Monthly Archives: October 2012

HealthDay reports on two studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association comparing different means of predicting heart disease. Coronary artery calcium scans [CAC] rated the highest.

The quality of fish oil / omega-3 supplements varies across brands, according to recent tests by ConsumerLab.com, which independently reports on the quality of health products. 

The New York Times reports, “The American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP] has shifted its stance on infant male circumcision, announcing that new research, including studies in Africa suggesting that the procedure may protect heterosexual men against HIV, indicated that the … Continue reading →

Reuters reports that individuals who brush regularly, thus keeping their gums and teeth in healthy condition, appear to have a decreased risk of dementia later in their lifetime, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics … Continue reading →

My friend, James Dobson, PhD, alerted me to a story in the LA Times reporting the first successful neural stem cell transplant into the brains of four young boys. At least one columnist thinks it’s likely these were cells from aborted … Continue reading →

The Wall Street Journal reports that middle-aged people who suffer from obesity and hypertension, along with other metabolic issues, may have an increased risk for faster decline in their cognitive faculties as they age, compared with their counterparts of normal … Continue reading →

The New York Times reports, “The popular notion that teenagers who are not ready for intercourse are experimenting with oral sex en masse is being challenged by new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

The New York Times reports that the Food and Drug Administration has “issued a warning” regarding potential safety issues related to the use of codeine in children.

The Los Angeles Times “Booster Shots” blog reports that “a study” is “warning that for those over 40, the number of egg yolks consumed per week accelerates the thickening of arteries almost as severely as does cigarette smoking.”

In “Aches & Claims”, the Wall Street Journal reports that a new procedure approved in 2011 by the Food and Drug Administration helps people plagued by excessive sweating – called ‘hyperhidrosis.’

New research suggests that “children who snore more than twice a week at ages two and three are nearly four times more likely to develop behavioral problems later in life.”

The New York Times reports, “Adolescents in states with strict laws regulating the sale of snacks and sugary drinks in public schools gained less weight over a three-year period than those living in states with no such laws,” according to … Continue reading →

The Time “Healthland” blog reported that a new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reporting that a daily aspirin reduces cancer risk.

One of the most difficult radio interviews that my family or I have ever done was when Dr. James Dobson interviewed us a few years ago about an incident of sexual abuse that happened in our family in the early … Continue reading →

Readers know of my admiration for the expert doctors of pharmacology at Prescribers’ Letter. Here are their most recent comments on the two weight loss drugs to be available in the U.S. over the next year.

In a Time “Healthland” blog post, Katy Steinmetz writes, “Car crashes are the leading cause of death in kids over age 3 in the US, and yet many parents still don’t use car seats properly or don’t know what the … Continue reading →

One of the most difficult radio interviews that my family or I have ever done was when Dr. James Dobson interviewed us a few years ago about an incident of sexual abuse that happened in our family in the early … Continue reading →

The Los Angeles Times “Science Now” blog reports, “Using Propecia – generically known as finasteride – to promote hair growth for baldness can lead to sexual dysfunction and severe depression, even long after use of the drug is stopped,” according … Continue reading →

USA Today reports, “The benefits of taking cholesterol-lowering medications outweigh the increased risk some patients have of developing diabetes from using the drugs,” according to research published in the Lancet.

One of the most difficult radio interviews that my family or I have ever done was when Dr. James Dobson interviewed us a few years ago about an incident of sexual abuse that happened in our family in the early … Continue reading →

The Los Angeles Times “Booster Shots” blog reports, “Nearly 30% of middle and high school boys and nearly 18% of girls used some form of tobacco last year, the federal government said in a published report.”

ABC World News reported that “just as the Olympic games began in London, a reality check” about sports drinks “from a group of researchers from England’s prestigious Oxford University.”

One of the most difficult radio interviews that my family or I have ever done was when Dr. James Dobson interviewed us a few years ago about an incident of sexual abuse that happened in our family in the early … Continue reading →

Melissa Healy writes in a Los Angeles Times “Booster Shots” blog post, “The high school or middle school student who can grab a sugar-sweetened soft drink on school grounds during class hours is becoming a rarity,” according to a study … Continue reading →

Bloomberg News reports, “Healthy older adults and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) given a drug that spurs hormones important to normal brain function had improved concentration, decision-making skills and verbal memory,” according to a study published in the Archives … Continue reading →

A landmark ruling in an Italian court has said a child’s autism was provoked by the MMR shot he had at aged nine months. Could this case reignite a very controversial debate?

USA Today reports, “Honesty may boost your health, suggests a study that found telling fewer lies benefits people physically and mentally.”

ABC News reports, “Swapping out Batman for Big Bird could help young kids sleep better, a new study found.”

Bloomberg BusinessWeek reports, “Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the largest breast-cancer advocacy group, was criticized by doctors for overstating the benefits of mammograms and failing to tell women about the risks in its last public advertising campaign.”

HealthDay reports, “A pharmaceutical company says preliminary findings support a spray-on treatment that uses skin cells to speed the healing of venous leg ulcers,” according to research published in The Lancet.