Cancer from cellphones? New studies say no need to hang up

Scientists say they could not find hard evidence for concern about brain tumors linked to cellphone radiation

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cellphone-radiation-cancer-link-study-little-reason-for-concern/

Flu deaths on the rise

The flu epidemic continues to take a toll, resulting in 53 pediatric deaths so far this season. That's compared to just 15 at this point last year. CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/flu-deaths-on-the-rise/

Brain 'Pacemaker' Could Lessen Alzheimer's Effects

Researchers have found that implanting an electrical device that sends signals to the brain’s frontal lobe appears to slow the progression of certain symptoms caused by Alzheimer’s.

From: https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20180202/brain-pacemaker-could-lessen-alzheimers-effects?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Flu Season in U.S.: Deaths, Hospitalizations Mount

From October until the end of January, nearly 15,000 people were admitted to hospitals because of the flu.

From: https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20180202/flu-season-in-us-deaths-hospitalizations-mount?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Exercise May Make Lung Cancer Surgery Easier

For the study, researchers analyzed reports on 13 clinical trials that included a total of over 800 people who had surgery for cancer.

From: https://www.webmd.com/lung-cancer/news/20180202/exercise-may-make-lung-cancer-surgery-easier?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Midwestern University dental school in Illinois names new dean

Midwestern University announced Feb. 2 it named Dr. Harold J. Haering as dean of its College of Dental Medicine-Illinois.

From: https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/february/midwestern-university-dental-school-in-illinois-names-new-dean

'Put action to that need'

The more than 200 kids who filled The Ohio State University College of Dentistry's operatories on Feb. 2 for the 2018 Give Kids A Smile national kickoff got cleanings, X-rays, restorations, sealants and other treatment they needed but may not otherwise get.

From: By Michelle Manchir
https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/february/put-action-to-that-need

Deadly flu season goes from bad to worse

The CDC reports 16 more children died of flu last week and people across the country are being hospitalized with the illness at a record rate. CBS News' Nikki Battiste has the latest.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/deadly-flu-season-goes-from-bad-to-worse/

Go Red for Women: Know your heart disease risk factors

Cardiovascular disease impacts about 44 million women, according to the American Heart Association

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/go-red-for-women-heart-disease/

Florida ER nurse's flu rant video goes viral

Katherine Lockler says 25 to 30 people often sit for hours in hospital waiting rooms as the worst cases get treated first

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/katherine-lockler-florida-er-nurse-viral-video-flu/

Standing several hours a day could help you lose weight, Mayo Clinic research finds

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW5Fv75NsQk

CDC reports more flu deaths, record hospitalizations

"Hospitalizations are now the highest we've seen," said CDC Acting Director Dr. Anne Schuchat

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/flu-season-cdc-reports-more-deaths-record-hospitalizations/

Super Bowl Snacks That Don't Sideline Health

As for avoiding fat-laden dips, use yogurt instead of sour cream for that spinach dip. And try making guacamole dip with some pureed peas and chopped tomatoes, or make a tangy salsa.

From: https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20180202/super-bowl-snacks-that-dont-sideline-health?src=RSS_PUBLIC

How to Keep Drivers With Dementia Off the Road

In-person license renewal and driver vision testing laws are more effective than mandatory doctor reporting of patients with dementia, researchers found.

From: https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20180202/how-to-keep-drivers-with-dementia-off-the-road?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Drug companies accused of unfair tactics to stall generic meds

Lawmakers are considering a bill to address what President Trump called a top priority in his State of the Union speech: lowering prescription drug prices. Critics say some drug companies who want to hold onto their exclusive sales of a brand-name drug – and their profits – are playing games to stave off generic competitors, leaving patients out in the cold. Anna Werner reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/drug-companies-accused-of-unfair-tactics-to-stall-generic-meds/

5-year-old who had flu dies from apparent brain infection

Health officials in Georgia are looking into whether the flu killed Eli Snook, a 5-year-old boy. His parents say he suffered an infection in his brain. Mark Strassmann reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/5-year-old-who-had-flu-dies-from-apparent-brain-infection/

Behind the "games" drug companies play to stifle generic medicine

Critics say some companies who want to hold onto their exclusive sales of a brand-name drug are using unfair tactics to stave off cheaper competitors

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/drug-companies-alleged-tactics-delay-cheaper-generic-drugs/

5-year-old who had flu dies from apparent brain infection

Health officials in are looking into whether the flu killed Eli Snook

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/flu-epidemic-brain-virus-eli-snook/

This year’s flu season: Public health catastrophe or par for the course?

Follow me on Twitter @JohnRossMD

If you think that there’s a lot of flu going around this winter, you’re absolutely right. Every state except Hawaii is reporting widespread influenza activity, making for a lot of miserable people suffering from classic flu symptoms of cough, fever, headache, stuffy nose, and achy muscles. Hospitals across the United States have been flooded with flu patients. Matters have been made worse by national shortages of IV fluids in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

Are we headed toward a historically bad flu season? It’s too early to tell. This year, it could just be that flu season, which is usually at its worst in February, is peaking early. Even an average flu season is a public health disaster, leading to between 12,000 and 56,000 excess deaths in American adults. There have been several tragic and widely publicized deaths of children this flu season, with at least 30 such cases so far. Unfortunately, this is not that unusual. In the United States, 98 kids died of flu-related complications in the most recent flu season. In recent years, deaths of children from flu in the US have ranged from 35 in 2011–2012, to a peak of 282 in the 2009–2010 flu season. Most children who die after influenza have a high-risk underlying medical problem, such as asthma, cerebral palsy, or heart disease, but 43% were previously healthy.

So far this year, the major flu type is H3N2, a strain of influenza A virus. Last year, the flu vaccine was only around 32% effective against H3N2, while providing much better protection against the other two major flu strains. It’s not too late to get a flu vaccine if you haven’t already. Some protection against flu is better than none. Even if the flu vaccine is not completely protective against H3N2, it can reduce the risk of a life-threatening case. It’s also common for other varieties of virus, such as influenza B, to emerge late in flu season, and the vaccine usually provides better coverage for these other strains.

Other measures to protect yourself and others against flu include:

• Handwashing or use of hand sanitizer
• Keeping your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Staying home from work, school, or church if you have flulike symptoms
• Covering your mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing; it’s good for public health (not to mention good manners!)
• If possible, avoiding contact with sick patients until 5 to 7 days after they become ill
• Getting both types of the pneumonia vaccine if you are over 65 years old, or if you have an underlying medical condition (bacterial pneumonia is very common after influenza infection)
• Eating well, staying active, and getting a good night’s sleep.

The post This year’s flu season: Public health catastrophe or par for the course? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: John Ross, MD, FIDSA https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/flu-season-public-health-catastrophe-2018020213207

Vaccine less than 20 percent effective against flu strain, researchers say

The news comes amid a worsening flu epidemic, resulting in deaths across the country

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/flu-vaccine-only-20-percent-effective-for-the-h3n2-strain-researchers-say/

USDA-ARS BREAKTHROUGH “SUPER SLURPER” LAUNCHED ABSORBENTS INDUSTRY

From: USDA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSheYFxtEKk

USDA-ARS SAFEGUARDS VALUABLE SCIENTIFIC RESOURCES

From: USDA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoU1rOm6jw0

Major city will toss out or reduce thousands of pot convictions

Deputy state director for the pro-marijuana organization Drug Policy Alliance estimated more than 100,000 people are eligible to have their records changed

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/san-francisco-to-toss-out-or-reduce-thousands-of-pot-convictions/

Man dies after after nurse gives him wrong dose of oxycodone

Investigators say a nurse mistakenly gave the man a dose 20 times stronger than what he should have received

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/man-at-nursing-home-dead-after-given-wrong-dose-of-oxycodone/

Doctors warn of heart risk from some breast cancer therapies

Health experts sound a warning about potential side effects of a growing number of breast cancer​ treatments

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/doctors-warn-of-heart-risk-from-some-breast-cancer-therapies/

Families raise concern about Tamiflu side effects

The Tamiflu label says pediatric patients may be at an increased risk of confusion or abnormal behavior

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/tamiflu-side-effects-in-kids-families-worried/

Family raises concerns about Tamiflu side effects

A family in Indiana believes a rare, extreme side effect of the anti-flu drug Tamiflu led to their teenager's suicide. The drug's manufacturer says "neuropsychiatric events have been reported" after taking Tamiflu, but note they also occur in flu patients without the drug. WTTV's Lindsey Eaton reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/family-raises-concerns-about-tamiflu-side-effects/

Mayo Clinic Minute: Managing muscle soreness

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2hVWoFMEis

When gambling might be a problem

Follow me on Twitter @Howard_Shaffer

Just as we’ve finished welcoming the new year, sports fans are getting ready to celebrate the Super Bowl. This event marks the single most active gambling-related activity in the world. For most gamblers, betting on the outcome of a sporting event, lottery drawing, casino table game, or any event with an outcome determined by chance represents an entertaining recreational activity. However, for some, gambling can become an addiction.

Excessive gambling recognized as an addiction

Gambling disorder is now a part of the American Psychiatric Association’s latest version of its diagnostic manual (DSM-5). Gambling is the first “behavioral” addiction included in the substance-related and addictive disorders section of the manual. For the first time, the APA recognizes that substance-related addiction and difficult-to-control behavioral addiction are similar enough to be grouped as comparable expressions of addiction.

Now, clinicians, scientists, policy makers, gambling purveyors, and the public alike recognize that addiction can emerge from patterns of excessive behavior that derive from either using a substance, such as tobacco or alcohol, or engaging in activities like gambling, video game playing, or sex. This might come as a surprise, but it’s true. You can become addicted to gambling just like you can become addicted to alcohol or other drugs.

History and causes of gambling problems

Historically, opinions about gambling have tended to mirror the social and moral climate of the day. Gambling problems aren’t anything new; there were scientific papers written about excessive gambling as far back as 1798 and, reaching even further back into history, there are cave drawings depicting gambling-related behaviors. However, the concept that problem gambling is not a moral defect but instead a disorder is relatively new. Most experts and clinicians now consider gambling addiction as a legitimate biological, cognitive, and behavioral disorder. Further, although mental disorders can lead to problem gambling, gambling to excess also can lead to other problems.

Gambling problems have many potential causes: genetics, erroneous thought patterns, impulse control disorders, poverty, and personal experiences, for example. An estimated 2% to 3% of the US population has experienced some kind of gambling-related problem during the past 12 months. That means about 5.5 million people currently have a gambling disorder, or gambling-related problems that don’t quite rise to the level of a disorder.

Do you have a gambling problem?

To see if you might be struggling with a gambling disorder, try this quick three item screen:

• During the past 12 months, have you become restless, irritable, or anxious when trying to stop and/or cut down on gambling?
• During the past 12 months, have you tried to keep your family or friends from knowing how much you gambled?
• During the past 12 months, did you have such financial trouble as a result of gambling that you had to get help with living expenses from family, friends, or welfare?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should evaluate your gambling and how it fits into your life. There are many resources to help, and my colleagues and I have published an easily accessible book that can help you to evaluate your gambling and decide whether you might be a candidate for treatment. Some people need treatment to recover from addiction, while others recover on their own with no help from anyone.

To figure out whether you might benefit from a change, you need to take stock. A variety of mental health issues often accompany excessive gambling. You might have some of these symptoms even if they don’t reflect a full-blown disorder. It’s worth it to figure out whether gambling and associated activities are adversely influencing your life. Understanding how gambling works for you is a worthwhile exercise, even if you choose to continue gambling.

Resources

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5).

Optimizing DSM-IV-TR Classification Accuracy: A Brief Biosocial Screen for Detecting Current Gambling Disorders among Gamblers in the General Household Population. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, February 2010.

Change Your Gambling, Change Your Life: Strategies for Managing Gambling and Improving Your Finances, Relationships and Health. Jossey-Bass, 2012.

The post When gambling might be a problem appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Howard J. Shaffer, PhD, CAS https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/when-gambling-might-be-a-problem-2018020113202

Army: 2 deaths, 60 hospitalizations blamed on this

"This problem has the potential to spread quickly across the Army," the U.S. Army Public Health Center​ said in a health alert

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/army-2-deaths-60-hospitalizations-blamed-on-vaping-oils-health-alert/

FDA cracks down on abuse of anti-diarrhea medication

Some addicts take huge doses of loperamide – sold under the brand name Imodium A-D – to try to ease withdrawal or maintain a high

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-cracks-down-on-abuse-of-anti-diarrhea-medication/

Hospital's biosurveillance system tracks deadly flu outbreak

A 4-year-old girl from central New Jersey is the latest child confirmed to have died from the flu virus. Health officials say she died in December and did not get the flu shot. Northwell Health, one of the largest health systems in the country, is implementing a one-of-a-kind biosurveillance system to proactively combat this historic, deadly influenza outbreak. Dr. Tara Narula reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/hospitals-biosurveillance-system-tracks-deadly-flu-outbreak/

Hospital's monitoring system a game-changer in fight against the flu

Northwell Health, one of the largest health systems in the country, is using a one-of-a-kind biosurveillance system to proactively combat the flu

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/flu-virus-northwell-health-monitoring-system/

Agency finalizes rule on patient records

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced Jan. 4 that it has finalized a rule governing the confidentiality of patient records associated with substance use disorders.

From: By Jennifer Garvin
https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/january/agency-finalizes-rule-on-patient-records

Opioid Crisis Leads FDA To Restrict Imodium

Because opioid abusers are using the drug in greater numbers, the FDA is requesting that makers "change the way they label and package these drugs, to stem abuse and misuse," Gottlieb said.

From: https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/news/20180130/opioid-crisis-leads-fda-to-restrict-imodium?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Low-Carb Diets Boost Risk of Serious Birth Defects

Researchers have found a link between lack of carbs and serious risk of birth defects.

From: https://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20180130/low-carb-diets-boost-risk-of-serious-birth-defects?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Concussions Drive Dementia Risk Decades Later

A traumatic injury to the brain -- such as a concussion from a sports collision or a motor vehicle accident -- is already  associated with short-term risk of dementia.

From: https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20180130/concussions-drive-dementia-risk-decades-later?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Resolutions to Cut Drinking May Be Tough to Keep

The survey, of nearly 3,000 "higher-risk" drinkers, found that roughly 20 percent wanted to cut back in the near future. But six months later, there were no signs that their motivations had turned into action.

From: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20180130/resolutions-to-cut-drinking-may-be-tough-to-keep?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Can Brain Scans Reveal Who Your Friends Are?

Brain scans revealed that friends had the most similar brain-pattern responses to videos. And friends of friends had more similar brain activity than friends of friends-of-friends.

From: https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20180130/can-brain-scans-reveal-who-your-friends-are?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Groups Ask Facebook to Scrap Messenger Kids App

Facebook should scrap its Messenger Kids app because it could pose health and development risks, 19 groups say in a letter to be sent Tuesday to Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg.

From: https://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20180130/groups-ask-facebook-to-scrap-messenger-kids-app?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Weight-Loss Surgery Alone Won't Keep Pounds Off

Doctors usually recommend patients try different types of diet and exercise for at least five years before considering weight-loss surgery.

From: https://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/news/20180130/weight-loss-surgery-alone-wont-keep--pounds-off?src=RSS_PUBLIC

A Diet to Boost a Woman's Fertility?

Greek researchers report that younger women who followed this heart-healthy eating plan in the six months before trying IVF had better odds of a successful pregnancy than women who didn't.

From: https://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/news/20180130/a-diet-to-boost-a-womans-fertility?src=RSS_PUBLIC

ADA Foundation announces three Give Kids A Smile grant recipients

The ADA Foundation said Jan. 25 that three organizations will receive funding as part of its 2018 Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) Continuity of Care Grants.

From: https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/january/ada-foundation-announces-three-give-kids-a-smile-grant-recipients

FDA explores single-dose packaging to reduce opioids abuse

Silver Spring, Md. — In an effort to curb the prescription opioid abuse epidemic, the Food and Drug Administration on Jan. 30 announced it is looking to change how manufacturers package their products so that health care providers can have better options for prescribing opioids.

From: https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/january/fda-recommends-single-dose-packaging-to-reduce-opioids-addiction

From private practice to academia

Gainsville, Fla. — Dr. Bonita Wynkoop had been in private practice for more than 20 years when she found an opening to pursue something she always wanted to do: teach.

From:

By Kimber Solana

https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/january/from-private-practice-to-academia

March 1 deadline for reporting HIPAA breaches involving fewer than 500 people

The deadline for reporting Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act breaches involving fewer than 500 individuals to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Office for Civil Rights is March 1.

From: https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/january/march-1-deadline-for-reporting-hipaa-breaches-involving-fewer-than-500-people

Registration begins Feb. 14 for annual meeting in Hawaii

ADA 2018 – America's Dental Meeting will be held Oct. 18-22 in the capital city of Honolulu, at the Hawaii Convention Center. The New Dentist Conference will run concurrent to the annual meeting from Oct. 18-20.

From: By David Burger
https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/january/registration-commences-feb-14-for-hawaiian-annual-meeting

Study: Dental benefits can help employers improve workforce, their bottom line

Employers whose employees regularly use their dental benefits will see fewer claims for major treatment — resulting in lower premiums for employers and reduced out-of-pocket costs for employees— according to a new study conducted by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America.

From: By David Burger
https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/january/study-dental-benefits-can-help-employers-improve-workforce-their-bottom-line

This year’s flu season: Public health catastrophe or par for the course?

Follow me on Twitter @JohnRossMD

If you think that there’s a lot of flu going around this January, you’re absolutely right. Every state except Hawaii is reporting widespread influenza activity, making for a lot of miserable people suffering from classic flu symptoms of cough, fever, headache, stuffy nose, and achy muscles. Hospitals across the United States have been flooded with flu patients. Matters have been made worse by national shortages of IV fluids in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

Are we headed toward a historically bad flu season? It’s too early to tell. This year, it could just be that flu season, which is usually at its worst in February, is peaking early. Even an average flu season is a public health disaster, leading to between 12,000 and 56,000 excess deaths in American adults. There have been several tragic and widely publicized deaths of children this flu season, with at least 30 such cases so far. Unfortunately, this is not that unusual. In the United States, 98 kids died of flu-related complications in the most recent flu season. In recent years, deaths of children from flu in the US have ranged from 35 in 2011–2012, to a peak of 282 in the 2009–2010 flu season. Most children who die after influenza have a high-risk underlying medical problem, such as asthma, cerebral palsy, or heart disease, but 43% were previously healthy.

So far this year, the major flu type is H3N2, a strain of influenza A virus. Last year, the flu vaccine was only around 32% effective against H3N2, while providing much better protection against the other two major flu strains. It’s not too late to get a flu vaccine if you haven’t already. Some protection against flu is better than none. Even if the flu vaccine is not completely protective against H3N2, it can reduce the risk of a life-threatening case. It’s also common for other varieties of virus, such as influenza B, to emerge late in flu season, and the vaccine usually provides better coverage for these other strains.

Other measures to protect yourself and others against flu include:

• Handwashing or use of hand sanitizer
• Keeping your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Staying home from work, school, or church if you have flu-like symptoms
• Covering your mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing; it’s good for public health (not to mention good manners!)
• If possible, avoiding contact with sick patients until 5 to 7 days after they become ill
• Getting both types of the pneumonia vaccine if you are over 65 years old, or if you have an underlying medical condition (bacterial pneumonia is very common after influenza infection)
• Eating well, staying active, and getting a good night’s sleep.

The post This year’s flu season: Public health catastrophe or par for the course? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: John Ross, MD, FIDSA https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/flu-season-public-health-catastrophe-2018020213207