RxPG News : Medicine

New algorithm based on procalcitonin for sepsis

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 04:07:46 PST

Using a blood test and a decision algorithm, rather than standard hospital protocols, to determine the appropriate length of antibiotic therapy in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock can reduce duration of treatments, shorten ICU stays, and lower hospital costs— all without adverse effects on patients, according to new research.

Obese children have respiratory problems during surgery

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 07:39:25 PST

A new study from the University of Michigan Health System finds that obese children are much more likely than normal-weight children to have problems with airway obstruction and other breathing-related functions during surgery.

Study suggests new therapy for lung disease patients

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 04:10:00 PST

CHICAGO -- A new study by researchers at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine may change current thinking about how best to treat patients in respiratory distress in hospital intensive care units.

New York Methodist Hospital to study airway bypass treatment for emphysema

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:05:00 PST

Brooklyn, NY, February 4, 2007 -- New York Methodist Hospital today announced the start of the EASE (Exhale Airway Stents for Emphysema) Trial, an international, multi-center clinical trial to explore an investigational treatment that may offer a significant new, minimally-invasive option for those suffering with advanced widespread emphysema. The study focuses on a procedure called airway bypass that involves creating pathways in the lung for trapped air to escape and in turn, relieve emphysema symptoms including shortness of breath.

Naked mole-rats bear chili pepper heat

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:00:00 PST

Pity the tiny naked mole-rat. The buck-toothed, sausage-like rodent lives by the hundreds in packed, oxygen-starved burrows some six feet under ground. It is even cold-blooded -- which, as far as we know, is unique among mammals.

Pollution shrinks fetus size: Brisbane study finds

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 05:00:00 PST

Exposure to air pollution significantly reduces foetus size during pregnancy, according to a new study by Brisbane scientists.

New drug targets may fight tuberculosis and other bacterial infections in novel way

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Dec. 27, 2007) -- Over the course of the 20th Century, doctors waged war against infectious bacterial illness with the best new weapon they had: antibiotics.

Short sleep times in patients with chronic medical diagnoses associated with obesity

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 10:09:26 PST

A study published in the December 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (JCSM) demonstrates an association between short sleep times and obesity in patients with chronic medical problems.

New UIC center to study end-of-life transition

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing has received a federal grant to create a center to study people as they transition to the end of life.

Dr. Nicholas Schiff receives research award for Innovation in Neuroscience

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Dec. 13, 2007) -- A leading authority on neurological disorders of consciousness, Dr. Nicholas Schiff of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City has received a prestigious Research Award for Innovation in Neuroscience from the Society for Neuroscience, the world's largest organization of physicians and scientists who study the brain and nervous system.

Exercise testing may help predict seriousness of mitral regurgitation

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Dec. 11, 2007) -- In as many as one in five people over age 55, when the heart contracts to send blood around the body, some degree of backward leakage occurs across the mitral valve, a condition known as mitral regurgitation (MR). When sufficiently severe, MR causes buildup of blood in the lungs, leading to difficulty in breathing (dyspnea, or shortness of breath), a serious condition called congestive heart failure. MR also can cause heart rhythm irregularities (arrhythmias) such as atrial fibrillation, which can lead to strokes and other problems, and ventricular tachycardia, which can cause sudden death.

Aging with GRACE: Improving health care for older adults

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

INDIANAPOLIS - Most older adults obtain their health care in the offices of busy primary care physicians or, in the case of those without physicians, in even busier hospital emergency departments. In either location, seniors often don't receive the recommended care for preventive services, chronic disease management and geriatric syndromes. A study published in the December 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association reports on GRACE, the largest randomized clinical trial of a health system and home-based geriatrics care concept designed to improve health care for community-dwelling low-income older adults.

Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms in women may save lives

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Nov. 9, 2007) -- In 9 out of 10 cases, a burst abdominal aortic artery is quickly fatal for its most common victim: elderly males. A new study -- the largest yet performed -- now confirms that women over 65 with a history of smoking or heart disease are also at high risk for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) -- supporting the notion that they should also receive ultrasound screening to help spot and correct the dangerous condition.

Triage study challenges notions of emergency medical response to disaster

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 04:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Oct. 31, 2007) -- In the face of terrorism and catastrophic natural disasters, modern regional trauma systems that improve survival for critically injured patients are more vital than ever.

Imaging shows structural changes in mild traumatic brain injury

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers report that diffusion tensor imaging can identify structural changes in the white matter of the brain that correlates to cognitive deficits even in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.

An eye for an eye: using stem cells to treat damaged eyes and a rare skin disorder

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Doctors and scientists in Italy have shown how stem cells can be used to treat damaged eyes and, in combination with gene therapy, a rare and debilitating skin disease.

From terror to joy: faced with death, our minds turn to happier thoughts

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Philosophers and scientists have long been interested in how the mind processes the inevitability of death, both cognitively and emotionally. One would expect, for example, that reminders of our mortality--say the sudden death of a loved one--would throw us into a state of disabling fear of the unknown. But that doesn't happen. If the prospect of death is so incomprehensible, why are we not trembling in a constant state of terror over this fact?

Kaiser Permanente study shows electronic medical records and outreach improve osteoporosis care

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

October 22, 2007 (Oakland, CA) �Electronic medical records and outreach programs of e-mail messages, letters and phone calls to patients and their primary care providers after a bone fracture can dramatically improve the diagnosis and management of the patients� osteoporosis, according to a Kaiser Permanente study in the September issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. This is the largest study to show that electronic medical records improve the continuity of care for osteoporosis.

MacArthur commits $11 million to further UCSF work in maternal safety

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has promised $10.75 million to extend a ground-breaking UCSF project to help combat maternal mortality in Nigeria and India � two countries that comprise one-third of all maternal deaths worldwide.

Septic survival

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

While survival rates for sepsis have increased over the past two decades, children under four and those in adolescence remain highly susceptible to the condition. Researchers in The Netherlands have now demonstrated that age and to a lesser extent, gender, are critical factors in whether or not a child sufferer will develop a more severe disease state and survive or not. These findings could help to improve the treatment of sepsis and improve survival rates further still.

Study shows reducing class size may be more cost-effective than most medical interventions

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

October 16, 2007 -- Reducing the number of students per classroom in U.S. primary schools may be more cost-effective than most public health and medical interventions, according to a study by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the Virginia Commonwealth University. The study indicates that class-size reductions would generate more quality-adjusted life-year gains per dollar invested than the majority of medical interventions. The findings will be published in the November issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Severely mentally ill at high risk for cardiovascular disease

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

St. Louis, Oct. 15, 2007 � A psychiatrist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis writes in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that although mortality from cardiovascular disease has declined in the United States over the past several decades, patients with severe psychiatric illness are not enjoying the benefits of that progress.

UCSD findings could lead to new therapy for spinal cord injury-induced spasticity and rigidity

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Research led by scientists at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine has identified a target with potential as an effective new therapy for chronic spasticity and rigidity, a painful condition that often results from spinal cord injury.

AFAR/Ellison Medical Foundation increase commitment to scientists studying aging

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

New York, October 11, 2007 - At a time when established scientists are leaving academia because of a lack of funding for biomedical research and a potential new generation of scientists are considering whether to even enter a field with a competitive funding environment, the Ellison Medical Foundation in partnership with the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR), has increased funding for two critical grant programs: the new Ellison Medical Foundation/AFAR Postdoctoral Fellows in Aging Research Program and the Julie Martin Mid-Career Awards in Aging Research.

Strong link between air pollution and acute bronchitis diagnoses in preschool-aged children

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:06:05 PST

In one of the first studies to examine air pollution in relation to infant and early childhood health, a UC Davis researcher has discovered a strong link between exposure to components of air pollution and acute bronchitis diagnoses in preschool-aged children. Those components – polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs – contribute to air pollution from a variety of sources, including coal burning, vehicle exhaust, wood-burning stoves, tobacco smoke and grilling food

Prostate cancer increases hip fracture risk by eight times in 50 to 65 year-olds

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Men who have prostate cancer are on average four times more likely to suffer a hip fracture, with rates rising to eight times in men aged 50 to 65, according to a study of more than 60,000 men published in the October issue of the urology journal BJU International.

Virtual game helps children escape realities of burn unit

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Nurses and physicians at Nationwide Children�s Hospital are using the latest technology to help young burn victims endure the extreme pain of dressing changes and wound care. Instead of traditional distraction devices, such as books and music, Nationwide Children�s Hospital Burn Center is now using virtual reality games to distract patients while nurses attend to the patients� burn wounds.

New telomere discovery could help explain why cancer cells never stop dividing

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Lausanne, Switzerland, October 4, 2007 � A group working at the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC) in collaboration with the University of Pavia has discovered that telomeres, the repeated DNA-protein complexes at the end of chromosomes that progressively shorten every time a cell divides, also contain RNA. This discovery, published online October 4 in Science Express, calls into question our understanding of how telomeres function, and may provide a new avenue of attack for stopping telomere renewal in cancer cells.

UT Southwestern investigating hypothermic technique in treating pediatric head injuries

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

DALLAS � Oct. 3, 2007 � UT Southwestern Medical Center has been selected to take part in an $11.5 million multicenter clinical trial that is examining the effectiveness of induced hypothermia as a therapy for brain swelling in children who have suffered severe traumatic brain injuries.

Researchers: No faking it, crocodile tears are real

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

GAINESVILLE, Fla. � When someone feigns sadness they �cry crocodile tears,� a phrase that comes from an old myth that the animals cry while eating.

War more traumatic than tsunami

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

The long-running civil war in Sri Lanka is causing more mental health problems and social breakdown than the catastrophic 2004 tsunami, according to research published in the online open access publication International Journal of Mental Health Systems.

Linking cigarette smoke and obesity: What our genes and environmental factors tell us

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

RICHLAND, Wash. � Identifying biomarkers for the key environmental risk factors responsible for two diseases that significantly contribute to death and disease of hundreds of thousands annually will be the initial focus of a new center being established at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. PNNL will house the Center for Novel Biomarkers of Response, made possible by a $5.9 million grant recently awarded by the National Institutes of Health�s Gene and Environment Initiative.

FDA approves knee-injury device for humans

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

COLUMBIA, Mo. � A new knee-surgery device investigated by University of Missouri-Columbia researchers that will help to repair meniscus tears, which were previously defined as irreparable, has been approved by the FDA for use in humans.

Acute lung injury patients one-third less likely to die in 'closed' model ICUs

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Patients with acute lung injury (ALI) are nearly one-third less likely to die if they are treated at ICUs that require board-certified critical care physicians to oversee patient care, as compared to patients treated at ICUs that allow any attending physician to oversee admission and case management.

Center gets national funding for child trauma research

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded a four-year $1.6 million grant to the newly established University of Kentucky Center for the Study of Violence Against Children (CSVAC). The grant, one of only 10 being presented across the nation, is going to organizations helping children and adolescents deal with traumatic experiences.

High school footballers wearing special helmets to monitor brain injuries

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

As they root for the home team from the bleachers this fall, high school gridiron fans in the small Illinois town of Tolono don�t necessarily see anything out of the ordinary down on the field.

Genes linked to suicidal thinking during antidepressant treatment

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Specific variations in two genes are linked to suicidal thinking that sometimes occurs in people taking the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants, according to a large study led by scientists at the National Institutes of Health�s (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Depending on the particular mix inherited, these versions increased the likelihood of such thoughts from 2- to15-fold, the study found. About 1 percent of adult patients were deemed to be at high genetic risk, 41 percent at elevated risk and 58 percent at lower risk.

Climate may increase heat-related deaths by 2050s, says Mailman School of PH study

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

While some uncertainty does exist in climate projections and future health vulnerability, overall increases in heat-related premature mortality are likely by the 2050s, according to a recent study by Columbia University�s Mailman School of Public Health and soon to be published in the November 2007 issue of the American Journal of Public Health. In metropolitan New York, researchers estimate a 47 percent to 95 percent increase in summer heat-related deaths when compared to the 1990s.

Married esophageal cancer patients fare worse in some quality of life aspects than single patients

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Barcelona, Spain: In a surprising finding, American scientists have found that when battling oesophageal cancer, married patients don�t fare as well as their single counterparts in certain aspects of their quality of life.

New type of drug shows promise in attacking melanoma in an innovative way

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Barcelona, Spain: An experimental drug that attacks cancer in an entirely new way has shown promise in treating advanced melanoma, delaying progression of the disease and prolonging the lives of patients.

Study finds post-traumatic stress symptoms in adolescent children of cancer patients

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Barcelona, Spain: A new study by Dutch researchers has found that adolescents may suffer from severe symptoms of post-traumatic stress when a parent is recently diagnosed with cancer and that parents tend to underestimate the problems.

Under-used colon cancer screening test is effective

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Oakland CA -- An under-used colon cancer screening test now available in the U.S. effectively detects colorectal cancer and may help to improve colon cancer screening rates, according to investigators at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research. The study appears in the September 25, 2007 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI).

Rehabilitation significantly underused after heart attack and bypass surgery

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Waltham, MA � Despite strong evidence that cardiac rehabilitation reduces disability and prolongs life, fewer than one in five people receive rehabilitation services after a heart attack or coronary bypass surgery, according to a Brandeis study in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Researchers say lack of sleep doubles risk of death... but so can too much sleep

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers from the University of Warwick, and University College London, have found that lack of sleep can more than double the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. However they have also found that point comes when too much sleep can also more than double the risk of death.

Key to longer life lies in just 14 brain cells

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] -- Two years ago, Brown University researchers discovered something startling: Decrease the activity of the cancer-suppressing protein p53 and you can make fruit flies live significantly longer.

Murder mystery solved

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

CHICAGO --- It was a murder mystery playing out in major cities across the country and perplexing scientists. Thousands of people were dying from strokes and heart attacks within 24 hours of a spike in microscopic pollution -- tiny particles that spew from the exhaust of diesel trucks, buses and coal-burning factories.

Hebrew SeniorLife researchers search for aging, osteoporosis genes

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

(Boston, Mass.) � Researchers at Hebrew SeniorLife�s Institute for Aging Research (IFAR) have examined close to 100,000 genetic markers for low bone mass and aging to help determine which genes are responsible for the development of osteoporosis and longevity.

Bright tumors, dim prospects

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Sept. 13, 2007 -- It doesn't matter how small or large it is, if a cervical tumor glows brightly in a PET scan, it's apt to be more dangerous than dimmer tumors. That's the conclusion of a new study of cervical cancer patients at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Nicotine may accelerate atherosclerosis, may be as dangerous as tar

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Sept. 10, 2007) -- It's well known that smoking cigarettes increases risk for a host of serious health problems from cancer to heart disease. Now a new study from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City looks at how they do their dirty work by contributing to atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. The evidence points to nicotine, the addictive chemical in cigarettes.

Preventing or reducing enlarged heart decreases risk of heart failure

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Sept. 10, 2007) -- For high-blood-pressure patients, preventing or reducing enlarged heart (left ventricular hypertrophy or LVH) reduces risk of heart failure. The study is published in the Sept. 4 Annals of Internal Medicine and led by physician-scientists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City.

Study links education to risk of cancer death

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

A new American Cancer Society study finds having at least some education beyond high school is associated with a decreased risk of cancer death. The study finds higher education levels were strongly associated with decreased cancer mortality among black men, white men, and white women. The difference in mortality for all groups was greatest between those with 12 or fewer years of education and those with more than 12 years.

Medication appears helpful for treatment of erectile dysfunction in men with spinal cord injuries

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

The drug tadalafil appears to improve erectile function in men with spinal cord injuries, according to an article posted online today that will appear in the November 2007 print issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Pain patients at risk for sleep apnea

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Opioid-based pain medications may cause sleep apnea, according to an article in the September issue of Pain Medicine, the journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine.

Environmental stress probed in cardiovascular disease, diabetes

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

How environmental stress contributes to cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes is under study at the Medical College of Georgia.

Doctors and medical ethicist discuss whether doctors should participate in capital punishment

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Should doctors be involved in the state-ordered administration of capital punishment? In the September issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, three anesthesiologists and a medical ethicist take an in-depth look at this question in a commentary and two editorials.

1.5 million children could be saved

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Despite global efforts to control it, diarrhoea is still one of the most common reasons for the high child mortality rates in many low and middle-income countries. This according to a doctoral thesis, soon to be presented at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet. One fifth of all the deaths amongst children under the age of five that are reported every year are caused by serious diarrhoea.

Large intensive care study reveals vital recommendations for treatment of brain injury patients

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

A landmark Australian and New Zealand intensive care study has provided vital information for the treatment of patients with brain injuries. The results of the SAFE-TBI Study, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, confirm that the choice of resuscitation fluids affects the chances of patients with brain injury surviving.

Small animal imaging facility is big boon to research

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

When powerful magnets line up the body�s protons before radiofrequency waves can grab their attention away, it�s called spin physics.

Star Trek medical device uses ultrasound to seal punctured lungs

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

A stretcher races through the entrance of a busy hospital. The car-accident victim lies on top and grimaces in pain. While surface injuries look gruesome, the real medical danger is invisible - internal organ damage caused by being crushed against the steering wheel.

Report on patients' access to cancer drugs 'uses flawed methods to reached flawed conclusions'

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

A leading epidemiologist has attacked Swedish research that looked at inequalities in patients� access to cancer drugs across Europe and the world. In a commentary published in the September issue of the cancer journal, Annals of Oncology [1], Professor Michel Coleman says the Karolinska report is so badly flawed that no safe conclusions can be drawn from it about cancer survival, and he highlights the role played by a major drug company in funding the research.

Facial transplantation may be a safer option, study shows

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

CINCINNATI/LOUISVILLE�Researchers in Cincinnati and Louisville report that immunosuppressive risks associated with facial transplantation may be lower than thought, possibly making the procedure a safer option for people who have suffered severe facial injuries.

New cancer fighter may help ICU patients beat infections

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

HSP 90 inhibitors, which are finding favor in fighting cancer, may also help battle overwhelming infection in intensive care patients, researchers say.

Nanowire coating for bone implants, stents

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - University of Arkansas researchers have found a simple, inexpensive way to create a nanowire coating on the surface of biocompatible titanium that can be used to create more effective surfaces for hip replacement, dental reconstruction and vascular stenting. Further, the material can easily be sterilized using ultraviolet light and water or using ethanol, making it useful in hospital settings and meat-processing plants

Einstein researchers use novel approach to uncover genetic components of aging

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

(BRONX, NY) -- People who live to 100 or more are known to have just as many,and sometimes even more,harmful gene variants compared with younger people. Now, scientists at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have discovered the secret behind this paradox: favorable "longevity" genes that protect very old people from the bad genes' harmful effects. The novel method used by the researchers could lead to new drugs to protect against age-related diseases.

UF scientists reveal how dietary restriction cleans cells

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

GAINESVILLE, Fla. � Reduce, recycle and rebuild is as important to the most basic component of the human body, the cell, as it is to the environment.

FEMA fire grant to assess heat stress in firefighters awarded to University of Pittsburgh

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 22 � Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine�s department of emergency medicine, in collaboration with the Allegheny County Fire Academy, have received a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fire Prevention and Safety grant to conduct a study designed to develop optimal methods of reducing acute cardiovascular risk resulting from exposure to heat stress during fire suppression.

Broad-based group of physicians calls for improvement in stroke treatment

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

(August 21, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC) � A coalition of physicians representing a wide range of medical specialties has issued a call to action to improve the treatment of stroke. The group, which includes nationally recognized leaders in neurology, neuroradiology, neurosurgery, vascular surgery, and cardiology, was drawn together by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) to address one of the most pressing medical needs in this country�the rapid treatment of stroke using catheter-based techniques.

AIDS not the downfall of African families; MU study finds poverty is the prevailing issue

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

COLUMBIA, Mo. � The media�s message is clear: the AIDS epidemic will be the downfall of families in Africa. A new study by a University of Missouri-Columbia researcher calls that an overstatement. Her study shows that AIDS compounds the issue of poverty in households where poverty is already a prevailing issue, especially when a household loses its primary income earner to AIDS.

Age alone does not increase risk of death following liver transplant among selected septuagenarians

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Advanced age alone does not appear to be associated with the risk of death following liver transplant, according to a report in the August issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Key to out-of-control immune response in lung injury found

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have discovered how a protein modulates the inflammatory response in sudden, life-threatening lung failure. The protein's previously unknown role is reported in the August issue of Nature Medicine.

Diet high in meat, fat and refined grains linked to risk for colon cancer recurrence, death

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Patients treated for colon cancer who had a diet high in meat, refined grains, fat and desserts had an increased risk of cancer recurrence and death compared with patients who had a diet high in fruits and vegetables, poultry and fish, according to a study in the August 15 issue of JAMA.

Older climbers face uphill battle on Mount Everest

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

In this era of not surrendering to age, some claim that 60 is the new 40. But new research shows that 60 year olds cannot keep up with 40 year olds on Mount Everest and suffer a sharply higher chance of dying if they do reach the summit.

Bacteria may not hasten death

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Bacteria you can live without em, but it wont do you any good, according to a study of fruit flies by University of Southern California biologists.

Electrical implant steadies balance disorder in animals

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Hearing and balance experts at Johns Hopkins report successful testing in animals of an electrical device that partly restores a damaged or impaired sense of balance.

Novel candidate biomarker for heart failure also strongly predicts risk of death

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

A potential new biomarker for heart failure may be more powerful than established measures in identifying patients at increased risk for death from several causes. In a report to appear in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology that has received early online release, an international research team describes finding that blood levels of a protein called ST2 both indicate the presence of heart failure among patient with shortness of breath and powerfully predict the risk that a patient will die during the following year. Improved understanding of how ST2 and other biomarkers reflect aspects of the hearts hormonal environment someday may allow clinicians to develop more effective, individualized treatment plans.

Inhaled nitric oxide safe for tiny preemie lungs, UCSF study finds

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

A nationwide study led by researchers at UCSF provides evidence that inhaled nitric oxide is safe and effective for the prevention of the most common type of long-term lung disease of very premature infants.

Experts predict high mortality rates from pulmonary fibrosis will continue to rise

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Mortality rates from pulmonary fibrosis (PF) have increased significantly in recent years, and are predicted to continue to rise, according to researchers from the University of Colorado.

Poor health literacy associated with increased mortality in the elderly

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Older adults who cannot read and understand basic health information appear to have increased mortality rates over a five-year period than those with adequate health literacy, according to a report in the July 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

'Preconditioning' helps protect brain's blood vessels from stroke

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (July 17, 2007) -- Challenging brain tissue with a small noxious stimulus beforehand gives it a resilience that can lessen damage to blood vessels during a stroke, report researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.

Reducing insulin signaling in the brain can prolong lifespan

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

One route to a long and healthy life may be establishing the right balance in insulin signaling between the brain and the rest of the body, according to new research from Childrens Hospital Boston. The study, published in the July 20 issue of Science, not only reinforces the value of exercising and eating in moderation, but also helps explain a paradox in longevity research.

RAND study finds senior drivers less likely than youngest drivers to cause accidents

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Drivers 65 and older are just one-third as likely as drivers 15 to 24 to cause auto accidents, and not much more likely than drivers 25 to 64 to cause accidents, according to a RAND Corporation study issued today.

MIT IDs mechanism behind fear

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--Researchers from MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory have uncovered a molecular mechanism that governs the formation of fears stemming from traumatic events. The work could lead to the first drug to treat the millions of adults who suffer each year from persistent, debilitating fears - including hundreds of soldiers returning from conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Groin injuries averted by preseason injury prevention

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

CALGARY, Alberta -- Professional soccer players who participated in a special preseason groin injury prevention program had fewer groin injuries during that subsequent season than those who were not in the program, according to new research released today at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine at the Telus Convention Center (July 12-15).

Neoprene sleeve equal to knee brace during recovery from ACL surgery

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

CALGARY, Alberta -- Users of functional knee braces and neoprene sleeves have similar recoveries from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, according to new research presented today at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine at the Telus Convention Center (July 12-15).

Network model predicts risk of death in sickle cell disease

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

(Boston) Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) have developed a method to estimate sickle cell disease severity and predict the risk of death in people with this disease. The study appears online in the June issue of the journal Blood.

Cigarette smoking impairs ligament healing, researchers find

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 10:00:00 PST

The list of reasons you shouldn't smoke has gotten longer. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are reporting that smoking interferes with ligament healing.

Visual impairment associated with increased mortality risk

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Individuals age 49 and older with cataract and those age 49 to 74 years with age-related macular degeneration appear to have higher mortality rates over an 11-year period than those without such visual impairments, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Children's scientists discover fundamental protein instrumental to brain development and repair

Sun, 08 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Washington, DCScientists at Childrens National Medical Center have demonstrated conclusively that a specific protein and its signaling activity are instrumental in myelination and remyelination, processes essential to the creation and repair of the brains white matter. This groundbreaking discovery in mouse models points the way to developing treatments or interventions to enhance healthy brain development and/or brain disease repair in children and adults. The paper will be published in the August issue of Nature Neuroscience.

University of Cincinnati receives $1.7M to research molecular treatment of brain injury

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

CINCINNATIThe National Institutes of Health has awarded $1.7 million to a University of Cincinnati (UC) scientist to do molecular research that could lead to better treatments for brain injury patients.

War trauma set to increase in the UK

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

The number of UK veterans suffering the debilitating effects of war trauma is set to increase, according to a University of Nottingham academic.

Blood clotting protein may inhibit spinal cord regeneration

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Fibrinogen, a blood-clotting protein found in circulating blood, has been found to inhibit the growth of central nervous system neuronal cells, a process that is necessary for the regeneration of the spinal cord after traumatic injury. The findings by researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, may explain why the human body is unable to repair itself after most spinal cord injuries.

It's not too late to change -- lowering cardiac risk later in life

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Can adopting a healthier lifestyle later in life help -- or is it too late? In a study published in the July 2007 issue of The American Journal of Medicine, researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston found that people 45 to 64 years of age who added healthy lifestyle behaviors could substantially reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and reduce their death rate. Once these people achieved 4 healthy behaviors, eating at least 5 fruits and vegetables daily, exercising at least 2.5 hours per week, maintaining their Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5 and 30 kg/m, and not smoking, investigators saw a 35% reduction in CVD incidence and a 40% reduction in mortality compared to people with less healthy lifestyles.

Children with serious complex illness more likely than before to die at home than in the hospital

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Children who die of a chronic illness are more likely to spend their final days at home compared to children who died two decades ago.

Place of death shifting for children with complex chronic conditions

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

It is becoming more common for children with complex chronic conditions to die in their home than in a hospital, although black and Hispanic children with these conditions are less likely to die in their home, according to a study in the June 27 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on chronic diseases of children.

Community Oncology explores pitched debate over anemia-fighting drugs

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

The June issue of Elseviers Community Oncology takes an in-depth look at the charge that ESAs, generally considered vital to cancer patients quality of life, are overprescribed for profit. Scientists, oncologists, and critics of oncologists are in a heated debate now over the use of ESAs, or erythropoiesis-stimulating agentsdrugs that fight anemia by boosting levels of oxygen-carrying red blood cells and the protein hemoglobin.

More than just bare bones -- New research suggests emotions can affect recovery from hip surgery

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

ST. LOUIS -- A patients emotional state plays a significant role in his or her recovery from hip surgery, suggests Saint Louis University research published this month.

Demonic possession and miraculous healing

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Latest research into health in medieval Europe taking in everything from demonic possession to miracles of healing is to be revealed at The University of Nottingham.

Promising results from first gene therapy clinical trial for Parkinson's disease reported

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (June 21, 2007) -- In what could be a breakthrough in the treatment of neurological disease, a team led by physician-scientists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center has completed the first-ever phase 1 clinical trial using gene therapy to battle Parkinson's disease.

The art of aging: New journal unites humanities and gerontology

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

With the release of its inaugural double issue this June, the Journal of Aging, Humanities, and the Arts (JAHA) seeks to create a dialogue between the humanities, medical science, and the social sciences around issues of aging, according to journal editors Anne Wyatt-Brown and Dana Burr Bradley. Printed four times a year by Routledge, JAHA is the official publication of the Humanities and Arts Committee of The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

Obese heart attack patients are more likely to survive after treatment than normal weight patients

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Obese and very obese patients have a lower risk of dying after they have been treated for heart attacks than do normal weight patients, according to research published in the European Heart Journal today (Wednesday 20 June). [1]