Health Archives

Arsenic in rice and rice products is low

On September 6, 2013, FDA released the analytical results of approximately 1,100 new samples of rice and rice products as part of a major effort to understand and manage possible arsenic-related risks associated with the consumption of these foods in the U.S. marketplace. – The levels FDA found in its testing are too low to cause immediate or short-term adverse health effects. FDA’s work going forward will center on long-term risk and ways to manage it with a focus on long-term exposure.

Mind wandering may lead to insomnia

Brain imaging study reveals the wandering mind behind insomnia — Study is the first to find functional MRI differences in working memory in people with primary insomnia – A new brain imaging study may help explain why people with insomnia often complain that they struggle to concentrate during the day even when objective evidence of a cognitive problem is lacking.

Age Related Memory Loss is reversible

A Major Cause of Age-Related Memory Loss Identified — Study points to possible treatments and confirms distinction between memory loss due to aging and that of Alzheimer’s – The researchers have identified a protein-RbAp48-that, when increased in aged wild-type mice, improves memory back to that of young wild-type mice. They have found that deficiency of a protein called RbAp48 in the hippocampus is a significant contributor to age-related memory loss and that this form of memory loss is reversible.

Pazopanib better than sunitinib in advanced kidney cancer

Pazopanib shows better quality-of-life in advanced kidney cancer – Two oral targeted drugs — Pazopanib (Votrient) and sunitinib (Sutent) — approved for metastatic kidney cancer worked equally well, but one proved superior in tolerability, the safety profile and many measures of quality of life favored pazopanib.

Vedolizumab an effective treatment for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Studies show vedolizumab is an effective treatment for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis – Investigational antibody vedolizumab is an effective treatment for those suffering from ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) when other treatments have failed, revealed in an international clinical trial.

Breast augmentation a popular cosmetic surgery for women in US

5 Reasons that Breast Augmentation is the Top Cosmetic Surgery — Plastic surgeon Dr. Emily J. Kirby discusses why women choose breast enhancement with confidence – Year in and year out, breast augmentation continues to be a popular cosmetic surgery for women. According to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), it has been the top plastic surgery in the United States since 2006.

Four cups of coffee or tea a day beneficial to a healthy liver

Coffee and tea may contribute to a healthy liver — four cups of coffee or tea a day may be beneficial in preventing and protecting against the progression of NAFLD in humans – Increased caffeine intake may reduce fatty liver in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), revealed by researchers in a new study. Surprise! Your morning cup of tea or coffee may be doing more than just perking you up before work.

Regular long term exercise is good for sleep

Exercise is no quick cure for insomnia – Hitting the treadmill today won’t help you sleep tonight; it takes 4 months to kick in – Exercise is a common prescription for insomnia. But spending 45 minutes on the treadmill one day won’t translate into better sleep that night. “If you have insomnia you won’t exercise yourself into sleep right away,” said lead study author Kelly Glazer Baron, a clinical psychologist and director of the behavioral sleep program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Acetaminophen pain drug can cause rare serious skin reactions

FDA Warns of Rare Acetaminophen Risk — Acetaminophen linked to three serious skin diseases – Acetaminophen, a fever and pain reliever that is one of the most widely used medicines in the U.S., can cause rare but serious skin reactions, warns the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Facial plastic surgery helps to look younger but not attractive

Study Suggests Average of 3 Years Of Apparent Age Saved After Facial Plastic Surgery, No Consistent Improvement in Attractiveness – After aesthetic facial plastic surgery, one may look younger 3.1 years, but this may not improve your attractiveness, revealed in a study published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.

Understanding West Nile Virus – ecology, virology, epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, prevention

Review Article Describes Epidemiology, Characteristics and Prevention of West Nile Virus – Researchers conducted a review of the medical literature and national surveillance data to examine the ecology, virology, epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, prevention, and control of West Nile virus.

Older age at retirement reduces dementia risk

Older age at retirement is associated with reduced risk of dementia – Some research has suggested that intellectual stimulation and mental engagement throughout life may be protective against Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. In a new study, researchers found that retirement at older age is associated with a reduced risk of dementia.