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Jun 26, 2003 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- DIABETICS NEED KIDNEY SCREENING
More adults with type 2 diabetes should have screenings for kidney disease, say researchers led by the University of California, San Francisco. Some 300,000 diabetics in the United States are not screened and 30 percent of adult diabetics with kidney disease do not have two conditions -- protein in urine and eye disease or retinopathy -- commonly found among diabetics with the disease. The researchers say the current screening method -- for protein in urine -- is not enough for the early detection of kidney disease. Physicians also need to use a blood test, serum creatinine, that estimates kidney function, technically known as the glomerular filtration rate.
HEALTH, SPORTS GROUP ISSUE HEAT GUIDELINES
Sports and health groups have joined to issue new guidelines to deal with the athletes and health-related aspects of heat. Each year more than 300 people die of heat-related illnesses and many others require medical attention for symptoms such as dehydration, exertional heat stroke, cramps and exhaustion. The entire statement can be found at nata.org and it encourages increased and accurate education regarding heat illnesses for athletes, coaches, parents and medical staffs. It calls for onsite medical services at various events, ensuring pre-participation physical exams have been completed and that medical staffs have the authority to alter work/rest ratios, practice schedules, amounts of equipment and withdrawal of individuals from sports, based on heat conditions and/or an athlete's medical condition.
EYE INJURY RISK LOW FROM AIRBAG
A Finnish study shows the risk of eye injury from an airbag that deploys during a vehicle collision is very low. Researchers say a review of literature and reports, as well as data from two airbag studies, shows the risk of any type of eye injury caused by airbags was 2.5 percent. The risk for severe eye injury was 0.4 percent. None of the individuals, however, lost his or her eyesight. The study also dispelled the myth that airbag injuries are more frequent among those wearing eyeglasses. Researchers did find, however, injury pattern might be affected by eyeglasses.
REVERSE CPR ON BACK HELPS BLOOD FLOW
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation -- or CPR -- in reverse, when patients lie on their stomachs, could help restore blood flow and pressure. A feasibility study of reverse CPR was done by researchers at Johns Hopkins and Columbia universities. CPR in the prone position was tested on six patients in intensive care units whose hearts had stopped, and who had failed to respond to standard CPR. Standard CPR was performed with blood pressure monitoring and then the patients were turned over, and reverse CPR was done for 15 minutes. During that time doctors were able to increase average systolic blood pressure and improve average arterial blood flow pressure. Although none of the patients survived, the researchers say the results show the need for more investigation of reverse CPR.
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(Editors: For more information about DIABETICS, contact Wallace Ravven at 415-476-2557 or wravven@pubaff.ucsf.edu. For HEAT ILLNESS, Robin Waxenberg at 212-489-8006 or rwaxenberg@nyc.rr.com. For AIR BAGS, Media Relations at 415-561-8534 or media@aao.org. For REVERSE CPR, Karen Blum at 410-955-1534 or kblum@jhmi.edu)
Copyright 2003 by United Press International.
