Insidermedicine

Parkinson's Disease Origins Discovered; Metabolic Profile Essential to Tailoring Cancer Therapy; Finger Foods During Weaning May Help Prevent Childhood Obesity (Video)

07 February 2012

(February 7, 2012 - Insidermedicine)

From Buffalo - Scientists have discovered the origins of Parkinson's disease, according to a report published in Nature Communications. Researchers studied live human neurons of two Parkinson's disease patients, finding that mutations to their parkin gene prevented dopamine from supporting neural computation and resulted in the death of dopamine neurons. Injecting the neurons with a normal parkin gene, the researchers were able to reverse these defects.

From San Francisco - A new report published in Cell Metabolism finds that metabolic profiles are fundamental to personalizing cancer treatment. Studying mice with different cancer causing genes, researchers found that the rodents tumours had very different metabolisms--emphasizing that need for metabolic profiling when planning cancer therapy.

And finally, from the UK - Weaning infants on finger foods as opposed to spoon fed purees may help prevent obesity, according to a report published in BMJ Open. Resaerchers followed 155 children from 20 months old to 6.5 years old, finding that those who were allowed to feed themselves with finger foods during weaning were more likely to prefer healthy foods and less likely to be overweight or obese than those who ate spoon fed-purees.

Smoking Causes Rapid Mental Decline in Men; 3 Cancer Drugs Found to Raise Risk of Death; Positive Behavior Reinforcement May Reduce Bullying, Peer Rejection (Video)

06 February 2012

(February 6, 2012 - Insidermedicine)

From London - Smoking causes rapid mental decline in men, according to a report published in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Researchers studied over 7,000 men and women for 25 years, finding that men who smoked had more rapid cognitive decline than women and non-smokers, and that those who smoked during the entire followup period demonstrated greater decline in all cognitive tests.

From Boston - 3 cancer drugs may raise risk of fatal side effects, although this risk is still very low, according to a report published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Results of a meta-analysis covering over 4600 cancer patients found that treatment with either sorafenib, sunitinib, or pazopanib resulted in 1.5% of patients having fatal complications, compared with 0.7% of patients given standard therapy or placebo.

And finally, from Baltimore - A behavioural prevention model can reduce bullying and peer rejection in schools, according to a report published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Studying over 12,000 children, researchers found that the School-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports model as an alternative to zero-tolerance policies greatly reduced teacher-reported bullying and peer-rejection.

Developmental Diabetes Medication Ineffective in Trials; Heart Failure Linked to Bone Fractures; Burnout Common Among Family Doctors in UK (Week in Review)

05 February 2012

(February 5, 2012 - Insidermedicine)

From Sweden - A developmental medicine for type 1 diabetes has failed to show significant effects in a phase 3 trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers randomized over 300 patients recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes to either 4 doses of the novel medicine, 2 doses of the medicine plus placebo or 4 doses of placebo. Results showed some positive changes to C-peptide levels, but no significant effects.

From Alberta - Heart failure may increase risk of fractures, according to a report published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Researchers followed over 45,000 adults who underwent bone density testing for 10 years. They found those who had heart failure had a 30% increased risk of major fractures due to thinning bones.

And finally, from the UK - Family doctors in the UK have high levels of burnout, according to a report published in BMJ Open. Researchers surveyed over 550 general practitioners , finding that 46% said they were emotionally exhausted, 42% were depersonalized and 34% felt like they were not achieving anything

2x as Many People Dying From Malaria as Previously Thought; Milk May Boost Memory, Brain Function; Fish While Pregnant May Improve Child's Cognitive Development (Week in Review)

04 February 2012

(February 4, 2012 - Insidermedicine)

From Seattle - Malaria kills 1.2 million people worldwide every year, according to a report published in the Lancet. Researchers reviewed malaria mortality data from 1980 to 2010, finding that 1.2 million were killed by the virus in 2010--2x more than previously thought--and that 42% of these deaths occurred in children older than 5 and in adults.

From Maine - A daily glass of milk may boost memory and brain function, according to a report published in the International Dairy Journal. Researchers studied nearly 1,000 men and women ages 23 to 98, administering a series of tests that measure visual-spatial, verbal and working memory ability. Results showed that individuals who drank the most milk scored the highest on the tests--while milk drinkers were 5x less likely to fail the tests than non-milk drinkers.

And finally, from Spain - Eating fish while pregnant may improve cognitive development in the child, according to a report published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers collected blood samples from 2,000 women at 20 weeks gestation and from the infant's umbilical cord. They found that women who consumed the most fish during pregnancy had children that scored higher in verbal intelligence and fine motor skills tests and demonstrated increased prosocial behaviour.

Malaria Kills 1.2 Million People Each Year; Heart Failure Linked to Thinner Bones, Fractures; Intermittent Exercise Improves Insulin Response in Diabetics (Video)

02 February 2012

(February 2, 2012 - Insidermedicine)

From Seattle - Malaria kills 1.2 million people worldwide every year, according to a report published in the Lancet. Researchers reviewed malaria mortality data from 1980 to 2010, finding that 1.2 million were killed by the virus in 2010--2x more than previously thought--and that 42% of these deaths occurred in children older than 5 and in adults.

From Alberta - Heart failure may increase risk of fractures, according to a report published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Researchers followed over 45,000 adults who underwent bone density testing for 10 years. They found those who had heart failure had a 30% increased risk of major fractures due to thinning bones.

And finally, from London - Intermittent exercise may improve blood glucose control in diabetics, according to a report published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. Studying 8 men with type 2 diabetes, researchers found that intermittent exercise in a low-oxygen environment improved patient's response to insulin.

Ulipristal May Improve Treatment of Painful Uterine Fibroids (Video)

01 February 2012

(February 1, 2012 - Insidermedicine)

A therapy that modulates the effects of the hormone progesterone can help reduce bleeding and shrink fibroid size among women with symptomatic fibroids, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Here is some information about uterine fibroids:

•    They are benign, or noncancerous, growths that occur in the uterus

•    They can cause symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding or bleeding between periods, painful periods, and the need to urinate often

•    In younger women, they can impair fertility

Researchers from the Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc Catholic University of Louvain randomly assigned nearly 250 women with fibroids that were causing excessive uterine bleeding and anemia to treatment with a 5 or 10 mg daily dose of a drug known as ulipristal or a placebo. Ulirpristal inhibits the action of progesterone on tissue in the uterus. The women also took iron supplements for their anemia. Treatment lasted up to 13 weeks, at which time the women could undergo surgery to remove their fibroids.

At the end of the 13 weeks, more than 90% of the women taking the high or low dose of ulipristal had their uterine bleeding under control, compared with only about a fifth of those on placebo. In fact, most of the women taking ulipristal stopped bleeding completely within 10 days of starting therapy. In addition, the fibroids actually shrank among the women taking the active drug, while the fibroids of the women on placebo grew slightly. Treatment with ulipristal resulted in some changes in the tissue lining the uterus, but these changes disappeared within six months of stopping the drug. One woman taking the high dose of ulipristal experienced a serious bleed in her uterus.

Today’s research suggests that ulipristal could offer relief to women suffering from fibroids, although the long-term safety and efficacy of this approach is yet to be determined.

Diabetes Video: New Medicine for Type 1 Diabetes Fails in Trials; Surgical Breast Biopsy Numbers Skewed; Eating Fish While Pregnant May Boost Cognitive Development in Child

01 February 2012

(February 1, 2012 - Insidermedicine)

From Sweden - A developmental medicine for type 1 diabetes has failed to show significant effects in a phase 3 trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers randomized over 300 patients recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes to either 4 doses of the novel medicine, 2 doses of the medicine plus placebo or 4 doses of placebo. Results showed some positive changes to C-peptide levels, but no significant effects.

From Philadelphia - According to a report published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, surgical breast biopsies are not being overused. Researchers found that 30% of breast biopsies were classified as surgical, when in fact the amount of true surgical biopsies was somewhere between 2 and 18%.

And finally, from Spain - Eating fish while pregnant may improve cognitive development in the child, according to a report published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers collected blood samples from 2,000 women at 20 weeks gestation and from the infant's umbilical cord. They found that women who consumed the most fish during pregnancy had children that scored higher in verbal intelligence and fine motor skills tests and demonstrated increased prosocial behaviour.

Heart Failure Linked to Mental Decline; Exercise Improves Health, Quality of Life in Cancer Patients; New Drug May Improve Survival in Advanced Prostate Cancer Patients (Video)

31 January 2012

(January 31, 2012 - Insidermedicine)

From Australia - A new report published in the European Heart Journal finds that heart failure may cause mental decline. Researchers used MRI scans to study the brains of 35 heart failure patients, 56 heart disease patients and 64 healthy controls. Imaging revealed that the heart failure patients had worse memory than controls, and also reduced grey matter in brain regions associated with cognitive and emotional activity.

From Hong Kong - Exercise can improve health in cancer patients, according to a report published in the BMJ. Results of a meta-analysis examining over 30 trials found that exercise benefited cancer patients by improving their BMI and blood sugar control, reducing depression and greatly enhancing quality of life.

And finally, from Maryland - A novel drug may improve survival in advanced prostate cancer patients, according to a report presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting. Researchers randomized men with drug-resistant prostate cancer to treatment with the drug MDV3100 or placebo. They found that the novel drug improved survival in the patients, resulting in a 37% reduced risk of death.
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Milk May Boost Brain Function; Difference in Blood Pressure Between Arms May Predict Heart Disease, Death; Family Doctors in UK Experiencing High Burnout Rates (Video)

30 January 2012

(January 30, 2012 - Insidermedicine)

From Maine - A daily glass of milk may boost memory and brain function, according to a report published in the International Dairy Journal. Researchers studied nearly 1,000 men and women ages 23 to 98, administering a series of tests that measure visual-spatial, verbal and working memory ability. Results showed that individuals who drank the most milk scored the highest on the tests--while milk drinkers were 5x less likely to fail the tests than non-milk drinkers.

From the UK - Checking blood pressure in both arms may help detect heart disease, according to a report published in the Lancet. Results of a meta-analysis found that a difference of 15mm Hg in systolic blood pressure between arms raised risk of heart disease and mortality.

And finally, from the UK - Family doctors in the UK have high levels of burnout, according to a report published in BMJ Open. Researchers surveyed over 550 general practitioners , finding that 46% said they were emotionally exhausted, 42% were depersonalized and 34% felt like they were not achieving anything

Heart Defect Video: Being Overweight and Smoking During Pregnancy Raises Baby's Risk of Heart Defect

30 January 2012

(January 30, 2012 - Insidermedicine)

Both being overweight and smoking during pregnancy work synergistically to increase the risk that babies will be born with heart defects, according to research published online ahead of print in Heart.

Here is some information about congenital heart defects:

•    They are problems with a baby’s heart that are present from birth

•    They are some of the most commonly seen birth defects

•    A cause is only detected in about 15% of cases

Researchers from the University Medical Centre in Groningen compared medical and lifestyle data on nearly 800 mothers and their infants who were born between 1997 and 2008 with heart abnormalities but no other defects with that of more than 300 mothers and infants born with chromosomal abnormalities but no heart defects.

The mothers who both smoked and were overweight during pregnancy were more than 2.5 times more likely to give birth to a child with a heart abnormality than mothers who were overweight but did not smoke or who smoked but were not overweight. In particular, the risk that the baby would have serious heart abnormality in which blood flow from the ventricles of the heart to the pulmonary artery or aorta is reduced or blocked was more than tripled among babies whose mothers were both overweight and smoked during pregnancy.

While both overweight and smoking in pregnancy are known risk factors for giving birth to babies with health problems, today’s research highlights the importance of avoiding both these health pitfalls together, as they interact to substantially increase the baby’s risk.