Chromosome Linked to Diabetics' Heart Risks Nov 27, 2008
The findings were published in the Nov. 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Compared to patients with good glycemic control and no 9p21 gene risk variant, those subjects with two risk gene variants and good glycemic control were twice as likely to have CAD, while those with two risk gene variants and poor glycemic control were four times more likely to have CAD.. (MEDLINEplus)
Steroid Inhalers Raise Pneumonia Risk for Lung Disease Patients Nov 27, 2008
The study was published in the Nov. 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease -- which encompasses emphysema and chronic bronchitis -- follows heart disease, cancer and stroke as the leading cause of deaths among Americans, Drummond said. (MEDLINEplus)
How Depression Harms Your Heart Nov 27, 2008
Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the findings suggest that depression contributes to heart disease indirectly by fostering unhealthy behaviors like smoking rather than directly. Certain biological factors linked with depression, such as inflammation and the levels of brain chemicals like serotonin, may play some role in heart health, researchers say, but the new study found that the factors that most increased heart disease risk in depressed people were the ones you... (Time.com)
Study: Breast Cancer May Regress On Own Nov 26, 2008
In fact, he acknowledged several journals refused to publish the study before it was accepted by Archives of Internal Medicine, a journal published by the American Medical Association. But an editorial in the journal stressed that the findings are consistent with several observations about breast cancer that have troubled investigators for years. (CBS News)
Ginkgo biloba appears to have no effect on dementia Nov 26, 2008
Writing in the Nov. 19 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers said they believed the study was the largest to look at the effects of ginkgo. The study was led by Dr. Steven T. DeKosky, who was then at the University of Pittsburgh and is now at the University of Virginia. (International Herald Tribune -- Health)
System cuts race bias from liver transplants Nov 26, 2008
She was a member of the research team that published the study in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association. "One theory is that black patients were getting referred to the list later, when they were sicker, so they couldn't accrue the waiting time."The new system has eliminated time on the waiting list as a criterion, and instead relies on laboratory tests that prioritize patients based on objective measures of organ function. (News & Observer)
Genes that raise heart risks amplified in diabetics Nov 26, 2008
"Coronary artery disease is one of the leading causes of death in this country and diabetes is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease," Dr. Alessandro Doria of Harvard Medical School in Boston, whose study appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association, said in a statement. "But not everybody with diabetes is at the same risk.". (Reuters UK)
Livers go to sickest, access for blacks improves Nov 26, 2008
But the research, in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association, suggests the system may favor men over women. Dr. Cynthia Moylan, the study's lead author and a transplant fellow at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., called for more research on gender differences. (Yahoo News)
Researchers Find Poor Use Of Pumps for Ailing Hearts Nov 26, 2008
The devices have great promise but are being used too often in the wrong patients and at the wrong hospitals in people who are too sick to benefit, and at hospitals that do not treat enough patients to gain the expertise needed for their complex care the researchers say in an article being published on Wednesday in The Journal of the American Medical Association. The pumps, known as ventricular assist devices, or VADs, were introduced in the 1990s and are used for several reasons: to keep... (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
M.I.N.D. Institute researchers call for fragile X testing throughout the lifespan Nov 26, 2008
Writing in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association, UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute researchers urge physicians to test for mutations of the fragile X gene in patients of all ages. That's because, after decades of research, it is clear that mutations in this gene cause a range of diseases, including neurodevelopmental delays and autism in children, infertility in women and neurodegenerative disease in older adults. (EurekAlert!)
Office Ergonomics: Tips for Preventing Pains and Strains Nov 25, 2008
In addition, the Journal of American Medical Association found that costs associated with common pain conditions and lost productivity in the U.S. are estimated at 61. 2 billion per year. (Canton Daily Ledger, IL)
How to prevent Alzheimers disease part 1 Nov 24, 2008
In any case, Dr. Steven DeKosky, dean of the University of Virginia School of Medicine reported the study of 3,000 apparently healthy people age 75 or older in the Journal of the American Medical Association saying that use of 120 mg per day for about 6 years makes no difference in the risk of developing Alzheimer s.. Daniel Fabricant of the Natural Products Association was cited as saying that studying people younger than about 80 years old may be the best way to examine the efficacy of ginkgo... (Food Consumer)
Letters from readers Nov 24, 2008
The Mayo Clinic and the American Medical Association have developed reform proposals on health insurance. Both organizations support vouchers or tax credits for those needing financial assistance obtaining insurance. (Florida Times-Union)
Five ways to keep Alzheimer's away Nov 23, 2008
London's advice makes a lot of sense, according to a study out this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Ginkgo is a top-selling herb and has been hailed by some as a memory-booster, but the new University of Pittsburgh study found it didn't help prevent Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia in more than 3,000 elderly study subjects. (CNN -- Health)
Doctors' Fees Nov 22, 2008
A of academic medical centers published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 60 percent of academic department chairs have personal ties to industryserving as consultants, board members, or paid speakers, while two-thirds of the academic departments had institutional ties to industry. Such ties can be extremely lucrative. (Slate)
Ginkgo Biloba Doesn't Prevent Dementia Nov 21, 2008
In the Nov. 19 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers report that the herbal supplement showed no evidence of reducing the overall incidence of either Alzheimer's disease or dementia. "It was worth finding out if giving this relatively benign drug to older people would have an effect," study researcher Steven T. DeKosky, MD, tells WebMD. "But based on this research, ginkgo biloba cannot be recommended for preventing dementia.". (CBS News)
Atkins Fares Best in Study Of Four Weight-Loss Regimens Nov 21, 2008
"This isn't a study testing how well you would do if you followed these diets to the letter," notes Christopher Gardner, assistant professor of medicine at the Stanford Prevention Research Center and lead author of the study, which appears in tomorrow's Journal of the American Medical Association. "This is a study that shows what happens if you bought the book and tried to follow" the diets, as most dieters do. (Yahoo News -- Diet and Nutrition)
Caring for family, caring for yourself Nov 21, 2008
You might also consult one or more of the many helpful books on caregiving that have been published in recent years, including The American Medical Association Guide to Home Caregiving (John Wiley 2001). Inside AJC.COM. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Avastin Raises Risk of Blood Clots in Veins Nov 21, 2008
The study shows "a significant increased risk with Avastin for patients while they are taking chemotherapy," said Dr. Shenhong Wu of Stony Brook University Cancer Center in New York, whose study appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Wu said the findings should not dissuade cancer patients from taking the drug. (MEDLINEplus)
They Say: Healthier Pregnancies, Babies After Gastric Bypass Nov 21, 2008
In one of those "study of studies," published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the authors reviewed 75 research projects that compared outcomes between formerly obese women who had had gastric bypass or other bariatric surgery with their still-obese peers (and some, with their non-obese peers). Overall, they found that mums who had undergone surgery before becoming pregnant had a significantly lower risk of various weight-related complications, in some cases... (Babblebaby)
Insurance may soon cover maggot therapy Nov 20, 2008
The new boost came last week when the American Medical Association and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services clarified its reimbursement guidelines to the wound care community for medicinal maggots and maggot therapy, according to the BioTherapeutics, Education & Research (BTER) Foundation in California. The BTER Foundation helps families without adequate health insurance to pay for medicinal maggots and other medicinal animals. (MSNBC -- Health)
Ginkgo Biloba Does Not Reduce Dementia Risk, Study Shows Nov 20, 2008
Findings from the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) Study, which is the first to have the necessary participant numbers and monitoring years to enable measurement of G. biloba's effectiveness and safety profile in dementia prevention, were just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Dementia, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD), is a prevalent chronic disease currently affecting more than 5 million people in the United States and is a leading cause of age-related... (Science Daily)
Vitamins 'could shorten lifespan' Nov 20, 2008
A supplements industry expert said the Journal of the American Medical Association study was fatally flawed. But nutritionists said it reinforced the need to eat a balanced diet, rather than relying on supplements. (Yahoo News -- Diet and Nutrition)
Ginkgo may be waste of money, memory Nov 20, 2008
According to a study published in today's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the popular supplement does not prevent or delay the onset of dementia, nor is it effective against Alzheimer's disease. In fact, taking ginkgo may even boost the risk of dementia. (Globe and Mail)
Study: Ginkgo doesn't cut dementia risk Nov 20, 2008
It appears in the November 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. "I'm disappointed," says lead study author Steven DeKosky, M.D., vice president and dean of the University of Virginia School of Medicine. (CNN -- Health)
Genentech's Avastin linked to vein-clotting risk in analysis Nov 20, 2008
Doctors should use the drug cautiously, monitoring their patients for signs of vein clots and using blood thinners in those most likely to develop clots, said Wu, whose study will be published in today's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. "I still think it's a useful treatment," he said in a telephone interview. (San Jose Mercury News)
Cancer Drug Ups Risk of Clots in Veins Nov 20, 2008
The new research, published in the Nov. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, may indicate a need not only for prophylactic measures to reduce the risk, but also for a black box warning to be added to the package insert, the authors stated. "Prophylactic considerations should be given for patients at high risk for VTE, and benefits/risk should be evaluated in patients who develop VTE on Avastin," added study senior author Dr. Shenhong Wu, an assistant professor of medical... (MEDLINEplus)
China Documents First Case of Tick-Borne Disease Spread Nov 20, 2008
The study was published in the Nov. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. "This report certainly serves to reinforce the importance of adopting standard blood and body fluid precautions for all patients and especially for those with HGA; these precautions are the accepted standard of care in the United States," Dr. Peter J. Krause, of the Yale School of Medicine, and Dr. Gary P. Wormser, of the New York Medical College, wrote in an accompanying editorial. (MEDLINEplus)
Bariatric Surgery Before Pregnancy Benefits Moms, Babies Nov 20, 2008
The findings were published in the Nov. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. "Research is needed to better delineate the extent to which surgery and subsequent weight loss improve fertility and pregnancy outcomes," the review authors wrote. (MEDLINEplus)
Ginkgo No Shield Against Alzheimer's Nov 20, 2008
The findings were published in the Nov. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, currently affects about 5 million people in the United States, according to background information in the article. (MEDLINEplus)
Guerrilla Gardener: (Sweet) corn wars Nov 20, 2008
The American Medical Association in June 2008 helped put to rest misunderstandings about this sweetener and obesity, stating that high fructose corn syrup does not appear to contribute to obesity more than other caloric sweeteners ... If you read the actual news release from the American Medical Association (AMA) you will discover the corn folks only used part of the above quote. (Gaylord Herald Times, MI)
Ginkgo Biloba for Prevention of Dementia Nov 19, 2008
Statement by Dr. Willmar Schwabe Pharmaceuticals about the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) Study in the Journal of the American Medical Association: GEM study leaves questions unanswered. KARLSRUHE, Germany, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Schwabe, the manufacturer of the Ginkgo extract EGb 761(R), believes that the GEM study results do not allow a final conclusion on the potential of the extract in dementia prevention. (PR Newswire)
NH prescription privacy law upheld Nov 19, 2008
They also said an opt-out plan pushed by the American Medical Association is weak, with no guarantees its protections will be enforced. They also said the AMA had a conflict of interest because it makes millions of dollars selling its doctor database to the data-mining companies. (Concord Monitor)
Kidney disease takes a growing toll Nov 19, 2008
An analysis of federal health data published last November in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that 13 percent of American adults about 26 million people have chronic kidney disease, up from 10 percent, or about 20 million people, a decade earlier. Today in Health & Science. (International Herald Tribune -- Health)
Trial finds no benefits from vitamins C and E in cutting risk of heart disease Nov 19, 2008
It appeared Nov. 12 in The Journal of the American Medical Association. GESTATIONAL DIABETES The condition that develops when women cannot produce enough insulin during pregnancy, gestational diabetes, has been linked to problems in their children, including a higher risk of obesity and diabetes. (International Herald Tribune -- Health)
Weight-loss surgery helps with pregnancy: study Nov 19, 2008
The risks of premature delivery, having a low birth weight baby, or delivering an exceedingly large-bodied baby were reduced for women who had bariatric surgery compared to obese women, the report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association said. In some cases, pregnancy-related risks after surgery were comparable to those for normal-weight women. (Reuters)
Letter to the Editor: Marijuana is not the enemy Nov 19, 2008
The first marijuana laws were enacted in response to Mexican immigration during the early 1900s, despite opposition from the American Medical Association. Dire warnings that marijuana inspires homicidal rages have been counterproductive at best. (Daily Iowan, IA)
Ginkgo ineffective against dementia Nov 19, 2008
The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association today, have apparent use in ruling out one of the often-touted potential tools against the dreaded disease. That's not as valuable, however, as what they had hoped. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Taking the First Steps toward Better Health Nov 19, 2008
The American Medical Association (AMA) suggests that one way to start might be with small changes that can lead to big health benefits. "Improving eating habits, increasing exercise and reducing or eliminating unhealthy behaviors can seem like daunting tasks if you try to tackle everything at once," says Dr. J. James Rohack, president-elect of the AMA. "By incorporating small changes into your daily life, the process of getting healthier can be more manageable.". (Canton Daily Ledger, IL)
Ginkgo doesn't block Alzheimer's Nov 19, 2008
DeKosky's research appears in today's Journal of the American Medical Association. "We're hugely disappointed. It could have saved hundreds of thousands of people from getting the disorder," DeKosky says. (AZCentral -- News)
Genentech disputes new Avastin research data Nov 19, 2008
The risk of the worrisome blood clots was 33 percent higher among those on Avastin compared with control group subjects in 15 clinical trials analyzed together, Dr. Shenhong Wu and his colleagues reported late Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Wu's study contradicts the conclusions from a pooled analysis of five studies by Genentech researchers, who reported in 2007 that the vein clots did not rise significantly among subjects on Avastin. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Ginkgo Biloba Ineffective Against Dementia, Researchers Find Nov 19, 2008
The study appears in Wednesday s issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association. For the trial, researchers from five academic medical centers in the United States recruited 3,069 community volunteers 75 and older. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
A silent killer: Its symptoms are vague and common and there's no screening test, making ovarian cancer tricky to diagnose and harder to survive Nov 19, 2008
In a 2004 report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, responses by women with ovarian cancer were compared with those from women without cancer who visited primary care clinics. Oddly, gynecological symptoms, such as menstrual irregularities, were less likely to be reported by women with ovarian cancer. (Racine Journal Times, WI)
Gingko biloba doesn't block Alzheimer's Nov 19, 2008
DeKosky's research appears in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association. IN-DEPTH: BETTER LIFE: PERSONAL BLOG. (USA Today)
Herb Found Ineffective Against Dementia Nov 19, 2008
The findings were published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Dementia, especially Alzheimers disease, affects more than 5 million people in the United States and is a leading cause of age-related disability and long-term care placement, the article says. (Click2Houston, TX)
Gingko Biloba Does Not Prevent Alzheimer's Nov 19, 2008
Reporting Nov. 18 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. Steven DeKosky, dean of the school of medicine at University of Virginia, found that taking 120 mg of gingko biloba twice a day did not prevent the development of dementia in a group of 1,545 seniors 75 years and older; there was no difference in rates of dementia among the intervention group and a similar group of 1,524 participants who took identical placebos. This was the largest and longest investigation into the... (Time.com)
Ginkgo Doesn't Prevent Alzheimer's Nov 19, 2008
Those who took the ginkgo were no more or less likely to develop Alzheimer's or any type of dementia, the researchers wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Dr. Steven DeKosky, dean of the University of Virginia School of Medicine who led the study, said he was disappointed in the results, citing early indications that ginkgo has antioxidant and other properties that might preserve memory. (Newsmax)
Ginkgo can't prevent Alzheimer's Nov 19, 2008
For the new study, appearing in today's Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers recruited more than 3,000 people, ages 75 and older. Half were randomly assigned to take 120 milligrams of ginkgo biloba twice a day, a typical dose taken by people who think it may help memory. (India Times, India)
Half of nation's docs want to quit, survey says Nov 18, 2008
A U.S. shortage of 35,000 to 40,000 primary care physicians by 2025 was predicted at last week's American Medical Association annual meeting ... In a survey published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in September, only 2 percent of current medical students plan to take up primary care. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- NBA)
Business calendar Nov 16, 2008
Speaker: Yank Coble, an endocrinologist and president of the American Medical Association, on polio. (904) 396-4105 or www. (Florida Times-Union)
Confused about which vitamins to take? Nov 15, 2008
The study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, also found that vitamin E even appeared to raise the risk of bleeding strokes, which, while rare, are often the most deadly. Other research on women and vitamins is also discouraging. (CNN -- Health)
To the Editor: Corn article misleading? Nov 15, 2008
The American Medical Association in June 2008 helped put to rest misunderstandings about this sweetener and obesity, stating that high fructose corn syrup does not appear to contribute to obesity more than other caloric sweeteners. In 1983, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration formally listed high fructose corn syrup as safe for use in food and reaffirmed that decision in 1996. (Gaylord Herald Times, MI)
Chambliss, Martin Face Buckley Endorsement Test Nov 15, 2008
Analyze Buckleys healthcare and Medicare proposals and the healthcare proposals of the American Medical Association. 8. (Newsmax)
Humors From the Medical Minds in The Best of Wits End -- A Book That Contains the Brainiest Humors Nov 14, 2008
Some of these have appeared in Verbatim, SPELL, Northwest medicine, and the Journal of the American Medical Association. He teaches at the local community college, volunteers in the English as a Second Language program, and for many years has been editor of the Rotary club newsletter. (Primezone Releases)
Keep it Simple: Where corn is king Nov 14, 2008
Cornrefiner wrote on Nov 13, 2008 11:56 AM:" High fructose corn syrup, sugar, and several fruit juices are all nutritionally the same.High fructose corn syrup has the same number of calories as sugar and is handled similarly by the body. The American Medical Association in June 2008 helped put to rest misunderstandings about this sweetener and obesity, stating that high fructose corn syrup does not appear to contribute to obesity more than other caloric sweeteners.Consumers can see the... (Gaylord Herald Times, MI)
Too Little Sleep Adds to Risks of Hypertension Nov 14, 2008
A new study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that sleeping less than seven and a half hours a day may be associated with a greater risk for heart disease, particularly for those whose blood pressure spikes overnight. "Sleep habits have a huge impact on human health," says the study's lead author, Dr. Kazuo Eguchi of Jichi Medical University in Tochigi, Japan. (Time.com)
Office Ergonomics: Tips for Preventing Pains and Strains Nov 13, 2008
In addition, the Journal of American Medical Association found that costs associated with common pain conditions and lost productivity in the U.S. are estimated at 61. 2 billion per year. (Pekin Times, IL)
Get your antioxidants from the grocer Nov 13, 2008
According to a study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association, taking supplements of vitamins C and E doesn't prevent heart attacks or stroke. And last month, after researchers from the Cleveland Clinic discovered that selenium and vitamin E pills did nothing to ward off prostate cancer - and may even increase risk of the disease - they instructed the study participants to stop taking their supplements. (Globe and Mail)
AMA to Create a 'Code of Conduct' for Insurers Nov 13, 2008
The American Medical Association says it'll create a code of conduct for health insurers to protect patients ... The American Medical Association says it'll create a code of conduct for health insurers to protect patients. (R News)
WellPoint to launch medical tourism pilot program Nov 13, 2008
The program will comply with both American Medical Association medical tourism guidelines and Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association service standards. WellPoint's pilot program will allow people to travel to hospitals in either Bangalore or New Delhi for procedures like joint replacement or upper and lower back fusion. (Yahoo News)
Journalism an awarding experience Nov 13, 2008
Even such a reputable organization as the American Medical Association, for example, shouldn't be expected to give you the straight scoop on which newspaper did the best job of reporting on medical issues. Same goes for the teachers union and education reporting. (Daily Triplicate)
When families take care of their own Nov 13, 2008
In an article in The Journal of the American Medical Association in 2004, one woman told an interviewer that helping her mother care for her terminally ill father just brought us closer. I felt very privileged to be helpful to him and to be helpful to my mother, she said. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
High Blood Fat Levels Tied to Ischemic Stroke Risk Nov 13, 2008
The 31-year study of almost 14,000 Danish men and women found a direct association between higher triglyceride levels and risk of ischemic stroke, the most common kind that occurs when a clot blocks a brain blood vessel, said the report in the Nov. 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. "Our results are really quite clear," said Dr. Borge G. Nordestgaard, a professor of genetic epidemiology at Copenhagen University Hospital. (MEDLINEplus)
Vitamins C, E Do Not Cut Heart Attack, Stroke Risk Nov 13, 2008
The men who took the vitamins ended up doing no better than those who took a placebo, researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Vitamin E and vitamin C are antioxidants, thought to protect against damage caused by free radicals, substances that can harm cells, tissues and organs. (MEDLINEplus)
Long-term study evaluates boosted PREZISTA* vs. lopinavir/ritonavir as part of HIV combination therapy in treatment-naive adults Nov 12, 2008
QUICK SEARCH BY ORGANIZATION. FREE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES. (Canada Newswire)
