Chinese Horseshoe Bat is SARS Carrier
The Chinese horseshoe bat is a healthy carrier for SARS and the hiding place for the virus in nature, say two separate studies published this week.
This information is significant because it could enable scientists to sever the SARS transmission chain and prevent outbreaks of the disease, which has killed 774 people worldwide, The New York Times reported.
Many people in Asia eat bats or use bat feces in traditional medicine to treat kidney problems and asthma.
One team from the University of Hong Kong reported its findings in this week's issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The other team, which included researchers from Australia, China and the United States, published its study Thursday in the online version of Science.
"It's pretty pleasant to see two teams that did not know each other reach similar findings," Dr. Lin-Fa Wang, a virologist at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory, told the Times.
The teams collected hundreds of bats from their natural habitat and from Chinese markets. Both studies found that the bats carried viruses from the coronavirus family, which is closely related to the SARS virus.
Gene May Predict Aggressive Ovarian Cancer
A gene called Rsf-1 that may predict aggressive ovarian cancer has been identified by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers.
This is the first study to establish a role for a gene in ovarian cancer and may lead to development of a test that can predict at an early stage which patients will develop aggressive cancer. The findings were published in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"We hope new therapies can be tailored to target Rsf-1, in the same way that Herceptin for breast cancer attacks the Her2/neu gene pathway," researcher Tian-Li Wang, assistant professor of gynecology/obstetrics and oncology, said in a prepared statement.
In their study, the researchers found a surge in the number of Rsf-1 gene copies in 13.2 percent (16 of 121) of high grade ovarian cancers. They did not find the same thing in low grade or benign ovarian tumors.
The 16 ovarian cancer patients with this surge in Rsf-1 gene copies lived an average of 29 months compared to 36 months for patients who did not have Rsf-1 amplification.
The Hopkins team said a surge in Rsf-1 may cause changes that promote tumor growth.
Infection May be Linked to OCD
An immune reaction following an infection may be responsible for some cases of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in some children, says a U.K. study in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
The study compared 50 children with OCD to 190 children in a control group. Children with OCD were much more likely (42 percent) to have anti-basal ganglia antibodies than the children in the control group (5 percent), BBC News reported.
These antibodies are associated with streptococcal infection.
The study authors, from the Institute of Psychiatry and the Institute of Neurology, said the findings suggested that, "autoimmunity may have a role in the genesis and/or maintenance of some cases of OCD."
"Further examination of this autoimmune subgroup may provide insight into the neurobiology of OCD, and explain whether the antibodies concerned are causing the disease," the researchers wrote.
More research is needed to confirm these findings, they added.
6 U.S. States Chosen for Youth and Environment Study
Pregnant women and others of childbearing age in six states will be the first participants in the largest-ever U.S. study of children that will track 100,000 kids from the womb to age 21 to learn how the environment affects their health, the Associated Press reported.
Participating communities and the institutions leading the research will include:
Orange County, Calif.; University of California, Irvine.
Duplin County, N.C.,; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Queens County, N.Y.; Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
Montgomery County, Pa.; Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Drexel University.
Salt Lake County, Utah; University of Utah.
Waukesha County, Wis.; University of Wisconsin-Madison and Medical College of Wisconsin.
The researchers plan to enroll 1,500 women in each county over five years. They will record environmental exposures during pregnancy and assess how each one may have contributed to the subsequent onset of pediatric diseases, including asthma, learning disabilities, and autism, the AP reported.
Initial results could come as early as 2010, a National Institutes of Health spokesman told the wire service.
New Hormone Therapy for Menopause Approved
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the Berlex Inc. drug Angeliq (drospirenone and estradiol) as a form of hormone-replacement therapy for moderate-to-severe menopausal symptoms, according to a company statement issued Thursday.
The active ingredient drospirenone, already found in the company's Yasmin oral contraceptive approved in 2001, acts as a mild diuretic, the company said. Berlex said it is studying whether it could help reduce blood pressure in menopausal women with hypertension.
The estrogen component is estradiol, the same estrogen produced by the ovaries prior to menopause, the company said.
Women with liver, kidney or adrenal disease shouldn't take Angeliq, and patients on drugs that increase body levels of potassium should ask their doctor before beginning Angeliq, Berlex said.
Since 2002, when a major U.S. study found that women taking HRT had a higher incidence of heart attacks, strokes, blood clots and breast cancer, doctors have been asked to prescribe drugs containing estrogen at the lowest effective doses and for the shortest duration possible. Estrogen therapy shouldn't be used by women with undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding or a suspected or known history of breast cancer, Berlex said.
Why Most Children Don't Walk to School
Despite the benefits of walking -- including a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and colon cancer -- only 15 percent of American children walk to school, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has concluded from new research.
Distance from home to school is seen as the biggest barrier, followed by the perceived dangers of too much traffic, crime, and inclement weather, the CDC said in Thursday's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Compared with a similar survey in 1969, when nearly half of American children walked to school, distance has become a growing factor. There was an increase of 2 million students from 1969 to 2001, and a corresponding decrease in the number of schools, from 70,869 to 69,697. More students and fewer schools means a greater percentage of kids now live farther than 1 mile from their schools, the CDC said.
The survey involved 1,705 adults who reported having at least one child aged 5 to 18, the agency said.
Health Tip: Is Your Catch Safe to Eat?
For many people, fishing is more than just a sport -- it's a way of putting food on the table.
But before you make your catch tonight's dinner, heed this advice from the Virginia Department of Health:
Eat smaller, younger fish, because they're less likely to contain harmful levels of contaminants.
Remove the skin, the fat from the belly and top, and the internal organs before cooking the fish.
Bake, broil, or grill on an open rack to allow fats to drain away from the meat.
Discard the fats that cook out of the fish.
Eat less deep-fried fish since frying seals contaminants into the fatty tissue.
Health Tip: Avoid Gum Disease
Your risk of developing gum (periodontal) disease increases as you age. Over time, your gums may begin to detach from your teeth.
Left untreated, the supporting bone may dissolve, and when this happens, your teeth may become loose and fall out, says the Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene.
So if you notice that your gums are swollen, red, tender or bleed easily, or that your teeth feel loose, see your dentist as soon as possible. Meanwhile, don't forget to floss and brush your teeth after every meal using a fluoride toothpaste.
Friday, September 30, 2005
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Health Headlines - September 29
Prolonged Fever Can Be Sign of Some Cancers
A fever of unknown origin can sometimes be a sign of cancer, including lymphoma, kidney and liver cancer, according to a new Danish study.
Such a fever is one that lasts more than three weeks with temperatures above 38.3 degrees Celsius (about 101 degrees Fahrenheit), with an unidentifiable cause. Patients with these fevers appear to be at a slightly higher risk of cancer, according to the report.
"We found an association between fever and cancer," said study author Dr. Henrik Toft Sorensen, a professor of medicine in the Department of Clinical Epidemiology at Aarhus University Hospital, in Denmark.
However, "the absolute risk is very low. Much lower than reported in other studies," he added.
The new research appears in the Sept. 28 online issue of The Lancet Oncology.
Previous studies had shown an association of fever and cancer of 20 percent to 30 percent, Sorensen said. "But we found very few cases of cancer related to fever compared with the incidence of cancer in the general population," he said.
In their study, Sorensen and his colleagues collected data on 43,205 patients who had been treated in Danish hospitals for fever of unknown origin from 1977 through 1998. During more than six years of follow-up, the researchers compared the incidence of cancer among these patients with the general population.
They found that patients with fever were at a 2.3 percent increased risk of developing cancer. After one year, the risk was highest for cancers of the blood, and cancers of the liver, brain, and kidney.
In addition, more of the people diagnosed with cancer had cancer that had spread to other organs, compared with patients who didn't have a fever. The increased risk continued after one year, but at a lower level, the researchers noted.
Some cancer patients with fever also had worse outcomes, including a slight increase in mortality compared with other cancer patients.
Because the increased risk of cancer associated with fever is slight, Sorensen doesn't think there needs to be extensive cancer workups for patients with fever. "You probably do not need to look for cancer and do a lot of tests in a patient coming into a hospital with fever of unknown origin, because your risk of cancer is very low."
One expert thinks the finding concerning fever-related cancers may reflect better diagnosis of fever and better cancer diagnoses.
"We know some cancers are associated with fever," said Dr. Yelena Novik, an oncologist at New York University Cancer Institute and an assistant professor of oncology at New York University School of Medicine.
There are still some cases of fever of unknown origin that may be a sign of cancer, Novik said. "But we are probably better at diagnosing fever and cancer better," she said.
Novik advises that if you have a fever of unknown origin, it should be checked, including a screening for cancer. "Don't let the fever go on," she said. "Make sure all the possible causes for the fever have been explored."
Health Tip: Athletes Can Avoid Skin Infections
Because of the close body contact involved in sports like football, rugby or hockey, participants face an increased risk of skin infection, according to the Utah Department of Health.
If you play contact sports, use these skin-safety guidelines:
Skin lesions that are red, warm, swollen, tender or draining fluid or pus are more likely to be infectious.
Before playing, check areas of your body where skin lesions are more common, such as your knees and knuckles.
If you have a suspicious skin lesion, excuse yourself from playing until it has healed.
Avoid sharing equipment that touches the skin, such as helmets and pads.
Wash your playing clothes in hot water and dry them on the high setting.
Health Tip: Signs You May Be Diabetic
About 20 million Americans have diabetes, but half of them don't know they have it, according to the University Of Washington.
Signs and symptoms of diabetes include:
Frequent urination.
Always being thirsty or hungry.
Often feeling tired.
Blurred vision.
Slow wound healing.
Recurring urinary tract infections.
Obesity.
A family history of diabetes also increases a person's risk.
If you're concerned that you may have diabetes, tell your doctor. You can also take a screening test to determine your level of risk.
A fever of unknown origin can sometimes be a sign of cancer, including lymphoma, kidney and liver cancer, according to a new Danish study.
Such a fever is one that lasts more than three weeks with temperatures above 38.3 degrees Celsius (about 101 degrees Fahrenheit), with an unidentifiable cause. Patients with these fevers appear to be at a slightly higher risk of cancer, according to the report.
"We found an association between fever and cancer," said study author Dr. Henrik Toft Sorensen, a professor of medicine in the Department of Clinical Epidemiology at Aarhus University Hospital, in Denmark.
However, "the absolute risk is very low. Much lower than reported in other studies," he added.
The new research appears in the Sept. 28 online issue of The Lancet Oncology.
Previous studies had shown an association of fever and cancer of 20 percent to 30 percent, Sorensen said. "But we found very few cases of cancer related to fever compared with the incidence of cancer in the general population," he said.
In their study, Sorensen and his colleagues collected data on 43,205 patients who had been treated in Danish hospitals for fever of unknown origin from 1977 through 1998. During more than six years of follow-up, the researchers compared the incidence of cancer among these patients with the general population.
They found that patients with fever were at a 2.3 percent increased risk of developing cancer. After one year, the risk was highest for cancers of the blood, and cancers of the liver, brain, and kidney.
In addition, more of the people diagnosed with cancer had cancer that had spread to other organs, compared with patients who didn't have a fever. The increased risk continued after one year, but at a lower level, the researchers noted.
Some cancer patients with fever also had worse outcomes, including a slight increase in mortality compared with other cancer patients.
Because the increased risk of cancer associated with fever is slight, Sorensen doesn't think there needs to be extensive cancer workups for patients with fever. "You probably do not need to look for cancer and do a lot of tests in a patient coming into a hospital with fever of unknown origin, because your risk of cancer is very low."
One expert thinks the finding concerning fever-related cancers may reflect better diagnosis of fever and better cancer diagnoses.
"We know some cancers are associated with fever," said Dr. Yelena Novik, an oncologist at New York University Cancer Institute and an assistant professor of oncology at New York University School of Medicine.
There are still some cases of fever of unknown origin that may be a sign of cancer, Novik said. "But we are probably better at diagnosing fever and cancer better," she said.
Novik advises that if you have a fever of unknown origin, it should be checked, including a screening for cancer. "Don't let the fever go on," she said. "Make sure all the possible causes for the fever have been explored."
Health Tip: Athletes Can Avoid Skin Infections
Because of the close body contact involved in sports like football, rugby or hockey, participants face an increased risk of skin infection, according to the Utah Department of Health.
If you play contact sports, use these skin-safety guidelines:
Skin lesions that are red, warm, swollen, tender or draining fluid or pus are more likely to be infectious.
Before playing, check areas of your body where skin lesions are more common, such as your knees and knuckles.
If you have a suspicious skin lesion, excuse yourself from playing until it has healed.
Avoid sharing equipment that touches the skin, such as helmets and pads.
Wash your playing clothes in hot water and dry them on the high setting.
Health Tip: Signs You May Be Diabetic
About 20 million Americans have diabetes, but half of them don't know they have it, according to the University Of Washington.
Signs and symptoms of diabetes include:
Frequent urination.
Always being thirsty or hungry.
Often feeling tired.
Blurred vision.
Slow wound healing.
Recurring urinary tract infections.
Obesity.
A family history of diabetes also increases a person's risk.
If you're concerned that you may have diabetes, tell your doctor. You can also take a screening test to determine your level of risk.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Health Headlines - September 28
Scientists find wider uses for cholesterol drugs
Cholesterol-lowering drugs could help to prevent diabetics and people at high risk of heart disease from suffering a heart attack or stroke even if their cholesterol level is not high, scientists said on Tuesday.
Millions of patients around the world are prescribed the drugs, known as statins, to reduce their cholesterol, but an international team of researchers said an even bigger group of people would benefit from the treatment.
"What we have shown is that the key thing is to find people who are at risk of coronary heart disease or stroke and treat them with a regimen that reduces LDL cholesterol substantially," said Dr Colin Baigent, an epidemiologist at Britain's Medical Research Council (MRC), who co-ordinated the study.
LDL, or bad cholesterol, deposits fat in the arteries while HDL, or good cholesterol, carries it away.
Baigent said lowering LDL with a statin could cut the risk of a heart attack or stroke by as much as a third.
"The size of the reduction in the risk of major vascular events -- coronary heart disease or stroke -- is proportional to the size of the absolute reduction in LDL cholesterol," he explained.
Pfizer's Lipitor, Merck's Zocor and AstraZeneca's Crestor are among the leading statins. The drugs lower cholesterol by inhibiting an enzyme that controls how much is produced in the body.
A raised cholesterol level, along with smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and being overweight or obese, is a risk factor for heart disease, one of the biggest killers in Western countries.
The researchers studied the results of 14 previous trials involving statin treatment in 90,000 people. In addition to high-risk patients with low cholesterol showing positive results, they said people who had the largest reduction in their cholesterol level reaped the highest benefit.
Professor Anthony Keech, of the National Health Medical Research Council at the University of Sydney, who co-ordinated the study team in Australia, said the size of the cholesterol cut was important.
"So, bigger cholesterol reductions with more intensive treatment regimens should lead to great benefits," he said in a statement.
Baigent said the scientists found no evidence of an increased risk of cancer or that very low cholesterol levels were associated with increased odds of suffering from other diseases.
He said higher doses of statins were associated with a raised risk of serious muscle problems but that this was very rare.
Bayer AG's) cholesterol drug Baycol was pulled from the market in 2001 after being linked to dozens of deaths.
"When we have patients who have a very high risk of heart disease or stroke then the size of the benefits far outweighs any risks," Baigent added.
Health Tip: Get Enough Fruits and Vegetables
According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, 35 percent of cancer deaths in the United States can be attributed to diets that are high in fat and low in fruit, vegetables and fiber.
And people who eat adequate amounts of fruit and vegetables -- five to nine servings daily -- may cut their cancer risk in half compared to those who don't.
To increase your consumption, the Virginia Department of Health suggests you:
Eat fruit or drink 100 percent fruit juice for breakfast.
Have a fruit or vegetable snack every day.
Buy fresh, frozen, canned and dried fruits and vegetables.
Steam or microwave vegetables for dinner.
Health Tip: Disposing of Expired Drugs
While flushing unwanted or expired medications down the toilet is common practice, Health Canada says this may have a harmful effect on the environment.
Here's how to properly dispose of medications:
Check to see if your pharmacy has a drug recycling program.
See if your municipality incinerates drugs. If so, take your unused medications to your municipality's waste disposal depot.
At least once a year, go through your medicine cabinet and remove prescription drugs that are old or that you no longer take. Dispose of them as suggested above.
Cholesterol-lowering drugs could help to prevent diabetics and people at high risk of heart disease from suffering a heart attack or stroke even if their cholesterol level is not high, scientists said on Tuesday.
Millions of patients around the world are prescribed the drugs, known as statins, to reduce their cholesterol, but an international team of researchers said an even bigger group of people would benefit from the treatment.
"What we have shown is that the key thing is to find people who are at risk of coronary heart disease or stroke and treat them with a regimen that reduces LDL cholesterol substantially," said Dr Colin Baigent, an epidemiologist at Britain's Medical Research Council (MRC), who co-ordinated the study.
LDL, or bad cholesterol, deposits fat in the arteries while HDL, or good cholesterol, carries it away.
Baigent said lowering LDL with a statin could cut the risk of a heart attack or stroke by as much as a third.
"The size of the reduction in the risk of major vascular events -- coronary heart disease or stroke -- is proportional to the size of the absolute reduction in LDL cholesterol," he explained.
Pfizer's Lipitor, Merck's Zocor and AstraZeneca's Crestor are among the leading statins. The drugs lower cholesterol by inhibiting an enzyme that controls how much is produced in the body.
A raised cholesterol level, along with smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and being overweight or obese, is a risk factor for heart disease, one of the biggest killers in Western countries.
The researchers studied the results of 14 previous trials involving statin treatment in 90,000 people. In addition to high-risk patients with low cholesterol showing positive results, they said people who had the largest reduction in their cholesterol level reaped the highest benefit.
Professor Anthony Keech, of the National Health Medical Research Council at the University of Sydney, who co-ordinated the study team in Australia, said the size of the cholesterol cut was important.
"So, bigger cholesterol reductions with more intensive treatment regimens should lead to great benefits," he said in a statement.
Baigent said the scientists found no evidence of an increased risk of cancer or that very low cholesterol levels were associated with increased odds of suffering from other diseases.
He said higher doses of statins were associated with a raised risk of serious muscle problems but that this was very rare.
Bayer AG's) cholesterol drug Baycol was pulled from the market in 2001 after being linked to dozens of deaths.
"When we have patients who have a very high risk of heart disease or stroke then the size of the benefits far outweighs any risks," Baigent added.
Health Tip: Get Enough Fruits and Vegetables
According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, 35 percent of cancer deaths in the United States can be attributed to diets that are high in fat and low in fruit, vegetables and fiber.
And people who eat adequate amounts of fruit and vegetables -- five to nine servings daily -- may cut their cancer risk in half compared to those who don't.
To increase your consumption, the Virginia Department of Health suggests you:
Eat fruit or drink 100 percent fruit juice for breakfast.
Have a fruit or vegetable snack every day.
Buy fresh, frozen, canned and dried fruits and vegetables.
Steam or microwave vegetables for dinner.
Health Tip: Disposing of Expired Drugs
While flushing unwanted or expired medications down the toilet is common practice, Health Canada says this may have a harmful effect on the environment.
Here's how to properly dispose of medications:
Check to see if your pharmacy has a drug recycling program.
See if your municipality incinerates drugs. If so, take your unused medications to your municipality's waste disposal depot.
At least once a year, go through your medicine cabinet and remove prescription drugs that are old or that you no longer take. Dispose of them as suggested above.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Health Headlines - September 27
Katrina Displaces Nearly 6,000 Doctors
Nearly 6,000 doctors along the Gulf Coast were uprooted by Hurricane Katrina in the largest displacement of physicians in U.S. history, university researchers reported Monday.
How many of those doctors will set up shop permanently in other cities, or decide to retire instead of reopening their practices, remains as unclear as New Orleans' future.
"We don't know what this is going to mean to health care," said Dr. Thomas Ricketts, who led the study by researchers at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. "We've never had to deal with something like this before."
The study was released the same day that New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said residents of the city's Algiers section and business owners in other parts of the storm-ravaged city would be allowed back in to inspect property and clean up. But he cautioned those returning that the city remains without critical hospital services.
Ricketts' study found that 5,944 doctors were displaced in the 10 counties and parishes in Louisiana and Mississippi that were directly affected by Katrina-related flooding. That number covers doctors caring for patients, not those who are administrators or researchers, said Ricketts, a professor of health policy and administration at UNC's School of Public Health.
The finding is based on an analysis of American Medical Association data from March, information posted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other records.
More than two-thirds of the doctors displaced, or 4,486, came from the immediate New Orleans parishes of Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard.
More than half were specialists, with 1,292 in primary care and 272 in obstetrics and gynecology, the study said. Also, about 1,300 medical students at Tulane and Louisiana State University moved to other programs in the region, mostly in Baton Rouge and East Texas.
Among those displaced is Dr. Susan McLellan. Along with her family, she fled to Atlanta from New Orleans and her home near the 17th Street Canal, where a levee broke after Katrina hit.
When it became clear she could not return to her water-logged house or her job at Tulane University Hospital, she applied for a temporary medical license to practice in Georgia. A friend steered her to an AIDS clinic, where she volunteers three days a week, working to make sure about 45 AIDS patients who also fled Katrina are taking their medications.
"I don't want to jump ship," McLellan said. "But if I can be useful in Atlanta, then I will stay until I get called back."
Ricketts believes it is likely many doctors won't return. "This is both an opportunity for places that need physicians, as well as a dire problem for the population that will remain."
Dr. Mark Peters, the chief executive and president of East Jefferson General Hospital in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie, said those doctors who didn't flee are having a hard time making ends meet. Their patient loads dropped dramatically following the evacuation of the New Orleans area.
To help, he is trying to get the federal government to relax regulations that prohibit hospitals from providing free rent and office space to doctors.
"Physicians are no different than you or me. They have a mortgage payment. They have tuition payments," Peters said. "They are still here on their own good will, but they are not getting paid for it."
Peters, whose hospital remained open after Katrina struck, also said the cost of retaining a staff is much less than recruiting replacements.
"If they are (getting) offers of other opportunities throughout the country, for some, relocation can become very tempting," he said, "so that is why we feel like we have to be very supportive in all aspects of assisting them."
Tenet Healthcare Corp., which operates five hospitals in the New Orleans area, is helping physicians at its closed facilities to find jobs at the company's other hospitals.
"There are several physicians who are feeling like they want to stay in the New Orleans area," said Tenet spokesman Steven Campanini. "They want to stay any way they can and they are looking at the hospitals that are likely to offer services when New Orleans is restored."
Health Tip: Is Your Teen Drinking?
For many teenagers, alcohol is the drug of choice. It's used and abused more than any other substance, according to the Texas Medical Center.
Here are some signs your teen's drinking may be out of control:
Increased defiance.
Failing grades.
A sudden lapse in school attendance.
Lying about where he's been or who he's been with.
Giving up usual activities, such as sports and homework.
Depressed attitude or mood swings.
Weight loss, change in sleep habits or energy level.
Mental confusion.
Increased physical complaints, such as upset stomach, and headaches.
Getting into trouble with the law.
Traffic accidents.
If this description sounds like your child, consult a professional.
Health Tip: Cap Your Child's Soda Habit
There's little doubt that the amount of soda kids drink has contributed to the obesity epidemic in the United States.
Help your child break his soda habit with these tips from the Texas Department of Health:
Save soda for a special treat.
Stock your fridge with low-fat milk, fruit-flavored seltzers and low-sugar juices.
Serve water with meals.
Have a soda-free week once a month.
Refrigerate only a few cans at a time.
Buy large-size containers for special occasions only.
Nearly 6,000 doctors along the Gulf Coast were uprooted by Hurricane Katrina in the largest displacement of physicians in U.S. history, university researchers reported Monday.
How many of those doctors will set up shop permanently in other cities, or decide to retire instead of reopening their practices, remains as unclear as New Orleans' future.
"We don't know what this is going to mean to health care," said Dr. Thomas Ricketts, who led the study by researchers at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. "We've never had to deal with something like this before."
The study was released the same day that New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said residents of the city's Algiers section and business owners in other parts of the storm-ravaged city would be allowed back in to inspect property and clean up. But he cautioned those returning that the city remains without critical hospital services.
Ricketts' study found that 5,944 doctors were displaced in the 10 counties and parishes in Louisiana and Mississippi that were directly affected by Katrina-related flooding. That number covers doctors caring for patients, not those who are administrators or researchers, said Ricketts, a professor of health policy and administration at UNC's School of Public Health.
The finding is based on an analysis of American Medical Association data from March, information posted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other records.
More than two-thirds of the doctors displaced, or 4,486, came from the immediate New Orleans parishes of Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard.
More than half were specialists, with 1,292 in primary care and 272 in obstetrics and gynecology, the study said. Also, about 1,300 medical students at Tulane and Louisiana State University moved to other programs in the region, mostly in Baton Rouge and East Texas.
Among those displaced is Dr. Susan McLellan. Along with her family, she fled to Atlanta from New Orleans and her home near the 17th Street Canal, where a levee broke after Katrina hit.
When it became clear she could not return to her water-logged house or her job at Tulane University Hospital, she applied for a temporary medical license to practice in Georgia. A friend steered her to an AIDS clinic, where she volunteers three days a week, working to make sure about 45 AIDS patients who also fled Katrina are taking their medications.
"I don't want to jump ship," McLellan said. "But if I can be useful in Atlanta, then I will stay until I get called back."
Ricketts believes it is likely many doctors won't return. "This is both an opportunity for places that need physicians, as well as a dire problem for the population that will remain."
Dr. Mark Peters, the chief executive and president of East Jefferson General Hospital in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie, said those doctors who didn't flee are having a hard time making ends meet. Their patient loads dropped dramatically following the evacuation of the New Orleans area.
To help, he is trying to get the federal government to relax regulations that prohibit hospitals from providing free rent and office space to doctors.
"Physicians are no different than you or me. They have a mortgage payment. They have tuition payments," Peters said. "They are still here on their own good will, but they are not getting paid for it."
Peters, whose hospital remained open after Katrina struck, also said the cost of retaining a staff is much less than recruiting replacements.
"If they are (getting) offers of other opportunities throughout the country, for some, relocation can become very tempting," he said, "so that is why we feel like we have to be very supportive in all aspects of assisting them."
Tenet Healthcare Corp., which operates five hospitals in the New Orleans area, is helping physicians at its closed facilities to find jobs at the company's other hospitals.
"There are several physicians who are feeling like they want to stay in the New Orleans area," said Tenet spokesman Steven Campanini. "They want to stay any way they can and they are looking at the hospitals that are likely to offer services when New Orleans is restored."
Health Tip: Is Your Teen Drinking?
For many teenagers, alcohol is the drug of choice. It's used and abused more than any other substance, according to the Texas Medical Center.
Here are some signs your teen's drinking may be out of control:
Increased defiance.
Failing grades.
A sudden lapse in school attendance.
Lying about where he's been or who he's been with.
Giving up usual activities, such as sports and homework.
Depressed attitude or mood swings.
Weight loss, change in sleep habits or energy level.
Mental confusion.
Increased physical complaints, such as upset stomach, and headaches.
Getting into trouble with the law.
Traffic accidents.
If this description sounds like your child, consult a professional.
Health Tip: Cap Your Child's Soda Habit
There's little doubt that the amount of soda kids drink has contributed to the obesity epidemic in the United States.
Help your child break his soda habit with these tips from the Texas Department of Health:
Save soda for a special treat.
Stock your fridge with low-fat milk, fruit-flavored seltzers and low-sugar juices.
Serve water with meals.
Have a soda-free week once a month.
Refrigerate only a few cans at a time.
Buy large-size containers for special occasions only.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Health Headlines - September 26
S. African AIDS Expert Urges Circumcision
A South African AIDS expert Sunday advocated male circumcision as the best available "vaccine" against the virus in his country, where an estimated 6 million people are infected and more than 600 people die every day.
Francois Venter told a congress of health activists in the Treatment Action Campaign that a recent survey in the Soweto township indicated that circumcised men were 65 percent less likely to contract AIDS than those who had not been circumcised.
"We dream of a vaccine which has this efficacy," said Venter, clinical director of the Reproductive Health and HIV Research at the University of Witwatersrand. "The results are phenomenal."
The association between circumcision and a reduced risk of HIV was noted as early as 1987, when Dr. William Cameron of the University of Manitoba in Canada reported findings from a study in Kenya. Some researchers in early studies have said they believe cells in the foreskin may be particularly susceptible to infection.
Venter urged the Treatment Action Campaign, an influential movement of 13,000 activists, to consider promoting circumcision as a vital prevention tool, given that existing methods were failing to slow the spread of the epidemic.
South Africa has the highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world. Nearly 30 percent of pregnant women are infected, according to a health department survey published in July, and in the hardest hit province of KwaZuluNatal this rises to 41 percent. The disease is now one of the main causes of death among young adults and infants.
Some traditional communities in South Africa practice circumcision, but there are calls for tighter medical controls to limit health risks from blunt and contaminated instruments.
"We don't want our men to go to the chop shop but have medical circumcision," said Zackie Achmat, an AIDS activist who said the congress — which meets every two years — would debate whether to encourage mass circumcision.
Achmat, who is HIV positive, said much more needed to be done on prevention. He said that even though government distribution of condoms increased from one million in 1994 to 40 million in 2004, this still only amounted to 35 condoms per sexually active male per year.
He said that 73 percent of young people without the virus believed that they were not at risk of catching, and 62 percent of young people with the virus also believed there was no risk.
Achmat criticized the government's record on treatment. Of the 500,000 people who need AIDS therapy, only 76,000 are currently receiving it through the public health sector. The World Health Organization has singled out slow progress in South Africa as one of the main reasons it will likely miss its target of putting 3 million people worldwide on therapy by the end of this year.
"We are dying. We are still dying," he said.
Achmat has for years attacked the government for doing too little too late against the AIDS epidemic. In a sign of the mutual antagonism, health ministry officials refused invitations to attend the congress.
"President Thabo Mbeki tragically still shows symptoms of AIDS denialism," said Achmat. Mbeki reputedly doubts the link between HIV and AIDS. Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has repeatedly voiced doubts about the safety and efficacy of antiretrovirals, instead stressing the benefits of a diet heavy in garlic, lemon and olive oil.
The Soweto study, was conducted by French researchers between 2002 and 2005 with more than 3,000 healthy, sexually active males between 18 and 24. About half the volunteers were circumcised by medical professionals, and the rest remained uncircumcised.
All the men received counseling on AIDS prevention. But after 21 months, 51 members of the uncircumcised group had contracted HIV, the AIDS virus, while only 18 members of the circumcised group had gotten the disease.
The World Health Organization and UNAIDS welcomed the results of the study, released at a conference in Brazil in July, but says that more trials should be conducted before circumcision can be recommended as a preventive method.
A study conducted by the U.S. National Health Institute involving 5,000 individuals is now under way in Uganda.
Bones to Blame for Aging Face
Beauty, and age, is more than skin deep. In fact, it's bone-deep, a new study finds.
Researchers say shrinking facial bones play a major role in facial aging and that women experience this type of facial bone loss at a younger age than men.
"Many people believe that only gravity creates wrinkles; however, we have discovered the loss of volume in the face and changes in bone structure also contribute to making us look older," study co-author Dr. David Kahn said in a prepared statement.
"As we age, not only do we lose fat in our faces but our bones actually change in contour, often making us look older than we feel," Kahn said.
The findings were presented Sunday at a conference of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in Chicago.
Kahn's team analyzed computed tomography scans of 30 women and 30 men ranging in age from 25 to more than 65 years old.
He and his colleagues found that, as individuals age, their facial bones dissolve, shrink and leave empty spaces. Since skin also loses elasticity as we age, it's not able to tighten around the spaces left by facial bone loss. Thus, we end up with drooping and wrinkles.
Kahn said the fact that women tend to experience facial bone loss at a younger age than men may explain why women are more likely to seek facial cosmetic enhancement at a younger age than men.
In some cases, cosmetic enhancement can restore lost volume, he said. "By using fillers, along with other cosmetic plastic surgery techniques such as forehead lifts and soft tissue repositioning, plastic surgeons can recreate volume loss caused by dissolving or shrinking bone and lift the skin to create better, more refined results for patients," he said.
Lead Exposure Plus Hypertension May Cause Cognitive Decline
Exposure to lead in childhood and adolescence may contribute to high blood pressure-related problems that can harm cognitive abilities later in life, a new study finds.
Lead exposure and high blood pressure are associated with cognitive impairments in older adults. And being exposed to lead early in life may have a long-term effect on cognitive ability and motor function that carries through to adulthood, the researchers suggest.
The study results were to be presented Saturday at the American Heart Association's annual high blood pressure conference, in Washington, D.C.
"Many of the things that happen with age are not just a byproduct of age," said lead author Dr. Domenic Sica, a professor of medicine and pharmacology at Virginia Commonwealth University. "Your catalog of diseases and exposures comes back to haunt you over time. Lead exposure probably carries a long-term determinative function on some of the changes that occur with hypertension" -- another name for high blood pressure.
Lead is associated with a greater risk of hypertension and also with a greater tendency to chronic kidney disease, Sica said.
Using data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES III), Sica's team found that lead exposure early in life, combined with high blood pressure in working-age adults, may lead to diminishing cognitive abilities in later life.
NHANES III involved 4,835 people ages 20 to 59. Of these, 51 percent were female, 35.4 percent were white, 31.4 were percent black and 29.7 percent were Hispanic.
The researchers looked at the relationships involving pulse pressure, blood lead level and C-reactive protein -- a marker of inflammation. They also looked at the results of neurobehavioral tests and simple reaction-time tests.
There was a correlation between blood pressure and these measures, Sica said. In neurobehavioral tests, which included measures of reaction time, the researchers found slower and less stable reaction time associated with increases in pulse pressure and blood lead levels.
"We have to be more careful in understanding the impact of blood lead levels," Sica said.
One expert finds the study results too preliminary to draw definitive conclusions.
"It may be that environmental conditions conducive to lead exposure independently harm brain function," said Dr. David L. Katz, an associate professor of public health and director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine. "Such conditions might include poverty during childhood or adverse environmental conditions."
More work is needed to determine if lead exposure and blood pressure combine to form a unique threat to the brain, Katz said. "Given the prevalence of these exposures and the intense public interest in strategies to forestall dementing diseases, such efforts will be awaited with impatience."
Another expert thinks the findings point to a serious public health problem.
The impact of lead on cognitive function has been well known, and the impact of high blood pressure on cognitive function is also well known. "The fact these two may be synergistic is not a surprise," said Hillel W. Cohen, an associate professor of epidemiology and public health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.
"This is more evidence to address lead in the environment and blood pressure as well," he said.
When Job Ups Blood Pressure, Spouse Can Help
A supportive spouse can help soothe the negative effects of job stress on blood pressure, new research shows.
The year-long study of 216 men and women found that a combination of job stress and lack of spousal support was associated with an increase of 2.8 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure.
However, study volunteers who experienced job stress but had a supportive spouse showed a decrease in their hypertension of 2.5 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure.
Spousal support means talking things over on a daily basis, and it's a key component of what the researchers called "marital cohesion," researcher Dr. Sheldon Tobe, assistant professor of medicine, University of Toronto, said in a prepared statement. "Did partners talk about their daily activities? Did one partner pay attention and sympathize when the significant other had a stressful day? Did the partners spend time together?"
Tobe said that people with high job stress and/or low marital cohesion should see their family doctor for a blood pressure check. He also advised people to get their blood pressure checked if they're in a formerly harmonious relationship that's deteriorated.
"The medical model of healthcare does not include job strain, but stress at work and at home can modify the health of patients," Tobe said.
The findings were presented Saturday at the American Heart Association's annual fall High Blood Pressure Research meeting in Washington, D.C.
A South African AIDS expert Sunday advocated male circumcision as the best available "vaccine" against the virus in his country, where an estimated 6 million people are infected and more than 600 people die every day.
Francois Venter told a congress of health activists in the Treatment Action Campaign that a recent survey in the Soweto township indicated that circumcised men were 65 percent less likely to contract AIDS than those who had not been circumcised.
"We dream of a vaccine which has this efficacy," said Venter, clinical director of the Reproductive Health and HIV Research at the University of Witwatersrand. "The results are phenomenal."
The association between circumcision and a reduced risk of HIV was noted as early as 1987, when Dr. William Cameron of the University of Manitoba in Canada reported findings from a study in Kenya. Some researchers in early studies have said they believe cells in the foreskin may be particularly susceptible to infection.
Venter urged the Treatment Action Campaign, an influential movement of 13,000 activists, to consider promoting circumcision as a vital prevention tool, given that existing methods were failing to slow the spread of the epidemic.
South Africa has the highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world. Nearly 30 percent of pregnant women are infected, according to a health department survey published in July, and in the hardest hit province of KwaZuluNatal this rises to 41 percent. The disease is now one of the main causes of death among young adults and infants.
Some traditional communities in South Africa practice circumcision, but there are calls for tighter medical controls to limit health risks from blunt and contaminated instruments.
"We don't want our men to go to the chop shop but have medical circumcision," said Zackie Achmat, an AIDS activist who said the congress — which meets every two years — would debate whether to encourage mass circumcision.
Achmat, who is HIV positive, said much more needed to be done on prevention. He said that even though government distribution of condoms increased from one million in 1994 to 40 million in 2004, this still only amounted to 35 condoms per sexually active male per year.
He said that 73 percent of young people without the virus believed that they were not at risk of catching, and 62 percent of young people with the virus also believed there was no risk.
Achmat criticized the government's record on treatment. Of the 500,000 people who need AIDS therapy, only 76,000 are currently receiving it through the public health sector. The World Health Organization has singled out slow progress in South Africa as one of the main reasons it will likely miss its target of putting 3 million people worldwide on therapy by the end of this year.
"We are dying. We are still dying," he said.
Achmat has for years attacked the government for doing too little too late against the AIDS epidemic. In a sign of the mutual antagonism, health ministry officials refused invitations to attend the congress.
"President Thabo Mbeki tragically still shows symptoms of AIDS denialism," said Achmat. Mbeki reputedly doubts the link between HIV and AIDS. Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has repeatedly voiced doubts about the safety and efficacy of antiretrovirals, instead stressing the benefits of a diet heavy in garlic, lemon and olive oil.
The Soweto study, was conducted by French researchers between 2002 and 2005 with more than 3,000 healthy, sexually active males between 18 and 24. About half the volunteers were circumcised by medical professionals, and the rest remained uncircumcised.
All the men received counseling on AIDS prevention. But after 21 months, 51 members of the uncircumcised group had contracted HIV, the AIDS virus, while only 18 members of the circumcised group had gotten the disease.
The World Health Organization and UNAIDS welcomed the results of the study, released at a conference in Brazil in July, but says that more trials should be conducted before circumcision can be recommended as a preventive method.
A study conducted by the U.S. National Health Institute involving 5,000 individuals is now under way in Uganda.
Bones to Blame for Aging Face
Beauty, and age, is more than skin deep. In fact, it's bone-deep, a new study finds.
Researchers say shrinking facial bones play a major role in facial aging and that women experience this type of facial bone loss at a younger age than men.
"Many people believe that only gravity creates wrinkles; however, we have discovered the loss of volume in the face and changes in bone structure also contribute to making us look older," study co-author Dr. David Kahn said in a prepared statement.
"As we age, not only do we lose fat in our faces but our bones actually change in contour, often making us look older than we feel," Kahn said.
The findings were presented Sunday at a conference of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in Chicago.
Kahn's team analyzed computed tomography scans of 30 women and 30 men ranging in age from 25 to more than 65 years old.
He and his colleagues found that, as individuals age, their facial bones dissolve, shrink and leave empty spaces. Since skin also loses elasticity as we age, it's not able to tighten around the spaces left by facial bone loss. Thus, we end up with drooping and wrinkles.
Kahn said the fact that women tend to experience facial bone loss at a younger age than men may explain why women are more likely to seek facial cosmetic enhancement at a younger age than men.
In some cases, cosmetic enhancement can restore lost volume, he said. "By using fillers, along with other cosmetic plastic surgery techniques such as forehead lifts and soft tissue repositioning, plastic surgeons can recreate volume loss caused by dissolving or shrinking bone and lift the skin to create better, more refined results for patients," he said.
Lead Exposure Plus Hypertension May Cause Cognitive Decline
Exposure to lead in childhood and adolescence may contribute to high blood pressure-related problems that can harm cognitive abilities later in life, a new study finds.
Lead exposure and high blood pressure are associated with cognitive impairments in older adults. And being exposed to lead early in life may have a long-term effect on cognitive ability and motor function that carries through to adulthood, the researchers suggest.
The study results were to be presented Saturday at the American Heart Association's annual high blood pressure conference, in Washington, D.C.
"Many of the things that happen with age are not just a byproduct of age," said lead author Dr. Domenic Sica, a professor of medicine and pharmacology at Virginia Commonwealth University. "Your catalog of diseases and exposures comes back to haunt you over time. Lead exposure probably carries a long-term determinative function on some of the changes that occur with hypertension" -- another name for high blood pressure.
Lead is associated with a greater risk of hypertension and also with a greater tendency to chronic kidney disease, Sica said.
Using data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES III), Sica's team found that lead exposure early in life, combined with high blood pressure in working-age adults, may lead to diminishing cognitive abilities in later life.
NHANES III involved 4,835 people ages 20 to 59. Of these, 51 percent were female, 35.4 percent were white, 31.4 were percent black and 29.7 percent were Hispanic.
The researchers looked at the relationships involving pulse pressure, blood lead level and C-reactive protein -- a marker of inflammation. They also looked at the results of neurobehavioral tests and simple reaction-time tests.
There was a correlation between blood pressure and these measures, Sica said. In neurobehavioral tests, which included measures of reaction time, the researchers found slower and less stable reaction time associated with increases in pulse pressure and blood lead levels.
"We have to be more careful in understanding the impact of blood lead levels," Sica said.
One expert finds the study results too preliminary to draw definitive conclusions.
"It may be that environmental conditions conducive to lead exposure independently harm brain function," said Dr. David L. Katz, an associate professor of public health and director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine. "Such conditions might include poverty during childhood or adverse environmental conditions."
More work is needed to determine if lead exposure and blood pressure combine to form a unique threat to the brain, Katz said. "Given the prevalence of these exposures and the intense public interest in strategies to forestall dementing diseases, such efforts will be awaited with impatience."
Another expert thinks the findings point to a serious public health problem.
The impact of lead on cognitive function has been well known, and the impact of high blood pressure on cognitive function is also well known. "The fact these two may be synergistic is not a surprise," said Hillel W. Cohen, an associate professor of epidemiology and public health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.
"This is more evidence to address lead in the environment and blood pressure as well," he said.
When Job Ups Blood Pressure, Spouse Can Help
A supportive spouse can help soothe the negative effects of job stress on blood pressure, new research shows.
The year-long study of 216 men and women found that a combination of job stress and lack of spousal support was associated with an increase of 2.8 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure.
However, study volunteers who experienced job stress but had a supportive spouse showed a decrease in their hypertension of 2.5 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure.
Spousal support means talking things over on a daily basis, and it's a key component of what the researchers called "marital cohesion," researcher Dr. Sheldon Tobe, assistant professor of medicine, University of Toronto, said in a prepared statement. "Did partners talk about their daily activities? Did one partner pay attention and sympathize when the significant other had a stressful day? Did the partners spend time together?"
Tobe said that people with high job stress and/or low marital cohesion should see their family doctor for a blood pressure check. He also advised people to get their blood pressure checked if they're in a formerly harmonious relationship that's deteriorated.
"The medical model of healthcare does not include job strain, but stress at work and at home can modify the health of patients," Tobe said.
The findings were presented Saturday at the American Heart Association's annual fall High Blood Pressure Research meeting in Washington, D.C.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Health Headlines - September 25
Nutrition Answers Just a Mouse Click Away
Folks with an appetite for info on healthy eating can now order up answers online at the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR).
"There is a lot of confusion about the shape of a healthy diet today, and AICR is committed to dispelling misconceptions and setting out applicable guidelines for healthy meals and snacks. Many people are less reticent about asking questions online than they are on the phone. So we have added the 'online hotline' to our education offerings," Jeffrey R. Prince, AICR vice president for education, said in a prepared statement.
Answers from AICR dietitians are based on a thorough review of existing research on diet, cancer and weight management. When there is no definitive research, the dietitians provide helpful but qualified suggestions.
Questions to the hotline often focus on the appropriate diet for preventing cancer and other chronic diseases.
"Announcements about health or new research results also prompt questions. After the 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines appeared with their heavy emphasis on physical activity, we received a lot of inquires about intensity and duration of activity intended to reduce cancer risk. People were also curious about how to find and cook with whole-grain products," Prince said.
More information:
You can submit questions to the AICR Nutrition Hotline by calling 1-800-843-8114 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday and asking for the nutrition hotline. You can also go to the online hotline.
http://www.aicr.org/information/hotline/index.lasso
Health Tip: Heading Home From the Hospital
Going home after a hospital stay can be unnerving. It's a good idea to coordinate as much as possible before your return.
Here are some pointers from the Naval Hospital in Camp Pendleton, Calif.:
Make sure you have written instructions regarding your discharge and at-home medical routine.
Take all prescribed medications at the assigned time.
Ensure your home environment is conducive to your recovery.
Avoid using steps unless otherwise instructed.
If you're staying in bed, choose a bedroom that's close to a bathroom.
Keep a phone and phone numbers handy for emergencies and medical questions.
Health Tip: Why is My Mouth Dry?
Dry mouth used to be considered a normal symptom of aging.
However, it's now clear that dry mouth is often a side effect of certain medications -- such as antihistamines, heart drugs and pain killers -- according to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. A decrease in hormones in postmenopausal women can also lead to dry mouth.
A lack of saliva causes food and bacteria to remain in the mouth for longer periods, which can lead to more plaque and cavities.
While there is no cure for dry mouth, you can get relief by drinking water, using saliva substitutes, using a humidifier or nasal spray, and by avoiding caffeine, alcohol and tobacco products.
Folks with an appetite for info on healthy eating can now order up answers online at the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR).
"There is a lot of confusion about the shape of a healthy diet today, and AICR is committed to dispelling misconceptions and setting out applicable guidelines for healthy meals and snacks. Many people are less reticent about asking questions online than they are on the phone. So we have added the 'online hotline' to our education offerings," Jeffrey R. Prince, AICR vice president for education, said in a prepared statement.
Answers from AICR dietitians are based on a thorough review of existing research on diet, cancer and weight management. When there is no definitive research, the dietitians provide helpful but qualified suggestions.
Questions to the hotline often focus on the appropriate diet for preventing cancer and other chronic diseases.
"Announcements about health or new research results also prompt questions. After the 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines appeared with their heavy emphasis on physical activity, we received a lot of inquires about intensity and duration of activity intended to reduce cancer risk. People were also curious about how to find and cook with whole-grain products," Prince said.
More information:
You can submit questions to the AICR Nutrition Hotline by calling 1-800-843-8114 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday and asking for the nutrition hotline. You can also go to the online hotline.
http://www.aicr.org/information/hotline/index.lasso
Health Tip: Heading Home From the Hospital
Going home after a hospital stay can be unnerving. It's a good idea to coordinate as much as possible before your return.
Here are some pointers from the Naval Hospital in Camp Pendleton, Calif.:
Make sure you have written instructions regarding your discharge and at-home medical routine.
Take all prescribed medications at the assigned time.
Ensure your home environment is conducive to your recovery.
Avoid using steps unless otherwise instructed.
If you're staying in bed, choose a bedroom that's close to a bathroom.
Keep a phone and phone numbers handy for emergencies and medical questions.
Health Tip: Why is My Mouth Dry?
Dry mouth used to be considered a normal symptom of aging.
However, it's now clear that dry mouth is often a side effect of certain medications -- such as antihistamines, heart drugs and pain killers -- according to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. A decrease in hormones in postmenopausal women can also lead to dry mouth.
A lack of saliva causes food and bacteria to remain in the mouth for longer periods, which can lead to more plaque and cavities.
While there is no cure for dry mouth, you can get relief by drinking water, using saliva substitutes, using a humidifier or nasal spray, and by avoiding caffeine, alcohol and tobacco products.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Health Headlines - September 24
Thalassemias
Thalassemias is the name for the group of genetic blood diseases which vary widely in severity.
As frightening as thalassemias can be, the outlook is encouraging. In the past 20 years, new therapies have greatly improved the quality of life and life expectancy in kids who are diagnosed with this disease.
What Is Thalassemia?
Thalassemia is a genetic disorder that involves the decreased and defective production of hemoglobin, a molecule that's found inside all red blood cells and is necessary to transport oxygen throughout the body.
Hemoglobin contains two different kinds of protein chains named alpha and beta chains. Any deficiency in these chains causes abnormalities in the formation, size, and shape of red blood cells.
There are two types of thalassemia: alpha-thalassemia and beta-thalassemia. Their names describe which part of the hemoglobin molecule that is effected, the alpha or the beta chain.
Thalassemia can cause ineffective production of red blood cells, and the destruction of red blood cells. As a result, people with thalassemia often have a reduced number of red blood cells in the bloodstream, a condition called anemia, which can affect the transportation of oxygen to the body tissues that need it. In addition, thalassemia can cause red blood cells to be smaller than normal, or the amount of hemoglobin in the red blood cells to be below normal levels.
Kids who have with different forms of thalassemia have different kinds of health problems resulting from the disorder. Some children only have mild anemia with little or no effects, while others require frequent serious medical treatment.
What Causes Thalassemia?
Thalassemia is always inherited, passed on from parents to children through their genes. A child cannot develop the disease unless both parents carry the thalassemia gene.
If only one parent passes the gene for thalassemia on to the child, then the child is said to have thalassemia trait. Thalassemia trait will not develop into the full-blown disease, and no medical treatment is necessary. Many families have thalassemia carriers, but the trait often goes undiagnosed because the trait produces no or few symptoms. Frequently, thalassemia is not diagnosed in a family until a baby is born with the disease. So if someone in your family carries the gene, it's a good idea to have genetic counseling when you're thinking of having children.
At one time it was believed that the disease affected only people of Italian or Greek descent. It is now known that in addition to people living in areas on the Mediterranean Sea (Italy, Greece, and Turkey), many people with thalassemia also come from or are descended from Africa, Malaysia, China, and many parts of Southeast Asia.
Because of a recent pattern of migration from Southeast Asia, there has been an increase in the past decade of thalassemia in North America. Testing for thalassemia is generally recommended for anyone from Southeast Asia with unexplained anemia. If your healthcare providers determine that your child is at risk for being affected by thalassemia, there are prenatal tests that you can have to find out if your unborn child is affected by the disease.
Alpha-Thalassemia
Children with alpha-thalassemia trait do not have thalassemia disease. A specific blood test called a hemoglobin electrophoresis is used to screen for alpha-thalassemia trait and can be done in infancy. But often, diagnosis of alpha thalassemia is done only after other conditions are ruled out, after the parents are screened. The disease can be harder to detect in older children and adults.
Kids who have the alpha-thalassemia trait usually have no significant health problems, with the exception of possibly being mildly anemic. The anemia can cause slight fatigue.
The fatigue resulting from alpha-thalassemia trait is often mistaken for an iron deficiency.
Other cases of alpha-thalassemia resemble another form of the disorder, called beta-thalassemia intermedia (see next section). People with this form of alpha-thalassemia may require occasional blood transfusions during times of physical stress, like fevers or other illnesses, or at times when the anemia becomes severe enough to cause symptoms such as fatigue.
The most severe form of the disorder is called alpha-thalassemia major. This type is extremely rare, and women carrying fetuses with this form of thalassemia have a high incidence of miscarriage because the fetuses cannot survive.
Beta-Thalassemia
Beta-thalassemia, the most common form of the disorder seen in the United States, is grouped into three categories: beta-thalassemia minor (trait), intermedia, and major (Cooley's anemia). A person who carries the beta-thalassemia gene has a 25% (1 in 4) chance of having a child with the disease if his or her partner also carries the trait.
Beta-Thalassemia Minor (trait)
Beta-thalassemia minor often goes undiagnosed because kids with the condition have no real symptoms other than mild anemia. It is often suspected based on routine blood tests such as a complete blood count (CBC) and can be confirmed with a hemoglobin electrophoresis. No treatment is usually needed.
As with alpha-thalassemia trait, the anemia associated with this condition may be misdiagnosed as an iron deficiency.
Beta-Thalassemia Intermedia
Children with beta-thalassemia intermedia have varying effects from the disease - mild anemia might be their only symptom or they might require regular blood transfusions.
The most common complaint is fatigue or shortness of breath. Some children also experience heart palpitations, also due to the anemia, and mild jaundice, which is caused by the destruction of abnormal red blood cells that result from the disease. The liver and spleen may be enlarged, which can feel uncomfortable for a child. Severe anemia can also affect a child's growth.
Another symptom of beta-thalassemia intermedia can be bone abnormalities. Because the bone marrow is working overtime to make more red blood cells to counteract the anemia, children can experience enlargement of their cheek bones, foreheads, and other bones. Gallstones are also a frequent complication of thalassemia because of abnormalities in bile production that involve the liver and the gallbladder.
Some children with beta thalassemia intermedia may require a blood transfusion only occasionally. They will always have anemia, but may not need transfusions except during illness, medical complications, or later on during pregnancy.
Other children with this form of the disease require blood transfusions on a regular basis. In these kids, low or falling hemoglobin levels greatly reduce the blood's ability to carry oxygen to the body, resulting in extreme fatigue, poor growth, and facial abnormalities. Regular transfusions can help alleviate these problems. Sometimes, kids who have this form of the disease have their spleens removed.
Beta-thalassemia intermedia is often diagnosed in the first year of a child's life. Doctors may be prompted to test for it when a child has chronic anemia, or a family history of the condition. As long as it is diagnosed while the child is still doing well and has not experienced any serious complications, the disorder can be successfully treated and managed.
Beta-thalassemia Major
Beta-thalassemia major, which is also called Cooley's anemia, is a severe condition in which regular blood transfusions are necessary for the child to survive.
Although multiple lifelong transfusions save lives, they also cause a serious side effect: an overload of iron in the bodies of thalassemia patients. Over time, people with thalassemia accumulate deposits of iron in their bodies, especially in the liver, heart, and endocrine (hormone-producing) glands. The deposits eventually can affect the normal functioning of the heart, and liver, in addition to delaying growth and sexual maturation.
To minimize iron deposits in the body, people affected by the disease must undergo chelation (iron-removing) therapy for up to 12 hours a day with subcutaneous (under the skin) doses of the iron-binding agent. Researchers are working to develop an iron chelator, which can be given by mouth, but currently, none is available.
Chelation therapy is typically given 5 to 7 days a week and has been proven to prevent liver and heart damage from iron overload, allow for normal growth and sexual development in children with thalassemia, and increase life span. Iron concentrations in the body are monitored every few months. Sometimes liver biopsies are needed to get a more accurate picture of the body's iron load.
There are side effects of the chelation drug, which is called desferrioxamine, which can include visual impairment and hearing loss. Any children who receive chelation therapy are usually screened on a regular basis for such side effects.
Other risks associated with chronic blood transfusions for thalassemia major include blood-borne diseases like hepatitis B and C. Blood banks can usually screen for such infections, in addition to rarer infections such as HIV. In addition, kids who have many transfusons can develop allergic reactions that can prevent further transfusions and cause serious illnesses.
For kids and teens with thalassemia, adolescence can be a difficult time, particularly because of the amount of time required for transfusions and chelation therapy.
Recently, some children have successfully undergone bone marrow transplants to treat thalassemia major; however, this is considered only in cases of severely disabling thalassemia disease. There is considerable risk to bone marrow transplants: the procedure involves the destruction of all of the blood-forming cells in the child's bone marrow and repopulating the marrow space with donor cells that must match perfectly (the closest match is usually from a sibling). The procedure is usually done in children younger than 16 years of age who have no existing evidence of liver scarring or serious liver disease. Results have been highly encouraging so far, with disease-free survival in most patients.
Blood-forming stem cells taken from umbilical cord blood have also been successfully transplanted, and research using this technique is expected to increase. Currently bone marrow treatment is the only known cure for the disease.
Talking to Your Child's Doctor
If you know the thalassemia trait exists in your family, it's important to meet with your child's doctor, particularly if you notice any of the symptoms of thalassemia major - anemia, listlessness, or bone abnormalities - in your child. If you are thinking of having children, particularly if you have any thalassemia in your family, it's a good idea to speak with a genetic counselor to determine your risk of passing on the disease to any future children.
Sepsis
Sepsis is a serious but rare infection that is usually caused by bacteria. It occurs when bacteria, which can originate in a child's lungs, intestines, urinary tract, or gallbladder, make toxins that cause the body's immune system to attack the body's own organs and tissues.
Sepsis can be frightening because if it is untreated, it can lead to serious complications that affect a child's kidneys, lungs, brain, and hearing. But by learning to recognize the symptoms, you can help your child get treatment and fully recover.
Sepsis can affect a person of any age, but it is more prevalent in young infants whose immune systems have not developed enough to fight off overwhelming infections and people whose immune systems are compromised from conditions such as HIV.
If your infant has a rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius)
seems lethargic, uninterested in eating, or seems to be having difficulty breathing, it's a good idea to call your child's doctor. In an older child, the symptoms of sepsis may include a fever (an oral temperature at or above 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit [37.5 degrees Celsius]); your child may also seem lethargic, irritable, and may complain that his or her heart feels like it's racing.
If your child's temperature is normal, but you're still concerned, it's a good idea to call the doctor.
What Is Sepsis?
Sepsis occurs when the body's normal reaction to inflammation or a bacterial infection goes into overdrive. With sepsis, the bacteria create a toxin that causes a widespread inflammation of the body's organs and causes rapid changes in a person's body temperature, blood pressure, and dysfunction in the lung and other organs.
Babies under the age of 2 months are more susceptible to sepsis because their immune systems have not yet developed enough to fight off some serious infections. It is also more prevalent in people of all ages whose immune systems are compromised by chronic illnesses and conditions like HIV.
Signs and Symptoms of Sepsis
Sepsis in newborns produces few concrete symptoms, though symptoms can vary widely between from child to child. Frequently, these babies suddenly aren't feeling well or "just don't look right" to their caretakers.
Some of the more common signs or symptoms of sepsis in newborns and young infants include:
disinterest or difficulty in feeding
fever (above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit [38 degrees Celsius] rectally) or sometimes low, unstable temperatures
irritability or increased crankiness
lethargy (not interacting and listless)
decreased tone (floppiness)
changes in heart rate - either faster than normal (early sepsis) or significantly slower than usual (late sepsis, usually associated with shock)
breathing very quickly or difficulty breathing
periods where the baby seems to stop breathing for more than 10 seconds (apnea)
jaundice
Older children who have sepsis might have a fever (an oral temperature above 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit [37.5 degrees Celsius]), vomit, and complain of feeling like their hearts are racing. A child with sepsis may have started with an infection such as cellulitis that seems to be spreading and getting worse, not better.
What Causes Sepsis?
Bacteria are almost always the cause of sepsis in newborns and infants.
Bacteria such as E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Salmonella, and Group B streptococcus (GBS) are the more common culprits in sepsis in newborns and infants younger than 3 months.
Premature babies receiving neonatal intensive care are particularly susceptible to sepsis because their immune systems are even more underdeveloped than other babies, and they typically undergo invasive procedures involving long-term intravenous (IV) lines, multiple catheters, and need to breathe through a tube attached to a ventilator. The incisions a young infant gets for catheters or other tubes can provide a path for bacteria, which normally live on the skin's surface, to get inside the baby's body and cause the infection.
In many cases of sepsis in new babies, bacteria enter the baby's body from the mother during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. Some pregnancy complications that can increase the risk of sepsis for a newborn include:
bleeding
maternal fever
an infection in the uterus or placenta
premature rupture of the amniotic sac (before 37 weeks of gestation)
rupture of the amniotic sac very early in labor (18 hours or more before delivery)
a long, difficult delivery
Some bacteria - GBS in particular - can be acquired by the newborn as the child is being delivered. At least one out of every five pregnant women carries the bacterium for Group B streptococcus in her vagina or rectum, where it can be passed from mother to child during delivery.
Diagnosing and Treating Sepsis
Because symptoms of sepsis can be vague in infants, laboratory tests play a crucial role in confirming or ruling out sepsis. These lab tests may include:
Blood tests (including red and white blood cell counts) and blood cultures may be taken to determine whether bacteria are present in the blood.
Urine is usually collected by inserting a sterile catheter into the baby's bladder through the urethra for a few seconds to remove urine; this will be examined under a microscope and cultured to check for the presence of bacteria.
A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) may be performed, depending on the baby's age and overall appearance. A sample of cerebrospinal fluid will be tested and cultured to determine if the baby has possible meningitis.
X-rays, especially of the chest (to make sure there isn't pneumonia), are sometimes taken.
If the baby has any kind of medical tubes running into his or her body (such as IV tubes, catheters, or shunts), the fluids inside those tubes may be tested for signs of infection as well.
Sepsis, or even suspected cases of sepsis in infants, is treated in the hospital, where doctors can closely watch the infection and administer strong antibiotics intravenously to fight the infection.
Typically, doctors start infants with sepsis on antibiotics right away - even before the diagnosis is confirmed. If more symptoms of sepsis begin to appear, they usually start them on IV fluids to keep them hydrated, blood pressure medication to keep their hearts working properly, and respirators to help them breathe.
Can Sepsis Be Prevented?
Although there's no way to prevent all types of sepsis, some cases can be avoided, namely the transmission of Group B streptococcus bacteria from mother to child during childbirth. Pregnant women can have a simple swab test during the 35th and 37th weeks of pregnancy and again just before the birth to determine if they carry the GBS bacteria.
If a woman tests positive for GBS, she can receive intravenous antibiotics during labor.
Women are at higher risk of carrying GBS if they have a fever during labor, if the amniotic sac ruptures prematurely, if they have prolonged labor, or if they had other children with sepsis or other diseases triggered by GBS, such as pneumonia or meningitis. A woman with one of these risk factors can receive intravenous antibiotics to lower her risk of transmitting the bacteria to her child.
Immunizations routinely given to infants today include vaccinations against certain strains of pneumococcus and Haemophilus influenzae type b that can cause sepsis or occult bacteremia, an infection of the blood.
When to Call Your Child's Doctor
Because the symptoms of sepsis can be very difficult to identify in newborns and young infants, it's a good idea to call your child's doctor or seek emergency medical care if your baby shows any of the following symptoms:
difficulty or continued disinterest in feeding
fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit [38 degrees Celsius] and above rectal temperature) in newborns and young infants
labored or unusual breathing
change in skin color (paler than usual or mildly bluish)
listlessness or lethargy
change in the sound of the baby's cry or excessive crying
change in baby's muscle tone - either seeming too stiff or especially floppy
a slower or faster heart rate than usual
bulging or fullness of the "soft spot" on the baby's head
any type of behavior or appearance that concerns you
These signs and symptoms don't necessarily mean your baby has sepsis, but infants who are younger than 3 months should be checked out immediately to ensure that nothing else is wrong.
Thalassemias is the name for the group of genetic blood diseases which vary widely in severity.
As frightening as thalassemias can be, the outlook is encouraging. In the past 20 years, new therapies have greatly improved the quality of life and life expectancy in kids who are diagnosed with this disease.
What Is Thalassemia?
Thalassemia is a genetic disorder that involves the decreased and defective production of hemoglobin, a molecule that's found inside all red blood cells and is necessary to transport oxygen throughout the body.
Hemoglobin contains two different kinds of protein chains named alpha and beta chains. Any deficiency in these chains causes abnormalities in the formation, size, and shape of red blood cells.
There are two types of thalassemia: alpha-thalassemia and beta-thalassemia. Their names describe which part of the hemoglobin molecule that is effected, the alpha or the beta chain.
Thalassemia can cause ineffective production of red blood cells, and the destruction of red blood cells. As a result, people with thalassemia often have a reduced number of red blood cells in the bloodstream, a condition called anemia, which can affect the transportation of oxygen to the body tissues that need it. In addition, thalassemia can cause red blood cells to be smaller than normal, or the amount of hemoglobin in the red blood cells to be below normal levels.
Kids who have with different forms of thalassemia have different kinds of health problems resulting from the disorder. Some children only have mild anemia with little or no effects, while others require frequent serious medical treatment.
What Causes Thalassemia?
Thalassemia is always inherited, passed on from parents to children through their genes. A child cannot develop the disease unless both parents carry the thalassemia gene.
If only one parent passes the gene for thalassemia on to the child, then the child is said to have thalassemia trait. Thalassemia trait will not develop into the full-blown disease, and no medical treatment is necessary. Many families have thalassemia carriers, but the trait often goes undiagnosed because the trait produces no or few symptoms. Frequently, thalassemia is not diagnosed in a family until a baby is born with the disease. So if someone in your family carries the gene, it's a good idea to have genetic counseling when you're thinking of having children.
At one time it was believed that the disease affected only people of Italian or Greek descent. It is now known that in addition to people living in areas on the Mediterranean Sea (Italy, Greece, and Turkey), many people with thalassemia also come from or are descended from Africa, Malaysia, China, and many parts of Southeast Asia.
Because of a recent pattern of migration from Southeast Asia, there has been an increase in the past decade of thalassemia in North America. Testing for thalassemia is generally recommended for anyone from Southeast Asia with unexplained anemia. If your healthcare providers determine that your child is at risk for being affected by thalassemia, there are prenatal tests that you can have to find out if your unborn child is affected by the disease.
Alpha-Thalassemia
Children with alpha-thalassemia trait do not have thalassemia disease. A specific blood test called a hemoglobin electrophoresis is used to screen for alpha-thalassemia trait and can be done in infancy. But often, diagnosis of alpha thalassemia is done only after other conditions are ruled out, after the parents are screened. The disease can be harder to detect in older children and adults.
Kids who have the alpha-thalassemia trait usually have no significant health problems, with the exception of possibly being mildly anemic. The anemia can cause slight fatigue.
The fatigue resulting from alpha-thalassemia trait is often mistaken for an iron deficiency.
Other cases of alpha-thalassemia resemble another form of the disorder, called beta-thalassemia intermedia (see next section). People with this form of alpha-thalassemia may require occasional blood transfusions during times of physical stress, like fevers or other illnesses, or at times when the anemia becomes severe enough to cause symptoms such as fatigue.
The most severe form of the disorder is called alpha-thalassemia major. This type is extremely rare, and women carrying fetuses with this form of thalassemia have a high incidence of miscarriage because the fetuses cannot survive.
Beta-Thalassemia
Beta-thalassemia, the most common form of the disorder seen in the United States, is grouped into three categories: beta-thalassemia minor (trait), intermedia, and major (Cooley's anemia). A person who carries the beta-thalassemia gene has a 25% (1 in 4) chance of having a child with the disease if his or her partner also carries the trait.
Beta-Thalassemia Minor (trait)
Beta-thalassemia minor often goes undiagnosed because kids with the condition have no real symptoms other than mild anemia. It is often suspected based on routine blood tests such as a complete blood count (CBC) and can be confirmed with a hemoglobin electrophoresis. No treatment is usually needed.
As with alpha-thalassemia trait, the anemia associated with this condition may be misdiagnosed as an iron deficiency.
Beta-Thalassemia Intermedia
Children with beta-thalassemia intermedia have varying effects from the disease - mild anemia might be their only symptom or they might require regular blood transfusions.
The most common complaint is fatigue or shortness of breath. Some children also experience heart palpitations, also due to the anemia, and mild jaundice, which is caused by the destruction of abnormal red blood cells that result from the disease. The liver and spleen may be enlarged, which can feel uncomfortable for a child. Severe anemia can also affect a child's growth.
Another symptom of beta-thalassemia intermedia can be bone abnormalities. Because the bone marrow is working overtime to make more red blood cells to counteract the anemia, children can experience enlargement of their cheek bones, foreheads, and other bones. Gallstones are also a frequent complication of thalassemia because of abnormalities in bile production that involve the liver and the gallbladder.
Some children with beta thalassemia intermedia may require a blood transfusion only occasionally. They will always have anemia, but may not need transfusions except during illness, medical complications, or later on during pregnancy.
Other children with this form of the disease require blood transfusions on a regular basis. In these kids, low or falling hemoglobin levels greatly reduce the blood's ability to carry oxygen to the body, resulting in extreme fatigue, poor growth, and facial abnormalities. Regular transfusions can help alleviate these problems. Sometimes, kids who have this form of the disease have their spleens removed.
Beta-thalassemia intermedia is often diagnosed in the first year of a child's life. Doctors may be prompted to test for it when a child has chronic anemia, or a family history of the condition. As long as it is diagnosed while the child is still doing well and has not experienced any serious complications, the disorder can be successfully treated and managed.
Beta-thalassemia Major
Beta-thalassemia major, which is also called Cooley's anemia, is a severe condition in which regular blood transfusions are necessary for the child to survive.
Although multiple lifelong transfusions save lives, they also cause a serious side effect: an overload of iron in the bodies of thalassemia patients. Over time, people with thalassemia accumulate deposits of iron in their bodies, especially in the liver, heart, and endocrine (hormone-producing) glands. The deposits eventually can affect the normal functioning of the heart, and liver, in addition to delaying growth and sexual maturation.
To minimize iron deposits in the body, people affected by the disease must undergo chelation (iron-removing) therapy for up to 12 hours a day with subcutaneous (under the skin) doses of the iron-binding agent. Researchers are working to develop an iron chelator, which can be given by mouth, but currently, none is available.
Chelation therapy is typically given 5 to 7 days a week and has been proven to prevent liver and heart damage from iron overload, allow for normal growth and sexual development in children with thalassemia, and increase life span. Iron concentrations in the body are monitored every few months. Sometimes liver biopsies are needed to get a more accurate picture of the body's iron load.
There are side effects of the chelation drug, which is called desferrioxamine, which can include visual impairment and hearing loss. Any children who receive chelation therapy are usually screened on a regular basis for such side effects.
Other risks associated with chronic blood transfusions for thalassemia major include blood-borne diseases like hepatitis B and C. Blood banks can usually screen for such infections, in addition to rarer infections such as HIV. In addition, kids who have many transfusons can develop allergic reactions that can prevent further transfusions and cause serious illnesses.
For kids and teens with thalassemia, adolescence can be a difficult time, particularly because of the amount of time required for transfusions and chelation therapy.
Recently, some children have successfully undergone bone marrow transplants to treat thalassemia major; however, this is considered only in cases of severely disabling thalassemia disease. There is considerable risk to bone marrow transplants: the procedure involves the destruction of all of the blood-forming cells in the child's bone marrow and repopulating the marrow space with donor cells that must match perfectly (the closest match is usually from a sibling). The procedure is usually done in children younger than 16 years of age who have no existing evidence of liver scarring or serious liver disease. Results have been highly encouraging so far, with disease-free survival in most patients.
Blood-forming stem cells taken from umbilical cord blood have also been successfully transplanted, and research using this technique is expected to increase. Currently bone marrow treatment is the only known cure for the disease.
Talking to Your Child's Doctor
If you know the thalassemia trait exists in your family, it's important to meet with your child's doctor, particularly if you notice any of the symptoms of thalassemia major - anemia, listlessness, or bone abnormalities - in your child. If you are thinking of having children, particularly if you have any thalassemia in your family, it's a good idea to speak with a genetic counselor to determine your risk of passing on the disease to any future children.
Sepsis
Sepsis is a serious but rare infection that is usually caused by bacteria. It occurs when bacteria, which can originate in a child's lungs, intestines, urinary tract, or gallbladder, make toxins that cause the body's immune system to attack the body's own organs and tissues.
Sepsis can be frightening because if it is untreated, it can lead to serious complications that affect a child's kidneys, lungs, brain, and hearing. But by learning to recognize the symptoms, you can help your child get treatment and fully recover.
Sepsis can affect a person of any age, but it is more prevalent in young infants whose immune systems have not developed enough to fight off overwhelming infections and people whose immune systems are compromised from conditions such as HIV.
If your infant has a rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius)
seems lethargic, uninterested in eating, or seems to be having difficulty breathing, it's a good idea to call your child's doctor. In an older child, the symptoms of sepsis may include a fever (an oral temperature at or above 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit [37.5 degrees Celsius]); your child may also seem lethargic, irritable, and may complain that his or her heart feels like it's racing.
If your child's temperature is normal, but you're still concerned, it's a good idea to call the doctor.
What Is Sepsis?
Sepsis occurs when the body's normal reaction to inflammation or a bacterial infection goes into overdrive. With sepsis, the bacteria create a toxin that causes a widespread inflammation of the body's organs and causes rapid changes in a person's body temperature, blood pressure, and dysfunction in the lung and other organs.
Babies under the age of 2 months are more susceptible to sepsis because their immune systems have not yet developed enough to fight off some serious infections. It is also more prevalent in people of all ages whose immune systems are compromised by chronic illnesses and conditions like HIV.
Signs and Symptoms of Sepsis
Sepsis in newborns produces few concrete symptoms, though symptoms can vary widely between from child to child. Frequently, these babies suddenly aren't feeling well or "just don't look right" to their caretakers.
Some of the more common signs or symptoms of sepsis in newborns and young infants include:
disinterest or difficulty in feeding
fever (above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit [38 degrees Celsius] rectally) or sometimes low, unstable temperatures
irritability or increased crankiness
lethargy (not interacting and listless)
decreased tone (floppiness)
changes in heart rate - either faster than normal (early sepsis) or significantly slower than usual (late sepsis, usually associated with shock)
breathing very quickly or difficulty breathing
periods where the baby seems to stop breathing for more than 10 seconds (apnea)
jaundice
Older children who have sepsis might have a fever (an oral temperature above 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit [37.5 degrees Celsius]), vomit, and complain of feeling like their hearts are racing. A child with sepsis may have started with an infection such as cellulitis that seems to be spreading and getting worse, not better.
What Causes Sepsis?
Bacteria are almost always the cause of sepsis in newborns and infants.
Bacteria such as E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Salmonella, and Group B streptococcus (GBS) are the more common culprits in sepsis in newborns and infants younger than 3 months.
Premature babies receiving neonatal intensive care are particularly susceptible to sepsis because their immune systems are even more underdeveloped than other babies, and they typically undergo invasive procedures involving long-term intravenous (IV) lines, multiple catheters, and need to breathe through a tube attached to a ventilator. The incisions a young infant gets for catheters or other tubes can provide a path for bacteria, which normally live on the skin's surface, to get inside the baby's body and cause the infection.
In many cases of sepsis in new babies, bacteria enter the baby's body from the mother during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. Some pregnancy complications that can increase the risk of sepsis for a newborn include:
bleeding
maternal fever
an infection in the uterus or placenta
premature rupture of the amniotic sac (before 37 weeks of gestation)
rupture of the amniotic sac very early in labor (18 hours or more before delivery)
a long, difficult delivery
Some bacteria - GBS in particular - can be acquired by the newborn as the child is being delivered. At least one out of every five pregnant women carries the bacterium for Group B streptococcus in her vagina or rectum, where it can be passed from mother to child during delivery.
Diagnosing and Treating Sepsis
Because symptoms of sepsis can be vague in infants, laboratory tests play a crucial role in confirming or ruling out sepsis. These lab tests may include:
Blood tests (including red and white blood cell counts) and blood cultures may be taken to determine whether bacteria are present in the blood.
Urine is usually collected by inserting a sterile catheter into the baby's bladder through the urethra for a few seconds to remove urine; this will be examined under a microscope and cultured to check for the presence of bacteria.
A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) may be performed, depending on the baby's age and overall appearance. A sample of cerebrospinal fluid will be tested and cultured to determine if the baby has possible meningitis.
X-rays, especially of the chest (to make sure there isn't pneumonia), are sometimes taken.
If the baby has any kind of medical tubes running into his or her body (such as IV tubes, catheters, or shunts), the fluids inside those tubes may be tested for signs of infection as well.
Sepsis, or even suspected cases of sepsis in infants, is treated in the hospital, where doctors can closely watch the infection and administer strong antibiotics intravenously to fight the infection.
Typically, doctors start infants with sepsis on antibiotics right away - even before the diagnosis is confirmed. If more symptoms of sepsis begin to appear, they usually start them on IV fluids to keep them hydrated, blood pressure medication to keep their hearts working properly, and respirators to help them breathe.
Can Sepsis Be Prevented?
Although there's no way to prevent all types of sepsis, some cases can be avoided, namely the transmission of Group B streptococcus bacteria from mother to child during childbirth. Pregnant women can have a simple swab test during the 35th and 37th weeks of pregnancy and again just before the birth to determine if they carry the GBS bacteria.
If a woman tests positive for GBS, she can receive intravenous antibiotics during labor.
Women are at higher risk of carrying GBS if they have a fever during labor, if the amniotic sac ruptures prematurely, if they have prolonged labor, or if they had other children with sepsis or other diseases triggered by GBS, such as pneumonia or meningitis. A woman with one of these risk factors can receive intravenous antibiotics to lower her risk of transmitting the bacteria to her child.
Immunizations routinely given to infants today include vaccinations against certain strains of pneumococcus and Haemophilus influenzae type b that can cause sepsis or occult bacteremia, an infection of the blood.
When to Call Your Child's Doctor
Because the symptoms of sepsis can be very difficult to identify in newborns and young infants, it's a good idea to call your child's doctor or seek emergency medical care if your baby shows any of the following symptoms:
difficulty or continued disinterest in feeding
fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit [38 degrees Celsius] and above rectal temperature) in newborns and young infants
labored or unusual breathing
change in skin color (paler than usual or mildly bluish)
listlessness or lethargy
change in the sound of the baby's cry or excessive crying
change in baby's muscle tone - either seeming too stiff or especially floppy
a slower or faster heart rate than usual
bulging or fullness of the "soft spot" on the baby's head
any type of behavior or appearance that concerns you
These signs and symptoms don't necessarily mean your baby has sepsis, but infants who are younger than 3 months should be checked out immediately to ensure that nothing else is wrong.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Health Headlines - September 23
3 Baby Deaths Show Staph Germ Is Strengthening: Report
A baby and two toddlers in the Chicago area have died from a superbug they caught in the community, not in hospital, which is where the germ is usually found, case reports released Thursday reveal.
The cases show that the staph germ, known as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, has become even more dangerous by acquiring the ability to cause a deadly illness similar to toxic shock syndrome, the Associated Press reported.
In the cases, reported in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine, the three children who died were otherwise healthy before they were separately admitted to a Chicago hospital with pneumonia-like symptoms between 2000 and 2004. The babies, a 9-month-old girl, a 15-month-old girl, and a 17-month-old boy died within a week of being hospitalized. Autopsies showed they suffered from shock and bleeding in the adrenal gland. The infections were caused by MRSA, which is usually not associated with the syndrome. Doctors believe the children probably inhaled the germ, the AP
Health officials do not yet know how the staph infection causes this new syndrome, but it appears to be rare, according to Dr. Clifford McDonald, an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, doctors should be on the lookout for shock-like cases caused by MRSA, said Dr. Robert Daum, a pediatrician at the University of Chicago who co-authored the study.
In April, the journal had reported strong signs of the staph infection moving out of hospitals into communities.
FDA Gives Conditional Approval to 2nd Silicone Breast Implant
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that it has granted a second manufacturer of silicone gel-filled breast implants a "conditional approval," taking the company a step closer to returning the controversial implants to the market, the Associated Press reported.
The FDA told Inamed Corp., of Santa Barbara, Calif., that its implants can be approved under certain conditions, but the agency did not spell out those conditions.
In July, the agency gave a similar, conditional approval to manufacturer Mentor Corp., also of Santa Barbara, after an FDA advisory panel voted to recommend approval of the company's application to sell the implants, the AP said.
But the panel at the time recommended against Inamed's implants, citing safety concerns. The FDA said Wednesday that Inamed has subsequently provided additional information to address those concerns.
Silicone gel implants went on sale in 1962 in the United States. Thirty years later, the FDA banned all but those used for breast cancer reconstruction, amid fears that leaks might be responsible for autoimmune diseases and even cancer. Other problems included the fact that many women needed repeat operations to deal with painful scar tissue.
By 1998, more than 170,000 lawsuits had been filed against implant manufacturers by women claiming their silicone implants had caused immune system disorders and chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus. Four companies paid out millions of dollars in settlements to the women, and one of them, Dow Corning, filed for bankruptcy to pay $3.2 billion to settle its claims.
However, studies by the Mayo Clinic, Harvard Medical School and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) panel from the National Academy of Sciences subsequently found no evidence that leaked silicone from gel implants caused systemic disease.
Proponents of silicone implants say they look and feel more natural than saline implants.
FDA Rejects Liquid Cox-2 Painkiller
Pfizer Inc.'s application for an injectable liquid form of a cox-2 painkiller was rejected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Associated Press reported.
The FDA issued a "non-approvable" letter for the drug parecoxib sodium, which is marketed as Dynastat in the European Union and other parts of the world. The reasons behind the refusal were not disclosed, the AP reported.
Pfizer said it plans to meet with the FDA to discuss the rejection of the drug. The company contends that Dynastat, the only injectable cox-2 inhibitor, reduces the need to use opioids to control post-surgical pain.
Cox-2 inhibitors have been linked to increased risk of heart problems. Vioxx and Bextra have been removed from the market, and Celebrex now contains a warning label.
This is the second recent FDA rejection of a Pfizer application. Less than a week ago, the agency denied a Pfizer application for an osteoporosis drug, the AP reported.
Personalized Drug Treatment Still Years Away: Report
Despite much hype, individually tailored drug treatments based on a person's genes are still at least 15 to 20 years away, says a report by the Royal Society in Great Britain.
"Personalized medicines show promise but they have undoubtedly been over-hyped. With the human genome sequenced, some people are expecting personalized medicines within a few years, but the reality is still many years away," noted Royal Society working group chairman Sir David Weatherall.
"There are some examples around today, but the complex multiple causes of diseases mean it will be at least 15 to 20 years before a patient's genetic make-up is a major factor in determining which drugs they are prescribed," he said.
The report said more funding and research are required to further the development of individually tailored drugs, BBC News reported.
Health Tip: Quitting Smoking
Ex-smokers will tell you that quitting was one of the hardest things they've ever done. The physical and psychological withdrawal can be intense.
If you're thinking of "butting out," the U.S. Surgeon General offers these tips to help you handle the cravings:
Drink lots of liquids, especially water.
Avoid sugar and fatty foods, and don't skip meals.
Exercise regularly and moderately.
Get more sleep.
Take deep breaths when cravings hit.
Change your habits. For example, eat breakfast in a different place, or take a different route to work.
Do something to reduce your stress. Take a hot bath, read a book, or exercise.
Health Tip: Before You Start an Aspirin Regimen
Before you start a daily dose of aspirin to lower your risk of a heart attack or stroke, you should speak to your doctor, advises the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
While aspirin can help prevent a heart attack or clot-related stroke by lowering the clotting action of the blood's platelets, it can also cause unwanted side effects. These include stomach bleeding, bleeding in the brain, and kidney failure.
Aspirin can also mix badly with other medicines, vitamins and herbal or dietary supplements.
If your doctor has recommended you take a daily dose of aspirin, discuss any potentially dangerous side effects first.
A baby and two toddlers in the Chicago area have died from a superbug they caught in the community, not in hospital, which is where the germ is usually found, case reports released Thursday reveal.
The cases show that the staph germ, known as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, has become even more dangerous by acquiring the ability to cause a deadly illness similar to toxic shock syndrome, the Associated Press reported.
In the cases, reported in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine, the three children who died were otherwise healthy before they were separately admitted to a Chicago hospital with pneumonia-like symptoms between 2000 and 2004. The babies, a 9-month-old girl, a 15-month-old girl, and a 17-month-old boy died within a week of being hospitalized. Autopsies showed they suffered from shock and bleeding in the adrenal gland. The infections were caused by MRSA, which is usually not associated with the syndrome. Doctors believe the children probably inhaled the germ, the AP
Health officials do not yet know how the staph infection causes this new syndrome, but it appears to be rare, according to Dr. Clifford McDonald, an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, doctors should be on the lookout for shock-like cases caused by MRSA, said Dr. Robert Daum, a pediatrician at the University of Chicago who co-authored the study.
In April, the journal had reported strong signs of the staph infection moving out of hospitals into communities.
FDA Gives Conditional Approval to 2nd Silicone Breast Implant
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that it has granted a second manufacturer of silicone gel-filled breast implants a "conditional approval," taking the company a step closer to returning the controversial implants to the market, the Associated Press reported.
The FDA told Inamed Corp., of Santa Barbara, Calif., that its implants can be approved under certain conditions, but the agency did not spell out those conditions.
In July, the agency gave a similar, conditional approval to manufacturer Mentor Corp., also of Santa Barbara, after an FDA advisory panel voted to recommend approval of the company's application to sell the implants, the AP said.
But the panel at the time recommended against Inamed's implants, citing safety concerns. The FDA said Wednesday that Inamed has subsequently provided additional information to address those concerns.
Silicone gel implants went on sale in 1962 in the United States. Thirty years later, the FDA banned all but those used for breast cancer reconstruction, amid fears that leaks might be responsible for autoimmune diseases and even cancer. Other problems included the fact that many women needed repeat operations to deal with painful scar tissue.
By 1998, more than 170,000 lawsuits had been filed against implant manufacturers by women claiming their silicone implants had caused immune system disorders and chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus. Four companies paid out millions of dollars in settlements to the women, and one of them, Dow Corning, filed for bankruptcy to pay $3.2 billion to settle its claims.
However, studies by the Mayo Clinic, Harvard Medical School and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) panel from the National Academy of Sciences subsequently found no evidence that leaked silicone from gel implants caused systemic disease.
Proponents of silicone implants say they look and feel more natural than saline implants.
FDA Rejects Liquid Cox-2 Painkiller
Pfizer Inc.'s application for an injectable liquid form of a cox-2 painkiller was rejected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Associated Press reported.
The FDA issued a "non-approvable" letter for the drug parecoxib sodium, which is marketed as Dynastat in the European Union and other parts of the world. The reasons behind the refusal were not disclosed, the AP reported.
Pfizer said it plans to meet with the FDA to discuss the rejection of the drug. The company contends that Dynastat, the only injectable cox-2 inhibitor, reduces the need to use opioids to control post-surgical pain.
Cox-2 inhibitors have been linked to increased risk of heart problems. Vioxx and Bextra have been removed from the market, and Celebrex now contains a warning label.
This is the second recent FDA rejection of a Pfizer application. Less than a week ago, the agency denied a Pfizer application for an osteoporosis drug, the AP reported.
Personalized Drug Treatment Still Years Away: Report
Despite much hype, individually tailored drug treatments based on a person's genes are still at least 15 to 20 years away, says a report by the Royal Society in Great Britain.
"Personalized medicines show promise but they have undoubtedly been over-hyped. With the human genome sequenced, some people are expecting personalized medicines within a few years, but the reality is still many years away," noted Royal Society working group chairman Sir David Weatherall.
"There are some examples around today, but the complex multiple causes of diseases mean it will be at least 15 to 20 years before a patient's genetic make-up is a major factor in determining which drugs they are prescribed," he said.
The report said more funding and research are required to further the development of individually tailored drugs, BBC News reported.
Health Tip: Quitting Smoking
Ex-smokers will tell you that quitting was one of the hardest things they've ever done. The physical and psychological withdrawal can be intense.
If you're thinking of "butting out," the U.S. Surgeon General offers these tips to help you handle the cravings:
Drink lots of liquids, especially water.
Avoid sugar and fatty foods, and don't skip meals.
Exercise regularly and moderately.
Get more sleep.
Take deep breaths when cravings hit.
Change your habits. For example, eat breakfast in a different place, or take a different route to work.
Do something to reduce your stress. Take a hot bath, read a book, or exercise.
Health Tip: Before You Start an Aspirin Regimen
Before you start a daily dose of aspirin to lower your risk of a heart attack or stroke, you should speak to your doctor, advises the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
While aspirin can help prevent a heart attack or clot-related stroke by lowering the clotting action of the blood's platelets, it can also cause unwanted side effects. These include stomach bleeding, bleeding in the brain, and kidney failure.
Aspirin can also mix badly with other medicines, vitamins and herbal or dietary supplements.
If your doctor has recommended you take a daily dose of aspirin, discuss any potentially dangerous side effects first.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Health Headlines - September 22
Green Tea Compound Stops Alzheimer's in Mice
An ingredient in green tea has prevented Alzheimer's disease-like brain damage in mice, researchers report.
The compound, called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), decreased production of the protein beta-amyloid, which accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and causes nerve damage and memory loss.
"The findings suggest that a concentrated component of green tea can decrease brain beta-amyloid plaque formation," senior researcher Dr. Jun Tan, director of the Neuroimmunology Laboratory at the the University of South Florida's Silver Child Development Center, said in a prepared statement.
Reporting in the Sept. 21 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, the research team worked with mice genetically programmed to develop a disease mimicking human Alzheimer's.
The mice received daily injections of EGCG for several months and showed as much as a 54 percent reduction in the formation of brain-clogging beta-amyloid plaques. It appears that EGCG prevents the initial process that leads to beta-amyloid formation in brain cells, the researchers said.
"If beta-amyloid pathology in this Alzheimer's mouse model is representative of Alzheimer's disease pathology in humans, EGCG dietary supplementation may be effective in preventing and treating the disease," Tan said.
The researchers will next study whether multiple oral doses of EGCG improve memory loss in mice with Alzheimer's.
"If those studies show clear cognitive benefits, we believe clinical trials of EGCG to treat Alzheimer's disease would be warranted," Tan said.
Courage and Caring Amid Katrina's Chaos
Of all the surreal scenes playing out across New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, this may have been one of the strangest.
As the New Orleans flood waters rose, Dr. Joseph Guarisco, chairman of emergency medicine at the city's Ochsner Clinic Foundation, looked out the center's windows and saw a succession of people perched on boats, rafts and even garbage cans floating by.
Then, finally, a city bus sped through the water. It did not pass the hospital and continue west with the stream but, instead, sped up the ambulance ramp and screeched to a halt. At least there was a dry place to stop: Ochsner is above sea level.
The bus, it turned out, held paraplegics who had been carried down eight flights of stairs at another hospital. The city bus had been commandeered by the paramedics and had been turned away by every shelter and hospital between Ochsner and downtown, a distance of about five miles.
"I'm turning the bus off, parking it and leaving," the paramedic, who was armed, stated.
Guarisco tried to reason with the paramedic: The paraplegics didn't have any acute medical problems, so they really needed to be at a shelter, not a hospital. The hospital needed to be ready for medical emergencies. But the paramedic prepared to leave, so Guarisco summoned Ochsner security (also armed) and, finally, the hospital's CEO.
"The infrastructure of the city was falling apart, police were abandoning their positions, city bus drivers were abandoning running buses. The city's flooding, and here we have paraplegics inside a bus and there's an armed standoff between paramedics and our own security," Guarisco said. "It was right out of a scene about the end of the world."
Ochsner staff finally convinced the paramedic to return the paraplegics to the last shelter they had visited.
The scene was perhaps not too much stranger than other scenes playing out all over New Orleans and, indeed, throughout the Gulf Coast after Katrina unleashed her fury at the end of August.
At the heart of so many of those stories, men and women trained in emergency care used whatever resources were at hand to help others struggling against chaos, confusion and death.
Chapels and operating rooms were turned into makeshift morgues, corpses floated in nursing homes and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials commandeered transportation away from hospitals and nursing homes, according to news reports.
Some patients waited up to 12 hours in stairwells waiting to be airlifted, only to be told it wasn't going to happen that day. There were reports of one hospital evacuating its staff before sick infants. Some 90 patients died in area hospitals, the news reports found.
At the New Orleans International Airport, Concourse D became the initial triage and treatment center for thousand of evacuees from nursing homes, hospitals, private homes, civic centers and the Superdome.
By the time Dr. Russell Bieniek arrived from Erie, Pa., as part of a disaster medical assistance team, the overflow had taken over the rest of that floor and the floor below it.
"It was wall-to-wall people waiting for care and transport," said Bieniek, who is medical director of the emergency department at St. Vincent Health Center in Erie. On the busiest day, about 12,000 people came through.
While many patients simply required wound and other minor care, others were critical.
"Most of the evacuees had not had any medical care in four or five days. This meant no dialysis, blood pressure meds, cardiac meds, seizure meds, insulin," Bieniek. "We had a man having an acute heart attack, several patients seizing, a woman nearing cardiac arrest from high potassium because she missed her dialysis, and many people with sugars out of control from not having any insulin where they were."
For several days, Bieniek slept in the baggage claim area and took showers in a trailer provided by the forestry service and parked between C and D concourses. The number of patients being treated at the airport had dwindled to by the end of the first week of September as patients were moved elsewhere.
In the parking lot of the Houston Astrodome, where thousands huddled in the weeks after the storm, doctors waiting to treat patients arriving by bus saw many of the same issues: chronic diseases gone awry because patients had no access to medication.
Several people were admitted to hospital with diabetic ketoacidosis -- a dangerously high level of ketones, or acids, that build up in the blood and can lead to diabetic coma or death, said Dr. Clinton White, a professor of internal medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and chief of infectious disease at Ben Taub General Hospital, both in Houston.
One person appears to have died of a heart attack because his blood pressure had skyrocketed, said White, who is also a counselor with the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene.
During that first chaotic weekend in September, medical staff were suddenly faced with an outbreak of diarrhea in the Astrodome. "Hundreds of people were getting sick," White said.
Medical personnel blocked off one area of the arena to isolate people while labs ran tests for free. The culprit turned out to be norovirus, the same germ responsible for many illnesses aboard cruise ships.
The problem was that people in the Astrodome and adjacent Astro Arena were using alcohol disinfectant, which doesn't work well for this particular organism. White had more sinks put in so people could wash with soap and water.
Dr. Hilarie Cranmer was driving to Boston's Logan Airport, preparing to fly to France to speak about her experiences tending victims of the Asian tsunami, when her cell phone rang.
It was the Harvard Humanitarian Institute asking her to fly to Louisiana to help the Red Cross coordinate disaster efforts. She turned the car around and repacked for Baton Rouge.
The devastation, especially in Mississippi, looked a lot like that from the tsunami, Cranmer recalled. And, again, thousands upon thousands of people were displaced. Cranmer was charged with helping to coordinate with the various shelters, making sure they had what they needed.
This proved more difficult than anticipated.
"One of the hardest things was to actually find out where the shelters were because the communications were down," Cranmer said. "We knew there were shelters out there, but we couldn't know what they needed because we couldn't get through." Eventually, they did, and made sure that basic public health standards were being met, things like separating trash from food and cleaning up overflowing toilets.
The Ochsner emergency room saw just a handful of patients during the storm. Once the water started rising, however, they saw people stranded, starved, dehydrated and/or elderly wandering out of the city. "A lot of people were without basic resources of food, water and medication," Guarisco said. "There was a tremendous amount of despair and helplessness. It was truly as if someone had dropped a bomb in the middle of the city."
That stream of desperate individuals included even fellow rescue workers injured in accidents.
Still, as yet another storm -- Hurricane Rita -- loomed Tuesday, Guarisco said Ochsner's emergency department has gotten "back to regular business," ready to face what comes.
At least for now.
Health Tip: Caring for Your Skin
If you're in your 20s or 30s and value your youthful appearance, now's the time to begin a good skin care program. It may help you avoid cosmetic surgery down the road, according to the Facial Plastic Surgery Center at Saint Louis University.
Here are some tips:
Get enough sleep.
Eat healthy.
Limit your caffeine consumption.
Use sunscreen every day.
Wear sunglasses to avoid squinting.
Don't go to tanning salons.
Establish a nighttime skin care ritual.
Use the right skin care products.
Don't smoke.
Consider anti-wrinkle creams.
Health Tip: Prevent Colon Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the United States with about 135,000 new cases diagnosed each year, according to Duke University Medical Center.
Here are some ways to minimize your risk of developing colorectal cancer:
Follow a healthful diet.
Exercise regularly.
After age 40, start a screening program that includes an annual digital rectal exam and a stool-sample test. After age 50, get a colonoscopy every five to 10 years.
If there's a family history of colorectal cancer, talk to your doctor about starting a more rigorous screening program.
Be alert for symptoms including blood in the stool, a change in bowel habits, and abdominal pain.
An ingredient in green tea has prevented Alzheimer's disease-like brain damage in mice, researchers report.
The compound, called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), decreased production of the protein beta-amyloid, which accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and causes nerve damage and memory loss.
"The findings suggest that a concentrated component of green tea can decrease brain beta-amyloid plaque formation," senior researcher Dr. Jun Tan, director of the Neuroimmunology Laboratory at the the University of South Florida's Silver Child Development Center, said in a prepared statement.
Reporting in the Sept. 21 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, the research team worked with mice genetically programmed to develop a disease mimicking human Alzheimer's.
The mice received daily injections of EGCG for several months and showed as much as a 54 percent reduction in the formation of brain-clogging beta-amyloid plaques. It appears that EGCG prevents the initial process that leads to beta-amyloid formation in brain cells, the researchers said.
"If beta-amyloid pathology in this Alzheimer's mouse model is representative of Alzheimer's disease pathology in humans, EGCG dietary supplementation may be effective in preventing and treating the disease," Tan said.
The researchers will next study whether multiple oral doses of EGCG improve memory loss in mice with Alzheimer's.
"If those studies show clear cognitive benefits, we believe clinical trials of EGCG to treat Alzheimer's disease would be warranted," Tan said.
Courage and Caring Amid Katrina's Chaos
Of all the surreal scenes playing out across New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, this may have been one of the strangest.
As the New Orleans flood waters rose, Dr. Joseph Guarisco, chairman of emergency medicine at the city's Ochsner Clinic Foundation, looked out the center's windows and saw a succession of people perched on boats, rafts and even garbage cans floating by.
Then, finally, a city bus sped through the water. It did not pass the hospital and continue west with the stream but, instead, sped up the ambulance ramp and screeched to a halt. At least there was a dry place to stop: Ochsner is above sea level.
The bus, it turned out, held paraplegics who had been carried down eight flights of stairs at another hospital. The city bus had been commandeered by the paramedics and had been turned away by every shelter and hospital between Ochsner and downtown, a distance of about five miles.
"I'm turning the bus off, parking it and leaving," the paramedic, who was armed, stated.
Guarisco tried to reason with the paramedic: The paraplegics didn't have any acute medical problems, so they really needed to be at a shelter, not a hospital. The hospital needed to be ready for medical emergencies. But the paramedic prepared to leave, so Guarisco summoned Ochsner security (also armed) and, finally, the hospital's CEO.
"The infrastructure of the city was falling apart, police were abandoning their positions, city bus drivers were abandoning running buses. The city's flooding, and here we have paraplegics inside a bus and there's an armed standoff between paramedics and our own security," Guarisco said. "It was right out of a scene about the end of the world."
Ochsner staff finally convinced the paramedic to return the paraplegics to the last shelter they had visited.
The scene was perhaps not too much stranger than other scenes playing out all over New Orleans and, indeed, throughout the Gulf Coast after Katrina unleashed her fury at the end of August.
At the heart of so many of those stories, men and women trained in emergency care used whatever resources were at hand to help others struggling against chaos, confusion and death.
Chapels and operating rooms were turned into makeshift morgues, corpses floated in nursing homes and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials commandeered transportation away from hospitals and nursing homes, according to news reports.
Some patients waited up to 12 hours in stairwells waiting to be airlifted, only to be told it wasn't going to happen that day. There were reports of one hospital evacuating its staff before sick infants. Some 90 patients died in area hospitals, the news reports found.
At the New Orleans International Airport, Concourse D became the initial triage and treatment center for thousand of evacuees from nursing homes, hospitals, private homes, civic centers and the Superdome.
By the time Dr. Russell Bieniek arrived from Erie, Pa., as part of a disaster medical assistance team, the overflow had taken over the rest of that floor and the floor below it.
"It was wall-to-wall people waiting for care and transport," said Bieniek, who is medical director of the emergency department at St. Vincent Health Center in Erie. On the busiest day, about 12,000 people came through.
While many patients simply required wound and other minor care, others were critical.
"Most of the evacuees had not had any medical care in four or five days. This meant no dialysis, blood pressure meds, cardiac meds, seizure meds, insulin," Bieniek. "We had a man having an acute heart attack, several patients seizing, a woman nearing cardiac arrest from high potassium because she missed her dialysis, and many people with sugars out of control from not having any insulin where they were."
For several days, Bieniek slept in the baggage claim area and took showers in a trailer provided by the forestry service and parked between C and D concourses. The number of patients being treated at the airport had dwindled to by the end of the first week of September as patients were moved elsewhere.
In the parking lot of the Houston Astrodome, where thousands huddled in the weeks after the storm, doctors waiting to treat patients arriving by bus saw many of the same issues: chronic diseases gone awry because patients had no access to medication.
Several people were admitted to hospital with diabetic ketoacidosis -- a dangerously high level of ketones, or acids, that build up in the blood and can lead to diabetic coma or death, said Dr. Clinton White, a professor of internal medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and chief of infectious disease at Ben Taub General Hospital, both in Houston.
One person appears to have died of a heart attack because his blood pressure had skyrocketed, said White, who is also a counselor with the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene.
During that first chaotic weekend in September, medical staff were suddenly faced with an outbreak of diarrhea in the Astrodome. "Hundreds of people were getting sick," White said.
Medical personnel blocked off one area of the arena to isolate people while labs ran tests for free. The culprit turned out to be norovirus, the same germ responsible for many illnesses aboard cruise ships.
The problem was that people in the Astrodome and adjacent Astro Arena were using alcohol disinfectant, which doesn't work well for this particular organism. White had more sinks put in so people could wash with soap and water.
Dr. Hilarie Cranmer was driving to Boston's Logan Airport, preparing to fly to France to speak about her experiences tending victims of the Asian tsunami, when her cell phone rang.
It was the Harvard Humanitarian Institute asking her to fly to Louisiana to help the Red Cross coordinate disaster efforts. She turned the car around and repacked for Baton Rouge.
The devastation, especially in Mississippi, looked a lot like that from the tsunami, Cranmer recalled. And, again, thousands upon thousands of people were displaced. Cranmer was charged with helping to coordinate with the various shelters, making sure they had what they needed.
This proved more difficult than anticipated.
"One of the hardest things was to actually find out where the shelters were because the communications were down," Cranmer said. "We knew there were shelters out there, but we couldn't know what they needed because we couldn't get through." Eventually, they did, and made sure that basic public health standards were being met, things like separating trash from food and cleaning up overflowing toilets.
The Ochsner emergency room saw just a handful of patients during the storm. Once the water started rising, however, they saw people stranded, starved, dehydrated and/or elderly wandering out of the city. "A lot of people were without basic resources of food, water and medication," Guarisco said. "There was a tremendous amount of despair and helplessness. It was truly as if someone had dropped a bomb in the middle of the city."
That stream of desperate individuals included even fellow rescue workers injured in accidents.
Still, as yet another storm -- Hurricane Rita -- loomed Tuesday, Guarisco said Ochsner's emergency department has gotten "back to regular business," ready to face what comes.
At least for now.
Health Tip: Caring for Your Skin
If you're in your 20s or 30s and value your youthful appearance, now's the time to begin a good skin care program. It may help you avoid cosmetic surgery down the road, according to the Facial Plastic Surgery Center at Saint Louis University.
Here are some tips:
Get enough sleep.
Eat healthy.
Limit your caffeine consumption.
Use sunscreen every day.
Wear sunglasses to avoid squinting.
Don't go to tanning salons.
Establish a nighttime skin care ritual.
Use the right skin care products.
Don't smoke.
Consider anti-wrinkle creams.
Health Tip: Prevent Colon Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the United States with about 135,000 new cases diagnosed each year, according to Duke University Medical Center.
Here are some ways to minimize your risk of developing colorectal cancer:
Follow a healthful diet.
Exercise regularly.
After age 40, start a screening program that includes an annual digital rectal exam and a stool-sample test. After age 50, get a colonoscopy every five to 10 years.
If there's a family history of colorectal cancer, talk to your doctor about starting a more rigorous screening program.
Be alert for symptoms including blood in the stool, a change in bowel habits, and abdominal pain.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Health Headlines - September 21
Staying Fit May Fight Joint Pain
You can't run away from pain -- or can you? A new study of older runners suggests that staying active keeps joint pain at bay.
The 14-year study of 866 people (492 runners and 374 controls) concluded that those who got regular exercise experienced 25 percent less joint and muscle pain as they aged compared to less-active people.
According to the Stanford University researchers, the study participants were, on average, in their mid-60s at the start of the study. Each year, the participants filled out a questionnaire on their health status, exercise habits and injury history. The physically active group spent between 6 and 35 hours exercising each week over the course of the study. In contrast, those in the control group were closer to the classic "couch potato."
"Exercise was associated with a substantial and significant reduction in pain even ... despite the fact that fractures, a significant predictor of pain, were slightly more common among runners," the study authors wrote in the journal Arthritis Research & Therapy.
Further research is needed in order to better understand how exercise affects musculoskeletal pain in older people, the researchers said.
Health Tip: Tanning Lamps Can Harm Your Skin
The ultraviolet rays from tanning lamps can be as hazardous to your health as UV rays from the sun.
So if you frequent tanning salons, Health Canada suggests you minimize your risk by:
Reading the warning labels on sunlamps or tanning beds and following the directions closely.
Always wearing safety eyewear.
Having the salon operator recommend an optimal session length based on your skin's sensitivity.
Allowing at least 48 hours between sessions.
Making sure there's a physical barrier, such as a clear sheet of acrylic, between you and the tanning lamp.
Limiting the total number of tanning sessions per year.
Health Tip: Treating Ringworm
Scaly, ring-shaped, pink patches on the skin or scalp may indicate ringworm, a contagious fungal infection.
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta offers these treatment tips:
Check with your doctor before applying treatment. Other skin problems can mimic ringworm.
Apply an anti-fungal cream to the rash and one inch beyond the edge of the rash.
Keep using the cream for one week after the rash has gone.
Avoid scratching the area.
You can't run away from pain -- or can you? A new study of older runners suggests that staying active keeps joint pain at bay.
The 14-year study of 866 people (492 runners and 374 controls) concluded that those who got regular exercise experienced 25 percent less joint and muscle pain as they aged compared to less-active people.
According to the Stanford University researchers, the study participants were, on average, in their mid-60s at the start of the study. Each year, the participants filled out a questionnaire on their health status, exercise habits and injury history. The physically active group spent between 6 and 35 hours exercising each week over the course of the study. In contrast, those in the control group were closer to the classic "couch potato."
"Exercise was associated with a substantial and significant reduction in pain even ... despite the fact that fractures, a significant predictor of pain, were slightly more common among runners," the study authors wrote in the journal Arthritis Research & Therapy.
Further research is needed in order to better understand how exercise affects musculoskeletal pain in older people, the researchers said.
Health Tip: Tanning Lamps Can Harm Your Skin
The ultraviolet rays from tanning lamps can be as hazardous to your health as UV rays from the sun.
So if you frequent tanning salons, Health Canada suggests you minimize your risk by:
Reading the warning labels on sunlamps or tanning beds and following the directions closely.
Always wearing safety eyewear.
Having the salon operator recommend an optimal session length based on your skin's sensitivity.
Allowing at least 48 hours between sessions.
Making sure there's a physical barrier, such as a clear sheet of acrylic, between you and the tanning lamp.
Limiting the total number of tanning sessions per year.
Health Tip: Treating Ringworm
Scaly, ring-shaped, pink patches on the skin or scalp may indicate ringworm, a contagious fungal infection.
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta offers these treatment tips:
Check with your doctor before applying treatment. Other skin problems can mimic ringworm.
Apply an anti-fungal cream to the rash and one inch beyond the edge of the rash.
Keep using the cream for one week after the rash has gone.
Avoid scratching the area.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Health Headlines - September 20
Moms' View on Family Meal Influences Kids' Weight
Moms concerned about keeping their kids fit and trim may want to encourage an increasingly threatened institution: the healthy family meal.
That's true even if the family's goals of eating together each day falls short occasionally, according to a study published in a recent issue of the journal Obesity Research.
Eating together as a family has long been recommended by nutrition experts.
"I certainly recommend people eat together at least a few times a week," said Lola O'Rourke, a Seattle dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. Doing so helps parents teach kids healthy eating habits, she said, and also gives them some control over what their children eat.
The family meal may be more important than ever, experts say, especially in the wake of a government study released earlier this month that found high-calorie, low-nutrient junk food readily available in nine out of 10 U.S. schools.
In their study on family dinners, Dr. Abdullah A. Mamun, of the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, and colleagues evaluated data on nearly 3,800 children, half girls and half boys, following them from birth to age 14.
They found the prevalence of overweight at age 14 was 24.1 percent for the boys and 27.1 percent for the girls.
They also looked at whether or not families ate together regularly, and quizzed mothers on their attitudes towards the family meal.
While 79 percent of the mothers said their family ate together at least once a day, only 43 percent said they felt it was important to eat together, the Australian team found.
Then the researchers focused on the children of mothers who didn't say it was important to eat together. According to the study, those children were 30 percent more likely to be overweight by age 14 compared with kids born to moms who valued the family meal.
The researchers found no association between the mothers' report of how often the family actually did eat together and the chances of the teen being overweight by age 14, however.
So why might a mother's attitude to family meals matter, even when her family often fails to get together for lunch or dinner? Researchers speculate that maternal attitudes towards the importance of family meals may reflect a broader respect for good nutrition. This might extend to practices such as keeping healthy foods in the house or limiting the amount of times their children can eat "junk food."
That interpretation makes sense to O'Rourke. "You would think people who are more concerned about family meals are also probably more concerned about nutrition," she said.
Mothers who encourage family dinners may also be providing more emotional support to their teens, she said, or building self-confidence in them so they are less likely to turn to food for stress-relief.
"In the past we have seen [in research] that a higher incidence of family meals is associated with a better nutrient intake, healthier meals," she said.
Eating together as a family, at least a few times a week, gives everyone a chance to connect, she said, and "parents have more influence in terms of what is being put on the table."
Parents can also take the opportunity to discuss healthy eating habits and set guidelines for eating at school, where junk food is common. A study released in early September by the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, found that nine out of 10 schools have candy, soda, pizza and other snacks readily available, and that schools are one of the largest sources for unhealthy food for today's children.
In the sample, the GAO surveyed 656 schools, with 51 percent of the principals responding. Vending machines were available in nearly all high schools and middle schools but less than half of elementary schools. Junk food has become more common in middle schools in the past five years, the survey found. And the investigators found that vending machine foods and "junk foods" offered in a-la-carte lines in school cafeterias are crowding out healthier choices.
The result? Obesity among children and teens has more than doubled in the past three decades, according to experts at the Institute of Medicine.
Parents can set guidelines for making good choices at school, however.
"Don't tell them they absolutely can't have pizza or whatever it is [they want to eat]," O'Rourke said. "Saying no you can't have it at all will backfire." Rather, she suggested, ask them to limit foods such as pizza to once a week or so at school.
Another good idea, O'Rourke said, is to "create these foods at home in healthier versions, such as pizza with less cheese, using whole wheat crust and more veggies as toppings."
Health Tip: Prevent Eating Disorders
The causes of eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, are often multi-faceted, which can make the conditions difficult to treat.
The best cure is prevention, says the U.S. Naval Hospital in Camp Pendleton, Cal. Here are five ways to help combat eating disorders:
Talk to your kids about natural differences in body shapes and sizes.
Avoid negative attitudes or conversations about weight.
Don't discourage activities, such as swimming or dancing, just because they draw attention to weight or body shape.
Talk to your kids about the misguided way in which appearance is linked to success.
Be a good role model by eating nutritious meals and exercising regularly.
Health Tip: Before You Have Lasik Surgery
Before you sign up for the vision-correcting procedure known as Lasik, make sure you have both the short view and the long view of how your vision will be affected.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology offers the following information:
Lasik may not give you perfect vision. Seven of 10 patients achieve 20/20 vision, but 20/20 doesn't always mean perfect vision.
If you have Lasik to correct your distance vision, you'll still need reading glasses around age 45.
The procedure is too new to know if there are any long-term ill effects beyond five years of surgery.
Lasik can't be reversed.
Most insurance doesn't cover the surgery.
Moms concerned about keeping their kids fit and trim may want to encourage an increasingly threatened institution: the healthy family meal.
That's true even if the family's goals of eating together each day falls short occasionally, according to a study published in a recent issue of the journal Obesity Research.
Eating together as a family has long been recommended by nutrition experts.
"I certainly recommend people eat together at least a few times a week," said Lola O'Rourke, a Seattle dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. Doing so helps parents teach kids healthy eating habits, she said, and also gives them some control over what their children eat.
The family meal may be more important than ever, experts say, especially in the wake of a government study released earlier this month that found high-calorie, low-nutrient junk food readily available in nine out of 10 U.S. schools.
In their study on family dinners, Dr. Abdullah A. Mamun, of the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, and colleagues evaluated data on nearly 3,800 children, half girls and half boys, following them from birth to age 14.
They found the prevalence of overweight at age 14 was 24.1 percent for the boys and 27.1 percent for the girls.
They also looked at whether or not families ate together regularly, and quizzed mothers on their attitudes towards the family meal.
While 79 percent of the mothers said their family ate together at least once a day, only 43 percent said they felt it was important to eat together, the Australian team found.
Then the researchers focused on the children of mothers who didn't say it was important to eat together. According to the study, those children were 30 percent more likely to be overweight by age 14 compared with kids born to moms who valued the family meal.
The researchers found no association between the mothers' report of how often the family actually did eat together and the chances of the teen being overweight by age 14, however.
So why might a mother's attitude to family meals matter, even when her family often fails to get together for lunch or dinner? Researchers speculate that maternal attitudes towards the importance of family meals may reflect a broader respect for good nutrition. This might extend to practices such as keeping healthy foods in the house or limiting the amount of times their children can eat "junk food."
That interpretation makes sense to O'Rourke. "You would think people who are more concerned about family meals are also probably more concerned about nutrition," she said.
Mothers who encourage family dinners may also be providing more emotional support to their teens, she said, or building self-confidence in them so they are less likely to turn to food for stress-relief.
"In the past we have seen [in research] that a higher incidence of family meals is associated with a better nutrient intake, healthier meals," she said.
Eating together as a family, at least a few times a week, gives everyone a chance to connect, she said, and "parents have more influence in terms of what is being put on the table."
Parents can also take the opportunity to discuss healthy eating habits and set guidelines for eating at school, where junk food is common. A study released in early September by the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, found that nine out of 10 schools have candy, soda, pizza and other snacks readily available, and that schools are one of the largest sources for unhealthy food for today's children.
In the sample, the GAO surveyed 656 schools, with 51 percent of the principals responding. Vending machines were available in nearly all high schools and middle schools but less than half of elementary schools. Junk food has become more common in middle schools in the past five years, the survey found. And the investigators found that vending machine foods and "junk foods" offered in a-la-carte lines in school cafeterias are crowding out healthier choices.
The result? Obesity among children and teens has more than doubled in the past three decades, according to experts at the Institute of Medicine.
Parents can set guidelines for making good choices at school, however.
"Don't tell them they absolutely can't have pizza or whatever it is [they want to eat]," O'Rourke said. "Saying no you can't have it at all will backfire." Rather, she suggested, ask them to limit foods such as pizza to once a week or so at school.
Another good idea, O'Rourke said, is to "create these foods at home in healthier versions, such as pizza with less cheese, using whole wheat crust and more veggies as toppings."
Health Tip: Prevent Eating Disorders
The causes of eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, are often multi-faceted, which can make the conditions difficult to treat.
The best cure is prevention, says the U.S. Naval Hospital in Camp Pendleton, Cal. Here are five ways to help combat eating disorders:
Talk to your kids about natural differences in body shapes and sizes.
Avoid negative attitudes or conversations about weight.
Don't discourage activities, such as swimming or dancing, just because they draw attention to weight or body shape.
Talk to your kids about the misguided way in which appearance is linked to success.
Be a good role model by eating nutritious meals and exercising regularly.
Health Tip: Before You Have Lasik Surgery
Before you sign up for the vision-correcting procedure known as Lasik, make sure you have both the short view and the long view of how your vision will be affected.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology offers the following information:
Lasik may not give you perfect vision. Seven of 10 patients achieve 20/20 vision, but 20/20 doesn't always mean perfect vision.
If you have Lasik to correct your distance vision, you'll still need reading glasses around age 45.
The procedure is too new to know if there are any long-term ill effects beyond five years of surgery.
Lasik can't be reversed.
Most insurance doesn't cover the surgery.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Health Headlines - September 19
Medicare Premiums Raised Again
Seniors face yet another increase in their health-care costs, thanks to the federal government.
The New York Times reported Saturday that basic Medicare premiums will go up again; this time the hike will be 13 percent, to $88.50 a month. Increased use of doctor's services is behind the latest increase, the Times reported.
Many beneficiaries will have to pay an additional premium for the much-touted new prescription drug benefit program, set to start Jan. 1, which should average $32 a month. The combined premiums will now average $120 a month, the Times reported.
Medicare premiums are typically deducted from monthly Social Security checks, which currently average $955 a month for retirees, the Times said. Medicare provides medical coverage to 42 million people who are older or disabled.
The basic Medicare premium has gone up by nearly $30 a month, or 51 percent, from 2003 to 2006, Kirsten A. Sloan, a health policy analyst at AARP, told the Times.
Cleveland Clinic Doctor to Attempt First Face Transplant
A Cleveland Clinic doctor will soon try a radical surgery that has never been performed before when she attempts a face transplant, the Associated Press reported Saturday.
Seven women and five men will travel to the Cleveland Clinic in the coming weeks to be examined by Dr. Maria Siemionow, according to the AP. The surgeon will study their facial features and ask them what they hope to gain by such a drastic procedure. They will be warned about the dangers and requirements: At worst, the transplant could be rejected and their new face could literally slough off; even in the best instance, they will have to take powerful immunosuppressant drugs for their rest of their lives, which could damage their kidneys and leave them susceptible to cancer.
Dr. Siemionow told the AP she hopes to one day be able to give people disfigured by burns or accidents a chance at a new life. Even the best current treatments still leave scar tissue that doesn't look or move like skin, according to the AP.
The planned procedure is not without controversy; concerns over the risks recently led hospitals in England and France to scrap plans for face transplants, the AP reported, and it took Dr. Siemionow's transplant team more than a year to secure the blessing of the clinic's institutional review board.
New Orleans Sludge Still Contaminated With Bacteria, Oil
Initial tests conducted on sediments taken after floodwaters receded in New Orleans show high amounts of E. coli bacteria and oil runoff from fuel and chemical plants, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Friday.
E. coli indicates there is fecal bacteria in the water and exposed sediment, and contact with both should be avoided, Marcus Peacock, the EPA's deputy administrator, told reporters Friday at a news conference, the agency's second this week. He said 18 sediment samples taken on Sept. 10 represented the start of "extensive" testing, the Bloomberg news service reported.
And flooded parts of New Orleans, which was 80 percent under water after Hurricane Katrina, include more than 60 chemical plants, oil refineries, and petroleum storage facilities, Bloomberg said.
The Coast Guard said Thursday that Hurricane Katrina may have spilled more than 7 million gallons of oil, about two-thirds of what was released in the Exxon Valdez accident in 1989, according to the Associated Press.
Contact with fuel oils can lead to skin and eye irritation, increased blood pressure, and headache, Bloomberg said.
Officials told Bloomberg that the full extent of the contamination probably won't be known until the city is completely pumped out, which they say could take until mid-October.
Defibrillator Problems on the Rise: FDA Study
Malfunctions in implanted heart devices called defibrillators were increasing even before a huge recall this summer by Guidant Corp., according to a joint study released Friday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Harvard University.
Defibrillators shock awkwardly beating hearts back into a normal rhythm. About 20 of every 1,000 devices malfunction, the researchers found. Those defects led to 31 deaths between 1990 and 2002, although that was a fraction of the more than 400,000 devices implanted during the span, the Associated Press reported.
Nonetheless, the study "points out the need for our agency to improve the way it regulates these products, and we're doing just that," Dr. Daniel Schultz, chief of the FDA's medical devices unit, told the AP.
The research was presented Friday at a daylong meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society in Washington, D.C., to discuss recent safety problems with defibrillators and other implanted cardiac devices, including pacemakers.
The study's leader, Dr. William Maisel of Harvard, found that from 1990 to 2002, 2.25 million pacemakers and 416,000 cardiac defibrillators were implanted in the United States. More than 17,000 of the devices had to be removed later due to malfunctions, the AP reported.
Equally troubling, 50 percent of the defibrillator malfunctions between 1990 and 2002 occurred within the last three years of that time period, the researchers said.
Guidant, and two other makers -- Medtronic and St. Jude Medical -- have recalled or issued warnings about more than 200,000 defibrillators since January, the wire service said. Guidant recently conceded that it waited three years before telling doctors and patients about an electrical defect in one of its models. The defect has been linked to two deaths, the AP reported.
Aspirin at Night May Lower Blood Pressure
Not only may daily aspirin prevent a heart attack, it could also lower blood pressure -- especially if taken at night, researchers have found.
Scientists from Spain, writing in the Sept. 20 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, said they randomly divided patients with mild hypertension into three groups: those who took aspirin in the morning, those who took it before bed, and those who didn't take aspirin at all.
After three months, blood pressure rose slightly among those who took aspirin in the morning, but fell in the group that took it at night. The group that didn't take aspirin at all saw only a very slight decline in blood pressure that wasn't statistically significant, the researchers at the University of Vigo said.
The authors and other experts said the results would have to be confirmed in future studies.
"Given the widespread use of aspirin, the prevalence of hypertension, and the ease in altering the time of aspirin administration, these results should be widely disseminated," Dr. Joseph Messer, from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, said in a prepared statement from the American College of Cardiology. Messer wasn't directly connected to the research, the statement said.
'Second disaster' may follow Katrina: doctors
Doctors are bracing themselves for what they call a "second disaster" as New Orleans-area residents return to their devastated city.
While environmentalists warn of the long-term danger to health from possibly polluted floodwaters, and rumors of disease swirl, front-line emergency doctors say the actual health danger will come from accidents.
"The second wave of disaster is when you welcome the people back and the infrastructure of the city is not in place," said Dr. Peter Deblieux, an emergency room doctor at downtown New Orleans' Charity Hospital.
Officials in New Orleans and surrounding Jefferson Parish began allowing residents to return over the weekend and say everyone can come back by mid-week. But residents whose homes were not completely destroyed will confront fallen trees, wrecked roofs and streets full of nails.
Someone will have to clean it up.
"We will see the chainsaw people -- lacerations of the left thigh, lacerations of the left forearm," Deblieux said in an interview. "There will be people falling off the scaffolding."
Public health experts concur. After Hurricane Charley hit Florida in 2004, 77 percent of the deaths blamed on the hurricane were classified as unintentional injury.
Deblieux is concerned about plans to allow more than 180,000 people to return to New Orleans with only four area hospitals up and running, and only one of those in New Orleans proper.
Charity, the city's free public hospital, remains closed, its electricity panels destroyed by flooding. "Where will people get treatment?" asked Deblieux.
Some areas will continue to lack electricity and clean drinking water.
Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad Allen, who heads the federal recovery effort, voiced similar concerns. He noted that hurricane season is not over.
"If you bring significant amounts of people into New Orleans, you need an evacuation plan on how you're going to do that," he told CNN on Sunday.
INVISIBLE DANGERS
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is launching an education effort to caution people about the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning if they use generators.
While some areas have uncontaminated water, 90 percent of the population does not, the CDC said on Saturday.
"It is contaminated with human and animal waste. But there isn't this sort of toxic soup out there," said Dr. Tom Clark, an infectious disease specialist at the CDC.
The CDC and Environmental Protection Agency are both telling people to wash off mud or dirt as soon as possible and to avoid getting flood water on themselves.
There are heavy metals and oil products such as diesel fuel in the water -- but not huge amounts. And as the mud dries, some compounds, especially metals such as lead and arsenic, will remain in the dirt.
There has been some diarrhea but no epidemics and despite fears, evacuees are not spreading diseases widely. And if people are careful, the contaminated tap water should not pose any great threat, the CDC said.
"E. coli in general are normal flora of the gastrointestinal tracts of people and animals," Clark said.
Some are toxic -- such as the E. coli 0157 strain that can cause deadly food poisoning, especially in children.
The E. coli being measured in city water is not in itself especially harmful but rather means the water is contaminated. And that does not necessarily mean unusual diseases.
"A lot of the time what you see (after a disaster like this) is an increase of what was already there before," Clark said.
Seniors face yet another increase in their health-care costs, thanks to the federal government.
The New York Times reported Saturday that basic Medicare premiums will go up again; this time the hike will be 13 percent, to $88.50 a month. Increased use of doctor's services is behind the latest increase, the Times reported.
Many beneficiaries will have to pay an additional premium for the much-touted new prescription drug benefit program, set to start Jan. 1, which should average $32 a month. The combined premiums will now average $120 a month, the Times reported.
Medicare premiums are typically deducted from monthly Social Security checks, which currently average $955 a month for retirees, the Times said. Medicare provides medical coverage to 42 million people who are older or disabled.
The basic Medicare premium has gone up by nearly $30 a month, or 51 percent, from 2003 to 2006, Kirsten A. Sloan, a health policy analyst at AARP, told the Times.
Cleveland Clinic Doctor to Attempt First Face Transplant
A Cleveland Clinic doctor will soon try a radical surgery that has never been performed before when she attempts a face transplant, the Associated Press reported Saturday.
Seven women and five men will travel to the Cleveland Clinic in the coming weeks to be examined by Dr. Maria Siemionow, according to the AP. The surgeon will study their facial features and ask them what they hope to gain by such a drastic procedure. They will be warned about the dangers and requirements: At worst, the transplant could be rejected and their new face could literally slough off; even in the best instance, they will have to take powerful immunosuppressant drugs for their rest of their lives, which could damage their kidneys and leave them susceptible to cancer.
Dr. Siemionow told the AP she hopes to one day be able to give people disfigured by burns or accidents a chance at a new life. Even the best current treatments still leave scar tissue that doesn't look or move like skin, according to the AP.
The planned procedure is not without controversy; concerns over the risks recently led hospitals in England and France to scrap plans for face transplants, the AP reported, and it took Dr. Siemionow's transplant team more than a year to secure the blessing of the clinic's institutional review board.
New Orleans Sludge Still Contaminated With Bacteria, Oil
Initial tests conducted on sediments taken after floodwaters receded in New Orleans show high amounts of E. coli bacteria and oil runoff from fuel and chemical plants, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Friday.
E. coli indicates there is fecal bacteria in the water and exposed sediment, and contact with both should be avoided, Marcus Peacock, the EPA's deputy administrator, told reporters Friday at a news conference, the agency's second this week. He said 18 sediment samples taken on Sept. 10 represented the start of "extensive" testing, the Bloomberg news service reported.
And flooded parts of New Orleans, which was 80 percent under water after Hurricane Katrina, include more than 60 chemical plants, oil refineries, and petroleum storage facilities, Bloomberg said.
The Coast Guard said Thursday that Hurricane Katrina may have spilled more than 7 million gallons of oil, about two-thirds of what was released in the Exxon Valdez accident in 1989, according to the Associated Press.
Contact with fuel oils can lead to skin and eye irritation, increased blood pressure, and headache, Bloomberg said.
Officials told Bloomberg that the full extent of the contamination probably won't be known until the city is completely pumped out, which they say could take until mid-October.
Defibrillator Problems on the Rise: FDA Study
Malfunctions in implanted heart devices called defibrillators were increasing even before a huge recall this summer by Guidant Corp., according to a joint study released Friday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Harvard University.
Defibrillators shock awkwardly beating hearts back into a normal rhythm. About 20 of every 1,000 devices malfunction, the researchers found. Those defects led to 31 deaths between 1990 and 2002, although that was a fraction of the more than 400,000 devices implanted during the span, the Associated Press reported.
Nonetheless, the study "points out the need for our agency to improve the way it regulates these products, and we're doing just that," Dr. Daniel Schultz, chief of the FDA's medical devices unit, told the AP.
The research was presented Friday at a daylong meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society in Washington, D.C., to discuss recent safety problems with defibrillators and other implanted cardiac devices, including pacemakers.
The study's leader, Dr. William Maisel of Harvard, found that from 1990 to 2002, 2.25 million pacemakers and 416,000 cardiac defibrillators were implanted in the United States. More than 17,000 of the devices had to be removed later due to malfunctions, the AP reported.
Equally troubling, 50 percent of the defibrillator malfunctions between 1990 and 2002 occurred within the last three years of that time period, the researchers said.
Guidant, and two other makers -- Medtronic and St. Jude Medical -- have recalled or issued warnings about more than 200,000 defibrillators since January, the wire service said. Guidant recently conceded that it waited three years before telling doctors and patients about an electrical defect in one of its models. The defect has been linked to two deaths, the AP reported.
Aspirin at Night May Lower Blood Pressure
Not only may daily aspirin prevent a heart attack, it could also lower blood pressure -- especially if taken at night, researchers have found.
Scientists from Spain, writing in the Sept. 20 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, said they randomly divided patients with mild hypertension into three groups: those who took aspirin in the morning, those who took it before bed, and those who didn't take aspirin at all.
After three months, blood pressure rose slightly among those who took aspirin in the morning, but fell in the group that took it at night. The group that didn't take aspirin at all saw only a very slight decline in blood pressure that wasn't statistically significant, the researchers at the University of Vigo said.
The authors and other experts said the results would have to be confirmed in future studies.
"Given the widespread use of aspirin, the prevalence of hypertension, and the ease in altering the time of aspirin administration, these results should be widely disseminated," Dr. Joseph Messer, from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, said in a prepared statement from the American College of Cardiology. Messer wasn't directly connected to the research, the statement said.
'Second disaster' may follow Katrina: doctors
Doctors are bracing themselves for what they call a "second disaster" as New Orleans-area residents return to their devastated city.
While environmentalists warn of the long-term danger to health from possibly polluted floodwaters, and rumors of disease swirl, front-line emergency doctors say the actual health danger will come from accidents.
"The second wave of disaster is when you welcome the people back and the infrastructure of the city is not in place," said Dr. Peter Deblieux, an emergency room doctor at downtown New Orleans' Charity Hospital.
Officials in New Orleans and surrounding Jefferson Parish began allowing residents to return over the weekend and say everyone can come back by mid-week. But residents whose homes were not completely destroyed will confront fallen trees, wrecked roofs and streets full of nails.
Someone will have to clean it up.
"We will see the chainsaw people -- lacerations of the left thigh, lacerations of the left forearm," Deblieux said in an interview. "There will be people falling off the scaffolding."
Public health experts concur. After Hurricane Charley hit Florida in 2004, 77 percent of the deaths blamed on the hurricane were classified as unintentional injury.
Deblieux is concerned about plans to allow more than 180,000 people to return to New Orleans with only four area hospitals up and running, and only one of those in New Orleans proper.
Charity, the city's free public hospital, remains closed, its electricity panels destroyed by flooding. "Where will people get treatment?" asked Deblieux.
Some areas will continue to lack electricity and clean drinking water.
Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad Allen, who heads the federal recovery effort, voiced similar concerns. He noted that hurricane season is not over.
"If you bring significant amounts of people into New Orleans, you need an evacuation plan on how you're going to do that," he told CNN on Sunday.
INVISIBLE DANGERS
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is launching an education effort to caution people about the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning if they use generators.
While some areas have uncontaminated water, 90 percent of the population does not, the CDC said on Saturday.
"It is contaminated with human and animal waste. But there isn't this sort of toxic soup out there," said Dr. Tom Clark, an infectious disease specialist at the CDC.
The CDC and Environmental Protection Agency are both telling people to wash off mud or dirt as soon as possible and to avoid getting flood water on themselves.
There are heavy metals and oil products such as diesel fuel in the water -- but not huge amounts. And as the mud dries, some compounds, especially metals such as lead and arsenic, will remain in the dirt.
There has been some diarrhea but no epidemics and despite fears, evacuees are not spreading diseases widely. And if people are careful, the contaminated tap water should not pose any great threat, the CDC said.
"E. coli in general are normal flora of the gastrointestinal tracts of people and animals," Clark said.
Some are toxic -- such as the E. coli 0157 strain that can cause deadly food poisoning, especially in children.
The E. coli being measured in city water is not in itself especially harmful but rather means the water is contaminated. And that does not necessarily mean unusual diseases.
"A lot of the time what you see (after a disaster like this) is an increase of what was already there before," Clark said.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Health Headlines - September 18
Medicare Premiums Raised Again
Seniors face yet another increase in their health-care costs, thanks to the federal government.
The New York Times reported Saturday that basic Medicare premiums will go up again; this time the hike will be 13 percent, to $88.50 a month. Increased use of doctor's services is behind the latest increase, the Times reported.
Many beneficiaries will have to pay an additional premium for the much-touted new prescription drug benefit program, set to start Jan. 1, which should average $32 a month. The combined premiums will now average $120 a month, the Times reported.
Medicare premiums are typically deducted from monthly Social Security checks, which currently average $955 a month for retirees, the Times said. Medicare provides medical coverage to 42 million people who are older or disabled.
The basic Medicare premium has gone up by nearly $30 a month, or 51 percent, from 2003 to 2006, Kirsten A. Sloan, a health policy analyst at AARP, told the Times.
New Orleans Sludge Still Contaminated With Bacteria, Oil
Initial tests conducted on sediments taken after floodwaters receded in New Orleans show high amounts of E. coli bacteria and oil runoff from fuel and chemical plants, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Friday.
E. coli indicates there is fecal bacteria in the water and exposed sediment, and contact with both should be avoided, Marcus Peacock, the EPA's deputy administrator, told reporters Friday at a news conference, the agency's second this week. He said 18 sediment samples taken on Sept. 10 represented the start of "extensive" testing, the Bloomberg news service reported.
And flooded parts of New Orleans, which was 80 percent under water after Hurricane Katrina, include more than 60 chemical plants, oil refineries, and petroleum storage facilities, Bloomberg said.
The Coast Guard said Thursday that Hurricane Katrina may have spilled more than 7 million gallons of oil, about two-thirds of what was released in the Exxon Valdez accident in 1989, according to the Associated Press.
Contact with fuel oils can lead to skin and eye irritation, increased blood pressure, and headache, Bloomberg said.
Officials told Bloomberg that the full extent of the contamination probably won't be known until the city is completely pumped out, which they say could take until mid-October.
Defibrillator Problems on the Rise: FDA Study
Malfunctions in implanted heart devices called defibrillators were increasing even before a huge recall this summer by Guidant Corp., according to a joint study released Friday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Harvard University.
Defibrillators shock awkwardly beating hearts back into a normal rhythm. About 20 of every 1,000 devices malfunction, the researchers found. Those defects led to 31 deaths between 1990 and 2002, although that was a fraction of the more than 400,000 devices implanted during the span, the Associated Press reported.
Nonetheless, the study "points out the need for our agency to improve the way it regulates these products, and we're doing just that," Dr. Daniel Schultz, chief of the FDA's medical devices unit, told the AP.
The research was presented Friday at a daylong meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society in Washington, D.C., to discuss recent safety problems with defibrillators and other implanted cardiac devices, including pacemakers.
The study's leader, Dr. William Maisel of Harvard, found that from 1990 to 2002, 2.25 million pacemakers and 416,000 cardiac defibrillators were implanted in the United States. More than 17,000 of the devices had to be removed later due to malfunctions, the AP reported.
Equally troubling, 50 percent of the defibrillator malfunctions between 1990 and 2002 occurred within the last three years of that time period, the researchers said.
Guidant, and two other makers -- Medtronic and St. Jude Medical -- have recalled or issued warnings about more than 200,000 defibrillators since January, the wire service said. Guidant recently conceded that it waited three years before telling doctors and patients about an electrical defect in one of its models. The defect has been linked to two deaths, the AP reported.
Aspirin at Night May Lower Blood Pressure
Not only may daily aspirin prevent a heart attack, it could also lower blood pressure -- especially if taken at night, researchers have found.
Scientists from Spain, writing in the Sept. 20 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, said they randomly divided patients with mild hypertension into three groups: those who took aspirin in the morning, those who took it before bed, and those who didn't take aspirin at all.
After three months, blood pressure rose slightly among those who took aspirin in the morning, but fell in the group that took it at night. The group that didn't take aspirin at all saw only a very slight decline in blood pressure that wasn't statistically significant, the researchers at the University of Vigo said.
The authors and other experts said the results would have to be confirmed in future studies.
"Given the widespread use of aspirin, the prevalence of hypertension, and the ease in altering the time of aspirin administration, these results should be widely disseminated," Dr. Joseph Messer, from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, said in a prepared statement from the American College of Cardiology. Messer wasn't directly connected to the research, the statement said.
Lipitor, Celebrex Lead Price Increases, U.S. Reports
The cholesterol-lowering medicine Lipitor and the pain drug Celebrex had the most impact on a 25 percent overall increase in U.S. retail drug prices from 2000 to 2004, says a federal government report.
The Government Accountability Office report said that the price of a 30-day supply of 96 drugs used by older people increased by 24.5 percent from January 2000 to December 2004, the Kansas City Star reported.
The study found that 20 of the 96 drugs accounted for nearly two-thirds of that increase. Of those 20 drugs, 19 were name-brand drugs and one was a generic drug.
"The drug with the largest effect on the price index was Lipitor 10 mg, which accounted for 6.6 percent of the total increase," the report noted. Celebrex had the second greatest impact on drug prices. Both are made by Pfizer Inc.
The other drugs in the top five were: blood thinner Plavix, made by Sanofi-Aventis SA and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'; the ulcer drug Prevacid, made by Abbott Laboratories and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.; and Pfizer's Lipitor 20 mg.
Science Finds Key to Autumn's Splendor
Autumn's joyous pageant of red, yellow and gold relies on a single protein, new research reveals.
The protein -- with the less-than-poetic name of FtsH6 -- degrades a second compound that spends most of the year holding tight to the green chlorophyll in leaves. As this compound (called LHCII) slips away, hidden pigments of red and yellow are revealed, explain researchers at Umea Plant Science Center in Sweden.
While LCHII is incredibly small, it is also one of the most abundant plant membrane proteins on earth, and each leaf or blade of grass is so full of the compound that the planet's forests appear as swaths of green from space.
But in temperate climes, deciduous leaves lose that green as the days turn shorter.
The Swedish researchers, in conjunction with a Polish scientist, sought to identify exactly which type of protein-degrading protease molecule breaks down LHCII and causes plants to turn color in autumn.
Reporting in a recent issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers started on the assumption the molecule belonged to the family of so-called FtsH proteases. They then used genetically modified plants in which various FtsH proteases had already been removed to conduct their study.
One plant variation lacking a key protease, FtsH6, was largely unable to break down LCHII. That suggests FtsH6 is crucial to seasonal chlorophyll removal, the researchers say.
All is not lost in this seasonal cycle, however: Proteins in dying leaves contain important amino acids that trees and other plants recycle, the researchers say. These amino acids are stored all winter in the tree's trunk, branches, roots and stems until next year -- when they are used to help grow new leaves in the spring.
Seniors face yet another increase in their health-care costs, thanks to the federal government.
The New York Times reported Saturday that basic Medicare premiums will go up again; this time the hike will be 13 percent, to $88.50 a month. Increased use of doctor's services is behind the latest increase, the Times reported.
Many beneficiaries will have to pay an additional premium for the much-touted new prescription drug benefit program, set to start Jan. 1, which should average $32 a month. The combined premiums will now average $120 a month, the Times reported.
Medicare premiums are typically deducted from monthly Social Security checks, which currently average $955 a month for retirees, the Times said. Medicare provides medical coverage to 42 million people who are older or disabled.
The basic Medicare premium has gone up by nearly $30 a month, or 51 percent, from 2003 to 2006, Kirsten A. Sloan, a health policy analyst at AARP, told the Times.
New Orleans Sludge Still Contaminated With Bacteria, Oil
Initial tests conducted on sediments taken after floodwaters receded in New Orleans show high amounts of E. coli bacteria and oil runoff from fuel and chemical plants, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Friday.
E. coli indicates there is fecal bacteria in the water and exposed sediment, and contact with both should be avoided, Marcus Peacock, the EPA's deputy administrator, told reporters Friday at a news conference, the agency's second this week. He said 18 sediment samples taken on Sept. 10 represented the start of "extensive" testing, the Bloomberg news service reported.
And flooded parts of New Orleans, which was 80 percent under water after Hurricane Katrina, include more than 60 chemical plants, oil refineries, and petroleum storage facilities, Bloomberg said.
The Coast Guard said Thursday that Hurricane Katrina may have spilled more than 7 million gallons of oil, about two-thirds of what was released in the Exxon Valdez accident in 1989, according to the Associated Press.
Contact with fuel oils can lead to skin and eye irritation, increased blood pressure, and headache, Bloomberg said.
Officials told Bloomberg that the full extent of the contamination probably won't be known until the city is completely pumped out, which they say could take until mid-October.
Defibrillator Problems on the Rise: FDA Study
Malfunctions in implanted heart devices called defibrillators were increasing even before a huge recall this summer by Guidant Corp., according to a joint study released Friday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Harvard University.
Defibrillators shock awkwardly beating hearts back into a normal rhythm. About 20 of every 1,000 devices malfunction, the researchers found. Those defects led to 31 deaths between 1990 and 2002, although that was a fraction of the more than 400,000 devices implanted during the span, the Associated Press reported.
Nonetheless, the study "points out the need for our agency to improve the way it regulates these products, and we're doing just that," Dr. Daniel Schultz, chief of the FDA's medical devices unit, told the AP.
The research was presented Friday at a daylong meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society in Washington, D.C., to discuss recent safety problems with defibrillators and other implanted cardiac devices, including pacemakers.
The study's leader, Dr. William Maisel of Harvard, found that from 1990 to 2002, 2.25 million pacemakers and 416,000 cardiac defibrillators were implanted in the United States. More than 17,000 of the devices had to be removed later due to malfunctions, the AP reported.
Equally troubling, 50 percent of the defibrillator malfunctions between 1990 and 2002 occurred within the last three years of that time period, the researchers said.
Guidant, and two other makers -- Medtronic and St. Jude Medical -- have recalled or issued warnings about more than 200,000 defibrillators since January, the wire service said. Guidant recently conceded that it waited three years before telling doctors and patients about an electrical defect in one of its models. The defect has been linked to two deaths, the AP reported.
Aspirin at Night May Lower Blood Pressure
Not only may daily aspirin prevent a heart attack, it could also lower blood pressure -- especially if taken at night, researchers have found.
Scientists from Spain, writing in the Sept. 20 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, said they randomly divided patients with mild hypertension into three groups: those who took aspirin in the morning, those who took it before bed, and those who didn't take aspirin at all.
After three months, blood pressure rose slightly among those who took aspirin in the morning, but fell in the group that took it at night. The group that didn't take aspirin at all saw only a very slight decline in blood pressure that wasn't statistically significant, the researchers at the University of Vigo said.
The authors and other experts said the results would have to be confirmed in future studies.
"Given the widespread use of aspirin, the prevalence of hypertension, and the ease in altering the time of aspirin administration, these results should be widely disseminated," Dr. Joseph Messer, from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, said in a prepared statement from the American College of Cardiology. Messer wasn't directly connected to the research, the statement said.
Lipitor, Celebrex Lead Price Increases, U.S. Reports
The cholesterol-lowering medicine Lipitor and the pain drug Celebrex had the most impact on a 25 percent overall increase in U.S. retail drug prices from 2000 to 2004, says a federal government report.
The Government Accountability Office report said that the price of a 30-day supply of 96 drugs used by older people increased by 24.5 percent from January 2000 to December 2004, the Kansas City Star reported.
The study found that 20 of the 96 drugs accounted for nearly two-thirds of that increase. Of those 20 drugs, 19 were name-brand drugs and one was a generic drug.
"The drug with the largest effect on the price index was Lipitor 10 mg, which accounted for 6.6 percent of the total increase," the report noted. Celebrex had the second greatest impact on drug prices. Both are made by Pfizer Inc.
The other drugs in the top five were: blood thinner Plavix, made by Sanofi-Aventis SA and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'; the ulcer drug Prevacid, made by Abbott Laboratories and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.; and Pfizer's Lipitor 20 mg.
Science Finds Key to Autumn's Splendor
Autumn's joyous pageant of red, yellow and gold relies on a single protein, new research reveals.
The protein -- with the less-than-poetic name of FtsH6 -- degrades a second compound that spends most of the year holding tight to the green chlorophyll in leaves. As this compound (called LHCII) slips away, hidden pigments of red and yellow are revealed, explain researchers at Umea Plant Science Center in Sweden.
While LCHII is incredibly small, it is also one of the most abundant plant membrane proteins on earth, and each leaf or blade of grass is so full of the compound that the planet's forests appear as swaths of green from space.
But in temperate climes, deciduous leaves lose that green as the days turn shorter.
The Swedish researchers, in conjunction with a Polish scientist, sought to identify exactly which type of protein-degrading protease molecule breaks down LHCII and causes plants to turn color in autumn.
Reporting in a recent issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers started on the assumption the molecule belonged to the family of so-called FtsH proteases. They then used genetically modified plants in which various FtsH proteases had already been removed to conduct their study.
One plant variation lacking a key protease, FtsH6, was largely unable to break down LCHII. That suggests FtsH6 is crucial to seasonal chlorophyll removal, the researchers say.
All is not lost in this seasonal cycle, however: Proteins in dying leaves contain important amino acids that trees and other plants recycle, the researchers say. These amino acids are stored all winter in the tree's trunk, branches, roots and stems until next year -- when they are used to help grow new leaves in the spring.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Health Headlines - September 17
Digital mammograms better than film for some-study
Digital mammograms are more accurate at detecting breast cancer than traditional film mammograms in women who are premenopausal, under age 50, or who have dense breasts, according to results from a study of nearly 43,000 women released on Friday.
For other women screened for breast cancer, there was no difference between the two methods, researchers said in a study published online by the New England Journal of Medicine.
"We believe that the significant improvement in accuracy in specific subgroups of women justifies the use of digital mammography in these groups," the researchers said.
Other women should stick with film mammograms, said Dr. Etta Pisano, the study's lead author.
Traditional mammograms that have been used for decades produce X-ray images of the breast on film. Digital mammograms take electronic pictures that are stored on a computer. They have been available since 2000.
The new study compared film mammograms to digital mammograms from systems made by Fischer Imaging, Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd., General Electric Co. and Hologic Inc.. All but the Fuji system are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and available for use in the United States.
Researchers analyzed results from 42,760 women at 33 sites in the United States and Canada who each had a film mammogram and a digital mammogram to screen for cancer.
Digital mammograms detected 78 percent of cancers in women under age 50, compared with 51 percent for film mammograms, the study said.
For women who had not yet entered menopause, or were in the "perimenopause" transition to menopause, 72 percent of cancers were found by digital mammograms, compared with 51 percent for film mammograms.
Digital mammograms also produced better results for women with dense breast tissue. The study found digital mammograms caught 70 percent of breast cancers, compared with 55 percent for film.
"For these (groups of) women, it's a big difference," Pisano said.
In all cases, digital and film mammograms were equally likely to produce false positive results.
"The important thing is that women receive mammograms on a regular basis, regardless of which technology they use ... it should be remembered that traditional film mammography also is effective," said Robert Smith, director of cancer screening for the American Cancer Society.
"Although the availability of digital mammography is increasing, it is still limited, and it is unclear how soon, or whether, it will entirely replace conventional film mammography," Smith said.
Digital mammograms cost more than film. Now, the Medicare health insurance program for the elderly pays about $85 for film mammograms and $135 for digital, Pisano said.
The research was funded by the National Cancer Institute and conducted by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network.
All types of digital mammography systems that were studied produced similar results.
In addition to the improved accuracy, digital mammograms are easier to store and share with other physicians electronically. They also can be magnified or manipulated to correct for under- or over-exposure, saving women from duplicate mammograms.
An estimated 211,240 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States this year, an about 40,410 women will die from the disease, the National Cancer Institute said.
Health Tip: Look for Signs of Inhalant Abuse
Kids looking for a quick high sometimes turn to "huffing," which is a form of inhalant abuse that can trigger irregular heart rhythms.
The Texas Medical Center in Houston reports that common consumer products, such as spray paint, cooking spray, air freshener and butane can be sprayed into cans and small plastic bags, or sprayed on clothes. The concentrated vapors are then "huffed" or inhaled.
Clues your child might be huffing include:
A drunken or dizzy appearance.
Slurred or disoriented speech.
A chronic runny nose and red eyes.
Erratic mood changes, such as anxiety, excitability, irritability, or lethargy.
Frequent sniffing of clothes.
If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, professional medical help and psychological assistance are strongly recommended.
Health Tip: Prevent Sciatica
Sciatica is pain that occurs along the path of the sciatic nerve, which comes from the spinal column.
Pain from an irritated sciatic nerve usually occurs in the buttocks, hip, and back of the thigh.
According to the Calgary Health Region, here are some ways to prevent sciatic pain or reduce existing discomfort in your lower back:
Brace yourself if you feel a forceful sneeze or cough coming on.
Practice safe lifting techniques.
Avoid standing or sitting in one position for long periods.
Exercise regularly and include gentle stretching exercises.
Lighten your wallet and don't carry it in your hip pocket.
Sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees or on your side with a pillow between your legs.
Keep your abdominal muscles in shape.
Wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes.
Have your bras professionally fitted if you have large breasts as this can put a strain on your back.
Digital mammograms are more accurate at detecting breast cancer than traditional film mammograms in women who are premenopausal, under age 50, or who have dense breasts, according to results from a study of nearly 43,000 women released on Friday.
For other women screened for breast cancer, there was no difference between the two methods, researchers said in a study published online by the New England Journal of Medicine.
"We believe that the significant improvement in accuracy in specific subgroups of women justifies the use of digital mammography in these groups," the researchers said.
Other women should stick with film mammograms, said Dr. Etta Pisano, the study's lead author.
Traditional mammograms that have been used for decades produce X-ray images of the breast on film. Digital mammograms take electronic pictures that are stored on a computer. They have been available since 2000.
The new study compared film mammograms to digital mammograms from systems made by Fischer Imaging, Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd., General Electric Co. and Hologic Inc.. All but the Fuji system are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and available for use in the United States.
Researchers analyzed results from 42,760 women at 33 sites in the United States and Canada who each had a film mammogram and a digital mammogram to screen for cancer.
Digital mammograms detected 78 percent of cancers in women under age 50, compared with 51 percent for film mammograms, the study said.
For women who had not yet entered menopause, or were in the "perimenopause" transition to menopause, 72 percent of cancers were found by digital mammograms, compared with 51 percent for film mammograms.
Digital mammograms also produced better results for women with dense breast tissue. The study found digital mammograms caught 70 percent of breast cancers, compared with 55 percent for film.
"For these (groups of) women, it's a big difference," Pisano said.
In all cases, digital and film mammograms were equally likely to produce false positive results.
"The important thing is that women receive mammograms on a regular basis, regardless of which technology they use ... it should be remembered that traditional film mammography also is effective," said Robert Smith, director of cancer screening for the American Cancer Society.
"Although the availability of digital mammography is increasing, it is still limited, and it is unclear how soon, or whether, it will entirely replace conventional film mammography," Smith said.
Digital mammograms cost more than film. Now, the Medicare health insurance program for the elderly pays about $85 for film mammograms and $135 for digital, Pisano said.
The research was funded by the National Cancer Institute and conducted by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network.
All types of digital mammography systems that were studied produced similar results.
In addition to the improved accuracy, digital mammograms are easier to store and share with other physicians electronically. They also can be magnified or manipulated to correct for under- or over-exposure, saving women from duplicate mammograms.
An estimated 211,240 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States this year, an about 40,410 women will die from the disease, the National Cancer Institute said.
Health Tip: Look for Signs of Inhalant Abuse
Kids looking for a quick high sometimes turn to "huffing," which is a form of inhalant abuse that can trigger irregular heart rhythms.
The Texas Medical Center in Houston reports that common consumer products, such as spray paint, cooking spray, air freshener and butane can be sprayed into cans and small plastic bags, or sprayed on clothes. The concentrated vapors are then "huffed" or inhaled.
Clues your child might be huffing include:
A drunken or dizzy appearance.
Slurred or disoriented speech.
A chronic runny nose and red eyes.
Erratic mood changes, such as anxiety, excitability, irritability, or lethargy.
Frequent sniffing of clothes.
If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, professional medical help and psychological assistance are strongly recommended.
Health Tip: Prevent Sciatica
Sciatica is pain that occurs along the path of the sciatic nerve, which comes from the spinal column.
Pain from an irritated sciatic nerve usually occurs in the buttocks, hip, and back of the thigh.
According to the Calgary Health Region, here are some ways to prevent sciatic pain or reduce existing discomfort in your lower back:
Brace yourself if you feel a forceful sneeze or cough coming on.
Practice safe lifting techniques.
Avoid standing or sitting in one position for long periods.
Exercise regularly and include gentle stretching exercises.
Lighten your wallet and don't carry it in your hip pocket.
Sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees or on your side with a pillow between your legs.
Keep your abdominal muscles in shape.
Wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes.
Have your bras professionally fitted if you have large breasts as this can put a strain on your back.
Friday, September 16, 2005
Health Headlines - September 16
ADHD Drug Use Growing Fastest Among Adults
The use of prescription drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is rising faster among American adults than children, says a study by Medco Health Solutions, one of the largest prescription benefit mangers in the United States.
The research, released Thursday, found that between 2000 and 2004 the use of ADHD drugs doubled among adults aged 20 to 44, compared to an increase of 56 percent among children. ADHD drug use increased 113 percent among women aged 20 to 44 and 104 percent among women aged 45 to 64, the Associated Press reported.
Those increases among women were far higher than among men. The study also found that spending on ADHD drugs quadrupled between 2000 and 2004. Overall, nearly 1.5 million Americans aged 20 and older are using the drugs, which are meant to help the mental focus of people with ADHD.
Improved drugs and advertising are among the reasons for this increase in adult use of ADHD drugs, according to experts. Another factor is that some parents of children newly diagnosed with ADHD realize they have the same symptoms, the AP reported.
While about 1 percent of American adults are being treated for ADHD, about four times as many are estimated to have the disorder, Dr. Robert Epstein, Medco's chief medical officer, told the AP.
Erbitux Warning Label Revised
Doctors need to monitor patients who receive the colorectal cancer drug Erbitux for an hour after they are given an injection of the drug to watch for possible reactions such as difficulty breathing, dangerously low blood pressure, or hives, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Wednesday.
The monitoring advice was among the changes made to the drug's warning label announced Wednesday by the FDA and drug makers ImClone and Bristol-Myers Squibb, the Associated Press reported.
The warning label advises doctors that about 3 percent of patients who receive an injection of Erbitux suffer a severe reaction. The label also notes that deaths are rare -- occurring in fewer than one-tenth of 1 percent of patients who are given Erbitux, the AP reported.
Periodic monitoring for severe electrolyte depletion is recommended for patients who receive Erbitux for several weeks, the label says.
Closer Scrutiny Urged of FDA's Monitoring of Medical Devices
Prompted by recent controversy over the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's failure to alert the public about a problem with a model of implantable heart defibrillator, two U.S. lawmakers have vowed increased scrutiny of how the FDA monitors the safety of these and other kinds of critical medical devices.
In separate statements released Wednesday, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) criticized what they said was the FDA's failure to alert the public about data it receives from medical manufacturers that shows problems with their products, The New York Times reported.
The FDA requires companies that make defibrillators and pacemakers to file annual detailed reports about how often, and why, their products fail. The FDA treats these reports as confidential. The reports provided to the FDA contain far more product safety information than data that the companies give to doctors, the Times reported.
Earlier this week, the newspaper reported that the FDA received a regular annual filing in February from heart-device maker Guidant Corporation that revealed that one model of a popular implantable defibrillator was suffering short circuits at a rate of about one unit a month.
About a month later, a young U.S. man with one of the flawed defibrillators suffered sudden cardiac arrest and died.
Late Wednesday, the FDA announced it was reviewing how companies of critical medical devices file their annual reports.
"Guidance is being developed which will ensure that companies provide information about device failures and problems in a way that facilitates prompt, efficient review by FDA," said a statement from the agency.
Celebrex Cancer Prevention Study Resumes
A University of Texas study to determine whether the painkiller Celebrex can help prevent lung cancer is resuming after being cancelled late last year due to concerns over whether the drug may increase heart attack risk.
Smokers recruited for this study will be monitored for cardiovascular problems and given aggressive treatment if necessary, the Associated Press reported.
The cancer-prevention potential of Celebrex makes the study worth doing, despite the possibility of increased heart attack risk among volunteers, said Dr. Bernard Levin, vice president of cancer prevention at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
The study was two-thirds complete when it was suspended last year. The resumed study will last six months instead of a year. Study volunteers will have their blood pressure monitored and patients with any cardiovascular changes will receive prompt treatment. No patients who've had a heart attack or stroke will be allowed to take part in the study, the AP reported.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended in February that researchers continue to study the potential of Celebrex to prevent cancer. The U.S. National Cancer Institute advised researchers to weigh the risks and benefits of Celebrex in their clinical trials.
Celebrex is part of a family of painkillers called cox-2 inhibitors, which have been linked to increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Two other cox-2 drugs, Vioxx and Bextra, have been removed from the market.
2nd Lawsuit Against Vioxx Maker Begins
A second trial has begun alleging that Merck & Co. knew of the cardiac risks posed by the now-defunct arthritis drug Vioxx but failed to warn consumers.
During opening statements in an Atlantic City, NJ. courtroom on Wednesday, the lawyer for Frederick Humeston said the Vietnam War veteran had led an active lifestyle before he suffered a heart attack within two months of starting the painkiller, according to the Associated Press. Humeston, 60, of Boise, Idaho, survived the Sept. 18, 2001 attack.
Merck contends Humeston's heart attack was related to war injuries and a sedentary lifestyle, the wire service reported.
His trial is the first to be heard since last month, when a Texas jury hearing the nation's first Vioxx case found in favor of a widow who blamed the drug for the death of her husband from an abnormal heartbeat. The jury awarded the woman $253 million, although the award will be reduced to about $26 million. Texas law caps punitive damages at about that number in malpractice cases.
Vioxx, which once had annual sales of $2.5 billion, was withdrawn by Merck in September 2004, when research showed the drug increased long-term users' risks of heart attack and stroke.
Health Tip: If Your Child's Sinuses Are Blocked
Blocked sinuses, which rarely occur in kids under age five, are often caused by a cold or hay fever, according to St. Louis Children's Hospital.
By treating your child's sinus congestion, you can prevent it from developing into a true sinus infection.
Here are some tips:
Use warm water or saline nose drops followed by suction or nose blowing to wash dried mucus out of the nose.
Run a humidifier in the home.
Ice applied over the sinus for 20 minutes may give some pain relief.
With treatment, sinus congestion often resolves in five to seven days.
A fever and increased pain could indicate a bacterial sinusitis that may need an antibiotic.
Health Tip: Don't Skip Meals
If you're trying to cut your calorie intake by skipping meals, you could end up gaining weight instead.
According to George Washington University, people who skip meals, especially breakfast, are more likely to overeat later in the day. That's because when you skip meals, you upset your body's natural cycle of sleep, wakefulness and hunger.
So in trying to right itself, your system overcompensates and you may end up eating from mid-afternoon until bedtime.
The use of prescription drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is rising faster among American adults than children, says a study by Medco Health Solutions, one of the largest prescription benefit mangers in the United States.
The research, released Thursday, found that between 2000 and 2004 the use of ADHD drugs doubled among adults aged 20 to 44, compared to an increase of 56 percent among children. ADHD drug use increased 113 percent among women aged 20 to 44 and 104 percent among women aged 45 to 64, the Associated Press reported.
Those increases among women were far higher than among men. The study also found that spending on ADHD drugs quadrupled between 2000 and 2004. Overall, nearly 1.5 million Americans aged 20 and older are using the drugs, which are meant to help the mental focus of people with ADHD.
Improved drugs and advertising are among the reasons for this increase in adult use of ADHD drugs, according to experts. Another factor is that some parents of children newly diagnosed with ADHD realize they have the same symptoms, the AP reported.
While about 1 percent of American adults are being treated for ADHD, about four times as many are estimated to have the disorder, Dr. Robert Epstein, Medco's chief medical officer, told the AP.
Erbitux Warning Label Revised
Doctors need to monitor patients who receive the colorectal cancer drug Erbitux for an hour after they are given an injection of the drug to watch for possible reactions such as difficulty breathing, dangerously low blood pressure, or hives, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Wednesday.
The monitoring advice was among the changes made to the drug's warning label announced Wednesday by the FDA and drug makers ImClone and Bristol-Myers Squibb, the Associated Press reported.
The warning label advises doctors that about 3 percent of patients who receive an injection of Erbitux suffer a severe reaction. The label also notes that deaths are rare -- occurring in fewer than one-tenth of 1 percent of patients who are given Erbitux, the AP reported.
Periodic monitoring for severe electrolyte depletion is recommended for patients who receive Erbitux for several weeks, the label says.
Closer Scrutiny Urged of FDA's Monitoring of Medical Devices
Prompted by recent controversy over the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's failure to alert the public about a problem with a model of implantable heart defibrillator, two U.S. lawmakers have vowed increased scrutiny of how the FDA monitors the safety of these and other kinds of critical medical devices.
In separate statements released Wednesday, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) criticized what they said was the FDA's failure to alert the public about data it receives from medical manufacturers that shows problems with their products, The New York Times reported.
The FDA requires companies that make defibrillators and pacemakers to file annual detailed reports about how often, and why, their products fail. The FDA treats these reports as confidential. The reports provided to the FDA contain far more product safety information than data that the companies give to doctors, the Times reported.
Earlier this week, the newspaper reported that the FDA received a regular annual filing in February from heart-device maker Guidant Corporation that revealed that one model of a popular implantable defibrillator was suffering short circuits at a rate of about one unit a month.
About a month later, a young U.S. man with one of the flawed defibrillators suffered sudden cardiac arrest and died.
Late Wednesday, the FDA announced it was reviewing how companies of critical medical devices file their annual reports.
"Guidance is being developed which will ensure that companies provide information about device failures and problems in a way that facilitates prompt, efficient review by FDA," said a statement from the agency.
Celebrex Cancer Prevention Study Resumes
A University of Texas study to determine whether the painkiller Celebrex can help prevent lung cancer is resuming after being cancelled late last year due to concerns over whether the drug may increase heart attack risk.
Smokers recruited for this study will be monitored for cardiovascular problems and given aggressive treatment if necessary, the Associated Press reported.
The cancer-prevention potential of Celebrex makes the study worth doing, despite the possibility of increased heart attack risk among volunteers, said Dr. Bernard Levin, vice president of cancer prevention at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
The study was two-thirds complete when it was suspended last year. The resumed study will last six months instead of a year. Study volunteers will have their blood pressure monitored and patients with any cardiovascular changes will receive prompt treatment. No patients who've had a heart attack or stroke will be allowed to take part in the study, the AP reported.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended in February that researchers continue to study the potential of Celebrex to prevent cancer. The U.S. National Cancer Institute advised researchers to weigh the risks and benefits of Celebrex in their clinical trials.
Celebrex is part of a family of painkillers called cox-2 inhibitors, which have been linked to increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Two other cox-2 drugs, Vioxx and Bextra, have been removed from the market.
2nd Lawsuit Against Vioxx Maker Begins
A second trial has begun alleging that Merck & Co. knew of the cardiac risks posed by the now-defunct arthritis drug Vioxx but failed to warn consumers.
During opening statements in an Atlantic City, NJ. courtroom on Wednesday, the lawyer for Frederick Humeston said the Vietnam War veteran had led an active lifestyle before he suffered a heart attack within two months of starting the painkiller, according to the Associated Press. Humeston, 60, of Boise, Idaho, survived the Sept. 18, 2001 attack.
Merck contends Humeston's heart attack was related to war injuries and a sedentary lifestyle, the wire service reported.
His trial is the first to be heard since last month, when a Texas jury hearing the nation's first Vioxx case found in favor of a widow who blamed the drug for the death of her husband from an abnormal heartbeat. The jury awarded the woman $253 million, although the award will be reduced to about $26 million. Texas law caps punitive damages at about that number in malpractice cases.
Vioxx, which once had annual sales of $2.5 billion, was withdrawn by Merck in September 2004, when research showed the drug increased long-term users' risks of heart attack and stroke.
Health Tip: If Your Child's Sinuses Are Blocked
Blocked sinuses, which rarely occur in kids under age five, are often caused by a cold or hay fever, according to St. Louis Children's Hospital.
By treating your child's sinus congestion, you can prevent it from developing into a true sinus infection.
Here are some tips:
Use warm water or saline nose drops followed by suction or nose blowing to wash dried mucus out of the nose.
Run a humidifier in the home.
Ice applied over the sinus for 20 minutes may give some pain relief.
With treatment, sinus congestion often resolves in five to seven days.
A fever and increased pain could indicate a bacterial sinusitis that may need an antibiotic.
Health Tip: Don't Skip Meals
If you're trying to cut your calorie intake by skipping meals, you could end up gaining weight instead.
According to George Washington University, people who skip meals, especially breakfast, are more likely to overeat later in the day. That's because when you skip meals, you upset your body's natural cycle of sleep, wakefulness and hunger.
So in trying to right itself, your system overcompensates and you may end up eating from mid-afternoon until bedtime.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Health Headlines - September 15
Feds Grant Katrina Victims Special Status, Streamline Benefits
The federal government is making it easier for victims of Hurricane Katrina to obtain health benefits from programs like Medicaid and Head Start, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said Tuesday.
In a statement, Leavitt said President Bush has granted evacuees special status, giving states the option to enroll evacuees in programs without requiring standard documents like tax returns or proof of residency. People who have lost most forms of identification can show simple forms of ID like a driver's license, the statement said.
Leavitt began a two-day visit Tuesday to shelters in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi to explain the array of benefits available to hurricane victims.
The confirmed death toll from Katrina hovered near 500 with Monday's discovery of 45 bodies at a New Orleans hospital that had been abandoned more than a week earlier, the Associated Press reported.
In Mississippi, Gov. Haley Barbour said on Monday that the confirmed death toll was 218.
FDA Rejects New Osteoporosis Drug
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has rejected Pfizer's petition to approve the new osteoporosis drug Oporia (lasofoxifene), the company told the Associated Press on Tuesday.
The FDA wouldn't disclose why the petition was denied, and Pfizer wouldn't comment beyond issuing a press release announcing the agency's decision, the AP said. The company also has applied to use the drug against vaginal atrophy.
Also Tuesday, Abbott Laboratories Inc. said an FDA expert advisory panel did not recommend the company's prostate cancer drug, Xinlay, for approval by the full agency. According to the AP, the company submitted combined results from two failed clinical trials, hoping to show that the drug helped at least a subset of trial participants.
Abbott said it respected the committee's decision, but nonetheless awaited a ruling by the full agency. The FDA usually abides by the decisions of its advisory panels.
Senate Defeats Attempt to Roll Back Mercury Rules
The U.S. Senate voted 51-47 on Tuesday to defeat a challenge to the Bush Administration's rules that govern mercury emissions from power plants, the Associated Press reported.
The rules put out by the Environmental Protection Agency were finalized last March. But Democrats and the nine Republicans who backed the repeal criticized the rules as being too lenient, the wire service said.
The White House had warned that President Bush would veto any attempt to reverse the rules. Mercury has been linked to serious neurological damage to newborns and young children.
The administration rules, supported by the utility industry, set a national cap on emissions and an allowable level for each state. Individual plants, however, are able to buy "credits" from other plants that are under allowable levels, the wire service said.
Workers to Absorb More Health-Care Costs: Survey
U.S. employers are anticipating a nearly 10 percent increase in health-care costs next year and plan to pass more of the burden on to employees, a preliminary survey finds.
The poll of more than 1,800 firms, conducted by Mercer Human Resource Consulting, found that employers are budgeting for an average increase of 6.4 percent in their spending for health-care benefits, the Associated Press reported. The difference is to be made up by employees.
A spokesman for Mercer said companies plan to shift more costs by requiring employees to pay higher deductibles, premiums, and co-payments. They're also limiting workers' choice of insurance plans, the AP said.
Employees of smaller firms, which tend to rely less on self-funded plans than larger companies, probably will see smaller cost increases next year compared with employers of 500 or more people, the wire service said.
Diabetes Drug Reduces Heart Attack and Stroke Risk
The diabetes drug Actos (pioglitazone) reduced the risk of heart attack, stroke and death by 16 percent in high risk patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study presented Monday at a meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.
The 19-country clinical trial involving more than 5,000 patients was funded by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. of Japan, which makes Actos.
Despite the positive findings, Takeda said more study is needed, AFX News reported.
"The PROactive study is the first in the world to prospectively show that a specific oral glucose lowering medication, namely pioglitazone, can significantly improve cardiovascular outcomes by helping to delay or reduce heart attacks, strokes and death in high-risk patients," PROactive Study steering committee chairman Dr. John Dormandy, a professor of vascular sciences at St. George's Hospital in London, said in a prepared statement.
"This groundbreaking study gives new hope to people with type 2 diabetes who, despite their attempts to control blood glucose and take medications, fear these life-threatening events," Dormandy said.
Research Disputes Link Between Sprawl and Obesity
There's no connection between urban sprawl and the growing obesity epidemic in the United States, says an Oregon State University (OSU) study.
The finding contradicts the views of many health officials, planners and other experts who contend that suburbs discourage people from walking and, in turn, may promote obesity.
However, the OSU researchers concluded that overweight and sedentary people tend to move into neighborhoods that provide fewer opportunities to walk because walking isn't a priority for them, the Associated Press reported.
The findings appear in the Journal of Regional Science.
"We found very little evidence that it was the physical environment causing obesity. Rather, it seemed to be more about how people choose the types of neighborhoods to live in," researcher Andrew Plantinga told the AP.
However, he added that controlling urban sprawl does offer other benefits, such as reduced traffic and fuel use.
Aspirin Might Counter Side Effects of Cox-2 Painkillers
Few prescription drugs have as tarnished a reputation as Vioxx, the painkiller that was removed from the market last September amid reports that it caused heart attacks.
Now, however, researchers are reporting that an old, inexpensive standby -- aspirin -- may actually reduce the nasty cardiovascular effects of Vioxx and its sister medications.
The research was only done in mice, and tests in humans appear to be out of the question. Still, the findings show promise that aspirin could come to the rescue of painkillers known as cox-2 inhibitors, said study senior author Dr. Thomas Coffman, chief of division of nephrology at Duke University in Durham, N.C. "It's at least an idea that we think has some merit."
Last September, Merck & Co. withdrew its billion-dollar blockbuster drug Vioxx from the market. Two similar drugs -- Celebrex and Bextra -- have also come under fire, and the FDA pulled Bextra from the market last spring. Celebrex is still available, but carries heightened label warnings about cardiovascular side effects.
Cox-2 inhibitors are heavy-duty painkillers designed to provide relief without triggering gastrointestinal problems -- unlike aspirin, which can cause stomach bleeding. Similar to aspirin, cox-2s interfere with chemical pathways that contribute to pain in the body.
But like an rescue force that can cause destruction even as it brings relief to a community, some of these drugs seem to also make the body more prone to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.
Essentially, the drugs inhibit a "good guy" hormone, which widens blood vessels and thins blood, and does nothing to a "bad guy" hormone, which constricts blood vessels and makes blood form dangerous clots, Coffman explained.
In the new study, Coffman and his colleagues genetically engineered mice to see what would happen if they tinkered with the hormones. They report their findings in the September issue of Cell Metabolism.
The researchers found that inhibiting both hormones -- the good and the bad -- is safer for the heart, Coffman said. Low doses of aspirin could make that happen by thinning the blood, he said.
But where can researchers go from here? To test the theory behind the study, researchers would need to recruit cox-2 inhibitor users and assign some to take low-dose aspirin and some to take a placebo, said Dr. Scott Solomon, director of noninvasive cardiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. In addition to gauging whether the approach reduces cardiovascular problems, it would also reveal if the aspirin boosts stomach bleeding, he said.
But such a study may be unlikely given the reputation of the cox-2 inhibitors.
Instead, study co-author Coffman said it makes the most sense to use the new knowledge to develop new drugs.
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the medical arm of the Veterans Administration.
Health Tip: Make Your Stairs Safer
Stairs, inside and outside a home, can be a hazard for elderly people.
The City of Ottawa recommends you ensure that:
Stair edges are marked with contrasting colors.
They have a non-slip surface.
Handrails are present on both sides of stairs.
Handrail height feels comfortable when used for support.
Handrails extend 12 inches beyond the top and bottom steps, and are round in shape.
Health Tip: Prevent Vision Loss
By the time you're 65 years old, your chances of suffering some kind of significant, uncorrectable vision loss are one in nine, according to The Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
Here's how you can reduce your risk:
Have regular eye examinations, especially after age 40. Early diagnosis is paramount for preventing further vision loss.
Follow your eye care specialist's directions for taking prescribed medications.
Report any sudden or unusual changes in your vision to your eye doctor immediately.
The federal government is making it easier for victims of Hurricane Katrina to obtain health benefits from programs like Medicaid and Head Start, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said Tuesday.
In a statement, Leavitt said President Bush has granted evacuees special status, giving states the option to enroll evacuees in programs without requiring standard documents like tax returns or proof of residency. People who have lost most forms of identification can show simple forms of ID like a driver's license, the statement said.
Leavitt began a two-day visit Tuesday to shelters in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi to explain the array of benefits available to hurricane victims.
The confirmed death toll from Katrina hovered near 500 with Monday's discovery of 45 bodies at a New Orleans hospital that had been abandoned more than a week earlier, the Associated Press reported.
In Mississippi, Gov. Haley Barbour said on Monday that the confirmed death toll was 218.
FDA Rejects New Osteoporosis Drug
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has rejected Pfizer's petition to approve the new osteoporosis drug Oporia (lasofoxifene), the company told the Associated Press on Tuesday.
The FDA wouldn't disclose why the petition was denied, and Pfizer wouldn't comment beyond issuing a press release announcing the agency's decision, the AP said. The company also has applied to use the drug against vaginal atrophy.
Also Tuesday, Abbott Laboratories Inc. said an FDA expert advisory panel did not recommend the company's prostate cancer drug, Xinlay, for approval by the full agency. According to the AP, the company submitted combined results from two failed clinical trials, hoping to show that the drug helped at least a subset of trial participants.
Abbott said it respected the committee's decision, but nonetheless awaited a ruling by the full agency. The FDA usually abides by the decisions of its advisory panels.
Senate Defeats Attempt to Roll Back Mercury Rules
The U.S. Senate voted 51-47 on Tuesday to defeat a challenge to the Bush Administration's rules that govern mercury emissions from power plants, the Associated Press reported.
The rules put out by the Environmental Protection Agency were finalized last March. But Democrats and the nine Republicans who backed the repeal criticized the rules as being too lenient, the wire service said.
The White House had warned that President Bush would veto any attempt to reverse the rules. Mercury has been linked to serious neurological damage to newborns and young children.
The administration rules, supported by the utility industry, set a national cap on emissions and an allowable level for each state. Individual plants, however, are able to buy "credits" from other plants that are under allowable levels, the wire service said.
Workers to Absorb More Health-Care Costs: Survey
U.S. employers are anticipating a nearly 10 percent increase in health-care costs next year and plan to pass more of the burden on to employees, a preliminary survey finds.
The poll of more than 1,800 firms, conducted by Mercer Human Resource Consulting, found that employers are budgeting for an average increase of 6.4 percent in their spending for health-care benefits, the Associated Press reported. The difference is to be made up by employees.
A spokesman for Mercer said companies plan to shift more costs by requiring employees to pay higher deductibles, premiums, and co-payments. They're also limiting workers' choice of insurance plans, the AP said.
Employees of smaller firms, which tend to rely less on self-funded plans than larger companies, probably will see smaller cost increases next year compared with employers of 500 or more people, the wire service said.
Diabetes Drug Reduces Heart Attack and Stroke Risk
The diabetes drug Actos (pioglitazone) reduced the risk of heart attack, stroke and death by 16 percent in high risk patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study presented Monday at a meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.
The 19-country clinical trial involving more than 5,000 patients was funded by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. of Japan, which makes Actos.
Despite the positive findings, Takeda said more study is needed, AFX News reported.
"The PROactive study is the first in the world to prospectively show that a specific oral glucose lowering medication, namely pioglitazone, can significantly improve cardiovascular outcomes by helping to delay or reduce heart attacks, strokes and death in high-risk patients," PROactive Study steering committee chairman Dr. John Dormandy, a professor of vascular sciences at St. George's Hospital in London, said in a prepared statement.
"This groundbreaking study gives new hope to people with type 2 diabetes who, despite their attempts to control blood glucose and take medications, fear these life-threatening events," Dormandy said.
Research Disputes Link Between Sprawl and Obesity
There's no connection between urban sprawl and the growing obesity epidemic in the United States, says an Oregon State University (OSU) study.
The finding contradicts the views of many health officials, planners and other experts who contend that suburbs discourage people from walking and, in turn, may promote obesity.
However, the OSU researchers concluded that overweight and sedentary people tend to move into neighborhoods that provide fewer opportunities to walk because walking isn't a priority for them, the Associated Press reported.
The findings appear in the Journal of Regional Science.
"We found very little evidence that it was the physical environment causing obesity. Rather, it seemed to be more about how people choose the types of neighborhoods to live in," researcher Andrew Plantinga told the AP.
However, he added that controlling urban sprawl does offer other benefits, such as reduced traffic and fuel use.
Aspirin Might Counter Side Effects of Cox-2 Painkillers
Few prescription drugs have as tarnished a reputation as Vioxx, the painkiller that was removed from the market last September amid reports that it caused heart attacks.
Now, however, researchers are reporting that an old, inexpensive standby -- aspirin -- may actually reduce the nasty cardiovascular effects of Vioxx and its sister medications.
The research was only done in mice, and tests in humans appear to be out of the question. Still, the findings show promise that aspirin could come to the rescue of painkillers known as cox-2 inhibitors, said study senior author Dr. Thomas Coffman, chief of division of nephrology at Duke University in Durham, N.C. "It's at least an idea that we think has some merit."
Last September, Merck & Co. withdrew its billion-dollar blockbuster drug Vioxx from the market. Two similar drugs -- Celebrex and Bextra -- have also come under fire, and the FDA pulled Bextra from the market last spring. Celebrex is still available, but carries heightened label warnings about cardiovascular side effects.
Cox-2 inhibitors are heavy-duty painkillers designed to provide relief without triggering gastrointestinal problems -- unlike aspirin, which can cause stomach bleeding. Similar to aspirin, cox-2s interfere with chemical pathways that contribute to pain in the body.
But like an rescue force that can cause destruction even as it brings relief to a community, some of these drugs seem to also make the body more prone to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.
Essentially, the drugs inhibit a "good guy" hormone, which widens blood vessels and thins blood, and does nothing to a "bad guy" hormone, which constricts blood vessels and makes blood form dangerous clots, Coffman explained.
In the new study, Coffman and his colleagues genetically engineered mice to see what would happen if they tinkered with the hormones. They report their findings in the September issue of Cell Metabolism.
The researchers found that inhibiting both hormones -- the good and the bad -- is safer for the heart, Coffman said. Low doses of aspirin could make that happen by thinning the blood, he said.
But where can researchers go from here? To test the theory behind the study, researchers would need to recruit cox-2 inhibitor users and assign some to take low-dose aspirin and some to take a placebo, said Dr. Scott Solomon, director of noninvasive cardiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. In addition to gauging whether the approach reduces cardiovascular problems, it would also reveal if the aspirin boosts stomach bleeding, he said.
But such a study may be unlikely given the reputation of the cox-2 inhibitors.
Instead, study co-author Coffman said it makes the most sense to use the new knowledge to develop new drugs.
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the medical arm of the Veterans Administration.
Health Tip: Make Your Stairs Safer
Stairs, inside and outside a home, can be a hazard for elderly people.
The City of Ottawa recommends you ensure that:
Stair edges are marked with contrasting colors.
They have a non-slip surface.
Handrails are present on both sides of stairs.
Handrail height feels comfortable when used for support.
Handrails extend 12 inches beyond the top and bottom steps, and are round in shape.
Health Tip: Prevent Vision Loss
By the time you're 65 years old, your chances of suffering some kind of significant, uncorrectable vision loss are one in nine, according to The Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
Here's how you can reduce your risk:
Have regular eye examinations, especially after age 40. Early diagnosis is paramount for preventing further vision loss.
Follow your eye care specialist's directions for taking prescribed medications.
Report any sudden or unusual changes in your vision to your eye doctor immediately.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Health Headlines - September 14, 2005
Katrina Displaces Thousands With HIV
About 8,000 people with HIV and AIDS who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina now face the massive challenge of trying to manage their disease without their doctors, their clinics and their support systems.
Experts: Headphones Worsen Hearing Loss
Researchers fear the growing popularity of portable music players and other items that attach directly to the ears -- including cell phones -- is contributing to hearing loss in younger people.
WHO Launches Polio Vaccination Campaign
The U.N. health agency said Tuesday it has launched a series of polio immunization campaigns in east Africa after a new case was confirmed in Somalia, a country that had been free of the disease since 2002.
Katrina Shows Need to Computerize Records
Federal health officials are working to open a database of prescription drug records to help Hurricane Katrina evacuees piece their health care back together.
Researchers Find No Obesity, Sprawl Link
A growing chorus of planners, health officials and others has said that spread-out suburbs discourage walking and might encourage obesity.
Resistant E. Coli Cases Rising in England
Strains of E. coli bacteria that are resistant to most types of antibiotics and may be spread in food are increasing rapidly in England, the government's health agency said.
Conference Studies Poverty, Health Woes
Scientists and officials from around the world met Monday in Bombay to examine what impact poverty has on health problems in the developing world and how to increase research into fighting diseases that affect the poor.
India to Vaccinate Kids for Encephalitis
More than 20 million children across 60 districts in northern India, considered endemic to Japanese encephalitis, will be vaccinated against the mosquito-born disease, the health minister said Monday.
Health Tip: Treating Iron Deficiency Anemia
If your child's been diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia offers these tips:
To make your child's medicine more palatable, mix it with one ounce of apple or orange juice.
Wipe the teeth after each dose to prevent discoloration of the enamel.
Give your child foods high in iron, including meats, fish, chicken, raisins, dried fruits, sweet potatoes, greens, lima beans, chili beans, green peas, and peanut butter.
Infant formulas have iron, but regular milk does not. Don't give children under the age of one year regular milk without first talking to your child's doctor.
Health Tip: If You're Breastfeeding
When breast-feeding moms return to work, they should do so gradually, says the Baylor College of Medicine.
By initially taking one day off a week, your body will get used to being back at work. Too much too soon and you're likely to see your milk supply decrease because of the stress of working full time and caring for your child when you get home.
To help keep your milk flowing, nurse more often in the evenings and on weekends. It's also a good idea to have a supply of frozen breast milk on hand.
About 8,000 people with HIV and AIDS who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina now face the massive challenge of trying to manage their disease without their doctors, their clinics and their support systems.
Experts: Headphones Worsen Hearing Loss
Researchers fear the growing popularity of portable music players and other items that attach directly to the ears -- including cell phones -- is contributing to hearing loss in younger people.
WHO Launches Polio Vaccination Campaign
The U.N. health agency said Tuesday it has launched a series of polio immunization campaigns in east Africa after a new case was confirmed in Somalia, a country that had been free of the disease since 2002.
Katrina Shows Need to Computerize Records
Federal health officials are working to open a database of prescription drug records to help Hurricane Katrina evacuees piece their health care back together.
Researchers Find No Obesity, Sprawl Link
A growing chorus of planners, health officials and others has said that spread-out suburbs discourage walking and might encourage obesity.
Resistant E. Coli Cases Rising in England
Strains of E. coli bacteria that are resistant to most types of antibiotics and may be spread in food are increasing rapidly in England, the government's health agency said.
Conference Studies Poverty, Health Woes
Scientists and officials from around the world met Monday in Bombay to examine what impact poverty has on health problems in the developing world and how to increase research into fighting diseases that affect the poor.
India to Vaccinate Kids for Encephalitis
More than 20 million children across 60 districts in northern India, considered endemic to Japanese encephalitis, will be vaccinated against the mosquito-born disease, the health minister said Monday.
Health Tip: Treating Iron Deficiency Anemia
If your child's been diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia offers these tips:
To make your child's medicine more palatable, mix it with one ounce of apple or orange juice.
Wipe the teeth after each dose to prevent discoloration of the enamel.
Give your child foods high in iron, including meats, fish, chicken, raisins, dried fruits, sweet potatoes, greens, lima beans, chili beans, green peas, and peanut butter.
Infant formulas have iron, but regular milk does not. Don't give children under the age of one year regular milk without first talking to your child's doctor.
Health Tip: If You're Breastfeeding
When breast-feeding moms return to work, they should do so gradually, says the Baylor College of Medicine.
By initially taking one day off a week, your body will get used to being back at work. Too much too soon and you're likely to see your milk supply decrease because of the stress of working full time and caring for your child when you get home.
To help keep your milk flowing, nurse more often in the evenings and on weekends. It's also a good idea to have a supply of frozen breast milk on hand.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Health Headlines - September 13, 2005
FDA Knew of Heart-Device Problems Before Releasing Alert: Report
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration received a report last February about problems with implanted heart defibrillators made by the Guidant Corp. but didn't issue a safety alert until June, The New York Times reported Monday.
The report from Guidant contained data showing that one of its most widely used defibrillator models -- the Ventak Prizm 2 DR -- was suffering a short-circuit rate of about one a month. A month after the FDA received the report, a U.S. college student who had this model defibrillator died of sudden cardiac arrest.
Defibrillators are designed to deliver electric jolts to the heart to control irregular heart rhythms.
The FDA didn't make the data public when it received it because the agency treats the information in such reports as confidential, the Times reported. The agency's policy is to review these reports within 90 days of receiving them. However, it's unclear whether the Guidant report was reviewed within this time frame or how FDA regulators first interpreted the data in the report, the newspaper said.
The Guidant controversy prompted a meeting of heart specialists that's scheduled for this Friday in Washington, D.C. One of the major issues expected to be discussed is how much medical device safety data should be disclosed to doctors and patients, the Times reported.
Older People's Memory Hindered by Inability to Ignore Distractions
An inability to tune out distractions is the major reason why older people suffer memory problems, says a University of California, Berkeley study in the journal Nature Neurosciences.
Researchers used brain scans to compare the ability of younger adults (19 to 30) and older adults (60 to 77) to concentrate. The results showed that older people had no difficulty focusing on relevant information but weren't as able as younger adults to tune out competing distractions.
"Difficulty filtering out distractions impacts a wide range of daily life activities, such as driving, social interactions and reading, and can greatly affect quality of life," lead researcher Dr. Adam Gazzaley told BBC News.
"These results reveal that efficiently focusing on relevant information is not enough to ensure successful memory. It is also necessary to filter distractions. Otherwise, our capacity-limited short-term memory system will be overloaded," Gazzaley said.
Fellow researcher Professor Mark D'Esposito told BBC News: "If you are unable to block out distracting information, you can't really attend to what you are supposed to attend to, you can't get in what you are supposed to remember, and you have a hard time retrieving what you are supposed to remember."
Super-resistant E. Coli Germ Spreading Across Britain
A new super-resistant form of E. coli bacteria is spreading across Britain and has infected thousands of people and caused numerous deaths, says a report released Monday by the government Health Protection Agency (HPA).
This new E. coli strain was unknown before 2000 but began spreading rapidly in 2003, The Independent newspaper reported. This "superbug" causes blood poisoning in vulnerable people and is resistant to treatment with conventional antibiotics.
Outbreaks have been reported in Shrewsbury (300 cases of infection in 18 months) and in Southampton (1,000 cases of infection since 2003).
Attempts to control this strain of E. coli have been unsuccessful and it has spread across the country, the report said. People in the community as well as hospital patients are being affected.
The report is meant to alert doctors and hospital staff to improve laboratory reporting and surveillance of this infection.
Bats May Be Source of SARS Virus: Report
Chinese researchers say they've found a virus in some wild bats in Hong Kong that's closely related to the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in humans.
In 2003, Chinese health officials first found the SARS coronavirus in caged civets in animal markets, suggesting these weasel-like mammals were the source of the SARS epidemic. But, subsequent studies suggested that while civets have served to host the virus, they may not have been the original host.
To investigate further, the Chinese research team studied wild animals in the Hong Kong countryside that may have come in contact with civets. The researchers found a coronavirus similar to the SARS virus in nearly 40 percent of wild Chinese horseshoe bats they examined. A genetic analysis of the bat coronavirus showed the virus is closely related to the human SARS coronavirus. And it probably shares a genetic ancestor with the civet SARS coronavirus, the researchers said.
Their findings appear in the online early edition the Sept. 12-16 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The researchers said they couldn't determine how the bats were originally infected or whether this species was responsible for transmitting the SARS coronavirus to other mammals, including civets. However, since bat feces are used in Chinese traditional medicine, and bat meat is considered a delicacy in parts of Asia, the researchers urged caution in handling these animals.
SARS first appeared in southern China in late 2002. It has killed 774 people around the globe, most of them in Asia, according to the World Health Organization. More than 8,000 people were sickened before the initial outbreak was brought under control through such measures as quarantines and travel restrictions. But health officials worry about the potential for another outbreak.
Encephalitis Kills Nearly 700 Children in India
An outbreak of Japanese encephalitis has killed nearly 700 children in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, according to official figures, although aid agencies say the real toll could be closer to 1,500, BBN News reported.
The outbreak began earlier this summer with the onset of monsoon rains. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes; they transfer it from infected animals -- usually pigs and birds -- to humans.
The disease leads to high fever and aching. Victims eventually fall into a coma and nearly one-third of them die, the BBC said.
FDA Panel Backs Diabetes Drug, Despite Heart Risks
Experts advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted Friday to recommend FDA approval of the Bristol-Myers Squibb diabetes drug Pargluva (muraglitazar), despite an increased risk of heart failure among users, the Bloomberg news service reported.
Pargluva is among a new class of non-insulin drugs that allows diabetics to control blood sugar levels. It's also designed to help patients maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels. But there were 17 cases of heart failure among Pargluva users in clinical trials, compared with two cases of heart failure among those who took a different drug, Bloomberg said.
The consumer group Public Citizen warned against FDA approval, citing the drug's heart failure risks and two other common side effects, fluid retention and weight gain. Bristol-Myers argued that the drug's benefits outweigh its risks.
A company spokesman told Bloomberg that the company would address the heart failure risks.
Health Tip: Treating Shin Splints
Shin splints are usually caused by inflammation or injury to the shin muscles. The predominant symptom is a sharp, searing type of pain along the bone of your lower leg.
The Calgary Health Region of Canada offers these self-care tips:
Rest the affected leg as much as possible.
Substitute non-weight bearing exercises, such as swimming, for your usual workout until the pain has gone.
Do daily calf muscle and Achilles tendon stretches but avoid stretching the shin muscles.
Apply ice to the inflamed area.
Wrap your lower leg with a tensor bandage to provide support.
Elevate the lower leg above the level of your heart as often as possible.
The pain from shin splints can last from several days to a week, but may become chronic if you don't allow enough time for your leg to heal.
Health Tip: Breathe Easier Indoors
Since most people spend more time indoors than out, the air quality of the indoor environment can play an important role in maintaining good health, according to Health Canada.
Here's how to keep indoor air quality healthy:
Control the humidity and let more air into your home to prevent moisture from building up on walls and windows.
Repair leaky roofs, walls and basements.
Get rid of moldy surfaces with a solution of bleach and water -- about one cup of bleach per gallon of water.
Keep your home clean and dust-free.
Buy a hygrometer to measure indoor humidity. This way you'll know whether you need a humidifier.
Regularly clean and disinfect humidifiers and air conditioners.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration received a report last February about problems with implanted heart defibrillators made by the Guidant Corp. but didn't issue a safety alert until June, The New York Times reported Monday.
The report from Guidant contained data showing that one of its most widely used defibrillator models -- the Ventak Prizm 2 DR -- was suffering a short-circuit rate of about one a month. A month after the FDA received the report, a U.S. college student who had this model defibrillator died of sudden cardiac arrest.
Defibrillators are designed to deliver electric jolts to the heart to control irregular heart rhythms.
The FDA didn't make the data public when it received it because the agency treats the information in such reports as confidential, the Times reported. The agency's policy is to review these reports within 90 days of receiving them. However, it's unclear whether the Guidant report was reviewed within this time frame or how FDA regulators first interpreted the data in the report, the newspaper said.
The Guidant controversy prompted a meeting of heart specialists that's scheduled for this Friday in Washington, D.C. One of the major issues expected to be discussed is how much medical device safety data should be disclosed to doctors and patients, the Times reported.
Older People's Memory Hindered by Inability to Ignore Distractions
An inability to tune out distractions is the major reason why older people suffer memory problems, says a University of California, Berkeley study in the journal Nature Neurosciences.
Researchers used brain scans to compare the ability of younger adults (19 to 30) and older adults (60 to 77) to concentrate. The results showed that older people had no difficulty focusing on relevant information but weren't as able as younger adults to tune out competing distractions.
"Difficulty filtering out distractions impacts a wide range of daily life activities, such as driving, social interactions and reading, and can greatly affect quality of life," lead researcher Dr. Adam Gazzaley told BBC News.
"These results reveal that efficiently focusing on relevant information is not enough to ensure successful memory. It is also necessary to filter distractions. Otherwise, our capacity-limited short-term memory system will be overloaded," Gazzaley said.
Fellow researcher Professor Mark D'Esposito told BBC News: "If you are unable to block out distracting information, you can't really attend to what you are supposed to attend to, you can't get in what you are supposed to remember, and you have a hard time retrieving what you are supposed to remember."
Super-resistant E. Coli Germ Spreading Across Britain
A new super-resistant form of E. coli bacteria is spreading across Britain and has infected thousands of people and caused numerous deaths, says a report released Monday by the government Health Protection Agency (HPA).
This new E. coli strain was unknown before 2000 but began spreading rapidly in 2003, The Independent newspaper reported. This "superbug" causes blood poisoning in vulnerable people and is resistant to treatment with conventional antibiotics.
Outbreaks have been reported in Shrewsbury (300 cases of infection in 18 months) and in Southampton (1,000 cases of infection since 2003).
Attempts to control this strain of E. coli have been unsuccessful and it has spread across the country, the report said. People in the community as well as hospital patients are being affected.
The report is meant to alert doctors and hospital staff to improve laboratory reporting and surveillance of this infection.
Bats May Be Source of SARS Virus: Report
Chinese researchers say they've found a virus in some wild bats in Hong Kong that's closely related to the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in humans.
In 2003, Chinese health officials first found the SARS coronavirus in caged civets in animal markets, suggesting these weasel-like mammals were the source of the SARS epidemic. But, subsequent studies suggested that while civets have served to host the virus, they may not have been the original host.
To investigate further, the Chinese research team studied wild animals in the Hong Kong countryside that may have come in contact with civets. The researchers found a coronavirus similar to the SARS virus in nearly 40 percent of wild Chinese horseshoe bats they examined. A genetic analysis of the bat coronavirus showed the virus is closely related to the human SARS coronavirus. And it probably shares a genetic ancestor with the civet SARS coronavirus, the researchers said.
Their findings appear in the online early edition the Sept. 12-16 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The researchers said they couldn't determine how the bats were originally infected or whether this species was responsible for transmitting the SARS coronavirus to other mammals, including civets. However, since bat feces are used in Chinese traditional medicine, and bat meat is considered a delicacy in parts of Asia, the researchers urged caution in handling these animals.
SARS first appeared in southern China in late 2002. It has killed 774 people around the globe, most of them in Asia, according to the World Health Organization. More than 8,000 people were sickened before the initial outbreak was brought under control through such measures as quarantines and travel restrictions. But health officials worry about the potential for another outbreak.
Encephalitis Kills Nearly 700 Children in India
An outbreak of Japanese encephalitis has killed nearly 700 children in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, according to official figures, although aid agencies say the real toll could be closer to 1,500, BBN News reported.
The outbreak began earlier this summer with the onset of monsoon rains. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes; they transfer it from infected animals -- usually pigs and birds -- to humans.
The disease leads to high fever and aching. Victims eventually fall into a coma and nearly one-third of them die, the BBC said.
FDA Panel Backs Diabetes Drug, Despite Heart Risks
Experts advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted Friday to recommend FDA approval of the Bristol-Myers Squibb diabetes drug Pargluva (muraglitazar), despite an increased risk of heart failure among users, the Bloomberg news service reported.
Pargluva is among a new class of non-insulin drugs that allows diabetics to control blood sugar levels. It's also designed to help patients maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels. But there were 17 cases of heart failure among Pargluva users in clinical trials, compared with two cases of heart failure among those who took a different drug, Bloomberg said.
The consumer group Public Citizen warned against FDA approval, citing the drug's heart failure risks and two other common side effects, fluid retention and weight gain. Bristol-Myers argued that the drug's benefits outweigh its risks.
A company spokesman told Bloomberg that the company would address the heart failure risks.
Health Tip: Treating Shin Splints
Shin splints are usually caused by inflammation or injury to the shin muscles. The predominant symptom is a sharp, searing type of pain along the bone of your lower leg.
The Calgary Health Region of Canada offers these self-care tips:
Rest the affected leg as much as possible.
Substitute non-weight bearing exercises, such as swimming, for your usual workout until the pain has gone.
Do daily calf muscle and Achilles tendon stretches but avoid stretching the shin muscles.
Apply ice to the inflamed area.
Wrap your lower leg with a tensor bandage to provide support.
Elevate the lower leg above the level of your heart as often as possible.
The pain from shin splints can last from several days to a week, but may become chronic if you don't allow enough time for your leg to heal.
Health Tip: Breathe Easier Indoors
Since most people spend more time indoors than out, the air quality of the indoor environment can play an important role in maintaining good health, according to Health Canada.
Here's how to keep indoor air quality healthy:
Control the humidity and let more air into your home to prevent moisture from building up on walls and windows.
Repair leaky roofs, walls and basements.
Get rid of moldy surfaces with a solution of bleach and water -- about one cup of bleach per gallon of water.
Keep your home clean and dust-free.
Buy a hygrometer to measure indoor humidity. This way you'll know whether you need a humidifier.
Regularly clean and disinfect humidifiers and air conditioners.
Monday, September 12, 2005
Health Headlines - September 12, 2005
Bats May Be Source of SARS Virus: Report
Chinese researchers say they've found a virus in some wild bats in Hong Kong that's closely related to the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in humans.
In 2003, Chinese health officials first found the SARS coronavirus in caged civets in animal markets, suggesting these weasel-like mammals were the source of the SARS epidemic. But, subsequent studies suggested that while civets have served to host the virus, they may not have been the original host.
To investigate further, the Chinese research team studied wild animals in the Hong Kong countryside that may have come in contact with civets. The researchers found a coronavirus similar to the SARS virus in nearly 40 percent of wild Chinese horseshoe bats they examined. A genetic analysis of the bat coronavirus showed the virus is closely related to the human SARS coronavirus. And it probably shares a genetic ancestor with the civet SARS coronavirus, the researchers said.
Their findings appear in the online early edition the Sept. 12-16 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The researchers said they couldn't determine how the bats were originally infected or whether this species was responsible for transmitting the SARS coronavirus to other mammals, including civets. However, since bat feces are used in Chinese traditional medicine, and bat meat is considered a delicacy in parts of Asia, the researchers urged caution in handling these animals.
SARS first appeared in southern China in late 2002. It has killed 774 people around the globe, most of them in Asia, according to the World Health Organization. More than 8,000 people were sickened before the initial outbreak was brought under control through such measures as quarantines and travel restrictions. But health officials worry about the potential for another outbreak.
FDA Panel Backs Diabetes Drug, Despite Heart Risks
Experts advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted Friday to recommend FDA approval of the Bristol-Myers Squibb diabetes drug Pargluva (muraglitazar), despite an increased risk of heart failure among users, the Bloomberg news service reported.
Pargluva is among a new class of non-insulin drugs that allows diabetics to control blood sugar levels. It's also designed to help patients maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels. But there were 17 cases of heart failure among Pargluva users in clinical trials, compared with two cases of heart failure among those who took a different drug, Bloomberg said.
The consumer group Public Citizen warned against FDA approval, citing the drug's heart failure risks and two other common side effects, fluid retention and weight gain. Bristol-Myers argued that the drug's benefits outweigh its risks.
A company spokesman told Bloomberg that the company would address the heart failure risks in the drug's label and in its marketing materials to doctors.
The full FDA normally follows the recommendations of its expert panels but isn't bound to do so.
On Thursday, an FDA advisory panel voted to back an inhaled form of insulin that's designed to end or supplement the need for injections that control diabetics' blood sugar levels.
The FDA's Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee voted 7-2 to recommend that Exubera, developed by Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, and Nektar Therapeutics, be approved by the full FDA.
Senate Passes Bill Restricting Cold Medicine Access
Sales of cold medicines that can be used to make the addictive street drug methamphetamine would be restricted under legislation passed Friday by the U.S. Senate.
The measure, approved unanimously, would require cold medicines containing the decongestant pseudoephedrine to be sold only from behind pharmacy counters, the Associated Press reported.
Buyers would have to show a photo ID and sign a log, and would be limited to about 7.5 grams worth of the medicine per month. Purchases would be tracked to prevent the same consumer from buying larger quantities at different stores.
The House of Representatives has yet to consider the bill, the AP said.
Study Shows 900,000 Teens Planned Suicides While Depressed
Approximately 900,000 American teens had made a plan to commit suicide during their worst or most recent episode of major depression, and 712,000 attempted suicide during such an episode, a new federal study reports.
The findings are contained in a study on children ages 12 to 17 that was released Friday by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The data came from the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which asked teens about symptoms of depression, including thoughts about death or suicide. The report defines a major depressive episode as a period of at least two weeks in which a person experienced a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities and had at least five of the nine symptoms of clinical-diagnosed depression.
The report, "Suicidal Thoughts Among Youths Aged 12-17 With Major Depressive Episode," found that more than 7 percent of teens, or 1.8 million children, had thought about killing themselves during their worst or most recent episode of major depression.
The data also showed that about 3.5 million teens had experienced at least one episode of major depression in their lifetime. Almost 20 percent of females in this age group and 8.5 percent of males had at least one of these depressive episodes. Rates of major depressive episodes were similar among racial and ethnic groups and increased with age, the study found.
British Researchers Look to Create Embryos From 2 Women
British authorities have approved experimental research by University of Newcastle scientists that could lead within a few years to the first genetically altered babies being born in Britain.
The goal of the research, according to the scientists: To eliminate 50 or so metabolic disorders, including muscular dystrophy, that are linked to faults in a small set of genes outside the nucleus of cells, The Daily Telegraph reported.
The Newcastle researchers hope that in as few as three years, they will be able to combine in-vitro fertilization with cell and genetic surgery to "wipe out diseases caused by the equivalent of faulty batteries in cells," the newspaper said.
The result would be a baby who would be a combination of genes from one man and two women. If a girl were born in this way, her genetic alterations would be passed to future generations to free them of potentially deadly disorders, the paper said.
Pro-life advocates are denouncing the research as efforts to create "designer babies."
But Prof. John Burn, of the department of clinical medical sciences at Newcastle University, said, "I would use the analogy of simply replacing the battery in a pocket radio to explain what we are doing. You are not altering the radio at all, just giving it a new power source."
Give Hay Fever the Heave-Ho This Fall
Allergy sufferers, prepare yourselves -- ragweed pollen season is upon us, delivering bouts of sneezing and itchy, watery eyes for the more than 36 million Americans with hay fever.
Ragweed starts blooming in mid-August and is responsible for more than $3 billion annually in lost production, medications and doctor visits, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
But the allergic can do more than just rage against ragweed. The academy recommends that sufferers:
Commence taking medication 10 to 14 days prior to the onset of ragweed season.
Consult with an allergist before using herbal supplements or other alternative therapies, as they can have potentially serious side effects.
Consider allergy shots if medications do not provide adequate relief.
Continue treatment for two to three weeks after the season ends, to decrease nasal hyper-reactivity that may persist after pollen exposure has ended.
And if allergy symptoms still get out of control, don't wait -- see an allergist/immunologist.
"Studies have shown that those who get prompt medical attention make fewer visits to emergency rooms and are better able to manage their symptoms," Dr. Bruce S. Bochner, director of the division of allergy and clinical immunology at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, said in a prepared statement.
Getting the Most Out of Your Doctor Visit
When you're feeling sick -- really sick -- you might yearn for the good old days when a Marcus Welby-like doctor strode up to your door with a black bag and fixed you up in no time.
Those days may be long gone, but you can learn how to get the most out of a doctor's visit when you or a loved one are sick.
Here are some tips from experts on what you should do, say, and bring with you when you drag yourself to the doctor.
Take along helpful information.
"Patients need to have a list of their medications," said Dr. Jim Martin, a family physician and director of the residency training program at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. If you're seeing your regular family doctor, he or she probably has that list on file, but it doesn't hurt to take it along anyway. Include when and how often you take the medicines, and at what strength. Also, discuss any allergies or reactions you have had to medicines.
Similarly, if patients "have a history of medical problems, they should make a list of those medical problems," Martin said. This would be particularly valuable if you don't wind up seeing your regular doctor, but someone else in the practice.
Be specific about what's wrong.
Before leaving for the doctor, think about your symptoms and make a mental -- or written -- list of what's bothering you, said Dr. Michael Fleming, a family physician in Shreveport, La., and immediate past president of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
"We're like detectives; we work on clues," Fleming said. "If you aren't telling the whole story, that may limit my ability to figure out what is wrong."
Suppose you have a cough. Your doctor will want to know if it is "productive" -- that is, does something come up when you cough? Does your chest hurt when you are hacking away? Are you short of breath?
"Give us a time frame," Fleming added. Tell your doctor how long you've been feeling lousy.
"The physician wants the story of the illness," agreed Martin. "When did it start, what was it like, how have the symptoms changed or progressed, what have you attempted yourself, to treat it?"
Fess up to self-treatments.
Some patients will root around in the medicine cabinet in an effort to rediscover a treatment that may have worked in the past for, say, a troublesome stomach. If you diagnosed yourself -- even with an over-the-counter medicine -- your doctor needs to know that. "Some patients have gone to the drug store and gotten something that has made it worse," Fleming said.
"It is important to let your doctor know what you have been taking," Fleming said. It might interact with what he is planning to give you, or make it less effective.
When your child is sick.
When it's your child who's ill, all the information-sharing that applies to an adult office visit applies as well, Fleming and Martin said.
With children, especially ones so young they aren't very verbal, it's important for the parent to let the doctor know of any chronic diseases such as asthma. That way, the doctor can separate out disease symptoms from new and unrelated aches and pains, Fleming said.
Also, be prepared to tell the pediatrician how well your child is sleeping and eating and how long the symptoms have persisted, Fleming said.
But don't expect to do all the talking. "By the time a child is about 3, I try to have as much conversation with them as possible," Martin said. He tries to allow the child to describe the symptoms, at least initially, so he can get a first-hand account of the problem. Then, he turns to the parent for the additional information he needs.
Finally, don't leave the office without a clear idea of when you -- or your loved one -- should expect to feel better, and what to do if you don't.
Chinese researchers say they've found a virus in some wild bats in Hong Kong that's closely related to the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in humans.
In 2003, Chinese health officials first found the SARS coronavirus in caged civets in animal markets, suggesting these weasel-like mammals were the source of the SARS epidemic. But, subsequent studies suggested that while civets have served to host the virus, they may not have been the original host.
To investigate further, the Chinese research team studied wild animals in the Hong Kong countryside that may have come in contact with civets. The researchers found a coronavirus similar to the SARS virus in nearly 40 percent of wild Chinese horseshoe bats they examined. A genetic analysis of the bat coronavirus showed the virus is closely related to the human SARS coronavirus. And it probably shares a genetic ancestor with the civet SARS coronavirus, the researchers said.
Their findings appear in the online early edition the Sept. 12-16 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The researchers said they couldn't determine how the bats were originally infected or whether this species was responsible for transmitting the SARS coronavirus to other mammals, including civets. However, since bat feces are used in Chinese traditional medicine, and bat meat is considered a delicacy in parts of Asia, the researchers urged caution in handling these animals.
SARS first appeared in southern China in late 2002. It has killed 774 people around the globe, most of them in Asia, according to the World Health Organization. More than 8,000 people were sickened before the initial outbreak was brought under control through such measures as quarantines and travel restrictions. But health officials worry about the potential for another outbreak.
FDA Panel Backs Diabetes Drug, Despite Heart Risks
Experts advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted Friday to recommend FDA approval of the Bristol-Myers Squibb diabetes drug Pargluva (muraglitazar), despite an increased risk of heart failure among users, the Bloomberg news service reported.
Pargluva is among a new class of non-insulin drugs that allows diabetics to control blood sugar levels. It's also designed to help patients maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels. But there were 17 cases of heart failure among Pargluva users in clinical trials, compared with two cases of heart failure among those who took a different drug, Bloomberg said.
The consumer group Public Citizen warned against FDA approval, citing the drug's heart failure risks and two other common side effects, fluid retention and weight gain. Bristol-Myers argued that the drug's benefits outweigh its risks.
A company spokesman told Bloomberg that the company would address the heart failure risks in the drug's label and in its marketing materials to doctors.
The full FDA normally follows the recommendations of its expert panels but isn't bound to do so.
On Thursday, an FDA advisory panel voted to back an inhaled form of insulin that's designed to end or supplement the need for injections that control diabetics' blood sugar levels.
The FDA's Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee voted 7-2 to recommend that Exubera, developed by Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, and Nektar Therapeutics, be approved by the full FDA.
Senate Passes Bill Restricting Cold Medicine Access
Sales of cold medicines that can be used to make the addictive street drug methamphetamine would be restricted under legislation passed Friday by the U.S. Senate.
The measure, approved unanimously, would require cold medicines containing the decongestant pseudoephedrine to be sold only from behind pharmacy counters, the Associated Press reported.
Buyers would have to show a photo ID and sign a log, and would be limited to about 7.5 grams worth of the medicine per month. Purchases would be tracked to prevent the same consumer from buying larger quantities at different stores.
The House of Representatives has yet to consider the bill, the AP said.
Study Shows 900,000 Teens Planned Suicides While Depressed
Approximately 900,000 American teens had made a plan to commit suicide during their worst or most recent episode of major depression, and 712,000 attempted suicide during such an episode, a new federal study reports.
The findings are contained in a study on children ages 12 to 17 that was released Friday by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The data came from the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which asked teens about symptoms of depression, including thoughts about death or suicide. The report defines a major depressive episode as a period of at least two weeks in which a person experienced a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities and had at least five of the nine symptoms of clinical-diagnosed depression.
The report, "Suicidal Thoughts Among Youths Aged 12-17 With Major Depressive Episode," found that more than 7 percent of teens, or 1.8 million children, had thought about killing themselves during their worst or most recent episode of major depression.
The data also showed that about 3.5 million teens had experienced at least one episode of major depression in their lifetime. Almost 20 percent of females in this age group and 8.5 percent of males had at least one of these depressive episodes. Rates of major depressive episodes were similar among racial and ethnic groups and increased with age, the study found.
British Researchers Look to Create Embryos From 2 Women
British authorities have approved experimental research by University of Newcastle scientists that could lead within a few years to the first genetically altered babies being born in Britain.
The goal of the research, according to the scientists: To eliminate 50 or so metabolic disorders, including muscular dystrophy, that are linked to faults in a small set of genes outside the nucleus of cells, The Daily Telegraph reported.
The Newcastle researchers hope that in as few as three years, they will be able to combine in-vitro fertilization with cell and genetic surgery to "wipe out diseases caused by the equivalent of faulty batteries in cells," the newspaper said.
The result would be a baby who would be a combination of genes from one man and two women. If a girl were born in this way, her genetic alterations would be passed to future generations to free them of potentially deadly disorders, the paper said.
Pro-life advocates are denouncing the research as efforts to create "designer babies."
But Prof. John Burn, of the department of clinical medical sciences at Newcastle University, said, "I would use the analogy of simply replacing the battery in a pocket radio to explain what we are doing. You are not altering the radio at all, just giving it a new power source."
Give Hay Fever the Heave-Ho This Fall
Allergy sufferers, prepare yourselves -- ragweed pollen season is upon us, delivering bouts of sneezing and itchy, watery eyes for the more than 36 million Americans with hay fever.
Ragweed starts blooming in mid-August and is responsible for more than $3 billion annually in lost production, medications and doctor visits, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
But the allergic can do more than just rage against ragweed. The academy recommends that sufferers:
Commence taking medication 10 to 14 days prior to the onset of ragweed season.
Consult with an allergist before using herbal supplements or other alternative therapies, as they can have potentially serious side effects.
Consider allergy shots if medications do not provide adequate relief.
Continue treatment for two to three weeks after the season ends, to decrease nasal hyper-reactivity that may persist after pollen exposure has ended.
And if allergy symptoms still get out of control, don't wait -- see an allergist/immunologist.
"Studies have shown that those who get prompt medical attention make fewer visits to emergency rooms and are better able to manage their symptoms," Dr. Bruce S. Bochner, director of the division of allergy and clinical immunology at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, said in a prepared statement.
Getting the Most Out of Your Doctor Visit
When you're feeling sick -- really sick -- you might yearn for the good old days when a Marcus Welby-like doctor strode up to your door with a black bag and fixed you up in no time.
Those days may be long gone, but you can learn how to get the most out of a doctor's visit when you or a loved one are sick.
Here are some tips from experts on what you should do, say, and bring with you when you drag yourself to the doctor.
Take along helpful information.
"Patients need to have a list of their medications," said Dr. Jim Martin, a family physician and director of the residency training program at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. If you're seeing your regular family doctor, he or she probably has that list on file, but it doesn't hurt to take it along anyway. Include when and how often you take the medicines, and at what strength. Also, discuss any allergies or reactions you have had to medicines.
Similarly, if patients "have a history of medical problems, they should make a list of those medical problems," Martin said. This would be particularly valuable if you don't wind up seeing your regular doctor, but someone else in the practice.
Be specific about what's wrong.
Before leaving for the doctor, think about your symptoms and make a mental -- or written -- list of what's bothering you, said Dr. Michael Fleming, a family physician in Shreveport, La., and immediate past president of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
"We're like detectives; we work on clues," Fleming said. "If you aren't telling the whole story, that may limit my ability to figure out what is wrong."
Suppose you have a cough. Your doctor will want to know if it is "productive" -- that is, does something come up when you cough? Does your chest hurt when you are hacking away? Are you short of breath?
"Give us a time frame," Fleming added. Tell your doctor how long you've been feeling lousy.
"The physician wants the story of the illness," agreed Martin. "When did it start, what was it like, how have the symptoms changed or progressed, what have you attempted yourself, to treat it?"
Fess up to self-treatments.
Some patients will root around in the medicine cabinet in an effort to rediscover a treatment that may have worked in the past for, say, a troublesome stomach. If you diagnosed yourself -- even with an over-the-counter medicine -- your doctor needs to know that. "Some patients have gone to the drug store and gotten something that has made it worse," Fleming said.
"It is important to let your doctor know what you have been taking," Fleming said. It might interact with what he is planning to give you, or make it less effective.
When your child is sick.
When it's your child who's ill, all the information-sharing that applies to an adult office visit applies as well, Fleming and Martin said.
With children, especially ones so young they aren't very verbal, it's important for the parent to let the doctor know of any chronic diseases such as asthma. That way, the doctor can separate out disease symptoms from new and unrelated aches and pains, Fleming said.
Also, be prepared to tell the pediatrician how well your child is sleeping and eating and how long the symptoms have persisted, Fleming said.
But don't expect to do all the talking. "By the time a child is about 3, I try to have as much conversation with them as possible," Martin said. He tries to allow the child to describe the symptoms, at least initially, so he can get a first-hand account of the problem. Then, he turns to the parent for the additional information he needs.
Finally, don't leave the office without a clear idea of when you -- or your loved one -- should expect to feel better, and what to do if you don't.
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Health Headlines - September 11
FDA Panel Backs Diabetes Drug, Despite Heart Risks
Experts advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted Friday to recommend FDA approval of the Bristol-Myers Squibb diabetes drug Pargluva (muraglitazar), despite an increased risk of heart failure among users, the Bloomberg news service reported.
Pargluva is among a new class of non-insulin drugs that allows diabetics to control blood sugar levels. It's also designed to help patients maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels. But there were 17 cases of heart failure among Pargluva users in clinical trials, compared with two cases of heart failure among those who took a different drug, Bloomberg said.
The consumer group Public Citizen warned against FDA approval, citing the drug's heart failure risks and two other common side effects, fluid retention and weight gain. Bristol-Myers argued that the drug's benefits outweigh its risks.
A company spokesman told Bloomberg that the company would address the heart failure risks in the drug's label and in its marketing materials to doctors.
The full FDA normally follows the recommendations of its expert panels but isn't bound to do so.
On Thursday, an FDA advisory panel voted to back an inhaled form of insulin that's designed to end or supplement the need for injections that control diabetics' blood sugar levels.
The FDA's Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee voted 7-2 to recommend that Exubera, developed by Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, and Nektar Therapeutics, be approved by the full FDA.
Senate Passes Bill Restricting Cold Medicine Access
Sales of cold medicines that can be used to make the addictive street drug methamphetamine would be restricted under legislation passed Friday by the U.S. Senate.
The measure, approved unanimously, would require cold medicines containing the decongestant pseudoephedrine to be sold only from behind pharmacy counters, the Associated Press reported.
Buyers would have to show a photo ID and sign a log, and would be limited to about 7.5 grams worth of the medicine per month. Purchases would be tracked to prevent the same consumer from buying larger quantities at different stores.
The House of Representatives has yet to consider the bill, the AP said.
Study Shows 900,000 Teens Planned Suicides While Depressed
Approximately 900,000 American teens had made a plan to commit suicide during their worst or most recent episode of major depression, and 712,000 attempted suicide during such an episode, a new federal study reports.
The findings are contained in a study on children ages 12 to 17 that was released Friday by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The data came from the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which asked teens about symptoms of depression, including thoughts about death or suicide. The report defines a major depressive episode as a period of at least two weeks in which a person experienced a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities and had at least five of the nine symptoms of clinical-diagnosed depression.
The report, "Suicidal Thoughts Among Youths Aged 12-17 With Major Depressive Episode," found that more than 7 percent of teens, or 1.8 million children, had thought about killing themselves during their worst or most recent episode of major depression.
The data also showed that about 3.5 million teens had experienced at least one episode of major depression in their lifetime. Almost 20 percent of females in this age group and 8.5 percent of males had at least one of these depressive episodes. Rates of major depressive episodes were similar among racial and ethnic groups and increased with age, the study found.
Brigham Young Named Fittest College Campus
Men's Fitness magazine has named Utah's Brigham Young University as the fittest college campus in the United States.
Working with the Princeton Review, the magazine surveyed more than 10,000 students from 660 campuses. The rankings appear in the October issue.
Questions posed to students included whether they had gained weight during college, if they worked out regularly, and whether campus facilities encouraged healthy habits, according to the Associated Press.
Other schools near the top of the list included the University of California, Santa Barbara; Boston University; the University of Vermont; and Northwestern University.
The magazine's list of least-fit schools, presumably compiled before Hurricane Katrina decimated the Gulf Coast last week, included the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the University of New Orleans, and Mississippi State University.
British Researchers Look to Create Embryos From 2 Women
British authorities have approved experimental research by University of Newcastle scientists that could lead within a few years to the first genetically altered babies being born in Britain.
The goal of the research, according to the scientists: To eliminate 50 or so metabolic disorders, including muscular dystrophy, that are linked to faults in a small set of genes outside the nucleus of cells, The Daily Telegraph reported.
The Newcastle researchers hope that in as few as three years, they will be able to combine in-vitro fertilization with cell and genetic surgery to "wipe out diseases caused by the equivalent of faulty batteries in cells," the newspaper said.
The result would be a baby who would be a combination of genes from one man and two women. If a girl were born in this way, her genetic alterations would be passed to future generations to free them of potentially deadly disorders, the paper said.
Pro-life advocates are denouncing the research as efforts to create "designer babies."
But Prof. John Burn, of the department of clinical medical sciences at Newcastle University, said, "I would use the analogy of simply replacing the battery in a pocket radio to explain what we are doing. You are not altering the radio at all, just giving it a new power source."
Health Tip: Treating Leg Cramps
If leg cramps wake you during the night, there's no cause for alarm.
In most cases, the spasms are innocuous and are caused by simple muscle fatigue or an imbalance of chemicals such as sodium, potassium, phosphorous, calcium and magnesium in the blood, according to Calgary Health Region in Canada.
Night-time cramps usually subside by themselves, but sometimes applying heat, massaging the leg or stretching the muscle by pulling your toes up toward you will help.
If you get cramps while you are pregnant or after you've been sweating heavily, you should talk to your doctor.
Health Tip: Are You at Risk for AIDS?
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which is passed from person to person through exchange of body fluids like blood, semen and vaginal fluid.
According to Seton Hall University in New Jersey, risk factors for infection include:
Sex of any type with an infected person.
A history of a sexually transmitted disease, such as herpes, gonorrhea or syphilis.
Multiple sex partners.
Sex with a prostitute, either male or female.
Sex with a man if you are male.
Shared use of needles and syringes to inject drugs.
Blood product transfusions between 1978 and 1985.
If you have one or more of the above risk factors, you should be tested for HIV infection.
Experts advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted Friday to recommend FDA approval of the Bristol-Myers Squibb diabetes drug Pargluva (muraglitazar), despite an increased risk of heart failure among users, the Bloomberg news service reported.
Pargluva is among a new class of non-insulin drugs that allows diabetics to control blood sugar levels. It's also designed to help patients maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels. But there were 17 cases of heart failure among Pargluva users in clinical trials, compared with two cases of heart failure among those who took a different drug, Bloomberg said.
The consumer group Public Citizen warned against FDA approval, citing the drug's heart failure risks and two other common side effects, fluid retention and weight gain. Bristol-Myers argued that the drug's benefits outweigh its risks.
A company spokesman told Bloomberg that the company would address the heart failure risks in the drug's label and in its marketing materials to doctors.
The full FDA normally follows the recommendations of its expert panels but isn't bound to do so.
On Thursday, an FDA advisory panel voted to back an inhaled form of insulin that's designed to end or supplement the need for injections that control diabetics' blood sugar levels.
The FDA's Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee voted 7-2 to recommend that Exubera, developed by Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, and Nektar Therapeutics, be approved by the full FDA.
Senate Passes Bill Restricting Cold Medicine Access
Sales of cold medicines that can be used to make the addictive street drug methamphetamine would be restricted under legislation passed Friday by the U.S. Senate.
The measure, approved unanimously, would require cold medicines containing the decongestant pseudoephedrine to be sold only from behind pharmacy counters, the Associated Press reported.
Buyers would have to show a photo ID and sign a log, and would be limited to about 7.5 grams worth of the medicine per month. Purchases would be tracked to prevent the same consumer from buying larger quantities at different stores.
The House of Representatives has yet to consider the bill, the AP said.
Study Shows 900,000 Teens Planned Suicides While Depressed
Approximately 900,000 American teens had made a plan to commit suicide during their worst or most recent episode of major depression, and 712,000 attempted suicide during such an episode, a new federal study reports.
The findings are contained in a study on children ages 12 to 17 that was released Friday by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The data came from the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which asked teens about symptoms of depression, including thoughts about death or suicide. The report defines a major depressive episode as a period of at least two weeks in which a person experienced a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities and had at least five of the nine symptoms of clinical-diagnosed depression.
The report, "Suicidal Thoughts Among Youths Aged 12-17 With Major Depressive Episode," found that more than 7 percent of teens, or 1.8 million children, had thought about killing themselves during their worst or most recent episode of major depression.
The data also showed that about 3.5 million teens had experienced at least one episode of major depression in their lifetime. Almost 20 percent of females in this age group and 8.5 percent of males had at least one of these depressive episodes. Rates of major depressive episodes were similar among racial and ethnic groups and increased with age, the study found.
Brigham Young Named Fittest College Campus
Men's Fitness magazine has named Utah's Brigham Young University as the fittest college campus in the United States.
Working with the Princeton Review, the magazine surveyed more than 10,000 students from 660 campuses. The rankings appear in the October issue.
Questions posed to students included whether they had gained weight during college, if they worked out regularly, and whether campus facilities encouraged healthy habits, according to the Associated Press.
Other schools near the top of the list included the University of California, Santa Barbara; Boston University; the University of Vermont; and Northwestern University.
The magazine's list of least-fit schools, presumably compiled before Hurricane Katrina decimated the Gulf Coast last week, included the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the University of New Orleans, and Mississippi State University.
British Researchers Look to Create Embryos From 2 Women
British authorities have approved experimental research by University of Newcastle scientists that could lead within a few years to the first genetically altered babies being born in Britain.
The goal of the research, according to the scientists: To eliminate 50 or so metabolic disorders, including muscular dystrophy, that are linked to faults in a small set of genes outside the nucleus of cells, The Daily Telegraph reported.
The Newcastle researchers hope that in as few as three years, they will be able to combine in-vitro fertilization with cell and genetic surgery to "wipe out diseases caused by the equivalent of faulty batteries in cells," the newspaper said.
The result would be a baby who would be a combination of genes from one man and two women. If a girl were born in this way, her genetic alterations would be passed to future generations to free them of potentially deadly disorders, the paper said.
Pro-life advocates are denouncing the research as efforts to create "designer babies."
But Prof. John Burn, of the department of clinical medical sciences at Newcastle University, said, "I would use the analogy of simply replacing the battery in a pocket radio to explain what we are doing. You are not altering the radio at all, just giving it a new power source."
Health Tip: Treating Leg Cramps
If leg cramps wake you during the night, there's no cause for alarm.
In most cases, the spasms are innocuous and are caused by simple muscle fatigue or an imbalance of chemicals such as sodium, potassium, phosphorous, calcium and magnesium in the blood, according to Calgary Health Region in Canada.
Night-time cramps usually subside by themselves, but sometimes applying heat, massaging the leg or stretching the muscle by pulling your toes up toward you will help.
If you get cramps while you are pregnant or after you've been sweating heavily, you should talk to your doctor.
Health Tip: Are You at Risk for AIDS?
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which is passed from person to person through exchange of body fluids like blood, semen and vaginal fluid.
According to Seton Hall University in New Jersey, risk factors for infection include:
Sex of any type with an infected person.
A history of a sexually transmitted disease, such as herpes, gonorrhea or syphilis.
Multiple sex partners.
Sex with a prostitute, either male or female.
Sex with a man if you are male.
Shared use of needles and syringes to inject drugs.
Blood product transfusions between 1978 and 1985.
If you have one or more of the above risk factors, you should be tested for HIV infection.
Friday, September 09, 2005
Health Headlines - September 10
FDA Panel Backs Inhaled Insulin
A group of experts advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday voted to back an inhaled form of insulin that's designed to end or supplement the need for injections that control diabetics' blood sugar levels.
The FDA's Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee voted 7-2 to recommend that Exubera be approved by the full FDA, which usually follows its panels' recommendations but isn't bound by them.
The drug's developers include Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, and Nektar Therapeutics. Safety concerns prompted them to delay seeking FDA approval for three years, the Bloomberg news service reported. Concerns about Exubera include its long-term effects on the lungs, and whether it poses a danger to smokers and people with lung disease, the Associated Press reported.
Human trials have shown the drug to be generally as effective as injected insulin. But some users have complained of coughing and a minor decrease in breathing capacity. Pfizer said it would monitor the long-term effects of the drug, the first diabetes treatment to be absorbed through the lungs, Bloomberg said.
Inhaled insulin wouldn't replace the need for longer-acting injections for people with type 1 diabetes, typically taken in the morning or before bed, according to FDA documents cited by the AP.
Drug Use by U.S. Teens Continues Decline
Illicit drug use among American teens fell 9 percent from 2002 to 2004, the government said Thursday.
Use of marijuana, the most popular illicit drug, fell 7 percent among young adults 18 to 25 during the same period, according to the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Overall, 19.1 million Americans ages 12 and older -- about 7.9 percent of the population within that age group -- conceded to using at least one illicit drug in the month before the survey, SAMHSA found. This rate was similar to those seen in 2002 and 2003, the agency said in a statement.
SAMHSA said it was concerned about an increase in non-medical use of prescription drugs, particularly narcotic pain relievers in the hydrocodone and oxycodone classes. Lifetime non-medical use of these products rose to 24 percent from 22 percent among respondents ages 18 to 25 between 2002 and 2004, the survey found.
Some 22.8 percent of respondents ages 12 and older conceded to binge drinking -- defined as having at least five alcoholic drinks on the same occasion -- at least once in the 30 days prior to the 2004 survey, about the same as in the prior two years. Smoking rates, however, fell to 29.2 percent from 30.4 percent between 2002 and 2004, the poll found.
Child Mercury Poisoning Costs U.S. $2 Billion Annually: Study
The impact of mercury poisoning on children's brain development costs the United States $2 billion each year, scientists at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City concluded in research released Thursday.
More than 1,500 babies each year may suffer mental retardation stemming from fetal mercury exposure, the researchers wrote in the online version of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified coal-fired power plants -- producing 41 percent of U.S. mercury pollution -- as the largest industrial source, the authors said in a statement. The plants alone account for 231 cases of mental retardation at an annual cost of $289 million, the scientists said.
In March, the EPA relaxed rules that will now permit 26 tons of mercury to be released each year into the atmosphere through 2010, the researchers' statement said.
Post-Traumatic Stress Can Be Deadly: Study
U.S. Army veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had twice the death rate within 30 years of service as veterans who didn't have PTSD, according to new study results from researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
Causes of death included cardiovascular disease, cancer, and "external causes" like suicide or traffic accidents, the researchers said in a statement. About half the 15,000 male veterans surveyed served in the Vietnam War, and the rest in wars in Europe or Korea.
PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can follow life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. People who have PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged. Symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person's daily life.
The researchers, whose results were published in the journal Annals of Epidemiology, said the study was relevant not only to veterans, but to others with PTSD, including victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Ways to minimize a PTSD sufferer's risk of dying include getting treatment, following a good diet, exercising, quitting smoking, and avoiding substance abuse, the researchers said.
Junk Food Competes With Nutritional Fare in Most Schools
Junk food, including candy, soda, and pizza, competes with nutritious meals in nine of 10 U.S. schools, a new government survey found.
"Parents should know that our schools are now one of the largest sources of unhealthy food for their kids," Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) told the Associated Press. Harkin, who asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct the study, is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee.
The less-healthy fare is often available in vending machines and in school stores, the AP said. It is largely unregulated, although many schools raise substantial funds from sales of these types of food.
Of 656 schools sampled, vending machines were available in almost all high schools and middle schools, but in fewer than half of elementary schools, the GAO found.
Three-quarters of high schools and 65 percent of middle schools had exclusive soft drink contacts, the GAO said. The figure in middle schools was up from 26 percent five years ago, the AP said.
Health Tip: Prevent Testicular Cancer
Testicular tumors are among the more common cancers occurring in men under 40. Seton Hall University in New Jersey advises men to conduct regular self-examinations. Here's how:
Support the testicles in one hand and feel each with the other hand.
Gently roll each testicle between the thumb and the fingers. You'll feel a smooth tubular structure that covers the top, back and bottom of each testicle.
With your finger, delicately separate this tube from the testicle to examine the testicle itself.
Feel for any swelling or lumps.
If you detect anything unusual, see your doctor without delay.
Health Tip: When Your Glands Are Swollen
If your child has swollen glands, it could be a sign of an infection. Swollen glands are part of the body's defense system to prevent an infection from becoming more serious, according to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Your child should see the doctor if the swollen glands:
Are present for more than two weeks.
Are getting bigger or more numerous.
Are red, hot, tender, or discharging pus.
A group of experts advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday voted to back an inhaled form of insulin that's designed to end or supplement the need for injections that control diabetics' blood sugar levels.
The FDA's Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee voted 7-2 to recommend that Exubera be approved by the full FDA, which usually follows its panels' recommendations but isn't bound by them.
The drug's developers include Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, and Nektar Therapeutics. Safety concerns prompted them to delay seeking FDA approval for three years, the Bloomberg news service reported. Concerns about Exubera include its long-term effects on the lungs, and whether it poses a danger to smokers and people with lung disease, the Associated Press reported.
Human trials have shown the drug to be generally as effective as injected insulin. But some users have complained of coughing and a minor decrease in breathing capacity. Pfizer said it would monitor the long-term effects of the drug, the first diabetes treatment to be absorbed through the lungs, Bloomberg said.
Inhaled insulin wouldn't replace the need for longer-acting injections for people with type 1 diabetes, typically taken in the morning or before bed, according to FDA documents cited by the AP.
Drug Use by U.S. Teens Continues Decline
Illicit drug use among American teens fell 9 percent from 2002 to 2004, the government said Thursday.
Use of marijuana, the most popular illicit drug, fell 7 percent among young adults 18 to 25 during the same period, according to the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Overall, 19.1 million Americans ages 12 and older -- about 7.9 percent of the population within that age group -- conceded to using at least one illicit drug in the month before the survey, SAMHSA found. This rate was similar to those seen in 2002 and 2003, the agency said in a statement.
SAMHSA said it was concerned about an increase in non-medical use of prescription drugs, particularly narcotic pain relievers in the hydrocodone and oxycodone classes. Lifetime non-medical use of these products rose to 24 percent from 22 percent among respondents ages 18 to 25 between 2002 and 2004, the survey found.
Some 22.8 percent of respondents ages 12 and older conceded to binge drinking -- defined as having at least five alcoholic drinks on the same occasion -- at least once in the 30 days prior to the 2004 survey, about the same as in the prior two years. Smoking rates, however, fell to 29.2 percent from 30.4 percent between 2002 and 2004, the poll found.
Child Mercury Poisoning Costs U.S. $2 Billion Annually: Study
The impact of mercury poisoning on children's brain development costs the United States $2 billion each year, scientists at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City concluded in research released Thursday.
More than 1,500 babies each year may suffer mental retardation stemming from fetal mercury exposure, the researchers wrote in the online version of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified coal-fired power plants -- producing 41 percent of U.S. mercury pollution -- as the largest industrial source, the authors said in a statement. The plants alone account for 231 cases of mental retardation at an annual cost of $289 million, the scientists said.
In March, the EPA relaxed rules that will now permit 26 tons of mercury to be released each year into the atmosphere through 2010, the researchers' statement said.
Post-Traumatic Stress Can Be Deadly: Study
U.S. Army veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had twice the death rate within 30 years of service as veterans who didn't have PTSD, according to new study results from researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
Causes of death included cardiovascular disease, cancer, and "external causes" like suicide or traffic accidents, the researchers said in a statement. About half the 15,000 male veterans surveyed served in the Vietnam War, and the rest in wars in Europe or Korea.
PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can follow life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. People who have PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged. Symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person's daily life.
The researchers, whose results were published in the journal Annals of Epidemiology, said the study was relevant not only to veterans, but to others with PTSD, including victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Ways to minimize a PTSD sufferer's risk of dying include getting treatment, following a good diet, exercising, quitting smoking, and avoiding substance abuse, the researchers said.
Junk Food Competes With Nutritional Fare in Most Schools
Junk food, including candy, soda, and pizza, competes with nutritious meals in nine of 10 U.S. schools, a new government survey found.
"Parents should know that our schools are now one of the largest sources of unhealthy food for their kids," Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) told the Associated Press. Harkin, who asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct the study, is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee.
The less-healthy fare is often available in vending machines and in school stores, the AP said. It is largely unregulated, although many schools raise substantial funds from sales of these types of food.
Of 656 schools sampled, vending machines were available in almost all high schools and middle schools, but in fewer than half of elementary schools, the GAO found.
Three-quarters of high schools and 65 percent of middle schools had exclusive soft drink contacts, the GAO said. The figure in middle schools was up from 26 percent five years ago, the AP said.
Health Tip: Prevent Testicular Cancer
Testicular tumors are among the more common cancers occurring in men under 40. Seton Hall University in New Jersey advises men to conduct regular self-examinations. Here's how:
Support the testicles in one hand and feel each with the other hand.
Gently roll each testicle between the thumb and the fingers. You'll feel a smooth tubular structure that covers the top, back and bottom of each testicle.
With your finger, delicately separate this tube from the testicle to examine the testicle itself.
Feel for any swelling or lumps.
If you detect anything unusual, see your doctor without delay.
Health Tip: When Your Glands Are Swollen
If your child has swollen glands, it could be a sign of an infection. Swollen glands are part of the body's defense system to prevent an infection from becoming more serious, according to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Your child should see the doctor if the swollen glands:
Are present for more than two weeks.
Are getting bigger or more numerous.
Are red, hot, tender, or discharging pus.
Health Headlines - September 9
Post-Traumatic Stress Can Be Deadly: Study
U.S. Army veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had twice the death rate within 30 years of service as veterans who didn't have PTSD, according to new study results from researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
Causes of death included cardiovascular disease, cancer, and "external causes" like suicide or traffic accidents, the researchers said in a statement. About half the 15,000 male veterans surveyed served in the Vietnam War, and the rest in wars in Europe or Korea.
PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can follow life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. People who have PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged. Symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person's daily life.
The researchers, whose results were published in the journal Annals of Epidemiology, said the study was relevant not only to veterans, but to others with PTSD, including victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Ways to minimize a PTSD sufferer's risk of dying include getting treatment, following a good diet, exercising, quitting smoking, and avoiding substance abuse, the researchers said.
Junk Food Competes With Nutritional Fare in Most Schools
Junk food, including candy, soda, and pizza, competes with nutritious meals in nine of 10 U.S. schools, a new government survey found.
"Parents should know that our schools are now one of the largest sources of unhealthy food for their kids," Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) told the Associated Press. Harkin, who asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct the study, is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee.
The less-healthy fare is often available in vending machines and in school stores, the AP said. It is largely unregulated, although many schools raise substantial funds from sales of these types of food.
Of 656 schools sampled, vending machines were available in almost all high schools and middle schools, but in fewer than half of elementary schools, the GAO found.
Three-quarters of high schools and 65 percent of middle schools had exclusive soft drink contacts, the GAO said. The figure in middle schools was up from 26 percent five years ago, the AP said.
Ford Recalls 3.8 Million Vehicles for Fire Hazard
Ford is recalling 3.8 million pickup trucks and SUVs that may contain a faulty cruise-control switch, CNN reported Wednesday. The switch could cause an engine fire, even when the vehicle is parked and the engine off, the network said.
Affected models include 1994-2002 F-150 pickups, Ford Expeditions, Lincoln Navigators, and Ford Broncos.
Ford has already recalled more than 1 million vehicles from the model year 2000 to replace cruise-control switches, CNN said.
In March, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began an investigation into more than 600 complaints of spontaneous fires involving these vehicles, the network said.
Ford said it would notify affected customers by mail. Until sufficient parts become available, the company said, it advises owners to have the switches de-activated by the nearest Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealership, CNN reported.
EPA to Ban Use of Pregnant Women, Kids in Pesticide Studies
The Environmental Protection Agency plans to prohibit the use of pregnant women and children in tests that expose humans to toxic pesticides.
Under the proposed rules, the first for regulating such tests, the agency would also create an independent oversight panel to make sure that pesticide studies submitted to the EPA follow accepted protocols for human testing, The New York Times reported.
"This is a landmark regulation on human studies," Jim Jones, director of the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, said Tuesday. "We want to send the message clearly that certain kinds of human research can never be acceptable."
Critics of the new regulations said they would still allow researchers to observe pregnant women's and children's everyday exposure to toxins, the Washington Post reported. And the rules, which would take effect in January, still allow the EPA to rely on earlier study results that did not conform to the new guidelines, they said.
The use of humans in pesticide experiments had been allowed until President Bill Clinton imposed a moratorium in 1998. The Bush administration, which initially backed the moratorium, backed off in 2003 to satisfy a court ruling in favor of pesticide makers.
EPA officials now consider data from human experiments on a case-by-case basis when deciding whether to approve pesticides, the Post reported.
FDA Panel Gives Nod to New Arthritis Drug
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee on Tuesday recommended approval for a new drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
The drug, abatacept, is designed to be given intravenously and suppresses part of the immune system. Drugmaker Bristol-Myers Squibb is recommending it as an alternative for those who don't respond to existing treatments.
The FDA's Arthritis Advisory Committee voted 7-0 that the benefits of the drug outweigh any risks, the Associated Press reported.
Abatacept will sell under the trade name Orencia if it wins approval. Rheumatoid arthritis is a sometimes disabling condition that affects an estimated 2.1 million Americans, most of them women.
Health Tip: How to Stop that Hacking Cough
Has your bout with a cold or the flu left you with a nagging cough? Try soothing your cough with these tips from Lehigh University Health Center in Pennsylvania:
Drink plenty of clear fluids.
Inhale steam. Sit in a steamy bathroom or use a vaporizer.
Take one teaspoon of honey-lemon mixture as needed.
Rest with two or more pillows under your head to help control your coughing.
If after several days, you're still coughing, see your doctor.
Health Tip: As Your Daughter Enters Puberty
Puberty can be a bewildering time for girls, but your daughter is likely to adapt more easily if she knows what to expect, says The Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron, Ohio.
Tell your child that it's normal for:
One breast to grow more quickly than the other, and to stay uneven in size.
Hips and thighs to widen.
Hair to grow under her armpits and in her pubic area.
Skin to become thicker and more oily as her oil glands get more active.
Sweat glands to become more active.
Hands and feet to grow bigger.
Appetite and weight to increase.
Vaginal discharge to begin six months to a year before she starts her period.
U.S. Army veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had twice the death rate within 30 years of service as veterans who didn't have PTSD, according to new study results from researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
Causes of death included cardiovascular disease, cancer, and "external causes" like suicide or traffic accidents, the researchers said in a statement. About half the 15,000 male veterans surveyed served in the Vietnam War, and the rest in wars in Europe or Korea.
PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can follow life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. People who have PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged. Symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person's daily life.
The researchers, whose results were published in the journal Annals of Epidemiology, said the study was relevant not only to veterans, but to others with PTSD, including victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Ways to minimize a PTSD sufferer's risk of dying include getting treatment, following a good diet, exercising, quitting smoking, and avoiding substance abuse, the researchers said.
Junk Food Competes With Nutritional Fare in Most Schools
Junk food, including candy, soda, and pizza, competes with nutritious meals in nine of 10 U.S. schools, a new government survey found.
"Parents should know that our schools are now one of the largest sources of unhealthy food for their kids," Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) told the Associated Press. Harkin, who asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct the study, is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee.
The less-healthy fare is often available in vending machines and in school stores, the AP said. It is largely unregulated, although many schools raise substantial funds from sales of these types of food.
Of 656 schools sampled, vending machines were available in almost all high schools and middle schools, but in fewer than half of elementary schools, the GAO found.
Three-quarters of high schools and 65 percent of middle schools had exclusive soft drink contacts, the GAO said. The figure in middle schools was up from 26 percent five years ago, the AP said.
Ford Recalls 3.8 Million Vehicles for Fire Hazard
Ford is recalling 3.8 million pickup trucks and SUVs that may contain a faulty cruise-control switch, CNN reported Wednesday. The switch could cause an engine fire, even when the vehicle is parked and the engine off, the network said.
Affected models include 1994-2002 F-150 pickups, Ford Expeditions, Lincoln Navigators, and Ford Broncos.
Ford has already recalled more than 1 million vehicles from the model year 2000 to replace cruise-control switches, CNN said.
In March, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began an investigation into more than 600 complaints of spontaneous fires involving these vehicles, the network said.
Ford said it would notify affected customers by mail. Until sufficient parts become available, the company said, it advises owners to have the switches de-activated by the nearest Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealership, CNN reported.
EPA to Ban Use of Pregnant Women, Kids in Pesticide Studies
The Environmental Protection Agency plans to prohibit the use of pregnant women and children in tests that expose humans to toxic pesticides.
Under the proposed rules, the first for regulating such tests, the agency would also create an independent oversight panel to make sure that pesticide studies submitted to the EPA follow accepted protocols for human testing, The New York Times reported.
"This is a landmark regulation on human studies," Jim Jones, director of the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, said Tuesday. "We want to send the message clearly that certain kinds of human research can never be acceptable."
Critics of the new regulations said they would still allow researchers to observe pregnant women's and children's everyday exposure to toxins, the Washington Post reported. And the rules, which would take effect in January, still allow the EPA to rely on earlier study results that did not conform to the new guidelines, they said.
The use of humans in pesticide experiments had been allowed until President Bill Clinton imposed a moratorium in 1998. The Bush administration, which initially backed the moratorium, backed off in 2003 to satisfy a court ruling in favor of pesticide makers.
EPA officials now consider data from human experiments on a case-by-case basis when deciding whether to approve pesticides, the Post reported.
FDA Panel Gives Nod to New Arthritis Drug
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee on Tuesday recommended approval for a new drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
The drug, abatacept, is designed to be given intravenously and suppresses part of the immune system. Drugmaker Bristol-Myers Squibb is recommending it as an alternative for those who don't respond to existing treatments.
The FDA's Arthritis Advisory Committee voted 7-0 that the benefits of the drug outweigh any risks, the Associated Press reported.
Abatacept will sell under the trade name Orencia if it wins approval. Rheumatoid arthritis is a sometimes disabling condition that affects an estimated 2.1 million Americans, most of them women.
Health Tip: How to Stop that Hacking Cough
Has your bout with a cold or the flu left you with a nagging cough? Try soothing your cough with these tips from Lehigh University Health Center in Pennsylvania:
Drink plenty of clear fluids.
Inhale steam. Sit in a steamy bathroom or use a vaporizer.
Take one teaspoon of honey-lemon mixture as needed.
Rest with two or more pillows under your head to help control your coughing.
If after several days, you're still coughing, see your doctor.
Health Tip: As Your Daughter Enters Puberty
Puberty can be a bewildering time for girls, but your daughter is likely to adapt more easily if she knows what to expect, says The Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron, Ohio.
Tell your child that it's normal for:
One breast to grow more quickly than the other, and to stay uneven in size.
Hips and thighs to widen.
Hair to grow under her armpits and in her pubic area.
Skin to become thicker and more oily as her oil glands get more active.
Sweat glands to become more active.
Hands and feet to grow bigger.
Appetite and weight to increase.
Vaginal discharge to begin six months to a year before she starts her period.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Health Headlines - September 8
FDA Panel Gives Nod to New Arthritis Drug
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee on Tuesday recommended approval for a new drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
The drug, abatacept, is designed to be given intravenously and suppresses part of the immune system. Drugmaker Bristol-Myers Squibb is recommending it as an alternative for those who don't respond to existing treatments.
The FDA's Arthritis Advisory Committee voted 7-0 that the benefits of the drug outweigh any risks, the Associated Press reported.
Abatacept will sell under the trade name Orencia if it wins approval. Rheumatoid arthritis is a sometimes disabling condition that affects an estimated 2.1 million Americans, most of them women.
Study Questions Clot Busters for Angioplasty Patients
A new study from Belgium calls into question the common practice of giving heart attack patients a clot-busting drug before they undergo angioplasty, an artery-clearing procedure.
More patients who got the clot-dissolver in the month following angioplasty died than those who weren't given the drug, according to research presented Tuesday at the annual European Society of Cardiology conference in Stockholm, Sweden.
Experts cited by the Associated Press said the results would probably prompt many doctors to stop administering the drug to all angioplasty patients, at least temporarily.
During angioplasty, doctors thread a wire through a person's blood vessels to break up a clot, then inflate a balloon to squash the sticky substance that formed the clot against the artery walls. A wire mesh tube called a stent is commonly implanted afterward to keep the artery propped open.
In the Belgium study, Dr. Frans Van De Werf at the Catholic University of Leuven looked at 1,667 patients, half of whom were given the clot-busting drug and the other half, a non-medicinal placebo. About 6 percent of those given the drug died within 30 days of the angioplasty, while only 3.8 percent of those in the angioplasty-only group died, the AP reported.
U.S. Mad Cow Rule Relaxed for Human Foods, Cosmetics
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has relaxed a new rule that will allow the use of certain material derived from cattle to be used in human foods and cosmetics, the agency said in a statement issued Tuesday.
The rule prohibits the use of cattle-derived materials that could carry the infectious agent for "mad cow" disease, medically called bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The preliminary rule, to become final and take effect in October, had prohibited use of a cow's entire small intestine. But the agency said recent research indicated that removal of a part of the cow's digestive tract called the distal ileum was enough to prevent the disease's spread to people.
The agency said it also changed its preliminary rule to allow the use of milk and milk products, hides, and derivatives from certain solid fats called tallow in products meant for human use.
The rule changes, the agency said, were based on scientific information provided during the preliminary rule's comment period.
British Docs Testing Spray-on Skin
British doctors have received ethical approval to conduct the first major trial of a "spray-on" skin for burn victims and others with disfiguring skin problems, the Times of London reported Tuesday.
The treatment involves taking actual skin from the victim and making a mesh that can cover a larger area. This is placed over the wound and acts as a structure on which cultured skin cells are sprayed using an aerosol, the newspaper said.
The technique removes the need for painful skin grafts, and is thought to reduce healing time and scarring, the Times said. The trial was approved after preliminary tests on 12 patients, including one man who was burned on over 90 percent of his body.
The technique, developed at Royal Perth Hospital in Australia, can also be used for cosmetic surgery and pigmentation abnormalities, the newspaper said.
Vitamin B May Be Harmful for Heart Patients
Vitamin B does not prevent heart attacks and strokes, and may even increase the risk, new research presented in Europe suggests.
A large Norwegian study found heart attack survivors had no benefit from vitamin B supplements, even though they did have lower levels of homocysteine, a blood substance that has been linked to heart risk.
The research, presented Monday at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Stockholm, Sweden, showed that those taking folic acid (a B vitamin) and vitamin B6 had a 20 percent increased risk of heart attack and stroke, the BBC reported.
The Norwegian Vitamin Trial (NORVIT), by researchers from the University of Tromso, looked at 4,749 heart attack survivors who had been divided into four groups. In addition to their standard heart medicines, the groups received either daily folic acid or daily vitamin B6, both folic acid and vitamin B6, or a dummy drug for three years.
After three and a half years, those who had been taking either folic acid or vitamin B6 alone had only a small increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease (heart attack or stroke), compared with those who had received the placebo.
The results also showed there was a 40 percent increase in the risk of new cancers in the group taking folic acid, which the researchers said warranted further investigation.
Almost 2 Million Kids Live in Homes With Guns, U.S. Survey Shows
In what is described as the first comprehensive look at gun storage in U.S. homes, a federal survey found that about 1.7 million U.S. children live in homes that have loaded and unlocked guns.
The study, published in the September issue of Pediatrics, showed that 2.5 percent of children live in homes with loaded and unsecured firearms. Estimates from the early 1990s had put the percentage at 10 percent.
The new results suggest a decline, but that doesn't mean there's cause for celebration, said study co-author Catherine Okoro, an epidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The study is based on a 2002 telephone survey of about 241,000 adults, and is the first to provide data on gun storage in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, its authors told the Associated Press.
Nationally, 33 percent of adults said they kept firearms in or around their home. The highest percentage was in Wyoming, with 63 percent saying they had firearms. The lowest percentage was reported in the District of Columbia, where 5 percent reported having guns at home.
Alabama had the highest proportion -- 7.3 percent -- of homes in which children lived and guns were kept loaded and unlocked. The next highest states were Alaska (6.6 percent), Arkansas (6.6 percent), Montana (6.4 percent) and Idaho (5.2 percent). The lowest was Massachusetts, with 0.3 percent.
Folic Acid Is Helping Reduce Birth Defects
Folic acid fortification of foods, mandated since 1998 in the United States, continues to help reduce the incidence of severe birth defects such as spina bifida, researchers report.
Well Water a Danger to Infants
Formula and food prepared with well water can cause nitrate poisoning in infants, leading the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to issue a warning for families using wells for their drinking water.
Health Tip: Recovering After Vasectomy
If you're scheduled for a vasectomy, you can expect some soreness for a few days after the procedure.
Norwalk Hospital in Connecticut offers these postoperative care tips:
Apply ice packs, covered with a towel, on and off during the first eight hours.
Rest in bed for at least one day and at home for a couple of days.
You can shower the day after the procedure.
Check with your doctor about wearing an athletic supporter.
Keep the area clean and dry, and cover the incision with clean gauze for three days.
A small amount of blood on the gauze pads is normal.
Call your doctor if you experience:
Excessive bleeding or if you have to change gauze pads more than three times a day.
Signs of infection, including fever and chills.
Difficulty urinating.
Health Tip: Remembering Your Medicine
Do you keep forgetting to take your medication?
If so, use these tips from The U.S. National Heart Lung, and Blood Institute to jog your memory:
Put a picture of yourself on the refrigerator with a post-it-note saying, "Remember to take your medication."
Keep your medication on the night stand next to your side of the bed.
Take your pills right after you brush your teeth and keep them with your toothbrush.
Ask a friend to leave a reminder on your answering machine and don't erase the message.
Place your medicine in a weekly pill box.
Establish a buddy system with a friend who's also on daily medication and arrange to call each other every day.
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee on Tuesday recommended approval for a new drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
The drug, abatacept, is designed to be given intravenously and suppresses part of the immune system. Drugmaker Bristol-Myers Squibb is recommending it as an alternative for those who don't respond to existing treatments.
The FDA's Arthritis Advisory Committee voted 7-0 that the benefits of the drug outweigh any risks, the Associated Press reported.
Abatacept will sell under the trade name Orencia if it wins approval. Rheumatoid arthritis is a sometimes disabling condition that affects an estimated 2.1 million Americans, most of them women.
Study Questions Clot Busters for Angioplasty Patients
A new study from Belgium calls into question the common practice of giving heart attack patients a clot-busting drug before they undergo angioplasty, an artery-clearing procedure.
More patients who got the clot-dissolver in the month following angioplasty died than those who weren't given the drug, according to research presented Tuesday at the annual European Society of Cardiology conference in Stockholm, Sweden.
Experts cited by the Associated Press said the results would probably prompt many doctors to stop administering the drug to all angioplasty patients, at least temporarily.
During angioplasty, doctors thread a wire through a person's blood vessels to break up a clot, then inflate a balloon to squash the sticky substance that formed the clot against the artery walls. A wire mesh tube called a stent is commonly implanted afterward to keep the artery propped open.
In the Belgium study, Dr. Frans Van De Werf at the Catholic University of Leuven looked at 1,667 patients, half of whom were given the clot-busting drug and the other half, a non-medicinal placebo. About 6 percent of those given the drug died within 30 days of the angioplasty, while only 3.8 percent of those in the angioplasty-only group died, the AP reported.
U.S. Mad Cow Rule Relaxed for Human Foods, Cosmetics
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has relaxed a new rule that will allow the use of certain material derived from cattle to be used in human foods and cosmetics, the agency said in a statement issued Tuesday.
The rule prohibits the use of cattle-derived materials that could carry the infectious agent for "mad cow" disease, medically called bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The preliminary rule, to become final and take effect in October, had prohibited use of a cow's entire small intestine. But the agency said recent research indicated that removal of a part of the cow's digestive tract called the distal ileum was enough to prevent the disease's spread to people.
The agency said it also changed its preliminary rule to allow the use of milk and milk products, hides, and derivatives from certain solid fats called tallow in products meant for human use.
The rule changes, the agency said, were based on scientific information provided during the preliminary rule's comment period.
British Docs Testing Spray-on Skin
British doctors have received ethical approval to conduct the first major trial of a "spray-on" skin for burn victims and others with disfiguring skin problems, the Times of London reported Tuesday.
The treatment involves taking actual skin from the victim and making a mesh that can cover a larger area. This is placed over the wound and acts as a structure on which cultured skin cells are sprayed using an aerosol, the newspaper said.
The technique removes the need for painful skin grafts, and is thought to reduce healing time and scarring, the Times said. The trial was approved after preliminary tests on 12 patients, including one man who was burned on over 90 percent of his body.
The technique, developed at Royal Perth Hospital in Australia, can also be used for cosmetic surgery and pigmentation abnormalities, the newspaper said.
Vitamin B May Be Harmful for Heart Patients
Vitamin B does not prevent heart attacks and strokes, and may even increase the risk, new research presented in Europe suggests.
A large Norwegian study found heart attack survivors had no benefit from vitamin B supplements, even though they did have lower levels of homocysteine, a blood substance that has been linked to heart risk.
The research, presented Monday at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Stockholm, Sweden, showed that those taking folic acid (a B vitamin) and vitamin B6 had a 20 percent increased risk of heart attack and stroke, the BBC reported.
The Norwegian Vitamin Trial (NORVIT), by researchers from the University of Tromso, looked at 4,749 heart attack survivors who had been divided into four groups. In addition to their standard heart medicines, the groups received either daily folic acid or daily vitamin B6, both folic acid and vitamin B6, or a dummy drug for three years.
After three and a half years, those who had been taking either folic acid or vitamin B6 alone had only a small increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease (heart attack or stroke), compared with those who had received the placebo.
The results also showed there was a 40 percent increase in the risk of new cancers in the group taking folic acid, which the researchers said warranted further investigation.
Almost 2 Million Kids Live in Homes With Guns, U.S. Survey Shows
In what is described as the first comprehensive look at gun storage in U.S. homes, a federal survey found that about 1.7 million U.S. children live in homes that have loaded and unlocked guns.
The study, published in the September issue of Pediatrics, showed that 2.5 percent of children live in homes with loaded and unsecured firearms. Estimates from the early 1990s had put the percentage at 10 percent.
The new results suggest a decline, but that doesn't mean there's cause for celebration, said study co-author Catherine Okoro, an epidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The study is based on a 2002 telephone survey of about 241,000 adults, and is the first to provide data on gun storage in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, its authors told the Associated Press.
Nationally, 33 percent of adults said they kept firearms in or around their home. The highest percentage was in Wyoming, with 63 percent saying they had firearms. The lowest percentage was reported in the District of Columbia, where 5 percent reported having guns at home.
Alabama had the highest proportion -- 7.3 percent -- of homes in which children lived and guns were kept loaded and unlocked. The next highest states were Alaska (6.6 percent), Arkansas (6.6 percent), Montana (6.4 percent) and Idaho (5.2 percent). The lowest was Massachusetts, with 0.3 percent.
Folic Acid Is Helping Reduce Birth Defects
Folic acid fortification of foods, mandated since 1998 in the United States, continues to help reduce the incidence of severe birth defects such as spina bifida, researchers report.
Well Water a Danger to Infants
Formula and food prepared with well water can cause nitrate poisoning in infants, leading the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to issue a warning for families using wells for their drinking water.
Health Tip: Recovering After Vasectomy
If you're scheduled for a vasectomy, you can expect some soreness for a few days after the procedure.
Norwalk Hospital in Connecticut offers these postoperative care tips:
Apply ice packs, covered with a towel, on and off during the first eight hours.
Rest in bed for at least one day and at home for a couple of days.
You can shower the day after the procedure.
Check with your doctor about wearing an athletic supporter.
Keep the area clean and dry, and cover the incision with clean gauze for three days.
A small amount of blood on the gauze pads is normal.
Call your doctor if you experience:
Excessive bleeding or if you have to change gauze pads more than three times a day.
Signs of infection, including fever and chills.
Difficulty urinating.
Health Tip: Remembering Your Medicine
Do you keep forgetting to take your medication?
If so, use these tips from The U.S. National Heart Lung, and Blood Institute to jog your memory:
Put a picture of yourself on the refrigerator with a post-it-note saying, "Remember to take your medication."
Keep your medication on the night stand next to your side of the bed.
Take your pills right after you brush your teeth and keep them with your toothbrush.
Ask a friend to leave a reminder on your answering machine and don't erase the message.
Place your medicine in a weekly pill box.
Establish a buddy system with a friend who's also on daily medication and arrange to call each other every day.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Health Headlines - September 7
Synthetic Anti-Thrombotic Drug Shows Major Promise
In what is being billed as the world's largest study of acute coronary syndrome, a new anti-thrombotic drug has emerged as a rival to the traditional therapy used for preventing heart attacks, death and ischemia for those with serious heart conditions.
In research presented Monday at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Stockholm, Canadian-led scientists said that fondaparinux, a synthetic drug that acts during the early clotting stage, was not only as effective as enoxaparin, a heparin used to prevent blood clots, but also helped cut bleeding.
The research showed that patients had a lower mortality rate one month after an acute coronary event using fondaparinux, according to a prepared statement by researchers at McMaster University in Ontario. And a six -month followup confirmed that.
The international study involved more than 20,000 patients and was conducted at 576 sites in 41 countries.
Review: Lipitor No Better Than Other Anti-Cholesterol Drugs
An independent German review of previous research shows no benefit to taking Pfizer, Inc.'s Lipitor over similar cholesterol-busting drugs, the Associated Press reported Sunday.
The finding runs counter to a recent Pfizer advertising campaign in German newspapers, touting Lipitor -- the world's number one selling prescription medication -- as better than other statin drugs, especially when it comes to side effects.
The report originated with the Institut fuer Qualitaet und Wirtschaftslichkeit im Gesundheitswesen, an independent body set up by the German government to assess value-for-money issues in health care spending.
After a review of studies worldwide, the institute found life-prolonging effects for patients with chronic coronary heart disease from two other statin medications -- Merck & Co.'s Zocor and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s Pravastatin -- but not for Lipitor. Only Zocor was shown to prolong the life of patients with diabetes.
The researchers say they didn't have enough data to show a clear winner among the three drugs when it came to treating acute diseases.
Representatives at Pfizer., Inc.'s New York headquarters did not return calls Sunday, the AP said. Jonathan Jones, a spokesman at Pfizer U.K.'s Cardio-Vascular Group told the wire service he needed to study the institute's analysis before commenting directly.
However, Jones said side effects from each of the drugs differ, and he added that any one study might yield a variety of answers, depending on the weight given to them.
Lipitor sales reached $12 billion in 2004, while number-two selling Zocor netted $5.9 billion in sales, according to consulting firm IMS Health.
Embryonic Stem Cells Undergo Genetic Changes
Stem cells taken from human embryos accumulate genetic changes over time, according to an international team of researchers.
While these changes aren't likely to interfere with the usefulness of these cells for research or future treatments, they do warrant monitoring, to see how they might affect cell behavior, according to a study published Sunday in the online edition of Nature Genetics.
Researchers in the U.S., Singapore, Canada and Sweden compared the genetic makeup of "early" and "late" batches of nine federally approved embryonic stem cell lines. All batches arose from the 29 human lines approved for use in research under a 2001 Bush Administration policy restricting embryonic stem cell use. The late batches were grown in the lab one to three years after the earlier batches, however.
Comparing the early and late batches, the scientists found that "the majority of the lines we tested had genetic changes over time," researcher Aravinda Chakravati of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore said in a prepared statement. Those changes included alterations in the number of copies of chromosomes or parts of chromosomes, the sequencing of DNA in the cell's mitochondria, and other changes.
The researchers say it's not known just how these changes might affect the stem cell or it's ability to develop into other human body cell types.
"Embryonic stem cells are actually far more genetically stable than other stem cells, but our work shows that even they can accumulate potentially deleterious changes over time," added Johns Hopkins researcher Anirban Maitra. "Now it will be important to figure out why these changes occur, how they affect the cells' behavior and how time affects other human embryonic stem cell lines."
Study Supports New Sequencing of Heart Failure Drugs
Heart failure patients may benefit if the order in which they receive two types of drugs -- angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta blockers -- is reversed, researchers say.
Right now, standard guidelines suggest giving patients start on an ACE inhibitor, then receive a beta-blocker later on.
But a Swedish study involving over 1,000 patients found that the reverse order (starting patients with mild- to moderate heart failure on the beta blocker bisoprolol, then adding the ACE inhibitor enalapril) was just as safe and effective.
The researchers note that many doctors already deviate from recommended guidelines, prescribing a beta blocker before they add in an ACE inhibitor. "The study supports a free choice based on the physician's individual judgment with each patient," lead researcher Ronnie Willenheimer of Malmo University Hospital, Sweden, said in a prepared statement. "Now physicians can feel confident that patient's won't do worse if treatment is started with the beta blocker bisopronol."
The study, presented Sunday at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Stockholm, is also published online in the rapid access edition of Circulation.
Food Fact:
Culture club.
When yogurt's live active cultures colonize your digestive system, they draw a line in the sand against disease. The cultures -- especially acidophilus and bifida - muscle out potentially threatening bacteria. Low-fat or fat-free yogurt has a lot of other things going for it: It's easy to digest, especially for those who are lactose-intolerant and have difficulty digesting milk and many cheeses; it's an excellent source of calcium, protein, riboflavin (a B vitamin), vitamin B-12 (which may be low in vegetarian diets) and vitamin A; and provides selenium, potassium and magnesium.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Muscled out?
Inactive adults over age 30 lose about 3 - 5% of muscle tissue every 10 years; here's what you can do. Go to the weight room. Strength training prevents the reduction in muscle tissue that causes the body metabolism to slow and makes the bones more vulnerable to conditions like osteoporosis.
FAQ of the day:
Can certain foods prevent cancer?
No one can say with absolute certainty how powerful is diet in preventing cancer. But at least a third (and possibly more) of all cancers have been linked to diet. People who eat the most fruits and vegetables have been shown to have about half the risk of developing cancer as people who rarely eat them. Your genes and other lifestyle factors, such as smoking, have a strong say in your susceptibility to cancer. But it's likely that improving the typical American diet would make a big dent in new cases of cancer, the nation's second biggest killer after heart disease.
In what is being billed as the world's largest study of acute coronary syndrome, a new anti-thrombotic drug has emerged as a rival to the traditional therapy used for preventing heart attacks, death and ischemia for those with serious heart conditions.
In research presented Monday at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Stockholm, Canadian-led scientists said that fondaparinux, a synthetic drug that acts during the early clotting stage, was not only as effective as enoxaparin, a heparin used to prevent blood clots, but also helped cut bleeding.
The research showed that patients had a lower mortality rate one month after an acute coronary event using fondaparinux, according to a prepared statement by researchers at McMaster University in Ontario. And a six -month followup confirmed that.
The international study involved more than 20,000 patients and was conducted at 576 sites in 41 countries.
Review: Lipitor No Better Than Other Anti-Cholesterol Drugs
An independent German review of previous research shows no benefit to taking Pfizer, Inc.'s Lipitor over similar cholesterol-busting drugs, the Associated Press reported Sunday.
The finding runs counter to a recent Pfizer advertising campaign in German newspapers, touting Lipitor -- the world's number one selling prescription medication -- as better than other statin drugs, especially when it comes to side effects.
The report originated with the Institut fuer Qualitaet und Wirtschaftslichkeit im Gesundheitswesen, an independent body set up by the German government to assess value-for-money issues in health care spending.
After a review of studies worldwide, the institute found life-prolonging effects for patients with chronic coronary heart disease from two other statin medications -- Merck & Co.'s Zocor and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s Pravastatin -- but not for Lipitor. Only Zocor was shown to prolong the life of patients with diabetes.
The researchers say they didn't have enough data to show a clear winner among the three drugs when it came to treating acute diseases.
Representatives at Pfizer., Inc.'s New York headquarters did not return calls Sunday, the AP said. Jonathan Jones, a spokesman at Pfizer U.K.'s Cardio-Vascular Group told the wire service he needed to study the institute's analysis before commenting directly.
However, Jones said side effects from each of the drugs differ, and he added that any one study might yield a variety of answers, depending on the weight given to them.
Lipitor sales reached $12 billion in 2004, while number-two selling Zocor netted $5.9 billion in sales, according to consulting firm IMS Health.
Embryonic Stem Cells Undergo Genetic Changes
Stem cells taken from human embryos accumulate genetic changes over time, according to an international team of researchers.
While these changes aren't likely to interfere with the usefulness of these cells for research or future treatments, they do warrant monitoring, to see how they might affect cell behavior, according to a study published Sunday in the online edition of Nature Genetics.
Researchers in the U.S., Singapore, Canada and Sweden compared the genetic makeup of "early" and "late" batches of nine federally approved embryonic stem cell lines. All batches arose from the 29 human lines approved for use in research under a 2001 Bush Administration policy restricting embryonic stem cell use. The late batches were grown in the lab one to three years after the earlier batches, however.
Comparing the early and late batches, the scientists found that "the majority of the lines we tested had genetic changes over time," researcher Aravinda Chakravati of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore said in a prepared statement. Those changes included alterations in the number of copies of chromosomes or parts of chromosomes, the sequencing of DNA in the cell's mitochondria, and other changes.
The researchers say it's not known just how these changes might affect the stem cell or it's ability to develop into other human body cell types.
"Embryonic stem cells are actually far more genetically stable than other stem cells, but our work shows that even they can accumulate potentially deleterious changes over time," added Johns Hopkins researcher Anirban Maitra. "Now it will be important to figure out why these changes occur, how they affect the cells' behavior and how time affects other human embryonic stem cell lines."
Study Supports New Sequencing of Heart Failure Drugs
Heart failure patients may benefit if the order in which they receive two types of drugs -- angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta blockers -- is reversed, researchers say.
Right now, standard guidelines suggest giving patients start on an ACE inhibitor, then receive a beta-blocker later on.
But a Swedish study involving over 1,000 patients found that the reverse order (starting patients with mild- to moderate heart failure on the beta blocker bisoprolol, then adding the ACE inhibitor enalapril) was just as safe and effective.
The researchers note that many doctors already deviate from recommended guidelines, prescribing a beta blocker before they add in an ACE inhibitor. "The study supports a free choice based on the physician's individual judgment with each patient," lead researcher Ronnie Willenheimer of Malmo University Hospital, Sweden, said in a prepared statement. "Now physicians can feel confident that patient's won't do worse if treatment is started with the beta blocker bisopronol."
The study, presented Sunday at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Stockholm, is also published online in the rapid access edition of Circulation.
Food Fact:
Culture club.
When yogurt's live active cultures colonize your digestive system, they draw a line in the sand against disease. The cultures -- especially acidophilus and bifida - muscle out potentially threatening bacteria. Low-fat or fat-free yogurt has a lot of other things going for it: It's easy to digest, especially for those who are lactose-intolerant and have difficulty digesting milk and many cheeses; it's an excellent source of calcium, protein, riboflavin (a B vitamin), vitamin B-12 (which may be low in vegetarian diets) and vitamin A; and provides selenium, potassium and magnesium.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Muscled out?
Inactive adults over age 30 lose about 3 - 5% of muscle tissue every 10 years; here's what you can do. Go to the weight room. Strength training prevents the reduction in muscle tissue that causes the body metabolism to slow and makes the bones more vulnerable to conditions like osteoporosis.
FAQ of the day:
Can certain foods prevent cancer?
No one can say with absolute certainty how powerful is diet in preventing cancer. But at least a third (and possibly more) of all cancers have been linked to diet. People who eat the most fruits and vegetables have been shown to have about half the risk of developing cancer as people who rarely eat them. Your genes and other lifestyle factors, such as smoking, have a strong say in your susceptibility to cancer. But it's likely that improving the typical American diet would make a big dent in new cases of cancer, the nation's second biggest killer after heart disease.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Health Headlines - September 6
U.S. Chief Justice Rehnquist Dies of Thyroid Cancer
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist died Saturday evening of thyroid cancer, a court spokeswoman announced.
Rehnquist, 80, had been undergoing treatment since October. According to the Associated Press, court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said Rehnquist "continued to perform his duties on the court until a precipitous decline in his health the last couple of days."
On July 14, Rehnquist issued a statement denying rumors of his imminent retirement, saying, "I will continue to perform my duties as chief justice as long as my health permits," the Washington Post reported.
Rehnquist revealed that he had thyroid cancer on Oct. 22. After a 5-month absence for treatment, he returned to the court in March. Despite his illness, the Post reported, Rehnquist "appeared as alert and informed as ever, peppering lawyers with questions and smiling at the occasional wisecracks of his colleagues during the two-hour sitting."
Rehnquist was appointed to the court in 1971 by President Richard M. Nixon. President Ronald Reagan elevated him to chief justice in 1986.
Review: Lipitor No Better Than Other Anti-Cholesterol Drugs
An independent German review of previous research shows no benefit to taking Pfizer, Inc.'s Lipitor over similar cholesterol-busting drugs, the Associated Press reported Sunday.
The finding runs counter to a recent Pfizer advertising campaign in German newspapers, touting Lipitor -- the world's number one selling prescription medication -- as better than other statin drugs, especially when it comes to side effects.
The report originated with the Institut fuer Qualitaet und Wirtschaftslichkeit im Gesundheitswesen, an independent body set up by the German government to assess value-for-money issues in health care spending.
After a review of studies worldwide, the institute found life-prolonging effects for patients with chronic coronary heart disease from two other statin medications -- Merck & Co.'s Zocor and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s Pravastatin -- but not for Lipitor. Only Zocor was shown to prolong the life of patients with diabetes.
The researchers say they didn't have enough data to show a clear winner among the three drugs when it came to treating acute diseases.
Representatives at Pfizer., Inc.'s New York headquarters did not return calls Sunday, the AP said. Jonathan Jones, a spokesman at Pfizer U.K.'s Cardio-Vascular Group told the wire service he needed to study the institute's analysis before commenting directly.
However, Jones said side effects from each of the drugs differ, and he added that any one study might yield a variety of answers, depending on the weight given to them.
Lipitor sales reached $12 billion in 2004, while number-two selling Zocor netted $5.9 billion in sales, according to consulting firm IMS Health.
Embryonic Stem Cells Undergo Genetic Changes
Stem cells taken from human embryos accumulate genetic changes over time, according to an international team of researchers.
While these changes aren't likely to interfere with the usefulness of these cells for research or future treatments, they do warrant monitoring, to see how they might affect cell behavior, according to a study published Sunday in the online edition of Nature Genetics.
Researchers in the U.S., Singapore, Canada and Sweden compared the genetic makeup of "early" and "late" batches of nine federally approved embryonic stem cell lines. All batches arose from the 29 human lines approved for use in research under a 2001 Bush Administration policy restricting embryonic stem cell use. The late batches were grown in the lab one to three years after the earlier batches, however.
Comparing the early and late batches, the scientists found that "the majority of the lines we tested had genetic changes over time," researcher Aravinda Chakravati of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore said in a prepared statement. Those changes included alterations in the number of copies of chromosomes or parts of chromosomes, the sequencing of DNA in the cell's mitochondria, and other changes.
The researchers say it's not known just how these changes might affect the stem cell or it's ability to develop into other human body cell types.
"Embryonic stem cells are actually far more genetically stable than other stem cells, but our work shows that even they can accumulate potentially deleterious changes over time," added Johns Hopkins researcher Anirban Maitra. "Now it will be important to figure out why these changes occur, how they affect the cells' behavior and how time affects other human embryonic stem cell lines."
Study Supports New Sequencing of Heart Failure Drugs
Heart failure patients may benefit if the order in which they receive two types of drugs -- angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta blockers -- is reversed, researchers say.
Right now, standard guidelines suggest giving patients start on an ACE inhibitor, then receive a beta-blocker later on.
But a Swedish study involving over 1,000 patients found that the reverse order (starting patients with mild- to moderate heart failure on the beta blocker bisoprolol, then adding the ACE inhibitor enalapril) was just as safe and effective.
The researchers note that many doctors already deviate from recommended guidelines, prescribing a beta blocker before they add in an ACE inhibitor. "The study supports a free choice based on the physician's individual judgment with each patient," lead researcher Ronnie Willenheimer of Malmo University Hospital, Sweden, said in a prepared statement. "Now physicians can feel confident that patient's won't do worse if treatment is started with the beta blocker bisopronol."
The study, presented Sunday at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Stockholm, is also published online in the rapid access edition of Circulation.
Toddler Returns to Japan Following Six-Organ Transplant
After receiving six new organs in the United States because there are no organs available in his own country, a 19-month-old Japanese boy is going home, the Associated Press reported Saturday.
In a lengthy operation on Christmas Eve at Miami Jackson Memorial Medical Center in Miami, Yosuke Ohashi received a new liver, pancreas, stomach, small and large intestines and spleen. The boy's family departs for Japan on Sunday, the wire service said.
In an effort to protect children's rights, a Japanese law states that those under the age of 15 are not allowed to be organ donors, according to the AP. It is not illegal to be an organ recipient, however.
The toddler's son, businessman Yukiho Ohashi, raised $1 million for his son's surgery in the United States, and he told the AP he plans to advocate for young Japanese patients upon his return to Japan.
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist died Saturday evening of thyroid cancer, a court spokeswoman announced.
Rehnquist, 80, had been undergoing treatment since October. According to the Associated Press, court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said Rehnquist "continued to perform his duties on the court until a precipitous decline in his health the last couple of days."
On July 14, Rehnquist issued a statement denying rumors of his imminent retirement, saying, "I will continue to perform my duties as chief justice as long as my health permits," the Washington Post reported.
Rehnquist revealed that he had thyroid cancer on Oct. 22. After a 5-month absence for treatment, he returned to the court in March. Despite his illness, the Post reported, Rehnquist "appeared as alert and informed as ever, peppering lawyers with questions and smiling at the occasional wisecracks of his colleagues during the two-hour sitting."
Rehnquist was appointed to the court in 1971 by President Richard M. Nixon. President Ronald Reagan elevated him to chief justice in 1986.
Review: Lipitor No Better Than Other Anti-Cholesterol Drugs
An independent German review of previous research shows no benefit to taking Pfizer, Inc.'s Lipitor over similar cholesterol-busting drugs, the Associated Press reported Sunday.
The finding runs counter to a recent Pfizer advertising campaign in German newspapers, touting Lipitor -- the world's number one selling prescription medication -- as better than other statin drugs, especially when it comes to side effects.
The report originated with the Institut fuer Qualitaet und Wirtschaftslichkeit im Gesundheitswesen, an independent body set up by the German government to assess value-for-money issues in health care spending.
After a review of studies worldwide, the institute found life-prolonging effects for patients with chronic coronary heart disease from two other statin medications -- Merck & Co.'s Zocor and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s Pravastatin -- but not for Lipitor. Only Zocor was shown to prolong the life of patients with diabetes.
The researchers say they didn't have enough data to show a clear winner among the three drugs when it came to treating acute diseases.
Representatives at Pfizer., Inc.'s New York headquarters did not return calls Sunday, the AP said. Jonathan Jones, a spokesman at Pfizer U.K.'s Cardio-Vascular Group told the wire service he needed to study the institute's analysis before commenting directly.
However, Jones said side effects from each of the drugs differ, and he added that any one study might yield a variety of answers, depending on the weight given to them.
Lipitor sales reached $12 billion in 2004, while number-two selling Zocor netted $5.9 billion in sales, according to consulting firm IMS Health.
Embryonic Stem Cells Undergo Genetic Changes
Stem cells taken from human embryos accumulate genetic changes over time, according to an international team of researchers.
While these changes aren't likely to interfere with the usefulness of these cells for research or future treatments, they do warrant monitoring, to see how they might affect cell behavior, according to a study published Sunday in the online edition of Nature Genetics.
Researchers in the U.S., Singapore, Canada and Sweden compared the genetic makeup of "early" and "late" batches of nine federally approved embryonic stem cell lines. All batches arose from the 29 human lines approved for use in research under a 2001 Bush Administration policy restricting embryonic stem cell use. The late batches were grown in the lab one to three years after the earlier batches, however.
Comparing the early and late batches, the scientists found that "the majority of the lines we tested had genetic changes over time," researcher Aravinda Chakravati of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore said in a prepared statement. Those changes included alterations in the number of copies of chromosomes or parts of chromosomes, the sequencing of DNA in the cell's mitochondria, and other changes.
The researchers say it's not known just how these changes might affect the stem cell or it's ability to develop into other human body cell types.
"Embryonic stem cells are actually far more genetically stable than other stem cells, but our work shows that even they can accumulate potentially deleterious changes over time," added Johns Hopkins researcher Anirban Maitra. "Now it will be important to figure out why these changes occur, how they affect the cells' behavior and how time affects other human embryonic stem cell lines."
Study Supports New Sequencing of Heart Failure Drugs
Heart failure patients may benefit if the order in which they receive two types of drugs -- angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta blockers -- is reversed, researchers say.
Right now, standard guidelines suggest giving patients start on an ACE inhibitor, then receive a beta-blocker later on.
But a Swedish study involving over 1,000 patients found that the reverse order (starting patients with mild- to moderate heart failure on the beta blocker bisoprolol, then adding the ACE inhibitor enalapril) was just as safe and effective.
The researchers note that many doctors already deviate from recommended guidelines, prescribing a beta blocker before they add in an ACE inhibitor. "The study supports a free choice based on the physician's individual judgment with each patient," lead researcher Ronnie Willenheimer of Malmo University Hospital, Sweden, said in a prepared statement. "Now physicians can feel confident that patient's won't do worse if treatment is started with the beta blocker bisopronol."
The study, presented Sunday at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Stockholm, is also published online in the rapid access edition of Circulation.
Toddler Returns to Japan Following Six-Organ Transplant
After receiving six new organs in the United States because there are no organs available in his own country, a 19-month-old Japanese boy is going home, the Associated Press reported Saturday.
In a lengthy operation on Christmas Eve at Miami Jackson Memorial Medical Center in Miami, Yosuke Ohashi received a new liver, pancreas, stomach, small and large intestines and spleen. The boy's family departs for Japan on Sunday, the wire service said.
In an effort to protect children's rights, a Japanese law states that those under the age of 15 are not allowed to be organ donors, according to the AP. It is not illegal to be an organ recipient, however.
The toddler's son, businessman Yukiho Ohashi, raised $1 million for his son's surgery in the United States, and he told the AP he plans to advocate for young Japanese patients upon his return to Japan.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Health Headlines - September 5
Toddler Returns to Japan Following Six-Organ Transplant
After receiving six new organs in the United States because there are no organs available in his own country, a 19-month-old Japanese boy is going home, the Associated Press reported Saturday.
In a lengthy operation on Christmas Eve at Miami Jackson Memorial Medical Center in Miami, Yosuke Ohashi received a new liver, pancreas, stomach, small and large intestines and spleen. The boy's family departs for Japan on Sunday, the wire service said.
In an effort to protect children's rights, a Japanese law states that those under the age of 15 are not allowed to be organ donors, according to the AP. It is not illegal to be an organ recipient, however.
The toddler's son, businessman Yukiho Ohashi, raised $1 million for his son's surgery in the United States, and he told the AP he plans to advocate for young Japanese patients upon his return to Japan.
Bayer Asks FDA to Reverse Animal Antibiotic Ruling
Bayer Corp. has appealed to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over the agency's order banning the company's animal antibiotic, Baytril, the Washington Post reported Friday.
The FDA says Baytril is contributing to an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria that affect both people and animals. While all antibiotics eventually become less effective as bacteria adapt to them, Baytril is considered especially troublesome because it is similar to the human antibiotic ciprofloxacin, the newspaper said. The agency has ordered Baytril off the market as of Sept. 12.
Bayer has asked the FDA to postpone the ban as it fights the agency's order, which was five years in the making, the Post said.
The company's petition argues that the poultry industry needs the drug now to fight a seasonal respiratory illness that affects birds in the autumn. The petition has the backing of a number of veterinary organizations, the newspaper said, while advocacy groups like the Union of Concerned Scientists support the ban.
School Suspends Smoking Study After Information Leak
A 25-year research project thought to be among the longest-running U.S. studies on Americans' smoking attitudes and behaviors was suspended by Indiana University after personal information about the participants was disclosed to someone arranging a class reunion, the Associated Press reported Friday.
While the disclosures haven't caused any known problems, they represented what a school spokeswoman labeled "a serious breach that we're investigating." The study is expected to resume soon, although an exact date wasn't mentioned in the wire service account.
The project, when begun in 1980, involved 8,500 students in Monroe County middle schools and high schools. Believed to be the longest U.S. smoking study involving the same participants, it's exploring issues like smoking and stress, efforts to quit smoking, and teen smoking rates, the AP said.
Faulty Pool Floats Pose Drowning Hazard
Atico International has recalled 480,000 pair of inflatable arm band pool floats that pose a drowning hazard since they could tear as children use them, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says.
The company has two reports of the bands tearing at the seams, although in neither case were children hurt.
The bright orange and white arm bands have an inflation valve on each side, and are imprinted with a "Surf Club" logo. They were sold at CVS drug stories nationwide from April 2003 through August 2005 for about $1.
The products should be returned to the CVS store where purchased for a full refund. For more information, contact Atico toll-free at 1-877-546-4835.
Prominent Journal Protests FDA's 'Morning-After' Pill Delay
One of the nation's most respected medical journals issued a scathing attack Thursday on last week's decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to delay allowing over-the-counter sales of the emergency contraception pill known as Plan B.
The perspective piece from the New England Journal of Medicine was released early from its Sept. 22 issue date and followed Wednesday's resignation of the FDA executive who had headed the Office of Women's Health. In announcing that she was leaving her job, Susan Wood said the Plan B delay ran "contrary to my core commitment to improving and advancing women's health."
The FDA last Friday announced that it was delaying for 60 days its long-awaited decision on whether to allow over-the-counter sales of Plan B, often called the "morning-after" pill. It can lower the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
The New England Journal piece, co-authored by the editor-in-chief Dr. Jeffrey Drazen, said postponement of the Plan B decision appeared "to reflect political meddling in the drug-approval process," especially given that an FDA expert advisory panel strongly recommended in December 2003 that Plan B be approved for over-the-counter sales. The full agency normally follows its advisory panel recommendations.
In delaying its decision, the FDA said it was comfortable allowing over-the-counter sales to adults 18 and older, but wanted more time to decide how to keep it out of the hands of young teenagers.
The New England Journal piece said that "the FDA has not pointed to any data to support" its stance questioning the safety of Plan B among younger women, "nor has the agency demanded such evidence in the case of other drugs that have been switched to over-the-counter status."
The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement Thursday encouraging more health professionals to discuss emergency contraception with their teen and adult patients, noting that only 20 percent to 25 percent of health care providers now do so.
"Studies show that an increase in availability of emergency contraception does not change rates of sexual activity or increase the frequency of unprotected sex among adolescents," the AAP statement said.
After receiving six new organs in the United States because there are no organs available in his own country, a 19-month-old Japanese boy is going home, the Associated Press reported Saturday.
In a lengthy operation on Christmas Eve at Miami Jackson Memorial Medical Center in Miami, Yosuke Ohashi received a new liver, pancreas, stomach, small and large intestines and spleen. The boy's family departs for Japan on Sunday, the wire service said.
In an effort to protect children's rights, a Japanese law states that those under the age of 15 are not allowed to be organ donors, according to the AP. It is not illegal to be an organ recipient, however.
The toddler's son, businessman Yukiho Ohashi, raised $1 million for his son's surgery in the United States, and he told the AP he plans to advocate for young Japanese patients upon his return to Japan.
Bayer Asks FDA to Reverse Animal Antibiotic Ruling
Bayer Corp. has appealed to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over the agency's order banning the company's animal antibiotic, Baytril, the Washington Post reported Friday.
The FDA says Baytril is contributing to an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria that affect both people and animals. While all antibiotics eventually become less effective as bacteria adapt to them, Baytril is considered especially troublesome because it is similar to the human antibiotic ciprofloxacin, the newspaper said. The agency has ordered Baytril off the market as of Sept. 12.
Bayer has asked the FDA to postpone the ban as it fights the agency's order, which was five years in the making, the Post said.
The company's petition argues that the poultry industry needs the drug now to fight a seasonal respiratory illness that affects birds in the autumn. The petition has the backing of a number of veterinary organizations, the newspaper said, while advocacy groups like the Union of Concerned Scientists support the ban.
School Suspends Smoking Study After Information Leak
A 25-year research project thought to be among the longest-running U.S. studies on Americans' smoking attitudes and behaviors was suspended by Indiana University after personal information about the participants was disclosed to someone arranging a class reunion, the Associated Press reported Friday.
While the disclosures haven't caused any known problems, they represented what a school spokeswoman labeled "a serious breach that we're investigating." The study is expected to resume soon, although an exact date wasn't mentioned in the wire service account.
The project, when begun in 1980, involved 8,500 students in Monroe County middle schools and high schools. Believed to be the longest U.S. smoking study involving the same participants, it's exploring issues like smoking and stress, efforts to quit smoking, and teen smoking rates, the AP said.
Faulty Pool Floats Pose Drowning Hazard
Atico International has recalled 480,000 pair of inflatable arm band pool floats that pose a drowning hazard since they could tear as children use them, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says.
The company has two reports of the bands tearing at the seams, although in neither case were children hurt.
The bright orange and white arm bands have an inflation valve on each side, and are imprinted with a "Surf Club" logo. They were sold at CVS drug stories nationwide from April 2003 through August 2005 for about $1.
The products should be returned to the CVS store where purchased for a full refund. For more information, contact Atico toll-free at 1-877-546-4835.
Prominent Journal Protests FDA's 'Morning-After' Pill Delay
One of the nation's most respected medical journals issued a scathing attack Thursday on last week's decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to delay allowing over-the-counter sales of the emergency contraception pill known as Plan B.
The perspective piece from the New England Journal of Medicine was released early from its Sept. 22 issue date and followed Wednesday's resignation of the FDA executive who had headed the Office of Women's Health. In announcing that she was leaving her job, Susan Wood said the Plan B delay ran "contrary to my core commitment to improving and advancing women's health."
The FDA last Friday announced that it was delaying for 60 days its long-awaited decision on whether to allow over-the-counter sales of Plan B, often called the "morning-after" pill. It can lower the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
The New England Journal piece, co-authored by the editor-in-chief Dr. Jeffrey Drazen, said postponement of the Plan B decision appeared "to reflect political meddling in the drug-approval process," especially given that an FDA expert advisory panel strongly recommended in December 2003 that Plan B be approved for over-the-counter sales. The full agency normally follows its advisory panel recommendations.
In delaying its decision, the FDA said it was comfortable allowing over-the-counter sales to adults 18 and older, but wanted more time to decide how to keep it out of the hands of young teenagers.
The New England Journal piece said that "the FDA has not pointed to any data to support" its stance questioning the safety of Plan B among younger women, "nor has the agency demanded such evidence in the case of other drugs that have been switched to over-the-counter status."
The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement Thursday encouraging more health professionals to discuss emergency contraception with their teen and adult patients, noting that only 20 percent to 25 percent of health care providers now do so.
"Studies show that an increase in availability of emergency contraception does not change rates of sexual activity or increase the frequency of unprotected sex among adolescents," the AAP statement said.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Health Headlines - September 4
Bayer Asks FDA to Reverse Animal Antibiotic Ruling
Bayer Corp. has appealed to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over the agency's order banning the company's animal antibiotic, Baytril, the Washington Post reported Friday.
The FDA says Baytril is contributing to an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria that affect both people and animals. While all antibiotics eventually become less effective as bacteria adapt to them, Baytril is considered especially troublesome because it is similar to the human antibiotic ciprofloxacin, the newspaper said. The agency has ordered Baytril off the market as of Sept. 12.
Bayer has asked the FDA to postpone the ban as it fights the agency's order, which was five years in the making, the Post said.
The company's petition argues that the poultry industry needs the drug now to fight a seasonal respiratory illness that affects birds in the autumn. The petition has the backing of a number of veterinary organizations, the newspaper said, while advocacy groups like the Union of Concerned Scientists support the ban.
School Suspends Smoking Study After Information Leak
A 25-year research project thought to be among the longest-running U.S. studies on Americans' smoking attitudes and behaviors was suspended by Indiana University after personal information about the participants was disclosed to someone arranging a class reunion, the Associated Press reported Friday.
While the disclosures haven't caused any known problems, they represented what a school spokeswoman labeled "a serious breach that we're investigating." The study is expected to resume soon, although an exact date wasn't mentioned in the wire service account.
The project, when begun in 1980, involved 8,500 students in Monroe County middle schools and high schools. Believed to be the longest U.S. smoking study involving the same participants, it's exploring issues like smoking and stress, efforts to quit smoking, and teen smoking rates, the AP said.
Faulty Pool Floats Pose Drowning Hazard
Atico International has recalled 480,000 pair of inflatable arm band pool floats that pose a drowning hazard since they could tear as children use them, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says.
The company has two reports of the bands tearing at the seams, although in neither case were children hurt.
The bright orange and white arm bands have an inflation valve on each side, and are imprinted with a "Surf Club" logo. They were sold at CVS drug stories nationwide from April 2003 through August 2005 for about $1.
The products should be returned to the CVS store where purchased for a full refund. For more information, contact Atico toll-free at 1-877-546-4835.
Controversial Theory Suggests 'Mad Cow' Disease Originated With Humans
There may be strong evidence linking the origin of "mad cow" disease to human remains mixed into cattle feed, according to a controversial theory advanced by a leading British expert on the disease.
Prof. Alan Colchester, of the University of Kent, suggests that the first cases of the disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), could have come out of raw materials imported to the U.K. for fertilizer in the 60s and 70s.
Some of those materials, which were imported from South Asia, contained human bones and soft tissue, according to a new report in the Sept. 3 issue of The Lancet.
The UK imported hundreds of thousands of tons of whole bones, crushed bones and carcass parts in the 1960s and 1970s to make fertilizer as well as meat and bone meal feed. Almost 50 percent came from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, where gathering large bones and carcasses from the countryside and from rivers is an established local trade.
Colchester, the lead author of the report, told the BBC that bone collectors could have picked up the remains of corpses deposited in the Ganges river to sell for export. If infected with prion diseases, they could have been the source for BSE.
The appearance of a form of CJD in humans, known as variant CJD or vCJD, has been linked to the BSE outbreak and is blamed for hundreds of deaths. Prions, the abnormal proteins that cause CJD and vCJD in humans, BSE in cows and scrapie in sheep, are remarkably resistant to both natural decay and sterilization procedures.
The authors admit their evidence stops short of proving their case, but argue that their theory is plausible enough to warrant further investigation, the BBC reported.
Prominent Journal Protests FDA's 'Morning-After' Pill Delay
One of the nation's most respected medical journals issued a scathing attack Thursday on last week's decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to delay allowing over-the-counter sales of the emergency contraception pill known as Plan B.
The perspective piece from the New England Journal of Medicine was released early from its Sept. 22 issue date and followed Wednesday's resignation of the FDA executive who had headed the Office of Women's Health. In announcing that she was leaving her job, Susan Wood said the Plan B delay ran "contrary to my core commitment to improving and advancing women's health."
The FDA last Friday announced that it was delaying for 60 days its long-awaited decision on whether to allow over-the-counter sales of Plan B, often called the "morning-after" pill. It can lower the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
The New England Journal piece, co-authored by the editor-in-chief Dr. Jeffrey Drazen, said postponement of the Plan B decision appeared "to reflect political meddling in the drug-approval process," especially given that an FDA expert advisory panel strongly recommended in December 2003 that Plan B be approved for over-the-counter sales. The full agency normally follows its advisory panel recommendations.
In delaying its decision, the FDA said it was comfortable allowing over-the-counter sales to adults 18 and older, but wanted more time to decide how to keep it out of the hands of young teenagers.
The New England Journal piece said that "the FDA has not pointed to any data to support" its stance questioning the safety of Plan B among younger women, "nor has the agency demanded such evidence in the case of other drugs that have been switched to over-the-counter status."
The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement Thursday encouraging more health professionals to discuss emergency contraception with their teen and adult patients, noting that only 20 percent to 25 percent of health care providers now do so.
"Studies show that an increase in availability of emergency contraception does not change rates of sexual activity or increase the frequency of unprotected sex among adolescents," the AAP statement said.
Food Fact:
Culture club.
When yogurt's live active cultures colonize your digestive system, they draw a line in the sand against disease. The cultures -- especially acidophilus and bifida - muscle out potentially threatening bacteria. Low-fat or fat-free yogurt has a lot of other things going for it: It's easy to digest, especially for those who are lactose-intolerant and have difficulty digesting milk and many cheeses; it's an excellent source of calcium, protein, riboflavin (a B vitamin), vitamin B-12 (which may be low in vegetarian diets) and vitamin A; and provides selenium, potassium and magnesium.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Pre-wedding vows.
Instead of gifts of jewelry for your wedding party, give the gift of health. Buy short-term health club memberships for your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Just don't lose too many inches before the fitting!
FAQ of the day:
Can certain foods prevent cancer?
No one can say with absolute certainty how powerful is diet in preventing cancer. But at least a third (and possibly more) of all cancers have been linked to diet. People who eat the most fruits and vegetables have been shown to have about half the risk of developing cancer as people who rarely eat them. Your genes and other lifestyle factors, such as smoking, have a strong say in your susceptibility to cancer. But it's likely that improving the typical American diet would make a big dent in new cases of cancer, the nation's second biggest killer after heart disease.
Bayer Corp. has appealed to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over the agency's order banning the company's animal antibiotic, Baytril, the Washington Post reported Friday.
The FDA says Baytril is contributing to an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria that affect both people and animals. While all antibiotics eventually become less effective as bacteria adapt to them, Baytril is considered especially troublesome because it is similar to the human antibiotic ciprofloxacin, the newspaper said. The agency has ordered Baytril off the market as of Sept. 12.
Bayer has asked the FDA to postpone the ban as it fights the agency's order, which was five years in the making, the Post said.
The company's petition argues that the poultry industry needs the drug now to fight a seasonal respiratory illness that affects birds in the autumn. The petition has the backing of a number of veterinary organizations, the newspaper said, while advocacy groups like the Union of Concerned Scientists support the ban.
School Suspends Smoking Study After Information Leak
A 25-year research project thought to be among the longest-running U.S. studies on Americans' smoking attitudes and behaviors was suspended by Indiana University after personal information about the participants was disclosed to someone arranging a class reunion, the Associated Press reported Friday.
While the disclosures haven't caused any known problems, they represented what a school spokeswoman labeled "a serious breach that we're investigating." The study is expected to resume soon, although an exact date wasn't mentioned in the wire service account.
The project, when begun in 1980, involved 8,500 students in Monroe County middle schools and high schools. Believed to be the longest U.S. smoking study involving the same participants, it's exploring issues like smoking and stress, efforts to quit smoking, and teen smoking rates, the AP said.
Faulty Pool Floats Pose Drowning Hazard
Atico International has recalled 480,000 pair of inflatable arm band pool floats that pose a drowning hazard since they could tear as children use them, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says.
The company has two reports of the bands tearing at the seams, although in neither case were children hurt.
The bright orange and white arm bands have an inflation valve on each side, and are imprinted with a "Surf Club" logo. They were sold at CVS drug stories nationwide from April 2003 through August 2005 for about $1.
The products should be returned to the CVS store where purchased for a full refund. For more information, contact Atico toll-free at 1-877-546-4835.
Controversial Theory Suggests 'Mad Cow' Disease Originated With Humans
There may be strong evidence linking the origin of "mad cow" disease to human remains mixed into cattle feed, according to a controversial theory advanced by a leading British expert on the disease.
Prof. Alan Colchester, of the University of Kent, suggests that the first cases of the disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), could have come out of raw materials imported to the U.K. for fertilizer in the 60s and 70s.
Some of those materials, which were imported from South Asia, contained human bones and soft tissue, according to a new report in the Sept. 3 issue of The Lancet.
The UK imported hundreds of thousands of tons of whole bones, crushed bones and carcass parts in the 1960s and 1970s to make fertilizer as well as meat and bone meal feed. Almost 50 percent came from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, where gathering large bones and carcasses from the countryside and from rivers is an established local trade.
Colchester, the lead author of the report, told the BBC that bone collectors could have picked up the remains of corpses deposited in the Ganges river to sell for export. If infected with prion diseases, they could have been the source for BSE.
The appearance of a form of CJD in humans, known as variant CJD or vCJD, has been linked to the BSE outbreak and is blamed for hundreds of deaths. Prions, the abnormal proteins that cause CJD and vCJD in humans, BSE in cows and scrapie in sheep, are remarkably resistant to both natural decay and sterilization procedures.
The authors admit their evidence stops short of proving their case, but argue that their theory is plausible enough to warrant further investigation, the BBC reported.
Prominent Journal Protests FDA's 'Morning-After' Pill Delay
One of the nation's most respected medical journals issued a scathing attack Thursday on last week's decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to delay allowing over-the-counter sales of the emergency contraception pill known as Plan B.
The perspective piece from the New England Journal of Medicine was released early from its Sept. 22 issue date and followed Wednesday's resignation of the FDA executive who had headed the Office of Women's Health. In announcing that she was leaving her job, Susan Wood said the Plan B delay ran "contrary to my core commitment to improving and advancing women's health."
The FDA last Friday announced that it was delaying for 60 days its long-awaited decision on whether to allow over-the-counter sales of Plan B, often called the "morning-after" pill. It can lower the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
The New England Journal piece, co-authored by the editor-in-chief Dr. Jeffrey Drazen, said postponement of the Plan B decision appeared "to reflect political meddling in the drug-approval process," especially given that an FDA expert advisory panel strongly recommended in December 2003 that Plan B be approved for over-the-counter sales. The full agency normally follows its advisory panel recommendations.
In delaying its decision, the FDA said it was comfortable allowing over-the-counter sales to adults 18 and older, but wanted more time to decide how to keep it out of the hands of young teenagers.
The New England Journal piece said that "the FDA has not pointed to any data to support" its stance questioning the safety of Plan B among younger women, "nor has the agency demanded such evidence in the case of other drugs that have been switched to over-the-counter status."
The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement Thursday encouraging more health professionals to discuss emergency contraception with their teen and adult patients, noting that only 20 percent to 25 percent of health care providers now do so.
"Studies show that an increase in availability of emergency contraception does not change rates of sexual activity or increase the frequency of unprotected sex among adolescents," the AAP statement said.
Food Fact:
Culture club.
When yogurt's live active cultures colonize your digestive system, they draw a line in the sand against disease. The cultures -- especially acidophilus and bifida - muscle out potentially threatening bacteria. Low-fat or fat-free yogurt has a lot of other things going for it: It's easy to digest, especially for those who are lactose-intolerant and have difficulty digesting milk and many cheeses; it's an excellent source of calcium, protein, riboflavin (a B vitamin), vitamin B-12 (which may be low in vegetarian diets) and vitamin A; and provides selenium, potassium and magnesium.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Pre-wedding vows.
Instead of gifts of jewelry for your wedding party, give the gift of health. Buy short-term health club memberships for your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Just don't lose too many inches before the fitting!
FAQ of the day:
Can certain foods prevent cancer?
No one can say with absolute certainty how powerful is diet in preventing cancer. But at least a third (and possibly more) of all cancers have been linked to diet. People who eat the most fruits and vegetables have been shown to have about half the risk of developing cancer as people who rarely eat them. Your genes and other lifestyle factors, such as smoking, have a strong say in your susceptibility to cancer. But it's likely that improving the typical American diet would make a big dent in new cases of cancer, the nation's second biggest killer after heart disease.
Saturday, September 03, 2005
Astrodome Triage Center Treating Hundreds
The triage line inside the Astrodome hasn't changed much since the buses began arriving from New Orleans two nights ago.
It's long with tired, ailing refugees, some in wheelchairs, some on crutches, some critical, some not, but every one of them waiting on a doctor.
This is the Astrodome, not the Superdome. It's smells a lot less here. It's cooler, and less chaotic. Still, it's a basin of folks with so many ills, where everyone lines up to be treated.
And it's no short line.
Mary Cavnar Johnson, M.D., private practitioner turned Red Cross volunteer, is quick and kind. Whenever she glances over a patient's shoulder, though, the line doesn't get any shorter.
In four hours, she's treated 50 people. (At her practice, Johnson sees no more than 30 in a routine, eight-hour day.)
All around her, where baseballs and footballs once flew over green turf, volunteers in Red-Cross vests, nurses and doctors are taking pulses, feeling foreheads, flipping through a 51-page list of generic medications, scribbling prescriptions as fast as they are able.
Beverly Williams, 43, hands her a worn slip of paper. Williams has high blood pressure. She lost her medications in New Orleans, her house, and her three kids. That was three days ago. She keeps twitching in her chair. Johnson doesn't like the twitching.
"Your BP is real high, Beverly." The doctor pumps up the blood-pressure cuff on her patient's arm. "You getting headaches?" Pump, pump. "What meds were you taking?"
Williams shakes her head. The dark pouches under her eyes twitch. She's trying, but recollecting isn't easy when you've been addressless, foodless and bedless for much of 72 hours.
Johnson nods to the EMTs. Gently, she says, "Beverly? Here's your prescription. These folks are going to take you to a hospital. Then a pharmacy. Tomorrow, we'll do another BP check. OK?"
Grimacing, the woman hoists herself from the chair. Turning to go, she murmurs, "Y'all be blessed."
Next is Yuri Clark, 17, student. Two days earlier, she was up to her chin in New Orleans murk. ("It felt like walking in dirty vegetable soup.") Now, she's got a welt on her left thigh as big as her palm. It hurts. So does her head.
Something bit her, the doctor says.
A snake, perhaps.
Then comes Barth Phillips, 48, who has pneumonia and pleurisy, inflammation of the lung linings. After him is Betty Guidry, 54, diabetic with no insulin. Unfortunately, the Dome's makeshift pharmacy just ran out, too.
Johnson calls out: "When's the insulin coming?"
No answer.
"WHEN'S THE INSULIN COMING?"
Answers take time. There are, give or take, roughly 50 doctors, paramedics and nurses on hand to treat the Dome's 11,375 new residents. So, Johnson puts on a happy face, then puts Guidry on a transport to a nearby hospital.
This day, triage got some new equipment: tables. The tables are arranged in a line. On one side slump patients, on the opposite, their saviors. Dr. Evan Melrose, 36, of Texas Medical Center, is one.
"Overwhelmed?" he asks. "No. Not yet."
Melrose is one of the Big 10 -— doctors who can prescribe medicine. They're taking dicey patients first: the ready-to-stop hearts, the congested lungs -— anybody who is "on deck" for a stroke.
His pen is fast at work for Annie O'Neal, 62, who has heart disease. O'Neal fled New Orleans with the clothes she wears, a purse and five Walgreens bottles. "I grabbed my meds," she says, "then my money."
Above a missing person announcement, above one gentleman's sandpapery rendition of "Amazing Grace," Melrose shouts instructions to O'Neal. A volunteer rushes up, holds out a palm of tablets. Apparently, a sick woman was going to swallow them, not knowing what they were.
"Anybody know what these are?"
"I don't read palms," Melrose jokes, and points to a garbage bin.
That produces a smile from the next patient, Shirley Oliver, 50, formerly a cook at the Superdome. Oliver's blood pressure is off the chart, perhaps because rescuers plucked her and her daughter, son, and four granddaughters off a rooftop, then left them on an overpass.
Describing her odyssey, her face clouds, her shoulders quake, and the tears start. "My mother was in a hospital when the storm hit. They evacuated her. But I don't know where she is."
Melrose mops his brow, lowers his gaze.
Later, he says: "You try to focus on the task at hand, you know? But when you see what's in their eyes ... well, I've found myself pushing back tears."
Another volunteer to the triage unit is Mary Clair Haver, 37, native of Lafayette, La., obstetrician. Many young, pregnant women are coming off the buses, ready for delivery.
Earlier, two doctors and four nurses raced up the stadium ramps and frantically searched the fourth-level bathrooms for a woman in labor. Then a pregnant 17-year-old approached Haver, panicked because she hadn't felt the baby move all day.
Haver sighs. "We don't have fetal monitors here. We don't have the basics. All I could was feel her. And I didn't feel the baby kick."
Just then, Kyrisha Miner, 27, wobbles over. Her ankles are swollen, her blood pressure is up. "How many babies are in there?" Haver jokes.
"One -— I hope!"
Her baby is due on Sept. 7. But Haver says they need to induce the birth right away.
"Today?" Miner gasps.
"Today."
When the woman is gone with a list of instructions, Haver says, "It too dangerous. I'm taking no chances. Not with her."
Then she's back to the triage table, for a heart patient. A long day is about to get longer.
How long?
"As long as they need me here."
It's long with tired, ailing refugees, some in wheelchairs, some on crutches, some critical, some not, but every one of them waiting on a doctor.
This is the Astrodome, not the Superdome. It's smells a lot less here. It's cooler, and less chaotic. Still, it's a basin of folks with so many ills, where everyone lines up to be treated.
And it's no short line.
Mary Cavnar Johnson, M.D., private practitioner turned Red Cross volunteer, is quick and kind. Whenever she glances over a patient's shoulder, though, the line doesn't get any shorter.
In four hours, she's treated 50 people. (At her practice, Johnson sees no more than 30 in a routine, eight-hour day.)
All around her, where baseballs and footballs once flew over green turf, volunteers in Red-Cross vests, nurses and doctors are taking pulses, feeling foreheads, flipping through a 51-page list of generic medications, scribbling prescriptions as fast as they are able.
Beverly Williams, 43, hands her a worn slip of paper. Williams has high blood pressure. She lost her medications in New Orleans, her house, and her three kids. That was three days ago. She keeps twitching in her chair. Johnson doesn't like the twitching.
"Your BP is real high, Beverly." The doctor pumps up the blood-pressure cuff on her patient's arm. "You getting headaches?" Pump, pump. "What meds were you taking?"
Williams shakes her head. The dark pouches under her eyes twitch. She's trying, but recollecting isn't easy when you've been addressless, foodless and bedless for much of 72 hours.
Johnson nods to the EMTs. Gently, she says, "Beverly? Here's your prescription. These folks are going to take you to a hospital. Then a pharmacy. Tomorrow, we'll do another BP check. OK?"
Grimacing, the woman hoists herself from the chair. Turning to go, she murmurs, "Y'all be blessed."
Next is Yuri Clark, 17, student. Two days earlier, she was up to her chin in New Orleans murk. ("It felt like walking in dirty vegetable soup.") Now, she's got a welt on her left thigh as big as her palm. It hurts. So does her head.
Something bit her, the doctor says.
A snake, perhaps.
Then comes Barth Phillips, 48, who has pneumonia and pleurisy, inflammation of the lung linings. After him is Betty Guidry, 54, diabetic with no insulin. Unfortunately, the Dome's makeshift pharmacy just ran out, too.
Johnson calls out: "When's the insulin coming?"
No answer.
"WHEN'S THE INSULIN COMING?"
Answers take time. There are, give or take, roughly 50 doctors, paramedics and nurses on hand to treat the Dome's 11,375 new residents. So, Johnson puts on a happy face, then puts Guidry on a transport to a nearby hospital.
This day, triage got some new equipment: tables. The tables are arranged in a line. On one side slump patients, on the opposite, their saviors. Dr. Evan Melrose, 36, of Texas Medical Center, is one.
"Overwhelmed?" he asks. "No. Not yet."
Melrose is one of the Big 10 -— doctors who can prescribe medicine. They're taking dicey patients first: the ready-to-stop hearts, the congested lungs -— anybody who is "on deck" for a stroke.
His pen is fast at work for Annie O'Neal, 62, who has heart disease. O'Neal fled New Orleans with the clothes she wears, a purse and five Walgreens bottles. "I grabbed my meds," she says, "then my money."
Above a missing person announcement, above one gentleman's sandpapery rendition of "Amazing Grace," Melrose shouts instructions to O'Neal. A volunteer rushes up, holds out a palm of tablets. Apparently, a sick woman was going to swallow them, not knowing what they were.
"Anybody know what these are?"
"I don't read palms," Melrose jokes, and points to a garbage bin.
That produces a smile from the next patient, Shirley Oliver, 50, formerly a cook at the Superdome. Oliver's blood pressure is off the chart, perhaps because rescuers plucked her and her daughter, son, and four granddaughters off a rooftop, then left them on an overpass.
Describing her odyssey, her face clouds, her shoulders quake, and the tears start. "My mother was in a hospital when the storm hit. They evacuated her. But I don't know where she is."
Melrose mops his brow, lowers his gaze.
Later, he says: "You try to focus on the task at hand, you know? But when you see what's in their eyes ... well, I've found myself pushing back tears."
Another volunteer to the triage unit is Mary Clair Haver, 37, native of Lafayette, La., obstetrician. Many young, pregnant women are coming off the buses, ready for delivery.
Earlier, two doctors and four nurses raced up the stadium ramps and frantically searched the fourth-level bathrooms for a woman in labor. Then a pregnant 17-year-old approached Haver, panicked because she hadn't felt the baby move all day.
Haver sighs. "We don't have fetal monitors here. We don't have the basics. All I could was feel her. And I didn't feel the baby kick."
Just then, Kyrisha Miner, 27, wobbles over. Her ankles are swollen, her blood pressure is up. "How many babies are in there?" Haver jokes.
"One -— I hope!"
Her baby is due on Sept. 7. But Haver says they need to induce the birth right away.
"Today?" Miner gasps.
"Today."
When the woman is gone with a list of instructions, Haver says, "It too dangerous. I'm taking no chances. Not with her."
Then she's back to the triage table, for a heart patient. A long day is about to get longer.
How long?
"As long as they need me here."
Help Finally Arrives For New Orleans' Public Hospitals
Five days after Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans and the surrounding Gulf Coast, help finally arrived for two of the city's most devastated hospitals.
Rescuers were able to evacuate everyone from both Charity and University hospitals late Friday, the Associated Press reported Saturday morning.
"The last information I have is that all of the buildings are empty," Don Smithburg, head of the Louisiana State University hospital system, told the wire service.
Roughly 2,200 people were evacuated, including 363 patients; three terminally ill patients died during the rescue effort. Smithburg told the AP he did not know how many died while waiting for help. With food and water running out, some hospital employees had given each other intravenous fluids to stay alive.
"Some of them are on the brink of being unable to cope any longer. We just can't get our people out fast enough," Smithburg said.
Elsewhere in the city, the Ochsner Clinic Foundation seemed almost an oasis of calm, despite having been without power for much of the past five days, and still without plumbing.
The facility was built on high ground, above sea level, Dr. Steven Deitelzweig, the chairman of hospital medicine, said.
Deitelzweig has not left the building since Sunday, he added in a late-night phone interview Friday.
His staff (about 40 percent of whom are on duty) are seeing the gamut of problems, he said. People with chronic ailments such as diabetes, heart failure and pulmonary disease who have run out of medicine have arrived in comas, or with their problems otherwise exacerbated. The team is also treating a good many cuts, some from people who were in a hurry to rebuild their homes. The lack of drinking water in the city has resulted in dehydration and resulting renal insufficiency, as well as infectious diarrhea.
A lack of water also affects the pathology and dialysis machines, among others, which need water to function, Deitelzweig added.
But because the power came back on, there is air conditioning, so conditions are "comfortable," he said. However, doctors and other staff have been advised that the number of patients will likely rise dramatically in the next 10 days, he noted.
And Deitelzweig said he doesn't know when he will see the outside world again: National guardsman will not allow anyone out the front doors.
Despite the fact that hospitals throughout the city had at least been stabilized, and even with the arrival of military convoys carrying food and water to thousands of desperate people in the New Orleans Convention Center following President Bush's visit to the area Friday, lingering health problems remain.
The situation in New Orleans "is rapidly deteriorating," Ivor L. van Heerden, director of the Louisiana State University Hurricane Center, said late Thursday.
People who are still in the city don't have enough water and food and are becoming dispirited, van Heerden added. And the tens of thousands who have been evacuated, and left homeless, face a similar plight, he said.
"Right now, there are over 400,000 refugees in Baton Rouge. Most of them have very few resources, they don't have water, they don't have gasoline and their credit cards won't work," he said.
There also appears to be a large number of missing people, he added. There are more than 300,000 people who didn't leave the city, van Heerden said. Echoing what the mayor of New Orleans and Louisiana's governor have predicted, he said, "The final death toll will be substantial; it will be in the thousands."
Van Heerden predicts the contamination in New Orleans is only getting worse: "There are thousands of dead bodies, a lot of dead wildlife, and a lot of contamination coming from chemical facilities, railcars and gas stations."
"There are parts of New Orleans where it's going to be months and months and months before people can go back," van Heerden said. "There is going to be problems of contaminated buildings, and problems with toxic molds developing in the wall spaces."
Van Heerden also believes that because people have been exposed to mosquitoes for several days, and the mosquitoes are breeding, the risk of West Nile is going to rise dramatically. So far this year in Louisiana, there have been 52 reported cases of West Nile and four deaths, according to the latest count by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
One expert thinks that a variety of health dangers are a significant problem for refugees along the 90 miles of Gulf Coast that took the brunt of Monday's storm.
The first problem is access to clean, potable water, said Dr. Eric A. Weiss, an emergency medicine expert at Stanford University School of Medicine. He also noted that "people, particularly elderly people, have been displaced from their normal medical care. They need access to their medications and to physicians."
Weiss isn't concerned that there will be outbreaks of cholera or other similar diseases. "We don't have cholera here in the United States," he said. "I would expect to see outbreaks similar to what you see on cruise ships -- think of the Superdome as a large cruise ship."
Weiss downplayed concerns about diseases from the vast number of corpses floating in the water. "The danger is highly overrated," he said. "There is not a significant danger of disease from floating bodies."
Another expert sees the raw sewage mixing in the floodwater as a potential threat to public health. This is particularly true for people who are exposed to the water, and who have open wounds or who can't wash their hands.
"While there are a lot of chemicals in the water, they probably don't rise to the level of an acute toxin," said John Pardue, director of the Louisiana Water Resources Research Institute at Louisiana State University. "Probably the biggest danger right now is the sewage."
Pardue plans to start sampling the water in New Orleans to determine its chemical and biological elements that could cause public health problems.
As far as the sewer system is concerned, Pardue said there were lots of leaks in the sewer system before the hurricane. The whole system was being rebuilt at the time of the storm, he noted.
And for everyone caught up in what has become one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history, mental health is a big concern.
"The days and weeks of a hurricane like this are very rough," Weiss said. "There are tremendous psychosocial ramifications. There is a high likelihood of seeing sleep disorders, anxiety, depression and other post-traumatic, stress-related illnesses."
Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt announced Friday that the first 10 federal medical shelters will be located at military facilities throughout the Gulf region to provide basic health-care services for hurricane victims. He added that almost 100 tons in vital medications and supplies have been shipped since last weekend, and are being distributed.
Rescuers were able to evacuate everyone from both Charity and University hospitals late Friday, the Associated Press reported Saturday morning.
"The last information I have is that all of the buildings are empty," Don Smithburg, head of the Louisiana State University hospital system, told the wire service.
Roughly 2,200 people were evacuated, including 363 patients; three terminally ill patients died during the rescue effort. Smithburg told the AP he did not know how many died while waiting for help. With food and water running out, some hospital employees had given each other intravenous fluids to stay alive.
"Some of them are on the brink of being unable to cope any longer. We just can't get our people out fast enough," Smithburg said.
Elsewhere in the city, the Ochsner Clinic Foundation seemed almost an oasis of calm, despite having been without power for much of the past five days, and still without plumbing.
The facility was built on high ground, above sea level, Dr. Steven Deitelzweig, the chairman of hospital medicine, said.
Deitelzweig has not left the building since Sunday, he added in a late-night phone interview Friday.
His staff (about 40 percent of whom are on duty) are seeing the gamut of problems, he said. People with chronic ailments such as diabetes, heart failure and pulmonary disease who have run out of medicine have arrived in comas, or with their problems otherwise exacerbated. The team is also treating a good many cuts, some from people who were in a hurry to rebuild their homes. The lack of drinking water in the city has resulted in dehydration and resulting renal insufficiency, as well as infectious diarrhea.
A lack of water also affects the pathology and dialysis machines, among others, which need water to function, Deitelzweig added.
But because the power came back on, there is air conditioning, so conditions are "comfortable," he said. However, doctors and other staff have been advised that the number of patients will likely rise dramatically in the next 10 days, he noted.
And Deitelzweig said he doesn't know when he will see the outside world again: National guardsman will not allow anyone out the front doors.
Despite the fact that hospitals throughout the city had at least been stabilized, and even with the arrival of military convoys carrying food and water to thousands of desperate people in the New Orleans Convention Center following President Bush's visit to the area Friday, lingering health problems remain.
The situation in New Orleans "is rapidly deteriorating," Ivor L. van Heerden, director of the Louisiana State University Hurricane Center, said late Thursday.
People who are still in the city don't have enough water and food and are becoming dispirited, van Heerden added. And the tens of thousands who have been evacuated, and left homeless, face a similar plight, he said.
"Right now, there are over 400,000 refugees in Baton Rouge. Most of them have very few resources, they don't have water, they don't have gasoline and their credit cards won't work," he said.
There also appears to be a large number of missing people, he added. There are more than 300,000 people who didn't leave the city, van Heerden said. Echoing what the mayor of New Orleans and Louisiana's governor have predicted, he said, "The final death toll will be substantial; it will be in the thousands."
Van Heerden predicts the contamination in New Orleans is only getting worse: "There are thousands of dead bodies, a lot of dead wildlife, and a lot of contamination coming from chemical facilities, railcars and gas stations."
"There are parts of New Orleans where it's going to be months and months and months before people can go back," van Heerden said. "There is going to be problems of contaminated buildings, and problems with toxic molds developing in the wall spaces."
Van Heerden also believes that because people have been exposed to mosquitoes for several days, and the mosquitoes are breeding, the risk of West Nile is going to rise dramatically. So far this year in Louisiana, there have been 52 reported cases of West Nile and four deaths, according to the latest count by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
One expert thinks that a variety of health dangers are a significant problem for refugees along the 90 miles of Gulf Coast that took the brunt of Monday's storm.
The first problem is access to clean, potable water, said Dr. Eric A. Weiss, an emergency medicine expert at Stanford University School of Medicine. He also noted that "people, particularly elderly people, have been displaced from their normal medical care. They need access to their medications and to physicians."
Weiss isn't concerned that there will be outbreaks of cholera or other similar diseases. "We don't have cholera here in the United States," he said. "I would expect to see outbreaks similar to what you see on cruise ships -- think of the Superdome as a large cruise ship."
Weiss downplayed concerns about diseases from the vast number of corpses floating in the water. "The danger is highly overrated," he said. "There is not a significant danger of disease from floating bodies."
Another expert sees the raw sewage mixing in the floodwater as a potential threat to public health. This is particularly true for people who are exposed to the water, and who have open wounds or who can't wash their hands.
"While there are a lot of chemicals in the water, they probably don't rise to the level of an acute toxin," said John Pardue, director of the Louisiana Water Resources Research Institute at Louisiana State University. "Probably the biggest danger right now is the sewage."
Pardue plans to start sampling the water in New Orleans to determine its chemical and biological elements that could cause public health problems.
As far as the sewer system is concerned, Pardue said there were lots of leaks in the sewer system before the hurricane. The whole system was being rebuilt at the time of the storm, he noted.
And for everyone caught up in what has become one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history, mental health is a big concern.
"The days and weeks of a hurricane like this are very rough," Weiss said. "There are tremendous psychosocial ramifications. There is a high likelihood of seeing sleep disorders, anxiety, depression and other post-traumatic, stress-related illnesses."
Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt announced Friday that the first 10 federal medical shelters will be located at military facilities throughout the Gulf region to provide basic health-care services for hurricane victims. He added that almost 100 tons in vital medications and supplies have been shipped since last weekend, and are being distributed.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms Reportedly Less Severe
Scientists have some good news for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers: The disease is becoming milder, with less severe symptoms and less functional disability compared to that experienced by arthritis patients in the past.
The exact reasons for the decline in rheumatoid arthritis severity remains unclear, Dutch researchers say, but may stem from the more aggressive drug therapies that are now available to patients.
Reporting in the September issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, researchers reviewed the cases of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers treated by the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre since 1985.
"Patients with early rheumatoid arthritis presenting in recent years have less severe disease activity at presentation, as well as a more favorable course of their disease, compared with patients in earlier years," lead researcher Paco Welsing said in a prepared statement.
His team found a correlation between more aggressive treatment strategies and less severe symptoms among more recent groups of patients. These included the use of early treatment with the drugs methotrexate or prednisone to manage both the symptoms and destructive progression of arthritis.
The exact reasons for the decline in rheumatoid arthritis severity remains unclear, Dutch researchers say, but may stem from the more aggressive drug therapies that are now available to patients.
Reporting in the September issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, researchers reviewed the cases of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers treated by the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre since 1985.
"Patients with early rheumatoid arthritis presenting in recent years have less severe disease activity at presentation, as well as a more favorable course of their disease, compared with patients in earlier years," lead researcher Paco Welsing said in a prepared statement.
His team found a correlation between more aggressive treatment strategies and less severe symptoms among more recent groups of patients. These included the use of early treatment with the drugs methotrexate or prednisone to manage both the symptoms and destructive progression of arthritis.
As Floodwaters Level Off, Health Risks Rise
With floodwaters in New Orleans leveling off, experts are turning to the massive health problems left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the plight of hundreds of thousands of refugees.
The situation in New Orleans "is rapidly deteriorating," said Ivor L. van Heerden, director of the Louisiana State University Hurricane Center. "The lawlessness has been spreading, and that is hampering search-and-rescue efforts."
People who are still in the city don't have any water and food and are becoming dispirited, van Heerden added. And the tens of thousands who have been evacuated, and left homeless, face a similar plight, he said.
"Right now, there are over 400,000 refugees in Baton Rouge. Most of them have very few resources, they don't have water, they don't have gasoline and their credit cards won't work," he said.
There also appears to be a large number of missing people, he added. There are more than 300,000 people who didn't leave the city, van Heerden said. Echoing what the mayor of New Orleans and Louisiana's governor have predicted, he said, "The final death toll will be substantial; it will be in the thousands."
There were widespread media reports that at the New Orleans convention center, a new haven for about 25,000 refugees, desperate people were clamoring for food and water while dead bodies, some slumped in wheelchairs or wrapped in sheets, lay in their midst.
"Some people there have not eaten or drunk water for three or four days, which is inexcusable," Joseph W. Matthews, the director of the city's Office of Emergency Preparedness, told The New York Times.
Van Heerden predicts the contamination in New Orleans is only getting worse: "There are thousands of dead bodies, a lot of dead wildlife, and a lot of contamination coming from chemical facilities, railcars and gas stations."
In addition, there is gas bubbling up from underground pipelines, the Louisiana official said. There is also increasing danger of fire, he added.
"There are parts of New Orleans where it's going to be months and months and months before people can go back," van Heerden said. "There is going to be problems of contaminated buildings, and problems with toxic molds developing in the wall spaces."
Van Heerden also believes that because people have been exposed to mosquitoes for several days, and the mosquitoes are breeding, the risk of West Nile is going to rise dramatically. So far this year in Louisiana, there have been 52 reported cases of West Nile and four deaths, according to the latest count by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
One expert thinks that a variety of health dangers are a significant problem for refugees along the 90 miles of Gulf Coast that took the brunt of Monday's storm.
The first problem is access to clean, potable water, said Dr. Eric A. Weiss, an emergency medicine expert at Stanford University School of Medicine. He also noted that "people, particularly elderly people, have been displaced from their normal medical care. They need access to their medications and to physicians."
Weiss isn't concerned that there will be outbreaks of cholera or other similar diseases. "We don't have cholera here in the United States," he said. "I would expect to see outbreaks similar to what you see on cruise ships -- think of the Superdome as a large cruise ship."
In shelters where people are crammed together, infectious disease such as respiratory and viral infections spread quickly, Weiss said. "There can be mini-epidemics of viral and bacterial illnesses in these shelters," he noted.
Weiss also donwnplayed concerns about diseases from the vast number of corpses floating in the water.
"The danger is highly overrated," he said. "There is not a significant danger of disease from floating bodies."
Another health expert agreed.
Richard Garfield, an international clinical nursing professor at Columbia University in New York City, told Fox News that "people who are alive can give you a whole lot more diseases than people who are dead." Garfield helped coordinate the medical response in Indonesia following last year's devastating tsunami.
Another expert sees the raw sewage mixing in the floodwater as a potential threat to public health. This is particularly true for people who are exposed to the water, and who have open wounds or who can't wash their hands.
"While there are a lot of chemicals in the water, they probably don't rise to the level of an acute toxin," said John Pardue, director of the Louisiana Water Resources Research Institute at Louisiana State University. "Probably the biggest danger right now is the sewage."
Within the next 24 hours, Pardue plans to start sampling the water in New Orleans to determine its chemical and biological elements that could cause public health problems. People who have been in contact with the water do have a risk of getting infected, he said.
As far as the sewer system is concerned, Pardue said there were lots of leaks in the sewer system before the hurricane. The whole system was being rebuilt at the time of the storm, he added.
And for everyone caught up in what has become one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history, mental health is a big concern.
"The days and weeks of a hurricane like this are very rough," Weiss said. "There are tremendous psychosocial ramifications. There is a high likelihood of seeing sleep disorders, anxiety, depression and other post-traumatic, stress-related illnesses."
As rescue and relocation efforts continue, agencies have been receiving donations from individuals and companies alike. For example, the Red Cross reported it had collected $21 million, almost $15 million of that from individual donations through its Web site.
And corporate donations to the relief effort could total more than $100 million, the Associated Press reported.
But more is needed: Medical supplies ranging from antibiotics to insulin to tetanus shots are desperately needed at the shelters where refugees have been sent, the wire service said.
And pharmaceutical companies plan to send what medicines are needed most as soon as they get a list from the government. Besides medications to treat infections and wounds, shelter workers also need drugs to treat chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and epilepsy, according to the AP. Insulin shipments are already planned.
Friday morning, the U.S. government announced that six truckloads of medical materials from the Strategic National Stockpile are headed to the hurricane-stricken areas, and 10 temporary hospitals should open at area military bases by Friday night.
The situation in New Orleans "is rapidly deteriorating," said Ivor L. van Heerden, director of the Louisiana State University Hurricane Center. "The lawlessness has been spreading, and that is hampering search-and-rescue efforts."
People who are still in the city don't have any water and food and are becoming dispirited, van Heerden added. And the tens of thousands who have been evacuated, and left homeless, face a similar plight, he said.
"Right now, there are over 400,000 refugees in Baton Rouge. Most of them have very few resources, they don't have water, they don't have gasoline and their credit cards won't work," he said.
There also appears to be a large number of missing people, he added. There are more than 300,000 people who didn't leave the city, van Heerden said. Echoing what the mayor of New Orleans and Louisiana's governor have predicted, he said, "The final death toll will be substantial; it will be in the thousands."
There were widespread media reports that at the New Orleans convention center, a new haven for about 25,000 refugees, desperate people were clamoring for food and water while dead bodies, some slumped in wheelchairs or wrapped in sheets, lay in their midst.
"Some people there have not eaten or drunk water for three or four days, which is inexcusable," Joseph W. Matthews, the director of the city's Office of Emergency Preparedness, told The New York Times.
Van Heerden predicts the contamination in New Orleans is only getting worse: "There are thousands of dead bodies, a lot of dead wildlife, and a lot of contamination coming from chemical facilities, railcars and gas stations."
In addition, there is gas bubbling up from underground pipelines, the Louisiana official said. There is also increasing danger of fire, he added.
"There are parts of New Orleans where it's going to be months and months and months before people can go back," van Heerden said. "There is going to be problems of contaminated buildings, and problems with toxic molds developing in the wall spaces."
Van Heerden also believes that because people have been exposed to mosquitoes for several days, and the mosquitoes are breeding, the risk of West Nile is going to rise dramatically. So far this year in Louisiana, there have been 52 reported cases of West Nile and four deaths, according to the latest count by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
One expert thinks that a variety of health dangers are a significant problem for refugees along the 90 miles of Gulf Coast that took the brunt of Monday's storm.
The first problem is access to clean, potable water, said Dr. Eric A. Weiss, an emergency medicine expert at Stanford University School of Medicine. He also noted that "people, particularly elderly people, have been displaced from their normal medical care. They need access to their medications and to physicians."
Weiss isn't concerned that there will be outbreaks of cholera or other similar diseases. "We don't have cholera here in the United States," he said. "I would expect to see outbreaks similar to what you see on cruise ships -- think of the Superdome as a large cruise ship."
In shelters where people are crammed together, infectious disease such as respiratory and viral infections spread quickly, Weiss said. "There can be mini-epidemics of viral and bacterial illnesses in these shelters," he noted.
Weiss also donwnplayed concerns about diseases from the vast number of corpses floating in the water.
"The danger is highly overrated," he said. "There is not a significant danger of disease from floating bodies."
Another health expert agreed.
Richard Garfield, an international clinical nursing professor at Columbia University in New York City, told Fox News that "people who are alive can give you a whole lot more diseases than people who are dead." Garfield helped coordinate the medical response in Indonesia following last year's devastating tsunami.
Another expert sees the raw sewage mixing in the floodwater as a potential threat to public health. This is particularly true for people who are exposed to the water, and who have open wounds or who can't wash their hands.
"While there are a lot of chemicals in the water, they probably don't rise to the level of an acute toxin," said John Pardue, director of the Louisiana Water Resources Research Institute at Louisiana State University. "Probably the biggest danger right now is the sewage."
Within the next 24 hours, Pardue plans to start sampling the water in New Orleans to determine its chemical and biological elements that could cause public health problems. People who have been in contact with the water do have a risk of getting infected, he said.
As far as the sewer system is concerned, Pardue said there were lots of leaks in the sewer system before the hurricane. The whole system was being rebuilt at the time of the storm, he added.
And for everyone caught up in what has become one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history, mental health is a big concern.
"The days and weeks of a hurricane like this are very rough," Weiss said. "There are tremendous psychosocial ramifications. There is a high likelihood of seeing sleep disorders, anxiety, depression and other post-traumatic, stress-related illnesses."
As rescue and relocation efforts continue, agencies have been receiving donations from individuals and companies alike. For example, the Red Cross reported it had collected $21 million, almost $15 million of that from individual donations through its Web site.
And corporate donations to the relief effort could total more than $100 million, the Associated Press reported.
But more is needed: Medical supplies ranging from antibiotics to insulin to tetanus shots are desperately needed at the shelters where refugees have been sent, the wire service said.
And pharmaceutical companies plan to send what medicines are needed most as soon as they get a list from the government. Besides medications to treat infections and wounds, shelter workers also need drugs to treat chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and epilepsy, according to the AP. Insulin shipments are already planned.
Friday morning, the U.S. government announced that six truckloads of medical materials from the Strategic National Stockpile are headed to the hurricane-stricken areas, and 10 temporary hospitals should open at area military bases by Friday night.
Steer Clear of Labor Day Eating Marathon
If you're planning an end-of-the-summer eating marathon this weekend and figure you'll make up for it next week by cutting back on calories, think again.
The "binge-then-compensate" plan sounds good, but doesn't happen in real life, said David Levitsky, a professor of nutrition and psychology at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.
"People don't under-eat after overeating," Levitsky said.
He found that out when he fed a group of normal-weight men and women, average age 31, three meals a day in his experimental dining room at Cornell, weighing every crumb.
For the first two weeks, the baseline period, they could eat as much or as little as they wanted. Most ate between 2,600 calories and 3,100 calories a day.
Next, they were all overfed, with the researchers giving them 33 percent more than they had consumed during the first two weeks.
"At the end of the 13th day, my dietitian called and said, 'The subjects are going to rebel, they can't eat another thing,' so we stopped one day early," Levitsky said.
Next, they went back to eating as much or as little as they wished for three weeks. Rather than cutting back on consumption, they returned to eating the same amount they had eaten during the first two weeks of the trial, said Levitsky, whose study appeared in a recent issue of Physiology & Behavior.
During the overfeeding phase, the men and women gained an average of five pounds. During the two-week period when they returned to eating the amount they wanted, they actually lost 2.8 pounds, even though they didn't cut back, resulting in a net gain of about 2.2 pounds.
They probably lost the 2.8 pounds, Levitsky noted, because "the more weight you carry, the greater your energy expenditure."
When you "pig out" on vacation or a long weekend, "you are not going to come back less hungry," Levitsky said. And if you come back with a weight gain and want to shed it, "you have to make some active attempts," he added.
In other studies, not yet unpublished, Levitsky and his team have found that skipping meals -- often considered bad form by dietitians -- can work to undo the damage of an eating binge.
But other nutrition experts, including Lona Sandon, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, favor another approach.
Sandon suggests people stop looking at vacations or three-day weekends as an excuse to go "hog wild."
"I am not quite sure at what point in time the term 'vacation' took on the same meaning as 'all you can eat,'" she said. "The overeating associated with vacationing is a mindset that people need to change."
She suggests that a better idea is to enjoy food in moderation every day.
Because the Levitsky study only used 12 participants, Sandon also said it is "difficult to generalize to a larger population as to whether or not this is a normal response to a few days of overeating." But she said other studies have come to similar conclusions.
"What is alarming about the Levitsky study is that when people returned to normal eating, they only lost half of what they gained after overeating for just 13 days. So they were now about 2 pounds heavier than they were before the study began," she said.
When people who overeat while on holiday put themselves on a low-calorie diet upon their return, Sandon said, it usually backfires because they can't endure it for long and go back to poor eating habits.
"It turns into a vicious cycle of restricting and overindulging," she said. "The best thing to do is get back into your normal eating and exercise routine as soon as possible."
Other weight-control strategies include skipping the all-you-can-eat buffets while on holiday, focusing on the local cuisine rather than eating at chains you can find at home, and scheduling plenty of physical activities, she said.
The "binge-then-compensate" plan sounds good, but doesn't happen in real life, said David Levitsky, a professor of nutrition and psychology at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.
"People don't under-eat after overeating," Levitsky said.
He found that out when he fed a group of normal-weight men and women, average age 31, three meals a day in his experimental dining room at Cornell, weighing every crumb.
For the first two weeks, the baseline period, they could eat as much or as little as they wanted. Most ate between 2,600 calories and 3,100 calories a day.
Next, they were all overfed, with the researchers giving them 33 percent more than they had consumed during the first two weeks.
"At the end of the 13th day, my dietitian called and said, 'The subjects are going to rebel, they can't eat another thing,' so we stopped one day early," Levitsky said.
Next, they went back to eating as much or as little as they wished for three weeks. Rather than cutting back on consumption, they returned to eating the same amount they had eaten during the first two weeks of the trial, said Levitsky, whose study appeared in a recent issue of Physiology & Behavior.
During the overfeeding phase, the men and women gained an average of five pounds. During the two-week period when they returned to eating the amount they wanted, they actually lost 2.8 pounds, even though they didn't cut back, resulting in a net gain of about 2.2 pounds.
They probably lost the 2.8 pounds, Levitsky noted, because "the more weight you carry, the greater your energy expenditure."
When you "pig out" on vacation or a long weekend, "you are not going to come back less hungry," Levitsky said. And if you come back with a weight gain and want to shed it, "you have to make some active attempts," he added.
In other studies, not yet unpublished, Levitsky and his team have found that skipping meals -- often considered bad form by dietitians -- can work to undo the damage of an eating binge.
But other nutrition experts, including Lona Sandon, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, favor another approach.
Sandon suggests people stop looking at vacations or three-day weekends as an excuse to go "hog wild."
"I am not quite sure at what point in time the term 'vacation' took on the same meaning as 'all you can eat,'" she said. "The overeating associated with vacationing is a mindset that people need to change."
She suggests that a better idea is to enjoy food in moderation every day.
Because the Levitsky study only used 12 participants, Sandon also said it is "difficult to generalize to a larger population as to whether or not this is a normal response to a few days of overeating." But she said other studies have come to similar conclusions.
"What is alarming about the Levitsky study is that when people returned to normal eating, they only lost half of what they gained after overeating for just 13 days. So they were now about 2 pounds heavier than they were before the study began," she said.
When people who overeat while on holiday put themselves on a low-calorie diet upon their return, Sandon said, it usually backfires because they can't endure it for long and go back to poor eating habits.
"It turns into a vicious cycle of restricting and overindulging," she said. "The best thing to do is get back into your normal eating and exercise routine as soon as possible."
Other weight-control strategies include skipping the all-you-can-eat buffets while on holiday, focusing on the local cuisine rather than eating at chains you can find at home, and scheduling plenty of physical activities, she said.
Health Headlines - September 3
Nigeria Cholera Outbreak Kills 30
A cholera outbreak in northeastern Nigeria has killed 30 people, officials said Friday.
Range of Medicines Needed for Storm Relief
Six truckloads of medical materials from the Strategic National Stockpile are headed to hurricane-stricken Louisiana and Mississippi, and 10 temporary hospitals should open at area military bases by Friday night.
Theory: Mad Cow May Have Come From Humans
A new theory proposes that mad cow disease may have come from feeding British cattle meal contaminated with human remains infected with a variation of the disease.
FDA Approves Drug for Short Children
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug to treat children who suffer from a condition that prevents them from growing, the drug's manufacturer says.
Ohio High School Has 64 Pregnant Students
Thirteen percent of the female students at Timken Senior High School in Ohio are pregnant. High school senior Monica Selby thought she would be busy this year planning for college, not preparing for the birth of her first child.
CDC Recommends Flu Shot Priority Rankings
Hoping to avoid last year's flu vaccine shortage, federal health officials Thursday urged doctors and other health officials to give the first batch of flu shots to people at risk of severe complications.
Report: Better Tracking Needed for Illness
Federal health officials need better access to airline passenger lists so they can quickly locate those who may have been exposed to infectious diseases during a flight, a major gap in the nation's border defenses, says a new report.
U.N.: Cholera Has Killed 500 in Africa
A cholera epidemic spreading across West Africa has sickened tens of thousands of people this year and killed nearly 500 amid a long-term deterioration in health services in one of the world's poorest regions, the United Nations said Thursday.
Mo. Can Cut Medical Equipment Payments
A federal judge decided to let Missouri move ahead with plans to stop paying for certain medical equipment while he considers a lawsuit aiming to stop the cuts.
Health Tip: Are You at Risk for Testicular Cancer?
Testicular cancer, which usually strikes men ages 15 to 34, is one of the most common tumors seen in men under age 40, according to Seton Hall University in New Jersey.
All men in this age group should conduct monthly self-exams, especially those who may be more prone to testicular cancer.
The following factors may increase your risk:
You are a white male between the ages of 15 and 40.
You have undescended or late-descended testes.
There is a family history of testicular cancer.
You've been diagnosed with inguinal hernia.
Health Tip: When Your Children Are Grieving
When a family member dies, children react differently than adults. Some may act like nothing has changed, others may become more infantile, and certain kids will even blame themselves.
But how do you know whether your child's behavior is normal or something more serious?
According to Barnes Jewish Hospital, if your child shows one or more of the following signs, professional help may be needed:
An extended period of depression in which your child loses interest in daily activities or events.
Inability to sleep, loss of appetite, prolonged fear of being alone.
Acting much younger than actual age for an extended period.
Excessively imitating the dead person.
Repeated statements of wanting to join the dead person.
Withdrawal from friends.
Sharp drop in school performance or refusal to attend school.
A cholera outbreak in northeastern Nigeria has killed 30 people, officials said Friday.
Range of Medicines Needed for Storm Relief
Six truckloads of medical materials from the Strategic National Stockpile are headed to hurricane-stricken Louisiana and Mississippi, and 10 temporary hospitals should open at area military bases by Friday night.
Theory: Mad Cow May Have Come From Humans
A new theory proposes that mad cow disease may have come from feeding British cattle meal contaminated with human remains infected with a variation of the disease.
FDA Approves Drug for Short Children
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug to treat children who suffer from a condition that prevents them from growing, the drug's manufacturer says.
Ohio High School Has 64 Pregnant Students
Thirteen percent of the female students at Timken Senior High School in Ohio are pregnant. High school senior Monica Selby thought she would be busy this year planning for college, not preparing for the birth of her first child.
CDC Recommends Flu Shot Priority Rankings
Hoping to avoid last year's flu vaccine shortage, federal health officials Thursday urged doctors and other health officials to give the first batch of flu shots to people at risk of severe complications.
Report: Better Tracking Needed for Illness
Federal health officials need better access to airline passenger lists so they can quickly locate those who may have been exposed to infectious diseases during a flight, a major gap in the nation's border defenses, says a new report.
U.N.: Cholera Has Killed 500 in Africa
A cholera epidemic spreading across West Africa has sickened tens of thousands of people this year and killed nearly 500 amid a long-term deterioration in health services in one of the world's poorest regions, the United Nations said Thursday.
Mo. Can Cut Medical Equipment Payments
A federal judge decided to let Missouri move ahead with plans to stop paying for certain medical equipment while he considers a lawsuit aiming to stop the cuts.
Health Tip: Are You at Risk for Testicular Cancer?
Testicular cancer, which usually strikes men ages 15 to 34, is one of the most common tumors seen in men under age 40, according to Seton Hall University in New Jersey.
All men in this age group should conduct monthly self-exams, especially those who may be more prone to testicular cancer.
The following factors may increase your risk:
You are a white male between the ages of 15 and 40.
You have undescended or late-descended testes.
There is a family history of testicular cancer.
You've been diagnosed with inguinal hernia.
Health Tip: When Your Children Are Grieving
When a family member dies, children react differently than adults. Some may act like nothing has changed, others may become more infantile, and certain kids will even blame themselves.
But how do you know whether your child's behavior is normal or something more serious?
According to Barnes Jewish Hospital, if your child shows one or more of the following signs, professional help may be needed:
An extended period of depression in which your child loses interest in daily activities or events.
Inability to sleep, loss of appetite, prolonged fear of being alone.
Acting much younger than actual age for an extended period.
Excessively imitating the dead person.
Repeated statements of wanting to join the dead person.
Withdrawal from friends.
Sharp drop in school performance or refusal to attend school.
Friday, September 02, 2005
Miss. Hospital Offers Hope to Survivors
BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. - Diabetes and a heart condition were hard enough to manage, but when Tommy Padgett's kidneys began to fail, his ex-wife sought help.
Brenda Biehl went to the only place she could think of Thursday, hoping that Hancock Medical Center would still be standing after Hurricane Katrina.
"We just took a chance and came here," she said as Padgett was put in an ambulance to be treated at a hospital in Mobile, Ala. "They've never left before."
And they didn't this time.
Hancock Medical Center rode out Katrina, a contingency plan that hospital officials don't regret.
"Once you've been out there and seen your home is either there or it isn't, you come back," hospital administrator Hal Leftwich said. "Most of us got into this profession to help people."
The hospital's floors were slick with mud and an oatmeal-like mush from fallen ceiling tiles but the emergency room was in business, staffed by disaster relief crews from Iowa and Missouri and employees who couldn't help but return.
Leftwich was among the employees and patients who endured Katrina at the hospital, built to withstand 150-mph winds. What Leftwich did not anticipate was a storm surge that quickly flooded the first floor early Monday.
In the first 12 hours after the storm, the staff treated 150 people, mostly with chronic conditions. Then came traumatic injuries. By Thursday afternoon, about 800 people had been treated and Leftwich considered his hurricane preparation plan a success.
"The plan did what the plan was supposed to do, but we never anticipated this kind of need," he said.
Leftwich said he has questioned his decision to stay through the storm, "but if we had evacuated, we wouldn't be here for all these people."
With 200 to 300 patients a day, medicine remains an urgent need, particularly insulin and drugs for heart and blood pressure conditions.
"We're exhausting our supply," Dr. Ronnie Ali said.
Some patients have drugs but find themselves sicker after a dose, their bodies weakened from exhaustion, dehydration and lack of food.
"Some of these people are on six or seven medicines," Ali said. "It's a big problem. We need help."
But Biehl, who lost her home and everything in it, got the help she needed.
"When you have nothing, at least you have here to come."
Brenda Biehl went to the only place she could think of Thursday, hoping that Hancock Medical Center would still be standing after Hurricane Katrina.
"We just took a chance and came here," she said as Padgett was put in an ambulance to be treated at a hospital in Mobile, Ala. "They've never left before."
And they didn't this time.
Hancock Medical Center rode out Katrina, a contingency plan that hospital officials don't regret.
"Once you've been out there and seen your home is either there or it isn't, you come back," hospital administrator Hal Leftwich said. "Most of us got into this profession to help people."
The hospital's floors were slick with mud and an oatmeal-like mush from fallen ceiling tiles but the emergency room was in business, staffed by disaster relief crews from Iowa and Missouri and employees who couldn't help but return.
Leftwich was among the employees and patients who endured Katrina at the hospital, built to withstand 150-mph winds. What Leftwich did not anticipate was a storm surge that quickly flooded the first floor early Monday.
In the first 12 hours after the storm, the staff treated 150 people, mostly with chronic conditions. Then came traumatic injuries. By Thursday afternoon, about 800 people had been treated and Leftwich considered his hurricane preparation plan a success.
"The plan did what the plan was supposed to do, but we never anticipated this kind of need," he said.
Leftwich said he has questioned his decision to stay through the storm, "but if we had evacuated, we wouldn't be here for all these people."
With 200 to 300 patients a day, medicine remains an urgent need, particularly insulin and drugs for heart and blood pressure conditions.
"We're exhausting our supply," Dr. Ronnie Ali said.
Some patients have drugs but find themselves sicker after a dose, their bodies weakened from exhaustion, dehydration and lack of food.
"Some of these people are on six or seven medicines," Ali said. "It's a big problem. We need help."
But Biehl, who lost her home and everything in it, got the help she needed.
"When you have nothing, at least you have here to come."
Range of Medicines Needed for Storm Relief
WASHINGTON - Six truckloads of medical materials from the Strategic National Stockpile are headed to hurricane-stricken Louisiana and Mississippi, and 10 temporary hospitals should open at area military bases by Friday night.
The government said emergency medical shelters are being established at Fort Polk, La., the Mississippi Air National Guard Station in Jackson, Eglin Air Force Base near Pensacola, Fla., and the Naval Air Station in Meridian, Miss.
The shelters are in addition to one at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge that as of Thursday morning had examined and treated over 800 patients and admitted 95 for in-patient care, said Health and Human Services spokeswoman Christina Pearson.
The 10 additional shelters at military facilities together will have 2,500 beds for patients most in need, but also can offer outpatient care. They are the first of up to 40 emergency medical shelters that HHS plans to establish in the area in coming days.
The first stockpile shipments began arriving in Louisiana Thursday, with a mix of portable oxygen tanks, first-aid supplies, patient clothing and some medications, Pearson said.
The drug industry formally asked President Bush and HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt Thursday for a list of most-needed medications to ship to the region, something emergency medical workers haven't yet been able to compile.
"I've got companies with planes standing by, trucks standing by," said Billy Tauzin, a former Louisiana congressman who now heads the trade group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
Among the pledged relief is 40,000 vials of insulin from Eli Lilly & Co., and 75,000 respirators shipped by 3M, PhRMA said.
At crowded shelters, rescue workers have three priorities: treating hurricane-related wounds, infections that can spread in the shelters' crowded conditions, and treating the underlying medical conditions of people cut off from their usual care. Insulin is a prime example: Many diabetics need daily doses to survive, but it must be kept cool, meaning even refugees who saved some supplies may not be able to use them after days with no electricity.
Other medicines commonly used for flood refugees, according to Stanford University emergency medicine specialist Dr. Eric A. Weiss, are:
_Antibiotic ointments, such as Polysporin, to prevent infection in cuts caused by debris, especially on the feet, legs and hands.
_Tetanus shots, for people who sustained cuts or other wounds if they haven't had the vaccination within the last 10 years.
_Antibiotics, particularly cephalosporins such as Keflex. In particular, staph and strep infections are common in wounds and then can spread in crowded shelters. Respiratory infections are common, too, but antibiotics usually aren't needed. Most cases of diarrhea will be caused by viruses, but antibiotics are used for those with bloody diarrhea or other signs that the infection is caused by bacteria, such as E. coli.
_Rehydrating solutions, to give diarrhea patients the right mix of water and electrolytes; antidiarrheal agents such as immodium; and anti-nausea drugs such as phenergan.
_Pain medicines ranging from ibuprofen and acetaminophen to stronger Vicodin.
_Children's versions of painkillers, as well as the frequent pediatric antibiotic amoxicillin.
Beyond that starter kit, shelters will need medicines people use to treat common underlying medical conditions — such as blood pressure pills, blood-thinning warfarin, diabetes drugs, anti-seizure medicine for epilepsy.
The government said emergency medical shelters are being established at Fort Polk, La., the Mississippi Air National Guard Station in Jackson, Eglin Air Force Base near Pensacola, Fla., and the Naval Air Station in Meridian, Miss.
The shelters are in addition to one at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge that as of Thursday morning had examined and treated over 800 patients and admitted 95 for in-patient care, said Health and Human Services spokeswoman Christina Pearson.
The 10 additional shelters at military facilities together will have 2,500 beds for patients most in need, but also can offer outpatient care. They are the first of up to 40 emergency medical shelters that HHS plans to establish in the area in coming days.
The first stockpile shipments began arriving in Louisiana Thursday, with a mix of portable oxygen tanks, first-aid supplies, patient clothing and some medications, Pearson said.
The drug industry formally asked President Bush and HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt Thursday for a list of most-needed medications to ship to the region, something emergency medical workers haven't yet been able to compile.
"I've got companies with planes standing by, trucks standing by," said Billy Tauzin, a former Louisiana congressman who now heads the trade group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
Among the pledged relief is 40,000 vials of insulin from Eli Lilly & Co., and 75,000 respirators shipped by 3M, PhRMA said.
At crowded shelters, rescue workers have three priorities: treating hurricane-related wounds, infections that can spread in the shelters' crowded conditions, and treating the underlying medical conditions of people cut off from their usual care. Insulin is a prime example: Many diabetics need daily doses to survive, but it must be kept cool, meaning even refugees who saved some supplies may not be able to use them after days with no electricity.
Other medicines commonly used for flood refugees, according to Stanford University emergency medicine specialist Dr. Eric A. Weiss, are:
_Antibiotic ointments, such as Polysporin, to prevent infection in cuts caused by debris, especially on the feet, legs and hands.
_Tetanus shots, for people who sustained cuts or other wounds if they haven't had the vaccination within the last 10 years.
_Antibiotics, particularly cephalosporins such as Keflex. In particular, staph and strep infections are common in wounds and then can spread in crowded shelters. Respiratory infections are common, too, but antibiotics usually aren't needed. Most cases of diarrhea will be caused by viruses, but antibiotics are used for those with bloody diarrhea or other signs that the infection is caused by bacteria, such as E. coli.
_Rehydrating solutions, to give diarrhea patients the right mix of water and electrolytes; antidiarrheal agents such as immodium; and anti-nausea drugs such as phenergan.
_Pain medicines ranging from ibuprofen and acetaminophen to stronger Vicodin.
_Children's versions of painkillers, as well as the frequent pediatric antibiotic amoxicillin.
Beyond that starter kit, shelters will need medicines people use to treat common underlying medical conditions — such as blood pressure pills, blood-thinning warfarin, diabetes drugs, anti-seizure medicine for epilepsy.
New Orleans Doctors Plead for Help
Doctors at two desperately crippled hospitals in New Orleans called The Associated Press Thursday morning pleading for rescue, saying they were nearly out of food and power and had been forced to move patients to higher floors to escape looters.
"We have been trying to call the mayor's office, we have been trying to call the governor's office ... we have tried to use any inside pressure we can. We are turning to you. Please help us," said Dr. Norman McSwain, chief of trauma surgery at Charity Hospital, the larger of two public hospitals.
Charity Hospital is across the street from Tulane University Medical Center, a private facility that has almost completed evacuating more than 1,000 patients and family members, he said.
No such public resources are available for Charity, which has about 250 patients, or University Hospital several blocks away, which has about 110 patients. Tulane's heliport is available if patients from the public hospitals could be brought there, McSwain said.
"We need coordinated help from the government," he said.
Late Thursday afternoon, the U.S. Surgeon General's office told the AP that five private helicopters had been secured to start taking patients out of Charity Hospital. Efforts to get more information from Charity or University hospitals late in the day were unsuccessful because phone lines previously reachable were jammed.
Later Thursday, one of the hospital's doctors told CNN that a sniper had opened fire outside Charity as National Guard vehicles prepared to evacuate patients. After waiting all day, hospital officials loaded some people onto boats, but some were returning because transportation anticipated at higher ground wasn't available, according to Dr. Ruth Berggren.
Doctors worked especially hard to evacuate one patient who was gravely ill.
"He was sitting on that boat that came back, leaning over the edge and vomiting, and my heart just breaks for him because I think he just feels terrible," Berggren told CNN.
Elsewhere, helicopters hauled hundreds of patients from other New Orleans-area hospitals Thursday, but more than 1,000 people still awaited rescue.
Helicopter crews evacuated 400 to 600 patients Thursday, but 1,000 or 1,500 others remained, said Richard Zuschlag, president and CEO of Acadian Ambulance Service.
Earlier, McSwain described horrific conditions in his hospital.
"There is no food in Charity Hospital. They're eating fruit bowl punch and that's all they've got to eat. There's minimal water," McSwain said.
"Most of their power is out. Much of the hospital is dark. The ICU (intensive care unit) is on the 12th floor, so the physicians and nurses are having to walk up floors to see the patients."
Dr. Lee Hamm, chairman of medicine at Tulane University, said he took a canoe from there to the two public hospitals, where he also works, to check conditions.
"The physicians and nurses are doing an incredible job, but there are patients laying on stretchers on the floor, the halls were dark, the stairwells are dark. Of course, there's no elevators. There's no communication with the outside world," he said.
"We're afraid that somehow these two hospitals have been left off ... that somehow somebody has either forgotten it or ignored it or something, because there is no evidence anything is being done."
Hamm said there was relief Wednesday as word traveled throughout University Hospital that the National Guard was coming to evacuate them, but the rescue never materialized.
"You can imagine how demoralizing that was," he said.
Throughout New Orleans, the death, destruction and depravity deepened even as the hurricane waters leveled off.
"Hospitals are trying to evacuate," said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Cheri Ben-Iesan, spokesman at the city emergency operations center. "At every one of them, there are reports that as the helicopters come in, people are shooting at them. There are people just taking pot shots at police and at helicopters, telling them, 'You better come get my family.'"
Richard Zuschlag, president of Acadian Ambulance Service Inc., described the chaos at a suburban hospital.
"We tried to airlift supplies into Kenner Memorial Hospital late last evening and were confronted by an unruly crowd with guns, and the pilots refused to land," he said.
"My medics were crying, screaming for help. When we tried to land at Kenner, my pilots got scared because 100 people were on the helipad and some of them had guns. He was frightened and would not land."
Zuschlag said 65 patients brought to the roof of another city hospital, Touro Infirmary, for evacuation Wednesday night spent the night there. The hospital's generator and backup generator had failed, and doctors decided it was safer to keep everyone on the roof than carry fragile patients back downstairs.
"The hospital was so hot that with no rain or anything, they were better off in the fresh air on the roof," he said.
In Houston, 60 doctors and nurses worked in a makeshift clinic in a hangar at Ellington Field, quickly examining evacuees Gulf Coast cities before sending them to hospitals or releasing them to family members.
"We've seen patients who've recently had transplants, were on ventilators, had serious infections, nursing home patients, patients with pneumonia, patients who've not had kidney dialysis for a week," said Dr. J. Kalavar, director of the patient reception team at Ellington. "Everyone of them is anxious and exhausted."
Theadore Hunter and his mother, Henrietta, were among the evacuees. He said he and his mother spent two days on the roof of their flooded apartment complex before they were rescued Wednesday afternoon by a helicopter. They were then taken to New Orleans' airport, where they were loaded with other survivors into a military cargo plane Thursday morning.
"I didn't know where we were being taken. All we knew is we were getting out of the storm, getting away from the flood. Now I don't know what we are going to do but we are alive," Hunter said.
With one hand he hugged his crying daughter, Tracy, who had fled New Orleans for Houston days earlier. In his other hand, he clutched a brown leather bag with his mother's medicines, the only thing he could save from his flooded apartment.
Knox Andress, an emergency nurse who is regional coordinator for a federal emergency preparedness grant covering the state, said it's impossible to overstate the critical role hospitals are playing for people who remain in the city.
"They're running out of their medications, they're running out of money. They're having social issues and where do they go? They go to the hospital. The hospital is the backbone of the community because the lights are always on," he said.
When hospitals can't take care of people and the rescuers need rescued, there's no social fabric left, Andress said.
Hospitals weren't the only facilities with troubles.
Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, who has been working with search and rescue, confirmed that 30 people died at a nursing home in St. Bernard Parish and 30 others were being evacuated. He did not give any further details.
Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said they had deployed more than 30 people to Gulf Coast states to assess health conditions. The agency also will send six 20-person teams to help local and state public health and medical personnel.
"We have been trying to call the mayor's office, we have been trying to call the governor's office ... we have tried to use any inside pressure we can. We are turning to you. Please help us," said Dr. Norman McSwain, chief of trauma surgery at Charity Hospital, the larger of two public hospitals.
Charity Hospital is across the street from Tulane University Medical Center, a private facility that has almost completed evacuating more than 1,000 patients and family members, he said.
No such public resources are available for Charity, which has about 250 patients, or University Hospital several blocks away, which has about 110 patients. Tulane's heliport is available if patients from the public hospitals could be brought there, McSwain said.
"We need coordinated help from the government," he said.
Late Thursday afternoon, the U.S. Surgeon General's office told the AP that five private helicopters had been secured to start taking patients out of Charity Hospital. Efforts to get more information from Charity or University hospitals late in the day were unsuccessful because phone lines previously reachable were jammed.
Later Thursday, one of the hospital's doctors told CNN that a sniper had opened fire outside Charity as National Guard vehicles prepared to evacuate patients. After waiting all day, hospital officials loaded some people onto boats, but some were returning because transportation anticipated at higher ground wasn't available, according to Dr. Ruth Berggren.
Doctors worked especially hard to evacuate one patient who was gravely ill.
"He was sitting on that boat that came back, leaning over the edge and vomiting, and my heart just breaks for him because I think he just feels terrible," Berggren told CNN.
Elsewhere, helicopters hauled hundreds of patients from other New Orleans-area hospitals Thursday, but more than 1,000 people still awaited rescue.
Helicopter crews evacuated 400 to 600 patients Thursday, but 1,000 or 1,500 others remained, said Richard Zuschlag, president and CEO of Acadian Ambulance Service.
Earlier, McSwain described horrific conditions in his hospital.
"There is no food in Charity Hospital. They're eating fruit bowl punch and that's all they've got to eat. There's minimal water," McSwain said.
"Most of their power is out. Much of the hospital is dark. The ICU (intensive care unit) is on the 12th floor, so the physicians and nurses are having to walk up floors to see the patients."
Dr. Lee Hamm, chairman of medicine at Tulane University, said he took a canoe from there to the two public hospitals, where he also works, to check conditions.
"The physicians and nurses are doing an incredible job, but there are patients laying on stretchers on the floor, the halls were dark, the stairwells are dark. Of course, there's no elevators. There's no communication with the outside world," he said.
"We're afraid that somehow these two hospitals have been left off ... that somehow somebody has either forgotten it or ignored it or something, because there is no evidence anything is being done."
Hamm said there was relief Wednesday as word traveled throughout University Hospital that the National Guard was coming to evacuate them, but the rescue never materialized.
"You can imagine how demoralizing that was," he said.
Throughout New Orleans, the death, destruction and depravity deepened even as the hurricane waters leveled off.
"Hospitals are trying to evacuate," said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Cheri Ben-Iesan, spokesman at the city emergency operations center. "At every one of them, there are reports that as the helicopters come in, people are shooting at them. There are people just taking pot shots at police and at helicopters, telling them, 'You better come get my family.'"
Richard Zuschlag, president of Acadian Ambulance Service Inc., described the chaos at a suburban hospital.
"We tried to airlift supplies into Kenner Memorial Hospital late last evening and were confronted by an unruly crowd with guns, and the pilots refused to land," he said.
"My medics were crying, screaming for help. When we tried to land at Kenner, my pilots got scared because 100 people were on the helipad and some of them had guns. He was frightened and would not land."
Zuschlag said 65 patients brought to the roof of another city hospital, Touro Infirmary, for evacuation Wednesday night spent the night there. The hospital's generator and backup generator had failed, and doctors decided it was safer to keep everyone on the roof than carry fragile patients back downstairs.
"The hospital was so hot that with no rain or anything, they were better off in the fresh air on the roof," he said.
In Houston, 60 doctors and nurses worked in a makeshift clinic in a hangar at Ellington Field, quickly examining evacuees Gulf Coast cities before sending them to hospitals or releasing them to family members.
"We've seen patients who've recently had transplants, were on ventilators, had serious infections, nursing home patients, patients with pneumonia, patients who've not had kidney dialysis for a week," said Dr. J. Kalavar, director of the patient reception team at Ellington. "Everyone of them is anxious and exhausted."
Theadore Hunter and his mother, Henrietta, were among the evacuees. He said he and his mother spent two days on the roof of their flooded apartment complex before they were rescued Wednesday afternoon by a helicopter. They were then taken to New Orleans' airport, where they were loaded with other survivors into a military cargo plane Thursday morning.
"I didn't know where we were being taken. All we knew is we were getting out of the storm, getting away from the flood. Now I don't know what we are going to do but we are alive," Hunter said.
With one hand he hugged his crying daughter, Tracy, who had fled New Orleans for Houston days earlier. In his other hand, he clutched a brown leather bag with his mother's medicines, the only thing he could save from his flooded apartment.
Knox Andress, an emergency nurse who is regional coordinator for a federal emergency preparedness grant covering the state, said it's impossible to overstate the critical role hospitals are playing for people who remain in the city.
"They're running out of their medications, they're running out of money. They're having social issues and where do they go? They go to the hospital. The hospital is the backbone of the community because the lights are always on," he said.
When hospitals can't take care of people and the rescuers need rescued, there's no social fabric left, Andress said.
Hospitals weren't the only facilities with troubles.
Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, who has been working with search and rescue, confirmed that 30 people died at a nursing home in St. Bernard Parish and 30 others were being evacuated. He did not give any further details.
Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said they had deployed more than 30 people to Gulf Coast states to assess health conditions. The agency also will send six 20-person teams to help local and state public health and medical personnel.
Health Headlines - September 2
MS Drug Maker to Ask for Warning Label
The company that makes a multiple sclerosis drug linked to an often-fatal brain disease will be asking U.S. regulators to allow the drug back on the market with additional warning labels.
Biogen Idec Inc.'s CEO, James Mullen, said in an interview with the Associated Press that the Cammbridge, Mass., company will recommend that the drug, Tysabri, include warnings about three cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), that were confirmed after clinical trials. Tysabri was withdrawn from the market on Feb. 28, three months after receiving U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval and despite hopes that it would become an important new tool in treating MS.
Mullen said the revised label that the company will propose to the FDA also will warn about risks for patients who have weak immune systems, and therefore could be more susceptible to contracting the disease.
However, Mullen added that the label language his company will suggest will acknowledge that scientists don't understand precisely how the bioengineered drug put the three patients who contracted PML at risk of contracting the rare disease, the AP reported. Two of those patients died.
Mullen said Biogen Idec and its Irish partner on Tysabri, Elan Corp., plan to submit findings from their review of the drug's safety to the FDA by the end of September.
After reviewing one year of data from planned two-year trials, federal regulators in November had approved Tysabri for sale to the 350,000 American sufferers of MS, a debilitating and incurable disease in which the body's immune system turns rebellious, attacking, inflaming and damaging its own nerve tissue.
FDA Official Resigns Over Plan B Delay
The director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Office of Women's Health resigned Wednesday to protest the agency's delay in allowing over-the-counter sales of emergency contraception.
Susan Wood, who was also assistant commissioner for women's health, announced her resignation in an e-mail to colleagues at the agency, which was then forwarded by a number of organizations to media outlets.
The FDA on Friday announced that it was delaying for 60 days its long-awaited decision on whether to allow over-the-counter sales of the Plan B contraceptive pill. Plan B, often called the "morning-after" pill, can lower the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
In delaying its decision, which was contrary to the advice of its own scientific advisers, the FDA said it was comfortable allowing over-the-counter sales to adults 18 and older, but wanted more time to decide how to keep it out of the hands of young teenagers.
In her resignation, Wood said, "I can no longer serve as staff when scientific and clinical evidence, fully evaluated and recommended for approval by the professional staff here, has been overruled."
She added, "The recent decision announced by the Commissioner about emergency contraception, which continues to limit women's access to a product that would reduce unintended pregnancies and reduce abortions, is contrary to my core commitment to improving and advancing women's health."
Plan B's maker has been trying for two years to begin nonprescription sales, and the FDA's latest postponement of its fate was a surprise: Commissioner Lester Crawford won Senate confirmation to take his job only after promising members of Congress to make a final decision by Sept. 1, the Associated Press reported.
The Society for Women's Health Research issued a statement calling Wood's resignation, "a severe loss to the advancement of women's health."
"When the director of the office that 'serves as a champion for women's health' is not involved in decisions critical to women's health, the immediate consequences for America's women are tremendous," the statement added.
New Treatment Approved for Short Children
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the Tercica drug Increlex to treat children of short stature whose bodies don't properly process growth hormone.
An estimated 6,000 children in the United States have a severe form of a condition in which they produce antibodies that neutralize growth hormone. These children are not growth-hormone deficient and therefore aren't likely to respond to standard growth hormone replacement therapy, Tercica said in a statement.
Children with severe IGF-1 deficiency lack a body chemical called insulin-like growth factor-1, which is needed for the normal growth of bones, cartilage and organs, said Tercica, a Brisbane, Calif., biotech company.
No Cell Phone Link to Cancer, U.K. Researchers Say
Using a cell phone even for 10 years does not increase the risk of brain cancer, U.K. researchers report.
The scientists, who conducted the largest study so far on the subject, said they could not rule out a higher risk over a longer period, however, the Independent reported.
"The results of our study suggest there is no substantial risk in the first decade after starting use," said Anthony Swerdlow, of the Institute of Cancer Research in London. "Whether there are longer-term risks remains unknown, reflecting the fact that this is a relatively recent technology."
The research, published in the British Journal of Cancer, focused on the risk of acoustic neuroma, benign tumors that grow in the nerve connecting the ear and inner ear to the brain, close to where handsets are held.
The institute's analysis pooled studies conducted in Britain, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, all countries where cell phones were introduced early.
Food Fact:
Culture club.
When yogurt's live active cultures colonize your digestive system, they draw a line in the sand against disease. The cultures -- especially acidophilus and bifida - muscle out potentially threatening bacteria. Low-fat or fat-free yogurt has a lot of other things going for it: It's easy to digest, especially for those who are lactose-intolerant and have difficulty digesting milk and many cheeses; it's an excellent source of calcium, protein, riboflavin (a B vitamin), vitamin B-12 (which may be low in vegetarian diets) and vitamin A; and provides selenium, potassium and magnesium.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Want strong bones?
All it takes is 20 minutes of the right weight-bearing exercise three days per week. Activity such as walking will stimulate bone growth and prevent bone loss throughout life. Strength training, such as weight lifting, fortifies bone and can reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis.
FAQ of the day:
Can certain foods prevent cancer?
No one can say with absolute certainty how powerful is diet in preventing cancer. But at least a third (and possibly more) of all cancers have been linked to diet. People who eat the most fruits and vegetables have been shown to have about half the risk of developing cancer as people who rarely eat them. Your genes and other lifestyle factors, such as smoking, have a strong say in your susceptibility to cancer. But it's likely that improving the typical American diet would make a big dent in new cases of cancer, the nation's second biggest killer after heart disease.
The company that makes a multiple sclerosis drug linked to an often-fatal brain disease will be asking U.S. regulators to allow the drug back on the market with additional warning labels.
Biogen Idec Inc.'s CEO, James Mullen, said in an interview with the Associated Press that the Cammbridge, Mass., company will recommend that the drug, Tysabri, include warnings about three cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), that were confirmed after clinical trials. Tysabri was withdrawn from the market on Feb. 28, three months after receiving U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval and despite hopes that it would become an important new tool in treating MS.
Mullen said the revised label that the company will propose to the FDA also will warn about risks for patients who have weak immune systems, and therefore could be more susceptible to contracting the disease.
However, Mullen added that the label language his company will suggest will acknowledge that scientists don't understand precisely how the bioengineered drug put the three patients who contracted PML at risk of contracting the rare disease, the AP reported. Two of those patients died.
Mullen said Biogen Idec and its Irish partner on Tysabri, Elan Corp., plan to submit findings from their review of the drug's safety to the FDA by the end of September.
After reviewing one year of data from planned two-year trials, federal regulators in November had approved Tysabri for sale to the 350,000 American sufferers of MS, a debilitating and incurable disease in which the body's immune system turns rebellious, attacking, inflaming and damaging its own nerve tissue.
FDA Official Resigns Over Plan B Delay
The director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Office of Women's Health resigned Wednesday to protest the agency's delay in allowing over-the-counter sales of emergency contraception.
Susan Wood, who was also assistant commissioner for women's health, announced her resignation in an e-mail to colleagues at the agency, which was then forwarded by a number of organizations to media outlets.
The FDA on Friday announced that it was delaying for 60 days its long-awaited decision on whether to allow over-the-counter sales of the Plan B contraceptive pill. Plan B, often called the "morning-after" pill, can lower the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
In delaying its decision, which was contrary to the advice of its own scientific advisers, the FDA said it was comfortable allowing over-the-counter sales to adults 18 and older, but wanted more time to decide how to keep it out of the hands of young teenagers.
In her resignation, Wood said, "I can no longer serve as staff when scientific and clinical evidence, fully evaluated and recommended for approval by the professional staff here, has been overruled."
She added, "The recent decision announced by the Commissioner about emergency contraception, which continues to limit women's access to a product that would reduce unintended pregnancies and reduce abortions, is contrary to my core commitment to improving and advancing women's health."
Plan B's maker has been trying for two years to begin nonprescription sales, and the FDA's latest postponement of its fate was a surprise: Commissioner Lester Crawford won Senate confirmation to take his job only after promising members of Congress to make a final decision by Sept. 1, the Associated Press reported.
The Society for Women's Health Research issued a statement calling Wood's resignation, "a severe loss to the advancement of women's health."
"When the director of the office that 'serves as a champion for women's health' is not involved in decisions critical to women's health, the immediate consequences for America's women are tremendous," the statement added.
New Treatment Approved for Short Children
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the Tercica drug Increlex to treat children of short stature whose bodies don't properly process growth hormone.
An estimated 6,000 children in the United States have a severe form of a condition in which they produce antibodies that neutralize growth hormone. These children are not growth-hormone deficient and therefore aren't likely to respond to standard growth hormone replacement therapy, Tercica said in a statement.
Children with severe IGF-1 deficiency lack a body chemical called insulin-like growth factor-1, which is needed for the normal growth of bones, cartilage and organs, said Tercica, a Brisbane, Calif., biotech company.
No Cell Phone Link to Cancer, U.K. Researchers Say
Using a cell phone even for 10 years does not increase the risk of brain cancer, U.K. researchers report.
The scientists, who conducted the largest study so far on the subject, said they could not rule out a higher risk over a longer period, however, the Independent reported.
"The results of our study suggest there is no substantial risk in the first decade after starting use," said Anthony Swerdlow, of the Institute of Cancer Research in London. "Whether there are longer-term risks remains unknown, reflecting the fact that this is a relatively recent technology."
The research, published in the British Journal of Cancer, focused on the risk of acoustic neuroma, benign tumors that grow in the nerve connecting the ear and inner ear to the brain, close to where handsets are held.
The institute's analysis pooled studies conducted in Britain, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, all countries where cell phones were introduced early.
Food Fact:
Culture club.
When yogurt's live active cultures colonize your digestive system, they draw a line in the sand against disease. The cultures -- especially acidophilus and bifida - muscle out potentially threatening bacteria. Low-fat or fat-free yogurt has a lot of other things going for it: It's easy to digest, especially for those who are lactose-intolerant and have difficulty digesting milk and many cheeses; it's an excellent source of calcium, protein, riboflavin (a B vitamin), vitamin B-12 (which may be low in vegetarian diets) and vitamin A; and provides selenium, potassium and magnesium.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Want strong bones?
All it takes is 20 minutes of the right weight-bearing exercise three days per week. Activity such as walking will stimulate bone growth and prevent bone loss throughout life. Strength training, such as weight lifting, fortifies bone and can reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis.
FAQ of the day:
Can certain foods prevent cancer?
No one can say with absolute certainty how powerful is diet in preventing cancer. But at least a third (and possibly more) of all cancers have been linked to diet. People who eat the most fruits and vegetables have been shown to have about half the risk of developing cancer as people who rarely eat them. Your genes and other lifestyle factors, such as smoking, have a strong say in your susceptibility to cancer. But it's likely that improving the typical American diet would make a big dent in new cases of cancer, the nation's second biggest killer after heart disease.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Health Headlines - September 1
Indonesian Children Get Polio Vaccine
Thousands of health workers went door-to-door Wednesday in search of children who were missed in Indonesia's nationwide polio immunization drive, after some parents expressed fear the vaccine was unsafe or violated Islamic law.
Encephalitis Keeps Killing Kids in Asia
A Japanese encephalitis outbreak that has killed hundreds of children in northern India and Nepal in recent weeks has no cure or effective treatment. It is easily preventable, but the necessary vaccines are simply not available to millions.
RAND Study Examines Public Health Clinics
One health clinic officer told a caller describing botulism symptoms to go back to bed. Another told a caller describing signs of bubonic plague not to worry. And not one of 19 public health clinics surveyed by the RAND Corporation suggested isolating a patient whose face, arms and legs were said to be covered with pustules or other smallpox symptoms.
Surgeon Performs New Cleft Palate Surgery
Quinn Sliment was born with a cleft palate, a defect that caused his lip to merge into his nostril on the right side of his face. But on Tuesday, the 14-month-old was all smiles at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis, showing just a ghost of a scar.
Encephalitis Death Toll Hits 267 in India
Japanese encephalitis has killed 14 more people in northern India, taking the death toll from the mosquito-borne disease to 267, officials said Tuesday.
New Combo Japanese Diabetes Drug OK'd
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. has obtained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its new drug for diabetes treatment and will begin selling it in October, the company said Tuesday.
Tips for following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet
Introduction
Following the DASH diet—an eating plan that is low in cholesterol, saturated fat, and total fat, but rich in low-fat dairy foods, fruits, and vegetables—has been proven to lower blood pressure. DASH also recommends eating whole grains, fish, poultry and nuts as part of a balanced diet.
DASH is one of several lifestyle changes your doctor may recommend to lower your high blood pressure. Your doctor may also want you to decrease the amount of sodium and sodium-rich prepared foods in your diet. Lowering sodium while following DASH has been proven to lower blood pressure even further than just DASH alone.
Key points:
Eating fewer processed foods, such as snack items, luncheon meats, and canned soups, will reduce the amount of sodium in your diet and help you lower your blood pressure.
A diet low in calcium, potassium, and magnesium and high in sodium may cause high blood pressure.
To increase the potassium in your diet, fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of this nutrient. Dairy products are high in calcium and magnesium. DASH recommends that you eat 8 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables and 3 servings of low-fat dairy products per day.
Eating a diet low in both saturated fats and total fat will also help lower your blood pressure. Only 30% of your total calories should be from fats, with only 7% to 10% of your fat calories from saturated fats. Saturated fats are found in meats, cheese, butter, poultry, snack foods, and other foods.
In general, vegetarian diets reduce blood pressure. The DASH diet could easily be a vegetarian diet if legumes were substituted for meat. Vegetarian diets tend to be higher in potassium, magnesium, and calcium, as does the DASH diet. Vegetarian diets also are higher in fiber and unsaturated fats than other diets.
Controlling your weight, increasing your physical activity, and reducing sodium in your diet will help reduce your blood pressure even more when combined with the DASH diet.
Thousands of health workers went door-to-door Wednesday in search of children who were missed in Indonesia's nationwide polio immunization drive, after some parents expressed fear the vaccine was unsafe or violated Islamic law.
Encephalitis Keeps Killing Kids in Asia
A Japanese encephalitis outbreak that has killed hundreds of children in northern India and Nepal in recent weeks has no cure or effective treatment. It is easily preventable, but the necessary vaccines are simply not available to millions.
RAND Study Examines Public Health Clinics
One health clinic officer told a caller describing botulism symptoms to go back to bed. Another told a caller describing signs of bubonic plague not to worry. And not one of 19 public health clinics surveyed by the RAND Corporation suggested isolating a patient whose face, arms and legs were said to be covered with pustules or other smallpox symptoms.
Surgeon Performs New Cleft Palate Surgery
Quinn Sliment was born with a cleft palate, a defect that caused his lip to merge into his nostril on the right side of his face. But on Tuesday, the 14-month-old was all smiles at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis, showing just a ghost of a scar.
Encephalitis Death Toll Hits 267 in India
Japanese encephalitis has killed 14 more people in northern India, taking the death toll from the mosquito-borne disease to 267, officials said Tuesday.
New Combo Japanese Diabetes Drug OK'd
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. has obtained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its new drug for diabetes treatment and will begin selling it in October, the company said Tuesday.
Tips for following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet
Introduction
Following the DASH diet—an eating plan that is low in cholesterol, saturated fat, and total fat, but rich in low-fat dairy foods, fruits, and vegetables—has been proven to lower blood pressure. DASH also recommends eating whole grains, fish, poultry and nuts as part of a balanced diet.
DASH is one of several lifestyle changes your doctor may recommend to lower your high blood pressure. Your doctor may also want you to decrease the amount of sodium and sodium-rich prepared foods in your diet. Lowering sodium while following DASH has been proven to lower blood pressure even further than just DASH alone.
Key points:
Eating fewer processed foods, such as snack items, luncheon meats, and canned soups, will reduce the amount of sodium in your diet and help you lower your blood pressure.
A diet low in calcium, potassium, and magnesium and high in sodium may cause high blood pressure.
To increase the potassium in your diet, fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of this nutrient. Dairy products are high in calcium and magnesium. DASH recommends that you eat 8 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables and 3 servings of low-fat dairy products per day.
Eating a diet low in both saturated fats and total fat will also help lower your blood pressure. Only 30% of your total calories should be from fats, with only 7% to 10% of your fat calories from saturated fats. Saturated fats are found in meats, cheese, butter, poultry, snack foods, and other foods.
In general, vegetarian diets reduce blood pressure. The DASH diet could easily be a vegetarian diet if legumes were substituted for meat. Vegetarian diets tend to be higher in potassium, magnesium, and calcium, as does the DASH diet. Vegetarian diets also are higher in fiber and unsaturated fats than other diets.
Controlling your weight, increasing your physical activity, and reducing sodium in your diet will help reduce your blood pressure even more when combined with the DASH diet.
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