Lymph Node Ultrasounds More Accurate in Obese Breast Cancer Patients
Mayo Clinic research into whether ultrasounds to detect breast cancer in underarm lymph nodes are less effective in obese women has produced a surprising finding. Fat didn’t obscure the images — and ultrasounds showing no suspicious lymph nodes actually proved more accurate in overweight and…
It’s Safe to Go In the Water, Just Don’t Swallow It
There is nothing better on a hot, summer day than a refreshing dip in a community pool, water park, lake or ocean. However, bacteria and parasites can lurk in all kinds of water and put a real damper on summertime fun unless people practice a…
What’s Hot in Sun Protection for Summer 2014
Montefiore dermatologist explains new FDA requirements and the latest advancements in sunscreenAs summer approaches, consumers stocking up on sun care products may be seeing some unfamiliar terms and others might be unable to find the types of products they have used in the past. That’s…
Diet Shown to Be Critical Factor in Improving Type 2 Diabetes After Bariatric Surgery
Patients with type 2 diabetes who consume a diet identical to the strict regimen followed after bariatric surgery are just as likely to see a reduction in blood glucose levels as those who undergo surgery, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.
Bacterial Digestion of Red Meat Frees Compound Associated with Atherosclerosis
Patients may ask about a new study that could explain how red meat consumption might contribute to heart disease. The study, published in Nature Medicine, found that the metabolism of carnitine (a trimethylamine abundant in red meat) by gut bacteria leads to the formation of…
Cancer Doesn’t Change Young Girls’ Desire to Have Children
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and colleagues have found that healthy adolescent females have predetermined expectations for becoming parents in the future, but have concerns about fertility and childbearing should they develop a life-threatening illness, such as cancer. The study appeared in the February issue…
Cancer Vaccines Self-Sabotage, Channel Immune Attack to Injection Site
Cancer vaccines that attempt to stimulate an immune system assault fail because the killer T cells aimed at tumors instead find the vaccination site a more inviting target, scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center report in Nature Medicine. A common substance…
Colonoscopy Screening Reduces Risk of Advanced Colorectal Cancer
A new study led by a researcher at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania adds support to current medical recommendations stating that screening colonoscopy substantially reduces an average-risk adult’s likelihood of being diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) in either the…
Combination Therapy of CPAP and Weight Loss for Obstructive Sleep Apnea is Effective for Lowering Blood Pressure in Obese Patients
Obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) tend to co-exist and are associated with high blood pressure. The effects of weight loss and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), the standard therapy for OSA, on blood pressure have been previously studied individually, but the incremental benefit of…
Children Who Avoid Scary Situations Likelier to Have Anxiety
Children who avoid situations they find scary are likely to have anxiety a Mayo Clinic study of more than 800 children ages 7 to 18 found. The study published this month in Behavior Therapy presents a new method of measuring avoidance behavior in young children.
Common Erectile Dysfunction Drug Not Helpful for Heart Failure Patients
A commonly used erectile dysfunction drug, sildenafil, doesn’t help patients who have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, a condition in which the heart’s lower chambers are stiff and cannot relax and fill fully between beats.
Chicken Pox Vaccine Saving Children’s Lives
The widespread introduction of a chicken pox vaccine in Australia in 2006 has prevented thousands of children from being hospitalized with severe chicken pox and saved lives, according to new research. In a national study of chicken pox admissions at four participating Australian children’s hospitals,…