Diagnosis | Page 33 of 34 | Health Newstrack

Stress in pregnancy may lead to schizophrenia in offspring

This population-based study suggests that severe stress to a mother during the first trimester may alter the risk of schizophrenia in offspring. This finding is consistent with ecological evidence from whole populations exposed to severe stressors and suggests that environment may influence neurodevelopment at the feto-placental-maternal interface. – Most societies believe that a mother’s psychological state can influence her unborn baby. Children of women who undergo an extremely stressful event-such as the death of a close relative-during the first trimester of pregnancy appear more likely to develop schizophrenia, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Simple urine test detecting prostate cancer accurately

New, non-invasive prostate cancer test beats PSA in detecting prostate cancer, researchers report. Simple urine test leads to more accurate diagnoses, fewer false-positive results. – An experimental biomarker test developed by researchers at the University of Michigan more accurately detects prostate cancer than any other screening method currently in use, according to a study published in the February 1 issue of Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Diabetes increasing among older Americans

The burden of financing and providing medical care for persons older than 65 in the United States having diagnosed diabetes is growing rapidly as a result of increased incidence and, especially, prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, decreased mortality, and overall lack of improvement in rates of complications in persons having diagnosed diabetes. – The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is growing worldwide. Consequently, there has been increased emphasis on primary and secondary prevention of diabetes. The annual number of Americans older than 65 newly diagnosed with diabetes increased by 23 percent between 1994 to 1995 and 2003 to 2004, according to a report in the January 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Snoring may lead to chronic bronchitis

This prospective study observed that snoring is associated with chronic bronchitis, and findings provide support for the hypothesis that snoring influences the development of chronic bronchitis. – Snoring is more prevalent in patients with chronic bronchitis than in persons without it. Few studies have examined the effect of snoring on chronic bronchitis. Frequent snoring appears to be associated with the development of chronic bronchitis, according to a report in the January 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Oral contraceptive pills can protect against ovarian cancer

The longer a woman uses the oral contraceptive pill, the lower her risk of getting ovarian cancer later in life. Oral contraceptives give substantial long-term protection against ovarian cancer. – Use of oral contraceptives during a woman’s life-time gives substantial long-term protection against ovarian cancer and the longer they are used, the greater the reduction in risk. These are the conclusions of authors of an Article in this week’s edition of The Lancet – a medical journal in the United Kingdom.

Surgical site infections common after breast surgery

Surgical site infection after breast cancer surgical procedures was more common than expected for clean surgery and more common than SSI after non?cancer-related breast surgical procedures. – Infections at the incision site occurred in more than 5 percent of patients following breast surgery and cost them more than $4,000 each in hospital-related expenses, revealed in a US study.

Black women get breast cancer two decades earlier than white women

Black British women in UK are diagnosed with breast cancer 21 years younger than white British women. – Black British women in Hackney, East London, are diagnosed with breast cancer 21 years younger than white British women, according to a Cancer Research UK study published online in the British Journal of Cancer.

Prodesse’s ProFlu+ Test for Respiratory Viruses receives FDA clearance

Prodesse’s ProFlu+ Test for Respiratory Viruses receives FDA clearance for Marketing Real-Time Test, detects four viruses, including influenza; results available in about 3 hours. – Prodesse, Inc., the leader in multiplex real-time PCR for infectious disease, announced that it received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its ProFlu+? Assay.

Chromosomal abnormalities play substantial role in autism

Chromosomal abnormalities play substantial role in autism, revealed in a study. Noting this change would help early diagnosis for autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) – a kind of developmental disorder. – Genome-wide scans of families affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have revealed new evidence that previously unknown chromosomal abnormalities have a substantial role in the prevalent developmental disorder, according to a report published online Jan. 17th in the American Journal of Human Genetics, a publication of Cell Press.

Weight loss caused by chewing gum – BMJ

Sorbitol intake should be considered in patients with bowel problems, chronic diarrhoea, and weight loss. – Severe weight loss was detected in patients due to chronic diarrhea after eating chewing gum and sweets because of excess sorbitol intake, a widely used sweetener in “sugar-free” products. Sorbitol has laxative properties and is poorly absorbed by the small intestine.