Study Suggests Emergence of New Most Common Form of Heart Failure
Data from a 15-year period show that the prevalence of a particular type of heart failure - heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, also known as diastolic heart failure - is increasing. This type of heart failure now accounts for more than half of heart failure cases, according to Mayo Clinic research published in the July 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. An editorial accompanies this research, as well as another study on the same topic.
Nearly 5 million Americans are living with heart failure. Heart failure refers to symptoms of shortness of breath, exercise intolerance and fluid retention, which occur when heart function is impaired.
Heart failure may be associated with reduced pumping function as measured by the ejection fraction (systolic heart failure) or reduced relaxing function with preserved ejection fraction (diastolic heart failure). These two types of heart dysfunction cause exactly the same symptoms. Measurement of heart function, usually with an echocardiogram, is needed to distinguish between the two forms of heart failure.
Leukemia gene normally has mammary gland function
A gene critical for normal mammary gland function during nursing helps trigger highly lethal leukemias when it undergoes a mutation that fuses it to another gene, according to investigators at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The discovery of the gene’s normal function and that its only major role involves the mammary glands suggests that drugs that might be developed in the future to treat it could also be given to leukemia patients with few serious side effects.
Smoking in pregnancy tied to kids’ behavior issues
There seems to be a link between maternal smoking during pregnancy and behavioral problems in preschool-age children.
A study published in the journal Child Development found that two-year-olds whose mothers smoked regularly while they were pregnant were significantly more likely to exhibit an abnormal pattern of behavior over time compared to age-matched toddlers who were not exposed to cigarette smoke before birth.
While many toddlers exhibit mild behavioral problems during the “terrible twos,” the behavior problems of cigarette-exposed toddlers significantly increased between 18 and 24 months of age compared to the milder, more stable patterns of non-exposed toddlers.
Rapid flu test curbs diagnostic testing in the ER
A point-of-care rapid influenza test used during the flu season in the pediatric emergency department of a children’s hospital was sensitive and specific for influenza infection, and led to less diagnostic testing, a Tennessee-based team of doctors found.
“Influenza is one of the common causes of illness during the winter,” lead researcher Dr. Katherine A. Poehling pointed out in remarks to Reuters Health. “We found that rapid influenza tests were associated with fewer tests being ordered in the emergency department.”
To investigate the impact of such testing, Poehling and colleagues at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, conducted a study during the influenza seasons between 2002 and 2004. Surveillance days were randomly allocated to use or non-use of the test. Rapid results were compared with results of standard culture or another method of detecting viruses called PCR.
A high sugar content, low caffeine drink does not alleviate sleepiness but may worsen it
An hour after consuming a high sugar, low caffeine drink you will tend to have slower reactions and experience more lapses in concentration than if you had simply drunk a decaffeinated, nil carbohydrate drink.
This was the finding of research performed at the University of Loughborough and published in this month’s Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental.
Ten healthy adults had volunteered to restrict their sleep to 5 hours on the day before participating in the trial. An hour after eating a light lunch they were given either an energy drink (42g sugar + 30mg caffeine) or an identically tasting zero-sugar drink. They then performed a monotonous 90-minute test during the afternoon ‘dip’ that assessed their sleepiness and ability to concentrate.
