Viagra may help women taking antidepressants with orgasm

Viagra's effect in women has been disappointing, but a small study finds those on antidepressants may benefit from taking the little blue pills.

The research involving 98 premenopausal women found Viagra helped with orgasm.

But researchers report in today's Journal of the American Medical Association that the benefits did not extend to other aspects of sex, such as desire.

Anti-depressants can interfere with sex drive and performance even as the drugs help lift crippling depression.

More than half the people who take antidepressants develop sexual problems, prior studies have found, especially for people taking Prozac, Paxil, Celexa and other drugs that work by increasing the chemical serotonin in the brain.

Serotonin is thought to slow down orgasm, perhaps by diminishing the release of another brain chemical, dopamine.

Viagra increases blood flow to sex organs.

Wireless device makes sure his wires aren't crossed

A 73-year-old cardiac patient from Midland, Ont., has been fitted with a device that allows medical staff to monitor his condition remotely.

George Woods received the new wireless defibrillator last week at the Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket.

The stopwatch-sized device continuously tests the wire leads and alerts medical staff to any changes or potential problems.

A nurse at Southlake Regional says with this device, patients need only go to the hospital if the transmitted reports show a problem that can't be fixed remotely.

Mom's PCB levels influence sex of child, study suggests

Women exposed to high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are significantly less likely to give birth to boys, according to a study.

PCBs, which have been associated with various negative health effects, have been banned in the United States since 1977, but they persist in meats, eggs, dairy products and fish.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta says everyone has detectable levels of the chemicals.

Researchers studied stored blood from 399 women who gave birth to single children from April 1964 to April 1967. They found that women in the 90th percentile for PCB blood levels were 33 per cent less likely to have a boy than women in the 10th percentile.

The paper appeared online July 15 in Environmental Health.

"Most people's levels of PCBs are considerably lower today than they were when these samples were taken," said lead author Dr. Irva Hertz-Picciotto.

"The bigger significance of the paper is that compounds similar to PCBs are present in flame retardants used in many products today, and are increasing at a rapid rate.

"We should be concerned and looking at some of these similar chemicals," Hertz-Picciotto added.

Use of Topamax while pregnant may increase birth defects

Taking the drug Topamax, used to treat epilepsy and migraine headaches, during pregnancy may raise the risk of birth defects.

Researchers studied women who became pregnant while taking Topamax either alone or in combination with other anti-seizure medications.

Of 178 babies born, 16 had major birth defects, such as cleft palate or cleft lip, and four male babies had genital defects.

Other epilepsy drugs have also been shown to increase the risk of birth defects. Doctors try to get women to take as few seizure drugs as possible during pregnancy.

Laser facial treatment shows cell burning may leave patches

Medical researchers say that a small study of patients who underwent treatment for facial wrinkles with a carbon dioxide laser finds that overall patients reported a 45-per-cent improvement in their wrinkles.

However, 13 per cent of participants had long-lasting light-coloured skin patches as a side-effect. The carbon dioxide laser vaporized water molecules inside and outside of cells, causing heat damage.

In response to the damage, the skin produces more collagen, which fills in wrinkles.

The wrinkle study appears in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery.

Forget that medical scribble, type it, U.S. tells doctors

Scribbled prescriptions from doctors could soon become a rarity in the United States.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2009, the U.S. government will boost payments to doctors billing through Medicare who send prescriptions electronically to a pharmacy rather than writing them on paper and handing them to the patient.

Medicare is a U.S. health insurance program for seniors or special cases.

The widespread adoption of electronic prescribing is expected to save U.S. taxpayers as much as $156 million over five years.

-- Compiled by Florence Sicoli from Hamilton Spectator news services