Severe swine flu kills young, old alike Nov 4, 2009
In related news, a research letter in the same issue of JAMA reports a case of rhabdomyolysis -- a breakdown in muscle tissue -- in a 28-year-old woman who contracted H1N1 in June of this year. Doctors at Stanford University Medical Center say that -- like many at-risk patients -- this woman was obese. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Drug Company-sponsored Events For Health Professionals Fail To Disclose Financial Ties, Analysis Finds Nov 3, 2009
16, 2008) Editors comment on two studies in JAMA April 15 documenting the apparent misrepresentation of research data by one company and its manipulation of clinical research articles and clinical reviews. . (Science Daily)
Genetic Variation Of Enzyme Linked With Outcomes For Women Receiving Tamoxifen Nov 3, 2009
2, 2009) Among women with early stage breast cancer, genetic variation of a certain enzyme appears to be associated with clinical outcomes for women treated with tamoxifen, according to a study in the October 7 issue of JAMA. ... JAMA, 2009; 302 (13): 1429-1436. (Science Daily)
Use Of Antipsychotic Medications By Children And Adolescents Associated With Significant Weight Gain Oct 30, 2009
29, 2009) Many pediatric and adolescent patients who received second-generation antipsychotic medications experienced significant weight gain, along with varied adverse effects on cholesterol and triglyceride levels and other metabolic measures, according to a study in the October 28 issue of JAMA. ... JAMA, 2009; 302 (16): 1765-1773 ... JAMA, 2009; 302 (16): 1811-1812. (Science Daily)
Alarming weight gain seen in kids on psych drugs Oct 29, 2009
That has contributed to widespread use of the newer drugs, including for less severe behavior problems, a JAMA editorial said. The number of children using these drugs has soared to more than 2 million annually, according to one estimate. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)
Patients Starting Dialysis Have Increased Risk Of Death, Study Finds Oct 29, 2009
28, 2009) Compared to the general population, patients starting dialysis have an increased risk of death that is not attributable to a higher rate of death from cardiovascular causes, as previously thought, according to a study in the October 28 issue of JAMA. ... JAMA, 2009; 302 (16): 1782-1789. (Science Daily)
Regular Pap smear is as effective as ThinPrep Oct 28, 2009
Although ThinPrep is more expensive, it "is preferred by most laboratories because the specimen is easier and quicker to scan under the microscope," the National Cancer Institute's Mark Schiffman and Diane Solomon write in an editorial in JAMA.. For that reason, Sawaya says, many doctors were forced to switch to ThinPrep because labs stopped "reading" conventional Pap smears. (USA Today -- News)
Larger Pro Athletes Face Future Health Problems Oct 28, 2009
A recent report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA Vol. 297 No. 4, January 24/31, 2007) that examined the incidence of overweight players and obesity among 3,683 high school football linemen found that 45 percent were classified as overweight and 9 percent would be classified with severe obesity. "As younger athletes in high school and college are encouraged to get larger for competitive reasons, these conditions may manifest themselves in younger and younger populations,"... (Newsmax)
Dementia rates much higher for ex-NFL players Oct 25, 2009
Joe and his collegues have been publishing their results in JAMA and other journals over the last 20 years, and all of them have confirmed the NYT article Jay cites above. RW-(the original). (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
American Cancer Society Stands by Cancer Screening Guidelines Oct 23, 2009
The apparent confusion stems largely from popular media reports that, in turn, seemed to have been spurred by an opinion piece published in the Oct. 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). A press release accompanying the JAMA article included quotes from Brawley, agreeing with the authors' conclusions ... According to the JAMA authors, from the University of California, San Francisco, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, increased... (MEDLINEplus)
How Many Docs Out There? Nobody Knows Oct 23, 2009
"Projections based on both the CPS [Current Population Survey] and the Masterfile data indicate that the number of active physicians will increase by approximately 20 percent between 2005 and 2020," Douglas O. Staiger, of Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., reported in the Oct. 21 issue of JAMA.. "However, projections for 2020 using [census] data estimate nearly 100,000 fewer active physicians than projections using the Masterfile data." Staiger and colleagues wrote. (ABC News)
Experts Issue Call To Reconsider Screening For Breast Cancer And Prostate Cancer Oct 23, 2009
Current screening programs are leading to "potential tumor over-detection and over-treatment," they write in the Oct. 21, 2009 issue of JAMA.. "Screening does provide some benefit, but the problem is that the benefit is not nearly as much as we hoped and comes at the cost of over-diagnosis and over-treatment," said Laura Esserman, MD, MBA, professor of surgery and radiology, director of the UCSF Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center, and co-leader of the breast oncology program at the UCSF Helen... (Science Daily)
Study: Heart failure drug guidelines often ignored Oct 22, 2009
4:06 p.m. Tuesday, October 20, 2009. The Associated Press. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Gene Screening: Brings Good With Bad? Oct 22, 2009
JAMA Study Shows Benefits Of Screening Genes of Embryos - ABC News. ADVERTISEMENT. (ABC News)
Sperm donor passed on heart defect Oct 22, 2009
7:31 a.m. Wednesday, October 21, 2009. Sperm donor passed on sudden death heart defect. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Sperm Donor Passed on Deadly Illness to 9 Kids, 1 Died Oct 21, 2009
Report: Sperm Donor Passed on Deadly Heart Condition to Nine of His 24 Children - Heart Disease - FOXNews. Report: Sperm Donor Passed on Deadly Heart Condition to Nine of His 24 Children. (Fox News)
Sperm donor passed on sudden death heart defect... Oct 21, 2009
Sperm donor passed on sudden death heart defect. CHICAGO (AP) - A sperm donor passed on a potentially deadly genetic heart condition to nine of his 24 children, including one who died at age 2 from heart failure, according to a medical journal report. (The Drudge Report)
Drug Laws -- Back to the States? Oct 20, 2009
Look at the statistics (taken mostly from JAMA) about the annual causes of death in America (http://drugwarfacts. com/causes. (The American Conservative)
Less Invasive Procedure For Repair Of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm May Reduce Short-term Risk Of Death Oct 15, 2009
14, 2009) Patients who received the less-invasive endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm had a lower risk of death in the first 30 days after the procedure compared to patients who an open repair, but both procedures had similar rates of death after two years, according to a study in the October 14 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on surgical care ... Frank A. Lederle, M.D., of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, presented the findings of the study at a JAMA media briefing... (Science Daily)
Minimally Invasive Radical Prostatectomy Shows Advantages, But Also Certain Complications Oct 15, 2009
14, 2009) New research indicates that the use of minimally invasive procedures (including the use of robotic assistance) for radical prostatectomy, which have increased significantly in recent years, may shorten hospital stays and decrease respiratory and surgical complications, but may also result in an increased rate of certain complications, including incontinence and erectile dysfunction, according to a study in the October 14 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on surgical care ... Jim C. Hu,... (Science Daily)
Physicians say city in 'good shape' for H1N1 Oct 15, 2009
In their JAMA editorial, Dr. White and Dr. Angus suggest three ways hospitals within a given region might respond to the needs of the sickest patients. Centralize them in a few hospital centers. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Sickest Swine Flu Cases in Canada, Mexico Detailed Oct 14, 2009
But a JAMA editorial says they provide clues on what hospitals elsewhere may see as the winter flu season sets in. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. (13WMAZ.com, GA)
Most H1N1 patients with respiratory failure treated with oxygenating system survive illness Oct 13, 2009
Despite the severity of disease and the intensity of treatment, most patients in Australia and New Zealand who experienced respiratory failure as a result of 2009 influenza A(H1N1) and were treated with a system that adds oxygen to the patient's blood survived the disease, according to a study to appear in the November 4 issue of JAMA. This study is being published early online because of its public health importance ... (JAMA. 2009;302(17):doi:10 ... For More Information: Contact the... (EurekAlert!)
Critical illness from 2009 H1N1 in Mexico associated with high fatality rate Oct 13, 2009
Critical illness from 2009 influenza A(H1N1) in Mexico occurred among young patients, was associated with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and shock, and had a fatality rate of about 40 percent, according to a study to appear in the November 4 issue of JAMA. This study is being published early online to coincide with its presentation at a meeting of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine ... (JAMA. 2009;302(17):doi:10. (EurekAlert!)
Swine Flu Can Move Quickly to Severe Illness Oct 13, 2009
"These people were not just a little bit ill. They were spectacularly ill," said Dr. Anand Kumar, the Canadian lead author of one of the JAMA studies. "To see 40 patients like this simultaneously in the ICU, all struggling for their lives, all in the space of a few weeks -- that's really unusual.". (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
H1N1 critical illness can occur rapidly; predominantly affects young patients Oct 13, 2009
Critical illness among Canadian patients with 2009 influenza A(H1N1) occurred rapidly after hospital admission, often in young adults, and was associated with severely low levels of oxygen in the blood, multi-system organ failure, a need for prolonged mechanical ventilation, and frequent use of rescue therapies, according to a study to appear in the November 4 issue of JAMA. This study is being published early online to coincide with its presentation at a meeting of the European Society of... (EurekAlert!)
Milk Protein Supplement May Help Prevent Sepsis In Very Low Birth-weight Infants Oct 9, 2009
8, 2009) Very low birth-weight newborns who received the milk protein lactoferrin alone or in combination with a probiotic had a reduced incidence of late-onset sepsis, according to a study in the October 7 issue of JAMA. ... JAMA, 2009; 302 (13): 1421-1428 ... JAMA, 2009; 302 (13): 1467-1468. (Science Daily)
Summary for Patients Oct 6, 2009
M. Loeb, N. Dafoe, J. Mahony, M. John, A. Sarabia, V. Glavin, R. Webby, M. Smieja, D. J. D. Earn, S. Chong, et al. Surgical Mask vs N95 Respirator for Preventing Influenza Among Health Care Workers: A Randomized Trial JAMA, October 1, 2009; (2009) 2009. 1466. (Annals of Internal Medicine)
Our lock 'em up attitude Oct 5, 2009
A study in JAMA states the analysis of opinion surveys by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found that 78 percent of Americans view the nation's war on drugs as a failure, yet they favor more severe penalties for the possession and sale of drugs. Its "lock em" up attitude to nonviolent crimes is the reason for the explosion of prisoners into the system. (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)
Surgical masks and N95 respirators provide similar protection against influenza Oct 2, 2009
The research, published online today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), concluded that surgical masks have an estimated effectiveness within one per cent of N95 respirators, and are not associated with an increased rate of infection of influenza or other respiratory viruses. The N95 respirator is a protective mask that filters out 95 per cent of airborne particles. (EurekAlert!)
Living with children Sep 30, 2009
The bottom line is that the JAMA study constitutes no definitive proof of anything. And the ADHD beat goes on. (Fresno Bee -- Lifestyle)
Somalia: Garowe's New Mayor Takes Office Sep 26, 2009
Puntland Interior Minister Gen. Abdullahi Jama "Ilkajir" and Nugal Governor Abdi Hersi "Qarjab" were present at the ceremony held at the municipal building in Garowe, the capital of Puntland. "I am happy to transfer authority and I feel that my administration accomplished many things," said Mr. Food-Adde, Garowe's outgoing mayor who was in power since 2006. (allAfrica.com)
Med Students 'Crossing Line' on Social Networking Sites Sep 24, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009. From Facebook to YouTube to personal blogs, future doctors are crossing the line and getting in trouble. (Fox News)
Tired, Stressed Docs Make More Mistakes Sep 24, 2009
In another report in the same issue of JAMA, doctors who participated in a program that included meditation, self-awareness exercises and stories of "meaningful clinical experiences" improved their well-being, had more empathy toward patients and were less "emotionally exhausted" or burned out, the researchers found. The study demonstrated that primary care physicians participating in a continuing medical education program that focused on self-awareness experienced improved personal well-being,... (MEDLINEplus)
Both Distress And Fatigue Impact Resident Physician Errors, Study Finds Sep 24, 2009
The findings appear in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) ... Previous studies, including a 2006 JAMA article by the same authors, showed that burnout during the physician training process can lead to medical errors ... JAMA, 2009; 302 (12): 1294-1300. (Science Daily)
Mindful Meditation, Shared Dialogues Reduce Physician Burnout Sep 23, 2009
" Primary care physicians report high levels of distress. As many as 60 percent of practicing physicians report symptoms of burnout, which is defined as emotional exhaustion, treating patients as objects, and low sense of accomplishment, the authors of the JAMA article stated. Physician burnout has been linked to poorer quality of care, including patient dissatisfaction, increased medical errors, and lawsuits, and decreased ability to express empathy. Substance abuse, automobile accidents,... (Science Daily)
Now Democrats can negotiate health care reform Sep 19, 2009
Further the NEJM and JAMA alone have published scores of articles on recission and documented it over the years. Try the web site of the committee invoked in the article and get an education Fredo. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
Cuban who denounced hunger on YouTube out of jail Sep 19, 2009
"What we need here is a little bit of 'jama,'" he shouted, using a Cuban slang word for food. "We need food, we're hungry here. Listen to what Panfilo tells you from Cuba: food," he said. (Yahoo News -- Technology)
Cardiac Arrest Deadlier For Black Patients Sep 17, 2009
The study appeared in JAMA, formerly known as the Journal of the American Medical Association. Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. (Click2Houston, TX)
Alternative remedies Sep 17, 2009
The bottom line: The 2003 JAMA study was a black eye for guggul. More research is needed, but for now there is not enough evidence to justify using guggul to lower cholesterol. (CNN)
Oxygen-saturated blood reduces levels of damaged heart tissue following a heart attack Sep 16, 2009
Results of Amihot-II Clinical trial reported today in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions, JAMA. NEW YORK SEPTEMBER 15, 2009 Results of a clinical trial published today in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions demonstrate that an infusion of blood that is "supersaturated" with oxygen (SS02) can reduce the amount of damaged heart muscle immediately following a life-threatening heart attack. (EurekAlert!)
Immediate Intervention For Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes Not Always More Beneficial Sep 15, 2009
15, 2009) For some patients with acute coronary syndromes, the strategy of immediate intervention at a medical center does not appear to result in differences in outcomes in comparison with an intervention performed the next working day, according to a study in the September 2 issue of JAMA. ... JAMA, 2009; 302 (9): 947-954. (Science Daily)
Gene Variant Heightens Risk Of Severe Liver Disease In Cystic Fibrosis Sep 11, 2009
The study, which appears in the Sept. 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), could lead to earlier detection and diagnosis of cystic fibrosis liver disease and better treatment options for the patients affected by the disease. In addition, it could pave the way for similar studies in more common forms of liver disease. (Science Daily)
Dopamine May Boost Odds of Transplant Success Sep 10, 2009
SOURCE: JAMA, new release, Sept. 8. 2009. (MEDLINEplus)
Walking Cuts Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk by 40 Percent Sep 9, 2009
Research from The Nurses Health Study published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) tracked nearly 3,000 women up to 14 years after their breast cancer diagnosis and found that cardiovascular and aerobic physical activities reduced the likelihood of breast cancer recurrence and increased the odds of living longer. Recurrence rates and deaths from breast cancer decreased by 40 percent among those who exercise at least 3-5 hours per week, compared with those who were sedentary,... (Newsmax)
New recommendations can help health providers prepare for electronic record push Sep 9, 2009
D., of the University of Texas School of Health Information Science at Houston, is an author of a commentary in JAMA titled "Eight rights of safe electronic health... A new framework of recommendations created by health informatics researchers may help doctors and hospitals prepare for a federal initiative to expand the use of electronic health records (EHRs). The recommendations from faculty at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs... (EurekAlert!)
Study Evaluates Use Of Corticosteroids And Antiviral Agents For Treatment Of Bell Palsy Sep 4, 2009
3, 2009) Among patients with Bell Palsy, a facial paralysis with unknown cause, treatment with corticosteroids is associated with a reduced risk of an unsatisfactory recovery, and treatment with a combination of corticosteroids and antiviral agents may be associated with additional benefit, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of previously published studies, reported in the September 2 issue of JAMA. ... JAMA, 2009; 302 (9): 985-993. (Science Daily)
IRS would become Obamacare's enforcer... Sep 4, 2009
Sen Pelosi, recently given an Honorary MD degree from Harvard Medical School for her stance on Health Care, said the President had learned about the Hippocratic Oath from his health Care Guru, Dr. Zeke Emanuel, who wrote about it in the 2/17/08 JAMA. President Obama was so impressed by Emanuel's analysis of the Oath/Mess issue that he made it the foundation of his Health Care Plan. The President will reveal in his speech that Emanuel's analysis is "really all you need to know about Health Care."... (The Drudge Report)
Research At Academic Medical Centers Is Active, Diverse, Study Finds Sep 3, 2009
3, 2009) A survey indicates that research is active and diverse at U.S. academic medical centers and that a substantial proportion of faculty conduct research and publish without sponsorship, according to a study in the September 2 issue of JAMA. ... JAMA, 2009; 302 (9): 969-976 ... JAMA, 2009; 302 (9): 1001-1002. (Science Daily)
Some Discrepancies Exist Between Outcomes Indicated In Trial Registration And Later Publications Sep 3, 2009
2, 2009) Comparison of the primary outcomes of registered clinical trials with their subsequent publication appears to show some discrepancies, according to a study in the September 2 issue of JAMA. ... JAMA, 2009; 302 (9): 977-984 ... 11, 2005) Medication errors are common at the time of hospital admission and some have the potential to be harmful, according to the February 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives. (Science Daily)
Aging With GRACE: New Health Care Delivery Model Improves Outcomes, Saves Money Sep 1, 2009
In a previous study published in the Dec. 12, 2007, issue of the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) the researchers reported their success in improving both quality of care and health-related quality of life measures while reducing emergency department use ... 12, 2007) A JAMA study reports success by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers in both improving quality of care and health-related quality of life measures while reducing emergency department use. (Science Daily)
Gardasil another dangerous vaccine, beware Aug 29, 2009
But there's now a more recent report, also published in JAMA, which says that the CDC has analyzed as many as 12,000 incidents of adverse side effects caused by this inoculation. Yet despite the controversy, the ASCCP actually encouraged its membership to lobby "state and federal agencies to pay for the vaccine.". (Montrose Daily Press, CO)
Death Rate Decreases Following Hospitalization For Heart Attack Aug 28, 2009
28, 2009) From 1995 to 2006, hospital 30-day death rates decreased significantly for Medicare patients hospitalized for a heart attack, as did the variation in the rate between hospitals, according to a study in the August 19 issue of JAMA. ... JAMA The Journal of the American Medical Association, 2009; 302 (7): 767 DOI. (Science Daily)
Hormone Therapy For Prostate Cancer Patients With Heart Conditions Linked To Increased Death Risk Aug 27, 2009
26, 2009) Men with coronary artery disease-induced congestive heart failure or heart attack who receive hormone therapy before or along with radiation therapy for treatment of prostate cancer have an associated increased risk of death, according to a study in the August 26 issue of JAMA. ... JAMA, 2009; 302 (8): 866-873. (Science Daily)
Prostate cancer hormone drugs risky for some men Aug 27, 2009
Past Month's Most Commented Stories. Wednesday, August 26, 2009 3:45 PM PDT. (Longview Daily News, WA)
Typhoid Fever Cases In U.S. Linked To Foreign Travel Aug 27, 2009
26, 2009) Infection with an antimicrobial-resistant strain of typhoid fever among patients in the United States is associated with international travel, especially to the Indian subcontinent (India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh), according to a study in the August 26 issue of JAMA. The study also shows an increase in certain strains of typhoid fever that are resistant to the most commonly used medications for treatment ... JAMA, 2009; 302 (8): 859-865 ... JAMA, 2009; 302 (8): 898-899. (Science Daily)
Risk Of Death Following Acute Coronary Syndromes Different For Men, Women Aug 27, 2009
26, 2009) Women may have a slightly higher risk of death than men in the 30 days following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS; such as heart attack or unstable angina), but this difference appears attributable to factors such as severity and type of ACS, clinical differences and angiographic severity according to a study in the August 26 issue of JAMA. ... JAMA, 2009; 302 (8): 874-882. (Science Daily)
Gene Variant Linked To Effectiveness Of Popular Anti-clotting Medication Plavix Aug 27, 2009
The results of the study, published in the Aug. 26, 2009, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), confirm a previously reported link between people's decreased response to Plavix, also known as clopidogrel, and common variations of the CYP2C19 gene ... JAMA, 2009; 302 (8): 849-857 ... JAMA, 2009; 302 (8): 896-897. (Science Daily)
U.S. health $ vs. the world Aug 26, 2009
Source: JAMA article "The Perfect Storm of Overutilization" by Ezekiel J. Emanuel and Victor R. Fuchs, June 18, 2008. ADVERTISEMENT. (Anchorage Daily News)
Study finds women slightly more likely to die than men in the 30 days following a heart attack Aug 26, 2009
A new study from NYU School of Medicine found that women may have a slightly higher risk of death than men in the thirty days following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but that these differences appear to be attributable to factors such as severity and type of ACS. The study, published in the August 26, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), found however that overall there was no significant difference in mortality observed between the sexes after a heart... (EurekAlert!)
David EpsteinINSIDE OLYMPIC SPORTS Aug 22, 2009
A commentary in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) from 2000 applauded the end of sex testing because, although it "superficially seems endorsable on the grounds of fairness ... in reality, gender verification tests are difficult, expensive and potentially inaccurate.". But why all the fuss in this era of transcendent technology when we can simply look at Semenya's genetics. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- More)
Overall Antibiotic Prescription Rates For Respiratory Tract Infections Decreasing Aug 22, 2009
21, 2009) From 1995 to 2006 the rate of antibiotic prescriptions for acute respiratory tract infections decreased significantly, attributable in part to a decline in ambulatory visits for ear infections in young children, according to a study in the August 19 issue of JAMA. But prescription rates for broad spectrum antibiotics, namely azithromycin and quinolones, increased substantially during the study period ... JAMA The Journal of the American Medical Association, 2009; 302 (7): 758 DOI. (Science Daily)
Gardasil Researcher Speaks Out Aug 20, 2009
"The risks of serious adverse events including death reported after Gardasil use in (the JAMA article by CDCs Dr. Barbara Slade) were 3.4/100,000 doses distributed. The rate of serious adverse events on par with the death rate of cervical cancer. Gardasil has been associated with at least as many serious adverse events as there are deaths from cervical cancer developing each year. Indeed, the risks of vaccination are underreported in Slade's article, as they are based on a denominator of doses... (CBS News -- Evening News)
Study Examines Adverse Events Associated With Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Aug 20, 2009
19, 2009) An analysis of the adverse events reported following distribution of quadrivalent human papillomavirus recombinant vaccine since 2006 indicates that adverse event rates were consistent with pre-licensing data and expected background rates of other vaccines, with the exception of a higher proportion of reports of fainting and blood clots, according to a study in the August 19 issue of JAMA. ... JAMA The Journal of the American Medical Association, 2009; 302 (7): 750 DOI ... JAMA The... (Science Daily)
Renewable Energies Will Benefit US Workers' Health, Expert Predicts Aug 20, 2009
Their review is published in the August 19, 2009, issue of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association. See also. (Science Daily)
