Risk of Infection Increases with Surgery Delay

According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, when a patient’s elective surgery is delayed after being admitted to the hospital, their risk of infection increases, in addition to their hospital bill.

The study, which was conducted by U.S. researchers, analyzed data from elective surgery patients that underwent either coronary artery bypass grafts, colon resections or lung resections.

They found that when coronary artery bypass grafts were performed the same day the patient was admitted, roughly 6 percent developed an infection. However, when surgery was delayed six to ten days, the rate of infection increased to more than 18 percent. When colon resection procedures were performed the same day as admission, researchers found that about 8.5 percent of patients developed an infection, compared with roughly 21.5 percent whose surgery was delayed. The rate of infection for patients undergoing lung resection surgery on the day of admission was around 10 percent, while about 20.5 percent of those who experienced a delay developed an infection.

Infections were found to include, pneumonia, postoperative sepsis, surgical site infections and urinary tract infections. Researchers also found that when these elective procedures were performed on the same day as admission, the cost of the surgery was much lower than if the patient experienced a delay.

In some cases, a surgical delay can result in serious injury or death. If you or a loved one was injured or died as a result of a surgical delay or error, please call or e-mail the surgical malpractice lawyers at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today for a free consultation. Our experienced attorneys have helped those injured by surgical malpractice throughout New York, including the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk.

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Drop-Side Cribs Banned by Government

Last week, the U.S. government announced a ban on drop-side cribs, prohibiting the manufacture, sale and resale of these popular cribs after a unanimous vote by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Hazardous drop-side cribs have been responsible for more than thirty infant and toddler deaths over the past ten years, with millions of cribs being recalled due to safety concerns.

In addition to the ban, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has also ordered stricter safety inspections for cribs, as well as better markers on pre-assembly pieces to lessen the number of mistakes made when putting these cribs together.

Faulty hardware and assembly problems with drop-side cribs can become deadly for infants and toddlers when the rail becomes unattached from the frame of the crib, creating a gap where the child can strangle or suffocate themselves.

These crib safety improvements should greatly reduce the number of crib-related injuries and deaths. If your child was injured or died as a result of a dangerous or defective product, call the product liability attorneys at Silberstein, Awad, & Miklos, P.C. today. Our experienced lawyers are here to help. Call us for a free consultation.

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Source: Associated Press, 12/15/10

Preventing Injuries Caused by Falls

Not surprisingly, one of the leading causes of injury in the country are falls. In fact, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 9 million emergency room visits to our nation’s hospitals each year are the result of accidental falls.

Accidental falls make up roughly 40 percent of all nonfatal injuries that occur in U.S. homes, according to the Home Safety Council. As for deadly falls in the home, they make up about a third all accidental home injury deaths.

Young children and the elderly are at the highest risk of falling and injuring themselves in the home, so it is important to take extra precautions in these households.

The American Academy of Emergency Physicians offers several tips on how to prevent falls that occur in your home:

• Remove clutter and clear all staircases and walkways throughout your home.
• Make sure staircases are well lit, especially at landings.
• Utilize nightlights in bathrooms, hallways and bedrooms.
• Make sure loose carpeting or other flooring is replaced or repaired.
• Install bars or handrails in bathrooms and showers where needed, especially in homes where elderly adults live.
• Make sure shower and tub floors have non-slip surfaces.
• Refrain from using throw rugs in homes where elderly adults live or make sure rugs are secured properly.
• Install gates with locks near staircases in homes with young children.
• Install window guards that can be easily opened in case of fire.

Many times when an adult or child are injured or killed as a result of a fall, the accident is a result of another person’s negligence. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a trip or slip and fall accident, please call or e-mail our premises liability attorneys today. The call is free and our premises liability lawyers only get paid if we can obtain money for you. Our firm proudly serves clients in New York City and Long Island, including the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Nassau and Suffolk.

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Study: Increase in image-guided biopsies

According to a recent study published in medical journal Radiology, the majority of biopsies are now being done in a less invasive way, using imaging to direct the needle.

Researchers led by Dr. Sharon W. Kwan, a resident in radiology at the University of California in San Francisco, found that between 1997 and 2008, image-guided biopsies went from 59 percent of all biopsies to 67 percent. Biopsies, which involve removing tissue or fluid for testing, are more accurate when the needle is guided by imaging such as CT scans, ultrasound and MRI.

The frequency of biopsies to screen for disease has been increasing annually, with improving technology such as image guidance making them more and more accurate. A biopsy can help detect cancer in its earliest stages, allowing patients to start receiving treatment sooner and improving the chances of survival for most types of cancer.

The failure to diagnose cancer is one of the leading causes of medical malpractice lawsuits. If you or a loved one has been the victim of undiagnosed or misdiagnosed cancer, please contact the cancer malpractice lawyers at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. for more information and to schedule a free case consultation. We have helped clients with Bronx cancer malpractice, Queens cancer malpractice, Brooklyn cancer malpractice, Long Island cancer malpractice and other New York cancer malpractice cases.

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Study: Link between obesity and cesarean section

A new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology has found that patients with a higher body mass index (BMI) at the time of delivery are at a greater risk of having a c-section.

Researchers involved in the study examined data on roughly 125,000 women who had a baby between 2002 and 2008, including the way in which each baby was delivered, as well as other information surrounding the birth. Each woman was part of the National Institutes of Health’s Consortium on Safe Labor.

Along with her team, lead researcher Dr. Michelle Kominiarek, a fetal and maternal medicine physician at Indiana University Hospital, found that for each additional unit in BMI, the risk that a woman would need to undergo cesarean section increased by 4 percent. Of the women included in the study, 14 percent had c-sections.

In the U.S., about a third of all births are delivered through c-section, which can increase the risk of bleeding, infection and hysterectomy. The rate of c-section is now about 50 percent higher than it was just two decades ago, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

If your child has suffered an injury that may have been preventable, please call or e-mail Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today. One of our experienced birth injury attorneys will evaluate your case at no cost. We have helped clients across New York, including those with Bronx birth injury, Queens birth injury, Brooklyn birth injury, Manhattan birth injury and Long Island birth injury cases.

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New Way to Detect Common Cancers

According to scientists, a sensor known as an “electronic nose” may be able to identify chemical variations in a person’s breath that indicate cancer. The breath test was found to be able to identify prostate, breast, lung and bowel cancers by making a distinction between healthy and malignant breath.

Although this technology is still in its earliest stages of development, the clear usefulness of this tool could be a huge step in diagnosing these types of cancer earlier than before. The study that gave way to this report, which was published in the British Journal of Cancer, was conducted using 177 participants. Each person’s breath was tested to detect whether cancer was present or not.

Early detection of cancer allows for earlier treatment and a better prognosis. If you or someone you love has been harmed by a delay in diagnosing or treating cancer, the cancer malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. can help. Your initial consultation is FREE and there is NO FEE to you unless we recover money. Please call us today, or submit an instant inquiry now. Our firm has helped clients with Queens cancer malpractice, Brooklyn cancer malpractice, Bronx cancer malpractice, Long Island cancer malpractice and other New York cancer malpractice cases.

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New Pap Smear Guidelines for Young Women

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has released new guidelines stating that for women under 21 years of age, Pap smears may cause more damage than good.

These new guidelines support previous cervical cancer screening recommendations from late 2009. However, in addition to the previous guidelines, the new recommendations also state that for young girls with weakened immune systems, Pap smears should be performed before they turn 21. A compromised immune system as a result of organ transplant, HIV or other condition may permit human papillomavirus (HPV) infections to become cancer more easily than in a healthy young woman, so earlier screening is recommended.

Roughly 20 million people in the U.S. are currently infected with HPV, making it the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease in the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HPV rarely leads to cervical cancer in women under 21, making Pap smears for women in this age group uncalled for.

National Cancer Institute data shows that so far in 2010, more than 12,000 women have been newly diagnosed with cervical cancer, which is almost always caused by HPV infections. If you or a loved one have experienced a delay in diagnosing cancer and have questions about the quality of the medical care you received, call or email the cancer malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. We have helped clients with Bronx cervical cancer malpractice, Brooklyn cervical cancer malpractice, Queens cervical cancer malpractice and Long Island cervical cancer malpractice cases. Call today for your FREE case evaluation.

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Home Care for Cystic Fibrosis as Effective as Hospital Treatment

A new study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine has found that for patients living with cystic fibrosis, treatment at home is just as effective as hospital care when recuperating from a respiratory flare-up. The study also suggests that antibiotic treatment for a longer period has no added benefits compared to short-term antibiotic treatment.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited condition which causes serious damage to the lungs, as well as nutritional deficiencies, according to the Mayo Clinic. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University looked at more than 1,500 patients with this condition to reach their conclusions. They found that whether a patient was given antibiotics at their home or in the hospital, a decline in lung function frequently followed respiratory worsening.

Current treatment practices for flare-ups usually involve therapy for 10 to 21 days. However, the research team found that the most advantageous length of therapy for improving lung function is 7 to 10 days.

Cystic fibrosis can be life-threatening if the proper treatment is not received. If you or a loved one was harmed by a doctor or hospital’s misdiagnosis or delay in treatment for cystic fibrosis or some other condition. Call or email the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today for a free case evaluation. We have helped clients with Bronx medical malpractice, Queens medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice and Long Island medical malpractice cases.

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Study: Link found between heart rate and kidney disease

According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, there may be a connection between a person’s heart rate and the health of their kidneys.

Along with his team of researchers, Dr. Daniel Brotman of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that in patients with higher risk for kidney disease, there was a greater likelihood of having a high resting heart rate and low variability beat-to-beat.

The study, which included 13,241 American adults age 45 to 64, suggests that certain types of kidney disease may be indicated by autonomic nervous system that fails to function correctly. This system is responsible for regulating various involuntary functions of the body, including blood pressure, temperature and heart rate.

Brotman and his colleagues found that people with a high resting heart rate had twice as much risk of developing kidney disease later on in life. The researchers also found that people with a low beat-to-beat variability were 1.5 times as likely to develop kidney failure.

Kidney failure can be fatal and requires intensive treatment, according to the Mayo Clinic. If a doctor or hospital misdiagnosed or failed to diagnose your serious medical condition, speak with one of the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today. We have helped clients with Bronx medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Queens medical malpractice and Long Island medical malpractice cases.

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High Blood Pressure in Pregnant Diabetics Not Lowered by Vitamin Supplements

A recent study appearing in the online journal The Lancet has found that vitamin supplements taken by type 1 diabetic women during pregnancy does not lower the risk of preeclampsia, a disorder where blood pressure increases suddenly after 20 weeks of gestation.

Earlier research suggested that antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamins C and E, may prevent the decreased level of antioxidants and increased oxidative stress linked to type 1 diabetes. However, this study, which was presented at the American Diabetes Association meeting, has found that the vitamin supplements have little effect on increased blood pressure.

For the study, British researchers assigned the 762 expecting mothers with type 1 diabetes participating in the research to a daily regimen of either a placebo pill or 1000 milligrams of vitamin C and 400 IU of vitamin E. The women were started on the supplements or placebo between their 8th and 22nd week of pregnancy and delivery.

Researchers found that in the group taking the vitamin supplements, the rate of preeclampsia was 15 percent. For the placebo group, the rate was 19 percent. The research team found that women who were given vitamins C and E had a lower risk of preterm delivery. In addition, women in the vitamin group with low antioxidant status at the beginning of the study were found to have a considerably lower risk of preeclampsia, as well as a reduced risk of giving birth to a baby with a low birthweight.

If left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to serious complications or death for mother and baby, according to the Mayo Clinic. If you or your baby suffered an injury during labor or delivery that may have been preventable, please call or e-mail the experienced birth injury attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today for a free case evaluation. Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. has helped clients with Bronx medical malpractice, Queens medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Manhattan medical malpractice and Long Island medical malpractice cases.

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Estrogen-Lowering Therapy before Surgery Benefits Breast Cancer Patients

A new study presented last week at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago has found that for some breast cancer patients, receiving estrogen-lowering drugs prior to surgery may help avoid full mastectomies, instead allowing them to receive lumpectomies that could help conserve the breast.

Researchers used data from a national survey involving almost 120 hospitals in the U.S. to reach this conclusion. Roughly 350 postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer participated in the study, which placed them on a four month treatment schedule of estrogen-lowering drugs before surgery. ER+ breast cancer, in which tumor growth is stimulated by estrogen, is the most common form of breast cancer.

In each participant, tumor growth was monitored before starting treatment, as well as after. The women were also placed into one of three groups. Women in the “marginal” category qualified for a lumpectomy; however the procedure may have required additional procedures. Women categorized as “mastectomy-only” were not believed to be eligible for a lumpectomy. Finally, women whose cancer was thought to be untreatable, even through mastectomy, were classified as “inoperable”.

Following the estrogen-lowering regimen, researchers discovered that more than 80 percent of women in the “marginal” category were now considered eligible for lumpectomies, which would conserve more of their breast. Of the women in the “mastectomy-only” group, more than 50 percent were able to receive lumpectomies, and about 75 percent considered inoperable were able to have a lumpectomy. The estrogen-lowering drugs were found to shrink the tumors in many of the participants, allowing them to have less disfiguring surgeries.

Earlier treatment usually results in a better prognosis for patients with breast cancer. If you or a loved one has breast cancer medical malpractice questions in New York, please contact the cancer malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. We have helped clients with Manhattan breast cancer, Bronx breast cancer, Brooklyn breast cancer, Long Island breast cancer, and Queens breast cancer cases.

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Milk, Wheat-Free Diet Not Beneficial for Children with Autism

A new study presented this past Saturday at the International Meeting for Autism Research in Pennsylvania has found that removing milk and wheat products from the diets of children with autism does not help lessen symptoms. These modifications in diet were previously thought to improve behavioral, sleep and digestive problems in children with autism.

University of Rochester Medical Center researchers, led by Dr. Susan Hyman, looked at 22 children with autism between ages two and a half and five and a half for this small study. After eliminating rye, barley, wheat and milk products from the children’s diets for one month, some children were reintroduced to foods containing casein, found in milk products, or gluten, found in wheat products. Some children were given both milk and wheat products again, while some were given a placebo, containing no casein or gluten.

By the end of the four and a half month study, the research team found that of the 14 children that remained at the conclusion of the study, no change was seen in the sleep, behavioral or digestive patterns of the children.

Autism is a complex disorder of the nervous system that usually persists throughout a child’s lifetime. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one child out of every 150 is diagnosed with autism. If you believe your child’s autism may have been caused by medical negligence during birth, please call or e-mail the attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today. One of our experienced birth injury attorneys will evaluate your case for free. We have helped clients throughout New York, including those with Queens birth injury, Bronx birth injury, Brooklyn birth injury, Manhattan birth injury and Long Island birth injury cases.

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More Caffeine during Pregnancy, Smaller Newborns

According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, pregnant women who consume heavy amounts of caffeine have a greater chance of giving birth to a smaller baby than women who consume less caffeine.

After following more than 7,300 women in Netherlands from the start of their pregnancy, researchers found that women who consumed the equivalent of six cups of coffee each day during any trimester had somewhat smaller newborns than women who consumed less. Heavy caffeine users comprised two to three percent of these women.

Other earlier studies have also linked caffeine intake during pregnancy with lower birth weights. The March of Dimes recommends that pregnant women get no more than 200 milligrams of caffeine each day, which is roughly equal to the amount found in 12 ounces of coffee. They also cite a new study that found that women consuming more than the recommended amount are twice as likely to have a miscarriage as women who consume no caffeine.

A low birth weight can increase the risk of birth injury. If your child has suffered a birth injury that may have been preventable, please call or e-mail Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today. One of our experienced birth injury lawyers will evaluate your case for free. We have helped clients with Queens birth injury, Brooklyn birth injury, Bronx birth injury, Manhattan birth injury and Long Island birth injury cases.

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Increased Risk of Death for ICU Patients Lacking Insurance

According to the U.S. Census reports, an estimated 46.3 million people in our country had no health insurance in 2008. This alarming number is now an even bigger concern following the release of a report showing that the risk of death is higher for ICU patients lacking insurance coverage.

The study, conducted by U.S. researchers, analyzed records from ICU patients under age 65 in Pennsylvania between 2005 and 2006. Of the nearly 167,000 patients, about 68 percent had private insurance, 28 percent were covered by Medicaid and about 4 percent had no form of health insurance.

The research team determined that when compared to ICU patients who had private insurance, the likelihood of dying within 30 days was 21 percent higher for those with no coverage. Lead author Dr. Sarah Lyon of the University of Pennsylvania attributed this higher risk of death to less rigorous ICU treatment for patients lacking health insurance.

If you or a loved one has suffered or died due to medical malpractice that occurred in a New York hospital intensive care unit, please contact the malpractice lawyers at Silberstein Awad & Miklos, P.C. We have represented clients with Brooklyn hospital malpractice, Bronx hospital malpractice, Queens hospital malpractice, Manhattan hospital malpractice and Long Island hospital malpractice, and we can help you too.

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Patient Safety Jeopardized by Interrupted Doctors

A recent study conducted by Australian researchers and published in Quality and Safety in Health Care has found then when interrupted at work, doctors often spend less time completing the task they were performing or never go back to the original task at all.

Researchers at the University of Sydney followed 40 doctors for 210 hours, in total. On average, the doctors had almost seven interruptions each hour. Following the interruption, either less time was spent on task they were initially carrying out in an attempt to make up for lost time, researchers presume, or the task was never returned to, which occurred nearly 20 percent of the time.

Interruptions like these occur frequently in hospitals and other medical facilities, making it more likely that a doctor will make an error when writing a prescription, reviewing a chart, or performing some other crucial duty. Patient safety can be forfeited by doctors in an attempt to stay on schedule after being interrupted, possibly resulting in negligence and harm to the patient.

If you or a loved one was injured by hospital medical malpractice, please call or e-mail our medical malpractice lawyers today for a free consultation. We have helped clients with Brooklyn hospital malpractice, Bronx hospital malpractice, Queens hospital malpractice, Manhattan hospital malpractice and Long Island hospital malpractice that occurred as a result of doctor negligence.

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Lack of Knowledge Causes Missed Stroke Signs in Women

A recent online survey conducted by HealthyWomen, an organization dedicated to providing women with health information, in union with the National Stroke Association and the American College of Emergency Physicians, has found that women in the U.S. are undereducated about strokes and stroke symptoms.

The survey revealed that many women believe breast cancer occurs five times more frequently than stroke in women, although the stroke death rate is twice that of breast cancer. When asked to list stroke symptoms, only about a quarter of the 2,000 women surveyed could identify more than two primary symptoms.

Survey participants were also unaware that stroke is more common in men than women; with 40 percent responding that they were not very concerned about having a stroke.

According to research, women wait longer to receive medical attention following a stroke than men, which may be a result of this lack of knowledge about warning signs. Stroke symptoms in women include:

• Sudden difficulty with speech (speaking and understanding)
• Confusion
• Sudden headache
• Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the face
• Sudden vision problems (one or both eyes)
• Sudden limb weakness or numbness (especially on one side)
• Sudden dizziness, problems with balance or difficulty walking

The failure to properly diagnose and timely treat a stroke is a leading medical malpractice mistake in our country. If you or a loved one has been the victim of stroke malpractice, please call or email the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today for your free consultation. We have helped clients with Queens stroke malpractice, Brooklyn stroke malpractice, Bronx stroke malpractice, Manhattan stroke malpractice and Long Island stroke malpractice cases.

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Prenatal Stress Response Different in Boys, Girls

According to a recent study conducted by researchers out of Australia, each gender responds differently in utero to a mother’s stress. Male and female babies seem to react differently when their mother is in poor health or is experiencing other forms of stress.

Researchers found that when a mother is stressed, male babies continue to grow, disregarding the mother’s condition. For females, growth rates are reduced somewhat when a mother is experiencing stress.

When a mother experiences some other stress or that same stress again, male babies have a greater risk of pre-term delivery, growth problems and fetal death than female babies. Females tend to continue growing at their regular pace when a second stress occurs.

Lead author Vicki Clifton, an associate professor at Robinson Institute at the University of Adelaide, and her team are continuing to look at what occurrences cause these growth changes in male and female fetuses and how they can improve results.

Birth injuries can be the result of a number of different causes. If your child has suffered a birth injury that may have been preventable, please call or e-mail Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today. One of our experienced birth injury lawyers will evaluate your case for free. We have handled Queens birth injury, Bronx birth injury, Brooklyn birth injury, Manhattan birth injury and Long Island birth injury cases.

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Proper Treatment for Indeterminate Breast Lesions

A recent study conducted by Dr. Martin Korzeniowski of McMaster University and colleagues has found that indeterminate breast lesions found on MRIs require further evaluation in high risk women. Indeterminate breast lesions are lesions that doctors cannot categorize as either benign or malignant.

For the study, Korzeniowski and his team examined 59 indeterminate lesions in 55 women. In follow-up testing, they found that 22 percent of these lesions were malignant, meaning they were cancerous and could spread to other parts of the body.

The findings suggest that these indeterminate breast lesions should be adamantly evaluated by doctors, especially in women with a high risk of breast cancer. Women considered at high risk include those with a family history of breast cancer or those who currently have or had breast cancer in the past. By performing a follow-up ultrasound, MRI, or mammography, doctors can spot cancerous lesions and begin treatment sooner than later.

The value of an early diagnosis in cancer cases cannot be overstated. If you or a loved one has breast cancer medical malpractice questions, please call or email the cancer malpractice attorneys of Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today. Our office has handled numerous cases of delays in diagnosing breast cancer throughout New York City, including Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan and Long Island.

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Studies Find New Risks for Colon Cancer

At this year’s annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in Washington, D.C., two new studies will be presented, each suggesting new risk factors for colon cancer.

In the first study, researchers determined that people with higher levels of C-reactive protein in the blood have a greater risk of colon cancer. This type of protein is an indication of inflammation somewhere in the body.

The researchers analyzed more than 300 records of women with colorectal cancer and compared them with 450 cancer-free women. For women with the highest protein levels, the risk of developing colon cancer was two and a half times higher than those with the lowest levels.

The second study found that the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which infects the stomach or first part of the small intestine, increases the risk of colorectal polyps in African Americans. These polyps often become cancerous if left untreated.

Researchers found that colorectal polyps were 50 percent more common in patients with H. pylori after reviewing medical records of about 1,260 African American patients.

The earlier the treatment, the better the prognosis for people with cancer. If you or a loved one have questions about cancer negligence or the quality of care received, please call or email our cancer malpractice lawyers at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today. We have helped clients throughout New York City, including those with Brooklyn cancer malpractice, Bronx cancer malpractice, Queens cancer malpractice, Manhattan cancer malpractice and Long Island cancer malpractice cases.

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Colon Cancer Screening Less Available in Hispanic Areas

According to a recent report published in the journal Cancer, Hispanics in the U.S. may have less access to screening tests for colorectal cancer because many largely Hispanic areas have fewer facilities offering screening. Compared to non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics are not as likely to get screened for this type of cancer. This study may help explain the cause of those statistics.

For the study, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston looked at data on colon cancer screening tests obtained from a nationwide health survey, a cancer monitoring program and Medicare records. They found that Hispanics in the U.S. usually reside in areas where screening tests are less accessible. Researchers also found that people with screening facilities available in their area were more likely to get screened for colorectal cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute, there were 146,970 new cases of colorectal cancer in the U.S. in 2009 and 49,920 deaths. If you or a loved one have questions about the timeliness of a cancer diagnosis or about the quality of the medical care you received, call or email Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today.

Our cancer malpractice attorneys will provide a free consultation and evaluation of your potential case. We have helped clients with Bronx cancer malpractice, Brooklyn cancer malpractice, Queens cancer malpractice, Manhattan cancer malpractice and Long Island cancer malpractice cases. Call us toll free, 1-877-ASK4SAM.

Many Infants Deficient in Vitamin D

In 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) increased the recommended daily requirement of vitamin D for babies and children from 200 IU (International Units) per day to 400 IU per day. However, in a nationwide study conducted in 2009, researchers found that about 20 percent of children ages 1 to 11 were deficient in vitamin D, with infants having a higher deficiency rate.

The study, published in Pediatrics, looked at infants ranging from one month old to ten and a half months old. These children were placed in three categories, with only about 5 to 13 percent of breastfed only babies, 9 to 14 percent of breast and bottle-fed babies and 20 to 37 percent of bottle-fed only babies getting the recommended amount of vitamin D.

Infants who are not receiving enough vitamin D can be given multivitamin supplements to prevent deficiency. According to the AAP, vitamin D helps the body absorb and retain phosphorous and calcium, which help build bone. The vitamin also helps prevent infections, in addition to certain types of cancer and diabetes. If your child may not be receiving the recommended amount of vitamin D, talk to their pediatrician about ways to increase their intake though diet or supplements.

If you or a loved one has medical malpractice questions, call or email the experienced attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. We have helped clients with Bronx medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Queens medical malpractice and Long Island medical malpractice cases. Call today for your free consultation.

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CDC: Rates of C-Section at Record High

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics has recently reported that cesarean section rates in the U.S. have reached an unprecedented high. The most recent CDC data from 2007 reported that 1.4 million, almost a third of all births, were C-sections, with the rate of cesareans having increased by 53 percent between 1996 and 2007.

The CDC used data from birth certificates to determine these rate increases, which were seen in all ages, races and ethnicities. The highest C-section rates were found to be in New Jersey, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and West Virginia.

As for the reason behind this significant increase in cesarean sections, researchers believe it is probably due to older mothers (almost half of mothers age 40 to 54 had C-sections) and the concern of complications with vaginal delivery, with most doctors now opting for a C-section for breech (buttocks or feet first) position births. In addition, some hospitals recommend C-sections for women who have had a previous C-section instead of attempting a vaginal delivery (VBAC).

For women who have VBACs, their is a slightly higher risk of a ruptured uterus, which can result in hysterectomy or death of the mother or baby. Injury to the mother and infant during labor and delivery can also be caused by the negligence of a doctor or other medical professional. If your child has suffered a birth injury that may have been preventable, please call or e-mail Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today. One of our experienced birth injury attorneys will evaluate your case for free. We have helped clients with Bronx birth injury, Queens birth injury, Brooklyn birth injury and Long Island birth injury cases.

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