Women survive lung cancer better than men
Elderly women with lung cancer have significantly better survival rates than men, regardless of the type of treatment, according to the results of a new.
It has not been clear if women’s survival advantage “results from better response to treatment, different tumor biology, or a longer life expectancy,” Dr. Juan P. Wisnivesky and Dr. Ethan A. Halm, from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, write in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Counseling can improve arthritis pain, disability
Giving people with arthritis the tools to cope with pain can help them feel, and function, better, the authors of a new analysis of research on counseling for arthritis patients conclude.
However, just a session or two isn’t enough to truly help individuals with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis develop the coping skills they need, Dr. Francis J. Keefe of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, told Reuters Health. Learning these skills takes time and practice, he added. “It’s like riding a bike.”
Rising obesity a cancer “time-bomb” - expert
Rising obesity levels mean Britain is facing a cancer “time-bomb”, a health expert said on Monday.
Greg Martin, science and research manager at the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), warned that urgent action is needed if the country is to avert a surge in cancer cases.
Chromium no help in controlling diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes often take chromium supplements to help keep their blood sugar levels under control, but new findings from a Dutch study raise doubts about the value of this approach.
“In non-Western diabetic populations, there is some evidence that chromium might be beneficial,” Dr. Nanno Kleefstra, told Reuters Health. “In Western populations ... it does not seem to help in the dosages used.”
Glaxo’s Avandia raises heart-death risk: study
Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline Plc’s widely used drug for treating type 2 diabetes, increased the risk of heart death by 64 percent and the risk of heart attack by 43 percent, U.S. researchers said on Monday.
The news about Avandia, also known as rosiglitazone, triggered a freefall in GSK’s shares, which closed off more than 5 percent on the London Stock Exchange. The stock slide continued on the New York Stock Exchange, falling $3.67 per share, or more than 6 percent.
Bangladesh launches emergency polio vaccination drive
Bangladesh began immunizing 2 million children against polio on Sunday in an emergency vaccination drive in a southeastern region close to Myanmar, officials said.
The campaign follows confirmation that a polio-infected child from Myanmar had traveled to Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar for treatment in March.
Can Patients with Diverticular Disease Eat Nuts, Corn and Popcorn
Diverticulosis is a common disease of the large intestine characterized by pouches in the colon that bulge outward through weak spots in the colon musculature. These pouches can become inflamed, a complication referred to as diverticulitis, or they can bleed, often profusely. Patients with diverticulosis, particularly those who have complications, are frequently advised to avoid nuts and seeds; however, there is little evidence to support this recommendation. The aim of this study, conducted by researchers from the University of Washington School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School, was to prospectively evaluate whether nut, corn and popcorn consumption were associated with complications of diverticular disease.
From the Health Professionals Follow-up Study cohort, investigators selected 47,228 U.S. men aged 40-75 years at baseline (in 1986) and free of diverticular disease, gastrointestinal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. Men reporting newly diagnosed diverticulosis or diverticular complications on biennial follow-up questionnaires were sent supplemental questionnaires outlining details of diagnosis and treatment. Recent consumption of nuts, corn and popcorn was determined from a validated 131-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire mailed to the participants every four years. Study endpoints included diverticular bleeding and diverticulitis.
Popcorn back on the menu for diverticular disease; new treatments for ulcerative colitis, perianal f
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is an umbrella term referring to a group of disorders that cause inflammation of the intestines, including ulcerative colitis, diverticular disease and perianal fistula. Nearly one million Americans experience some form of IBD every year, which is often chronic or recurring. Research presented today at Digestive Disease Week® 2007 (DDW®) looks at preventative measures and potential treatment options for these painful and debilitating conditions. DDW is the largest international gathering of physicians and researchers in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery.
Pregnant South African women set world record
Over 1,000 pregnant women in South Africa set a new world record on Saturday for the largest gathering of women due to give birth—and there were no early arrivals.
“We were a little bit concerned having all these pregnant women under one roof, but we are happy that none of them went into labor,” said organizer Projeni Pather.
