Our weekly roundup of the latest developments in the world of health.
The most effective painkiller for kids, the risks and benefits of aspirin for colon cancer prevention and a comparison of trendy diets were in the newsthis week. So was a look at the value of screening smokers for lung cancer.
Stay well.
This Issue:
Painkillers for Kids Aspirin and Colon Cancer Atkins Diet Wins for Weight Loss Lung Cancer Screening In The News:
Painkillers for Kids Ibuprofen may be best at relieving pain in children. A Canadian study published in the journal Pediatrics compared ibuprofen, acetaminophen and codeine in 300 children age 6 to 17, and found that ibuprofen worked best on pain from broken bones, bruises and sprains. In the study, the children were randomly assigned to get one of the three pain relievers. They were asked to periodically rate their pain on a 100-point scale. A half-hour after taking the medication, the children who got any of the three painkillers rated their pain about the same. But after an hour, children who'd taken ibuprofen reported significantly more pain relief; they rated their pain 24 points lower, while children who took acetaminophen rated theirs 12 points lower and those who got codeine rated theirs 11 points lower. At 60 minutes after getting medication, about half the kids who got ibuprofen children reported what doctors consider "adequate" pain relief -- scores below 30. That compared with 40% of the children who took codeine and 36% of those who got acetaminophen. The researchers say the findings should help parents make better decisions about what to give their children for pain. The Associated Press quotes other experts who say ibuprofen may work better on pain from trauma because it is an anti-inflammatory, unlike acetaminophen or codeine.
Aspirin and Colon Cancer
The risks of taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to prevent colon cancer outweigh the benefits for people at average risk. That's the latest word from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. A task force panel reviewed the use of NSAIDs including aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen to lower risk of colon cancer. The panel said taking more than 300 milligrams per day of aspirin increases the risk for certain types of strokes and intestinal bleeding. Ibuprofen and naproxen may carry additional cardiovascular risks and a higher risk of kidney failure. Meanwhile, the panel said that taking low doses of aspirin -- less than 100 milligrams per day -- does little to lower the chance of developing colon cancer, The Associated Press reports.
Atkins Diet Wins for Weight Loss
In a head-to-head comparison, women following the low-carb Atkins diet lost more weight than women following other popular weight-loss programs. But none lost very much weight and almost all started gaining it back toward the end of the new study. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, looked at 311 women who were about 40 years old on average. Women were randomly assigned to read one of four diet books -- on the high-fat, low-carb Atkins diet; the low-carb Zone diet; the high-carb, low-fat Ornish diet; and a high-carb, low-fat U.S. government-recommended low-fat diet. They attended weekly classes for eight weeks, but then were on their own for the next 10 months. At the end of the year, women following the Atkins diet had lost about 10 pounds on average, compared to 5 pounds on the Ornish diet, 6 pounds on the U.S.government-recommended diet, and 3.5 pounds on the Zone diet. Women on the Atkins diet had slightly higher levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and slightly lower blood pressure than those on the other three diets, suggesting that the Atkins diet may be safer than previously believed, The Associated Press reports. However, most of the women's weight loss occurred during the fist six months -- after which most began regaining the weight. And since the women weighed an average of 189 pounds to begin with, they were still overweight even after losing weight during the study.
Lung Cancer Screening
Using CT scans to screen smokers for lung cancer may not save lives. That's the finding of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers looked at data on cases of advanced lung cancer and lung cancer death in 3,246 smokers and former smokers who had annual CT scans for about four years. They compared that data with the cancer cases and rates predicted by a mathematical model -- found effective in previous studies -- that uses age, gender, asbestos exposure and smoking history. The CT scans increased diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, but the researchers found no evidence that the screening saved any additional lives or prevented advanced cancer, The Associated Press reports. The researchers say the scans may lead to unneeded and harmful treatments such as biopsies and surgeries. The U.S. National Cancer Institute is conducting a study of CT scans in 50,000 people; this study won't be completed for a few years, the AP says.
Used with the permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. The above summaries are not intended to provide advice on personal medical matters, nor are they intended to be a substitute for consultation with a physician.
