A new test can find one cancer cell among a billion blood cells, researchers say. The blood test may be able to show doctors quickly whether cancer treatments are working. Someday, it may even be used to test for cancer in the overall population. The test was developed by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital. They are joining with Johnson & Johnson to market it, the Associated Press reported January 3. The test uses a microchip covered in tiny bristles. The bristles are coated with antibodies. Tumor cells stick to the bristles. With today’s cancer treatments, doctors start a treatment, then do a CT scan a couple of months later. This shows whether a tumor has shrunk. The new test will show whether the number of tumor cells in blood is going down. This may be a quicker way to find out if treatments are working.
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I have ulcerative colitis. What kinds of nutritional foods can I eat? Specifically, what foods will provide energy throughout the day?
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People with a medical disease and depression often have poorer health than people who are not depressed. But a small study finds that treating both conditions together can improve results. The study included 214 people with depression. They also had heart disease, diabetes or both. People were randomly divided into two groups. One group got regular care. People in the other group worked with a nurse coach to manage their care. The study lasted 12 months. By the end, people who worked with the nurse had better health than people who got regular care. They were in better control of blood sugar, LDL (“bad cholesterol”) and blood pressure. They also were less depressed than people who got regular care. The New England Journal of Medicine published the study. The Los Angeles Times wrote about it December 30.
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My daughter and I recently attended the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and stood outside for several hours. When we went inside, my daughter showed me that her middle finger had gone completely white. She said this had happened before. What could this be?
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Many children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder also have sleep problems, such as difficulty falling asleep, that worsen their ADHD symptoms.
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I have heard conflicting advice about how often to get tetanus shots. I thought we were supposed to get them every 5 years. What is the proper advice?
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Statin drugs do lower cholesterol. But experts say that only taking a pill is not enough. Lifestyle changes are important, such as eating more nutritious foods and increasing physical activity. These changes help with weight loss and increase overall fitness. By relying only on medicine, many people leave them vulnerable to other health problems. These include diabetes, arthritis and high blood pressure. HealthDay News wrote about the issue December 28.
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Can a person overcome social anxiety naturally on his own?
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Children in Puerto Rico have the highest asthma rates in the world. In 2010 the asthma rate increased, compared with previous years. Experts say that heavy rains might have released plant spores that could cause asthma attacks. Puerto Ricans also do not respond as well as other ethnic groups do to albuterol. This is the stand-by medicine for asthma. The Associated Press wrote about the issue on December 27.
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