Editor's Choice
Elderly with Untreated Vision Problem More Likely to Develop Alzheimer's
Elderly people with visual disorders that are left untreated are significantly more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease -- the most common form of dementia, according to a University of Michigan Health System study.
The study used Medicare data and shows that those with poor vision who visited an ophthalmologist at least once for an examination were 64 percent less likely to develop dementia.
The study appears online ahead of print in the American Journal of Epidemiology and may draw a new picture of poor vision as predictor of dementia rather than as a symptom after the diagnosis. More »
Combination Hormone Therapy (CHT) Poses Heart Disease Risk for Postmenopausal Women
New analyses from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) confirm that combination hormone therapy increases the risk of heart disease in healthy postmenopausal women. Researchers report a trend toward an increased risk of heart disease during the first two years of hormone therapy among women who began therapy within 10 years of menopause, and a more marked elevation of risk among women who began hormone therapy more than 10 years after menopause. Analyses indicate that overall a woman’s risk of heart disease more than doubles within the first two years of taking combination HT. More »
Barriers to Screening May Increase Colorectal Cancer Deaths
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Despite evidence and guidelines supporting the value of screening for this disease, rates of screening for colorectal cancer are consistently lower than those for other types of cancer, particularly breast and cervical. Although the screening rates in the target population of adults over age 50, have increased from 20-30 percent in 1997 to nearly 55 percent in 2008 — the rates are still too low. More »
Onglyza, a New Type 2 Diabetes Drug Approved by FDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved Onglyza (saxagliptin), a once-daily tablet to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults. The medication is intended to be used with diet and exercise to control high blood sugar levels.
The hormone insulin keeps blood sugar (glucose) levels within a narrow range in people who don’t have diabetes. People with Type 2 diabetes are either resistant to insulin or do not produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels. More »
Hair Loss Treatment for Women
For many women, hair loss can be very difficult to deal with. More »
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and Its Effects on Skin Appearance
For many women, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can alleviate the physical symptoms associated with the change of life. But despite the initial hype generated by post-menopausal women who noticed a marked improvement in their skin’s appearance while on HRT, dermatologists argue that scientific studies of estrogen do not show definitive improvements for skin rejuvenation of photodamaged skin and the potential risks when used long-term outweigh any potential skin benefits. More »
Adults Should Consider Re-Vaccination for Whooping Cough
“Vaccines are not just for children any more.”
That is the important, and potentially life-saving message, that Geisinger Health System pediatric gastroenterologist William Cochran, M.D., vice chairman of the Janet Weis Children's Hospital, wants to deliver. And this is a message that comes from personal experience.
“I am a physician, and I didn’t realize that adults needed to be revaccinated for what are considered childhood diseases such as pertussis (whooping cough),” said Dr. Cochran. “And I found that out the hard way – by contracting that very disease.” More »
Autism Drug Citalopram Is Ineffective, Says Study
A drug commonly given to autistic children to reduce repetitive behaviors is ineffective compared to placebo and, in some children, may actually increase repetitive behaviors, the largest study of autistic children to date has found. More »
Swine Flu Information
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza among pigs.
Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, however, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses has been documented. More »
Scientists Finding Anti-Obesity Drugs With Fewer Side Effects
Fen-phen was once regarded as a miracle weight-loss drug, but when it induced heart valve lesions and mother life-threatening side effects, it was taken off the market. UT Southwestern Medical Center scientists are exploring Fen-phen's behavior in the brain so that safer anti-obesity drugs with less side effects can be developed.
In a recent study, the researchers define a circuit in the brain that explains the ways fenfluramine, a component of Fen-phen, suppresses appetite. More »
Breast Cancer Radiation Treatment Time Reduced from Seven Weeks to One
A recent study presented at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology meeting, claims that accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) using a newer type of irradiation therapy called balloon brachytherapy reduces radiation therapy from six or seven weeks to one, and is as effective in keeping breast cancer from coming back as the standard external beam radiation treatment. More »
Children's Behavioral Problems May Be the Result of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea, not attention deficit disorder, may be the real reason for thousands of kids’ behavioral problems. Obstructive sleep apnea due to enlarged tonsils can cause repeated night-time arrestation of breathing resulting in sleep deprivation, according to ear, nose and throat physicians. More »
BMP-7 Protein Produces "Good" Fat that Helps Fight Obesity
Researchers have found that a bone growth protein, known as BMP-7, also aids the growth of brown (or "good") fat that helps fight obesity.
"Obesity is occurring at epidemic rates in the U.S. and worldwide and that impacts the risk and prognosis of many diseases," said Yu-Hua Tseng, Ph.D. an Assistant Investigator in the Joslin Section on Obesity and Hormone Action and lead author of the paper published in the August 21 issue of Nature. "We hope this study can be translated into applications to help treat or prevent obesity." More »
Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate
Flavonoids in dark chocolate are a naturally occurring antioxidant similar to those found in teas, red wine, and some fruits and vegetables. These flavonoids are thought to have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, and one recent study showed that 6 grams of dark chocolate a day (about one square) lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 2 points each. More »
Eating Fish May Avert Memory Loss
The risk of cognitive decline and stroke in older adults may be reduced by eating tuna and other kinds of fish, according to study by researchers in Finland.
The study used a sample of 3,660 men and women aged 65 or older and subjected them to brain scans to look for silent brain infarcts, stroke or dementia. 5 years later, 2,313 members of the sample were tested again with scans, and all participants were given questionnaires on fish in their diets. More »
Stay Healthy in Hot Weather
Some 200 people in the US die each summer from health problems caused by hot weather, and this number is doubled when the summer is exceptionally hot. Here are three major hot weather threats that can be moderated, or avoided completely.
Heat cramps warn of dehydration and muscular deprivation of needed oxygen. The problem can be solved by drinking cool water, stretching, and light massage of the affected areas. More »
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 »
