News From The Annals Of Internal Medicine: May 15, 2012 Online Issue
5/15/2012
Self-management May Not be Safe or Suitable for COPD Trial of Comprehensive Care Management Program for COPD Cut Short Due to Excess Mortality Self-monitoring and management of some chronic diseases can improve patient outcomes...
Computerized 'Virtual Cleansing' Accurate, Negates Need For Laxatives In Colonoscopy
5/15/2012
A CT-scan-based form of virtual colonoscopy that does not require laxative preparation appears to be as effective as standard colonoscopy in identifying the intestinal polyps most likely to become cancerous...
Novel Self-Adhesive Device To Diagnose Irregular Heartbeat
5/15/2012
A study conducted at Scripps Health has found that a novel new heart monitoring device helped emergency room patients avoid unnecessary follow-up care...
In Early Stage Breast Cancer, Highly Targeted Irradiation As Good As Whole Breast Radiotherapy
5/15/2012
Using a concentrated, highly targeted dose of radiation to the breast has equally good results as irradiating the whole area, with no adverse effects on survival and a much better cosmetic outcome, Hungarian researchers have found...
Cancer In The Elderly: Research Fails To Keep Up With Demographic Change
5/15/2012
New research showing that almost half of 13,000 patients with head and neck cancers had other health-related problems at the same time was one of the presentations in a special session at the 31st conference of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO 31) [1]. The session highlighted the effect of the demographic time bomb caused by an increasingly ageing population...
Sunburn Common Among Young Adults, USA
5/14/2012
In the United States skin cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer, and melanoma is the most lethal type of skin cancer. According to two studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute, young adults are increasing their risk for developing the disease...
Only 1 In 5 Britons Eats 5 A Day, Poll
5/14/2012
An online poll conducted for World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) suggests that only one in five adults in Britain is eating the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables per day. The YouGov poll conducted earlier this month finds that on average ony 22% of the British adult population is consuming the 5 portions a day recommended by the government...
New Maintenance Therapy Benefits Patients With Multiple Myeloma
5/14/2012
Multiple myeloma is a form of cancer where the plasma cells in the bone marrow grow out of control, causing damage to bones as well as predisposing patients to anemia, infection and kidney failure. A medical procedure called autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, commonly known as a stem cell transplant, is frequently an important treatment option for many patients...
Response To Lung Cancer Therapy May Be Determined By Molecular Subtypes And Genetic Alterations
5/14/2012
Cancer therapies targeting specific molecular subtypes of the disease allow physicians to tailor treatment to a patient's individual molecular profile. But scientists are finding that in many types of cancer the molecular subtypes are more varied than previously thought and contain further genetic alterations that can affect a patient's response to therapy...
No Protective Effects Against Colorectal Cancer Found With Blood Pressure Drugs
5/14/2012
A new study has found that, contrary to current thinking, taking beta blockers that treat high blood pressure does not decrease a person's risk of developing colorectal cancer. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study also revealed that even long-term use or subtypes of beta blockers showed no reduction of colorectal cancer risk...