July 18, 2007 (Insidermedicine)

From San Diego,
While eating 5 servings of fruits and vegetables is good for breast cancer survivors, eating more servings may not be necessary. A study, following more than 3000 survivors for over 7 years, showed the additional fruit and vegetable ingestion did not lower the risk for cancer recurrence.

From Baltimore,
Those with sleep apnea- or sudden episodes of stopping breathing while sleeping- may be able to lose the mask. Researchers have shown that warm air delivered though nasal prongs may be an option instead of a mask- which is difficult to wear.

From Atlanta,
Andrew Speaker- the young lawyer who recently was downgraded from having XDR-TB to MDR-TB- has had a part of his lung removed. The TB was localized to the right upper lobe, and his surgeons believed that resection was his best option for a cure.

And finally from LA,
Curry may be good for Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers have shown that an active ingredient in tumeric- a spice found in many curries- improved the function of white blood cells that help remove amyloid which accumulates in patients with Alzheimer’s.

For Insidermedicine in 60, I’m Dr. Susan Sharma.