26 December, 2012

Excessive aspirin use can turn you blind

A new study has found that regular aspirin use ten years ago was associated with a small but statistically significant increase in the risk of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Barbara E. K. Klein, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, and colleagues conducted a study to examine the association between aspirin use and AMD.

The researchers used data from the Beaver Dam Eye Study, a longitudinal population-based study of age-related eye diseases conducted in Wisconsin. Examinations were performed every 5 years over a 20-year period (1988-1990 through 2008-2010).

Study participants (n = 4,926) were 43 to 86 years of age at entry in the study. At subsequent examinations, participants were asked if they had regularly used aspirin at least twice a week for more than 3 months. The average duration of follow-up was 14.8 years.

For the study, the researchers measured the incidences of different types of AMD (early, late, and 2 subtypes of late AMD [neovascular AMD and pure geographic atrophy]).

There were 512 incident cases of early AMD and 117 incident cases of late AMD over the course of the study.

The researchers found that regular use of aspirin use 10 years prior to the retinal examination was associated with late AMD (age- and sex-adjusted incidence, 1.8 per cent for users vs. 1.0 percent for nonusers).

When examining the relationships by late AMD subtype, neovascular AMD was significantly associated with such use (age-and sex-adjusted incidence, 1.4 per cent for users vs. 0.6 per cent for nonusers), but not for pure geographic atrophy. Aspirin use 5 years or 10 years prior to retinal examination was not associated with incident early AMD.

"Our findings are consistent with a small but statistically significant association between regular aspirin use and incidence of neovascular AMD. Additional replication is required to confirm our observations. If confirmed, defining the causal mechanisms may be important in developing methods to block this effect to prevent or retard the development of neovascular AMD in persons who use aspirin, especially to prevent CVD," the authors conclude.

The study appeared in the latest issue of JAMA.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

26.12.2012

Ultrasound safer than CT scans or X-rays to confirm or rule out appendicitis

A recent American study reveals ultrasound scans relying on sound waves are a safer option than CT scans or X-rays which uses radiation to confirm or rule out surgery to remove the appendix. It is a finger-shaped pouch that extends from the large intestine. Infection or blockage of the appendix causes appendicitis, which can lead to abdominal pain, vomiting and fever. Children suspected of appendicitis are more likely to undergo CT scans if they are evaluated at a general hospital, a new study by Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis has revealed, the journal Paediatrics reports.

Use of either technique can potentially reduce the occurrence of unnecessary surgeries and speed up the diagnosis of appendicitis, according to a Washington statement. But recent reports have suggested that CT scans can magnify children’s lifetime cancer risk, because of radiation. Therefore, researchers are reassessing the role of such scans and seeking ways to reduce their use, according to a varity statement. ‘Appendicitis is a very tough diagnosis, because its symptoms overlap with viral infections and other problems,’ says study co-author Jacqueline Saito, assistant professor of surgery.

‘We don’t want to operate when the appendix is fine, but if we wait too long, an inflamed appendix can rupture or perforate, making recovery more complicated and much slower,’ added Saito. Saito and her colleagues analysed case records of 423 children who had appendectomies or surgery to remove the appendix, at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

In 218 patients initially evaluated at Children’s Hospital and 205 at general hospitals, researchers reviewed how the patients were evaluated for appendicitis and whether the surgery’s results confirmed the diagnosis. Using ultrasound to detect appendicitis has recently become more frequent, especially at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. ‘Ultrasound scans are difficult to perform correctly in this context and what specialists can do at children’s hospital may not be realistic or even available in a general hospital, which doesn’t care for children as often,’ Saito says.

Source: http://health.india.com

26.12.2012

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better

Beckett, Samuel