Category: news-perspectives

Reports in a medical journal claim that Merck & Co. paid outside scientists to be listed as authors of articles written by ghostwriters. The articles included research on Vioxx. This drug was withdrawn from the market in 2004 because of heart and stroke risks. The new reports also say that Merck tried to minimize the death risk in two studies related to Vioxx and Alzheimer’s disease. But Merck told the Associated Press that the new reports were false and misleading. It said the listed authors were closely involved in the research. Merck said the Alzheimer’s articles were accurate. The company also said the new reports were biased because their authors had consulted for people who sued Merck over Vioxx. The reports were published April 16 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

A study has failed to show whether super-low blood pressure and cholesterol levels are good for health. The study included 499 American Indians. All had diabetes and therefore a high risk of heart disease. All were given medicine to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Half aimed to reach levels recommended by current guidelines. The others were given more medicine to reach even lower levels. After three years, people who got more treatment had thinner artery walls in the neck than the other group. But rates of heart attacks and other events were similar in both groups. The study was published April 9 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Stress from work and the poor economy are wrecking diet and exercise routines across the country, the Associated Press reported April 24. People who give up healthy habits say stress is the main reason. They may skip exercise or reach for sugar and “comfort” foods. But experts said that sticking to healthy routines could make people feel more in control.

Most U.S. doctors don’t use e-mail with their patients, the Associated Press (AP) reported April 23. The AP cited recent studies that show fewer than one-third of doctors e-mail patients, but when they do it can save time. Patients who used e-mail were less likely to phone or visit. Doctors also responded faster to e-mails than to phone calls. But doctors are concerned that e-mail may increase their work without payment, AP reported. They also worry about privacy and getting e-mails about problems that are urgent. Experts told AP that training can help expand e-mail use between patients and doctors.

Men’s higher risk of heart disease begins while they are still boys, a study finds. The study kept track of 507 children from ages 11 to 19. At the beginning, boys and girls had similar levels of blood pressure, blood fats and overall body fat. But by the end of their teens boys had higher blood pressure. They also had higher triglycerides and lower HDL cholesterol — two types of blood fats. All of these trends increase the risk of heart disease in adulthood. The changes occurred even though boys lost and girls gained body fat as a percentage of weight. HealthDay News wrote about the study April 21. It appeared in the journal Circulation.

Researchers wanted to see if bacteria in soil could break down toxins in farm waste. Their goal was to turn the waste into fuel. So they started by feeding the bacteria something really tough — antibiotics. Much to their surprise, many bacteria didn’t just survive. They grew and flourished on the antibiotic diet. Researchers now are trying to find out how they did it. The Associated Press wrote about the discovery April 3. It was published in the journal Science.

This flu season was the worst in four years, U.S. health officials say. One major reason, they say, is that the flu vaccine did not protect well against the two most common strains causing illness this year. Overall, the vaccine was about 44% effective. Usually, it is 70% to 90% effective. The Associated Press reported April 17 on the new statistics. The study was conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was published in the centers’ Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

More than 1 in 4 U.S. adults have pain in a typical day, a telephone survey indicates. Nearly 4,000 randomly selected people were called. They were asked about what they did the day before and when they had pain. Blue-collar workers and people with lower incomes and education reported more pain. Nearly 1 in 8 people said they had work-related disabilities. They accounted for nearly half of the moderate to severe pain of all people surveyed. Pain also was linked to certain activities. They included sports, lawn and garden work, and providing medical and other care for adults. HealthDay News reported on the survey May 1. It was published in the journal Lancet.

Children should be tested for heart problems before being treated with drugs such as Ritalin, the American Heart Association (AHA) says. The new guidance applies to children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Drugs used to treat ADHD can increase blood pressure. They also can speed up the heart. In someone with a heart condition, this could cause the heart to stop. The AHA says kids should have an exam and an electrocardiogram before drugs are prescribed. The Associated Press wrote about the statement April 22. It was published in the journal Circulation.

Nearly half of Americans are thriving, according to a new “well-being” index. But most of the rest are struggling. About 4% are suffering, with problems meeting their basic needs. The numbers are based on a Gallup survey of more than 100,000 people. They were asked about their lives and how well they are meeting their needs. People who are thriving mostly have higher incomes, more education and better health. The Associated Press wrote about the index April 30.