Ibuprofen may improve liver-related brain deficits
Treatment with the commonly used over-the-counter drug ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), may reduce the impairments in thinking ability that often accompany severe liver disease, findings from an animal study suggest.
Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory agent that belongs to a group of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Previous research has suggested that inflammation plays a key role in the development of brain impairments caused by liver disease, referred to as “hepatic encephalopathy.”
Schizophrenia risk may be lower in type 1 diabetics
The incidence of schizophrenia in patients with type 1 diabetes is less than half of that seen in people without diabetes, according to findings published in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
“Patients with schizophrenia have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus,” Dr. Hannu Juvonen and colleagues from the National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, point out. However, no conclusive studies have examined the relationship between schizophrenia and type 1 diabetes.
Prostate cancer pamphlets may encourage screening
Providing easy-to-read educational handouts to men can encourage discussion about prostate cancer and increase screening for elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a standard test used to detect an increased risk of prostate cancer, new research suggests. But, the use of these educational materials does not make men more inclined to undergo rectal examination, which can also detect cancer.
Physicians are advised to discuss prostate cancer with their patients so that they can make informed decisions about screening, note Dr. Sunil Kripalani, from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, and colleagues. However, “few studies have tested strategies to encourage such discussions.”
