American Thoracic Society journal news tips for November 2005 (first issue)
...y three had been BCG vaccinated. The investigators noted that a more accurate and convenient test to diagnose latent TB infection would greatly enhance control efforts. ELISPOT, approved for use in Europe, is being evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The study is published in the first issu......r wastava@jhmi.edu . Embargo dates and times are noted with each news tip. TWO STUDIES ON BROCCOLI SPROUTS YIELD FINDINGS ON GASTRITIS AND SKIN CANCER (Embargoed for Release until 9 AM, ET, Monday, October 31, 2005) Abstracts #2597 and #3442 Researchers in Japan and Baltimore have found that a daily se...Shortness of breath without chest pain can signify the presence of high risk heart disease
...as Marwick, M.D. from the University of Queensland noted "Because the absence of chest pain has traditional... should undergo functional testing." Marwick also noted that in the patients with shortness of breath, the study results showed that the myocardial perfusio...Body checking found to cause few youth hockey injuries
...are going, you learn to avoid collisions." Willer noted that checking is not allowed in women's hockey, yet elite women players sustain as many injuries as male players. The boys in this study were between the ages of 4 and 17 and were enrolled in a Burlington, Ontario, youth hockey program in 2002 throu...Studies find no evidence that estrogens in soy increase uterine cancer risk
... levels of isoflavones found in soy pills. He also noted that the studies cannot completely rule out the potential for risk. However, he concludes that "the bulk of the experimental evidence points to a protective effect of soy consumption on endometrial cancer risk."...Albert Szent-Gyrgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research to Harvard's Harold F. Dvorak, M.D.
...nesis by turning on the wound healing response. He noted that wounds, like tumors, secrete VPF, causing blo...outstanding contributions to science." Dvorak also noted that the award meant even more to him because NFCR had provided some of the initial funding for his ...No good evidence that cholesterol drugs lower melanoma risk
...event one melanoma. Dellavalle and colleagues also noted the "dangers of publication bias." Their review included data from several unpublished studies, but only two of the 11 studies showing no significant link between the drugs and melanoma rates were published. "This underscores the danger of drawing co...Phenolic compounds may explain Mediterranean diet benefits
...inneapolis, who was not connected with this study, noted that health benefits of a Mediterranean diet were described over 50 years ago. "This study demonstrates one possible mechanism by which olive oil rich in phenolic substances improves the functioning of the circulation. The authors found that after t...African-Americans have worse quality of life after heart attack or unstable angina
... to demonstrate it," Dr. Spertus said. Dr. Spertus noted that this study was based on patients seen at only...d it is a major contribution to the literature. He noted that most patients, both black and white, survive acute coronary syndromes, but until now no study h...MUHC investigators search for the root of sexual pain in women
...omen suffering from other genital pain disorders," noted Dr. Binik. "A better understanding of the specific features of both vaginismus and dyspareunia will undoubtedly lead to more appropriate and effective treatments." Patients who wish to be involved in this study, or wish to learn more about sexual pai...Medical debt undermines housing security for working families, new national study shows
...ousing and home ownership among working families," noted Brandeis research professor Jeffrey Prottas, who d...p in this situation." The Access Project's report noted that any threat to a family's housing security such as the inability to qualify for a home loan or ...Mayo Clinic Cancer Center finds better predictors for outcomes after radical prostatectomy
...cancer were recorded. Biochemical progression was noted in 25.5 percent of the patients, clinical progression in 6.8 percent and cancer death in 1.8 percent. PSAV and PSADT both predicted progression and death. PSAV greater than 3.4 ng/ml yearly correlated to men being 6.54 times more likely to die than...Less sleep, more struggles for elementary and middle school students
... restriction causes hyperactivity. No changes were noted in ratings of hyperactive-impulsive behaviors. In fact, researchers found that students were slightly less active at school after staying up late. Results of the experiment complement a mounting body of evidence that inadequate sleep has negative con...Patients regain cognitive function after radiation for brain tumors
...ation therapy and across the board improvement was noted in immediate verbal memory, learning, long-term verbal memory, cognitive flexibility and spatial problem solving. "Average life expectancy for these patients is three to 10 years and because there are no curative treatments for this type of cancer, ...Tamoxifen reduces risk of breast cancer, follow-up study confirms
...reducing the frequency of undesirable side effects noted with the drug," the authors write. However, they note, "until one of these trials demonstrates a greater net benefit from an alternative therapy, tamoxifen remains the only proven chemopreventive treatment for breast cancer risk reduction."...Engineered blood vessels may be an option in cardiac bypass
...uring the first five months, no failures have been noted with these first three patients and the grafts are...ffolds or exogenous biomaterials." The researchers noted patient management issues that need to be addressed, such as trying to identify patients several mon...Aspirin can cut death rates in postmenopausal women with cardiovascular disease
...appear that it is as effective as 325 mg." He also noted that because only postmenopausal women participated in the WHI study, the findings reported today may not apply to young women with CVD. "We have to do a better job of making sure that women who need aspirin get aspirin," Berger said. "Our study sho...MabThera A unique approach providing lasting benefits for patients with rheumatoid arthritis
...erse events experienced were consistent with those noted in earlier studies of MabThera in RA. The most frequently reported adverse events in the study were primarily infusion-related, comparable to placebo and mild-to-moderate in intensity. Serious adverse events were similar in both treatment groups (7% ...IOF agencies receive global recognition of osteoporosis campaigns
...st take responsibility for their own bone health," noted Joe Torre, Torre Lazur McCann chairman. Richard Nordstrom, chief executive officer of Torre Lazur McCann, added "The recognition of the Rx Club is very gratifying, especially since it comes from our peers. We are delighted to be able to employ our v...Heavy drinking declines with age, though drop is slower among men and smokers
...ps through 1992. FINDINGS: While the researchers noted that heavy drinking declined with age, they found it fell more slowly among men compared with women and among smokers compared with non-smokers. A higher probability of heavy drinking was associated with being unmarried, having less than a high schoo...