Previous Medical News
2009/06/13
1. Swine flu pandemic has begun, 1st in 41 years (World Health Organization, 6/11/09)
Swine flu is now formally a pandemic, a declaration by U.N. health officials that will speed vaccine production and spur government spending to combat the first global flu epidemic in 41 years. The World Health Organization’s announcement doesn't mean the virus is any more lethal — only that its spread is considered unstoppable. Swine flu has reached 74 countries, infecting nearly 29,000 people. Most who catch the bug have only mild symptoms and don't need medical treatment.
2. Novartis says produces first batch of H1N1 vaccine (Novartis AG, 6/12/09)
Swiss pharmaceuticals company Novartis AG announced 6/12/09 it has successfully produced a first batch of swine flu vaccine weeks ahead of expectations. The vaccine was made in cells, rather than grown in eggs as is usually the case with vaccines. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service placed a $289 million order in May.
3. Senate votes to give FDA greater control over tobacco (U.S. Senate, 6/11/09)
The U.S. Senate has backed a plan giving the FDA sweeping power over cigarettes and other tobacco products, allowing the agency to curb advertisements, require stronger package warnings and inspect manufacturers. The bill explicitly bans flavored tobacco products, except for menthol. Advertising curbs include print media with large youth audiences. It also calls for restricted vending machine sales.
4. Study suggests drug is safe for morning sickness: Metoclopramide (New England Journal of Medicine, 6/11/09)
Currently, no drugs are approved in the U.S. for morning sickness, which plagues most women in the first three months of pregnancy — even all day for some. Simple strategies such as eating crackers and frequent, small meals often don't help. For the first time, a large study shows that pregnant women who suffer morning sickness are not risking harm to their babies if they take a certain anti-nausea drug. The result may lead more doctors to prescribe the drug metoclopramide and women to feel less guilty about using it during their baby's crucial first few months of development.
5. AMA wary of Obama call for public health insurance (American Medical Association, 6/11/09)
American Medical Association, the nation's largest doctors group, is wary of President Barack Obama's call for public health insurance. It doesn't want government meddling in their jobs.
6. FDA Panel OKs Newer Antipsychotics for Children: Seroquel, Zyprexa and Geodon (FDA, 6/10/09)
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel voted overwhelmingly that Seroquel and Zyprexa, two powerful antipsychotic drugs, be approved to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in children aged 13 to 17. The panel also endorsed Geodon, a third antipsychotic in the same class, as safe and effective for the treatment of bipolar mania in children aged 10 to 17. All three drugs are part of the new-generation "atypical" antipsychotics, currently approved for adult use.
7. Venezuela bans Coke Zero, cites "danger to health" (Venezuelan government 6/10/09)
The Venezuelan government ordered Coca-Cola Co to withdraw its Coke Zero beverage from the South American nation, citing unspecified dangers to health.
8. Drugs Best First Defense Against Heart Disease for Diabetics: Stents no better than heart drugs in diabetics (New England Journal of Medicine, 6/7/09)
Diabetics with stable heart disease do just as well taking drugs alone as getting quick angioplasty or bypass surgery to open blocked heart arteries.
9. 60 pct of cancer patients try nontraditional med: Cancer patients should beware supplement use (Society for Integrative Oncology, American Dietetic Association, 6/8/09)
60 percent of cancer patients try unconventional remedies and about 40 percent take vitamin or dietary supplements, which do not have to be proved safe or effective and are not approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. But people with cancer can lose their only chance of beating the disease by skipping conventional treatment or by mixing in other therapies. Even harmless-sounding vitamins and "natural" supplements can interfere with cancer medicines or affect hormones that help cancer grow. Touch therapies, mind-body approaches and acupuncture may reduce stress and relieve pain, nausea, dry mouth and possibly hot flashes. A recent study found that ginger capsules eased nausea if started days before chemotherapy.
10. Metformin Linked to B12 Deficiency (American Diabetes Association, 6/8/09)
The popular diabetes drug metformin may contribute to vitamin B12 deficiency. 40% of type 2 diabetes patients using metformin had vitamin B12 deficiency or were in the low-normal range for the essential vitamin. And 77% of metformin users with vitamin B12 deficiency also had peripheral neuropathy, a common form of nerve damage associated with type 2 diabetes. Peripheral neuropathy is a type of nerve damage most often characterized by pain, tingling, and numbness in the hands and feet.
11. Computers Causing Injuries in the Home (American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 6/9/09)
From 1994 to 2006, injuries caused by people tripping over computer wires or getting hit by falling equipment rose from about 1,300 a year to 9,300 a year, an increase of 732 percent nationwide.
12. Glowing TV Screens Keeping Americans Up at Night (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 6/8/09)
Watching television was the main activity that Americans aged 15 or older did in the two hours before and after their bedtime.
13. Lack of Sleep Can Raise Blood Pressure Over Time (Archives of Internal Medicine, 6/8/09)
Middle-aged adults who don't get enough sleep are at increased risk of developing high blood pressure. After five years, each hour of reduction in sleep duration was associated with a 37-percent increase in the odds of developing high blood pressure.
14. Sleep deprivation tied to weight gain (SLEEP 2009, the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, 6/10/09)
Failure to get a full night's sleep can lead to weight gain or compromise the beneficial effects of a reduced calorie diet on total body fat.
15. Omega-3-fatty acids may slow macular disease (British Journal of Ophthalmology, 6/9/09)
Diets rich in omega-3-fatty acids may slow the progression of early age-related macular degeneration to advanced disease.
16. Vitamin supplements may lessen miscarriage risk (American Journal of Epidemiology, 6/09)
Taking vitamins before and during early pregnancy is associated with reduced risk for miscarriage. It is important for women of reproductive age, who may become pregnant, to eat a balanced diet and use vitamins.
17. Breastfeeding Cuts Metabolic Syndrome (American Diabetes Association, 6/6/09)
Women who breastfeed their babies may be less likely to develop metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors that makes heart disease and diabetes more likely.
Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed when people have at least three of the following traits:
- Large waist size: 40 inches or larger for men; 35 inches or larger for women
- High triglycerides: 150 mg/dL or higher or use of a cholesterol medicine
- Low HDL "good" cholesterol: Less than 40 mg/dL for men, less than 50 mg/dL for women, or use of a cholesterol medicine
- High blood pressure: 130/85 or greater, or use of a high blood pressure medicine
- High fasting glucose level: 100 mg/dL or higher
18. Breastfeeding staves off MS after pregnancy (Archives of Neurology, 6/8/09)
Breast-feeding for at least 2 months after pregnancy can help prevent a disease relapse in women with multiple sclerosis.
19. Ignored cholesterol blamed for heart attacks: lipoprotein (a) (Journal of the American Medical Association, 6/9/09)
An often ignored form of cholesterol, lipoprotein (a) can cause heart attacks. People with the highest lipoprotein (a) levels were two to three times more likely to have a heart attack than those with the lowest levels. Niacin can lower lipoprotein (a) levels.
20. Tests show many supplements have quality problems (ConsumerLab.com, 6/9/09)
One quarter of supplements tested by an independent company over the last decade have had some sort of problem. Some contained contaminants. Others had contents that did not match label claims. Some had ingredients that exceeded safe limits. Some contained real drugs masquerading as natural supplements. Other tests, reported in scientific journals, found prenatal vitamins lacking claimed amounts of iodine, supplements short on ginseng and hoodia, as well as lead in ginkgo pills, arsenic in herbals, and bugs in a baby's colic and teething syrup.
21. Gas appliances may affect kids' brain development (American Journal of Epidemiology, 5/09)
Pollution from gas stoves and heaters in the home may have subtle effects on young children's cognitive development. The study, of nearly 400 Spanish preschoolers, found that those exposed to gas appliances since infancy had lower average scores on tests of memory, language skills, attention and other areas of cognition. Similarly, measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the home -- taken during the children's first three months of life -- were related to the preschoolers' cognitive test scores. Parents should limit their children's exposure to pollution from gas appliances by making sure the appliances are properly ventilated and by keeping children out of the kitchen when the stove is being used.
22. Early Bedtime May Help Stave Off Teen Depression (Associated Professional Sleep Societies annual meeting, 6/9/09)
Teens whose parents pack them off to bed at 10 p.m. are less apt to become depressed or have suicidal thoughts than their peers who stay up much later.
23. Daytime Nap Has Benefits Beyond Rest for Kids (annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, in Seattle, 6/8/09)
Children's nap time is not only beneficial to caregivers who may need a break. For children aged 4 to 5 years, taking a nap during the day may help reduce hyperactivity, anxiety and depression.
24. Multivitamins best for preventing low birth weight (Canadian Medical Association Journal, 6/9/09)
If every pregnant woman worldwide took vitamin and mineral supplements, there would be 1.5 million fewer babies born at low birth weights every year.
25. Pregnant with girl or boy? At-home test may tell you: "Boy or Girl Gender Predictor Test" (IntelliGender, 6/9/09)
Expecting moms can determine whether they're carrying a boy or a girl as early as 10 weeks after conception. IntelliGender: Test is 80 percent accurate but results should be confirmed via the 20-week sonogram.
26. FDA Warns of 'High Levels' of Disease-Causing Bacteria Found in Certain Hand Sanitizers: Avoid skin products made by Clarcon (FDA, 6/8/09)
27. Recall: NY Fish Inc. Recalls Imperial-European Style Smoked Salmon Because of Possible Health Risk: Listeria monocytogenes (FDA, 6/5/09)
