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Late Stage Trial Confirms Effectiveness of Parkinson’s Drug

Parkinson's disease, which is caused by the progressive loss of neurons in a part of the brain that controls muscle movement, has no cure, although there are treatments for specific symptoms of the disease. However, there is a new drug on the horizon that could help slow the progression of the disease and would be a blessing for the 1 million+ Americans that have Parkinson's (including actor Michael J. Fox and boxer Muhammed Ali).

New Trial for Liver Cancer Treatment

Patients are currently being enrolled in a trial involving liver cancer patients, for Onyx and Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals drug, Nexavar. The trial is an effort to show the positive effects of the drug as an adjuvant treatment, or additional therapy administered after initial tumor treatment, to hopefully fight cancer cells that may have spread to other areas of the body.

The Scent of Cancer Could Lead to Early Detection

Imagine being able to detect cancer through smell. It is certainly within the realm of possibility. The human skin releases chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in differing amounts, which in turn generates unique scents. And while our noses are unable to detect them, a canine's sensitive nose can. Dogs have been trained to "sniff out" tumors and to detect changes in the odor of urine, which could indicate bladder cancer. Researchers now hope to use this premise to develop a noninvasive test to diagnose skin cancer.

Good Immune System, Bad Stem Cell Reaction?

Stem cells have taken center stage in the scientific and research communities over the past decade. The cells' potential to heal and impede or stop the development of numerous diseases is one of the brightest prospects in medicine today. And while much advancement in the field of stem cell research have been encouraging, persisting concerns about negative immune system responses have come to the forefront of the discussion again.

Statins and Cancer Risk

Do you have high cholesterol and take a drug referred to as a statin? In recent years, there have been several reports released stating statins may lead to health problems, such as cancer. However, recently it was determined that patients' risks of getting cancer was no greater when taking statins, to lower their LDL levels, than they were at risk without the drugs.

Chewing Gum May Quicken Recovery Time for Colon Surgery

If you are having colon surgery, your doctor might just prescribe sugar-free sticks of gum to help you get home sooner! Chewing gum four times a day for five to forty-five minutes may help you pass gas and have a bowel movement (BM) quicker, with less side effects and pain from the surgery.

Operation Checklist Issued by W.H.O.

The World Health Organization recently issued it first guidelines on surgical safety in the form of a checklist. They aim to reduce the amount of complications and deaths from the rising numbers of operations now being performed.

The main guidelines are simple safety checks that health organizations said could half the rate of complications during surgeries. The checklist is intended to improve anesthetic safety practices, improve the communication among the members of surgical teams, and avoid infections.

New Report Reveals Surprising Facts About Adoption

We probably all know someone who is adopted or has adopted, making it seem like a commonplace occurrence. But in fact, adopting a child has been and remains a relatively rare event in the United States. In 2000, of the 65.6 million children under 18 years of age, only 2.5 percent (1.6 million) were adopted, according to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The report is based on data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth conducted by NCHS, which analyzed adoption experiences of U.S.

Controlling Angina: Surgical Stents or Medication?

The American Heart Association (AHA) estimates that over 6.8 million Americans experience angina symptoms. Angina is the chest pain or discomfort when there is a decreased blood oxygen supply to an area of the heart muscle. In most cases, the lack of blood supply is due to a narrowing of the coronary arteries, or coronary heart disease. About 1 million angioplasties, a procedure that involves using a tiny balloon to widen the artery and propping the artery open with a stent, are performed in the U.S. each year to relieve these symptoms, but is surgery necessary?

Beware: Adverse Skin Reactions to Alcoholism Treatment Drug

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an alert for healthcare professionals to be aware of the risk for adverse injection site reactions in their patients who receive naltrexone (Vivitrol). Vivitrol is an extended-release version of the generic drug naltrexone marketed by Cephalon Inc. and is manufactured by Cambridge-based Alkermes, Inc. It was approved in 2006 to treat alcohol dependence in patients who show they can abstain from drinking prior to receiving the drug therapy.