Guidant Recalls 38,000 Heart Defibrillators
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Guidant Corp. are recalling 38,000 implantable cardiac defibrillators that may malfunction, the company announced Friday. Most of the devices have already been implanted, the Associated Press said.
Defibrillators shock an irregularly beating heart back into a normal rhythm. Guidant models recalled include the Prizm 2 DR, Contak Renewal, Contak Renewal 2, Ventak Prizm ADT, Vitality AVT, Renewal 3 AVT, and Renewal 4 AVT. The company said it has at least 45 reports of failure, resulting in at least two recent deaths, the AP reported.
The company has come under fire for failing to alert doctors to the potential problems, and for allegedly selling older models for months after redesigning the way they were made. Guidant told The New York Times that it continued to sell the older models because it believed the devices were reliable, HealthDay reported June 2.
Guidant advises anyone who received an affected model to see their doctors at least every three months, and to consult their doctor immediately if they've received a defibrillator shock, the AP said.
FDA Limits Access to Lung Cancer Drug
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved new labeling for the last-chance lung cancer drug Iressa (gefitinib), saying that after Sept. 15 the medicine should be limited only to patients who are already benefitting from its use, the agency announced Friday.
The AstraZeneca drug, approved in May 2003 for people with non-small cell lung cancer, failed to significantly extend survival among participants in 1,692-patient clinical trials. Only about 10 percent of users responded to it, the FDA said, noting that later research indicated the drug seemed to work better in people with a specific gene mutation.
Since Iressa's approval, a newer medicine -- Genentech's Tarceva (erlotinib) -- in the same class of drugs was shown to improve overall survival, the FDA said.
Some 4,000 Americans are taking Iressa, the Associated Press reported. It was approved under an FDA program that lets promising therapies sell before researchers ultimately determine whether they improve patient survival, the AP said.
People Over Age 50 Should Take Daily Aspirin: Study
Daily, low-dose aspirin should be taken by people 50 years and older to reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke, says an article in the British Medical Journal.
"The possibility that a simple, daily, inexpensive low-dose pill would achieve a reduction in vascular events, and might achieve reductions in cancer and dementia without the need for screening, deserves serious consideration," Peter Elwood, chairman of the Welsh Aspirin Group at Cardiff University in Penarth, Wales, said in a prepared statement.
He and his colleagues concluded that by age 50, 80 percent of men and 50 percent of women reach a risk level for heart attack and stroke that requires daily aspirin. They said that between 90 percent and 95 percent of people could take low-dose aspirin without experiencing any problems, Bloomberg news reported.
The Welsh Aspirin Group was established by the Aspirin Foundation to promote the use of aspirin.
Colin Baigent of the Oxford Radcliffe Infirmary expressed concerns about the use of daily, low-dose aspirin to prevent heart attack and stroke.
"A recommendation that aspirin be used for primary prevention of vascular disease in unselected people over a certain age could result in net harm, and we must have very good evidence to the contrary before instituting such a policy," Baigent wrote in the same issue of the journal.
Boston and Boulder Lead U.S. in Marijuana Use
Boston and Boulder, Colo., lead the United States in marijuana use, while northwestern Iowa and southern Texas have the lowest marijuana use rates, according to a new federal government report.
The report, which looked at the regional use of drugs, cigarettes, alcohol and other legal and illegal substances, found that 5.1 percent of people in the United States reported using marijuana in the previous 30 days, the Associated Press reported.
In Boston, 12.2 percent of people reported using marijuana in the previous 30 days. The rate was 10.3 percent in Boulder County in Colorado.
The data came from 1999 to 2001 national surveys.
The report also said that 20 percent of people age 12 and older across the country reported one or more episodes of binge drinking in the previous month. Binge drinking was defined as five or more drinks in one setting.
The northeast and southeast regions of North Dakota had the highest levels of binge drinking, at 32 percent. Boston was near the top in this category, too, with a rate of 30 percent, the AP reported.
Nepalese Porters Tops in Efficient Load Carrying
Nepalese mountain porters are the most fit and efficient load carriers in the world, says a Belgian study published Friday in the journal Science.
These porters, who climb the Himalayan Mountains lugging loads that sometimes surpass their own body weight, possess a combination of physical ability and technique that far surpasses Western soldiers marching with backpacks, the study said.
In tests of eight Nepalese porters, the researchers found that the porters were able to carry up to 20 percent of their body weight at the same metabolic rate as if they were walking without any burden, the Times of London reported.
The porters' efficiency is likely the result of three factors, including physiology. The porters have a short, powerful stature and a high red blood cell count that's evolved from living at high altitude, the study said.
Carrying technique is also crucial. The porters use a strap that goes around the head and bears the majority of the load. The third important factor appears to be the regular rest breaks the porters take, the researchers said.
Recalled Fishing Kits Have Poles With Lead Paint
About 438,000 children's fishing kits are being recalled because the paint on the fishing rods contains lead, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Friday.
Lead is toxic if ingested by young children. The fishing kits, distributed by Shakespeare Fishing Tackle Division of Columbia, S.C., feature the cartoon characters the Tazmanian Devil, Tweety, Mucha Lucha and Spider-Man.
Other recalled fishing kits feature: Fishing Heroes, with a silver-colored badge; Kids Kits, sold with tackle boxes; and Shark and Dolphin Kits, which have reels in the shape of a shark or dolphin.
The kits have rods that are painted red and yellow. Kits with purple, blue and pink rods are not included in the recall.
The kits were sold in discount department, sporting goods and toy stores across the United States from August 2001 through June 2005. They cost between $9 and $13.
Consumers should take the poles away from children and contact Shakespeare Fishing Tackle for information on receiving a free replacement. Call the company toll-free at 1-866-466-0559 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday.
Food Fact:
Snacking is a must!
By changing the way you snack, you may make it easier to lose weight. Eating something every 3 - 4 hours sustains energy, helps build a day's worth of good nutrition, and prevents hunger that may lead to overeating. Stock your desk with the right stuff: Ready-to-eat whole-grain cereal; single-serving microwave popcorn, fruit juices or low-fat pudding; vanilla wafers, fig bars or ginger snaps without hydrogenated oils; instant oatmeal; applesauce; canned fruit (in its own juice).
Fitness Tip of the day:
Make a splash.
Catch the fitness wave -- burn more calories under water. Jump in a pool for the perfect exercise between higher intensity workouts -- swimming tones and strengthens nearly every muscle group in the body, with virtually no impact on the joints.
FAQ of the day:
What are the best non-dairy sources of calcium?
If you're looking for good non-dairy sources of calcium, try kale, red kidney beans, figs, almonds, calcium-fortified breads and breakfast cereals, calcium-fortified orange juice, and tofu processed with calcium sulfate.
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Friday, June 17, 2005
Health Headlines - June 17
FDA Advisors Sanction Race-Based Cardiac Drug
A panel of experts advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted Thursday to recommend approval of the first-ever drug targeted to a racial group.
The nine-member panel voted unanimously to recommend that the full agency approve the heart failure drug BiDil, made by Nitromed, Inc. A clinical trial of the drug among 1,050 black Americans found that it improved the survival rate, compared to those who took a non-medicinal placebo.
While blacks do have a higher rate of heart failure than whites, critics contend that the designation for blacks only is a marketing ploy, since there is no scientific evidence that the medicine works any better in blacks compared to whites.
Two of the advisors who voted to recommend approval on Thursday said the label should not be race-specific, the Associated Press reported.
BiDil's side effects include headache and dizziness, which caused some of the trial participants to drop out, the AP said.
The full FDA is not bound by its expert panels' decisions, but usually follows them.
Va. Woman Being Kept Alive to Save Fetus
A 26-year-old pregnant woman stricken with brain cancer is being kept alive by respirator in hopes of saving her fetus, USA Today reported Thursday.
Susan Torres, a researcher with the National Institutes of Health, lost all sign of brain function last month. An undiagnosed brain tumor caused a stroke, and Torres collapsed May 7 while she dined at her Virginia home. Against the odds, her fetus -- 21 weeks old at the time of Torres' collapse -- appears to be thriving, doctors at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington told the newspaper.
Torres' husband, Jason, chose to keep his wife on a respirator after doctors told him she had no chance of recovery and offered him the chance to disconnect life support, the newspaper said.
If Torres can stay alive another month, the baby could be delivered and has a chance to survive, doctors have said.
Since 1977, at least nine comatose women have given birth in the United States, the newspaper reported.
Nancy Reagan Hospitalized After Fall
Former first lady Nancy Reagan fell in her London hotel room on Thursday and was briefly hospitalized, the Associated Press reported.
Reagan, who turns 84 on July 6, wasn't badly hurt. She was examined, sent back to her hotel for rest, and told to limit her activities for the next two weeks, a spokeswoman said.
Reagan was on a private trip that included meetings with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Prince Charles, the wire service said.
More Americans Seek Treatment for Mental Disorders
Americans with a mental illness are much more likely to receive treatment compared to a decade ago, says a study Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The study found that one-third of people with a verified mental disorder now receive treatment, compared with one-fifth of people a decade ago. The greatest increase in treatment was in the primary-care setting. The study said family doctors are now more likely to prescribe drugs for depression or other mental health problems than they were a decade ago, the Associated Press reported.
Rates of mental illness are the same in the United States as they were 10 year ago. However, the study authors said they believe those rates should eventually begin to decline as more people receive treatment.
"I think things are going to move in a good direction, but we're sort of in the midst of it," study leader Ronald Kressler, a Harvard Medical School sociologist, told the AP.
One troubling finding in the study was that Hispanics and blacks with a verified mental illness were only half as likely to receive treatment as whites.
The study was partly funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and several drug companies. Findings from the study were published earlier this month in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Gov't. Foot-Dragging Slows Use of New HIV Test: Critics
U.S. government foot-dragging is delaying widespread use of a new HIV test called NAAT (nucleic acid amplification test), according to some experts.
The test was used about three years ago to detect an outbreak of HIV among 84 black male students at 37 colleges in North Carolina. NAAT was developed by North Carolina health officials, the Associated Press reported.
NAAT detects HIV, and can do that within a week after a person has been infected with the AIDS-causing virus. Conventional HIV tests look for antibodies produced by the body in response to HIV infection. But it can take weeks for these antibodies to show up in a person's blood. That means someone recently infected with HIV would test negative.
NAAT has increased HIV detection by eight percent in San Francisco and by four percent in North Carolina, the AP reported. Even so, the test is not in widespread use. That's because many health officials are waiting for NAAT to be endorsed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the news service said.
CDC officials say more tests are needed to prove NAAT's effectiveness. This week, the CDC announced plans for two clinical trials to assess NAAT.
Indonesia Reports First Human Case of Bird Flu
Indonesia has reported its first confirmed case of bird flu in a human.
Officials said a farm worker in South Sulawesi tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu, but said the man showed no obvious symptoms of the disease, BBC News reported.
The man's case of bird flu infection was found during routine testing of people who'd worked with infected poultry. Tests showed the man produced antibodies to the bird flu virus but the low level of antibodies suggested that his infection hadn't occurred recently, officials said.
Poultry workers, veterinarians and other people in Indonesia who may have been exposed to bird flu are now being tested, BBC News reported.
In the past 18 months, bird flu has killed at least 53 people in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. World Health Organization officials warn that bird flu has the potential to become a global health threat.
Food Fact:
Beat the low-energy blues.
Eat the right stuff at lunch, and you can cancel those desperate 3 p.m. coffee runs. The building blocks: Minimally processed carbohydrates (whole-wheat bread, whole-grain crackers, pasta, brown rice or bulgur); protein (lean chicken or turkey breast, low-fat or fat-free cheese, canned tuna or salmon); any fruit and/or any vegetable; and low-fat dairy (yogurt, pudding, certain low-fat cheeses, skim milk).
Fitness Tip of the day:
Hoop it up!
Score fitness points on a fast break -- 10 minutes at a mini basketball hoop. Whether it's on your porch or in your home office, a quick shootaround will clear your mind and you may be surprised at the workout you'll get -- and how motivated you'll be getting it.
FAQ of the day:
Do men need more calcium?
Guys, you need to bone up on your calcium totals, too. Osteoporosis occurs far more often in women, and since increasing calcium intake is one way to lower risk, it's often framed as a "woman's issue." But men also have good reasons to maintain optimal calcium intake. Many studies suggest that calcium helps regulate blood pressure. Other research suggests that dietary calcium lowers risk of colon cancer, the third leading cancer for both men and women. Intake for men should not exceed 2,000mg per day, as a recent study linked elevated levels with increased risk of prostate cancer.
A panel of experts advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted Thursday to recommend approval of the first-ever drug targeted to a racial group.
The nine-member panel voted unanimously to recommend that the full agency approve the heart failure drug BiDil, made by Nitromed, Inc. A clinical trial of the drug among 1,050 black Americans found that it improved the survival rate, compared to those who took a non-medicinal placebo.
While blacks do have a higher rate of heart failure than whites, critics contend that the designation for blacks only is a marketing ploy, since there is no scientific evidence that the medicine works any better in blacks compared to whites.
Two of the advisors who voted to recommend approval on Thursday said the label should not be race-specific, the Associated Press reported.
BiDil's side effects include headache and dizziness, which caused some of the trial participants to drop out, the AP said.
The full FDA is not bound by its expert panels' decisions, but usually follows them.
Va. Woman Being Kept Alive to Save Fetus
A 26-year-old pregnant woman stricken with brain cancer is being kept alive by respirator in hopes of saving her fetus, USA Today reported Thursday.
Susan Torres, a researcher with the National Institutes of Health, lost all sign of brain function last month. An undiagnosed brain tumor caused a stroke, and Torres collapsed May 7 while she dined at her Virginia home. Against the odds, her fetus -- 21 weeks old at the time of Torres' collapse -- appears to be thriving, doctors at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington told the newspaper.
Torres' husband, Jason, chose to keep his wife on a respirator after doctors told him she had no chance of recovery and offered him the chance to disconnect life support, the newspaper said.
If Torres can stay alive another month, the baby could be delivered and has a chance to survive, doctors have said.
Since 1977, at least nine comatose women have given birth in the United States, the newspaper reported.
Nancy Reagan Hospitalized After Fall
Former first lady Nancy Reagan fell in her London hotel room on Thursday and was briefly hospitalized, the Associated Press reported.
Reagan, who turns 84 on July 6, wasn't badly hurt. She was examined, sent back to her hotel for rest, and told to limit her activities for the next two weeks, a spokeswoman said.
Reagan was on a private trip that included meetings with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Prince Charles, the wire service said.
More Americans Seek Treatment for Mental Disorders
Americans with a mental illness are much more likely to receive treatment compared to a decade ago, says a study Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The study found that one-third of people with a verified mental disorder now receive treatment, compared with one-fifth of people a decade ago. The greatest increase in treatment was in the primary-care setting. The study said family doctors are now more likely to prescribe drugs for depression or other mental health problems than they were a decade ago, the Associated Press reported.
Rates of mental illness are the same in the United States as they were 10 year ago. However, the study authors said they believe those rates should eventually begin to decline as more people receive treatment.
"I think things are going to move in a good direction, but we're sort of in the midst of it," study leader Ronald Kressler, a Harvard Medical School sociologist, told the AP.
One troubling finding in the study was that Hispanics and blacks with a verified mental illness were only half as likely to receive treatment as whites.
The study was partly funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and several drug companies. Findings from the study were published earlier this month in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Gov't. Foot-Dragging Slows Use of New HIV Test: Critics
U.S. government foot-dragging is delaying widespread use of a new HIV test called NAAT (nucleic acid amplification test), according to some experts.
The test was used about three years ago to detect an outbreak of HIV among 84 black male students at 37 colleges in North Carolina. NAAT was developed by North Carolina health officials, the Associated Press reported.
NAAT detects HIV, and can do that within a week after a person has been infected with the AIDS-causing virus. Conventional HIV tests look for antibodies produced by the body in response to HIV infection. But it can take weeks for these antibodies to show up in a person's blood. That means someone recently infected with HIV would test negative.
NAAT has increased HIV detection by eight percent in San Francisco and by four percent in North Carolina, the AP reported. Even so, the test is not in widespread use. That's because many health officials are waiting for NAAT to be endorsed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the news service said.
CDC officials say more tests are needed to prove NAAT's effectiveness. This week, the CDC announced plans for two clinical trials to assess NAAT.
Indonesia Reports First Human Case of Bird Flu
Indonesia has reported its first confirmed case of bird flu in a human.
Officials said a farm worker in South Sulawesi tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu, but said the man showed no obvious symptoms of the disease, BBC News reported.
The man's case of bird flu infection was found during routine testing of people who'd worked with infected poultry. Tests showed the man produced antibodies to the bird flu virus but the low level of antibodies suggested that his infection hadn't occurred recently, officials said.
Poultry workers, veterinarians and other people in Indonesia who may have been exposed to bird flu are now being tested, BBC News reported.
In the past 18 months, bird flu has killed at least 53 people in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. World Health Organization officials warn that bird flu has the potential to become a global health threat.
Food Fact:
Beat the low-energy blues.
Eat the right stuff at lunch, and you can cancel those desperate 3 p.m. coffee runs. The building blocks: Minimally processed carbohydrates (whole-wheat bread, whole-grain crackers, pasta, brown rice or bulgur); protein (lean chicken or turkey breast, low-fat or fat-free cheese, canned tuna or salmon); any fruit and/or any vegetable; and low-fat dairy (yogurt, pudding, certain low-fat cheeses, skim milk).
Fitness Tip of the day:
Hoop it up!
Score fitness points on a fast break -- 10 minutes at a mini basketball hoop. Whether it's on your porch or in your home office, a quick shootaround will clear your mind and you may be surprised at the workout you'll get -- and how motivated you'll be getting it.
FAQ of the day:
Do men need more calcium?
Guys, you need to bone up on your calcium totals, too. Osteoporosis occurs far more often in women, and since increasing calcium intake is one way to lower risk, it's often framed as a "woman's issue." But men also have good reasons to maintain optimal calcium intake. Many studies suggest that calcium helps regulate blood pressure. Other research suggests that dietary calcium lowers risk of colon cancer, the third leading cancer for both men and women. Intake for men should not exceed 2,000mg per day, as a recent study linked elevated levels with increased risk of prostate cancer.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Health Headlines - June 16
Schiavo's Brain Was Atrophied, Autopsy Shows
Terri Schiavo's brain was about half the normal size when she died, and she did not suffer any trauma prior to her 1990 collapse, according to autopsy results released Wednesday in Florida.
Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner Jon Thogmartin concluded that there was no evidence of strangulation or other trauma leading to the severely brain-damaged woman's collapse, the Associated Press reported. He also said she did not appear to have suffered a heart attack.
Thogmartin told reporters that Schiavo died from dehydration and that she would not have been able to eat or drink if she had been given food by mouth, as her parents had requested.
"Removal of her feeding tube would have resulted in her death whether she was fed or hydrated by mouth or not," he said.
The brain damage, he added, was "irreversible, and no amount of therapy or treatment would have regenerated the massive loss of neurons."
Schiavo's relatives were hoping that her autopsy results would shed some light on what led to her collapse and brain damage 15 years ago.
The 41-year-old Pinellas County woman, who most doctors said was in a persistent vegetative state, died March 31, nearly two weeks after the feeding tube keeping her alive was removed by a court order sought by her husband and guardian, Michael Schiavo.
Her death marked the end of a bitter and very public seven-year legal battle, reaching all the way to Congress, between her husband and her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, who desperately tried to keep her alive.
FDA Staff Back Race-Based Drug
U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff gave their approval Wednesday to the nation's first race-based medicine, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. An FDA expert advisory panel was to consider the issue on Thursday.
Nitromed Inc.'s heart medication BiDil won the staff members' backing for use in black people. While blacks do have a higher rate of heart failure than whites, critics contend that the designation is a marketing ploy, since there is no scientific evidence that the medicine works any better in blacks compared to whites, the newspaper reported.
BiDil is a combination of two generic drugs that have been used for years to treat chest pain and high blood pressure. A study of 1,050 blacks with heart failure found the drug increased survival rates and reduced hospitalizations by about one-third, the newspaper said.
Experts Ponder How to Treat Chronic Insomnia
The causes of chronic insomnia remain a mystery and too little research has been done to know how best to treat it, sleep experts said Wednesday at a National Institutes of Health forum in Washington, D.C.
There's little evidence that popular remedies including sleeping pills, over-the-counter allergy medications, and other medicines that trigger drowsiness actually work, the experts said. In fact, they could lead to dependence and other problems, the panelists added.
About one-third of adults complain of problems sleeping and about 10 percent have symptoms that characterize true insomnia, the Associated Press reported. The risks of getting insomnia appear to grow with age and the development of certain medical problems, including depression, arthritis and lung disease. Women, especially after menopause, are more likely to suffer from an inability to fall asleep than men, the wire service said.
The best treatment appears to be behavioral therapy aimed at reducing anxiety and promoting sleep. Newer drugs designed to be less habit-forming than older medications have only been studied for brief use, the sleep experts said, in recommending major new research into insomnia's causes and treatments, the AP reported.
Flu Vaccine Maker Expects Lower Output
Chiron Corp., a major supplier of flu vaccine to the United States, announced Wednesday a significant cutback in its projected supply for the upcoming season.
Still reeling from a government-ordered shutdown last year of its British factory due to contamination problems, Chiron said it would be able to manufacture only 18 million to 26 million doses of its Fluvarin vaccine for the 2005-2006 season. Before last fall's six-month factory closure, the company had been expected to produce some 50 million doses for the U.S. market -- about half of the supply ordered by the United States.
To avoid a repeat of last year's widespread shortages that plagued the United States after the Chiron shutdown, the federal government is considering an application from global pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline to sell its vaccine. Other manufacturers permitted to sell flu vaccine in the United States are Sanofi-Aventis and MedImmune Inc.
More Boys Born Than Girls: CDC
For the 63rd year in a row, the number of boys born in the United States outnumbered births of girls, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.
In 2002, the most recent year for which statistics are available, 94,232 more boys were born than girls. Since 1940, an average of 91,685 more boys have been born each year, the agency said. That amounts to a total of 5,776,130 more male babies than females over the 63-year period.
The agency said the more children a woman has, the more likely she is to give birth to an equal number of boys and girls.
Chinese and Filipino mothers were most likely to give birth to more boys than girls, while non-Hispanic black and American-Indian mothers were most likely to have an equal number of infants of both sexes, the CDC said.
Outpatients Shouldn't Get Heart Drug Natrecor: Expert Panel
The intravenous heart-failure therapy Natrecor should not be given to outpatients and should only be reserved for seriously ill patients arriving at hospitals, a committee of cardiologists has recommended.
The panel of 10 cardiologists, in findings released Monday, also called for a large clinical trial to determine the safety of Natrecor and also recommended that an ongoing trial to evaluate the drug for outpatients be allowed to continue, The New York Times reported.
The committee also recommended that drug maker Johnson & Johnson immediately launch an education campaign to inform doctors about the committee's recommendations. The committee was convened by Johnson & Johnson following reports in two medical journals earlier this year that suggested that Natrecor, approved in 2001, increases the likelihood of death or worsens kidney function.
Food Fact:
Lose 15 lbs. this year.
One important change in your lunchtime routine can make all the difference. In one study, women who ate at least five restaurant/takeout meals a week took in almost 300 more calories a day than women who ate out less often, with a larger proportion of calories from fat. Over a year's time, those calories can add up to an extra 15 - 20 pounds. Try bringing lunch from home -- not only will it help you lose weight, but it'll fatten your wallet by cutting down on expenses!
Fitness Tip of the day:
Rake's progress.
Want to see fitness grow -- and stress go? Plant yourself in the garden. A half-hour or more of continuous digging, planting, weeding, pruning, raking and mowing provides an excellent overall workout, raising your heartbeat and burning calories.
FAQ of the day:
Is it better for me to eat cruciferous vegetables raw?
Cooking affects the cancer-protective compounds in cruciferous vegetables to a degree. The sulforophane in broccoli is fairly stable in the presence of heat, although cooking it for a long time will diminish it. Stick with quick-cook methods, such as steaming or boiling in a small quantity of water, if you can. The protective compound in watercress, PEITC, is present in cooked watercress, though at greatly diminished levels compared with raw watercress. But studies in people who've eaten cooked watercress show that some PEITC remains active.
Terri Schiavo's brain was about half the normal size when she died, and she did not suffer any trauma prior to her 1990 collapse, according to autopsy results released Wednesday in Florida.
Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner Jon Thogmartin concluded that there was no evidence of strangulation or other trauma leading to the severely brain-damaged woman's collapse, the Associated Press reported. He also said she did not appear to have suffered a heart attack.
Thogmartin told reporters that Schiavo died from dehydration and that she would not have been able to eat or drink if she had been given food by mouth, as her parents had requested.
"Removal of her feeding tube would have resulted in her death whether she was fed or hydrated by mouth or not," he said.
The brain damage, he added, was "irreversible, and no amount of therapy or treatment would have regenerated the massive loss of neurons."
Schiavo's relatives were hoping that her autopsy results would shed some light on what led to her collapse and brain damage 15 years ago.
The 41-year-old Pinellas County woman, who most doctors said was in a persistent vegetative state, died March 31, nearly two weeks after the feeding tube keeping her alive was removed by a court order sought by her husband and guardian, Michael Schiavo.
Her death marked the end of a bitter and very public seven-year legal battle, reaching all the way to Congress, between her husband and her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, who desperately tried to keep her alive.
FDA Staff Back Race-Based Drug
U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff gave their approval Wednesday to the nation's first race-based medicine, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. An FDA expert advisory panel was to consider the issue on Thursday.
Nitromed Inc.'s heart medication BiDil won the staff members' backing for use in black people. While blacks do have a higher rate of heart failure than whites, critics contend that the designation is a marketing ploy, since there is no scientific evidence that the medicine works any better in blacks compared to whites, the newspaper reported.
BiDil is a combination of two generic drugs that have been used for years to treat chest pain and high blood pressure. A study of 1,050 blacks with heart failure found the drug increased survival rates and reduced hospitalizations by about one-third, the newspaper said.
Experts Ponder How to Treat Chronic Insomnia
The causes of chronic insomnia remain a mystery and too little research has been done to know how best to treat it, sleep experts said Wednesday at a National Institutes of Health forum in Washington, D.C.
There's little evidence that popular remedies including sleeping pills, over-the-counter allergy medications, and other medicines that trigger drowsiness actually work, the experts said. In fact, they could lead to dependence and other problems, the panelists added.
About one-third of adults complain of problems sleeping and about 10 percent have symptoms that characterize true insomnia, the Associated Press reported. The risks of getting insomnia appear to grow with age and the development of certain medical problems, including depression, arthritis and lung disease. Women, especially after menopause, are more likely to suffer from an inability to fall asleep than men, the wire service said.
The best treatment appears to be behavioral therapy aimed at reducing anxiety and promoting sleep. Newer drugs designed to be less habit-forming than older medications have only been studied for brief use, the sleep experts said, in recommending major new research into insomnia's causes and treatments, the AP reported.
Flu Vaccine Maker Expects Lower Output
Chiron Corp., a major supplier of flu vaccine to the United States, announced Wednesday a significant cutback in its projected supply for the upcoming season.
Still reeling from a government-ordered shutdown last year of its British factory due to contamination problems, Chiron said it would be able to manufacture only 18 million to 26 million doses of its Fluvarin vaccine for the 2005-2006 season. Before last fall's six-month factory closure, the company had been expected to produce some 50 million doses for the U.S. market -- about half of the supply ordered by the United States.
To avoid a repeat of last year's widespread shortages that plagued the United States after the Chiron shutdown, the federal government is considering an application from global pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline to sell its vaccine. Other manufacturers permitted to sell flu vaccine in the United States are Sanofi-Aventis and MedImmune Inc.
More Boys Born Than Girls: CDC
For the 63rd year in a row, the number of boys born in the United States outnumbered births of girls, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.
In 2002, the most recent year for which statistics are available, 94,232 more boys were born than girls. Since 1940, an average of 91,685 more boys have been born each year, the agency said. That amounts to a total of 5,776,130 more male babies than females over the 63-year period.
The agency said the more children a woman has, the more likely she is to give birth to an equal number of boys and girls.
Chinese and Filipino mothers were most likely to give birth to more boys than girls, while non-Hispanic black and American-Indian mothers were most likely to have an equal number of infants of both sexes, the CDC said.
Outpatients Shouldn't Get Heart Drug Natrecor: Expert Panel
The intravenous heart-failure therapy Natrecor should not be given to outpatients and should only be reserved for seriously ill patients arriving at hospitals, a committee of cardiologists has recommended.
The panel of 10 cardiologists, in findings released Monday, also called for a large clinical trial to determine the safety of Natrecor and also recommended that an ongoing trial to evaluate the drug for outpatients be allowed to continue, The New York Times reported.
The committee also recommended that drug maker Johnson & Johnson immediately launch an education campaign to inform doctors about the committee's recommendations. The committee was convened by Johnson & Johnson following reports in two medical journals earlier this year that suggested that Natrecor, approved in 2001, increases the likelihood of death or worsens kidney function.
Food Fact:
Lose 15 lbs. this year.
One important change in your lunchtime routine can make all the difference. In one study, women who ate at least five restaurant/takeout meals a week took in almost 300 more calories a day than women who ate out less often, with a larger proportion of calories from fat. Over a year's time, those calories can add up to an extra 15 - 20 pounds. Try bringing lunch from home -- not only will it help you lose weight, but it'll fatten your wallet by cutting down on expenses!
Fitness Tip of the day:
Rake's progress.
Want to see fitness grow -- and stress go? Plant yourself in the garden. A half-hour or more of continuous digging, planting, weeding, pruning, raking and mowing provides an excellent overall workout, raising your heartbeat and burning calories.
FAQ of the day:
Is it better for me to eat cruciferous vegetables raw?
Cooking affects the cancer-protective compounds in cruciferous vegetables to a degree. The sulforophane in broccoli is fairly stable in the presence of heat, although cooking it for a long time will diminish it. Stick with quick-cook methods, such as steaming or boiling in a small quantity of water, if you can. The protective compound in watercress, PEITC, is present in cooked watercress, though at greatly diminished levels compared with raw watercress. But studies in people who've eaten cooked watercress show that some PEITC remains active.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Health Headlines - June 15
Brain Cells Grown in Lab Dish
Scientists have been able to recreate the body's process of regenerating brain cells -- in a lab dish.
In a statement, the University of Florida scientists said that by replicating the clinical process called neurogenesis, they theoretically could produce a limitless supply of a person's own brain cells, perhaps providing therapies for brain-damaging conditions including Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.
The process was accomplished using mice cells, but may ultimately translate to people, the researchers said. The technique could produce far more brain cells than the body could on its own, the researchers wrote in the June 13-17 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The scientists said they acted on decade-old findings that the natural development of certain brain cells is very similar to the lifelong production of human blood cells. The fact that the brain continues to make these cells even in adulthood countered the old notion that people were born with a fixed amount of brain cells that must last throughout their lives, the researchers said.
Heart Valve Trials Halted After Patient Deaths
A California biotech company says it has suspended human trials testing the effectiveness of a technique to replace failing aortic valves without open heart surgery. Edwards Lifesciences said "more than one" of the 10 participants in the study had died, and others had experienced serious complications, The New York Times reported Tuesday.
The company said it hoped to resume the trial using a refined version of the technique, the Times said. The original trial, which enrolled its first patient in March, was being conducted at the William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.
The procedure involved placing a new valve at the end of a catheter inserted into a thigh vein. It culminated in a tricky procedure to pass the valve through the heart to the site of the aortic valve, the newspaper said. The valve controls the flow of blood as it leaves the heart.
The company said it hoped to gain U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to resume the trial employing an updated technique by year's end.
Hospitalizations for Diabetes Decline
Hospitalizations for diabetes-related problems in the United States fell significantly between 1994 and 2002, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a new report.
The rate dropped from 10 per 1,000 people with diabetes to four per 1,000, USA Today reported. The study didn't indicate reasons for the decline, but a CDC spokesman cited improved diabetes therapies and earlier diagnosis and treatment, the newspaper said.
The CDC also announced a 30 percent drop in the incidence of end-stage kidney disease between 1996 and 2002. A spokeswoman cited better treatment of two primary risk factors -- high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels.
Medicare Cuts Make It Hard to Get Infection Drug: Report
Medicare financing cuts have made it difficult for hundreds of people to acquire a blood-derived drug called intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) they need to prevent life-threatening infections.
Medicare cuts have caused doctors to stop offering the expensive drug to Medicare recipients. Instead, doctors are sending those patients to hospitals for care. Some patients say they're months overdue for infusions of IVIG, the Associated Press reported.
The situation has led top blood experts to declare a crisis. The effects of the Medicare cuts could eventually extend to other patients because hospitals are concerned about their own supplies of IVIG, the AP said.
In May, the U.S. government's blood advisers asked the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to declare a public health emergency. This would allow Medicare to increase payments to doctors for IVIG. HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt is considering that recommendation, the AP reported.
IVIG is a mixture of antibodies, which are infection-fighting proteins that healthy people normally have in their bloodstream. Given intravenously, it's mainly used for many of the 50,000 Americans who suffer primary immunodeficiency, 7,000 of whom receive Medicare, the news service said.
Canada Can't Solve U.S. Prescription Drug Problem: Ambassador
Americans shouldn't look to Canada to solve the problem of gaining access to low-cost prescription drugs, Canadian Ambassador Frank McKenna told the Associated Press in an interview Monday.
McKenna said the Canadian government feels caught in the middle of the discussions in Congress about whether to allow more importation into the United States of cheaper prescription drugs from Canada.
That debate masks the larger issue of how prescription drug prices should be set in the United States, McKenna said.
"Don't think you are doing any favors to us by trying to open the United States market for Canadian drugs because you are not," he told the AP. "If you are doing that, you are doing it for your own reasons and you are avoiding dealing with the fundamental question of your drug pricing."
McKenna also dismissed U.S. Food and Drug Administration concerns about the safety of drugs sold in Canada. He said Canada's drug regulatory process was more stringent than the U.S. one, the AP reported.
Heart Device Makers Lack Public Warning Guidelines
Companies that make pacemakers and other heart devices have no uniform standards about when -- or even if -- to alert doctors and patients should those products have flaws, The New York Times reported Tuesday.
Each manufacturer decides on its own whether to publicly disclose a flaw in a product, cardiologists and other experts told the Times. Patient safety isn't the only factor in such decisions. Legal liability and potential loss of business to competitors also influence whether manufacturers notify doctors and patients about flawed products, the newspaper said.
A recent case involving Guidant Corporation has increased calls for uniform guidelines. The company failed to tell doctors for three years that one of its implantable defibrillator models had a flaw that could cause it to short-circuit. A 21-year-old college student died earlier this year after his Guidant defibrillator failed, according to the paper.
"Having this being an entirely in-house decision by a manufacturer is not the way to go," Dr. Anne B. Curtis, president of the Heart Rhythm Society, told the Times.
She said the group, which represents doctors who treat heart problems, would likely establish a task force to develop industry-wide guidelines on alerting doctors about product flaws.
Is apple juice healthy?
It's better than soda -- but it still shortchanges you and your kids. Whole apples have lots of fiber that's missing from juice, which is mostly water and sugar. An apple has just 80 calories, making it a great choice to satisfy between-meal hunger.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Do a half hour of "power chores."
A "houseworkout" can clean up your act in more ways than one. With a little advance planning, household tasks provide a surprisingly effective aerobic workout. Tackle that closet you've been meaning to clean out, or take the offensive against a scummy sink. Vaccuuming, scrubbing and picking up items off the floor all can be healthful exercise, as long as you keep consistently on the move.
FAQ of the day:
What makes apples so nutritious?
Apples are rich in polyphenols, including flavonoids such as quercetin, anthocyanins, catechins and ellagic acid. Fresh apples can have three times as many polyphenols as the same weight of oranges. Raw apples are richer in phytochemicals than cooked apples or apple juice. An apple is also an excellent source of fiber, primarily the cholesterol-lowering soluble kind.
Scientists have been able to recreate the body's process of regenerating brain cells -- in a lab dish.
In a statement, the University of Florida scientists said that by replicating the clinical process called neurogenesis, they theoretically could produce a limitless supply of a person's own brain cells, perhaps providing therapies for brain-damaging conditions including Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.
The process was accomplished using mice cells, but may ultimately translate to people, the researchers said. The technique could produce far more brain cells than the body could on its own, the researchers wrote in the June 13-17 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The scientists said they acted on decade-old findings that the natural development of certain brain cells is very similar to the lifelong production of human blood cells. The fact that the brain continues to make these cells even in adulthood countered the old notion that people were born with a fixed amount of brain cells that must last throughout their lives, the researchers said.
Heart Valve Trials Halted After Patient Deaths
A California biotech company says it has suspended human trials testing the effectiveness of a technique to replace failing aortic valves without open heart surgery. Edwards Lifesciences said "more than one" of the 10 participants in the study had died, and others had experienced serious complications, The New York Times reported Tuesday.
The company said it hoped to resume the trial using a refined version of the technique, the Times said. The original trial, which enrolled its first patient in March, was being conducted at the William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.
The procedure involved placing a new valve at the end of a catheter inserted into a thigh vein. It culminated in a tricky procedure to pass the valve through the heart to the site of the aortic valve, the newspaper said. The valve controls the flow of blood as it leaves the heart.
The company said it hoped to gain U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to resume the trial employing an updated technique by year's end.
Hospitalizations for Diabetes Decline
Hospitalizations for diabetes-related problems in the United States fell significantly between 1994 and 2002, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a new report.
The rate dropped from 10 per 1,000 people with diabetes to four per 1,000, USA Today reported. The study didn't indicate reasons for the decline, but a CDC spokesman cited improved diabetes therapies and earlier diagnosis and treatment, the newspaper said.
The CDC also announced a 30 percent drop in the incidence of end-stage kidney disease between 1996 and 2002. A spokeswoman cited better treatment of two primary risk factors -- high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels.
Medicare Cuts Make It Hard to Get Infection Drug: Report
Medicare financing cuts have made it difficult for hundreds of people to acquire a blood-derived drug called intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) they need to prevent life-threatening infections.
Medicare cuts have caused doctors to stop offering the expensive drug to Medicare recipients. Instead, doctors are sending those patients to hospitals for care. Some patients say they're months overdue for infusions of IVIG, the Associated Press reported.
The situation has led top blood experts to declare a crisis. The effects of the Medicare cuts could eventually extend to other patients because hospitals are concerned about their own supplies of IVIG, the AP said.
In May, the U.S. government's blood advisers asked the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to declare a public health emergency. This would allow Medicare to increase payments to doctors for IVIG. HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt is considering that recommendation, the AP reported.
IVIG is a mixture of antibodies, which are infection-fighting proteins that healthy people normally have in their bloodstream. Given intravenously, it's mainly used for many of the 50,000 Americans who suffer primary immunodeficiency, 7,000 of whom receive Medicare, the news service said.
Canada Can't Solve U.S. Prescription Drug Problem: Ambassador
Americans shouldn't look to Canada to solve the problem of gaining access to low-cost prescription drugs, Canadian Ambassador Frank McKenna told the Associated Press in an interview Monday.
McKenna said the Canadian government feels caught in the middle of the discussions in Congress about whether to allow more importation into the United States of cheaper prescription drugs from Canada.
That debate masks the larger issue of how prescription drug prices should be set in the United States, McKenna said.
"Don't think you are doing any favors to us by trying to open the United States market for Canadian drugs because you are not," he told the AP. "If you are doing that, you are doing it for your own reasons and you are avoiding dealing with the fundamental question of your drug pricing."
McKenna also dismissed U.S. Food and Drug Administration concerns about the safety of drugs sold in Canada. He said Canada's drug regulatory process was more stringent than the U.S. one, the AP reported.
Heart Device Makers Lack Public Warning Guidelines
Companies that make pacemakers and other heart devices have no uniform standards about when -- or even if -- to alert doctors and patients should those products have flaws, The New York Times reported Tuesday.
Each manufacturer decides on its own whether to publicly disclose a flaw in a product, cardiologists and other experts told the Times. Patient safety isn't the only factor in such decisions. Legal liability and potential loss of business to competitors also influence whether manufacturers notify doctors and patients about flawed products, the newspaper said.
A recent case involving Guidant Corporation has increased calls for uniform guidelines. The company failed to tell doctors for three years that one of its implantable defibrillator models had a flaw that could cause it to short-circuit. A 21-year-old college student died earlier this year after his Guidant defibrillator failed, according to the paper.
"Having this being an entirely in-house decision by a manufacturer is not the way to go," Dr. Anne B. Curtis, president of the Heart Rhythm Society, told the Times.
She said the group, which represents doctors who treat heart problems, would likely establish a task force to develop industry-wide guidelines on alerting doctors about product flaws.
Is apple juice healthy?
It's better than soda -- but it still shortchanges you and your kids. Whole apples have lots of fiber that's missing from juice, which is mostly water and sugar. An apple has just 80 calories, making it a great choice to satisfy between-meal hunger.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Do a half hour of "power chores."
A "houseworkout" can clean up your act in more ways than one. With a little advance planning, household tasks provide a surprisingly effective aerobic workout. Tackle that closet you've been meaning to clean out, or take the offensive against a scummy sink. Vaccuuming, scrubbing and picking up items off the floor all can be healthful exercise, as long as you keep consistently on the move.
FAQ of the day:
What makes apples so nutritious?
Apples are rich in polyphenols, including flavonoids such as quercetin, anthocyanins, catechins and ellagic acid. Fresh apples can have three times as many polyphenols as the same weight of oranges. Raw apples are richer in phytochemicals than cooked apples or apple juice. An apple is also an excellent source of fiber, primarily the cholesterol-lowering soluble kind.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Health Headlines - June 14
Number of U.S. Residents With HIV Tops 1 Million
More than 1 million residents of the United States are believed to be infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. It's the first time that plateau has been reached since the height of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, according to the Associated Press.
The statistic, while it shows that the government has by no means broken the deadly scourge, also reflects the success of anti-viral drugs that are keeping more infected people alive, the CDC noted.
Still, the government is sure to fall short of its decade-old goal to "break the back" of the epidemic by 2005 and cut the infection rate in half, the wire service noted. Roughly 40,000 American residents have become infected each year since the 1990s, the agency said.
The latest CDC estimates show blacks account for 47 percent of HIV cases, followed by gay and bisexual men at 45 percent, the AP said.
Drug Patents Can't Influence Start of Research: Court
Pharmaceutical companies developing new drugs can ignore competitors' patents in conducting research, so long as the new medicines aren't introduced before the patents expire, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday.
New Jersey-based Integra Neursociences had sued Germany's Merck KGaA, saying the latter had violated Integra's patent on certain molecules that Merck is using for current cancer medicine research. Integra's patent expires in 2006, the Associated Press said.
Merck, which has no connection with the U.S. company of a similar name, had argued that while it was respecting the patent holder's rights, its research was "reasonably related" to a future drug application that would be acted on by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration only after Integra's patent expired.
Monday's Supreme Court ruling said that a U.S. FDA exemption passed in 1984 allowed for drug firms to conduct research using substances patented by their competitors without having to pay a licensing fee. It referred the case back to a lower court for additional consideration, the AP said.
Suspected Mad-Cow Animal Born Before Feed Ban: USDA
The animal that is suspected of being the second-ever U.S. bovine to harbor "mad cow" disease was born before implementation of 1997 rules designed to prevent parts of infected cows from being used in livestock feed, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday.
The latest possible case of "mad cow" isn't confirmed, despite two positive results in preliminary "rapid screening" tests. Tissue samples from the bovine have been sent to a veterinary lab in England; more thorough results should be available sometime next week, the agency said.
Scientists say the most common way for animals to contract mad cow, clinically known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is to eat the infected parts of other animals, the Bloomberg news service reported. If the latest case is confirmed as "mad cow," the fact that the animal was born before the 1997 rules took effect demonstrates that the feed restrictions have been working as designed, experts told the wire service.
Only one case of BSE has ever been confirmed in the United States, involving a Holstein found in Washington state in 2003. That animal was later traced to Canada, which has had three other cases, Bloomberg reported.
Surgical Instruments Washed in Hydraulic Fluid Used on Thousands
Surgical instruments washed in hydraulic fluid instead of detergent were used in operations last November and December on about 3,800 patients at two Duke University Health System hospitals in North Carolina, says a report by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The federal agency said that Durham Regional and Duke Health Raleigh hospitals put patients in "immediate jeopardy" by not realizing there was a problem, even though medical staff complained that the instruments felt slick, the Associated Press reported.
It took weeks before the hospitals corrected the mix-up, which occurred when an elevator company drained hydraulic fluid into empty detergent barrels. The barrels were later picked up by a detergent supplier, which mistakenly redistributed the barrels and their contents as washing fluid.
In January, Duke health officials told patients who'd been operated on with the instruments washed in hydraulic fluid that their risk of infection was no greater than the risk normally associated with their procedures, the AP reported.
However, The News & Observer newspaper in Raleigh reported Sunday that dozens of those patients have reported ongoing health issues ranging from joint pain and fatigue to problems requiring hospitalization.
Practical Use of Cancer Research Delayed Too Long: Report
It's taking too long to turn promising advances in cancer research into practical diagnosis and treatment methods that can actually be used on patients, according to a President's Cancer Panel report released Monday.
The report said there are multiple barriers that must be reduced or "the national investment in cancer research will be tragically squandered, for discoveries that do not lead to improved patient outcomes are tantamount to no discovery at all," the Associated Press reported.
The panel's report contains a number of recommendations. It said the U.S. National Cancer Institute should require hospitals designated as comprehensive cancer centers to provide their research findings to local oncologists and other cancer organizations.
The institute should also do more to increase community-level clinical trials, the report added, noting that most cancer clinical trials are conducted at academic medical centers but that at least 80 percent of cancer patients are treated by community oncologists, the AP reported.
FDA to Weigh Approval for Race-Based Heart Drug
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel this week will consider whether the heart failure drug BiDil should be approved for use only in black Americans, eight years after the FDA rejected the drug for use in the general public.
If it's approved, BiDil would be the first drug approved for use in one racial group.
When it rejected the drug in 1997, the FDA said studies supporting it were inconclusive, The New York Times reported.
However, proponents of BiDil refocused their efforts to get market approval for the drug. A study of 1,050 black American heart failure patients found that BiDil significantly reduced death and hospitalization. In response to the study findings, the American Heart Association labeled BiDil one of the major developments of 2004.
The drug increases levels of nitric oxide, which makes blood vessels widen.
The attempt by NitroMed Inc. to get the FDA to approve BiDil for one racial group has sparked heated debate. Many scientists say race is too broad and ill-defined a category to use as a basis for drug approval, the Times reported.
Food Fact:
Is apple juice healthy?
It's better than soda -- but it still shortchanges you and your kids. Whole apples have lots of fiber that's missing from juice, which is mostly water and sugar. An apple has just 80 calories, making it a great choice to satisfy between-meal hunger.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Take the stairs.
The key to cutting stroke risk may be right inside your house. Studies suggest that climbing just three flights of stairs every day can cut your stroke risk by 20%. If your house has a second floor, find excuses for going upstairs whenever possible. If you live or work in a high rise, make a habit of getting off the elevator a few floors below your apartment or office.
FAQ of the day:
Are beans good for weight loss?
If you replace high-calorie proteins such as meat and cheese with legumes, then eating more grain or bean dishes will help you cut your caloric intake. But remember that beans have more calories than green vegetables. A cup of black beans cooked without fat has about 230 calories, while a cup of steamed chopped broccoli has only about 45. So use modest portions of legumes for protein, and bulk up your dinners with fresh vegetables.
More than 1 million residents of the United States are believed to be infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. It's the first time that plateau has been reached since the height of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, according to the Associated Press.
The statistic, while it shows that the government has by no means broken the deadly scourge, also reflects the success of anti-viral drugs that are keeping more infected people alive, the CDC noted.
Still, the government is sure to fall short of its decade-old goal to "break the back" of the epidemic by 2005 and cut the infection rate in half, the wire service noted. Roughly 40,000 American residents have become infected each year since the 1990s, the agency said.
The latest CDC estimates show blacks account for 47 percent of HIV cases, followed by gay and bisexual men at 45 percent, the AP said.
Drug Patents Can't Influence Start of Research: Court
Pharmaceutical companies developing new drugs can ignore competitors' patents in conducting research, so long as the new medicines aren't introduced before the patents expire, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday.
New Jersey-based Integra Neursociences had sued Germany's Merck KGaA, saying the latter had violated Integra's patent on certain molecules that Merck is using for current cancer medicine research. Integra's patent expires in 2006, the Associated Press said.
Merck, which has no connection with the U.S. company of a similar name, had argued that while it was respecting the patent holder's rights, its research was "reasonably related" to a future drug application that would be acted on by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration only after Integra's patent expired.
Monday's Supreme Court ruling said that a U.S. FDA exemption passed in 1984 allowed for drug firms to conduct research using substances patented by their competitors without having to pay a licensing fee. It referred the case back to a lower court for additional consideration, the AP said.
Suspected Mad-Cow Animal Born Before Feed Ban: USDA
The animal that is suspected of being the second-ever U.S. bovine to harbor "mad cow" disease was born before implementation of 1997 rules designed to prevent parts of infected cows from being used in livestock feed, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday.
The latest possible case of "mad cow" isn't confirmed, despite two positive results in preliminary "rapid screening" tests. Tissue samples from the bovine have been sent to a veterinary lab in England; more thorough results should be available sometime next week, the agency said.
Scientists say the most common way for animals to contract mad cow, clinically known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is to eat the infected parts of other animals, the Bloomberg news service reported. If the latest case is confirmed as "mad cow," the fact that the animal was born before the 1997 rules took effect demonstrates that the feed restrictions have been working as designed, experts told the wire service.
Only one case of BSE has ever been confirmed in the United States, involving a Holstein found in Washington state in 2003. That animal was later traced to Canada, which has had three other cases, Bloomberg reported.
Surgical Instruments Washed in Hydraulic Fluid Used on Thousands
Surgical instruments washed in hydraulic fluid instead of detergent were used in operations last November and December on about 3,800 patients at two Duke University Health System hospitals in North Carolina, says a report by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The federal agency said that Durham Regional and Duke Health Raleigh hospitals put patients in "immediate jeopardy" by not realizing there was a problem, even though medical staff complained that the instruments felt slick, the Associated Press reported.
It took weeks before the hospitals corrected the mix-up, which occurred when an elevator company drained hydraulic fluid into empty detergent barrels. The barrels were later picked up by a detergent supplier, which mistakenly redistributed the barrels and their contents as washing fluid.
In January, Duke health officials told patients who'd been operated on with the instruments washed in hydraulic fluid that their risk of infection was no greater than the risk normally associated with their procedures, the AP reported.
However, The News & Observer newspaper in Raleigh reported Sunday that dozens of those patients have reported ongoing health issues ranging from joint pain and fatigue to problems requiring hospitalization.
Practical Use of Cancer Research Delayed Too Long: Report
It's taking too long to turn promising advances in cancer research into practical diagnosis and treatment methods that can actually be used on patients, according to a President's Cancer Panel report released Monday.
The report said there are multiple barriers that must be reduced or "the national investment in cancer research will be tragically squandered, for discoveries that do not lead to improved patient outcomes are tantamount to no discovery at all," the Associated Press reported.
The panel's report contains a number of recommendations. It said the U.S. National Cancer Institute should require hospitals designated as comprehensive cancer centers to provide their research findings to local oncologists and other cancer organizations.
The institute should also do more to increase community-level clinical trials, the report added, noting that most cancer clinical trials are conducted at academic medical centers but that at least 80 percent of cancer patients are treated by community oncologists, the AP reported.
FDA to Weigh Approval for Race-Based Heart Drug
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel this week will consider whether the heart failure drug BiDil should be approved for use only in black Americans, eight years after the FDA rejected the drug for use in the general public.
If it's approved, BiDil would be the first drug approved for use in one racial group.
When it rejected the drug in 1997, the FDA said studies supporting it were inconclusive, The New York Times reported.
However, proponents of BiDil refocused their efforts to get market approval for the drug. A study of 1,050 black American heart failure patients found that BiDil significantly reduced death and hospitalization. In response to the study findings, the American Heart Association labeled BiDil one of the major developments of 2004.
The drug increases levels of nitric oxide, which makes blood vessels widen.
The attempt by NitroMed Inc. to get the FDA to approve BiDil for one racial group has sparked heated debate. Many scientists say race is too broad and ill-defined a category to use as a basis for drug approval, the Times reported.
Food Fact:
Is apple juice healthy?
It's better than soda -- but it still shortchanges you and your kids. Whole apples have lots of fiber that's missing from juice, which is mostly water and sugar. An apple has just 80 calories, making it a great choice to satisfy between-meal hunger.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Take the stairs.
The key to cutting stroke risk may be right inside your house. Studies suggest that climbing just three flights of stairs every day can cut your stroke risk by 20%. If your house has a second floor, find excuses for going upstairs whenever possible. If you live or work in a high rise, make a habit of getting off the elevator a few floors below your apartment or office.
FAQ of the day:
Are beans good for weight loss?
If you replace high-calorie proteins such as meat and cheese with legumes, then eating more grain or bean dishes will help you cut your caloric intake. But remember that beans have more calories than green vegetables. A cup of black beans cooked without fat has about 230 calories, while a cup of steamed chopped broccoli has only about 45. So use modest portions of legumes for protein, and bulk up your dinners with fresh vegetables.
Monday, June 13, 2005
Health Headlines - June 13
Stem Cell Growth Genetic Material Discovered
The reason that stem cells' ability to regenerate long after other cells have stopped may be in a genetic substance discovered by scientists at Northwestern University and the University of Washington.
The researchers published their findings in last week's online edition of the journal Nature, and concluded that the substance, microRNA, allows stem cells not only to keep dividing long after other cells in the body have ended their growth, but also may provide the clue as to why cancer cells also multiply so rapidly.
The researchers used fruit flies for their experiment, which have approximately 80 types of microRNAs. Normal stem cell growth continued, while the growth of mutant stem cells -- which had no microRNA -- stopped. The scientists concluded that the mutant stem cells stopped because of the lack of microRNA, which also isn't present in normal cells.
The next step, the scientists say, is to find out the role of micrRNa in cancer cells.
New Avian Flu Outbreaks in China Kill Migratory Birds
Health officials who have been monitoring the spread of the so-called avian flu in Asia have new cause for alarm, according to the New York Times
The newspaper reports that two new outbreaks of the disease that affects many bird species have been found in waterfowl that migrate. This indicates the flu virus is mutating, World Health Organization (WHO) officials said, because until recently, waterfowl such as geese had been resistant to the avian flu.
Scientists have already established that some strains of avian flu can kill humans. The latest WHO information has 54 human deaths reported, all from Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. But health officials are concerned that a potentially deadly form of the virus will be transmitted world-wide, and that's why the latest outbreaks among migratory geese have scientists concerned.
With the latest incidents, the Times reports, more than 13,000 geese were destroyed after about 500 had died of a flu strain known as H5N1 avian flu.
Parents Drop Objection To Daughter's Cancer Treatment
After learning that their daughter was no longer in remission after chemotherapy to treat Hodgkins disease, Katie Wernecke's parents have dropped their objection to followup treatment.
But Katie, who is celebrating her 13th birthday, will remain in state custody while undergoing more chemotherapy after being taken from her parents by Texas child welfare authorities Friday.
Her parents had refused on religious grounds to allow the girl to get radiation treatment, but now that they learned that medical analysis of her condition indicated the cancer may have returned, they no longer object to more chemotherapy, the Associated Press reports.
Last week, authorities issued an Amber Alert to gain custody of Katie after receiving an anonymous tip about alleged neglect, the AP said.
Michele and Edward Wernecke had asked a judge to bar radiation therapy for their daughter, saying they are members of the Church of God and oppose blood transfusions except from a family member. Hodgkin's disease is a cancer affecting the lymph nodes.
Katie was found late last week with her mother at a family ranch. Her father was arrested on charges of interfering with child custody, and was released Monday after posting $50,000 bail. The Werneckes' three sons were placed in a foster home, the AP said.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary: We're Protected From Mad Cow Disease
Saying that he was going to "enjoy a good steak" and that his agency's firewall was working, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns told a news conference late Friday that the possibility of another case of mad cow disease did not endanger the nation's beef supply.
Johanns emphasized that more tests were needed and that the animal didn't enter into the beef supply chain. The animal had been previously tested and cleared, the Associated Press reports, but additional testing offered the possibility that the it might have mad cow disease. Only one confirmed case of mad cow disease -- a fatal brain disorder -- has been found in the U.S., and that was in 2003 from an animal imported from Canada.
"We do not have a human health risk," Johanns said. "This animal did not enter the food chain. This animal never got near the food or feed chain." Further tests are being conducted to determine whether the cow had mad cow disease.
Its scientific name is bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and mad cow's human variant condition,Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, is just as deadly. More than 150 people in the United Kingdom died in the 1990s during a mad cow epidemic.
FDA Approves 2nd Whooping Cough Vaccine
The first adult booster shot for whooping cough has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency said Friday.
Aventis Pasteur's Adacel is the second whooping cough vaccine to be approved in little more than a month. In May, GlaxoSmithKline's Boostrix was sanctioned for use in adolescents ages 10 to 18, while Adacel has been approved for both adults and teens, the agency said.
Adacel combines a whooping cough inoculation with vaccines for tetanus and diphtheria. It contains the same components as an Aventis booster meant for infants, called Daptacel, though it has weaker forms of both the whooping cough and diphtheria germs, the FDA said.
Whooping cough, medically called pertussis, can be more severe in children and can be fatal. It produces coughs so strong that it can break a rib.
Older vaccines for pertussis have been known to wear off, allowing older people to transmit the bacterial illness to infants and very young children with weaker immune systems.
Side effects of Adacel include injection site pain and low-grade fever, which are common results from similar vaccines, the FDA said.
West Nile Vaccine Shows Promise in Mice
A vaccine produced from a human antibody of people who have had West Nile virus has prevented infections in mice, its maker said Friday.
Dutch company Crucell NV said it planned human clinical trials of the vaccine by year's end, the Associated Press reported.
The company said while it devised the vaccine to prevent West Nile infection among the elderly, the inoculation could also be used to treat an active case of West Nile, the wire service reported.
West Nile, which first arrived in the United States in 1999, killed 88 residents last year and infected 2,470, the company said. The elderly and young children are at higher risk of a severe form that progresses to encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that can be fatal.
Food Fact:
Apples: A core curriculum.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away -- too bad Americans only eat about one per week. Apples are packed with fiber: One medium apple (including skin) provides one-fifth (5g) of the average daily needs. Most of an apple's dietary fiber is pectin, a soluble fiber that helps reduce cholesterol. Apples also promote a healthy heart. Apple skin is rich in antioxidant phytochemicals called flavonoids, which may slice the risk of coronary disease.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Walk for Fitness.
Even a five-minute walk can boost your health, once you know how to make it count. The key is to do it regularly -- aim for a total walking time of 30 - 45 minutes a day, in as little as 5-minute increments, to give your body a boost.
FAQ of the day:
Is apple juice safe for my toddler?
Apple juice is safe for toddlers, but don't overdo it. Too many calories from apple or other juices can crowd out more nutritious food. In one study of children ages 2 - 5, those who drank more than 12 oz. of juice a day tended to weigh more and be shorter than those who drank less. Pediatric experts advise that parents not feed fruit juice to an infant in his or her first year, and limit daily consumption afterward to less than 12 oz. Here's a tip: Dilute fruit juice with an equal part of water, so an 8-oz. bottle or cup delivers only 4 oz. of juice.
The reason that stem cells' ability to regenerate long after other cells have stopped may be in a genetic substance discovered by scientists at Northwestern University and the University of Washington.
The researchers published their findings in last week's online edition of the journal Nature, and concluded that the substance, microRNA, allows stem cells not only to keep dividing long after other cells in the body have ended their growth, but also may provide the clue as to why cancer cells also multiply so rapidly.
The researchers used fruit flies for their experiment, which have approximately 80 types of microRNAs. Normal stem cell growth continued, while the growth of mutant stem cells -- which had no microRNA -- stopped. The scientists concluded that the mutant stem cells stopped because of the lack of microRNA, which also isn't present in normal cells.
The next step, the scientists say, is to find out the role of micrRNa in cancer cells.
New Avian Flu Outbreaks in China Kill Migratory Birds
Health officials who have been monitoring the spread of the so-called avian flu in Asia have new cause for alarm, according to the New York Times
The newspaper reports that two new outbreaks of the disease that affects many bird species have been found in waterfowl that migrate. This indicates the flu virus is mutating, World Health Organization (WHO) officials said, because until recently, waterfowl such as geese had been resistant to the avian flu.
Scientists have already established that some strains of avian flu can kill humans. The latest WHO information has 54 human deaths reported, all from Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. But health officials are concerned that a potentially deadly form of the virus will be transmitted world-wide, and that's why the latest outbreaks among migratory geese have scientists concerned.
With the latest incidents, the Times reports, more than 13,000 geese were destroyed after about 500 had died of a flu strain known as H5N1 avian flu.
Parents Drop Objection To Daughter's Cancer Treatment
After learning that their daughter was no longer in remission after chemotherapy to treat Hodgkins disease, Katie Wernecke's parents have dropped their objection to followup treatment.
But Katie, who is celebrating her 13th birthday, will remain in state custody while undergoing more chemotherapy after being taken from her parents by Texas child welfare authorities Friday.
Her parents had refused on religious grounds to allow the girl to get radiation treatment, but now that they learned that medical analysis of her condition indicated the cancer may have returned, they no longer object to more chemotherapy, the Associated Press reports.
Last week, authorities issued an Amber Alert to gain custody of Katie after receiving an anonymous tip about alleged neglect, the AP said.
Michele and Edward Wernecke had asked a judge to bar radiation therapy for their daughter, saying they are members of the Church of God and oppose blood transfusions except from a family member. Hodgkin's disease is a cancer affecting the lymph nodes.
Katie was found late last week with her mother at a family ranch. Her father was arrested on charges of interfering with child custody, and was released Monday after posting $50,000 bail. The Werneckes' three sons were placed in a foster home, the AP said.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary: We're Protected From Mad Cow Disease
Saying that he was going to "enjoy a good steak" and that his agency's firewall was working, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns told a news conference late Friday that the possibility of another case of mad cow disease did not endanger the nation's beef supply.
Johanns emphasized that more tests were needed and that the animal didn't enter into the beef supply chain. The animal had been previously tested and cleared, the Associated Press reports, but additional testing offered the possibility that the it might have mad cow disease. Only one confirmed case of mad cow disease -- a fatal brain disorder -- has been found in the U.S., and that was in 2003 from an animal imported from Canada.
"We do not have a human health risk," Johanns said. "This animal did not enter the food chain. This animal never got near the food or feed chain." Further tests are being conducted to determine whether the cow had mad cow disease.
Its scientific name is bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and mad cow's human variant condition,Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, is just as deadly. More than 150 people in the United Kingdom died in the 1990s during a mad cow epidemic.
FDA Approves 2nd Whooping Cough Vaccine
The first adult booster shot for whooping cough has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency said Friday.
Aventis Pasteur's Adacel is the second whooping cough vaccine to be approved in little more than a month. In May, GlaxoSmithKline's Boostrix was sanctioned for use in adolescents ages 10 to 18, while Adacel has been approved for both adults and teens, the agency said.
Adacel combines a whooping cough inoculation with vaccines for tetanus and diphtheria. It contains the same components as an Aventis booster meant for infants, called Daptacel, though it has weaker forms of both the whooping cough and diphtheria germs, the FDA said.
Whooping cough, medically called pertussis, can be more severe in children and can be fatal. It produces coughs so strong that it can break a rib.
Older vaccines for pertussis have been known to wear off, allowing older people to transmit the bacterial illness to infants and very young children with weaker immune systems.
Side effects of Adacel include injection site pain and low-grade fever, which are common results from similar vaccines, the FDA said.
West Nile Vaccine Shows Promise in Mice
A vaccine produced from a human antibody of people who have had West Nile virus has prevented infections in mice, its maker said Friday.
Dutch company Crucell NV said it planned human clinical trials of the vaccine by year's end, the Associated Press reported.
The company said while it devised the vaccine to prevent West Nile infection among the elderly, the inoculation could also be used to treat an active case of West Nile, the wire service reported.
West Nile, which first arrived in the United States in 1999, killed 88 residents last year and infected 2,470, the company said. The elderly and young children are at higher risk of a severe form that progresses to encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that can be fatal.
Food Fact:
Apples: A core curriculum.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away -- too bad Americans only eat about one per week. Apples are packed with fiber: One medium apple (including skin) provides one-fifth (5g) of the average daily needs. Most of an apple's dietary fiber is pectin, a soluble fiber that helps reduce cholesterol. Apples also promote a healthy heart. Apple skin is rich in antioxidant phytochemicals called flavonoids, which may slice the risk of coronary disease.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Walk for Fitness.
Even a five-minute walk can boost your health, once you know how to make it count. The key is to do it regularly -- aim for a total walking time of 30 - 45 minutes a day, in as little as 5-minute increments, to give your body a boost.
FAQ of the day:
Is apple juice safe for my toddler?
Apple juice is safe for toddlers, but don't overdo it. Too many calories from apple or other juices can crowd out more nutritious food. In one study of children ages 2 - 5, those who drank more than 12 oz. of juice a day tended to weigh more and be shorter than those who drank less. Pediatric experts advise that parents not feed fruit juice to an infant in his or her first year, and limit daily consumption afterward to less than 12 oz. Here's a tip: Dilute fruit juice with an equal part of water, so an 8-oz. bottle or cup delivers only 4 oz. of juice.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Health Headlines - June 12
New Avian Flu Outbreaks in China Kill Migratory Birds
Health officials who have been monitoring the spread of the so-called avian flu in Asia have new cause for alarm, according to the New York Times
The newspaper reports that two new outbreaks of the disease that affects many bird species have been found in waterfowl that migrate. This indicates the flu virus is mutating, World Health Organization (WHO) officials said, because until recently, waterfowl such as geese had been resistant to the avian flu.
Scientists have already established that some strains of avian flu can kill humans. The latest WHO information has 54 human deaths reported, all from Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. But health officials are concerned that a potentially deadly form of the virus will be transmitted world-wide, and that's why the latest outbreaks among migratory geese have scientists concerned.
With the latest incidents, the Times reports, more than 13,000 geese were destroyed after about 500 had died of a flu strain known as H5N1 avian flu.
Parents Drop Objection To Daughter's Cancer Treatment
After learning that their daughter was no longer in remission after chemotherapy to treat Hodgkins disease, Katie Wernecke's parents have dropped their objection to followup treatment.
But Katie, who is celebrating her 13th birthday, will remain in state custody while undergoing more chemotherapy after being taken from her parents by Texas child welfare authorities Friday.
Her parents had refused on religious grounds to allow the girl to get radiation treatment, but now that they learned that medical analysis of her condition indicated the cancer may have returned, they no longer object to more chemotherapy, the Associated Press reports.
Last week, authorities issued an Amber Alert to gain custody of Katie after receiving an anonymous tip about alleged neglect, the AP said.
Michele and Edward Wernecke had asked a judge to bar radiation therapy for their daughter, saying they are members of the Church of God and oppose blood transfusions except from a family member. Hodgkin's disease is a cancer affecting the lymph nodes.
Katie was found late last week with her mother at a family ranch. Her father was arrested on charges of interfering with child custody, and was released Monday after posting $50,000 bail. The Werneckes' three sons were placed in a foster home, the AP said.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary: We're Protected From Mad Cow Disease
Saying that he was going to "enjoy a good steak" and that his agency's firewall was working, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns told a news conference late Friday that the possibility of another case of mad cow disease did not endanger the nation's beef supply.
Johanns emphasized that more tests were needed and that the animal didn't enter into the beef supply chain. The animal had been previously tested and cleared, the Associated Press reports, but additional testing offered the possibility that the it might have mad cow disease. Only one confirmed case of mad cow disease -- a fatal brain disorder -- has been found in the U.S., and that was in 2003 from an animal imported from Canada.
"We do not have a human health risk," Johanns said. "This animal did not enter the food chain. This animal never got near the food or feed chain." Further tests are being conducted to determine whether the cow had mad cow disease.
Its scientific name is bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and mad cow's human variant condition,Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, is just as deadly. More than 150 people in the United Kingdom died in the 1990s during a mad cow epidemic.
FDA Approves 2nd Whooping Cough Vaccine
The first adult booster shot for whooping cough has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency said Friday.
Aventis Pasteur's Adacel is the second whooping cough vaccine to be approved in little more than a month. In May, GlaxoSmithKline's Boostrix was sanctioned for use in adolescents ages 10 to 18, while Adacel has been approved for both adults and teens, the agency said.
Adacel combines a whooping cough inoculation with vaccines for tetanus and diphtheria. It contains the same components as an Aventis booster meant for infants, called Daptacel, though it has weaker forms of both the whooping cough and diphtheria germs, the FDA said.
Whooping cough, medically called pertussis, can be more severe in children and can be fatal. It produces coughs so strong that it can break a rib.
Older vaccines for pertussis have been known to wear off, allowing older people to transmit the bacterial illness to infants and very young children with weaker immune systems.
Side effects of Adacel include injection site pain and low-grade fever, which are common results from similar vaccines, the FDA said.
West Nile Vaccine Shows Promise in Mice
A vaccine produced from a human antibody of people who have had West Nile virus has prevented infections in mice, its maker said Friday.
Dutch company Crucell NV said it planned human clinical trials of the vaccine by year's end, the Associated Press reported.
The company said while it devised the vaccine to prevent West Nile infection among the elderly, the inoculation could also be used to treat an active case of West Nile, the wire service reported.
West Nile, which first arrived in the United States in 1999, killed 88 residents last year and infected 2,470, the company said. The elderly and young children are at higher risk of a severe form that progresses to encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that can be fatal.
Documents Reveal Drug Maker's Efforts to Save Drug: Report
Even as reports of heart injuries and deaths among people taking the heartburn drug Propulsid continued to mount, drug maker Johnson & Johnson kept defending the drug and promoting its use, according to The New York Times.
The newspaper's review of newly obtained corporate and government documents found that before mounting pressure finally forced Johnson & Johnson to pull Propulsid from the market in 2000, the company tried a number of ways to save the lucrative drug.
The documents reveal that the company failed to conduct safety studies urged by U.S. regulators and the company's own consultants that may have provided early warnings about the drug's dangers, the Times reported.
The documents also show that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration didn't disclose research done by Johnson & Johnson that questioned Propulsid's effectiveness against the digestive disorders it was used to treat. The FDA failed to release that information because the studies were considered trade secrets, the newspaper said.
Dozens of company-sponsored studies on Propulsid that might have made doctors reconsider prescribing the drug for their patients were never published, the documents reveal. They also show that Johnson & Johnson was able to delay and soften some government-proposed label changes for Propulsid, the Times reported.
Last year, Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay up to $90 million to settle lawsuits claming that Propulsid was responsible for 300 deaths and as many as 16,000 injuries, the newspaper said.
Food Fact:
The extraordinary berry.
Adding berries to your diet may help you stay sharp to a ripe old age. Studies have shown nutrient-rich berries may diminish the cognitive decline associated with aging. Berries are powerful antioxidants. Raspberries have as much antioxidant power as spinach -- strawberries have even more, and blueberries have twice as much.
Fitness Tip of the day:
When to say "when?"
Exercise is great, but learn to recognize signs your body needs a break. While exercise promotes a healthy heart, strong bones, reduction in body fat and more, rest is an important part of the equation, too. In order to prevent injury and avoid "burnout," it is best to take scheduled breaks from exercise. Typically, a week of rest is a good idea after a couple of months of steady training; it allows your body to heal.
FAQ of the day:
If I have 4 oz. of raw meat, how much is it when cooked?
Apply these rules of thumb to convert raw quantities of meat to the cooked amount whenever you shop or review restaurant menus: Raw meat with no bone: 4 oz. raw = 3 oz. cooked. Raw meat with bone: 5 oz. raw = 3 oz. cooked. Raw poultry with skin: 4 to 4 1/2 oz. = 3 oz. cooked. The extra 1/4 to 1/2 oz. accounts for the skin (which you should remove before eating to cut out lots of fat).
Health officials who have been monitoring the spread of the so-called avian flu in Asia have new cause for alarm, according to the New York Times
The newspaper reports that two new outbreaks of the disease that affects many bird species have been found in waterfowl that migrate. This indicates the flu virus is mutating, World Health Organization (WHO) officials said, because until recently, waterfowl such as geese had been resistant to the avian flu.
Scientists have already established that some strains of avian flu can kill humans. The latest WHO information has 54 human deaths reported, all from Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. But health officials are concerned that a potentially deadly form of the virus will be transmitted world-wide, and that's why the latest outbreaks among migratory geese have scientists concerned.
With the latest incidents, the Times reports, more than 13,000 geese were destroyed after about 500 had died of a flu strain known as H5N1 avian flu.
Parents Drop Objection To Daughter's Cancer Treatment
After learning that their daughter was no longer in remission after chemotherapy to treat Hodgkins disease, Katie Wernecke's parents have dropped their objection to followup treatment.
But Katie, who is celebrating her 13th birthday, will remain in state custody while undergoing more chemotherapy after being taken from her parents by Texas child welfare authorities Friday.
Her parents had refused on religious grounds to allow the girl to get radiation treatment, but now that they learned that medical analysis of her condition indicated the cancer may have returned, they no longer object to more chemotherapy, the Associated Press reports.
Last week, authorities issued an Amber Alert to gain custody of Katie after receiving an anonymous tip about alleged neglect, the AP said.
Michele and Edward Wernecke had asked a judge to bar radiation therapy for their daughter, saying they are members of the Church of God and oppose blood transfusions except from a family member. Hodgkin's disease is a cancer affecting the lymph nodes.
Katie was found late last week with her mother at a family ranch. Her father was arrested on charges of interfering with child custody, and was released Monday after posting $50,000 bail. The Werneckes' three sons were placed in a foster home, the AP said.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary: We're Protected From Mad Cow Disease
Saying that he was going to "enjoy a good steak" and that his agency's firewall was working, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns told a news conference late Friday that the possibility of another case of mad cow disease did not endanger the nation's beef supply.
Johanns emphasized that more tests were needed and that the animal didn't enter into the beef supply chain. The animal had been previously tested and cleared, the Associated Press reports, but additional testing offered the possibility that the it might have mad cow disease. Only one confirmed case of mad cow disease -- a fatal brain disorder -- has been found in the U.S., and that was in 2003 from an animal imported from Canada.
"We do not have a human health risk," Johanns said. "This animal did not enter the food chain. This animal never got near the food or feed chain." Further tests are being conducted to determine whether the cow had mad cow disease.
Its scientific name is bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and mad cow's human variant condition,Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, is just as deadly. More than 150 people in the United Kingdom died in the 1990s during a mad cow epidemic.
FDA Approves 2nd Whooping Cough Vaccine
The first adult booster shot for whooping cough has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency said Friday.
Aventis Pasteur's Adacel is the second whooping cough vaccine to be approved in little more than a month. In May, GlaxoSmithKline's Boostrix was sanctioned for use in adolescents ages 10 to 18, while Adacel has been approved for both adults and teens, the agency said.
Adacel combines a whooping cough inoculation with vaccines for tetanus and diphtheria. It contains the same components as an Aventis booster meant for infants, called Daptacel, though it has weaker forms of both the whooping cough and diphtheria germs, the FDA said.
Whooping cough, medically called pertussis, can be more severe in children and can be fatal. It produces coughs so strong that it can break a rib.
Older vaccines for pertussis have been known to wear off, allowing older people to transmit the bacterial illness to infants and very young children with weaker immune systems.
Side effects of Adacel include injection site pain and low-grade fever, which are common results from similar vaccines, the FDA said.
West Nile Vaccine Shows Promise in Mice
A vaccine produced from a human antibody of people who have had West Nile virus has prevented infections in mice, its maker said Friday.
Dutch company Crucell NV said it planned human clinical trials of the vaccine by year's end, the Associated Press reported.
The company said while it devised the vaccine to prevent West Nile infection among the elderly, the inoculation could also be used to treat an active case of West Nile, the wire service reported.
West Nile, which first arrived in the United States in 1999, killed 88 residents last year and infected 2,470, the company said. The elderly and young children are at higher risk of a severe form that progresses to encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that can be fatal.
Documents Reveal Drug Maker's Efforts to Save Drug: Report
Even as reports of heart injuries and deaths among people taking the heartburn drug Propulsid continued to mount, drug maker Johnson & Johnson kept defending the drug and promoting its use, according to The New York Times.
The newspaper's review of newly obtained corporate and government documents found that before mounting pressure finally forced Johnson & Johnson to pull Propulsid from the market in 2000, the company tried a number of ways to save the lucrative drug.
The documents reveal that the company failed to conduct safety studies urged by U.S. regulators and the company's own consultants that may have provided early warnings about the drug's dangers, the Times reported.
The documents also show that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration didn't disclose research done by Johnson & Johnson that questioned Propulsid's effectiveness against the digestive disorders it was used to treat. The FDA failed to release that information because the studies were considered trade secrets, the newspaper said.
Dozens of company-sponsored studies on Propulsid that might have made doctors reconsider prescribing the drug for their patients were never published, the documents reveal. They also show that Johnson & Johnson was able to delay and soften some government-proposed label changes for Propulsid, the Times reported.
Last year, Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay up to $90 million to settle lawsuits claming that Propulsid was responsible for 300 deaths and as many as 16,000 injuries, the newspaper said.
Food Fact:
The extraordinary berry.
Adding berries to your diet may help you stay sharp to a ripe old age. Studies have shown nutrient-rich berries may diminish the cognitive decline associated with aging. Berries are powerful antioxidants. Raspberries have as much antioxidant power as spinach -- strawberries have even more, and blueberries have twice as much.
Fitness Tip of the day:
When to say "when?"
Exercise is great, but learn to recognize signs your body needs a break. While exercise promotes a healthy heart, strong bones, reduction in body fat and more, rest is an important part of the equation, too. In order to prevent injury and avoid "burnout," it is best to take scheduled breaks from exercise. Typically, a week of rest is a good idea after a couple of months of steady training; it allows your body to heal.
FAQ of the day:
If I have 4 oz. of raw meat, how much is it when cooked?
Apply these rules of thumb to convert raw quantities of meat to the cooked amount whenever you shop or review restaurant menus: Raw meat with no bone: 4 oz. raw = 3 oz. cooked. Raw meat with bone: 5 oz. raw = 3 oz. cooked. Raw poultry with skin: 4 to 4 1/2 oz. = 3 oz. cooked. The extra 1/4 to 1/2 oz. accounts for the skin (which you should remove before eating to cut out lots of fat).
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Health Headlines - June 11
Pill controls diabetes without side effects-study
An experimental diabetes drug can control blood sugar without causing weight gain or swelling, according to a small mid-stage clinical trial presented on Friday.
Health Tip: Teeth Chattering at the Dentist?
If you're among the millions of people who get nervous when going to the dentist, here are some tips on how you can overcome dental anxiety.
The American Dental Association recommends that you share your anxiety with your dentist and the staff. Knowing about your feelings will help the dentist adapt treatment to your needs.
Another way to reduce anxiety is to schedule your dental visit when you're less likely to be rushed or under pressure. For example, book an appointment for early in the morning or on a Saturday.
Bring along a portable audio player and headset. Listening to your favorite music can help soothe you, as well as drown out the sound of the dental drill. You might also try visualizing yourself in a pleasant setting, such as relaxing on a warm beach.
Health Tip: Avoiding Bladder Infection
Bladder infections occur when bacteria get into the bladder.
This can happen by the way you wipe after going to the bathroom, or through sex. Bladder infections can also be caused by a blockage of urine flow, which may occur in men with an enlarged prostate, or in pregnant women.
The University of Michigan Health System offers the some tips on preventing bladder infection. You should urinate often during the day and also urinate after you have sex. If you're a man, always wash your penis when you bathe.
If you're a woman:
* Keep the area around your vagina clean.
* Wipe from front to back after you go to the bathroom.
* Wash the area when you bathe or shower.
* Wear cotton underwear.
* Use pantyhose with cotton crotches.
* Avoid tight clothing. Wear loose pants.
* Don't wear a wet bathing suit for a long time.
Love Is the Drug...
In love songs, passion lifts you up or cuts you like a knife, wreaking havoc with your emotions as it tosses logic out the window.
Immune System Offers New Alzheimer's Target
An immune system defect may encourage the accumulation of amyloid-beta waste products in the brains of some Alzheimer's patients, according to a new study.
Depression Often Untreated in Heart Patients
In a sign that some cardiologists might be missing the big picture, new research suggests that only a third of heart disease patients with serious symptoms of depression and anxiety get needed treatment.
Infrequent Seizures May Not Need Swift Drug Treatment
Delaying treatment with anti-epileptic drugs may be the best option for people who suffer infrequent seizures, a new British study suggests.
Folk Remedy, Food Spice May Fight Cancer
Cancer researchers have been given a million-dollar grant to investigate the therapeutic value of the folk medicine propolis and the food spice turmeric.
Peanut Allergy Testing, Without the Nuts
Taking the peanut out of peanut-allergy testing, a British team has found that screening kids using just skin pricks and blood samples is accurate and safe; cutting the need for potentially dangerous food-sample tests.
Patient Education Won't Alter Diabetes Outcomes
Simply educating diabetics about their condition doesn't seem to improve their blood sugar control or reduce their likelihood for risk factors such as obesity, researchers report.
Radiologists' Mammogram Accuracy Varies Widely
Researchers have found a wide gap in breast cancer detection between doctors who read a lot of mammograms annually and those who do not.
Nausea Drug Fails Against Cirrhosis-Linked Fatigue
Even though it's often used to fight chemotherapy-linked nausea, the drug ondansetron has proven ineffective at treating fatigue in people with cirrhosis of the liver, according to a new report.
Adult Whooping Cough Vaccine Approved
The first adult booster shot for whooping cough has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency said Friday.
Food Fact:
Carrots: Good as gold.
A 24-carrot solution leaves you rich in vitamin A -- and helps reduce cancer risk. You don't really have to eat 24 to get the benefits: A single carrot more than meets an average person's daily vitamin A needs, with 6mg of beta-carotene. But you can certainly eat more: Carrots are low in fat and high in fiber. Long-term studies have shown carrots to be powerful cancer fighters -- eating five or more carrots a week has been linked with a 60% reduction in risk of lung cancer.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Make exercise fun.
Revving up your workout routine can be as easy as making a list. When beginning a new exercise program, jot down your favorite everyday activities, and incorporate them into your fitness plan. If you enjoy walking with your dog, schedule longer walks along with more traditional forms of exercise such as weight training, flexibility training and cardiovascular programming.
FAQ of the day:
Is yellow or white corn more nutritious?
Yellow corn gets the nutritional nod over white corn because it contains more lutein, a yellow carotenoid pigment that's good for your eyes.
An experimental diabetes drug can control blood sugar without causing weight gain or swelling, according to a small mid-stage clinical trial presented on Friday.
Health Tip: Teeth Chattering at the Dentist?
If you're among the millions of people who get nervous when going to the dentist, here are some tips on how you can overcome dental anxiety.
The American Dental Association recommends that you share your anxiety with your dentist and the staff. Knowing about your feelings will help the dentist adapt treatment to your needs.
Another way to reduce anxiety is to schedule your dental visit when you're less likely to be rushed or under pressure. For example, book an appointment for early in the morning or on a Saturday.
Bring along a portable audio player and headset. Listening to your favorite music can help soothe you, as well as drown out the sound of the dental drill. You might also try visualizing yourself in a pleasant setting, such as relaxing on a warm beach.
Health Tip: Avoiding Bladder Infection
Bladder infections occur when bacteria get into the bladder.
This can happen by the way you wipe after going to the bathroom, or through sex. Bladder infections can also be caused by a blockage of urine flow, which may occur in men with an enlarged prostate, or in pregnant women.
The University of Michigan Health System offers the some tips on preventing bladder infection. You should urinate often during the day and also urinate after you have sex. If you're a man, always wash your penis when you bathe.
If you're a woman:
* Keep the area around your vagina clean.
* Wipe from front to back after you go to the bathroom.
* Wash the area when you bathe or shower.
* Wear cotton underwear.
* Use pantyhose with cotton crotches.
* Avoid tight clothing. Wear loose pants.
* Don't wear a wet bathing suit for a long time.
Love Is the Drug...
In love songs, passion lifts you up or cuts you like a knife, wreaking havoc with your emotions as it tosses logic out the window.
Immune System Offers New Alzheimer's Target
An immune system defect may encourage the accumulation of amyloid-beta waste products in the brains of some Alzheimer's patients, according to a new study.
Depression Often Untreated in Heart Patients
In a sign that some cardiologists might be missing the big picture, new research suggests that only a third of heart disease patients with serious symptoms of depression and anxiety get needed treatment.
Infrequent Seizures May Not Need Swift Drug Treatment
Delaying treatment with anti-epileptic drugs may be the best option for people who suffer infrequent seizures, a new British study suggests.
Folk Remedy, Food Spice May Fight Cancer
Cancer researchers have been given a million-dollar grant to investigate the therapeutic value of the folk medicine propolis and the food spice turmeric.
Peanut Allergy Testing, Without the Nuts
Taking the peanut out of peanut-allergy testing, a British team has found that screening kids using just skin pricks and blood samples is accurate and safe; cutting the need for potentially dangerous food-sample tests.
Patient Education Won't Alter Diabetes Outcomes
Simply educating diabetics about their condition doesn't seem to improve their blood sugar control or reduce their likelihood for risk factors such as obesity, researchers report.
Radiologists' Mammogram Accuracy Varies Widely
Researchers have found a wide gap in breast cancer detection between doctors who read a lot of mammograms annually and those who do not.
Nausea Drug Fails Against Cirrhosis-Linked Fatigue
Even though it's often used to fight chemotherapy-linked nausea, the drug ondansetron has proven ineffective at treating fatigue in people with cirrhosis of the liver, according to a new report.
Adult Whooping Cough Vaccine Approved
The first adult booster shot for whooping cough has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency said Friday.
Food Fact:
Carrots: Good as gold.
A 24-carrot solution leaves you rich in vitamin A -- and helps reduce cancer risk. You don't really have to eat 24 to get the benefits: A single carrot more than meets an average person's daily vitamin A needs, with 6mg of beta-carotene. But you can certainly eat more: Carrots are low in fat and high in fiber. Long-term studies have shown carrots to be powerful cancer fighters -- eating five or more carrots a week has been linked with a 60% reduction in risk of lung cancer.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Make exercise fun.
Revving up your workout routine can be as easy as making a list. When beginning a new exercise program, jot down your favorite everyday activities, and incorporate them into your fitness plan. If you enjoy walking with your dog, schedule longer walks along with more traditional forms of exercise such as weight training, flexibility training and cardiovascular programming.
FAQ of the day:
Is yellow or white corn more nutritious?
Yellow corn gets the nutritional nod over white corn because it contains more lutein, a yellow carotenoid pigment that's good for your eyes.
Friday, June 10, 2005
Health Headlines - June 10
Obesity's Strain Causing More Back Pain
Rising rates of obesity are increasingly tough on Americans' overloaded backs, a new patient survey finds.
"People are coming in not by dozens but in droves because of obesity and their back pain," Dr. Tom Faciszewski, an orthopedic surgeon at the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin, said in a prepared statement.
Earlier this year, experts at the North American Spine Society (NASS) conducted a national survey of U.S. spine care professionals and found the number of obese patients being treated for spine-related disorders has increased 67 percent over the past five years.
Eighty-seven percent of the spine care professionals in the survey agreed that obesity plays a major role in back pain, while 94 percent said they recommended weight loss as a treatment for obese patients. Fifty-five percent of the spine care professionals found that weight loss resulted in major improvements in their obese patients' symptoms.
To heighten awareness about the impact of obesity on the spine, NASS recently launched its fourth annual patient education program, "Take a Load off Your Back."
The three most common back problems in obese patients are degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis (slippage of the lower back disc), and disc rupture or herniation, NASS officials said.
Obese people need to change their lifestyles -- such as eating a healthier diet and getting regular exercise -- in order to reduce the burden on their spines, the experts advised.
Health Tip: Treating Ear Infections
If you develop an ear infection, don't be too quick to ask your doctor for an antibiotic.
As many as 80 percent of ear infections clear up on their own, says the Washington State Department of Health.
If you do get an ear infection you should:
* Drink more water.
* Rest in order to allow your body to fight the infection.
* Press a warm wash cloth or heating pad on low setting against your sore ear.
* Taking a decongestant may help. Don't take an antihistamine.
* Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help relieve pain.
You should call your doctor if an earache lasts more than 12 hours or if you experience severe pain. You should also call the doctor if you suspect an infant or young child has an ear infection, if an infant or toddler rubs or pulls on an ear and seems to be in pain, and if the child also has a fever.
Health Tip: Preventing Dog Bites
Between 500,000 and 1 million people require medical attention for dog bites each year in the United States and, on average, 12 people die each year from dog bites.
Children are especially vulnerable and account for more than 60 percent of all dog-bite victims, says the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Never leave a baby or small child alone with a dog. Teach young children to be careful around pets and emphasize that they must not approach strange dogs. They should be instructed to ask for permission from a dog's owner before petting the animal.
Gene-Modified Virus Targets Tumor Cells
A genetically engineered anti-cancer virus shows promise as a treatment for people with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver, researchers report.
"These results are very promising. The median survival time we saw among our patients was higher than you might expect among this group of patients," researcher Dr. Nancy Kemeny of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, said in a prepared statement.
Her team tested an oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) in 12 patients with colorectal cancer that had spread to the liver and had proven resistant to first-line chemotherapy. The specific strain of the virus was NV1020, a weakened and altered form of herpes simplex virus type-1, which causes cold sores.
This specially engineered virus selectively destroys cancer cells without harming normal tissue.
In this Phase I study, the researchers gave the patients increasing doses of NV1020 delivered via a single 10-minute infusion. The virus treatment was followed by chemotherapy.
So far, the 12 patients' overall median survival time following the treatment is 23 months. One patient is still alive 30 months after the treatment.
"Our primary aim in this study was to test the safety of the virus. We were pleased to see that the virus could be administered safely in the hepatic [liver] artery without significant effects on the normal liver function," Kemeny said.
The findings were presented this week at the European Society for Medical Oncology Scientific and Educational Conference in Budapest, Hungary.
Reports Shed Light on Dangers of New MS Drug
Detailed reports shed new light on why three patients who were treated with the biologic drug Tysabri for either multiple sclerosis or Crohn's disease developed severe brain infections.
In three scientific briefs and two editorials released Thursday by the New England Journal of Medicine, the specifics of each case are laid out and analyzed by experts in the field. The journal released the package early after a possible fourth case was reported last week. Two of the first three patients have died.
"This is the first time we've had a peer-reviewed report of the information provided by the company to the public," said Dr. John R. Richert, vice president for research and clinical programs for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. "It is the first time we have been able to peruse details of the cases."
Although the news of the infections first came as a blow to those in the MS community, Richert noted that some of the details in these case reports leave open the possibility that Tysabri might one day return to the market if screening methods are found to detect which patients might be susceptible to the brain infection.
In November 2004, natalizumab (Tysabri) was approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and Crohn's disease, both conditions in which the body's immune system attacks it own tissue. But last February, Elan Corp. and Biogen Idec Inc., which marketed the drug, voluntarily withdrew it after reports that three patients taking it had developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a degenerative brain infection that often is fatal.
The journal reports provide "two major pieces of information we have not had before," Richert said. "One is that in one case, when they looked at blood samples that were serially obtained during the trial [of the drug], the JC virus that causes PML was detected in the blood serum before the onset of symptoms. That raises the possibility that diagnosis of this infection may be possible much earlier than we have thought in people at risk."
The second fact reported in the journal is that "one of the patients who was very, very ill from PML survived and experienced a significant recovery of neurological function," Richert said. "That person does have some significant neurological defects, but has experienced significant improvement. Until this time, we really weren't certain whether PML would be uniformly fatal or whether by stopping the drug and instituting appropriate antiviral therapy we could prevent death and effect clinical improvement."
But it will be a long time, if ever, before Tysabri is allowed back on the market, Richert acknowledged. One unresolved issue is whether the fourth patient who took the drug actually developed PML, since it is a difficult infection to diagnose accurately.
"That fourth case is up in the air," Richert said. "The question of whether that person had PML is still being evaluated."
The first reports of PML in people taking the drug "were certainly a setback," Richert said. "But the information that is newly available with these new reports is actually more encouraging news. There is still a reasonable possibility that Tysabri will eventually be approved for coming back on the market."
That possibility would be welcomed by those with either MS or Crohn's disease. FDA approval was given after carefully controlled studies showed the drug slowed progression of the conditions as no other medication had been able to do.
However, there is a strong cautionary note in the reports, said Dr. Igor J. Koralnik, an associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, and co-author of one of the accompanying editorials.
Tysabri is a monoclonal antibody, engineered to attach itself to white blood cells called lymphocytes and prevent them from entering the brain, where they do the damage that causes the disabling symptoms of MS.
That same approach is being used by biomedical researchers to attack a number of other conditions, some rare but also some as widespread as asthma, Koralnik said, and so "we need to learn from this unexpected tragedy and try to get enough information to prevent it from happening again by understanding the mechanisms and monitoring for this feature."
As his editorial states, the case reports "force us to reconsider the potential risks associated with inhibition of lymphocyte trafficking. Bad things may happen when rescuers are turned back at the gates."
Infant Exposure to Controversial Compound Continues in Hospitals
Despite FDA warnings to hospitals to reduce the use of plastics that contain a compound that might affect male fertility in infants, a new study found high levels of the compound among newborns in neonatal intensive care units.
Shyness May Be in the Genes
Shy? Uncomfortable at parties? Short "junk" DNA may be to blame.
At-Home Breast Cancer Detector Effective
A hand-held imaging device designed for use at home appears effective in detecting breast cancer in its early stages, according to a University of Pennsylvania researcher who hopes the device might be available commercially to women in a year or two.
Intensive Therapy Helps Stroke Patients Regain Speech
Short-term, intense language retraining helps improve communication skills in stroke survivors, researchers report in this week's issue of Stroke.
Lifestyle Can Dictate Course of Breast Cancer
More evidence is trickling in that aspects of everyday life, including exercise, eating habits and even a common spice, can affect the incidence and course of breast cancer.
Cancer Drug Also Fights Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis
The cancer drug rituximab may benefit lupus patients with central nervous system (CNS) complications, according to a new U.S. study.
Available Drug Helps Prevent Breast Cancer Recurrence
Using a drug already on the market, researchers say they can block key immune system cells that actually promote breast cancer recurrence. The therapy should re-arm the body's defenses against malignancy's return, they report.
More Studies Link Painkillers to Heart Problems
Scientists on both sides of the Atlantic continue to uncover troubling news about commonly used painkillers, including ibuprofen and Celebrex.
Idaho Boy Surviving Rare Blood Disorder
In less than a month, Nicholas Ashby hopes to celebrate his fourth birthday, thanks to a bone-marrow transplant that so far is helping him survive one of the world's rarest blood disorders.
Book Offers Diet Options for the Weak
In a no-nonsense approach to weight loss, the American Heart Association's new diet book offers options for the weak. Can't give up pizza? Try eating two slices instead of your regular three. Craving ice cream? Try a sorbet.
Tips From Heart Association's Diet Book
Here are some suggestions for low-calorie snacks from the American Heart Association's new book, "No-Fad Diet: A Personal Plan for Healthy Weight Loss." All contain 50 calories or fewer.
4 animal crackers, 44 calories
1 medium apricot, 17 calories
1 Asian pear (4.3 ounces), 50 calories
Half-cup blueberries, 41 calories
10 sweet cherries, 43 calories
10 small jelly beans, 40 calories
10 pretzel sticks, 10 calories
Half-cup strawberries, 27 calories
Here are some calorie-saving food substitutions from the book:
Instead of 1 milk chocolate bar (1.55 ounces), try 10 chocolate-covered raisins for a calorie savings of 187.
Instead of 16 ounces of regular cola, try diet cola for a calorie savings of 149.
Instead of a half-cup of fried rice, try a half-cup of steamed rice for a calorie savings of 53.
Food Fact:
Now "ear" this.
It's a fact -- you don't need butter to make fresh corn taste great. For best flavor, cook corn on the cob the same day it's picked. Frozen corn has all the nutritive benefits of fresh corn because it's processed soon after it's picked -- one-half cup of corn kernels contains about 3 grams of fiber. Yellow corn contains lutein, a plant pigment that helps protect your eyes.
Fitness Tip of the day:
"Hidden" exercise.
Raking leaves, shoveling snow, cutting grass. This is exercise! All activity helps us keep fit. Take heavy yard work, for example -- treat it just as you would a more formal workout. Make sure your body is warmed up and pace yourself accordingly. Pay careful attention to they way you lift, stay hydrated and schedule breaks during the day.
FAQ of the day:
What's so bad about accelerated weight loss?
Try to lose weight too fast and your body will perceive the calorie deficit as a state of semi-starvation. To conserve energy, it will slow down the rate at which it burns calories. Crash diets may take weight off fast, but they also make it more likely the pounds will come right back when you resume your normal eating patterns.
Rising rates of obesity are increasingly tough on Americans' overloaded backs, a new patient survey finds.
"People are coming in not by dozens but in droves because of obesity and their back pain," Dr. Tom Faciszewski, an orthopedic surgeon at the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin, said in a prepared statement.
Earlier this year, experts at the North American Spine Society (NASS) conducted a national survey of U.S. spine care professionals and found the number of obese patients being treated for spine-related disorders has increased 67 percent over the past five years.
Eighty-seven percent of the spine care professionals in the survey agreed that obesity plays a major role in back pain, while 94 percent said they recommended weight loss as a treatment for obese patients. Fifty-five percent of the spine care professionals found that weight loss resulted in major improvements in their obese patients' symptoms.
To heighten awareness about the impact of obesity on the spine, NASS recently launched its fourth annual patient education program, "Take a Load off Your Back."
The three most common back problems in obese patients are degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis (slippage of the lower back disc), and disc rupture or herniation, NASS officials said.
Obese people need to change their lifestyles -- such as eating a healthier diet and getting regular exercise -- in order to reduce the burden on their spines, the experts advised.
Health Tip: Treating Ear Infections
If you develop an ear infection, don't be too quick to ask your doctor for an antibiotic.
As many as 80 percent of ear infections clear up on their own, says the Washington State Department of Health.
If you do get an ear infection you should:
* Drink more water.
* Rest in order to allow your body to fight the infection.
* Press a warm wash cloth or heating pad on low setting against your sore ear.
* Taking a decongestant may help. Don't take an antihistamine.
* Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help relieve pain.
You should call your doctor if an earache lasts more than 12 hours or if you experience severe pain. You should also call the doctor if you suspect an infant or young child has an ear infection, if an infant or toddler rubs or pulls on an ear and seems to be in pain, and if the child also has a fever.
Health Tip: Preventing Dog Bites
Between 500,000 and 1 million people require medical attention for dog bites each year in the United States and, on average, 12 people die each year from dog bites.
Children are especially vulnerable and account for more than 60 percent of all dog-bite victims, says the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Never leave a baby or small child alone with a dog. Teach young children to be careful around pets and emphasize that they must not approach strange dogs. They should be instructed to ask for permission from a dog's owner before petting the animal.
Gene-Modified Virus Targets Tumor Cells
A genetically engineered anti-cancer virus shows promise as a treatment for people with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver, researchers report.
"These results are very promising. The median survival time we saw among our patients was higher than you might expect among this group of patients," researcher Dr. Nancy Kemeny of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, said in a prepared statement.
Her team tested an oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) in 12 patients with colorectal cancer that had spread to the liver and had proven resistant to first-line chemotherapy. The specific strain of the virus was NV1020, a weakened and altered form of herpes simplex virus type-1, which causes cold sores.
This specially engineered virus selectively destroys cancer cells without harming normal tissue.
In this Phase I study, the researchers gave the patients increasing doses of NV1020 delivered via a single 10-minute infusion. The virus treatment was followed by chemotherapy.
So far, the 12 patients' overall median survival time following the treatment is 23 months. One patient is still alive 30 months after the treatment.
"Our primary aim in this study was to test the safety of the virus. We were pleased to see that the virus could be administered safely in the hepatic [liver] artery without significant effects on the normal liver function," Kemeny said.
The findings were presented this week at the European Society for Medical Oncology Scientific and Educational Conference in Budapest, Hungary.
Reports Shed Light on Dangers of New MS Drug
Detailed reports shed new light on why three patients who were treated with the biologic drug Tysabri for either multiple sclerosis or Crohn's disease developed severe brain infections.
In three scientific briefs and two editorials released Thursday by the New England Journal of Medicine, the specifics of each case are laid out and analyzed by experts in the field. The journal released the package early after a possible fourth case was reported last week. Two of the first three patients have died.
"This is the first time we've had a peer-reviewed report of the information provided by the company to the public," said Dr. John R. Richert, vice president for research and clinical programs for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. "It is the first time we have been able to peruse details of the cases."
Although the news of the infections first came as a blow to those in the MS community, Richert noted that some of the details in these case reports leave open the possibility that Tysabri might one day return to the market if screening methods are found to detect which patients might be susceptible to the brain infection.
In November 2004, natalizumab (Tysabri) was approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and Crohn's disease, both conditions in which the body's immune system attacks it own tissue. But last February, Elan Corp. and Biogen Idec Inc., which marketed the drug, voluntarily withdrew it after reports that three patients taking it had developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a degenerative brain infection that often is fatal.
The journal reports provide "two major pieces of information we have not had before," Richert said. "One is that in one case, when they looked at blood samples that were serially obtained during the trial [of the drug], the JC virus that causes PML was detected in the blood serum before the onset of symptoms. That raises the possibility that diagnosis of this infection may be possible much earlier than we have thought in people at risk."
The second fact reported in the journal is that "one of the patients who was very, very ill from PML survived and experienced a significant recovery of neurological function," Richert said. "That person does have some significant neurological defects, but has experienced significant improvement. Until this time, we really weren't certain whether PML would be uniformly fatal or whether by stopping the drug and instituting appropriate antiviral therapy we could prevent death and effect clinical improvement."
But it will be a long time, if ever, before Tysabri is allowed back on the market, Richert acknowledged. One unresolved issue is whether the fourth patient who took the drug actually developed PML, since it is a difficult infection to diagnose accurately.
"That fourth case is up in the air," Richert said. "The question of whether that person had PML is still being evaluated."
The first reports of PML in people taking the drug "were certainly a setback," Richert said. "But the information that is newly available with these new reports is actually more encouraging news. There is still a reasonable possibility that Tysabri will eventually be approved for coming back on the market."
That possibility would be welcomed by those with either MS or Crohn's disease. FDA approval was given after carefully controlled studies showed the drug slowed progression of the conditions as no other medication had been able to do.
However, there is a strong cautionary note in the reports, said Dr. Igor J. Koralnik, an associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, and co-author of one of the accompanying editorials.
Tysabri is a monoclonal antibody, engineered to attach itself to white blood cells called lymphocytes and prevent them from entering the brain, where they do the damage that causes the disabling symptoms of MS.
That same approach is being used by biomedical researchers to attack a number of other conditions, some rare but also some as widespread as asthma, Koralnik said, and so "we need to learn from this unexpected tragedy and try to get enough information to prevent it from happening again by understanding the mechanisms and monitoring for this feature."
As his editorial states, the case reports "force us to reconsider the potential risks associated with inhibition of lymphocyte trafficking. Bad things may happen when rescuers are turned back at the gates."
Infant Exposure to Controversial Compound Continues in Hospitals
Despite FDA warnings to hospitals to reduce the use of plastics that contain a compound that might affect male fertility in infants, a new study found high levels of the compound among newborns in neonatal intensive care units.
Shyness May Be in the Genes
Shy? Uncomfortable at parties? Short "junk" DNA may be to blame.
At-Home Breast Cancer Detector Effective
A hand-held imaging device designed for use at home appears effective in detecting breast cancer in its early stages, according to a University of Pennsylvania researcher who hopes the device might be available commercially to women in a year or two.
Intensive Therapy Helps Stroke Patients Regain Speech
Short-term, intense language retraining helps improve communication skills in stroke survivors, researchers report in this week's issue of Stroke.
Lifestyle Can Dictate Course of Breast Cancer
More evidence is trickling in that aspects of everyday life, including exercise, eating habits and even a common spice, can affect the incidence and course of breast cancer.
Cancer Drug Also Fights Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis
The cancer drug rituximab may benefit lupus patients with central nervous system (CNS) complications, according to a new U.S. study.
Available Drug Helps Prevent Breast Cancer Recurrence
Using a drug already on the market, researchers say they can block key immune system cells that actually promote breast cancer recurrence. The therapy should re-arm the body's defenses against malignancy's return, they report.
More Studies Link Painkillers to Heart Problems
Scientists on both sides of the Atlantic continue to uncover troubling news about commonly used painkillers, including ibuprofen and Celebrex.
Idaho Boy Surviving Rare Blood Disorder
In less than a month, Nicholas Ashby hopes to celebrate his fourth birthday, thanks to a bone-marrow transplant that so far is helping him survive one of the world's rarest blood disorders.
Book Offers Diet Options for the Weak
In a no-nonsense approach to weight loss, the American Heart Association's new diet book offers options for the weak. Can't give up pizza? Try eating two slices instead of your regular three. Craving ice cream? Try a sorbet.
Tips From Heart Association's Diet Book
Here are some suggestions for low-calorie snacks from the American Heart Association's new book, "No-Fad Diet: A Personal Plan for Healthy Weight Loss." All contain 50 calories or fewer.
4 animal crackers, 44 calories
1 medium apricot, 17 calories
1 Asian pear (4.3 ounces), 50 calories
Half-cup blueberries, 41 calories
10 sweet cherries, 43 calories
10 small jelly beans, 40 calories
10 pretzel sticks, 10 calories
Half-cup strawberries, 27 calories
Here are some calorie-saving food substitutions from the book:
Instead of 1 milk chocolate bar (1.55 ounces), try 10 chocolate-covered raisins for a calorie savings of 187.
Instead of 16 ounces of regular cola, try diet cola for a calorie savings of 149.
Instead of a half-cup of fried rice, try a half-cup of steamed rice for a calorie savings of 53.
Food Fact:
Now "ear" this.
It's a fact -- you don't need butter to make fresh corn taste great. For best flavor, cook corn on the cob the same day it's picked. Frozen corn has all the nutritive benefits of fresh corn because it's processed soon after it's picked -- one-half cup of corn kernels contains about 3 grams of fiber. Yellow corn contains lutein, a plant pigment that helps protect your eyes.
Fitness Tip of the day:
"Hidden" exercise.
Raking leaves, shoveling snow, cutting grass. This is exercise! All activity helps us keep fit. Take heavy yard work, for example -- treat it just as you would a more formal workout. Make sure your body is warmed up and pace yourself accordingly. Pay careful attention to they way you lift, stay hydrated and schedule breaks during the day.
FAQ of the day:
What's so bad about accelerated weight loss?
Try to lose weight too fast and your body will perceive the calorie deficit as a state of semi-starvation. To conserve energy, it will slow down the rate at which it burns calories. Crash diets may take weight off fast, but they also make it more likely the pounds will come right back when you resume your normal eating patterns.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Health Headlines - June 9
Day-Care Centers a Potent Source of Allergens
Day-care centers are a major source of indoor air allergens for children, according to a new study by researchers at the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
"Because children spend a significant portion of time in day-care settings, it is important that parents understand the risks of allergen exposure and know where these allergens can be found," NIEHS director Dr. David A. Schwartz said in a prepared statement.
The study of 89 day-care centers in two counties in central North Carolina found that each of them had detectable levels of seven common allergens from fungus, cats, cockroaches, dust mites, dogs and mice. The levels of these allergens were similar to those found in homes in the South in previous studies.
Concentrations of five of the allergens were much lower on non-carpeted surfaces than on carpeted surfaces, the researchers said.
"Interestingly, similar to other studies, dog and cat allergens were detected in nearly all the facilities tested, although no dog or cat was observed in most. It is likely the pet allergens are brought in on the children's clothing," said study author Samuel Arbes, an NIEHS researcher.
"The similarities in allergen levels between the day-care centers and Southern home living rooms means children and the day-care workers may be getting prolonged exposure to allergens. More research needs to be conducted to determine the effects of allergen exposure outside of the home," Arbes said.
The findings were published June 1 in the online issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
First-Ever Birth After Ovarian Transplant
In a first, an American team reports that a previously infertile, 24-year-old woman who received an ovary transplant from her identical twin sister has gone on to give birth to a healthy baby.
Stephanie Yarber of Muscle Shoals, Ala., gave birth Monday night to a daughter after receiving the transplant last year from her sister, Melanie Morgan, according to news reports.
Ovarian transplant is a new method of restoring fertility to women whose ovaries are not functioning normally. However, it is an invasive procedure and carries risks similar to any organ transplant.
While the procedure took place between identical twins, which avoids potential tissue-rejection issues, experts expect it might eventually work in the broader population.
"We will probably be doing more of that in the future," said Dr. Hugh Taylor, an assistant professor of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Yale University School of Medicine. "This will include ovarian freezing for women undergoing chemotherapy and other procedures that can result in the loss of ovarian function," he added.
The breakthrough was reported in an article released Tuesday by the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with the birth. The report will appear in print in the July 7, 2005, issue.
The transplant team was led by Dr. Sherman Silber, of St. Luke's Hospital, in St. Louis.
According to the report, Yarber's ovaries began functioning abnormally when she was 14. Her twin sister had normally functioning ovaries and bore three children, all of whom were conceived naturally.
The sterile twin tried egg-donation therapy, which was not successful. With an ovary donated by her sister, doctors transplanted ovarian tissue into the sterile sister's ovaries.
Within three months of transplantation, the sterile sister's menstrual cycles returned and during the second cycle she conceived. After a normal 38-week pregnancy she gave birth to a healthy girl, the researchers reported.
Because the sisters were identical twins, there was no fear of tissue rejection or other problems, which are common in other transplants.
"Although ovarian transplantation between monozygotic (identical) twins will be rare, the demonstration that ovarian function can be restored and that natural conception and successful pregnancy can be achieved after transplantation of ovarian tissue may have broader implications for preserving fertility in young women, such as those who require potentially sterilizing treatment for cancer," the authors concluded.
The technique has the potential to change the way women think about childbearing, Taylor said. He speculated that women who wish to delay having children might want to have their ovaries frozen, to be transplanted at a later time.
"Ovarian transplantation can serve as a prophylaxis against aging and diminishing ovarian function as women pursue careers, etc., delaying child bearing," he explained.
By removing a piece of their own ovary and freezing it, that tissue can be transplanted at a later date without fear of rejection and potentially restore fertility, Taylor noted.
"I think the potential is huge," he said. However, he stressed that this report doesn't prove that the egg really came from the donated ovary. "This has been a problem with the other reports of pregnancy from ovarian transplant."
The Yale expert also noted that premature ovarian failure spontaneously reverts in about 5 percent to 10 percent of cases.
Most important, while the use of ovarian transplantation will no doubt grow in the future, it won't replace egg donation, which is highly successful and not nearly as invasive as a transplant, Taylor said.
"Where ovarian transplantation will come into play is with somebody who knowingly wants to preserve their fertility," he said. "It could be because they are having radiation treatments, or they know they are going to put off childbearing for many years. This is the future of fertility preservation."
Another expert was more cautious. "It's a remarkable thing that was done, but it's not something that is going to help a lot of patients," said Dr. Jaime A. Grifo, director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at New York University Medical Center and a professor at the NYU School of Medicine. "Not many people with ovarian failure have a twin sister."
As for women who are having cancer treatment, Grifo is skeptical of how useful freezing ovarian tissue will be. "The problem is: what cancer are you talking about?" he said. "If you're talking about ovarian cancer, it's not an option. If you are talking about other cancers, you still wonder if that will have any impact on their cancer."
Safer techniques would be freezing eggs or embryos, Grifo said.
As for preserving fertility over time, Grifo thinks the technique is too invasive to make that practical. "It's pretty invasive for that," he said. "And to freeze the tissue and have it function, well, that hasn't been done."
Health Tip: Using a Mouth Rinse
Using a mouth rinse is a regular morning ritual for many people. While it may freshen your breath and help prevent cavities and plaque buildup, a mouth rinse may actually prove harmful in some circumstances.
That's because it may mask symptoms of an oral disease or condition, according to the Loyola University Health System.
With some oral health problems, such as periodontal disease, an unpleasant taste in your mouth and bad breath help alert you that there's something wrong. You may miss those clues if you use a mouth rinse.
Health Tip: Of Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew inside the home can cause problems for those with allergies. They grow wherever it's damp and warm and there is little air movement.
You can take some simple measures to keep your home free of mold and mildew. Tips suggested by the University of Illinois Extension include:
Study: Public Disclosure Makes Docs More Cautious
Do heart doctors who have to publicly report the outcome of every procedure they perform cherry-pick the best patients for surgery, to keep their success rates high?
Maybe so, contends a study in the June 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Insurance Costs Could Trigger Ob/Gyn Shortage
Soaring malpractice insurance premiums are discouraging many doctors from specializing in obstetrics and gynecology and also affecting where obstetricians are offering their services, a new study finds.
Raisins Contain Beneficial Compounds for Dental Health
Dentists frequently advise patients to limit their consumption of raisins because this sweet, sticky treat is believed to promote dental decay.
But a study being presented Wednesday at the American Society for Microbiology's annual meeting in Atlanta found that raisins contain compounds that fight bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.
Alcohol May Cut Lymphoma Risk
Regular drinkers may be at a 27 percent lower risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the sixth most common cancer, researchers report.
Science Finds New Class of Cancer Genes
American scientists say they've identified a whole new class of cancer-causing genes.
Viagra Ingredient Helps Blood Pressure Disorder
The active ingredient in the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat a dangerous form of high blood pressure called pulmonary hypertension.
Gene Therapy Offers Promise Against Arthritis
For the approximately 2.1 million Americans who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, treatment has consisted of painkillers and exercise but no cures for this degenerative joint disease.
Web-Based Home STD Tests Can Work
More than a third of young women are willing and able to use home test kits for the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia, researchers at Johns Hopkins University report.
Exercise Won't Harm Aging Bones
Exercise helps maintain and, in some cases, improve bone mass in people ages 55 to 75, according to a new study that challenges the idea that fat-burning exercise harms bone health in this age group.
Statin Treatment Doesn't Help Heart Valve Problem
Hopes that cholesterol-lowering statin drugs could slow the progression of a heart valve problem called aortic stenosis have been dampened -- but not killed -- by negative results in a Scottish study.
Genes May Play Role in Women's Orgasms
A woman's ability to have an orgasm is at least partly determined by her genes and can't be blamed entirely on cultural influences, new research suggests. Experts say that's likely to be interpreted as both good and bad news.
Scientists Eye Older Athletes for Insights
Plenty of research has been done on young athletes, but little is known about marathoners, swimmers and softball players over age 50. That's about to change.
Members of Two Families Share Kidneys
Two families, once strangers 400 miles apart, are now forever bonded by blood, tissue and four surgeons' knives. In transplants involving four people, an Ohio man suffering from diabetes-related organ failure received a kidney from a healthy Wisconsin woman whose sick sister, in turn, received a kidney from the Ohio man's healthy wife.
Peru's 'Miracle Baby' Recovering Well
One week after surgery to separate her fused legs, 13-month-old Milagros Cerron was recovering quickly, with daily treatments inside a super-oxygenated hyperbaric chamber to speed her healing, her doctors said Wednesday.
Food Fact:
The great pumpkin.
Pumpkin in its pure form -- including canned -- has fat-busting potential in baked goods. Use it to replace up to 3/4 of the fat in some of your favorite spiced muffins and quick-bread recipes. Pumpkin, a winter squash, is especially rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium and fiber, with some iron and few calories.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Get a grip.
Grab a tennis or racquetball for a quick workout off the court. Squeeze one and strengthen the muscles of your hands and arms at the same time. Simply grasp the ball and perform 12 - 15 reps per hand. You may want to start with a "used" tennis ball at the start, then graduate to a ball with more resistance as your conditioning improves.
FAQ of the day:
Can I lose weight by walking 30 minutes a day?
If that's 30 minutes more than you're doing now, go for it, but 45 minutes a day is usually recommended for weight loss. It doesn't have to be all at once; you'll benefit just the same from four 10-minute walks and a 5-minute stroll as from one 45-minute hike. As you get into shape, increasing your pace or walking uphill will burn more calories while challenging your cardiovascular system to make you more fit.
Day-care centers are a major source of indoor air allergens for children, according to a new study by researchers at the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
"Because children spend a significant portion of time in day-care settings, it is important that parents understand the risks of allergen exposure and know where these allergens can be found," NIEHS director Dr. David A. Schwartz said in a prepared statement.
The study of 89 day-care centers in two counties in central North Carolina found that each of them had detectable levels of seven common allergens from fungus, cats, cockroaches, dust mites, dogs and mice. The levels of these allergens were similar to those found in homes in the South in previous studies.
Concentrations of five of the allergens were much lower on non-carpeted surfaces than on carpeted surfaces, the researchers said.
"Interestingly, similar to other studies, dog and cat allergens were detected in nearly all the facilities tested, although no dog or cat was observed in most. It is likely the pet allergens are brought in on the children's clothing," said study author Samuel Arbes, an NIEHS researcher.
"The similarities in allergen levels between the day-care centers and Southern home living rooms means children and the day-care workers may be getting prolonged exposure to allergens. More research needs to be conducted to determine the effects of allergen exposure outside of the home," Arbes said.
The findings were published June 1 in the online issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
First-Ever Birth After Ovarian Transplant
In a first, an American team reports that a previously infertile, 24-year-old woman who received an ovary transplant from her identical twin sister has gone on to give birth to a healthy baby.
Stephanie Yarber of Muscle Shoals, Ala., gave birth Monday night to a daughter after receiving the transplant last year from her sister, Melanie Morgan, according to news reports.
Ovarian transplant is a new method of restoring fertility to women whose ovaries are not functioning normally. However, it is an invasive procedure and carries risks similar to any organ transplant.
While the procedure took place between identical twins, which avoids potential tissue-rejection issues, experts expect it might eventually work in the broader population.
"We will probably be doing more of that in the future," said Dr. Hugh Taylor, an assistant professor of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Yale University School of Medicine. "This will include ovarian freezing for women undergoing chemotherapy and other procedures that can result in the loss of ovarian function," he added.
The breakthrough was reported in an article released Tuesday by the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with the birth. The report will appear in print in the July 7, 2005, issue.
The transplant team was led by Dr. Sherman Silber, of St. Luke's Hospital, in St. Louis.
According to the report, Yarber's ovaries began functioning abnormally when she was 14. Her twin sister had normally functioning ovaries and bore three children, all of whom were conceived naturally.
The sterile twin tried egg-donation therapy, which was not successful. With an ovary donated by her sister, doctors transplanted ovarian tissue into the sterile sister's ovaries.
Within three months of transplantation, the sterile sister's menstrual cycles returned and during the second cycle she conceived. After a normal 38-week pregnancy she gave birth to a healthy girl, the researchers reported.
Because the sisters were identical twins, there was no fear of tissue rejection or other problems, which are common in other transplants.
"Although ovarian transplantation between monozygotic (identical) twins will be rare, the demonstration that ovarian function can be restored and that natural conception and successful pregnancy can be achieved after transplantation of ovarian tissue may have broader implications for preserving fertility in young women, such as those who require potentially sterilizing treatment for cancer," the authors concluded.
The technique has the potential to change the way women think about childbearing, Taylor said. He speculated that women who wish to delay having children might want to have their ovaries frozen, to be transplanted at a later time.
"Ovarian transplantation can serve as a prophylaxis against aging and diminishing ovarian function as women pursue careers, etc., delaying child bearing," he explained.
By removing a piece of their own ovary and freezing it, that tissue can be transplanted at a later date without fear of rejection and potentially restore fertility, Taylor noted.
"I think the potential is huge," he said. However, he stressed that this report doesn't prove that the egg really came from the donated ovary. "This has been a problem with the other reports of pregnancy from ovarian transplant."
The Yale expert also noted that premature ovarian failure spontaneously reverts in about 5 percent to 10 percent of cases.
Most important, while the use of ovarian transplantation will no doubt grow in the future, it won't replace egg donation, which is highly successful and not nearly as invasive as a transplant, Taylor said.
"Where ovarian transplantation will come into play is with somebody who knowingly wants to preserve their fertility," he said. "It could be because they are having radiation treatments, or they know they are going to put off childbearing for many years. This is the future of fertility preservation."
Another expert was more cautious. "It's a remarkable thing that was done, but it's not something that is going to help a lot of patients," said Dr. Jaime A. Grifo, director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at New York University Medical Center and a professor at the NYU School of Medicine. "Not many people with ovarian failure have a twin sister."
As for women who are having cancer treatment, Grifo is skeptical of how useful freezing ovarian tissue will be. "The problem is: what cancer are you talking about?" he said. "If you're talking about ovarian cancer, it's not an option. If you are talking about other cancers, you still wonder if that will have any impact on their cancer."
Safer techniques would be freezing eggs or embryos, Grifo said.
As for preserving fertility over time, Grifo thinks the technique is too invasive to make that practical. "It's pretty invasive for that," he said. "And to freeze the tissue and have it function, well, that hasn't been done."
Health Tip: Using a Mouth Rinse
Using a mouth rinse is a regular morning ritual for many people. While it may freshen your breath and help prevent cavities and plaque buildup, a mouth rinse may actually prove harmful in some circumstances.
That's because it may mask symptoms of an oral disease or condition, according to the Loyola University Health System.
With some oral health problems, such as periodontal disease, an unpleasant taste in your mouth and bad breath help alert you that there's something wrong. You may miss those clues if you use a mouth rinse.
Health Tip: Of Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew inside the home can cause problems for those with allergies. They grow wherever it's damp and warm and there is little air movement.
You can take some simple measures to keep your home free of mold and mildew. Tips suggested by the University of Illinois Extension include:
- Keep clothes, closets, drawers, and walls clean.
- Eliminate sources of moisture in your home.
- Try to maintain air movement in all areas of your home.
- Dry air prevents mold and mildew. Use a dehumidifier.
- Treat cotton items such as awnings and tents with fungicides before using them.
- Paste-wax shoe polish or saddle soap will help protect leather goods.
Study: Public Disclosure Makes Docs More Cautious
Do heart doctors who have to publicly report the outcome of every procedure they perform cherry-pick the best patients for surgery, to keep their success rates high?
Maybe so, contends a study in the June 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Insurance Costs Could Trigger Ob/Gyn Shortage
Soaring malpractice insurance premiums are discouraging many doctors from specializing in obstetrics and gynecology and also affecting where obstetricians are offering their services, a new study finds.
Raisins Contain Beneficial Compounds for Dental Health
Dentists frequently advise patients to limit their consumption of raisins because this sweet, sticky treat is believed to promote dental decay.
But a study being presented Wednesday at the American Society for Microbiology's annual meeting in Atlanta found that raisins contain compounds that fight bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.
Alcohol May Cut Lymphoma Risk
Regular drinkers may be at a 27 percent lower risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the sixth most common cancer, researchers report.
Science Finds New Class of Cancer Genes
American scientists say they've identified a whole new class of cancer-causing genes.
Viagra Ingredient Helps Blood Pressure Disorder
The active ingredient in the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat a dangerous form of high blood pressure called pulmonary hypertension.
Gene Therapy Offers Promise Against Arthritis
For the approximately 2.1 million Americans who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, treatment has consisted of painkillers and exercise but no cures for this degenerative joint disease.
Web-Based Home STD Tests Can Work
More than a third of young women are willing and able to use home test kits for the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia, researchers at Johns Hopkins University report.
Exercise Won't Harm Aging Bones
Exercise helps maintain and, in some cases, improve bone mass in people ages 55 to 75, according to a new study that challenges the idea that fat-burning exercise harms bone health in this age group.
Statin Treatment Doesn't Help Heart Valve Problem
Hopes that cholesterol-lowering statin drugs could slow the progression of a heart valve problem called aortic stenosis have been dampened -- but not killed -- by negative results in a Scottish study.
Genes May Play Role in Women's Orgasms
A woman's ability to have an orgasm is at least partly determined by her genes and can't be blamed entirely on cultural influences, new research suggests. Experts say that's likely to be interpreted as both good and bad news.
Scientists Eye Older Athletes for Insights
Plenty of research has been done on young athletes, but little is known about marathoners, swimmers and softball players over age 50. That's about to change.
Members of Two Families Share Kidneys
Two families, once strangers 400 miles apart, are now forever bonded by blood, tissue and four surgeons' knives. In transplants involving four people, an Ohio man suffering from diabetes-related organ failure received a kidney from a healthy Wisconsin woman whose sick sister, in turn, received a kidney from the Ohio man's healthy wife.
Peru's 'Miracle Baby' Recovering Well
One week after surgery to separate her fused legs, 13-month-old Milagros Cerron was recovering quickly, with daily treatments inside a super-oxygenated hyperbaric chamber to speed her healing, her doctors said Wednesday.
Food Fact:
The great pumpkin.
Pumpkin in its pure form -- including canned -- has fat-busting potential in baked goods. Use it to replace up to 3/4 of the fat in some of your favorite spiced muffins and quick-bread recipes. Pumpkin, a winter squash, is especially rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium and fiber, with some iron and few calories.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Get a grip.
Grab a tennis or racquetball for a quick workout off the court. Squeeze one and strengthen the muscles of your hands and arms at the same time. Simply grasp the ball and perform 12 - 15 reps per hand. You may want to start with a "used" tennis ball at the start, then graduate to a ball with more resistance as your conditioning improves.
FAQ of the day:
Can I lose weight by walking 30 minutes a day?
If that's 30 minutes more than you're doing now, go for it, but 45 minutes a day is usually recommended for weight loss. It doesn't have to be all at once; you'll benefit just the same from four 10-minute walks and a 5-minute stroll as from one 45-minute hike. As you get into shape, increasing your pace or walking uphill will burn more calories while challenging your cardiovascular system to make you more fit.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Health Headlines - June 8
Studies: TB Remains Problem As Rates Rise
From drug-resistant tuberculosis in California to high disease rates in South African gold mines, stubborn challenges threaten health officials' goals for drastically reducing TB globally within 10 years, several studies show.
Health Tax Credit Benefit Varies State-to-State
The impact of U.S. federal government health insurance proposals, such as tax credits or expanded public coverage, would vary widely state-to-state, according to a study released Tuesday.
For Some Kids, Milk Can be Too Much of a Good Thing
Teens who drink more than recommended levels of milk may actually gain weight, rather than lose it, new research suggests.
Health Tip: Preventing Spider Bites
While the vast majority of spider bites are harmless, they can still be painful and unpleasant. The Texas Department of Health offers these tips on how you can reduce the risk of being bitten by a spider.
You should:
Health Tip: Avoiding Playground Injuries
Playgrounds offer children exercise and social interaction. But they can also be dangerous.
More than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger are treated for playground injuries each year in the United States, says the U.S. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
The National Program for Playground Safety says there are a number of ways to prevent playground injuries. The program recommends: improvement of adult supervision on playgrounds; public education about age-appropriate playground equipment; and improved maintenance of playground equipment and surfaces.
It also suggests that playgrounds be built with surfaces that help reduce the impact of falls -- such as sand, wood chips, shredded rubber, and wood fiber.
Leptin Surge in Infancy May Spur Later Obesity
The fat hormone leptin may explain the link between poorly nourished pregnant women and an increased risk for obesity in their children, according to Japanese researchers.
Infected Host Not Key to West Nile's Spread
In a study that surprised its authors as much as anyone, scientists have discovered that the West Nile virus can be transmitted almost instantaneously between mosquitoes feeding side-by-side on an animal, even if that animal is not infected.
Medical Experts Disagree on Marijuana Ruling
Before becoming the medical consultant to the Hospice Foundation of America, Dr. William M. Lamers worked for three decades with terminally ill cancer patients, helping to ease their pain.
TB Still a Deadly Health Threat
Tuberculosis remains a deadly health threat, affecting one of every three people worldwide, with 9 million new cases every year and 2 million deaths.
Study Frowns on Over-The-Counter Lip Enhancers
Women bent on achieving that bee-stung Angelina Jolie look may want to avoid buying over-the-counter products that claim to provide fuller, poutier mouths.
Protein Measures Prostate Cancer's Severity
Researchers say they may be nearing a long-sought goal in prostate cancer therapy: a molecular marker that could distinguish between those men who need aggressive treatment, and those who will do well with watchful waiting.
Gene Clue May Lead to Epilepsy Treatments
Scientists say they've pinpointed a gene in epilepsy patients that's also associated with a movement disorder called paroxysmal dyskinesia (PD).
Cranberry Juice May Fight Intestinal Bugs
Cranberry juice, a long-standing home remedy to help prevent urinary tract infections, may also work against gastrointestinal viruses, new research suggests.
Food Fact:
The sweeter tater.
For the record, sweet potatoes are not yams -- but they are a very nutritious choice. One baked sweet potato contains 5 1/2 times your daily requirement for vitamin A, and nearly half the recommended amount of vitamin C, along with a range of trace minerals and plenty of fiber. Buy only as many sweet potatoes as you plan to cook: They don't keep well, and should never be refrigerated. Store in a cool, dry place for a few days.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Run for your life?
If you don't want to run alongside traffic, you're not alone. If you need to run or walk in an area where traffic is an issue, always run against the flow of traffic. Also be certain to wear reflective clothing so that you are clearly visible at all times.
FAQ of the day:
How much fat is too much?
We recommend a limit of 20% of calories from fat for weight loss. That's enough to make food palatable without providing empty calories. The best way to control fat is to determine your daily limit of fat in grams, and then monitor your fat budget by reading labels, using recipe analyses, and referring to a fat counter (available in any bookstore). The fat you add to your food should be monounsaturated (the kind found in olive and canola oils) and limited in saturated and hydrogenated fats as much as possible.
From drug-resistant tuberculosis in California to high disease rates in South African gold mines, stubborn challenges threaten health officials' goals for drastically reducing TB globally within 10 years, several studies show.
Health Tax Credit Benefit Varies State-to-State
The impact of U.S. federal government health insurance proposals, such as tax credits or expanded public coverage, would vary widely state-to-state, according to a study released Tuesday.
For Some Kids, Milk Can be Too Much of a Good Thing
Teens who drink more than recommended levels of milk may actually gain weight, rather than lose it, new research suggests.
Health Tip: Preventing Spider Bites
While the vast majority of spider bites are harmless, they can still be painful and unpleasant. The Texas Department of Health offers these tips on how you can reduce the risk of being bitten by a spider.
You should:
- Reduce or eliminate bright outdoor lighting around your home that attracts insects, which act as a food supply for spiders.
- Get out the vacuum and remove spiders, webs, and egg sacs from inside your home.
Shake out shoes, clothes, towels, linens, and other items that have been stored for extended periods before you use them. - Prevent spiders from entering your home by sealing or caulking any outside openings.
- Be alert and wear gloves when you're in areas where you're likely to encounter spiders.
- Remove debris and trim grass and weeds around your home.
Health Tip: Avoiding Playground Injuries
Playgrounds offer children exercise and social interaction. But they can also be dangerous.
More than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger are treated for playground injuries each year in the United States, says the U.S. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
The National Program for Playground Safety says there are a number of ways to prevent playground injuries. The program recommends: improvement of adult supervision on playgrounds; public education about age-appropriate playground equipment; and improved maintenance of playground equipment and surfaces.
It also suggests that playgrounds be built with surfaces that help reduce the impact of falls -- such as sand, wood chips, shredded rubber, and wood fiber.
Leptin Surge in Infancy May Spur Later Obesity
The fat hormone leptin may explain the link between poorly nourished pregnant women and an increased risk for obesity in their children, according to Japanese researchers.
Infected Host Not Key to West Nile's Spread
In a study that surprised its authors as much as anyone, scientists have discovered that the West Nile virus can be transmitted almost instantaneously between mosquitoes feeding side-by-side on an animal, even if that animal is not infected.
Medical Experts Disagree on Marijuana Ruling
Before becoming the medical consultant to the Hospice Foundation of America, Dr. William M. Lamers worked for three decades with terminally ill cancer patients, helping to ease their pain.
TB Still a Deadly Health Threat
Tuberculosis remains a deadly health threat, affecting one of every three people worldwide, with 9 million new cases every year and 2 million deaths.
Study Frowns on Over-The-Counter Lip Enhancers
Women bent on achieving that bee-stung Angelina Jolie look may want to avoid buying over-the-counter products that claim to provide fuller, poutier mouths.
Protein Measures Prostate Cancer's Severity
Researchers say they may be nearing a long-sought goal in prostate cancer therapy: a molecular marker that could distinguish between those men who need aggressive treatment, and those who will do well with watchful waiting.
Gene Clue May Lead to Epilepsy Treatments
Scientists say they've pinpointed a gene in epilepsy patients that's also associated with a movement disorder called paroxysmal dyskinesia (PD).
Cranberry Juice May Fight Intestinal Bugs
Cranberry juice, a long-standing home remedy to help prevent urinary tract infections, may also work against gastrointestinal viruses, new research suggests.
Food Fact:
The sweeter tater.
For the record, sweet potatoes are not yams -- but they are a very nutritious choice. One baked sweet potato contains 5 1/2 times your daily requirement for vitamin A, and nearly half the recommended amount of vitamin C, along with a range of trace minerals and plenty of fiber. Buy only as many sweet potatoes as you plan to cook: They don't keep well, and should never be refrigerated. Store in a cool, dry place for a few days.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Run for your life?
If you don't want to run alongside traffic, you're not alone. If you need to run or walk in an area where traffic is an issue, always run against the flow of traffic. Also be certain to wear reflective clothing so that you are clearly visible at all times.
FAQ of the day:
How much fat is too much?
We recommend a limit of 20% of calories from fat for weight loss. That's enough to make food palatable without providing empty calories. The best way to control fat is to determine your daily limit of fat in grams, and then monitor your fat budget by reading labels, using recipe analyses, and referring to a fat counter (available in any bookstore). The fat you add to your food should be monounsaturated (the kind found in olive and canola oils) and limited in saturated and hydrogenated fats as much as possible.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)