Scientists are learning more about glioblastoma multiforme, a particularly deadly cancer with a typical survival time of 15 months. Researchers at the Salk Institute have discovered a key to how the tumor cells in glioblastoma multiforme proliferate so quickly —and ways to turn this engine of tumor growth into a target for cancer treatment. “This… Continue reading Targeting An Especially Deadly Cancer
Author: Jane Farrell
Understanding Hearing Loss
Millions of people suffer from hearing loss, but how much do you know about this condition? Here, the experts from SeniorHealth, a division of the National Institutes of Health, explain the basics: A common problem, hearing loss is caused by noise, aging, disease, and heredity. The hearing process is complex, involving the ear’s ability to… Continue reading Understanding Hearing Loss
Racial Bias May Be Conveyed by Doctors’ Body Language
When treating seriously ill patients, doctors give less compassionate verbal cues to black patients than to white patients, according to a small University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine trial revealed. It is the first to look at such interactions in a time-pressured, end-of-life situation. The finding, published in the January issue of the Journal of… Continue reading Racial Bias May Be Conveyed by Doctors’ Body Language
Fish-Flavored Food May Be Unhealthy for Cats
Fish-flavored food may be causing an increasing number of cases of hyperthyroidism in cats, according to new research. The finding was published in the American Chemical Society’s journal Environmental Science & Technology Hyperthyroidism is a hormonal disorder that can cause weight loss, hyperactivity, aggression, vomiting and other symptoms in cats. No one knows for sure… Continue reading Fish-Flavored Food May Be Unhealthy for Cats
Arthritis: What You Need to Know
The word “arthritis” makes many people think of painful, stiff joints. But, there are many kinds of arthritis, each with different symptoms and treatments. Most types of arthritis are chronic. That means they can go on for a long period of time. Arthritis can attack joints in almost any part of the body. Some types… Continue reading Arthritis: What You Need to Know
Travel Distance Affects Reconstructive Breast-Cancer Surgery
Long travel distances are still a significant obstacle to breast reconstruction after surgery, according to a new study. The research was reported in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). “While greater patient awareness and insurance coverage have contributed to breast reconstruction rates in the United… Continue reading Travel Distance Affects Reconstructive Breast-Cancer Surgery
New Drug Could Improve Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
An oral medication for pulmonary arterial hypertension led to a substantial reduction in patients’ hospitalization and worsening symptoms, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The drug, Selexipag, gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in December. It is now available for patients. The data, from the largest study ever… Continue reading New Drug Could Improve Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
How to Watch Your Portion Sizes
To control your weight, you need to do more than just choose a healthy mix of foods. You should also look at the kinds of food you eat and how much you eat at a time. Here, from the experts at the National Institutes of Health, are some smart strategies to help you determine whether… Continue reading How to Watch Your Portion Sizes
Opioid Prescriptions Given to Patients Who Have Already Overdosed
Although the dangers of over-prescribing opioids are well known, patients who have been hospitalized after opioid overdoses are being given the same kind of medicine again, putting them at high risk of a second overdose. The findings, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, highlight the challenges faced by physicians to balance the known risks… Continue reading Opioid Prescriptions Given to Patients Who Have Already Overdosed
Ready to Retire? It’s Time to Simplify Your Life
The time is now to get started on reaching your retirement goal (or dream) in 2016. Reboot Partners, four Boomer professionals, have written a practical guide, THE RETIREMENT BOOM: An All Inclusive Guide to Money, Life, and Health in Your Next Chapter (Career Press), to make the transition a bit easier. (You can order the… Continue reading Ready to Retire? It’s Time to Simplify Your Life
Get Set for A Healthy Winter
Although contagious viruses are active year-round, we’re most vulnerable to them in fall and winter. That’s because, in large part, we spend more time indoors with other people when the weather gets cold. Fortunately, you can fight back with several FDA-approved medicines and vaccines. Colds and Flu Most respiratory bugs come and go within a… Continue reading Get Set for A Healthy Winter
Breast-Cancer Drug May Help Fight Other Cancers
A new drug that’s been shown to fight breast cancer alone and in combination with endocrine therapy also combat other types of the illness, according to a University of Pennsylvania study published in JAMA Oncology. Palbociclib targets the rapid division of tumor cells by inhibiting the activity of the enzymes CDK4 and CDK6, which propel… Continue reading Breast-Cancer Drug May Help Fight Other Cancers
What’s the Most Important Factor in Keeping Your Retirement Money Safe?
Don’t be so quick to simply accept what a financial advisor offers for your retirement – that’s the takeaway from multiple red flags since the 2008-09 economic crisis. First, there’s an important difference between advice that’s “suitable,” called the suitability standard, and what’s best for an advisor’s client, called the fiduciary standard. As reported in… Continue reading What’s the Most Important Factor in Keeping Your Retirement Money Safe?
FDA Proposing New Tanning-Bed Regulations
There are many risks from indoor tanning devices: Using sunlamp products such as indoor tanning beds or booths exposes you to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and increases your risk of eye injury, skin damage, and skin cancer—including melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer. Due to these risks, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) already requires indoor… Continue reading FDA Proposing New Tanning-Bed Regulations
Programmed Pacemaker Treats Heart Failure
Researchers have demonstrated in animals that applying a pacemaker’s mild electrical shocks to push the heart in and out of normal synchronized contraction may be an effective way to slow down the progression of heart failure, a disorder that afflicts millions of Americans. In the study published online in Science Translational Medicine, the researchers, from… Continue reading Programmed Pacemaker Treats Heart Failure
Caregivers Need to Care for Themselves, Too
When a major illness or injury leaves someone in need of long-term, nearly round-the-clock care, it’s often up to a family member to step in and provide it. But research shows that the role of caregiving can lead to its own health issues, creating a significant amount of stress and strain for the caregiver. “That… Continue reading Caregivers Need to Care for Themselves, Too
Proteins and Brain Atrophy
Some proteins that circulate in the blood are associated with brain atrophy, researchers have found, and the discovery could be used in Alzheimer’s-related tests in the future. A newly reported study, led by Liana Apostolova, M.D., Barbara and Peer Baekgaard Professor of Alzheimer’s Disease Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine, is believed to… Continue reading Proteins and Brain Atrophy
Helping a Grandchild Overcome A College Setback
College acceptance letters can be an exciting time for high school seniors and a realization of a goal achieved. Although hard work and perseverance pay off for many, some students will receive college rejection letters. This can be a difficult time for both the student and the parent – and for grandparents, who want to… Continue reading Helping a Grandchild Overcome A College Setback