Archive for April, 2008

Some Diabetes Drugs May Negatively Affect The Bones

By MedHeadlines • Apr 30th, 2008 • Category: Diabetes, Drugs, Osteoporosis, Prevention

A class of popular diabetes drugs has been found to be associated with an increased risk of fractures of the hip and wrist in insulin-resistant patients.  The class of drug, insulin-sensitizing thiazolidinediones, makes up about 21% of the oral medications…



Social Status Influences Brain Function

By MedHeadlines • Apr 29th, 2008 • Category: Lifestyle, Medical Research, Neurology

The perception of social status and the way we relate to people at the different levels of the hierarchy aren’t just a matter of opinion or upbringing.  Seems it’s actually wired into the circuitry of our brains and the way…



Study Suggests HRT Increases Stroke Risk

By MedHeadlines • Apr 29th, 2008 • Category: Drugs, Neurology, Osteoporosis, Prevention, Stroke, Women's Health

A study published this week in the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that postmenopausal women who take hormone therapy have an increased risk of stroke. The study, which was conducted by Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, evaluated…



Researchers Remain Undecided About Omega-3s Effects On Bipolar Disorder

By MedHeadlines • Apr 29th, 2008 • Category: Bipolar Disorder, Prevention, Supplements

Although there is significant clinical evidence to support using omega-3 fatty acid supplements for the treatment of depression symptoms, the supplement’s role in treating bipolar disorder is still undecided. Researchers do believe, however, that further studies should be conducted since…



Medicare Part D Falls Short on Prescription Coverage

By MedHeadlines • Apr 28th, 2008 • Category: Drugs, Medical Research, Medicare

Medicare coverage expanded a bit in 2006 to include coverage for prescription drugs, Part D, provided a Medicare beneficiary chose to enroll in Medicare Part D.  Now that the prescription coverage plan has been in effect for a while, a…



Wanted: Diabetic Women To Eat Chocolate Every Day for a Year!

By MedHeadlines • Apr 28th, 2008 • Category: Diabetes, Diet, Lifestyle, Medical Research, Women's Health

Sounds like the kind of job dreams are made of but it’s entirely real.  Researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) are recruiting as many as 150 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes to eat specially formulated chocolate every…



Blood Substitutes Not Necessarily Life Saving

By MedHeadlines • Apr 28th, 2008 • Category: Anemia, Drugs, FDA, Medical Research, Prevention

The medical community has long been aware of the benefits a blood substitute might bring when accidents occur in remote settings and during times of war but finding the right product has been difficult.  The current version of blood substitutes…



Pharmacy Robot Works 24/7 to Eliminate Errors

By MedHeadlines • Apr 28th, 2008 • Category: Drugs, MedTech, Poisoning, Prevention

The new prescription-filling robot at Loyola University Hospital can dispense as many as 600 doses of various medications in an hour and it does so with an innovative system of safeguards that will dramatically improve the number of human errors…



Clear, Shiny Lip Gloss Ups Cancer Risk

By MedHeadlines • Apr 28th, 2008 • Category: Cancer, Lifestyle, Medical Research, Prevention, Skin, Women's Health

Dermatologist Christine Brown has noticed an increased risk of cancer in people who wear clear, shiny lip balms and glosses during exposure to the sun.  Instead of acting as a protection, as many people expect, the shiny stuff actually attracts…



Smog May Cause Premature Death

By MedHeadlines • Apr 27th, 2008 • Category: Lifestyle, Medical Research, Poisoning, Prevention

The White House has routinely downplayed or denied the connection between premature death and exposure to ozone and smog.  Lack of scientific proof of the theoretical connection is the administration’s reason behind the attitude.