11/14/16

Monday, November 14, 2016

Celebrex study shows less risk to heart health than expected

Researchers spend a decade studying Celebrex, an arthritis drug, to see if it causes heart problems. A similar drug was removed from the market in 2004, as it increased the risk of heart attack and stroke. Dr. Jon LaPook reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/celebrex-study-shows-less-risk-to-heart-health-than-expected/

Doctor on new Celebrex study: "Everybody was wrong -- including me"

Researchers spent a decade studying the arthritis drug Celebrex to see if it causes heart problems, and now the surprising results are in

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/doctor-on-celebrex-study-everybody-was-wrong-including-me/

Family caregivers spend huge percent of income on care

Some caregivers' wallets are harder hit than others

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/family-caregivers-spend-huge-percent-of-income-on-care-costs-aarp-survey/

Craving salt? This may be the reason

Inherited distaste for bitterness could make people reach for the shaker, putting their hearts at risk

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/craving-salt-your-genes-may-be-the-reason-study-suggests/

Long-Term West Nile Deaths: Higher Than Thought?

Texas study estimates mortality rate from the mosquito-borne disease at 13 percent

From: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20161114/west-niles-long-term-death-toll-may-be-higher-than-thought?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Some With Alzheimer's Brain Plaques Stay Sharp

Study finding raises question of whether something protected their brains

From: http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20161114/some-elderly-with-alzheimers-brain-plaques-stay-sharp?src=RSS_PUBLIC

USDA, Partners Celebrate First Wood-to-Jet-Fuel Commercial Flight

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14, 2016 – Alaska Airlines today landed the first commercial flight powered in part by a new renewable fuel made of wood waste salvaged from private lands in Washington, Oregon and Montana.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/11/0241.xml&contentidonly=true

Doctors Talk About Getting Peanuts Into a Baby's Diet, Which May Cut Allergies

Early peanut exposure can slash a child’s chances for developing peanut allergies, and allergists and pediatricians are sharing tips on how to work peanuts into a baby's diet.

From: http://www.webmd.com/allergies/news/20161114/feeding-babies-peanuts-how-to-do-it?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Dr. Pritish Tosh discusses emerging infectious diseases

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ_iucW-rTY

Mayo Clinic Minute: Type 2 diabetes – What you need to know

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

Depression Rising Among Teens, Especially Girls

Report authors point to cyberbullying, social media use as possible causes, but say that hasn't been proven

From: http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20161114/depression-on-the-rise-among-us-teens-especially-girls?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Meat-Heavy Diet May Raise Older Women's Heart Risk

Vegetable protein sources appear safer, study suggests

From: http://www.webmd.com/women/news/20161114/meat-heavy-diets-may-raise-older-womens-heart-risks?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Statement by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Rural America at a Glance, 2016 Edition

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14, 2016—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released the following statement on Rural America at a Glance, 2016 Edition, and annual report by USDA's Economic Research Service:

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/11/0240.xml&contentidonly=true

Prisons fight opioids with $1,000 injections: Does it work?

The drug, Vivitrol, is pricey and skeptics are questioning its effectiveness

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/prisons-fight-opioids-with-1000-vivitrol-injections-does-it-work/

Contaminated water scare hits New York town

In struggling Newburgh, New York, residents are being asked to undergo blood tests as questions swirl over chemicals in the water

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/water-pfos-contamination-scare-hits-newburgh-new-york/

This Is World Diabetes Day

Kevin L. Hagan, CEO, American Diabetes Association

Imagine cable news interrupting regularly scheduled programming with breaking news that nearly 30 million Americans—almost 10 percent of the population—have been discovered to have a disease and 86 million more are at risk. We’d quickly hear how federal, state and local governments are mobilizing, and how the general public is reacting. There would be a flurry of attention, action and urgency.

Unfortunately, one doesn’t have to imagine this doomsday scenario. The diabetes epidemic is happening right now, but few seem to acknowledge it, much less have the resolve to address it. But if left unchecked, the human and financial costs of this crisis will continue to skyrocket. Currently the United States’ annual direct health care costs and lost productivity due to diabetes and prediabetes total $322 billion.

But diabetes isn’t just an American epidemic, it’s a global crisis.

Just last year the cost of global health expenditures for the 415 million people living with diabetes exceeded $673 billion, higher than the gross domestic product (GDP) of 177 nations. And if left unchecked, the loss in GDP worldwide will exceed $1.7 trillion between 2011 and 2030, growing more prevalent and more costly.

That’s why we need to shift our attitudes about diabetes, treating it with the urgent attention it deserves.

Today is World Diabetes Day, and as a part of American Diabetes Month^® this November, the American Diabetes Association^® is raising its voice and rallying millions to do the same—to raise awareness and urgency about this health care crisis and both the human and economic costs that it imposes around the world.

We’re urging everyone to share, advocate and donate to stop diabetes.

SHARE: The American Diabetes Association, the global authority on diabetes, is urging people living with the disease to share their stories, photos and or videos on social media using the #ThisIsDiabetes to help educate others, break down stereotypes, correct myths and misunderstandings, and create a sense of urgency about the disease.
ADVOCATE: We’re asking you to become an advocate to help ensure diabetes gets the attention that it deserves and that it needs to disrupt the global momentum of the epidemic. Become an advocate now.
DONATE: By providing critical resources, individuals can help accelerate the pace of research toward a cure, educational resources for diabetes self-management and treatment resources. Donate today.

Together we can disrupt this health crisis and reverse the momentum of its impact both here in America, and around the world. As a society, we can’t afford to turn a blind eye any longer or leave this disease to the next generation to deal with. The time is now.

Thank you for participating this World Diabetes Day and every day as we seek to end diabetes for good.

Kevin L. Hagan
Chief Executive Officer
American Diabetes Association

From: American Diabetes Association http://diabetesstopshere.org/2016/11/14/this-is-world-diabetes-day/

Dentists can have a hand in helping patients quit smoking

November 17 is the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/november/dentists-can-have-a-hand-in-helping

Could C-Section Birth Raise Child's Risk of Obesity?

Study suggests passage through birth canal confers protective gut bacteria to newborns

From: http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20161113/could-c-section-birth-raise-childs-risk-of-obesity?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Healthy Living Can Conquer Heart Disease Genes

Study found exercise, healthy diet could lower odds for heart attack even in those at high genetic risk

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20161113/dna-isnt-destiny-healthy-living-can-overcome-genes-linked-to-heart-disease?src=RSS_PUBLIC

DNA doesn't have to doom you to heart disease

If a relative died young from heart disease, focus on healthy lifestyle goals to improve your odds, experts say

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/dna-heart-disease-lifestyle-helps/

Infectious Diseases Subspecialties Update 2017: Quick Cases

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79xnpjsJrWY

Lung Transplant at Mayo Clinic

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYDMzXFdU0g

Bone Marrow Transplant at Mayo Clinic

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH6zRK7BivA

Fewer American Parents Are Spanking Their Kids

More are relying on timeouts to discipline children, study shows

From: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20161114/fewer-american-parents-are-spanking-their-kids?src=RSS_PUBLIC

December deadline for Dr. Ray Bowen Student Research Award

The ADA Foundation is accepting applications until Dec. 1 for the Dr. Ray Bowen Student Research Award.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/november/december-deadline-for-dr-ray-bowen-student-research-award

Omega-3s a Recipe for Healthy BP in Young Adults

Study found higher blood levels of fatty acids were linked with lower blood pressure

From: http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20161113/omega-3s-a-recipe-for-healthy-blood-pressure-in-young-adults?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Heart Disease Rates Fell 20 Percent Since 1980s

Researchers chalk it up to better meds, prevention efforts

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20161113/us-heart-disease-rates-fell-20-percent-since-1980s-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Pot Use Tied to Rare, Temporary Heart Malfunction

Study found risk doubled among young users, but cause-and-effect not proven

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20161113/marijuana-use-tied-to-rare-temporary-heart-malfunction?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Craving Salt? Your Genes May Be the Reason

Inherited distaste for bitterness could make people reach for the shaker, putting heart at risk

From: http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20161113/craving-salt-your-genes-may-be-the-reason-study-suggests?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Statins May Up Survival Odds After Cardiac Arrest

Those already taking the cholesterol-lowering drugs were more likely to be alive one year later, study says

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20161112/statins-may-boost-survival-odds-after-cardiac-arrest?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Red wine and resveratrol: Good for your heart?

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/red-wine/art-20048281

Arthritis drug Celebrex not as risky for heart as suspected, study finds

Some of the more than 50 million Americans with arthritis may benefit from data published in the New England Journal of Medicine showing the popular arthritis painkiller Celebrex is just as safe as drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Tara Narula, a cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss the findings.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/arthritis-drug-celebrex-not-as-risky-for-heart-as-suspected-study-finds/

Online symptom checkers: You’ll still want to call a doctor when something’s wrong with you

Doctors make mistakes. I strongly believe in being open about this, and I have written about my own missed or delayed diagnoses on this and other blogs. But guess what? Research supports what I’ve long suspected: when it comes to making the correct diagnosis, doctors are waaaay better than computers.

A recent study compared the diagnostic accuracy of 234 physicians with 23 different computer programs. The authors gave mystery clinical cases of varying severity and difficulty to doctors, and ran the same cases through various online “symptom-checker” programs. The cases came from The Human Diagnosis Project, which itself is a fascinating entity. This project, also known as Human Dx, is a worldwide open-access medical opinion website. People can submit cases that need to be solved, or they can help solve others’ cases. The intention is both for practical use — like, for doctors who are stumped — or as a study tool.

I visited the website, registered, and perused the cases. Here is a typical case on Human Dx:

A 20-year-old female presents with fever and a sore throat. On questioning she also complains of excessive sleepiness. What are the top three most likely diagnoses?

I wrote down:

infectious mononucleosis (i.e., mono)
streptococcal pharyngitis (i.e., strep throat), and
other viral pharyngitis (i.e., just a virus).

And this is exactly what the doctors and the computer-based symptom-checker programs did with 45 distinct clinical cases, with diagnoses ranging from common to rare, and severity ranging from mildly ill to emergency.

These researchers had previously run the cases through 23 different online symptom-checker programs. These are websites where one can type in their symptoms or answer a series of questions for medical advice, like the one on the Mayo Clinic website or WebMD.

Doctors got the correct answer on the first guess about 72% of the time, as compared with a sad 34% for the computer program. Further, doctors got the correct answer in the top three about 83% of the time, as compared with 51% for the computers. Interestingly, when the physicians were separated by level of training, the interns (in their first year out of medical school) got the correct answer in the top three guesses 89% of the time, far better than their senior colleagues.

Obviously, the doctors weren’t perfect — they had a 28% error rate for the number one most likely diagnosis. But, that’s better than the computer programs’ 66% error rate. What the authors envision are programs that can help physicians to improve their diagnostic accuracy.

Until then, if you have to choose one over the other, which one would you pick?

I’m on call…

The post Online symptom checkers: You’ll still want to call a doctor when something’s wrong with you appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Monique Tello, MD, MPH http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/online-symptom-checkers-youll-still-want-to-call-a-doctor-when-somethings-wrong-with-you-2016111410607

Monday, November 14, 2016

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