Decrease in Average Birth Weight in U.S.

A new study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology has found that birth weight in the United States may be declining after being on the rise for almost fifty years. For the study, Sara Donohue of Boston University, along with colleagues, looked at birth records for just about 37 million babies. They found that from 1990 to 2005, birth weight fell by an average of 1.83 ounces.

The research team also looked at birth weights for roughly half a million infants born to young mothers at low risk of complications to make sure the decrease was not related to lifestyle or maternal age. Birth weights in these cases had an even greater decrease, dropping about 2.79 ounces.

Newborns weighing less than 5.5 pounds experience a higher risk of certain problems, including having low blood sugar, reduced body temperatures and an increased amount of red blood cells, which can cause clots. Larger infants weighing more than 8 pounds, 13 ounces may result in a more difficult delivery, possibly causing harm to the baby if proper precautions are not taken.

If your child has suffered a birth injury that may have been preventable, call or e-mail the 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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CDC: 1 in 110 8-year-olds had autism in 2006

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a report that determined that 1 in 110 eight year olds had autism in 2006 in the U.S., an increase of 57% from previously determined. Data collected in 2002 found that 1 in 150 eight year old children were diagnosed with autism. The prevalence of autism is still much higher in boys than in girls, with 1 in 70 boys and only 1 in 315 girls being diagnosed.

For the study, the CDC looked at physician and school records of children with autism from 11 sites included in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. Each site was in a different state, with 10 of the 11 sites having been used for the data collected by the CDC in 2002. The data collected in 2006 was then compared with that from 2002, finding a 57% increase in the prevalence of autism. Of the 10 sites represented in both reports, 9 had an increase in the number of children with autism.

Although some experts believe that overdiagnosis of autism is taking place throughout the country, this increase is still very significant. If your child’s autism may have been caused by obstetrical negligence during pregnancy, labor and delivery, please call or e-mail us today. One of our experienced birth injury attorneys will evaluate your case for free. We have helped clients with Bronx birth injury, Brooklyn birth injury, Queens birth injury and Long Island birth injury cases.

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Doppler Ultrasound for High-Risk Pregnancies may Prevent Deaths

A recent data review conducted by researchers at the University of Liverpool in the UK has found that using Doppler ultrasound to monitor high-risk pregnancies may help avoid some fetal and newborn deaths. Doppler ultrasound, which gauges the amount of blood flowing through the umbilical cord, is done in the third trimester of high-risk pregnancies. By monitoring these pregnancies with this type of test, doctors can more easily identify whether or not the fetus is under stress and take action.

For women with health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease and kidney disease, their pregnancies may be considered high-risk, as well as pregnancies with poor fetal growth or other complications. Women with normal pregnancies should not receive Doppler ultrasound, as it is unnecessary for those with a low risk of problems.

In the review, led by Dr. Zarko Alfirevic, 16 studies that included more than 10,000 high-risk pregnancies were studied. Researchers observed a 29 percent lower risk of fetal and newborn death in women who had Doppler ultrasound.

Though the data review shed a lot of positive light on the Doppler ultrasound, it is still not completely clear how beneficial this type of monitoring is. There is fear that abnormal findings following this type of test could result in unnecessary cesarean sections and other types of medical intervention.

If your child was injured or died as a result of doctor or hospital negligence, call or e-mail us Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today. One of our experienced birth injury attorneys 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, and we can help you too.

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FDA Approves Heart Valve Implant

The FDA has approved the first heart valve to be implanted by way of a vein in the leg and fed all the way up to the heart. The implant is intended to treat defects in the heart’s pulmonary valve, such as a leak, which a person is born with. The pulmonary valve, which helps manage the system that brings blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs properly, can then operate correctly.

Implantation of the Medtronic Melody Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve and Ensemble Delivery System will benefit patients with previously implanted valves that are no longer operating correctly by postponing the need for surgery.

The FDA noted that the implant can eventually wear out, requiring a replacement. Also, the valve does not cure a patient’s heart condition, but can allow continued function of the pulmonary valve and delay open heart surgery. Additional studies of the Medtronic system are required by the FDA to clarify the risks and benefits of this implant.

Heart disease is the number one killer in the nation, and failure to diagnose a heart attack is the number one medical malpractice mistake in the U.S. If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, please contact the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein Awad & Miklos today to schedule your free consultation. We have been helping clients with Brooklyn medical malpractice, Bronx medical malpractice, Queens medical malpractice and Long Island medical malpractice cases since 1981, and we can help you too.

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Study: More vitamin D lowers risk of colon cancer

In a recent study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), researchers have found that people with high levels of vitamin D in their blood have a lesser risk of developing colon cancer.

The study included over 520,000 people from several countries in Western Europe. Between 1992 and 1998, researchers collected blood samples from each participant and had them complete questionnaires concerning lifestyle and diet. Study participants were then tracked for several years following their assessment.

Researchers compared the 1,248 study participants who developed colorectal cancer at some point during their follow-up period with 1,248 people who did not develop the cancer. They concluded that for people with the highest levels of vitamin D in their blood, the risk of being diagnosed with colon cancer was up to 40 percent lower than that of people with the lowest levels of the vitamin.

Although these findings are valuable, it is not apparent whether colon cancer can be better prevented through a greater intake of vitamin D. In addition, researchers are unsure whether taking in high levels of the vitamin poses any risks. According to the National Cancer Institute, risk factors for developing colon cancer include age, obesity and lack of exercise, smoking and alcohol consumption.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by a delay in diagnosing or treating cancer, our cancer malpractice attorneys 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 and we will respond within 24 hours. Our firm has helped clients with Brooklyn cancer malpractice, Bronx cancer malpractice, Queens cancer malpractice and Long Island cancer malpractice cases.

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FDA Warning for Meridia Weight-Loss Pill Users

After a November study of the weight-loss pill Meridia, followed by an FDA warning, the pill’s manufacturer, Abbott Laboratories, has agreed to modify the label to include a new warning. Previously, the manufacturer emphasized that the drug was only approved for people with no history of heart disease.

The study included 10,000 participants age 55 and older who took either Meridia or a placebo pill. Participants were either overweight or obese and had a history of diabetes or heart disease. Researchers found that those who took the weight-loss pill had a slightly greater risk of heart attack and stroke than those who took the dummy pill.

Based on the findings of the study, the FDA issued a warning stating that Meridia, which was approved by the FDA in 1997, should not be taken by anyone with a history of heart problems to avoid additional risk. The FDA specifically stated that those with a history of coronary artery disease, stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack), congestive heart failure, heart arrhythmias, uncontrolled high blood pressure or peripheral arterial disease should not take the weight-loss pill.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also noted that anyone taking Meridia should speak with their doctor to be sure that it is still safe for them to take the drug. One consumer advocacy group, Public Citizen, argued last year there were 84 deaths associated with the Meridia and that the drug should be pulled from the market. If you have taken Meridia and have experienced any health issues that may be related to the product, you should first talk to your doctor to find out about available options. Next, please call or email the product liability lawyers at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Study: Link between obesity and form of kidney cancer

A new study conducted by researchers at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan has found that obesity increases a person’s risk of developing renal cell cancer (RCC), the most common type of kidney cancer.

For the study, which was published in BJUI , the research team looked at 1,640 patients with kidney tumors with an average age of 62. They found that the risk of developing a clear-cell RCC, the most common form of renal cell cancer, was 48 percent higher for obese patients than those who were not obese (body-mass index of less than 30). Researchers also found that for every additional BMI point a patient had, their risk of developing RCC grew by 4 percent.

Sixty-seven percent of obese patients with malignant tumors had clear-cell RCC malignant tumors, while about 57 percent of patients who were not obese with malignant tumors experienced clear-cell RCC malignant tumors.

Researchers concluded that a person’s BMI is an independent clear-cell RCC predictor, with the risk of developing clear-cell RCC increasing as BMI increased. Other independent predictors of this form of kidney cancer were tumor size and gender, with men being at greater risk than women.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by a delay in diagnosing or treating cancer, our cancer malpractice attorneys can help. Your initial consultation is FREE and there is no fee to you unless we recover money. Call us today, or submit an instant inquiry now and we will respond within 24 hours. We have helped clients with Queens cancer malpractice, Brooklyn cancer malpractice, Bronx cancer malpractice and Long Island cancer malpractice cases.