Health Update

Herceptin triples breast cancer patients’ chance of survival

London, Sept 26 : A new study has revealed that women with advanced breast cancer can live longer by taking the drug Herceptin, even after they have suffered a relapse.

The finding is based on data from the Hermine trial, an observational study involving 340 women with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer.

Herceptin is the only HER2-targeted therapy proven to extend lives in both early and advanced stages of the disease.

MRI may eliminate the need for biopsies to identify breast cancer

Washington, Sept 26 : According to a study focused on non-mass enhancing breast lesions, Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H MRS) used in conjunction with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can aid radiologists in diagnosing breast cancer while reducing the number of false-positive results and invasive biopsies.

The study, conducted at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York, is published in the October issue of the journal Radiology.

New multi-focal lenses may help restore vision to cataract patients

Washington, September 26 : An ophthalmologist at Weill Cornell Medical College has said that restoring vision to cataract patients may be possible by implanting them with the newly developed multi-focal lenses.

“There are no alternatives to surgery, but there are new advances to the restoration process. We have lenses that will allow you to see at a distance as well as read without glasses. There are lenses that can correct astigmatisms. The options have become much-improved in the past couple of years,” said Dr. Calvin Roberts.

Breast Cancer Mortality Rate Falls More - A Report

Breast Cancer
Washington: The American Cancer Society has reported that the mortality rate from breast cancer continue to decline over 2% annually, but black women are not seeing the equal benefits as white and Hispanic women.

Hormone system that regulates food intake also increases stress

Washington, Sept 26 : A new study has found that a hormone system that regulates food intake makes people eat less by increasing stress-related behaviours.

The study conducted by Vaishali Bakshi and Ned Kalin, professors in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health said that the system has attracted interest for its role in regulating food intake as it is mediated by a hormone receptor protein known as the corticotropin-releasing factor type 2 (CRF2) receptor.

New Aloe Vera nose spray may help treat flu

Washington, Sept 26: Researchers at Texas A&M University are developing an Aloe Vera nose spray that can effectively treat influenza.

Dr. Ian Tizard, professor of pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences says that the method in which the vaccine gets delivered right into the body is the key to the new treatment.

Tizard explained the procedure for the production of the medicine and also the way it is combined with flu vaccine.

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