MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'breaking news'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:10:38 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862661&cid=t_125198_113_f&fid=34603&url=http%3A%2F%2Fginasmith.typepad.com%2Fgina_on_gina%2F2011%2F05%2Fbreaking-microsoft-mango-news-whats-up-with-the-windows-phone-7-upgrade.html We're posting now on BYTE Unplugged. And then I've got to get back to editing! BYTE coming back in July -- www.byte.com for details. For all of us at teamBYTE, I'm Gina Smith : ) gs (Source: I'm Gina Smith) I'm Gina Smith blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862661 Tue, 24 May 2011 16:05:08 +0100 4862661 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489697&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2FgYWnKMa_NhE%2Fwhy-study-rare-diseases.html This article states that there are only 250 known people with Laron Syndrome worldwide. Photo Credit So why study such a rare disorder?  Well, interestingly, people with Laron Syndrome don’t get cancer (they also don’t get diabetes, but this is a blog about cancer, so we’ll focus on that).  This interesting observation raises a really obvious question:  Why not? At first blush, there could be a very simplistic answer:  IGF-1 makes your body grow.  For you to grow from the size of an infant to the size of an adult, your cells have to divide many, many times.  Each time a cell divides, it risks developing a mutation, and the accumulation of mutations leads to cancer.  If you don’t grow any larger than a 7-year old, there are fewer cell divisions.&n... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489697 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 03:23:00 +0100 4489697 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225336&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2FbVktDZI6QHs%2Fwhat-is-life.html Life is hard to define.  Perhaps former Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart summed it up best (though he was referring to hard-core pornography, not living organisms) when he said, "I shall not today attempt further to define [it]... and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it."   Erwin Schrodinger gave a series of lectures in 1943 that were published under the title "What is Life?"  NASA has an Astrobiology group that is charged with searching for evidence that there is life on other planets.  Key to that mission is understanding what life is.  How else would they know what to look for? Up until today, living organisms were thought to require four elements:  oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosph... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225336 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 04:47:00 +0100 4225336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125063&cid=t_125198_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F01%2Fthomas-bornemann-ed-d-on-the-georgia-mental-health-settlement%2F Two weeks ago, Georgia reached a historic settlement with the Federal Government regarding treatment in mental health care for Georgia’s most vulnerable residents — those who live in state hospitals or under the state’s auspices. Recently, I had the pleasure to sit down with Thomas H. Bornemann, Ed.D., the Director of the Carter Center Mental Health Program to talk to him about the settlement. John M. Grohol, Psy.D.: What are some of the highlights of that settlement? Thomas H. Bornemann, Ed.D. Well, we think this is a groundbreaker, and a lot of our colleagues from around the country that we talked to are also seeing it similarly. What we were able to do is to take a lawsuit that is essentially about inadequate care in institutional settings — in our state hospital... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125063 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 20:30:18 +0100 4125063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3665991&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2F9ORXyM8Czfo%2Fyoga-not-just-for-skinny-pretty-women.html This study enrolled 410 cancer survivors (96% female, 75% had breast cancer) suffering from moderate or worse sleep disturbance. The participants were randomized to standard monitoring versus a 4 week yoga intervention. Participants in the yoga program had improvements in sleep quality, fatigue, and various measures of Quality of Life compared with the control arm (no intervention). The benefit was significant enough to be covered by mainstream media outlets like CNN as well as web-based media like Breastcancer.org. ASCO president Douglas Blayney, MD, stated that the results are “readily applicable” for a huge patient population. But wait. As we scientists often ask, do the results support the conclusions? I think the answer is a resounding “Maybe.” There is mounting evidence th... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3665991 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:10:00 +0100 3665991 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3658970&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2FV9iMgJe0u1M%2Fgenomic-medicine-hope-and-hype.html Ten years ago this month, President Clinton, along with Drs. Craig Venter and Francis Collins, announced the completion of the Human Genome Project – the complete DNA sequence of the human genome. As is typical of such announcements, there was much pomp and circumstance, as the President declared it a “day for the ages.” Why the excitement? It was fully expected by participants in the struggle to sequence our genome that achieving this goal would rapidly lead to a new understanding of the genetics of common disease, and would yield new genomic treatments that would revolutionize the practice of medicine. In fact, Dr. Collins predicted that the genetic diagnosis of disease would be accomplished within 10 years, and treatments would begin to appear 5 years later. This, sadly, has not... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3658970 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 02:59:00 +0100 3658970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3314768&cid=t_125198_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FFqKtboP_M8g%2Flifescan-recall-of-onetouch-sure-step-test-strips.php LifeScan is recalling specific lots of OneTouch® SureStep® Test Strips due to inaccurate readings at high levels.Never heard of Sure Step? Me neither! Apparently, In 2006 LifeScan stopped selling OneTouch SureStep Meters in the U.S. but continued to provide test strips.  from LifeScan's official Press Relase:  There is a voluntary recall in the United States of eight lots of OneTouch® SureStep® Test Strips, used by people with diabetes to measure their blood glucose levels at home. The test strips are being recalled because they may provide falsely low glucose results when the glucose level is higher than 400 mg/dL.The eight lots of consumer OneTouch SureStep Test Strips being recalled are: Recalled Lot Size Description # 2969251 100-ct OneTouch SureStep # 2969798 10... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3314768 Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:03:15 +0100 3314768 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3061411&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2Fdxr30CUTXo4%2Fmore-what-youd-call-guidelines-than.html Of course, Captain Barbossa was referring to The Pirate Code, but he could just as easily have been referring to documents released last month by the US Preventive Services Task Force or the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). In an unanticipated coincidence, these two groups, operating independently, reached similar conclusions about commonly utilized screening tests: mammograms and Pap smears. Both groups reviewed the data and concluded that routine use of these screening tests, as currently recommended, may not be warranted. Much newsprint has been expended since then discussing the political implications of these new recommendations. As this is not a political blog, I will leave that discussion to others. What I want to talk about is how guidelines ... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3061411 Sun, 06 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0100 3061411 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3039813&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2FC7Pq-cYuuK0%2Fsmarter-war-on-cancer.html The headline in the Washington Post caught my eye: “Fighting a smarter war on cancer,” [sorry, you must register to read the article] an opinion piece by Dr. John Marshall, a faculty member at the Lombardi Cancer Center in Georgetown. It is about the intersection between health care reform and cancer care - it seemed like just the thing to read while drinking my morning coffee. But halfway through the article I found myself feeling marginalized, and that got me thinking. Although Dr. Marshall makes some good points, I think he missed a golden opportunity to propose changes that could make a real difference in our lifetimes. How did Dr. Marshall make me feel marginalized? He wrote the following about chemotherapy: “The most common approach to treatment involves exposing larg... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3039813 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:36:00 +0100 3039813 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2995746&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2F5_8-ZxL4hQs%2Fwhen-bad-things-happen-to-famous-people.html In a press release issued earlier this week, former NBA star and actor Kareem Abdul-Jabbar announced that he has been diagnosed with leukemia. Specifically, he has chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Abdul-Jabbar went on to say that his disease can be managed by taking daily oral medication and he expects to live a long healthy life. With leukemia? How is that possible? Abdul-Jabbar has benefited from one of the first and most exciting applications of the translational research I have blogged about in the past. Before 2000, CML was treated with a combination of a chemotherapy drug called cytarabine and another drug called alpha-interferon. Patients treated with this combination usually responded well, but none were cured. The only curative treatment was a bone marrow transplant, and in adu... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2995746 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:13:00 +0100 2995746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2939323&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2FkM5yWSBypYw%2Fas-breast-cancer-awareness-month-draws.html As breast cancer awareness month draws to a close, I wanted to highlight a few breast cancer posts from other medical bloggers:Suture For a Living asks: "Is Breast Cancer Over-Diagnosed?"Bayblab writes about research on a diabetes medication killing breast cancer stem cells.Science Update Blog discusses claims that we are "Two years from breast cancer cure".Highlight Health's Allison Bland says "The Review is in: Lifestyle Changes Prevent Breast Cancerand Healthcare Hacks discuss the benefits of weightlifting in breast cancer survivors. If you've found any interesting breast cancer blogs or posts, link to them in the comments!Related posts:Does Vitamin D Help Prevent Breast Cancer?Breast Cancer Risk & AlcoholCancer Stem Cells and Familial Cancer Risk for Breast Cancer (Source: Doctor ... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2939323 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:01:00 +0100 2939323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741396&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2FCO_iNDjpCiw%2Ftherapeutic-cloning-takes-big-step.html Leber’s Hereditary Optic NeuropathyLeigh SyndromeMyoneurogenic Gastrointestinal EncephalopathyWhat do these disorders have in common? They are all mitochondrial diseases.What is a mitochondrial disease? Mitochondria are the parts of a cell that are responsible for generating energy. Mitochondria contain DNA, just like the nucleus does. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA can cause them not to function correctly, and some of these mutations cause the diseases listed above (and others).When a baby is conceived, we think of the baby’s DNA as coming half from the mother and half from the father. That is true for the DNA in the nucleus, but not true for mitochondrial DNA. All mitochondrial DNA is inherited from your mother.As a side note, the fact that all mitochondrial DNA is inherited from the... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741396 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 03:50:00 +0100 2741396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2730096&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2FhkwaFF00DZA%2Fvitamin-d-in-spotlight-again.html This study supports that belief, and also strongly supports the idea that intervention in the health of a child can have profound implications throughout her life.Related Posts:Does Vitamin D Help Prevent Breast Cancer?Is Vitamin D the Wonder Drug of the 21st Century? (Source: Doctor David's Blog) Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2730096 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:55:00 +0100 2730096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2715982&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2FbQNWf35xUNY%2Fwhen-translational-research-really.html All of us who work in a lab and see patients say the same thing: “I do this because I hope one day to be able to discover something in the lab that will really help patients.” This is the essence of what is called “Translational Research.”Our laboratory studies cancer stem cells. I have blogged about these cells before. Cancer stem cells are thought to be a small population of cells within a tumor that are resistant to chemotherapy and are capable of regenerating a new tumor. Thus, these cells are thought to be responsible for local relapses and for metastatic disease. Because they are resistant to chemotherapy, our usual treatments don’t get rid of them, so finding ways to kill these cells is critical to the further advancement of cancer treatment. There are many theories to exp... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2715982 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:45:00 +0100 2715982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2416908&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2FFCG6Wn3_qwQ%2Fnew-old-remedy-for-nausea.html I am often asked my opinions about herbal remedies. Patients seem more attuned than ever to alternative therapies, but many still want a physician’s opinion about what does and does not work.Giving an educated opinion is often a challenge, because rarely are herbal remedies tested in traditional medical trials. With the introduction of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a part of the National Institutes of Health, this was supposed to change. Slowly, but surely, it is.Last week, in advance of the upcoming meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology, results from a number of studies scheduled to be presented were released to the public. One of these was designed to test whether ginger, a traditional folk remedy for nausea, can help with the nausea pr... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2416908 Mon, 18 May 2009 22:25:00 +0100 2416908 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2380990&cid=t_125198_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fmultiple-sclerosis-drug-linked-to-many-more-cases-of-leukemia%2F This morning at the American Academy of Neurology’s conference in Seattle, a report was released reporting that there is a significantly increased risk of leukemia from the drug mitoxantrone (Novantrone) in patients with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Novantrone has always had significant health risks.  When patients receive a dosage increase they must undergo regular cardiac monitoring due to the risk of cardiotoxicity and the threat of permanent heart damage. Today’s report, presented by Dr. Vittorio Martinelli, MD of the University Vita-Salute in Milan, Italy, stated: In a retrospective study of 2,854 MS patients receiving the drug, 21 people developed leukemia (.74 percent) and out of those 21, eight patients died. Previously standardized leukemia rates of N... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2380990 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:18:56 +0100 2380990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2249468&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2FXlNfSM14QoI%2Fbright-new-day-for-stem-cell-research.html The “Breaking News” alert came to my phone last night: on Monday, President Obama is planning to sign an executive order reversing the restrictions on embryonic stem cell research put in place by President Bush in 2001. This comes as a surprise to no one, as Obama made it clear that he was opposed to these restrictions throughout the 2008 presidential campaign.The occasion of this reversal of federal policy seems to be a good time to talk a bit about stem cells. The President’s decision is sure to provoke intense debate, and this debate can only be healthy if it is based on fact, not emotion.Let’s start with the basics. What is a stem cell? Photo CreditAs I discussed in a prior post, a stem cell is a primitive cell that is capable of generating more “daughter” cells with more s... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2249468 Sun, 08 Mar 2009 03:39:00 +0100 2249468 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2234039&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2F3PPqnCPGBpc%2Fwhy-does-my-child-need-flu-shot.html It’s official – we are in the middle of flu season. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the percentage of flu tests that came back positive during the week ending February 21 (the most recent time period for which we have data) continues to rise steadily and has not yet peaked. Picture CreditFor most people, influenza is just a nuisance infection. If you get the flu, you have a fever, stuffy nose, and body aches. You rest in bed for a few days, and when it’s over, you’re back to normal. For children, the elderly, and people with underlying medical problems, however, influenza can be a life threatening infection. So far this year, influenza has caused 17 deaths among children in the US. Eight of these deaths occurred just last week! As reported by CNN this week, even... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2234039 Wed, 04 Mar 2009 04:24:00 +0100 2234039 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2510885&cid=t_125198_107_f&fid=38269&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrdonnadouglas.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F01%2F25%2Ffive-ways-to-fight-the-flu%2F View the Swine Flu video here.   Winter in North America brings with it yearly uninvited guests- flu bugs- multiple strains of illness causing viruses just waiting for new bodies to infect.   The most common recommendation has been to protect yourself with a flu vaccine.  But with virtually all the US flu suddenly resistant to the leading antiviral Tamiflu, health officials are worried about where this could lead.  Here are some key guidelines you MUST know if you want to survive this year’s flu season.   How can you distinguish a cold from the flu? First understand that colds are minor infections of the nose and throat which usually develop slowly as a scratchy, sore throat, followed by sneezing and a runny nose.  The flu, however, affects the entire body and symptoms appear sudd... Dr. Donna, MedicineWoman blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2510885 Sun, 25 Jan 2009 23:00:31 +0100 2510885 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2510667&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2FOL1BSMV7G9U%2Fbravo-new-jersey.html Photo CreditIt’s that time of year again. The days are getting shorter, Halloween decorations are appearing, and that can only mean one thing. It’s time to get your flu shot.Every year, the flu shot changes, because every year the strain of influenza virus that circulates changes. Last year’s flu shot does not protect you this year. So every year, people need a new shot.It also seems that every year, the official recommendation for who needs a flu shot changes as well. This year is no exception. This year, the Centers for Disease Control, the agency that makes the official recommendations, has said that all children over the age of 6 months should be vaccinated against influenza.The State of New Jersey has taken this recommendation to heart, and this year is requiring influenza vacci... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2510667 Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:59:00 +0100 2510667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2510671&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2FK4Xey3-X6N4%2Fcould-your-heart-medicine-cause-cancer.html This study was designed to show an effect on atherosclerosis ("hardening of the arteries"). It lasted just 2 years and enrolled 720 patients with a genetic disorder (familial hypercholesterolemia) that causes high cholesterol levels and heart attacks and strokes at a very young age. The study showed that Vytorin lowers cholesterol levels in these patients, but it did not detect a decrease in heart attacks or strokes.Importantly, the study did not show that Vytorin was any better than Simvastatin alone.There have been 2 drug company-sponsored trials since then: the SEAS trial (SEAS stands for Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis) and the Improved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial (IMPROVE-IT) trial. Both studies were designed to test whether Vytorin reduces... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2510671 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:06:00 +0100 2510671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2510676&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2Fg3fEk70ZA4M%2Fcancer-and-olympic-games.html Just like other people, athletes can get cancer, too.Everyone knows about Lance Armstrong’s amazing feats after beating testicular cancer. Most hockey fans remember Mario Lemieux returning from treatment for Hodgkin’s Disease to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Conference Finals. Baseball fans from my home town (Baltimore) probably remember Eric Davis being treated for colon cancer while playing for the Orioles.This year’s Olympic Games has a similar story. On June 19, one week before he was scheduled to leave for the US Olympic trials in Nebraska, Eric Shanteau was diagnosed with testicular cancer. His doctor cleared him to go to the trials anyway.Shanteau wasn’t given much of a chance to make the team, but when Brendan Hansen faded on the last lap, Shanteau passed him, came in... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2510676 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 04:27:00 +0100 2510676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1679702&cid=t_125198_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Ftwo-new-cases-of-pml-reported-in-ms-patients-taking-tysabri%2F This past week, Biogen Idec and Elan Pharmaceuticals, reported to their respective regulatory agencies that two new cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) were conclusively diagnosed in European MS patients who were undergoing Tysabri (natalizumab) mono-therapy for multiple sclerosis. The details of the reports are somewhat vague. Extensive procedures taking approximately two months for each patient have proven that two separate patients in two different countries who were using Tysabri for two separate kinds of MS for differing periods of time have contracted PML. Both patients are reported as “stable,” though company officials were vague on the patients’ prognoses. It’s not like we didn’t expect to hear this news… eventually. Everyone on Tysabri knows that... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1679702 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:38:01 +0100 1679702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1402189&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2F278623986%2Fdoes-your-diet-determine-what-sex-your.html This article, from a scientist in Germany shows that the hormonal environment can influence sex ratios in the offspring of mammals and of birds. It’s interesting to consider how these findings might all be related, and how it may or may not be adaptive for the species to alter sex ratio of newborns based on environmental conditions. Food for thought…Photo Credit (Source: Doctor David's Blog) Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1402189 Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:36:00 +0100 1402189 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1383786&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2F273305818%2Fhpv-and-cancer-revisited.html This report is continuing to make news and was highlighted in an article published earlier this week in The Baltimore Sun.Why is this important? As I discussed previously, this finding raises the possibility that immunization of boys with the HPV vaccine might be helpful not only to break the cycle of sexually transmitted HPV causing cervical cancer, but also to protect the boys themselves from oral cancer.But the study has implications beyond that. Until recently, the major risk factors for oral cancer were age, alcohol consumption, and smoking. That profile is changing, though, as HPV is becoming a more important cause of this disease.More recently, doctors are seeing oral cancers arising in younger men with no history of smoking or heavy drinking. Oral cancers in this population are inc... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1383786 Sat, 19 Apr 2008 03:02:00 +0100 1383786 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1372035&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2F270440135%2Fbreast-cancer-risk-alcohol-isnt-red.html We’ve all read the articles in the newspaper. Moderate consumption of red wine is good for you. It lowers the risk of heart disease, and helps you live longer.Doesn’t it?A report from this week’s meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research questions that. Yesterday, Dr. Jasmine Lew presented the results of a study of 184,000 women in the US looking at the relationship between alcohol consumption and breast cancer. What they found may surprise you.Dr. Lew’s group from the National Cancer Institute found that post-menopausal women who drank an average of 1-2 drinks a day were 32% more likely to develop hormone-sensitive breast cancer. Women who averaged 3 or more drinks a day were 51% more likely than nondrinkers to develop hormone-sensitive breast cancer.So does that mea... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1372035 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:54:00 +0100 1372035 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1321829&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2F256346117%2Fhpv-stis-and-teenaged-girls-what-does-1.html Several of my recent blog postings have dealt with viruses that cause cancer. One cancer-causing virus that has been in the news lately is human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer. The development of a vaccine that protects women from the specific HPV strains that cause cervical cancer was a major step forward in cancer prevention.Although it is clear that the vaccine reduces infections with these HPV strains, because of the long time interval between infection and the development of cancer it has not yet been proven that vaccination will decrease the incidence of cervical cancer.However, according to data presented recently at the annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO), there is already evidence that vaccination decrea... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1321829 Sun, 23 Mar 2008 03:44:00 +0100 1321829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1212096&cid=t_125198_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2F230360157%2Fnews-kansas-court-blocks-records.html The Kansas Supreme Court has temporarily ruled on an appeal filed by Dr. George Tiller's attorneys, blocking the grand jury from obtaining semi-redacted medical records of patients that had... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Women's Bioethics Blog) Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1212096 Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:34:30 +0100 1212096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1301928&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2F225650964%2Fwhat-rufus-naked-mole-rat-can-teach-us.html On December 25, I posted a piece about pain management and the role of strong narcotics such as fentanyl. One of the points I wanted to make was that there are different types of pain, primarily neuropathic pain and inflammatory pain. In managing patients with cancer pain (or any type of chronic pain, for that matter), it is critical to distinguish between these types of pain, because they respond to different classes of drugs. A paper published today in an online peer-reviewed journal called PLoS Biology reports that a particular animal is insensitive to inflammatory pain.What animal, you ask? The African naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber).It turns out that naked mole-rats do not have the pain-related neuropeptide Substance P in the nerves in their skin, which means they cannot feel a... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1301928 Wed, 30 Jan 2008 03:07:00 +0100 1301928 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1301930&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2F224374968%2Fkaposis-sarcoma-and-viruscancer_28.html In previous entries, I have discussed the connection between viruses and cancer, focusing on the roles viruses might play in the development of tumors, especially in patients with compromised immune systems. Today, I will discuss ways in which oncologists might exploit the virus/cancer connection to treat and prevent cancer.First: Breaking NewsJust to demonstrate that nothing in medicine is static for long, just this month another cancer was found to be associated with a virus. Interestingly, the discovery was made in the laboratory of the husband and wife team that identified HHV-8 as the cause of Kaposi’s sarcoma. Using a sophisticated DNA analysis technique, these scientists found that cells from a rare type of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma (coincidentally, also a cancer fo... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1301930 Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:40:00 +0100 1301930 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1301936&cid=t_125198_94_f&fid=36906&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FDoctorDavidsBlog%2F%7E3%2F205930287%2Fbreaking-news-fda-reissues-warning.html In September, I wrote about the double-edged sword of narcotics and pain control for cancer patients. Around that same time, there were news reports of patients dying from improperly prescribed Fentora, which is a preparation of the powerful narcotic, fentanyl, that is absorbed through the lining of the mouth.Fentanyl is in the news again this week. This time, the issue is with fentanyl patches. These are a favorite tool for oncologists, because the drug is absorbed through the skin. This means the patient need not swallow a pill, a big deal for patients receiving chemotherapy (notorious for causing nausea and vomiting). Fentanyl patches are also great for managing chronic pain in patients who have significant prior narcotic exposure, and it’s hard to imagine practicing oncology in the U... Doctor David's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1301936 Tue, 25 Dec 2007 04:53:00 +0100 1301936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2523104&cid=t_125198_109_f&fid=35078&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNeurontic%2F%7E3%2Fkk-IvSBDv_k%2Fnew_scibling_neurophilosophy.php Check out the latest edition of Encephalon at Neurophilosophy and note his new home! Welcome to the fold, Mo. We're happy to have you. Read the comments on this post... (Source: Neurontic) Neurontic blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2523104 Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:55:48 +0100 2523104 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=676129&cid=t_125198_132_f&fid=35011&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fmndoci%2F%7E3%2F123816454%2F News doesn’t break on TV anymore according to this post from Paul Kedroksy. He quotes from a piece in AdAge We’re all pretty convinced that news doesn’t break on TV anymore,” said Eric Bader, senior VP-managing director of digital connections at MediaVest. “Almost everybody across pretty much every economic and age demographic learns of breaking news online, increasingly on mobile Today, I get my breaking scientific news from RSS feeds and increasingly services like Particls. I wonder how many scientists still get their news from paper publications? Technorati Tags: Breaking News, Science, Information, RSS, Particls (Source: business|bytes|genes|molecules) business|bytes|genes|molecules blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=676129 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 04:25:02 +0100 676129