Health & Medicine Week articles from July 2001

Health & Medicine Week archives from July 2001

Greater Fiber Intake Could Stem Tide Of Obesity In U.S.
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2- (NewsRx Network) -- by N.R. Saltmarsh, staff medical writer - If overweight Americans simply increased their fiber intake to the 25 g/day recommended by the American Heart Association, they could lose weight without doing much else....

Countries Urged To Prevent Smoking Epidemic Among Women.
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2 - (NewsRx Network) -- A WHO monograph highlights exposure to second-hand smoke and rising tobacco use among women worldwide as serious problems that will lead to substantial increases in tobacco-related diseases among women. ...

Nutrition Summit Distills Strategies For Weight Loss.(National Nutrition Summit)
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2 - (NewsRx Network) -- by N.R. Saltmarsh, staff medical writer - Recommendations that emerged from last year's National Nutrition Summit in Washington, DC, focused on the epidemic of obesity in the United States that shows no sign of...

Patients May Expect Better Outcomes From Surgery.(for prostate cancer)
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2 - (NewsRx Network) -- A new study indicates that prostate cancer patients who have their prostate removed today have a better prognosis than patients who underwent the procedure 10 years ago. "The analysis demonstrates that...

Many Websites Offer Potentially Misleading Self-Test.(Epworth Sleepiness Scale found to be inaccurate for measuring sleep problems)
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2 - (NewsRx Network) -- Finding health information has become one of the top uses of the World Wide Web, but those looking for insights into their sleep problems should beware, a new University of Michigan Health System study shows....

Folate Fortification And Other Factors Have Reduced Neural Tube Defects In U.S.
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2 - (NewsRx Network) -- Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized adding folic acid to grain products, there has been a 19% decrease in birth defects known as neural tube defects (NTDs) in newborns across the United...

Increased Antioxidants, Decreased Free Radicals Are Benefits.(from drinking purple grape juice)
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2- (NewsRx Network) -- Drinking purple grape juice contributes to healthy cardiovascular function in at least two related ways, report researchers. A study showed that drinking grape juice not only has a direct effect on important...

Significant Racial Differences In Life Expectancy.(for people with Down syndrome)
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2 - (NewsRx Network) -- A U.S. government study has found a sharp racial divide in life expectancy for people with Down syndrome, with whites living twice as long as blacks. Whites with Down syndrome in the United States died at a...

First Atlas Of Geographic And Racial, Ethnic Disparities In Heart Disease Death Rates For U.S. Men Released.(Men and Heart Disease: An Atlas of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mortality)
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2 - (NewsRx Network) -- The greatest burden for heart disease exists among African-American men and among men residing in parts of the rural south, according to a new report, "Men and Heart Disease: An Atlas of Racial and Ethnic...

Barriers To Diagnosis Could Prolong Suffering.(for those with clinical depression and/or generalized anxiety disorder)
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2- (NewsRx Network) -- Three commonly held views appear to hinder millions of Americans with clinical depression and/or generalized anxiety disorder from being diagnosed or treated, or from achieving an optimal treatment outcome,...

Pollutants, Marijuana Use Increase Heart Attack Risk, Especially In The Middle-Aged.
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2- (NewsRx Network) -- New study findings indicate that both short-term exposure to airborne pollutants and marijuana use increase the risk of heart attack. Researchers who previously reported that marijuana is a trigger for heart...

Antibiotics May Provide Short-Term Improvement.(treatment for otitis media with effusion)
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2 - (NewsRx Network) -- Treatment of children with otitis media with effusion (OMB), (or persistent fluid accumulation in the middle ear following an ear infection) with steroids alone or in combination with antibiotics appears to...

Data Reported From Comparison Study.(comparison of Ditropan XL and Detrol for the treatment of overactive bladder)
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2 - (NewsRx Network) -- In a trial to compare medications for the treatment of overactive bladder, Ditropan XL (extended-release oxybutynin chloride; Alza Corp.) showed a significant advantage over [Detrol.sup.R] (tolterodine tartrate,...

New Guidelines Call For Change In Treatment Strategy.(dopamine agonists recommended for early-stage Parkinson's disease)
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2 - (NewsRx Network) -- Dopamine agonists are recommended as initial first-line monotherapy in early-stage Parkinson's disease, according to new treatment guidelines published as a supplement in the June 2001 issue of the journal...

Syndrome Underdiagnosed and Undertreated.(restless legs syndrome)
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2 - (NewsRx Network) -- With its cool, clear nights, crisp mountain air, and leisurely pace of life, Moscow, Idaho, (population 22,000) would seem the perfect place to get a good night's sleep. Yet, according to research presented at...

HIV Infected Health Care Workers: Are Patients Safe?
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2 - (NewsRx Network) -- Balancing the rights of HIV infected health-care workers with patient safety is the topic of a review of the evidence for risk of HIV transmission from health care workers. Two studies of HIV infected...

Self-Obtained Vaginal Swabs Provide Opportunity To Improve Detection In Adolescent Girls.(sexually transmitted disease testing)
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2 - (NewsRx Network) -- Self-administered vaginal swabs increase the likelihood that adolescent girls will provide specimens for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) testing, according to an article in the June 2001 issue of the...

Meningococcal Disease Spread By Infected Man On Airplane.
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2 - (NewsRx Network) -- A case of air-travel-associated meningococcal disease prompted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue guidelines for the management of persons potentially exposed to meningococcal bacteria...

Physicians Treat Obesity Differently Based On Gender.(less likely to recommend weight loss for men than for women with the same body mass index measurement)
July 2, 2001... 2001 JUL 2 - (NewsRx Network) -- by N.R. Saltmarsh, staff medical writer - Physicians are unpredictable when it comes to weight loss recommendations for their patients, according to a new report in Obesity Research. Doctors who answered...

Physically Fit, Leaner Older People Are Happier.
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- Older people who are more fit and have less body fat may also have a better outlook on life than their less active, less lean counterparts, according to Johns Hopkins researchers. The researchers presented...

Better Physician Counseling Could Lead to Improved Vaccine Coverage.
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- by N.R. Saltmarsh, staff medical writer - If physicians regularly offered education and counseling about the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV), their elderly patients would be more likely to get it,...

Dietitian Says Energy Drinks Can Be Harmful In Large Doses.
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- Whoever said you can't get too much of a good thing has never seen the results of vitamin or mineral toxicity, according to Cynthia Sass, a registered dietitian at the University of South Florida and...

Government Agencies Target Online Health Fraud.
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- As part of an ongoing and comprehensive law enforcement and consumer education campaign begun in 1997, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced a new round of enforcement actions against the...

Few Physicians Give Accurate Time Estimate To Dying Cancer Patients.
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- A study of terminally ill cancer patients and their physicians found that in only 37% of cases was the doctor willing to give the patient his or her best estimate of how long the patient could expect to live....

Program Makes Homes Livable For The Elderly.(Project Gerontologic Environmental Modification)(hospital-based residential care facility at New York Weill Cornell Medical Center)
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- It doesn't take much imagination to see that preventing falls, brightening dark and depressing spaces, and generally making environments habitable can be among the most important elements for improving the...

Study Finds Oats Okay For Those Requiring Gluten-Free Diet.(for celiac disease)
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- A new study reports that patients with celiac disease can consume oats safely. Celiac disease, an inherited disorder characterized by an abnormal immune response to gluten that results in damage to the...

Primary Care Physicians Show Gender Bias In Diagnosing COPD.(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- Gender bias exists in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), according to the results of a random sampling of 96 American and 96 Canadian primary care physicians. The study was published...

New Study Questions Role Of Ginseng As Mood Enhancer.
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- The popular dietary supplement ginseng is purported to improve one's mood and all-around vigor, but a new study suggests that ginseng has little if any effect on psychological health. The study, published...

Program Helps Older Women Victims.(of domestic abuse)
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- The Women's Health Program at the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine, Ohio, is creating a pilot program to better understand and address domestic abuse of older women, a significantly...

Men Reluctant To Talk With Physicians About Low Libido.
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- A telephone survey of 1,000 American adults (18 years of age or older) reveals that just 50% of men polled would contact their doctor if they experienced a diminished sex drive. When women were asked how...

Study Finds Changes In Hormone Levels In New Fathers.(decrease in testosterone and cortisol and an increase in estradiol)
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- A published study of hormonal changes in a group of Canadian men becoming fathers for the first time showed a decrease in testosterone and cortisol levels and a higher level of estradiol concentrations, a...

Incidence Of Open-Angle Disease Increases With Age.(glaucoma)
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- The incidence of open-angle glaucoma increases markedly with advancing age in both men and women, according to a report that emphasizes the need for eye exams, especially as people age. The study, which...

VerticalNews Launch Uses NewsRx Artificial Intelligence Technology.
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- NewsRx, the leading provider of life science databases and daily and weekly health news, has leveraged its technology platform to create a new media company, VerticalNews. VerticalNews' two-year goal is...

More Resources, Attention, Needed To Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome.
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 -- (NewsRx Network) -- A technical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that shaken baby syndrome is a clearly definable form of child abuse, caused by violent shaking that is easily recognized as dangerous. Yet...

People With Rheumatoid Arthritis Have Higher Incidence.(of periodontal disease)
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 -- (NewsRx Network) -- Swollen joints and missing teeth often go hand in hand. In an Australian study involving 130 people, the 65 people who had rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were more than twice as likely to have periodontal...

Study Examines Treatment Methods, Looks For Options For Military Women.(treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder)
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 -- (NewsRx Network) -- A research study to investigate a little-used psychotherapy method is being launched in the U.S. and will examine treatment of military women for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Believed to be the...

Common Newborn Condition Linked To Nitric Oxide Production.(persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn)
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- Researchers have found that newborns suffering from persistent pulmonary hypertension have lower levels of citrulline, arginine, and nitric oxide metabolites compared with infants with respiratory distress who...

Comorbid Conditions Require Holistic Treatment Approach, Says Researcher.(holistic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis)
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- Researchers are calling for a holistic approach in the management and treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in order to reduce mortality and improve patient outcome. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a...

Peer Pressure To Smoke Depends On Ethnicity.(white teenagers more likely to smoke due to peer pressure)
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- Not all teenagers are created equal, at least when it comes to smoking and peer pressure. According to a study led by preventive medicine researchers at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern...

Declaration Outlines Plan For Nations To Provide Treatment Of And Prevent Spread Of HIV.
July 9, 2001... 2001 JUL 9 - (NewsRx Network) - Buoyed by the success of a historic three-day United Nations summit on AIDS, politicians, health experts, and activists now face the challenge of putting to action their battle plan to halt the killer disease's...

Hepatitis C Patients Experience Moderate Rates Of Fibromyalgia.
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Fibromyalgia is hard to diagnose, but researchers in Ireland have determined patients infected with hepatitis C virus may be at moderate risk for developing the...

Day-Care Workers Should Be Periodically Tested For TB.(tuberculosis )
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- by N.R. Saltmarsh, staff medical writer - Epidemiologists tracking an outbreak of tuberculosis at a day care center in Spain suggest periodic surveillance of adults who work with young children is advisable....

Exposure To Occupational Pollutants Increases Risk.(of chronic bronchitis)
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Workers with occupational exposure to air-borne dust and other pollutants are at increased risk for developing chronic bronchitis, study results suggest. Using data from a general population survey in 14...

Hepatitis C Virus Levels Higher In Patients Coinfected with HIV.
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Immunosuppression may be a reason patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) have greater levels of HCV than patients...

Researchers Report Alarming Lack Of Effort To Prevent Second Heart Attack Or Stroke.
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- With mortality looming, people who have survived one heart attack or stroke would do everything possible to avoid a second. Right? Wrong. A study conducted by researchers at the University at Buffalo,...

High BMI Bumps Up The Risk During Pregnancy.(body mass index, risk of pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes and hypertension)
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- by N.R. Saltmarsh, staff medical writer - Women who are morbidly obese have a significantly greater risk of pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes and hypertension, say researchers working in the...

Women Facing Cancer Treatment May Still Have Fertility Options.
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Young women today are more likely to beat cancer and should be advised about ways to preserve their fertility before undergoing treatment, a Johns Hopkins study suggests. "Many adolescent and childhood...

Maternal Infections A Major Source of HCV In Children In Italy.
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - A study of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among children in Italy during the last decade has revealed almost half of the youngsters acquired HCV from their mothers....

Varicella Vaccine Does Not Increase Risk of Birth Defects.
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- by N.R. Saltmarsh, staff medical writer - Women who inadvertently receive the varicella vaccine during or just before pregnancy probably do not have cause for alarm, say researchers working in the United...

Top Ten Breakout Cities Listed.(cities with the highest rates of asthma exacerbation)
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Room for one more list? With adult acne on the rise, skin-care experts at Proactiv[R] Solution, a non-prescription acne treatment system, have released a list of the top 10 U.S. acne hot spots. The list...

Physical Fitness And Proper Eating Combat Symptoms.(of aging)
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Those who are aging gracefully and feeling good about it are eating right and getting exercise, a recent study shows. The weight goes on, but the muscle comes off. The heart rate falls, bones get weak....

Phase I Trial Of Inhaled Selectin Antagonist Initiated.(for treatment of asthma)
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Texas Biotechnology Corp. (TXBI) and Revotar Biopharmaceuticals AG announced the initiation of a Phase I study using the inhaled formulation of bimosiamose, a selectin antagonist formally referred to as...

Consumption Of Processed Meat Increases Cancer Risk.
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Eating lots of preserved meats such as salami, bacon, cured ham, and hot dogs could increase the risk of bowel cancer by 50%, early results of a major new study suggest. However, when it comes to fresh red...

Positive Clinical Results With Infectious Disease Imaging Product.(LeukoScan from Immunomedics, Inc.)
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Immunomedics, Inc. (IMMU) reported results from European investigators that a new imaging agent can help doctors diagnose elusive infectious diseases. Researchers presented new findings on the infectious...

Study Ranks Effectiveness Of Common Preventive Medicine.
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Childhood vaccinations and anti-smoking counseling for adults are the most effective preventive medicine, says a new study that ranks medical services based on how many lives they save and how much they cost....

Enrollment Begins In Trial Of Novel Alkylating Agent.(VNP40101M from Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (VION) announced initiation of the first Phase I clinical trial of its sulfonyl hydrazine prodrug (SHP) VNP40101M, an anticancer alkylating agent that has demonstrated broad...

Researcher Asks Senate Subcommittee For Help.(Dr. John W. Holaday of EntreMed testifies before Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education)
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Dr. John W. Holaday, EntreMed (ENMD), testified before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education on advances in research on cancers of the blood and asked for...

Topical Enzyme Therapy May Help Treat Serious Burns.(Vibriolysin Topical from BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc.)
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc. (BMRN) announced plans to initiate the first clinical trial of its drug Vibriolysin Topical for use with patients with serious burns, pending approval of regulatory agencies in the...

Article Calls For OTC Status By FDA.(over-the-counter status for emergency oral contraceptives)
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Medical and legal commentators in the July 2001 issue of the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology argue that under long-standing federal legislation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is authorized and...

More Singaporeans Obese Under New Measurement.
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- The number of Singaporeans considered fat has quintupled now that the World Health Organization has adopted new standards for ideal Asian weights, a health expert said. Thirty percent of Singaporean adults...

Physical And Mental Health Boosted In Patients.(by exercise)
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Healthy men, as well as breast cancer and diabetes patients, receive concrete benefits from engaging in moderate exercise, according to studies. Three studies presented at ENDO 2001, the 83rd annual meeting...

Vaccine For Developing World Shows Unexpected Activity.(vaccine against subtype C HIV from VaxGen, Inc.)
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- VaxGen, Inc. (VXGN) presented predlinical data indicating that antibodies to subtype C HIV have an unexpected ability to bind to significant regions of another HIV subtype. The findings indicate that a...

The Latest News About Headaches Announced At Meeting.
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Headache researchers have learned that cold, dry weather or changing weather patterns can trigger migraine headaches, that women who are susceptible to migraines should do warm-up exercises before starting...

Nutritional Supplement Boosts Female Sexual Function.(ArginMax)
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- A first-of-its-kind study provides clinical data supporting the role of a nutritional supplement in improving female sexual health. The results of a study on a nutritional supplement expressly formulated...

Health Officials Expect Another Flu Vaccine Delay.
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Flu vaccines are expected to arrive late for the upcoming season in the U.S., but the delay should not be as severe as last year's, federal health officials said. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and...

New Generation Drug Effective, Reduces Cardiotoxicity.(BBR 2778 from Novuspharma SpA for treating non-Hodgkin lymphoma)
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Novuspharma SpA (NO V.MT), announced that it has been granted Investigational New Drug (IND) status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for BBR 2778, a compound for treating non-Hodgkin lymphoma...

Eating Solid Food Sooner After C-Section May Shorten Hospital Stay.(cesarean )
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Allowing new mothers to eat solid food within hours after a cesarean delivery appears to be safe and may allow them to leave the hospital one day earlier than average. Traditionally, women who have...

Four Compounds Effective At Treating Disease.(vitamin E, growth hormone, tissue selective estrogen, and alendronate for treating and preventing osteoporosis)
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- New research has demonstrated the effects of four different compounds - vitamin E, growth hormone (GH), tissue selective estrogen, and alendronate - in treating and preventing osteoporosis. The four new...

Study Relates Jogging And Strong Bones In Young Men.
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Young men who jog regularly build strong bones and may be less likely to develop the brittle bone disease osteoporosis, a new study finds. Researchers report in the July 2001 issue of the American Journal...

Newborns To Be Checked For Life-Threatening Metabolism Disorders.(Neo Gen Screening, Inc. licenses it newborn screening technology to the Mayo Clinic)
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Mayo Clinic has formed a collaborative agreement with Neo Gen Screening, Inc., to expand Mayo Clinic's supplemental newborn testing for metabolic disorders. Under this agreement, Neo Gen Screening has...

Synthetic Hormone Aids In Screening Patients.(Thyrogen from Genzyme General used to detect recurring thyroid cancer)
July 23, 2001... 2001 JUL 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Genzyme General (GENZ) presented interim results from an ongoing post-marketing study that adds new evidence that [Thyrogen.sup.R] (thyrotropin alfa injection) can help doctors identify those at risk of a...