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| April 27, 2012 |
Vitamin D supplements could benefit patients with hypertension
A Danish study involving 112 patients with hypertension found that vitamin D supplements could be as effective as drugs in reducing blood pressure. Taking vitamin D supplements daily for 20 weeks significantly reduced patients' central systolic blood pressure and lowered their systolic pressure by 6.8 mmHg and diastolic pressure by 1.7 mmHg. The study was presented at the conference of the European Society of Hypertension. The Telegraph (London) (tiered subscription model) (4/26)
Study: Diabetes, obesity raise breast cancer risk after menopause
Overweight postmenopausal women who had a history of diabetes and high cholesterol faced more than nine times the risk of developing breast cancer as those without the conditions, according to a study in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. Researchers also found overweight women with diabetes and a high ratio of fat to muscle were nearly eight times as likely to develop breast cancer. FoodConsumer.org (4/26)
High glucose, insulin levels cause fatty deposits in heart
Significantly high blood glucose and insulin levels may be the cause of fatty deposits in the hearts of patients with diabetes, a study in Diabetes indicates. Austrian researchers used MRI and spectroscopy on 18 healthy patients and found that an injection of grape sugar, combined with the resulting release of insulin, overexerted the heart's metabolism and led to visible fatty deposits in the heart within six hours. Diabetes.co.uk (U.K.) (4/25)
Surgery alone improves survival in stage 2a/2b neuroblastoma
Patients with low-risk asymptomatic stage 2a or 2b neuroblastoma who were treated with surgery alone had high five-year event-free and overall survival rates, Canadian researchers wrote in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. They assessed outcomes of 915 patients younger than 22 years and found that only 11.1% of them experienced disease recurrence or progression following surgery. PhysiciansBriefing.com/HealthDay News (4/25)
Menopausal symptoms are eased by progesterone in study
Results of a study suggest that hormone progesterone reduces the severity and frequency of menopausal symptoms, such as night sweats and hot flashes. Lead researcher Christine Hitchcock from the University of British Columbia said progesterone could be effective as an alternative to estrogen-based therapy, which is linked to a higher risk of cancer and stroke. Chicago Tribune (tiered subscription model)/Reuters (4/25)
FDA warns against combining HCV treatment with some HIV drugs
The FDA is revising the label of boceprevir, a recently approved hepatitis C treatment, to warn about co-administration with certain HIV medicines. Taking boceprevir with some HIV drugs, including ritonavir, might increase the level of either virus in the blood, the agency said. Chicago Tribune (tiered subscription model)/Reuters (4/26)
Ranibizumab improves vision in patients with diabetic macular edema
A study in Ophthalmology revealed more patients with diabetic macular edema who took ranibizumab attained better visual acuity and showed vision improvements than those who had sham treatments. Researchers also noted fewer cases of vision loss in the ranibizumab group compared with the sham treatment group. Medscape (free registration) (4/26)
Antiretroviral drugs during breast-feeding cut HIV transmission
The cumulative risk of HIV-1 mother-to-infant transmission at 48 weeks was significantly lower among breast-feeding HIV-positive mothers who received antiretroviral drugs or whose infants received antiretroviral drugs, CDC researchers wrote in the journal The Lancet. The trial in Malawi also found a greater risk of diarrhea, delayed growth, malaria, tuberculosis and death in infants after weaning by 28 weeks. PhysiciansBriefing.com/HealthDay News (4/26)
Hormone therapy might not raise Chinese women's heart risk
Hormone therapy might increase a woman's risk to breast cancer but might not raise her risk of cardiac death or heart attack, said Dr. Irene Su, lead author of a study of 16,000 Chinese postmenopausal women. Researchers discovered that those who used hormone pills with estrogen and progestin experienced the heart-related conditions at an annual rate of seven for every 10,000 participants. Chicago Tribune (tiered subscription model)/Reuters (4/26)
Study: 63% do not follow providers' orders on meds
An analysis of nearly 76,000 patient urine samples showed 63% were not following their health care providers' orders. Of those people, 40% were not taking drugs they had been prescribed, while 60% were taking drugs they had not been prescribed. The Wall Street Journal/Health Blog (4/25)
Mass. Senate may act on state health bill next month
Massachusetts Senate President Therese Murray announced Wednesday that the Senate is likely to consider a multi-billion-dollar bill that proposes changes in the state's health care delivery and payment system in mid-May, about a week before the panel considers its annual budget plan. Gov. Deval Patrick introduced the proposal in February 2011. Boston Herald/State House News Service (4/25)
Capt. Paul S. Hammer to address AANP Conference attendees
Navy Capt. Paul S. Hammer, director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, will share his thoughts on the unique set of physical and psychological conditions faced by our Armed Forces, veterans and military families. As a psychiatrist, Capt. Hammer will provide insight on unique issues involved in diagnosing and treating these complex health conditions across the continuum of care. AANP is a proud sponsor of the White House Joining Forces initiative and has pledged to provide our members with additional resources to improve the psychological health of our service members and help care for those with PTSD and TBI. Plan to attend this very informative session at the AANP 27th National Conference on June 21 at 8 a.m. and learn how you can support our troops by joining forces in this initiative.
Hotels near convention center available for conference registrants
Though the conference dates are drawing near, please be assured rooms are still available in AANP Housing within key hotels next to the OCCC West Building where the conference will be held. Find details on location, special discounts and concessions for those staying within the AANP block at these properties here. To confirm a reservation in the AANP block, conference attendees must contact AANP Housing (not the hotel). The link to AANP Housing and the conference registrant access code are included on the conference registration receipt e-mailed to each conference attendee upon completion and payment of conference registration. Register for the conference here.
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