Chiropractic OnLine Today's
In The News feature: Part Three.
November 16 - December 29, 1995

Each week, Chiropractic OnLine Today has searched the top news items dealing with the health industry. Stay on top of the weeks top items, right here!

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  • Note to Readers

    • Top Stories

    As reported in an earlier In The News segment, the battle lines are being drawn concerning Privacy Issues of Medical Records in this new era of computers.

    Weekly News Items

  • A report in the current issue of the journal Cell states that scientists have discovered a receptor in the brain to the recently discovered "obesity gene" by-product, Leptin. The report goes on to say that while it is leptin which sends the satiety message to the brain, obesity may be the result of people who are resistant to this message either because of a deficiency in leptin receptors or in the pathway leptin takes to the brain.

    A sobering statistic from this AP report is that "according to the National Center for Health Statistics, the number of overweight American adults increased by 31 percent during the 1980's". AP 12/29/95

  • Two studies in this week's New England Journal of Medicine reported how early detection and treatment of pregnant women for a common female infection, bacterial vaginosis, may help to reduce the chances of premature births. As many as one-quarter of all women may have the infection, although most don't know it. AP 12/28/95

  • A study in this week's JAMA discusses a study which demonstrated that "non-central obesity" (central obesity was defined as excess weight around the abdomen) "is not a benign condition, and in fact may sometimes be as important as central obesity .... in predicting coronary risk". NY Times 12/27/95

  • A story in today's New York Times discusses new support from HMO's in the psychological and spiritual sides of healing. According to an interview within the article, "If such methods succeed reliably in reducing workload, they are 'just plain money in the bank for the HMO's'." Nice to know that the bottom line plays such an important role in today's healthcare system!?! NY Times 12/27/95

  • A study in the December 15th issue of the journal Circulation, reported findings of a new diagnostic technique for the presence of long QT syndrome. This syndrome is a heart condition which is one of the causes for sudden cardiac death in those under 20 years of age. A special technique utilizing electrocardiograms is mentioned. AP 12/24/95

  • An AP report today lists some facts about Alzheimer's Disease, which the article describes as a "degenerative disease of nerve cells in the cerebral cortex that leads to the atrophy of the brain and senile dementia". One of the facts listed states that the disease leaves patients less resistant to infections. A national Alzheimer's Association hotline is also listed: 800-272-3900. AP 12/23/95

  • Another report about the benefits of Exercise. In a consensus report issued this past Wednesday, a comittee of experts selected by the National Institutes of Health said about half of all Americans get no regular exercise and are paying the price with heart attacks, strokes and other diseases.

    As always, Chiropractic OnLine Today advises everyone to seek professional advice prior to beginning an exercise/rehabilitation program. AP 12/20/95

  • An international team of scientists has identified a second major breast-cancer gene, called BRCA2, that makes some women highly likely to get the disease. In families with a strong history of breast cancer, women who inherit a defective version of the gene run about an 80 percent lifetime risk of the disease. The study was published this week in the journal Nature. The report goes on to state that it is thought that only 5 to 10 percent of breast cancer cases come from inheriting a faulty gene. AP 12/20/95

  • In a related story, breast-cancer rates appear to be higher in the Northeast. In a study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institue, they found that this group of women wait longer to have children, drink more and experience menopause later. This study provides strong evidence that lifestyle and medical factors may be linked to the above-average breast cancer mortality rates in New England and the MidAtlantic states. AP 12/20/95

  • Another reason to stay away from any sort of smoking product: In this week's Journal of the National Cancer Institute, a study found that dipping snuff can be more dangerous than smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. The culprit appears to be a carcinogen known as TSNAs (tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines). AP 12/20/95

  • A study in this week's JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) found that men with elevated blood pressure in mid-life, are more likely to have trouble thinking and remembering things when they are old. AP 12/20/95

  • Nonsmoking women who drink more than three cups of coffee a day may be less likely to become pregnant than others, according to a Johns Hopkins study. AP 12/19/95

  • A recent conference of experts warned that the world was overdue for an epidemic of the influenza virus at any time. The last major worldwide flu epidemic was in 1968, when the "Hong Kong flu" swept by. AP 12/14/95

  • This week's New England Journal of Medicine published a report on the use of TPA (tissue plasminogen activator) for stroke victims. The study produced results which appear to improve the chances that stroke patients will pull through with little or no lasting effects. According to the article, about 500,000 Americans suffer annualy from strokes. Further, it is the number three cause of death. The article describes when and how the drug should be used, as there is also an inherent danger from using the drug, as it can cause bleeding. AP 12/13/95

  • Printed in this week's JAMA, a new study revealed that women who undergo heart surgery operations appear to die more than men who undergo these procedures, but if they survive, recover as well as or betther than men. AP 12/12/95

  • The FDA approved the sale of a new drug for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig Disease; ALS). Approximately 30,000 Americans are affflicted with ALS, with a life expectancy of 3-5 years, according to this article. The new drug is called Riluzole, and will be sold under the brand name Rilutek. AP 12/12/95

  • An AP story today focuses on research into the role free radicals play in the development of memory loss and antioxidant vitamins role in protecting the brain from these free radicals.NY Times 12/10/95

  • A study of 221 women, conducted by the Federal Agency, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, concluded the following concerning a women's ability to become pregnant: Conception is most likely when intercourse occurs on the day of ovulation or the five days before it. This conclusion is different from previous studies. For further information, see Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine. NY Times 12/7/95

  • Here is another piece to the nutrition puzzle. A Harvard study of the eating habits of 47,000 men over six years found that those who had at least 10 servings a week of tomato-based foods were up to 45 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer. For a full report on types of products and servings, readers are urged to read the study, which is published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Strawberries were also found to have protective value. As a disclaimer, a representative from the Harvard School of Public Health stated: "These findings support the idea that people should eat a variety of fruits and vegetables." Nutrients in other foods, said the representative, may be protective against other types of cancers. AP 12/5/95

  • In a report aimed at the Medical profession, of 2,659 patients studied at two large public hospitals, nearly 30% had inadequate functional health literacy. The percentage was much higher among elderly patients. This could lead to a dangerous situation, as patients may not be able to follow directions on the labels of prescription bottles. AP 12/5/95

  • Back in August, Chiropractic OnLine Today reported on what's what about Cholesterol. Hopefully, everyone is educating patients also. The AP reported today that "a cholesterol awareness survey by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, showed more than 90 percent of Americans know about the risk of high blood choldesterol, and about three of every four adults have had their blood cholesterol levels checked". Of course, it is also improtant to educate about proper nutrition in other areas, such as the dangers of Free Radicals, for understanding prevention of Heart Disease. AP 12/4/95

  • A report in today's AP discusses how radiologists think they can help surgeons by preventing unnecessary operations for a condition called "skier's thumb." AP 12/3/95

  • Scientists may have discovered a method of improving the repair of injured nerve fibers, from tests conducted on rats recovering from spinal cord injury. The study, reported in this weeks edition of Nature, treated the rats with antibodies which were aimed at proteins in the brain and spinal cord that normally suppress regrowth of nerve fibers after injury.AP 11/28/95

  • A study published in this weeks New England Journal of Medicine suggests that black men with severe high blood pressure can reduce both the amount of medication used for treatment and the blood pressure measurement itself, with regular exercise. Individuals in the test had blood pressure readings greater than 180 over 110. (Note: 120/80 is considered normal, with 140/90 considered borderline high blood pressure.) The article goes on to describe the type of exercise regimen these test subjects were given. AP 11/30/95

  • A report in today's AP states that scientists have discovered a gene that might play an early role in producing breadt cancer. AP 11/28/95

  • New research appears to have discovered an enzyme that helps produce the painful inflammation many people feel if they suffer with arthritis. The substance is called tumor necrosis factor-alpha converting enzyme (TNF). AP 11/26/95

  • A new study reports that identifying aging cells in the body, which have lost the ability to divide, could predict the development of cardiovascular disease. AP 11/20/95

  • In case you hadn't heard, smoking can be very dangerous to your health. Unfortunately, this word is not being spread to American teenagers, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Three-quarters of those interviewed between the ages of 10-22 said they had never been warned. The report goes on to say that about 3 million teenagers presently smoke. AP 11/19/95

  • A report in today's AP releases, discusses Senate bill (S-1360), which would curtail the "abuse" of medical records, which are easier to access now in the computer databse era we are in. The report states that "computer records collected and stored by hospitals, public health departments and health maintenance organizations now can be purchased by private companies." AP 11/16/95

  • A study utilizing cholesterol reducing drugs, found that otherwise healthy middle-aged men reduced their overall death rate by one-fifth furing the five years of study. The results were published in the 11/16/95 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. AP 11/16/95

    • Please note: Chiropractic OnLine Today provides recounts of these studies for informational purposes only. Readers are urged to review further information or contact your Doctor of Chiropractic for other preventive health measures.
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