The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is ?deeply concerned? about researchers creating a more contagious and fatal form of the H5N1 bird flu. Researchers in the Netherlands have manipulated the virus to make it more transmissible among humans, and it could potentially kill millions...
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Study: Music Can Ease Pain
Losing yourself in music really may help take the sting out of a root canal or other painful medical procedure -- especially if you are feeling anxious about it.
Nutrients May Stop Brain Shrinkage Linked To Alzheimer's
A study of elderly people finds that those whose diets were high in certain essential nutrients were less likely to have the brain shrinkage associated with Alzheimer's disease and more likely to score better on tests of mental performance. The researchers published a paper on how they came to these findings in the 28 December online issue of Neurology. The paper's first author is Dr Gene Bowman from the Departments of Neurology and Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology...
Friday, December 30, 2011
Stop The Violence And Play Hockey
The tradition of fighting in hockey should be stopped, as research shows that repeated head trauma causes severe and progressive brain damage, states an editorial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). "The tragic story of Sidney Crosby's layoff due to concussions has not been sufficient for society to hang its head in shame and stop violent play immediately," writes Dr. Rajendra Kale, a neurologist and Interim Editor-in-Chief, CMAJ...
Perrigo Announces FDA Final Approval For Desloratadine
Perrigo Company (Nasdaq: PRGO;TASE) announced that it has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) for Desloratadine tablets (5 mg). Perrigo had been sued for patent infringement based upon its filing of an ANDA containing a Paragraph IV certification and settled the case in 2008. Under the terms of the settlement, Perrigo can commercially launch its generic Desloratadine product on July 1, 2012, or earlier in certain circumstances...
Cravings: Why They Strike, How to Curb Them
WebMD talks to experts about food cravings and what to do about them.
School Absenteeism, Mental Health Problems Linked
School absenteeism is a significant problem, and students who are frequently absent from school more often have symptoms of psychiatric disorders. A new longitudinal study of more than 17,000 youths has found that frequently missing school is associated with a higher prevalence of mental health problems later on in adolescence, and that mental health problems during one year also predict missing additional school days in the following year for students in middle and high school...
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Dr Oz: Bone Healthy Skinny Snack: Are Your Bones Making You Fat?
Dr Oz: Are Your Bones Making You Fat? For this segment, Dr Oz asked the audience if they believed bones made you fat. Of course the audience clapped. (Oh, how I would love for this to be true!) Well, according to Dr Oz, it is true. (Yippeee!) Doctor Oz called down Debbie from the audience [...]
Red meat lovers have more kidney cancer
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who eat lots of red meat may have a higher risk of some types of kidney cancer, suggests a large U.S. study.
Brain Size May Predict Risk For Early Alzheimer's Disease
New research suggests that, in people who don't currently have memory problems, those with smaller regions of the brain's cortex may be more likely to develop symptoms consistent with very early Alzheimer's disease. The study is published in the December 21, 2011, online issue of Neurology�, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology...
Happiness Declining Among Twitter Users
Twitter users may be less happy than they used to be, say University of Vermont scientists.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Obesity Linked to Poor Mother-Toddler Bond
Tots who have a poor relationship with their moms are more likely to be obese by the time they turn 15, a new study shows.
Biomarker Can Recognize Heart Attack Immediately
An article published in JAMA outlines the use of a biomarker to identify patients that have experienced a heart attack, enabling physicians to undertake aggressive treatment immediately. Till Keller, M.D., of the University Heart Center Hamburg, Germany, and colleagues evaluated the diagnostic performance of the newly developed highly sensitive troponin I (hsTnI) assay compared with a contemporary troponin I (cTnI) assay and their serial changes in the diagnosis of heart attack...
Emotional Well-Being: The Benefits of Adversity
How life's hardships can make you more resilient -- within limits.
Same-Sex Marriage Laws Reduce Doctor Visits And Health Care Costs For Gay Men
Gay men are able to lead healthier, less stress-filled lives when states offer legal protections to same-sex couples, according to a new study examining the effects of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. The study, "Effect of Same-Sex Marriage Laws on Health Care Use and Expenditures in Sexual Minority Men: A Quasi-Natural Experiment," is online in the American Journal of Public Health. "Our results suggest that removing these barriers improves the health of gay and bisexual men," said Mark L...
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Formula maker says tests show no sign of bacteria
The manufacturer of the widely used baby formula Enfamil said Sunday that its testing shows the product is free of the bacteria blamed for the death of a Missouri infant.
Improved Understanding Of The Thalamus Offers Potential Stroke Therapy
The thalamus is the central translator in the brain: Specialized nerve cells (neurons) receive information from the sensory organs, process it, and transmit it deep into the brain. Researchers from the Institute of Toxicology and Genetics (ITG) of KIT have now identified the genetic factors Lhx2 and Lhx9 responsible for the development of these neurons. Their results contribute to understanding the development of the thalamus. In the long term, they are to help healing thalamic strokes. With 100 billion nerve cells, the brain is the most complex organ in the human body...
Women Should Still Be Concerned About Hormone Replacement Therapy
McMaster University researchers have found consistent evidence that use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is associated with breast cancer globally. This study comes at a time when more women are again asking for this medication to control hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. The rising trend is at odds with a U.S. Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study of 2002 which found a higher incidence of breast cancer, heart attack and stroke among women using HRT...
Monday, December 26, 2011
Medicinal Uses of Honey: What the Research Shows
WebMD talks to experts about the possible health benefits of honey.
HPV Vaccine Does Not Alter Sexual Behavior
According to a national study by The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, contrary to some people's belief, young women receiving recommended vaccinations for the prevention of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and related cancers do not engage in more sexually risky behavior. Nicole C. Liddon, Ph.D...
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Medicinal Uses of Honey: What the Research Shows
WebMD talks to experts about the possible health benefits of honey.
Lifestyle And Environmental Factors Associated With Cancer Risk
It has been well established that certain lifestyle habits relate to the risk of certain cancers (e.g., smoking and lung cancer). In a well-done analysis, the authors estimate the proportion of cancer in the population associated with a variety of lifestyle and environmental factors. They find that smoking has, by far, the largest effect on the risk of cancer, with 19.4% of cancer cases in the UK attributable to tobacco use...
Baby formula probe widens beyond Enfamil
(Reuters) - U.S. health regulators said on Friday they are looking at several types of baby formula that could be linked to the death of an infant, expanding an investigation beyond Mead Johnson's market-leading Enfamil.
Dr Oz December 22 2011: In Case You Missed It
Dr Oz Show: December 22 2011 Click on the links at the end of each item below to read recaps of the Dr Oz Show from December 22, 2011- Deadly Drug Interactions-Are Your Meds Putting You At Risk? Doctor Oz examines the world of prescription medication and explains how combining meds can put you at [...]
Fixing Common Blood Disorder Would Make Kidney Transplants More Successful
Correcting anemia, a red blood cell deficiency, can preserve kidney function in many kidney transplant recipients, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The results indicate that aggressively treating anemia may help save the kidneys and possibly the lives of many transplant recipients. Anemia commonly arises in patients with kidney disease because the kidneys secrete most of the hormone erythropoietin that stimulates red blood cell production...
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Presentations Highlight Results Of Clinical Data For MLN8237 And VELCADE� In The Treatment Of Lymphoma
Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company with its parent company Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502) reported the presentation of results from a phase 2 trial evaluating MLN8237, an investigational inhibitor of Aurora A kinase, in patients with aggressive B-cell and T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Also presented were biomarker data from a phase 3 study comparing VELCADE� (bortezomib) and rituximab (VcR) to rituximab (R) alone in patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL)...
Many stent patients get rehospitalized: study
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A New York State study of 40,000 patients getting stents inserted to open up blocked arteries found that almost one in six of them were readmitted to the hospital within a month of the procedure, often for heart conditions and chest pain.
Very Early Experiences May Stick in Memory
The ability to remember our earliest childhood experiences may be in place sooner than experts thought, according to new research.
Toddlers Hear Their Own Words Differently
Ever wonder why toddlers just can?t seem to get the pronunciation of some words just right? Science may now have an answer. People subconsciously monitor their voices to ensure the sound they are producing is the one that is intended. If it is different, we...
Breastfeeding Saved Babies In 19th - Century Montreal
Breastfeeding increased infant survival rates in 19th -Century Montreal in two major ways, according to research from Concordia University and McGill University. Mother's milk protected vulnerable infants from food and water contaminated by fecal bacteria, while breastfeeding postponed the arrival of more siblings and that improved the health of mothers as well as their subsequent children...
Friday, December 23, 2011
Dr Oz: Alton Brown Weight Loss Superfoods To Lose 50 Pounds
Dr Oz: Alton Brown?s Diet Doctor Oz spoke about Alton Brown’s Diet on today’s show. �Alton Brown, host of Iron Chef America, lost 50 lbs in the wake of his health issues. You can do it too. Read on for the list of must-have (and must-have not) foods Alton eats that helped him shed the [...]
Botox Shows Lasting Effects On Distant Muscles
Botulinum neurotoxin type A better known as Botox has previously unsuspected 'systemic' effects on muscles other than the ones it's injected into, reports a study in the January issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS). Experiments in rats show that Botox has lasting effects on muscles after injection even muscles distant from the injection site. In addition, Botox seems to have "unique" effects on muscle responses to a widely used muscle relaxant, which could affect patient monitoring during surgery or mechanical ventilation...
Presentations Highlight Results Of Clinical Data For MLN8237 And VELCADE� In The Treatment Of Lymphoma
Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company with its parent company Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502) reported the presentation of results from a phase 2 trial evaluating MLN8237, an investigational inhibitor of Aurora A kinase, in patients with aggressive B-cell and T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Also presented were biomarker data from a phase 3 study comparing VELCADE� (bortezomib) and rituximab (VcR) to rituximab (R) alone in patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL)...
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Removal Of Lymph Nodes During Surgery For Thyroid Cancer May Be Beneficial
Papillary thyroid cancer accounts for the majority of all thyroid malignancies, which primarily impact women. A new study indicates that routinely removing lymph nodes in the neck in these cancer patients may help prevent the disease from coming back. When thyroid cancer metastasizes, lymph nodes in the neck may be affected, but these lymph-node tumors can be tiny and may not be detected by ultrasounds done before surgery to remove the diseased thyroid - or even during the procedure itself...
Grafting Of Human Spinal Stem Cells Into ALS Rats Best With Immunosuppressant Combination
A team of researchers grafting human spinal stem cells into rats modeled with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease," a degenerative, lethal, neuromuscular disease, have tested four different immunosuppressive protocols aimed at determining which regimen improved long-term therapeutic effects. Their study demonstrated that a combined, systematically delivered immunosuppression regimen of two drugs significantly improved the survival of the human spinal stem cells...
Interactions Between Substances Determine Allergenic Potential
Scientists at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have used advanced light microscopy to show that a substance can be differently absorbed by the skin, depending on what it is mixed with. This may determine whether it causes contact allergy or not. "We have also been able to identify specific cells and proteins in the skin with which a contact allergen interacts. The results increase our understanding of the mechanisms behind contact allergy", says Carl Simonsson at the Department of Chemistry, University of Gothenburg...
Innovative New Strategy To Treat Parkinson's Disease
Stabilizing the cell's power-generating center protects against Parkinson's disease (PD) in a rat model, according to a report published online this week in the Journal of Experimental Medicine (http://www.jem.org). Mitochondria - the energy production center of cells - are damaged in PD, leading to loss of dopaminergic neurons and degeneration of brain function...
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
NSU Nursing Program To Become Its Own College
Nova Southeastern University will create the College of Nursing on Jan. 1., 2012. Formally a part of NSU's College of Allied Health and Nursing, the new college has emerged because of the nursing program's growth and success over the last five years. The College of Nursing will continue to serve 1,500 students at NSU's main campus in Davie and its Student Educational Centers (SEC) in Miami, Palm Beach, Ft. Myers, and Orlando. Tthe College of Health Care Sciences, formally a part of the College of Allied Health and Nursing, will also launch on Jan. 1...
Middle-Age Blood Pressure Changes Affect Lifetime Heart Disease, Stroke Risk
An increase or decrease in your blood pressure during middle age can significantly impact your lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to research in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers found people who maintained or reduced their blood pressure to normal levels by age 55 had the lowest lifetime risk for CVD (between 22 percent to 41 percent risk). In contrast, those who had already developed high blood pressure by age 55 had a higher lifetime risk (between 42 percent to 69 percent risk)...
Surgery complications down with better teamwork
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Hospitals that introduced a program to boost communication and teamwork among doctors and nurses saw a decrease in surgery-related complications, according to a new study.
Manchester United Fan's Addisonian Crisis Spotted While Doctors Watched Match
The Christmas issue of bmj.com describes how doctors in Manchester identified a rare condition in a football fan after they heard about her unusual symptoms whilst watching her team Manchester United play. Near the end of high-profile matches at Old Trafford, Manchester United's home ground, the 58 year old woman would suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, palpitations, light headedness, and a sense of impending doom...
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Novel Use Of Drug Saves Children From Deadly E. Coli Bacteria Disease
A physician and researcher at the Sainte Justine University Hospital Center (Sainte-Justine UHC), a University of Montreal affiliate, saved the life of a child and, by doing so, became the first to find a new use for a drug in the fight against deadly E. coli bacteria. In fact, after a little girl was admitted to the Sainte Justine UHC to treat severe complications, her physician, running out of options, thought about using the drug eculizumab, which is usually prescribed for another disorder with similar symptoms. Her intuition paid off and the little girl survived...
Weight Regained in Later Years Has More Fat
As you draw up your New Year's resolutions, new research may provide added incentive to not only lose weight, but to keep it off.
During Pregnancy, Majority Of B.C. Women Take Prescription Drugs
Almost two-thirds of women in British Columbia filled at least one prescription at some point in their pregnancy, including drugs with potential risks, according to a new study by University of British Columbia researchers. The study, published online in the journal Clinical Therapeutics, is the first of its kind in Canada. Researchers analyzed population-based outpatient prescription claims data for patterns of prescription drug use during pregnancy in B.C. from 2001 to 2006. The researchers found that 63.5 per cent of pregnant women in B.C. filled at least one prescription...
Cystic Fibrosis - Inhaling Mannitol Plus Standard therapy Improves Lung Function
A new study found that the combination of inhaled dry powder mannitol with standard therapy for cystic fibrosis resulted in maintained improvement in lung function for 12 months. In addition to being effective and safe, the easy administration of the treatment might help enhance adherence with treatment in individuals suffering with the condition. The study, supported by Pharmaxis Limited, is published online ahead of print publication in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine...
Monday, December 19, 2011
Anderson Cooper Recaps & Live with Kelly Recaps; Visit Recapo.com
Our friends at Recapo.com have launched daily coverage of Live! with Kelly and Anderson Cooper.� Check out Recapo.com and you will never miss these shows again! Live! with Kelly On Friday’s show, Kelly and Guest Host, Michael Buble, talked about the day’s news and, as usual, it ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous!� Among [...]
Dr Oz December 16 2011: In Case You Missed It
Dr Oz Show: December 16 2011 Click on the links at the end of each item below to read recaps of the Dr Oz Show from December 16, 2011- Dr Oz?s Suzanne Somers?The Revolutionary Surgery To Rebuild Her Breasts. Read on to find out how Actor Suzanne Somers rejected conventional treatment and how she changed [...]
Health panel takes heat on cancer screening advice
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Dr. Ned Calonge knows firsthand how hard it is to tell Americans they'd be better off with fewer routine medical tests.
Health Reform - Individual States Given More Flexibility And Freedom, USA
US states are being given more freedom and flexibility in the implementation of health reform as stipulated in the Affordable Care Act, which aims to make sure all US citizens have access to affordable, quality health insurance, according to a bulletin released by the HHS (Department of Health and Human Services). In order to achieve cover for everybody, the law aims to ensure that health insurance plans on offer have a comprehensive package of services and items, which the HHS refers to as "essential health benefits"...
Longevity Proteins Also May Be Linked To Mood Control
Over the last 10 years, MIT biologist Leonard Guarente and other researchers have demonstrated that very-low-calorie diets provoke a comprehensive physiological response, which promotes survival due to a set of proteins called sirtuins. A new report by Guarente published online in Cell has now demonstrated that sirtuins may also have a key part in the psychological response to dietary restriction. Guarente's study revealed that mice become much more anxious when sirtuins are elevated in the brain which happens when their food intake is cut...
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Reactivating Cell Death In Colorectal Cancers
The research team at Lyon has developed an animal model carrying a mutation of the DCC gene. Mice carrying the mutation develop tumours, because this gene can no longer induce the death of the cancer cells. This discovery could lead to the development of a new targeted cancer treatment that aims to reactivate the dying of cancer cells. The results of this study have been published as a Letter in the 11th December 2011 issue of the journal Nature...
Deadly Infections Linked to Neti Pots
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has issued a warning about Neti pots, which have been linked to two fatal infections.
Breast Cancer - How Advantageous Or Detrimental Is Brachytherapy?
An investigation published December 16th in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reveals that over the last several years in the U.S., accelerated partial breast irradiation using brachytherapy (APBIb) for treating breast cancer has increased rapidly as an alternative treatment to conventional whole-breast irradiation (WBI). APBI delivers a high dose of radiation to areas of the breast where cancer is most likely to recur...
Breast Cancer Patients More Satisfied When Specialists Share Care Management
Patients with breast cancer report greater satisfaction with care when their cancer doctor co-manages their care with other specialists. However, some specialists are more likely than others to share decision-making with other physicians, finds a new study in Health Services Research. "Breast cancer is typically a condition that is managed by multiple specialists. Often a surgeon is involved as well as a medical oncologist, radiologist and primary care physician," said Katherine Kahn, M.D., of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and senior author of the study...
Saturday, December 17, 2011
FDA requires precaution on Boston Sci stent
CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. health regulators said they are still investigating a rare but serious problem with Boston Scientific Corp's new heart stents and required the company to caution doctors about it when the device was approved last month.
Photos: Jennifer Aniston No Fan of Cosmetic Injections
Jennifer Aniston, who was recently names Sexiest Woman of All Time by Men's Health, told InStyle magazine that she eschews cosmetic injections -- but hinted that she has tried them in the past.
Holiday Gifts For Caregivers Should Provide Much-Needed Respite, Make Caregiving Easier
With an estimated 65 million caregivers in the U.S., many Americans have at least one on their holiday gift list. Family members and friends can choose gifts that will make caregiving easier and provide a much-needed respite from the often overwhelming demands of caregiving, according to Michael Noe, MD, associate dean for community relations and clinical affairs in the University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions...
Can Proteins In The Blood Predict An Early Death?
Certain measures of kidney health may predict who is likely to die prematurely, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The findings suggest that some markers of kidney function are better than others at predicting an individual's prognosis. A person's level of kidney function often indicates how likely they are to develop kidney failure and other conditions. Kidney function is most accurately represented by the kidneys' filtration rate, but this is difficult to measure...
Friday, December 16, 2011
Aspirin May Reduce Risk of Repeat Blood Clots
A low dose of daily aspirin, taken after completing six to 12 months of anticlotting drug treatment, may help prevent the recurrence of deadly blood clots, a new study shows.
New Study Shows Promise For Preventing Preterm Births
A new study co-authored by the University of Kentucky's Dr. John O'Brien found that applying vaginal progesterone to women who are at a high risk of preterm birth significantly decreased the odds of a premature delivery. The new study, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, described a two-prong strategy used by doctors: participating pregnant women underwent a measurement of the cervical length via transvaginal cervical ultrasound to define risk for preterm birth; and those found to have a short cervix were successfully treated with vaginal progesterone...
Despite Guidelines To The Contrary, Practitioners Recommend Time Off For Low Back Pain
Guidelines for clinical management of patients with low back pain (LBP) encourage health care practitioners to advise staying active and returning to work. Despite this, most practitioners believe work factors can cause or exacerbate LBP, and a recommendation for a "short break from work" to allow healing is common...
Magnetic Stimulation Of Brain For Stroke Recovery
In a fresh hope for those who have suffered a stroke, a new research has shown that magnetic stimulation of the nerve cells in the brain, can help speed the recovery. Anyone who has had a friend or relative suffer a stroke knows what a shocking and debilitating affliction it can be. There are different types of stroke, but all essentially have the result of causing damage to the brain cells and blood circulation to the brain...
Dr Oz December 13 2011: In Case You Missed It
Dr Oz Show December 13 2011 Click on the links at the end of each item below to read recaps of the Dr Oz Show from December 13, 2011-Jane Fonda?s Longevity Revolution. Jane discusses her biggest life lessons from her past. At 74, check out her secrets to looking younger and how to look better [...]
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Teen Smoking And Drinking Drops, Marijuana Consumption Rises, USA
Cigarette and alcohol consumption among 8th, 10th and 12th graders (14, 16 and 18 year olds) are lower than they have ever been since certain records began in 1975, but marijuana and non-medical prescription medication usage has increased, says a new report - "Monitoring the Future" (MTF) - issued by The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Consumption of some tobacco products did not fall, such as hookahs, smokeless tobacco and small cigars, the authors added. In a news conference today, a NIDA spokesperson explained that more children appear to be abusing marijuana than cigarettes...
Most Contact Lens Users Don't Follow Safety Steps
Most people who wear contact lenses say they know about of the wear and care recommendations, but almost none actually comply with these procedures, a new study shows.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Lockout Fallout: Injury Warning To NBA Athletes
While the threat of an NBA lockout appears to be over, the wounds may just be beginning. A national sports medicine expert who published an article in a medical journal about the injury ramifications of lockouts, says that NBA players should learn from information analyzed after the NFL lockout. A published report shows that Achilles tendon injuries to NFL players have quadrupled compared to past years...
Cholesterol-Lowering Medication Accelerates Depletion Of Plaque In Arteries
In a new study, NYU Langone Medical Center researchers have discovered how cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins promote the breakdown of plaque in the arteries. The study was published online by the journal PLoS One on December 6, 2011. The findings support a large clinical study that recently showed patients taking high-doses of the cholesterol-lowering medications not only reduced their cholesterol levels but also reduced the amount of plaque in their arteries...
Analysis: Big Pharma gets a driving lesson from carmakers
LONDON (Reuters) - Big drugmakers, under pressure to streamline operations in the face of rising costs and slowing sales, are looking to the automotive industry for tips on tuning up their profit engines.
U.S. cracking down on Medicare painkiller abuse
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Health authorities are directing Medicare prescription drug plans to withhold payments for popular painkillers when they suspect patient abuse, part of a wider effort to combat fraud.
Cognitive Problems Still Evident Several Years After Breast Cancer Treatment
A new analysis has found that breast cancer survivors may experience problems with certain mental abilities several years after treatment, regardless of whether they were treated with chemotherapy plus radiation or radiation only. Published early online inCANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study indicates that there may be common and treatment-specific ways that cancer therapies negatively affect cancer survivors' mental abilities. Previous research suggests that chemotherapy can cause problems with memory and concentration in breast cancer survivors...
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Researchers Say Scar Findings Could Lead To New Therapies
Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine report that they have identified the molecular pathway through which physical force contributes to scarring in mice. "Our study exposes one of the fundamental mechanisms by which the mechanical environment can directly increase inflammation, which is strongly implicated in scarring," said Geoffrey Gurtner, MD, professor and associate chair of surgery...
Most Contact Lens Users Don't Follow Safety Steps
Most people who wear contact lenses say they know about of the wear and care recommendations, but almost none actually comply with these procedures, a new study shows.
NICU webcams help parents keep watch
St. Jude Medical Center is one of the first hospitals in the country to implement a webcam system in their NICU, allowing parents to bond from afar.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Some of World's Tiniest ?Preemies? Are Growing Up Healthy
Against heavy odds, the world's tiniest infant and the fourth-smallest surviving infant have had normal childhood development, a new study shows, although the girls? heights and weights still lag behind other kids the same age.
Starch Intake May Influence Risk For Breast Cancer Recurrence
Researchers have linked increased starch intake to a greater risk for breast cancer recurrence, according to results presented at the 2011 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 6-10, 2011. "The results show that it's not just overall carbohydrates, but particularly starch," said Jennifer A. Emond, M.S., a public health doctoral student at the University of California, San Diego. "Women who increased their starch intake over one year were at a much likelier risk for recurring...
Progress Made on Vaccine for So-Called ?Cruise Ship? Virus
An experimental vaccine has passed an important test in preventing symptoms and infection from a type of norovirus, one of the most common causes of diarrhea and vomiting, researchers say.
Cancer-Related Pathway Reveals Potential Treatment Target For Rare Pediatric Disease Cherubism
Cancer researchers studying genetic mutations that cause leukemia have discovered a connection to the rare disease cherubism, an inherited facial bone disorder in children. The link is the enzyme Tankyrase and its pivotal role in switching on or off the protein that controls two known cancer genes. In normal cells, the protein is vital for bone development. In abnormal cells, it is thought to be involved in two common types of blood cancer - chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. The findings, published online today in CELL (DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.10...
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Natural Soothers for Sore Throats
Winter's dry air and cold-weather illnesses can leave your throat raw, but relief is no farther than your kitchen cabinets.
Binge Drinking By Freshman Women Tied To Sexual Assault Risk, According To New Research
Many young women who steer clear of alcohol while they're in high school may change their ways once they go off to college. And those who take up binge drinking may be at relatively high risk of sexual assault, according to a University at Buffalo-led study in the January issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. The college years are famously associated with drinking. But little has been known about how young women change their high school drinking habits once they start college...
Dr Oz December 7 2011: In Case You Missed It
Dr Oz Show: December 7 2011 Click on the links at the end of each item below to read recaps of the Dr Oz Show from December 7, 2011-Dr Oz?s Exclusive Interview With Oprah Winfrey. Oprah Winfrey joins Dr Oz for an exclusive one-on-one chat on life after her award winning television show. Read on [...]
Lower Incidence Of Cardiovascular Events With Sitagliptin Compared To Sulphonylureas
The incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with the DPP-4 inhibitor sitagliptin (Januvia) is significantly lower than in those treated with sulphonylureas, show reveals from a pooled analysis reported this week at the International Diabetes Federation 2011 World Diabetes Congress (4 December 2011). The analysis pooled results from three double-blind studies, each randomising patients to sitagliptin (100mg/day; n=1,226) or a sulphonylurea (n=1,225)...
New Study Shows Evacuation Plans Need To Incorporate Family Perspectives
A study sponsored by the National Science Foundation found that most respondents felt the evacuation of New Orleans residents to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina was a "failure" and this opinion has shaped their willingness to accept shelter if offered in an emergency evacuation. This finding, as well as many others, was derived from interviews of residents in the Chicago metropolitan area, with particular focus in two areas where neighborhood evacuations are likely due to large amounts of toxic materials that are transported nearby Logan Square and Blue Island, Ill...
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Breast Cancer Prevention - Part Time Low Carb Diet Better Than Standard Full Time Diets
Women who go on a low carb diet just two days per week have a lower risk of developing breast cancer compared to those who follow a standard calorie-restricted diet every day of the week, in order to lose weight and lower their insulin blood levels. Long-term high blood insulin levels are known to raise cancer risk. These findings were presented by scientists from Genesis Prevention Center at University Hospital in South Manchester, England, at the 2011 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The researchers stressed that a larger, longer-term additional study is required...
No More P.E. in Fla. Middle Schools?
A Florida lawmaker proposed a bill that would eliminate mandatory physical education for middle school students, but critics say physical activity is essential for preventing and treating childhood obesity.
A Misunderstood Personality Disorder - Psychopathy
Psychopathic personalities are some of the most memorable characters portrayed in popular media today. These characters, like Patrick Bateman from American Psycho, Frank Abagnale Jr. from Catch Me If You Can and Alex from A Clockwork Orange, are typically depicted as charming, intriguing, dishonest, guiltless, and in some cases, downright terrifying. But scientific research suggests that psychopathy is a personality disorder that is widely misunderstood...
Kidney Injury, A Serious Risk To The Health And Survival Of Today's Soldiers
Acute kidney injury (AKI), an abrupt or rapid decline in kidney function, is a serious and increasingly prevalent condition. Little information has been available about how common or how severe AKI is in military personnel who are injured during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. A new study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN) investigates this question in those burned during combat...
Friday, December 9, 2011
Plan B: Sebelius Overrules FDA, Nixes Sale Without ID
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has overruled the FDA, which was about to approve the emergency contraceptive "morning-after" pill Plan B for full over-the-counter sale. It will still be sold behind pharmacy counters and is prescription-only for those under age 17.
Top Trending Searches on WebMD in 2011
Day by day, the sudden popularity of particular search terms is a barometer of what worries or intrigues Americans. Here are top search terms WebMD readers were looking up in 2011 -- and why.
High Intestinal Microbial Diversity Safeguards Against Allergies
High diversity and a variety of bacteria in the gut protect children against allergies as opposed to some individual bacterial genera. These are the findings of a comprehensive study of intestinal microflora (gut flora) in allergic and healthy children, which was conducted at Linköping University in Sweden. One hypothesis is that our immune system encounters too few bacteria during childhood, which explains the increasing proportion of allergic children. However it has been difficult to substantiate the hypothesis scientifically...
Wake up slimmer with these tips
The great news is, you can drop weight without dieting: Experts say making small change-ups to your day is one of the best ways to lose.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Dr Oz December 7 2011: In Case You Missed It
Dr Oz Show: December 7 2011 Click on the links at the end of each item below to read recaps of the Dr Oz Show from December 7, 2011-Dr Oz?s Exclusive Interview With Oprah Winfrey. Oprah Winfrey joins Dr Oz for an exclusive one-on-one chat on life after her award winning television show. Read on [...]
Researchers Link 'Epigenetic' Changes To Inflammation-Induced Colon Cancer
Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center scientists report that sharp rises in levels of reactive oxygen molecules, and the inflammation that results, trigger biochemical changes that silence genes in a pattern often seen in cancer cells. The researchers confirmed this gene-silencing effect in mice that develop inflammation-induced colon cancer. The study, reported Nov. 14 in Cancer Cell, is believed to be the first to identify a specific molecular mechanism linking inflammation to cancer epigenetics...
Dr Oz Show: Oprah Winfrey Transform Your Life
Dr Oz: Oprah?s Fresh Start Doctor Oz did an interview of Oprah Winfrey and then followed it up with this segment. �Oprah surprised Dr Oz with the official cover to the January issue of O Magazine. It was an image of her and Dr Oz on the cover. (Did anyone else think he looked like [...]
Being Overweight Not Such A Stigma For African American Women
While all obese women are less satisfied with the weight-related quality of their lives than women of 'normal' weight, black women report a higher quality of life than white women of the same weight. In addition, black women appear to be more concerned about the physical limitations resulting from their obesity, than by the potential psychological consequences of being overweight or obese. These findings by Dr. Tiffany L...
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Quicker radiation therapy doubles mastectomy risk
(Reuters) - Women who get a quicker, localized form of radiation treatment for early-stage breast cancer are more likely to need to have their breast removed later on than women treated with traditional radiation of the whole breast.
Where Does Hospital Food Come From? Only 10% Of Hospitals Know
Today, a freedom of information request by The Countryside Alliance Foundation reveals that British food is not ranked highly on the procurement agenda of NHS Trusts. The Countryside Alliance Foundation raise the point that buying British food would inevitably improve the quality of the food recovering patients consume, while helping pump money back into the local economy; especially hard-pressed farmers in Britain, and also reduce the environmental damage caused by importing low cost produce from foreign countries...
WebMD's Top Health Stories of 2011
This year, WebMD chose stories that challenged our ideas about diet and nutrition, about public health, and about our understanding of disease.
New Study Reassures On Heart Risks Of Prostate Cancer Treatment
Hormone-blocking therapy for prostate cancer doesn't raise the risk of fatal heart attacks as some recent studies had suggested according to a new report from Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center. For men with high-risk prostate tumors, a combination of local treatment and drugs that block male hormones that feed prostate tumors can significantly lengthen survival. In the past few years, however, the U.S...
Plasma-Based Treatment Goes Viral
Life-threatening viruses such as HIV, SARS, hepatitis and influenza, could soon be combatted in an unusual manner as researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of plasma for inactivating and preventing the replication of adenoviruses. When exposed to plasma - the fourth state of matter in addition to solids, liquids and gases - for a period of just 240 seconds, it was found that only one in a million viruses could still replicate - practically all were inactivated...
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Inflammatory Cues Modulate Goblet Cell Products Important For Intestinal Barrier Function
In a paper published in the December 2011 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine, a team of scientists at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign led by Rex Gaskins, PhD have demonstrated that both microbial and host inflammatory factors modulate sulfomucin production in a human cell line, LS174T, that models intestinal goblet cells. Sulfomucins, one of two primary types of acidomucins secreted by intestinal goblet cells, provide crucial protection to the intestinal mucosa...
Most Parents Not Told By Doctors Their Child Is Overweight, USA
Only 29.1% of parents in America whose children are overweight say their doctor mentioned this problem to them, the rest do not recall ever being asked about their child's bodyweight by a physician or any health care professional, researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine reported in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. The 29.1% figure is much better than ten years ago - 19.4% in 1999 - but still worryingly low, the authors added. Lead author, Eliana M...
Ovarian Cancer Outcome Can Be Predicted By Tiny Genetic Variation
Yale Cancer Center researchers have shown that a tiny genetic variation predicts chances of survival and response to treatment for patients with ovarian cancer. The findings, published in the journal Oncogene, provide new insights into the biology of a new class of cancer marker and suggest a genetic test may help guide the treatment of women with ovarian cancer...
Improved Diagnosis And Potential Treatment Of Neuromyelitis Optica
Mayo Clinic researchers have identified critical steps leading to myelin destruction in neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a debilitating neurological disease that is commonly misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis (MS). The findings could lead to better care for the thousands of patients around the world with NMO. The paper was published in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA...
'Grey's Anatomy' CPR Saves Mom's Life
A mother of three from Sheboygan, Wis., credits her 10-year-old daughter, �her daughter?s friend�and ?Grey?s Anatomy,? with saving her life. When 36-year-old Kandace Seyferth collapsed from a severe asthma attack Nov. 25, her daughter Madisyn knew exactly what to do. She quickly dialed 911 and...
Monday, December 5, 2011
Weighing Up Fat Tax
A 'sin tax' applied to sweetened goods on store shelves is not the most efficient, effective method of lowering caloric intake from sweet food and would be more disruptive to consumers than necessary, according to Iowa State University research. With a national debate taking shape about the possibility of a national tax on foods with high sweetener content, ISU economists have examined how such a tax would best be applied...
Aging Road User Strategic Safety Plan Established Following Study Of Older Floridians
Florida is home to one of the highest percentages of residents ages 65 and older in the United States, but very few of them have thought ahead to a time when they will no longer be able to drive a vehicle safely or considered how they will get around without a car, according to a new survey developed by Florida State University and the Florida Department of Transportation. In fact, 13 percent of survey respondents indicated they would not stop driving at all, with 3 percent expressing the opinion that they would die before they would stop driving...
Study: BPA Is in Wide Variety of Paper Products
A new study shows that BPA is also in a wide variety of paper products, including napkins, toilet paper, tickets, food wrappers, newspapers, and printer paper.
Sound And Vision Linked In Perception Of Moving Objects
"Imagine you are playing ping-pong with a friend. Your friend makes a serve. Information about where and when the ball hit the table is provided by both vision and hearing. Scientists have believed that each of the senses produces an estimate relevant for the task (in this example, about the location or time of the ball's impact) and then these votes get combined subconsciously according to rules that take into account which sense is more reliable. And this is how the senses interact in how we perceive the world...
Dr Oz: Food Hoarder: Tyche the 11-Year-Old Who Hoards Food
Dr Oz: Child Food Hoarder Tyche Doctor Oz spoke about Child Food Hoarders. �In this segment, Dr Oz brought out Dr. Kimberli McCallum, MD, PHD child and adolescent psychologist and Molly Carmel, LCSW, who stated that obesity is a progressive disease like cancer, and without treatment, it gets worse. Dr Oz also talked with Tyche, [...]
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Neurosurgery Residents Oppose Restrictions On Work Hours
Residents at U.S. neurosurgery training programs strongly oppose new regulations that further limit their duty hours, according to a survey study in the December issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health. The study was performed by Dr. Kyle M. Fargen and colleagues at the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Florida in Gainesville...
Neurosurgery Residents Oppose Restrictions On Work Hours
Residents at U.S. neurosurgery training programs strongly oppose new regulations that further limit their duty hours, according to a survey study in the December issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health. The study was performed by Dr. Kyle M. Fargen and colleagues at the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Florida in Gainesville...
Chinese herb mix may cool hot flashes a bit
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A mix of certain traditional Chinese herbs thought to have weak estrogen-like activity might help ease menopausal hot flashes, a small clinical trial suggests.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Eating Fish May Be Good for Brain Health
Older people who eat baked or broiled fish at least once a week may be boosting their brain health.
Mouse Model Shows That Generating Energy From Sugar Leads To Fitter Muscles And Increased Athletic Ability
Muscle performance and fitness are partly determined by how well your muscle cells use sugar as a fuel source. In turn, exercising improves the muscle's ability to take up sugars from the bloodstream and burn them for energy. On the flip side, conditions that reduce physical activity -- such as obesity or chronic disease -- reduce the muscle's capacity to burn sugar. A new study by researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) unravels a mechanism that re-programs metabolic genes in muscles in a way that increases their capacity to use sugar...
Sleep and the Night Shift: 9 Tips to Cope
If you work the night shift or rotating shifts, poor sleep can put you at risk for accidents and health problems. Follow these tips for better sleep.
Friday, December 2, 2011
FAQ: Generic Lipitor
WebMD's FAQ on generic Lipitor: Will generic Lipitor be the same? Can I still get brand-name Lipitor? Should I switch to Lipitor? Should I switch to another statin drug? How much will generic Lipitor cost? And more.
Concussions Might Affect Kids and Adults Differently
A blow to the head might injure a child?s brain differently than it would an adult?s, a new study shows.
Without primary care, less awareness of chronic ills
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In a new U.S. study, people who said emergency rooms were their usual site of medical care were less likely to know they had chronic conditions, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol, than those who got primary care at doctors' offices or clinics.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Insight: Diabetes breakthrough stalled in safety debate
CHICAGO (Reuters) - It's a dream of medical science that looks tantalizingly within reach: the artificial pancreas, a potential breakthrough treatment for the scourge of type 1 diabetes.
Fish Consumption Reduces Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease
People who eat baked or broiled fish on a weekly basis may be improving their brain health and reducing their risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). "This is the first study to establish a direct relationship between fish consumption, brain structure and Alzheimer's risk," said Cyrus Raji, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine...
Kids With ADHD Have Distinct Brain Patterns
Children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) process visual information differently than children without the disorder, preliminary research shows.
High Blood Sugar Levels In Older Women Linked To Colorectal Cancer
Elevated blood sugar levels are associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, according to a study led by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. The findings, observed in nearly 5,000 postmenopausal women, appear in the November 29 online edition of the British Journal of Cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the U.S. Statistics compiled by the U.S...
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