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Pneumococcal Disease: A Global Killer The airborne bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, also called pneumococcus, is a major heath threat worldwide, especially in developing nations. Young children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to pneumococcal disease, which can occur in the form of pneumonia, sepsis, otitis media, and meningitis. According to the World Health Organization, pneumococcal disease kills 700,000 to 1 million children each year (statistics on the elderly are less conclusive since pneumococcal disease resembles other ailments). Many of these deaths could be prevented through the administration of vaccines or antibiotics Pneumococcal Disease: A Global Killer
11/25/2009
2009 H1N1(Swine Flu) Vaccines Approved The Food and Drug Administration has approved four new vaccines for the prevention of 2009 H1N1 influenza, commonly called swine flu. In the production of the new vaccines, pharmaceutical manufacturers employed the same methods used to process seasonal flu vaccines. The federal government has ordered 195 million doses of H1N1 vaccine, and inoculations are set to begin in October. Though no one knows for sure how severe 2009 H1N1 influenza will be, so far this pandemic flu seems to have had similar effects to seasonal flu. Each year, seasonal flu hospitalizes approximately 200,000 people and causes 36,000 deaths in the United States. 2009 H1N1(Swine Flu) Vaccines Approved
9/23/2009
Bladder Cancer: Bacterial Treatment Did you know that bladder cancer can be treated with bacteria? In the procedure, a solution of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), the weakened bacteria used in tuberculosis vaccines, is injected directly into the bladder via a catheter. The bacteria mobilize an immune response that helps to destroy the tumor. Unfortunately, this immunotherapy method is limited to superficial cancers along the lining of the bladder, so researchers are working to develop genetically modified bacteria that attack tumors directly. This year, bladder cancer will cause about 14,330 deaths in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. Men are three times more likely than women to develop and die from the disease. Bladder Cancer: Bacterial Treatment
9/16/2009
Chlamydia, Syphilis, and Gonorrhea - Oh My! Chlamydia and syphilis cases have increased, while the number of gonorrhea infections remains constant, according to the latest report by the CDC. The study found that reported cases of chlamydia in the United States reached an all-time high of 1.1 million in 2007, the latest year for accurate data. Syphilis, which was all but eradicated in the U.S. a decade ago, infected 11,000 new people that same year. Gonorrhea is holding steady, at about 365,000 cases. The good news is that all of these sexually transmitted diseases are treatable with antibiotics and largely preventable through safe sex. The bad news is that the actual numbers may be much higher due to under reporting and under screening. Chlamydia, Syphilis, and Gonorrhea - Oh My!
6/7/2009
Prostate Cancer Screening - Does It Help? Two major studies, one in the U.S. and one in Europe, have found that yearly P.S.A. (prostate-specific antigen) blood tests do not significantly reduce prostate cancer death rates. What's more, men with high P.S.A. readings, which can indicate less serious ailments as well as malignant prostate cancer, will sometimes undergo painful surgery or radiation therapy when no intervention is needed. As with other cancers, slow-growing prostate tumors may pose little threat or even disappear on their own, while fast-growing tumors often become untreatable before being discovered through screening. Some experts now say that men should weigh the hazards and benefits of treatment when determining whether they want to be tested. Prostate Cancer Screening - Does It Help?
5/1/2009
Influenza in Seniors – How Deadly Is It? Flu shots for senior citizens may be less beneficial than previously suggested, according to recent studies. Older patients have long been susceptible to dying from flu complications, such as pneumonia and fever. Earlier research had stated that influenza vaccinations reduce the risk of mortality among the elderly by 50 percent. But new data models showing that the flu causes only 5-10 percent of winter deaths in seniors have raised questions about the accuracy of previous findings. And because the immune system works at a reduced capacity in the elderly, the vaccine may be less than 30 percent effective for them. Still, even skeptical scientists say that seniors should continue to get vaccinated. Influenza in Seniors – How Deadly Is It?
9/17/2008
Male Infertility Comes with Age Men, like women, have reduced odds of successful fertilization at age 35, a recent French study has found, younger than is generally thought. And the likelihood of pregnancy drops drastically in men over 40. The study, conducted on 12,200 couples, showed that sperm from men older than 40 produced only a 10% pregnancy rate and a one-third higher prevalence of miscarriage. Though this evidence helps dispel the myth of the ever-virile man, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) provides a viable solution. Through IVF, laboratory technicians can select the most robust sperm and inject it directly into the egg, lowering the risk of miscarriage and the time it takes for a pregnancy to stick. Male Infertility Comes with Age
7/30/2008
Asthma: An Adult Disease Too Adult-onset asthma is more common than you may think. Some experts say that up to 40 percent of new asthma sufferers show no symptoms until age forty, and many cases get overlooked by physicians due to symptomatic similarities with other age-related maladies. The prevalence of asthma has more than doubled since 1980, with over half a million Americans now being hospitalized by the ailment each year. The coughing and wheezing of an asthma attack are often induced by allergens and environmental triggers, including pollen, mold, pet dander, dust mites, cockroaches, tobacco smoke, cleaning products, and pollutants. Exposure to these triggers over a long period of time may be one reason for the increase in asthma symptoms among adults. Asthma: An Adult Disease Too
5/13/2008
A Healthy Mouth for a Sound Heart Poor oral health and cardiovascular disease may be connected. According to several studies, patients with periodontal (gum) disease often show a higher risk for heart attack and stroke, though a direct cause-and-effect link between the factors has yet to be established. Periodontal disease, as well as deep tooth decay, can allow oral bacteria and the toxins they produce to enter the bloodstream. This can provoke a chronic inflammatory response and a buildup of plaque along the arterial walls, one theory goes, increasing the likelihood of heart attack or stroke. So, by brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist regularly, you could actually prevent cardiovascular disease. A Healthy Mouth for a Sound Heart
4/15/2008
Restless Legs Syndrome: A Real Discomfort Scientists from separate international studies have found gene variants linked with restless legs syndrome, or RLS. These insights, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and Nature Genetics, have helped legitimize the neurological condition, which some experts have dismissed as a phantom disorder. RLS is characterized by a deep tingling, itching, gnawing sensation and involuntarily leg movement while at rest or asleep, often causing insomnia. Up to 10 percent of Americans are affected by restless legs syndrome, most of them middle aged or older. Though medication is currently available, genetic research could produce targeted treatments for RLS sufferers. Restless Legs Syndrome: A Real Discomfort
3/17/2008
Chocolate Heart Chocolate may be heart smart. Several studies in recent years have found that cocoa, a main ingredient in chocolate, contains large amounts of antioxidant-rich compounds called flavonoids, which act to relax the blood vessels and lower blood pressure. Many other foods, including broccoli, onions, grapes, and tea, also have flavonoids, though none are as packed with the antioxidants as cocoa. Dark chocolate retains far more flavonoids than does milk chocolate, and one German study found that eating 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate per day is as clinically effective at reducing blood pressure as beta-blocker drugs. So, by eating a piece of dark chocolate this Valentine's Day, you may actually be benefiting your heart. Chocolate Heart
2/14/2008
Appendix - Unnecessary Appendage? The appendix, long thought to be a useless appendage dangling from the large intestine, may serve a purpose after all. Scientists at Duke University Medical Center now believe that the appendix houses and protects many of the so-called "good" intestinal bacteria, which aid in digestion and immunity. When severe illness, such as amebic dysentery or cholera, strips the intestines of these important bacteria, the appendix will replenish their supply. Nevertheless, doctors still recommend removing the appendix when it becomes inflamed. A ruptured appendix can cause serious infection or death. Each year, over 300,000 Americans check into the hospital with appendicitis and 300-400 die from the ailment. Appendix - Unnecessary Appendage?
1/16/2008
Menstrual Pain - Herbal Relief Chinese herbs may be more effective than other methods at relieving menstrual cramps, suggests a study by the University of Western Sydney, in Australia. The trials, conducted on 3,475 women in China, Taiwan, Japan, and the Netherlands, found that herbal medicine worked better at reducing pain and symptoms than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin and ibuprofen), oral contraceptives, acupuncture, hot-water bottles, placebo, or no treatment at all. And the herbs had no evident side effects. Fifty percent of premenopausal women and as many as 85 percent of teenage girls suffer from menstrual pain. The herbs studied include Chinese angelica root, Szechuan lovage root, red and white peony root, Chinese motherwort, cinnamon bark, fennel fruit, and licorice root. Menstrual Pain - Herbal Relief
11/26/2007
Blood Transfusion - The downside Blood transfusions may be harmful to recipients due to nitric oxide depletion in stored blood. Two recent studies conducted by Duke University Medical Center reveal that blood cell concentrations of nitric oxide are reduced soon after blood leaves a donor's body. Nitric oxide, a gas, dilates arteries, allowing red blood cells to deliver oxygen to tissues. A lack of oxygen can lead to heart attack, stroke, or death, which are more likely to occur in patients who receive transfused blood. Researchers believe the solution is simple: add nitric oxide back to stored blood. Tests on reintroducing the gas to blood before transfusion have been successful in dogs, a good sign for future trials on humans. Blood Transfusion - The downside
11/1/2007
Breast Cancer Awareness In recent years, researchers have become aware that breast cancer is not a single disease but a variety of cancers affecting the breasts. One of the most aggressive types of breast cancer called "triple negative" seems to target poor black and Hispanic women under the age of 40, according to an article published this year in CANCER, a journal of the American Cancer Society. The study also found that women with triple-negative breast cancer have a lower survival rate than women with other breast cancers. Triple-negative breast cancer lacks three important tumor markers: estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2. This makes it resistant to hormone adjuvant therapy. Breast Cancer Awareness
10/16/2007
Pancreatic Cancer or Diabetes - Some Choise! Pancreatic cancer is such a deadly disease that some high-risk patients will have the pancreas removed as a preventive measure. But without a pancreas, the organ that produces insulin, a patient must live with diabetes and a lifetime of insulin injections. The trade-off, however, may be worth it. Pancreatic cancer cells can mutate several times and often resist radiation and chemotherapy. The disease has an overall survival rate of less than 4 percent, with most patients dying within 5 years. Given the high mortality rate and few treatment options, it's no wonder that patients choose to live with diabetes (and without a pancreas) rather than risk developing the deadly cancer. Pancreatic Cancer or Diabetes - Some Choise!
10/2/2007
Youth Depression: Over-Medicated? Antidepressant prescriptions for children and teenagers are slowly rising after a sharp decline. The number of youths prescribed antidepressants more than doubled between 1995 and 2002. But in February 2004, when the FDA advised it would strengthen warning labels on antidepressants to indicate increased suicide risk, prescriptions dropped drastically; yet recent statistics show that youth suicides actually climbed by 18 percent that year! Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRI, a class of drugs that includes Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft, are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants for children, though the practice remains controversial. Many doctors recommend counseling as a first line of treatment, and counseling combined with medication if the depression proves severe. Youth Depression: Over-Medicated?
9/18/2007
Home Accidents - DIYers Beware As more do-it-yourselfers use power tools for their home improvement projects, certain home accidents may increase. Nail-gun injuries have risen 300 percent since 1991, and the Home Safety Council tallied 330,000 trips to the emergency room in one year due to casualties sustained by tools. Even commonplace devices can be dangerous: each year, 136,000 people suffer sprains and broken bones from ladder falls, and yearly lawnmower accident rates are at 80,000. Not to mention the numerous electrocutions, burns, drownings, and chemical injuries incurred in the home. Many of these accidents can be prevented by learning proper operational techniques and by using safety gear. So next time you embark on a do-it-yourself project, be careful! Home Accidents - DIYers Beware
9/4/2007
Ovarian Cancer - Is Hormone Therapy a culprit? Women taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have an increased risk of ovarian cancer. The Million Women Study, in Britain, proclaims that postmenopausal women on HRT show a 20 percent higher incidence of developing and dying from ovarian cancer than women who never take the hormones. When a woman stops hormone replacement therapy, the threat of ovarian cancer subsides to normal within a few years, but the symptoms of menopause may return. If caught early, ovarian cancer can be treated locally by removing the cancerous tumor or ovary. However, due to a lack of accurate screening tests, many ovarian cancers go unnoticed and spread throughout the body. Ovarian Cancer - Is Hormone Therapy a culprit?
8/14/2007
Sexually Transmitted Diseases & circumcision Male circumcision may reduce the likelihood of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, syphilis, and genital ulcers (often caused by herpes simplex), according to a controversial 25-year-long study in New Zealand. And the World Health Organization now recommends circumcision after three clinical trials in Africa showed a 48-60 percent drop in new HIV infections among circumcised heterosexual men. The penile foreskin is a particularly delicate area, prone to bleeding and infection when agitated. Despite these recent findings, the American Academy of Pediatrics concludes there is insufficient evidence to recommend routine neonatal circumcision, and doctors still advise men to practice safe sex through monogamy and condom use to reduce the spread of STD’s. Sexually Transmitted Diseases & circumcision
6/6/2007
Tuberculosis - The Threat Returns A deadly new strain of tuberculosis called extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) may soon pose a global health threat. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, is transmitted by coughing and can usually be treated with antibiotics. XDR-TB, which is untreatable with all first- and most second-line medications, sprang into existence when patients would improperly take antibiotics for the disease, allowing the bacteria to develop resistance and multiply. Immunocompromised persons, such as HIV patients, are especially susceptible to XDR-TB and to tuberculosis in general. Each year, tuberculosis infects 8.8 million and kills as many as 1.6 million people worldwide. Tuberculosis - The Threat Returns
4/17/2007
Hepatitis - By Food, Blood and Sweat The hepatitis B virus may be passed through sweat, a new study suggests. The finding has led to calls for the mandatory vaccination of athletes participating in contact sports, including the Olympics. Hepatitis B, and for that matter hepatitis C, was already known to be transmitted via blood and mucus. The other common form of viral hepatitis, hepatitis A, is often spread by fecal contamination of food and beverages. Viral hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can lead to jaundice, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Vaccines currently exist for hepatitis A and B but not for hepatitis C. Hepatitis - By Food, Blood and Sweat
3/27/2007
Eye Care Scare Bausch & Lomb is recalling 1.5 million bottles of its ReNu MultiPlus contact lens solution due to higher than normal levels of iron. The trace iron causes discoloration and faster deterioration. Last year, the company issued a separate recall for another solution that may have contributed to fungal eye infections. The eye is a delicate organ, susceptible to irritation, infection, and injury. Contact lenses can carry contaminants into the eye if they are not properly cleaned and stored. Alternatives to contacts are, of course, eyeglasses and surgical correction, such as laser eye surgery. Eye Care Scare
3/13/2007
Common Cold - Still No Cure The common cold may be too complex to cure. Over 200 strains of viruses cause cold symptoms, and some of those viruses can mutate, creating even more varieties. Cold viruses are spread by hand-to-hand contact, travel in mucus droplets that are launched into the air by coughing or sneezing, or are picked up via contact with everyday objects such as door knobs, light switches, clothing, and furniture. After touching an infected object, a person can introduce the virus into their body by wiping their eyes, nose, or mouth with virus-coated hands. The best way to prevent a cold is to wash your hands frequently and avoid rubbing your face. Common Cold - Still No Cure
2/27/2007
Brain Mapping Love: where does it reside in the brain? Neuroscientists are striving to locate the seats of mental processes in an effort to create a veritable brain map. Imaging technology such as MRI, CAT, and SPECT scans, as well as surgical prodding allow doctors to peer inside the active brain to locate areas of stimulation. Researchers have made headway in finding the regions of vision, speech, movement, cognition, and sensation. And in time, they may also discover which clusters of neurons produce such enigmatic qualities as memory, personality, consciousness, and love. Happy Valentine's Day! Brain Mapping
2/14/2007
Lymphoma - A Job Hazard Inhaling toxins on the job can lead to lymphoma, recent independent studies suggest. Firefighters risk developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma when they remove their masks amid toxic smoke; occupational exposure to pesticides increases instances of the disease in asthmatics; and chemical solvents (benzene, toluene, and xylene) used in manufacturing can cause both Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Lymphoma is a malignant cancer of the lymphoid tissue. It can spread through the lymph vessels and the bloodstream, invading other tissues and organs. Treatments for lymphoma include radiation, chemotherapy, and experimental immunotherapy. Presently, there is no cure, only remission. Lymphoma - A Job Hazard
1/30/2007
Coronary Artery Disease: A Plague of Plaque Heart specialists are working to identify certain deadly plaques that build up along the coronary artery walls and are liable to swell and rupture, thus causing speedy blood clot formation and blockage of blood flow to the heart. One doctor calls this potential discovery "the Holy Grail of cardiology." Coronary artery disease kills as many as 500,000 Americans each year despite the ever-increasing use of treatments, such as balloon angioplasty, stent placement, bypass surgery, and blood-thinning medications. If scientists learn to isolate and treat the killer plaques, they could revolutionize heart therapy, saving countless lives. Coronary Artery Disease: A Plague of Plaque
1/15/2007
Areterial Diseases at the Peripheral Statistics suggest that physicians worldwide are undertreating peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in patients, according to a study out of France. PAD is the blockage of a peripheral artery (such as those found in the legs) caused by inflammation or atherosclerotic narrowing of the blood vessel. It sometimes leads to the formation of a blood clot that can travel through the bloodstream and become lodged elsewhere in the body, resulting in heart attack, stroke, or poor circulation. Treatments for PAD include taking aspirin and statins, angioplasty and arterial bypass surgeries, and amputation. Areterial Diseases at the Peripheral
12/4/2006
Hospital-Acquired infections - not as rare as you think Think you are safe from infection once you enter the sterile confines of a hospital? Think again. When it comes to transmitting bacteria, it is the seemingly harmless items (mobile phones, ECG wires, and neckties) that a patient should fear. Nearly half of the neckties collected from doctors at one New York hospital carried potentially morbific bacteria, which can be transferred to immunocompromised patients. Hospital-acquired infections, called nosocomial infections, are not rare: an estimated 4 million cases occur annually in the U.S. alone. Nosocomial germs come in the form of viruses, fungi, and most commonly bacteria, which cause urinary tract infections, surgical wound infections, blood poisoning, pneumonia, and death. Hospital-Acquired infections - not as rare as you think
11/14/2006
Gene Therapy - The Future of Medicine The 2006 Nobel Prizes in both Chemistry and Medicine went to genetic research: Andrew Fire and Craig Mello won the Nobel in Medicine for their study of RNA interference (RNAi), and Roger Kornberg, son of Nobel laureate Arthur Kornberg, took home the Prize in Chemistry for his insight into the molecular basis of eukaryotic gene transcription. Genetic information in DNA, stored in the cell nucleus, is transcribed by messenger RNA, which then carries the genetic information to ribosomes in the cell cytoplasm for protein synthesis. RNAi essentially silences unwanted genes on double-stranded RNA, such as viral RNA, preventing their replication. These discoveries and other genetic research will likely have far-reaching applications in future gene therapies. Gene Therapy - The Future of Medicine
10/17/2006
Autism - A Spectrum of Disorders Men over the age of forty are far more likely to produce autistic offspring than are younger fathers, says a recently published study out of Israel. Though the specific reasons for the onset of autism are unknown, the research suggests paternal genetic factors. Some characteristics of autistic children include repetitive actions, obsession with a single idea, inability to socialize, avoidance of eye contact and physical touch, inappropriate laughter, and apathy. Still, many autistics can be sociable and intelligent (Newton and Einstein showed autistic tendencies), as is evident in people with mild autistic spectrum disorders like high functioning autism and Asperger's syndrome. Autism - A Spectrum of Disorders
10/3/2006
Food Poisoning - Don't Eat The Spinach E. coli in fresh spinach caused one person to die of kidney failure and has sickened over 100 people in 21 states. Foodborne bacterial pathogens such as E. coli, salmonella, and cholera are well known, yet outbreaks of Listeria monocytogenes, an emerging bacterial pathogen, occurred in the United States in 1999, in France in 2000, and in the United Kingdom in 2003, caused by eating contaminated hot dogs, pork pate, and luncheon meat, respectively. The lesser known Norwalk virus causes gastroenteritis and is often transmitted by uncooked shellfish and salad ingredients. Still hungry? Food Poisoning - Don't Eat The Spinach
9/21/2006
Meningities - A Back To School Issue New Jersey college students living on campus are now required to get inoculated against bacterial meningitis, but the vaccine may become scarce due to a nationwide shortage. Meningococcal meningitis, caused by contagious bacteria, can spread rapidly through a college dormitory, killing 10-14 percent of those infected and disabling another 11-19 percent. Meningitis is an infection and swelling of the meninges, which encapsulate the brain and spinal cord. Bacterial meningitis is the most fatal form of the disease, especially in small children, as it disseminates quickly throughout the body. Other, less deadly, types are fungal and viral meningitis. Meningities - A Back To School Issue
9/7/2006
Migraine: What a Headache Research suggests that many sinus headaches are actually migraines. Misdiagnosis of these headaches could be due to the nasal congestion and sinus pressure sometimes associated with migraine. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, visual aura, hot and cold flashes, mood swings, and hypersensitivity to light and sound, often triggered by stress, fatigue, unbalanced sleep, estrogen withdrawal, and weather changes. Though not considered fatal, severe migraines cause debilitating pain in 28 million (predominantly female) Americans, and millions more experience milder attacks. With correct information, doctors can better diagnose migraine and relieve the pain Migraine: What a Headache
8/23/2006
Colon Cancer: The Inside Story While Fidel Castro recuperates from intestinal surgery, some doctors speculate that the Cuban leader might have colon cancer. According to the WHO, cancer is the second leading cause of death in Cuba, and the colon is a frequent cancer site. In the United States, colon cancer takes over 50,000 lives each year, making it the second highest contributor to cancer-linked mortality. Early detection may be tantamount to survival: diagnostic techniques, such as colonoscopy and CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy), can be used to locate precancerous polyps and immature tumors before it’s too late. Colon Cancer: The Inside Story
8/8/2006
Alcoholism and Its Many Ilnesses Alcohol consumption and related illnesses are rising sharply in England. The U.K. National Health Service reports that in the past ten years the number of hospital visits for alcohol-induced liver diseases, such as cirrhosis, has more than doubled and alcohol poisoning cases leaped from 13,600 to 21,700. Cases of mental and behavioral problems from alcohol abuse rose by 75 percent. In the U.S., alcoholism and alcohol abuse remain a health threat - related illnesses in addition to those cited above include ulcers, varices, pancreatitis, bladder infection, enlarged heart, decreased metabolism, depression, insomnia, brain damage, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, and fetal alcohol syndrome. Alcoholism and Its Many Ilnesses
7/25/2006
Malaria - Still a Ravanging disease Bill Gates will semi-retire from Microsoft in 2008 to focus his energy on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. One of the preventable infectious diseases the Gates Foundation hopes to eradicate is malaria. But major obstacles remain: some antimalarial drugs have become obsolete in fighting certain strains of Plasmodium, the malaria parasite, and mosquitoes that spread Plasmodium are growing resistant to current insecticides. Malaria continues to be a killer in parts of Africa, Asia, and South America; it will claim about one million lives this year, many of them children. Malaria - Still a Ravanging disease
7/12/2006
Skin Cancer and Other Hazards of Sunlight A controversial lawsuit filed in Los Angeles calls sunscreen labels misleading, citing terms like "sunblock" and "UVA/UVB protection." Sunscreens repel most UVB rays (the shallowly penetrating rays that cause sunburn) but do not guard as well against UVA rays, which penetrate deeper into the skin and may lead to wrinkles and skin cancer. To protect against skin and eye ailments, such as melanoma, doctors recommend wearing protective clothing and limiting exposure to direct sunlight. Each year, over 1,000,000 new skin cancer cases are diagnosed in the United States. Skin Cancer and Other Hazards of Sunlight
6/20/2006
Cord Blood - Saving Lives Stem cells can be painlessly harvested from umbilical cord blood for the treatment of leukemia, anemia, and other diseases. The conventional method of extracting stem cells from bone marrow is a painful procedure for the donor, involving a large needle and anesthesia. Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can repair or replace damaged tissue; the body is less likely to reject them than transplanted specialized tissues. Increasingly, hospitals are establishing cord blood donation programs, providing new hope for patients waiting for bone marrow and stem cell transplants. Cord Blood - Saving Lives
6/6/2006
Cervical Cancer - HPV Vaccination Cervical Cancer- HPV Vaccination The FDA has unanimously endorsed a new vaccine that could dramatically reduce the number of cervical cancer cases. The majority of cervical cancer incidences spring from mucosal lesions caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is often spread through sexual intercourse. The vaccine, which guards against HPV and many types of genital warts, will be most effective if injected during pre-puberty, before sexual activity begins. An estimated 290,000 women worldwide die every year from cervical cancer. Cervical Cancer - HPV Vaccination
5/23/2006
AIDS: Looking Back and Forward AIDS research has come a long way in the two decades since the infamous dispute between American Robert Gallo and Frenchman Luc Montagnier (both virologists claimed to have discovered the HIV virus). Throughout the Eighties and Nineties, citizens rallied for better research, education, and treatment against the disease, and by 1997, drug "cocktails" reduced AIDS deaths by 40% in the United States. Today, over 40 million people worldwide are infected with HIV, as scientists work fervently to develop a vaccine to eradicate the virus. AIDS: Looking Back and Forward
5/9/2006
Breast Cancer In The News Breast cancer is often in the news, with fresh treatment options appearing every few years. Here are some recent innovations in prevention, therapy, and diagnosis: the estrogen-like drugs raloxifene and tamoxifen diminish breast cancer occurrences by 50% in postmenopausal women; ELIOT, a radiotherapy device used during surgery, reduces the need for post-op radiation; x-ray and ultrasound mammotomy provide less invasive breast biopsy alternatives. Of course, next year may yield far superior breakthroughs, as breast cancer researchers come to better understand their nemesis. Breast Cancer In The News
5/2/2006
Lyme Disease - It Is Ticking Now The reported number of Lyme disease cases in the U.S. has increased by over 4,000% since 1982 and often goes undiagnosed. Transmitted by deer ticks, Lyme disease is usually characterized by a "bull's-eye" rash and flu-like symptoms but can progress into facial palsy, carditis, meningitis, and arthritis. Antibiotics prove effective in 90% of early-stage Lyme disease but prevention works best: find and remove ticks early and wear protective clothing and repellant when entering the woods in endemic regions. Lyme Disease - It Is Ticking Now
4/18/2006
Allergy: The perils of overreaction Allergens trick the bodies of some 50 million Americans into attacking a false threat. Normally innocuous airborne matter, such as pollen, mold spores, dander, and dust, can deceive the immune system into generating histamine. Histamine triggers the inflammation of common allergic reactions: runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, hives, and rashes. Systemic allergic responses to bee stings, penicillin, latex, and food (shellfish, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts) can lead to severe asthma or anaphylactic shock. Allergy: The perils of overreaction
4/10/2006
Lung Cancer: The Smoking Gun The untimely death of nonsmoker activist Dana Reeve, widow of actor Christopher Reeve, to lung cancer revealed a little known fact--lung cancer among women is at epidemic proportions. This year, it will kill nearly 68,510 American women, more than breast and ovarian cancers combined. Smoking accounts for 87% of cases among men and women. The good news is that the survival rate has doubled over 30 years, and if caught early, many lung cancers can be cured. Lung Cancer: The Smoking Gun
4/3/2006
Sleep Disorders: A Sleepless Nation? Nearly 30 million Americans rely on medication to fall asleep. Recently, bizarre behavior such as driving while asleep and nighttime binge eating that is not remembered in the morning have sleep researchers wondering if this is related to newer sleeping pill medications. Are insomnia, sleep apnea, night terrors, sleepwalking, night eating syndrome, and other sleep disorders turning us into a sleepless nation? Sleep Disorders: A Sleepless Nation?
3/28/2006
Bed Bugs and Beyond Once considered a rare nuisance, bed bugs are making a huge comeback throughout North America and Europe. During the day, they lurk in crevices, waiting for their human hosts to go to bed. While the host is asleep, the bugs crawl out of hiding to feed on blood. And bed bugs are not alone: lice, chiggers, ticks, mites, and scabies can also infest our bodies and homes. Sleep tight! Bed Bugs and Beyond
3/21/2006
Hypertension: The Silent Killer Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a leading cause of death in the United States. It has earned the nickname "silent killer" it often afflicts the body without any obvious symptoms, increasing your changes of heart attack, stroke, aneurysm and kidney disease. Suspected contributors to hypertension include inheritance, high-salt diet, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking and stress. Hypertension: The Silent Killer
3/13/2006
Procreation: What's new? Nothing really! What starts with a fleeting glance, a warm smile, or a pleasant aroma can materialize into caressing, passionate kisses, sex, and before you know it, birth! It is a simple and ancient process. Only now researchers and scientists employ new methods and imaging tools to closely examine the physiological workings behind human procreation. In this lightbox, we bring you amazing visuals from the Mona Lisa Productions cinematic project, Building Babies. Prepare to embark on an extraordinary journey through the process of making life. Procreation: What's new?
3/7/2006
Bird Flu – Not a Laughing Matter Bird flu is a highly infectious disease caused by the H5N1 virus. The current strain of avian influenza has wiped-out millions of birds but has difficulty crossing the species barrier into humans. In the human cases that have occurred in Asia and Europe, more than half of the people died. There is fear that the virus might mutate and begin to be easily transmitted from person to person causing an influenza pandemic like the one of 1918. Bird Flu – Not a Laughing Matter
2/27/2006
Prostate: Manhood’s Achilles Heel Over 50% of American males will get prostate cancer by age 80. Also, most men as they age develop some other prostate disease. Among the most common afflictions are prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement), both of which can cause pain and difficulty in urination. Prostate: Manhood’s Achilles Heel
2/21/2006
Osteoporosis Fractures Lives Ten million Americans - eight million women and two million men - have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, a disease characterized by loss of bony tissue and low bone mass. It is responsible for 1.5 million fractures every year, including 700,000 vertebral fractures, more than 300,000 hip fractures, 250,000 wrist fractures and another 300,000 fractures in other parts of the body. Osteoporosis Fractures Lives
2/14/2006
Obesity, Are We Out of Control? Since the 1960s, Americans have grown, on average, an inch taller but 25 pounds heavier! These increases have been attributed by researchers to overeating and lack of exercise. As the prevalence of obesity has increased in the U.S., so have related healthcare costs. And, between 280,000 and 325,000 deaths a year in the United States have been related to obesity. Obesity, Are We Out of Control?
2/6/2006
Alzheimer's, The Disease of Lost Time Alzheimer's (AHLZ-high-merz) is a progressive disorder of the brain's nerve cells occurring in middle age or later, that is characterized by loss of short-termed memory, deterioration in behavior and intellectual performance, confusion, and slowness of thought. An estimated 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, more than double the number of people afflicted in 1980. Alzheimer's, The Disease of Lost Time
1/31/2006
Diabetes – A Growing Epidemic Diabetes is a disease in which damaging amounts of sugar build up in the blood stream, increasing risk on blindness, loss of limbs, and death. Already 20.8 million Americans are affected by the disease. Diabetes – A Growing Epidemic
1/23/2006


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