Health News

Personalized treatment prolongs the life of lung cancer patients

Date: Mar-11-2014
The National Cancer Institute (INCan) has progressed from a rate of nine months of survival to 30 with personalized treatments for patients diagnosed with lung cancer in metastatic stage, i.e., when the disease has spread to different parts of the body.In Mexico, as elsewhere, it is possible to give personalized treatment such as biomarkers and oral drugs to patients with this disease that have presented mutations in the epidermal growth factor.

Researchers pioneer revolutionary treatment to reduce disabilities in neonatal twins

Date: Mar-11-2014
The number of children suffering severe disabilities after treatment for a deadly condition affecting just over 10% of all identical twin pregnancies could be dramatically reduced after University of Birmingham researchers pioneered a new treatment, in collaboration with other experts in Europe, resulting in better outcomes for babies affected.Researchers carried out a study into a new, modified laser treatment aimed at reducing the number of babies born with a disability as a result of twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS).

Children who watch more television sleep less

Date: Mar-11-2014
Pre-school and school-aged children who spent more time watching television got less sleep according to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics. Sleep is important and prior research has suggested that television viewing can cause irregular sleep habits. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended in 2009 that children under 2 years avoid exposure to any media and that for older children time be limited to one to two hours per day. The authors examined the association between hours of television viewing and sleep in 1,713 children in Spain through parent-reported sleep duration.

Self-acceptance could be the key to a happier life, yet it's the happy habit many people practise the least

Date: Mar-11-2014
Happiness is more than just a feeling; it is something we can all practise on a daily basis. But people are better at some 'happy habits' than others. In fact, the one habit that corresponds most closely with us being satisfied with our lives overall - self-acceptance - is often the one we practise least.5,000 people surveyed by the charity Action for Happiness, in collaboration with Do Something Different, rated themselves between 1 and 10 on ten habits identified from the latest scientific research as being key to happiness.

Not so revolutionary hypertension treatment

Date: Mar-11-2014
A simple surgical procedure on the kidneys touted as a revolutionary treatment for high blood pressure turns out to be not so revolutionary after all. In a first its kind, a Norwegian clinical trial shows that established, standard drug treatment works better than the new surgical procedure, reports ScienceNordic. See full story here.Some patients with high blood pressure are resistant to commonly used hypertension medication. New hope was raised for these patients a few years ago with the introduction of a simple surgical procedure called renal sympathetic denervation (RDN).

Binge drinking, excessive marijuana use in youth: brief intervention from family doctors no better than usual care

Date: Mar-11-2014
Young people who engage in binge drinking and cannabis use did not appear to be influenced by specific advice from their family doctors to reduce excessive use of these substances, indicate the results from a clinical trial published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).Binge drinking (more than 5 drinks in 1 sitting) and excessive use of cannabis in youth have been associated with later health issues in adults. In the US and Europe, about 30% to 50% of adolescents and young adults are binge drinkers, and about 10% use cannabis excessively.

Bill C-17 gives drug recall power to Health Canada, but more needs to be done

Date: Mar-11-2014
The proposed Bill C-17 to revise Canada's Food and Drugs Act is long overdue. It contains several positive elements to give Health Canada the power to recall drugs, but should be revised to substantially enhance patient safety, argue legal and health care professionals in an analysis in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).Health Canada, Canada's regulator of food and drugs, cannot currently recall drugs, even those recalled in other countries because of adverse reactions. Rather, Health Canada must negotiate drug recalls with pharmaceutical manufacturers.

When the doctor is on holiday: Who cares for the patient?

Date: Mar-11-2014
When planning a vacation, physicians are obligated to make arrangements so their patients have adequate medical care and are not forced to rely on emergency departments, argues an editorial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).Doctors need to take vacations, but assuming that their patients will receive adequate care from emergency departments or walk-in clinics can leave patients adrift. This practice needs to be changed. Although some physicians work in group practices or make arrangements for coverage in their absences, others do not.

Early pregnancy alcohol linked to heightened premature and small baby risk

Date: Mar-11-2014
Drinking alcohol during the first three months of pregnancy may heighten the risk of having a premature or unexpectedly small baby, suggests research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.In the UK the Department of Health recommends that pregnant women and those trying to conceive should not drink alcohol at all and no more than 1-2 units a week.Middle class women were most likely to drink more than this, the study found.

Women for Positive Action launch new educational tool on 'HIV and young women'

Date: Mar-11-2014
In conjunction with International Women's Day (March 8, 2014), a practical andeducational tool on the topic of young women living with HIV has been developed by Womenfor Positive Action (a global, multidisciplinary group of experts committed to addressingthe specific concerns of women living with HIV). This tool is designed to inspirecommunity and healthcare representatives to tackle the evolving challenges and support theneeds of girls living with HIV as they develop into young women.