Parents urged to protect children's ears in loud environments.
The New York Times (3/2, D6, Cohen) reports, "Hearing loss, which accumulates slowly over a lifetime, is neither painful nor disfiguring, so it goes unnoticed." But "audiologists around the nation" say that children who are exposed to loud noises, like those generated in football stadiums, should don earmuffs or other comparable "safeguards." Data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reveals that "more than 15 minutes of exposure to 100 decibels is unsafe," and "noise that is potentially dangerous to an adult is even more dangerous to a child, said Levi A. Reiter, head of the audiology program at Hofstra University."
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Guess What? Violent Video Games May Lead to Violent Behavior!!
Playing violent video games may increase aggressive thoughts, behavior.
USA Today (3/2, Jayson) reports that a review published March 1 in the journal Psychological Bulletin "'strongly suggests' playing violent video games increases aggressive thoughts and behavior and decreases empathy." Iowa State University researchers arrived at that conclusion after performing "a statistical analysis of" 130 "studies on more than 130,000 gamers from elementary school age to college in the USA, Europe, and Japan." However, a "critique accompanying the study" noted that "the effects found 'are generally very low,'" pointing out that "the analysis 'contains numerous flaws,' which" may "result in 'overestimating the influence' of violent games on aggression."
USA Today (3/2, Jayson) reports that a review published March 1 in the journal Psychological Bulletin "'strongly suggests' playing violent video games increases aggressive thoughts and behavior and decreases empathy." Iowa State University researchers arrived at that conclusion after performing "a statistical analysis of" 130 "studies on more than 130,000 gamers from elementary school age to college in the USA, Europe, and Japan." However, a "critique accompanying the study" noted that "the effects found 'are generally very low,'" pointing out that "the analysis 'contains numerous flaws,' which" may "result in 'overestimating the influence' of violent games on aggression."
Male Infertility and Cancer?
Researchers investigating link between male infertility, cancer.
The Wall Street Journal (3/2, Wang) reports that researchers are investigating whether there are genetic links between male infertility and the risk of certain diseases. Some researchers say that advances in procedures to address male infertility have increased the importance of understanding its genetic causes to prevent their children from receiving the genes. In fact, studies at Baylor College of Medicine showed that genes tied to male infertility may be linked to colon and testicular cancers. Meanwhile, in experiments with mice, researchers found that when DNA fails to repair itself, mice often become infertile and develop cancer.
The Wall Street Journal (3/2, Wang) reports that researchers are investigating whether there are genetic links between male infertility and the risk of certain diseases. Some researchers say that advances in procedures to address male infertility have increased the importance of understanding its genetic causes to prevent their children from receiving the genes. In fact, studies at Baylor College of Medicine showed that genes tied to male infertility may be linked to colon and testicular cancers. Meanwhile, in experiments with mice, researchers found that when DNA fails to repair itself, mice often become infertile and develop cancer.
Flu Season is Mild So Far
Flu season said to be uncommonly mild.
The Wall Street Journal (3/2, McKay), in a story titled "The Flu Season That Fizzled," examines why this flu season has been uncommonly mild thus far. Scientists do not know for sure, according to the Journal, but Dr. Lyn Finelli, the CDC's chief of flu surveillance and outbreak response, suspects the current lull is due to H1N1's peak late last year. Dr. Anthony Fiore, a medical epidemiologist with the CDC's influenza division, pointed to well-publicized prevention measures as possibly having a role in the drop off of the flu, but added, "We've had peaks [of flu] as late as May, so we're not out of the woods yet."
The Wall Street Journal (3/2, McKay), in a story titled "The Flu Season That Fizzled," examines why this flu season has been uncommonly mild thus far. Scientists do not know for sure, according to the Journal, but Dr. Lyn Finelli, the CDC's chief of flu surveillance and outbreak response, suspects the current lull is due to H1N1's peak late last year. Dr. Anthony Fiore, a medical epidemiologist with the CDC's influenza division, pointed to well-publicized prevention measures as possibly having a role in the drop off of the flu, but added, "We've had peaks [of flu] as late as May, so we're not out of the woods yet."
Radiation Exposure and CT Scans
Concern over radiation exposure prompts efforts to curb CT scan use.
In the Wall Street Journal (3/2) Informed Patient column, Laura Landro writes that federal regulators, radiology groups, and hospitals are launching new efforts to prevent unnecessary radiation exposure from CT scans. For its part, the FDA will implement new safety requirements for CT device manufacturers, and the agency said it will back programs that encourage physicians to consider whether the benefits from scanning outweigh the risks.
Children may be at higher risk of cancer from radiation exposure. The Wall Street Journal (3/1, Landro) "Health Blog" reported that although concern over radiation exposure centers on efforts to curb CT scan use in adults, children remain at higher risk of cancer due to their size and life expectancy. Now, the Society for Pediatric Radiology has sponsored the "Image Gently" campaign, which encourages using smaller amounts of radiation while scanning, covering reproductive organs, and considering ultrasound instead.
In the Wall Street Journal (3/2) Informed Patient column, Laura Landro writes that federal regulators, radiology groups, and hospitals are launching new efforts to prevent unnecessary radiation exposure from CT scans. For its part, the FDA will implement new safety requirements for CT device manufacturers, and the agency said it will back programs that encourage physicians to consider whether the benefits from scanning outweigh the risks.
Children may be at higher risk of cancer from radiation exposure. The Wall Street Journal (3/1, Landro) "Health Blog" reported that although concern over radiation exposure centers on efforts to curb CT scan use in adults, children remain at higher risk of cancer due to their size and life expectancy. Now, the Society for Pediatric Radiology has sponsored the "Image Gently" campaign, which encourages using smaller amounts of radiation while scanning, covering reproductive organs, and considering ultrasound instead.
Mental Health Law for Employees
New law guarantees mental-health parity in insurance coverage.
The Washington Post /Kaiser Health News (3/2, Boodman) reports that "an estimated 140 million Americans, most of them covered by group insurance plans provided by employers...are the beneficiaries of a sweeping new federal law designed to guarantee parity in insurance coverage." The new "law, which took effect for most plans Jan. 1, applies to groups of more than 50 employees and is designed to end what Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius called 'needless and arbitrary limits on care.'" As a result of the new law, "higher deductibles, steeper co-pays, and other restrictions are no longer allowed for mental health and substance abuse treatment."
The Washington Post /Kaiser Health News (3/2, Boodman) reports that "an estimated 140 million Americans, most of them covered by group insurance plans provided by employers...are the beneficiaries of a sweeping new federal law designed to guarantee parity in insurance coverage." The new "law, which took effect for most plans Jan. 1, applies to groups of more than 50 employees and is designed to end what Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius called 'needless and arbitrary limits on care.'" As a result of the new law, "higher deductibles, steeper co-pays, and other restrictions are no longer allowed for mental health and substance abuse treatment."
Cardiac Screening in Young People
Studies examine heart screening in young people.
The Los Angeles Times (3/2, Stein) reports that "screening young athletes for heart abnormalities with an electrocardiogram test may be a cost-effective way to identify at-risk youth and save lives, according to a new study " published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Investigators "from the Stanford University School of Medicine examined sudden cardiac deaths among US high school and college athletes aged 14 to 22 and conducted a calculation to see what influence various types of screenings would have." The researchers "found that adding an ECG to two common screens already in place -- a physical and taking a health history of each athlete focusing on cardiovascular fitness -- could be expected to save about two years of life per 1,000 athletes at a cost of $89 per athlete."
The New York Times (3/2, D5, Bakalar) reports that "an editorial published with the study noted that among other problems, testing only athletes would probably be considered discriminatory, so any screening program would face the daunting challenge of giving EKGs to all 75 million children under 18."
The San Francisco Chronicle (3/2, Allday) reports that "regular screening raises some ethical questions." For instance, "some doctors argue that it might not be fair to test only athletes for heart problems, when all other students might benefit from screening." Additionally, there is the issue "of letting athletes and their families decide for themselves what an acceptable risk is before automatically disqualifying them from sports."
The Los Angeles Times (3/2, Stein) reports that "screening young athletes for heart abnormalities with an electrocardiogram test may be a cost-effective way to identify at-risk youth and save lives, according to a new study " published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Investigators "from the Stanford University School of Medicine examined sudden cardiac deaths among US high school and college athletes aged 14 to 22 and conducted a calculation to see what influence various types of screenings would have." The researchers "found that adding an ECG to two common screens already in place -- a physical and taking a health history of each athlete focusing on cardiovascular fitness -- could be expected to save about two years of life per 1,000 athletes at a cost of $89 per athlete."
The New York Times (3/2, D5, Bakalar) reports that "an editorial published with the study noted that among other problems, testing only athletes would probably be considered discriminatory, so any screening program would face the daunting challenge of giving EKGs to all 75 million children under 18."
The San Francisco Chronicle (3/2, Allday) reports that "regular screening raises some ethical questions." For instance, "some doctors argue that it might not be fair to test only athletes for heart problems, when all other students might benefit from screening." Additionally, there is the issue "of letting athletes and their families decide for themselves what an acceptable risk is before automatically disqualifying them from sports."
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