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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Link Found Between Pesticide and Developmental Delays in Children

A new study has found that chlorpyrifos, a pesticide used on fruit and vegetables, is linked to both physical and mental delays in children. The pesticide, which was banned in 2001 in households throughout the United States, is used predominantly in an agricultural setting to protect crops from insects. Consuming small amounts of chlorpyrifos is not a real concern, however, exposure to higher levels of the chemical has been found to be associated with developmental delays

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The study, which is published in the American Journal of Public Health, included more than 250 children in low-income parts of Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx. Children with high levels of chlorpyrifos (greater than 6.17 pg/g) in umbilical cord blood at birth were found to have a Psychomotor Development Index Score that was 6.5 points lower at age 3 than that of children with lower levels. Also, the Mental Development Index score for these children with elevated levels of the pesticide was 3.3 points lower at 3 years of age.

If your child struggles with developmental delays as a result of another’s negligence during your prenatal care, labor and/or delivery, call or e-mail the medical malpractice attorneys at 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, Bronx birth injury, Brooklyn birth injury and Long Island birth injury cases.

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Greater Risk of Death for Men Following Hip Fracture

When a person fractures their hip, in most cases it is the result of a fall or other incident, such as a car accident, which causes a blow to the area. Although anyone can have a hip fracture, they most often occur in adults 65 and older as a result of weakened bones. Unfortunately, this type of injury also becomes more life threatening with age.

A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine has found the risk of death after a hip fracture is higher for men. However, the prevalence of hip fracture in women is about two to three times as high as in men.

For the study, researchers looked at 39 previous studies which included almost 600,000 women and 155,000 men over 50 years of age who had experienced a hip fracture. The research panel found that though death is almost six times more likely to occur in women over age 50 with a hip fracture than in those without a fracture, death is eight times as likely for men within three months of their fracture.

One possible cause for this higher fatality rate in men is the fact that although women experience bone loss following menopause, men usually lose bone as a result of some other medical problem. For this reason, women who fracture their hip can recover because they have no underlying medical problems, while men often have to battle the fracture and the original illness.

Many hip fractures in older adults are caused by slip and fall accidents. These types of accidents can occur on icy, snowy or wet sidewalks, stairs or walkways and can cause serious injuries, such as broken bones, fractures and other trauma. If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident, please call or e-mail the premises liability attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today. The consultation is free and our premises liability lawyers only get paid if we can obtain money for you. Our firm has represented clients with Brooklyn slip and fall, Bronx slip and fall, Queens slip and fall, Manhattan slip and fall and Long Island slip and fall cases.

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For Breast Cancer Patients, Undetected Tumors May Be Found Through MRI

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have found in a recent study that undiagnosed breast tumors are sometimes found through MRI scans for postmenopausal breast cancer patients previously diagnosed with tumors in their opposite breast. However, MRI scans are less likely to find tumors in women who have not yet gone through menopause.

The research team examined medical records of 425 female breast cancer patients who had an MRI of both breasts between 2003 and 2007. The purpose of the scans was to detect cancer in breasts where no cancer was previously found. They found that the MRIs of women age 70 and older were more likely to show a tumor than the scans of younger women.

The earlier a patient receives treatment for their cancer, the better the prognosis for that patient. A delay in diagnosis or treatment can allow the cancer to grow and spread. If you or a loved one has been harmed by a delay in diagnosing or treating cancer, or has breast cancer medical malpractice questions, call or email the attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. We have represented clients with Brooklyn cancer malpractice, Bronx cancer malpractice, Queens cancer malpractice, Manhattan cancer malpractice and Long Island cancer malpractice cases. Call today for your free consultation; 1-877-ASK4SAM.

Increased Risk of Stroke for Women with Elevated Natural Estrogen

In a recent study conducted in the U.S., researchers found that postmenopausal women with higher levels of natural estrogen who are not receiving hormone therapy have a greater risk of stroke. In addition, researchers found that larger waist size can also increase a woman’s risk of stroke.

For the study, the research panel used data from an osteoporosis study conducted in the late 1980s comprised of white postmenopausal women, none of which were on hormone therapy. Of the women, 247 had suffered a first stroke by the end of the eight year follow-up period, while 243 did not suffer a stroke.

Researchers found that for those women with the highest levels of the strongest form of naturally occurring estrogen, estradiol, the risk of stroke was about 2.3 greater than those with the lowest levels of estradiol.

As for waist size playing a role, data showed that women with waists larger than 34 inches had increased levels of estradiol. The risk of stroke for women with waists larger than 34 inches who had higher levels of this potent form of estrogen was six times higher than those with smaller waists, according to researchers.

After heart disease and cancer, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the nation. If you or a loved one was the victim of stroke malpractice in New York, call or email the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today for your free consultation. We have helped clients with Bronx stroke malpractice, Brooklyn stroke malpractice, Queens stroke malpractice and Long Island stroke malpractice cases.

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