Class of Drugs Linked to Higher Heart Risk in Older Diabetics
SATURDAY, June 25 — New research shows that older people with type 2 diabetes who take drugs known as sulfonylureas to lower their blood sugar levels may face a higher risk for heart problems than their counterparts who take metformin.
Of the more than 8,500 people aged 65 or older with type 2 diabetes who were enrolled in the trial, 12.4 percent of those given a sulfonylurea drug experienced a heart attack or other cardiovascular event, compared with 10.4 percent of those who were started on metformin.
In addition, these heart problems occurred earlier in the course of treatment among those people taking the sulfonylurea drugs, the study showed.
The head-to-head comparison trial is slated to be presented Saturday at the American Diabetes Association annual meeting in San Diego.
No Difference in Effect When Combining Type 2 Drugs
You can add any third drug you want to the standard metformin-sulfonylurea combination used to treat type 2 diabetes, including insulin, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors. None of them provides a decisive superiority in blood glucose control. That’s the conclusion of a Brazilian meta-study of 18 drug trials published in the May 17, 2011, issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The study tracked research in which a third drug was introduced after the metformin-sulfonylurea combination failed to deliver desired blood sugar control.
Congo Cholera Outbreak Spreads to Populous Capital
A cholera epidemic that has already killed 32 people in Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to the capital Kinshasa, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Wednesday. Three cases of the deadly waterborne disease have been confirmed since last week in Kinshasa, home to at least 9 million people, many of whom live in cramped, insanitary conditions. “If there’s an epidemic here it will be very, very dangerous,” said Eugene Kabambi, communications officer for the WHO. “People are living in very precarious conditions, there are zones along the river which are very exposed.”
Infants can figure out like adults where fault lies with broken toys
A study has found that infants can reason out just like adults where the fault lies when it comes to handling a broken toy.
Hyowon Gweon and Laura Schulz at Massachusetts Institute of Technology studied how 16-month-olds dealt with faulty goods, with a toy that has a button on top which when pressed caused music to be played.
In an initial trial, two adults demonstrated to an infant how to play with the toy. The adults each pressed the button twice.
For those struggling with eating disorders, Johanna Kandel offers hope and her own story
For the better part of a decade, Johanna Kandel was caught in a deadly dance with an eating disorder.
But, over the past 10 years, the same characteristics that put the former ballerina on the path to self-destruction have helped her grow the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness.
‘There are certain personality traits that you’re born with that set you up for developing an eating disorder – perfectionism, a Type A personality, says Kandel.
Dodgers Kick Off 3rd Annual ThinkCure! Weekend Festivities
The Dodgers are taking on their down state rivals this weekendthe Anaheim Angels.
But, truth be told, theyre really taking on a much tougher opponent: Cancer.
This weekend marks the 3rd annual ThinkCure! event at Dodgers Stadium.
ThinkCure! is the Dodgers official charityand its stated aim is to help eradicate cancer.The program also celebrates cancer survivors and helps raise money for life-saving cancer research at such venues as Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and City of Hope.
CBS2s Health Watch reporter Lisa Sigell has been introducing us to some of those cancer survivors all week.
This weekend belongs to the survivors and their doctors and the thousands of Dodgers fans who will help raise money.
An on-line auction is tied to the eventgreat deals, Dodgers memorabilia and priceless experiences are just some of the things available.
An Andre Ethier jersey?
Can I get the same HPV virus twice?
I recently found out I have HPV, more specifically genital warts. From my understanding my body can clear the virus, but never completely get rid of it. If I reach the point to where the virus is clear can I get the same strain again? Or does my body build up an immunity to that particular strain? Also, if the virus is cleared and can’t be detected, can I still have genital wart “outbreaks”?
