Health News

Whooping Cough Epidemic In Washington State

Date: Jul-21-2012
The number of pertussis (whooping cough) cases registered in the state of Washington, USA, has risen considerably this year; in April 2012, the Washington State Secretary of Health declared an emergency. By 16th June there had been 2,520 reported cases of whooping cough across the state, an increase of 1,300% compared to the same period in 2011 - 37.5 cases per 100,000 people. A few days ago, Washington's epidemic passed 3,000 reported cases. Health authorities report that the state now has the highest number of reported pertussis cases since 1942...

PSA Prostate Cancer Screening For Men With Long Life Expectancies

Date: Jul-21-2012
Doctors should discuss with their patients fully the risks and benefits of PSA prostate cancer screening if the patient has a life expectance of more than ten years, an ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) Panel advised today in a new evidence-based PCO (provisional clinical opinion). The Opinion advises doctors whose patients have long life expectancies and have no signs or symptoms of prostate cancer to explain the pros and cons of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing. ASCO added that for men with shorter life expectancies, the screening risks are greater than the benefits...

Sexual Dysfunction May Be A Tip-off To Heart Disease In Diabetic Men

Date: Jul-21-2012
Sexual dysfunction may be a marker of cardiovascular disease in men with longstanding type 1 diabetes, investigators announced at the 72nd Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Sara Turek, MPH, and colleagues examined the association of sexual dysfunction with clinical markers of vascular disease in 301 men from the ongoing 50-Year Medalist Study who have had type 1 diabetes for more than 50 years. Turek is a coordinator for the study, which is being conducted at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston...

Using Antiretrovirals To Prevent HIV Infections - World Health Organization

Date: Jul-21-2012
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its first guidance to nations considering providing ARVs (antiretrovirals) to HIV-negative, high risk people. HIV is a retrovirus. Retroviruses are composed of RNA, not DNA; they have an enzyme (reverse transcriptase) which allows them to transcribe their RNA into DNA after getting into a cell, the retroviral DNA can then become an integral part of the host cell's chromosomal DNA. Antiretrovirals are medications used to manage or control infections caused by retroviruses...

Stroke Caregivers Are At Risk For Depression

Date: Jul-21-2012
A new study by researchers at the Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing (MNSON), published in the latest issue of Biological Research for Nursing, found that caregivers of stroke survivors are at risk for developing depression and complications from chronic stress. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stroke is one of the top causes of long-term disability. When people are lucky enough to survive a stroke, they need help looking after themselves...

Bladder Cancer Drug Instiladrin™ Enters Phase II Trial After Being Cleared By FDA And RAC

Date: Jul-21-2012
FKD Therapies Oy ('FKD' or the 'Company') has announced that it has received clearance from the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Recombinant Advisory Committee (RAC) allowing it to commence a Phase II trial for Instiladrin™ in the US. Instiladrin™ (adenovirally mediated interferon alfa 2b/Syn3) is FKD's breakthrough gene based medicine being evaluated for the treatment of refractory non-muscle invasive bladder cancer...

Disposables Could Help Defeat Hospital Acquired Infections

Date: Jul-21-2012
Growing concerns about hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are driving the demand for disposable needles and syringes, according to a new report by healthcare experts GBI Research. The new report* states that demand for disposable hospital supplies is growing across the world, as they reduce risks of cross-contamination. The globally swelling diabetes population, and increasing numbers with access to state healthcare coverage mean that more and more patients will face the risk of infection through hospital contagion...

Training Caregivers Not To Underestimate The Abilities Of People With Alzheimer's Disease, Promoting Independence

Date: Jul-21-2012
Family members or professional caregivers who do everything for older adults with Alzheimer's disease may just be wanting to help, but one University of Alberta researcher says that creating excess dependency may rob the patients of their independence and self-worth. U of A psychologist Tiana Rust, who recently completed her doctoral program, says her research indicated that caregivers adopted a "dependency support script," assuming control of tasks they believed patients seemed no longer capable of doing for themselves...

Heart Failure Clinics - Beneficial But Underused

Date: Jul-21-2012
Evidence has shown that outpatient heart failure (HF) clinics reduce morbidity, mortality and health care costs. However, a new study in the current issue of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology shows that very few recently hospitalized patients with HF either receive or use a referral to such clinic despite guidelines that encourage physicians to recommend these clinics. Outpatient heart failure clinics provide patient education on how to manage heart failure and risk factors, monitor therapy compliance and prescribe home-based exercises...

Obesity Leads To More Doctor Visits Than Smoking, Canada

Date: Jul-21-2012
Statistics show that today, almost one in four Canadians is obese. A deadly trend that has been on the rise for the last thirty years, obesity is associated with diabetes, heart disease and cancer. But is the obesity epidemic putting more pressure on an already strained Canadian health care system? James McIntosh, a professor in the Department of Economics at Concordia University, is the first to look at the impact of obesity on the number of doctor visits nation-wide...