Health News articles from July 1 2009

Health News archives from July 1 2009

The latest on hip resurfacing: age and gender influence the success of this technique.(BONES & JOINTS)
July 1, 2009... Total hip replacement (THR) is one of the biggest success stories of modern medicine, with about 300,000 Americans undergoing the procedure annually. But a newer technique, called hip resurfacing, looks like the fastest-growing innovation in...

Resurfacing not for everyone.(THE VIEW FROM DUKE)(hip replacement)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... "The problem is not so much that hip resurfacing is a bad procedure--it is that total hip replacement (THR) is so good. In my mind, hip resurfacing has only one clear advantage over THR, and that is that it preserves the bone in the top part of...

Osteoporosis drug may jumpstart fracture healing.(BONES & JOINTS NEWSBRIEFS)
July 1, 2009... Aging bones heal more slowly after fractures than those of younger people, but preliminary results from new research suggest an existing drug, teriparatide (Forteo), currently used to treat osteoporosis, may speed up the healing process....

Osteoplasty can relieve the pain of metastatic bone disease.(BONES & JOINTS NEWSBRIEFS)
July 1, 2009... Many cancers--including those of the breast, bladder, kidney and lung--impact on bone health when cancer metastasizes to the bones (bones are the third most common location to which cancer cells spread). The resulting tumors eat away at the...

Declining vitamin D levels could risk bone health.(BONES & JOINTS NEWSBRIEFS)
July 1, 2009... A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine, March 23, 2009 reveals a dramatic decrease in vitamin D levels among Americans. The study, which analyzed data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), looked...

Biomarkers predict rheumatoid arthritis before it develops: two elevated protein levels might signal potential trouble as much as 12 years before the condition strikes.(INTERNAL MEDICINE)
July 1, 2009... Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School have detected two proteins released by the immune system that, when elevated, serve as biomarkers for future rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The findings appeared in the March...

Voglibose may prevent the development of diabetes.(INTERNAL MEDICINE NEWSBRIEFS)
July 1, 2009... Combined with dietary changes and increased exercise, a drug called voglibose may prevent the development of diabetes in people who already have impaired glucose tolerance. Voglibose reduces the amount of glucose absorbed into the bloodstream....

Same markers appear in other inflammatory diseases.(THE VIEW FROM DUKE)
July 1, 2009... "The findings reported in this study indicate that patients with rheumatoid arthritis have evidence of inflammation years before the onset of joint pain and swelling. Interestingly, the two markers, TNF and IL-6, are important mediators of...

Triglycerides: the forgotten lipid: abnormally high levels of triglycerides are also associated with increased risk of heart attack or stroke.(CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE)
July 1, 2009... In discussions about the need to lower blood lipid levels, triglycerides get short shrift. By now, most people have heard of LDL and HDL cholesterol--cousins of triglycerides--but as many as two-thirds of adults are unaware that their...

Lifestyle modification is preferred treatment.(THE VIEW FROM DUKE)
July 1, 2009... "Triglycerides often have been ignored for several reasons. First, since blood triglyceride levels are often inversely related to the level of blood HDLC ('good' cholesterol) levels, and low HDLC is a well established cardiovascular risk...

Scientists discover the heart makes new cells.(CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE NEWSBRIEFS)
July 1, 2009... Many organs create new cells to repair damage. Bones, for example, heal themselves following a fracture. Until recently, it was thought the heart was an exception. But the results of Swedish research published in the April 3, 2009 issue of...

Cognitive behavior therapy may ease anxiety: changing the way you think about problems can reduce worry and lead to healthier behaviors.(MIND & MEMORY)
July 1, 2009... If you find yourself worrying more and more about your health and the health of your loved ones, or feeling more anxious about money and everyday activities, such as shopping or traveling, you may find relief in cognitive behavior therapy...

Take charge of your anxiety.(THE VIEW FROM DUKE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... "At any point in life, anxiety can get the best of you. Whether because of financial worries, declining physical abilities or fears of losing loved ones, as we age there is no shortage of things that may cause anxiety. The most important thing...

Expect your memory to stay strong--and it just might.(MIND & MEMORY NEWSBRIEFS)(mind over matter)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... If you think your memory will decline with age, you may be creating a self-fulfilling prophecy, according to a study published online April 1 in Experimental Aging Research. Researchers found that older people who think memory suffers in later...

Meditation could benefit patients with depression.(MIND & MEMORY NEWSBRIEFS)
July 1, 2009... People who suffer from recurrent and severe depression may benefit from mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), a treatment that combines ancient forms of meditation with modern cognitive behavior therapy. In a small British study published...

Screening for prostate cancer still a gray area: study findings raise questions about whether or not the PSA test saves lives.(CANCER)
July 1, 2009... Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men, killing more than 28,000 each year. While it's usually treatable if it's discovered soon enough, detecting the condition remains an inexact science. Two recent studies...

PSA tests do save lives.(THE VIEW FROM THE DUKE)
July 1, 2009... "It is becoming increasingly clear PSA testing saves lives. Over the last 15 years, as PSA screening has become commonplace in the United States, death rates for prostate cancer have dropped 37 percent. A recent trial in Europe found that PSA...

HRT lowers risk of colorectal cancer.(CANCER NEWSBRIEFS)
July 1, 2009... A study presented at the American Association of Cancer Research's annual meeting in April 2009 suggests that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is associated with a significantly lower risk of colorectal cancer. Researchers asked 37,285 women,...

Charred meat linked to pancreatic cancer.(CANCER NEWSBRIEFS)
July 1, 2009... Meat cooked at high temperatures to the point of burning and charring may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. The finding is linked to consumption of well and very well done meats cooked by frying, grilling or barbecuing. Cooking in this...

New gene mutation implicated in breast cancer.(CANCER NEWSBRIEFS)
July 1, 2009... A large study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research's annual meeting in April 2009 reveals that almost 26 percent of women who have breast cancer have mutations in gene p53, which is important in controlling cell growth and...

Q&A.(lowering triglycerides; joint paint management; green tea for heart disease prevention; iron deficiency complication)
July 1, 2009... Q I've heard that high-fat foods and alcohol can raise triglyceride levels. I take Lipitor for high colesterol, don't eat high-fat foods and don't drink alcohol except for half a glass of wine a few times a month. My triglycerides are always...