Care

Obesity :: Overweight in Early Childhood Increases Chances for Obesity at Age 12

Children who are overweight as toddlers or preschoolers are more likely to be overweight or obese in early adolescence, report researchers in a collaborative study by the NIH and several academic institutions. The researchers periodically collected height and weight measurements of a sample of children, beginning at age 2 and continuing until age 12. Their analysis, appearing in the September Pediatrics, provides some of the strongest evidence to date that overweight in early childhood increase the chances for overweight in later life.

Cancer :: Tumor Necrosis Factor Blockers May Not Cause Cancer

Study Finds No Increased Risk of Lymphoma or Tumors Associated with Anti-TNF Therapy Over Methotrexate Use Among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune, inflammatory disease marked by progressive joint and organ damage, face a high risk of developing cancer.

Pregnancy :: Low Vitamin E in Pregnancy May Boost Baby’s Asthma Risk

Preliminary findings also showed a link to poorer lung function. Children of mothers who take in too little vitamin E during pregnancy may be at higher risk for asthma by age five, a new study suggests.

Health :: Low magnesium may mean weaker muscles

Older adults with higher levels of magnesium in the blood have stronger muscles, a new study shows. Further research on whether magnesium supplements will help boost muscle function is needed, the authors conclude, given the high risk of injury and disability among older adults.

COPD :: COPD more risky for women

They typically don’t survive as long as male patients, study finds. Women on long-term oxygen therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are 54 percent more likely to die than male patients, a new study shows.

Bipolar Disorder :: Bipolar Disorder and Depression?s Toll in Workplace

Bipolar disorder costs twice as much in lost productivity as major depressive disorder, a study funded by the National Institutes of Health?s (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has found. Each U.S. worker with bipolar disorder averaged 65.5 lost workdays in a year, compared to 27.2 for major depression. Even though major depression is more than six times as prevalent, bipolar disorder costs the U.S. workplace nearly half as much ? a disproportionately high $14.1 billion annually.

Pregnancy :: C-section increases risk of maternal health

Pregnant women who deliver by c-section are more than three times as likely to die than their peers who deliver vaginally, according to a new report. The heightened mortality risk appears to relate to an increased likelihood of blood clots, infection, or complications from anesthesia, the report suggests.