Previous Medical News
2010/01/23
1. New Test Catches Most Pancreatic Cancers Early (Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, 1/23/09)
Only 7 percent of pancreatic cancers are detected before they have spread to other parts of the body. Researchers report they've developed a test that detects early-stage pancreatic cancer by measuring levels of a protein that's present in 90 percent of cancerous and precancerous lesions. PAM4 protein is quite accurate at identifying patients with pancreatic cancer and, if validated in larger studies, would be a promising tool for detecting this disease in its earlier, more treatable stages, before it spreads to other organs. The test detected 81 percent of pancreatic cancers.
2. High levels of vitamin D cut risk of colon cancer (BMJ, 1/22/10)
High levels of vitamin D are linked with a lower risk of colon cancer. Patients with the highest levels of vitamin D in their blood had a nearly 40 percent lower risk of colorectal cancer compared to those with the lowest levels.
3. Erectile Dysfunction Predicts Heart Disease (Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 1/19/10)
Erectile dysfunction is a strong warning sign that a man might be at increased risk for heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular problems. Adjusting for age and Framingham [Heart Study] risk factors, men with erectile function still had a 40 percent increased risk.
4. Radiation Dose Lower With Digital Mammography (American Journal of Roentgenology, 2/10)
Digital mammography delivers significantly less radiation than conventional mammography, and the reduction in radiation exposure may be greater for women with larger and denser breasts. The average breast radiation dose per view was 22 percent lower for digital than film mammography.
5. MS Drug Ampyra Gets FDA Nod (FDA, 1/22/30)
The FDA has approved Ampyra (dalfampridine), which improves walking ability in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). About three-fourths of MS patients have trouble walking, and 70% of those with walking problems say this is the most challenging aspect of their disease. Ampyra is taken with other MS drugs and does not keep MS from getting worse.
6. St. John's wort may cool hot flashes (Menopause, 2/10)
St. John's wort is probably best known as an herbal antidepressant, with some clinical trials suggesting that it can help relieve mild to moderate depression symptoms. A few studies have also investigated the herb's effects on menopausal symptoms, but have focused on its impact on mood -- and not the so-called vasomotor symptoms of menopause, which include hot flashes and night sweats. The findings in this study suggest that this herbal medicine can be used to treat hot flashes due to menopause.
7. Blood test tells fetal sex in early pregnancy (Obstetrics & Gynecology, 1/10)
A blood test that can be done early in pregnancy is highly accurate at determining the sex of the fetus. The test is important, because in some cases, there are medical reasons to determine fetal sex earlier. That has traditionally meant invasive tests, like amniocentesis, which carry a small risk of miscarriage. The test, done as early as the seventh week of pregnancy, determines fetal sex by looking for two genes found on the Y sex chromosome.
8. Many appendectomies may not be needed (Archives of Surgery, 1/10)
Appendectomies are the most common emergency general surgical procedure in the USA. According to conventional medical wisdom dating back to the late 19th century, if you don't remove an inflamed appendix, it could burst and lead to potentially life-threatening complications such as an abscess or peritonitis. This study implies that perforated, or ruptured, appendicitis is a different disease from non-perforating appendicitis. Thus, some inflamed appendixes won't burst, no matter how long you wait to remove them. Though the cause of appendicitis isn't known, this study links non-rupturing — but not ruptured — disease to viral infections. Viral infection could damage the appendix's mucous membrane, leading to a bacterial infection. Some studies suggest simply treating appendicitis with antibiotics — which were unavailable when the first appendectomy was performed more than a century ago — could eliminate the need to remove the appendix.
9. Prolonged Sitting Boosts Bad Health (British Journal of Sports Medicine, 1/10)
People who sit still for prolonged periods of time -- such as desk workers or coach potatoes -- have a higher risk of disease than those who move a muscle every now and then in a non-exercise manner, such as walking up the stairs to grab a cup of coffee. Whole-body muscular inactivity associated with prolonged sitting has also been strongly linked to obesity increased risk of early death from heart disease. and even certain types of cancer. It appears that muscle movement and contractions may play a role in controlling important blood fats. Simple movements may ward off bad health.
10. Eating, Drinking May Be OK During Labor (The Cochrane Collaboration, 1/19/10)
There’s little medical justification for telling women in labor not to eat or drink. For many decades, the prevailing practice in childbirth has been to restrict food and fluids during labor to little more than ice chips. This was largely due to concerns about aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs of women given general anesthesia during delivery. But very few women receive general anesthesia during childbirth these days, even when they deliver by cesarean section. And changes in anesthesia practices over the years have reduced the vomiting risk. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), women with uncomplicated pregnancies may now drink "modest' amounts of clear liquids such as water, juices, carbonated beverages, tea, black coffee, or sports drinks. But the group still recommends against eating solid food during labor. Allowing laboring women more than a plastic cup of ice is going to be welcome news for many.
11. How the Apple Keeps the Doctor Away (BMC Microbiology, 1/20/10)
A component of fruit called pectin boosts levels of friendly germs in the digestive system. The bacteria boost the immune system and also produce a chemical called butyrate, which is an important fuel for the cells of the intestinal wall.
12. FDA Warns of Heart Risks With Diet Drug: Meridia (FDA, 1/21/10)
The weight-loss pill Meridia should not be used by people with a history of heart problems because the drug can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke in such people. Specifically, the drug should not be used by people with a history of coronary artery disease (e.g., heart attack, angina), stroke or transient ischemic attack, heart arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, or uncontrolled high blood pressure.
13. Omega-3s May Slow Aging in Heart Patients: Can Fish Oil Help You Live Longer? (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/20/10)
Heart disease patients with the highest blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids appear to age more slowly than those with the lowest blood levels. Previous studies have shown that heart disease patients with a high intake of omega-3 fatty acids -- found in fish and in dietary supplements -- have higher survival rates. This new study may help explain why telomere length is ''a powerful predictor of death and bad outcomes from heart disease. Telemeres are structures at the end of a chromosome involved in their replication and stability. As the telomeres shorten over time, the eventual result is cell death. The higher the blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the patients evaluated, the slower the rate of telomere shortening.
14. Blueberry Juice May Boost Memory (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 1/4/10)
Drinking a daily dose of wild blueberry juice improves the memory of older adults with age-related memory problems.
15. Running Boosts Brainpower (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1/10)
Running may do more than improve your cardiovascular fitness and overall physique. It might actually make you smarter. Going for a Jog Builds Brain Cells. Running has a profound impact on the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory. Adult mice that voluntarily used running wheels increased their number of brain cells and performed better at spatial learning tests than non-exercising mice.
16. Smokers with cancer could quit and double survival (BMJ, 1/22/10)
People with early lung cancer who quit smoking could double their chances of surviving.
17. Warning on Fake Alli (FDA, 1/19/10)
The Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers about a counterfeit version of the weight-loss drug Alli. Alli is sold over-the-counter in a variety of retail stores. The counterfeit version was purchased by consumers on the Internet. The product was purchased from online auction sites like eBay. The FDA said there's no evidence that counterfeit Alli was sold through retail stores. The counterfeit version involved 60- milligram capsules sold in a 120- count refill kit.
18. Potty Training Best Between Ages 2 and 3 (Journal of Pediatric Urology, 12/09)
The best time to start potty training may be between the second and third birthdays. Children who were toilet trained after 32 months were more likely to have urge incontinence -- daytime wetting and bed-wetting -- between ages 4 and 12. Prior research has shown potty training too soon just prolongs the process.
19. 1 in 5 Teens Has Unhealthy Cholesterol Levels (Center's for Disease Control and Prevention, 1/21/10)
One in five American teens has unhealthy cholesterol levels, putting them on the fast track for heart disease. Overweight and obese young people are at far greater risk of having abnormal lipid levels than are youths with normal weights: High LDL cholesterol (greater than or equal to 130 mg/dL), low HDL cholesterol (less than or equal to 35 mg/dL), and high triglyceride levels (greater than or equal to 150 mg/dL).
20. Task force: Screen kids 6 and up for obesity, get help from pros (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 1/18/10; Pediatrics, 1/10)
According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, school-aged youngsters and teens should be screened for obesity and sent to intensive behavior treatment if they need to lose weight — a move that could transform how doctors deal with overweight children. According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, treating obese kids can help them lose weight, but only if it involves rigorous diet, activity and behavior counseling. The treatment requires appointments at least once or twice a week for six months or more. Almost one-third of kids are at least overweight; about 17 percent are obese. Parents need to want to change family behavior.
21. Obesity linked to higher risk of kidney stones (The Journal of Urology, 2/10)
Obese people are more likely to develop kidney stones than normal weight individuals, but severe obesity doesn't seem to further increase risk.
22. Recall: Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl, St. Joseph Aspirin, Rolaids Recall (FDA, 1/15/10)
Because of a sickening smell in some containers, 54 million packages of 27 different over-the-counter remedies now are being recalled.
23. Recall: Graco Strollers, Dorel Cribs Recalled (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1/20/10)
Graco has recalled 1.5 million strollers after five children lost fingertips in the canopy hinge. And Dorel Asia has recalled 635,000 cribs after one infant died and six got trapped in the drop side. The Graco strollers being recalled are the company's Passage, Alano, and Spree stroller and "Travel System" models. The affected hinge allows the canopy to be adjusted. Children have placed their fingertips in the hinges while the canopy was being opened or closed. Five children had fingertip amputations; two others had deep fingertip cuts. The 635,000 Dorel Asia cribs being recalled include drop-side and non-drop-side cribs. Both types of cribs may be deadly. Drop-side and non-drop-side cribs become dangerous when the slats are damaged.
24. Recall: California Meat Company Recalls 864,000 Pounds of Beef (Department of Agriculture, 1/19/10)
A Southern California meat-packing firm, Huntington Meat Packing Inc., has recalled some 864,000 pounds of ground-beef under the Huntington, Imperial Meat Co. and El Rancho brands that might be contaminated with E. coli. The affected beef was sold to distribution centers, restaurants and hotels in California between Feb. 19 and May 15, 2008, and between Jan. 5 and Jan. 15, 2010.
