January 2nd, 2010 by Peggy Polaneczky, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Tips, Research
Tags: Breast Cancer, Guidelines, Mammogram, Obstetrics And Gynecology, Oncology, Surgery, Task Force, USPSTF
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Unless you’ve been living on another planet, you know that in mid-November, the US Preventive Services Task Force released new recommendations on screening mammography, in which they recommended against routine mammogram screening in women under age 50, and recommended that mammograms now be every two years in women ages 50-74.
What you may not have heard is that the Task Force has acknowledged that the mammogram guidelines were poorly worded, and have revised their original statement to clarify their intentions, mostly by removing those two little words “recommends against”. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at The Blog that Ate Manhattan*
December 31st, 2009 by Steve Novella, M.D. in Better Health Network, News, Research
Tags: ALS, Angioplasty, Caution, Lithium, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Science, Surgery
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Peter Lipson reported Monday about new research suggesting that Multiple Sclerosis may be caused by venous blockage. He correctly characterized some of the hype surrounding this story as “irrational exuberance.”
This is a phenomenon all too common in the media – taking the preliminary research of an individual or group (always presented as a maverick) and declaring it a “stunning breakthrough,” combined with the ubiquitous personal anecdote of someone “saved” by the new treatment.
The medical community, meanwhile, responds with appropriate caution and healthy skepticism. Looks interesting – let’s see some more research. There is a reason for such a response from experts – experience. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Science-Based Medicine*
December 30th, 2009 by Nancy Brown, Ph.D. in Better Health Network, News, Research
Tags: Infectious Disease, Parenting, Pediatrics, sex, STD, STI, teens
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This is a very scary reality. A recent study from the Indiana University School of Medicine suggests that half of young urban women will get a sexually transmitted infection (STI) shortly after sexual debut, while screening typically begins years later.
Researchers conducting the eight -year study found that by age 15, 25 percent of the adolescents in the study had acquired an STI, half within two years, and most often Chlamydia. The results also reflect a high repeat infection rate, with 25 percent of the teens getting at least one reinfection or other STI within 4 to 6 months.
The results, published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine call for health practitioners to inquire about sexual activity and screen teens, preferably every 3 to 4 months.
This post, Half Of Teens Contract A Sexually Transmitted Disease Within 2 Years Of First Having Sex, was originally published on
Healthine.com by Nancy Brown, Ph.D..
December 29th, 2009 by Medgadget in Better Health Network, News, Research
Tags: Atlas, glove, Neurology, Northeastern University, Physical Medicine And Rehabilitation, Stroke
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Students at Northeastern University are developing electronic gloves to help post stroke patients recover their motor skills. The Angle Tracking and Location at Home System (ATLAS) bimanual rehabilitation glove has sensors and a feedback mechanism that interfaces with a computer to allow hand training at home. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Medgadget*
December 28th, 2009 by Paul Auerbach, M.D. in Better Health Network, News, Research
Tags: Adipose Tissue, Brown Fat, Fat, Metabolism, NEJM, Obesity, wilderness medicine
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Most of us have learned that bears use brown adipose tissue (“brown fat”) to assist them in hibernation during the winter, and that other animals use it to regulate body weight and adaptive thermoregulation (control of body temperature). What is less well known is that humans also take advantage of their own version of brown adipose tissue. How it functions in humans may not only have implications for thermoregulation, but for a targeted strategy to combat obesity. The ratio of “white fat” (“bad” fat) to brown fat (“good” fat) may also be important. Read more »
This post, Brown Fat Plays A Role In Human (And Bear) Fat Regulation, was originally published on
Healthine.com by Paul Auerbach, M.D..
Unless you’ve been living on another planet, you know that in mid-November, the US Preventive Services Task Force released new recommendations on screening mammography, in which they recommended against routine mammogram screening in women under age 50, and recommended that mammograms now be every two years in women ages 50-74.
