Bacteria in newborn airways may raise asthma risk
Newborns who harbor certain types of bacteria in their throats, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, a common cause of pneumonia, and Haemophilus influenzae, which causes upper respiratory infections, are at increased risk for developing recurrent wheeze or asthma early in life, new research shows.
This finding “opens new perspectives for the understanding and prediction of recurrent wheeze and asthma in young children,” lead author Dr. Hans Bisgaard, from Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, and colleagues conclude in their report in The New England Journal of Medicine for October 11.
Study shows persistent benefits of statin drug
The heart benefits of taking statin drugs may last for years, even after the drugs are stopped, researchers reported on Wednesday.
Men who took pravastatin for five years had a lower risk of death or heart attack even 10 years after they stopped taking the drug, Ian Ford of the University of Glasgow in Scotland and colleagues found.
Parents enthusiastic about doctor e-mail access
Parents and pediatricians both seem to benefit from using e-mail for routine questions, Pennsylvania-based researchers report in the October issue of Pediatrics.
“Our study,” Dr. Paul Rosen told Reuters Health, “showed that parents reported a better understanding of their child’s medical tests, an increase in access to care, and improved quality of care by being able to e-mail their doctor.”
Switzerland increases checks for bird flu
Switzerland is increasing its checks for bird flu around Lake Geneva, Lake Neuchatel and other waterways during the northern hemisphere winter, when the virus generally spreads fastest.
The canton of Vaud, in the French-speaking part of the small Alpine country, issued a statement saying it would boost its surveillance for the virus among wild birds in a one-km perimeter around its major lakes from next week.
High glycemic index diet boosts fatty liver risk
People who eat lots of high glycemic index (GI) foods not only risk gaining weight, they also run a greater risk of developing a condition that can lead to liver failure and death, finds a new study in mice. The condition is known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
GI refers to how rapidly a food causes blood sugar to rise. High-GI foods, like white bread and potatoes, tend to spur a quick surge in blood sugar, while low-GI foods, such as lentils, soybeans, yogurt and many high-fiber grains, create a more gradual increase in blood sugar.
