Medical News

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• Study supports traffic pollution link to allergic disorders in childhood
• Recurrent asthma attacks may accelerate airway remodeling
• High dose ICSs in early pregnancy linked to congenital malformations
• Translation of positive affect into motivation lacking in schizophrenia
• Circadian rhythm genes linked to pediatric bipolar disorder
• HeartMate II: Continuous-flow left ventricular assist device outperforms pulsatile-flow device in advanced heart failure
• FAIR-HF: Intravenous iron improves chronic heart failure outcomes
• Parental education linked to risk for wheeze in children
• Unreported exacerbations reduce QoL in COPD patients
• Most common allergic march sequences identified
• Differences between bipolar II and unipolar depression ‘limited’
• Progressive brain changes found in chronic schizophrenia
• Statin use can lower PSA level
• Longer consultations improve patient satisfaction with surgical treatment
• LDL:HDL cholesterol ratio is marker of early atherosclerosis
• Diet induced changes in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids may reduce prostate cancer cell growth
• Abdominal investigations put IBD patients at high radiation exposure risk
• Elderly diabetes patients should be assessed for comorbid conditions
• Low-dose aspirin therapy shows no CVD benefit for Type 2 diabetics
• HeartMate II: Continuous-flow left ventricular assist device outperforms pulsatile-flow device in advanced heart failure
• FAIR-HF: Intravenous iron improves chronic heart failure outcomes
• HEAAL: High-dose beats low-dose losartan in HF
• CASCADE: No added benefit with clopidogrel for saphenous vein grafts after CABG
• No improvement in post-op CV events with liberal RBC transfusion strategy
• Bedside ONR testing in acute stroke ‘buys time for thrombolysis’
• Lung Allocation Score does not predict post-transplant survival
• Swine flu high-risk groups ‘should avoid 2009 Hajj pilgrimage’
• Uncontrolled asthma linked to increased airway inflammation and BHR
• More than 12 months’ follow-up needed to identify psychosis transition
• Comorbid disorders differ among men, women with BD
• Biennial mammography recommended for women aged 50–74 years
• Low-fat diet may decrease prostate cancer cell growth
• RALP effective for radiation-resistant prostate cancer
• Patients with familial dyslipidemia have high levels of ferritin
• Low triglycerides are risk factor for hemorrhagic stroke
• Exposure to secondhand smoke increases risk for Type 2 diabetes
• SMAP may cause increase in CVD risk in Type 2 diabetics with albuminuria
• CASCADE: No added benefit with clopidogrel for saphenous vein grafts after CABG
• No improvement in post-op CV events with liberal RBC transfusion strategy
• Anemia TREATment fails to yield CV benefits, ups stroke risk
• Primary PCI safe to perform with no on-site cardiac surgery support
• POPULAR defines platelet function assays predictive of clopidogrel outcomes
• PLATO: Ticagrelor benefits seen in STEMI subanalysis
• RE-LY on dabigatran for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation
• NO oxidation products increased in epithelial fluid of asthmatic children
• Anti-anemia drugs linked to VTE among patients with cancer
• Prostate volume increase is not a reliable cancer screening tool
• Daily vegetable intake during pregnancy may reduce diabetes risk in infants
• Influenza vaccination during pregnancy reduces flu-associated infant hospitalization
• Age, current menopausal status predict hip fracture risk
• Postmenopausal osteoporosis possible risk factor for coronary artery disease
• Genetic changes associated with disease progression in cervical cancer
• Cervical cancer effectively treated with ER-alpha blockers
• Brief educational intervention improves IUD acceptance in young women
• OC use may benefit women with asthma
• Smoking and fatty liver increase risk for the metabolic syndrome
• Concern about possible adverse lipid effects of high selenium levels
• Prehypertension increases risk for atherosclerosis in Type 2 diabetics
• Trans-catheter aortic valve implantation comes of age
• Ki67 and p53 overexpression predict neoplastic progression in BE
• Prehypertension increases risk for atherosclerosis in Type 2 diabetics
• Add-on sitagliptin improves glycemic control in Type 2 diabetes
• PLATO: Ticagrelor benefits seen in STEMI subanalysis
• Record AF: Clinical outcomes similar with rate-control and rhythm-control strategies
• RE-LY on dabigatran for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation
• CDT should be ‘first-line treatment’ for acute massive PE
• Urbanicity link to schizophrenia confirmed
• Undiagnosed AF affects a ‘substantial proportion’ of stroke patients
• Urbanicity link to schizophrenia confirmed
• No medication impact on bipolar neurocognitive performance
• Psoriasis treatment guidelines proposed for patients with concomitant HCV
• Dose–volume constraints limit rectal side effects of RT in prostate patients
• IMRT delivers high doses to prostate with satisfactory functional outcomes
• Dose–volume constraints limit rectal side effects of RT in prostate patients
• IMRT delivers high doses to prostate with satisfactory functional outcomes
• Excision alone inadequate for high grade DCIS
• Baseline lipids not predictive for stroke in NOMAS
• Fasting and measurement of triglycerides do not add to CHD risk prediction
• Swine flu mortality highest in elderly
• Percutaneous drainage remains initial treatment for iliopsoas abscess
• Type 2 diabetes increases risk for biliary and pancreatic cancer
• Ivabradine shows efficacy, tolerability in diabetics with stable CAD
• Excision alone inadequate for high grade DCIS
• No medication impact on bipolar neurocognitive performance
• Pulmonary hypertension more common than thought after submassive PE
• Quality and nature of social disability similar across affective disorders
• Pessimism shows “robust association” with stroke risk
• Quality and nature of social disability similar across affective disorders
• Genetic locus for migraine–bipolar comorbidity uncovered
• Locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer increases risk for suicide
• Statins and LXR receptor agonists offer ovarian cancer hope
• BMI and adiponectin affect <i>APOE</i> impact on lipid profile of obese children
• Hip fracture a significant concern in HF patients
• Real-world registry supports safety of DES in diabetic patients
• Reconstituted HDL improves platelet function in Type 2 diabetics
• Persistent pain common long after breast cancer surgery
• Genetic locus for migraine–bipolar comorbidity uncovered
• Individual, not composite, symptoms predict real-world functioning in schizophrenia
• Infectious burden a potential modifiable risk factor for stroke
• Raised PSA may result from elevated PTH level, not prostate cancer
• Tumor location may assist prostate cancer prognosis
• CRT-induced LV reverse remodeling described in mild HF
• Curcumin induces apoptosis-independent death in esophageal cancer cells
• Obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption increase contralateral breast cancer risk
• BD patients at high risk for PTSD following a traumatic event
• All obesity measures predict VTE risk
• Psychiatric inpatients who regain capacity accepting of surrogate treatment decisions
• Lost PSA expression indicates adverse pathology in prostate tissue
• Denser breasts linked to increased risk for cancer recurrence
• Medication adherence, clinical outcome influence psychoeducation attendance
• Extended PROLONG study follow-up supports continued VKA therapy
• ARBs protect against stroke, meta-analysis finds
• Low cholesterol means low risk for high-grade prostate cancer
• Feasible to combine radiotherapy and chemotherapy before prostate removal
• Self-reporting underestimates smoking during pregnancy
• Post-insemination immobilization increases pregnancy rates
• Combined home/GP education strategy reduces hypertension in Pakistan
• Breastfeeding does not increase postpartum IBD flare risk
• Atypical ductal hyperplasia linked to hormone therapy use
• Altered impact of dopamine transporter gene variants in schizophrenia
• Albumin excretion linked with BP in normoalbuminuric diabetic patients
• Bipolar offspring show highest risk during adolescence
• White matter disruptions found in early schizophrenia
• Serum cytokine levels altered in euthymic bipolar disorder
• Processing of input information linked to primary cognitive deficits in schizophrenia
• Surgical mask comparable to N95 respirator for protecting nurses against influenza
• Hypertension, arterial disease in middle age contribute to Alzheimer’s disease
• CRT benefit in mild HF shown by REVERSE 2-year data
• Cerebellar vermis volume raised in male BD patients
• Auditory verbal hallucinations linked to left superior temporal gyrus function
• Caregiver psychoeducation improves BD outcome in early stages

Study supports traffic pollution link to allergic disorders in childhood Posted: 18 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Results of a Japanese study support a link between pre- and/or post-natal exposure to traffic-related air pollution and the development of allergic disorders in childhood.

Recurrent asthma attacks may accelerate airway remodeling Posted: 18 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Recurrent asthma attacks may aggravate airway remodeling, say Japanese researchers who found that acute attacks are associated with hypersecretion of epidermal growth factor and amphiregulin in the airways.

High dose ICSs in early pregnancy linked to congenital malformations Posted: 18 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Children born to women who use high-dose inhaled corticosteroids during early pregnancy may face an increased risk for congenital malformations, results from a Canadian study indicate.

Translation of positive affect into motivation lacking in schizophrenia Posted: 18 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Schizophrenia patients have no deficits in the anticipation, experience, and memory of positive affective events, but they are unable to translate these into motivational states, US scientists have found.

Circadian rhythm genes linked to pediatric bipolar disorder Posted: 18 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Polymorphisms in two genes related to the circadian rhythm may be associated with the development of pediatric bipolar disorder, although not with age at onset, US researchers have discovered.

HeartMate II: Continuous-flow left ventricular assist device outperforms pulsatile-flow device in advanced heart failure Posted: 17 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST A continuous-flow left ventricular assist device achieved superior outcomes to a pulsatile-flow LVAD in patients with advanced heart failure. In the HeartMate II Destination Therapy clinical trial, 2-year survival for patients implanted with the continuous-flow device was more than double that of patients implanted with the pulsatile-flow device.

FAIR-HF: Intravenous iron improves chronic heart failure outcomes Posted: 17 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Intravenous iron treatment improves multiple clinical outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, regardless of whether or not they also have anemia, according to data from the FAIR-HF study.

Parental education linked to risk for wheeze in children Posted: 17 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST A high level of parental education is associated with an increased risk for atopic sensitization, but reduced risk for non-atopic respiratory symptoms in children, compared with a low level of parental education, research shows.

Unreported exacerbations reduce QoL in COPD patients Posted: 17 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Multiple unreported chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations have a significant negative effect on patients' health-related quality of life, study results show.

Most common allergic march sequences identified Posted: 17 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST There are numerous variants of the "allergic march," with eczema followed by asthma and then rhinitis being the most common sequence, say UK researchers.

Differences between bipolar II and unipolar depression ‘limited’ Posted: 17 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST There are limited differences between bipolar II disorder depression and unipolar depression, say Australian scientists who suggest previously suggested differences can be explained by age, gender, and severity.

Progressive brain changes found in chronic schizophrenia Posted: 17 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Brain changes continue through the course of schizophrenia, with volume and diffusion tensor imaging discrepancies indicating that the changes vary across different brain regions, conclude Japanese researchers.

Statin use can lower PSA level Posted: 17 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Prostate cancer patients who take statins have lower prostate-specific antigen levels than men who do not take the medication, but present with more aggressive stages of disease, study findings show.

Longer consultations improve patient satisfaction with surgical treatment Posted: 17 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Most low-income women with breast cancer are extremely satisfied with the treatment they received from their surgeon, study findings indicate.

LDL:HDL cholesterol ratio is marker of early atherosclerosis Posted: 17 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST The ratio of low-density to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is associated with the burden of carotid plaque and may thus serve as a marker of early atherosclerosis, Japanese researchers believe.

Diet induced changes in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids may reduce prostate cancer cell growth Posted: 17 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Consumption of a low fat diet leading to reduced omega-6 and increased omega-3 fatty acids is associated with decreased prostate cancer cell growth, according to the results of a US trial.

Abdominal investigations put IBD patients at high radiation exposure risk Posted: 17 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Diagnostic X-rays put patients with inflammatory bowel disease at increased exposure to high cumulative levels of radiation, say researchers who found that patients undergoing repeated abdominal investigations or surgery are particularly at risk.

Elderly diabetes patients should be assessed for comorbid conditions Posted: 17 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Elderly individuals with Type 2 diabetes have significant numbers of comorbid conditions that increase the risk for prescription of inappropriate drugs and treatment conflicts, say Australian researchers.

Low-dose aspirin therapy shows no CVD benefit for Type 2 diabetics Posted: 17 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Results from a Chinese study show that low-dose aspirin therapy appears to convey no benefits for primary or secondary cardiovascular disease prevention for Type 2 diabetes patients.

HeartMate II: Continuous-flow left ventricular assist device outperforms pulsatile-flow device in advanced heart failure Posted: 17 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST A continuous-flow left ventricular assist device achieved superior outcomes to a pulsatile-flow LVAD in patients with advanced heart failure. In the HeartMate II Destination Therapy clinical trial, 2-year survival for patients implanted with the continuous-flow device was more than double that of patients implanted with the pulsatile-flow device.

FAIR-HF: Intravenous iron improves chronic heart failure outcomes Posted: 17 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Intravenous iron treatment improves multiple clinical outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, regardless of whether or not they also have anemia, according to data from the FAIR-HF study.

HEAAL: High-dose beats low-dose losartan in HF Posted: 17 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Patients treated with a high, 150-mg daily dose of the angiotensin-receptor blocker losartan had a significantly reduced risk for death or hospitalization for heart failure compared with patients taking a 50-mg daily dose of the drug, the HEAAL investigators report.

CASCADE: No added benefit with clopidogrel for saphenous vein grafts after CABG Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST The addition of clopidogrel to aspirin failed to significantly reduce intimal hyperplasia in the saphenous vein grafts of patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft compared with aspirin alone.

No improvement in post-op CV events with liberal RBC transfusion strategy Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST A liberal strategy of red blood cell transfusion in cases of moderate anemia does not result in better postoperative cardiovascular outcomes compared with a more restrictive strategy of transfusion based primarily on symptomatic anemia in elderly surgical patients, FOCUS trial results show.

Bedside ONR testing in acute stroke ‘buys time for thrombolysis’ Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST The use of point-of-care coagumeters speeds the assessment of international normalized ratio in patients with acute stroke and on oral anticoagulation, a clinical study has found.

Lung Allocation Score does not predict post-transplant survival Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Lung Allocation Score is associated with pre- but not post-lung transplant survival in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, US research shows.

Swine flu high-risk groups ‘should avoid 2009 Hajj pilgrimage’ Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Muslims at high risk for serious illness from infection with H1N1 influenza A should avoid travelling to the Hajj this year, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health has advised.

Uncontrolled asthma linked to increased airway inflammation and BHR Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Patients with uncontrolled asthma tend to have higher levels of airway inflammation and bronchial hyper-responsiveness than those with controlled asthma, research shows.

More than 12 months’ follow-up needed to identify psychosis transition Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Individuals with an at-risk mental state should be followed-up for more than the typical 12 months in order to identify all who will undergo a transition to psychosis, investigators recommend.

Comorbid disorders differ among men, women with BD Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Study findings suggest that illness-related clinical characteristics are similar between men and women with type I and II bipolar disorder, but that comorbid disorder profiles differ significantly between the genders.

Biennial mammography recommended for women aged 50–74 years Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Six independent research groups have unanimously shown that biennial mammography screening of average risk women between the ages of 50 and 74 years old achieves most of the benefit of annual screening with less harm.

Low-fat diet may decrease prostate cancer cell growth Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST A low-fat diet, high in fiber and soy is associated with decreased prostate cancer cell growth, according to the results of a US trial.

RALP effective for radiation-resistant prostate cancer Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Prostate cancer patients who experience disease recurrence after radiation therapy can be effectively treated with salvage robot assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, research findings show.

Patients with familial dyslipidemia have high levels of ferritin Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Patients with familial combined hyperlipidemia or familial hypertriglyceridemia have high levels of ferritin, report researchers.

Low triglycerides are risk factor for hemorrhagic stroke Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Low triglyceride levels are associated with an increased risk for hemorrhagic stroke, particularly in men and those with hypertension or low lipid levels, a large French population-based study has found.

Exposure to secondhand smoke increases risk for Type 2 diabetes Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Chronic secondhand smoke exposure significantly increases the risk for Type 2 diabetes, show results from a study of Greek and Cypriot elderly men and women.

SMAP may cause increase in CVD risk in Type 2 diabetics with albuminuria Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Study results show that Type 2 diabetes patients with albuminuria are significantly more likely to experience spontaneous microaggregation of platelets formed under shear stress than diabetics with normoalbuminuria.

CASCADE: No added benefit with clopidogrel for saphenous vein grafts after CABG Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST The addition of clopidogrel to aspirin failed to significantly reduce intimal hyperplasia in the saphenous vein grafts of patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft compared with aspirin alone.

No improvement in post-op CV events with liberal RBC transfusion strategy Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST A liberal strategy of red blood cell transfusion in cases of moderate anemia does not result in better postoperative cardiovascular outcomes compared with a more restrictive strategy of transfusion based primarily on symptomatic anemia in elderly surgical patients, FOCUS trial results show.

Anemia TREATment fails to yield CV benefits, ups stroke risk Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST The risks of using the erythropoiesis-stimulating agent, darbepoetin alpha, to treat anemia in patients with Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease far outweigh any modest benefits, according to data from the Trial to Reduce Cardiovascular Events with Aranesp Therapy.

Primary PCI safe to perform with no on-site cardiac surgery support Posted: 16 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST There is no difference in mortality among patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction who undergo primary angioplasty at hospitals where there is and where there is not cardiac surgery on-site (SOS), data from a registry-based study suggest.

POPULAR defines platelet function assays predictive of clopidogrel outcomes Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Researchers report that three available platelet function assays can identify patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy who are at increased risk for major cardiovascular events related to poor clopidogrel response.

PLATO: Ticagrelor benefits seen in STEMI subanalysis Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST The investigational oral antiplatelet therapy ticagrelor significantly reduces the risk for major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality compared with clopidogrel in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and planned primary percutaneous coronary intervention, a predefined subanalysis of the PLATO trial shows.

RE-LY on dabigatran for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Consistent reductions in stroke and major bleeding events are achieved with dabigatran when compared with dose-adjusted warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation. This is irrespective of the International Normalized Ratios achieved.

NO oxidation products increased in epithelial fluid of asthmatic children Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST The epithelial lining fluid of children with persistent asthma contains significantly higher levels of nitric oxide oxidation products than that of children and adults without the condition, US researchers have found.

Anti-anemia drugs linked to VTE among patients with cancer Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents are associated with an increased risk for venous thromboembolism, but not mortality, in elderly patients with cancer, study findings indicate.

Prostate volume increase is not a reliable cancer screening tool Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Routine evaluation of prostate volume is not necessarily a reliable predictor of prostate cancer compared with rising levels of prostate-specific antigen, according to the results of a US study.

Daily vegetable intake during pregnancy may reduce diabetes risk in infants Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Daily vegetable consumption by pregnant women may reduce the risk for Type 1 diabetes in their children, suggest Swedish study findings.

Influenza vaccination during pregnancy reduces flu-associated infant hospitalization Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Vaccinating pregnant women against seasonal influenza is 85 percent effective in preventing hospitalization due to influenza in their infants during the first 6 months of life, show results presented at the 47th Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America in Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia.

Age, current menopausal status predict hip fracture risk Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST The risk for hip fracture in postmenopausal women is predominantly predicted by age, with age at menopause having, at most, only a weak additional effect, show study results.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis possible risk factor for coronary artery disease Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis are more likely to have arterial stiffness than women with osteopenia or normal bone mineral density, study findings show.

Genetic changes associated with disease progression in cervical cancer Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Study findings suggest that specific genetic changes are responsible for the progression of cervical cancer toward an aggressive and treatment-resistant state.

Cervical cancer effectively treated with ER-alpha blockers Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Cervical cancer could one day be effectively treated with fulvestrant and raloxifene, two drugs currently used to treat breast cancer and osteoporosis, show results of an animal study.

Brief educational intervention improves IUD acceptance in young women Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST US survey results suggest that a brief, 3-minute educational intervention significantly improves young women's attitudes toward the intrauterine device as a form of contraception.

OC use may benefit women with asthma Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Study results show that women with asthma who use oral contraceptives have lower exhaled nitric oxide levels, a marker of airway inflammation, than those who do not.

Smoking and fatty liver increase risk for the metabolic syndrome Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Individuals who smoke and who have fatty liver disease have a significantly increased risk for the metabolic syndrome and its individual components, report investigators.

Concern about possible adverse lipid effects of high selenium levels Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Individuals with increased levels of plasma selenium have elevated total and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, show results published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Prehypertension increases risk for atherosclerosis in Type 2 diabetics Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Prehypertension increases the risk for atherosclerosis in patients with Type 2 diabetes independently of other factors, show study results.

Trans-catheter aortic valve implantation comes of age Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Trans-catheter aortic valve implantation, using either of two commercially available bioprosthetic valves, has almost 100% success in the hands of interventionists trained in this technique, according to results of the first prospective registry to follow high-risk patients undergoing the procedure.

Ki67 and p53 overexpression predict neoplastic progression in BE Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Researchers have found that overexpression of Ki67 and particularly p53, either alone or in conjunction with other biomarkers, could help predict neoplastic progression in patients with Barrett's esophagus.

Prehypertension increases risk for atherosclerosis in Type 2 diabetics Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Prehypertension increases the risk for atherosclerosis in patients with Type 2 diabetes independently of other factors, show study results.

Add-on sitagliptin improves glycemic control in Type 2 diabetes Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Adding sitagliptin to a stable regimen of insulin therapy, with or without metformin, offers improvements in glycemic control and ß-cell function in patients with Type 2 diabetes, research has shown

PLATO: Ticagrelor benefits seen in STEMI subanalysis Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST The investigational oral antiplatelet therapy ticagrelor significantly reduces the risk for major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality compared with clopidogrel in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and planned primary percutaneous coronary intervention, a predefined subanalysis of the PLATO trial shows.

Record AF: Clinical outcomes similar with rate-control and rhythm-control strategies Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST In recently diagnosed patients with atrial fibrillation, a rhythm-control strategy provides better therapeutic success versus a rate-control strategy, but this difference does not lead to improved clinical outcomes, results from the RecordAF survey show.

RE-LY on dabigatran for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation Posted: 15 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Consistent reductions in stroke and major bleeding events are achieved with dabigatran when compared with dose-adjusted warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation. This is irrespective of the International Normalized Ratios achieved.

CDT should be ‘first-line treatment’ for acute massive PE Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Catheter-directed therapy should be the first-line treatment option for patients with acute, massive pulmonary embolism attending hospitals with experienced physicians, US researchers say.

Urbanicity link to schizophrenia confirmed Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST The association between urbanicity and schizophrenia has been confirmed in an Irish study, although the factors underpinning the association remain unclear.

Undiagnosed AF affects a ‘substantial proportion’ of stroke patients Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Undiagnosed atrial fibrillation is present in nearly 1 in 10 patients with ischemic stroke, a large cohort study has shown.

Urbanicity link to schizophrenia confirmed Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST The association between urbanicity and schizophrenia has been confirmed in an Irish study, although the factors underpinning the association remain unclear.

No medication impact on bipolar neurocognitive performance Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST The neurocognitive performance of bipolar disorder patients is unaffected by medication use, says a team of researchers in findings that suggest that neurocognitive deficits form a part of the disorder.

Psoriasis treatment guidelines proposed for patients with concomitant HCV Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Topical therapy and ultraviolet B phototherapy should be considered first-line and second-line therapies for patients with limited psoriasis and concomitant hepatitis C virus infection, suggests a consensus report from the Medical Board of the US National Psoriasis Foundation.

Dose–volume constraints limit rectal side effects of RT in prostate patients Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Applying a dose–volume constraint to prostate cancer patients treated with conformal radiotherapy limits the incidence of late rectal bleeding, say Italian researchers.

IMRT delivers high doses to prostate with satisfactory functional outcomes Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Prostate cancer patients treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy experience no significant worsening of urinary, sexual, or bowel function 5 years after treatment, Japanese researchers report.

Dose–volume constraints limit rectal side effects of RT in prostate patients Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Applying a dose–volume constraint to prostate cancer patients treated with conformal radiotherapy limits the incidence of late rectal bleeding, say Italian researchers.

IMRT delivers high doses to prostate with satisfactory functional outcomes Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Prostate cancer patients treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy experience no significant worsening of urinary, sexual, or bowel function 5 years after treatment, Japanese researchers report.

Excision alone inadequate for high grade DCIS Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Excision alone is inadequate treatment for patients with high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ, but may be suitable for patients with low- or intermediate-grade lesions, US study findings indicate.

Baseline lipids not predictive for stroke in NOMAS Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Results from the Northern Manhattan Study show that baseline lipid levels were not associated with incident stroke in a cohort of older individuals without previous myocardial infarction.

Fasting and measurement of triglycerides do not add to CHD risk prediction Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Researchers in the UK have shown that estimation of coronary heart disease risk does not benefit from obtaining fasting as opposed to nonfasting lipid measures, and is not significantly influenced by concentration of triglycerides.

Swine flu mortality highest in elderly Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Results of a Mexican study show that people aged 10–39 years are most likely to become infected with H1N1 influenza, but elderly people over 70-years of age are most likely to die from the disease.

Percutaneous drainage remains initial treatment for iliopsoas abscess Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Percutaneous drainage is the initial treatment modality for iliopsoas abscess, a common cause of which is gastrointestinal disease, US researchers report.

Type 2 diabetes increases risk for biliary and pancreatic cancer Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Patients with Type 2 diabetes have a three-fold increased risk for pancreatic cancer and a two-fold increased risk for biliary cancer, report researchers.

Ivabradine shows efficacy, tolerability in diabetics with stable CAD Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Ivabradine is effective for preventing angina in patients with diabetes mellitus and stable coronary artery disease, and has no impact on glucose metabolism, an analysis of clinical trial data shows.

Excision alone inadequate for high grade DCIS Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Excision alone is inadequate treatment for patients with high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ, but may be suitable for patients with low- or intermediate-grade lesions, US study findings indicate.

No medication impact on bipolar neurocognitive performance Posted: 12 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST The neurocognitive performance of bipolar disorder patients is unaffected by medication use, says a team of researchers in findings that suggest that neurocognitive deficits form a part of the disorder.

Pulmonary hypertension more common than thought after submassive PE Posted: 11 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Signs or symptoms of pulmonary hypertension may be more common after submassive pulmonary embolism than previously thought, US researchers have found.

Quality and nature of social disability similar across affective disorders Posted: 11 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST The quality and nature of social disability is similar among patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and affective disorders, although the severity differs, study findings suggest.

Pessimism shows “robust association” with stroke risk Posted: 11 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Low levels of pessimism are robustly associated with a reduced risk for stroke, results of a large cohort study suggest.

Quality and nature of social disability similar across affective disorders Posted: 11 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST The quality and nature of social disability is similar among patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and affective disorders, although the severity differs, study findings suggest.

Genetic locus for migraine–bipolar comorbidity uncovered Posted: 11 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Comorbid migraine and bipolar disorder appears to be underpinned by a genetic susceptibility locus on chromosome 4 and possibly another on chromosome 20, conclude US researchers.

Locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer increases risk for suicide Posted: 11 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Men diagnosed with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer are twice as likely to commit suicide as men in the general population, according to a Swedish study.

Statins and LXR receptor agonists offer ovarian cancer hope Posted: 11 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Statins and liver X receptor agonists could become an effective adjunct therapy against ovarian cancer, US researchers say.

BMI and adiponectin affect <i>APOE</i> impact on lipid profile of obese children Posted: 11 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST The impact of apolipoprotein E gene variants on lipid profile in obese children and adolescents is affected by body mass index and adiponectin levels, research suggests.

Hip fracture a significant concern in HF patients Posted: 11 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Hip fracture is particularly common and a significant cause of mortality in heart failure patients, US researchers have found.

Real-world registry supports safety of DES in diabetic patients Posted: 11 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Drug-eluting stents are associated with half the risk for restenosis and an equivalent risk for death and myocardial infarction compared with bare-metal stents in patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease, a Swedish registry study suggests.

Reconstituted HDL improves platelet function in Type 2 diabetics Posted: 11 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Study results show that reconstituted high-density lipoprotein therapy reduces the hyper-reactivity of platelets of patients with Type 2 diabetes, partly by lowering the cholesterol content of platelet membranes.

Persistent pain common long after breast cancer surgery Posted: 11 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Approximately half of women who undergo surgery for primary breast cancer experience chronic pain or sensory disturbances in the surgical region during the first few years after surgery, Danish research shows.

Genetic locus for migraine–bipolar comorbidity uncovered Posted: 11 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Comorbid migraine and bipolar disorder appears to be underpinned by a genetic susceptibility locus on chromosome 4 and possibly another on chromosome 20, conclude US researchers.

Individual, not composite, symptoms predict real-world functioning in schizophrenia Posted: 10 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Study findings suggest that specific negative and positive symptoms are more important predictors of real-world social and everyday living outcomes in schizophrenia patients than total scale scores or neuropsychological functioning.

Infectious burden a potential modifiable risk factor for stroke Posted: 10 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Exposure to common infection-causing pathogens may be a risk factor for stroke, US study findings show.

Raised PSA may result from elevated PTH level, not prostate cancer Posted: 10 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST High levels of a hormone occurring normally in the body may be the cause of some men's raised prostate-specific antigen levels, report US researchers.

Tumor location may assist prostate cancer prognosis Posted: 10 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Patients with high-risk prostate cancer whose tumors are located in the transitional zone have better outcomes than men with tumors located in the peripheral zone, except if they have high-grade disease, report US researchers.

CRT-induced LV reverse remodeling described in mild HF Posted: 10 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Cardiac resynchronization therapy resulted in major structural and functional left ventricular reverse remodeling at 1 year in patients with New York Heart Association class I or II heart failure, show findings from the REVERSE trial.

Curcumin induces apoptosis-independent death in esophageal cancer cells Posted: 10 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Curcumin induces cell death in esophageal cancer cells, report researchers who note that it does so by a mechanism that is not reliant on apoptosis induction.

Obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption increase contralateral breast cancer risk Posted: 10 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption are all linked to an increased risk for second primary contralateral breast cancer among survivors of invasive estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer, US study data shows.

BD patients at high risk for PTSD following a traumatic event Posted: 10 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Bipolar disorder patients are twice as likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder in the face of a traumatic event as the general population, suggest study results.

All obesity measures predict VTE risk Posted: 09 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST All measures of obesity predict the risk for venous thrombembolism, not just the most commonly used marker of body mass index, research suggests.

Psychiatric inpatients who regain capacity accepting of surrogate treatment decisions Posted: 09 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Nearly 85% of patients who regain mental capacity following informal or involuntary psychiatric admission under the Mental Health Act believe that they needed surrogate decision-making by doctors and that the decisions were of the right kind, show study results.

Lost PSA expression indicates adverse pathology in prostate tissue Posted: 09 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST The loss of prostate-specific antigen expression in prostate tumor tissue is associated with adverse pathologic disease features, say researchers evaluating the prognostic value of PSA.

Denser breasts linked to increased risk for cancer recurrence Posted: 09 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Mammographic breast density significantly affects the risk for the development of local disease recurrence after breast-conserving surgery, Canadian researchers report.

Medication adherence, clinical outcome influence psychoeducation attendance Posted: 09 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Study findings show that, even in specialized mood disorder units, only half of bipolar disorder patients attend psychoeducation programs, with patients who have low medication adherence and poor clinical outcome least likely to take part.

Extended PROLONG study follow-up supports continued VKA therapy Posted: 08 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Extended follow-up results of the PROLONG study confirms the benefit of continuing anticoagulation in patients with an elevated D-dimer level 1 month after finishing treatment for idiopathic venous thromboembolism.

ARBs protect against stroke, meta-analysis finds Posted: 08 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Treatment with angiotensin receptor blockers reduces the risk for stroke in people at high risk for cerebrovascular events, a meta-analysis has found.

Low cholesterol means low risk for high-grade prostate cancer Posted: 08 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Men with low levels of serum cholesterol have a decreased risk for high-grade prostate cancer, research suggests.

Feasible to combine radiotherapy and chemotherapy before prostate removal Posted: 08 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer can tolerate a course of pre-operative radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which may reduce chances of disease recurrence, shows US research.

Self-reporting underestimates smoking during pregnancy Posted: 08 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Relying on the self-reporting of smoking among pregnant women significantly underestimates the prevalence of the habit and fails to detect over 2,400 smokers a year, conclude UK researchers.

Post-insemination immobilization increases pregnancy rates Posted: 08 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Women who remain immobilized for 15 minutes after intrauterine insemination are significantly more likely to become pregnant than women who mobilize immediately, Dutch study findings indicate.

Combined home/GP education strategy reduces hypertension in Pakistan Posted: 08 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Family-based home health education coupled with educating general practitioners on hypertension led to significant blood pressure reductions among patients with hypertension in Pakistan.

Breastfeeding does not increase postpartum IBD flare risk Posted: 08 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Women with inflammatory bowel disease can breast feed their infants without fear of disease flare, say researchers.

Atypical ductal hyperplasia linked to hormone therapy use Posted: 08 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Postmenopausal hormonal therapy is associated with an increased risk for atypical ductal hyperplasia in patients with or without associated breast cancer, US researchers report.

Altered impact of dopamine transporter gene variants in schizophrenia Posted: 05 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Variations in the dopamine transporter gene ordinarily affect insular, cingulate, and striatal function during an executive task, but the impact on activation is altered in patients with schizophrenia, UK scientists have discovered.

Albumin excretion linked with BP in normoalbuminuric diabetic patients Posted: 05 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Urinary albumin excretion is correlated with blood pressure (BP) and glycemic control in normoalbuminuric patients with Type 2 diabetes, a large study has demonstrated.

Bipolar offspring show highest risk during adolescence Posted: 05 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST The children of bipolar disorder parents face the highest risk for mood episodes during adolescence, with depression almost always the index episode, the results of a Canadian and Czech study indicate.

White matter disruptions found in early schizophrenia Posted: 04 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Schizophrenia patients early in the course of the disease exhibit reductions in white matter integrity in fascicules that connect brain regions previously associated with chronic schizophrenia, scientists have shown.

Serum cytokine levels altered in euthymic bipolar disorder Posted: 04 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Bipolar disorder patients show significant differences in serum chemokine levels compared with healthy individuals that may act as markers for the disorder, Brazilian study findings indicate.

Processing of input information linked to primary cognitive deficits in schizophrenia Posted: 03 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Deficits in externally guided movement preparation in patients with recent-onset schizophrenia occur secondary to deficits in the visual processing of external information, suggest Dutch study results.

Surgical mask comparable to N95 respirator for protecting nurses against influenza Posted: 03 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Surgical masks appear to be no worse than N95 respirators in preventing influenza among nurses caring for patients with respiratory illness, Canadian researchers report.

Hypertension, arterial disease in middle age contribute to Alzheimer’s disease Posted: 03 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Hypertension and evidence of arterial disease and a pro-inflammatory status in middle age contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease, say researchers.

CRT benefit in mild HF shown by REVERSE 2-year data Posted: 03 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Cardiac resynchronization therapy is associated with improved clinical outcomes and reduced left ventricular dimensions in heart failure patients in New York Heart Association functional classes I or II, show 2-year results for the European cohort in REVERSE.

Cerebellar vermis volume raised in male BD patients Posted: 03 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST US researchers have found that men, but not women, with bipolar disorder have larger cerebellar vermis volumes than healthy individuals.

Auditory verbal hallucinations linked to left superior temporal gyrus function Posted: 02 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Study results suggest that auditory verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia may arise as a consequence of an attenuated deactivation in the left superior temporal gyrus, an area implicated in verbal self-monitoring processes.

Caregiver psychoeducation improves BD outcome in early stages Posted: 02 Nov 2009 04:00 PM PST Study results suggest that providing psychoeducation to the caregivers of bipolar disorder patients improves long-term outcome in terms of time to recurrence in patients with early stage, but not advanced stage, illness.

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