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Featured InfoMedLinks

Chronic Coughs Need a Doctor's Attention “Common causes of coughing include: viral upper respiratory tract infections; asthma; nasal and sinus disease; stomach and esophageal problems; an inhaled foreign body; habit; and environmental irritants.“

Culinary Shocker: Cooking Can Preserve, Boost Nutrient Content Of Vegetables “In the new study, the researchers evaluated the effects of three commonly-used Italian cooking practices — boiling, steaming, and frying — on the nutritional content of carrots, zucchini and broccoli. Boiling and steaming maintained the antioxidant compounds of the vegetables, whereas frying caused a significantly higher loss of antioxidants in comparison to the water-based cooking methods, they say. For broccoli, steaming actually increased its content of glucosinolates, a group of plant compounds touted for their cancer-fighting abilities. The findings suggest that it may be possible to select a cooking method for each vegetable that can best preserve or improve its nutritional quality, the researchers say.”

Daily calcium quota may be too high: study “"Furthermore, calcium absorption is enhanced significantly with better vitamin D status," Bischoff-Ferrari added. "Vitamin D in a dose of 800 international units per day, with or without calcium, has been shown to reduce both falls and fractures among adherent older individuals."“

Diets of Alzheimer's patients lack many nutrients “People with Alzheimer's disease eat less nutritiously than their peers without dementia, even in the early stages of the disease, new research from Canada shows. This is particularly concerning given that adequate intakes of certain nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin K, and other antioxidants, could possibly help to preserve mental function, Dr. Bryna Shatenstein of the University of Montreal and her colleagues say.”

More Support for Chest-Compression-Only Resuscitation for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest “Two observational studies published online December 10, 2007 in Circulation concluded that the conventional method of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) that calls for mouth-to-mouth assisted ventilation is no more effective than a chest-compression-only approach [1,2]. The findings support a good deal of international research supporting use of the latter method, which is less complicated and may be more appealing to potential bystander rescuers.”

Morphologic alterations in the corpus callosum in abuse-related posttraumatic stress disorder: a preliminary study. (J Nerv Ment Dis. 2007) “These results suggest that relatively smaller areas of the posterior midbody of the corpus callosum are associated with childhood abuse related PTSD in adults; these findings are consistent with findings in children with abuse-related PTSD.”

Pesticides May Up Asthma In Farm Women “Farm women who grew up on farms were about half as likely to have allergic asthma (and about 20% less likely to have nonallergic asthma) as were women who were not farm children. Yet pesticide use was most strongly linked to allergic asthma in farm-raised women.”

Viagra ingredient in Chinese supplements “Dietary supplements marketed to provide male sexual enhancement contain undeclared erectile dysfunction drugs putting users at risk, the Food and Drug Administration warned Friday.”

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Healthy Living

Big biceps, trim waist mean longer life for men "The size of an aging man's belly and the bulk of his biceps provide a more accurate picture of his mortality risk than body mass index (BMI) alone, UK researchers have shown. … ' The key message is 'keep active' all the way to the end.' "

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Adiposity as Mortality Predictors in Older Adults (JAMA. 2007) "Conclusions In this study population, fitness was a significant mortality predictor in older adults, independent of overall or abdominal adiposity. Clinicians should consider the importance of preserving functional capacity by recommending regular physical activity for older individuals, normal-weight and overweight alike."

Flavonoid-rich Diet Helps Women Decrease Risk Of Ovarian Cancer " 'This is good news because there are few lifestyle factors known to reduce a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer,' said first author Margaret Gates, a research fellow at BWH. 'Although additional research is needed, these findings suggest that consuming a diet rich in flavonoids may be protective.'"

Good physical functioning tied to lower stroke risk "Middle-aged and older adults who manage to stay agile may be less likely to suffer a stroke than their less-nimble peers, researchers reported Monday. In a study of more than 13,000 men and women, British researchers found that those who reported good physical functioning at the study's start -- having little problem climbing stairs or carrying groceries, for instance -- were less likely to have a stroke over the next seven years."

Health Tip: Exercise Helps Your Heart " Do housework yourself, instead of hiring someone to do it. Work in the garden or mow the grass. Using a riding mower doesn't count.…"

Metabolic Syndrome: How Much Exercise? Moderate Exercise Can Curb Metabolic Syndrome Symptoms, Study Shows “Participants who got low amounts of moderate exercise or high amounts of vigorous exercise made the biggest strides against metabolic syndrome. The biggest improvements were seen in those who got a lot of vigorous exercise. But moderate exercise was sufficient. "A modest amount of exercise at moderate intensity -- that's just a brisk walking pace -- and in the absence of dietary change can significantly decrease your risk of metabolic syndrome," says Johnson. “

Pedometer Pushes People to Walk More "People who start a walking program for their health get more out of it by using a pedometer, a device that counts their steps, a new study shows. 'People who use pedometers increase their physical activity by about 2,000 steps a day, about a mile,' said study author Dr. Dena M. Bravata, a senior research scientist at Stanford University. 'They also seem to lower their blood pressure more and lose more weight.'"

Physical Activity Recommendations and Decreased Risk of Mortality (Arch Intern Med. 2007) "Conclusions Following physical activity guidelines is associated with lower risk of death. Mortality benefit may also be achieved by engaging in less than recommended activity levels."

Regular Exercise Reduces Risk Of Blood Clots, Study Suggests "Overall figures for both sexes showed that participating in sports at least once per week, regardless of the type of sport or its intensity, reduced the risk of developing a blood clot in a lung artery by 46 percent and a blood clot in a leg vein by 24 percent. … The findings also show that people who did not participate in sports were more than four-times as likely to develop a blood clot if they were obese (with a body mass index of 30 or greater) than lean (with a body mass index of less than 25)."

Use It Or Lose It: Physical Activity In Middle Age "The team found that middle-aged people who maintained a reasonable level of physical activity were less likely to become unable to walk distances, climb stairs, maintain their sense of balance, stand from a seated position with their arms folded, or sustain their hand grip as they get older."

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Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in human carcinogenesis. (Int J Cancer. 2007) "A wide array of chronic inflammatory conditions predispose susceptible cells to neoplastic transformation. In general, the longer the inflammation persists, the higher the risk of cancer. A mutated cell is a sine qua non for carcinogenesis. Inflammatory processes may induce DNA mutations in cells via oxidative/nitrosative stress. This condition occurs when the generation of free radicals and active intermediates in a system exceeds the system's ability to neutralize and eliminate them. Inflammatory cells and cancer cells themselves produce free radicals and soluble mediators such as metabolites of arachidonic acid, cytokines and chemokines, which act by further producing reactive species. These, in turn, strongly recruit inflammatory cells in a vicious circle."

C-reactive protein, diastolic dysfunction, and risk of heart failure in patients with coronary disease: Heart and Soul Study (European Journal of Heart Failure 2007) “Among outpatients with stable CHD, elevated CRP levels predict hospitalisation for heart failure, independent of baseline heart failure, medication use, CHD severity, and subsequent MI events. This relationship appears to be at least partly explained by abnormal diastolic function in patients with elevated CRP levels. “

Diet Of Walnuts, Blueberries Improve Cognition; May Help Maintain Brain Function "Walnuts contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential omega-3 fatty acid, and other polyphenols that act as antioxidants and may actually block the signals produced by free radicals that can later produce compounds that would increase inflammation … show for the first time that shorter chain fatty acids found in plants, such as walnuts, may have beneficial effects on cognition similar to those from long chain fatty acids derived from animal sources, which have been reported previously. … Another avenue of research regarding a link between diet and the brain shows that blueberries contain compounds that can reduce inflammation in the central nervous system. Inflammation in the central nervous system is known to be a key issue in the progression of neurodegeneration, and dietary intake of blueberries has been shown to alleviate cognitive decline associated with disease and aging."

Inflammation a possible link between economical stress and coronary heart disease. (Eur J Epidemiol. 2007)

Inflammation as a causative factor in the aetiology of Parkinson's disease. (Br J Pharmacol. 2007) "These cases present with all of the classical features of inflammation including phagocyte activation, increased synthesis and release of proinflammatory cytokines and complement activation. Although this process is vital for normal function and protection in both the CNS, as in the periphery, it is postulated that in the aetiology of PD this process may spiral out of control with over activation of microglia, over production of cytokines and other proinflammatory mediators as well as the release of destructive molecules such as reactive oxygen species. Given that dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra are relatively vulnerable to 'stress' and the region has a large population of microglia in comparison to other CNS structures, these events may easily trigger neurodegeneration."

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Patient Safety

3 Common Drugs Trigger Most ER Visits by Seniors "In 2004 and 2005, the blood thinner warfarin, the diabetes drug insulin and the heart drug digoxin caused about 58,000 emergency room visits a year in those 65 and older, the researchers found. The major problem is that it's hard to determine the correct dose for each drug, said study lead author Dr. Daniel Budnitz, a medical officer with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)."

Achieving a High-Performance Health Care System with Universal Access: What the United States Can Learn from Other Countries

Amiodarone use after acute myocardial infarction complicated by heart failure and/or left ventricular dysfunction may be associated with excess mortality. (Am Heart J. 2008) “CONCLUSION: In this study, amiodarone use was associated with excess early and late all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. These observational findings are in contrast to earlier randomized trials of amiodarone and need to be validated prospectively.”

Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Body

Drug reactions 'kill thousands' “While many of the cases involve drugs commonly prescribed by GPs and in hospitals, such as the blood-thinning drug warfarin and diuretics, a list of common culprits includes some which can be bought without prescription in any high street chemist. These include aspirin, and the anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen, both of which can cause gastric bleeding if taken in high doses over longer periods. “

Fewer Breast Patients May Need Chemo "The test is expensive -- $3,400 -- though many insurers are paying for it because it can avoid even more costly chemo."

Food-Dependent Exercise-Induced Anaphylaxis Induced by Low Dose Aspirin Therapy. (Allergol Int. 2008) “Discussion: Patients with aspirin-provoked FDEIA have been reported previously as taking ordinary doses of aspirin for reducing pain, inflammation and fever. However, in our patient, low dose aspirin therapy for reducing cardiovascular risk possibility induced FDEIA. Growing numbers of elderly people take low doses of aspirin for prevention of cerebral or myocardial infarction. Therefore, physicians should remember that aspirin consumption, even at low doses, is a risk factor for FDEIA.”

Frequently used CT scans may raise cancer risk "Millions of Americans, especially children, are needlessly getting dangerous radiation from “super X-rays” that raise the risk of cancer and are increasingly used to diagnose medical problems, a new report warns. In a few decades, as many as 2 percent of all cancers in the United States might be due to radiation from CT scans given now, according to the authors of the report. Some experts say that estimate is overly alarming. But they agree with the need to curb these tests particularly in children, who are more susceptible to radiation and more likely to develop cancer from it."

Hospital Superbugs Now In Nursing Homes And Community "Hospital superbugs that can break down antibiotics are so widespread throughout Europe that doctors increasingly have to use the few remaining drugs that they reserve for emergencies. Now these hospital superbug strains have spread to nursing homes and into the community in Ireland…"

Information for Healthcare Professionals Desmopressin Acetate (marketed as DDAVP Nasal Spray, DDAVP Rhinal Tube, DDAVP, DDVP, Minirin, and Stimate Nasal Spray) "Certain patients taking desmopressin are at risk for developing severe hyponatremia that can result in seizures and death. Children treated with desmopressin intranasal formulations for primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) are particularly susceptible to severe hyponatremia and seizures. As such, desmopressin intranasal formulations are no longer indicated for the treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis and should not be used in hyponatremic patients or patients with a history of hyponatremia."

Is it necessary to cure prostate cancer when it is possible? (Understanding the role of prostate inflammation resolution to prostate cancer evolution). (Clin Interv Aging. 2007)

Many Americans Dissatisfied With Their Medical Care "Although the United States spends more than twice as much on health care as other western countries, many Americans say they are forced to forgo care because of costs, experience more medical errors, and say the health-care system needs to be overhauled, a new survey finds. U.S. patients also have the highest out-of-pocket costs and the most difficulty paying medical bills, according to the survey of seven countries conducted by The Commonwealth Fund."

Merck recalls 1 million doses of meningitis shot

One In Ten Patients Comes To Harm While In Hospital, British Study Finds "Surgical patients were more likely to come to harm, but these incidents were less preventable. Diagnostic errors, on the other hand, were less common, but more preventable, the findings showed."

Over the Counter but No Longer under the Radar — Pediatric Cough and Cold Medications "Since 1985, all six randomized, placebo-controlled studies of the use of cough and cold preparations in children under 12 years of age have not shown any meaningful differences between the active drugs and placebo."

Pharma money: we can do better "What the evidence tells us is that the information doctors receive from pharmaceutical companies omits important safety information, promotes increased prescribing, increases costs of prescribing and results in less rational prescribing."

Uninsured More Likely to Die From Cancer Following Diagnosis: Report finds they're less likely to get screening tests, so have advanced disease “People diagnosed with cancer who don't have health insurance are more likely to die because they are less likely to get screening tests and so are typically diagnosed with advanced disease, a new study from the American Cancer Society finds. The finding proffers strong evidence that differences in cancer survival are directly related to lack of access to health care. “

Virus Starts Like a Cold But Can Turn Into a Killer "There are 51 known strains of adenovirus, ubiquitous germs that cause many illnesses, including colds, pinkeye, bronchitis, stomach flu and a respiratory infection called boot camp flu that has long plagued soldiers. But adenovirus infections rarely have been life-threatening, especially for healthy young adults. The new adenovirus is a variant of a strain known as adenovirus 14. First identified in Holland in 1955, it has caused sporadic outbreaks in Europe and Asia. No outbreaks, however, had ever been documented in the Western Hemisphere. But then Gilbert started seeing patients like Joseph Spencer, 18, a high school varsity swimmer who was suddenly racked by fever, chills and vomiting. "

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