Interactive Health Communication for longer, better lives.

2007

Living Well: Shape up in the new year by shedding hostility

A few years back, Dr. Redford Williams made a change in his life that might
not seem like much. But he knew better.

"It was big," recalls Williams, who is clued in because he is a behavioral
medicine specialist at Duke University. For years he has been studying such
topics as how anger and hostility affect heart disease.

What did Williams do? He simply decided that on Sunday mornings he would
stop fretting about how long it might take his wife, Virginia, to get ready

Vitamin E supplementation and DVT

A secondary analysis of the Women’s Health Study was conducted to evaluate
whether vitamin E supplementation reduced the risk of venous thromboembolism. 
According to a 2008 U.S. Surgeon General’s report, at least 100,000 deaths in the
United States result from deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism induced by
venous thromboembolism.  Women 45 years and older (n=39,876) were randomized
to 600 IU vitamin E (α-tocopherol) or a placebo every other day.  Genotyping for

A new study finds that many cancer patients would prefer to receive information over emotional aid from support groups

Newswise — A new study finds that many cancer patients would prefer to receive information over emotional aid from support groups, although – over time – their needs could change.

Although clinicians and others frequently advise cancer patients to join support groups to deal with the psychological consequences of their diagnosis, a minority of cancer patients actually joins.

Multiple myeloma patients vary widely in how they respond to treatment

Multiple myeloma patients vary widely in how they respond to treatment, but now researchers at the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences have identified a small subset of genes whose activity could predict high-risk cases and potentially guide therapy in the future.

The activity of just a few genes could hold the key to predicting the fate of multiple myeloma patients

Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer affecting the blood plasma cells in bone marrow responsible for producing antibodies. Each year, nearly 14,600 Americans are diagnosed with multiple myeloma. The severity ranges from low-risk to high-risk and makes all the difference in patients' odds of survival.

Multiple myeloma patients vary widely in how they respond to treatment

Multiple myeloma patients vary widely in how they respond to treatment, but now researchers at the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences have identified a small subset of genes whose activity could predict high-risk cases and potentially guide therapy in the future.

Seven of the largest pharmaceutical companies have formed a group to develop genetic tests to determine which patients would be at risk from dangerous drug side effects

Oncology, pain and communications experts from across Europe are today launching an innovative new educational workbook

LONDON -- Oncology, pain and communications experts from across Europe are today launching an innovative new educational workbook, entitled 'Cancer Tales': Communicating in cancer care, which combines real-life patient experiences of cancer with practical guidance to improve communication.

Chinese doctors have long experimented with combinations of herbs to cure disease

HONG KONG -- Chinese doctors have long experimented with combinations of herbs to cure disease. If a plant extract helped to fight an infection, why bother trying to figure out which molecule did the trick? It worked, and that's what counted.

WE could make faster progress against cancer by changing the way drugs are developed

State College, Pa.

WE could make faster progress against cancer by changing the way drugs are developed. In the current system, if a promising compound can’t be patented, it is highly unlikely ever to make it to market — no matter how well it performs in the laboratory. The development of new cancer drugs is crippled as a result.

While millions of Americans place fitness as one of their top New Year's resolutions to improve shape, muscle tone and overall appearance, cancer survivors have another priority - life.

Newswise — While millions of Americans place fitness as one of their top New Year's resolutions to improve shape, muscle tone and overall appearance, cancer survivors have another priority - life.

AstraZeneca and the American Cancer Society announced a collaboration to significantly extend the reach the ACS Patient Navigator Program

Newswise — AstraZeneca and the American Cancer Society today announced a strategic collaboration to significantly extend the reach of the Society’s innovative Patient Navigator Program – an initiative to assist individual cancer patients in negotiating the health care system. With major support from AstraZeneca, the American Cancer Society will accelerate development of at least 50 new Patient Navigator Program sites over the next five years in communities throughout the United States. The first three sites to launch are Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in Seattle, Washington; Helen F.