Health Updates: November 2009

November Newsletter

Pediatric article of interest:

Prophylactic Acetaminophen Before Vaccination in Infants Reduces Vaccine Response Lancet.2009;374:1305-1306, 1339-1350.

http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/711230?src=cmenews&uac=128475DZ

While physicians have traditionally recommended giving Tylenol/Acamol/Paracetamol prior to immunizations to prevent fever and pain, a recent study in the respected journal Lancet suggests that these medications may prevent the immune sytem from producing the appropriate response to immunizations. Antibody titers were significantly lower in children given Parecetaol. We advise not giving Paracetaol (Acamol) or other fever reducers prior to immunizations, until the data becomes more clear.

Adult article of interest:
Obesity causes 100,000 U.S. cancer cases a year

American Institute for Cancer Research

American Institute of Cancer Research looked at data involving diet, physical activity and fatness to correlate with specific types of cancer risk.The researches found that up to half the cases of endometrial cancer, and one third of the cases of esophageal cancer could be prevented by decreasing obesity rates in the population. In total, 100,000 cases of cancer in the US per year could be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight in the population.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33683092/ns/health-cancer/from/ET