Babies may have abstract numerical sense: study
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Even before babies learn to talk they have a bit of a grasp of math, according to new research concluding that infants may have an abstract sense of numerical concepts.
In the study, published in this week’s edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, seven-month-old babies demonstrated an ability to match the number of voices they heard to the number of faces they expected to see.
Self-test for chlamydia via the Web
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The notion of offering a self-test for chlamydia via the Web - unique in the world - is the centerpiece of the dissertation that Daniel Novak will be defending at Umea University, Sweden, on March 3.
“Testing yourself with the aid of the Internet is something I hope will serve as a major complement to present - day care,” he comments.
Over 40 percent of mild heart attacks undetected
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Mild heart attacks in four out of nine people are undetected because patients do not recognize or dismiss the symptoms, Dutch scientists said on Tuesday.
Women, particularly those who are overweight, diabetics and the elderly are more likely to have an undiagnosed heart attack, which increases their risk of suffering future cardiac problems.
UK may let women donate eggs
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Women in Britain may be allowed to donate eggs for therapeutic cloning and stem cell research to find new treatments for illnesses ranging from diabetes to heart disease.
The government’s fertility watchdog, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), said on Tuesday it is recommending a change in guidelines that would enable women to provide eggs altruistically for research purposes.
US advisers criticize FDA drug safety board
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Some outside advisers on Friday criticized a major part of the government’s efforts to improve drug safety, saying a new oversight board needs independent voices and should consider meeting in public.
The Drug Safety Oversight Board was announced a year ago as a step to help regulators quickly respond to signs of unexpected side effects after a drug reaches the market.
High efficiency vacuum cleaners no better at protecting against dust mites
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Researchers at the North West Lung Centre, run by The University of Manchester and based at Wythenshawe Hospital, have discovered that vacuum cleaners with ‘high-efficiency particulate air’ or HEPA filters are no more effective than standard models at reducing exposure to dust-mites.
The team compared nasal air samples taken before and during vacuum cleaning using both HEPA and non-HEPA vacuum cleaners. They found a small increase in exposure to dust-mite during vacuuming with either type of machine, which was increased when emptying the dust compartments of either.
Non-BRCA1/2 hereditary breast cancer linked to new cancers
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The risk for a new cancer in the unaffected breast substantially increases in women diagnosed with unilateral, hereditary (non-BRCA1/2) breast cancer, according to a new study by researchers working at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden.
The study is the first in its kind and is published in the March 15, 2006 issue of CANCER.
Low-carb diets effective, but may raise cholesterol levels
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A synthesis of data from five previous clinical trials suggests that both low-fat and low-carbohydrate diets appear to be effective for weight loss up to one year, but low-carbohydrate diets may be linked to higher overall and LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels, according to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
As obesity levels increase, more American adults are dieting—at any one time, 45 percent of women and 30 percent of men are trying to lose weight, according to background information in the article. Those who succeed may reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes, control their hypertension and decrease their chances of cardiovascular disease and related death. Low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets have become a popular alternative to the generally recommended low-fat, calorie-restricted diet, the authors report. However, because these diets contain large amounts of protein and fat, concern remains about their effect on cholesterol levels and the cardiovascular system, they write.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Carries High Costs for Employers
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a significant but potentially manageable contributor to employers’ health costs, reports a study in the February Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).
Led by Ronald J. Ozminkowski, Ph.D., of the Cornell University Institute for Health and Productivity Studies, the researchers assessed costs associated with RA in a sample of 8,502 workers at nine U.S. companies. Direct and indirect costs for workers with RA were compared with those of a group of workers without RA but matched for other characteristics.
Gay marriage may be good for health: study
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Same sex civil unions could be good for gay couples’ mental and physical health, just as traditional marriage has been shown to lead to better health and longer lives for heterosexual couples, UK researchers contend.
Eleven European nations, Britain, Australia, Canada and several US states have now made gay marriage legal, Dr. Michael King of University College London and Dr. Annie Bartlett of St. George’s Hospital Medical School in London point out in their review in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Older Asthmatics Have Increased Cancer Risk
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New research shows that older adults with asthma are at an increased risk for developing cancer, and adults with asthma are twice as likely to suffer from heart disease and other chronic health conditions.
A study in the February issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), shows that adults with asthma over age 55 have an increased risk of developing cancer, compared with adults without asthma. Furthermore, the study shows that adults with asthma are twice as likely than those without asthma to suffer from at least one comorbid chronic condition, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, stroke, cancer, and osteoporosis.
Delayed prostate cancer surgery probably okay
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The time elapsed between a diagnosis of localized prostate cancer and surgery does not appear to have a large effect on the risk of cancer recurrence, according to a study. However, doctors say it’s best to avoid undue delays.
Men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer must educate themselves about the disease and the available treatment options. This can take time, often leading to delays in treatment. Waiting lists for surgery may also delay treatment.
Stopping antidepressants during pregnancy may lead to relapse
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Women who stop taking antidepressant medications during pregnancy are at a five times greater risk for recurrence of depression than are women who continue taking their medication throughout their pregnancies, according to a multi-institutional study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The findings, from the first systematic clinical study of depression relapse during pregnancy, run counter to a common belief that pregnancy’s hormonal changes can prevent psychiatric problems.
Depression therapy worth it in elderly diabetics
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Treating depression in elderly individuals with diabetes is cost-effective, a study shows.
“Our study shows that depression can be effectively treated in patients with diabetes and the costs associated with improving depression outcomes were offset by savings in medical costs,” lead investigator Dr. Wayne Katon told Reuters Health.
“We believe,” he added, “that cost savings occur because improving depression allows patients to better manage their self-care regimens for diabetes—taking medication, following diet and exercising.”
Set Pharmacy Copays to Reduce Costs, Avoid Cost-Shifting
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Express Scripts research reveals how changes to prescription benefit copayments can reduce healthcare costs through greater use of generic drugs without shifting costs to consumers.
“A study released today, based on an analysis of 2004 prescription claims, indicates a pharmacy benefit plan design that increases the differential between brand and generic copayments by $10 can expect to achieve a 3 to 4 percentage point increase in the generic fill rate, which can translate into a 3 to 4 percent savings in drug costs,” says Jake Cedergreen, director, benefit design and modeling.
