Insidermedicine Daily News (Video)
Insidermedicine is a daily health and medical video news service created by a leading physicians. Our content library contains videos in many languages including English, Chinese, Spanish, on over 100 different diseases. Joining the likes of the Associated Press and Reuters, Insidermedicine's newstories are featured ...
Insidermedicine is a daily health and medical video news service created by a leading physicians. Our content library contains videos in many languages including English, Chinese, Spanish, on over 100 different diseases. Joining the likes of the Associated Press and Reuters, Insidermedicine's newstories are featured by Google News and The News Room. April 25, 2007 Patients with HIV who are treated with protease inhibitors have an increased risk of heart attack, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Combination antiretroviral therapy has had a dramatic effect in reducing illness and death associated with the HIV virus, however an earlier study showed that the risk of heart attacks increased by 17% with every year a patient spent on antiretroviral. It isn’t known, though, whether all antiretroviral drugs carry this risk. The assessment of the role of any specific drug is difficult because patients with HIV usually receive a combination of drugs, and often switch regimens because of the availability of newer substances, adverse events, or drug regimen failure. Previous studies have shown a relationship between the use of protease inhibitors, a class of antiretroviral drug, and cardiovascular disease, but there is little information on the risks associated with another class of antiretroviral therapy called nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors. In this study, more than 23,000 patients infected with the HIV virus were assessed to determine the incidence of heart attack and the association between heart attack and exposure to protease inhibitors or nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors. Confirming the earlier results, the researchers found the risk of having a heart attack increased by 16% per year of exposure to protease inhibitors alone, which is equal to twice the risk over five years. Not such effect was observed with nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors. It is thought that protease inhibitors raise the level of blood lipid, thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attack. Patients treated with protease inhibitors should have their cholesterol and blood pressure levels monitored, and take steps to reduce their lifestyle-related risk factors. This includes maintaining a healthy weight, eating a low-fat diet rich in fruits in vegetables, and getting regular exercise. Reporting for Insidermedicine, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.
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INSIDERMEDICINE VIDEO: Women in Labor Can Eat and Drink Normally, Concussions in Kids Not Taken Seriously Enough, Treadmill Helps For Parkinson's Patients
(January 19, 2010 - Insidermedicine) From South Africa - According ...
(January 19, 2010 - Insidermedicine) From South Africa - According to a report published online in the Cochrane Library, women in labour should be allowed to eat and drink what they want. Researchers conducted an analysis of five studies covering over 3000 women, finding no risks or benefits from eating or drinking during labor. This research calls into question many maternity wards' "nil by mouth" policies, in which women in labor are restricted in what they can eat and drink. From Hamilton - Concussions are not being taken as seriously as they should be, according to a report published in the journal Pediatrics. Researchers reviewed over 400 cases of children admitted to hospital with an acquired brain injury. Results showed that children who were diagnosed with a concussion were discharged from hospital earlier and returned to school earlier than children who were not diagnosed as having a concussion, an aspect that suggests that concussions are not widely regarded as the potentially serious brain injury that they may be. And finally, from Germany - According to another report published online in the Cochrane Library, people suffering from Parkinson's disease may find their walking improved with treadmill training. Researchers looked at data from 8 studies, covering over 200 Parkinson's patients. They found that treadmill training had a positive impact on patient's stride, speed, steps per minute and gait.
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INSIDERMEDICINE VIDEO: High Opioid Dose and Risk of Overdose, Mental Lapses May Be Sign of Alzheimer's, Texting More Dangerous than Drunk Driving
(January 18, 2010 - Insidermedicine) From Seattle - According to ...
(January 18, 2010 - Insidermedicine) From Seattle - According to a report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, people suffering chronic pain that receive high doses of opioids face an increased risk of overdose. Researchers studied nearly 10,000 patients with opioid prescriptions, finding that those who were given a higher opioid dose had a nine-fold increased risk of overdose when compared to those with low doses. From St. Louis - According to a report published in the journal Neurology, elderly people who are developing Alzheimer's disease are more likely to suffer cognitive fluctuations--a host of symptoms that include daytime sleepiness, disorganized thinking and mental lapses. Researchers surveyed over 500 elderly people with memory problems. They found that patients who suffered these mental lapses had a 4.6x increased risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. And finally, from the UK - Text messaging while driving may be more dangerous than drunk driving, according to a report presented by the RAC Foundation for Motoring. Researchers studied 17-24 year olds using a driving simulator, examining how text messaging affected their ability to operate the car. They found that steering control was dramatically reduced by 91% when texting and that reaction times also worsened by 35%-- compared with 12% longer reaction times when inebriated.
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INSIDERMEDICINE VIDEO: Importance of Dosing Antibiotics Based on One's Physical Characteristics (Interview with Dr. Matthew Falagas, Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences)
(January 15, 2010 - Insidermedicine) Antibiotics and other drugs used ...
(January 15, 2010 - Insidermedicine) Antibiotics and other drugs used to fight infections should be individually dosed based on patients' physical characteristics in order to maximize the drugs' effectiveness and safety, according to a Viewpoint argument made in the The Lancet. Here is some information about antimicrobial drugs: • They are drugs used to kill germs, including bacteria and fungi, which can cause disease • Some microbes are developing resistance to antimicrobial drugs • Taking antimicrobial drugs only as prescribed by a health care professional can help diminish the threat of resistance Researchers from the Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences in Athens provided many compelling reasons why antimicrobial drugs should be dosed based on patients' individuals characteristics instead of using the same dose for all adults. In the face of globalization and the worldwide epidemic of obesity, physicians today are likely to treat adults who vary dramatically in size and body composition from one another. At the same time, there is good evidence that the way antimicrobial drugs are broken down and cleared by the body can be heavily influenced by such characteristics as body size and the proportion of fat to lean body mass present. In addition, as the threat of drug-resistant germs increases, it is crucial that currently available antimicrobial drugs be used in a matter than maximizes their effectiveness. An unresolved issue is exactly what body characteristics to take into account when determining the appropriate dose of an antimicrobial drug. Body weight, amount of lean body mass, amount of fat, and body surface area can all affect how a drug performs. It remains unclear which of these physical characteristics dosing adjustments should be based on. We spoke with Dr Matthew E Falagas, one of the author's of the viewpoint, who offered some further insight. Today's research suggests there is a need to move away from a "one size fits all" approach to dosing antimicrobial drugs and instead tailor the dose to the individual. Always follow your physicians' instructions carefully when taking antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs.
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INSIDERMEDICINE VIDEO: End of Life Care Inadequate for Kidney Disease Patients, Green Tea Cuts Lung Cancer Risk, More Info Needed On Kidney Abnormalities
(January 15, 2010 - Insidermedicine) From Alberta - According to ...
(January 15, 2010 - Insidermedicine) From Alberta - According to a report published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, end of life care for patients with chronic kidney disease is often inadequate. Researchers surveyed nearly 600 patients with late stage kidney disease. 61% said that they regretted the initiation of dialysis--maintaining that the treatment was often the doctors and family's choice, rather than their own. As well, most did not receive help in managing their pain nor did they receive psychological or emotional support. From California - Green tea may have a protective effect against lung cancer, according to research presented at the Joint Conference for Molecular Origins of Lung Cancer. Researchers studied over 500 people, 170 who had lung cancer, 340 who were healthy controls. They found that people who drank at least one cup of green tea a day had 5x reduced risk of lung cancer, while past and present smokers had nearly 13x lower risk when compared to non green tea drinkers. And finally, from Rochester - According to another report published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, more information is needed regarding kidney abnormalities. Researchers examined nearly 2000 healthy potential kidney donors. They found that 1 in 4 of these people had an abnormality in their kidneys. Although these findings were not considered harmful, their long term effects were not clear.
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INSIDERMEDICINE VIDEO: Retina Test for Alzheimer's, Elderly Women With Cognitive Impairment Get Unnecessary Mammograms, New Blood Test for Lung Cancer Accurate
(January 14, 2010 - Insidermedicine) From London - According to ...
(January 14, 2010 - Insidermedicine) From London - According to a report published in the journal Cell Death & Disease, a new eye test could help produce an early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The new technique, tested on animals, entails eye drops consisting of fluorescent markers that attach to the relevant retinal cells and highlight the ones that are dying. The retina is then imaged and this indicates the extent of brain cell death that occurs in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. From San Francisco - According to a report published in the American Journal of Public Health, elderly women who suffer cognitive impairment are frequently given unnecessary mammograms. Researchers studied over 2,000 women aged 70 and older, finding that 18% of women with severe cognitive impairment received mammography screening. The problem, however , is that to benefit from screening one must have a life expectancy of 4-5 years, whereas the severely cognitively impaired women in this study had an average life expectancy of only 3.3 years. And finally, from California - A new blood test may be able to accurately diagnose early stage lung cancer, according to research presented at the Joint Conference for Molecular Origins of Lung Cancer. Researchers studied 28 lung cancer patients and 56 controls--people who were at high risk for the disease--using a panel of 40 potential lung cancer biomarkers. Results showed that the blood test was 92% accurate at finding stage 1 lung cancer among controls.
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INSIDERMEDICINE VIDEO: Ticalgrelor Reduces Mortality in Heart Attack Patients, Genetic Variant May Reduce Risk of Dementia, BPA Confirmed to Raise Risk of Heart Disease
(January 13, 2010 - Insidermedicine) From Boston - According to ...
(January 13, 2010 - Insidermedicine) From Boston - According to a report published in The Lancet, the anti-clotting medication ticagrelor has proven to reduce mortality without consequently increasing bleeding in heart attack patients. Researchers studied nearly 13, 500 heart attack patients, randomizing some to ticagrelor and placebo and others to clopidogrel and placebo for six months following hospitalization. Results showed that the ticagrelor group had a 16% reduced risk of suffering either cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or stroke when compared to the clopidogrel group. From New York - Scientists have discovered a genetic variant that may be associated with a lower risk for dementia, according to a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers studied 523 adults aged 70 and older, finding that those who had two copies of the CETP longevity variant had a 72% reduced risk of eventually developing dementia during the 4.3 years of the study. And finally, from England - According to a report published in the journal PLoS ONE, new research has confirmed that BPA--or bisphenol A--is linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers studied nearly 1500 patients, finding that those who had the highest urinary concentration of BPA--a chemical compound that is used in baby bottles, food cans and water containers--were 33% more likely to suffer heart disease.
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INSIDERMEDICINE VIDEO: Loss of Smell Possible Predictor of Alzheimer's, Family History of Pancreatic Cancer Increases Risk, Excessive TV May Shorten Life
(January 12, 2010 - Insidermedicine) From New York - Scientists ...
(January 12, 2010 - Insidermedicine) From New York - Scientists believe that loss of smell may be a predictor of Alzheimer's disease, according to a report published in the Journal of Neuroscience. Studying mice genetically engineered to develop amyloid plaques in their brains, researchers noted that the mice with the highest concentration of amyloid sniffed items longer in order to identify them and also had difficulty discerning between odors. Researchers attributed these changes to the fact that the amyloid plaques first developed in a part of the mouse's brain that is also directly above their nose and responsible for smelling. From Baltimore - According to a report published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, family history of pancreatic cancer significantly increases ones risk of also developing the disease. Researchers studied data on over 9,000 people from 1700 families. They found that a person has a sixfold raised risk of pancreatic cancer if one has multiple family members with the disease, while those who had a relative under 50 with pancreatic cancer were at a 9x increased risk. And finally, from Australia - According to a repot published in the journal Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, excessive television watching may shorten ones lifespan. Researchers followed nearly 9,000 adults for six and a half years, finding that those who watched four or more hours of TV each day had a 46% increased risk of dying during the study when compared with those who watched less than two hours daily.
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INSIDERMEDICINE VIDEO: Exercise Helps Stave Off Cognitive Impairment In Elderly Women (Interview with Dr. Yonas Geda, MD, Mayo Clinic)
(January 11, 2010 - Insidermedicine) A moderately intensive exercise routine ...
(January 11, 2010 - Insidermedicine) A moderately intensive exercise routine can help stave off cognitive impairment, while intense exercise may help improve cognitive impairment that has already begun, at least among women, according to two studies published in the Archives of Neurology. Here is some information about mild cognitive impairment: • it is a transition stage between the cognitive decline that occurs with normal aging and dementia seen in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease • it can affect memory as well as reasoning, judgment, language, and attention • while the condition may remain stable, many of those with mild cognitive impairment will go on to develop more serious symptoms In the first study, researchers from the University of Washington School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle randomly assigned over 30 adults aged 55 to 85 with mild cognitive impairment to partake in a high-intensity aerobic exercise regimen or a stretching regimen. The aerobic group worked out with a professional to within 75 to 85% of their maximum heart rate for 45 to 60 min 4 days a week. After six months, both men and women in the aerobic group were more fit. The women in this group also enjoyed significant improvement in their cognitive ability. This improvement was much less marked in men, possibly due to sex differences in the metabolic effects of exercise. In the second study, researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester compared the exercise habits of nearly 200 older adults with mild cognitive impairment with those of over 1,000 older adults without the condition. Their analysis revealed that exercising moderately reduced the risk of having mild cognitive impairment in mid life by 39% and in late life by 32% in both men and women. Interestingly, neither light nor intense exercise had this effect. Today's research suggests that engaging in at least a moderately intensive exercise routine can help keep your brain sharp as you age.
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INSIDERMEDICINE VIDEO: C Sections Only When Indicated, Predictor of Success in Cornea Transplant Surgery, Even Low Levels of Lead Bad for Children's Kidneys
(January 11, 2010 - Insidermedicine) From Switzerland - According to ...
(January 11, 2010 - Insidermedicine) From Switzerland - According to a report published in The Lancet, cesarean sections should not be done unless medically indicated. Researchers from the World Health Organization examined data on over 100 000 deliveries, finding an increased risk of both morbidity--admission to intensive care, hysterectomy and blood transfusion--and maternal mortality associated with cesarean sections that were not medically indicated. From Ohio - Researchers have identified a new predictor of success in cornea transplant surgery, according to a report published in the Archives of Ophthalmology. Previous theories maintained that the donor's endothelial cells--the cells that line the underside of the cornea--would predict whether the transplant would succeed or not. New research, however, shows that the patient's endothelial count six month after transplantation is much better at predicting the eventual success of the procedure. And finally, from Baltimore - According to a report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, even a tiny amount of lead in the blood can be dangerous for children's kidneys. Researchers studied nearly 800 children and teenagers, finding that children with lead levels above 2.9 micrograms per deciliter had a kidney filtration rate that was 6.6 units lower than children who had less than 1 micrograms per deciliter in their blood.
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INSIDERMEDICINE VIDEO: TB Risk Decreases With Additional Birth Weight, Atherosclerosis Risk For HIV Infected Men, New Discovery in Fight Against Cancer
(January 8, 2010 - Insidermedicine) From Michigan - According to ...
(January 8, 2010 - Insidermedicine) From Michigan - According to a report published online in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, every additional pound at birth lowers a newborns risk of developing tuberculosis. Studying identical twins, researchers found that for every 1.1 pounds of birth weight, TB risk decreased by 87% for males and 16% for females. From Massachusetts - Men infected with HIV who have minimal cardiac risk factors nonetheless have been found to suffer from serious atherosclerosis, according to a report published in the journal AIDS. Researchers studied 110 men--78 of whom had HIV while 32 were healthy controls--with no symptoms of cardiovascular disease. Results of CT angiography showed coronary atherosclerosis in 59% of HIV patients, compared with 34% of controls. As well, five of the HIV patients had critical coronary stenosis compared with none of the controls. And finally, from Montreal - According to a report published in the journal Science Signalling, scientists have identified a connection between two genetic pathways that may help in the fight against cancer. Researchers discovered a link between the gene PTEN--which is known to suppress tumors--and the protein PKR--known to hinder protein synthesis. They found that, when the gene PTEN is either missing or mutated, PKR no longer stops protein synthesis, thereby setting the stage for tumor development. This discovery could potentially lead to new cancer treatments aimed at activating the PKR protein.
