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The Daily Dose @Jefferson

Posts from May 2011

May 27, 2011

Pool and Beach Season and Swimmer's Ear

In a recent analysis of swimmer's ear in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that in 2007 there were nearly 2.5 million doctors' office or emergency room visits that resulted from the condition, and cost an estimated $500 million.

May 26, 2011

Measles Cases Surging in the U.S.

According to the CDC, from January 1 through May 20 there were 118 measles cases in the U.S., the largest number of cases reported since 1996.

May 25, 2011

Early-Term Babies at Increased Risk of Death

Study finds that babies born at "early-term" - 37 or 38 weeks gestation - are at higher risk of death than those who go the full 40 weeks.

May 24, 2011

Pediatricians Urged to Encourage Parents to Quit Smoking

From 150,000 to 300,000 cases of lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia in children are causally attributed to exposure to tobacco smoke.

May 23, 2011

Decreasing Antibiotic Use in Children to Slow Down Superbugs

Two studies published online in the journal Pediatrics suggest that children with asthma are being prescribed antibiotics without a documented medical need, hindering efforts to reduce the overuse of antibiotics that contributes to drug resistance.

May 19, 2011

Coffee Drinking Lowers Prostate Cancer Risk

Harvard led study finds that men who drink six or more cups of coffee a day are significantly less likely to develop prostate cancer, especially lethal forms of the disease.

May 18, 2011

Damage to Brain Starts Early for People with Genetic Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

Study finds that genetic variation increases the risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease and that the brains of those with this genetic variation appear to begin to suffer damage decades before the illness manifests itself.

May 17, 2011

An Ancient Heart Disease Discovery

American and Egyptian researchers identify oldest known case of heart disease in a 3,500-year-old Egyptian princess using CT scanning, and the team identified signs of coronary disease in 45 percent of the mummies they examined.

May 16, 2011

Would You Recognize the Signs of a Stroke?

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of stroke is key to early treatment and recovery, according to Jefferson stroke experts.

May 13, 2011

Where You Go for Stroke Care Matters

With stoke time is critical to patient outcomes, but so is going to an experienced hospital dedicated to the care of patients suffering from stroke.

May 12, 2011

Are Headphones Bad for Heart Devices?

Canadian researchers suggest magnetic fields from earbuds can interfere with heart devices such as pacemakers if the headphones are within 2 centimeters of the device.

May 11, 2011

Time Is Critical in the Treatment of Stroke

Sleeping strokes make up a large fraction of strokes in the U.S. and that puts some patients at risk of not getting time critical treatments such as clot-busting drugs.

May 10, 2011

Get Your Stroke Questions Answered By Jefferson Experts

Stoke is a major cause of death and disability in this country and many people have questions about the causes, treatments and ways to prevent these so-called "brain attacks. Join our discussion by posing your own questions about stroke.

May 10, 2011

Babies and Vitamin D

A Dutch study finds that newborns with lower levels of vitamin D in their blood are at significantly higher risk of developing potentially dangerous respiratory infections.

May 09, 2011

Celebrating Jefferson Nurses

During National Nurses Week, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals celebrates the achievements, caring and excellence of all our nurses.

May 06, 2011

Liquid Medication Dosing Confusion Spurs Changes

The Food and Drug Administration and the companies that make generic liquid acetaminophen are taking steps to reduce the chances of children being overdosed by over-the-counter pain medications and other drugs.

May 05, 2011

Study Finds That Pills Match Inhalers for Asthma Control

Study in New England Journal of Medicine finds that after two months leukotriene-receptor antagonists (LTRA) are as good at controling mild to moderate asthma as inhaled steroids.

May 04, 2011

Blood Clot Risk Higher for Tall, Obese Men

Tall obese men are at five times the risk of developing potentially deadly blood clots, according to a new study.

May 03, 2011

Developing New Ways to Protect Patients and the Public from Radiation

Jefferson doctors Adam Dicker, MD, Phd, and Ulich Rodeck, MD, PhD, are using zebrafish to help them identify compounds that could protect humans against the dangerous effects of radiation whether from nuclear disasters or radiation therapy treatments.

May 02, 2011

Are You at Risk of a Stroke?

Tuesday May 3 is stroke alert day and Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals is offering free screenings and education on the signs and symptoms of stroke.