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Mild to severe depression might be better treated with alternatives to antidepressant drugs, researchers said.
Mild to severe depression might be better treated with alternatives to antidepressant drugs, which do not help patients much more than an inactive placebo, researchers said Tuesday.
Combining data from six studies that examined the effectiveness of two commonly prescribed antidepressants -- paroxetine and imipramine -- found the drugs produced benefits only slightly greater than a placebo in patients with mild to severe depression.
"They would have done just as well or just about as well with a placebo," said Robert DeRubeis, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, who with colleagues performed the meta-analysis.
These drugs certainly help millions of people, and it appears that the placebo-effect is also very significant. There’s no such thing as a “happy pill”. This is a collaborative study of 6 other studies.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, center, speaks during a health care news conference on Capitol Hill Jan. 5. (AP Photo)
Young adults are in for a wake-up call if health care reform passes.
For the first time ever, the federal government is going to require that everybody obtain health insurance coverage. For those who have insurance through their employers, the so-called individual mandate may have very little impact. But for young adults, many of whom are not currently covered, the health care bill will add a new and costly expense to their budgets.
"The Census Bureau tells us there are 18 million people between the ages of 18 and 35 who are uninsured -- roughly half of the uninsured population are younger people in that age group," said Anne Kim, with the non-profit think tank Third Way.
Young people today often have no health insurance, and they have terrible medical habits, like never getting examined for diabetes. Let young people pay, at least they’ll be getting something good for their money—for a change.
An addict injects heroin
NEW YORK — New York's health authorities were on the defensive Tuesday over a pamphlet likened by critics to a DIY manual for heroin addicts.
The 10-step pamphlet titled "Take Charge, Take Care," features color drawings and easy-to-read text starting with a page on how to prevent overdose.
The health department said the aim was to protect users from spreading the HIV infection and suffering from overdoses.
But critics, including the City Council and law enforcement officials, lambasted what they said was publicly funded encouragement for illegal drug use.
I don’t see how spreading true information can be a bad thing, but critics do have a valid point, the pamphlet should help people quit the deadly habit, at least try to convince addicts to stop.
A new study released today provides some exciting news concerning the constant fight against breast cancer.
Pomegranates have been proven to help slow down or prevent estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer. The majority of breast cancers are fueled by the naturally occurring estrogen hormone.
The tasty fruit is packed with ellagitannins or ellagic acid, which is part of the phytochemical group. Ellagitannins are used to counter the cancer causing enzyme, aromatose. Synthetically produced aromatose inhibitors are the standard protocol used to treat estrogen-receptor positive breast cancers. Pomegranates contain a high level of antioxidants and have been used for years to prevent heart problems.
I think a cancer patient should eat a very selective diet to help fight the disease, and this may a food that will help some people. Doctors, do you talk to your patients about their eating habits?
Researchers at the U.C. Davis MIND Institute have discovered regions in the state of California that have notably higher autism incidence. But the story is more complicated, and more sad, than one might think at first. Instead of indications of an “autism epidemic”, these clusters point to the fact that minority and poor children are much less likely to receive autism diagnoses. I don’t have the paper yet (I’m still trying to find the abstract), but articles in the Woodland Daily Democrat and the San Diego Union-Tribune are reporting the story.
This is really a story about poor children not getting the proper diagnosis of autism in the first place. Let’s start reforming health care for poor children—they deserve the best of care.
Across the US, cases of chickenpox have dropped by about 80% since a vaccine to prevent the disease was made widely available early 15 years ago. But many parents still choose to reject immunization on the back of various safety concerns about the vaccine.
Now, a new study has revealed, once again, what health officials have been asserting for very long - children whose parents do not allow them to be immunized via the chickenpox vaccine are at an increased risk of contracting the disease.
What’s wrong with the sales department for this vaccine? Isn’t 15 years long enough to sell anything? I had this disease as a child and still remember it was no joke. Parents, let’s wipe this out.
Robert Gleeman, Medical Journalist for EMR Update.com Email: robert@emrupdate.com Tel: 1-650-968-6359 Skype and ooVoo user name: robertgleeman EMR progress is a matter of fact. EMR Update supports your right to know.