that ... overall, children with FASD have more severe behavioral problems. In terms of social cognition and emotional processing, the core deficit in FASD appears to be in understanding and interpreting another's mental states and emotions," said Joanne Rovet. Elevated Insulin Levels Linked to Breast Cancer: Study finds strong association in postmenopausal women The researchers found that women with insulin levels in the highest third were twice as likely to develop breast cancer as women in the bottom third. The team also discovered that the link between elevated insulin levels and breast cancer was stronger for thin women than for obese women, who tend to have higher insulin levels. "This finding is potentially important because it indicates that, in postmenopausal women, insulin may be a risk factor for breast cancer that is independent of obesity," Geoffrey Kabat said in the news release. The study is ongoing, but Kabat recommended that postmenopausal women try to keep insulin at normal levels through weight loss, regular exercise and other methods. High-Salt Diet Dampens Effects of Blood Pressure Drugs: To avoid sodium in processed foods, experts advise reading food labels Not only does a high-salt diet contribute to hypertension, but it can also reduce the effectiveness of blood pressure medications, a new study finds. "What is striking about these results is the degree of the effect," said Dr. David A. Calhoun. Those on the low-salt diet had an average drop of 22.7 points in systolic blood pressure (the higher of the 120/80 reading, measured when the heart is contracting) and 9.1 points in diastolic blood pressure. The two studies show that attention must be paid to both drug treatment and diet, Dr. Martha Daviglus said. "They give us some hope that by doing a combination of both, we will be able to reach our goal," she said. Indoor Lightning Injuries On the Rise: Don't use hard-wired electrical devices while waiting out the storm "Follow the rule: 'When thunder roars, go indoors,'" Dr. Mary Ann Cooper. Once inside, don't use landline phones, wired computers or video games. If it's not possible to go indoors, seek shelter in a hardtop car, bus or truck. Never go under a tree during a lightning storm, Cooper advised. Don't go back outside immediately after a storm appears to be over, she added. "Wait 30 minutes after the last crack of thunder or flash of lightning before resuming [outdoor] activities or driving home," Cooper said. July 10, 2009 to July 17, 2009Health Highlights **lcraft Recalls Children's Play Yards. **Nicotine Patch Before Quitting Smoking Ups Chances of Success. **WHO Approves 2nd Cervical Cancer Vaccine. **Another Recall Linked to Milk Products Cooperative. **Ebola Virus Found in Pigs. **Cookie Dough E. Coli Doesn't Match Outbreak Strain: FDA. **1918 Flu Pandemic Survivors Immune to Swine Flu. **Kidney Transplant Drugs Must Carry Infections Warning: FDA. Arthritis Drug Raises Risk of Tuberculosis: But researchers still don't know why a certain therapy appears to reactivate latent TB Their study examined the connection between TB and two anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other auto-immune diseases -- soluble TNF receptor therapy (etanercept) and anti-TNF monoclonal antibody therapy (infliximab or adalimumab). Patients receiving the monoclonal antibody were at higher risk for TB, they found. Most of the TB cases involved reactivation of a latent TB infection. The drugs treat other auto-immune diseases in addition to rheumatoid arthritis, such as psoriasis, Crohn's disease and ankylosing spondylitis. The researchers did not advise patients or healthcare providers to avoid taking the drug. However, health authorities worldwide recommend screening for latent TB and treating patients before starting any anti-TNF therapy. Combination Therapy Best for Aggressive Prostate Cancer: Adding radiation and hormone treatment to brachytherapy improves survival, study shows Men with aggressive prostate cancer who have brachytherapy alone are more likely to die than those who receive a combination of treatments, new findings show. "In order to get the highest cure rate for men with high-risk prostate cancer, it appears that five weeks of external beam radiation and at least four months of hormonal therapy should be added to brachytherapy," Dr. Anthony D'Amico added. Despite a higher baseline risk of death from prostate cancer, patients who had a combination of brachytherapy, hormone therapy and external beam radiation therapy had a lower risk of death from prostate cancer after treatment than those who received brachytherapy alone, brachytherapy and external beam radiation, or brachytherapy and hormone therapy. Heavy Drinking Linked to Aggressive Prostate Cancer: Consumption also appears to undercut effect of cancer-prevention drug The study, which included more than 10,000 men, found that those who drank heavily -- 50 grams (1.7 ounces) of pure alcohol a day, the amount in four shots of hard liquor, five or more days a week -- were more than twice as likely as less heavy drinkers to develop what is called high-grade prostate cancer. Most heavy drinkers in the study drank beer, Kristal said. "They are six-pack-a-day drinkers," he said. "But there is no logical reason to think there is anything special about beer that increases the risk that does not apply to other forms of alcohol." "Certain cancers are commonly associated with alcohol -- head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, breast cancer," Dr. Len Lichtenfeld said. Repair ACL Injuries in Young Athletes Quickly: Postponing surgery can lead to more problems, study finds New research confirms what many orthopedists have long suspected -- it's better to operate quickly on a young athlete's ACL injury than it is to wait a few years for the child to grow some more. "The gold standard has moved," said study co-author Dr. Theodore J. Ganley. "If we have a message, it's to treat these injuries when they occur." The researchers found that the patients who delayed surgery had three to 11 times the risk of some types of related injuries, including torn cartilage. In some cases, the injuries couldn't be repaired. Essentially, "it's better to fix something sooner," said Ganley. "It's like fixing your car: you can change a few spark plugs, or you can wait and change more significant things." Type of Knee Surgery Makes Difference in Football Career: Meniscus repair may cut playing time more than ACL reconstruction, findings show Complex anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction of a knee doesn't appear to shorten the career of a professional football player, but a simpler meniscus repair might, new research has found. "ACL reconstruction is a reliable surgical technique that enables professional football players to have similar-length careers as their counterparts without ACL injuries," said study author Dr. Robert H. Brophy. "Although meniscectomy has a shorter recovery time than ACL reconstruction, these surgeries appear to lead to a significantly shorter career with fewer games played in the long term," he stated. Excess Weight Speeds Up Osteoarthritis: Rapid loss of knee cartilage directly linked to being overweight in study This is the first study to connect obesity with fast progression of the disease and cartilage loss. In fact, for every one-unit increase in body mass index, the chances of rapid cartilage loss increased 11 percent. "It is a disease without treatment at present other than symptomatic -- mostly pain therapy and surgical total joint replacement," Dr. Frank W. Roemer said. "Don't let yourself get heavy," Dr. Dean Scully Scully said. "This study shows a direct correlation -- people who are heavy are the ones that are getting worse," he said. Bathtub Accidents Injure 43,000 U.S. Kids Each Year: Manufacturers need to make tubs more slip-resistant, experts say There are things that can be done to prevent these injuries, Smith said. "Parents need to use slip-resistant mats in and outside of bathtubs to prevent slips and falls," Dr. Gary A. Smith said. Dr. David L. Katz said it's "alarming that more than 40,000 children are injured badly enough each year in bath and shower tumbles to warrant a trip to the emergency room." If these injuries were unavoidable, that would be one thing, Katz said. "But they are extremely, if not completely, preventable, and by simple means," Katz noted. "Bath and shower surfaces can be engineered to provide more friction, and surfaces in tubs and showers can be designed to pose less menace should a fall occur," he said. July 3, 2009 to July 10, 2009Health Highlights **Utility Knife Blades Found in Energy Drinks. **FDA Approves Drug for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. **Laser Treatment Shows Promise Against Vision Loss. **CDC's Internet Tool Combines Data on Pollutants/Health. **Insomnia Patients May Benefit From Web-Based Therapy. **Kroger Recalls Popcorn Seasoning, Sprinkles. **Report Contends Lack of Oversight for Bottled Water. **Wednesday Darkest Day for Suicides. **U.S. Doctors Complete Largest Kidney Transplant Chain. FDA Mandates Tougher Warnings for Pain Pills: Drugs like Darvon, Darvocet have been linked to fatal overdoses Concerns about the possibility of fatal overdoses led U.S. health officials Tuesday to take several steps to limit the risk of using pain medications containing propoxyphene, including Darvon and Darvocet. Propoxyphene-containing products have been linked to fatal overdoses, FDA officials said. Between 1959 and 2005, 91 deaths attributed to an overdose of these products have been recorded in the adverse-events database, said Dr. Gerald Dal Pan. Last month, European regulators called for the withdrawal of dextropropoxyphene from the market because people taking the 50-year-old drug have been dying from overdoses. Dextropropoxyphene, which is called propoxyphene in the United States, is an opioid widely used to treat mild to moderate pain. Cystic Fibrosis Treatment May Cause Hearing Loss: Ear evaluation urged for youngsters taking common antibacterial medication Researchers reviewed the medical records of 50 cystic fibrosis patients treated over a 13-year period at Children's Hospital Boston and found that seven (14 percent) of them suffered from sensorineural hearing loss. Of those seven patients, 43 percent had received more than 10 courses of aminoglycosides intravenously. Patients who underwent more than five treatments with nasal irrigation of aminoglycosides were also at risk for sensorineural hearing loss, the study found. Cystic fibrosis patients should have regular hearing tests that specifically assess sensorineural hearing loss, especially when patients have undergone repeated courses of systemic or intranasal aminoglycoside treatments, the researchers concluded. Genetic Breakthrough Spells Hope for Lung Fibrosis Patients: Might help those with advanced disease buy time until transplant, study shows Genes that can help doctors predict when patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are becoming seriously ill have been identified by U.S. researchers, who said the findings might help keep patients alive until they can get a lung transplant. Differences in the expression of nearly 600 genes were noted between IPF patients with accelerated disease and those with stable disease. The researchers found no evidence that infection or inflammation was the cause of accelerated IPF. They did find signs that the cells of the alveolar epithelium, the tissue that covers the surface of the lung's air sacs, were rapidly dying. "That could mean that drugs that are used to protect the epithelium in other illnesses, such as cancer, might help IPF patients survive an exacerbation,".....said Dr. Kevin Gibson. Statins May Cause Muscle Damage in Some Patients: People with serious muscle aches showed muscle fiber damage even after halting drugs, researchers say Statins, medications widely used to lower cholesterol, may cause structural damage to the muscles of people experiencing muscle aches and weakness, a new study has found. The damage may occur even when tests for a protein thought to signal injury are normal, and may persist even after statin use is halted. The researchers stressed that people not experiencing significant pain had no cause for alarm and should continue taking the medicine. The researchers also found that most participants showed signs of muscle injury even after they'd stopped taking statins. A study found that statins may hinder the body's ability to repair muscles. Muscle cells exposed to increasing doses of simvastatin (Zocor) showed less ability to multiply and, therefore, heal and regenerate. Research Reveals Clues to Breast Cancer's Spread: Interrupting key signals might prevent recurrence, investigators say A U.S. research team says it has spotted key signals that help breast cancer cells survive in the bone marrow of patients who've undergone treatment. The researchers analyzed samples from more than 600 breast tumors and found that a cancer-related enzyme called Src was associated with late-onset bone metastasis. Dr. Joan Massague and colleagues then identified Src-regulated signaling molecules that were expressed in bone marrow and promoted survival of breast cancer cells. They also found that Src increased resistance to a key cell death-inducing signal. They also noted that drugs designed to inhibit Src have recently been developed "that may be worthy of consideration" to help fight tumor recurrence. New Drug Could Work Against Leukemia: Researchers see promise for treatment of AML and other cancers A new targeted therapy shows promise in treating acute myeloid leukemia, a highly treatment-resistant blood cancer, according to a new study. Researchers created an antibody (7G3) that recognizes and binds to a molecule called CD123, which is expressed at high levels on leukemia stem cells (LSCs), but not on normal blood cells. LSCs are cells that can cause acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and are critical for its long-term growth. When AML-LSCs from human patients were transplanted into mice, those treated with 7G3 survived longer than mice that didn't receive the antibody. The researchers found that 7G3 blocked a signaling pathway in tumor cells, impaired migration of AML-LSCs to bone marrow and activated the immune system to destroy AML-LSCs. The findings hold promise for future cancer treatments, according to the study authors. Heartburn Drugs May Contribute to the Problem: Study suggests proton pump inhibitors could aggravate acid trouble Drugs commonly used to treat heartburn and acid reflux may actually cause heartburn. A new study found that treatment with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) actually produced heartburn, acid reflux and indigestion in healthy volunteers who took the medication for eight weeks. "The findings in our study [indicate that] this liberal prescribing is likely to create the disease the drugs are designed to treat," she continued. "Patients who are treated on uncertain indication thus risk developing a true need for continued therapy. Our findings challenge the very liberal prescribing of these drugs, and this study should lead to careful consideration about possible changes in prescribing habits." Humans Can Develop Bat-Like and Dolphin-Like Echolocation: Acoustic signaling using palate/tongue clicks could aid the blind, study shows Spanish researchers say that producing certain kinds of tongue clicks helps people to identify objects around them without having to use their eyes, a skill that would be benefit the blind. This ability could also help firefighters, rescue teams or even people lost in fog, according to Juan Antonio Martinez. No special physical skills are needed to develop echolocation, said Martinez, who noted that some blind people have taught themselves the ability through trial-and-error. "Two hours per day for a couple of weeks are enough to distinguish whether you have an object in front of you, and within another two weeks you can tell the difference between trees and a pavement," he said. June 26, 2009 to July 3, 2009Health Highlights **TB Vaccine May Be Fatal for Infants With HIV. **Many Factors Contribute to AMD: Study. **E. Coli Found in Nestlé Cookie Dough: FDA. **Too Few Young Adults Treated for Alcohol, Drug Problems. **Salmonella Fears Trigger Plainview Food Products Recall. **Beef Products Recall Expanded. **Nestle Refused to Give Cookie Dough Records to FDA. **European Regulator Wants Painkiller Off Market. **E. coli Scare Spurs Big Beef Recall. **Gray Hair Might Indicate Reduced Cancer Risk. FDA Panel Urges Ban on Vicodin, Percocet: Also recommends dosing limits for OTC painkillers that contain acetaminophen, like Tylenol or Excedrin, because of link to liver damage. The popular prescription painkillers Vicodin and Percocet, which combine acetaminophen with an opiate narcotic, should be banned, and the maximum dose of over-the-counter painkillers with acetaminophen, like Tylenol or Excedrin, should be lowered, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel urged Tuesday. The panel's recommendations followed the release of an FDA report last month that found severe liver damage, and even death, can result from a lack of consumer awareness that acetaminophen -- which is easier on the stomach than such painkillers as aspirin and ibuprofen -- can cause such injury. The dangers from use or abuse of Vicodin and Percocet may be even more concerning, one key panelist said. Anti-Smoking Drugs Get FDA 'Black-Box' Warning: Reports link Chantix and Zyban to risk of psychiatric side effects, including suicidal thoughts The agency's review found that some people who used Chantix (varenicline) and Zyban (bupropion) experienced unusual changes in behavior, became depressed, or had their depression worsen and had thoughts of suicide or dying, the FDA said. Dr. Curt Rosebraugh said there were reports of 98 suicides and 188 suicide attempts involving Chantix, and 14 suicides and 17 attempts reported with Zyban. For many users, the problems started soon after they began taking the drugs and ended when they stopped taking them. Some users, however, continued to have symptoms even after stopping the drugs. In a few cases, the problems started after the drugs were stopped, Rosebraugh said. The More Alcohol Men Drink, The More Time They Spend In A Hospital: Heavy drinkers were affected most, but link holds for even mild use, study finds A unit of alcohol, or an average drink, was considered to be half a pint of beer (about a cup) or a 4-ounce glass of wine, for example, according to the study. Men who drank more than 22 units of alcohol a week had a 20 percent higher hospital admission rate than non-drinkers, the study found. Even relatively low levels of alcohol consumption were associated with a higher number of days spent in the hospital, the researchers found. Drinkers of eight or more units of alcohol a week were hospitalized more days than non-drinkers, and the length of stay increased as weekly consumption of alcohol went up. The heaviest drinkers spent 58 percent longer in a hospital than non-drinkers, according to the study. Smoking May Trigger Brain Damage: Compound in tobacco causes attack on healthy cells, study finds The scientists found that a compound in tobacco triggers white blood cells in the central nervous system to attack healthy cells, resulting in severe neurological damage. The compound, NNK, doesn't cause direct harm to brain cells, but appears to cause neuroinflammation that leads to disorders such as multiple sclerosis. This demonstrates that NNK triggers an exaggerated response from the brain's immune cells, called microglia. Normally, microglia cells attack damaged or unhealthy cells, but when provoked by NNK, they attack healthy brain cells, the researchers added. Since NNK is present in all tobacco products, it can also enter the body by chewing, the researchers noted. Secondhand smoke also contains high levels of NNK and can have a harmful effect on the brain, they said. Low Blood Sugar in Hospital Tied to Higher Death Risk for Diabetics: Hypoglycemia likely a sign of additional illness, suggest experts Being a diabetic and having just one episode of low blood sugar during a hospital stay was associated with a significantly increased risk of dying, both in the hospital and up to a year later, new research shows. Each additional day with a hypoglycemic episode was associated with an 85 percent increase in the risk of death while hospitalized. The study also found a 66 percent increased mortality risk for one year following discharge in patients who'd had hypoglycemia. "If patients develop low blood sugar, they should be closely monitored for clinical deterioration," said Dr. Alexander Turchin. "Keeping blood sugar high doesn't have a benefit, but being too aggressive in lowering it may not be such as a good idea either." Eating Animal Fat May Lead to Pancreatic Cancer : Added risk is tied to red meat and dairy products, study finds During an average of six years of follow-up, 1,337 people were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Men who consumed the most fat from animal sources had a 53 percent increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer and women had a 23 percent increased risk, compared with men and women who ate the least fat, the study found. In addition, it found that people who ate high amounts of saturated fats had 36 percent higher rates of pancreatic cancer than did those who ate low amounts. Being overweight in your 30s was associated with a 60 percent increased risk for pancreatic cancer, and being obese was associated with a twofold to threefold higher risk, the researchers found. Air Traffic Patterns Predict Swine Flu Spread: H1N1 case rates associated with number of air passengers arriving from Mexico, analysis shows Countries that received the most airline passengers from Mexico this spring were the most likely to see H1N1 swine flu infection, new research says. From Mexico, nearly 81 percent of air passengers flew to the United States or Canada. The United States received the bulk of passengers from Mexico, with about 1.74 million arrivals, followed by Canada with 149,137 arrivals. Cities receiving the most arrivals from Mexico were Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami, Houston and Minneapolis-St. Paul. "The traffic was so strongly correlated with the importation of this disease," Dr. Kamran Khan said. "Where people go, infectious diseases of people will follow." Nonsurgical Treatment May Ease Rotator Cuff Injury: Minimally invasive procedure can significantly reduce pain and restore mobility of the shoulder During the 20-minute procedure, a radiologist uses ultrasound guidance to inject a saline solution into the rotator cuff to wash the affected area and break up calcium deposits. Compared to patients in the control group, those who received treatment showed a considerable reduction in pain and improved mobility after one month, three months and one year. After five and 10 years, both groups of patients showed similar improvement, the researchers found. "With this treatment, we were able to establish a single inexpensive and effective treatment for calcific tendinitis of the rotator cuff. This has never happened before," said Dr. Luca M. Sconfienza. "This treatment could completely replace other treatments that are affected by several limitations and complications." New Drug Shows Promise for Rheumatoid Arthriitis: Small, early study finds few long-term side effects A new drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis reduces joint inflammation in severe cases while causing only mild to moderate side effects, according to a report from the first clinical trial of the drug on humans. Masitinib, which is being developed by AB Science pharmaceuticals, is supposed to halt the activity of mast cells, a part of the immune system believed to be involved in the start and progression of rheumatoid arthritis. "We are encouraged from this study that masitinib not only appears to be effective, but that within the first three months of treatment, the worst of its side effects were over, possibly making it suitable for long-term treatment regimens," said Olivier Hermine. The next step will be placebo-controlled trials, he added. June 19, 2009 to June 26, 2009Health Highlights **FDA Warns About Salmonella-Tainted Pistachios. **Undiagnosed Condition Increases Women's Osteoporosis Risk. **Bayer Threatened With Lawsuit Over Men's Vitamin Claims. **Trainers Urge Halt to Two-a-Day Football Practices in August. **Undiagnosed Condition Increases Women's Osteoporosis Risk. **Bayer Threatened With Lawsuit Over Men's Vitamin Claims. **Trainers Urge Halt to Two-a-Day Football Practices in August. **Swine Flu Infections, Deaths Surge In Recent Days. **Nutrient May Protect Babies' Brains From Alcohol. **Only Four Shots Needed for Rabies Protection. **Study Offers Surprise Discovery About Muscle Stem Cells. Nestlé Recalls Cookie Dough Products: Move comes after FDA reports 66 cases of E. coli infection in 28 states U.S. health officials are warning consumers not to eat any Nestlé Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products because of the risk of E. coli contamination. "Whether eaten or handled (causing cross-contamination), the dough is a danger, especially to the elderly, anyone with a suppressed immune system or pregnant women and should be discarded,"Dr. Philip M. Tierno said. Twenty-five people have been hospitalized, seven with a severe complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can result in kidney damage and even death. The recall includes refrigerated cookie and brownie dough bar, cookie dough tub, cookie dough tubes, seasonal cookie and brownie dough, and Ultimates cookie bar dough. It does not include any other Toll House products, the company said in a news release. Electrocardiogram Blip Signals Heart Trouble: Greater risk of atrial fibrillation, need for pacemaker, early death, study shows A slight abnormality in an electrocardiogram (EKG), until now thought to be insignificant, can be a warning sign of future cardiac problems and an increased risk of early death, a new study indicates. Lengthening of what is called the PR interval, the right-hand portion of the jagged blip that records electrical activity as the heart contracts and expands, was associated with a doubled risk of developing the abnormal heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, three times the risk of needing a pacemaker, and one-and-a-half times the risk of early death. "Historically, this has been viewed as benign," said study senior author Dr. Thomas Wang. Quick Angioplasty Best After Heart Attacks: Canadian study shows better survival when compared to those who got clot-busting treatment A new Canadian study adds compelling support for current recommendations that people who first get clot-dissolving treatment for heart attacks should have artery-opening angioplasty as soon as possible afterward. "The original recommendation was based on a limited number of trials. This is the largest trial done to date looking at the strategy of doing angioplasty routinely after fibrinolysis [clot-dissolving therapy]. It confirms that it is a safe approach with no increase in major bleeding, and that patients do better when they undergo angioplasty," said Dr. Warren J. Cantor. The study shows that angioplasty should be done within six hours, Cantor said. New Cancer Drug Fights Tumors in Those With BRCA Mutations: Olaparib prevents malignant cells from repairing themselves, researchers say A new cancer drug called olaparib worked well in an early clinical trial against breast, ovarian and prostate cancers in individuals who were genetically vulnerable to developing these malignancies. Olaparib works differently than other cancer drugs in that it blocks Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), a protein involved in DNA repair. Healthy cells use PARP to repair themselves, but cancer cells do the same, the scientists explained. "This is an entirely new class of drugs," said Dr. J. Dirk Iglehart. When you disable PARP, you prevent the cell from repairing itself, he said, and cancer cells that are deficient in BRCA are much more sensitive to this effect. "When you inhibit PARP, they can't stand it," Iglehart explained. Chemicals in Marijuana Smoke May Harm DNA: Lab tests find cannabis even more toxic than tobacco The smoke from cannabis, the plant from which marijuana is derived, contains compounds that can damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer just like tobacco smoke, says a new study. In laboratory tests, Rajinder Singh from the University of Leicester and colleagues found certain carcinogens in cannabis smoke in amounts 50 percent greater than those found in tobacco smoke. They noted that light cannabis use could possibly prove to be even more damaging because cannabis smokers usually inhale more deeply than cigarette smokers. "The smoking of three to four cannabis cigarettes a day is associated with the same degree of damage to bronchial mucus membranes as 20 or more tobacco cigarettes a day," the researchers noted. June 12, 2009 to June 19, 2009Health Highlights **Medtronic Recalls 21,000 Pacemakers. **Frozen Chicken Has Undeclared Allergens. **Maker Pushed Zyprexa for Dementia, Without Evidence. **Injected Ibuprofen Gets FDA Approval. **Weight Loss Surgery Increases Fracture Risk. **Breast-Feeding May Improve Academic Achievement. **FDA Experts Recommend Gout Drug's Approval Despite Serious Adverse Effects. **No Proof Anti-Aging Hormones Effective: AMA. **FDA Targets Bogus Treatments for H1N1 Swine Flu. **Experts Challenge Benefits of Moderate Alcohol Consumption. **Chopping Before Cooking Cuts Carrot's Cancer-Fighting Power. ADHD Drugs Linked to Sudden Death in Kids: But these unexplained events are exceedingly rare, study finds "What we found -- to our surprise -- is that even if you take out confounding factors, the association between stimulant use and sudden death was still significant," said Madelyn Gould. "I'm confident the association is real and significant, but it's very rare. I don't want our findings to change prescribing patterns or for a parent to change their willingness to use stimulant medications if they're called for, but physicians should monitor patients with any new medication they give a young person." If your child has been on stimulants for awhile, there's probably no need for concern, Gould said. Parents should not abruptly stop their child's medications, the three experts agreed. If you are worried, call the prescribing doctor and discuss the potential risks and benefits of the medications, because often the benefits will outweigh the risks. Asthma Drugs Get 'Precaution' Labeling for Possible Psychiatric Side Effects: FDA says users of Singulair and similar meds should watch for such problems The drugs in question include the blockbuster medication Singulair (montelukast), as well as Accolate (zafirlukast). Zyflo and Zyflo CR (zileuton), drugs in a class known as leukotriene synthesis inhibitors, are also included in the labeling change. "The reported neuropsychiatric events include post market cases of agitation, aggression, anxiousness, dream abnormalities and hallucinations, depression, insomnia, irritability, restlessness, suicidal thinking and behavior [including suicide], and tremor," the agency said. In its advice to patients, the FDA said that patients taking these medications should be aware of the potential hazard and talk to their doctor if some sort of neuropsychiatric problem occurs. Doctors may then decide to discontinue the medication, the agency said. FDA Issues Warning for Over-the-Counter Cold Remedy: Zicam nasal products can cause loss of smell, officials stress The specific products contained in the warning include Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, and Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs Kids' Size. "The loss of the sense of smell is potentially life-threatening and may be permanent," Dr. Charles E. Lee said. "People without the sense may not be able to detect dangerous situations such as gas leaks, something burning in the house, or if food is spoiled before eating it. It also has a life-limiting effect, and can affect the livelihood of people in occupations where the sense of smell or taste is a crucial component." Sepsis Treatment Offers Lifesaving Potential: Blood-cleansing therapy used in Japan warrants further study: researchers A device designed to filter bacteria-produced toxins from the blood of patients with severe sepsis or septic shock appears to improve blood circulation and organ function and lower the risk of death, a preliminary study suggests. Italian researchers tested whether using a polymyxin B fiber column -- an antibiotic-based hemoperfusion device -- with conventional therapy would improve patient outcomes. Polymyxin B is an antibiotic, and hemoperfusion is blood filtering to remove toxins. After 28 days, the death rate was 32 percent in the polymyxin B hemoperfusion group and 53 percent in the group that received conventional therapy alone. The therapy used in this study is common in Japan, but not in the United States. Heart Damage After Vascular Surgery Raises Death Risks: Screening is urged because many people have no symptoms, researchers say People who suffer heart damage after vascular surgery face a higher risk of dying within the next few years, even if they show no symptoms of heart problems, a new study has found. Lack of symptoms is common, according to the researchers. "It is estimated that one out of five patients undergoing major vascular surgery suffers cardiac damage around the time of the operation if patients are appropriately screened in the first week after surgery," Dr. Olaf Schouten added. After adjusting for the type of surgery and known risk factors such as diabetes, heart failure and heart attacks, people with cardiac damage had more than twice the risk of dying in the years shortly after surgery. Psoriasis Raises Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke, Death: Inflammation looks like common thread, researcher says The research found a 78 percent higher incidence of heart disease, a 70 percent higher incidence of stroke and a 98 percent higher incidence of peripheral arterial disease (blockage of arteries in the legs) in the psoriasis group. The overall death rate for those with psoriasis was 86 percent higher than for those without the disease. The risk appears to stem from the chronic inflammation associated with psoriasis, said Dr. Robert S. Kirsner. "This systemic inflammation causes damage to blood vessels, leading to increased risk," he said. The medical lesson of the study is that "it is critical for people who have psoriasis to understand their increased risk and have their other risk factors addressed," he said. New Anticoagulant Pill Works Well in Trial: Lower doses safe and effective after heart attack and stroke The new anti-clotting pill rivaroxaban (Xarelto) lowers the risk of stroke, heart attack and death in patients who have had a heart attack or suffer from unstable angina, a new trial shows. There was an increase in bleeding episodes with rivaroxaban. Over six months, the researchers found that risk increased with dosage. However, patients receiving rivaroxaban had a 21 percent reduction in heart attacks, strokes, ischemic events and deaths compared with patients taking placebo. For heart attack, stroke and death alone, the risk was reduced by 31 percent compared with placebo, the researchers found. Dr. Richard C. Becker said this study is another step in the search for an anti-clotting drug to replace warfarin for many patients. Cornflakes, White Bread Could Boost Heart Risk: 'High-glycemic' carbs like these hamper blood vessel function, study shows Eating a diet rich in carbohydrates that boost blood sugar levels -- foods such as cornflakes or white bread -- may hamper the functioning of your blood vessels and raise your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, a new study suggests. Low-glycemic index foods include oatmeal, most fruits and vegetables, legumes and nuts. White bread, cornflakes and instant potatoes are high-glycemic indexes. The higher the glycemic index, the more that food raises blood sugar levels. "The main take-home message is that high-glycemic index carbs are dangerous since they reduce or inhibit endothelial function, which is the 'risk of the risk factors,' leading to atherosclerosis and potentially leading to heart disease," Dr. Michael Shechter said. Torn Surgical Gloves Put Patients at Risk for Infection: Giving antibiotics before operation might improve safety, study finds Sterile gloves worn by surgical staff can be perforated by needles, bone fragments and sharp surgical instruments. In surgeries where antibiotics were used, glove perforation wasn't associated with surgical site infection. Among patients who didn't receive antibiotics, surgical site infection rates were 12.7 percent when glove perforation occurred and 2.9 percent when there was no glove perforation. "The advantages of this surgical site infection prevention strategy, however, must be balanced against the costs and adverse effects of the prophylactic antimicrobials, such as drug reactions or increased bacterial resistance," Dr. Heidi Misteli and colleagues concluded. The study authors noted that procedures to reduce the risk of glove perforation -- such as double gloving and replacing gloves more frequently --are effective and safe and should be encouraged. June 5, 2009 to June 12, 2009Health Highlights **FDA: Don't Use Clarcon Skin Products. **Controversial Chelation Study Enrolling New Participants. **Diabetes Screenings Could Lower Medical Costs. **Infection-Control Programs Suffering, Hospitals Report. **Cancer Patients Still Taking Antioxidant Supplements Despite Concerns. **Kids and Concussions: Guidelines Stir Controversy. **Gum Disease Care Helps Arthritis. **Puerto Rico Has High HIV Infection Rate. **Big Differences Among States in Drug Abuse, Mental Illness. **EPA Investigating Safety of Rubber Playgrounds, Sports Fields. Some OTC Sleep, Cold Meds Could Harm Aging Brain: Drugs containing benadryl linked to slowed thinking, delirium, and risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease in elderly These drugs include Benadryl, Dramamine, Excedrin PM, Nytol, Sominex, Tylenol PM and Unisom. All of these over-the-counter (OTC) drugs contain benadryl (diphenhydramine), a molecule that blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. "Any OTC medication with the term 'PM' will indicate the presence of benadryl, which is bad for the brain," Dr. Malaz Boustani concluded. He noted that the effects of benadryl can add up, so the more medications you take that contain benadryl the worse it may be for cognition. "There is a relationship with the number of medications and the burden on your aging brain," the researcher said. In addition, taking these medications for 90 days or more may triple your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, Boustani said. Studies Report More Harmful Effects From BPA: Chemical in plastics may hurt heart and fertility, researchers say More potentially harmful health effects have been discovered for the chemical bisphenol A, found in clear plastic bottles and other everyday items, according to several new animal studies. Not only are humans probably being exposed to generally unsafe levels of BPA, as the chemical is commonly called, but it could be causing arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats, research shows. That could be especially problematic for women, who may be at higher risk for this type of cardiac threat. In addition, other researchers say that they have found the mechanism by which BPA, a synthetic hormone with estrogen-like properties, might affect later fertility of babies whose mothers were exposed to the chemical. WHO Readies to Declare Swine Flu Pandemic: Emergency meeting on Thursday may be last step, health officials say The World Health Organization was set on Thursday to declare the first influenza pandemic since 1968, due to the H1N1 virus' rapid spread in North America, Australia, South America, Europe and regions beyond, health officials said. According to the latest WHO data, there are now 27,737 reported cases of swine flu infection across 74 countries, including 141 deaths. That includes 13,217 cases and 27 deaths reported as of last Friday in the United States by officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the vast majority of infections and deaths have occurred in Mexico (the source of the outbreak) and the United States, person-to-person transmission in now being reported in Australia and Chile, as well as Great Britain, Spain and Japan, according to published reports. Longer Hormone Treatment May Improve Prostate Cancer Outlook: European and U.S. studies find similar results Men with moderately advanced prostate cancer who get hormone-blocking drugs after radiation therapy do better when the drug treatment is continued for two or more years after an initial six-month regimen, a European study has found. The results pretty much mirror those of a similar American trial reported in May, said Dr. Eric M. Horwitz. "We have long believed that longer-term hormone therapy is the standard of care," Horwitz said. "These studies support that belief." The results apply to men whose cancer shows signs of growth but has not spread beyond the prostate gland -- perhaps a quarter of all cases of prostate cancer, Horwitz said. Drugs Best First Defense Against Heart Disease for Diabetics: Study finds medicines typically do as well as surgery, especially in less severe cases Drugs should be the first line of treatment for diabetics who are also battling heart disease, a new study finds. Only if further steps are deemed necessary should invasive interventions such as angioplasty or bypass surgery be added, the experts said. The issue is crucial to millions of Americans, since diabetes is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease and stroke. New Diabetes Drug Shows Promise in Trial: Liraglutide mimics effects of a natural hormone, researchers say In the new phase III trial -- usually the last kind done before marketing approval is sought -- injecting liraglutide once daily showed greater benefits in terms of blood sugar control and appeared to be easier on patients than Byetta, which is injected twice a day. Patients taking liraglutide also lost more weight during the 26-week trial than those taking Byetta. "The results suggest that liraglutide might be a treatment option for type 2 diabetes, especially when weight loss and risk of hypoglycemia are major considerations," wrote a team led by Dr. John Buse. May 29, 2009 to June 5, 2009Health Highlights **FDA to Review BPA-Safety Decision. **Where Eating Will Kill Your Diet: Restaurant Awards. **Curry May Protect Against Alzheimer's. **FDA Approves First Cancer Drug for Dogs. **FDA to Warn of Antidepressants' Impact on Tamoxifen. **Experts Concerned About Popularity of Electronic Cigarettes. **FDA Approves Reclast Use Once Every Two Years. **Low Glycogen Linked to Drinking-Related Violence. **Malaria Showing Signs of Drug Resistance. **Deadly New Virus Identified in Africa. Sedatives Greatly Increase Suicide Risk Among Elderly: Doctors should carefully screen older patients before prescribing, researcher says In their study, hypnotic medication also was linked with a greater likelihood of suicides in older people. "Sedative treatment was associated with an almost 14-fold increase of suicide risk in the crude analysis and remained an independent risk factor for suicide even after adjustment for the presence of mental disorders," wrote Anders Carlsten. The drugs may increase suicide risk in the elderly by triggering aggressive or impulsive behavior, or by providing the means to take an overdose, the researchers said. It's also possible that sedatives may merely be markers for other factors related to suicide. However, given the extremely high prescription rates for these drugs, a careful evaluation of the suicide risk should always precede prescribing a sedative or hypnotic to an elderly individual," Carlsten said. Mini-Stroke Can Mean Major One Within Hours: If full-blown stroke occurs, it often comes within a day, study shows About half the people who have a major stroke soon after a less serious brain event, such as a transient ischemic attack or "mini-stroke," do so within 24 hours of the minor event. The message here for people who have a TIA is to "seek medical attention immediately, particularly if you have either weakness or speech disturbance that lasts more than 10 minutes," said Dr. Peter M. Rothwell. "Don't wait until the next day -- it may be too late," he said. "For the emergency department, TIA patients should not be sent right home but should be kept for observation and tested,"Dr. Howard S. Kirshner said. "They can be sent home if the tests are negative and they already are started on a secondary stroke prevention regimen." Window for Stroke Treatment Opens Wider: Clot-busting drug found effective 4.5 hours after symptoms begin A new analysis showing that a potent clot-dissolving drug can safely be used to treat strokes four-and-a-half hours after symptoms begin has prompted a change in a current recommendation, which set a three-hour deadline for the medication's use. The review of 1,622 cases of people treated with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in four separate studies finds that the benefit in keeping brain cells alive outweighs the risk of brain-damaging bleeding when the drug is given up to 4.5 hours after first symptoms. But tPA should not be used beyond the three-hour limit in a number of cases, the advisory committee said -- people aged 80 and older, those having a severe stroke, those with a history of stroke and diabetes and those taking clot-preventing drugs such as Coumadin. "Time lost is brain lost," Dr. Jeffrey L. Saver said. "Every minute, 2 million neurons die. FDA Report Urges Tougher Acetaminophen Warning: The risk of overdose, and potential liver damage, is still too high, agency says A new agency report that calls for stronger warnings, better consumer education, and limits on doses for both prescription acetaminophen and over-the-counter acetaminophen, best known as Tylenol. Part of the problem is that severe liver damage can result from a lack of consumer awareness that acetaminophen can cause such injury. Also, many people may take more than the recommended dose of over-the-counter pain relievers in the mistaken belief that taking more will be more effective against pain without posing health risks. And consumers may not know that acetaminophen is present in many over-the-counter products, including remedies for colds, headaches and fevers, making it possible to exceed the recommended acetaminophen dose. Stimulant Chewing Gum Can Be Dangerous for Kids: Case report details how two packs sent 13-year-old to hospital Stimulant chewing gum can be dangerous if used excessively by children and teens, warn doctors who wrote a case report about a teenage boy who was hospitalized after chewing a large amount of the caffeine-containing gum. The use of stimulant chewing gum should be considered in cases of caffeine intoxication. The risk of intoxication is high in children and teenagers in view of general caffeine-naivety, and the unrestricted sale of these substances," the authors concluded. Some Antidepressants May Thwart Tamoxifen's Effect on Breast Cancer: Women should seek alternatives to SSRIs for hot flashes, studies suggest Common antidepressants that many breast cancer survivors use to dampen the hot flashes caused by taking tamoxifen may actually boost the odds of the disease's return, new research warns. A second study found that the antidepressants did not impair tamoxifen's cancer-fighting powers. Nevertheless, authors from both reports are recommending that women who have had breast cancer explore other ways to treat hot flashes. Chemo Alone Is Best for Advanced Colon Cancer: Better drugs have rendered surgery unnecessary in most cases, study finds Surgery is no longer the best treatment option for most patients with advanced colorectal cancer that has spread to other organs, a new study suggests. Immediate colon resection (surgical removal) following diagnosis of stage IV metastatic colorectal cancer had previously been the standard procedure, followed by chemotherapy several weeks after the operation. However, "if the colon tumor is not causing obstruction, perforation or bleeding, we've found these patients are best treated with chemotherapy. By moving straight to chemotherapy, patients can avoid the risk of surgical complications and can start treatment for all sites of disease without delay," said study author Philip Paty. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Drug Combo Proves Powerful Against Lung Cancer: Study finds better outcome for advanced non-small cell malignancies A two-drug combination treatment proved successful in safely slowing advanced non-small cell lung cancer in a recent clinical trial. In the study, a phase 3 trial involving 768 people with the disease, those who had erlotinib (Tarceva) added to their dose of the bevacizumab (Avastin) saw the progression of the disease slow more than if on bevacizumab alone. People on the combo therapy tolerated the drugs well and survived an average of 4.8 months before the disease grew worse, compared with 3.7 months for those on bevacizumab alone. Knowing which patients will get the greatest benefit from this combination, based on the identification of biomarkers, will be an important next step in this research," said Dr. Vincent Miller. Two Drugs Safe for Rare Forms of Kidney Cancer: Early trial suggests efficacy against malignancies that don't respond to other drugs Using a combination of the drugs temsirolimus (Torisel) and Bryostatin appears to be safe in patients with metastatic kidney cancer, according to early data from 25 patients in a phase 1 trial. The early data suggests the drugs may be active in patients with rare forms of renal cell cancer that are less likely to respond to other therapies. "Patients with non-clear cell renal cell cancer, including papillary renal cancer, don't respond as well to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as sunitinib [Sutent] and sorafenib [Nexavar], as patients with clear cell renal cell. So there is an unmet need for therapy for these patients. We've seen that this combination may be active to some degree for them," Dr. Elizabeth Plimack said. Heart Drug Combos Raise Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Specialists should consider risks vs. benefits, researcher says The combinations include anticoagulant-antiplatelet (ACAP), aspirin-antiplatelet (ASAP), aspirin-anticoagulant (ASAC) or TRIP (aspirin-anticoagulant-antiplatelet). Patients prescribed ASAP and ASAC drug combinations were two and a half times more likely to suffer an upper gastrointestinal event than those not taking the drugs. The fewest upper GI problems occurred among people taking ACAP. The greatest risk came from TRIP, which correlated with a fourfold increased risk of an upper GI event. Younger patients -- those between 60 and 69 years old -- were at the highest risk. That age group was most likely to take the TRIP drug-combo because of a likelier history of ischemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and peripheral artery disease. Two Drugs Better Than One for Crohn's Patients: Remission rates higher with combination therapy, study finds Crohn's disease patients who received a combination of the drugs infliximab (Remicade) and azathioprine (Azasan) were more likely to have the disease go into steroid-free remission than those who received only one of the drugs, researchers say. After 50 weeks, 72.2 percent of patients who'd received the infliximab/azathioprine drug combination were in steroid-free remission, compared to 60.8 percent who'd received infliximab alone and 54.7 percent who had taken azathioprine alone. TV Interferes With Infants' Language Development: More time watching the tube means less time learning to speak, researchers say Television reduces verbal interaction between parents and infants, which could delay children's language development, says a U.S. study that challenges claims that certain infant-targeted DVDs actually benefit youngsters. "Given the critical role that adult caregivers play in children's linguistic development, whether they talk to their child while the screen is on may be critical and explain the effects that are attributed to content or even amount of television watched," the team wrote. "That is, whether parents talk less (or not at all) during some types of programs or at some times of the day may be as important in this age group as what is being watched." May 22, 2009 to May 29, 2009Health Highlights **No Decline in Pregnant Women's Alcohol Use: CDC. **Japanese Women Have Longest Life Expectancy: WHO. **Costly Hospital Care Doesn't Guarantee Better-Quality Care: Study. **Court Rules 'Light' Cigarettes Duped Smokers. **BPA From Bottles Shows Up in Urine: Study. **Illinois Company Recalls Ground Beef. **FDA Issues TV Drug Ad Guidelines. **Test for Early Alzheimer's Moving Forward. Advanced Prostate Cancer Deadlier in Younger Men: Patients under 44 were three times more likely to die, study finds "Overall, young men with prostate cancer do quite well, although the young men that have more advanced prostate cancers did substantially worse than old men with similar forms of the disease," said Dr. Daniel W. Lin. "Really young men, those 35 to 44, have worse cancers," Freedland said. "This is not a group of men where we typically screen for prostate cancer. The percentage of metastatic disease is higher than for any other group. This is a failure of early diagnosis." So for physicians treating prostate cancer, "our message is that younger men with high-grade cancers do very poorly, and when you find one, be aware that it should be treated aggressively and with experimental methods if necessary," Lin said. Drug May Lessen Amputation Risk for Diabetics: Researchers suggest that findings could alter treatment methods The risk of a first amputation was 36 percent lower among people taking fenofibrate than those taking the placebo. The study also found that people in the fenofibrate group had a 47 percent lower risk of amputations below the ankle and without large-vessel disease in the amputated limb. Height was found to be a major predictor of amputations, with a 1.6-fold increase for every additional 10 centimeters in height. "These findings could lead to a change in standard treatment for the prevention of diabetes-related lower-limb amputations," they concluded, adding that the results "showed a reduction in amputation rates that seemed to emerge after just 1.5 years of fenofibrate use." Strict Blood Sugar Control Lowers Heart Risks in Diabetics: It prevents many complications of chronic disease, experts say Diabetics who strictly control their blood sugar levels also reduce their risk of heart attack and cardiovascular disease, British researchers report. The implications are enormous, Dr. Kausik Ray said. "There have been claims recently by doctors that lowering glucose to less than 7 percent could be harmful. We disprove that in the largest study to date," he said. Those whose blood sugar was strictly controlled saw a 17 percent reduction in non-fatal heart attacks, and a 15 percent reduction in events associated with heart disease, the researchers found. Another report found that pregnant women who develop gestational diabetes have a seven-and-a-half times increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes after giving birth. Low Vitamin D Levels May Initiate Cancer Development: Study suggests loss of communication among cells tied to this nutritional deficit "The first event in cancer is loss of communication among cells due to, among other things, low vitamin D and calcium levels," said Cedric Garland. Garland and colleagues developed a scientific model that suggests "this loss may play a key role in cancer by disrupting the communication between cells that is essential to healthy cell turnover, allowing more aggressive cancer cells to take over." Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D may help stop cancer development, Garland suggested. He noted that appropriate vitamin D levels can be restored and maintained through diet and supplements. Garland recommended that people get their vitamin D levels tested during annual check-ups. Vitamin D May Help Keep Aging at Bay: Researchers speculate that brain might benefit from supplements The study authors found that high circulating vitamin D levels were associated with high scores on memory and information-processing tests, while low vitamin D levels were associated with poor scores. The exact link between circulating vitamin D levels and mental agility isn't clear, but it's possible that vitamin D increases certain hormonal activity or protects neurons and chemical-signaling pathways, according to the researchers. If vitamin D supplements can help reduce the effects of aging on the brain, the health implications could be significant because many people, particularly the elderly, are vitamin D-deficient, the researchers pointed out. Statins Can Help Prevent Second Stroke: New study strengthens prior research on the cholesterol-lowering drugs The 10-year study of nearly 800 people who had strokes found a 35 percent lower incidence of second strokes and a 57 percent lower death rate among those who took statins compared to those who didn't. But Dr. Sotirios Giannopolous stressed that the cholesterol-lowering activity of a statin may not be the prime cause of related reductions in stroke. "Statins have anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects," he said, "and [they] also prevent blood clotting and stabilize plaque in the arteries. So, one of these mechanisms may help to prevent recurrent stroke." May 15, 2009 to May 22, 2009Health Highlights **Green Tea Chemical Thwarts HIV Transmission. **New MRSA Strain Can Be Lethal to Flu Patients. **Federal, State Governments Join Lawsuits Against Wyeth. **Little Progress Made in Preventing Medical Errors. **More Americans Pro-Life: Survey. **Injectable Risperdal Approved for Bipolar Disorder. **Later Retirement May Delay Dementia. **Lower-Tar Cigarettes May Increase Risk of Type of Lung Cancer. **U.S. Prescription Drug Use Falls for 1st Time in Decade. **CDC Offers Tips to Prevent Summer Pool Chemical Injuries. Immune Therapy May Aid Kids With Neuroblastoma: Researchers praise new treatment for deadly cancer The new immune-based treatment -- called chimeric anti-GD2 antibody ch14.18 -- targets a key sugar-and-fat molecule lying on neuroblastoma cells called GD2. Left alone, the molecule inhibits the immune system from attacking the cancer cells. But the new antibody binds to GD2, encouraging such attacks, the researchers explained. After two years, the number of participants who had survived without a relapse reached 66 percent in the immunotherapy groups, compared with 46 percent among those who did not get the new treatment. Overall survival after two years reached 86 percent in the immunotherapy cohort and 75 percent among those who got standard treatment. Study Reiterates Eye Risks Linked to Flomax: Men should be aware of dangers if taking prostate drug, experts say Men taking Flomax to treat an enlarged prostate face more than double the risk for serious complications should they need cataract surgery. The problems were not found to the same extent among men taking other alpha-blockers, said the lead researcher, Dr. Chaim M. Bell. Whether stopping the drug before cataract surgery would reduce the risk of complications is not clear, he said. But before taking Flomax, people should be made aware of the risks, including the risk associated with cataract surgery, Dr. Chaim M. Bell said. In addition, he said, surgeons need to know if a patient is taking Flomax so that the procedure can be adjusted to take the risks into account. "A better system needs to be in place to better identify patients taking Flomax so that surgeons can best prepare during the operation," he said. Risk to Baby Rises With Repeat C-Sections: Procedure doubles odds for intensive care compared to vaginal birth newborns, researchers say Babies delivered by elective, repeat cesarean section delivery are nearly twice as likely to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) than those born vaginally after the mother has previously had a c-section, a new study finds. These c-section babies are also more likely to have breathing problems requiring supplemental oxygen, the researchers say. "The decision to have your first c-section is very important," he said. "There should be a clear medical indication [because] your first may dictate subsequent [delivery methods]," said Dr. Alan Fleischman. Women also need to know that vaginal delivery is possible for many women who have already undergone a c-section, Fleischman said. Some hospitals do not allow vaginal delivery after a prior c-section, so he suggested finding out early what a hospital's policy is. Implanted Defibrillators Boost Long-Term Survival: Heart patients gained an extra year of life over 8 years of follow-up, study finds After eight years of follow-up, 61 percent of patients without an ICD had died of any cause, compared to 45 percent of those with the implanted device. The 16 percent jump in survival equals an average gain in life span of 1.2 years over the eight-year period, the team said. Long-term effectiveness of the devices was enhanced among patients who received some left ventricular pacing and among those who did not go on to develop heart failure, the researchers added. Drug Combo Keeps Kidney Artery-Vein Grafts Viable: Aspirin plus anti-clotting therapy boosts dialysis patients' quality of life, study says A combination of aspirin and the anti-clotting drug dipyridamole reduces blockages and extends the useful life of new artery-vein access grafts used for kidney dialysis, new research has found. "Our trial results show that we now have a drug therapy that significantly prolongs the viability of AV grafts. This is an important step forward as we proceed to develop therapies to improve dialysis patients' quality of life," said lead author Dr. Bradley S. Dixon. The researchers found that the combination treatment decreased the rate of loss of primary unassisted graft patency (the useful life of a graft before it's blocked for the first time) by 18 percent and the rate of developing significant stenosis by 28 percent. New Spray Could Benefit Cystic Fibrosis Patients: Airways remained clear and moist in studies, researcher says A new aerosol spray may help keep the airways of cystic fibrosis patients moist and clear, researchers say. In cystic fibrosis, a genetic defect causes the airway to absorb sodium, and therefore moisture, too quickly. When the airway is too dry, the body can't clear mucus, a key defense mechanism of the respiratory system, Andrew Hirsh said. This deficiency can cause cystic fibrosis patients to have chronic respiratory infection and impaired lung function, he explained. "The potency and the length of time that the drug was effective in cells and in animal studies was an outstanding feature that distinguishes this compound from other agents," he said. An Aid to Tailoring Prostate Cancer Treatment: Study identifies factors to help decide how aggressive therapy should be Four risk factors that can help predict how long men could survive with metastatic prostate cancer have been identified by researchers from the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, who say such information would help doctors individualize treatments. "There is a need for identification of accurate and simple-to-use prognostic factors for men with prostate cancer that has spread beyond the prostate," said Andrew Armstrong. The researchers found four risk factors that predicted how well someone would respond to treatment: The presence of cancer-related pain; Anemia; How extensively the cancer has spread to other organs; and The progression of cancer in bone. Glucose Control Pays Long-Term Benefits for Diabetics: Analysis shows even small improvements may prevent eye, kidney and nerve damage For diabetics, the key to managing their disease is keeping their blood glucose levels at a normal, low level. But new studies show just how important this is when it comes to avoiding the complications of the disease, which can include eye, kidney and nerve damage. "Our results show that the risk of complications 10 to 15 years after the start of treatment probably decreases significantly following even small improvements in blood glucose control," said physician Marcus Lind. "If the treatment of all Swedish diabetes patients could be even slightly improved, we believe that tens of thousands of cases of injuries to the eyes, kidneys, heart, nerves and brain could be prevented." New Insights Show Ginseng Fights Inflammation Scientists spot anti-inflammatory components in the traditional remedy Ginseng has been used in medicine for centuries, and now its reputation for improving health is expanding: A new study has found that the herb, which is used in traditional Chinese and other Asian medicine, fights inflammation. The NIH notes that traditional and modern uses of ginseng include: Improving the health of people who are recovering from an illness; Increasing a person's sense of well-being and stamina, and improving both mental and physical performance; Treating erectile dysfunction, hepatitis C and symptoms related to menopause; and Lowering blood glucose and controlling blood pressure. May 8, 2009 to May 15, 2009Health Highlights **Kids' Face Paint Product May Be Contaminated, FDA Warns. **Medicare Says It Won't Pay for Virtual Colonoscopies. **Many Americans Struggling to Control Diabetes. **Lawsuit Challenges Practice of Gene Patenting. **FDA Probes 2 Delaware Deaths That May Be Linked to Heparin. **FDA Challenges Cheerios Health Claims: General Mills quick to respond that the science of its claims is not in question. **Cervarix Induces Stronger Immune Response Than Gardasil. **West Nile Test Produced False-Positive Results. Consider TIAs [Mini-Strokes] an Emergency, Groups Urge: Experts say risk of full-blown stroke is higher than once thought "Mini-strokes" should be treated with the same urgency as a full-blown stroke, urges the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. That's because the risk of a major stroke after a warning stroke, known as a transient ischemic attacks (TIA), is higher than previously thought. The statement notes that 10 percent to 15 percent of people who have a TIA have a major stroke within three months, and half of those strokes occur within 48 hours of the TIA. FDA Orders Label Warning for Testosterone Gels: Men who use the medications must be sure none rubs off on children, agency says Accidental pediatric exposures to the gels can occur when the "consumer forgets to wash their hands or forgets to cover a treated area, and then has close contact with the child, or may have not waited for their skin to dry and then picks up a child," said Dr. Dianne Murphy. Over time, these exposures can lead to premature and/or abnormal development of male characteristics in both boys and girls, the FDA said. The two affected prescription medications are AndroGel 1%, made by Solvay Pharmaceuticals, and Testim 1%, made by Auxilium Pharmaceuticals. These are currently the only topical gel drugs approved by the FDA to address an insufficient or total lack of testosterone production among men. And they added that women should not use either gel even though about 25,000 of the AndroGel prescriptions in 2007 were dispensed to women. Older Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer Do Better After Standard Chemotherapy Than They Do With The Oral Drug Capecitabine (Xeloda) Women taking capecitabine were roughly twice as likely to have a relapse of their cancer or die, the researchers found. Three years after treatment, 85 percent of women who received standard chemotherapy were alive and cancer-free compared with 68 percent of the women who received capecitabine, the team found. "This is a critical trial for two reasons," Dr. Nancy Davidson said. "It demonstrates that properly selected older women, who comprise the vast majority of patients with breast cancer, can benefit from state of the art chemotherapy just as younger women do. Thus, age alone should not be a reason to withhold chemotherapy," she said. "It also demonstrates, yet again, that multi-agent chemotherapy gives better results than single agent chemotherapy for early breast cancer," Davidson said. Too-Low Blood Pressure Can Also Bring Danger: What's OK for the kidney and brain may not be best for the heart, expert says While too-high blood pressure is a clear hazard for most people, too-low pressure can apparently be a threat in some cases as well. When the results were in, the lowest rate of deaths and major coronary problems such as heart disease was seen not in the participants with the lowest blood pressure but in those slightly to the right on the curve, with a reading of 139.9 for systolic pressure (the reading when the heart contracts) and 79.2 for diastolic pressure. "If you treat people with coronary artery disease for hypertension, you don't want to go too low, to diastolic pressure below about 70," said Dr. Alan H. Gradman. "That's the take-home message here." New Guidelines Recommend Opioids for Seniors' Pain: NSAID use for persistent aches needs to be curbed, Geriatrics Society says The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or cox-2 inhibitors to treat persistent pain in seniors should be drastically reduced. The original guidelines recommended the use of over-the-counter or prescription NSAIDs and cox-2 inhibitors such as aspirin or ibuprofen before seniors were prescribed an opioid drug to treat persistent pain. But this is a risky strategy in older patients, because the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and other risks posed by the drugs often outweigh the benefits, the authors of the new guidelines said. They said NSAIDs and cox-2 inhibitors should be used rarely, and with extreme caution, in highly selected patients. Early Exercise Boosts Outcomes for ICU Patients: Interrupting sedation for daily physiotherapy led to better post-discharge function, study finds The team tracked patients after discharge for signs of "independent functional status" -- the ability to walk unaided and carry out six tasks of daily living. According to the Chicago researchers, 59 percent of those who got the early exercise achieved that functional milestone over four weeks of follow-up, compared to 35 percent in the standard care group. Early physical therapy also cut the rate of delirium episodes in half and reduced the number of days in which patients required a ventilator. Weakness and neuropsychiatric disease are often complications of the immobilization caused by long-term sedation in the ICU. 3-Drug Combo Reduces Nausea After Chemo: Study finds adding casopitant mesylate to regimen cuts side effects The addition of the drug casopitant mesylate (CM) to the conventional two-drug regimen of dexamethasone and ondansetron greatly reduces chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients undergoing highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC), a new study concludes. HEC is used to treat many types of solid tumor cancers, including colorectal and pancreatic cancer. The study found that 86 percent of patients in the single oral CM group and 80 percent of those in the intravenous plus oral CM group achieved a complete response (no vomiting, retching or use of rescue medications) for the first 120 hours after their first cycle of HEC treatment, compared with 66 percent of patients in the placebo group. May 1, 2009 to May 8, 2009Health Highlights **Once-Weekly Diabetes Drug Submitted for FDA Approval. **Zinc/Copper Supplements May Not Curb Diarrhea: Study. **Secondhand Smoke Lowers Kids' Antioxidant Levels: Study. **Ranbaxy Announces U.S. Recall of Antibiotic. **FDA OKs Avastin as Brain Cancer Tumor Treatment. **FDA Backs Drug That Controls Blood Sugar Via the Brain. **Workouts Benefit Lung Cancer Patients: Study. **Seattle Company Recalls Salads. **Jardine Cribs Recalled Due to Breaking Slats. **Teen Smokers Have Low Quit Rates: Study. Anemia Drugs May Raise Death Risk in Cancer Patients: Latest findings support recent label warnings for Procrit, Aranesp, experts say Two new studies provide more evidence that drugs such as Procrit and Aranesp, often used by cancer patients to fight anemia-linked fatigue, may boost the risk of death and serious adverse events such as blood clots. These drugs, called erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), have also been associated in prior studies with increased risk of heart attack, stroke and tumor growth. Dr. Anthony Reiman said his team is "supporting other groups that are recommending great caution in using these drugs for cancer patients, and in routine circumstances they may not be indicated. We hope the drugs would still be made available for people for whom transfusion isn't a good option -- but those are very limited circumstances." "The message is clear: There is a safety concern that's real and significant," Dr. Charles Bennett said. FDA Mandates New Warnings for Botox: Reports of deaths among people using popular anti-wrinkle injections such as Botox to treat muscle spasms have prompted a change in labeling. Most cases involved children given the drug to control muscle spasticity associated with cerebral palsy and adults using it to treat muscle spasticity, migraines and cervical dystonia. Other side effects include muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, loss of bladder control and pneumonia. Some people have required feeding tubes. None of the cases so far reported have been associated with use of botulinum products in cosmetic or dermatological procedures, such as clearing furrows between the eyebrows, according to the FDA. The injections, which temporarily "paralyze" muscles, are intended to have a localized effect but can pose problems if the compound spreads to other parts of the body. Plavix, Heartburn Drugs May Be Risky Combination: Patients with stents should discuss the use of these meds with their doctor, cardiac group says Anyone who takes the clot-preventing drug Plavix after receiving a stent in a coronary artery-opening procedure should avoid popular heartburn medications called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), if possible, a group of heart experts now say. PPIs include blockbuster acid reflux medications such as Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec. The problem, according to experts is that the combination of Plavix and a PPI increases the user's risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular problems. Irregular Heartbeat During Angioplasty Could Raise Death Risk: It tripled the 3-month odds among heart attack patients, study found People treated for heart attack who experience abnormal heart rhythms during artery-opening procedures such as angioplasty may be at increased risk of death. Patients who experienced these cardiac arrhythmias during the procedure had about triple the odds of dying within 90 days as those whose hearts beat normally. Another important finding of the study was that "most deaths occur very early in this population," Dr. Rajendra H. Mehta said. "Most deaths occur in the first 30 days. Most cardiologists now believe that episodes of abnormal heart rhythm during PCI are not important, he added. The new findings could change that attitude. Cholesterol Drugs May Help in Cardiac Emergency: A dose of a statin in time of crisis improved long-term outcomes, study found The one-year risk of death or major heart problems was more than halved for people suffering life-threatening episodes of acute coronary syndrome who received the drugs, compared to those who didn't, cardiologists at the Na Homolce Hospital in Prague reported. After one year, 10 of the 78 people (about 13 percent) who took the statin had died or suffered a major coronary problem, such as a heart attack or recurrent angina, compared to just under 27 percent (21 of 78) of those who didn't receive the drug. Only about 18 percent of those who received statins had problems requiring hospitalization during the follow-up period, compared to nearly 44 percent of those not taking the medication. The major benefit noted in the Czech study was a nearly two-thirds reduction in angina. Delivering Chemo Directly Into Brain Tumors Shows Promise: Survival times for those with malignant gliomas increased, study found With the new method, researchers inserted catheters carrying the chemotherapy drug Topotecan (Hycamtin) directly into the tumors of 16 patients with recurrent malignant gliomas. The patients who received the Topotecan had a median survival of 59 weeks, although a few patients lived much longer. The median time to tumor progression was 20 weeks, and 77 percent of patients survived for at least six months. "Those numbers are better than any treatment for recurrent gliomas we have now," said study author Dr. Jeffrey Bruce. The next step will be multi-center Phase 2 clinical trial, which will begin in the next two to three months, Bruce said. Urine Test Predicts Vein Clot Risk: Those with elevated albumin levels were more likely to get DVT, pulmonary embolisms A higher-than-normal level of the protein albumin in urine indicates an increased risk of dangerous blood clots in the deep veins of the lungs and legs, a Dutch study finds. These venous thromboembolisms (VTEs) include deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a clotting in the lower extremities which gained recent notoriety when it occurred in passengers on long-haul flights. These clots can become dangerous if they travel to the lungs to produce a pulmonary embolism. The incidence of such clots was 40 percent higher for people with slightly elevated urine levels of albumin and more than twice as high for people with more elevated levels than for those with normal levels, after adjustment for known risk factors such as diabetes, the researchers found. Younger Age of More Severe Swine Flu Cases Worries Experts: Average age of those hospitalized in U.S. is 15, CDC says "We are seeing the same distribution in hospitalized patients as we are in milder cases in the community, and that's younger than what you would see in seasonal flu," Dr. Richard Besser said. "In seasonal flu you tend to see a predominance of burden of disease in the elderly and in the very young, and here we are seeing it more in the younger population." Why the more severe cases are skewing young remains unclear, he said, but it could be that younger people are getting sicker sooner, or older people may have some kind of built-in immunity. What health experts don't know is whether the never-before-seen virus will return, perhaps in a more dangerous form, when the regular flu season begins again late this year. Because the pathogen is a genetic mix of pig, bird and human flu strains, health officials are worried that humans may have no natural immunity to it. Swine Flu: A Primer Dr. Charles Ericsson, head of clinical infectious disease at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston, spoke to HealthDay about what scientists know right now about the swine flu outbreak. April 24, 2009 to May 1, 2009Health Highlights **Smoking, Secondhand Smoke Increase Breast Cancer Risk: Experts. **Morning Sickness Linked to Smarter Babies: Study. **Team IDs Bacteria That Use Toxins to Cause Infections. **Specialized Immune Cells Linked to Malaria: Study. **Group Wants New Term for Shaken Baby Syndrome. **Alfalfa Sprouts Linked to Salmonella Outbreak: FDA. **Taking Aspirin May Reduce Adults' Cancer Risk: Study. **Heart Rate Predicts Heart Attack Risk: Study. **FDA Says Recalled Nail Polish Can Cause Chemical Burns. **Libimax Sexual Supplements Recalled. WHO Raises Swine Flu Alert Signifying that a Pandemic is Imminent, and Urged Countries to Implement Their Pandemic Plans An estimated 170 deaths in Mexico are believed to have been caused by the never-before-seen virus, according to published reports. The new flu strain is a combination of pig, bird and human viruses, prompting worries from health officials that humans may have no natural immunity to the pathogen. Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said there were 91 confirmed cases of infection with the swine flu virus in 10 states, with the one death. Sixty-four percent of the cases involve people under age 18, but patients range in age from 8 to 81, he said. The Death Rate from the Swine Flu in Mexico (149 by late Monday) Hovers at about 7 Percent of the More Than 1,900 So Far Thought to be Infected -- A Percentage That's Alarmingly Higher Than the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic, Which is Thought to Have Killed About 2.5 Percent of Infected Persons Or An Estimated 20 million to 40 Million People Worldwide But this early in the outbreak, no one really knows the true extent of the Mexican outbreak, the experts noted, so that 7 percent figure might well be too high. FDA Adds New Label Warnings to Over-the-Counter Painkillers: Acetaminophen, NSAIDs can cause liver or stomach illness in certain situations, officials warn Manufacturers will have to include these warnings on all their over-the-counter products containing acetaminophen (best known as Tylenol), and on all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) drugs, according to new rules from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). NSAIDs include popular medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve) and Excedrin. The warnings also apply to any over-the-counter drug that contains acetaminophen and NSAIDs mixed with other drugs, Holman said. Drug May Help Against Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Study shows those who respond to lapatinib survive longer For patients resistant to conventional anthracycline or taxane and trastuzumab, treatment options are limited. Lapatinib inhibits HER2, a protein that's expressed much more in inflammatory breast cancer than in other, less aggressive breast cancers. "Patients who responded to treatment with lapatinib had a longer median overall survival than did those patients who did not respond, irrespective of previous exposure to trastuzumab," the researchers wrote. "Patients exposed to previous trastuzumab treatment who experienced a response to lapatinib had the longest median overall survival. This finding confirms the clinical benefit of targeted therapy in these patients." "Lapatinib monotherapy is potentially clinically effective in heavily pretreated patients with inflammatory breast cancer with HER2+ tumors," they said. New Treatment Combo Better Against Hepatitis C: Adding antiviral telaprevir increases cure rate, studies show The results show that, by using a triple combination of telaprevir, pegylated interferon and ribavirin for 12 weeks, followed by 12 weeks of pegylated interferon and ribavirin, a sustained viral eradication can be achieved in 69 percent of cases, whereas only 46 percent of patients receiving standard of care for 48 weeks achieve a cure, Pawlotsky said. "This is a breakthrough in HCV therapy," Dr. Jean-Michel Pawlotsky said. "For the very first time, almost 70 percent cure rates are reached." These findings open the way to an ongoing phase 3 trial, which could lead to the approval of this combination within the next two years, he said. "The triple combination could become the new standard of care," he noted. Statins Guard Against Prostate Cancer: Other studies found they also reduced chances of erectile dysfunction One study found that men who were taking statins before undergoing surgical removal of their prostate had a lower risk of having the cancer return. Another study found that men who were using statins prior to surgery had a significantly lower risk for inflammation within their prostate tumor," Dr. Lionel L. Banez said. In a third report, researchers led by Dr. Stacy Loeb, found statins may help in reducing the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. In a fourth report, researchers led by Dr. Rodney H. Breau, found that statins were associated with a lower risk of developing prostate cancer. In a fifth study, Mayo Clinic researchers found that statins and/or with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) resulted in fewer lower urinary tract symptoms related to an enlarged prostate. Drug Combo May Relieve MS Symptoms: Adding steroid drug methylprednisolone to multiple sclerosis treatment shows promise in study During the three-year study, the patients were assessed every three months. Those who took the steroid/interferon drug combination had 38 percent fewer relapses (episodes when the disease is active) than those who took the placebo and interferon, the study found. The patients in the steroid/interferon group also showed slight improvement on a test of MS disability, while those in the placebo/interferon group showed a slight decline. The Biogen Idec-supported study also found that MS-related brain lesions stayed the same size or shrank in the steroid/interferon group but grew larger in the placebo/interferon group. "This is a promising finding, as the benefit from interferon is only moderate, and not everyone responds fully to the treatment, so anything we can do to boost those results is positive," said study author Dr. Mads Ravnborg. Abnormal Heartbeat After Bypass a Bad Sign: Atrial fibrillation ups long-term risk of dying, researchers report People who develop the heartbeat abnormality called atrial fibrillation after heart bypass surgery are at increased long-term risk of dying. The report sounds a warning bell for doctors about an issue that has not been a matter of major concern, said Giovanni Filardo. "After this surgery, almost 50 percent of patients develop atrial fibrillation," Filardo said. "Historically, it has been regarded as a transient problem, and therefore surgeons have not paid too much attention to it." But data revealed a 29 percent higher death rate among those who did not have atrial fibrillation before the bypass but developed it after the procedure, he said. The 10-year mortality rate was 47.7 percent for those who developed postoperative atrial fibrillation, compared to 30.6 percent for those who did not. Too Few Screened for Abdominal Aneurysm, Study Says: Potentially life-threatening condition often goes undetected until rupture An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a weak area in the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. As blood passes through, the weakened area can bulge. Most abdominal aortic aneurysms initially have no symptoms but can be deadly if they rupture. Symptoms of a rupture include sudden and increasing back and abdominal pain. An estimated 1.5 million to 2 million Americans have this condition, but most are unaware of its potential threat to their lives, the researchers noted. In the study, the researchers found that only two of 43 people -- or 4.6 percent -- identified as being at risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm had received the proper screening. Guidelines recommend one-time screening of men 65 to 70 years old who have ever smoked. April 17, 2009 to April 24, 2009Health Highlights **Suicide Claims One Million Lives a Year: Study. **Surgical Gel May Mimic Signs of Early Breast Cancer: Study. **U.S. Waters Hold Millions of Pounds of Drug Ingredients: Analysis. **Vegan Women Have Healthy Bones: Study. **Cheap Vaccine Will Help Control Cholera. **Softball Windmill Pitch Linked to Shoulder Pain: Study. **Suicide Is A Major Threat Among U.S. College Students Who Report High Levels of Binge Drinking. **California Swine Flu Cases Investigated by CDC. **Avastin Has Little Impact in Colon Cancer Recurrence: Trial. Drug May Be Dangerous for Kids With Graves' Disease: Medication known as PTU can cause liver disease, experts say A recommendation to restrict the use of the antithyroid drug (PTU) in children has been endorsed by the Endocrine Society. Two experts wrote that PTU can cause severe liver disease in children and should no longer be used as a first-line treatment for children with Graves' disease. An estimated 40,000 children are treated for Graves' disease each year in the United States. If 40 percent of those children are treated with PTU, then as many as one to two of those children could develop severe liver disease that could lead to a liver transplant or death. "Even one excess death is too many if it can be prevented," the society said. It suggested that until more study was done, methimazole ought to be considered the preferred treatment for children. Binge Drinking May Damage Teens' Brains: 'White matter' impairment could mean a 10% decline in information recall, scientists say When teens go on a binge drinking episode, they may be doing serious damage to the sensitive "white matter" in their brain, a new MRI-based study suggests. This means that damage caused to the developing brain by bouts of heavy drinking could affect thinking and memory, even lowering school performance. "This is further evidence of the deleterious effects of heavy drinking on the developing adolescent brain," Dr. John R. Knight said. "There is a growing body of scientific evidence on alcohol-related neurotoxicity, as well as evidence that brain development continues well into the third decade of life," he said. "We strongly recommend not lowering the legal drinking age, as some well-intentioned -- but very misguided -- college presidents have recently advocated. We do not strive to deprive teens and young adults, only to protect their futures," he said. Breast-feeding a Boon to Mom's Heart: Nursing baby brings cardiovascular benefits decades later, study suggests "We found that the longer women breast-feed, the lower their risk of heart attacks, strokes or heart disease," said Dr. Eleanor Bimla Schwarz. It's well-established that breast-feeding can benefit infant health, yet just 11 percent of American mothers breast-feed exclusively for the first six months of their babies' lives. In addition to benefiting babies, breast-feeding can help women lose pregnancy weight, since breast-feeding helps women burn almost 500 extra calories a day. According to Schwarz, the reason breast-feeding may benefit women even many years later is because it "resets the body after pregnancy. There are certain hormonal and physiologic changes the body expects to go through after pregnancy and when those changes don't happen, that leaves certain body systems in a precarious way." Chemo Combo Shows Promise Against Ovarian Cancer: Lab-based study focused on certain types of malignancies Adding the drug dasatinib to a standard, two-drug chemotherapy regimen for treating ovarian cancer boosted the effectiveness of the drugs in laboratory tests, new research shows. Researchers at the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center added dasatinib, along with carboplatin and paclitaxel, to four types of ovarian cancer cells. "These findings indicate that we may be able to direct the use of a targeted therapy like dasatinib based on gene expression pathways in select ovarian cancers," said Dr. Deanna Teoh. Having Psoriasis Raises Risk of Diabetes, Hypertension: Researchers suspect chronic inflammation is common thread among all 3 conditions A new study lends more credence to a long-suspected connection between psoriasis, diabetes and hypertension. Researchers suspect the link may have to do with the chronic inflammation that is associated with all three conditions. Women with psoriasis turned out to have a 63 percent increased risk of developing diabetes and a 17 percent increased risk of developing high blood pressure, compared to women without psoriasis. Importantly, the connection between psoriasis and the other two conditions was independent of body-mass index, ruling out the possibility that obesity or metabolic syndrome might explain the phenomenon. Secondhand Cigarette Smoke, Wood Smoke and Cooking Oil Smoke Quickly Affect Blood Vessels: As little as 10 minutes of exposure changes cardiovascular function Cardiovascular function can be affected by as little as 10 minutes exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke and other air pollutants such as wood smoke and smoke from cooking oil, say U.S. researchers. The study confirmed previous research that has shown that smoke harms cardiovascular function and extended those findings by showing that this harm can occur with lower levels of smoke and shorter exposure times. "I was surprised we got statistically significant results with this low level of exposure. If we can detect these effects with smaller exposures, then the public health hazard from cigarettes and other particulate exposures may have been underestimated," study author Joyce McClendon Evans said. Melatonin May Ease Sleep Problems in Autistic Children: Small study finds over-the-counter melatonin reduces time to slumber Taking the melatonin increased sleep duration by 21 minutes, shortened sleep-onset latency by 28 minutes, and reduced sleep-onset time by 42 minutes, compared to the placebo. "Sleep-onset problems at the beginning of the night are very troublesome for children and their families. Sometimes children may take one to two hours to fall asleep, and often they disrupt the household during this time," Beth L. Goodlin-Jones said. Goodlin-Jones and colleagues noted that sleep problems occur in up to 89 percent of children with autism and 77 percent of children with FXS, an inherited form of mental impairment that's the most commonly known cause of autism. Charring Meat May Boost Risk of Pancreatic Cancer: Increases production of carcinogens thought to invite disease, study finds Meat-eaters who preferred their steak very well done were almost 60 percent more likely to get pancreatic cancer compared to those who ate steak less well done or did not eat steak. Those with highest intake had 70 percent higher risk than those with the lowest intake. Frying, grilling or barbecuing meat to the point of charring can form carcinogens, which do not form when meat is baked or stewed, explained Kristin Anderson. Anderson suggesting cooking meat thoroughly enough to kill bacteria but avoiding charring. The precursors of cancer-causing compounds can also be reduced by microwaving the meat for a few minutes and pouring off the juices before cooking it on the grill. April 10, 2009 to April 17, 2009Health Highlights **Thyroid Drug Can Cause Liver Failure in Children, Doctors Warn. **Stress During Pregnancy Increases Risk of Asthmatic Child: Study. **New Tests Better Identify Causes of Back Pain. **Sprouts Recalled After Positive Test for Listeria. **FDA Halts 2 Firms From Marketing Unapproved Cold Medications. **Poor Diabetes Control Affects Brain: Study. **Ethanol Raises Cost of Food Aid for Needy. **Prostate Cancer Drug Improves Patient Survival: Study. **New Drug Targets Alzheimer's-Related Protein. **C-Sections Increase in U.S: Analysis. **Home Birth Safe for Low-Risk Women: Study. **Homeopathic Meds May Ease Cancer Therapy Side Effects: Study. **Most Widely Used Brand Name Drug Prices Increase While Prices of Generic Drugs Decrease. **Brain Injuries Overdiagnosed in U.S. Troops: Army Psychiatrist. Epilepsy Drug Impairs Baby's Intelligence: When taken during pregnancy, valproate lowers IQ, study finds When a pregnant woman takes the epilepsy medication valproate, her child's intelligence may be lowered for at least three years, and possibly beyond, a new study suggests. "The take-away message from this study is that the danger of neurocognitive impairment is real with the use of valproic acid (valproate)," said Dr. Inna Vaisleib. "Not using valproic acid in women of childbearing age is a good idea, as approximately half of all pregnancies are unplanned," she said, adding that "epilepsy is common, and about one in 200 pregnant women are receiving anti-epileptic drugs." Vaisleib cautioned strongly against stopping any medications without first consulting a neurologist, because seizures can also be damaging to a growing fetus, as well as to the expectant mother. Radiation-Chemo Combo Boosts Lung Cancer Outcomes: Getting both simultaneously linked to longer survival, study concludes A study found that patients with stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer survived, on average, almost 16 months after diagnosis when given high-dose radiation and chemotherapy at the same time. This compares with an average of about seven months for those treated only with radiation and almost 15 months for those receiving radiation before chemotherapy. The difference becomes more pronounced when looking at five-year survival rates. More than 19 percent of those treated with concurrent radiation and chemotherapy in the study were still alive half a decade after diagnosis, compared with only 7.5 percent of those who had radiation followed by chemotherapy. "Our study shows chemotherapy helps, and high-dose radiation helps. But it's challenging to administer these treatments at the same time because of the potential toxicity associated with the high-dose radiation,":Dr. Kong Heart Disease and Depression Up Heart Failure Risk: Use of antidepressants makes little difference, study finds Depression increases the risk that people with heart disease caused by blockage of coronary arteries will develop heart failure, a new study finds. That finding was to be expected, said Heidi May. What was not expected was the finding that treatment with antidepressant drugs did not reduce the risk of heart failure among people with depression in the group May studied -- 13,708 people who were diagnosed with coronary artery disease. The lesson for physicians, May said, is that there is increased danger for people with heart disease and depression, even if they take medicine that reduces the symptoms of depression. Severe Low Blood Sugar Ups Older Diabetics' Dementia Risk: Study finds being hospitalized for hypoglycemia linked to mental decline "Hypoglycemic episodes that were severe enough to require hospitalization or an emergency-room visit were associated with a greater risk of dementia, particularly for patients who had multiple episodes. And these findings, a little bit to our surprise, were independent of glycemic control," said study author Rachel A. Whitmer. "Episodes of hypoglycemia may be associated with neurological consequences in patients already at risk for dementia. This study seems to suggest that hypoglycemia is one of the reasons people with type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk for dementia. It also adds to the evidence base that balance of glycemic control is a critical issue, and particularly for the elderly." However, the study looks at association only, and doesn't actually prove any cause-and-effect link between the two conditions, cautioned Dr. Nir Barzilai. Acetaminophen, Cholesterol Drugs May Help Fight Stroke: Statins could help prevent attack, while painkiller might minimize damage, studies find Two new studies find that acetaminophen and statins can be of great benefit in either preventing or treating stroke. In the first study, statin use seemed to be correlated with a lower risk of having a first stroke, according to a group of French researchers. Meanwhile, another team in the Netherlands found that patients with a body temperature ranging from normal (98.6 F) to 102.2 F who received acetaminophen soon after the onset of a stroke fared better than patients who did not receive the drug. The study authors warned that acetaminophen should not be dispensed to all patients having a stroke. And even the finding that the drug benefits those with a certain body temperature needs to be confirmed, they added. Review Confirms Links Between Diet, Heart Health: Vegetables, nuts, and 'Mediterranean' fare most beneficial, researchers find Vegetables, nuts and the so-called "Mediterranean" diet are heart-friendly, while trans fats and foods with a high glycemic index can harm your heart, say researchers who reviewed 189 studies published between 1950 and 2007. The Mediterranean died is typically loaded with fruits, vegetables, grains and olive oil. The researchers also found modest evidence of a causal relationship between heart health and several other foods and vitamins, such as fish, omega-3 fatty acids from marine sources, folate, whole grains, alcohol, fruits, fiber, dietary vitamins E and C and beta carotene. There was weak evidence of a causal relationship between heart health and vitamin E and C in supplement form, saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and total fats, alpha-linoleic acid, meat, eggs and milk. April 3, 2009 to April 10, 2009Health Highlights **FDA Orders Safety Review for 25 Older Medical Devices. **FDA Approves Faster Bird Flu Test. **U.S. Sets 2010 Medicare Advantage, Part D Drug Rates. **Pistachio Recall Expanded. **CDC Finds Rocket Fuel Chemical in U.S. Baby Formula. **Childhood Cancer Survivors Face Learning Problems: Study. **FDA Panel Splits on New Diabetes Drug. Early Psychiatric Issues May Predict Suicide in Boys: Study finds a 'pathway of persistence' throughout life "The main finding of our study is that severe suicidality in adolescence and early adulthood has different childhood trajectories among males and females," the researchers wrote. "The present study shows that among males severe suicidality [i.e., completed suicide or serious, life-threatening attempts] shows a pathway of persistence throughout the life cycle, starting in early childhood. The study also found that teen and young adult males who either seriously attempted or committed suicide were more likely at age 8 to have lived in a family that did not include two biological parents, to have had psychological problems reported by a teacher, or to have had conduct, hyperactive or emotional problems. Certain Diabetes Drugs May Pose Eye Risk: Use of Avandia, Actos tied to a retinal disorder, study finds A class of diabetes drugs called glitazones are associated with an increased risk of a vision-threatening complication called diabetic macular edema (DME), which features swelling and fluid accumulation in the retina. The U.S. study of 996 DME patients found that those who took glitazones were 2.6 times more likely to develop DME than those who didn't take the drugs. Even after adjusting for other factors, the risk of DME remained 60 percent higher for patients who took glitazones, said the researchers. "Safety is as important as the efficacy of a drug. However, long-term safety is not currently monitored, because the approval process is based on smaller, shorter-term clinical trials. Safety necessarily requires monitoring of treatment in larger groups of people over longer periods of time. This monitoring is often neglected and should be required of all therapies," Dr. Liesegang said Another Study Supports Early HIV Therapy: New British findings echo those of an American team Antiretroviral treatment for HIV should begin earlier than it does for many patients, say researchers who analyzed data on more than 45,000 HIV-infected patients in Europe and North America. The new findings come on the heels of a similar study, reported last week in the New England Journal of Medicine. In that study, researchers at the University of Washington, Seattle, found that starting therapy earlier -- before the body's immune system is too badly weakened -- rather than later in the infection process, boosted survival by up to 94 percent. Based on the findings, the researchers concluded that 350 cells per microliter should be the minimum threshold at which antiretroviral therapy is started. "Unfortunately, many patients are not diagnosed with HIV until their CD4 count has fallen well below 350 cells per microliter, sometimes even below 200 cells per microliter," the UK team said. Obesity Linked to Heart Failure Risk: Waist size important in women, not men, researchers report "The take-home message is that body-mass index, however we measure it, is associated with the risk of heart failure," said Emily B. Levitan. In women, BMI was associated with heart failure risk only among those who were fattest at the waist. In men, each one-point increase in BMI was associated with a 4 percent increase in heart failure risk, no matter what the waist size. These are several possible explanations for the difference, Levitan said. "One is that the type of heart failure that men and women get is different," she said. "Another is that overall body size is more important than body shape in men." "For many years, at least among physicians, we were taught that obesity in and of itself was not a risk factor for heart failure," said Dr. Muriel Jessup. While the incidence of coronary disease among Americans has been going down, heart failure has increased, she said. More U.S. Kids Taking Diabetes, Blood Pressure Drugs: Prescriptions rose by more than 15 percent in 3 years, researchers say The number of American children and teens taking drugs to lower blood pressure and control diabetes has risen significantly since 2004, according to a new study. "Children and adolescents are starting to show signs of chronic health conditions and cardiovascular risk factors that are typically reserved for adults," said Joshua N. Liberman. Liberman blames the rise on one factor: the dramatic increase in obesity among children. But in addition, he said, doctors are becoming more aware of the health consequences of obesity among children and starting treatment early. Pot-Smoking Drivers Tied to Range of Road Accidents: Study finds third of these risk-takers had been in 1 or more crashes in previous 3 years Marijuana use and reckless driving are interconnected, say Canadian researchers. "We observed that dangerous driving behaviors are interrelated. Individuals scoring high on impulsivity or sensation-seeking scales demonstrated an elevated risk of driving under the influence of cannabis," said study senior author Jacques Bergeron. "To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the association between driving under the influence of cannabis and a wide range of dangerous driving behaviors." "Our study found that men with self-reported DUIC (driving under the influence of cannabis) tend to be associated with an increased risk of being involved in a car accident," said study author Isabelle Richer. Psychotherapy Can Ease Post-Surgical Depression: Two techniques worked for patients after heart bypass procedures, study finds Two non-drug treatments -- cognitive behavior therapy and supportive stress management -- seem to be more effective than the usual care for treating depression in patients who've had coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, a new study finds. After nine months, the rates were 73 percent for the cognitive behavior therapy group, 57 percent for the supportive stress management group and 35 percent for the usual care group. "In conclusion, this randomized, controlled trial showed that cognitive behavior therapy was an efficacious treatment for depression in patients with a recent history of coronary bypass surgery," the researchers said. "Supportive stress management was also superior to usual care for depression in these patients, but it had smaller and less durable effects than cognitive behavior therapy." Parents Worry That 'Alcopops' Encourage Teen Drinking: The flavored drinks should carry warning labels, survey respondents say "Alcopops are sweet drinks made to taste like cola or soda pop or punch or lemonade. Typically, alcopops have between 5 and 8 percent alcohol content, which is a little bit more than most beers, and they're marketed to look like familiar drinks to kids," said Dr. Matthew Davis. The survey of 2,100 adults, ages 21 and older, found that 52 percent believe alcopops definitely or probably encourage underage drinking, and that 92 percent strongly support the use of warning labels on alcopops. Most of the respondents also favor greater restrictions on alcopop advertising that focuses on youth. March 27, 2009 to April 3, 2009Health Highlights **Evenflo High Chairs Recalled. **Energy Drinks Increase Blood Pressure, Heart Rate: Study. **Hot Tea May Increase Throat Cancer Risk: Study. **U.S. Task Force Urges Docs to Screen for Depression in Teens. **Triathlons Can Pose Deadly Heart Risks for the Unprepared: Study. **Study Looks at Caffeine Use, Exercise Pain. **Caraco Recalls Digoxin Tablets: Report. **FDA Advisory Panel Backs Avastin for Brain Cancer. **New Diabetes Drug Gets FDA Panel's Backing. Insomnia Linked to Suicidal Thoughts, Attempts: But researchers say it's not clear if one causes the other People who had trouble getting to sleep were 5.1 times more likely than those who didn't to have had thoughts about suicide. They were also 9.1 times more likely to have planned suicide and 7.5 times more likely to have attempted suicide within the past 12 months. Other kinds of sleeplessness -- waking up too early and having trouble sleeping through the night -- were also linked to suicidal thoughts and attempts. Research links anxiety to trouble falling asleep and difficulty sleeping through the night, while early awakening is connected to depression, said Alan Berman. Also, insomnia "basically lowers the threshold for impulsive behavior and for being reactive to an emotional event." FDA Warns Drug Makers to Stop Selling Unapproved Prescription Painkillers: Action should not affect consumers or lead to shortages, the agency says The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday warned nine companies to stop making 14 unapproved prescription narcotic painkillers. These unapproved products pose a risk for consumers, said Deborah Autor. "These include respiratory depression and other serious adverse events, including death," she said. The companies getting warning letters are: Boehringer Ingelheim Roxane Inc., of Columbus, Ohio; Cody Laboratories Inc., Cody, Wyo.; Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., Mahwah, N.J.; Lannett Co., Philadelphia; Lehigh Valley Technologies Inc., Allentown, Pa.; Mallinckrodt Inc. Pharmaceuticals Group, St. Louis; Physicians Total Care Inc., Tulsa, Okla.; Roxane Laboratories Inc., Columbus, Ohio; and Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals Inc., Newport, Ky. Plavix Plus Aspirin Lowers Stroke Risk: Clot-busting combo can boost outcomes for patients with atrial fibrillation, study finds Combining the clot-preventing drug Plavix with aspirin is an effective substitute treatment for people at high risk of stroke and heart attack because of the abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation but who cannot take the recommended therapy. Standard treatment for atrial fibrillation. is the anticoagulant warfarin (Coumadin). But at least 40 percent of the more than 2 million Americans with atrial fibrillation do not take the drug, said Dr. Stuart Connolly. Because of the trial results, "I personally as a clinician would prescribe clopidogrel and aspirin for patients who could not take warfarin but who appeared to be at limited bleeding risk or risk of falling," said Dr. Aaron D. Kugelmass. But he said he would not recommend the combination for people advised to take Coumadin for other reasons, such as having an artificial heart valve. New Device Treats Common Heart Rhythm Disorder: It could replace anti-clotting drug warfarin for many patients, researchers say To implant the device, an interventional cardiologist uses a catheter inserted in a leg vein to guide the device into the heart. The researchers found that patients with the WATCHMAN had a 32 percent lower risk of stroke and cardiovascular death compared with warfarin therapy. This was especially true for hemorrhagic stroke, which causes bleeding in the brain and is usually fatal. In addition, there were fewer complications with the device, once it was implanted, compared to warfarin. No Increase in Clots With Drug-Eluting Stents: Risk appears the same for bare metal or drug-eluting devices, study found Despite initial concerns that stent thrombosis, a blood clot inside a stent, is more common with the drug-eluting device, there appears to be no difference in the clot risk for either drug-eluting or bare metal stents, a large new study found. "We had a thrombosis rate of 3.3 percent over a year, which sounds high, but these are patients with acute [heart attacks] getting a stent, said lead researcher Dr. George Dangas. "So it's not that high after all." "With any type of bare metal stent or drug-eluting stent, there was no difference after one year," Dangas added. A related study found that patients with coated stents were significantly less susceptible to non-fatal heart attacks or death. New Device 'Fingers' Heart Risk: Fingertip sensor tracks changes in blood flow, predicting odds for heart attack A simple finger sensor is highly accurate at predicting a heart attack or stroke in people considered at low or moderate risk for major cardiac events, U.S. researchers report. The EndoPAT test takes about 15 minutes. Two thimble-like finger probes are placed on each index finger and connected to a machine that measures blood flow. The study included 270 patients, ages 42 to 66, who had a low-to-medium risk of a major cardiac event and were followed from August 1999 to August 2007. During that time, 49 percent of patients whose EndoPAT test indicated poor endothelial function suffered a cardiac event. The EndoPAT was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2003. March 20, 2009 to March 27, 2009Health Highlights **Children's Exercise Sessions Often Too Short to Prevent Obesity. **Children's Taste for Sweets Linked to Growth. **Symbyax Approved for Treatment-Resistant Depression. **Westco Peanut Products Recalled. **HIV Contributes to a Quarter of TB Deaths: WHO. **VA Hospital Warns Colonoscopy Patients About Unclean Equipment. **Real Doctors Learn Poor Technique From TV Doctors: Study. **Treating Heart Ailments Costs $78 Billion: Survey. **Overactive Nerves Cause Tinnitus[Ringing in the Ears]. **Single Embryo Transplant More Effective, Cheaper: Study. **One-Third of U.S. Stroke Patients Under 65, Study Says. **Report Finds Few Blind People Now Using Braille: This Leaves Them Illiterate. Licorice May Block Absorption of Organ Transplant Drug: Study finds potential interaction with cyclosporine could lead to fatal complications People taking the immunosuppressant cyclosporine should avoid consuming licorice because it may weaken the drug's effectiveness and possibly lead to deadly consequences, new research suggests. Cyclosporine is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile myositis and various skin conditions, and it is known to interact poorly with some medicines, foods and herbs. St. John's wort, onions and ginger, for example, can also lower cyclosporine levels in the blood, while grapefruit juice can sending cyclosporine levels soaring. Licorice has been reported to possibly interfere with high blood pressure medications, aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, insulin and oral contraceptives. AIDS Drug Slows Spread of Deadly Childhood Brain Cancer: Study finds it suppresses enzyme vital to tumor growth A drug approved to combat AIDS may also help slow the spread of a deadly type of brain tumor that tends to attack children. A study reports that ABC (Abacavir) suppresses the enzyme telomerase. Telomerase activity appears to be essential for certain tumor survival and growth, such as medulloblastoma -- a highly malignant cancer of the central nervous system. The medication appeared better tolerated by patients than other drugs used to target telomerase in trials, and ABC's safety record in long-term AIDS treatment would make it a good treatment option, said lead researcher Francesca Pentimalli. The drug was also able to pass through the blood-brain barrier more easily than other tested compounds, so it could reach the medulloblastoma. Drug Combo Helps Larynx Cancer Patients Preserve Voice Box: Adding third medicine to standard therapy made the difference, researchers say People with cancer of the larynx who received a three-drug chemotherapy combination were more likely to keep their larynx than those who received a two-drug treatment, French researchers report. Their study compared treatment with a combination of three drugs -- docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluoruracil (TPF) -- during induction chemotherapy, against a combination of cisplatin and 5-fluoruracil (PF). After a median follow-up of three years, larynx preservation rates were just over 70 percent in the three-drug group and 57.5 percent for those on the two-drug regimen. Insights Give New Hope Against Cystic Fibrosis: Behavior of certain white blood cells [neutrophils] may open up new targets for treatment "Cystic fibrosis patients have a problem with turning down the inflammatory response in the lungs. We've found that patients' neutrophils become kind of schizophrenic, doing a number of things that are opposite to the textbook view of neutrophils' role," said Rabindra Tirouvanziam. He and colleagues found that signals from the patients' lung tissue were reprogramming live neutrophils with conflicting messages that "are messing them up completely." As a result, the neutrophils may release large amounts of an enzyme called human neutrophil elastase, which destroys the elastic fiber of the lungs, the researchers said. In healthy people, neutrophils never release this enzyme into nearby tissue. Flushing From Alcohol a Risk Factor for Esophageal Cancer: Recognizing the enzyme deficiency would save many lives, study suggests People who experience facial flushing when they drink alcohol are much more likely to develop alcohol-related esophageal cancer. Facial flushing, nausea and increased heart rate when drinking alcohol occurs mainly due to an inherited deficiency in an enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2). There is increasing evidence that people with this deficiency are at much higher risk for alcohol-related esophageal cancer than people with fully active ALDH2, the experts wrote. However, many doctors and people with alcohol flushing response aren't aware of this increased risk; esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. Our goal in writing this article is to inform doctors firstly that their ALDH2-deficient patients have an increased risk for esophageal cancer if they drink moderate amounts of alcohol the researchers said. Tight Blood Sugar Control May Raise Risks in the ICU: Very ill patients have higher mortality when glucose is too strictly controlled, study finds People hospitalized in intensive care units, or ICUs, often experience spikes in blood sugar, and current practice is to try to lower these levels. But a new study found that this strategy might actually boost the person's relative risk of death by 10 percent. "Intensively lowering blood glucose in critically ill patients is not beneficial and may be harmful," said Dr. Simon Finfer. "Based on our findings, we do not recommend pursuing a normal blood glucose level in critically ill patients." Expert groups warned against "letting this study swing the pendulum of glucose control too far in the other direction, where providers in hospitals are complacent about uncontrolled hyperglycemia." The team said that they "can't exclude the possibility that some patients may benefit from intensive insulin therapy and be at less risk of hypoglycemic events Too Much Red Meat May Shorten Lifespan: Major study finds an effect, but critics say meat offers important nutrients Diets high in red meat and in processed meat shorten life span not just from cancer and heart disease but from Alzheimer's, stomach ulcers and an array of other conditions as well, a U.S. National Cancer Institute study has found. In fact, reducing meat consumption to the amount eaten by the bottom 20 percent seen in the study would save 11 percent of men's lives and 16 percent of women's, according to the study. Guidelines include choosing fish, poultry or beans instead of beef, pork and lamb; choosing leaner cuts of meat; and baking, broiling or poaching meat rather than frying or charbroiling it. Meat contains many carcinogens as well as saturated fat, which might explain the increased mortality risk, the authors stated. FDA Panel Backs New Anti-Clotting Drug: Rivaroxaban could replace heparin after hip- or knee-replacement surgery Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) could be one of the long-sought alternatives to commonly used blood thinners, particularly for hip- and knee-replacement patients. The drug was more effective at reducing potentially fatal blood clots than heparin, a widely used blood thinner, with no increase in side effects. Heparin is commonly used in hospitals, because it is easier to manage than Coumadin (warfarin), which requires frequent blood tests for close control. Rivaroxaban is a pill that does not require constant monitoring. The once-a-day pill could prevent clots from forming and traveling to the lungs. Clots are a common side effect after these replacement procedures. 3 Steps Might Stop MRSA's Spread:E-monitoring of hand washing, better room cleaning and checks on patient transfers are key, studies find The first report described an inexpensive way of electronically monitoring staff to be sure that they wash their hands before entering an intensive care unit. The system uses a wireless technology similar to Wi-Fi to transmit signals to a computer. The second report found that 40 percent of MRSA and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infections are transmitted by touching nearby surfaces such such as doorknobs, countertops, computer keyboards and bed trays. The third report found the transmission of infections from hospital to hospital is "being overlooked. "In fact, routine decontamination of patients -- whether they are known to be carrying dangerous pathogens or not -- should be the status quo, Marc Siegel said. "It has to become standard practice to decontaminate all patients who are in areas of high prevalence of dangerous bacteria," he said. Many Americans Fall Short on Their Vitamin D: Recommended levels in foods need to be increased, experts say Over the course of two decades, vitamin D levels have dramatically decreased among Americans, a new study finds. Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with rickets in children and lower bone mineral density in adults. Recent research has also linked insufficient vitamin D to cancer, heart disease, infection and poorer health overall. Dr. Michael F. Holick, director of the Vitamin D Laboratory at Boston University, noted that the recommended levels of vitamin D are under review and likely to be increased. "An Institute of Medicine panel is planning to have new recommendations out by mid-2010," Dr. Michael F. Holick said. Holick said people are drinking less milk and staying out of the sun, which are the main reasons for the decreasing vitamin D levels in the population. March 13, 2009 to March 20, 2009Health Highlights **Firm Announces Defibrillator Recall. **Mushrooms, Green Tea May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk. **Some Mental Abilities Begin Decline in Late 20s: Study. **Frankincense Kills Bladder Cancer Cells: Study. **USDA Approves Conditional License for E. Coli Cattle Vaccine. **Shoppers Get More Information About Food Origins. **FDA Panel Backs Heart Drug Multaq. **Chinese Officials Test Johnson & Johnson Baby Products For Potential Carcinogens. Narcolepsy Drug [Modafinil (Provigil)]Might Be Addictive: Finding comes as use of stimulant for enhanced mental function is on the increase "This drug does seem to show properties that it can be habit-forming," said Dr. Richard A. Friedman. "This is the first human study that shows that it does cause the release of dopamine, which is a hallmark of drugs of addiction. This is a little bit of an early warning that this drug may not be free of habit-forming properties." In addition to being used for sleeping disorders, modafinil is also used to boost cognitive functioning in individuals with schizophrenia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This new finding suggests that the drug may work more like stimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine than previously thought. These drugs, used to treat ADHD, increase dopamine levels. And now people are also buying it without a prescription, on the Internet or from France. Dialysis Via Fistulas May Help Young or Old: Technique is underutilized in the U.S., expert says A new study finds that people with chronic kidney disease, whether young or old, respond equally well to dialysis done through arteriovenous (AV) fistulas, surgically created passageways between veins and arteries to help in the circulation of filtered blood. In calling AV fistulas the "gold standard of access for kidney dialysis patients," one of the study's authors said the findings show that the pathways last longer, require less repair work, and are linked to lower rates of infections, hospitalization and death than other types of dialysis. "AV fistulas are underutilized in the United States, yet they are best for keeping blood vessels open for access so individuals can continue to get their lifesaving dialysis," said Dr. Andrew R. Forauer. Cancer Drug May Offer New Hope for Lupus Patients: Small U.K. study says Rituxan could become 1st new drug for disease in 50 years The 22-month study included 20 people with lupus nephritis, a severe kidney disorder caused by the disease lupus. After treatment with Rituxan, 60 percent showed significant signs of improvement, the researchers found. But the drug was not effective in people of African ancestry or in those with very low levels of albumin protein in their blood. Rituxan targets hyperactive B cells, which contribute to kidney inflammation in people with lupus. If these study results can be repeated in larger trials, Rituxan might be approved to treat lupus, the researchers said. "This is very welcome news to the 40 percent of lupus patients who are suffering with kidney involvement in their battle with systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disease, and who until now had very little hope of a breakthrough for lupus nephritis," said Virginia T. Ladd. Alzheimer's Drug May Someday Help Head Trauma Victims: Finding may prevent long-term harm that often follows brain injury, researcher says The drugs -- gamma-secretase inhibitors -- are designed to target amyloid plaque that accumulates in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. "No one knows why it occurs, but abnormal amounts of amyloid plaque have been found during an autopsy in about a third of brain injury victims, some of whom were children who would ordinarily never have had these deposits," said Mark Burns. "Remarkably, these deposits occur in less than one day after injury." It's also known that people who've suffered a brain injury have a 400 percent increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The researchers said that their findings suggest that this class of drugs could do something no other drug has been able to do -- prevent the long-term and continuing damage that often follows serious brain injury. When Breast Cancer Recurs, Finding Pre-Symptoms Is Key: Early stage cancers are usually smaller and more contained, study finds Early detection of second breast cancers can reduce the risk of death by as much as half, according to an international study. The study found that chances of survival improved between 27 percent and 47 percent if the second breast cancer was detected in the early, asymptomatic stage rather than at a later stage when women started to experience symptoms. The researchers also found that mammography was more sensitive than clinical examination for detecting second breast cancers -- 86 percent vs. 57 percent. However, 14 percent of the cancers were detected only by clinical examination. Obesity Takes Years Off Your Life: It's similar to smoking when it comes to effect on longevity, researchers note For those with a BMI over 25, every 10 to 12 pound increase translated to about a 30 percent increased risk of dying. In addition, there was a 40 percent increase in the risk for heart disease, stroke and other vascular disease, a 60 percent to 120 percent increased risk of diabetes, liver disease or kidney disease, a 10 percent increased risk of cancer, and a 20 percent increased risk for lung disease, the researchers reported. "Obesity causes kidney disease, liver disease and several types of cancer, but the most common way it kills is by causing stroke and, most importantly, heart disease. Obesity causes heart disease by pushing up blood pressure, by interfering with blood cholesterol levels, and by bringing on diabetes," Whitlock said. More than 1 in 3 middle-aged Americans weigh about a third more than is ideal, which would mean being about 50 or 60 pounds overweight. March 6, 2009 to March 13, 2009Health Highlights **Companies Halt U.S. Sales of Baby Bottles With BPA. **Viruses May Cause Diabetes: Study. **Daytime Naps May Boost Diabetes Risk. **Rise in Women's Smoking May Cause Global Health Disaster: Study. **Diarrhea Kills 2 Million Children Each Year: WHO. **Doctor May Have Faked Data in Many Studies. **Prostate Cancer Overdiagnosed in U.S.: Study. **Health Surveys, Political Polls May Be Skewed by Excluding Cell Phones. 'Male Lumpectomy' May Help Some With Prostate Cancer": New Procedure involves freezing tumor rather than removing entire gland A new procedure for prostate cancer that destroys only the part of the gland that is cancerous results in fewer side effects than surgery or radiation therapy, a new study finds. The so-called "male lumpectomy" is a minimally invasive procedure that freezes part of the prostate. The study suggests that it might prove especially beneficial for men who have local prostate cancer or those for whom radiation has not worked. "This is a new paradigm where instead of treating the whole gland, you just treat the cancer," said Dr. Gary M. Onik. "We have shown that you have the same advantages in the local treatment of prostate cancer that women have found with local treatment of breast cancer." "You will get as good, if not better, results with a fraction of the complications," he said. And the procedure virtually eliminates incontinence and impotence, Onik said. Drug Could Make Melanoma More Vulnerable to Chemo: Compound disabled protein fueling tumor growth, making therapy more effective Sixteen patients with advanced melanoma on an extremity (feet, hands, etc.) were given the compound ADH-1 intravenously and then underwent chemotherapy by infusion in the affected limb. The melanoma was eradicated in half the patients. "These early results are very exciting, because metastatic melanoma is one of the most deadly cancers and one which is typically very unresponsive to therapy," lead author Dr. Georgina Beasley said. A Phase II trial involving 46 patients has recently completed recruiting participants. The incidence of melanoma is increasing at a rate faster than any other cancer. Melanoma that spreads beyond the primary site is rarely curable, and there are limited treatment options. Combo Treatment for Aggressive Brain Tumor May Lengthen Life: Study finds longer-term survival benefit with chemo and radiation Treatment with a combination of the chemotherapy drug temozolomide and radiotherapy increases survival for glioblastoma brain tumor patients better than radiotherapy alone, and the improvement persists for up to five years, say Swiss researchers. Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive form of primary brain tumor. The improvements in survival among people who received TMZ/RT were seen across all subgroups, including people considered to have a poor prognosis, such as more elderly people and those whose tumor could not be surgically removed. The researchers suggested that testing tumors for the methylation status of the MGMT gene would identify people most likely to benefit from TMZ/RT. Though this combination treatment can prolong survival, it is not a cure, they noted. Skin Patches Can Cause Burns During MRIs: The medication patches should be removed ahead of time, FDA says The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Thursday that some medication skin patches can cause burns if worn while patients undergo an MRI. Thursday's warning applies to brand name and generic patches and those bought over-the-counter -- including nicotine and pain-control patches. Some of these patches do not include a warning that their backing contains aluminum. Although aluminum is not attracted to an MRI's magnetic field, it can conduct electricity, causing heat that can result in burns, the FDA said. There are a total of 60 medication patches on the market, and about 25 percent contain metal, Dr. Sandra Kweder said. Until the review is complete, the FDA recommends that people wearing medicated skin patches talk with their doctor about wearing a patch during an MRI. The doctor should tell you to remove the patch before the MRI and put it back on after the procedure. Are Hospital Mobile Phones Dialing Up Superbugs? Turkish study finds 95% of headsets contaminated with bacteria that could infect patients A new culprit has emerged in the spread of the tough-to-kill "superbug" bacteria and other infections in hospitals -- mobile phone headsets. Turkish researchers testing the phones of doctors and nurses working in hospitals found that 95 percent were contaminated with bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which can cause serious staph infections and is resistant to certain common antibiotics. "Our results suggest cross-contamination of bacteria between the hands of health care workers and their mobile phones. These mobile phones could act as a reservoir of infection which may facilitate patient-to-patient transmission of bacteria in a hospital setting," the authors wrote . Ozone/Oxygen Shot Helps Heal Herniated Disk: New technique eases pressure on local nerves, researchers say One study of more than 8,000 patients found that injecting a gas mixture of oxygen and ozone into a herniated disk significantly relieves the pressure put on the nerves, easing patients' pain. A second study showed that the oxygen/ozone treatment works by reducing disc volume through ozone oxidation; the reduced volume eases disc pressure on the nerves. "Oxygen/ozone treatment of herniated disks is an effective and extremely safe procedure. The estimated improvement in pain and function is impressive when we looked at patients who ranged in age from 13 to 94 years with all types of disk herniations," said Dr. Kieran J. Murphy. "Equally important, pain and function outcomes are similar to the outcomes for lumbar disks treated with surgical diskectomy, but the complication rate is much less (less than 0.1 percent)," Murphy said. Some Elderly Heart Failure Patients Get Little Help From Meds, Study Finds: Experts say new drugs and guidelines are needed to treat diastolic dysfunction The researchers found that none of the usually prescribed drugs seemed to make any significant difference in who survived and who died. "At least for patients above the age of 80 with diastolic heart failure, whether they are treated or not with these kind of medications does not affect their mortality or their long-term outcome," Dr. Ernst R. Schwarz said. "I would be very cautious when drawing conclusions from this study," Dr. Byron Lee said. "This is not a randomized, controlled study. The patients on the cardiovascular drugs might have been much sicker than the comparison group. Therefore, the drugs may have actually had a big impact -- keeping the sicker patients alive as long as the ones not on heart medications." Overweight Preschoolers Raise Their Heart Disease Risk: Study found they showed early signs of cardiovascular trouble In yet another sign that obesity poses health risks at any age, new research shows that overweight children as young as age 3 can begin to show signs of cardiovascular disease risk factors. About 24 percent of U.S. children aged 2 to 5 are overweight, defined as having a body-mass index (BMI) in the 85th percentile or above for their height and age. That number rises to 33 percent among children aged 6 to 11. Researchers stressed that the key message of the study was that all children should have their BMI and waist circumference monitored, and if the numbers are found to be creeping up, doctors and parents should intervene. "It's frightening," Messiah said. "We have never had this number of children this heavy so young. We don't know the cumulative effect of all of these years of having all of your organs under stress from being overweight." New Laser Combo Therapy Zaps Acne: Small study finds pulsed-dye beam with topical meds improved lesions in 1 to 2 weeks Laser therapy can safely and effectively treat mild to severe cases of acne, according to a small preliminary study of 18 people. Fourteen of the participants were treated with a combination of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using a long-pulsed, pulsed-dye laser and a photosensitizer called topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). Complete clearance of acne was achieved in all 14 people in the ALA PDT group, who received an average of 2.9 ALA PDT treatments, the study found. Improvement in acne lesions was visible within one to two weeks after the first treatment. "The first-of-a-kind study found this particular form of photodynamic therapy used in conjunction with topical therapy to be the first such treatment to achieve complete clearance of acne up to 13 months post-treatment and a 77 percent clearance rate per treatment," said Dr. Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas. Feb. 27, 2009 to March 6, 2009Health Highlights **Black Box Warning Ordered For Heartburn Drug. **Drug Maker Suppressed Data on Antipsychotic: Report. **HIV Infection Among People 50 and Older Concerns WHO. **Scientists Identify Cause of Gray Hair. **Doctor's Plan for Custom-Made Babies Condemned. **Vaccine Said to Trigger Instant Immune Response. **Egg Protein Boosts Muscles and Energy Levels: Study. Post-Traumatic Stress Tied to Increased Suicide Risk: How young adults respond to early trauma seems to play a role, study finds Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increases the risk of suicide in young adults, says a U.S. study of 1,698 participants who were tracked for 15 years after they started first grade in Baltimore public schools. Suicide had been attempted by 10 percent of those with PTSD, compared with 2 percent of the youths who experienced trauma but did not develop PTSD and 5 percent of those never exposed to a traumatic event. They noted that previous research found that up to 20 percent of suicide attempts by young people can be attributed to sexual abuse during childhood. By distinguishing between trauma-exposed persons without and with PTSD, we found that it is PTSD that is associated with an increased risk of a suicide attempt. Whether or not this finding applies to sexual abuse in childhood or adulthood should be investigated in future studies." Blood Thinner, Heartburn Drugs May Be Risky After Heart Attack: Patients taking Plavix, PPIs have 25 percent increased chance of death, re-hospitalization The study doesn't change the reasons for prescribing Plavix, Ho said. "But both clinicians and patients should look at why the PPI is being prescribed. It shouldn't be prescribed prophylactically just to prevent a GI bleed, because there might be an interaction between the PPI and Plavix," Dr. P. Michael Ho said. A proton pump inhibitor should only be prescribed to patients who have had a stomach bleed, since they are at higher risk of another bleed, Ho said. "Oftentimes, the PPIs are just being prescribed routinely to patients who may not have an indication for the medication," he noted. "To lower the risk of recurrent heart attacks, we should probably think about switching some of these patients from proton pump inhibitors to H2 blockers [such as Zantac or Tagamet], at least temporarily," Dr. Byron Lee said. New Test May Mean Faster Breast Cancer Treatment: Genetic analysis method can be used on all women with diagnosis, study says A new genetic test that analyzes a set of 50 genes to identify four types of breast cancer could lead to quicker, more immediate treatment for patients. "Unlike a widely used genomic test that applies only to lymph-node-negative, estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer, this new genomic test is broadly applicable for all women diagnosed with breast cancer," said Dr. Matthew Ellis. "Our test is the first to incorporate a molecular profile for the basal-like type breast cancers," Ellis said. "That's important because these breast cancers are arguably the most aggressive yet the most sensitive to chemotherapy. By identifying them, we can ensure they are treated adequately." The researchers also said that the 50-gene test was highly accurate in predicting how 133 breast cancer patients would respond to chemotherapy. Men's Stroke Risk Rises Dramatically in Mid-40s: And the contributing factors are often those seen in older patients, study finds And the risks associated with stroke even at this earlier age are startlingly similar to the risk factors seen in older patients, a new study found. "Silent strokes" -- which have no obvious symptoms but can cause residual damage -- are also common in this younger group of men, researchers reported Feb. 26 in the journal Stroke. "The risk factors are most of the ones we start thinking about in older people -- mostly cholesterol, but also smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes. So that's something we need to start looking at, at a younger age," said Dr. Michael Palm. As expected, the occurrence of stroke increased dramatically with age. Females were more likely to have a stroke among people under the age of 30, while males predominated starting at about age 44. Drug Improves Mobility in Some MS Patients: Fampridine may boost walking ability, but some risks tied to dose strength, study says Eleven patients (5 percent) in the fampridine group had to withdraw from the study due to adverse events, but only two serious adverse events (focal seizure and severe anxiety) were considered to be connected with the drug, according to Andrew Goodman and colleagues. But they added that the risk of seizure noted in previous studies seems to increase in a dose-dependent way with fampridine. "Treatment with fampridine produces clinically meaningful improvement in walking ability in some people with multiple sclerosis, irrespective of disease course type or concomitant treatment with immunomodulators," the researchers concluded. MS patients suffer a progressive decline in mobility, but there are few treatment options available to complement physiotherapy. There are questions about fampridine's efficacy and safety. Snowblower Hand Injuries Often Extensive, Study Finds: Finger loss is one result, and experts urge better awareness of how machines work "The nature of the tissue damage caused by snowblowers makes a full recovery extremely difficult and often leads to amputation, he said, and "even if you have the amputated part, it's essentially useless," said Dr. Daniel Master. "The weather is a major factor that causes the cluster of these injuries," Master said. "When the snow is dense, the machines get clogged, and people put their hands down the shoot" to clear it. In addition, he explained, snowblowers usually have two blades, including one that's not visible. That's the one that causes most injuries, he said. Also, "there's a lag time between when you release the dead-man's switch and when the blade stops moving," Master said. Danger apparently exists even when the machines do not seem to be running, though. Master said that when a clog is removed, the blades can spin again using stored energy. 2 Hours Glued to TV Doubles Kids' Asthma Risk: Association found in both genders regardless of weight issues, study finds Children who watch TV for more than two hours a day or are otherwise inactive have a doubled risk for asthma, according to a U.K. study. Researchers looked at more than 3,000 children whose respiratory health was monitored from birth to 11.5 years of age. The results weren't confined to one gender and weren't related to the children's current weight. The link between physical activity, sedentary behavior and asthma is complex, noted Dr. Andrea Sherriff, of the University of Glasgow, and colleagues. They noted that previous research suggests breathing patterns in children may be associated with sedentary behavior, triggering developmental changes in the lungs and subsequent wheezing. Feb. 20, 2009 to Feb. 27, 2009Health Highlights **Allergic Children Able to Build-Up Tolerance to Peanuts: Study. **Unhealthy Lifestyle Boosts Stroke Risk. **Peanut Company Recalls All Products in Salmonella Outbreak. **New Blood Thinner Approved by EU. **Potato Items Pulled From Store Shelves. **Video Game Overuse Causes Skin Disorder. **Fish Pedicure Banned in Florida. **Texas Peanut Plant Linked to Salmonella Outbreak. **Gene May Determine Life Attitude. **Smarter Living Could Cut World's Cancer Cases, Report Says. FDA Warns Users on Psoriasis Drug: Three have died from rare brain infection while taking Raptiva, officials report in health advisory U.S. health officials issued a public health advisory Thursday for the psoriasis drug Raptiva after confirming that three people using the medication have died. All three had been treated with Raptiva (efalizumab) for at least three years, and none was taking other immune suppressants. European regulators on Thursday called for sales of Raptiva to be suspended, Bloomberg news reported. In an e-mail cited by Bloomberg, the regulators said that "the benefits of Raptiva no longer outweigh its risks, because of safety concerns." The black-box warning for the drug also notes the risk of serious infections -- such as viral meningitis, bacterial blood infections and invasive fungal disease -- that have led to hospitalizations or deaths in people taking Raptiva. Drinking Raises Cancer Risk for Middle-Age Women: Even one drink a day poses danger, large study finds Research involving more than a million middle-age women finds that even moderate drinking raises risks for breast, liver and other cancers. "Even relatively low levels of drinking -- on the order of one alcoholic drink per day -- increase a woman's risk of developing cancer," said lead researcher Naomi Allen. "Because a high proportion of women drink low amounts of alcohol regularly and because most of the increased risk is for breast cancer, the risk among women associated with drinking alcohol is of particular importance." In fact, the study found that moderate drinking accounts for 13 percent of breast, liver, rectum and upper respiratory/digestive tract cancers among women. "People who are not drinkers should not start drinking to prevent heart disease, and even people who are drinking should discuss this with their physicians," Dr. Michael Lauer said. Early Menopause Doubles Stroke Risk: Experts suspect lowered estrogen levels might be a factor "Women who reached menopause before age 42 had a doubling in the risk of ischemic stroke, compared to all other women," said Dr. Linda Lisabeth. After adjusting for such factors as age, blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and heart disease, they still found that those who went through early menopause were two times more likely to have had a stroke than were the others. For now, the best advice for women who go through menopause early is to modify whatever other risk factors they can, Dr. Brian Silver said. "That means exercise, weight loss, smoking cessation, a balanced diet with plenty of vegetables and fruits, blood pressure control." It's also a good idea for women to have their blood sugar checked and to be sure their cholesterol is at normal levels, he said. New Advances May Treat Stroke Faster, Better: Innovations include 'brain stents' and a clot-busting drug delivered directly to the brain Tiny tubes called stents, used for years to open blocked coronary blood vessels, may also work well to reopen brain blood vessels clogged from strokes. A variety of other advances include: Using new delivery systems to make a medication more effective in breaking up clots in the brain; Finding new genetic clues to predict who might develop an aneurysm, a weakened brain blood vessel that can rupture and cause a devastating hemorrhagic stroke; and Treating people who have low cholesterol levels but elevated levels of a stroke-linked inflammatory marker with the anti-cholesterol drug Crestor, which nearly halved users' risk for stroke in a recent trial. Antibiotic Combo Fights Resistant TB: 2 FDA-approved drugs inhibit both normal and virulent strains, study finds In laboratory tests, researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases found that a combination of the drugs clavulanate and meropenem inhibited the growth of 13 XDR-TB strains. The combination treatment was also effective against normal TB. Both drugs are approved in the United States for treating other bacterial infections in adults and children. "This discovery could be one of the most promising developments in TB research since the discovery of isoniazid -- it is very exciting," said William Jacobs. Plans are under way for clinical studies in Korea and in South Africa to determine whether the combination treatment is effective in patients with XDR-TB. Adapting Gait May Help Elderly Avoid Falls: Volunteers trained on moveable platform kept better balance in a slippery situation The research improves understanding of how the brain develops fall prevention strategies that can be used in a variety of situations. And experts say such training might prove particularly helpful for elderly people, who are at increased risk for falls that can lead to serious complications, disability and death. The trained volunteers were better at controlling the landing foot -- the foot that's on the ground when someone starts to slip. They could slow the movement of the landing foot as it began to slide forward, whereas the landing foot of the untrained participants went out from under them much faster, the study found. "Controlling this foot, which is sliding forward, plays an important role in maintaining stability and prevents a backward fall," said Chung Pai. Joint Replacement Soars as Number of Docs Falls: Low reimbursement rates turning many young doctors off the specialty, researcher says "I understood that there were not as many young surgeons going into the arthroplasty field as were retiring from the arthroplasty field, but it shocked me that, if the trends continue, nearly a million patients who need hip and knee replacements in 2016 will not have access to this life-changing procedure," Dr. Thomas K. Fehring said. Low insurance reimbursements for these procedures appear to be keeping new doctors from choosing this specialty, Fehring said. Reimbursement for joint replacement has decreased 60 percent in inflation adjusted dollars since 1990. "These economic realities are not lost on our residents in training when selecting a career," Fehring said. "Unless things change, this will lead to excessive waiting times for our senior citizens requiring joint replacement. Wait times of one to two years may ensue, which will be unacceptable...." Feb. 13, 2009 to Feb. 20, 2009Health Highlights **Counterfeit Toothbrushes Pose Choking Hazard. **Bad Colonoscopy Equipment May Have Exposed Thousands of Veterans to Infection. **Many Factors Can Contribute to PTSD Risk. **Acrylamide May Increase Heart Disease Risk: Study. **FDA Approves New Gout Drug. **DNA Decoys Prompt Cancer Cell Suicide. **Food Banks Throwing Out Thousands of Pounds of Recalled Food. **FDA Experts Suggest Change for Next Season's Flu Vaccine. 2 or More Sodas a Day Boost Women's Kidney Risks: They're twice as likely to show early damage, and study says it's likely all that sugar Women who consume two or more cans of soda pop daily are almost two times more likely than other women to show early evidence of kidney disease, according to a U.S. study. But there's no increased risk for men who drink lots of soda pop or for people who drink diet soda. Rates of diabetes, obesity and kidney disease are increasing in the United States, along with consumption of high fructose corn syrup, the sweetener used in most sodas. But the amount of sugar is more important than the type, David Shoham said. A recent study found that nine of 20 samples of high fructose corn syrup from three manufacturers contained detectable levels of mercury. "This adds the intriguing possibility that it is not just the sugar itself in high fructose corn syrup that is harmful, because mercury is harmful to kidneys as well," Shoham said. Herbal Remedy Could Halt Peanut Allergy: Tests in mice were successful, and human trials are under way A new herbal formula based in ancient Chinese medicine may be able to control allergic reactions to peanuts and other foods. "We can reverse the peanut allergic reaction," said lead researcher Dr. Xiu-Min Li. In addition, protection from allergic reactions to peanuts persisted for almost nine months after treatment was stopped, Li said. "The herbal formula can stop peanut allergy and produce a prolonged protection," she said. "This formula may be effective for human peanut allergy." For the study, Li's team tested their new herbal remedy, called Food Allergy Herbal Formula (FAHF-2), on mice allergic to peanuts. They found that the formula protected mice from allergic reactions from peanuts. Based on these findings, FAHF-2 has been given investigational new drug approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; a human trial started last year. Fast Arrival at Hospital After Stroke Pays Off: These patients were twice as likely to get clot-busting drug, study shows People who get to a hospital no more than an hour after having the first symptoms of a stroke are twice as likely to get the powerful clot-dissolving drug that is the first line of treatment. The bad news is that only about a quarter of patients are getting to hospitals within an hour of having stroke symptoms," said Dr. Jeffrey L. Saver. Stroke symptoms include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden trouble speaking or understanding; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; or sudden, severe headache. When such symptoms occur, emergency help should be sought by calling 911 or a local emergency medical service number, the stroke association recommends. Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs Raise Shingles Risk: Older people and those also taking steroids are most vulnerable, study finds People taking Remicade or Humira had almost double the risk of developing shingles, the study found. According to an accompanying editorial, the risk was roughly the same as that seen in general populations over the age of 80. People in the study were, on average, in their early 50s. The cases of shingles observed in the study seemed to be worse than those usually seen in the general population, with 20 percent of episodes categorized as "severe" and 13 percent requiring hospitalization. "As this is not enough data on the possible benefit of vaccination against shingles in older, immunosuppressed patients with a chronic disease, we are only able to advise a careful monitoring of patients under treatment with TNF blockers for early signs and symptoms of herpes zoster," Dr. Anja Strangefield said. People on Enbrel had a lower risk of developing herpes zoster. Liver Cirrhosis May Also Harm Brain, Heart: Inflammation may be the common link, study shows Increased inflammation caused by cirrhosis of the liver might lead people with this disease to also develop neurological, cognitive and heart rhythm problems, a new study finds. All three conditions are linked to increased systemic inflammation, say a team from the University College London Medical School and the Royal Free Hospital in London. In studying people with cirrhosis, the team found strong ties between heart rate issues and hepatic encephalopathy. A person's level of inflammatory cytokines -- molecules that switch on the body's response to inflammation -- climbed as cognitive impairment increased and heart rate variability fell. New Anti-Clotting Treatment Urged for Cancer Patients: Warfarin failed to reduce catheter-related clots, study finds The blood thinner warfarin does not reduce catheter-related blood clots in cancer patients, so new treatments are needed to prevent this complication, says a U.K. study. "The rate of symptomatic catheter-related thromboses reported in clinical trials has fallen substantially over the past decade," wrote Annie Young and colleagues. "The improvements in catheter technology, placement and aftercare are contributing to this reduction. When any benefit of thromboprophylaxis (treatment to prevent blood clots) was balanced against the risk of major bleeding, the combined outcome showed no advantage with the use of any dose of warfarin." "These findings only add to the assertion that the time has come to move on from warfarin for thromboprophylaxis in patients with cancer," they wrote. "We should consider new treatments." Working With Robots May Help After a Stroke: People who lost use of a hand recaptured movement, study finds Robotic therapy might help stroke victims regain some of their impaired physical abilities, even if it's been years since the debilitating event. People with partial paralysis on the right side after a stroke were better able to use their hands to pick up, hold and move objects after they participated in robot-assisted practice grabbing and releasing objects. The participants all had had a stroke four months to 10 years before the treatment. "Robotic therapy may be useful in its own right," Steven C. Cramer said. "But it could also help rewire, or reshape, the brain in conjunction with other stroke therapies. One of the key points in the current study is that the way we use robots to help people recover function might differ according to how severe their stroke was." Secondhand Smoke Linked to Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease: Exposure may increase risk by 44%, researchers say What's more, Iain Lang said, the risk of impaired cognitive function increases with the amount of exposure to secondhand smoke, the findings suggest. "For people at the highest levels of exposure, the risk is probably higher," he said. "We know that active smoking is bad -- being a smoker is bad for your health and increases your risk of Alzheimer's. This study suggests that this is the same for passive smoking," Lang said. "We know that passive smoking is associated with an increased risk of stroke and heart disease. This is just another reason to avoid exposing other people to your smoke, and if you are not a smoker to stay away from smoking places." Maria Carrillo said smoking is already recognized as a risk factor for Alzheimer's, and the risk can be extended to exposure to secondhand smoke. Tobacco Companies Targeting Teens, Study Says: Marketing aims to get them to smoke and choose certain brands, experts note Each of the major cigarette companies in the United States has a leading youth brand, Terry F. Pechacek said. "Industry documents show that all the tobacco companies are continuing to note that if they don't have a leading youth brand, they are in corporate trouble," he said. Pechacek noted that the U.S. National Cancer Institute report found that partial bans on tobacco advertising are ineffective. There was a dramatic drop in teen smoking since 1997, Pechacek said. "But that drop stalled in 2003. But we are stalled at probably one in five high-school students smoking," he said. "That's pretty much a replacement number for adults that quit." Experts Release Guidelines on Use of Breast MRI: The technology can supplement, but not replace, standard screening, they say The research calls for screening, mammography and ultrasound to still be the primary line of defense. MRI would then be used in selected situations, such as providing a better look within a breast thought to have cancer and look for it in the opposite, or "contralateral," breast. The guidelines recommend biopsy of suspicious lesions found on MRI before deciding on whether to proceed with breast cancer surgery, since MRI findings are not fully accurate in this respect. The guidelines also call for imaging centers to be able to perform MRI-guided needle biopsy of these MRI-detected lesions. Feb. 6, 2009 to Feb. 13, 2009Health Highlights **Drug for Hereditary Angioedema Gets FDA Panel Approval. **FDA OKs 1st Drug From Genetically Altered Animals. **Mentally-Ill More Sensitive to Narcotics. **1st U.S. Case of Deadly Marburg Fever Confirmed: CDC. **Salmonella Suspected at Second Peanut Plant. **Postpartum Psychosis Risk Increases With Age. **Doctor Who Fueled Vaccine-Autism Link Altered Data. **Overweight/Obesity Rates Increase in U.S. Military. **Gum Disease Activates HIV, Study Says. **Exercise May Reduce Colon Cancer Risk. Marijuana Linked to Aggressive Testicular Cancer Smoking marijuana over an extended period of time appears to greatly boost a young man's risk for developing a particularly aggressive form of testicular cancer, a new study reveals. In fact, researchers found that men who smoked marijuana once a week or began to use the substance on a long-term basis while adolescents incurred double the risk for developing the fastest-spreading version of testicular cancer -- nonseminoma, which accounts for about 40 percent of all cases. The disease is the most common type of cancer for American men between the ages of 15 and 34, the study noted. The researchers noted that the testes could be particularly vulnerable to the effects of marijuana, given that the organ -- along with the brain, heart, uterus and spleen -- carries specific receptors for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Inhaled Corticosteroids Boost Pneumonia Risk in COPD: Benefits should be weighed against downside, experts say The use of inhalers containing corticosteroids to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) might increase the risk of pneumonia by as much as 70 percent, researchers report. No one should stop using their inhaler based on this study, Dr. Sonal Singh said. However, the inhalers are not effective for COPD, "and then you have these substantial risks," he said. The researchers found that people taking corticosteroids alone or in combination with bronchodilators increased their risk of developing pneumonia by 60 to 70 percent. However, this increase in pneumonia was not associated with an increased risk of dying. Pe