Month: June 2014

A type of pacemaker can help more women with heart failure than men, and yet women are less likely to get the devices, a study finds. Researchers pooled results from 3 earlier studies. They included 3,198 men and 878 women. Normally, both sides of the heart beat (contract) at the same time. Among people in the study, one side of the heart contracted slightly later than the other. The original studies were designed to test pacemakers that help both sides beat at the same time. Success was measured by a reduction in the risk of death or fewer heart-failure events that required a hospital trip or more medicine. Women with the devices had a 60% reduced risk of these events. Men’s risk declined 26%. The study also raised questions about who should get these devices.

Testosterone products must carry a new warning about a possible risk of blood clots in veins. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the change June 20. It is prompted by reports of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism among men taking testosterone treatments. Deep vein clots usually occur in the legs. A pulmonary embolism occurs if a clot travels to the lungs. Clots in the lungs can be deadly. Testosterone products already warn about a risk of clots in veins caused by polycythemia. This is an abnormal rise in the number of blood cells. But the more recent cases cited by the FDA were not related to polycythemia. The FDA also continues to investigate whether men taking testosterone products may have an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and death. Announced in February, this investigation was prompted by a research study that suggested a higher risk.

Teens and young adults took fewer antidepressants after the drug labels started warning about an increased suicide risk. And they also were more likely to attempt suicide, a new study says. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first required the warnings in 2004. They applied to antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), citalopram (Celexa) and others. In 2007, the warning was expanded to include young adults. The new study used data from 11 U.S. health plans. Researchers looked at prescriptions for SSRI drugs. They also looked at cases of overdose with mind-altering drugs, such as tranquilizers and amphetamines. Researchers said overdoses were more likely to be reported consistently than the medical code for suicide attempts.

A newer drug improved symptoms for more people than the usual drug given first to people with rheumatoid arthritis, researchers report. Methotrexate, an old drug, is typically what people receive first when diagnosed with this disease. A newer drug, tofacitinib, helps to reduce inflammation in this disease. It works in a different way than methotrexate. The new study included 956 people with rheumatoid arthritis. They had not yet been treated with methotrexate. They were randomly divided into 3 groups. One group received methotrexate. The others took tofacitinib, in different doses. After 6 months, signs and symptoms of the disease had improved more in the groups receiving tofacitinib. About 26% of those taking the smaller dose and 38% of those taking the larger dose had at least a 70% improvement. About 12% of those taking methotrexate improved that much.

A study of women with a high risk of developing breast cancer has found that annual MRI scans find more cancers than mammograms. The study included 2,207 women, ages 30 to 69. All were at high risk of breast cancer. They had high-risk genes, a family history of breast cancer, a history of radiation treatment before age 30 or other factors that increased breast-cancer risk. All were screened with digital mammograms and breast MRI scans. In the first year, the screening found 35 breast cancers. Of those, 23 were detected by MRI alone and 12 were found on both tests. No cancers were detected by mammogram alone. A researcher, quoted by HealthDay news, said the findings suggest that high-risk women should have both tests each year, starting at age 30. But the testing program will continue, and researchers will report later on long-term results.