Here are some of the latest health and medical news
developments, compiled by editors of
HealthDay:
Drug Store, Pharmacy Benefit Managers Combine Info Systems
In an effort to increase electronic prescribing by doctors, the
drug store and pharmacy benefit management industries will combine
their information systems, the
Associated Press reported.
The union will make electronic prescribing more convenient and
efficient for doctors, according to executives with the two
industries.
"This merger sets aside historic economic and political
differences to do what is necessary to advance paperless
prescribing and the secure exchange of critical information," said
John Driscoll, president for new markets at MedcoHealth Solutions
Inc., the
AP reported.
Along with MedcoHealth Solutions, the merger will include the
RxHub network, operated by CVS Caremark Corp., Express Scripts
Inc., and Surescripts, which is run by the drug store industry's
two main trade groups.
Last year, only about 2 percent of all medicines dispensed in
the United States were prescribed electronically, according to
Surescripts, the
AP reported.
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Babies Need Stomach Time to Develop Back and Neck Muscles
While having babies sleep on their backs reduces the risk of
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), it can impair development of
their back and neck muscles, according to U.S. experts.
When babies sleep on their backs, it means they miss out on 12
hours of time they used to get on their stomachs while sleeping.
This means they don't get much-needed stretching and strengthening
of their back and neck muscles, which can lead to early motor
delay, according to the Pathways Awareness Medical Round Table,
United Press International reported.
The round table -- a group of pediatricians, surgeons, physical
therapists, nurses and researchers -- developed a set of standards
for stomach time that specifies when to start, how much infants
need, and the best ways to encourage the activity.
About one in 40 babies is diagnosed with early motor delay,
which can range from low muscle tone to cerebral palsy. Some early
motor delays are present at birth and others develop or are made
worse by lack of stomach time. Physical therapy can help children
with early motor delay to catch up quickly,
UPI reported.
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Watermelons Said to Boost Heart Health
Watermelons contain compounds that can benefit the heart and
circulatory system and may even provide a Viagra-like lift to the
libido, according to Texas A&M researchers.
"The more we study watermelons, the more we realize just how
amazing a fruit it is in providing natural enhancers to the human
body," Dr. Bhimu Patil said in a prepared statement,
United Press International reported.
Patil and colleagues found that when watermelon is consumed, a
phyto-nutrient called citrulline is converted into an amino acid
called arginine.
"The citrulline-arginine relationship helps heart health, the
immune system and may prove to be very helpful for those who suffer
from obesity and type 2 diabetes," Patil said. "Arginine boosts
nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect
that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even
prevent it."
In addition, Patil said deep-red varieties of watermelon also
contain plenty of the antioxidant lycopene, which protects the
heart, prostate and skin health,
UPI reported.
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Dogs Can Detect Ovarian Cancer: Study
Specially trained dogs can use their noses to distinguish
different types and grades of ovarian cancer, say researchers at
the University Hospital in Goteborg, Sweden. Early stage and
low-grade ovarian tumors emit the same scent as advanced ovarian
tumors.
The researchers said their study shows ovarian cancer has an
odor that's distinct from other gynecological malignancies such as
cervical or endometrial cancers,
United Press International reported.
The researchers said "we do not believe that dogs should be used
in clinical practice, because they may be influenced during their
work, leading to changes in the accuracy rates," but under
controlled circumstances dogs "may be used in experiments to
further explore this very interesting new property of
malignancies."
The study was published in the journal
Integrative Cancer Therapies.
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Experimental Alzheimer's Drug Ineffective
The experimental Alzheimer's drug Flurizan produced
disappointing results in a late-stage clinical trial and
development of the drug will be halted, Salt Lake City-based Myriad
Genetics announced Monday.
Compared to a placebo, the drug didn't improve thinking ability
by a statistically significant amount, nor did it improve patients'
abilities to do daily activities,
The New York Times reported.
The drug -- designed to prevent the buildup of toxic amyloid
plaques in the brain believed to cause Alzheimer's -- was one of
the first of its kind to reach late-stage testing. The failure of
Flurizan may raise doubts about the role of amyloid plaques in
Alzheimer's and about other experimental drugs designed to combat
the plaques.
Two such drugs are currently in late-stage testing, the
Times reported.
A study published earlier this month in the journal
Nature suggested that gamma-secretase modulators such as
Flurizan showed potential for treating Alzheimer's. The study said
these drugs reduce the production of long pieces of amyloid beta
protein that stick together and form clumps, while increasing
production of shorter amyloid beta that blocks longer amyloid beta
from sticking together,
HealthDay News reported.
