Houston officials testing mosquitoes for Zika

A team of Houston mosquito hunters are adding Zika to the list of diseases they test the pests for

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/houston-officials-testing-mosquitoes-for-zika/

Houston authorities bracing for Zika virus appearance

"The one misconception that I'm hearing," one doctor said, "is that it's not really not going to be a problem"

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/houston-texas-authorities-bracing-for-zika-virus-arrival/

Who will Zika be an occupational hazard for?

Health officials give guidelines on how outdoor and health workers can protect themselves from the mosquito-borne Zika virus

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-will-zika-virus-be-an-occupational-work-hazard-for/

These Foods Linked to Aggressive Prostate Cancer?

Study also suggests that cholesterol-lowering drugs may help counteract harmful effect

From: http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/news/20160422/could-certain-fatty-foods-be-linked-to-aggressive-prostate-cancer?src=RSS_PUBLIC

​Florida's 24-hour waiting period for abortions suspended

Republican Gov. Rick Scott signed the waiting period into law last year, at the time joining at least 26 other states with similar laws

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/floridas-24-hour-waiting-period-for-abortions-has-been-suspended/

Painkiller Addiction Relapse More Likely for Some

Later age when first taking drugs, injecting drugs, using tranquilizers all implicated, study says

From: http://www.webmd.com/news/20160422/painkiller-addiction-relapse-more-likely-for-some?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Nova Southeasterns Pediatric Dentistry Club lauded for GKAS efforts

The ADA Foundation honored Nova Southeastern University by inviting it to serve as the national kickoff location for hundreds of Give Kids A Smile events across the country in February.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/april/nova-southeasterns-pediatric-dentistry-club-lauded-for-gkas-efforts

Dr. David Whiston awards celebrate young leaders

The ADA Foundation is now accepting nominations for two awards that recognize leadership potential in young dentists and dental students.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/april/dr-david-whiston-awards-celebrate-young-leaders

Hospital reaches $2.2 million settlement for unauthorized filming of patients

A New York hospital agreed to pay $2.2 million for disclosing patients’ protected health information by allowing a television crew to film patients without their permission.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/april/hospital-reaches-22-million-settlement-for-unauthorized-filming-of-patients

Heavy teen marijuana use may cut life short by 60

40-year study of men who used marijuana in their late teens raises questions about long-term health risks of the drug

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/heavy-teen-marijuana-use-may-cut-life-short-by-60/

Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Signing of the Paris Climate Agreement

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2016 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released the following statement on the signing of the Paris Climate Agreement:

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/04/0095.xml&contentidonly=true

Prince's health issues in spotlight after sudden death

Officials conducting autopsy to determine what caused iconic musician's unexpected death in Minnesota

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/prince-health-issues-emergency-flu-treatment-hip-replacement-surgery/

1 in 8 U.S. workers has some hearing loss: CDC

Workers in the mining, construction and manufacturing sectors are especially prone to noise-linked hearing loss

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/1-in-8-u-s-workers-has-some-hearing-loss-cdc/

Three-way kidney swap unites strangers saves lives

The donors initially expected to give their kidneys to loved ones, but weren't good matches

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/three-way-kidney-transplant-swap-unites-strangers-saves-lives/

U.S. Suicide Rate Up 24 Percent Since 1999: CDC

Rates climbed the most among middle-aged men and girls aged 10 to 14

From: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20160422/us-suicide-rate-up-24-percent-since-1999-cdc?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Heavy Pot Use in Teens Linked to Shortened Life

But Swedish study couldn't prove marijuana caused premature deaths

From: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20160422/heavy-pot-use-in-teen-years-linked-to-shortened-life?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Medical news: A case for skepticism

When you read medical news, do you ever get drawn in by the headline only to find the details deliver something quite different (or less) than expected? Or do the findings sound so dramatic that you wonder whether the results might be exaggerated or misleading? If you answered yes, I’m with you.

The reasons to be skeptical are many. And it’s not that there are evil people out there deliberately trying to mislead you — well, there are a few of those, but only a few. Pressures on those that bring us health news make it almost certain that at times, information will be biased, incomplete, or flat-out wrong.

I’m not talking about research findings that seem misleading because they are eventually debunked by future studies. For example, only a few years ago, doctors believed hormone replacement therapy was good for the cardiovascular health of postmenopausal women. Better research eventually proved just the opposite. What I am talking about is current research as published in reputable medical journals and reported on your nightly news, in your newspaper, or online. Even if the research findings are proven to be true, the “spin” can be a bit (or a lot) over the top.

The case for skepticism

The case for skepticism can be made at just about every step of the way that medical news makes its way to us. For example:

• The design of the clinical trial. Studies with positive findings are more likely to get published than those with negative (and often disappointing) results. And research is often funded by pharmaceutical companies that have little incentive to perform high-quality, expensive studies if the results might hurt chances for FDA approval or future sales. That’s why many trials are designed in a way that enhances the chances of success for the new drug; for example, rather than comparing a new drug against a competitor’s drug, it might be compared to a placebo or an old drug at a dose too low to be effective.
• Authors. Academic promotion, better jobs, higher pay, tenure, and prestige all ride on the ability to publish. So, even if the research is preliminary, applies to few people, or is of uncertain impact, casting the research in the most favorable and dramatic light is standard operating procedure. Sometimes, this becomes clear when the study makes sweeping generalizations about results that only apply to a few.
• Editors. As mentioned, there is a general tendency for journals to favor positive results over negative findings, as they garner more readership — and journals want readers. Journal editors also may not have the expertise to critically assess a study. All of this conspires to encourage publishing research that is likely to have positive findings, especially if couched in dramatic terms.
• Press releases. A company press release can have far-reaching impact, including on its stock price. There are regulations that place legal liability for a company overstating or misstating research results. So, press releases are carefully scrutinized by company lawyers. Even so, there are many examples of overstatement, selective disclosure of results, and understating limitations. In 2013, a biotech CEO was sentenced to six months of house arrest for overstating the results of his company’s drug. A more recent example is a press release that touted a company’s “breakthrough” drug for a type of brain tumor and noted that the drug was already approved by the FDA. In fact, it had been approved for dogs (not humans) and had never been studied in people with the type of brain tumor mentioned in the press release.
• Medical reporters. Some medical reports simply summarize or repeat what a press release says, often not explaining the limitations of the study or overstating the importance of the results. With pressure to grab a reader’s or viewer’s attention, there is a tendency to err on the side of overstatement. I’ve frequently seen headlines that caught my attention only to be disappointed at how poorly that headline described the study. A recent example: “Do Away with BMI, Study Says.” But that’s not what the study said. The study suggested that when it came to cardiovascular health (as defined by important measures such as cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and blood pressure), body mass index (BMI) alone was not terribly accurate. That doesn’t mean that BMI has no value in combination with other measures or for other conditions – and it doesn’t mean we should “throw it out.”

How to read health news with a critical eye

Be skeptical. There’s a reason that most good medical news stories end with an interview of someone not involved in the research: to provide an unbiased bit of balance and perspective on the story. What that expert usually says is something like: “these findings are interesting but we need more research to know how important it is.” The fact is, advances in medicine are incremental and usually slow. It’s worth noting that the Nobel Prize in medicine is often given for work done decades before or over the span of a career, not yesterday’s news.

In my view, news outlets would do well to limit the use of the word “breakthrough” and other dramatic descriptions of medical research findings. Breakthroughs are rare… and often recognized as such only well after they occur.

Related Post:

• The SPRINT trial: A major advance in treating high blood…
• The placebo effect: Amazing and real
• Anti-depressants for teens: A second look
• Update on the SPRINT trial: Preliminary results pan out
• FDA approves weight-loss drug Contrave

The post Medical news: A case for skepticism appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Robert H. Shmerling, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/medical-news-a-case-for-skepticism-201604229481

AR Governor Extends Medicaid Expansion

The unusual strategy helped the governor get around a small group of Republican senators who threatened to cancel the expansion, which has brought coverage to more than 267,000 state residents.

From: http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/ar/20160421/using-novel-lineitem-veto-ark-governor-extends-medicaid-expansion?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Retirement Can Be Golden for Your Health

When people stop working, they sit less, move more and get a better night's sleep, study says

From: http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20160421/retirement-can-be-golden-for-your-health?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Caregiving for someone with atrial fibrillation

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/caregiver-atrial-fibrillation/art-20118648

1 in 8 U.S. Workers Has Some Hearing Loss: CDC

Survey finds highest rates of impairment in mining, construction and manufacturing industries

From: http://www.webmd.com/news/20160421/1-in-8-us-workers-has-some-hearing-loss-cdc?src=RSS_PUBLIC

While Travelers Sleep Brain Patrols for Danger

Study findings may explain why you don't feel rested after your first night in a strange place

From: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/news/20160421/while-travelers-sleep-brain-patrols-for-danger?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Severe Calcific Mitral Valve Stenosis

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLtfhbsQt0A

U.S. suicide rates on the rise

CDC report sheds light on worrisome trends, including the fact that young girls are the fastest-growing group of those that kill themselves

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-suicide-rates-climb-higher/

Process to elect next Director-General of WHO begins

The process to elect the next Director-General of the WHO is now underway. As of today, Member States can nominate candidates to be the new head of the global public health body, the first step in a rigorous process which will culminate in a final round of voting at the World Health Assembly in May 2017.

From: http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/releases/2016/election-process/en/index.html

Orphaned by UnitedHealth? Here's what you can do

As the giant insurer exits most of its Obamacare state exchanges by year-end, that doesn't mean customers should panic

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/orphaned-by-unitedhealth-heres-what-you-can-do/

Why you feel groggy when you sleep away from home

One part of your brain may never fully go to sleep when you spend the night in a new bed

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-you-feel-groggy-when-you-sleep-away-from-home/