Research Briefs
High Blood Pressure
Among African Americans Not Genetic
According to a new study conducted by researchers at Loyola University’s
Strich School of Medicine, genetics may not explain the increased incidence
of high blood pressure in black Americans.
Studies have shown that black Americans are more likely to suffer from high
blood pressure, a risk factor for heart attacks, stokes and obesity. The study
compared blood pressure readings from black populations in the United States,
Nigeria and Jamaica. They also compared readings from white populations in the
United States and in five European counties.
In Nigeria, the rate of high blood pressure among adults aged 35 to 64 was 13.5
percent, whereas in Jamaica, it was 28.6 percent, and the highest, 44 percent,
was in the United States.
Since the incidence of high blood pressure among black populations tended to
increase with the transition to industrial societies, the study suggests that
the problem may be related to a combination of lifestyle and socioeconomic factors.
Saliva a Key Predictor
for Oral Cancer
Scientists funded by a division of the National Institute of Health have isolated
the presence of four distinct cancer-associated molecules in saliva, that, when
elevated in number, can distinguish with 91 percent accuracy healthy people from
those diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma.
The study focuses on using mRNA, the molecular intermediate between gene and protein,
to diagnose squamous cell carcinoma, the sixth most common cancer in the United
States. Their research suggests that RNA patterns in saliva may be informative
of other cancers and common diseases.
Although people commonly have about 3,000 chemically distinct mRNAs in their saliva
at any one time, the researchers identified four mRNAs whose synchronized rise
in expression increased the probability that the saliva belonged to a cancer patient.
Without knowing anything about a patient’s health history, the researchers
could identify the saliva from cancer patients in nine out of 10 samples, indicating
that their tests were as good or better than blood analysis.
The groups hope to follow up with a 200-patient study that will help them use
mRNAs in saliva to distinguish between the various stages of cancer. If perfected,
saliva test could be painless, quicker and less expensive than other diagnostic
methods.
Hormone Replacement
Therapy Increases Stroke Risk
A new study conducted at the University of Nottingham in the UK suggests that
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is associated with an increased risk of severe
stroke. Previous individual trials have produced inconclusive results, but the
UK study systematically reviewed evidence from 28 completed clinical trials that
included nearly 40,000 women between the ages of 55 to 71.
Followed over a period of one to seven years, the study found that women who used
hormone replacement therapy had a 29 percent higher risk of stroke than those
in comparison groups. The frequency of a poor outcome, judged as death, disability
or dependency, was 56 percent higher than those not taking HRT. The study concluded
that patients at high risk of stroke, such as those with previous stroke, coronary
heart disease or multiple vascular risk factors, should not take hormone replacement
therapy unless there is a strong contrary medical reason.
Acupuncture Proven
to Relieve Knee Osteoarthritis
A study conducted by the National Institute of Health has revealed that acupuncture
provides pain relief and improves function for people suffering from osteoarthritis
of the knee. The largest and longest controlled and randomized phase III clinical
trial of acupuncture ever conducted, the study followed the progress of 570 patients
age 50 or older, with osteoarthritis of the knee. Prior to the study, every participant
had significant pain in their knee the month before the study, had never experienced
acupuncture, had not had knee surgery in the past six months and had never used
steroid injections.
During the study, patients continued to see their primary physicians and continued
to take their routine medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs and COX-2 selective
inhibitors. Divided into three groups, one group received “sham” acupuncture,
one group received real acupuncture, and the control group followed the Arthritis
Foundation’s Arthritis Self-Help course.
By eight weeks, the group receiving acupuncture was showing a significant increase
in function, and by week 14 a significant decrease in pain, compared to the sham
and control groups. Overall, those receiving true acupuncture had a 40 percent
decrease in pain and nearly 40 percent improvement in function.
Nearly 20 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, while only an estimated
2.1 million adults in the U.S. use acupuncture. The practice of acupuncture, inserting
needles into specific body points to improve health and well-being, originated
in China more than 2,000 years ago.
Recruiting Researchers
Three well-known chiropractic researchers and leaders, David Jackson, D.C., Matthew
McCoy, D.C., and Robert Blanks, Ph.D., have formed Research and Clinical Science
(RCS), a private sector research company. RCS is set to conduct a syndromic surveillance
project with vertebral subluxation as the dependant variable. The data collected
during the project will cover the correlation between subluxations and state of
wellness.
RCS is developing an International Scientific Advisory Panel featuring DCs, MDs,
PhDs, medical researchers and other highly accredited individuals to compile,
analyze and interpret the data collected from the project. Qualified applicants
are being accepted for a two-day training session on April 3- through May 1 at
the University of California, Irvine. There is a fee to participate in the project
and it is a three-year commitment. In addition to RCS training, accepted applicants
must complete the National Institutes of Health Office of Human Subjects online
training course. For more information about the project and panel, call (800)
909-1354 (inside the U.S.) or 1 (480) 303-1694 (outside the U.S.).
Canadian Patient
Study Reveals Rate of Adverse Events in Hospitals
A recent landmark study estimated that 7.5 percent of people hospitalized in Canada
have experienced an adverse event as a result of their care. The first national
study of patient safety in Canadian Hospitals, researchers found that 185,000
of the almost 2.5 million people admitted to Canadian hospitals in 2000 experienced
some kind of adverse event resulting in death, disability or prolonged hospital
stay caused by their care, not their underlying condition.
The study reviewed 3,745 adult patient charts from 20 acute care hospitals across
five provinces. They found that the majority of adverse events resulted in temporary
disability, while only five percent of patients experienced permanent disability,
and only 1.6 percent of adverse events resulted in death. Surgical care resulted
in the largest number of adverse events, and close to 37 percent or 70,000 cases
were potentially preventable.
Adverse events occurred more frequently in teaching hospitals due to the complexity
of care needed for some cases, and the number of health care providers who commonly
treated a single patient. Similar studies have been conducted in the U.S. and
Australia, which found the rates of adverse events to be 2.9 percent and 16.6
percent respectively.
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