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June 14, 2012 — Common lifestyle factors associated with low-motile sperm concentration (MSC) include a history of testicular surgery, black ethnicity, and being involved in manual labor, but no association was found with smoking, drugs, or alcohol use, according to new research. Andrew C. Povey, PhD, from the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Manchester, United Kingdom, and colleagues reported their findings in an article  published online  June 13 in Human Reproduction . According to the researchers, the "understanding of how the lifestyle choices of adult men themselves might impact on their fertility remains uncertain and often contradictory." The current study examined lifestyle data of men recruited to the large multicentre Chemical and Pregnancy Study to identify factors that may contribute to low sperm count. Participants included men who were part of a couple who had been attempting conception without success after at le

June 14, 2012 (Paris, France) –– The use of phosphate-binding agents (PBAs) in hemodialysis patients is associated with reduced mortality risk, regardless of other factors, researchers reported at the XLIX European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) Congress held here in May. The association applied to all types of PBAs except aluminum-containing ones, reported Jorge Cannata-Andia, MD, from the Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias in Oviedo, Spain, who led the European Current Management of Secondary Hyperparathyroidism–a Multicenter Observational Study (COSMOS). The study, conducted at 220 centers across the European Union, investigated the association between treatments affecting bone metabolic measures and clinical outcomes among hemodialysis patients. Specifically, the researchers looked at the association between the use of phosphate-binding agents as monotherapy or in combination with other agents and mortality. COSMOS was an ob

June 14, 2012 — Controversy is still brewing over optimal strategies for colorectal cancer screening, according to a  letter to the editor  in the  New England Journal of Medicine  regarding an editorial, and the editorialists' response , both published in the May 31 issue. Worldwide, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer, with a lifetime risk of approximately 5% in the United States. Colonoscopy and fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) are both accepted strategies for colorectal cancer screening in the average-risk population, but issues regarding these tests include sensitivity and specificity for detecting adenomas and cancers, compliance with screening, and cost. "Further research with FIT and new blood and fecal DNA tests is being done, and more data on sensitivity for advanced adenomas, cancer, and acceptance of testing over multiple rounds will be forthcoming," James E. Allison, MD, clinical professor of medicine emeritus at the University of Calif

June 15, 2012 (Boston, Massachusetts) — In a small study of patients visiting a sleep clinic in New Jersey, researchers found that those with type 2 diabetes were at high risk for sleep apnea and that sleep apnea was associated with carbohydrate craving. "Since the prevalence of sleep apnea among diabetics was high in this study, along with the fact that the risk of carbohydrate craving was also very elevated in this group, primary care physicians as well as endocrinologists need to routinely screen for sleep apnea among type 2 diabetics," Mahmood I. Siddique, DO, from Sleep & Wellness Medical Associates LLC, Hamilton, New Jersey, told  Medscape Medical News . He presented the study findings this week at SLEEP 2012: Associated Professional Sleep Societies 26th Annual Meeting. Changes in Leptin and Ghrelin "Studies among the general population have shown that sleep apnea and sleep deprivation may affect carbohydrate craving by hormonal changes in leptin and

June 14, 2012 (Rotterdam, the Netherlands)   — An international group of researchers has developed what they say is an improved model for predicting the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with chest pain presenting to cardiology departments [1]. Lead author  Dr Tessa SS Genders  (Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam) explained to  heart wire   that the new   prediction tool is designed for   use in those who have already seen a primary-care physician and are suspected of having coronary artery disease. "Deciding whether you should do further diagnostic testing with imaging or exercise ECG is the next step," she notes. The current study--which she reports with colleagues online June 12, 2012 in  BMJ --is likely to lead to better decisions about further diagnostic steps, not least because the current models used were developed so long ago, she says. At the moment, guidelines on this differ from country to country, she notes. In the US guidance,

June 15, 2012 — The number of people living after cancer is steadily increasing. There are currently an estimated 13.7 million cancer survivors in the United States; it is predicted that this will reach 18 million by 2022, according to the  first-ever report  on this subject from the American Cancer Society (ACS), in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Even though the incidence rates of many cancers are decreasing, "the number of cancer survivors continues to increase due to the aging and growth of the population and improvements in survival rates," the report notes. It is increasingly important to understand the unique medical and psychosocial needs of survivors. "As a result, it is increasingly important to understand the unique medical and psychosocial needs of survivors, and be aware of resources that can assist patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers in navigating the various phases of cancer survivorship," the authors note.

June 14, 2012 — The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a combination meningitis vaccine for infants and children ages 6 weeks through 18 months, the agency announced today. The agency said it is the first meningococcal vaccine that can be taken by children as young as 6 weeks of age. The vaccine, called Menhibrix, is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals. Menhibrix combines already approved vaccines made by the company against 2 types of bacteria —  Neisseria meningitidis  (serogroups C and Y), and  Haemophilus influenzae  type B (Hib). Each bacterium can infect the lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, according to the FDA. Both meningococcal and Hib diseases can cause death or serious and permanent damage such as mental retardation and blindness. The diseases can progress rapidly, and their symptoms are hard to distinguish from those of other common childhood conditions, making them particularly dangerous for children less than 2 years of age.