Childhood accidents:
Accidents represent the largest cause of death in childhood. Although head injuries are the principal cause of mortality and injury among children after bicycle accidents, abdominal injuries are not uncommon. In general, injuries to the spleen, liver or kidneys are soon evident, while injuries to the bowel and pancreas often present late and result in greater morbidity, according to a clinical review in the British Medical Journal. Repeated clinical examination for children with histories of abdominal injury from bicycling accidents is the most important tool for early diagnosis.
Chemotherapy questioned:
Many cancer patients receive chemotherapy at the end of their lives, even if their type of cancer is known to be unresponsive to the drugs, according to a report at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The study calls for further research into the reasons driving the need for late chemotherapy. Only then can guidelines be established for when chemotherapy should be stopped.
Sexual health:
Only 30 per cent of people with sexual-health problems will speak to their doctor, according to a recent survey. While 64 per cent of men and women over 40 agreed that sexual-health problems were a legitimate health concern, most were still reticent to investigate treatment options. These findings are part of a preliminary survey of "The Pfizer Report On Sexual Health In The Second Half Of Life".
Pulmonary treatment:
A recent paper in the British Medical Journal suggests that, in chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, treatment with mucolytic medication, which helps to expel sputum, is associated with a reduction in acute exacerbations and days of illness. The drugs have to be taken long-term, and the authors conclude they could be most useful for those with repeated, prolonged or severe exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Cold-remedy side effects:
Pharmaceutical companies, including GlaxoSmithKline, are facing legal action in the US over cold remedies alleged to have caused strokes and other severe side effects. A report from Yale University, claiming phenylpropanolamine (PPA) had caused 500 strokes and four deaths, led the Food and Drug Administration to ban over-the-counter PPA products. Other companies using PPA include Schering-Plough, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer.
Help for incontinence:
Almost 90 per cent of those who made contact with Tirim, the bladder-control information service, and sought treatment have experienced improvements in symptoms. Fifty-six per cent are now going on long walks and sleeping better. Fifty-two per cent no longer worry about travel. (Tirim, 1850-476 476.)
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