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Health News
for 12/17/2008

(last updated 7:30am EST 12/17/2008)

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• Elderly store bad memories differently Elderly store bad memories differently
12/17/2008
Older adults use different parts of their brain than younger people to store memories of the bad times, a finding that may have to do with the resilience of seniors. (1 h ago)

• Plans to microchip AIDS patients scrappe... Plans to microchip AIDS patients scrapped
12/17/2008
An Indonesian province beleaguered by a spiraling HIV infection rate scrapped plans to implant microchips in those with full-blown AIDS, following strong opposition from government officials, health workers and rights activists. (1 h ago)

• Study changes thinking on how HIV spread... Study changes thinking on how HIV spreads
12/16/2008
Instead of infiltrating breaks in the skin, HIV appears to attack normal, healthy genital tissue, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday in a study that offers new insight into how the AIDS virus spreads. (35 m ago)

• Low-glycemic diet better to control diab... Low-glycemic diet better to control diabetes
12/16/2008
For people who have type 2 diabetes, a low-glycemic index diet is significantly better than a high-fiber diet for keeping blood glucose levels down, researchers report. (1 h ago)

• Cancer is even deadlier for diabetics Cancer is even deadlier for diabetics
12/16/2008
Cancer, the world's No. 2 killer, is even more lethal for people with diabetes, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday. (1 h ago)

• First face transplant performed in U.S. First face transplant performed in U.S.
12/16/2008
A woman so horribly disfigured she was willing to risk her life to do something about it has undergone the nation's first near-total face transplant, the Cleveland Clinic announced Tuesday. (1 h ago)

• FDA orders suicide warning on epilepsy d... FDA orders suicide warning on epilepsy drugs
12/16/2008
Drugs used by millions of patients to control epileptic seizures must carry warnings about heightened risks of suicide, federal regulators said Tuesday. (2 h ago)

• Combo treatment halves prostate cancer d... Combo treatment halves prostate cancer deaths
12/15/2008
Treating advanced prostate cancer with radiation and hormone-blocking drugs cut the death rate in half in a study of Scandinavian men, researchers report. (1 d ago)

• Progress seen in heart disease, stroke d... Progress seen in heart disease, stroke deaths
12/15/2008
The U.S. death rates from heart disease and stroke have fallen by about 30 percent this decade but there are ominous signs that the worrisome obesity epidemic could snuff out the progress, experts said on Monday. (1 d ago)

• Help your pets avoid holiday hazards Help your pets avoid holiday hazards
12/15/2008
What you need to know to have an emergency-free Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah or winter solstice celebration. (1 d ago)

• Blood pressure spikes in elderly mar thi... Blood pressure spikes in elderly mar thinking
12/15/2008
For elderly people with elevated blood pressure, further spikes in blood pressure levels can affect their ability to think clearly, U.S. researchers said on Monday. (1 d ago)

• China bans lye, boric acid as food addit... China bans lye, boric acid as food additives
12/15/2008
Substances commonly used as industrial dyes and drain cleaners were included on a list of illegal food additives China released Monday as part of a government crackdown. (1 d ago)

• Docs to get bonus pay for e-prescription... Docs to get bonus pay for e-prescriptions
12/15/2008
The push for paperless prescriptions is about to get a boost: Starting in January, doctors who e-prescribe can get bonus pay from Medicare. (1 d ago)

• Have your cake — and eat it, too Have your cake — and eat it, too
12/15/2008
The holiday season is here and for those who overindulge, the guilt trips are sure to follow. But it doesn't have to be that way. With the right strategy, you most certainly can have your cake and eat it, too. (1 d ago)

• Leaner nations bike, walk, use mass tran... Leaner nations bike, walk, use mass transit
12/15/2008
New research finds a link between "active transportation" — biking, walking or taking mass transit — and less obesity in 17 industrialized countries across Europe, North America and Australia. (1 d ago)

• Guilty and stressed, layoff survivors su... Guilty and stressed, layoff survivors suffer, too
12/15/2008
More than 2 million layoffs in the U.S. this year have devastated the suddenly unemployed, but they’ve also had a powerful impact on a less obvious population: co-workers left behind. (1 d ago)

• Racial gap growing in colon cancer death... Racial gap growing in colon cancer deaths
12/15/2008
Colon and rectal cancer death rates are now nearly 50 percent higher in blacks than in whites, according to the American Cancer Society. In the mid-1970s, rates were nearly equal. (1 d ago)

• Study Shows Limitations Of Colonoscopies Study Shows Limitations Of Colonoscopies
12/17/2008
A new study suggests the screening procedure believed to detect 90 percent of colorectal cancer cases may be missing some, Jon LaPook reports. (1 h ago)

• How To Steer Clear Of Medical Traps Onli... How To Steer Clear Of Medical Traps Online
12/16/2008
It's increasingly common for patients to turn to the Internet for a second opinion. How can you avoid bogus - even harmful - health information online? Dr. Jon LaPook explains why not to use your PC like an M.D. (29 m ago)

• What's Behind The Mystery Cancer Cluster... What's Behind The Mystery Cancer Cluster?
12/16/2008
A striking number of residents of one small Midwestern town have developed a rare form of brain cancer. Is it a coincidence, or has a cancer cluster developed? Byron Pitts follows the trail of this medical mystery. (2 h ago)

• No-Carb Diets May Impair Memory No-Carb Diets May Impair Memory
12/16/2008
New research suggests that people who eliminate carbohydrates from their diets have worse memory skills in the short term. (2 h ago)

• Hot Fitness Trends For New Year Hot Fitness Trends For New Year
12/16/2008
A survey of fitness professionals predicts that boot camps, inexpensive fitness programs, and dance classes will reign in 2009. (3 h ago)

• U.S. Woman Receives Face Transplant U.S. Woman Receives Face Transplant
12/16/2008
The Cleveland Clinic has announced that a team of physicians has performed the nation's first almost-total face transplant. (4 h ago)

• Docs Pushed To Ditch Prescription Pads Docs Pushed To Ditch Prescription Pads
12/16/2008
Medicare is offering doctors bonuses for e-prescribing medication to their patients. The elimination of written prescriptions is widely seen as a way to increase efficiency and improve patient safety. (6 h ago)

• FDA Gives Controversial Chemical 2nd Loo... FDA Gives Controversial Chemical 2nd Look
12/15/2008
Federal health officials, criticized for declaring that a controversial chemical is safe, have refused to back down and instead plan more research. (1 d ago)

• The Demise Of Dating The Demise Of Dating
12/15/2008
According to some studies, 75 percent of all college students have "hooked up," though that might not mean what you think it means. Still, whatever happened to good old fashioned dating? (1 d ago)

• Pentagon Health Care Faces Fraud Threat Pentagon Health Care Faces Fraud Threat
12/15/2008
The system for providing health care to Department of Defense employees remains vulnerable to fraud overseas, years after a Philippines company swindled taxpayers out of $100 million, a recent report warned. (1 d ago)

• Racial Gap In Colon Cancer Deaths Grows Racial Gap In Colon Cancer Deaths Grows
12/15/2008
The racial gap in colon cancer death rates is widening, a new report says, and experts partly blame blacks' lower screening rates and poor access to quality care. (1 d ago)

• Smoking Is Linked to Increased Risk for ... Smoking Is Linked to Increased Risk for Colorectal Cancer, Death
12/16/2008
An analysis of previous studies indicates that smoking is significantly associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer and death, according to an article in the December 17 issue of JAMA. read more (41 m ago)

• More Physicians Switching To Electronic ... More Physicians Switching To Electronic Prescribing Technology
12/16/2008
The number of physicians in the U.S. who have adopted electronic prescribing technology may have doubled to more than 70,000 this year, up from 35,000 in December 2007, according to estimates by the e-prescription network management firm SureScripts-RxHub, the AP/Boston Globe reports. The number of paperless prescriptions also has been increasing at a rate of 15% per month since August, compared with the 5% to 8% rate increase seen earlier in the year, the AP/Globe reports. read more (5 h ago)

• Privacy, Security Concerns Prompt Health... Privacy, Security Concerns Prompt Health Care Information Technology
12/16/2008
The resolution of privacy and security concerns might prompt more physicians nationwide to adopt electronic medical records, electronic prescribing and other forms of health care information technology, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said on Monday in an address to the Nationwide Health Information Network Forum, CQ HealthBeat reports. read more (5 h ago)

• New Principles, Tools To Protect Patient... New Principles, Tools To Protect Patient Privacy
12/16/2008
The growing computerization, exchange and analysis of patient data offer the potential to improve the quality of care and reduce costs and medical errors, but those benefits won’t be fully realized until privacy concerns are effectively addressed, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said today. read more (6 h ago)

• FDA Announces Class I Recalls Of Two Una... FDA Announces Class I Recalls Of Two Unapproved Devices
12/16/2008
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a Class 1 recall today for two unapproved and uncleared devices whose manufacturers claimed could treat various medical conditions. A Class 1 recall means that there is a reasonable probability that the use of a device will cause adverse health consequences or death. read more (6 h ago)

• NIH Convenes First Summit On Racial Heal... NIH Convenes First Summit On Racial Health Disparities
12/16/2008
Thousands of scientists, health care workers, policymakers and others will gather in the Washington, D.C., area on Tuesday for the first government-sponsored scientific summit on minority health and health disparities, USA Today reports. The three-day conference, called the "Science of Eliminating Health Disparities" summit, was coordinated by the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities at NIH. read more (6 h ago)

• US Should Double Global Health Spending ... US Should Double Global Health Spending By 2012
12/16/2008
President-elect Barack Obama's administration and Congress should double annual U.S. international health aid to $15 billion by 2012, and Obama should appoint a senior official to work with a White House committee for coordinating such aid with other areas of foreign affairs, according to a National Institute of Medicine report released Monday, Bloomberg reports (Lauerman, Bloomberg, 12/15). read more (6 h ago)

• How Community Design Contributes To Inac... How Community Design Contributes To Inactivity, Obesity
12/16/2008
The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Healthy Hawai‘i Initiative (HHI) hosted a workshop this week for Hawai‘i’s elected officials to brief them on HHI’s Active Living Community Training Program. The presentation highlighted State and County level policies that could impact the design of our communities and provided specific policy examples that could be implemented in our State. Participants included state legislators and county council members. read more (9 h ago)

• Researchers revisit male bisexuality Researchers revisit male bisexuality
12/16/2008
The landmark "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male" report revealed major insights into bisexual behavior and orientation -- without even using the word "bisexual" -- when it was published 60 years ago by pioneering sex researcher Alfred Kinsey and his research team at Indiana University. The iconic "Kinsey Report" unveiled the seven-point Heterosexual-Homosexual Rating Scale, commonly known as the Kinsey Scale, as a tool to gauge a person's sexual orientation or experiences with both sexes. read more (11 h ago)

• The Inevitability of Health Care Reform The Inevitability of Health Care Reform
12/16/2008
Rummaging through my extensive files (i.e., drawers of paper), I came across this January/February 2001 issue of Healthplan, the magazine of the old American Association of Health Plans before it gobbled up the Health Insurance Association of America and became AHIP. It heralds the results of the 2000 election as an opportunity for Republicans and Democrats to work together on health care reform. read more (11 h ago)

• Getting Your Flu Vaccination Can Make A ... Getting Your Flu Vaccination Can Make A Big Difference
12/16/2008
With the holiday season now in full gear, it's a very busy time when it's easier to forget some important "to dos". One of these easy-to-forget items is getting your flu vaccination. Flu is a lot more serious than even a bad cold. It can keep you in bed for one to two weeks with hacking coughs, severe muscle aches, head ache, fever, chills, and exceptional fatigue. These are not the kinds of sensations that make for happy holiday spirits. read more (8 h ago)

• Nebraska Has Its First Flu Case Nebraska Has Its First Flu Case
12/16/2008
Nebraska has its first laboratory-confirmed case of influenza for 2008, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The case is from Lancaster County. “We now know for certain that flu is here in Nebraska,” said Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer. “The best thing you can do to protect yourself from it is to get your flu shot.” Influenza can be a serious illness. It leads to 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths in the United States every year. read more (9 h ago)

• Make Holiday Parties Safe: Don’t Drink A... Make Holiday Parties Safe: Don’t Drink And Drive
12/16/2008
If you’re hosting a party this holiday season, take steps to keep your friends safe and make sure no one from your party drinks and drives. “Many people go to parties where alcohol is readily available,” said Scot Adams, Ph.D., director of the Division of Behavioral Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. “Driving after drinking alcohol or using illicit drugs is a serious concern. Even one drink can slow reflexes.” Impaired driving will affect one in three Americans during their lifetimes, according to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC). read more (9 h ago)

• What Gift Are You Giving Your Child? What Gift Are You Giving Your Child?
12/16/2008
With the holiday season in full swing, Iowans are busy looking for fun and exciting gifts to finish up their shopping. With the popularity of Texas Hold 'Em and other poker games, these gift sets may be on many teenagers' wish lists. Although such games are nothing more than harmless fun for most young people, for others, these games and other forms of gambling may serve as the introduction to what could become a serious battle with problem gambling. read more (9 h ago)

• Iowa Reports First Confirmed Flu Case Iowa Reports First Confirmed Flu Case
12/16/2008
The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) today received its first confirmed positive influenza report from an Eastern Iowa health care provider. The University Hygienic Laboratory (UHL) confirmed the positive test result in a 25 year old female. read more (9 h ago)

• Car Crashes, Falls Biggest Threats To Ki... Car Crashes, Falls Biggest Threats To Kids
12/16/2008
Thirty-three kids across the country die every day from an injury, according to a new report released today by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the data show Utah is doing fairly well preventing injury deaths when compared to the rest of the country, motor vehicle crashes and falls continue to injure and kill hundreds of Utah children each year. read more (9 h ago)

• Not All Toys Are Fun And Games Not All Toys Are Fun And Games
12/16/2008
It's that magical time of year and parent: Parents are scrambling to find all of the goodies on their children's wish lists. During the toy search, it's important to keep in mind several tips because toys aren't always fun and games. In 2007, more than 232,900 children ages 14 and under were treated in U.S. emergency rooms for toy-related injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. read more (9 h ago)

• Do Children Who Get Calcium Develop Stro... Do Children Who Get Calcium Develop Stronger Bones?
12/16/2008
Researchers at Riley Hospital for Children and Purdue University are seeking 240 girls in the 4th-8th grades from the Indianapolis, Lafayette, Fort Wayne and Frankfort areas, to participate in a study examining the effects of calcium supplementation by tracking changes in bone growth and strength over an 18-month period. read more (9 h ago)

• Does A Younger Dad Mean a Healthier Chil... Does A Younger Dad Mean a Healthier Child?
12/16/2008
A father's age is associated with decreased social abilities in boys, TAU researchers say. New studies from Tel Aviv University suggest that waiting until a man can give his son “all the advantages” may have a disadvantage, too. read more (10 h ago)

• Later school start times may improve sle... Later school start times may improve sleep in adolescents
12/15/2008
A study in the Dec. 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine shows that after a one-hour delay of school start times, teens increased their average nightly hours of sleep and decreased their "catch-up sleep" on the weekends, and they were involved in fewer auto accidents. read more (1 d ago)

• Soft Tissue Injuries Caused by Motor Veh... Soft Tissue Injuries Caused by Motor Vehicle Accidents
12/17/2008
If you think you may be suffering from a soft tissue injury after a motor vehicle accident, it is important to speak to a knowledgeable personal injury attorney in your area to discuss your situation, answer any questions you may have and to learn about your legal options. (1 h ago)

• Types of Brain Injuries, Head Trauma and... Types of Brain Injuries, Head Trauma and Neck Injuries Caused by a Motor Vehicle Accident
12/17/2008
Injuries from motor vehicle accidents are common in emergency rooms around the world. The many scenarios that can occur during an accident set the stage for a variety of forces and damage to the vulnerable areas in the head and neck. (1 h ago)

• Types of Shoulder, Spinal Cord and Back ... Types of Shoulder, Spinal Cord and Back Injuries Caused by Motor Vehicle Accidents
12/17/2008
Every year, over 2 million people are injured in automobile accidents. Some of the most common and often overlooked injuries are to the spinal cord, back and shoulder. (1 h ago)

• Types of Knee, Hip and Thigh Injuries Ca... Types of Knee, Hip and Thigh Injuries Caused by Motor Vehicle Accidents
12/17/2008
If you have endured injury due to a motor vehicle accident, you will know first hand how much pain and suffering an accident can inflict on ones body, finances and life. (1 h ago)

• Stages of a Medical Malpractice Case Stages of a Medical Malpractice Case
12/17/2008
A medical malpractice case involves a situation in which a medical professional, such as a doctor, failed to act according to the proper standard of care toward a patient when providing medical care or treatment, thereby injuring the patient. (1 h ago)

• Late Diagnosis of Treatable Cancers Late Diagnosis of Treatable Cancers
12/17/2008
For most cancers, the earlier treatment begins, the better the prognosis. In fact, many cancers can be cured if detected early. (1 h ago)

• Misdiagnoses by Emergency Room Doctors Misdiagnoses by Emergency Room Doctors
12/17/2008
This article discusses some conditions that are often misdiagnosed by emergency room doctors. (1 h ago)

• Birth Injuries: Causes and Investigation Birth Injuries: Causes and Investigation
12/17/2008
This article explains some of the more common birth injuries and how attorneys investigate birth injury cases and prepare for litigation. (1 h ago)

• Do snorers burn more calories? Do snorers burn more calories?
12/16/2008
“Snorers burn more calories - even when awake,” The Daily Telegraph reported. It said that a study has found that the more severe a person’s snoring is, the more calories they burn while resting, even when awake. The study was in people who snored or had related problems such as sleep apnoea. It found that the worst snorers used up about 2,000 calories a day while resting, compared to the 1,626 calories burned by those who snored lightly and less often. Contrary to the newspaper reports, this study did not measure snoring, but instead looked at sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), a condition that often manifests itself as snoring. As such, this study cannot be taken as evidence that snoring affects how many calories the body burns. In addition, although the difference in calorie intake quoted in the newspapers may look impressive, this was greatly reduced once people’s body mass index (BMI) was taken into account. Snoring and SDB are often associated with being overweight, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Where did the story come from? Dr Eric J Kezirian and colleagues from the University of California and other universities and medical institutions in the US and Turkey carried out this research. The work was funded by the National Center for Research Resources and the Sleep Education and Research Foundation. The study was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery . What kind of scientific study was this? This cross-sectional study looked at the association between sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and resting energy expenditure (the amount of kilocalories burned at rest). Obesity increases the risk for SDB and although there have been attempts to improve SDB by treating obesity, these have had mixed results. In this study, the researchers wanted to test if SDB might increase weight gain by affecting resting energy expenditure. The researchers enrolled 212 healthy adults recently diagnosed with SDB or who had attended the medical centre with signs or symptoms of SDB. Pregnant women were not eligible to take part in the study, nor were people with significant lung or heart disease, an unstable psychiatric disorder or a history of drug or alcohol abuse. All participants gave a medical history and had a physical examination, including having their weight and height measured. The participants’ sleepiness during the day was assessed using a standard scale, and they rated their overall health. Before their resting calorie consumption was measured, the participants were asked not to engage in strenuous activity, avoid caffeine and fast for at least six hours. They were then asked to breathe into an indirect calorimeter, a device that estimates how many calories are being used. The participants spent the night in a sleep laboratory and were monitored while they slept. The monitoring included measuring brain activity with an EEG, heart rhythm with an ECG, pulse and airflow through the nose. Some patients also had oesophageal pressure monitoring. The researchers then recorded the number of times per hour the participants had a complete or almost complete stoppage of airflow (apnoea), or a reduction of 30% or more in airflow (hypopnea) associated with reduction in oxygen in the blood by at least 4%. They also looked at when participants moved from a deeper to a lighter sleep. This number is called the apnoea-hypopnea index (AHI) score, and a higher score indicates greater severity of sleep problems. A score of five or less on the AHI score is considered normal, a score of 6 to 15 indicates low severity, 16 to 30 medium severity, and over 30 high severity. The researchers also took other measures of SDB severity, such as number of apnoeas and hypopneas separately, lowest level of oxygen saturation during sleep, pressure in the oesophagus and proportion of rapid eye movement sleep. They then looked at whether there was an association between resting energy expenditure and severity of SDB. Factors that might affect results were adjusted for (taken into account) including age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and self-reported health. What were the results of the study? Most of the study participants were male (71%) and the average age was about 42 years old. The average BMI was 28.3kg/m2, which falls into the “overweight” range. Just under a quarter of participants (24.5%) had normal AHI scores, 28.8% had low severity scores, 17.5% had medium severity scores, and 29.2% had high severity scores. The average number of kilocalories burnt at rest per day was 1,763. Higher resting energy expenditures (REE) were associated with greater severity of SDB as measured by the AHI and other measures. The association between REE and AHI (but not most other measures of SDB severity) remained significant after adjusting for potential confounding factors. After adjustment, every increase of 10 units on the AHI was associated with burning about 27 kilocalories more per day at rest. Of the confounding factors, adjusting for BMI reduced the strength of the associations the most, suggesting that it was a strong confounder. What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results? The researchers concluded that: “sleep-disordered breathing severity is associated with [resting energy expenditure]”. They suggest that the associations are “largely confounded by body weight” but “there is an independent association with the apnea-hypopnea index”. What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study? This study indicates an association between sleep-disordered breathing severity and resting energy expenditure. However, there are some points to consider: The authors note that they did not measure body composition or lean body mass, which are associated with REE. Therefore, these confounders may be affecting the results, and adjusting for them may have removed the associations seen. The authors felt that this would be unlikely, as the results had remained significant after adjusting for body weight in different ways (either using weight itself or BMI). However, other unknown or unmeasured confounders may also be having an effect, and considering the relatively small difference in kilocalorie expenditure per 10 unit increase in AHI (27 kilocalories a day), it seems possible that further adjustments could potentially remove this association. Because SDB severity and REE were measured at roughly the same time, it is not possible to say whether the SDB is causing the changes in REE, or vice versa. The study was only carried out in people with SDB, so no comparisons of energy expenditure could be made with people without the condition. Contrary to the reports in the newspapers, this study did not measure snoring. Snoring is a common sign of SDB, but without specific measurement of the severity of snoring (or loudness of snoring), this study cannot be taken as evidence that snoring affects energy expenditure. Snoring and SDB are often associated with being overweight, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise are the best ways to avoid these problems. (7 h ago)

• Norovirus Q&A Norovirus Q&A
12/16/2008
Hospitals and schools have been hit by the "winter vomiting bug," newspapers have reported. Reports have said that norovirus - a highly contagious bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea - has taken hold at the same time as seasonal flu and put extra pressure on health services. Doctors have asked that people who have been ill to stay at home for 48 hours afterwards to avoid spreading the illness. They also asked that only the elderly, very young or those with long-term illnesses should visit the surgery if they are ill with the bug. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has sought to quell reports of a crisis and reported that it was seeing "fairly typical" levels of norovirus for this time of year. "There is no reason at this stage to believe that there are more cases of norovirus than normal," the agency said. What is norovirus? Noroviruses are Britain’s most common cause of infectious gastroenteritis, also known as winter vomiting disease or stomach flu. Although not usually dangerous – the vast majority of sufferers recover after one or two days – the very young and the elderly are at risk of complications such as dehydration and may need hospital treatment. It is estimated that, typically, between 600,000 and 1million people suffer from norovirus every year. That makes the infection – caused by one of a number of closely related viruses – the most common stomach infection in the UK. What are the symptoms? Symptoms typically begin between 24 and 48 hours after infection with the virus. Sudden onset of nausea is usually the first sign of infection, followed by vomiting and watery diarrhoea. Some may also experience a mild fever, aching limbs and headaches. Symptoms typically disappear after a day or two. How do people catch norovirus? Through contact with an infected person, contact with surfaces contaminated with the virus, such as door handles and tables that are contaminated, and consuming contaminated food or liquid. This means that outbreaks are particularly common within contained environments such as hospitals, schools, and offices. Once you have caught norovirus, you are immune to the illness for around 14 weeks. After this time, it is possible to be reinfected with the virus and suffer the same symptoms. What can I do to stop myself catching norovirus? It is not possible to guarantee that you will not catch norovirus. But good hygiene will lower your risk. Wash your hands frequently, particularly after using the lavatory and before eating or preparing food. Avoiding raw, unwashed foods during a norovirus outbreak can also lower your risk of infection. What should I do if I have norovirus? There is no specific treatment for the illness, and you will have to let it run its course. Stay at home and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. That means regular sips of water or fruit juice, even if you are feeling sick. Adults can take rehydration drinks and anti-diarrhoea medicines available from pharmacies. Anti-diarrhoea medicines are not suitable for children. To avoid infecting other people with the virus, wash your hands regularly and stay at home for 48 hours after the last sign of symptoms. Do not prepare food for others for three days after the last sign of symptoms. The vast majority of those infected make a full recovery within two days. But particular care must be taken with the very young and older people who catch norovirus, as they are at higher risk of dehydration. Need help now? If you are suffering symptoms of norovirus, you can get advice now from the NHS Direct healthline: 0845 4647. You can learn more about norovirus at NHS Choices. (12 h ago)

• Combined prostate treatment Combined prostate treatment
12/16/2008
Prostate cancer patients should be treated with “radiotherapy as well as hormones” according to The Daily Telegraph . It reports that scientists recommend that using both treatments should be the standard for tackling the cancer, instead of the current practice prescribing long-term hormone treatment only. This story is based on new research in men with locally advanced prostate cancer, meaning it has spread to tissues surrounding the prostate, but not to other areas of the body. Researchers randomly split 875 men into two groups. One group had treatment with standard hormone therapy, while the other group had the same treatment plus a course of radiotherapy. Researchers found the men given the combined treatment were 56% less likely to die from prostate cancer within 10 years. The newspaper reports that a combination of hormones and radiotherapy should be the new standard treatment. Current NICE guidance already recommends a curative prostate removal, or combined radiotherapy and hormone therapy to treat men with locally advanced or high-risk localised cancer and a good prognosis. This well-conducted study provides further evidence on this existing treatment. Where did the story come from? This research was carried out by Professor Anders Widmark of Department of Radiation Sciences, Umeå University, Sweden, and colleagues. It was funded by Schering-Plough Inc, Abbot Scandinavia Inc, Nordic Cancer Union, Swedish Cancer Society, Norwegian Cancer Society, Lions Cancer Foundation and Umeå University. The study was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet . What kind of scientific study was this? This was a randomised controlled trial designed to compare the effect of combined local radiotherapy and endocrine (hormone) therapy with hormone therapy alone in treating locally advanced prostate cancer. It reports that trials had previously demonstrated hormone therapy to be the optimal treatment for cases of locally advanced prostate cancer that had not spread to the rest of the body (non-metastatic) but were too advanced for curative treatment. The study included 875 men from Norway, Sweden and Denmark who had been diagnosed with non-metastatic prostate cancer. Only men considered to have a good outlook and a life expectancy of more than 10 years were included in this study. Participants were recruited between February 1996 and December 2002. The men were randomised to receive either just hormone treatment (439 men) or a combination of hormone treatment and radiotherapy targeting the prostate (436 men). Disease characteristics (e.g. tumour stage and markers for possible prostate problems) were equally balanced between the two groups of men. The hormone treatment used was a slow-release injection of the drug leuprorelin, administered over three months. At the same time a course a drug called flutamide was taken orally each day until death or progression of the disease. The men allocated to receive radiotherapy had this same hormone therapy plus a course of radiotherapy three months into drug treatment. Medical ‘removal of the testes’ was performed if there was evidence of disease progression. The main objective of the study was to see whether the addition of radiotherapy would improve cancer survival at seven years compared to hormone treatment alone. This was done by looking at time from entry into the study to death. All men were linked to nationwide population registries to ensure no loss to follow-up. All deaths were classified as either being due to prostate cancer, due to another cause but with prostate cancer a significantly contributing factor, due to cancer treatments, due to an unrelated cause, or unknown cause. What were the results of the study? Average duration of follow-up was 7.6 years, and 100% of those randomised were followed up. The total deaths from prostate cancer at study completion were 116 (18.0% of the hormone only group and 8.5% of the combined treatment group), which included 28 deaths from a cause other than prostate cancer where prostate cancer was a significantly contributing factor. A measure called cumulative incidence (occurrence during a specified period of time) was used to calculate prostate mortality: at seven years was 9.9% in the hormone alone group and 6.3% in the combined group. At the 10-year mark this increased to 23.9% and 11.9% respectively, meaning there was a significant difference of 12% between the two groups. Therefore the combined treatment of hormone treatment plus radiotherapy was found to reduce the risk of death from prostate cancer by 56% compared to hormone treatment alone (relative risk 0.44, 95% confidence interval 0.30 to 0.66). In general, adverse effects of treatment did not significantly differ between the two groups, with the exception of urinary problems (urgency, incontinence and stricture of the urethra) and erectile dysfunction, which were significantly more common in the combined treatment group. Diarrhoea four years after treatment was also reported significantly more often in the combined treatment group. What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results? The authors conclude that the addition of local radiotherapy to hormone treatment halved the 10-year prostate-specific cancer mortality rate for locally advanced high-risk prostate cancer. They suggest that in light of these findings, combined treatment should be the new standard for this group of people. What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study? This was a high-quality randomised controlled trial that had several strengths, including a large sample size and a seven-year follow-up of 100% of the men in the study. It has demonstrated that combined hormone and radiotherapy treatment halved the death rate due of men with locally advanced prostate cancer, compared to hormone treatment alone. The study has a few limitations, which were acknowledged by the researchers: The study was conducted in parts of Scandinavia and treatment protocols may differ elsewhere. The authors mention that surgical or medical castration may be the preferred treatment for locally advanced prostate cancer in other countries (although the use of hormone therapy is well established in Europe). The study used lower radiation doses than are now possible, so the survival benefit of combined treatment may actually be higher than estimated: a standard dose in this study was 70Gy, while NICE guidance in the UK recommends a minimum dose of 74Gy. Adverse effects need to be considered. There was a significant increase in urinary problems, sexual dysfunction and diarrhoea in the combined treatment group. Combined radiotherapy and hormone therapy can not be compared to surgical removal of the prostate (prostatectomy). Previous research has shown that the addition of hormone therapy to prostatectomy does not improve survival. Current NICE guidance advises that those men with high-risk localised prostate cancer and a good prognosis, or those with locally advanced prostate cancer (such as in this study) are offered either curative prostatectomy, or curative radiotherapy combined with hormone therapy. (13 h ago)

• Low-carb diets and memory Low-carb diets and memory
12/15/2008
“Atkins-style low carbohydrate diets ‘can damage the memory,’” claims The Daily Telegraph . The newspaper says that in just one week slimmers could develop memory loss caused by following diets that avoid carbohydrate-rich foods such as bread and pasta. The news story is based on a study testing 19 women’s performances in complex mental tests during a three-week diet. The women chose to follow either a low-carbohydrate Atkin’s-style diet, or a balanced reduced-calorie one. Women on the Atkin’s-style diet performed worse in some tests than those on the balanced diet. The newspaper says this is because their brains lacked glucose, which is restricted in Atkin's-style diets. The study is very limited by its small sample size, which increases the possibility its findings occurring by chance. Also, the fact that the women chose which diet to follow means other factors may differ between the two groups and account for their different results. Although short-term memory in the low-carbohydrate group was impaired on some tests, other cognitive measures did not differ between the two groups. The relevance of the different results between the groups is uncertain, particularly with the short follow-up, but does highlight the need for further research to see how dieting might affect short-term memory and awareness. Where did the story come from? This research was carried out by Kristen E D’Anci and colleagues of Tufts University, Medford, US, and the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging. No sources of funding are reported. The study was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Appetite . What kind of scientific study was this? This was a non-randomised controlled trial designed to investigate how low-carbohydrate diets affect cognition, the ability to perceive, reason and remember. It has been found that calorie restriction can affect planning and functioning, due to preoccupying thoughts about food. Low-carbohydrate diets in particular can cause cognitive deficits due to, in theory, a lack of the energy from blood glucose, which is normally produced in the breakdown of carbohydrates. Researchers recruited 19 women aged between 22 and 55 to take part in their three-week study on diet. All women were healthy, without depression or any other psychological condition, did not have heart disease or diabetes and were not taking medication. The women in this study were given the choice of whether they wanted to follow a low-carbohydrate (LC) diet or a low-calorie macronutrient balanced (ADA) diet in line with the American Dietetic Association guidelines. The LC diet was chosen by nine women, while 10 women chose the ADA diet.The LC diet involved one-week of zero carbohydrates, a second week where they introduced 5 to 8g of carbohydrate per day, and in the third week they increased this to 10 to 16g of carbohydrate per day. The caloric content of the ADA diet was determined according to the individual’s current weight. Before starting their diets, the women took part in a testing session that involved being weighed, a Profile of Mood States Questionnaire, a hunger questionnaire and five computer-based cognitive tests. These cognitive tests assessed visual and spatial memory, recollection of forward and reversed number sequences, vigilance, and positive and negative consequences of food preoccupation (which involved matching food and non-food word combinations). The test sessions were repeated after 48 hours, one week, two weeks, and three weeks, into the diets. The women kept food diaries that were reviewed by a researcher to check compliance. The test results were then statistically compared between the two diet groups. What were the results of the study? The women in the two groups did not differ in body mass index (BMI) (28-30kg/m2) prior to dieting. After three weeks there was no significant difference in weight loss between the groups (LC group in total lost 1.88kg, ADA diet lost 1.76kg). There were no differences between the groups on the hunger questionnaire or food preoccupation at the beginning of the study, but there were some differences on the tests of food preoccupation in later testing. Women in the ADA group showed a consistent and faster response in matching non-food pairs than food pairs which improved with testing at one, two and three weeks (indicating a practice effect). Women in the LC group showed no difference in matching food and non-food pairs and no improvement in time scores with each weekly testing. Before dieting there were no differences in the performance of the number sequencing tests between the two diet groups. At week one, those women in the LC group recalled significantly fewer digits on the reversed number sequence test than those in the ADA group. Prior to dieting women in the LC group scored better on the short-term visual/spatial memory test than the ADA group, but there was difference in testing at one week when women in the ADA group did significantly better than the LC group. There was no difference in long-term memory. The vigilance tests were complex and involved no differences on some measures better response to targets in the LC groups compared to the ADA group, suggesting improved attention. On the Profile of Mood States Questionnaire, women in the ADA group showed greater confusion at the one- and two-week sessions. What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results? The researchers concluded that the two popular weight loss diets demonstrated no differences in weight loss over the three-week period. They noted that at one week (the period of no carbohydrate intake and low glycogen scores for the LC group) those on the LC diet showed impaired short-term memory in the visual/spatial and reversed number sequence tests than those in the ADA group. What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study? This research was designed to investigate the effects upon cognitive performance of low-carbohydrate diets compared to a more balanced low-calorie diet. However, the study does have important limitations: With only 19 participants, the study was extremely small and any differences seen between the groups may have occurred by chance only. As the women selected their own diet type rather than being randomly allocated one, there is the possibility of differences between the two groups may have actually accounted for some of the differences seen. A number of complex tests were performed, and there were variable effects seen on different measures. It is uncertain how representative these tests may be of the women’s general daily functioning and memory, i.e. the relevance that they would have to everyday life. It should be noted that the women on the LC diet did not perform worse than the ADA diet group on all measures, and that the women on the ADA diets demonstrated impaired attention and confusion on some measures. The study was only short, and a longer study would have given a more definite indication of the effects of the diets over time. In particular, it would be important to see whether a zero carbohydrate diet maintained for a period of greater than one week would have had greater effect on the cognitive tests. Despite the limited conclusions that can be made from this study, it highlights the need for further research to see whether low or no carbohydrate diets to put cognitive function at risk. (1 d ago)

• Genetics of obesity Genetics of obesity
12/15/2008
“Eating too much and putting on weight may be more to do with one’s state of mind rather than a metabolic imbalance,” The Independent reported today. It said that a study has found six new genes associated with obesity, five of which are active in the brain. This has lead scientists to believe that new treatments could involve changing people’s psychological rather than their physical desire to eat. This large, well-conducted study contributes greatly to understanding how genes affect body mass index (BMI). The fact that several of these genes were “highly expressed” in the brain tissue suggests that there may be a role of the brain in predisposing some people to obesity, however exactly how such a predisposition works is not yet clear. It should be pointed out that the variations identified in this research are common in the population, and each contributes a small amount to BMI. Where did the story come from? Dr Cristen J Willer from the University of Michigan and a large number of colleagues from the Genetic Investigation of ANthropomorphic Traits (GIANT) consortium, from universities in the US and Europe carried out this research. It was funded by the US National Institutes for Health, and many charities and pharmaceutical companies. The study was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature Genetics . What kind of scientific study was this? This research was aimed at identifying genetic variations associated with BMI. It is known that a person’s weight is affected by environmental and genetic factors. Studies have suggested that 40-70% of the variation in BMI in the population is due to genetic factors, and it is believed that many different genes contribute to this effect. To date, variations in or near two genes called FTO and MC3R have been found to contribute a small amount to BMI variation, and the researchers in this study wanted to identify more. In this meta-analysis, the researchers pooled the results of a number of genome-wide analyses (GWAs), which are genetic case-control studies. GWAs look at small genetic variations called SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) scattered throughout the DNA, and try to identify any SNPs that are more common in people who have the condition they are studying (in this case, a higher BMI) than in people who do not. The researchers obtained data from 15 GWAs, which included 32,387 people of European ancestry, and used statistical methods to pool all this data together. They identified all of the genetic variations that seemed to be associated with a higher BMI, and selected the 35 variants that showed the greatest effect. They then tested these 35 variants in a further 59,082 people and identified those variants that still showed an association with higher BMIs in this group. The researchers also looked at the relationship between these variants and characteristics including overweight (BMI≥25kg/m2) and obesity (BMI≥30kg/m2). The researchers also checked whether the genes in these associated regions were expressed in various tissues of the body. What were the results of the study? On pooling the results of the 15 GWAs, the researchers identified genetic variations in or near the FTO and MC3R genes that were associated with a higher BMI. This confirmed the findings of previous studies. People who had one copy of the FTO variation had a BMI that was on average 0.33 units higher than those who had no copies, and people who had one copy of the MC3R variation had BMIs 0.26 units higher. The researchers also identified genetic variations in six areas of the DNA that were associated with higher BMI. These variations were in or around the TMEM18, KCTD15, GNPDA2, SH2B1, MTCH2, and NEGR1 genes. Each individual variant was associated with an increase of between 0.06 units and 0.26 units of BMI in people who carried one copy. Individually, the eight variants increased the odds of being overweight by between 3% and 14%, and of being obese by between 3% and 25%. When the researchers looked at where the TMEM18, KCTD15, GNPDA2, SH2B1, MTCH2, NEGR1 genes were active in the body, all of them except MTCH2 were active at a high level in the brain. What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results? The researchers concluded that they had confirmed an association between the FTO and MC3R regions and BMI, and identified six new regions also associated with BMI. The genes in these regions that are likely to be causing the increase in BMI are mostly active in the brain, showing that the brain plays a role in “predisposition to obesity”. What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study? This large and well-conducted study identified several regions of the DNA that are associated with an increase in BMI. Confidence in the findings is increased by the fact that five of the new regions were also identified by another group in a separate study published in the same journal. There are a few important points to note when interpreting these findings: This type of study is used to identify regions or areas of the DNA that are associated with the trait in question, in this case a higher BMI. However, associating a variant with a trait does not necessarily mean that one causes the other, and most of the variants lie in pieces of DNA with no known function. The authors in this study identified the genes near to these variations that seemed likely to be involved, but more research will be needed to identify the variations that are actually causing the increase in BMI observed, and to confirm which genes they affect. BMI has what is known as “multifactorial” inheritance. This means that multiple factors are having an effect, both genetic and environmental, and a lot of different genes will each be contributing a small effect. Each of the variants found in this study contributes only a small amount to a person’s overall BMI. The eight variants identified in this study were estimated to account for about 0.8% of the variation in BMI seen in the populations tested – a relatively small amount. Therefore, there will be other genetic variants having an effect, as well as environmental factors such as diet and physical activity. These results come from populations with European ancestry and may not apply to populations with different ethnic backgrounds. This study contributes to the understanding of how genes affect BMI. In the long term, this may contribute to the development of treatments for reducing weight. However, the best methods to do this currently are a healthy diet and exercise. (1 d ago)

• Eating fruits, veggies cuts breast cance... Eating fruits, veggies cuts breast cancer risk
12/15/2008
Certain breast cancer survivors who load up on fruits and vegetables, eating far more than current U.S. guidelines, can slash their risk the tumors will come back by nearly a third, according to a U.S. study released on Monday. (1 d ago)

• Alternating breast cancer tests boosts d... Alternating breast cancer tests boosts detection
12/14/2008
A screening schedule that alternates between a breast MRI and a mammogram every six months may spot early cancers in high-risk women better than an annual exam. (2 d ago)

• Why anxiety is linked to cardiovascular ... Why anxiety is linked to cardiovascular disease
12/15/2008
Poorer lifestyle habits may go a long way in explaining why people with depression or anxiety face a higher risk of heart disease and stroke, a study published Monday suggests. (1 d ago)

• 4 myths about blood pressure 4 myths about blood pressure
12/14/2008
The concept of "normal" blood pressure is one of the major misconceptions many people have about hypertension. (2 d ago)

• Study: Six new gene mutations linked to ... Study: Six new gene mutations linked to obesity
12/14/2008
Researchers have identified six new gene mutations linked to obesity and said on Sunday they point to ways the brain and nervous system control eating and metabolism. (2 d ago)

• Hydrocyanine Fluorescent Dyes to Detect ... Hydrocyanine Fluorescent Dyes to Detect Reactive Oxygen Species
12/16/2008
Researchers have developed new fluorescent probes called hydrocyanines that can be used to detect and measure the presence of reactive oxygen species - molecules implicated in a variety of inflammatory diseases, including cancer and atherosclerosis- in living cells, tissue samples and in vivo. The researchers have created six hydrocyanine dyes to date - hydro-Cy3, hydro-Cy5, hydro-Cy7, hydro-IR-676, hydro-IR-783 and hydro-ICG - but say that there are potentially 40 probes that could be created. The dyes vary in their ability to detect intracellular or extracellular reactive oxygen species and by their emission wavelength - from 560 to 830 nanometers. Fluorescing at higher wavelengths allows the hydrocyanine dyes to be used for deep tissue imaging in vivo, a capability that dihydroethidium (DHE), the current "gold standard" for imaging reactive oxygen species, does not have. The dyes also have other advantages over DHE. The details of the hydrocyanine synthesis process and experimental results on the use of these dyes in cells, tissues and mouse models were reported in the December 8 online version of the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition . Source Image : Confocal fluorescent images of rat aortic smooth muscle cells (a) incubated with hydro-Cy3, (b) treated with angiotensin II and incubated with hydro-Cy3, and (c) incubated with angiotensin II and TEMPOL before adding hydro-Cy3. Credit: Georgia Tech Image, Courtesy of Kousik Kundu See full article . Related Entries: Imaging studies and psychiatry - 18 October 2005 Living cells imaged with fluorescent magnetic nanoparticles - 25 June 2006 FDDNP: New UCLA Imaging Compound for Early Alzheimer's Detection - 30 December 2006 Incandesent Bulbs Banned From Sale After 2012 In U.S. - 03 February 2008 Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you'd like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds - at - creative-weblogging.com. (7 h ago)

• Brain Enzyme Regulates Appetite and Weig... Brain Enzyme Regulates Appetite and Weight Gain
12/15/2008
Scientists have determined that an enzyme in the brain called p70 S6 Kinase 1 or S6K may play a role in preventing weight gain and obesity. The researchers injected rats with special viruses that selectively raise or lower S6K activity and found that an increased S6K activity led to reductions in food intake, in body weight, and in production of peptides [small chains of amino acids] that normally stimulate feeding. The reduction in food intake was such that the animals reduced the average size of meals rather than changed the number of daily meals, indicating that the animals were sated faster and therefore ate less at every meal. Additionally, when animals on a high-fat diet were given the S6K-enhancing virus, they overate less and gained weight more slowly than control animals. These results suggest S6K-regulating drugs may be a promising lead to control obesity and other human metabolic disorders. Source: Albert Einstein College of Medicine Photo: Injection of active p70 S6K1 virus into mediobasal hypothalamus reduces overeating of high fat diets and obesity. Credit: Albert Einstein College of Medicine See full article . Related Entries: Menopause and Weight Gain - 05 March 2007 Pills that Make You Gain Weight - 14 June 2007 Two Protein Receptors Control Stomach Relaxation Identified - 05 March 2008 Blood Triglyceride Levels May Predict Obesity - 31 October 2008 Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you'd like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds - at - creative-weblogging.com. (1 d ago)

• FC2 (Female Condom 2), Approved by FDA P... FC2 (Female Condom 2), Approved by FDA Panel
12/16/2008
A new, cheaper version of the female condom has been endorsed for approval by the FDA advisory panel . The product, dubbed as FC2 or Female Condom 2 is expected to become available in the United States by mid-2009. FC2 is manufactured by the Chicago-based Female Health, Co . See full article . Related Entries: Female patients want female endoscopists - 03 August 2005 Female Coach Breaks Through the Glass Ceiling - 25 May 2006 Birth Control Methods - 09 June 2007 I Know There is a Line - Does the Female RoboSapien Cross It? - 30 June 2008 Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you'd like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds - at - creative-weblogging.com. (21 h ago)

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• Christmas Tree Terpene Allergies Christmas Tree Terpene Allergies
12/16/2008
Photo courtesy of iStockphoto , Gabor Izso This is the third year I'm writing about allergies to Christmas trees, but hey, I've learned something new. So you've driven your tree round the block before bringing it in. You even used a leaf blower. Or perhaps a veggie wash . Good, that shakes most of the mold spores and pollens away, and may help reduce your Christmas tree allergies . But that's assuming you're allergic to these. Apparently, some people who are allergic to terpene , a compound found in the sap of evergreen trees and wreaths, and develops skin rashes upon contact to the sap and resins. To enjoy a real Christmas tree without breaking in hives and rashes, wear gloves and a long-sleeved shirt when handling and decorating your tree and wreaths. For more tips on copign with allergies to Christmas trees, whether real of artificial, check out this article . See full article . Related Entries: Christmas Trees May Trigger Allergies - 14 November 2006 Veggie Wash for an Allergy-Free Christmas Tree - 18 December 2006 Christmas Trees and Allergies - 11 December 2007 Serious Allergic REactions to Christmas Trees - 22 December 2007 Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you'd like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds - at - creative-weblogging.com. (11 h ago)

• Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Diasease: Gen... Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Diasease: Genetically Linked
12/15/2008
Photo courtesy of iStockphoto , Rafal Zdeb Type 1 diabetes is the condition wherein the body doesn't produce enough insulin to convert blood sugar into energy for the cells. On the other hand, Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People affected by Celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. Both are inflammatory disoders that now has been found to be genetically linked . "Our results spotlight that much more research needs to go into investigating the environmental factors involved," said study senior author John Todd, of the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research at the University of Cambridge in the U.K. "Additionally, research investigating whether there are benefits for type 1 diabetics knowing they are positive for celiac is important. There needs to be clinical research to see if this information could help them." The findings suggest that the two may orginate from the same underlying mechanism. What does this mean? it could be that research for treatments are in the same field. See full article . Related Entries: Celiac Disease Common in Type 1 Diabetic Children - 29 October 2006 Genes and Common Diseases - 11 June 2007 Diet and Type 2 Diabetes - 15 July 2008 Lack of Sleep Is Genetically Linked To Type 2 Diabetes - 08 December 2008 Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you'd like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds - at - creative-weblogging.com. (1 d ago)

• Vivus Obesity Drug Works? Vivus Obesity Drug Works?
12/15/2008
Photo courtesy of iStockphoto , Image# 306495 Vivus Inc. - the maker of the obesity drug Qnexa - has reported that obese patients treated with the highest dose of its experimental drug Qnexa on average lost 9.2 percent of their weight. Such were the findings from the first of three late-stage trials involving Qnexa - a mixture of phentermine (half of the recalled fen-phen diet pill) and the epilepsy drug Topamax (topiramate). Vivus said the 28-week, 756-patient study met its main goal of superior weight loss with two different doses of Qnexa, compared with the drug's individual components and a placebo pill. Patients in the placebo group on average lost 1.7 percent of their weight, while patients on "mid-dose" Qnexa lost 8.5 percent. Hmmm...I don't 9.2 percent is a big loss of weight to consider the pill as working. What do you think? Read the full report here and here . See full article . Related Entries: obesity and (related metabolic disorders) receptor, targeted by experimental drug - 08 March 2006 Miracle Weight Loss Pill - 05 May 2007 New Over-the-Counter Diet Pill - 18 June 2007 What are the dangers of diet pills? - 08 June 2007 Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you'd like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds - at - creative-weblogging.com. (1 d ago)

• Cleveland Clinic To Keep Face Transplant... Cleveland Clinic To Keep Face Transplant Patient ID Private
12/16/2008
Tomorrow the Cleveland Clinic will announce the details of the first total face transplant procedure conducted in USA. It was successfully completed today, but the clinic will keep the identity of the face transplant patient anonymous to respect patient and family privacy. read more (3 h ago)

• Report on Complementary And Alternative ... Report on Complementary And Alternative Medicine
12/14/2008
With the increasing lack of access to good doctors and the high cost of medical care, parents are turning more and more to non-traditional and alternative ways to try and keep their children healthy. Even if good medical care is available, many parents and adults try alternative medical care that has no real hope of doing any good. I can remember the father of a patient with Duchenne dystrophy who was having his son treated with light therapy and magnets. Unfortunately, he was so sure this would cure the eight-year-old that he didn't do what would have made a difference, ie. read more (2 d ago)

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