Monthly Archives: May 2010
Alternative Treatment for Diabetes – Traditional Chinese Medicine
Insulin is the cornerstone of diabetic treatment. However, most patients are reluctant to administer insulin due to the fear of injection. This article reviews clinical and pharmacological studies of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the treatment of diabetes. Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM … Continue reading
Standard Chemo Better Than Oral Capecitabine in Elderly Breast Cancer
Most elderly breast cancer patients would prefer oral chemotherapy such as capecitabine (Xeloda, Roche) over intravenous chemotherapy due to the convenience. However, a clinical trial conducted in elderly women with early-stage breast cancer has found that standard adjuvant combination chemotherapy … Continue reading
FDA Revised Orlistat Label to include Risk for Severe Liver Injury
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today that it has revised the label for orlistat (Xenical) to include new safety information about rare cases of severe liver injury reported with the use of the weight-loss medication. Last August, … Continue reading
Whole Grain, Bran Intake Linked to Lower Mortality in Diabetic Women
It is well known that patients with diabetes face up 2 to 3 times the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death compared to the general population. To lower their risk of cardiovascular disease, patients are advised to exercise and … Continue reading
New treatment modality (Yttrium-90 Microspheres) Improves Survival in Patients With Liver Cancer
Each year, there are about 18,500 cases of primary liver cancer diagnosed and the most common form is hepatocellular carcinoma. However, more than 75% of hepatocellular carcinoma patients can not have surgery to remove their liver tumors and chemotherapy and … Continue reading
Breast-Feeding Reduce Incidence of Fever After Immunizations
Breast-feeding is linked to a lower incidence of fever after immunizations, according to the results of a prospective cohort study reported online May 17 in Pediatrics. At a pediatric vaccination center in Naples, Italy, mothers of infants scheduled for routine … Continue reading
Long-Term Metformin Treatment Linked to Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Metformin is the first line agent for type 2 diabetic patients. It is also one of the few antihyperglycaemic agents that are associated with improvements in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, a study recently published in the May 20 issue … Continue reading
High Caffeine Intake During Pregnancy Reduced Fetal Length
Tea and coffee are the most widely-consumed beverages. However, the effect of caffeine intake during pregnancy on fetal growth is not unclear. According to a study published online April 28 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, caffeine intake of … Continue reading
Infertility and Use of Fertility Drugs Increases Risk for Autism
Preliminary results of a study (Nurses Health Study II) suggest that a history of fertility problems and the use of ovulation-inducing drugs (OIDs) are associated with an almost 2-fold increased risk of having a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). … Continue reading
Which Herbal and Non-Herbal Supplements Interact with Warfarin?
The safety of warfarin use can be compromised by many popular herbal and nonherbal supplements taken by individuals. Eight of the 10 most widely used supplements interact with warfarin, and many of these were associated with significant changes in the international … Continue reading