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August 29th, 2012
06:35 PM ET
Treatment lapses may increase TB drug resistanceThe prevention of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis can be tenuous when treatment programs aren't followed properly. In a prospective cohort study of 1,278 patients from eight countries published in the journal Lancet, researchers found that 43.7% of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis also showed resistance to at least one second-line drug. Second-line antibiotics are used in treatment when the first line of antibiotics fails. However, these drugs are more expensive, can cause more side effects and must be taken for up to two years. Further, extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis was found in 6.7% of the patients, a figure on par with the World Health Organization's estimate that 9.4% of the global population has XDR. "[The study] shows really clearly that messy treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis generates extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis," said Dr. Karin Weyer, a coordinator for laboratories, diagnostics, and drug resistance at the WHO's Stop TB unit. 
August 29th, 2012
02:34 PM ET
Romney's health care plan: Medicare 'donut hole'
This week during the Republican convention I’ll be putting Mitt Romney’s health care plan under the microscope, examining what it means to various groups of American patients. Monday we dissected Romney's ideas to help Americans afford preventive care. Tuesday we looked at his plan for helping people with pre-existing conditions get insurance. Now, we'll examine Romney's plan for filling the Medicare donut hole. The Medicare donut hole is a coverage gap for seniors who take prescription drugs. In 2009, prior to Obamacare, seniors received help from Medicare when they spent up to $896 on prescription drugs, after which they received no help and had to pay for prescription drugs 100% out of their own pockets. Then, after spending a total of $4,350 on prescriptions, government assistance kicked back in again. This gap when seniors had to pay for their drugs on their own is called the “donut hole.” 
August 29th, 2012
01:01 PM ET
Restricting calories may not prolong your lifeCalorie restriction has long been used to examine aging in rodents and monkeys. Past studies have shown that restricting calories in a nutritious diet by 10 to 40% can delay or prevent chronic diseases, slow aging and increase life spans. But new research published this week in the journal Nature shows quite the opposite – that calorie restriction does not improve survival outcomes. Turns out, the issue may be more complicated than first thought. The study Researchers at the National Institute of Aging have been studying the effects of calorie restriction in rhesus monkeys for more than 20 years in hopes of eventually applying the results to humans. Male and female monkeys of all ages are enrolled in the study. The experimental group eats approximately 25% fewer calories than the control group. Any animal that dies during the study undergoes a necropsy (an autopsy performed on an animal) to find the probable cause of death. 
August 29th, 2012
12:54 PM ET
Elmo says to eat more applesBranding in schools is a controversial subject. Advocates for children's health are vocal about wanting big names for fast food and sugary snacks banned from the educational system. Researchers at Cornell University are trying a different approach. "Brands sell cookies. Brands sell soft drinks. Brands sell candy bars," says Brian Wansink, professor of marketing at the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management. "You can also use brands to sell healthy foods."
August 29th, 2012
07:38 AM ET
One-handed kid meets his baseball idolEditor's note: In the Human Factor, we profile survivors who have overcome the odds. Confronting a life obstacle – injury, illness or other hardship – they tapped their inner strength and found resilience they didn't know they possessed. From the moment he wakes up to the time he goes to bed, Reece Holloway is living, breathing and thinking about baseball. He taught himself how to hit the ball at the tender age of 2 and has never let anything stop him from doing what he loves best. When Reece's idol Chipper Jones saw the story of this young player, he had to meet him. Jones invited the whole Holloway family to a Braves game in Atlanta. Jones told his loyal fan to try hard and do his best, no matter what life throws his way. What seemed nearly impossible has occurred as a result of this meeting: Young Reece is even more enthusiastic about playing the game of baseball. |
  About this blog
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.
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