Medical News

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The use of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to diagnose the cause of unexplained headaches can be cost-effective for society -- even when the MR findings are negative, according to information presented here today during the 83rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

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For the 23 million Americans who suffer from the debilitating effects of migraine, a new drug may offer relief. ZOMIG (zolmitriptan) 2.5mg. and 5.0mg. tablets, an oral medication for the treatment of acute migraine with or without aura in adults, was cleared for marketing today in the United States.

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A widely available digital technology that can be adapted to create 3-D pictures of the breast is showing promise in ruling out breast cancer in women who have had suspicious findings on mammograms, and may help avoid surgical biopsies. Information on the technology was presented here today during the 83rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

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On the heels of a National Cancer Institute recommendation that women 40 and older have regular mammograms, two studies suggest annual mammography screening for breast cancer is not only safe but cost-effective. The studies were presented here today at the 83rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

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Criteria commonly used to determine whether people at risk for stroke should have surgery or drug therapy may underestimate the risk in women, while overestimating it in men, according to information presented here today during the 83rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

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Pregnant women not only expect prenatal ultrasound, they are so anxious to have it done they are willing to pay for it themselves, according to a survey presented here today at the 83rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

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The blood brain barrier has long been regarded as the body's most formidable gatekeeper. It is a virtual fortress of blood vessels that forms a protective barrier between the blood and brain, screening any chemical that attempts to access the brain's inner sanctum. But the blood brain barrier's protective role can be a drawback, as it also blocks access to substances that would be good for the brain. One such substance is vitamin C, an antioxidant that is essential to keep the central nervous system functioning properly.

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Two AHCPR-funded research projects appear in the November 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The first study is about the use of insulin in the management of type-2 diabetes. The other is about treating chest pain effectively without a costly hospital admission.

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The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) is consolidating two existing components to create the Center for Practice and Technology Assessment (CPTA), which will oversee the Agency's Evidence-based Practice Program. CPTA will house the existing Office of the Forum for Quality and Effectiveness in Health Care, and will include the functions of the previous Center for Health Care Technology. The consolidation, designed to improve efficiency, is being announced in today's Federal Register.

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Five new papers supported by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) present findings and suggestions that could be used to improve the quality of medical care.

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A new report released by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) finds that smoking cessation interventions are cost-effective. While all types of cessation treatment were found to be cost-effective, those involving more intensive counseling and the nicotine patch proved to be especially worthwhile. Smoking cessation interventions are less costly than other preventive medical interventions such as the treatment of high cholesterol.

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A physician reporting at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting this week will describe how the Digital Holographyô System from VoxelÆ (NASDAQ:VOXL) improves display of cerebral vasculature and reduces or eliminates image artifacts in patients with surgical hardware. Additionally, Voxel will introduce software for previewing three-dimensional holograms on a computer.

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When it comes to lung cancer diagnosis sometimes less is more, even in the high-tech world of medicine. That is the message of a University of Iowa study showing that the analysis of sputum -- a low-cost, low-risk method for detecting lung cancer -- makes more sense as an initial diagnostic test for many patients than the more expensive invasive methods. In addition, the potential national savings in testing costs with the adoption of sputum analysis would be at least $30 million per year.

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You are invited to cover the AHA's 23rd International Joint Conference on Stroke and Cerebral Circulation, which will be held February 5-7, 1998 at the Omni Rosen in Orlando. This is the largest conference in the world that draws together medical scientists and physicians engaged in research and treatment of stroke, the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of serious disability. More than 1,500 scientists are expected to attend from the United States and other nations

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While identifying a new cancer-fighting tumor suppressor gene called ARF, scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have made another, potentially more far-reaching discovery, that a single genetic locus called INK4a encodes protein products that regulate the most frequently targeted biochemical pathways in human cancers.

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December Online Tipsheet from the American Psychiatric Association: 1) Antidepressants and Sexual Dysfunction: Women Fare Better than Men, 2) Child Abuse Linked to Multiple Personality Disorder, 3) Poor Quality of Life for PTSD Vietnam Vets, 4) ECT Effective Among Elderly, 5) Public and Private Health System Treatment Both Work for Children

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People with type 2 diabetes are routinely encouraged to strictly control their blood sugar at near-normal levels, but a new study indicates this is extremely difficult to do through conventional use of insulin. The study evaluates how effective, safe and costly insulin treatment is in a typical setting.

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Newly Released Study Recommends Genetic Testing of Gynecologic Cancer Victims in this High Risk Group, Regardless of Family History

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The University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center has developed a home health monitoring system that allows older patients to test their own blood at home and transmit the results electronically to the hospital.

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A new University of Michigan spin-off company---IntraLase Corporation---will develop and market a new generation of lasers for high-precision medical applications. The lasers will cut delicate structures, such as the cornea of the eye, while avoiding damage to overlying or adjacent tissue---something not possible with current clinical laser technology.

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Washington -- Scientists today report making modifications to the promising anticancer drug paclitaxel, originally isolated from the Pacific yew tree, that they say may enable it to be more soluble in a patient's body and therefore more effective. The drug's limited solubility has complicated its efficacy in cancer treatment.

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Nearly 13 million of the roughly 110 million families in the United States -- 11.6 percent of all families -- experienced difficulty or delays in obtaining medical care or did not get the care they needed during 1996, according to new estimates from the federal Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR). In addition, more than 46 million Americans had no usual source of health care in 1996. This means nearly 18 percent of the population had no particular doctor's office, clinic, health center or other place where they would usually go if they were sick or needed advice about their health.

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Washington, DC-- In a final report issued today, a presidential commission recommended a number of measures to increase the public's knowledge about the role of dietary supplements in promoting good health and urged more scientific research to enhance the knowledge base about supplements.

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Pharmaceutical companies have 124 new medicines and vaccines for AIDS in clinical trials or under review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to a survey release by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) to mark World AIDS Day (December 1).

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The end of a college semester brings two things--lots of finals and plenty of students with colds. It's not the exams that make students sick, but the stress of preparing for them does make students more susceptible to colds and other viral infections.

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Solving a long-standing problem in vaccine development, scientists have crafted a new way to deliver foreign proteins into the body such that the immune system is primed to attack virus-infected cells and cancer cells. Because this kind of an immune response is key to vaccine development, the findings have profound implications for developing safe vaccines to immunize against AIDS and other infectious diseases, and for creating new cancer therapies.

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A high-fat meal can spark a dramatic rise in a blood coagulation factor, which may increase the risk of death from heart disease and stroke, researchers report in this month's Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, a journal of the American Heart Association

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Two means of assessing a woman's risk of developing breast cancer Ø one for the general population and one for women with a family history of the disease Ø are being offered through a new program in the UT Southwestern Center for Breast Care.

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A massage can be like medicine. That's according to Dr. Tiffany Field, Dean of the Mailman Family and School Center at Nova Southeastern University. She also oversees the university's newly established Touch Research Institute and Wellness Center.

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Travelers need to be aware of the limitiations of cruise-ship health care just as they would be aware of health-care problems in foreign countries.

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Knowing someone who is gay or lesbian and having knowledge about homosexuality can improve medical students' attitudes toward gay men and lesbians, reports a study published in the current issue of the Journal of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association.

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"Butter is not better than margarine." That is the assertion of Tim Byers, MD, MPH, of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in an editorial accompanying a study published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study links trans unsaturated fats to increased risk of heart disease.

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The Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) is a non-profit, international organization of obstetricians-gynecologists who specialize in treating women with cancers of the ovary, uterus, cervix, vagina, vulva and fallopian tubes. These women's healthcare specialists have extensive training in providing gynecologic cancer care to women, including surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and other innovative approaches that enhance patient care.

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By manipulating people's facial features on computer images, doctors can help patients envision the results of cosmetic surgery. But what if the surgical results differ from those on the screen? Does computer imaging tend to raise false hopes and invite malpractice suits?

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Doctors on NBC Television's hit medical drama ER solve a mysterious diagnosis using an Internet search on the Nov. 20 episode. But using the Internet to research health topics and diseases isn't just a story line on a television show. In fact, one out of three Internet users is seeking health and medical information online.

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Researchers, led by a team from the University of Michigan Medical Center, have isolated a pair of substances in grapefruit juice that cause greater absorption of certain drugs in the human body. The key lies in the interaction between the grapefruit juice and an enzyme found in the small intestine.

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The Cleveland Clinic will lead a multicenter study examining a controversial surgical procedure for stroke patients with severe brain swelling -- removing a portion of the skull to relieve the buildup of pressure.

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Surgical students soon will be able hone their skills with simulators that for the first time present a realistic feel of performing surgery thanks to a research project under way at the University of Washington. The project also could improve patient care by leading to the development of instruments that enhance surgeons' sense of touch.

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1997 Danone International Prize Survey. Insight into the future of nutrition research. Citing examples of the critical link between human health and nutrition, 92% of leading researchers worldwide identified prevention as the priority for nutrition research into the 21st century. The prevention of chronic disease, cancer and obesity accounted for half of all responses.researchers worldwide identified prevention as the priority for nutrition research into the 21st century, according to a survey for the 1997 Danone International Prize for Nutrition. The prevention of chronic disease, cancer and obesity accounted for half of all responses in favor of prevention.

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The first Danone International Prize for Nutrition has been awarded to Vernon R. Young, PhD, professor of nutritional biochemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, whose research on proteins and amino acids has become the basis for evaluating the nutritional status and needs of populations worldwide.

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Researchers report a breakthrough in helping patients tolerate the medication used in treating a common type of pneumonia. In the longest running trial of its kind, doctors found that 86 percent of their HIV study patients were able to tolerate trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (also called Bactrim) after a previous allergic reaction.

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Different walking speeds get different health effects in post-menopausal women. Slow walkers burn more fat and increase sensitivity to insulin. Fast walkers secrete more growth hormone for strong bones and lean body mass, says University of Michigan pilot study.

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Can cholesterol levels considered "normal" still cause damage to blood vessels and thus be potentially harmful to your health? Scientists reporting today in the American Heart Association journal Circulation say the answer is "yes."

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A painful and sometimes dibilitating injury to the ankle can be repaired by transplanting bone and cartilage from the knee to the ankle.

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Topics: 1) Herpes may show up long after infection; 2) Airplanes offer special challenges for avoiding infections; 3) Arthritis, muscle pain call for different remedies; 4) Donating blood is safe and satisfying, especially if you observe simple guidelines; 5) Don't stop medication just because of a missed dose

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A substance called pTpT enhances a skin cell's natural ability to repair DNA damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation, according to researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine. The finding suggests the possibility that topical agents could eventually be created which not only induce tanning, but also lower the risk of skin cancer.

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Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center have found that a drug used to normalize blood ammonia levels also holds promise for cystic fibrosis.

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University of Maryland Medical Center neurologists are part of a national study on how to prevent recurrent strokes in African Americans by determining which of two medications is more effective -- aspirin or ticlopidine.

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Scientists at Johns Hopkins have used brain scans to show that intravenous doses of cocaine increase the availability of dopamine, the brain's "feel-good" chemical.

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Two recent studies show that the drug zolmitriptan (brand name Zomig) begins to relieve severe or moderate migraine headache in as little as 30 minutes. EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL NOVEMBER 21, 1997