American Council on Science and Health, 2011: Week 50

The presence of linked articles here are merely a way of showing what is going on, whether I agree or disagree with the positions presented. Rich Kozlovich

ADHD

Pay attention: ADHD meds not risky for adult hearts either
Although there was some concern that taking medications, such as Ritalin, for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) might increase cardiovascular risks for adults, the results of a new study should help to allay these fears.

CANCER

Unexpected benefit for bone drug in breast cancer patients
The serendipitous result of a clinical trial shows that a drug given to breast cancer patients to maintain their bone density actually increased their survival rate.

Hodgkin's patients live longer without radiotherapy
Less may be more in the case of treating early stage Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Side effects impair compliance with breast cancer drugs
A surprising number of women are stopping their breast cancer treatments early, but it's not because they are fully cured. Instead, the side effects are too much for them to bear, reports a recent study presented this week at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

DIET

Few people have an eye for nutrition labels
Even though many people claim they pay attention to food nutrition labels, few actually read the fine print.

Prevent childhood obesity with more exercise
As the fight to curb the obesity epidemic wears on, a new meta-analysis finds that child obesity prevention strategies, such as those that emphasize more physical activity, can effectively help kids lose weight, especially among children between the ages of six and 12.

HEMOPHILIA

Bleed no more
Medical researchers in England and the U.S. have just reported their successful treatment of six hemophilia-B patients using gene therapy - a major breakthrough in the treatment of the disease.

PHARMA

Aspirin helps prevent blood clot reoccurence
Aspirin may help reduce the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) following the cessation of anticoagulant therapy, reports a new study.

PREGNANCY

Promising prevention of preterm labor
The authors of two recent studies related to stillbirth note that such devastating losses are associated with an increasingly high incidence of preterm labor and premature births. The results of another study - this one in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology - are, then, especially good news...

Some stillbirth risks and causes come to light
Globally, three to four million pregnancies end in stillbirth, which is defined as a fetus that dies during or after the 20th week of gestation. Yet despite the devastating consequences, the causes have long been unclear. Now, two separate studies have uncovered more about these causes as well as the risk factors for stillbirth - and the good news is that some of them are avoidable.

TB

Making short work of TB
Twelve pills instead of 270. Once a week instead of once a day. Three months instead of nine. These are the promising new guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to treat tuberculosis.

TOBACCO

A cigarette in cigar’s clothing?
The good news is that, in many states across the country, fewer teenagers are smoking cigarettes - but the bad news is that many of them have begun to smoke flavored cigars instead.

More hurdles for tobacco harm reduction
We were disappointed to learn that the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has taken an unfavorable stance toward modified risk tobacco products (MRTPs), advising the FDA to set high hurdles for the manufacturers of such products before they can market them as less harmful alternatives to cigarettes.

The story that should have made headlines: Teenagers smoking less
The results of a survey on substance use among U.S. teenagers were released yesterday.

EU considers coming to its senses about snus
The executive arm of the European Union, the European Commission is, once again, considering an end to its ban on the export of Swedish snus to other EU countries.

If there is a health scare today, the American Council on Science and Health will most likely have the answer by tomorrow; and for members it will appear in your e-mail. No effort on your part, except to read the answer. All that the ACSH is interested in are the facts and they are prepared to follow them wherever they lead. Who can ask for more?  Please Donate Now!

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