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Blood type might have an impact on a person’s risk of stroke, a new study suggests. People with O blood, the most common type, had the lowest risk. People with AB blood, the least common type, had the highest risk. They were 26% more likely to have a stroke than people with O blood. The study was based on medical records for 90,000 men and women. All were involved in health studies that have kept track of people for more than 20 years. Stroke risk also was higher in people with B blood, but only among women. They were 15% more likely to have a stroke than women with O blood. Blood type is determined by proteins on the surface of red blood cells. These proteins affect immune system responses. Researchers said some blood types might make red cells more likely to clump together and cause clots. Type O, on the other hand, has been linked to an increased risk of bleeding.

A newer drug is better than an older drug at controlling kidney problems among people with lupus, new research concludes. The study included 227 people with lupus. This is an autoimmune disease. It can cause problems in many organs. All of the people in the study had kidney disease related to lupus. They were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group took an older drug, azathioprine. The other group took a newer drug, mycophenolate mofetil (Cellcept). Both drugs suppress the immune system. In the next 3 years, treatment failure occurred in 32.4% of people taking azathioprine. Failure occurred in 16.4% of those taking mycophenolate. About 23% taking the older drug had kidney flare-ups, compared with 13% of those taking the newer drug. Side effects were common. However, people on the newer drug had fewer serious ones. The New England Journal of Medicine published the study.

Postmenopausal women don’t benefit from using a vibration platform to prevent bone loss. The study included 202 women. Each was randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups. Two of the groups stood on vibrating platforms for 20 minutes a day at either high or low speed. The third group did nothing. After a year, there were no differences in bone loss among the groups. The special platforms are thought to stimulate bone growth in a similar way as weight-bearing exercise. They can be found in some health clubs and health food stores. About one-third of older women are at risk for fracture due to osteoporosis. The study was published Nov. 15 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. HealthDay News wrote about it the same day.