Previous Medical News
2010/02/20
1. New Test Tells if Cancer Has Come Back (Science Translational Medicine, 2/24/10)
A new type of cancer test can tell whether -- and when -- a tumor is coming back after initial treatment. The test uses a sample of the original tumor to identify unique cancer gene sequences. Later blood tests look for that genetic signature and tell whether surgeons removed the entire tumor, whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, or whether the cancer is coming back. It is called the PARE test-- personalized analysis of rearranged ends.
2. 1 in 5 Americans Had H1N1 Swine Flu (CDC, 2/12/10)
About one in five U.S. residents -- 57 million Americans -- have had H1N1 swine flu since the pandemic began in April 2009. There have been 11,690 H1N1 Swine Flu deaths, and 257,000 hospitalizations in the U.S.
3. Rapid Tests Fail at Ruling Out H1N1 in Kids (Pediatrics, 3/10)
Rapid influenza tests have poor sensitivity for detecting pandemic H1N1 flu in children. A negative test does not necessarily exclude the possibility of H1N1 flu.
4. Next Year, Just 1 Flu Shot (WHO, 2/18/10)
The H1N1 swine flu vaccine should be included in the 2010-2011 seasonal flu vaccine for North America, the World Health Organization has recommended.
5. Aspirin might reduce recurrence risk for breast cancer survivors (Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2/16/10)
Women who took aspirin two to five days per week were 60% less likely to have a recurrence and 71% less likely to die from the disease.
6. FDA Expands Use Of Rituxan For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (FDA, 2/18/10)
The Food and Drug Administration has expanded the approval of the drug Rituxan to treat certain patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a type of blood cancer. Rituxan was approved for use in CLL patients who are undergoing chemotherapy for the first time or who have not responded to other drugs approved to treat CLL.
7. Many patients may never fill new prescriptions (Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2/4/10)
Many people whose doctors start them on medications for conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure may never fill those prescriptions. Among more than 75,000 Massachusetts patients given drug prescriptions over one year, 22 percent of the prescriptions were never filled. The rate was even higher -- 28 percent -- when the researchers looked only at first-time prescriptions.
8. Quarter of stroke patients die within a year (Neurology, 2/10)
One in four people who have a stroke will likely die within one year from any cause and 8 percent who have a stroke will have another one soon.
9. Office Romance OK With Most Folks (Journal of Business and Psychology, 2/10)
Office romances don't bother fellow workers unless they have a negative effect. Most people believe romantic relationships [at work] are OK as long as they don't affect productivity, de-motivate other colleagues or have an impact on the overall work environment.
10. Survey Finds Many Men Complaining of Ill-Fitting Condoms (Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2/10)
Poorly fitting condoms not only boost the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, they also reduce sexual pleasure during intercourse. Nearly 45 percent of men said they'd used a condom that fit poorly the last time they had sex during the previous three months.
11. Green Tea: The Eyes Have It: More health benefits for green tea (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2/10/10)
The compounds responsible for many of the health benefits of green tea are capable of penetrating the tissues of the eyes and have antioxidant activity there. Green tea has been touted for a number of health benefits, such as fighting heart disease and cancer, thanks to its high concentration of disease-fighting antioxidants called catechins. Catechins are among a number of antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, and zeaxanthin, thought to help protect the delicate tissues of the eye from glaucoma and other eye diseases.
12. Cooking with Gas Releases More Chemicals (Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2/10)
Frying meat on a gas stove, in either margarine or soya bean oil, resulted in higher concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), aldehydes and particulate matter in the air, compared to cooking on an electric stove.
13. Long-Distance Runners May Have Endurance in Their Genes (Physiological Genomics, 2/10)
Some people really are born to run. Variations in one gene are associated with athletic endurance and may make a difference in a runner's performance. Researchers examined 155 track and field athletes and found that 80 percent of those who excelled in endurance events, such as marathons, had variations of the NRF2 gene, compared with 46 percent of sprinters. An analysis of 240 non-elite athletes produced similar findings. Having this specific genotype might increase the probability of being an endurance athlete.
14. Life Expectancy Up, but So Is Poor Health (CDC, 2/17/10)
Life expectancy is up, but so is poor health. If you are a newborn baby, you can expect to live to age 75 if you're a boy and to age 80 if you're a girl. If you already have reached age 65, you can expect to live another 18.5 years. Among Americans of all ages, 10% are in poor or fair health. At age 65 or older, 27% of Americans are in poor or fair health.
15. Placebo treatments stronger than doctors thought (Lancet, 2/19)
When it comes to the placebo effect, it really may be mind over matter. There is increasing evidence that fake treatments, or placebos, have an actual biological effect in the body.
16. “Love" hormone (Oxytocin) may help autism symptoms (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2/15/10)
The hormone thought to encourage bonding between mothers and their babies may improve social behavior in some adults with autism. Patients who inhaled the hormone oxytocin paid more attention to expressions when looking at pictures of faces and were more likely to understand social cues in a game simulation.
17. Vaginal birth can be OK after multiple C-sections (BJOG, 2/3/10)
Women who attempt vaginal childbirth after having several babies by cesarean section may not have a greater risk of complications than women who've had only one prior C-section. Because C-sections also carry risks and downsides -- such as blood loss or infection from the procedure, and a longer hospital stay and recovery time -- many women may prefer a try at labor.
18. Happiness wards off heart disease (European Heart Journal, 2/10)
Being happy and staying positive may help ward off heart disease, Spending a few minutes each day truly relaxed and enjoying yourself is certainly good for your mental health and may improve your physical health as well.
19. Added Drug Aids MS Treatment: Daclizumab (The Lancet Neurology, 4/10)
Adding the drug daclizumab to standard treatment with interferon beta may reduce multiple sclerosis disease activity more than interferon beta alone.
20. Cigars, Pipes No 'Healthy' Alternative to Cigarettes (Annals of Internal Medicine, 2/1/6/10)
Inhalation of tobacco smoke by any means is harmful. People who think they're protecting their lungs by smoking pipes or cigars instead of cigarettes are kidding themselves.
21. Grandparents who care for children 'boost obesity risk' (International Journal of Obesity, 2/10)
Young children who are regularly looked after by their grandparents have an increased risk of being overweight.
22. FDA warns Kellogg over contaminated Eggo waffles (FDA, 2/16/10)
The Georgia Department of Agriculture found Listeria bacteria in Eggo Buttermilk Waffles on August 31. An October 2009 Atlanta plant inspection found bacterial contamination and sanitation violations such as improper handling of trash and food, and insufficiently sanitized equipment. On 1/27/10 the FDA sent Kellogg a letter that the Georgia Department of Agriculture found Listeria bacteria in Eggo Buttermilk Waffles on August 31. Kellogg said on 2/16/10 it has fully addressed all of the violations.
23. FDA Warns of Maalox Mix-up Danger: Maalox Total Relief vs. Maalox antacids (FDA, 2/17/10)
At least five "serious adverse events" occurred in people who took Maalox Total Relief thinking it was Maalox antacid. Maalox Total Relief is for diarrhea, upset stomach associated with nausea, heartburn, and gas due to overeating. Maalox antacids are for acid indigestion, heartburn, sour stomach, upset stomach, and gas. Maalox Total Relief contains bismuth subsalicylate, a drug with aspirin-like side effects that include stomach and intestinal bleeding.
24. Recall: Chicken-flavored pet food recalled: Nature's Variety may contain salmonella (AP, 2/12/10)
