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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 May, 2007 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:
Health News Back To May, 2007:
Health Highlights
**Pull Ortho-Evra Birth-Control Patch From Market: Public Citizen.
**Swing Sets Recalled Due to Fall Hazard.
**Too Few People Know All Stroke Symptoms: Study.
**U.S. Moves to Tighten Medicare Drug Plan Rules to Prevent Unscrupulous Sales.
**Cardinal Health Mouthwash Recalled.
**Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Depression Risk in Elderly.
**Insulin Pumps Linked to Deaths, Injuries Among Young People.
**Wal-Mart Expands Discounted Drug Program.
**Undeclared Soy in Little Bay Corn Bread and Muffin Mix.
**286,000 Pounds of Prepared Meat Products Recalled.
**Children's Storage Bins Recalled for Lead Hazard.
**Psoriasis Drug Enbrel Gets Black Box Label Warning.
**Marijuana Linked to Teen Mental Health Problems.
**Medical Society to Review Lyme Disease Antibiotic Treatment Guidelines.
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- Special Diet Can Ease Epileptic Seizures in Kids: Strong support for ketogenic regimen from major randomized trial
The "ketogenic" diet, which features high levels of fat, low levels of carbohydrates and controlled protein intake, helps control and prevent seizures in children with drug-resistant epilepsy, a new study finds. The trial is the first randomized controlled study to confirm that the ketogenic diet -- widely used since the 1920s -- is effective against epilepsy, the British researchers said. "We have shown that the diet has efficacy and should be included in the management of children who have drug-resistant epilepsy. However, the diet is not without possible side effects, which should be considered alongside the risk-benefit of other treatments when planning the management of such children," the study authors wrote.
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- Mood Disorders Put Breast Cancer Patients at Risk for PTSD: They're twice as likely to have suffered from depression before the diagnosis
Breast cancer patients are more than twice as likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder if they have had previous mood and anxiety disorders, new research suggests. About 16 percent of the 74 breast cancer patients studied by researchers at the Ohio State University Medical experienced PTSD 18 months after their cancer diagnosis. These same patients were three times more likely to have had anxiety disorders. "What is unique about breast cancer patients with PTSD is that they have already had this double hit of both anxiety and mood disorders even before they got the diagnosis," study co-author Barbara Andersen. "So when they are in a new situation that is very anxiety-provoking -- cancer diagnosis and treatment -- it is not surprising that they are at risk for developing PTSD."
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- Acrylamide Raises Kidney Cancer Risk: Study found high intake of compound in fried foods, snacks, coffee upped chances of disease
Consuming large amounts of acrylamide, a chemical commonly found in French fries, cakes, snacks and even coffee, appears to raise the risk of kidney cancer, especially in smokers, Dutch researchers report. "Ours is the first report of a positive association between dietary acrylamide intake and renal cell [kidney] cancer," said study author Janneke Hogervorst. Those who took in the most acrylamid -- averaging 40.8 micrograms a day -- had a 59 percent higher risk of kidney cancer (but not the other cancers) than those consuming the least. For most people, coffee was the major source of the chemical. For each additional 10 micrograms ingested of the chemical, kidney cancer risk increased by 10 percent, the researchers found.
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- Diabetes Seems to Heighten Glaucoma Risk: Regular screenings may help prevent irreversible nerve damage
A recent study in the journal Ophthalmology found that women with diabetes have about a 70 percent increased risk of developing the most common form of glaucoma -- primary open-angle glaucoma -- compared to women without diabetes. The most important thing someone with diabetes can do to protect their eyes is to get regular eye exams, Schuman said. Glaucoma generally has no early symptoms. "There's no way to detect glaucoma without an exam, and the only way to prevent the loss of vision from glaucoma is to treat the disease early. You can't get back nerve damage that's been lost," Dr. Joel Schuman said. "The most important thing for reducing your risk of complications is to keep your blood sugar down both pre- and post-meal," Dr. David Oyer said. He also recommends getting your A1C level checked every three to six months and keeping that number below seven, preferably below 6.5.
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- Noise in Artery Could Warn of Heart Risk: Carotid bruits linked to increased odds of heart attack, death, study finds
That unusual, harsh sound a doctor can hear when passing a stethoscope over a main artery to the brain could indicate an increased risk of heart attack and death from heart disease and stroke, a new study finds. The sound -- called a carotid bruit (pronounced brew-ee) -- is caused by turbulent blood flow due to buildup of fatty deposits in one of the two arteries that carry blood to the front and middle part of the brain. Now an analysis of 22 studies finds that people with carotid bruits are more than twice as likely to have heart attacks or to die of cardiovascular disease.
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- High Blood Sugar Tied to Pregnancy Complications: Even non-diabetic levels may cause problems, study finds
Women with high blood sugar levels during pregnancy face an increased risk of complications, even if the high blood sugar readings don't meet the criteria for gestational diabetes. The higher a woman's blood sugar levels were, the more likely she was to have a C-section, to develop preeclampsia, have premature delivery and to have the delivery complication known as shoulder dystocia, the study found. Babies born to women with higher glucose levels were more likely to have high insulin levels, low blood sugar, and to have a large birth weight, all indications of exposure to high glucose levels. "Basically, what they found out is that there is no threshold where you know to treat. That makes it difficult to know what to do with these findings," said Dr. Joel Zonszein.
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- Electronic Pillbox Helps Seniors Stick to Drug Regimens: Study found fewer doses were missed, more doses taken on time
The pillbox holds up to a month's supply of medications, with separate compartments for up to four drugs. As programmed, the box beeps at pill-taking times, indicates the appropriate compartment, and displays the number of pills to take on a screen. As well, when the compartment lid is lifted a programmed audio message announces the number of pills to take, along with specific information about how to ingest the particular medication. "Compliance with medications is a huge problem in general, and in particular among the elderly," Dr. David Flockhart observed. "And it is even more problematic among those who take a lot of medication, which is a lot of people, given that the majority of seniors who take medications take more than five prescriptions a day. So the value of something like this is potentially very large."
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- Anti-Clotting Drug as Good as Aspirin at Stopping Second Stroke: Cilostazol also resulted in fewer brain bleeds than aspirin, study finds
The researchers calculated that cilostazol reduced the risk of recurrent stroke by 38 percent, which is not statistically significant. But they also found that far fewer brain bleeding events occurred in the cilostazol group (one patient) than in the aspirin group (seven patients), which was statistically significant. However, a larger phase III trial is required to confirm this," the researchers wrote. Stroke is the second leading cause of death in China. While aspirin is effective for preventing recurrent stroke, Asian people are more likely than others to suffer brain bleeding when taking aspirin, and the incidence of such bleeds in China is higher than in high-income nations. Cilostazol works through a different mechanism than aspirin.
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- Women Who Quit Smoking Lower Heart Risks Quickly: Study saw significant declines in several death risks within 5 years of stopping
New research shows that women who quit smoking have a 21 percent lower risk of dying from coronary heart disease within five years of extinguishing their last cigarette. The risks of dying from other conditions also decline after quitting, although the time frame varies depending on the disease. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 3 million people in industrialized countries will have died as a result of tobacco use by 2030, and an additional 7 million people in developing countries face the same fate. Current smokers had almost triple the risk of overall death compared with women who had never smoked.
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Health Highlights
**Recalled LawnBott Mowers Pose Laceration Hazard.
**Electric Simmer Wax Pots Pose Fire and Shock Hazard.
**Blood Vessel Laser Scanner Gets U.S. Government Approval.
**Tomato Paste Boosts Skin's Sun Protection: Study.
**Digitek Heart Tablets Recalled.
**Pfaltzgraff/Nautica Dinnerware Recalled.
**Gene Therapy Helps People With Rare Form of Blindness.
**Nursing Home Costs Continue to Rise.
**Gene Deletion Helps Some Male Athletes Cheat Doping Test.
**Hazardous Chromium Levels Found in Total Body Products.
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- Implanting Specialized Cells Found in the Human Eye into Areas of the Brain Improve Parkinson's Symptoms: Small study found measurable gains in those with moderate to severe disease
The new treatment, dubbed Spheramine, reduced symptoms experienced when people were off their Parkinson's medications by 44 percent for as long as four years of follow-up. Quality-of-life measurements were up about 23 percent. "This is a promising study on a form of therapy that is different from anything out there," said the study's lead author, Dr. Roy Bakay. "This therapy may be beneficial in itself, or it may be used as additional therapy," added Bakay. "Spheramine is not stem cells. There's no requirement for immunosuppression, and these cells are easily harvested from eye banks and are readily available," Bakay said. There are few effective treatments for Parkinson's, and those that do work often have unpleasant side effects and may stop working over time.
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- FDA Panel Urges Stronger Warnings for LASIK Surgery: The popular eye procedure helps many, but complaints show it may not be for everyone
The recommendations include: adding photographs to illustrate what people suffering certain side effects actually see, such as the glare that can make oncoming headlights a "starburst" of light;clarifying how often patients suffer certain side effects, such as dry eye; & making clearer the conditions that should disqualify someone from LASIK, such as large pupils or severe nearsightedness. "The FDA has called this a quality-of-life issue, because patients are complaining that their vision isn't sharp, they have poor night vision, some have glare or halos, some complain that their eyes are dry," said Dr. Robert Cykiert. Those who should rule it out include individuals who have a misshapen cornea or excessively thin cornea, who have early cataract formation or big pupils, who have dry eyes, or underlying conditions such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
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- Laparoscopic Surgery on Pancreas Has Fewer Complications: Patients had less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, study finds
Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery to remove pancreatic tumors or cysts leads to fewer complications and shorter hospital stays, a U.S. study finds. Overall, complications occurred in about half the operations, including about one-sixth that involved a leak of pancreatic fluid. Compared to standard surgery, laparoscopy resulted in fewer complications (57 percent vs. 40 percent). Patients who had the laparoscopic procedure also had less blood loss and spent three fewer days in hospital (six vs. nine). Our study shows that this approach is not only viable but may be preferable for the pancreas," Dr. David Kooby said.
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- Delusions Common in Pediatric ICU: Hallucinations during use of sedatives increase risk of post-traumatic stress, study finds
About one-third of children in pediatric intensive care units experience delusions, and those delusional memories put youngsters at a higher risk of developing post-traumatic stress syndrome after their hospital stay. Delusions were more common in children who had to be sedated for more than two days, and in youngsters who were admitted on an emergency basis. "[Children] reported seeing rats, cats, scorpions on the walls and, in some cases, crawling on the bed, and a couple of children were convinced that their parents had been replaced by imposters." Symptoms of PTSD include recurrent, intrusive memories or flashbacks of the event, difficulty concentrating, sleeping problems, irritability and lack of enjoyment of normal activities, according to the National Library of Medicine.
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- Secondhand Smoke Blocks Artery Repair: Toxins' effect on heart health may be worse than thought, study suggests
Secondhand smoke not only damages the delicate cells that line blood vessels but also disrupts the body's natural repair mechanism for those cells, a new study shows. The research was done because there still are skeptics who doubt the health value of public smoking bans, said study co-author Stanton A. Glantz. There was a clear negative effect on endothelial progenitor cells, which are produced in the bone marrow and circulate through the body. The progenitor cells' job is to seek out and repair endothelial damage. Secondhand smoke exposure interfered with chemical signals that bring these progenitor cells to the sites of damage, Stanton A. Glantz said.
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- Cola May Be Bad to the Bones: Research suggests the beverage contributes to osteoporosis
"There is enough evidence that high consumption of soda and carbonated beverages is associated with somewhat lower bone mass in children, and that's a real concern and people should be aware of it," said Dr. Lawrence Raisz. One reason may be that people who drink colas are simply less likely to get enough calcium and vitamin D in their diets, because the soda is replacing more nutritious beverages, such as milk or calcium-fortified juice. Or, it could be related to the caffeine in colas, because caffeine has been linked to a higher risk of osteoporosis. The third possible explanation focuses on one of the ingredients found in colas: phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid can cause an imbalance in the body as the body seeks to neutralize the acid with calcium. If there isn't enough calcium in the diet, the body will take calcium from the bones.
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- Lip Balms and Glosses May Boost Skin Cancer Risks: It's the shine that attracts ultraviolet rays, but sunscreen base can help, expert says
Shiny lip balms and glosses may attract ultraviolet rays and increase the risk of skin cancer. Dr. Christine Brown noted that protecting your lips from harmful sun rays is as important as using sunscreen to protect your skin. But a recent study found that less than 25 percent of Americans use some form of lip protection. Lips are more susceptible than skin to aging from chronic sun damage and also more prone to developing serious cancers. "When skin cancer occurs on the lower lip, it has the potential to be much more aggressive and metastasize to surrounding lymph nodes," Brown said. Women should only wear glossy lipsticks in the sun when they have a layer of sun protection on underneath, dermatologists advise. Anyone who's planning on being outdoors for more than 20 minutes at a time should use a lip sun block with an SPF of 30.
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Health Highlights
**Key Chains With High Lead Levels Recalled by Wal-Mart.
**Chemical in Plastic Changes Breast Cell Gene Activity: Study.
**Canada Warns About Chemical Used in Baby Bottles.
**More Reports of Sickness Linked to Supplements With Selenium.
**Artificial-Turf Playing Fields Under Scrutiny for Health Hazards of Lead.
**Low Vitamin D Levels May Increase Breast Cancer Risk.
**Drug Effective in Shrinking Breast Tumors: Study.
**FDA OKs Compact Heart Assist Device.
**Consumers Warned About Lead in Mexican Candies.
**KFC Cakes Recalled.
**Beco Baby Carriers Recalled Due to Fall Hazard.
**Rate Doubles for Nasty Infection Among Hospital Patients.
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- Antipsychotic Drugs Linked to Pneumonia in Elderly: Mechanism unclear, but nursing home study says risk greatest week after meds begin
Nursing home patients who take antipsychotic drugs are 60 percent more likely to develop pneumonia in the short term than those who don't take the drugs, a new study shows. The risk is greatest during the first week after patients start taking the medications and gradually decreases, say Dutch researchers. Up to 40 percent of nursing home residents may be prescribed antipsychotics, according to the study authors. They noted that, in more than half of those cases, antipsychotics are prescribed for inappropriate reasons. In addition, recent research has shown that the use of antipsychotic drugs in elderly patients is associated with an increased risk of illness and death.
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- Sleep Apnea Screening Cuts Surgical Complications: Canadian team develops simple test to identify those at risk
A quick, self-administered test to identify surgical patients who may have potentially life-threatening obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been developed by a team of Canadian anesthesiologists. "Identifying patients who are at risk of having OSA [obstructive sleep apnea] in advance of surgery is important to improve patient safety. In addition, when anesthesiologists are forewarned of the severity of a patient's sleep apnea, they can select appropriate anesthetic techniques and equipment, and ensure that surgery takes place in a facility which is equipped to deal with the potential complications," said Dr. Jeffrey B. Gross. However, hospitals and clinics don't do routine OSA screening of surgical patients because there hasn't been a simple, practical method that's been proven to be effective.
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- Common Chemotherapy Drug Linked to Memory Problems: 'Chemo brain' a routine side effect of treatment with drug 5-fluorouracil, study says
Up to 50 percent of women with breast cancer reported having cognitive problems a year after chemotherapy treatment ended, according to one previous study. "What we found is the damage done short-term is much less than the damage that occurs long-term," said Mark Noble, senior author of the study. "After the drug is stopped, the cellular damage gets worse." "What our studies do is demonstrate [that] it is the chemo," he said. And, the damage can occur with treatment with the single drug, not only the "cocktails" of drugs often used to treat cancer. "The damage at eight weeks was considerably greater than one day after treatment," Noble said. "Damage at six months was even greater than at six weeks." The finding "means that there is a real physiological basis for the symptoms of 'chemobrain,'" said Dr. Christina A. Meyers.
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- Overuse of Opioids, Barbiturates Boosts Chronic Migraine Risk: Self-treating headaches with these drugs doubles chance of having chronic episodes
Taking barbiturates and opioids such as codeine and oxycodone too often for migraines could double the chances of having chronic migraines a year later, new research says. The study found no increased risk for chronic migraine among people using other common treatments such as triptans or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. "People who use drugs that contain barbiturates and opioids, if only for a total of seven to eight days a month, appear to significantly increase their risk of migraine progression," said study author Marcelo Bigal. "Strict limits for these types of drugs should be enforced among people with migraine as a way of preventing their migraines from becoming more frequent and more painful."
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- Common Medications May Harm Memory in Older People: Those on anticholinergic drugs had sharper declines in thinking skills, study finds
Common medications known as anticholinergic drugs -- used to treat ulcers, stomach cramps, motion sickness, Parkinson's disease and urinary incontinence -- may cause older people to lose their thinking skills more quickly than seniors who don't take the medicines, new research suggests. "What we found is being on these drugs does worsen your cognitive performance," said Dr. Jack Tsao. "In the course of a few years, there is a small slippage. It's a minor effect." Medications for bladder problems and Parkinson's appear to have the worst effect on memory, he said. "Taking the drugs doesn't increase your risk of getting Alzheimer's. There was no change in the progression overall to the diagnosis of Alzheimer's," Tsao stressed. However, there was a decline in cognitive abilities.
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- New Psoriasis Pill Appears Effective: Whether the drug is safe for long-term use hasn't been proved, one expert says
A new drug for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis appears to be safe and effective, a Canadian trial shows. "ISA247 is a reasonable oral medication for the treatment of psoriasis," Dr. Kim Papp said. "It is reasonable because of reasonable efficacy, high tolerability and minimal metabolic effects." In addition, because the effect of the drug correlates with its dose, it "can be titrated to suit patients response and tolerance without undue risk of adverse effects," Papp said. One expert thinks the result of this trial needs to be duplicated in longer-term studies, and it needs to put in a head-to-head comparison with other psoriasis drugs.
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- Extra Pounds During and Between Pregnancies Can Pose Problems: Don't eat for 2, because complications increase with excess weight
"Women think they have carte blanche to eat whatever they want during pregnancy, but that's not a good idea," said Dr. Miriam Greene. "If you eat for two, you'll end up with complications you didn't need to take on. Eat what your appetite tells you to eat, and eat slowly, so you can tell when you're full," advised Dr. Marjorie Greenfield. During pregnancy, an average-weight woman should gain about 25 to 35 pounds, according to Greene. "You don't want your weight gain to be less than 15 or greater than 40," she said. Gaining too much weight during pregnancy puts both baby and mom at risk of complications, such as gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, labor complications, stillbirth and delivery of a large-for-gestational age baby.
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Health Highlights
**Western Rider Push Toys and S'morestick Kits Recalled.
**Bisphenol A--Used In A Wide Range of Consumer Products--May Be Linked to Hormonal Problems.
**Heparin Contaminant May Have Been Added to Boost Profits: FDA.
**Model Helicopter Chargers, Batteries Pose Burn Hazard.
**Parents Often Misinformed About Drugs Prescribed for Children.
**Gene Discovery May Lead to New Treatments for Iron Disorders.
**21 Salmonella Cases Reported in 13 States After Cereal Recall.
**Recalled Dietary Supplements May Pose Serious Health Hazard.
**Michaels Recalls 310,000 Seasonal Writing Pens.
**Chocolate-Covered Almonds and Peanuts Recalled.
**Organ-Rejection Drugs Linked to Nervous System Disorder: FDA.
**Suicide Leading Cause of Violent Death in U.S.
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- Weekly Doses of Taxol Prolonged Lives of Breast Cancer Patients: Finding should change standard of care, which is 4 doses every 3 weeks, researchers say
Women who take the drug Taxol weekly after receiving chemotherapy for 12 weeks live longer and live longer without a recurrence of their breast cancer, compared to women who take four taxol treatments every three weeks. "The findings suggest that weekly Taxol for 12 weeks is more effective than four cycles of Taxol and should be considered a new standard," said study author Dr. Joseph A. Sparano. "Taxol is effective in patients with one or more common subtypes [of breast cancer] and, if it is going to be used in that population, should be delivered weekly for 12 weeks rather than every three weeks for four treatments," Sparano said.
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- Extra Drug Improves Rectal Cancer Treatment: And contraceptive drug helps kill cervical cancer cells missed by chemotherapy
Adding the cancer drug Avastin to radiation and chemotherapy improves results for patients with rectal cancer. And adding the contraceptive drug mifepristone (RU-486, the so-called abortion pill) to chemotherapy kills ovarian cancer cells that escaped cisplatin treatment. In the first study, researchers found that adding Avastin to chemotherapy and radiation improved three-year, disease-free survival by 91 percent among patients with rectal cancer. In the second study, researchers found that using mifepristone along with the chemotherapy drug cisplatin might improve success in treating ovarian cancer. "We show for the first time that mifepristone is effective in preventing the re-growth of ovarian cancer cells that survive standard cisplatin chemotherapy," Dr. Carlos M. Telleria said.
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- Diabetic Eye Problem Linked to Heart Failure: Retinopathy more than doubled the risk of heart problems, study found
Diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of vision loss in the United States, is also a warning sign of heart failure, a new study says. The study followed more than 1,000 middle-aged people with type 2 diabetes for nine years and found that those with retinopathy at the start had more than a 2.5-fold higher risk of developing heart failure than those without retinopathy. Dr. Nancy Sweitzer, director of the heart failure program at the University of Wisconsin, said, "The interesting thing about this study was that the association was as strong for mild degrees of eye disease as for strong degrees. It has to be taken very seriously."
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- Heart Failure Drugs Linked to Hip Bone Loss in Older Men: Loop diuretics more than double risk for fractures, study finds
Loop diuretics, drugs commonly prescribed to treat heart failure and hypertension, increase the risk of hip bone loss in older men, says a U.S. study. "Compared with rates of hip bone loss among non-users of diuretics, adjusted rates of loss were about twofold greater among intermittent loop diuretic users and about 2.5-fold greater among continuous loop diuretic users," wrote Dr. Lionel S. Lim, of Griffin Hospital in Derby, Conn., and his colleagues. "Our findings suggest that health care providers should take into account loop diuretic use when evaluating older men for risk factors for bone loss and fracture risk," they said. The researchers noted that loop diuretics are one of the most commonly prescribed medications among older adults.
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- New Drug Duo Helps Cut Colon Cancer Risk: And cancer drug Sutent may slow liver cancer progression, scientists report
In the first report, researchers found that a two-drug regimen made up of low doses of difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) plus sulindac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), cut the risk of colorectal adenomas by up to 95 percent. Colorectal adenomas are an early sign of colon cancer. The rate of risk reduction was so high that the trial's Data Safety and Monitoring Board stopped the trial early so that everyone could benefit, the researchers noted. In the second study, the researchers showed that sunitinib (Sutent) appears effective in slowing tumor growth and cutting the risk of metastases in patients with hepatocellular liver cancer, researchers report. In a third report researchers found that blood pressure-lowering drugs called angiotensin receptor blockers appear to retard pancreatic cancer cell growth and cause malignant cells to die.
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- Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to Leg Artery Blockages: But doctors are divided on whether supplements are a good option
The study of nearly 4,900 American adults found more than double the incidence of PAD among those with the lowest levels of vitamin D compared to those with the highest levels. Current guidelines recommend a vitamin D intake of 400 International Units a day for people aged 50 and older. In addition to sunlight, other sources of the vitamin are salmon, sardines, cod liver oil, fortified milk and some fortified cereals. "The current guidelines do call for 400 units a day," Dr. Denise Teves said. "But in the last two or three years, many endocrinologists have been recommending at least 800 units a day. I have seen many students in Wisconsin in the wintertime with low vitamin D levels." It's best to consult a doctor about taking large amounts of a vitamin D supplement, Teves said.
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- Drinking May Raise Breast Cancer Risk: Effect was especially strong for estrogen-sensitive tumor types, study found
Alcohol, consumed even in small amounts, increases the risk of breast cancer and particularly estrogen-receptor and progesterone-receptor positive breast cancer, a new study shows. Those who had less than one drink a day had a 7 percent increased risk of breast cancer compared to teetotalers, the team reported. Women who drank one to two drinks a day had a 32 percent increased risk, and those who had three or more glasses of alcohol a day had up to a 51 percent increased risk. But the risk was seen mostly in those 70 percent of tumors classified as estrogen receptor- and progesterone receptor-positive. Researchers suspect that alcohol may have an effect on breast cancer via an effect on estrogen. The risk was similar whether women consumed primarily beer, wine or spirits, the NCI team noted.
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- Smoking, Drinking, Cholesterol May Be Alzheimer's Risk Factors: Behaviors in midlife can have an impact decades later, studies suggest
Heavy drinking, heavy smoking and high cholesterol levels in midlife are associated with the onset of Alzheimer's disease in later years, news research shows. A study of 938 people 60 and older diagnosed with possible or probable Alzheimer's found an earlier onset for the disease for heavy drinkers (more than two drinks a day) and heavy smokers (a pack of cigarettes or more a day), said Dr. Ranjan Duara. The study found people with total cholesterol levels between 249 and 500 milligrams were one-and-a-half times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those with cholesterol levels less than 198 milligrams. People with total cholesterol levels of 221 to 248 milligrams were more than one-and-a-quarter times more likely to develop the disease.
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- Exercise Could Cut Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment: It may produce chemicals that protect the brain, study suggests
People with mild cognitive impairment can handle everyday activities but often have trouble remembering details of conversations, events and upcoming appointments. Most, but not all, people with mild cognitive impairment experience a progressive decline in their cognitive abilities, and the underlying cause is usually Alzheimer's disease, according to background information in the study. Moderate physical exercise between the ages of 50 and 65 was associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment, but the same was not true of exercise during the year prior to the survey.
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Health Highlights
**Hazardous Amounts of Selenium Found in Supplements: FDA.
**Elevated Lung Cancer Cases in Users of Inhaled Insulin.
**Pre-Eclampsia May Increase Child's Heart Disease Risk.
**Combination of Alcohol and the Active Ingedient in Marijuana Kills Brain Cells.
**U.S. Officials Seize Unapproved Impotence Drugs.
**Magnetic Dart Boards Recalled.
**Breakfast Cereals Recalled for Salmonella Threat.
**FDA Reports More Deaths Related to Tainted Heparin.
**Stuffed Insect Toys Recalled for Choking Hazard.
**Sedentary Children Face Increased Risk of Heart Trouble in Adulthood.
**Hospitalized Kids Often Victims of Drug Mishaps.
**Dyslexia's Impact Differs, Depending on the Language.
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- Medical Errors Costing U.S. Billions: Mistakes resulted in 238,337 preventable deaths from 2006-08, survey finds
From 2004 through 2006, patient safety errors resulted in 238,337 potentially preventable deaths of U.S. Medicare patients and cost the Medicare program $8.8 billion, according to the fifth annual Patient Safety in American Hospitals Study. This analysis of 41 million Medicare patient records, released April 8 by HealthGrades, a health care ratings organization, found that patients treated at top-performing hospitals were, on average, 43 percent less likely to experience one or more medical errors than patients at the poorest-performing hospitals. Starting Oct. 1, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will stop reimbursing hospitals for the treatment of eight major preventable errors, including objects left in the body after surgery and certain kinds of post-surgical infections.
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- Fetal Exposure to Substance Abuse Changes Brain Structure: Mom's use of tobacco, alcohol, drugs may affect kids into early adolescence, study shows
Babies born to women who use cocaine, alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy may have brain structure changes that persist into early adolescence, a new U.S. study says. The more substances a child was exposed to, the greater the reduction in brain volume. Health-care providers should offer pregnant women comprehensive care to help them reduce the use of all harmful substances. And public health campaigns shouldn't ignore the risks of some substances while focusing on others, since the greater the number of total prenatal exposures, the more likely there will be harmful and lasting effects on a baby's developing brain, the study authors said.
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- Breast Cancer Lymph Node Biopsy May Need Closer Look: Stray 'micrometastases' could be missed, harming long-term survival, study suggests
A new long-term analysis of breast cancer patient survival suggests it might be time to update the way pathologists test lymph node biopsies. A team of New York City physicians found about one in four patients originally declared to be free of cancerous cells in their sentinel lymph nodes were actually not cancer-free, and that tiny cancer remnants called micrometastases reduced the women's survival over a 20-year period. "This is the first study to show that there is a survival impact for the detection of micrometastases," said Dr. Stephen F. Sener. Nevertheless, Dr. Hiram S. Cody III said, "because we don't know the results of those studies (ongoing, prospective) yet, studies like our own may be the best available evidence at present, and our study suggests these micrometastases are prognostically significant."
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- Stenting as Good as Surgery for Stroke Prevention: Three-year follow-up of study shows similar results
Carotid stenting -- inserting a tube into the main artery to the brain to prevent a stroke -- is as effective over the long term for high-risk patients as a surgery called endarterectomy, a study shows. The report described a three-year follow-up of a study that compared stenting with endarterectomy in 334 people who had narrowing of the carotid artery and were at high risk of complications from surgery. Data on 260 of the participants showed that the incidence of heart attacks, strokes and death was about the same in the two groups, occurring in 24.6 percent of those who were stented and 26.9 percent of those who had surgery. "If you don't really want surgery you can have a stent, but under the umbrella of research, where you are followed closely," Dr. Deepak Bhatt said.
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- Lowering Blood Pressure Improves Brain Hemorrhage Outcomes: Aggressive action is safe and may cut risk of disability, death, study finds
travenous treatment to drastically lower the blood pressure of people who've just suffered bleeding in the brain may improve their prognosis, a pilot study suggests. "Because intravenous treatment to lower blood pressure is relatively straightforward, is not hazardous, and is of low cost, if applied widely, these effects could translate into major absolute benefits," concluded Dr. Craig Anderson. In an accompanying Comment, Dr. Mustapha Ezzeddine wrote that the study provides the best evidence to date of the safety of this kind of treatment. However, many questions remain: Do the results apply to other stroke patients? How early & how long should blood pressure be controlled? Do different drugs have different effects? The follow-up studies "are likely to answer some of these questions & more importantly to detect any effect on outcomes" Ezzeddine wrote
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- Radon: The Silent Home Invader That Can Kill: But simple tests and corrective actions can banish the carcinogenic gas
You can't see, smell or taste radon. The gas emanates naturally from the soil, seeping up into homes that rest on the ground. The only way to avoid it, really, is to have a house on stilts. But the radioactive gas is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers in America, as well as the second leading cause of lung cancer overall, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It claims about 21,000 lives annually. The gas typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. The home then traps radon inside. The EPA recommends that any homeowner should conduct a radon test. The tests are easy to obtain. They're sold at hardware stores, and some local health departments and extension services offer to sell them at cost to homeowners, Snead said.
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- TV in the Bedroom Is Not a Teen's Best Friend: Personal sets interfere with family time, grades and nutrition, study finds
Although your teenager may poignantly plead that he or she is the only child left in America without a bedroom television, health experts recommend that parents stand their ground and keep TV out of the bedroom. There seems to be a good reason for this. The latest research, published in the April issue of the journal Pediatrics, shows that having a bedroom television not only leads to more TV viewing, but also results in less time spent with the family, less time exercising, lower fruit and vegetable intake, more sweetened beverage consumption, and in lower grades. "The big take-home message from our study is that TVs should be removed from kids' bedrooms, and it could have a positive effect on kids' health," said the study's lead author, Daheia Barr-Anderson.
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- 'Nanomachine' Releases Anticancer Drugs Inside Cells: In response to light, its pores let loose chemicals targeting disease
The "nanoimpeller" collects and stores anti-cancer drugs inside tiny pores and releases the drugs into cancer cells in response to light. It's the first light-powered nanomachine able to operate inside a living cell. "The achievement here is gaining precise control of the amount of drugs that are released by controlling the light exposure. Controlled release to a specific location is the key issue. And the release is only activated by where the light is shining," said Fuyu Tamanoi. He and colleague Jeffrey Zink, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry, said this system "has potential applications for precise drug delivery and might be the next generation for novel platform for the treatment of cancers such as colon and stomach cancer."
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Health Highlights
**Children's Sunglasses Recalled Due to Lead Hazard.
**U.S. Identifies New Toys That Pose Choking Hazard.
**Warning About Psychiatric Side Effects Added to Flu Drug Relenza Information.
**Drug Ads Should Tell Where to Report Side Effects: Petition.
**Many Drugs Can Cause Eye Problems: Report.
**Tai-Chi Benefits Diabetes Patients: Studies.
**Fat Droplets Help TB Bacteria Survive.
**Recalled Salad Dressing Has Undeclared Ingredients.
**Glass Fragment Risk Prompts Yogurt Recall.
**Antidepressant May Offer New Treatment for Cystic Fibrosis.
**Two Coronary Stents Implanted at the Same Time Increase Clotting Risk, Study Finds.
**Dole Fresh Fruit Joins Cantaloupe Recall.
**New Test Recommended to Determine Cardiovascular Disease Risk.
**FDA Issues Warning About Dietary Supplements.
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- FDA Probing Possible Link Between Asthma Drug and Suicide Risk: Singulair, top-selling drug for teens, under review by U.S. agency and manufacturer Merck
In issuing its statement, the FDA stressed that asthma patients should not stop taking Singulair without talking to their doctor first. Experts pointed out that, in the meantime, asthma sufferers need to determine with their doctors whether Singulair is the best choice of treatment for them. "The physician really needs to review whether there are symptoms that have developed since patients started taking the medication, if there's an underlying depression that was there before medication started," added Dr. Rauno Joks. "Also, seasonal allergies in and of themselves can cause fatigue and lethargy, which makes it harder to assess, because those are some of the symptoms you have with depression." The FDA noted it was also looking into whether other related drugs, such as Accolate, Zyflo and Zyflo CR need to be investigated as well.
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- Seat Belt Use by Pregnant Women Could Save 200 Fetuses a Year: Those in car crashes where baby is injured or dies are unbelted 62% of the time
Contrary to some popular folklore, pregnant women should wear seat belts, not only to save themselves in the event of a car accident but also to save their fetus. According to a new study published in the April issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, almost 200 fetuses each year -- or half of all fetal losses in motor-vehicle crashes -- could be saved if pregnant women buckled up properly. "For pregnant women, the lap-belt portion needs to be worn low over the pelvis as stated in the article, so if there is a crash, basically, the bony pelvis is what the seat belt is restraining rather than [having the force] transmitted to the uterus or the abdomen," Dr. Richard Jones explained. "The shoulder belt should simply come up from the side, go between the woman's breasts, and over the shoulder."
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- Diabetics Face Doubled Risk of Heart Attack: Danger level same as non-diabetics who already have had a heart attack, study says
Diabetics are more than twice as likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke and death from cardiovascular disease, putting them at the same risk level as non-diabetics who had previously suffered a heart attack, Danish researchers report. The findings, appearing in April 1 issue of Circulation, led one study author to suggest all diabetics talk to their doctors about possibly starting treatments to control cholesterol levels and blood-pressure levels. "We've talked about 'the lower, the better' for cholesterol and blood pressure to reduce the risk of heart attack," lead author Dr. Tina Ken Schramm. "Now I think we should be saying the sooner, the better for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases in diabetics."
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- Hands-Only Resuscitation OK for Cardiac Arrest: New American Heart Association guidelines don't require ventilation
If you see someone collapse in a public place or at home and you think it might be a heart attack, start pushing on his or her chest as hard as you can and as often as you can. Those are the latest instructions from the American Heart Association, which asserts that hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be done in an emergency situation, even by people who have no training in the technique. The statement, published in the April 29 issue of Circulation, does not rule out mouth-to-mouth breathing as part of CPR. "But we have learned enough to say that passers-by can save lives with chest compression alone," said Dr. Michael Sayre. The details of traditional CPR -- how often and how hard to push -- can be ignored, Sayre said.
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- Elderly Can Benefit From High Blood Pressure Treatment: Lowering pressure significantly reduces risk of stroke and heart failure for those over 80, study finds
Despite some doctors' reluctance to do so, a new study finds that treating high blood pressure in patients age 80 and older can reduce the rate of stroke, heart failure and death from cardiovascular disease. "In the elderly, acts of omission are tolerated much more than acts of commission," Dr. Harlan M. Krumholz said. "Somehow we are much more comfortable with neglecting something and saying, 'This is just nature taking its course,' than saying, 'We may have an opportunity to make a difference here,'" he said. Studies like this reassure doctors that treating the elderly can be beneficial, he added. "This study convincingly demonstrates that the benefits of treating high blood pressure in patients age 80 and above greatly outweighs the risks," Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow said.
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- ACE Inhibitor as Effective as More Expensive Blood Pressure Drug: Study focused on more than 17,000 people with coronary artery disease or diabetes
Treatment with an ACE inhibitor drug was as effective in reducing deaths, heart attacks and stroke in a high-risk group of patients as a newer and more expensive angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB) drug, a large international study has found. The study of more than 17,000 people with coronary artery disease or diabetes found no major differences between those treated with the widely used ACE inhibitor ramipril (Altace) and those given the ARB telmisartan (Micardis). "This is the first study in such a population that shows ACE inhibitors are as effective as ARBs," said study leader Dr. Salim Yusuf. The finding might reduce the use of ARBs for such high-risk people, he said. "Even before the trial, many physicians have used ACE inhibitors as a first choice," Yusuf said. "I believe it will have an impact on practice."
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- Two Drugs Better Than One for High Blood Pressure: Pairing ACE inhibitor with calcium channel blocker beat pairing it with diuretic; Celebrex study finds dose related to heart risk
A large trial shows that combining an ACE inhibitor with a calcium channel blocker in individuals with high blood pressure who are at high risk for cardiovascular complications resulted in a 20 percent reduction in the risks of death, heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular troubles. "This strategy challenges our current guidelines in two important ways. First, the idea that monotherapy [starting out on a single pill] should be the rule of stay is now challenged and, second, guidelines have recommended that we use a diuretic, and we show that an ACE inhibitor and calcium channel blocker are superior," said study author Dr. Kenneth Jamerson. A second study showed that individuals taking 400 milligrams of Celebrex twice a day had a threefold increase in cardiovascular risk.
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- Once-Daily Insulin Shot Proves Effective in Study: Participants preferred it to product requiring three injections a day
Researchers report that a once-daily shot of insulin appears to control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes just as well as injecting insulin three times a day. The once-a-day formulation, known as insulin glargine (Lantus), is already on the market, as is insulin lispro (Humalog), which is taken with meals. The new, international study found more patient satisfaction with the glargine. "This study just confirms that insulin is effective and there are good reasons to use insulin if oral agents are not working," said Dr. Sue Kirkman. "It's certainly not that one is good and one is bad." Dr. Juan Castro said "This basal insulin gives us a good transition to help patients accept insulin because it's only once a day. If, two to three months later, we need to give them lispro, it's easier for them to accept it."
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- New Drug Shows Promise in Use With Coronary Stents: Antiplatelet prasugrel may protect better than Plavix, study shows
Treatment with a new antiplatelet drug called prasugrel may be better than standard treatment in protecting against blocked blood flow in patients with at least one coronary stent, according to a new international study. "These data highlight the importance of aggressive antiplatelet therapy to reduce ischemic events in patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention," the study authors concluded. "When balancing risks & benefits of strategies to prevent ischemic events, consideration should be given to patient characteristics, including risk of bleeding & ischemic events as well as stent & procedural characteristics".
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- Drug-Eluting Stents Safe After Heart Attack: Long-term study indicates they lower restenosis risk and don't increase mortality probability
Drug-eluting stents, the small tubing placed in diseased coronary arteries to keep them open, are more effective than bare-metal stents for heart attack patients, new research shows. In the largest study yet comparing the long-term effect of drug-eluting stents -- the drug in question retards the growth of arterial cells -- with drug-free ones, Boston researchers report the drug-eluting device lowers the risk of blood vessels narrowing again and doesn't heighten the risk of mortality. "I would feel comfortable considering drug-eluting stents on the basis of these results -- with the caveats that treated patients must be able to take antiplatelet therapy and that we definitely want to see even longer-term follow-up," added Dr. Laura Mauri.
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- Premature Delivery Linked to High Cholesterol in Moms Later: Finding may explain reasons for higher risk of heart disease in these mothers
Giving birth early seems to increase a woman's risk of having high cholesterol later, a new study shows. And that raises the chances of heart disease even further down the line for these women, the researchers added. "Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were elevated in women who'd had a preterm birth, before 34 weeks," said study author Janet Catov. After adjusting for race, smoking history and body mass index, the researchers found that women who gave birth prematurely had a 2.3 times greater risk of developing cholesterol levels above 240 mg/dl, a level considered high risk by the American Heart Association. Additionally, women who'd had a preterm birth were 3.3 times more likely to have elevated LDL -- the "bad" cholesterol -- than women who gave birth to full-term babies.
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- Cholesterol Drug Controversy Continues: Doctors debate worth of lipid-lowering agent that combines 2 medications
A divided cardiology community is trying once again to make sense of a trial showing that a drug can lower levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol and yet give no apparent benefit to people at high risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular problems. The drug, Vytorin, combines a well-known statin -- simvastatin -- with ezetimibe, which also lowers LDL cholesterol, but in a different way. A controversy erupted earlier this year when Merck/Schering-Plough, which markets the drug in the United States, released results of a European trial that showed the combined medication did not reduce buildup of potentially artery-blocking plaque deposits any more than simvastatin alone. "For myself, I would not take the medication, and if I recommended it to anyone, it would be for the highest-risk patient who couldn't tolerate statins," Dr. Harlan M. Krumholz said.
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Health Highlights
**Children's Water Bottles Recalled Due to Lead Hazard.
**FDA Warns Men Not to Use 'Blue Steel' or 'Hero' Products.
**Baby Milk Powder May Cause Breathing Problems.
**Cod Liver Oil May Help Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.
**Another U.S. Company Recalls Heparin.
**Recall of Neuromodulation Implantable Infusion Pumps.
**50 Cases of Salmonella Poisoning Linked to Imported Cantaloupes.
**Toys Recalled for Lead Paint Danger.
**Health Canada Issues Advisory About the Drug Carbamazepine.
**Certain Motor Vehicle Features Benefit Seniors.
**New Yorkers Gain 10 Million Pounds in Two Years.
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- Popular Colonoscopy Prep Solution May Pose Kidney Risks: Dangers of phosphate solution extend to those without renal disease, study says
One of the most common bowel-cleansing preparations used by people who are about to have a colonoscopy can trigger both acute kidney failure and long-term renal damage in otherwise healthy patients. New research suggests the risks of oral sodium phosphate solution and tablets are rare but real, particularly for elderly patients. Another popular prescription colonoscopy preparation -- polyethylene glycol solutions (PEG) -- was not the subject of the current study and does not appear to be associated with similar risks. "Colonoscopies save lives," Dr. Hemant K. Roy stressed. "We know it works. So this should not dissuade people from doing one. I think we just need to be cautious about the type of preparation we use and who we give it to, so that an extraordinarily rare complication is avoided. And we have options, so there is a way to do that."
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- HRT Raises Recurrence Risk Among Breast Cancer Survivors: Trial was halted early after risk of both recurrence and new malignancies surfaced
European researchers report more grim news concerning women and hormone replacement therapy: Not only do healthy women run the risk of developing breast cancer while taking the therapy, breast cancer survivors who do the same face a higher risk of a recurrence or a new malignancy. "Really, at this point, there's no guarantee of the safety of hormone replacement therapy in breast cancer survivors. Some forms of estrogen and progestin and different regimens of those two may be safer, but the risks are pretty clear-cut," said Dr. Jennifer Wu. For women in general, the message remains the same: They should avoid taking hormone therapy unless needed for severe menopausal symptoms, and then at the lowest dose possible for the shortest amount of time. "For breast cancer survivors, the stakes are higher," said Debbie Saslow.
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- Know Suicide's Warning Signs: More people likely to take their lives in the spring, doctors say
While many people view spring as a time of renewal and hope, the greatest number of suicides in the United States occur each year in April and May, notes the American College of Emergency Physicians. "We do know that suicide is the 11th leading cause of death for all ages in the United States, with one suicide occurring every 16 minutes or about 11 suicides per 100,000 people," Dr. Linda L. Lawrence said in a prepared statement. "Moreover, suicide is the second leading cause of death among 25- to 34-year-olds and the third leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds. Men take their own lives nearly four times more often than women, with men ages 75 and older having the highest rate of suicide, although over a lifetime, women attempt suicide two to three times as often as men," Lawrence said. In this article the ACEP wants to educate people about the warning signs of suicidal behavior.
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- MRI Can Be Predictor of Post-Treatment Prostate Cancer Spread: Those having radiation therapy may want to request more aggressive therapy, study finds
The researchers concluded that the presence and degree of "extracapsular extension" (the spread of cancer beyond the membrane surrounding the prostate gland) that could be seen on the pre-treatment MRI images was an important predictor of post-treatment cancer recurrence and spread. Patients with extracapsular extension greater than 5millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser) were more likely to suffer cancer recurrence and spread. "Patients with substantial extracapsular spread of prostate cancer may wish to discuss options for more aggressive therapy with their treating physicians," Fergus V. Coakley said.
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- Abdominal Fat Boosts Dementia Risk: Potbellies in midlife may flood brain with toxic substances, researcher says
A potbelly in middle age more than triples the risk of senility decades later, according to a large study that pinpoints a new link between obesity and dementia. "The take-home message is that it's not only what you weigh, but it's where you carry your weight in midlife," said study author Rachel Whitmer. The good news? Lose weight, and you may be able to reduce the increased risk, she said. Researchers found that obese people who had the most abdominal fat in their 40s were 3.6 times more likely to develop dementia than those with the least amount of abdominal fat. People who were overweight -- a step below obese -- and had large bellies in their 40s were 2.3 times more likely to develop dementia.
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- TB Drug Treatment Can Lead to Severe Pneumonia: South African study cites the use of fluoroquinones
The use of fluoroquinones to treat children with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis can lead to the development of drug-resistant invasive pneumococcal disease, including severe pneumonia and meningitis. The researchers found that invasive pneumococcal disease caused by levofloxacin-resistant S. pneumoniae was associated with a history of TB treatment. Eight out of nine (89 percent) children with non-susceptible isolates had a history of TB treatment, compared to 396 of 2,202 (18 percent) of children with susceptible isolates. Among the hospitalized children with nose and throat pneumococcal carriage, nearly 100 percent of the bacteria were levofloxacin resistant.
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- More Vitamin D in Childhood Cuts Later Diabetes Risk: Supplements and sunlight influence development of some autoimmune disorders, study says
The researchers found that children who were given additional vitamin D were about 30 percent less likely to develop type 1 diabetes than children who didn't receive vitamin D supplements. The evidence also indicated that the higher and more regular the dose of vitamin D, the lower the risk of developing diabetes. There's evidence that levels of vitamin D and exposure to sunlight, which prompts the body to make vitamin D, influence the risk of developing some types of autoimmune disorders. The review authors noted that global rates of type 1 diabetes vary greatly, according to latitude and levels of sunlight. For example, a child in Finland is 400 times more likely than a child in Venezuela to develop type 1 diabetes.
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- Innovative Care Is Helping Iraq War's Injured Survive: Improvements mean 9 out of 10 with serious trauma live, often with little visible damage, surgeons say
After five years of war in Iraq, there's some relatively good medical news about the casualties over there: more than 90 percent are now surviving injuries that would have been fatal in previous conflicts. By integrating the knowledge of military and civilian surgeons we are improving outcomes for the casualties of modern war and saving the lives of people who would never have survived years ago," said Dr. Mutaz B. Habal. According to surgeons who reported their experiences in the journal, changes to treatment guidelines and protocols based on surgical insights, ongoing data collection and analyses have resulted in better treatments for the wounded. In addition, the introduction of civilian trauma experts and weekly video conferences have improved continuity of care for injured soldiers in the Military Health System & VA system.
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Health Highlights
**FDA Approves Artiss Medical Adhesive for Burn Treatment.
**Cortisol May Benefit Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Patients.
**Carbon Monoxide May Benefit Lung Disease Patients.
**FDA Cautions on COPD Inhaler and Stroke Risk.
**Vegan Diet May Reduce Heart Disease Risk in Arthritis Patients.
**ADHD May Increase Girls' Risk of Eating Disorders.
**Symptoms of Severe West Nile Can Last for Years.
**Optical Scanning Method May Be Able to Detect Early Onset of Alzheimer's.
**Microwave Popcorn Chemical Damages Airways.
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- Secondhand Smoke Hikes Tots' Risk of Heart Disease: Younger children are more affected than teens, a new study finds
The findings, which focused on children from 2 to 14 years old, showed that environmental tobacco exposure (second-hand smoke) caused increased markers of inflammation and signs of vascular injury, suggesting an increased risk of heart disease. The youngest children appeared to be more affected than teens. "A lot of people don't realize that when you smoke in the house, children are continuously exposed. It's always in the house; the smoke doesn't just go away," Dr. Devang Doshi added. Doshi said his first advice to parents is to quit smoking. Failing that, he said he advises parents to go outside, away from the house to smoke, and to wear at least two layers of clothing. Then, when they come back in the house, he recommends removing the top layer of clothing and washing your hands to try to limit your child's exposure.
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- Transfusions of 'Older' Blood Don't Work as Well: Mortality, complication rates higher than with freshly stored units, study findsHeart-surgery patients who get transfusions of blood that has been stored for more than 14 days do worse than those who get newer blood, a new study shows. In-hospital death rates, incidence of complications and long-term death rates were higher for those getting older blood, conclude physicians at the Cleveland Clinic. The Duke studies have shown that "blood undergoes changes profoundly, even in the first 24 hours," Dr. Sunil Rao said. The major effect is loss of nitric oxide, "which is really fundamental to the process of oxygen exchange," he said. Practical steps can be taken to reduce the need for transfusions, Dr. Colleen Gorman Koch said. Patients should be tested before surgery to determine if their hematocrit-a measure of possible anemia-is low enough to cause worry. "If there is anemia, you should find the source of it and treat it," she said.
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- Therapy Could Save Limbs After Frostbite: Angiography plus anti-clotting drug keep tissue viable, researchers say
A new treatment can help save severely frostbitten limbs that might otherwise be amputated, researchers say. Interventional radiologists used angiography (an X-ray exam of arteries and veins) to identify areas lacking blood flow. They then delivered, via catheter, clot-busting and anti-spasmodic drugs to reopen damaged, clogged arteries. "Previously, severe frostbite was a one-way route to limb loss. This treatment is a significant improvement. We're opening arteries that are blocked so that tissue can heal and limbs can be salvaged. We were able to reopen even the smallest arteries, saving patients' fingers and toes," Dr. George Edmonson.
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- Severe Menopause Symptoms Raise Heart Risks: The worse the symptoms, the higher the chances of trouble, study shows
Women who have the most severe menopausal symptoms may also be at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, a new study suggests. The researchers, from the University Medical Center Utrecht, conclude that the connection between severity of symptoms and heart disease risk may be the result of reduced beneficial effects of estrogen on the functioning of blood vessel walls, as estrogen declines during menopause. The take-home point from this study for the general population, according to Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, is to pay close attention to improvement in lifestyle habits before menopause and before estrogen levels decline. Among her suggestions: Exercise at least 20 to 30 minutes three to five days a week, and eat a diet filled with fiber, vegetables, fruits, multi-grains, legumes and omega-3 fatty acids.
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- Embolization a Non-surgical Way to Treat Fibroids: It works even after other therapies have failed, but many women unaware of this option, experts say
"If you're suffering with symptomatic fibroids, you don't have to have surgery. Uterine artery embolization is an excellent option," said Dr. John Lipman. "There are some women who are silent sufferers. They basically hemorrhage each month because they know they don't want a hysterectomy and they feel it's the only option. So, they just sit on the sidelines because they don't want the surgery." Lipman pointed out that gynecologists don't perform UAE, interventional radiologists do. Gynecologists need to take the lead and tell their patients about this option. Patients shouldn't have to direct their own therapy," Lipman said. Dr. William Romano said "Embolization is a good treatment option and it should at least be considered in all patients with fibroids."
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- Tissue-Freezing Technique Effective Against Prostate Cancer: 10 Year Follow-up Study found that clinical outcomes “are basically the same as seed implant radiation & external radiation therapy”
"These findings are confirmation that cryotherapy is another viable treatment option for prostate cancer," Dr. Ralph Miller said. "There are probably 10- to 15,000 of these procedures done each year in the United States," he noted. Men trying to decide which treatment is best for them may now also want to consider cryotherapy, knowing that the results will be similar to other choices, Dr. Ralph Miller said. Patients can turn to cryotherapy after failing radiation therapy, he noted. Cryotherapy may also be a good option for patients who are likely to fail radiation therapy or for those who have a prostate obstruction that causes them trouble urinating, he added. In addition, patients with advanced prostate cancer may also benefit from cryotherapy in lieu of radiation, Miller said.
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- Frying Tumors Can Boost Lung Cancer Survival: And a similar needle-based freezing technology can help fight kidney cancer, studies find
In one study conducted in France, patients with advanced lung cancer who were not candidates for surgery underwent a procedure known as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which basically heats the tumors and kills them. "The medical establishment, being very conservative, has always said if you aren't fit for surgery you just basically get chemo and radiation and most of the time [they] don't work well and you die of your tumor. But even the most unfit for surgery can have this procedure safely," Dr. Damian Dupuy said. "This procedure is done at almost every hospital that has an interventional radiologist, which is most. It's like a lung biopsy." "If you have to stick a needle in to diagnose lung cancer anyway, why not do it in a single sitting?" Dupuy asked. Another study showed that cryoablation can successfully freeze and kill kidney cancer tumors.
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- Radioimmunotherapy After Chemo Safe for Common Lymphoma: Combo treatment improved overall survival rates in follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Radioimmunotherapy after chemotherapy is safe and effective for patients with follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), according to an Italian study. It found that radioimmunotherapy with the radioactive drug yttrium-90 (90Y) ibritumombab tiuxetan, following chemotherapy with fludarabine and mitoxantrone is feasible, well-tolerated and effective in follicular NHL patients. At a median follow-up of 30 months, three-year progression-free survival among the 57 patients was 76 percent, and three-year overall survival was 100 percent. Grade 3 or 4 hematological effects were noted in 36 of the 57 patients.
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- Breast Cancer Radiation Therapy Works in Fewer, But Higher Doses: The regimen is less challenging for patients but equally effective in preventing relapse, British studies find
The use of radiation therapy in fewer, but higher doses appears to be just as effective as conventional doses for women recovering from breast cancer, British researchers report. Because fewer treatments are needed, the overall amount of radiation the patient receives is actually less, though treatment outcomes remain the same or better, according to two British trials. "One of the biggest problems in radiation therapy is just the sheer amount of time it takes for women to receive treatment," Dr. Jay Brooks said. "In the U.S., traditionally, it's about six weeks of treatment. When many women live 50 miles from a radiation center, that's a 100-mile trip each day, five days a week. That's an enormous amount of time and effort to have radiation."
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- Chest Pain May Signal Cocaine Use in Young Patients: It's important that doctors ask about drug use upfront, experts say
Cocaine use can sometimes be the hidden culprit when young or otherwise healthy patients complain to doctors of chest pain. For patients with a suspected heart attack, doctors need to rule out cocaine use because exposure to the drug can affect their treatment said Dr. James McCord. He noted that two standard heart attack treatments -- beta-blockers and clot-busting drugs -- can be dangerous if a patient has been using cocaine. Increased blood pressure due to recent cocaine use can increase the risk of bleeding into the brain when a patient is given clot-busting drugs, the experts explained. Normally, beta-blockers can lower blood pressure without constricting the arteries of typical heart attack patients. But beta-blockers can have the opposite effects -- higher blood pressure and constricted arteries -- in people who've used cocaine.
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- Fosamax Linked to Unusual Femur Fractures: Osteoporosis drug also linked to bone pain and irregular heartbeats in past research
In the latest research to cast a shadow on the safety of a popular bone-strengthening medication, researchers report that long-term use of Fosamax is associated with unusual fractures of the thigh bone. "These were peculiar fractures that would occur when the women were basically doing nothing," said the study's senior author, Dr. Joseph Lane. Lane said that women taking this medication should keep taking it, and these findings shouldn't cause them alarm. "This is a great drug that does wonderful things. Bisphosphonates have dropped the rate of hip fractures," he added. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in January issued an alert to physicians about the possibility of severe bone pain occurring as a result of bisphosphonate therapy.
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- U.S. Health Officials Back Off Preference for New MMRV Vaccine: CDC reports more seizures seen in toddlers given combined shot; experts stress real risk is still low
U.S. health officials are no longer recommending the combination MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella and varicella) vaccine over the MMR vaccine and a separate varicella vaccine for kids. The change comes after new data show that the MMRV shot increases the risk for febrile seizure in children aged 12 to 23 months. Preliminary findings suggest there is a doubling in the relative increased risk in this age group within a week to 10 days after receiving the shot, according to a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Febrile seizures are convulsions brought on by fever, usually from common childhood illnesses such as middle ear infections, viral upper respiratory tract infections and roseola. Although the seizures are distressing, children generally recover, according to the CDC.
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- Melt-Away Stent Works Well in Trial: Absorbed harmlessly in the body, it could replace traditional metal stents
A polymer stent that is quietly absorbed by the body after it has done its job of keeping a coronary artery open has worked well in an international trial, researchers report. The stent was successfully implanted in 29 of 31 attempts, the report said. In a one-year follow-up, none of the arteries in which the bio-absorbable stent had been implanted had closed again. One of the 30 people given the stent had a heart attack during that time, but no other adverse events were reported, according to the report in the March 15 issue of The Lancet. A major clinical trial of the experimental stent is under way in several countries, said Karin Bauer, a spokeswoman for Abbott Laboratories. Because the polymer stent disappears, "many years later you are still able to work on the vessel," Dr. Patrick W. Serruys added. "You don't have a metallic cage that limits expansion of the vessel."
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Health Highlights
**Toy Sundae Sets Pose Choking Hazard.
**Anemia Drugs Linked to Increased Death Risk: FDA.
**FDA Issues Alert About Tussionex Cough Medicine: Serious Side Effects & Death Associated With Misuse.
**JCPenney Recalls Deep Fryers Due to Fire/Burn Hazard.
**FDA Panel Backs New Platelet Drug.
**Scientists Discover Key to Pneumonia Bacterium's Penicillin Resistance.
**Schizophrenics Process Memories Differently.
**Kmart Launches $1 OTC Drug Program.
**Probiotic Treatment May Benefit Kidney Stone Sufferers.
**Drug Maker Withheld Diabetes Link to Schizophrenia Drug, Expert Witness Says.
**New Anesthesia Recovery Drug Appears Effective: FDA.
**Hamilton Beach, Proctor-Silex Toasters Pose Fire Hazard.
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- New Method Boosts Cardiac Arrest Survival: Emergency crews focus on uninterrupted chest compression, experts say
Cardiac arrest outside of the hospital can quickly turn deadly, but a new method of restarting stalled hearts might boost people's chances of survival, researchers say. The overall survival rate for people given the technique -- called minimally interrupted cardiac resuscitation (MIRC) -- was 9.1 percent, compared to 3.8 percent of those who got standard emergency measures. And in a subgroup of people who experienced both cardiac arrest and the chaotic heartbeat called ventricular fibrillation, survival rose from about 12 percent before MIRC to 28.4 percent after, the researchers said. Current guidelines call for people who have cardiac arrest to receive an electric shock and periodic chest compressions to get their heart beating again. MIRC's innovation is that it emphasizes near-constant chest compression.
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- Late Use of Aromatase Inhibitor Still Effective Against Breast Cancer: Letrozole cut women's risk of recurrent or new tumors by more than half, study found
There's good news for the 60 percent of women with breast cancer whose malignancies are estrogen-driven: Researchers say taking the aromatase inhibitor (AI) drug letrozole (Femara) can cut risk of a recurrence by more than half. That benefit was seen even when women initiated the drug one to seven years after they stopped treatment with the anti-estrogen drug tamoxifen, the study found. In other findings, letrozole lowered the risk of breast cancer metastasis by 61 percent, according to the researchers. The drug also reduced the odds of a tumor forming in a breast that was initially cancer-free by more than 80 percent. Based on the new findings, "we believe every patient who has previously taken tamoxifen should discuss the findings of this study with her oncologist," said Dr. Paul E. Goss.
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- Depression After a Heart Attack Dangerous for Years: Study finds long-lasting increased risk of death, but no clear explanation why
The increased risk of death associated with depression after a heart attack persists for at least five years, a study finds. Over the five-year study, the death rate was 87 percent higher for those with major depression and 76 percent higher for those with any form of depression. "A number of studies over the years have found an inverse relationship between the amount of fish people eat and depression," Robert M. Carney said. "The advantage of giving them in heart disease is that they have an effect on the cardiovascular system as well." The use of omega-3 fatty acids is "a hot issue," being tried in cardiac and non-cardiac cases, Dr. Alexander H. Glassman said. "It is a logical thing to do," he added.
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- Gulf War Illness Strongly Linked to Chemical Exposure: Review found vets with the syndrome were more exposed to particular compounds
A new scientific review finds a strong association between exposure to certain chemicals and the Gulf War illness suffered by many veterans. Evidence is mounting to suggest that exposure to organophosphate and carbamate acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs), including pyridostigmine bromide (PB), pesticides and nerve agents, may be responsible. An estimated 250,000 personnel received the carbamate pyridostigmine bromide (PB) as a pretreatment for potential exposure to nerve agents. Those who took more pills had a higher incidence of symptoms. Also, an estimated 41,000 service members may have been overexposed to pesticides, which were used to control vector-borne disease, and 100,000 personnel may have been exposed to low levels of sarin nerve agent after the demolition of the Khamisiyah munitions depot in Iraq.
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