Heart disease risk persists in Hodgkin’s survivors
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Survivors of Hodgkin’s disease are at high risk for cardiovascular disease, a Swedish study confirms. The risk is particularly high for patients treated for Hodgkin’s disease before the age of 40 years and with a family history of heart disease.
In the International Journal of Cancer, the investigators note that “previous studies have shown increased cardiovascular mortality as late side effects (in) Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients.” The aim of the current study, Dr. Anne Andersson of Umea University and colleagues explain, was to stratify heart disease risk factors for surveillance.
Hodgkin’s disease, also known as Hodgkin’s lymphoma, is a cancer of the lymphatic system, a part of the immune system. Compared with some other types of lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma usually responds to treatment and most patients can be cured. Because it frequently affects children and young adults, there is a prolonged period in which long-term side effects can develop.
Pandemic flu to dominate WHO assembly
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H1N1 flu will dominate the World Health Organisation’s annual assembly of 193 countries next week, eclipsing other issues like tuberculosis and food safety.
The emergence and spread of the new virus caused WHO Director-General Margaret Chan to declare that a global pandemic is imminent, and public health officials are watching it closely in case it mutates and causes severe symptoms as it spreads.
The annual World Health Assembly in Geneva was due to run from May 18-27 but is now likely to last five days so health ministers can get home to deal with the virus.
Abnormal cells in cervix raise cancer risk
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A woman’s age and the type of treatment she gets may play a big role in the risk that abnormal cells on the cervix will return or develop into cervical cancer, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.
The said older women and women treated with a freezing procedure known as cryotherapy have the highest risks of having the abnormal cells come back or progress to cervical cancer.
How severe the abnormal changes in cells were in the first place also plays a role.
“We now have a much more clear idea of the risks of recurrent abnormal cells and invasive cervical cancer over time after treatment of these cells,” said Joy Melnikow of the University of California Davis, whose study appears in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Certain foods may thwart age-related vision loss
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A new study suggests that older adults who eat diets rich in citrus fruits, leafy greens and fish oil, but low in “glycemic index,” may have a lower risk of age-related macular degeneration—the leading cause of vision loss among older U.S. adults.
AMD, also known as “age-related macular degeneration” refers to gradual damage to the macula, a structure in the retina that allows for seeing fine detail. The condition affects more than 1 million Americans, usually after the age of 65.
A number of studies have suggested that individual nutrients, including the antioxidants lutein, vitamin C and vitamin E, can help protect against AMD. This latest study, published in the journal Ophthalmology, looked at the overall diet patterns of 4,000 older adults and the links to AMD risk.
Had a stroke? The elderly may not know, or remember
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Older adults often do not realize or may even forget they have had a stroke and may not be a reliable source of medical information, U.S. researchers said on Monday.
Brain scans showed that while just 12 percent of seniors asked about strokes remembered having had one, nearly a third had brain damage showing they had.
The stroke itself could damage memory, and many people may also have so-called silent strokes that are never diagnosed at the time, Dr. Christiane Reitz of Columbia University Medical Center in New York and colleagues wrote in the Archives of Neurology.
Drinking to up mood tied to alcoholism, depression
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People who drink to cope with the blues are more prone to becoming depressed and at greater risk of alcohol dependence, a new study shows.
The study team sought to determine whether drinking to manage mood might be related to both alcoholism and depression by looking at 5,181 twins aged 30 and older. Twin studies allow scientists to tease out the effects of environment and genes on certain traits.
Kelly C. Young-Wolff of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and her colleagues found that drinking to manage mood was strongly inherited and accounted for basically all of the genetic and environmental influences shared by depression and alcohol dependence.
New tool helps predict dementia in elderly
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A new risk assessment index can help identify older adults who are likely to develop dementia within the next 6 years, according to a report in the online issue of the journal Neurology.
“This new risk index could be very important both for research and for people at risk of developing dementia and their families,” lead author Dr. Deborah E. Barnes said in a statement.
“It could be used to identify people at high risk for dementia for studies on new drugs or prevention methods,” she continued. “The tool could also identify people who have no sign of dementia but should be monitored closely, allowing them to begin treatment as soon as possible, and potentially helping maintain their thinking and memory skills and quality of life longer.”
City-dwellers have higher risk of late-stage cancer than rural residents
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People who live in urban areas are more likely to develop late-stage cancer than those who live in suburban and rural areas. That is the conclusion of a new study published in the June 15, 2009 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The study’s results indicate a need for more effective urban-based cancer screening and awareness programs.
Diagnosing cancer at an early stage can improve outcomes. Studies show certain groups, such as low income populations, are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at later stages. While some studies have also found that geography can affect the timing of cancer diagnoses, research on rural-urban disparities has produced mixed and conflicting findings.
To investigate the rural and urban differences in late-stage cancer diagnoses, Sara L. McLafferty, Ph.D., of the University of Illinois and Fahui Wang, Ph.D., of Louisiana Sate University analyzed data from the Illinois State Cancer Registry from 1998 to 2002. The investigators noted that Illinois is an appropriate area to study because it encompasses a diverse range of geographic regions from the densely populated Chicago metropolitan area to low-density, remote rural areas. They assessed late-stage cancer diagnoses of the four major types of cancer (breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate) throughout the state, comparing data from cities with those from less-populated regions.
Pills that are Gazans’ little helpers
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Palestinians struggling to cope with the Israeli blockade of Gaza and the trauma of war are turning to painkillers and tranquillizers at a rate that risks triggering a wave of addiction.
There is also evidence of mounting recreational drug use as Gaza drifts in limbo, with no clear political future.
Gaza residents reported health problems after a 22-day Israeli offensive last January, with most citing psychological problems and stress, according to a survey published by the United Nations Gender Task Force on April 21.
US reports 642 cases of new H1N1 flu
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The United States now has 642 cases of the new H1N1 flu, with two deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
CDC officials have said they expect the new swine flu to spread to all 50 states, to cause severe disease and some deaths, although most cases have been mild.
China to release Canadian students from quarantine
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China has decided to lift its flu quarantine on a group of Canadian students but the Canadian government said on Wednesday it would demand an explanation of why they had been confined.
The University of Montreal students had shown no flu symptoms but were nonetheless quarantined in the northeast Chinese city of Changchun after they arrived by plane last Saturday.
Canadian foreign affairs spokesman Alain Cacchione said he had just been informed the students would be released on Thursday morning. Canadian officials said there were 28 students in the group, 22 of them Canadian.
Schwarzenegger welcomes debate over legalizing pot
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California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said on Tuesday he welcomes a public debate on proposals to legalize and tax marijuana, which some suggest could provide a lucrative new revenue source for the cash-strapped state.
The Republican governor, whose term in office expires at the end of next year, was asked about the idea of treating pot like alcohol at an appearance in northern California to promote wildfire preparedness.
“No, I don’t think it’s time for that, but I think it’s time for a debate,” he said. “And I think we ought to study very carefully what other countries are doing that have legalized marijuana and other drugs, what affect it had on those countries, and are they happy with that decision.”
WHO urges more flu surveillance in humans, animals
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Flu surveillance should be increased in both humans and animals now that the H1N1 virus strain has infected pigs in Canada, a World Health Organization official said on Sunday.
WHO food safety scientist Peter Ben Embarek stressed there was no recommendation to cull any pigs anywhere in the world as a result of the virus, and said that well-cooked pork and pork products remained safe for consumption.
“It is not a food-borne disease,” he told a Geneva news conference, while calling on veterinarians, farm staff, and slaughterhouse workers to take precautions when handling live animals to avoid spreading or catching the new strain.
Stay Safe at Summer Camp!
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Whether it’s a day camp or long-term stay, a summer camp experience usually makes for fond memories for everyone involved. Parents and guardians can make the most out of the experience by preparing in advance.
“Parents should ask camp organizers basic questions about what plans they have in place to keep kids safe, handle medical emergencies, and deal with routine health needs,” says Dr. Patricia Hametz, director of the Injury and Violence Prevention Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital.
“Camp staff should be trained in first-aid/CPR and also be thoroughly familiar with the facility’s protocol in case of a medical emergency. Parents should receive a copy of those guidelines or have access to them through a posting on the Web site or on a bulletin board at the facility.”
Beware of Dog, emergency docs warn
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Spring has sprung and many people are out walking their dogs, prompting the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) to remind people about the dangers of dog bites.
According to the ACEP, more than 4 million people are bitten by dogs each year, many of them children who can’t resist petting the animals.
“Most dogs are friendly, with no intentions to cause harm to anyone,” said ACEP president Dr. Nick Jouriles. “But sometimes they act aggressively toward strangers for a variety of reasons. “Most dog bites are not fatal, but at least one in five requires medical attention, including a trip to the emergency department.”
