Health News articles from March 2008

Health News archives from March 2008

Long-lasting results from hip replacement: benefits appear greatest for those with severe hip osteoarthritis.(BONES & JOINTS)
March 1, 2008... The benefits of hip-replacement surgery on physical function are substantial and long-lasting, especially in people with severe damage from hip osteoarthritis (OA) that is visible on X-rays, new research reveals. The new study, which appeared...

From the editor-in-chief ...(Editorial)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... We begin on page 6 in this issue of DukeMedicine HealthNews a periodic introduction of personalized medicine for our readers. Though many may believe genomic medicine is far in the future, Dr. Geoffrey S. Ginsberg, Director, Center for Genomic...

Failure to control blood pressure may undermine treatment for other diseases.(IN THE NEWS ...)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hypertension, "the silent killer," may be securing its nasty reputation through other diseases. Analysis of the 4,646--participant National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that nearly 75 percent of...

Forteo best for steroid-related osteoporosis.(IN THE NEWS ...)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The osteoporosis (OA) drug Forteo may be more effective than Fosamax for people at high risk for fractures due to steroid-related OA. The new findings appear in the New England Journal of Medicine. The two drugs work...

Flush-free niacin may improve compliance.(IN THE NEWS ...)
March 1, 2008... Niacin is the most effective medication to raise levels of desirable HDL cholesterol. In virtually all patients, however, therapeutic doses of niacin cause flushing, characterized by redness of skin and a sensation of heat. The side effect is...

The pendulum swings back in favor of drug-eluting stents (DES): safety issues may not be as serious as was first thought.(CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE)
March 1, 2008... Studies indicating increased risk of heart attack from blood clot formation inside drug-eluting stents (in-stent thrombosis) caused tremendous concern among cardiologists and patients alike in 2007. After all, DES had solved the major problem...

New food guidelines for older adults: modified MyPyramid for older adults emphasizes nutrient-dense foods, lots of fluids, and regular physical activity.(NUTRITION & FITNESS)
March 1, 2008... Nutritionists at Tufts University have modified the existing MyPyramid and come up with a new, more user-friendly, food guide pyramid for adults 70 and over. The "Modified MyPyramid for Older Adults" guidelines appear in the January 2008 issue...

Exercise more, live longer.(NUTRITION & FITNESS NEWSBRIEFS)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] People between the ages of 50 and "who follow nationally-accepted guidelines (eg., from the American College of Sports Medicine) by exercising moderately for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week are 27 percent...

Pedometers lead to increased activity, better health.(NUTRITION & FITNESS NEWSBRIEFS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... A review of studies published in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people who use pedometers tend to become more physically active, have a decrease in blood pressure and lower their body mass index...

Varied exercises relieve fibromyalgia symptoms.(NUTRITION & FITNESS NEWSBRIEFS)
March 1, 2008... A late-2007 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine revealed that fibromyalgia patients who participated in a program of progressive walking, simple weight lifting movements, and stretching exercises improved their physical,...

Designer Medicine: Duke's individualized genomic-guided care is changing the way medicine works: DukeMedicine HealthNews Frontiers takes a periodic look at leading trends and technologies emerging from research centers at Duke Medicine.(FRONTIERS)
March 1, 2008... In the future, people who suffer from a particular disease will be able to have their deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)--the hereditary material in all organisms--sreened so that doctors can prescribe the drug that will precisely target their...

Emotional vitality prevents heart disease and other illness: looking at the glass "half full" has benefits; a healthy outlook enhances overall health, study shows.(MIND & MEMORY)
March 1, 2008... People who have high levels of "emotional vitality"--meaning they have a lot of physical and mental energy, positive well-being, and are able to effectively manage their emotions--are less likely to develop coronary heart disease, according to...

Catheters are causing urinary tract infections: indwelling catheters are only necessary about a third of the time; ask daily whether you still need one.(INTERNAL MEDICINE)
March 1, 2008... One in every four patients in a hospital has a urinary tract infection (UTI), and 80 percent of all hospital-acquired infections can be attributed to indwelling catheter use. In spite of this, American hospitals do not have a consistent...

Less-invasive treatments effective for some types of cancer: freezing or heating tumors works as well as surgery for some patients.(CANCER)
March 1, 2008... Aggressive treatments to cure cancer can pose intolerable risks for certain vulnerable patients. Several recent studies have examined alternative treatments that are less invasive than open surgery, such as percutaneous cryoablation and...

On-line tool identifies high risk of hip fracture.(BONES & JOINTS NEWSBRIEFS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... A new model based on 11 factors predictive of hip fracture within five years can help doctors better determine which women are most likely to sustain a hip fracture. The 11 factors are age, self-reported health, weight, height, race/ethnicity,...

Meniscal damage linked to knee OA.(BONES & JOINTS NEWSBRIEFS)
March 1, 2008... Damage to the meniscus a crescent-shaped piece of cartilage between the thigh bone and the shin bone, is actually related to underlying knee osteoarthritis (OA) and is independent of knee pain, aching and stiffness, according to new research in...

Q&A.(questions and answers)
March 1, 2008... Q I recently had a hip replacement. I've read that revision surgery is sometimes necessary. What Symptoms or signs that further surgery is needed should I be aware of? A Hip replacement is one of the most successful orthopaedic surgeries...