Health News - Tuesday, January 16, 2007
In the quest for youth, many look to human growth hormone (HGH) as a miracle elixir. Numerous books have touted its benefits as an anti-aging therapy, and a casual Internet search brings up dozens of sites pointing to its efficacy at staving off age-related changes in the body.
However, a recent review of published studies suggests that HGH provides few of the touted benefits for adults who are healthy. Worse, the side effects could mean that regular users are putting their health in jeopardy. The review is published in the current issue of the medical journal Annals of Internal Medicine. Continue reading
Small blood vessels associated with brain tumors create a nurturing environment for self-renewing cancer stem cells, U.S. researchers report. They also found that antiangiogenic drugs that disrupt this environment reduce the number of cancer stem cells and halt tumor growth.
Cancer stem cells comprise only a small fraction of most brain tumors but play a critical role in tumor growth and survival, according to background information in the study, published in the January issue of the journal Cancer Cell. Continue reading
The National ePrescribing Patient Safety Initiative aims to coax physicians and pharmacies to use a Web-based prescription system designed to prevent medication errors often caused by illegible handwritten paper prescriptions.
At a news conference to unveil the plan, its advocates cited a 2006 Institute of Medicine report that found that more than 7,000 people die and at least 1.5 million are harmed by preventable medication errors in the United States annually. They said the new system involves no cost to the doctor and requires minimal training. Continue reading
Older adults with high-normal levels of uric acid are significantly more likely than those with low-moderate concentrations to experience mild cognitive impairment (loss of memory), according to results of a study published in the medical journal Neuropsychology.
"Among possible markers of age-related cognitive decline, uric acid is controversial," Dr. David J. Schretlen, of Johns Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore, and colleagues note. On one hand, uric acid has antioxidant properties, which inhibits cell damage, while on the other hand, it is often elevated in diseases that frequently lead to cognitive impairment. Continue reading
With big handbags becoming a key fashion accessory for working women, health experts are warning they can also become a key health concern. Bags for women have become bigger and heavier as designers combine briefcases with handbags and straps have become longer but the extra leverage has many patients complaining of neck, shoulder and back problems.
"I see so many women with neck pains and headaches and what I usually do is look for their purse and pick it up," said Jane Sadler, a family practice physician on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center in Garland, Texas. "We take it over to the scale and weigh it and usually they're anywhere from 7 to 10 pounds (3.1-4.5 kgs)...We're really going to see women with more and more problems later on if we continue the big purse craze." Continue reading