Health Tips ... from UPI

EARLY HELP MAY PREVENT STRESS DISORDER

Getting help immediately following a traumatic experience such as a car accident, assault or natural disaster may prevent the development of post-traumatic stress disorder, researchers say. The Mayo Clinic Health Letter says signs and symptoms associated with PTSD include reliving the event in flashbacks, nightmares or physical reactions; avoiding people and places that remind you of the incident; emotional numbness or detachment; difficulty concentrating; sleep disturbances; irritability, and survivor guilt. If you have symptoms after a traumatic event, check with your doctor. Early help may be of great benefit, the Letter advises.

INSULIN MAY HELP SAVE KIDNEYS

Researchers have found that insulin resistance, a condition commonly associated with the development of type II diabetes, is likely a major cause of kidney disease, or nephropathy, in people with type I diabetes, according to study results published by University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health in the journal Kidney International. "Kidney disease is a major lethal complication for people with diabetes, particularly those with type I diabetes, and until now there has been no clear explanation for its cause beyond blood sugar itself," said principal investigator Dr. Trevor Orchard, professor and acting chair of epidemiology. "We now suspect that reducing or preventing insulin resistance, possibly through exercise, weight loss and drugs, may help people with type I diabetes avoid nephropathy."

'FINGERPRINTING' INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Scientists at Northwestern University have developed a method to detect infectious diseases. That includes diseases associated with many bioterrorism and warfare threats such as anthrax, tularemia, smallpox and HIV. A research team led by Chad Mirkin invented a technique for creating thousands of DNA detection probes made of gold nanoparticles with individual molecules attached. Much like human fingerprints, these molecules act as unique signals for the presence of different biological agents. The new detection method, for instance, can easily distinguish smallpox's distinct "fingerprint" from that of HIV. "By providing a near infinite number of signals, this advance allows researchers to quickly and accurately screen a sample for an extraordinarily large number of diseases simultaneously," said Mirkin, who is also George B. Rathmann Professor of Chemistry.

PILL-SPLITTING MAY EQUAL COST-SAVINGS

Pill-splitting may save you money, researchers say. With the rising cost of prescription drugs, health plans and other health-care organizations are encouraging the use of generics, using narrowly tailored drug formularies and implementing multi-tiered co-payment systems. Another option, according to a new study, is to split the medication. This strategy could mean significant cost-savings without compromising drug effectiveness or safety, the Stanford University scientists said. They emphasized that pill-splitting must be implemented with careful controls and begin with a doctor-patient conversation. "When properly implemented, pill-splitting can be a safe, viable cost-saving strategy," said Dr. Randall Stafford of the Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention, lead author of the report published in the American Journal of Managed Care. "Physicians should consider using pill-splitting with selected medications and patients, and patients may want to bring it up with their doctors," he said.

(EDITORS: For more information about EARLY, call 507-284-5005; about INSULIN, call 412-624-2607; about FINGERPRINTING, call 847-491-2907; about PILL, call 650-723-7798.)