Thursday, July 22, 2010

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.


Call us toll-free, 1-877-ASK4SAM

Friday, July 16, 2010

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.


Call us toll-free, 1-877-ASK4SAM

Thursday, July 15, 2010

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.


Call us toll free, 1-877-ASK4SAM