The big game could take a toll on your heart

As football frenzy grips the nation for the NFL Conference Championships, experts warn the adrenaline-pumping excitement can pose risks

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/football-sports-fans-health-risks-heart-rate-stress/

Football frenzy can raise heart risks for fans

Cheering on your team at a high-stakes sporting event gets the adrenaline pumping -- and doctors say it can actually take a toll on your health. CBS Philly health reporter Stephanie Stahl has the story.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/football-frenzy-can-raise-heart-risks-for-fans/

Cancer blood test is an important step forward

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAv_RU9VeZI

Celiac Disease 101 - An Overview

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnI6R5xN3nA

Updates in Celiac Disease

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v-9gUjYGxI

Sushi lover pulled 5-foot tapeworm from intestines

The California man had a major scare when a trip to the bathroom led to a disturbing discovery

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sushi-lover-pulled-5-foot-tapeworm-from-intestines/

Flu May Be Spread By Just Breathing

But the new study finds coughs and sneezes may not be necessary to saturate the air with flu virus.

From: https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20180119/flu-may-be-spread-by-just-breathing?src=RSS_PUBLIC

'Hot' Yoga Is No Better for Your Heart: Study

The researchers noted that Bikram yoga has a global following, and entails running through a sequence of 26 standard yoga poses in 105-degree heat.

From: https://www.webmd.com/balance/news/20180119/hot-yoga-is-no-better-for-your-heart-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Ex-NFL Pros Push for End to Kids' Tackle Football

The group is instead endorsing a program called "Flag Football Under 14," launched by the Concussion Legacy Foundation. The program aims to educate parents and young players about chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

From: https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20180119/ex-nfl-pros-push-for-end-to-kids-tackle-football?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Michael Phelps Opens Up About Depression Fight

The athlete said he wants to tell people about his battle with depression in the hope that it will encourage others with the disorder to seek help, CBS News reported.

From: https://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20180119/michael-phelps-opens-up-about-depression-fight?src=RSS_PUBLIC

WHO: Improving mental health care in Lebanon

From: World Health Organization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBjndMnG3ow

Cause of 500-year-old mystery epidemic identified

DNA tests show it wasn't just smallpox that killed countless people after the Spaniards arrived in the New World

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/scientists-salmonella-caused-massive-epidemic-cocoliztli-mexico/

Mayo Clinic Minute: Does your diet contain empty calories?

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcLct_PfVgY

1 in 4 U.S. Stillbirths Might Be Prevented

A stillbirth is the death of a fetus after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Worldwide, most stillbirths occur in low- and middle-income countries. But the United States has higher rates of stillbirth than many other high-income countries, the researchers said.

From: https://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20180119/1-in-4-us-stillbirths-might-be-prevented?src=RSS_PUBLIC

For Supersized Cities, the More Trees the Better

Trees cover an average of 20 percent of the area in the 10 mega-cities in the study and provide about $500 million a year in benefits such as saving energy and reducing pollution, according to the researchers.

From: https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20180119/for-supersized-cities-the-more-trees-the-better?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Tide Pod 'Challenge:' Web Fad Brings Big Dangers

There have been 39 reported cases of teens intentionally ingesting laundry pods during the first 15 days of 2018, poison control center statistics show.

From: https://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20180118/tide-pod-challenge-web-fad-brings-big-dangers?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Concussion Not Needed to Trigger CTE in Brain

The findings could lead to early detection and improved treatment and prevention of CTE, the researchers suggest.

From: https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20180118/concussion-not-needed-to-triggercte-in-brain?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Meat, Soda, Donuts May Up Odds for Colon Cancer

These foods all increase inflammation in your body, and the inflammation they cause is associated with a higher chance of developing colon cancer, according to pooled data from two major health studies.

From: https://www.webmd.com/colorectal-cancer/news/20180118/meat-soda-donuts-may-may-up-odds-for-colon-cancer?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Flu virus killing more than 100 people per week

The number of flu deaths this season is more than double what it was at this time last year. According to the CDC, at least 759 people have died from the influenza virus since Oct. 7. Dr. Tara Narula reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/flu-virus-killing-more-than-100-people-per-week/

Excitement as early blood test for 8 types of cancer advances

Test detect many types of cancer early including some of the most deadly that lack screening tools now

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/excitement-as-early-blood-test-for-8-types-of-cancer-advances/

Revisiting options for improving results of breast reconstruction

There are a range of options for reconstruction following breast cancer surgery. When a mastectomy is performed, reconstruction can be achieved using various forms of implants, or with natural tissue taken from other parts of the body to reform the breast. Whether or not a woman chooses to pursue breast reconstruction is a very personal choice. Many women experience an excellent quality of life without reconstruction. However, for some women, undergoing reconstruction after a mastectomy can help improve certain aspects of self-image and well-being.

A new option when reconstruction results are disappointing

Unfortunately, despite advances in plastic and reconstructive surgery, the final cosmetic result of breast reconstruction can occasionally be less than satisfying. Women may have contour irregularities (e.g. indentations, bumps, or ripples), asymmetry, or defects in the reconstructed breast resulting in a disappointing cosmetic appearance. For these women, a new option is available to help correct the deformity. This procedure is fat grafting, also called autologous fat transfer or lipo-filling. It involves removing fat tissue from other parts of the body using liposuction techniques, processing the tissue into a liquid, and then injecting it into the site of the reconstruction to help improve contour and appearance. The tissue is usually taken from the thighs, belly, or buttocks.

Actually, fat grafting is not a new procedure. The process has been available for quite some time. However, it was not used often due to concerns about its safety. The good news is that a growing body of data suggests that the procedure is safer than originally thought, especially because of new and improved techniques that have reduced complication rates.

Recent data from the largest clinical trial investigating patient-reported outcomes following fat grafting showed that fat grafting may improve outcomes rated by patients undergoing breast reconstruction. The findings were reported last year in JAMA Surgery. The study was conducted between February 2012 and July 2016 at 11 sites associated with the Mastectomy Reconstruction Outcomes Consortium Study. Eligible patients included women over the age of 18 who had had breast reconstruction after mastectomy and were available to be followed in the study for at least two years. All types of breast reconstruction procedures (implant and natural tissue) were included in the study.

A total of 2,048 women were evaluated across centers in the United States and Canada. The average age of study participants was 49.4 years. The study found that women who required fat grafting to correct deficiencies in their breast reconstruction were able to achieve equal rates of breast satisfaction, psychosocial well-being, and sexual well-being, compared with women who did not require fat grafting, despite the fact that their initial ratings in these areas were lower prior to correcting the deformities.

An interesting question not explored in the study is whether we should use fat grafting to improve cosmetic results after breast conserving cancer surgery (i.e. lumpectomy). This is still an area of controversy due to concerns about fat cells stimulating potential residual cancer cells, and therefore increasing the risk of cancer recurrence. Although the data are not conclusive — and in fact, emerging studies suggest that fat grafting may not impact local recurrence — the potential risk still limits enthusiasm for fat grafting following breast conserving surgery.

What else is important about this study?

This study is the first of its kind to provide patient-reported outcomes about fat grafting, and reflects a growing trend of incorporating patient-reported outcomes into clinical trials. Gaining a better understanding of outcomes from the patients’ perspective helps researchers and clinicians to design and deliver care that truly meets the personal preferences and treatment priorities of women diagnosed with breast cancer.

I’d like to thank my colleague Dr. Dhruv Singhal, a plastic surgeon at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, for his contributions to this post. 

The post Revisiting options for improving results of breast reconstruction appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Ted A. James, MD https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/breast-reconstruction-options-2018011913093