Category: news-perspectives

Kids who play video games, but for less than an hour a day, may be better adjusted than those who don’t play at all. That’s the conclusion of a new study of nearly 5,000 boys and girls. Their ages ranged from 10 to 15. They were asked about the time they spent playing video games. They also filled out questionnaires that assessed their emotions, conduct, attention and relationships. Those who played games for less than an hour a day were most likely to be happy and helpful. They were more emotionally stable than the other groups. They were less likely to act out. Kids who played 1 to 3 hours a day had about the same level of emotional adjustment as those who didn’t play. Kids who played more than 3 hours a day tended to be less happy than the other groups. They were more likely to have behavior problems.

Medical groups have denounced a court decision upholding a Florida law that forbids doctors from asking patients if they have guns. The law was passed in 2011. It says doctors can ask about guns only if it is directly relevant to medical care or safety. A U.S. district court overturned the law in 2012. But a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision July 25. The court said that “inquiring about a private matter irrelevant to medical care isn’t part of the practice of good medicine.” Several doctors’ groups disagreed. The American Academy of Pediatrics called the decision “an egregious violation of the First Amendment rights of pediatricians.” Many children’s doctors ask about guns in the home. They offer advice on safe storage to help keep guns away from children. On August 1, a new coalition of 20 medical groups also decried the ruling.

As the major Ebola outbreak in West Africa grew worse, officials advised Americans July 31 to avoid any non-essential travel to the region. The warning came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The outbreak covers the countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The World Health Organization said the number of deaths has reached 729. More than 1,300 suspected cases have occurred. Ebola causes failure of multiple organs. It has no cure. It is caused by a virus. People are contagious only if they are having symptoms that spread body fluids, such as blood or vomit. Because it is not spread easily, CDC officials said the disease is unlikely to reach the United States. One American health-care worker infected with Ebola was expected to be flown home for treatment under strict infection-containment procedures. Another was being treated in Africa.

Eating more tree nuts may help with diabetes control, a new review of research suggests. The study combined results from 12 previous studies. In those studies, people with type 2 diabetes were randomly divided into groups. One group ate more tree nuts and the other group did not. Both diets were equal in calories. On average, the amount of nuts added was 56 grams (about one-half cup). Usually, just one type of nuts was used. Tree nuts do not include peanuts. The studies were mostly short-term. On average, people who ate more nuts ended up with fasting glucose levels 2.7 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) lower than those on the other diets. The average hemoglobin A1C level was 0.07% lower for nut eaters. A1C measures blood-sugar control over about 3 months. The studies that showed the greatest reductions in blood sugar added nuts to replace some carbohydrates in the diet.

Short-term hormone therapy for menopause symptoms is unlikely to harm the heart, a new study suggests. An earlier, large-scale study linked hormone replacement therapy with higher risks of heart disease and stroke. But the women in that study were well past the age of menopause. The new study included 727 women, ages 42 to 58. They were no more than 3 years past menopause. All were at low risk of heart disease. The women were randomly divided into 3 groups. One group took pills containing low doses of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Another group took progesterone pills and wore estrogen skin patches. The third group received placebo patches and pills. They contained no hormones. Everyone had ultrasound tests to show the thickness of artery walls in the neck. Another test looked at new calcium deposits in arteries around the heart.

A large group of children’s doctors says that only certain high-risk babies should receive a drug to prevent severe problems from a common virus. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that evidence now shows other children are unlikely to benefit. But the new advice has led to a strong protest by the drugmaker. The drug is palivizumab (Synagis). It is given as a monthly shot to help prevent severe problems from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Nearly all children become infected with RSV by age 2. For most, it’s a mild illness. But RSV is also the most common cause of pneumonia in babies. The new AAP statement narrows the definition of which “high-risk” babies should get the drug. It says that research shows benefit for only a few groups.

To reduce the spread of germs, at least in hospitals, a new article argues for bumping fists instead of shaking hands. Researchers worked in pairs. Both put on a pair of new, germ-free (sterile) gloves for each experiment. One person dipped a glove into a solution containing E. coli bacteria. The researchers bumped fists. Then they removed the gloves so the germs on the formerly sterile glove could be measured. Using different gloves, they tried the same experiment with two other greetings: handshaking and “high fives” (slapping palms together). Handshaking transferred 10 times as many germs as a fist bump and twice as many as a “high five.” The Journal of the American Medical Association recently called for banning handshakes in hospitals. The new findings appear in the American Journal of Infection Control. HealthDay News wrote about them July 28.

Though it’s used widely for many kinds of pain, acetaminophen (Tylenol and generics) may not help new back pain, a study suggests. The study included 1,650 adults with new pain in the lower back. They were randomly divided into 3 groups. One group got usual doses of paracetamol for up to 4 weeks. That’s the name for acetaminophen in Australia, where the study was done. A second group received identical placebo (fake) pills. A third group got some of each. On average, people in all groups felt better in just over 2 weeks. There were no differences among the groups in pain, sleep problems, disability or quality of life. The journal Lancet published the study. HealthDay News wrote about it July 23.

People who have had strokes and their family members can help detect an increased risk of a second stroke, a new study suggests. The technique used was a simple one: checking the pulse. The study included 256 people. Each person had a prior stroke caused by a blood clot. Stroke survivors and close family members were trained to detect atrial fibrillation by taking the pulse. This irregular heart rhythm can increase the risk of blood clots forming in the heart. A clot that travels to the brain may cause a stroke. All of the stroke survivors received EKG tests. They found that 57 people had atrial fibrillation. The EKG results were compared with pulse readings performed by stroke survivors, relatives and health professionals. Pulse readings done by patients correctly detected 54% of the cases of atrial fibrillation. Relatives detected 77% and health professionals 97%.

A study has provided new estimates of the risk that one surgical technique to remove the uterus might spread an undetected cancer. The study looked at morcellation. This technique uses a power cutter to slice the uterus into tiny pieces. Sometimes hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) is done through several small incisions instead of one large incision. The surgeon views the area through a tool called a laparoscope. Cutting up the uterus with morcellation allows removal through the small incisions. But in some cases, undetected cancers have been cut up at the same time. This has allowed cancer to spread to other organs. In April, the Food and Drug Administration discouraged use of this procedure. The new study looked at insurance data for 230,000 hysterectomies. All were done using the less invasive procedure with small incisions. About 36,000 used morcellation.