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** ALZHEIMER'S / DEMENTIA News **
Deaths From Dementia Soar According To New Study
http://mnt.to/a/4cb2
Dementia and Alzheimer's disease have risen from the 24th leading cause of death in the UK to the 10th in the last 20 years according to a study published in The Lancet today (Tuesday 5 March 2013).
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** ARTHRITIS / RHEUMATOLOGY News **
Salt May Play Role In Autoimmune Disease
http://mnt.to/a/4cbr
A healthy immune system is a finely balanced system: too little activity and we fall prey to disease, too much, and it attacks our own tissue, triggering autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis.
Wide Disparities In Access To Latest Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs Across Europe
http://mnt.to/a/4cbc
26 countries can't afford certain disease modifying drugs, so excluding 320 million peopleThe cost of one year 's treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with new generation drugs is more than the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of 26 European countries, reveals research published online in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Use Of Certain Therapies For Inflammatory Diseases Does Not Appear To Increase Risk Of Shingles
http://mnt.to/a/4c9S
Although patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a disproportionately higher incidence of herpes zoster (shingles), an analysis that included nearly 60,000 patients with RA and other inflammatory diseases found that those who initiated anti-tumor necrosis factor therapies were not at higher risk of herpes zoster compared with patients who initiated nonbiologic treatment regimens, according to a study appearing in the March 6 issue of JAMA.
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** BACK PAIN News **
Home Aerobic Walking Program As Effective As Clinical Therapy In Treating Lower Back Pain
http://mnt.to/a/4c9m
Lower back pain is a common complaint, and treatment often requires many hours of physical therapy over multiple weekly clinic visits - a costly commitment. Now Dr. Michal Katz-Leurer of Tel Aviv University's Stanley Steyer School of Health Professions at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine says that a simple aerobic walking program is as effective in alleviating lower back pain as muscle strengthening programs that require specialized equipment in rehabilitation clinics.
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** BIOLOGY / BIOCHEMISTRY News **
Researchers Uncover Veritable 'Assembly Plants' In Mitochondria, The Organelles Responsible For Energy Production
http://mnt.to/a/4c8X
Mitochondria, which are probably derived from distant bacterial ancestors incorporated into our cells, have their own DNA. However, we know little about how these organelles, which convert oxygen and consumed nutrients into energy, regulate the expression of their own genes.
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** BLOOD / HEMATOLOGY News **
Base Deficit A Better Way Of Estimating Blood Loss
http://mnt.to/a/4c8R
Research suggests that there may be a better way of measuring blood loss due to trauma than the current method, finds an article in BioMed Central's open access journal Critical Care. The study shows that base deficit (BD) is a better indicator of hypovolemic shock than the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) classification, which uses a combination of heart rate, systolic blood pressure and the Glasgow Coma Scale.
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** BREAST CANCER News **
FDA Approves Two Dako Assays As Companion Diagnostics For Genentech's New Breast Cancer Medicine Kadcyla
http://mnt.to/a/4cbd
Dako, an Agilent Technologies Company and worldwide provider of cancer diagnostics, announced today it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the addition of Kadcyla in the labeling of two Dako companion diagnostic assays.
To Improve Patient Care, Better Estrogen Testing Methods Needed
http://mnt.to/a/4c9G
In a Position Statement, The Endocrine Society advocates that all methods for measuring estrogens, which play a crucial role in human biology, be made traceable to a common standard.In addition to the well-known role of estrogens in sexual development, these hormones, particularly estradiol, have a significant impact on the health of the skin, blood vessels, bones, muscle, kidney, liver, digestive system, brain, lung and pancreas.
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** CANCER / ONCOLOGY News **
What Is Stomach Cancer? What Is Gastric Cancer?
http://mnt.to/a/4cbS
Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is the accumulation of an abnormal (malignant, cancerous) group of cells that form a tumor in any part of the stomach - in most cases, it refers to cancer that starts off in the mucus-producing cells on the lining of the inside of the stomach (adenocarcinoma).
Strong Link Between Processed Meat And Premature Death
http://mnt.to/a/4cbH
In a huge study of half a million men and women, research in Biomed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine demonstrates an association between processed meat and cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Tumours Deliberately Create Conditions That Inhibit Body's Best Immune Response So Cancer Can Progress
http://mnt.to/a/4c9R
New research in the Journal of Clinical Investigation reveals that tumours in melanoma patients deliberately create conditions that knock out the body's 'premier' immune defence and instead attract a weaker immune response unable to kill off the tumour's cancerous cells.
First Successful Blocking Of Tumor Development In A Genetic Mouse Model Of An Incurable Human Cancer
http://mnt.to/a/4c9p
"To my knowledge, this is the first time that a mouse model of a genetically defined malignant human cancer has been generated in which the formation of the tumor from beginning to end can be monitored and in which blocking the pathway cures the mouse of the tumor," said Dr.
Imroved Understanding Of Peripheral Neuropathy
http://mnt.to/a/4c9n
One in 25,000 people worldwide is affected by neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), a condition where the loss of a tumour suppressor called Merlin results in multiple tumours in the brain and nervous system.
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** CARDIOVASCULAR / CARDIOLOGY News **
Processed Meat Increases Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease & Early Death
http://mnt.to/a/4ccj
Processed meat is now linked to cardiovascular disease and cancer, according to a new, large scale study published in the journal BMC Medicine.It is often tough to calculate the effect of eating meat on health because of the confounding effect lifestyle has on health.
Early Evidence Shows 'Good' Cholesterol Could Combat Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
http://mnt.to/a/4cc3
New research provides early evidence that 'good' cholesterol may possess anti-aneurysm forming properties. In laboratory-based investigations, scientists found that increased levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), the so-called good cholesterol, blocked the development of aneurysms - dangerous 'ballooning' in the wall of a blood vessel - in the body's largest artery, the aorta.
Study Examines Thinning Of Heart Muscle Wall Among Patients With Coronary Artery Disease
http://mnt.to/a/4c9V
Among patients with coronary artery disease referred for cardiovascular magnetic resonance and found to have regional myocardial wall thinning (of the heart muscle), limited scar burden was associated with improved contraction of the heart and reversal of wall thinning after revascularization, suggesting that myocardial thinning is potentially reversible, according to a study appearing in the March 6 issue of JAMA.
Scarring Of Heart Muscle Associated With Increased Risk Of Death In Patients With Type Of Cardiomyopathy
http://mnt.to/a/4c9T
Detection of midwall fibrosis (the presence of scar tissue in the middle of the heart muscle wall) via magnetic resonance imaging among patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (a condition affecting the heart muscle) was associated with an increased likelihood of death, according to a study appearing in the March 6 issue of JAMA.
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** CHOLESTEROL News **
Early Evidence Shows 'Good' Cholesterol Could Combat Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
http://mnt.to/a/4cc3
New research provides early evidence that 'good' cholesterol may possess anti-aneurysm forming properties. In laboratory-based investigations, scientists found that increased levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), the so-called good cholesterol, blocked the development of aneurysms - dangerous 'ballooning' in the wall of a blood vessel - in the body's largest artery, the aorta.
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** COLORECTAL CANCER News **
What Is Stomach Cancer? What Is Gastric Cancer?
http://mnt.to/a/4cbS
Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is the accumulation of an abnormal (malignant, cancerous) group of cells that form a tumor in any part of the stomach - in most cases, it refers to cancer that starts off in the mucus-producing cells on the lining of the inside of the stomach (adenocarcinoma).
Study Supports Current Screening Practices And Recommendations For Colonoscopy
http://mnt.to/a/4c9h
A new study led by a researcher at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania adds support to current medical recommendations stating that screening colonoscopy substantially reduces an average-risk adult's likelihood of being diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) in either the right or left side of the colon.
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** COPD News **
Bitter Compounds Have The Potential To Be Used Therapeutically To Relax Airways
http://mnt.to/a/4c8K
That kale and bitter melon you are eating may someday save your life. An interdisciplinary team of scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have taken a step forward in understanding how the substances that give some foods their bitter flavor also act to reverse the contraction of airway cells, a process known as bronchodilation.
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** COSMETIC MEDICINE / PLASTIC SURGERY News **
The Joint Facial And Invasive Neck Trauma (J-FAINT) Project, Iraq And Afghanistan 2003-2011
http://mnt.to/a/4c9x
With over 37,000 face and neck injuries in more than 7,000 military personnel during Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF), a new study in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery concludes additional training in the management of these injuries and improvements in body armor could be beneficial.
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** DEPRESSION News **
Brain Scan Study Sheds Light On Source Of Mood Disorders
http://mnt.to/a/4cb6
People at risk of depression could benefit from earlier medical care, a brain study suggests.Researchers have found that some people with a family history of mood disorder have increased activity in the insula cortex - a part of the brain that regulates mood - even before they become unwell.
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** DIABETES News **
Diabetes Costs The US $245 Billion A Year Says New Report
http://mnt.to/a/4cck
Diagnosed diabetes cost the United States an estimated $245 billion in 2012, according to new research released by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) this week. The new figure represents a 41% rise in five years.
Identification Of Genetic Mutation May Open Up New Treatment Options For Type 1 Diabetes
http://mnt.to/a/4c8J
In type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, but the precise cause has not been clear. A study published by Cell Press in Cell Metabolism reveals that a single mutation in the "longevity gene" SIRT1 can cause type 1 diabetes in humans.
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** EAR, NOSE AND THROAT News **
Breakthrough For Tinnitus Sufferers
http://mnt.to/a/4cb8
Temporary tinnitus - also known as 'Ringing in the Ears' caused by exposure to loud music or noisy machinery now solved by academics.A company set up by physics students at the University of Edinburgh and University College Dublin has come up with a solution to the problem of temporary tinnitus - or 'ringing in the ears', so often a result of exposure to loud music or working in a noisy environment.
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** EATING DISORDERS News **
Brain Pacemaker May Help Treat Patients With Anorexia
http://mnt.to/a/4ccm
Surgically implanting a pacemaker into the brains of severe anorexia patients may help treat their symptoms.The neurosurgical implant was used safely for the first time in six patients with severe and enduring anorexia after receiving no benefits from other known treatments.
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** ENDOCRINOLOGY News **
To Improve Patient Care, Better Estrogen Testing Methods Needed
http://mnt.to/a/4c9G
In a Position Statement, The Endocrine Society advocates that all methods for measuring estrogens, which play a crucial role in human biology, be made traceable to a common standard.In addition to the well-known role of estrogens in sexual development, these hormones, particularly estradiol, have a significant impact on the health of the skin, blood vessels, bones, muscle, kidney, liver, digestive system, brain, lung and pancreas.
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** GASTROINTESTINAL / GASTROENTEROLOGY News **
What Is Stomach Cancer? What Is Gastric Cancer?
http://mnt.to/a/4cbS
Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is the accumulation of an abnormal (malignant, cancerous) group of cells that form a tumor in any part of the stomach - in most cases, it refers to cancer that starts off in the mucus-producing cells on the lining of the inside of the stomach (adenocarcinoma).
Microbiologists On The Trail Of Mucus-Eaters In The Gut
http://mnt.to/a/4c9b
The microbiology team of David Berry, Alexander Loy and Michael Wagner from the Faculty of Life Sciences, in collaboration with scientists at the Max F. Perutz Laboratories (University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna) and with the help of NanoSIMS technology, has for the first time succeeded in directly observing microorganisms feeding on the intestinal mucosa.
Strengthening The US Response To Foodborne Disease Outbreaks
http://mnt.to/a/4c96
Executive SummaryFoodborne illness sickens or kills an extraordinary number of people each year. It also has great economic costs. Last year, an outbreak linked to contaminated cantaloupe in the United States sickened 146 and killed 30.
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** GENETICS News **
Key To Heart Failure Discovered, New Therapies On Horizon
http://mnt.to/a/4c9B
Some 5.8 million Americans suffer from heart failure, a currently incurable disease. But scientists at Temple University School of Medicine's (TUSM) Center for Translational Medicine have discovered a key biochemical step underlying the condition that could aid the development of new drugs to treat and possibly prevent it.
Gene Deletion In Mice Eliminates Obesity, Could Work For Humans
http://mnt.to/a/4c9q
Researchers have discovered that deleting a specific gene in mice prevents them from becoming obese even on a high fat diet, a finding they believe may be replicated in humans."When fed a diet that induces obesity these mice don't get fat," said Prof.
First Successful Blocking Of Tumor Development In A Genetic Mouse Model Of An Incurable Human Cancer
http://mnt.to/a/4c9p
"To my knowledge, this is the first time that a mouse model of a genetically defined malignant human cancer has been generated in which the formation of the tumor from beginning to end can be monitored and in which blocking the pathway cures the mouse of the tumor," said Dr.
Familial Parkinson's: Improper Protein Digestion In Neurons Identified As A Cause
http://mnt.to/a/4c9k
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC), with collaborators at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, have discovered how the most common genetic mutations in familial Parkinson's disease damage brain cells.
Genome Police May Be Undermined By Selfish Gene
http://mnt.to/a/4c95
Biologists have been observing the "selfish" genetic entity segregation distorter (SD) in fruit flies for decades. Its story is a thriller among molecules, in which the SD gene destroys maturing sperm that have a rival chromosome.
Researchers Uncover Veritable 'Assembly Plants' In Mitochondria, The Organelles Responsible For Energy Production
http://mnt.to/a/4c8X
Mitochondria, which are probably derived from distant bacterial ancestors incorporated into our cells, have their own DNA. However, we know little about how these organelles, which convert oxygen and consumed nutrients into energy, regulate the expression of their own genes.
Discovery Of A Virus Which Infects A Host That Has A Non-Standard Nuclear Genetic Code
http://mnt.to/a/4c8W
Among eukaryotes with modified nuclear genetic codes, viruses are unknown. Until now it had been believed that the modifications to the genetic code effectively prevented new viral infections.
DNA Analysis Finds Human Y Chromosome Much Older Than Previously Thought
http://mnt.to/a/4c8M
A newly discovered Y chromosome places the most recent common ancestor for the Y chromosome lineage more 100,000 years before the oldest known anatomically modern human fossils.UA geneticists have discovered the oldest known genetic branch of the human Y chromosome - the hereditary factor determining male sex.
Genetics Journal Highlights For March 2013
http://mnt.to/a/4c8L
Listed below are the selected highlights for the March 2013 issue of the Genetics Society of America's journal, Genetics.* ISSUE HIGHLIGHTSCellular Genetics:Systems genetics implicates cytoskeletal genes in oocyte control of cloned embryo quality, pp.
Identification Of Genetic Mutation May Open Up New Treatment Options For Type 1 Diabetes
http://mnt.to/a/4c8J
In type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, but the precise cause has not been clear. A study published by Cell Press in Cell Metabolism reveals that a single mutation in the "longevity gene" SIRT1 can cause type 1 diabetes in humans.
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** HEALTH INSURANCE / MEDICAL INSURANCE News **
Study: Barriers To Prostate Cancer Care: Affordable Care Is Not Enough
http://mnt.to/a/4c9j
A combination of financial, cultural and communication barriers plays a role in preventing underserved Latino men with prostate cancer from accessing the care and treatment they need, according to a new study by researchers at the UCLA School of Nursing.
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** HEARING / DEAFNESS News **
Breakthrough For Tinnitus Sufferers
http://mnt.to/a/4cb8
Temporary tinnitus - also known as 'Ringing in the Ears' caused by exposure to loud music or noisy machinery now solved by academics.A company set up by physics students at the University of Edinburgh and University College Dublin has come up with a solution to the problem of temporary tinnitus - or 'ringing in the ears', so often a result of exposure to loud music or working in a noisy environment.
Imroved Understanding Of Peripheral Neuropathy
http://mnt.to/a/4c9n
One in 25,000 people worldwide is affected by neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), a condition where the loss of a tumour suppressor called Merlin results in multiple tumours in the brain and nervous system.
----------------------------------------------
** HEART DISEASE News **
Strong Link Between Processed Meat And Premature Death
http://mnt.to/a/4cbH
In a huge study of half a million men and women, research in Biomed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine demonstrates an association between processed meat and cardiovascular disease and cancer.
To Improve Patient Care, Better Estrogen Testing Methods Needed
http://mnt.to/a/4c9G
In a Position Statement, The Endocrine Society advocates that all methods for measuring estrogens, which play a crucial role in human biology, be made traceable to a common standard.In addition to the well-known role of estrogens in sexual development, these hormones, particularly estradiol, have a significant impact on the health of the skin, blood vessels, bones, muscle, kidney, liver, digestive system, brain, lung and pancreas.
Key To Heart Failure Discovered, New Therapies On Horizon
http://mnt.to/a/4c9B
Some 5.8 million Americans suffer from heart failure, a currently incurable disease. But scientists at Temple University School of Medicine's (TUSM) Center for Translational Medicine have discovered a key biochemical step underlying the condition that could aid the development of new drugs to treat and possibly prevent it.
Link Between Insomnia And Increased Risk Of Heart Failure
http://mnt.to/a/4c8S
People who suffer from insomnia appear to have an increased risk of developing heart failure, according to the largest study to investigate the link.The study, which is published online in the European Heart Journal [1], followed 54,279 people between the ages of 20-89 for an average of more than 11 years, and found that those who suffered from three symptoms of insomnia had a more than three-fold increased risk of developing heart failure compared to those with no insomnia symptoms.
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** HIV / AIDS News **
Improving Public Information On The Law In England And Wales Regarding Sexual Transmission Of HIV
http://mnt.to/a/4c9c
Support services for people living with HIV will benefit from better information about prosecutions for the sexual transmission of HIV, according to a report released by researchers from Sigma Research at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and Birkbeck, University of London.
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** HYPERTENSION News **
Scientists Decode The Antihypertensive Impact Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
http://mnt.to/a/4c9f
Fish is healthy: easy to digest and with a high level of precious proteins, fish is considered an important part of a healthy diet. And with the so-called omega-3 fatty acids fish contains real 'fountains of youth'.
Clinical Pharmacist-Led Free Online Monitoring Program Helps Reduce Blood Pressure
http://mnt.to/a/4c8N
People with high blood pressure enrolled in a clinical pharmacist-led web-based monitoring program were more likely to lower their pressure to recommended level than people who did not use the program.
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** IMMUNE SYSTEM / VACCINES News **
Salt May Play Role In Autoimmune Disease
http://mnt.to/a/4cbr
A healthy immune system is a finely balanced system: too little activity and we fall prey to disease, too much, and it attacks our own tissue, triggering autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis.
Tumours Deliberately Create Conditions That Inhibit Body's Best Immune Response So Cancer Can Progress
http://mnt.to/a/4c9R
New research in the Journal of Clinical Investigation reveals that tumours in melanoma patients deliberately create conditions that knock out the body's 'premier' immune defence and instead attract a weaker immune response unable to kill off the tumour's cancerous cells.
Potential Shift In Burden Of Pneumococcal Disease Suggested By New Study
http://mnt.to/a/4c8P
New studies revealed by Latin American researchers and global health leaders suggest that the highest burden of deadly pneumococcal disease in Latin America may be shifting to adults as countries successfully immunize more infants with new vaccines.
Identification Of Genetic Mutation May Open Up New Treatment Options For Type 1 Diabetes
http://mnt.to/a/4c8J
In type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, but the precise cause has not been clear. A study published by Cell Press in Cell Metabolism reveals that a single mutation in the "longevity gene" SIRT1 can cause type 1 diabetes in humans.
----------------------------------------------
** INFECTIOUS DISEASES / BACTERIA / VIRUSES News **
Microbiologists On The Trail Of Mucus-Eaters In The Gut
http://mnt.to/a/4c9b
The microbiology team of David Berry, Alexander Loy and Michael Wagner from the Faculty of Life Sciences, in collaboration with scientists at the Max F. Perutz Laboratories (University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna) and with the help of NanoSIMS technology, has for the first time succeeded in directly observing microorganisms feeding on the intestinal mucosa.
Strengthening The US Response To Foodborne Disease Outbreaks
http://mnt.to/a/4c96
Executive SummaryFoodborne illness sickens or kills an extraordinary number of people each year. It also has great economic costs. Last year, an outbreak linked to contaminated cantaloupe in the United States sickened 146 and killed 30.
Discovery Of A Virus Which Infects A Host That Has A Non-Standard Nuclear Genetic Code
http://mnt.to/a/4c8W
Among eukaryotes with modified nuclear genetic codes, viruses are unknown. Until now it had been believed that the modifications to the genetic code effectively prevented new viral infections.
Potential Shift In Burden Of Pneumococcal Disease Suggested By New Study
http://mnt.to/a/4c8P
New studies revealed by Latin American researchers and global health leaders suggest that the highest burden of deadly pneumococcal disease in Latin America may be shifting to adults as countries successfully immunize more infants with new vaccines.
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** IT / INTERNET / E-MAIL News **
Internet Searches Can Identify Drug Safety Issues Well Ahead Of Public Alerts
http://mnt.to/a/4cbb
Analysis of anonymised web log data could be used as early warning systemInternet searches on health symptoms can be used to identify drug side effects and could be used to develop a new kind of early warning system to boost drug safety, indicates a study published online in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.
Decrease In User Satisfaction With Electronic Health Records Revealed By Survey Of Clinicians
http://mnt.to/a/4c9s
Survey results just released indicate that satisfaction and usability ratings for certified electronic health records (EHRs) have decreased since 2010 among clinicians across a range of indicators.
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** LITIGATION / MEDICAL MALPRACTICE News **
Improving Public Information On The Law In England And Wales Regarding Sexual Transmission Of HIV
http://mnt.to/a/4c9c
Support services for people living with HIV will benefit from better information about prosecutions for the sexual transmission of HIV, according to a report released by researchers from Sigma Research at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and Birkbeck, University of London.
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** LUNG CANCER News **
Inhibiting Protein Prevents Metastasis To Lungs In Mouse Model Of Melanoma
http://mnt.to/a/4c9r
Researchers have identified a critical protein role in the metastasis of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Inhibition of the protein known as adenosine diphosphate ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6) reduces the spread of melanoma to the lungs in mice, according to a study published in thejournal Science Signaling online, suggesting that targeting ARF6 may be an effective approach to preventing melanoma metastasis.
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** MEDICAL DEVICES / DIAGNOSTICS News **
Eye Movement Analyzer May Diagnose Stroke
http://mnt.to/a/4cbh
A bedside device that expertly analyzes eye movements could one day save lives by helping doctors determine whether stroke is the cause of a patient's disabling, severe, continuous dizziness, or a more benign condition like vertigo.
Stroke Or Benign Dizziness? Portable Device Diagnoses Stroke With 100 Percent Accuracy
http://mnt.to/a/4c8H
A bedside electronic device that measures eye movements can successfully determine whether the cause of severe, continuous, disabling dizziness is a stroke or something benign, according to results of a small study led by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers.
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** MEDICAL PRACTICE MANAGEMENT News **
Decrease In User Satisfaction With Electronic Health Records Revealed By Survey Of Clinicians
http://mnt.to/a/4c9s
Survey results just released indicate that satisfaction and usability ratings for certified electronic health records (EHRs) have decreased since 2010 among clinicians across a range of indicators.
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** MEDICARE / MEDICAID / SCHIP News **
Current Readmission Policies Will Produce "Uncertain Success"
http://mnt.to/a/4c9y
Reducing preventable hospital readmissions is a cornerstone of emerging healthcare policy. The U.S. government has developed payment policies that will decrease payments to hospitals with excess patient readmission levels, for example.
Wide Variation In Cesarean Delivery Rates Found Among US Hospitals
http://mnt.to/a/4c9v
Cesarean delivery is the most common surgery in the United States, performed on 1.67 million American women annually. Yet hospital cesarean rates vary widely according to new research from the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health.
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** MELANOMA / SKIN CANCER News **
Inhibiting Protein Prevents Metastasis To Lungs In Mouse Model Of Melanoma
http://mnt.to/a/4c9r
Researchers have identified a critical protein role in the metastasis of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Inhibition of the protein known as adenosine diphosphate ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6) reduces the spread of melanoma to the lungs in mice, according to a study published in thejournal Science Signaling online, suggesting that targeting ARF6 may be an effective approach to preventing melanoma metastasis.
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** MRI / PET / ULTRASOUND News **
Eye Movement Analyzer May Diagnose Stroke
http://mnt.to/a/4cbh
A bedside device that expertly analyzes eye movements could one day save lives by helping doctors determine whether stroke is the cause of a patient's disabling, severe, continuous dizziness, or a more benign condition like vertigo.
Researchers Improve Ultrasound Imaging
http://mnt.to/a/4c9t
Ultrasound technology could soon experience a significant upgrade that would enable it to produce high-quality, high-resolution images, thanks to the development of a new key material by a team of researchers that includes a professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University.
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** MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS News **
Salt May Play Role In Autoimmune Disease
http://mnt.to/a/4cbr
A healthy immune system is a finely balanced system: too little activity and we fall prey to disease, too much, and it attacks our own tissue, triggering autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis.
----------------------------------------------
** NEUROLOGY / NEUROSCIENCE News **
Brain Pacemaker May Help Treat Patients With Anorexia
http://mnt.to/a/4ccm
Surgically implanting a pacemaker into the brains of severe anorexia patients may help treat their symptoms.The neurosurgical implant was used safely for the first time in six patients with severe and enduring anorexia after receiving no benefits from other known treatments.
When Patients On General Anesthetic Are Conscious - EEG Patterns Can Tell
http://mnt.to/a/4cbj
Scientists have identified electroencephalogram EEG patterns - brain electrical activity - that indicate when patients under the general anesthetic propofol lose and regain consciousness. The findings were published in the latest edition of PNAS Early Edition.
Brain Scan Study Sheds Light On Source Of Mood Disorders
http://mnt.to/a/4cb6
People at risk of depression could benefit from earlier medical care, a brain study suggests.Researchers have found that some people with a family history of mood disorder have increased activity in the insula cortex - a part of the brain that regulates mood - even before they become unwell.
First Successful Blocking Of Tumor Development In A Genetic Mouse Model Of An Incurable Human Cancer
http://mnt.to/a/4c9p
"To my knowledge, this is the first time that a mouse model of a genetically defined malignant human cancer has been generated in which the formation of the tumor from beginning to end can be monitored and in which blocking the pathway cures the mouse of the tumor," said Dr.
Imroved Understanding Of Peripheral Neuropathy
http://mnt.to/a/4c9n
One in 25,000 people worldwide is affected by neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), a condition where the loss of a tumour suppressor called Merlin results in multiple tumours in the brain and nervous system.
FMRI Can Identify A Mental Picture Of Others
http://mnt.to/a/4c99
It is possible to tell who a person is thinking about by analyzing images of his or her brain. Our mental models of people produce unique patterns of brain activation, which can be detected using advanced imaging techniques according to a study by Cornell University neuroscientist Nathan Spreng and his colleagues.
Neuroimaging Study Shows Cold Reasoning, Hot Feelings Intimately Connected
http://mnt.to/a/4c94
Kirk and Spock may not need a Vulcan mind meld to share cognition: Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute scientists have found that our cold reasoning and hot feelings may be more intimately connected than previously thought.
Fruit Flies Lacking TORC2 Show Defective Long-Term Memory Storage
http://mnt.to/a/4c93
Introductions at a party seemingly go in one ear and out the other. However, if you meet someone two or three times during the party, you are more likely to remember his or her name. Your brain has taken a short-term memory - the introduction - and converted it into a long-term one.
Brain Retains Picture Of Missing Limb After Amputation, Often Resulting In Phantom Pain
http://mnt.to/a/4c8Q
Changes in the brain following amputation have been linked to pain arising from the missing limb, called 'phantom pain', in an Oxford University brain imaging study.Arm amputees experiencing the most phantom limb pain were found to maintain stronger representation of the missing hand in the brain - to the point where it was indistinguishable from people with both hands.
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** NURSING / MIDWIFERY News **
Nurse Migration In North And Central America Could Strengthen Health Systems
http://mnt.to/a/4c98
International nurse migration is a multibillion-dollar global phenomenon. Historically, Mexicans and Central Americans have not played a significant part in the migration of nurses to the United States.
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** NUTRITION / DIET News **
Processed Meat Increases Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease & Early Death
http://mnt.to/a/4ccj
Processed meat is now linked to cardiovascular disease and cancer, according to a new, large scale study published in the journal BMC Medicine.It is often tough to calculate the effect of eating meat on health because of the confounding effect lifestyle has on health.
Strong Link Between Processed Meat And Premature Death
http://mnt.to/a/4cbH
In a huge study of half a million men and women, research in Biomed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine demonstrates an association between processed meat and cardiovascular disease and cancer.
How Do We Make Safety Claims About GMOs More Transparent?
http://mnt.to/a/4c9Z
Consumer confidence in the quality and safety of the food supply has suffered repeated blows in recent years, most recently after food inspectors in Europe found horsemeat in beef products. Restoring public trust in the food supply depends on a transparent regulatory process, and especially on public access to the research that regulators rely on.
Scientists Decode The Antihypertensive Impact Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
http://mnt.to/a/4c9f
Fish is healthy: easy to digest and with a high level of precious proteins, fish is considered an important part of a healthy diet. And with the so-called omega-3 fatty acids fish contains real 'fountains of youth'.
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** OBESITY / WEIGHT LOSS / FITNESS News **
Expectant Moms Who Are Overweight At Greater Risk For C-Sections
http://mnt.to/a/4cbm
Expectant mothers who have a pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) of 40 have an increased risk of cesarean section (c-section) deliveries.This new finding was published in the journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, and suggests that females with more than 16 kg (30 lbs.
Gene Deletion In Mice Eliminates Obesity, Could Work For Humans
http://mnt.to/a/4c9q
Researchers have discovered that deleting a specific gene in mice prevents them from becoming obese even on a high fat diet, a finding they believe may be replicated in humans."When fed a diet that induces obesity these mice don't get fat," said Prof.
Obesity In Pregnancy Increases Risk Of C-Section
http://mnt.to/a/4c97
Researchers from Norway found that women with a pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) of 40 had an increased risk of vacuum extraction delivery or Cesarean section (C-section). Findings that appear in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, a journal published by Wiley on behalf of the Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology, indicate that women with more than a 16 kg (30 lbs) weight gain during pregnancy increased their risk of forceps or vacuum extraction, and C-section.
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** PAIN / ANESTHETICS News **
When Patients On General Anesthetic Are Conscious - EEG Patterns Can Tell
http://mnt.to/a/4cbj
Scientists have identified electroencephalogram EEG patterns - brain electrical activity - that indicate when patients under the general anesthetic propofol lose and regain consciousness. The findings were published in the latest edition of PNAS Early Edition.
Brain Retains Picture Of Missing Limb After Amputation, Often Resulting In Phantom Pain
http://mnt.to/a/4c8Q
Changes in the brain following amputation have been linked to pain arising from the missing limb, called 'phantom pain', in an Oxford University brain imaging study.Arm amputees experiencing the most phantom limb pain were found to maintain stronger representation of the missing hand in the brain - to the point where it was indistinguishable from people with both hands.
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** PARKINSON'S DISEASE News **
Familial Parkinson's: Improper Protein Digestion In Neurons Identified As A Cause
http://mnt.to/a/4c9k
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC), with collaborators at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, have discovered how the most common genetic mutations in familial Parkinson's disease damage brain cells.
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** PHARMACY / PHARMACIST News **
Clinical Pharmacist-Led Free Online Monitoring Program Helps Reduce Blood Pressure
http://mnt.to/a/4c8N
People with high blood pressure enrolled in a clinical pharmacist-led web-based monitoring program were more likely to lower their pressure to recommended level than people who did not use the program.
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** PREGNANCY / OBSTETRICS News **
Expectant Moms Who Are Overweight At Greater Risk For C-Sections
http://mnt.to/a/4cbm
Expectant mothers who have a pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) of 40 have an increased risk of cesarean section (c-section) deliveries.This new finding was published in the journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, and suggests that females with more than 16 kg (30 lbs.
Wide Variation In Cesarean Delivery Rates Found Among US Hospitals
http://mnt.to/a/4c9v
Cesarean delivery is the most common surgery in the United States, performed on 1.67 million American women annually. Yet hospital cesarean rates vary widely according to new research from the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health.
Obesity In Pregnancy Increases Risk Of C-Section
http://mnt.to/a/4c97
Researchers from Norway found that women with a pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) of 40 had an increased risk of vacuum extraction delivery or Cesarean section (C-section). Findings that appear in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, a journal published by Wiley on behalf of the Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology, indicate that women with more than a 16 kg (30 lbs) weight gain during pregnancy increased their risk of forceps or vacuum extraction, and C-section.
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** PREVENTIVE MEDICINE News **
Study Supports Current Screening Practices And Recommendations For Colonoscopy
http://mnt.to/a/4c9h
A new study led by a researcher at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania adds support to current medical recommendations stating that screening colonoscopy substantially reduces an average-risk adult's likelihood of being diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) in either the right or left side of the colon.
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** PROSTATE / PROSTATE CANCER News **
Study: Barriers To Prostate Cancer Care: Affordable Care Is Not Enough
http://mnt.to/a/4c9j
A combination of financial, cultural and communication barriers plays a role in preventing underserved Latino men with prostate cancer from accessing the care and treatment they need, according to a new study by researchers at the UCLA School of Nursing.
Prostate Cancer Visualized Using Novel Small Molecules
http://mnt.to/a/4c92
Two novel radiolabeled small molecules targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) have excellent potential for further development as diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, according to research published this month in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
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** PSYCHOLOGY / PSYCHIATRY News **
New Mothers At Risk Of OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)
http://mnt.to/a/4cbn
New mothers suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms more than the general population, according to new research carried out by Northwestern Medicine and published in The Journal of Reproductive Medicine.
Video Games Help Seniors Stay Happier And Healthier
http://mnt.to/a/4cbk
Older adults who play video games are more likely to be happier and have better emotional health.The finding came from a new study by experts from North Carolina State University and was published in Computers in Human Behavior.
Improved Emotional Well-Being Reported By Seniors Who Play Video Games
http://mnt.to/a/4c9w
New research from North Carolina State University finds that older adults who play video games report higher levels of emotional well-being.Researchers asked 140 people aged 63 and older how often they played video games, if at all.
Neuroimaging Study Shows Cold Reasoning, Hot Feelings Intimately Connected
http://mnt.to/a/4c94
Kirk and Spock may not need a Vulcan mind meld to share cognition: Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute scientists have found that our cold reasoning and hot feelings may be more intimately connected than previously thought.
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** PUBLIC HEALTH News **
Diabetes Costs The US $245 Billion A Year Says New Report
http://mnt.to/a/4cck
Diagnosed diabetes cost the United States an estimated $245 billion in 2012, according to new research released by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) this week. The new figure represents a 41% rise in five years.
Internet Searches Can Identify Drug Safety Issues Well Ahead Of Public Alerts
http://mnt.to/a/4cbb
Analysis of anonymised web log data could be used as early warning systemInternet searches on health symptoms can be used to identify drug side effects and could be used to develop a new kind of early warning system to boost drug safety, indicates a study published online in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.
Current Readmission Policies Will Produce "Uncertain Success"
http://mnt.to/a/4c9y
Reducing preventable hospital readmissions is a cornerstone of emerging healthcare policy. The U.S. government has developed payment policies that will decrease payments to hospitals with excess patient readmission levels, for example.
Study: Barriers To Prostate Cancer Care: Affordable Care Is Not Enough
http://mnt.to/a/4c9j
A combination of financial, cultural and communication barriers plays a role in preventing underserved Latino men with prostate cancer from accessing the care and treatment they need, according to a new study by researchers at the UCLA School of Nursing.
Marriage And Health: As Self-Rated Health Declines The Mortality Advantage For Married People Diminishes
http://mnt.to/a/4c9g
Marriage may not always be as beneficial to health as experts have led us to believe, according to a new study.Researchers made two discoveries that explain why: First, marriage provides less protection against mortality as health deteriorates, even though it does seem to benefit those who are in excellent health.
Improving Public Information On The Law In England And Wales Regarding Sexual Transmission Of HIV
http://mnt.to/a/4c9c
Support services for people living with HIV will benefit from better information about prosecutions for the sexual transmission of HIV, according to a report released by researchers from Sigma Research at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and Birkbeck, University of London.
Nurse Migration In North And Central America Could Strengthen Health Systems
http://mnt.to/a/4c98
International nurse migration is a multibillion-dollar global phenomenon. Historically, Mexicans and Central Americans have not played a significant part in the migration of nurses to the United States.
Strengthening The US Response To Foodborne Disease Outbreaks
http://mnt.to/a/4c96
Executive SummaryFoodborne illness sickens or kills an extraordinary number of people each year. It also has great economic costs. Last year, an outbreak linked to contaminated cantaloupe in the United States sickened 146 and killed 30.
Mathematical Model Of Disease Transmission Can Estimate The Pandemic Potential Of A Zoonotic Virus Like Swine Flu
http://mnt.to/a/4c8Z
A simple new method better assesses the risks posed by emerging zoonotic viruses (those transmissible from animals to humans), according to a study published in PLOS Medicine this week. Dr. Simon Cauchemez and colleagues from Imperial College London in the UK and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US show that the new tool can produce transmissibility estimates for swine flu (the H3N2v-M virus), allowing researchers to better evaluate the possible pandemic threat posed by this virus.
In The UK Disabled Employees Are At Double The Risk Of Being Attacked At Work
http://mnt.to/a/4c8T
Employees with disabilities are twice as likely to be attacked at work and they experience higher rates of insults, ridicule and intimidation, a new UK study has found.Researchers from Cardiff and Plymouth universities found that people with physical or psychological disabilities or long-term illness reported higher rates of 21 types of ill-treatment than other workers did, often from their managers and colleagues.
Base Deficit A Better Way Of Estimating Blood Loss
http://mnt.to/a/4c8R
Research suggests that there may be a better way of measuring blood loss due to trauma than the current method, finds an article in BioMed Central's open access journal Critical Care. The study shows that base deficit (BD) is a better indicator of hypovolemic shock than the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) classification, which uses a combination of heart rate, systolic blood pressure and the Glasgow Coma Scale.
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** RADIOLOGY / NUCLEAR MEDICINE News **
Prostate Cancer Visualized Using Novel Small Molecules
http://mnt.to/a/4c92
Two novel radiolabeled small molecules targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) have excellent potential for further development as diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, according to research published this month in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
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** REHABILITATION / PHYSICAL THERAPY News **
Home Aerobic Walking Program As Effective As Clinical Therapy In Treating Lower Back Pain
http://mnt.to/a/4c9m
Lower back pain is a common complaint, and treatment often requires many hours of physical therapy over multiple weekly clinic visits - a costly commitment. Now Dr. Michal Katz-Leurer of Tel Aviv University's Stanley Steyer School of Health Professions at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine says that a simple aerobic walking program is as effective in alleviating lower back pain as muscle strengthening programs that require specialized equipment in rehabilitation clinics.
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** RESPIRATORY / ASTHMA News **
Potential Shift In Burden Of Pneumococcal Disease Suggested By New Study
http://mnt.to/a/4c8P
New studies revealed by Latin American researchers and global health leaders suggest that the highest burden of deadly pneumococcal disease in Latin America may be shifting to adults as countries successfully immunize more infants with new vaccines.
Bitter Compounds Have The Potential To Be Used Therapeutically To Relax Airways
http://mnt.to/a/4c8K
That kale and bitter melon you are eating may someday save your life. An interdisciplinary team of scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have taken a step forward in understanding how the substances that give some foods their bitter flavor also act to reverse the contraction of airway cells, a process known as bronchodilation.
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** SENIORS / AGING News **
Video Games Help Seniors Stay Happier And Healthier
http://mnt.to/a/4cbk
Older adults who play video games are more likely to be happier and have better emotional health.The finding came from a new study by experts from North Carolina State University and was published in Computers in Human Behavior.
Index May Help Predict 10-Year Mortality Among Older Adults
http://mnt.to/a/4c9X
"Recent guidelines recommend considering patients' life expectancy when deciding whether to pursue preventive interventions with long lag times to benefit (7 years or more) such as colorectal cancer screening and intensive glycemic control for diabetes.
Improved Emotional Well-Being Reported By Seniors Who Play Video Games
http://mnt.to/a/4c9w
New research from North Carolina State University finds that older adults who play video games report higher levels of emotional well-being.Researchers asked 140 people aged 63 and older how often they played video games, if at all.
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** SLEEP / SLEEP DISORDERS / INSOMNIA News **
Link Between Insomnia And Increased Risk Of Heart Failure
http://mnt.to/a/4c8S
People who suffer from insomnia appear to have an increased risk of developing heart failure, according to the largest study to investigate the link.The study, which is published online in the European Heart Journal [1], followed 54,279 people between the ages of 20-89 for an average of more than 11 years, and found that those who suffered from three symptoms of insomnia had a more than three-fold increased risk of developing heart failure compared to those with no insomnia symptoms.
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** SPORTS MEDICINE / FITNESS News **
Short Bouts Of Exercise Boost Self Control
http://mnt.to/a/4cb9
Increased blood and oxygen flow to pre-frontal area of brain may explain effectsShort bouts of moderately intense exercise seem to boost self control, indicates an analysis of the published evidence in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
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** STROKE News **
Eye Movement Analyzer May Diagnose Stroke
http://mnt.to/a/4cbh
A bedside device that expertly analyzes eye movements could one day save lives by helping doctors determine whether stroke is the cause of a patient's disabling, severe, continuous dizziness, or a more benign condition like vertigo.
Stroke Or Benign Dizziness? Portable Device Diagnoses Stroke With 100 Percent Accuracy
http://mnt.to/a/4c8H
A bedside electronic device that measures eye movements can successfully determine whether the cause of severe, continuous, disabling dizziness is a stroke or something benign, according to results of a small study led by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers.
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** SWINE FLU News **
Mathematical Model Of Disease Transmission Can Estimate The Pandemic Potential Of A Zoonotic Virus Like Swine Flu
http://mnt.to/a/4c8Z
A simple new method better assesses the risks posed by emerging zoonotic viruses (those transmissible from animals to humans), according to a study published in PLOS Medicine this week. Dr. Simon Cauchemez and colleagues from Imperial College London in the UK and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US show that the new tool can produce transmissibility estimates for swine flu (the H3N2v-M virus), allowing researchers to better evaluate the possible pandemic threat posed by this virus.
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** TROPICAL DISEASES News **
Increasing Resistance To First Line Anti-Malarial Drugs On The Thai-Myanmar Border
http://mnt.to/a/4c8Y
Early diagnosis and treatment with antimalarial drugs (ACTs - artemisinin based combination treatments) has been linked to a reduction in malaria in the migrant population living on the Thai-Myanmar border, despite evidence of increasing resistance to ACTs in this location, according to a study by international researchers published in this week's PLOS Medicine.
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** UROLOGY / NEPHROLOGY News **
Study Shows Mirabegron Effective And Well Tolerated For Overactive Bladder
http://mnt.to/a/4cb3
New Option for Patients Bothered by Antimuscarinic Side Effects, Reported in The Journal of UrologyIn a new phase III trial mirabegron, a β3-adrenoceptor agonist, given once daily for 12 weeks, reduced the frequency of incontinence episodes and number of daily urinations, and improved urgency and nocturia in adults with overactive bladder (OAB) compared to those in a placebo group.
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** VASCULAR News **
Early Evidence Shows 'Good' Cholesterol Could Combat Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
http://mnt.to/a/4cc3
New research provides early evidence that 'good' cholesterol may possess anti-aneurysm forming properties. In laboratory-based investigations, scientists found that increased levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), the so-called good cholesterol, blocked the development of aneurysms - dangerous 'ballooning' in the wall of a blood vessel - in the body's largest artery, the aorta.
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** VETERANS / EX-SERVICEMEN News **
The Joint Facial And Invasive Neck Trauma (J-FAINT) Project, Iraq And Afghanistan 2003-2011
http://mnt.to/a/4c9x
With over 37,000 face and neck injuries in more than 7,000 military personnel during Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF), a new study in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery concludes additional training in the management of these injuries and improvements in body armor could be beneficial.
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** WATER - AIR QUALITY / AGRICULTURE News **
Herbal Defluoridation Of Drinking Water
http://mnt.to/a/4c9d
Researchers in India have developed a filter system based on a medicinal herb, which they say can quickly and easily remove "fluoride" from drinking water. The technology described in the March issue of the International Journal of Environmental Engineering uses parts of the plant Tridax procumbens as a biocarbon filter for the ion.
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