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Study establishes strong link between nicotine and diabetes complications

Scientists today reported the first strong evidence implicating nicotine as the main culprit responsible for persistently elevated blood sugar levels - and the resulting increased risk of serious health complications - in people who have diabetes and smoke.

28 Mar 2011

China to implement ban on smoking in indoor public spaces

Chinese health officials this week announced the country will move forward in May with a ban on smoking in all indoor public spaces "in an effort to shield the world's most populous nation ... from the harmful effects of the habit," Reuters reports.

28 Mar 2011

People living at high altitudes have lower chance of dying from heart disease

In one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind, researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in partnership with the Harvard School of Global Health have found that people living at higher altitudes have a lower chance of dying from ischemic heart disease and tend to live longer than others.

28 Mar 2011

Diabetic smokers beware - Nicotine raises blood sugar: Study

U.S. researchers have found that nicotine in cigarettes may be responsible for serious complications in smokers with diabetes. They have shown that nicotine is strongly linked to persistently raised blood sugar levels among diabetics and scientists say they should make every effort to quit. There may also be implications for diabetics attempting to give up the habit who use nicotine-replacement therapy for extended periods.

27 Mar 2011

Anti-smoking ads targeting the indigenous population launched

In a bid to reduce the smoking rates in Australia’s indigenous population the Federal Government is launching the first anti-smoking campaign this Monday (today) aimed specifically at indigenous Australians. Figures have shown that nearly 50% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people smoke, and one in five die from smoking-related diseases. According to Government spokesmen the new campaign is part of its plan to halve the number of indigenous smokers by 2018. The radio, television and print campaign will cost $4 million and is part of the Government's wider aim to significantly reduce the number of Australians who smoke.

27 Mar 2011

Study finds increased risk of VTE during first year of combination oral contraceptive usage

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced that interim results from a large, prospective, observational cohort safety study offer insights into the increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), or blood clots, which is a well-established risk in women who use combination oral contraceptives (COCs), also known as "the Pill".

25 Mar 2011

Longer Looks: Behind the hospital money curtain; Medical data breaches

Think you would stick to a diet if someone paid you for it? Would you be more likely to exercise if you were fined each time you bailed on your scheduled workout? Research in recent years suggests—and a handful of new businesses are betting—that you might.

25 Mar 2011

POET-COPD study looks at controlling 'lung attacks' which can lead to increased ER visits

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause for hospital stays and emergency room visits across Canada and researchers say minimizing exacerbations or flare-ups of the disease can go a long way to reducing hospitalizations.

25 Mar 2011

Study finds that 25% of health messages in school text books lack scientific evidence

Most school text books contain messages about health, but 24.6% of these are not based on any scientific evidence, according to a study by the Knowledge Management Unit at Baza Hospital (Granada), published in the journal BMC Public Health.

25 Mar 2011

Inadequate nutrition linked to greater risk of anemia in postmenopausal women

A new study published in the April 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association indicates that inadequate nutrition is linked to a greater risk of anemia in postmenopausal women.

25 Mar 2011

Aradigm fourth quarter revenue is $144,000 for 2010

Aradigm Corporation today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2010.

24 Mar 2011

ASAM issues white paper to halt medical marijuana use

Citing the dangers of marijuana, the lack of clinical research on a controlled substance with a high potential for abuse, and the physician's oath to "first, do no harm," the American Society of Addiction Medicine today issued a white paper recommending a halt to using the weed as a medicine in states where it has been declared legal.

24 Mar 2011

New study: Coronary calcium scan can help reduce risk of heart disease

A new study of coronary artery calcium scanning - a simple, noninvasive test that gives patients baseline information about plaque in their coronary arteries—has shown that the scan helps them make heart-healthy lifestyle changes and lower their heart disease risk factors.

24 Mar 2011

Study demonstrates superiority of Spiriva over salmeterol in reducing risk of exacerbations in COPD

Results of the one-year Prevention Of Exacerbations with Tiotropium in COPD (POET-COPD®) study, published today by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), demonstrate that Spiriva® (tiotropium), is superior to salmeterol, in reducing the risk of exacerbations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

24 Mar 2011

Obesity during pregnancy endangers both mother and unborn child, but little being done to address the issue

Being seriously overweight during pregnancy increases dangers for both mother and unborn child, but little is being done to help obese mums-to-be, says a leading researcher in the field.

24 Mar 2011

Individuals who smoke mentholated cigarettes do not develop lung cancer

Individuals who smoke mentholated cigarettes are no more likely to develop lung cancer or to die from the disease than smokers of non-mentholated cigarettes, according to a new study led by William Blot, Ph.D., professor of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, Tenn., and colleagues at VICC, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, and the International Epidemiology Institute, Rockville, Md.

24 Mar 2011

Smoke-free air law does not affect off-track betting facility business in Indiana

An Indiana University study found that a smoke-free air law implemented in an Indiana community did not hurt business at the off-track betting facility in that community. The findings, the researchers said, suggest there is "no economic reason for policymakers to exclude OTB facilities from smoke-free legislation."

23 Mar 2011

Early smoking onset linked to higher risk of cannabis use

Young people who start smoking at an early age have a much higher risk of starting to use cannabis by the time they turn 17. Risk factors that increase the likelihood of starting to smoke include externalising problem behaviours such as impulsiveness. Smoking, in turn, is a significant risk factor for cannabis use. These results have been confirmed in a project researching smoking at an early age and externalising behaviour as predictors of drug use.

23 Mar 2011

Bowel cancer rate increases to 12% in over 60s in England due to screening test

Bowel cancer rates in 60 to 69 year olds went up by more than 12 per cent in England from 2006 to 2008, according to the latest figures from Cancer Research UK.

23 Mar 2011

High-fiber diets during early adult years may reduce lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease

A new study from Northwestern Medicine shows a high-fiber diet could be a critical heart-healthy lifestyle change young and middle-aged adults can make.

23 Mar 2011