Month: March 2013
Novel Drug Tested Against Hepatitis C
An experimental drug may one day help to treat hepatitis C, according to the results of a small study. The study included 36 people with hepatitis C. They were randomly assigned to five weekly injections of the drug miravirsen, or placebo. Three doses of miravirsen were tested. The drug reduced the amount of hepatitis C virus in people’s blood. Higher doses caused greater reductions. The effects lasted for several months. There were no signs of drug resistance. Miravirsen is a new type of drug, called an RNA interference drug. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. National Public Radio wrote about it online.
After having anesthesia, I couldn’t urinate. Why does this happen and what can I do?
After having anesthesia, I couldn’t urinate. Why does this happen and what can I do?
Breath Test for Heart Failure?
An experimental test may eventually help to diagnose heart failure. The test uses a person’s exhaled breath. Molecules in the breath are analyzed using a technique called mass spectrometry. Certain molecules and combinations of molecules can signal heart failure. The test was done on 77 patients. Some had already been diagnosed with heart failure. Others did not have signs of heart failure. The test identified all of the heart-failure patients. Doctors say the test may one day be useful in primary-care physicians’ offices. It is still in the early stages of development. The study was published March 25 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. HealthDay News wrote about it.
Chelation Therapy Shows Limited Benefit for Heart Disease
Chelation therapy showed mininal benefit in preventing heart attack, stroke or death in people who had a previous heart attack, says a study. Chelation therapy uses chemicals that combine with metals or other toxins in the body. It is used to treat lead poisoning and certain medical conditions, such as iron overload. Chelation with a chemical called ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) has been promoted as a way to remove harmful metals from arteries. It is controversial. The study included 1,708 adults age 50 and older who had a previous heart attack. Half of the patients got 40 infusions of EDTA solution along with high doses of vitamin and mineral supplements into their bloodstreams; half got a placebo solution. The researchers followed the patients for an average of 4.5 years to see who had another heart problem.
Heart Beat: Exercise no trigger for defibrillator shocks
Having a defibrillator implanted does not preclude exercising.
Preventive mastectomy
Many women who have been diagnosed with cancer in one breast opt to have a preventive double mastectomy. Yet 70% of these women may be having the surgery unnecessarily, research finds.
Ask the doctor: How can I deal with jet lag?
Jet lag is common when flying long distance across several time zones. For every time zone you cross, it takes about a day for your body to adjust. There is no proven solution for jet lag, but you may be able to minimize its effects.
Heart beat: Bleeding risk with aspirin must be balanced against benefit
An aspirin a day has been shown to lower the risk of a first heart attack in men and a first stroke in women, but it also increases the risk of major bleeding in the digestive tract or brain.
Losing your sense of smell?
After age 65, many people lose some of their sense of smell, and we don’t know exactly why. But if loss of smell lasts longer than a few weeks, it may indicate an underlying problem, and sometimes a serious neurological condition.