Medical News

Asthma Cases Reach New High

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Asthma prevalence reached its highest level ever in 2010 — 8.4% of the population, up from 7.3% in 2001, according to the CDC.

That translates into 18.7 million adults and 7 million children who had been diagnosed with asthma and still had the condition in 2010, the agency said in a report called Asthma’s Impact on the Nation.

On the other hand, the agency reported, deaths from the disease have been declining from 2001 through 2009, as have visits for asthma to physician offices and hospital outpatient departments.

via Medical News: Asthma Cases Reach New High – in Allergy & Immunology, Asthma from MedPage Today.

FDA Panel Says Yes to Home HIV Test

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If marketed, the test would likely be sold in a similar manner to some cough medicines, according to a company spokesman. At checkout, the cashier would ask to see the purchaser’s ID to confirm he or she is at least 17.

via Medical News: FDA Panel Says Yes to Home HIV Test – in HIV/AIDS, HIV/AIDS from MedPage Today.

Might be time to review your application and exam question.

I’d take a hard look at my non-medical limits too.

Omega-3s Linked to Lower Amyloid Levels

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People who had a lot of omega-3 fatty acids in their diets tended to have lower plasma levels of beta-amyloid proteins, possibly reducing their risk of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers said.

In a cross-sectional study of more than 1,200 cognitively normal individuals older than 65, omega-3 fatty acid intake was significantly predictive of plasma levels of the 40- and 42-residue forms of beta-amyloid protein (AB40 and AB42, respectively), according to Nikolaos Scarmeas, MD, of Columbia University in New York City, and colleagues.

via Medical News: Omega-3s Linked to Lower Amyloid Levels – in Neurology, Alzheimer’s Disease from MedPage Today.

Death Rate Still High in RA Vasculitis

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From 1988 to 2000, the average annual incidence of this condition was 9.1 per million (95% CI 6.8 to 12), falling to 3.9 per million (95% CI 2.3 to 6.2) in the subsequent decade, according to Eleana Ntatsaki, PhD, from Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in Norwich, England, and colleagues.

In the earlier and later time periods, 1-year mortality rates were 14%, and 12%, respectively.

But 5-year mortality rates for systemic rheumatoid vasculitis were 51% and 60%, respectively, despite current therapeutic strategies such as treat-to-target, she said.

via Medical News: Death Rate Still High in RA Vasculitis – in Meeting Coverage, BSR from MedPage Today.

Reduced Total Lung Capacity and Mortality

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Background: Pulmonary restriction is associated with increased mortality in adults, especially those who are elderly. Previous studies, however, have used the FVC as a surrogate for the total lung capacity (TLC). We evaluated the association between a reduced TLC, mortality, and health-care resources use and compared this association with a reduced FVC.

Conclusions: Reduced TLC is strongly associated with mortality in adults who are elderly. Reduction of the FVC is a weaker risk factor for mortality.

via Association of Reduced Total Lung Capacity With Mortality and Use of Health Services.

Earlier LDL Focus Could Be Beneficial/Stains Alter Predictive Value of LDL

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Medical News:%20ACC: Earlier LDL Focus Could Be Beneficial – in Meeting Coverage, ACC from MedPage Today.

Taking steps to maintain a low level of LDL cholesterol from very early in life will likely have substantial benefits in preventing coronary heart disease.

Medical News:%20Statins Alter Predictive Value of LDL – in Cardiovascular, Dyslipidemia from MedPage Today.

  • Among patients taking statins, on-treatment levels of non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol may be best for predicting future cardiovascular events, according to a meta-analysis.
  • The study suggests that non-HDL cholesterol may be a more appropriate target for statin therapy than LDL cholesterol.

 

Apnea Treatment Gets Heart Back in Shape

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Several studies have suggested that obstructive sleep apnea contributes to the development of left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction and, possibly, heart failure. Note that this study indicates that moderate-to-severe sleep apnea can cause structural and functional changes in left ventricular function comparable to that seen in hypertension and, further, these abnormalities significantly improve following CPAP therapy.

via Medical News:Apnea Treatment Gets Heart Back in Shape – in Cardiovascular, CHF from MedPage Today.