QUICK STUDY : A Weekly Digest Of New Research On Major Health Topics

[Murray Charters <mcharters@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

QUICK STUDY : A Weekly Digest Of New Research On Major Health Topics
The Washington Post, DC
Tuesday, May 4, 2004; Page HE06

RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME

A drug may help reduce limb movements and improve sleep.

? THE QUESTION People with so-called restless legs are plagued by overwhelming 
urges to move their legs, brought on by
pulling, tingling, prickly, sometimes painful and always uncomfortable 
sensations. The feeling occurs mostly at night,
seriously disrupting sleep. Might pergolide (Permax), a drug commonly 
prescribed for Parkinson's disease, offer relief?

THIS STUDY randomly assigned 100 people with restless legs syndrome to take an 
evening dose of pergolide or a placebo
for six weeks. Awakenings caused by leg movements in the people who took 
pergolide dropped from an average of 15 a
night to three, compared with a decline from 18 to 15 for those taking a 
placebo. Time asleep improved by 12 percent
for the pergolide group and 6 percent for those on placebo. Similar results 
were reported after one year. Nausea and
headaches were more frequent in those who took pergolide.

? WHO MAY BE AFFECTED BY THESE FINDINGS? The syndrome occurs in people of all 
ages, although severe cases generally
affect those who are middle-aged or older.

? CAVEATS The study was funded by Eli Lilly, the maker of Permax. The study did 
not assess participants' heart
conditions, although earlier studies have found increased heart valve problems 
in people taking pergolide.

? BOTTOM LINE People bothered by restless legs may want to ask their doctor 
about pergolide.

? FIND THIS STUDY April 27 issue of Neurology; abstract available online at 


? LEARN MORE ABOUT restless legs syndrome at  and 


- - -

PREGNANCY - Dental X-rays may be risky for expectant mothers.

? THE QUESTION Because studies have linked medical X-rays in pregnant women 
with low-birth-weight babies, most women
know to avoid such radiation during pregnancy. Do dental X-rays, which focus 
very low-dose radiation on the head and
neck area, also pose a risk?

THIS STUDY examined the dental insurance records of women who gave birth to 
children weighing less than 5.5 pounds,
comparing them with the dental records of women who gave birth to normal-weight 
babies. Two percent of the women with
low-birth-weight children had had dental X-rays while pregnant, compared with 1 
percent of the mothers of normal-weight
children.

? WHO MAY BE AFFECTED BY THESE FINDINGS? Pregnant women.

? CAVEATS Although the study suggests that low birth weight may be attributable 
to radiation's effect on the thyroid,
this has not been proven. The study did not consider whether the participants 
were exposed to other types of radiation.


? BOTTOM LINE Pregnant women may want to talk with their obstetrician before 
consenting to dental X-rays.

? FIND THIS STUDY April 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical 
Association; abstract available online at


? LEARN MORE ABOUT X-rays and pregnancy at familydoctor.org and X-rays 
generally at 

- - -

HEART DISEASE - Choice of surgical procedures may affect life expectancy.

? THE QUESTION When clogged arteries restrict blood flow to the heart, surgeons 
can improve the situation through
bypass surgery or through less invasive treatments such as angioplasty and 
stenting -- in which the narrowed artery is
widened. Are the less invasive approaches as effective as bypass surgery, 
especially in severe cases?

? THIS STUDY examined medical records of 5,161 people who had bypass surgery 
and 872 who had angioplasty or stenting at
one medical clinic during a five-year period. Fourteen percent of the bypass 
patients died within five years of their
artery procedure, compared with 16 percent of the others. Among people at 
higher risk, non-insulin-treated diabetics
faced a higher mortality risk with the alternative treatments (21 percent) than 
bypass (17 percent), as did insulin-
treated diabetics (31 percent vs. 23 percent ).

? WHO MAY BE AFFECTED BY THESE FINDINGS? Anyone with coronary artery disease.

? CAVEATS Procedures performed at other clinics may not yield the same results. 
Also, the study was conducted before
the introduction last year of techniques that have been shown to improve 
angiography and stenting results.

? BOTTOM LINE People facing heart surgery should discuss all options with their 
doctors.

? FIND THIS STUDY April 26 rapid access issue of Circulation; abstract 
available online at 
(click on "Rapid Access Publications").

? LEARN MORE ABOUT surgery for heart disease at  and 


-- Linda Searing

SOURCE: The Washington Post, DC
Tuesday, May 4, 2004; Page HE06


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