Month: October 2012

A study of diabetics has been stopped early because an intensive diet and exercise program did not reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke. Adults with type 2 diabetes have twice the risk of these problems as other adults. The study included 5,145 overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes. They were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group followed a strict diet. People were limited to 1,200 to 1,800 calories a day. They also did 175 minutes a week of moderate exercise. The other group just received general diabetes education and support. People in the first group lost about 10% of their weight at first. They kept off about 5% for at least 4 years. Other research has shown that a 5% weight loss can reduce factors that affect heart and stroke risk. People in the second group lost about 1% of their weight. After 11 years, U.S.

American boys, like girls, may be entering puberty earlier than they did 30 to 40 years ago, a new study finds. Based on prior research, doctors have considered 11½ to be the average age of puberty for boys. In the new study, the average was about 10 for whites and Hispanics. The average was 9 for blacks, about 2 years earlier than prior studies showed. The new study was based on exams of more than 4,000 boys. Their ages ranged from 6 to 16. Doctors in 41 states recorded information during well-child visits. They took note of pubic hair, genital size and testicle size. Growth of testicles is considered the first sign of puberty for boys. Other research has shown that puberty in girls is starting sooner. This may lead to a higher risk of breast cancer. It’s unclear why early puberty may be happening in boys, researchers said.

U.S. drug regulators have expanded their investigation of a pharmacy linked to an outbreak of meningitis. The New England Compounding Center of Framingham, Mass., has been shut down since last month. At least 250 cases of meningitis caused by a fungus have been linked to steroid shots made at the pharmacy. Most of them were linked to a fungus called Exserohilum rostratum. The infections have caused at least 20 deaths. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed October 18 that this fungus was found in one lot of steroid vials made by the company. The FDA also said it is looking into the cause of infections among 3 people who received other kinds of drugs made by New England Compounding. The fungus involved in the steroid injections is commonly found in nature. FDA still is looking into how it could have contaminated the drugs used to produce the steroid shots.

Behavior symptoms may return if people with Alzheimer’s disease stop taking a medicine that has helped them, a new study suggests. Some people with Alzheimer’s disease have symptoms of psychosis. For example, they may hear or see things that aren’t there or have false beliefs (delusions). Some may become anxious, angry or violent. Some people get symptom relief from risperidone (Risperdal) or other anti-psychotic drugs. But other research has found that Alzheimer’s patients taking such drugs may die sooner. U.S. drug guidelines recommend careful monitoring of these patients. The new study included 110 people with Alzheimer’s. All of them had taken risperidone for 4 months and had responded well. They were randomly divided into 3 groups. One group kept taking the drug for 8 months. One continued for 4 months, then switched to placebo (fake) pills.