Previous Medical News
2009/12/26
1. Swine flu poses a threat to new moms and Swine flu deadlier in children than seasonal flu (New England Journal of Medicine, 12/23/09)
Swine flu is not only dangerous to pregnant women, but it's a threat to new mothers too. An analysis of pregnant women and new mothers who were hospitalized with swine flu in California found that those who had a baby in the previous two weeks were at higher risk of severe flu complications. H1N1 swine flu can kill children at a much higher rate than seasonal flu. Pediatric 2009 H1N1 influenza has been associated with pediatric death rates that are 10 times the rates for seasonal influenza found in previous years.
2. World H1N1 Deaths Now at Least 11,516 (WHO, 12/24/09)
At least 11,516 people around the globe have died from the H1N1 flu virus since the pandemic emerged in April. H1N1 appears to have peaked or plateaued in Western Europe and North America while transmission is declining in parts of Asia.
3. Recall: Nearly 5 Million Doses of Nasal Swine Flu Vaccine Recalled (MedImmune, 12/23/09)
Nearly 5 million doses of a nasal spray version of swine flu vaccine have been recalled because the vaccine loses some potency over time, but not enough to diminish its protective effect.
4. 1 dose of H1N1 vaccine effective for kids (Journal of the American Medical Association, 12/21/09)
One shot of 2009 H1N1 vaccine, instead of two, may generate a sufficient antibody response against the virus in children ages six months to nine years. CDC is still recommending this year 2 shots for kids under age 10.
5. 60 Million in U.S. Vaccinated Against Swine Flu (CDC, 12/22/09)
About 60 million Americans have received the swine flu vaccine, including a large proportion of children. 111 million doses are now available.
6. Ill. doctors use 1 liver for 2 patient transplants (Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital, 12/23/09)
Doctors at Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital say they successfully performed transplants on two patients using segments from the same liver.
7. Combination of Drugs Found in Brittany Murphy’s Home Could Be Deadly (L.A. Coroner’s Office, 12/24/09)
Large amounts of prescription drugs were found in Brittany Murphy's bedroom when paramedics arrived at her home:
- Topamax & Carbamazepine (anti-seizure medications used to treat depression and bipolar disorder; Topamax is also commonly used to treat migraines)
- Klonopin & Ativan (anti-anxiety)
- Vicoprofen & Hydrocodone (narcotic painkillers)
- Propranolol (treats hypertension, used to prevent heart attacks; can also be used to treat migraines)
Other drugs found in Murphy’s home include fluoxetine, which is the generic for the antidepressant/anti-anxiety drug Prozac; the antibiotic Biaxin; and methylprednisolone, which is an anti-inflammatory (used for allergies and asthma).
8. Study Links Restricted Intake of Glucose with Reduced Cancer Chances (The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 12/09)
Restricting the intake of glucose, the most common form of sugar consumed in daily diet, can not only extend the lifespan of human beings, but also cut the chances of developing cancer and various other heart diseases.
9. 'Good' cholesterol less protective with diabetes (Circulation, 1/10)
Diabetes may lower the heart-protective benefits of high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, the so-called "good" cholesterol, but giving diabetics niacin, a drug that raises HDL levels, might restore the benefit.
10. Teen Births Rise for Second Year (Pediatrics, 1/10)
For the second year in a row, the birth rate among teens increased in 2007, raising concerns that efforts to curb teen pregnancies are not working as well as they once did. Teen births increased 5% between 2005 and 2007, following a 34% drop between 1991 and 2005.
11. Stocking stuffer: Card good for eye, dental visit (Various Sources, 12/23/09)
Health care providers are rolling out a different sort of stocking stuffer: Gift cards that can be used to pay bills and insurance premiums or for specific services at eye doctors and dentist offices.
12. Cardiac Rehab: Go, Go, Go (Circulation, Jan. 5/12 2010)
One of the most underused treatments for heart patients may also be one of the most effective. The longer patients in the study participated in cardiac rehabilitation programs following heart-related hospitalizations, the better they fared. The goal of cardiac rehabilitation is to slow or even reverse the progression of cardiovascular disease by educating patients about their disease and having them follow a medically supervised exercise program. Sessions are typically held two or three times a week for several months after a heart-related hospital discharge, but only about 10% to 20% of patients who could benefit from the programs actually attend them.
13. Face looking old? Don't blame your genes (Archives of Dermatology, 12/09)
Don't blame genes for aging facial skin. You can blame those coarse wrinkles, brown or pink spots, and dilated blood vessels on too much time in the sun, smoking, and being overweight.
14. The brain may feel other people's pain (Pain, 12/11/09)
Some people have true physical reactions to others' injuries. Using an imaging technique called functional MRI, UK researchers found evidence that people who say they feel vicarious pain do, in fact, have heightened activity in pain-sensing brain regions upon witnessing another person being hurt.
15. Mom's Job Could Boost Baby's Odds for Birth Defect (Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 12/22/09)
Among working women in the United States, teachers seem to have the lowest risk of having babies with birth defects, while those who work as janitors, scientists and electronic-equipment operators appear most at risk. This study looked at nearly 9,000 babies born with single or multiple birth defects, such as those affecting the eye, ear, gastrointestinal tract and mouth and face, among others.
16. Car airbags not a risk to pregnant women (Obstetrics & Gynecology, 1/10)
For pregnant women involved in a traffic accident, the impact of an airbag does not seem to raise the risks of most pregnancy complications.
17. Fruits, Leafy Greens Are Good for the Eyes (Journal of Food Science, 12/09)
Carrots may be good for the eyes, but so are leafy green vegetables and colored fruits. They may affect visual performance and may prevent age-related eye diseases. These foods contain the carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin, which play an important role in vision and have a positive impact on the retina.
18. Omega-3s help stave off age-related vision loss (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 12/09)
Want to keep your eyesight sharp as you age? Eating lots of fish packed with healthy omega-3 fatty acids could help. Among 1,837 people who had early signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), those with the highest consumption of omega-3 fatty acids were 30 percent less likely to progress to the advanced form of the disease over a 12-year period than those with the lowest omega-3 intake.
19. Real-Life Benefit of Video Games (Current Directions in Psychological Science, 12/09)
Regular video game users learn to process information faster and more accurately when they’re playing in virtual worlds and in real-life situations. Avid players get faster in their games of choice, and also in unrelated laboratory tests of reaction time.
20. Heavy teens at risk for sleep apnea (Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 12/15/09)
Being overweight or obese boosts a teenager's risk of developing the nighttime breathing disorder obstructive sleep apnea. This can lead to daytime learning and behavior problems in children, as well as more serious health problems, such as high blood pressure.
21. Tumors can re-seed themselves (Cell, 1/10)
Tumors can not only spread through the body by sending out tiny cells called seeds, but they can re-seed themselves. This may help lead to the development of new drugs to stop the process of cancer spread, or metastasis.
22. Recall: Some hazelnuts recalled for salmonella: Whole Foods Market pulls bulk nuts sold in 7 states (Mountain Man Nut & Fruit Co., 12/20/09)
Whole Foods Market is recalling organic raw hazelnuts, also known as filberts, that were sold in bulk in its stores in California, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington. No illnesses have been reported, according to the company. For more information, consumers can call 512-542-0656.
