Previous Medical News
2010/04/03
1. 97.5% Can't Drive Safely While Using Cell Phones (Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 3/10)
Driving while talking on a cell phone is extremely hazardous for most people, and only a tiny fraction of “supertaskers” can do both simultaneously without any ill effect. Braking time slowed and memory waned when drivers used cell phones. Only a small percentage of 'supertaskers' were successful. The National Safety Council estimates that 28% of all accidents and deaths on U.S. highways involve drivers using cell phones.
2. FDA Approves Injectable Varicose Vein Drug: polidocanol (Asclera) (FDA, 3/31/10)
The FDA has approved the injectable varicose vein treatment polidocanol (Asclera). The drug is approved to close small veins less than a millimeter wide ("spider veins"). It works by damaging the cell lining of blood vessels, causing vessels to close. The destroyed vessel is eventually replaced by other types of tissue, and heals without involving the swollen or twisted vein.
3. Health premiums could rise 17 pct for young adults (AP, 3/29/10)
Under the health care overhaul, young adults who buy their own insurance will carry a heavier burden of the medical costs of older Americans — a shift expected to raise insurance premiums for young people when the plan takes full effect. Beginning in 2014, most Americans will be required to buy insurance or pay a tax penalty. That's when premiums for young adults seeking coverage on the individual market would likely climb by 17 percent on average.
4. Susceptibility to Autism Tied to Genes (Molecular Autism, 3/25/10)
Researchers have discovered two genes for brain proteins that seem to be linked to autism disorders. The genes in question encode proteins that are connected to brain development. One appears to influence the development of the nervous system, and the other is linked to the organization of connections between synapses.
5. Junk food addiction may be clue to obesity (Nature Neuroscience, 3/10)
Bingeing on high-calorie foods may be as addictive as cocaine or nicotine, and could cause compulsive eating and obesity. Overconsumption of high-calorie food can trigger addiction-like responses in the brain.
6. Age, Drinking Raise Women's Gout Risk (Arthritis and Rheumatism, 4/10)
Gout occurs when elevated blood levels of uric acid form crystals in the joints and surrounding tissue, leading to excruciatingly painful inflammation and swelling. Women and men who want to avoid gout need to watch their weight, blood pressure, and alcohol consumption. For women, the gout risk goes up after menopause, especially if they are overweight. Many people also associate gout with eating large amounts of meat -- especially organ meats, which contain high levels of purine. Gout producing diet: high in meat and seafood. There was no increased risk associated with a diet which included:
- peas
- beans
- mushrooms
- cauliflower
- spinach
Low-fat dairy products decrease the risk of gout and overall protein intake had no effect.
7. Study links chemical exposure to breast cancer (Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 3/10)
Exposure to certain chemicals and pollutants before a woman reaches her mid-30s could triple her risk of developing breast cancer after the menopause. Women exposed to synthetic fibers (acrylic and nylon fibers) and petrol products (aromatic hydrocarbons) during the course of their work appeared to be most at risk. Breast tissue seems to be more sensitive to harmful chemicals before a woman reaches her 40s.
8. Short Bursts of Activity Ease Fibromyalgia (Arthritis Research & Therapy, 3/10)
10 million Americans live with this chronic pain disorder. Walking more, gardening, and taking the stairs help fibromyalgia patients feel and function better. Incorporating short bursts of physical activity into the day makes fibromyalgia patients feel and function better.
9. Could multivitamins raise breast cancer risk? (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 3/24/10)
Older women who use multivitamins may be more likely than non-users to develop breast cancer. This is a decade-long study of more than 35,000 Swedish women who were between the ages of 49 and 83 and cancer-free at the outset. Women who reported multivitamin use at the study's start were 19 percent more likely than non-users to develop breast cancer. That was with factors like age, family history of breast cancer, weight, fruit and vegetable intake, and exercise, smoking and drinking habits taken into account. A recent study found that among premenopausal women, multivitamin users tended to have greater breast density than non-users -- meaning the breasts have relatively less fat and more glandular and connective tissue. Greater breast density is linked to a relatively higher risk of breast cancer. The B vitamin folic acid has been linked to breast cancer in animal research. For women at high risk, a woman's best bet is to get her vitamins and minerals from a well-balanced diet rather than pills.
10. Is cola bad for sperm? (American Journal of Epidemiology, 3/25/10)
Men who drink about a quart or more of cola every day could be causing harm to their sperm. These men's sperm counts were almost 30 percent lower than in men who didn't drink cola.
11. Georgia H1N1 Cases Spike; CDC Blames Low Vaccination Rates (CDC, 3/30/10)
Health officials are carefully watching a spike in cases of the pandemic H1N1 flu in the Southeastern U.S.
12. Only 1 in 4 Americans Got H1N1 Vaccine: More Than 70 Million Doses of H1N1 Vaccine May Have to Be Discarded (CDC, 4/1/10)
Fewer Americans have been vaccinated against the H1N1 swine flu than health officials had hoped for, despite continued widespread availability of the shot. Slightly less than 25 percent of the overall population had been vaccinated by the end of January -- about 37 percent of children and 20 percent of adults. The CDC also noted that just one-third of people considered at high risk from H1N1 flu -- such as pregnant women, children and young adults, and people with certain medical conditions -- got the vaccine. Overall, an estimated 72 million to 81 million Americans had been vaccinated against the H1N1 flu as of mid-February, and an estimated 81 million to 91 million doses of the vaccine had been administered. Approximately 60 million Americans have been infected with H1N1 and 256,000 people have been hospitalized since it first appeared late last spring. There have been close to 12,000 deaths from the virus which, while notable, is still far less than the 36,000 deaths usually reported from the seasonal flu each year.
13. More proof: Chocolate could reduce heart risk (European Heart Journal, 3/31/10)
Small doses of chocolate every day could decrease your risk of having a heart attack or stroke by nearly 40 percent. This is a study of 20,000 people followed over eight years. People who had an average of six grams of chocolate per day — or about one square of a chocolate bar — had a 39 percent lower risk of either a heart attack or stroke. Flavonols contained in chocolate are responsible which helps the muscles in blood vessels widen, which leads to a drop in blood pressure.
14. Acupuncture May Ease Anxiety Over Dental Work (Acupuncture in Medicine, 3/29/10)
Fear of the dentist keeps many people from getting the dental care they need, but new research suggests that an ancient Chinese treatment -- acupuncture -- may provide quick relief. One in 20 people suffer from odontophobia -- severe anxiety about dentistry -- and a third of all people say they have moderate anxiety when seeing the dentist. 70 percent of patients had an effect of the treatment. It was possible to carry out the planned dental treatment in all patients. The dentist could commence the dental treatment five minutes after insertion of the five needles.
15. Pregnancy Hormones May Cause Memory Problems (Society for Endocrinology BES conference in Manchester, England, 3/10)
Many pregnant women report being more forgetful as their pregnancy progresses, and new research suggests it could be caused by elevated hormone levels affecting the brain.
16. Recall: Salmonella Worry Prompts Potato Chip Recall: Tom's Barbecue Potato Chips (Lance Inc. and the FDA, 4/1/10)
All Tom's Barbecue Potato Chips have been recalled due to flavoring that may be contaminated with salmonella. The chips contain salmonella-contaminated hydrolyzed vegetable protein, a flavoring agent that's now led to the recall of 177 U.S. products -- and counting. Salmonella infection symptoms begin anywhere from 12 hours to three days after eating contaminated food. Symptoms include:
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Abdominal cramps
- Headache
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
