Health care Archives

Maternal deaths worldwide drop by third i.e. 34 percent

UN estimates reveal fewer women dying from pregnancy-related causes, but 1000 still die a day and more needs to be done to achieve set targets – The number of women dying due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth has decreased by 34% from an estimated 546 000 in 1990 to 358 000 in 2008, according to a new report, Trends in maternal mortality, released by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Bank.

Rosiglitazone Avandia diabetes drug should be withdrawn

BMJ report into top-selling diabetes drug raises concerns about the drug regulatory system – A BMJ investigation into the top-selling diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia) raises concerns about its safety and the whole system by which drugs are evaluated, regulated, and promoted around the world.

Researchers discover genetic link between immune system, Parkinson’s disease

Researchers discover genetic link between immune system, Parkinson’s disease – A team of researchers has discovered new evidence that Parkinson’s disease may have an infectious or autoimmune origin. “Common genetic variation in the HLA region is associated with late-onset sporadic Parkinson’s disease” appears online in Nature Genetics.

Eggs recalled in US due to Salmonella risk

URGENT Nationwide Egg Recall in US — Eggs in Their Shells May Put Consumers at Risk for Salmonella – An outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) that has sickened hundreds of people across the US has led to a recall of shell eggs. Working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health partners, the FDA reviewed epidemiologic and environmental investigation documents and identified 3 best-case clusters of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses.

NewYork-Presbyterian No. 6 hospital in US, No. 1 in NewYork

NewYork-Presbyterian No. 6 hospital in nation, No. 1 in NY – NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, one of the country’s largest and most comprehensive academic medical centers, is ranked #6 in the nation and #1 among ranked hospitals in the New York area, according to U.S. News Media Group’s 2010-11 Best Hospitals.

MMRV vaccine linked to double risk of seizures

Combination MMRV vaccine linked with 2-fold risk of seizures — Electronic health records study of 459,000 children sparked new CDC recommendations – The combination vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox (MMRV) is associated with double the risk of febrile seizures for 1- to 2-year-old children compared with same-day administration of the separate vaccine for MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and the varicella (V) vaccine for chicken pox.

Tests can predict falls in Parkinson’s disease

Tests help predict falls in Parkinson’s disease – A group of tests may help predict which people with Parkinson’s disease are more likely to fall, according to a study published in the June 23, 2010, online issue of Neurology?, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Apple juice improves behavior but not cognition in Alzheimer’s disease patients

Apple juice improves behavior but not cognition in Alzheimer’s patients – Apple juice can be a useful supplement for calming the declining moods that are part of the normal progression of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), revealed by researchers.

Screening for cervical cancer too frequently

Many clinicians may be screening for cervical cancer too frequently — Many physicians reported overscreening women by using both the HPV and Pap tests annually. – Many physicians reported overscreening women by using both the HPV and Pap tests annually. Clinical guidelines recommend screening low-risk women for cervical cancer every three years after age 30.

Prolia – new injectable osteoporosis treatment for postmenopausal women

FDA Approves New Injectable Osteoporosis Treatment for Postmenopausal Women – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Prolia, an injectable treatment for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who are at high risk for fractures.

Early clamping may interrupt humankind’s first natural stem cell transplant

Do we clamp the umbilical cord too soon? — USF researchers: Early clamping may interrupt humankind’s first ‘natural stem cell transplant’ – The timing of umbilical cord clamping at birth should be delayed just a few minutes longer, suggest researchers at the University of South Florida’s Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair.

Rheumatoid arthritis incidence on the rise in women

Rheumatoid arthritis incidence on the rise in women — Study suggests environmental factors may be cause of increase – The incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in women has risen during the period of 1995 to 2007, according to a newly published study by researchers from the Mayo Clinic.