Crohn’s disease – accelerated step-care a best management practice

REACT clinical trial supports new approach of accelerated treatment for Crohn’s disease – The final results from an international clinical trial involving nearly 2,000 patients with Crohn’s disease support the use of a new management strategy referred to as accelerated step-care as a best practice for the care of active Crohn’s disease.

Older people exposed to aircraft noise may face hospitalization from heart problems

Older people exposed to aircraft noise may face greater risk of hospitalization from heart problems – Older people exposed to aircraft noise, especially at high levels, may face increased risk of being hospitalized for cardiovascular disease. Researchers found that, on average, zip codes with 10-decibel higher aircraft noise had a 3.5% higher cardiovascular hospital admission rate.

Diabetic stroke risk after AMI drops in 10 year period

Diabetic stroke risk after AMI drops in 10 year period – At the ESC Congress researchers reveal that reperfusion therapy and secondary prevention drugs produced the decline and brought stroke risk after AMI closer to that of non-diabetics.

Tamiflu drug resistance in H7N9 flu cases raises concern

Tamiflu Resistance Confirmed in H7N9 Flu Cases — Drug resistance in new China bird flu raises concern – Resistance easily develops when patients take antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir (tamiflu) for treating h7n9 influenza infections. Researcher’s analysis, which includes 14 patients who were hospitalized in Shanghai within 2 days of starting therapy with Tamiflu, appears in The Lancet.

Darbepoetin alfa does not improve health of anemic heart failure patients

Cleveland Clinic research shows anemia drug does not improve health of anemic heart failure patients — Phase 3 findings published in NEJM provide answers about treatment with darbepoetin alfa – Researchers from Cleveland Clinic and Sweden-based Sahlgrenska University Hospital have found that a commonly used drug to treat anemia in heart failure patients – darbepoetin alfa – does not improve patients’ health, nor does it reduce their risk of death from heart failure.

Cesarean delivery rates varied tenfold in US hospitals

U of M researchers find wide variation in cesarean delivery rates among US hospitals – Cesarean delivery is the most common surgery in the United States, performed on 1.67 million American women annually. The latest study, appearing in Health Affairs, shows that cesarean delivery rates varied tenfold across U.S. hospitals, from 7.1 percent to 69.9 percent.

Anemia drug Omontys recalled due to anaphylaxis

US FDA alerts health care providers of recall of anemia drug Omontys – In US, Omontys Injection is recalled due to reports of anaphylaxis, a serious and life-threatening allergic reaction. Omontys is used to treat anemia in adult dialysis patients. Until further notice, health care providers should stop using Omontys.

Flu season tough for older people this year in US

Flu Season ‘Bad One for the Elderly,’ CDC Says — US flu epidemic – 29 children dead – An unusually severe flu season is exacting a heavy toll on older people in New York and across USA. This year’s edition of influenza is hitting the elderly hard, putting many in hospitals, even as overall flu activity is showing signs of slowing down.

Stenting early better than medical therapy alone

Early use of stents better than medical therapy alone for certain patients – For patients with stable coronary artery disease who have at least one narrowed blood vessel that compromises flow to the heart, medical therapy alone leads to a significantly higher risk of hospitalization and the urgent need for a coronary stent when compared with therapy that also includes initial placement of artery-opening stents.

Guillain Barre syndrome risk from H1N1 vaccine

H1N1 vaccine associated with small but significant risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome – Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is usually characterized by rapidly developing motor weakness and areflexia (the absence of reflexes). “The disease is thought to be autoimmune and triggered by a stimulus of external origin.

Health Newstrack