Diuretics are confirmed as the best first-line treatment in older men and women with high blood pressure according to new research.
Medical researchers reported the findings of a study at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association this week. They reported that the thiazide-type diuretic chlorthalidone outshone three other treatments -- a calcium channel blocker, an ACE inhibitor and an alpha-receptor blocker -- in most areas. This was especially effective in lowering the incidence of stroke and heart failure.
An estimated 80 million American adults have one or more types of cardiovascular disease according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance. Some 785,000 will have a new coronary attack this year according to the industry trade group.
The findings the medical experts note are largely unchanged. They note that the main message is that treating hypertension [high blood pressure] is very necessary and that treating hypertension with chlorthalidone resulted in a significant reduction in heart failure and stroke.
The original trial, begun in 1994, involved more than 42,000 patients with hypertension and at least one other risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The participants were randomly assigned to take one of the following anti-hypertensive drugs: chlorthalidone (the diuretic), amlodipine besylate (the calcium channel blocker), doxazosin mesylate (the alpha blocker) or lisinopril (an ACE inhibitor).
The five-year follow-up, which ended in 2002, was intended to see if new differences emerged with long-term use of the medications, especially regarding coronary heart disease, total mortality, heart failure and aggregate cardiovascular disease.
This is the largest hypertension trial to date, one researcher noted. Earlier results had also found that diuretics were as good or better than other blood pressure-lowering drugs for treating hypertension in patients with metabolic syndrome (a collection of factors that put people at risk of heart disease), especially black patients.
Showing posts with label medical research. Show all posts
Showing posts with label medical research. Show all posts
Friday, November 20, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Eating Red Meat Linked To Prostate Cancer
Men who consumer red meat or processed red meats may have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer than those who limit such foods.
Researchers at the National Cancer Institute report the findings of a major study. Researchers followed more than 175,000 men for nine years. Those who ate the most red and processed meats had heightened risks of developing any stage of prostate cancer, or advanced cancer in particular. Prostate cancer is the most commong cancer in men according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, followed by lung and colon.
The findings which were reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology add to a conflicting body of research on meat intake and prostate cancer risk. Prior studies have come to different conclusions. However, medical experts generally consider the evidence linking red and processed meats to the disease to be limited and inconclusive.
These latest findings do not settle the question. The researchers explain that they do suggest that processed red meats and high-heat cooking methods -- namely, grilling and barbecuing -- may be particularly connected to prostate cancer risk.
The researchers followed 175,300 U.S. men between the ages of 50 and 71 who were surveyed about their diets. Specifically, the study looked at how much and what type of meat the participants typically ate. They also studied the cooking methods used.
The researchers used that information to estimate the levels of certain potentially cancer-promoting chemicals in the men's diets. Over the next nine years, 10,313 study participants developed prostate cancer and 419 died from the disease.
Overall, the researchers found, the 20 percent of men with the highest intakes of red meat, which in this study included beef and pork, were 12 percent more likely than those who consumed the least to develop prostate cancer. That's after a range of other factors, like smoking, exercise habits and education, were taken into account.
There was a stronger connection to advanced prostate cancer -- with that risk being almost one-third higher among those who ate the most red meat versus those who ate the least.
Similar findings were seen with processed meat. But when the researchers broke the men's diet information down further, they found that red processed meats -- like bacon and red-meat sausage and hot dogs -- were related to higher prostate cancer risk, while white processed meats, like poultry cold cuts, were not.
When it came to cooking methods, the only one that was linked to prostate cancer was grilling or barbecuing.
The finding is in line with the theory that meats cooked at high temperatures may be particularly linked to cancer because the cooking process produces certain chemicals -- including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic amines -- that are known to cause cancer in animals.
The researchers also found that higher dietary levels of a PAH called benzo-alpha-pyrene were related to a higher risk of prostate cancer. A similar pattern emerged when the investigators looked at men's intake of nitrites and nitrates -- chemicals used to preserve and flavor processed and cured meats like ham, bacon and sausage. In the body, nitrites and nitrates can promote the production of potentially cancer-promoting chemicals called nitrosamines.
Researchers at the National Cancer Institute report the findings of a major study. Researchers followed more than 175,000 men for nine years. Those who ate the most red and processed meats had heightened risks of developing any stage of prostate cancer, or advanced cancer in particular. Prostate cancer is the most commong cancer in men according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, followed by lung and colon.
The findings which were reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology add to a conflicting body of research on meat intake and prostate cancer risk. Prior studies have come to different conclusions. However, medical experts generally consider the evidence linking red and processed meats to the disease to be limited and inconclusive.
These latest findings do not settle the question. The researchers explain that they do suggest that processed red meats and high-heat cooking methods -- namely, grilling and barbecuing -- may be particularly connected to prostate cancer risk.
The researchers followed 175,300 U.S. men between the ages of 50 and 71 who were surveyed about their diets. Specifically, the study looked at how much and what type of meat the participants typically ate. They also studied the cooking methods used.
The researchers used that information to estimate the levels of certain potentially cancer-promoting chemicals in the men's diets. Over the next nine years, 10,313 study participants developed prostate cancer and 419 died from the disease.
Overall, the researchers found, the 20 percent of men with the highest intakes of red meat, which in this study included beef and pork, were 12 percent more likely than those who consumed the least to develop prostate cancer. That's after a range of other factors, like smoking, exercise habits and education, were taken into account.
There was a stronger connection to advanced prostate cancer -- with that risk being almost one-third higher among those who ate the most red meat versus those who ate the least.
Similar findings were seen with processed meat. But when the researchers broke the men's diet information down further, they found that red processed meats -- like bacon and red-meat sausage and hot dogs -- were related to higher prostate cancer risk, while white processed meats, like poultry cold cuts, were not.
When it came to cooking methods, the only one that was linked to prostate cancer was grilling or barbecuing.
The finding is in line with the theory that meats cooked at high temperatures may be particularly linked to cancer because the cooking process produces certain chemicals -- including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic amines -- that are known to cause cancer in animals.
The researchers also found that higher dietary levels of a PAH called benzo-alpha-pyrene were related to a higher risk of prostate cancer. A similar pattern emerged when the investigators looked at men's intake of nitrites and nitrates -- chemicals used to preserve and flavor processed and cured meats like ham, bacon and sausage. In the body, nitrites and nitrates can promote the production of potentially cancer-promoting chemicals called nitrosamines.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Women Have More Heart Attacks; Survival More Likely
Hearts attacks among middle-aged American women have increased over the past two decades. That news is accompanied by a report that their chance of survival has improved.
Two new studies reveal that men still have a higher prevalence of heart attack than women. Medical researchers report that the gap has narrowed as heart attacks among women have increased while they have decreased among men.
A study by researchers at the University of Southern California revealed that 2.5 percent of the men and 0.7 percent of the women reported a history of heart attacks in the prior surveys. In the more recent study, they found 2.2 percent of men and 1 percent of women reported heart attacks.
Every 34 seconds an American will suffer a heart attack according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance. Some 785,000 Americans will have a new coronary attack and nearly half a million will have a recurrent attack.
The narrowing of the male-female difference is easily explained, according to medical experts. They point to the fact that risk factors are being better controlled in men than in women. In men, levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol remained the same between the two surveys, while levels of "good" HDL cholesterol improved. Blood pressure levels improved, and fewer men smoked.
Researchers noted that the improvements for women were marginal, with LDL cholesterol levels about the same. The only risk factor that improved in women was HDL cholesterol. Diabetes and obesity increased in both men and women, the study found.
They noted that societal changes may play a role. With more women in the work force, rising rates of obesity and diabetes can be attributed to job demands.
A second study used information from a different data bank listing death rate trends from 1994 to 2006. Researchers found a marked reduction in hospital deaths from heart attacks in all patients, especially among women. For women under 55, the risk of dying dropped by 53 percent, which was the greatest improvement noted. The least reduction, 33 percent, was seen in men under 55.
The studies are reported in the October 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Two new studies reveal that men still have a higher prevalence of heart attack than women. Medical researchers report that the gap has narrowed as heart attacks among women have increased while they have decreased among men.
A study by researchers at the University of Southern California revealed that 2.5 percent of the men and 0.7 percent of the women reported a history of heart attacks in the prior surveys. In the more recent study, they found 2.2 percent of men and 1 percent of women reported heart attacks.
Every 34 seconds an American will suffer a heart attack according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance. Some 785,000 Americans will have a new coronary attack and nearly half a million will have a recurrent attack.
The narrowing of the male-female difference is easily explained, according to medical experts. They point to the fact that risk factors are being better controlled in men than in women. In men, levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol remained the same between the two surveys, while levels of "good" HDL cholesterol improved. Blood pressure levels improved, and fewer men smoked.
Researchers noted that the improvements for women were marginal, with LDL cholesterol levels about the same. The only risk factor that improved in women was HDL cholesterol. Diabetes and obesity increased in both men and women, the study found.
They noted that societal changes may play a role. With more women in the work force, rising rates of obesity and diabetes can be attributed to job demands.
A second study used information from a different data bank listing death rate trends from 1994 to 2006. Researchers found a marked reduction in hospital deaths from heart attacks in all patients, especially among women. For women under 55, the risk of dying dropped by 53 percent, which was the greatest improvement noted. The least reduction, 33 percent, was seen in men under 55.
The studies are reported in the October 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Researchers Report Tie Between Depression And Chronic Kidney Disease
A new study finds that one in five patients with chronic kidney disease is depressed, even before beginning long-term dialysis therapy or developing end-stage renal disease.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center conducted the first study to examine the relationship.
Medical experts have noted that patients in the early stages of chronic kidney disease are at increased risk for clinical depression according to the study in the current issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
Previous research has shown that depression rates in the general community are 2 percent to 4 percent. Among diabetes patients, the rate is 11 percent. Among congestive heart failure patients, 14 percent; and among coronary artery disease after heart attack patients, 16 percent.
Chronic kidney disease patient depression numbers may be higher due to the presence of the same simultaneously occurring conditions that resulted in progressive kidney disease, such as diabetes and atherosclerotic vascular disease, one of the researchers noted. Patients such as diabetics, who are depressed, may develop progressive kidney disease because of non-adherence to medications and physicians' advice.
From May 2005 to November 2006, researchers invited patients at the Dallas VA Medical Center who were visiting the clinic for chronic kidney disease appointments to join the study. Patients who agreed to participate then underwent a structured clinical interview to determine if they had a current major depressive episode, based on the DSM IV definition of major depressive disorder.
Some 21 percent were found to be depressed. The mean age of depressed patients was about 65. The researchers also found that diabetic patients were twice as likely to be depressed as those without diabetes; 63 percent of patients had at least three other medical conditions; and 41 percent had at least four other diseases.
According to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, some 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease and millions more are at increased risk. If treatment does not begin early, the condition progresses to end-stage renal disease. At that point, a patient's kidneys have failed to the point where dialysis is needed. Dialysis involves filtering of toxic chemicals in the blood and removing fluid to help control blood pressure.
Expenditures for end-stage renal disease patients totaled $15.5 billion, which is approximately 6 percent of the entire Medicare budget, and are projected to consume $28 billion by 2010.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center conducted the first study to examine the relationship.
Medical experts have noted that patients in the early stages of chronic kidney disease are at increased risk for clinical depression according to the study in the current issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
Previous research has shown that depression rates in the general community are 2 percent to 4 percent. Among diabetes patients, the rate is 11 percent. Among congestive heart failure patients, 14 percent; and among coronary artery disease after heart attack patients, 16 percent.
Chronic kidney disease patient depression numbers may be higher due to the presence of the same simultaneously occurring conditions that resulted in progressive kidney disease, such as diabetes and atherosclerotic vascular disease, one of the researchers noted. Patients such as diabetics, who are depressed, may develop progressive kidney disease because of non-adherence to medications and physicians' advice.
From May 2005 to November 2006, researchers invited patients at the Dallas VA Medical Center who were visiting the clinic for chronic kidney disease appointments to join the study. Patients who agreed to participate then underwent a structured clinical interview to determine if they had a current major depressive episode, based on the DSM IV definition of major depressive disorder.
Some 21 percent were found to be depressed. The mean age of depressed patients was about 65. The researchers also found that diabetic patients were twice as likely to be depressed as those without diabetes; 63 percent of patients had at least three other medical conditions; and 41 percent had at least four other diseases.
According to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, some 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease and millions more are at increased risk. If treatment does not begin early, the condition progresses to end-stage renal disease. At that point, a patient's kidneys have failed to the point where dialysis is needed. Dialysis involves filtering of toxic chemicals in the blood and removing fluid to help control blood pressure.
Expenditures for end-stage renal disease patients totaled $15.5 billion, which is approximately 6 percent of the entire Medicare budget, and are projected to consume $28 billion by 2010.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Aging Heart Can Be Prevented
Old age is a major risk factor for heart failure, a condition when the heart is unable to pump enough blood around to supply the oxygen the body needs. Some 5.7 million Americans have heart failure, and nearly 10 out of every 1,000 people over age 65 suffer heart failure every year according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance.
Japanese researchers at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine in Kyoto described how they managed to suppress a variety of the P13K gene in a group of elderly mice. The gene regulates the lifespan of cells and plays a role in the aging of tissues.
Prior studies found that the suppression of this gene extended the lifespan roundworm and kept the hearts of old fruit flies healthy. The Japanese researchers reported that compared with another group of mice in which the gene was left intact, mice with the suppressed gene had improved cardiac function and fewer biological markers of aging.
The medical researchers noted that mice are considered a good surrogate for studies of human diseases and conditions. Their body plan, physiology and genome share many features with humans they note. The findings were published in the journal Circulation.
Japanese researchers at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine in Kyoto described how they managed to suppress a variety of the P13K gene in a group of elderly mice. The gene regulates the lifespan of cells and plays a role in the aging of tissues.
Prior studies found that the suppression of this gene extended the lifespan roundworm and kept the hearts of old fruit flies healthy. The Japanese researchers reported that compared with another group of mice in which the gene was left intact, mice with the suppressed gene had improved cardiac function and fewer biological markers of aging.
The medical researchers noted that mice are considered a good surrogate for studies of human diseases and conditions. Their body plan, physiology and genome share many features with humans they note. The findings were published in the journal Circulation.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Excess Body Weight Causes 124,000 New Cancers
Based on estimates from a new modeling study, the proportion of cases of new cancers attributable to body mass index were highest among women and in central European countries such as the Czech Republic, Latvia, Slovenia and Bulgaria.
The lead author of the study noted that as more people stop smoking and fewer women take hormone replacement therapy, it is possible that obesity may become the biggest attributable cause of cancer in women within the next decade.
Researchers created a sophisticated model to estimate the proportion of cancers that could be attributed to excess body weight in 30 European countries. Using data from a number of sources including the World Health Organization they estimated that in 2002 (the most recent year for which there are reliable statistics on cancer incidence in Europe) there had been over 70,000 new cases of cancer attributable to excess BMI out of a total of nearly 2.2 million new diagnoses across the 30 European countries.
The percentage of obesity-related cancers varied widely between countries, from 2.1% in women and 2.4% in men in Denmark, to 8.2% in women and 3.5% in men in the Czech Republic. In Germany it was 4.8% in women and 3.3% in men, and in the UK it was 4% in women and 3.4% in men.
They found that the number of cancers that could be attributed to excess body weight increased to 124,050 in 2008. In men, 3.2% of new cancers could be attributed to being overweight or obese and in women it was 8.6%. The largest number of obesity-related new cancers was for endometrial cancer (33,421), post-menopausal breast cancer (27,770) and colorectal cancer (23,730). These three accounted for 65% of all cancers attributable to excess body mass index.
Cancer is one of the leading critical illnesses afflicting Americans according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance. There were 1.4 million Americans diagnosed with cancer in 2008.
The lead author of the study noted that as more people stop smoking and fewer women take hormone replacement therapy, it is possible that obesity may become the biggest attributable cause of cancer in women within the next decade.
Researchers created a sophisticated model to estimate the proportion of cancers that could be attributed to excess body weight in 30 European countries. Using data from a number of sources including the World Health Organization they estimated that in 2002 (the most recent year for which there are reliable statistics on cancer incidence in Europe) there had been over 70,000 new cases of cancer attributable to excess BMI out of a total of nearly 2.2 million new diagnoses across the 30 European countries.
The percentage of obesity-related cancers varied widely between countries, from 2.1% in women and 2.4% in men in Denmark, to 8.2% in women and 3.5% in men in the Czech Republic. In Germany it was 4.8% in women and 3.3% in men, and in the UK it was 4% in women and 3.4% in men.
They found that the number of cancers that could be attributed to excess body weight increased to 124,050 in 2008. In men, 3.2% of new cancers could be attributed to being overweight or obese and in women it was 8.6%. The largest number of obesity-related new cancers was for endometrial cancer (33,421), post-menopausal breast cancer (27,770) and colorectal cancer (23,730). These three accounted for 65% of all cancers attributable to excess body mass index.
Cancer is one of the leading critical illnesses afflicting Americans according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance. There were 1.4 million Americans diagnosed with cancer in 2008.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Prostate Cancer Treatment May Spark Heart Problems
The findings from new research conducted at King's College in London could make doctors think twice before prescribing the standard hormone treatment to men with prostate cancer, particularly if they are at risk of heart disease.
More than 670,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer globally every year, making it the second-most common cancer in men, after lung cancer. In the U.S., over 185,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer annually according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, the national trade organization. About 600,000 men are being treated with endocrine therapies for prostate cancer worldwide.
Researchers studied 30,000 men in Sweden with prostate cancer who received hormone therapy between 1997 and 2006. They compared the rate of heart problems in those patients to the rate in the general Swedish population. Prostate cancer patients had a 28 percent higher relative chance of having a fatal heart attack and a 21 percent increased chance of dying from heart disease.
While these risks were still low in absolute terms, the researchers estimated that the hormone therapies would cause heart problems including a heart attack at the rate of about 10 persons for every 1,000 prostate cancer patients.
Previous studies have found hormone therapy given to prostate cancer patients with a history of heart disease increases their chances of dying. Scientists believe that male-produced testosterone has some protective effect on the heart. Thus, hormones that interfere with testosterone could be deadly.
More than 670,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer globally every year, making it the second-most common cancer in men, after lung cancer. In the U.S., over 185,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer annually according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, the national trade organization. About 600,000 men are being treated with endocrine therapies for prostate cancer worldwide.
Researchers studied 30,000 men in Sweden with prostate cancer who received hormone therapy between 1997 and 2006. They compared the rate of heart problems in those patients to the rate in the general Swedish population. Prostate cancer patients had a 28 percent higher relative chance of having a fatal heart attack and a 21 percent increased chance of dying from heart disease.
While these risks were still low in absolute terms, the researchers estimated that the hormone therapies would cause heart problems including a heart attack at the rate of about 10 persons for every 1,000 prostate cancer patients.
Previous studies have found hormone therapy given to prostate cancer patients with a history of heart disease increases their chances of dying. Scientists believe that male-produced testosterone has some protective effect on the heart. Thus, hormones that interfere with testosterone could be deadly.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Vitamin D Is Heart Healthy For Older Adults
An estimated 800,000 Americans will have a first heart attack according to data from the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance. "The combined financial cost of heart attacks and strokes is over $225 billion," notes Jesse Slome, director. "Most personal bankruptcies today are directly tied to medical and healthcare costs."
A new study by researchers at the University of Colorado Denver and Massachusetts General Hospital studied the association between vitamin D levels in the blood and the death rates of those 65 and older.
Researchers found that older adults with insufficient levels of vitamin D die from heart disease at greater rates that those with adequate levels of the vitamin. The results are published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
It's likely that more than one-third of older adults now have vitamin D levels associated with higher risks of death and few have levels associated with optimum survival noted the lead author on the study.
The study noted that older adults are at high risk for vitamin D deficiency often because their skin has less exposure to the sun as a result of less time spent outdoors as well as the body's reduced ability to make vitamin D.
The study analyzed data from the National Center for Health Statistics that was of the 24 million older adults in the United States. Compared to those with optimal vitamin D status, those with low vitamin D levels were 3 times more likely to die from heart disease and 2.5 times more likely to die from any cause.
"Vitamin D has health effects that go beyond strong bones," one of the researchers explained. "It's likely that it makes a vital contribution to good health."
A new study by researchers at the University of Colorado Denver and Massachusetts General Hospital studied the association between vitamin D levels in the blood and the death rates of those 65 and older.
Researchers found that older adults with insufficient levels of vitamin D die from heart disease at greater rates that those with adequate levels of the vitamin. The results are published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
It's likely that more than one-third of older adults now have vitamin D levels associated with higher risks of death and few have levels associated with optimum survival noted the lead author on the study.
The study noted that older adults are at high risk for vitamin D deficiency often because their skin has less exposure to the sun as a result of less time spent outdoors as well as the body's reduced ability to make vitamin D.
The study analyzed data from the National Center for Health Statistics that was of the 24 million older adults in the United States. Compared to those with optimal vitamin D status, those with low vitamin D levels were 3 times more likely to die from heart disease and 2.5 times more likely to die from any cause.
"Vitamin D has health effects that go beyond strong bones," one of the researchers explained. "It's likely that it makes a vital contribution to good health."
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Childhood Stroke More Common Than Thought
The incidence of stroke among American children could be two to four times greater than has commonly been estimated. There are more than 5 million American stroke victims now alive according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, the industry trade organization.
Medical experts note that pediatric strokes are rare. A new estimate puts its incidence at only 2.4 strokes per 100,000 person-years. But the study, reported in the September 17 online issue of Stroke, also cites five previous studies in which the estimated incidence ranged from .54 to 1.2 per 100,000 children per year.
Medical researchers at the Pediatric Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease Center at the University of California, San Francisco, Children's Hospital examined data on 2.3 million children up to the age of 19 who were enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente managed-care plan in northern California from 1993 to 2003.
They searched for stroke cases listed by diagnostic code for billing purposes and also for reports indicating strokes in radiological studies, including computed tomography and MRI. The radiology reports yielded a higher incidence of stroke.
The concept that children simply don't have strokes is widely prevalent, one of the lead researchers noted.
This new comparison of the two methods of identifying a pediatric stroke found that radiological evidence was much more sensitive than the billing code. The radiology method was far more sensitive (83 percent) than the billing code method (39 percent.)
SOURCES: Heather J. Fullerton, M.D., director, Pediatric Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease Center, University of California, San Francisco, Children's Hospital; E. Steve Roach, M.D., director, pediatric neurology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio; Sept. 17, 2009, Stroke, online
Medical experts note that pediatric strokes are rare. A new estimate puts its incidence at only 2.4 strokes per 100,000 person-years. But the study, reported in the September 17 online issue of Stroke, also cites five previous studies in which the estimated incidence ranged from .54 to 1.2 per 100,000 children per year.
Medical researchers at the Pediatric Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease Center at the University of California, San Francisco, Children's Hospital examined data on 2.3 million children up to the age of 19 who were enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente managed-care plan in northern California from 1993 to 2003.
They searched for stroke cases listed by diagnostic code for billing purposes and also for reports indicating strokes in radiological studies, including computed tomography and MRI. The radiology reports yielded a higher incidence of stroke.
The concept that children simply don't have strokes is widely prevalent, one of the lead researchers noted.
This new comparison of the two methods of identifying a pediatric stroke found that radiological evidence was much more sensitive than the billing code. The radiology method was far more sensitive (83 percent) than the billing code method (39 percent.)
SOURCES: Heather J. Fullerton, M.D., director, Pediatric Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease Center, University of California, San Francisco, Children's Hospital; E. Steve Roach, M.D., director, pediatric neurology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio; Sept. 17, 2009, Stroke, online
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Weight Loss Good For Kidney Health
Shedding pounds through diet and exercise or even surgery may help obese adults with kidney disease ward off further decline in kidney function a new study finds.
Medical experts explain that kidneys filter waste products from the blood and excrete them in the urine. When damaged, their ability to perform these vital functions is reduced.
Some 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance and millions of others are at increased risk. By 2015, experts predict there will be more than 700,000 people with the most advanced form of kidney disease known as end-stage renal disease.
More than a third of US adults are either overweight or obese, putting them at increased risk for kidney trouble, not to mention heart trouble and diabetes. To determine if weight loss could help protect the kidneys, medical researchers at Ohio's Cleveland Clinic studied data from studies that examined the impact on kidney function of weight loss achieved through diet, exercise, or surgery.
The researchers found that losing weight through diet and exercise reduced one key measure of kidney damage - namely, excess excretion of protein in the urine, what doctors call "proteinuria." The medical report noted that weight loss achieved through surgery seemed to help normalize the rate at which the kidneys filter waste products in obese adults with abnormally high filtration rates.
The findings were reported in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology.
Medical experts explain that kidneys filter waste products from the blood and excrete them in the urine. When damaged, their ability to perform these vital functions is reduced.
Some 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance and millions of others are at increased risk. By 2015, experts predict there will be more than 700,000 people with the most advanced form of kidney disease known as end-stage renal disease.
More than a third of US adults are either overweight or obese, putting them at increased risk for kidney trouble, not to mention heart trouble and diabetes. To determine if weight loss could help protect the kidneys, medical researchers at Ohio's Cleveland Clinic studied data from studies that examined the impact on kidney function of weight loss achieved through diet, exercise, or surgery.
The researchers found that losing weight through diet and exercise reduced one key measure of kidney damage - namely, excess excretion of protein in the urine, what doctors call "proteinuria." The medical report noted that weight loss achieved through surgery seemed to help normalize the rate at which the kidneys filter waste products in obese adults with abnormally high filtration rates.
The findings were reported in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
During CPR, More Chest Compressions Saves More Lives
When it comes to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) you're better off doing less mouth-to-mouth and more chest compressions, according to a new study.
CPR consists of chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. It is performed on people whose hearts have stopped beating. Medical experts explain that mouth-to-mouth resuscitation moves oxygen into the lungs of someone who can't breathe on his own, while chest compressions move blood carrying that oxygen to the heart and the brain.
This year some 800,000 Americans will have a new coronary attack according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, the industry trade group. The average age of a person having a first heart attack is 64 for men and 70 for women.
Researchers found that the odds that someone whose heart has stopped beating will survive goes up markedly when rescuers spend more time giving chest compressions.
The findings emphasize that the chest compressions you do on a loved one are one of the most important things that can be done, one of the authors of the study, said in a statement. They shared the important information recognizing many are untrained or not confident giving mouth-to-mouth ventilation.
Even by themselves, chest compressions can make a difference, the medical researchers noted. Canadian medical researchers examined CPR tracings in over 500 patients who suffered "out-of-hospital" cardiac arrest in the US and Canada.
There was roughly a 10 percent increase in the chance of survival for every 10 percent increase in amount of time that rescuers spend giving chest compressions they found. Researchers found that the heart began pumping blood effectively on its own about 80 percent of the time when rescuers spent most of their time on chest compressions, compared to just shy of 60 percent of time when they spent most of their efforts on mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Similarly, about one in eight patients survived long enough to go home from the hospital when rescuers spent most of their time on mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but that rate of survival doubled when rescuers spent most of their time on chest compressions.
The study appears in the Journal of the American Heart Association, September 14, 2009.
CPR consists of chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. It is performed on people whose hearts have stopped beating. Medical experts explain that mouth-to-mouth resuscitation moves oxygen into the lungs of someone who can't breathe on his own, while chest compressions move blood carrying that oxygen to the heart and the brain.
This year some 800,000 Americans will have a new coronary attack according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, the industry trade group. The average age of a person having a first heart attack is 64 for men and 70 for women.
Researchers found that the odds that someone whose heart has stopped beating will survive goes up markedly when rescuers spend more time giving chest compressions.
The findings emphasize that the chest compressions you do on a loved one are one of the most important things that can be done, one of the authors of the study, said in a statement. They shared the important information recognizing many are untrained or not confident giving mouth-to-mouth ventilation.
Even by themselves, chest compressions can make a difference, the medical researchers noted. Canadian medical researchers examined CPR tracings in over 500 patients who suffered "out-of-hospital" cardiac arrest in the US and Canada.
There was roughly a 10 percent increase in the chance of survival for every 10 percent increase in amount of time that rescuers spend giving chest compressions they found. Researchers found that the heart began pumping blood effectively on its own about 80 percent of the time when rescuers spent most of their time on chest compressions, compared to just shy of 60 percent of time when they spent most of their efforts on mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Similarly, about one in eight patients survived long enough to go home from the hospital when rescuers spent most of their time on mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but that rate of survival doubled when rescuers spent most of their time on chest compressions.
The study appears in the Journal of the American Heart Association, September 14, 2009.
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