Health News

Girls, Hispanic children have higher malnutrition rates in US

Date: Dec-24-2013
Children who do not receive adequate nutrients are at risk for a number of health concerns. And now, a new study reveals that in the US, Hispanic children and girls have significantly higher rates of chronic malnutrition, leading researchers to call for specific analyses of child nutrition.Investigators from the latest study published their results in the Pan American Journal of Public Health.

Hospital infection in pregnancy tied to higher risk of autism

Date: Dec-24-2013
A new study finds that hospital-diagnosed bacterial infections in pregnancy are associated with a higher risk of autism spectrum disorders.Researchers from the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research report their findings in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.The study brings new evidence on the role of infection in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and suggests further areas to explore.For their analysis the researchers matched records of 407 children with autism and 2,075 children who did not have autism.

Oramed announces successful results of its oral insulin for the treatment of type 1 diabetes

Date: Dec-24-2013
Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development of oral drug delivery systems, has announced successful results in a clinical trial testing the pharmacokinetic dose response of its oral insulin capsule (ORMD-0801) in type 1 diabetes patients. Patients were treated with a different dose of oral insulin at each study visit; blood glucose and insulin levels were then monitored for the ensuing five hours. Patient responses positively correlated with administered doses, as did the duration of the effect.

Professional football athletic trainers society officially supports USA football's heads up footballsm program

Date: Dec-24-2013
The Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) has partnered with USA Football to advance youth and high school football player safety by endorsing USA Football's Heads Up FootballSM program.PFATS includes more than 100 certified athletic trainers who serve NFL teams. The group promotes best medical care practices that are common to sports medicine, exercise science and nutrition.Nearly 2,800 youth football leagues representing approximately 600,000 players in 50 states and Washing ton, D.C.

Your guide to a dentally friendly Christmas stocking

Date: Dec-24-2013
For many people, particularly children, the perfect Christmas stocking is one consisting of chocolate, sweets and other magnificent sugary treats. But while it may be tempting to cram in the selection boxes, it's a ploy that could give their teeth a nightmare before Christmas.Sugar-filled mince pies, chocolate selection boxes and fizzy drinks that make up a traditional festive diet are all likely to pose a hazard to teeth during the holidays. Whether young or old, the message remains the same; don't forget about your oral health.

European Commission approves update of Erbitux metastatic colorectal cancer labeling to patients with RAS wild-type tumors

Date: Dec-24-2013
Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical division of Merck, has announced that the European Commission has approved the Type II variation to amend the Erbitux® (cetuximab) product information, updating the indication for Erbitux to the treatment of patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The approval of the European Commission follows the positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) (issued in November 2013) and is based on the totality of data emerging on the role of mCRC RAS tumor status in the benefit - risk profile of the drug.

Knee expert warns of 'avalanche' of new year amateur football injuries

Date: Dec-24-2013
One of the UK's top knee injury experts has warned amateur footballers to beware the perils of piling on the festive pounds as they get set to return to action in the new year. Professor David Barrett, a knee and sports injury specialist at Southampton General Hospital, said he expected to see an "avalanche" of new cases in January as overweight and unfit players donned their pads and boots after an overindulgent Christmas.

3.6 million Australian workers exposed to carcinogens

Date: Dec-24-2013
Australian researchers have found that a staggering 40 percent of workers are exposed to cancer-causing agents in their current jobs, with men at higher risk than women. The study revealed that the 3.6 million Australian workers most likely to be exposed to carcinogens lived in regional areas and often included men and women working in farming, mining and transport.

Nyack hospital implements procedures to protect patients during flu season

Date: Dec-24-2013
Nyack Hospital has implemented a "Masks on" policy to protect patients from Influenza while hospitalized in response to the New York State Commissioner of Health's declaration that flu is prevalent in New York. Effective Friday, December 20th, any staff member at Nyack Hospital who has not received the Influenza vaccine will be required to wear a mask in accordance with regulations set by the N.Y.S. Department of Health. "We are committed to the health and safety of our patients," said Dr. Michael Rader, Vice President and Medical Director at Nyack Hospital.

New data for engineering immune cells shows early promise in solid tumors

Date: Dec-24-2013
Engineered immune cells, called CARTmeso cells, designed to direct antitumor immune responses toward tumors that carry a protein called mesothelin, showed antitumor activity in two patients with advanced cancers that had not responded to prior treatments, according to a study published in Cancer Immunology Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR T cells) are a form of personalized cell therapy that uses immune cells called T cells from patients.