Viva la resistance - Tamiflu resistance

European public health specialists on Monday identified significant resistance to the drug Tamiflu, casting a shadow over the efficacy of the world’s most widely purchased influenza antiviral medicine. more  

Diuretics most effective blood pressure medication for people with metabolic syndrome: Evidence strongly supports diuretics as initial therapy, especially in black patients

New research shows that in people with high blood pressure as part of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increases the risk for heart disease, diuretics offer greater protection against cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, and are at least as effective for lowering blood pressure as newer, more expensive medications. The findings run counter to current medical practices that favor ACE-inhibitors, alpha-blockers, and calcium channel blockers for treatment of high blood pressure in those with metabolic syndrome. In addition, the results provide important new evidence supporting the use of diuretics for initial blood pressure-lowering therapy in black patients with metabolic syndrome. more

Thin bones seen in boys with autism and autism spectrum disorder

Results of an early study suggest that dairy-free diets and unconventional food preferences could put boys with autism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at higher than normal risk for thinner, less dense bones when compared to a group of boys the same age who do not have autism. more  

New report provides information on HIV prevalence in the U.S. household population

Approximately half of 1 percent (0.47 percent) of the U.S. household population between the ages of 18 and 49 are living with HIV, according to estimates from CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) based on surveys conducted between 1999-2006. more

Full report: HIV infection in the United States household population: Aged 18–49 years: Results from 1999–2006  

Measurement of HIV prevalence in a nationally representative sample of the United States population provides an understanding of the background level of infection in the general household population aged 18–49 years as well as in demographic subgroups. This information can also be used to monitor trends in infection in the household population over time. more

CDC study estimates 7,000 pediatric emergency departments visits linked to cough and cold medication  

An estimated 7,000 children ages 11 and younger are treated in hospital emergency departments each year because of cough and cold medications, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately two-thirds of those incidents were due to unsupervised ingestion (i.e., children taking the medication without a parent's knowledge). The study was published online today by the American Academy of Pediatrics journal, Pediatrics. more

New therapy effectively treats deep vein thrombosis

A novel treatment for blood clots in the legs appears to be safe and effective, according to a pilot study published in the February issue of Radiology. The study found that injecting or “lacing” the clot with a fiber-binding thrombolytic agent effectively treats deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and reduces the risk of subsequent recurrence or bleeding. more

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