Herbs or Massage ease Colic in Babies

Posted on May 16, 2011 by wngai
Print pagePDF pageEmail page

Parents often feel helpless, irritated and exhausted when their baby cries or screams frequently without any discernible reason.  A new report published in Pediatrics suggested that fennel or herbal tea that included fennel or herbal tea that included fennel and chamomile might help babies to ease their colic. 

The author reviewed 15 studies and compared the use of complementary and alternative medicines (including herbal extracts, sugar water, probiotics, massage and reflexology) against placebo or sham to treat colic in 944 babies.  

They found most complementary and alternative medicines are not useful in treating colic.  Only fennel or herbal tea that included fennel, chamonmile and other herbs seemed to have some positive effects.  

Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Medicine, Others | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Herbs or Massage ease Colic in Babies

Latest Medical Consensus on Preventing Breast Cancer

Posted on May 16, 2011 by wngai
Print pagePDF pageEmail page

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, with the annual incidence estimated to be 1.4 million cases in 2008.  Rates are highest in North American, Western Europe andAustralia, but the rates are also increasing in developing countries. 

In March 2010, a group of breast cancer experts met in St Gallen,Switzerlandto develop a consensus statement on breast cancer prevention, with a focus on therapeutic intervention.  

SERMS

They concluded that two selective estrogen-receptor modulators (SERMS) – tamoxifen (Nolvadex) and raloxifene (Evista) – are the only medicines approved by the US FDA for preventing breast cancers. 

Continue reading →

Posted in Breast cancer, Cancer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Latest Medical Consensus on Preventing Breast Cancer

Best Medical Treatment for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Posted on May 15, 2011 by wngai
Print pagePDF pageEmail page

Heavy menstrual bleeding is not a life-threatening phenomenon, but can cause women anxious and is a social problem. These women have increased amounts of endogenous plasminogen activators that cause clots to dissolve. 

Current option approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat heavy menstrual bleeding include hormonal treatments and surgery. 

Now, a study presented at the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 59th Annual Clinical Meeting, indicated that oral tranexamic acid (TA) significantly reduced menstrual blood loss in women with heavy menstrual bleeding.  The efficacy of blood loss reductions was durable throughout the 6 months and the safety of this agent was comparable to placebo. 

Continue reading →

Posted in Others | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Best Medical Treatment for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Which is Best Chemotherapy Option for Advanced Bladder Cancer?

Posted on May 15, 2011 by wngai
Print pagePDF pageEmail page

Transitional cell or urothelial carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer, accounting for more than 90% all bladder cancers.  This type of cancer is sensitive to treatment with chemotherapeutic agents.  

This type of cancer is usually treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapies such as methotreaxate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (MVAC) and gemcitabine plus cisplatin.  Based on clinical trial results, 50%-60% of patients treated these agents can achieve objective responses and 10%-20% can achieve complete responses. 

However, not all patients can receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy.  For patients who have impaired renal function and other co-morbidities, carboplatin-based regimens are frequently utilized. 

Continue reading →

Posted in Bladder Cancer, Cancer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Which is Best Chemotherapy Option for Advanced Bladder Cancer?

Vitamin D Cut Risk of Flu

Posted on May 15, 2011 by wngai
Print pagePDF pageEmail page

A new study indicates that Vitamin D may reduce the incidence and severity of influenza and other infections of the upper respiratory tract. 

The researchers at Yale University School of Medicine followed 198 healthy adults during the fall and winter of 2009-2010 to see if declining levels of vitamin D in the fall and winter could be a factor in the seasonal increased prevalence of respiratory viral infections, such as flu. 

The study shows people who maintain vitamin D blood levels of 38 nanograms per milliliter or more are less likely to get flu than people with less vitamin D level in their blood. 

Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Medicine, Others | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Vitamin D Cut Risk of Flu

Antibiotics Therapy May Help Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Posted on May 15, 2011 by wngai
Print pagePDF pageEmail page

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of inflammatory conditions of the colon and small intestine. The major types of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Currently, there is no cure for IBD.  Patients are usually given steroids such as prednisone to reduce the inflammation. Once the inflammation is successfully controlled, the patient is usually switched to a lighter drug such as 5-ASA (Asacol) to keep the disease in remission.  If unsuccessful, a combination of the drugs including 5-ASA, azathioprine (Imuran), methotrexate, or 6-mercaptopurine might be used.  In severe cases, surgery is the only option.

Two new meta-analysis conducted by McMaster University Medical Center suggested that antibiotics may be an effective treatment option for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, suggesting inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is of bacterial origin.

Continue reading →

Posted in Irritable Bowel Syndrome | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Antibiotics Therapy May Help Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Polyethylene Glycol (Carbowax) Preferred to Lactulose for Chronic Constipation

Posted on May 15, 2011 by wngai
Print pagePDF pageEmail page

Lactulose and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) are both commonly used osmotic laxatives that have been shown to be effective and safe in treating chronic constipation. However, there is no data indicating which osmotic laxative is better. 

A new review reported in July 7 issue of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, however, suggested that polyethylene glycol (PEG) may be better than lactulose for the treatment of chronic constipation. 

To compare the efficacy of lactulose and PEG at relieving chronic constipation and fecal impaction, the reviewers reviewed all the articles published in medical database (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials). 

Continue reading →

Posted in Constipation | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Pradaxa Is Effective in All Types of Atrial Fibrillation

Posted on May 15, 2011 by wngai
Print pagePDF pageEmail page

A new subgroup analysis of the Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulant Therapy (RE-LY) trial Treatment indicated that the 150mg twice daily dose of dabigatran (Pradaxa) is equally safe and effective in patients with permanent, persistent, and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. 

Dabigatran 150mg

Similar to the overall results of the RE-LY study, dabigatran 150mg twice daily was more effective than warfarin for reducing the risk of stroke or systemic embolism and with a comparable risk of bleeding. 

Dabigatran 110mg

Investigators, however, did observe slightly different responses among patients treated with the 110 mg twice daily dose.  They found the lower dose, 110mg twice daily, was more effective in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation but less effective in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation. 

Continue reading →

Posted in Arrhythmia, Cardiovascular disease | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Pradaxa Is Effective in All Types of Atrial Fibrillation

Strawberries May Prevent Esophageal Cancer

Posted on May 15, 2011 by wngai
Print pagePDF pageEmail page

Esophageal cancer is common inChina, with about 50% of the world wide cases of esophageal cancer reported inChinaalone.  The important causative agents of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma are nitrosamine carcinogens, which are present in tobacco smoke. 

Now, a pilot study indicated that individuals who are at high risk of esophageal cancer might able to prevent the cancer by eating strawberries. 

The results, presented at the American Association for Cancer Research 102nd Annual Meeting, showed that after eating strawberries for 6 months can improve the histologic grade (tissue structure) of individuals with esophageal dysplastic lesions (abnormal cell growth in the esophagus). 

The investigators recruited 36 patients to complete the study.  31 patients were diagnosed with mild dysplasia (86.11%) and 5 were diagnosed with moderate dysplasia (13.89%). All participants underwent a pre/post-esophageal endoscopy/biopsy and completed the dietary strawberry diary. 

Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Medicine, Cancer, Esophageal Cancer | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Strawberries May Prevent Esophageal Cancer

Yoga can Prevent Atrial Fibrillation from Recurring

Posted on April 5, 2011 by wngai
Print pagePDF pageEmail page

Previously, we have mentioned that regular exercise can prevent atrial fibrillation and its associated complications such as heart failure.  

Now, a new study, presented at the American College of Cardiology 2011 Scientific Sessions, suggested that taking a 45-minute yoga class three times a week can reduce the episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF) by 50%! 

The study enrolled 49 patients who paroxysmal AF.  Patients were asked to undergo a three-month control phase in which they could engage in any type of physical activity they were previously accustomed to doing. 

Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Medicine, Arrhythmia, Cardiovascular disease, Heart failure | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Yoga can Prevent Atrial Fibrillation from Recurring