In a study entitled ?Medical Myths Even Doctors Believe? published in the Christmas issue of the British Medical Journal, Indiana University School of Medicine researchers explored seven commonly held medical beliefs. – Indiana University School of Medicine researchers explored seven commonly held medical beliefs. The study entitled “Medical Myths Even Doctors Believe” is published in the Christmas issue of the British Medical Journal.
Several recent reports have found that women are more likely to have other symptoms of a heart attack but chest pain is the most common sign of heart attack for most women. – Chest pain or discomfort has long been regarded as the most common early warning sign of a heart attack for both men and women. However, several recent reports have found that women are more likely to have other symptoms of a heart attack. A new study looked at the available evidence and concluded that chest pain is the most common sign of heart attack for most women.
Yale School of Medicine researchers have shown for the first time that it is possible to suppress the development of epilepsy in genetically predisposed animals?which could open the door to treating epilepsy as a preventable disease. – It is possible to suppress the development of epilepsy in genetically predisposed animals revealed by Yale School of Medicine researchers. This new study would open the door to treating epilepsy as a preventable disease.
A genetic mutation expands lesions in the aorta and promotes coronary atherosclerosis, more commonly known as hardening of the arteries, according to a study by Yale School of Medicine in Cell Metabolism. – Researchers revealed that changes in gene may lead to hardening of the arteries and expands lesions in the aorta and promotes coronary atherosclerosis. The study was done by researchers from Yale School of Medicine and published in Cell Metabolism.
US researchers say they have successfully corrected key symptoms of a type of autism and mental retardation in mice, a development which could offer sufferers a potential treatment. – Researchers at MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory have corrected key symptoms of mental retardation and autism in mice. The work, which will be reported in the Dec. 20 issue of Neuron, indicates that a certain class of drugs could have the same effect in humans. These drugs are not yet approved by the FDA, but will soon be entering into clinical trials.
Nonoxynol 9 or N9 in the widely available stand-alone contraceptive products do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule that requires that manufacturers of over-the-counter (OTC) stand-alone vaginal contraceptive and spermicidal products containing the chemical ingredient nonoxynol 9 (N9) include a warning that the chemical N9 does not provide protection against infection from HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Older women with a prevalent vertebral fracture should be treated for osteoporosis irrespective of bone mineral density BMD. – Over a 15 year period, women with low bone mineral density and a previous vertebral fracture had an increased risk of a new vertebral fracture compared to women with normal bone mineral density and no previous fracture, according to a study in the December 19 issue of JAMA.
Massage can ease pain after surgery and may complement the use of drugs for patients, US researchers said. – A 20-minute evening back massage may help relieve pain and reduce anxiety following major surgery when given in addition to pain medications, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
The World Health Organization warned Monday that countries should be on alert for bird flu because it is again on the move, with Pakistan reporting South Asia’s first human infections and Myanmar logging its first human case. – The Ministry of Health in Pakistan has informed WHO of 8 suspected human cases of H5N1 avian influenza infection in the Peshawar area of the country. These cases were detected following a series of culling operations in response to outbreaks of H5N1 in poultry. One of the cases has now recovered and a further two suspected cases have since died.
People with a severe form of the skin disease psoriasis are likely to die at a younger age than their healthy peers, according to a study at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia. – Patients with severe psoriasis appear to have an increased risk of death compared with patients without the skin condition, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
