Looking at the rate of change in a blood test may be a good way to screen healthy women for ovarian cancer, a new study suggests. This form of cancer usually is diagnosed late, when it is hard to cure. The new study included a test for the protein CA-125. Blood levels are high in many women with ovarian cancer. But this protein can be high for other reasons, too. More than 3,200 older women were tested for CA-125. Researchers calculated each woman’s risk based on her CA-125 level and how it changed over time. Women at low risk were tested each year. Medium-risk women got tests every three months. The study lasted nine years. In this time, 85 women with the highest risk received ultrasound tests to look for signs of cancer. Eight of them were referred for surgery. The surgery found three invasive cancers, all in early stages. Two women had “borderline” tumors.
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Changes in life circumstances may cause tensions in a relationship, even between people who have been together for a long time. A couples therapist can help partners or spouses deal with such problems and issues.
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Physical activity can help prevent weight gain in women who are not overweight, but for those who are already overweight or obese, exercise alone is not enough to prevent weight gain.
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The cause of the skin condition psoriasis is not known, but may be a combination of heredity and immune system response. It is not curable, but can often be managed with various treatment methods.
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Doctors can resume giving children either of the two vaccines available for rotavirus, U.S. regulators say. The announcement came nearly two months after doctors were asked to suspend use of one of the vaccines, Rotarix. Bits of DNA from a pig virus had been found in the vaccine. Rotarix is made by GlaxoSmithKline. The FDA said the vaccine was safe and was being suspended as a precaution. The pig virus, porcine circovirus 1, is not known to cause illness in people. In early May, the FDA said the other vaccine, RotaTeq, also contained pig virus DNA. RotaTeq is made by Merck. After completing its investigation, the FDA dropped the suspension of Rotarix. The agency said both vaccines are safe and doctors can use either one. HealthDay News wrote about the announcement May 14.
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I’m a 61-year-old man with high blood pressure. My doctor wants me to take Zocor to lower my cholesterol, but I’m worried about muscle damage. I found a Web site that claimed coenzyme Q10 would help. Is that right?
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Wide-ranging daily blood pressure readings could be an indicator of increased risk of a heart attack or stroke.
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The key to a successful cardiac rehabilitation program is sticking with it. Those who complete a program have increased longevity and less chance of having a heart attack or stroke.
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Incidence of infection caused by the bacterium Clostridium difficile is rising, mainly in patients in hospitals and long-term care facilities who have received antibiotics.
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For better, fresher produce this summer, consider buying your produce from a local farmers’ market or planting a garden and growing your own.
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