The efficacy of the flu vaccine may vary from year to year, depending on factors such as the age and health of the recipient and the similarity of the virus strains included in the flu vaccine and the viruses that actually circulate during the flu season.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Stelara (ustekinumab) for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults. Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis, a chronic skin disorder characterized by red skin covered with silvery scales that can itch or burn.
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Cardiac complications of flu infection, such as inflammation of the heart muscle, are well-recognized, but the role of influenza as a trigger for heart attack is less clear. According to a systematic review published early online in The Lancet: Infectious Diseases, scientists report that influenza vaccines may protect against heart attack in people with pre-existing cardiovascular disease.
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Although women with diabetes have higher levels of bone mineral density prior to menopause, they experience a significantly greater rate of bone loss at the hip at menopause compared to women without diabetes, according to a study presented at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research 31st Annual Meeting. However, bone loss in the spine seems to be slower in people with diabetes than in non-diabetics.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a single-pill combination of two medications, the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren and the angiotensin receptor blocker valsartan, for the treatment of high blood pressure.
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Recent evidence suggests that the presence of depression is linked to an increased risk of death among patients with diabetes. In the September/October 2009 issue of Annals of Family Medicine, researchers report that patients with both diabetes and depression are at a substantially increased risk of death beyond cardiovascular death.
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Guidelines for diabetes screening recommend targeting high-risk individuals. According to a new study published in the September/October 2009 issue of Annals of Family Medicine, the risk factor of obesity was the best predictor of undiagnosed diabetes.
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Emergency departments are often overcrowded hospital settings where the urgency of care makes patient safety more challenging. According to a study published online September 18, 2009 in BMC Emergency Medicine, most of the mistakes that occur in emergency departments are caused by human error.
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Excessive salt intake is a persistent health problem in many parts of the world, including the United States. Nearly one-third of Americans have hypertension, and salt consumption contributes to the development of high blood pressure. According to a recent RAND Corporation study published in the September/October 2009 issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion, lowering salt consumption could save up to $50 billion per year in hypertension-related health care costs.
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