Previous Medical News
2009/12/05
1. Mammograms May Boost Cancer Risk in High-Risk Women (Radiological Society of North America's annual meeting, 12/1/09)
Mammograms may actually boost the risk of breast cancer in some high-risk women. Women who were exposed before the age of 20 had a 2.5 times increased risk of breast cancer. Young women who are deemed high-risk can undergo an MRI breast exam instead.
2. Swine Flu is widespread only in 25 states: Waning, But Could Return (CDC, 12/4/09)
Swine flu infections continue to wane, just as vaccine is becoming plentiful enough that some communities are allowing everyone to get it, not just those in priority groups. Swine flu was widespread in only 25 states last week — mostly in the Northeast and Southwest.
3. Stem Cells Repair Heart Attack Damage (Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 12/8/09)
Stem cells can safely repair heart attack damage. An 'Off-the-Shelf' Stem Cell Product is Safe, and May Mend Hearts. Stem cell-treated patients had significant improvements in heart, lung, and global function. It's not the first time heart attack patients have been treated with stem cells. But previous studies used bone marrow cells extracted from the patient and then injected directly into the heart. The current study used an "off-the-shelf" stem cell product -- Prochymal -- containing stem cells harvested from a single healthy donor and grown to large numbers in laboratories. Prochymal is given by intravenous infusion. It's made by Osiris Therapeutics Inc., which sponsored the study, and which currently seeks FDA approval of the product as a treatment for graft-versus-host disease in transplant recipients.
4. Majority of American Chicken Tainted with Dangerous Bacteria (Consumer Reports, 12/09)
The majority of broiler chickens that are sold in the United States contain dangerous bacteria that can lead to salmonella poisoning. Consumers still need to be very careful in handling chicken, which is routinely contaminated with disease-causing bacteria. Salmonella is very dangerous if ingested, and can result in vomiting, diarrhea and other flu-like symptoms.
5. No Increase in Brain Tumors Seen From Cell Phones (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 12/3/09)
Do cell phones cause brain cancer? A new study confirms previous evidence suggesting that they don't. A 30-year examination of the incidents of brain tumors in Scandinavia found no substantial change in prevalence even after cell phone use became widespread. However, there is the possibility that widespread cell phone use hasn't been around long enough to see an increase in brain tumors.
6. Ultrasound effective at spotting breast cancers (Radiological Society of America meeting, 12/2/09)
Breast ultrasounds found 100 percent of suspicious cancers in women under 40 who found lumps or other suspicious areas of the breast, offering a cheaper, less-invasive alternative to surgery or biopsies. Targeted ultrasound examines just the area of the breast where a lump is identified.
7. U.S. to host 2012 AIDS meeting after dropping HIV ban (Washington, 11/30/09)
The United States, which is preparing to lift a ban on visits by foreigners infected with HIV, will host a global AIDS conference in 2012 as a sign of redoubled U.S. commitment to fight the pandemic.
8. Abilify Treats Autism-Related Irritability (Pediatrics, 12/09)
The drug Abilify ( aripiprazole) may help ease the symptoms of irritability related to autism in children and adolescents. The drug significantly improved autism-related irritability symptoms,/ such as aggression, tantrums, rapidly changing moods, and self-injurious behavior after eight weeks of treatment.
9. Sanofi Warning on Antidepressant Norpramin (FDA, 12/2/09)
The antidepressant Norpramin (desipramine) should be given with extreme caution to patients with a history of certain heart problems: The heart conditions include a family history of sudden death, abnormal heart rhythms, and heart conduction disturbances.
10. Lots of Exercise in Midlife May Lead to Osteoarthritis (Annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, 11/30/09)
If you're a middle-age weekend warrior who likes to hit the basketball court or hockey rink, take note: A new study suggests that high levels of physical activity boost the risk of internal knee damage that could lead to osteoarthritis. Injuries occurred in middle-age people who showed no symptoms and had a healthy weight. They were more common and more severe in those who exercised more, although lower-impact activities such as swimming and cycling might actually be beneficial.
11. Cocaine users can control cravings (NeuroImage, 12/09)
Cocaine addicts can control their cravings by willpower alone. The right training may help abusers kick the habit. The researchers used a brain-scanning technique called positron emission tomography or PET to watch the areas of the brain associated with drug craving in 24 cocaine users. A clinical strategy that trains cocaine abusers to exert greater cognitive control could help them selectively inhibit the craving response whenever and wherever drug cues are encountered, whether expectedly or unexpectedly.
12. Being Born in Parts of South May up Stroke Risk (Neurology, 12/1/09)
Being born in one of the seven southeastern U.S. states making up the "Stroke Belt" increased a person's likelihood of suffering a deadly stroke, whether or not they still lived in one of these states. The seven states are: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama.
13. Study finds hospitals speeding heart attack care (Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 12/2/09)
Hospitals are giving faster care to lots more heart attack patients, a speed-up sure to be saving lives. More than three-quarters of people suffering major heart attacks are getting their blocked arteries reopened within 90 minutes of arriving in the emergency room.
14. Sleep Apnea May Cause Nighttime Urination (Sleep and Breathing, 11/29/09)
People who wake up during the night to urinate shouldn't automatically blame a urological problem. Sleep apnea, a breathing-related sleep disorder, could be the cause.
15. Sleep changes come before body changes in puberty (Sleep, 12/1/09)
Shifts in sleep habits, rather than physical changes, may be the first sign that a child is hitting puberty. If your child’s sleep patterns undergo significant changes around these ages your child is likely to show other pubertal changes soon after. Adolescents should get nine hours of sleep each night.
16. Cardiovascular Fitness May Sharpen Mind (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 12/8/09)
A healthy body may be the first step to achieving a healthy mind and appetite for learning. A large new study links cardiovascular fitness in early adulthood to increased intelligence, better performance on cognitive tests, and higher educational achievement later in life.
17. Breast-Feeding Can Help Mom's Heart Decades Later (Diabetes, 12/3/09)
Breast-feeding, even for just a couple of months, can significantly lower a woman's risk of metabolic syndrome -- a dangerous cluster of heart disease risk factors -- years later. Metabolic syndrome arises when a group of cardiac risk factors occurs in one person. Those risk factors include: abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, low levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol, high levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol, high triglycerides, insulin resistance, elevated markers of inflammation and a tendency for blood to clot.
18. Exercise May Keep Your Cells Biologically Young (Circulation, 12/09)
Vigorous exercise may be inducing a natural anti-aging effect that goes right down to our DNA. These investigators studied exercise's chemical influence on telomeres – caps, that act as a sort of buffer at the end of chromosomes that protect DNA from damage. A young cell typically has long telomeres, but telomeres begin to degrade and fray as it ages. Older people typically have shorter telomeres in their cells. If telomeres in a cell are too short, the cell dies.
19. Study Reveals the Angriest Americans (International Handbook of Anger, 1/10)
Anger is more likely among the young, those with children at home, and the less educated. These angry emotions range from mild annoyance to yelling and feelings of outrage.
20. Loneliness can be contagious (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 12/09)
Loneliness can spread like a contagious disease. Lonely people tend to share their loneliness with others, and their feelings of isolation and despair rub off on friends, neighbors, spouses, and even acquaintances. Lonely People Have a Way of Making Others Feel the Isolation.
21. Fear of Anxiety May Lead to Depression (Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 12/09)
Fear of anxiety may push "above-average" worriers into depression.
22. Sugary Colas Tied to Gestational Diabetes (Diabetes Care, 12/09)
Women who drink five or more servings of sugar-sweetened cola per week before they conceive increase their risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy.
23. Blood Clot Threat After Surgery Worse Than Thought (BMJ, 12/4/09)
Potentially fatal blood clots after surgery are a much greater risk than has previously been thought.
24. Smoking Exposure Now Linked to Colon, Breast Cancers (Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 12/09)
Add colorectal cancer to the list of malignancies caused by smoking. And more concerns about second hand smoke: Inhaling those secondhand fumes may raise a woman's odds for breast cancer or a child's lifetime risk for lung malignancies.
25. Smoking skunk raises risk of psychosis (British Journal of Psychiatry, 12/1/09)
People who smoke "skunk" -- a potent form of cannabis -- are almost seven times more likely to develop psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia than those who smoke "hash" or cannabis resin.
26. Autism treatment works in kids as young as 18 mos. (Pediatrics, 11/30/09)
Autistic children as young as 18 months found two years of therapy can vastly improve symptoms, often resulting in a milder diagnosis. The therapy focuses on social interaction and communication — which are both difficult for many autistic children. Children in the specialized group had four hours of therapist-led treatment five days a week, plus at least five hours weekly from parents.
27. Tall kids more apt to become heavy adults (American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 12/1/09)
Children who are relatively tall may be more likely than their shorter peers to become overweight young adults.
28. Beverage Can Tabs Remain a Risk for Kids (Annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, 11/30/09)
Tabs on beverage cans -- the kind that stay attached once a can is opened -- still pose a danger to children, who can swallow the tabs and damage their digestive tract.
29. Recreational Drug Ecstasy Linked to Sleep Apnea (Neurology, 12/2/09)
Ecstasy Users Have 8 Times the Risk of Sleep Apnea. Recreational users of the drug ecstasy may be putting themselves at risk of sleep apnea.
30. Teen Internet Addicts More Likely to Self-Harm (Injury Prevention, 12/3/09)
Teenagers who are addicted to the Internet are more likely to engage in self-harm behavior, such as hitting themselves, pulling their own hair, or pinching or burning themselves.
31. Physically active boys are smarter (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 12/8/09)
Physically active teen boys may be smarter than their couch-potato counterparts. Increasing, not decreasing, physical education in schools can improve academic achievement.
32. Childhood Lead Exposure Causes Permanent Damage (Radiological Society of North America annual meeting, 12/1/09)
Childhood exposure to lead can cause permanent brain damage. Lead exposure has harmful and lasting effects.
33. Recall: All Slim-Fast Cans Recalled (Unilever, 12/4/09)
All Slim-Fast ready-to-drink canned products are being recalled because of possible contamination with Bacillus cereus, a bacterium that may cause diarrhea and possibly nausea and/or vomiting. The recall involves all ready-to-drink Slim-Fast products sold in cans, regardless of flavor, "Best-By" date, lot code, or UPC number. The recall doesn't include any other Slim-Fast products, such as powdered shakes, meal bars, or snack bars. Unilever urges people to immediately discard Slim-Fast ready-to-drink products in cans and call the company at 800-896-9479 for a full refund.
34. Recall: Diamond Pet Foods Announces Recall of Premium Edge Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball Cat Food: Recalled cat food has sickened 21 cats (FDA, 11/27/09)
These products have been recalled because they have the potential to produce Thiamine Deficiency. Symptoms of deficiency displayed by an affected cat can be gastrointestinal or neurological in nature.
