Health News

Male Smokers' Damaged DNA Passed On To Offspring

Date: Jun-26-2012
Although it is known that women who smoke during pregnancy put themselves and their unborn babies at risk for several health problems, new research published online in The FASEB Journal reveals that children can inherit damaged DNA if their fathers smoked around the time they were conceived, increasing their risk of developing diseases, such as cancer. The study, conducted by Professor Diana Anderson from the University of Bradford's Division of Medical Sciences, found a strong association between DNA changes in the sperm of fathers who smoke and DNA changes in their newborn babies...

Fruits And Veggies Linked With Smoking Cessation

Date: Jun-26-2012
According to a new study, published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research and conducted by researchers at the University of Buffalo, eating fruits and veggies may curb the urge to smoke, making it easier to kick the habit and keep it away. The study, which is the first longitudinal study to analyze the link between smoking cessation and consumption of fruits and veggies, involved 1,000 smokers from around the U.S who were aged 25 and older...

New EEG Test To Diagnose Children With Autism

Date: Jun-26-2012
BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine carries an article this week with new research showing the possibility of identifying children with autism using an EEG test. EEG, or Electroencephalography, records electrical activity in the brain, using an array of electrodes attached to the scalp. Voltage fluctuations resulting from ionic current flows within the neurons of the brain can be detected, giving the physician a picture of any abnormal or substandard activity...

Ferumoxytol For Chronic Kidney Disease Approved In Europe

Date: Jun-26-2012
Ferumoxytol, a new intravenous (IV) iron therapy to treat iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has received marketing authorization by the European Commission (EC), according to Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and AMAG Pharmaceuticals Inc. The marketing authorization, which is valid in the current EU Member States, as well as in IceLand and Norway, will be held by Takeda Global Research & Development Centre (Europe) Ltd...

Pancreatic Cancer Survival Linked To Vitamin D Receptor Gene

Date: Jun-26-2012
At this year's American Association for Cancer Research's 'Pancreatic Cancer: Progress and Challenges' Conference (18-21 June), Federico Innocenti, M.D., Ph.D. presented a study, revealing that pancreatic cancer patients with a genetic marker linked to a higher vitamin D receptor expression, have higher rates of overall survival...

Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma - Radiotherapy Does Not Undermine Outcomes

Date: Jun-26-2012
Researchers have found that limited radiotherapy for children with favorable-risk Hodgkin lymphoma who are responsive to chemotherapy, was linked to a high rate of 2-year event-free survival. The study, conducted by Monika L. Metzger, M.D., of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tenn., is published in the June 27 issue of JAMA. The researchers explained: "Currently more than 90 percent of children with favorable-risk Hodgkin lymphoma will achieve long-term survival...

Quebec Government Favors Euthanasia

Date: Jun-26-2012
After two years of consultations and research the Dying with Dignity commission of the Quebec National Assembly has issued a new report recommending euthanasia. According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary, euthanasia is: "A quiet, painless death or the intentional putting to death of a person with an incurable or painful disease intended as an act of mercy.." The report, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), will reignite the debate over medically assisted death...

Cardiovascular Surgery Raises Risk Of Dialysis

Date: Jun-26-2012
According to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), the number of patients needing acute dialysis after cardiac and vascular surgery has tripled since 1995. Acute kidney injury is a serious complication after surgery and can result in compromised quality of life for patients who survive as well as death. In order to examine trends in acute dialysis, researchers reviewed data on 552,672 patients in Ontario who underwent elective major surgery between 1995 and 2009...

Illegal Marijuana Usage Among Fibromyalgia Patients

Date: Jun-26-2012
Ten percent of individuals suffering from fibromyalgia (FM) buy marijuana illegally in order to relieve pain, according to a study published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research. According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary, Fibromyalgia is: "A common syndrome of chronic widespread soft-tissue pain accompanied by weakness, fatigue, and sleep disturbances; the cause is unknown."  Dr...

Persistence In Kids Learned From Dads

Date: Jun-26-2012
Dads are in a unique position to help their adolescent children to develop persistence. These are the findings from a new study published in the Journal of Early Adolescence that has been conducted by researchers from the Brigham Young University's School of Family Life, after following 325 families for a period of several years. BYU professors Laura Padilla-Walker and Randal Day discovered that with time, the persistence gained through fathers resulted in a lower delinquency rates and a higher engagement in school...