Editor's Choice
FDA Calls for Warning on Cipro, Levaquin and Other Antibiotics
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified manufacturers of fluoroquinolone antimicrobial drugs that a Boxed Warning in the product labeling concerning the increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture is necessary. The medications involved in this action are: Cipro and generic ciprofloxacin, Cipro XR and Proquin XR (ciprofloxacin extended release), Factive (gemifloxacin), Levaquin (levofloxacin), Avelox (moxifloxacin), Noroxin (norfloxacin), and Floxin and generic ofloxacin. More »
Controversial Recommendation to Consider Statins for Kids with High Cholesterol
The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new cholesterol screening and treatment recommendations for children that suggest cholesterol screening, and possible use of statins for certain children.
The policy statement, “Lipid Screening and Cardiovascular Health in Childhood,” recommends cholesterol screening of children and adolescents with a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease. It also recommends screening patients whose family history is unknown or those who have other factors for heart disease including obesity, high blood pressure or diabetes. More »
Traveler's Diarrhea Vaccine Shows Promise
Each year between 20%-50% of international travelers—about 10 million people— develop diarrhea. The onset of "Traveler's Diarrhea" (TD) usually occurs within the first week of travel but may occur at any time while traveling, and even after returning home. In a recent study by researchers at The University of Texas School of Public Health, a new patch-based travelers' diarrhea vaccine has been found to provide significant relief from diarrhea. The study results were published in a recent edition of the Lancet. More »
Health of Obese Teens Better After Laparoscopic Surgery
The results of a new study show that the overall health of obese teenagers improved after they underwent laparoscopic gastric banding surgery. More »
Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in Children Related to Vitamin D and Sun
Researchers have found that the risk of Type 1 diabetes in children may be strongly associated with Vitamin D and exposure to sunshine.
Low incidence of type 1 diabetes was noted in people living in equatorial regions, while higher incidence was noted in populations at higher latitudes where sunlight was scarcer. More »
Regular Drinking May Reduce the Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Drinking alcohol regularly may reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis by up to 50%, according to recent research.
Scandinavian researchers conducted two studies, involving 2,750 people, assessing environmental and genetic risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis. 1,650 participants had the disease, and were questioned about their smoking and drinking habits, while blood samples were taken to check for genetic risk factors. More »
One Quarter of All Americans Experience Daily Pain
More than a quarter of the entire population in the United States experiences some form of pain every day. Americans spent between $2 and $6 billion on non prescription painkillers in 2007, while the cost of productivity loss attributable to pain-related conditions is estimated at $60 billion a year. More »
Higher Fracture Risk for Diabetes Drugs Such as Pioglitazone and Rosiglitazone, Says Study
Insulin-sensitizing thiazolidinediones, such as pioglitazone and rosiglitazone, appear to be associated with an increased risk of fractures, according to a recent report. These two drugs account for about 21% of oral diabetes medications prescribed in the United States, and 5% of those prescribed in Europe. More »
Brain Changes in Elderly Can Affect Mobility and Balance
Changes in the brain can affect old people's mobility and balance, according to a recent study. Particularly affecting balance and walking are white matter changes called leukoaraiosis.
The 639 men and women between the ages of 65 and 84 in the study underwent brain scans and walking and balance tests. 284 people in the group had mild age-related white matter changes, 197 moderate changes, and 158 severe changes. More »
Genistein in Soybeans May Halt Prostate Cancer Spread
Genistein, an antioxidant found in soybeans, almost completely prevented the spread of human prostate cancer in mice, according to a study published in the journal Cancer Research. In the study, genistein was used in an amount equivalent to what a human being would consume in a soybean-rich diet. More »
Active Tuberculosis Prevented by New Drug that Kills Latent Bacteria
A new chemical that can prevent active tuberculosis in people infected with the latent form of the bacterium has been discovered by researchers. The drug could also shorten the recovery time needed, and suggests new ways of combating bacterial infection, increasingly resistant to traditional antibiotics. More »
Concerns Voiced Over Long-Term Effects of Synthetic Progestins
In a study done at the University of Oregon, the widely used synthetic progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) decreased endothelial function in premenopausal women. The finding, researchers said, raises concerns about the long-term effects of MPA and possibly other synthetic hormones on vascular health in young women. More »
Not Enough Doctors to Treat Increasing Number of Obese and Diabetic Children
The number of diabetic and obese children is growing so rapidly that there aren't enough doctors to treat the kids. According to a recent study by University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Hospital, there is only one board-certified pediatric endocrinologist per 290 children with diabetes. The ratio of obese children to board-certified endocrinologists is 17,000 to 1. The rate if childhood obesity in the United States meanwhile has more than doubled in the past 20 years, with a corresponding increase in the number of children at risk for type 1and type 2 diabetes. More »
Increased Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence Tied To High Levels of Estrogen
Women whose breast cancer returned after treatment had almost twice as much estrogen in their blood than did women who remained cancer-free, according to a newly published study.
The study's lead author, Cheryl L. Rock, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, said that high levels of estrogen—which lead to the initial development of breast cancer—could be associated with an increased risk of recurring cancer. More »
Will There Be Enough Orthopedic Surgeons to Meet Joint Replacement Demand?
According to a new study by Dr. Iorio and his colleagues to be presented at the 75th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the numbers of hip and knee replacement surgeries have increased dramatically in the last 10 years.
Dr. Iorio, senior attending orthopedic surgeon at the Lahey Clinic in Massachusetts said, "We are preparing for an epidemic of serious proportions." More »
Researchers Advise Protecting Kidneys Before CT Scans
Dyes containing iodine used to enhance CT scan quality can seriously harm kidneys; and a new study recommends that patients take an inexpensive pre-scan drug, called N-acetylcysteine which protects kidneys from damage. These 'dyes' or contrast agents put many older people and those with diabetes or heart failure at the most risk, and they have the most to gain from taking the drug. More »
Spanish-Language TV Commercials Contributing to Latino Youth Obesity, Says Study
The rising obesity epidemic among Latino youth may be traceable to the sheer volume of Spanish-language fast-food television commercials, according to a study in the Journal of Pediatrics. The research was conducted by pediatricians from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. More »
Diseases May Be Identifiable By Laser
Testing a person's breath with laser light can identify molecules which may serve as markers for diseases like asthma or cancer, according to a team of scientists at JILA, a joint institute of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado (CU) at Boulder. Their findings are published in the latest issue of the Optical Society of America's open-access journal Optics Express. More »
Probiotics Reduces Respiratory Illness Rates in Athletes, Says Study
A study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine finds that the rate and length of respiratory illness in distance runners is substantially cut by the probiotic Lactobacillus. The normal immune response to colds and flu can be suppressed by heavy exercise, which can leave some athletes vulnerable to them. More »
7 Simple Tips for a Good Night's Sleep
Studies show that your brain has to work harder to do the same amount of thinking when you're tired as when you're rested. "When you're tired, thinking requires a lot more resources and you get fatigued more quickly as a result," says Dr. Philip Gehrman PhD, assistant professor of psychology at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. More »
