Personal Healthcare

Medical News

2012-02-16T19:20:00.001-08:00

Medical News

Maternal influenza vaccination benefits mothers and babies
Nonmelanoma skin cancer common after pancreas transplant
Eosinophilia reported with TNF antagonists in psoriasis patients
White matter abnormalities linked to impulsivity, suicidality in BD
Auditory hallucinations linked to specific gray matter reductions in schizophrenia
AHA applauds recent advances in heart failure treatment
PCI appropriate use criteria criticized
Resting heart rate may indicate death, CV event risk in diabetics
Liraglutide may improve β-cell function in Japanese diabetics
Pubertal timing affects adult metabolic health
Extended-release niacin/laropiprant plus simvastatin effective for treating mixed hyperlipidemia
Gabapentin reduces postoperative discomfort in bladder cancer

Maternal influenza vaccination benefits mothers and babies

Posted: 16 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Maternal influenza immunization during pregnancy is associated with better neonatal outcomes, a post hoc analysis of trial data suggests.

Nonmelanoma skin cancer common after pancreas transplant

Posted: 16 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Nonmelanoma skin cancer is common in patients who undergo pancreas transplantation, say researchers.

Eosinophilia reported with TNF antagonists in psoriasis patients

Posted: 16 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Swiss researchers report three cases of eosinophilia in psoriasis patients treated with tissue necrosis factor antagonists.

White matter abnormalities linked to impulsivity, suicidality in BD

Posted: 16 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from a US study suggest that white matter abnormalities in the left orbital frontal cortex are associated with impulsivity and suicidal behavior in patients with bipolar disorder.

Auditory hallucinations linked to specific gray matter reductions in schizophrenia

Posted: 16 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

A systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies suggests that the severity of auditory hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia is negatively associated with gray matter volume in areas of the brain associated with language.

AHA applauds recent advances in heart failure treatment

Posted: 15 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

The American Heart Association has issued a press release to promote general awareness of recent advances in heart failure treatment.

PCI appropriate use criteria criticized

Posted: 15 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Further controversy has emerged over the appropriateness of percutaneous coronary intervention use criteria.

Resting heart rate may indicate death, CV event risk in diabetics

Posted: 15 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Resting heart rate is positively associated with death and cardiovascular event risk in patients with Type 2 diabetes, results from the ADVANCE study demonstrate.

Liraglutide may improve β-cell function in Japanese diabetics

Posted: 15 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Researchers report that liraglutide therapy may boost β-cell function in Japanese individuals with Type 2 diabetes.

Pubertal timing affects adult metabolic health

Posted: 15 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Pubertal timing and growth influence adult cardiometabolic risk factors in both males and females, report researchers.

Extended-release niacin/laropiprant plus simvastatin effective for treating mixed hyperlipidemia

Posted: 15 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results of a study published in the International Journal of Cardiology support the use of a combination tablet containing extended-release niacin and laropiprant co-administered with simvastatin for the treatment of patients with mixed hyperlipidemia.

Gabapentin reduces postoperative discomfort in bladder cancer

Posted: 14 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Pretreatment with gabapentin reduces postoperative catheter-related discomfort in patients undergoing transurethral surgery for bladder cancer, study results show.

Medical News

2012-02-15T19:29:00.001-08:00

Medical News

Vitamin B, Omega-3 do not reduce cancer risk in CVD survivors
Depression highly prevalent in head and neck cancer
Depression highly prevalent in head and neck cancer
Early predictors of outcome in psychotic bipolar disorder identified
Amygdala connectivity reduced in schizophrenia patients in response to fearful faces
Flow diverters effective treatment for distal aneurysms
Short-term air pollution exposure increases heart attack risk
Vitamin D ‘does not improve’ cardiac outcomes in CKD
Increased physical activity improves metabolic health, independent of time spent sedentary
Physicians provide ‘complex care’ for end-of-life patients
Hypotension may contribute to perioperative stroke risk

Vitamin B, Omega-3 do not reduce cancer risk in CVD survivors

Posted: 15 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Supplementation with B vitamins and/or Omega-3 fatty acids does not reduce cancer incidence or mortality among men and women with a history of cardiovascular disease, French researchers report.

Depression highly prevalent in head and neck cancer

Posted: 15 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with head and neck cancer exhibit high rates of depression but this does not seem to be explained by genetic susceptibility, US researchers report.

Depression highly prevalent in head and neck cancer

Posted: 15 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with head and neck cancer exhibit high rates of depression but this does not seem to be explained by genetic susceptibility, US researchers report.

Early predictors of outcome in psychotic bipolar disorder identified

Posted: 15 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Reduced premorbid functioning, delusions, increased levels of depressive symptoms, and younger age at first hospitalization predict poorer 4-year outcomes in patients with bipolar disorder who have psychotic symptoms, research shows.

Amygdala connectivity reduced in schizophrenia patients in response to fearful faces

Posted: 15 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with schizophrenia show reduced effective connectivity between the amygdala and a large cluster of brain regions, including areas of the precuneus and parietal lobe, when viewing facial expressions of fear, results from a UK imaging study show.

Flow diverters effective treatment for distal aneurysms

Posted: 15 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients who present with distal aneurysms at and beyond the circle of Willis can be effectively treated with flow diverters without experiencing significant complications, suggest French study findings.

Short-term air pollution exposure increases heart attack risk

Posted: 14 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Short-term exposure to most major air pollutants, excluding ozone, increases a person's risk for myocardial infarction, suggest results from a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Vitamin D ‘does not improve’ cardiac outcomes in CKD

Posted: 14 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Vitamin D therapy does not improve cardiac structure, function, or left ventricular mass in patients with chronic kidney disease, researchers say.

Increased physical activity improves metabolic health, independent of time spent sedentary

Posted: 14 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results of a study published in JAMA suggest that children should be encouraged to increase their participation in physical activity, rather than reducing their time spent sedentary, to improve their cardiovascular health.

Physicians provide ‘complex care’ for end-of-life patients

Posted: 14 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Physician care for palliative cancer patients is "multifaceted and complex," according to the results of an international study.

Hypotension may contribute to perioperative stroke risk

Posted: 14 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients who develop hypotension during surgery may be at an increased risk for perioperative stroke, show findings from a case–control study.

Medical News

2012-02-14T19:29:00.001-08:00

Medical News

Gabapentin reduces postoperative discomfort in bladder cancer
Acute kidney injury in hospitalized AMI patients has declined
Canagliflozin improves glycemic control in insulin-refractory diabetes
Hemorrhoid surgery outcome marred by long-term pain
Gabapentin reduces postoperative discomfort in bladder cancer
Medication non-adherence common in patients with SAD, bipolar type
Violence risk factors common in patients at ultra-high risk for psychosis
MRI not recommended as sole confirmatory test for PE
HF patients receive best care from cardiologists
Vorapaxar reduces adverse outcomes, increases bleeding
Non-affluent diabetes patients risk medication discontinuation
Diabetes patients struggle with insulin adherence, dose adjustment
Long-term health gains not of primary value to patients undergoing obesity pharmacotherapy
Low levels of lipid antibodies associated with MACE risk in ACS

Gabapentin reduces postoperative discomfort in bladder cancer

Posted: 14 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Pretreatment with gabapentin reduces postoperative catheter-related discomfort in patients undergoing transurethral surgery for bladder cancer, study results show.

Acute kidney injury in hospitalized AMI patients has declined

Posted: 14 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

The incidence of acute kidney injury in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction has decreased significantly in recent years, a study shows.

Canagliflozin improves glycemic control in insulin-refractory diabetes

Posted: 14 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with diabetes who show poor glycemic control despite insulin therapy could benefit from canagliflozin, a potent and selective inhibitor of the sodium-glucose co-transporter 2, results of randomized trial show.

Hemorrhoid surgery outcome marred by long-term pain

Posted: 14 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Long-term anal pain is the most common complaint among patients who undergo hemorrhoid surgery, French researchers report in Colorectal Disease.

Gabapentin reduces postoperative discomfort in bladder cancer

Posted: 14 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Pretreatment with gabapentin reduces postoperative catheter-related discomfort in patients undergoing transurethral surgery for bladder cancer, study results show.

Medication non-adherence common in patients with SAD, bipolar type

Posted: 14 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Non-adherence to pharmacologic treatment is common in patients with schizoaffective disorder, and is associated with an increased frequency of non-affective psychotic episodes, research shows.

Violence risk factors common in patients at ultra-high risk for psychosis

Posted: 14 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Young adults at ultra-high risk for developing psychosis show a high prevalence of risk factors for violence, results from small UK study suggest.

Posted: 14 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Magnetic resonance imaging should not be used as a standalone test to exclude pulmonary embolism, but may aid clinical decision-making in patients with a positive result, French researchers report.

HF patients receive best care from cardiologists

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

In-hospital cardiologist care is associated with improved clinical outcomes in heart failure patients compared with generalist care alone, an analysis shows.

Vorapaxar reduces adverse outcomes, increases bleeding

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Top-line results of the TRA-2P study show that vorapaxar significantly reduces adverse cardiovascular outcomes, but increases bleeding risk.

Non-affluent diabetes patients risk medication discontinuation

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Economically disadvantaged patients with diabetes who are exempt from medication fees are more likely than their fee-paying peers to discontinue oral hypoglycemic agents, results of a large Chinese cohort study show.

Diabetes patients struggle with insulin adherence, dose adjustment

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

An international survey of diabetes patients and their physicians shows that a high level of insulin omission and lack of dose adjustment during the course of therapy are common.

Long-term health gains not of primary value to patients undergoing obesity pharmacotherapy

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Obese patients who are trying to lose weight place a high value on total weight loss and avoiding changes to their lifestyle, and much less value on reducing long-term health risk, show study findings.

Low levels of lipid antibodies associated with MACE risk in ACS

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Measuring levels of an immune system antibody could improve risk prediction in patients with acute coronary syndromes, suggest study findings.

iPhone Medical News

2012-02-13T21:26:00.001-08:00

iPhone Medical News

New iPhone App Locates Specialized Emergency Center Nearest to You

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 09:40 AM PST

If you have an iPhone, chances are you use it daily to find the places you need to go, including health care providers However, although most hospitals are equipped for general medical emergencies, certain hospitals have specialists for specific conditions immediately available. For example, there are hospitals that have designations as “stroke centers” that can rapidly mobilize the necessary equipment and personnel for acute stroke treatment, and the same goes for eye emergencies and pediatric trauma. Now there’s an app that finds the specialized center closest to you based on the type of emergency you’re facing.

Appropriately named, the “Emergency Medical Center Locator” has you select a type of emergency from a list consisting of burn, cardiac, eye, pediatric, stroke, and trauma. The criteria for selecting these designations isn’t clearly explained in the app or on the website, but on a test run of the app here in Houston, the results seemed appropriate based on this editor’s experience rotating through most of the hospitals in our Medical Megalopolis. You can also enter an international location, and indeed, two pediatric hospitals, a heart hospital, and a general hospital near Bangkok were located quickly.

Medical News

2012-02-13T19:12:00.001-08:00

Medical News

Hypotension may contribute to perioperative stroke risk
T. gondii infection linked to bipolar I disorder risk
Empathy deficits linked to reduced functioning in schizophrenia patients
Angiopoietins 1 and 2 increased in severe refractory asthma
Zinc therapy decreases childhood pneumonia deaths
Left atrial dysfunction predicts HF in CHD with preserved EF
Left atrial dysfunction predicts HF in CHD with preserved EF
Postop radiotherapy no benefit to elderly lung cancer patients
Juvenile arthritis patient risk for cancer highlighted
Postop radiotherapy no benefit to elderly lung cancer patients
One in five new users of antihypertensives stops after one prescription

Hypotension may contribute to perioperative stroke risk

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients who develop hypotension during surgery may be at an increased risk for perioperative stroke, show findings from a case–control study.

T. gondii infection linked to bipolar I disorder risk

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Infection with Toxoplasma gondii is associated with an increased risk for bipolar I disorder, results from a US study suggest.

Empathy deficits linked to reduced functioning in schizophrenia patients

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from a US study show that impaired perspective-taking, a component of cognitive empathy, is associated with reduced functioning in patients with schizophrenia.

Angiopoietins 1 and 2 increased in severe refractory asthma

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with severe refractory asthma show increased sputum levels of angiopoietin-1 and -2, which play a role in vascular remodeling of the airways, researchers report.

Zinc therapy decreases childhood pneumonia deaths

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Treatment with zinc supplements significantly decreases mortality among children with severe pneumonia, study findings indicate.

Left atrial dysfunction predicts HF in CHD with preserved EF

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Left atrial dysfunction independently predicts hospitalization for heart failure in stable coronary heart disease patients with preserved ejection fraction, research shows.

Left atrial dysfunction predicts HF in CHD with preserved EF

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Left atrial dysfunction independently predicts hospitalization for heart failure in stable coronary heart disease patients with preserved ejection fraction, research shows.

Postop radiotherapy no benefit to elderly lung cancer patients

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

US research has cast doubts on the benefits of postoperative radiotherapy for elderly patients with locally advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Juvenile arthritis patient risk for cancer highlighted

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis are four times more likely to develop cancer than those without the condition, say researchers who believe that tumor necrosis factor inhibitor therapy is not responsible for the increased risk.

Postop radiotherapy no benefit to elderly lung cancer patients

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

US research has cast doubts on the benefits of postoperative radiotherapy for elderly patients with locally advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer.

One in five new users of antihypertensives stops after one prescription

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Nearly one in five new users of antihypertensive medications discontinues therapy after the first dispensation, research shows.

Medical News

2012-02-12T19:13:00.001-08:00

Medical News

ECG-criteria tool improves accuracy of ECG interpretation in athletes
Statins reduce sudden cardiac death, not protective against ventricular arrhythmic events
One in five new users of antihypertensives stops after one prescription
Weight gain in diabetes not just down to therapy intensification
One in five new users of antihypertensives stops after one prescription
Statins reduce sudden cardiac death, not protective against ventricular arrhythmic events
Genetic mutation found in women with endometriosis
Exemestane accelerates bone loss in postmenopausal women
More evidence against thrombolysis exclusion for mild stroke patients
PE rates highest shortly after joint surgery
Subsyndromal manic symptoms common in bipolar depression
Neurologic soft signs increased in teens with first-episode psychosis
Anti-infective drug shortages ‘a public health emergency’
Topical antibiotics are first-line choice for acute otitis media
Neurologic soft signs increased in teens with first-episode psychosis
Levels of β-amyloid 42 peptide reduced in bipolar depression
Women have more complications, less shocks, with ICD therapy
Malaria kills more people than previously estimated
Treatment response similar in schizophrenia patients with predominant and prominent negative symptoms
Psychoeducation improves medication adherence in bipolar affective disorder
Fexinidazole shows promise for treating leishmaniasis
Minor motor and sensory deficits in recent schizophrenia linked to brain changes
Temperaments linked to clinical features and course in bipolar I disorder
General visual processing deficits may underlie social difficulties in schizophrenia

ECG-criteria tool improves accuracy of ECG interpretation in athletes

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Providing physicians with a two-page criteria tool to assist echocardiogram interpretation in athletes significantly improves accuracy, even in physicians with little or no experience, show results of a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Statins reduce sudden cardiac death, not protective against ventricular arrhythmic events

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Treatment with statins reduces the risk for sudden cardiac death by 10%, report researchers.

One in five new users of antihypertensives stops after one prescription

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Nearly one in five new users of antihypertensive medications discontinues therapy after the first dispensation, research shows.

Weight gain in diabetes not just down to therapy intensification

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Intensive glucose-control regimens are not necessarily associated with substantial weight gain in patients with Type 2 diabetes, show study findings.

One in five new users of antihypertensives stops after one prescription

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Nearly one in five new users of antihypertensive medications discontinues therapy after the first dispensation, research shows.

Statins reduce sudden cardiac death, not protective against ventricular arrhythmic events

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Treatment with statins reduces the risk for sudden cardiac death by 10%, report researchers.

Genetic mutation found in women with endometriosis

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

US researchers have identified an inherited single nucleotide polymorphism associated with abnormal endometrial growth and endometriosis.

Exemestane accelerates bone loss in postmenopausal women

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

The use of exemestane for the prevention of breast cancer in healthy postmenopausal women is associated with significant decreases in bone mineral density, an analysis of MAP.3 trial data shows.

More evidence against thrombolysis exclusion for mild stroke patients

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

The outcome of patients with mild ischemic stroke cannot be predicted by whether they have specific syndromes on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, shows an analysis of the TOAST cohort.

PE rates highest shortly after joint surgery

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

The vast majority of pulmonary embolism cases that develop following total joint arthroplasty occur during the first 2 weeks after the procedure, researchers reported at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons in San Francisco, California, USA.

Subsyndromal manic symptoms common in bipolar depression

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Subsyndromal manic symptoms are common in bipolar disorder patients who are experiencing an episode of major depression, US research shows.

Neurologic soft signs increased in teens with first-episode psychosis

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from a Spanish study show that adolescents with first-episode early-onset psychosis exhibit more neurologic soft signs than their mentally healthy peers.

Anti-infective drug shortages ‘a public health emergency’

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Shortages in anti-infective medications are a significant ongoing problem in the USA and should be considered a public health emergency, say experts writing in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Topical antibiotics are first-line choice for acute otitis media

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

The choice of topical versus oral antibiotics for the treatment of acute otitis media can impact disease persistence, say researchers, who call for the implementation of national guidelines to aid clinical practice.

Neurologic soft signs increased in teens with first-episode psychosis

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from a Spanish study show that adolescents with first-episode early-onset psychosis exhibit more neurologic soft signs than their mentally healthy peers.

Levels of β-amyloid 42 peptide reduced in bipolar depression

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Plasma levels of β-amyloid 42 peptide are reduced in patients with bipolar depression, and could serve a possible biomarker of cognitive decline in patients with mood disorders, say researchers.

Women have more complications, less shocks, with ICD therapy

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Women are as likely as men to receive an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, but less likely to receive appropriate device-delivered therapies than their male counterparts, research indicates.

Malaria kills more people than previously estimated

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

The global health burden of malaria is much larger than previously thought, particularly in individuals aged 5 years and older, but the number of deaths from the disease has fallen rapidly in the last 5 years with the scaling up of control activities, say researchers.

Treatment response similar in schizophrenia patients with predominant and prominent negative symptoms

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with schizophrenia who have predominant negative symptoms and those with merely prominent negative symptoms respond similarly to treatment with atypical antipsychotics in terms of improvement in negative symptom scores, research shows.

Psychoeducation improves medication adherence in bipolar affective disorder

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

A 6-week psychoeducation program substantially improves adherence to treatment, and potentially outcomes, among patients undergoing bipolar affective disorder rehabilitation, results of a Turkish study indicate.

Fexinidazole shows promise for treating leishmaniasis

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

A drug developed for the treatment of African sleeping sickness may also be effective for treatment of visceral leishmaniasis, suggest study results published in Science Translational Medicine.

Minor motor and sensory deficits in recent schizophrenia linked to brain changes

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Subtle deficits in motor and sensory processing, known as neurologic soft signs, are associated with regionally specific alterations in brain morphology in patients with recent-onset schizophrenia, German scientists have discovered.

Temperaments linked to clinical features and course in bipolar I disorder

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Research suggests that cyclothymic and hyperthymic temperaments are associated with differences in clinical features in patients with bipolar I disorder, such as number of hospitalizations, disease course, family history, and comorbid disorders.

General visual processing deficits may underlie social difficulties in schizophrenia

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with schizophrenia respond more slowly and less appropriately to face, body, and car images than do healthy individuals, reports a German research team.

Medical News

2012-02-09T19:23:00.001-08:00

Medical News

Routine blood measures predict hospital-acquired anemia
No reflow associated with in-hospital and 30-day adverse events
Weekly taspoglutide injections may improve glycemic control in diabetes
Obesity increases risk for LV diastolic dysfunction
Aspirin, LMWH prevent VTE in patients treated for multiple myeloma
Vitamin D deficiency common in psoriasis patients
Subsyndromal manic symptoms common in bipolar depression
Neurologic soft signs increased in teens with first-episode psychosis
Novel score predicts long-term thrombolysis outcomes
Minimally invasive surgery may help intracerebral hemorrhage patients
Aspirin, LMWH prevent VTE in patients treated for multiple myeloma
Women have more complications, less shocks, with ICD therapy
Y chromosome variant linked with coronary artery disease
Weight reduction associated with improved depressive symptoms in IGT
Changes in fitness and fatness independently associated with CVD risk
Cefpodoxime fails noninferiority test against ciprofloxacin in treating cystitis
ADT for prostate cancer may increase vascular disease risk

Routine blood measures predict hospital-acquired anemia

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Abnormal red cell distribution width and mean corpuscular volume values in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction should alert clinicians to an increased risk for hospital-acquired anemia, shows research.

No reflow associated with in-hospital and 30-day adverse events

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

No reflow following percutaneous coronary intervention is associated with an increased risk for adverse events in-hospital and within 30 days, research shows.

Weekly taspoglutide injections may improve glycemic control in diabetes

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Weekly taspoglutide injections are associated with improved glycemic control and reduced body weight, and are generally well tolerated among Type 2 diabetes patients naive to antihyperglycemic therapy, shows research published in Diabetes Care.

Obesity increases risk for LV diastolic dysfunction

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Obesity is associated with an increased risk for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction independent of cardiovascular risk factors and LV mass, report Japanese researchers.

Aspirin, LMWH prevent VTE in patients treated for multiple myeloma

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Thromboprophylaxis with either aspirin or low molecular weight heparin is associated with a low incidence of venous thromboembolism among patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma receiving lenalidomide-based treatment, Italian researchers report.

Vitamin D deficiency common in psoriasis patients

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Study results suggest that vitamin D deficiency may be more common in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis than in the general population.

Subsyndromal manic symptoms common in bipolar depression

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Subsyndromal manic symptoms are common in bipolar disorder patients who are experiencing an episode of major depression, US research shows.

Neurologic soft signs increased in teens with first-episode psychosis

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from a Spanish study show that adolescents with first-episode early-onset psychosis exhibit more neurologic soft signs than their mentally healthy peers.

Novel score predicts long-term thrombolysis outcomes

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Researchers have developed a tool, named the DRAGON score, to predict patients' outcomes after undergoing intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke.

Minimally invasive surgery may help intracerebral hemorrhage patients

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Clot removal via minimally invasive surgery in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage is feasible and may improve functional outcomes, say the MISTIE investigators.

Aspirin, LMWH prevent VTE in patients treated for multiple myeloma

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Women have more complications, less shocks, with ICD therapy

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Women are as likely as men to receive an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, but less likely to receive appropriate device-delivered therapies than their male counterparts, research indicates.

Y chromosome variant linked with coronary artery disease

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

A genetic variant on the male Y chromosome is associated with a significantly increased risk for coronary artery disease, research shows.

Weight reduction associated with improved depressive symptoms in IGT

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Small lifestyle and behavioral changes are associated with significant improvements in depressive symptoms among overweight or obese individuals with impaired glucose tolerance, show results from the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study.

Changes in fitness and fatness independently associated with CVD risk

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Healthy adults who wish to reduce their risk for developing cardiovascular disease risk factors should maintain or improve their cardiorespiratory fitness, as well as prevent fat gain, suggest study findings.

Cefpodoxime fails noninferiority test against ciprofloxacin in treating cystitis

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

A 3-day regimen of cefpodoxime does not meet criteria for noninferiority to ciprofloxacin in achieving clinical cure in women with acute uncomplicated cystitis, show study findings.

ADT for prostate cancer may increase vascular disease risk

Posted: 05 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Androgen-deprivation therapy for nonmetastatic prostate cancer is associated with an increased risk for peripheral artery disease and venous thromboembolism, report US researchers.

Medical News

2012-02-08T19:09:00.001-08:00

Medical News

Survivor bias makes best transfusion ratios in trauma patients unclear
Statins improve outcomes in STEMI patients, irrespective of LDL cholesterol
Global rates of diabetic retinopathy and its vision-threatening endpoints soar
Cholecystectomy surgery reveals Medicaid patient care disparity
Half of CABG patients unable to meet nonHDL targets
Changes in fitness and fatness independently associated with CVD risk
Hyperbaric oxygen helps a variety of chronic radiation injuries
Palliative radiation misunderstood by end-stage cancer patients
Stromal cell markers may aid in OSCC prognostication
Treatment response similar in schizophrenia patients with predominant and prominent negative symptoms
Levels of β-amyloid 42 peptide reduced in bipolar depression
Anemia predicts depression following ACS
FD-OCT identifies predictors of MI before and after stenting
Dapagliflozin reduces weight through glucose excretion, not fluid loss
Laparoscopic rectal resection acceptable for octogenarians
Antibiotic treatment ineffective for uncomplicated diverticulitis
Dapagliflozin reduces weight through glucose excretion, not fluid loss
Inflammatory pattern differs by sampling site in children with CF

Survivor bias makes best transfusion ratios in trauma patients unclear

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Many studies advocating use of a 1:1 ratio of fresh frozen plasma to erythrocytes in trauma patients needing massive transfusion are prone to survivor bias, report researchers.

Statins improve outcomes in STEMI patients, irrespective of LDL cholesterol

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Previous statin therapy decreases long-term mortality in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients, irrespective of their low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels on admission, results from a Turkish study suggest.

Global rates of diabetic retinopathy and its vision-threatening endpoints soar

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Almost 93 million individuals were affected by diabetic retinopathy in 2010, with 28 million having vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy, show findings published in Diabetes Care.

Cholecystectomy surgery reveals Medicaid patient care disparity

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Medicaid patients attending the emergency department with acute cholecystitis are less likely to receive definitive treatment than patients with private insurance, US researchers have found.

Half of CABG patients unable to meet nonHDL targets

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from an Australian study suggest that lipid management is "suboptimal" in high-risk coronary artery disease patients.

Changes in fitness and fatness independently associated with CVD risk

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Hyperbaric oxygen helps a variety of chronic radiation injuries

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment is associated with high response rates among patients with various types of soft tissue radionecrosis, show results of an 8-year review of patients treated at a regional referral center for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Palliative radiation misunderstood by end-stage cancer patients

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with end-stage cancer often do not understand the role of palliative radiotherapy, even after full disclosure of their prognosis and treatment aims, suggest study findings published in Clinical Oncology.

Stromal cell markers may aid in OSCC prognostication

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Cancer-associated fibroblasts and tumor-associated macrophages are potential biomarkers for prognosis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, research suggests.

Treatment response similar in schizophrenia patients with predominant and prominent negative symptoms

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Levels of β-amyloid 42 peptide reduced in bipolar depression

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Plasma levels of β-amyloid 42 peptide are reduced in patients with bipolar depression, and could serve a possible biomarker of cognitive decline in patients with mood disorders, say researchers.

Anemia predicts depression following ACS

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with anemia admitted to hospital for acute coronary syndrome are at increased risk for developing depression, research shows.

FD-OCT identifies predictors of MI before and after stenting

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Thin-cap fibroatheroma assessed prior to percutaneous coronary intervention is associated with an increased risk for periprocedural myocardial infarction, research shows.

Dapagliflozin reduces weight through glucose excretion, not fluid loss

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Adding dapagliflozin to metformin results in significant weight loss among diabetes patients principally as a result of caloric loss through glucose excretion rather than fluid loss, report researchers.

Laparoscopic rectal resection acceptable for octogenarians

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Laparoscopic surgery shortens hospital stay in octogenarian patients undergoing rectal surgery compared with an open approach and does not significantly affect other markers of outcome, indicates research published in Colorectal Disease.

Antibiotic treatment ineffective for uncomplicated diverticulitis

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Antibiotic treatment for acute uncomplicated diverticulitis fails to accelerate recovery or prevent complications or recurrence, shows research.

Dapagliflozin reduces weight through glucose excretion, not fluid loss

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Inflammatory pattern differs by sampling site in children with CF

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

The pattern of inflammation in the airway lumen of children with cystic fibrosis differs from that in the bronchial mucosa, study data show.

Medical News

2012-02-07T19:16:00.001-08:00

Medical News

Statins improve outcomes in STEMI patients, irrespective of LDL cholesterol
Psychoeducation improves medication adherence in bipolar affective disorder
Minor motor and sensory deficits in recent schizophrenia linked to brain changes
Combination antiplatelet therapy ruled out in small subcortical stroke
Latest thrombosis guidelines issued by ACCP
Positive attitude reduces relapse after continuous insulin infusion
Predictors for good glycemic control, low HbA1c identified
Allergen reduction with mite-impermeable mattresses ‘of no asthma benefit’
Initial calorie targets for enteral feeding fail to influence outcomes

Statins improve outcomes in STEMI patients, irrespective of LDL cholesterol

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Psychoeducation improves medication adherence in bipolar affective disorder

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Minor motor and sensory deficits in recent schizophrenia linked to brain changes

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Combination antiplatelet therapy ruled out in small subcortical stroke

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

The combination of clopidogrel and aspirin does not help, and may harm, patients with small subcortical stroke, show findings from the antiplatelet arm of the SPS3 trial.

Latest thrombosis guidelines issued by ACCP

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

The American College of Chest Physicians has published the 9th Edition of its "Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis" guidelines in Chest this week.

Positive attitude reduces relapse after continuous insulin infusion

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes who receive short-term intensive insulin treatment can increase their likelihood for achieving long-term drug-free remission if they adopt a positive attitude toward their condition and are confident about their care ability, suggest study findings.

Predictors for good glycemic control, low HbA1c identified

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Researchers have identified a number of predictors – including age and medication adherence – for good glycemic control and low glycated hemoglobin concentrations among patients with suboptimally controlled Type 2 diabetes.

Allergen reduction with mite-impermeable mattresses ‘of no asthma benefit’

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Mite-impermeable mattresses reduce exposure to house dust mite allergen Der f1 but have only a temporary effect on childhood asthma symptoms and no effect on the risk for allergy-associated conditions, European results indicate.

Initial calorie targets for enteral feeding fail to influence outcomes

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Outcomes of patients with acute lung injury who require mechanical ventilation are not affected by whether initial enteral feeding supplies the full recommended calorie allowance or a reduced amount, shows a randomized trial.

iPhone Medical News

2012-02-06T21:11:00.001-08:00

iPhone Medical News

Medgadget Exclusive: Interview about the Healthbots

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 11:23 AM PST

We are only two months into 2012 and it's clear that the Quantified Self movement is increasingly gaining traction. More devices are emerging to help people quantify everything from anxiety to weight, and blood glucose to sleep patterns. But what about people who cannot use the devices or are not ambulatory themselves?

A team led by Professor Bruce MacDonald at the University of Auckland in New Zealand has been working to create a corp of medical robots – Healthbots – to help these people. Medgadget had the opportunity to interview Professor MacDonald about the Healthbots, what they do, and when we can expect to see them available to help those in need.

Medical News

2012-02-06T19:29:00.001-08:00

Medical News

Atrial fibrillation linked to adverse outcomes after PCI
Expert consensus document on TAVR issued
Chocolate and cocoa may improve heart health
Chocolate and cocoa may improve heart health
Triglycerides predict stroke risk in postmenopausal women
Temperaments linked to clinical features and course in bipolar I disorder
General visual processing deficits may underlie social difficulties in schizophrenia
Silent PE raises risk for early symptomatic PE in DVT patients
Triglycerides predict stroke risk in postmenopausal women
High calcium markedly associated with mortality in CHD patients
Tool created to identify DCM children at risk for sudden cardiac death
ADT for prostate cancer may increase vascular disease risk
Education program cuts antibiotic dispensing in primary care
Gender differences in link between sleep and hypercholesterolemia
Websites advertising statins to the general public of ‘poor quality’
US FDA approves ivacaftor for treatment of rare form of cystic fibrosis
SOLITAIRE outperforms MERCI for clot retrieval, patient outcomes
Silent PE raises risk for early symptomatic PE in DVT patients

Atrial fibrillation linked to adverse outcomes after PCI

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with periprocedural atrial fibrillation are at an increased risk for adverse outcomes after undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, research suggests.

Expert consensus document on TAVR issued

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

US experts have issued a consensus document on transcatheter aortic-valve replacement.

Chocolate and cocoa may improve heart health

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Chocolate and cocoa consumption may have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, research suggests.

Chocolate and cocoa may improve heart health

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Chocolate and cocoa consumption may have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, research suggests.

Triglycerides predict stroke risk in postmenopausal women

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Study findings suggest that triglyceride levels, as well as several lipid and lipoprotein biomarkers, are associated with stroke risk in postmenopausal women.

Temperaments linked to clinical features and course in bipolar I disorder

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

General visual processing deficits may underlie social difficulties in schizophrenia

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with schizophrenia respond more slowly and less appropriately to face, body, and car images than do healthy individuals, reports a German research team.

Silent PE raises risk for early symptomatic PE in DVT patients

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with silent pulmonary embolism at the time of deep vein thrombosis diagnosis have an increased risk for symptomatic PE during the first 2 weeks of therapy, study findings indicate.

Triglycerides predict stroke risk in postmenopausal women

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Study findings suggest that triglyceride levels, as well as several lipid and lipoprotein biomarkers, are associated with stroke risk in postmenopausal women.

High calcium markedly associated with mortality in CHD patients

Posted: 05 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

High serum calcium levels are markedly associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in coronary heart disease patients, shows an analysis.

Tool created to identify DCM children at risk for sudden cardiac death

Posted: 05 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Researchers have created a risk stratification tool to identify patients with pediatric dilated cardiomyopathy who are at risk for sudden cardiac death.

ADT for prostate cancer may increase vascular disease risk

Posted: 05 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Androgen-deprivation therapy for nonmetastatic prostate cancer is associated with an increased risk for peripheral artery disease and venous thromboembolism, report US researchers.

Education program cuts antibiotic dispensing in primary care

Posted: 05 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

An educational program successfully reduced the rate of antibiotic dispensing in primary care, UK research published in the British Medical Journal shows.

Gender differences in link between sleep and hypercholesterolemia

Posted: 05 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from a US study suggest that there are significant gender differences in the association between sleep duration and hypercholesterolemia.

Websites advertising statins to the general public of ‘poor quality’

Posted: 05 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Websites advertising cholesterol-lowering drugs are "generally of poor quality," suggests a meta-analysis of internet sites advertising statins for sale to the general public.

US FDA approves ivacaftor for treatment of rare form of cystic fibrosis

Posted: 05 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved ivacaftor for treatment of cystic fibrosis in children aged 6 years or older with the G551D Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator gene mutation.

SOLITAIRE outperforms MERCI for clot retrieval, patient outcomes

Posted: 05 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

The SOLITAIRE device has proved better than the MERCI retriever for removing clots and improving outcomes in patients with acute stroke, report the SWIFT investigators.

Silent PE raises risk for early symptomatic PE in DVT patients

Posted: 05 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with silent pulmonary embolism at the time of deep vein thrombosis diagnosis have an increased risk for symptomatic PE during the first 2 weeks of therapy, study findings indicate.

Medical News

2012-02-05T19:31:00.001-08:00

Medical News

Long-acting insulin analogs recommended for OHA-resistant diabetes
Repeat flexible sigmoidoscopy increases colorectal cancer detection rate
BP difference between arms points to peripheral vascular disease
Depression medications during pregnancy increase newborn’s hypertension risk
Repeat flexible sigmoidoscopy increases colorectal cancer detection rate
Chinese version of MDQ effective for BD screening
‘Reassess patients’ before replacing ICDs
Environmental M. ulcerans linked to incidence of Buruli ulcer in Benin
Depression symptoms common in schizophrenia patients
Psychotherapy benefits youth with first-episode psychotic mania
Black tea lowers BP
Oral HPV infection linked with sexual behavior
Cognitive insight increased in depressed schizophrenia patients
Psychosocial functioning reduced in multiple-episode BD patients
UDCA could improve endothelial function in heart failure
Heart failure linked to cognitive decline
Manuka honey shows promise for preventing wound infections
Family-assisted training improves QoL in schizophrenia patients
Nonepisodic factors may help differentiate BD subtypes
Reduced language-related asymmetry in IFG may be neural marker of schizophrenia

Long-acting insulin analogs recommended for OHA-resistant diabetes

Posted: 05 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with Type 2 diabetes who derive no therapeutic benefit from oral hypoglycemic agents may benefit from treatment with long-acting insulin analogs, suggest study findings.

Repeat flexible sigmoidoscopy increases colorectal cancer detection rate

Posted: 05 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Repeat screening by flexible sigmoidoscopy after 3 to 5 years increases the detection of colorectal cancer or advanced adenoma by a quarter in women and by a third in men, show results of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial.

BP difference between arms points to peripheral vascular disease

Posted: 05 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

A difference of 10 to 15 mmHg in systolic blood pressure between the left and right arm is associated with an increased risk for peripheral vascular disease and mortality, results of a systematic review and meta-analysis show.

Depression medications during pregnancy increase newborn’s hypertension risk

Posted: 05 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during late pregnancy to treat depression more than doubles the risk for persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newborn, researchers say.

Repeat flexible sigmoidoscopy increases colorectal cancer detection rate

Posted: 05 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Chinese version of MDQ effective for BD screening

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

The Chinese version of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire is an effective screening tool for bipolar disorder among patients who have experienced a major depressive episode, say researchers.

‘Reassess patients’ before replacing ICDs

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Not all individuals with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator should receive a new generator when the device's power reserve is running low, its leads become defective, or its system infected, say authors.

Environmental M. ulcerans linked to incidence of Buruli ulcer in Benin

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Research carried out in Benin in West Africa shows that environmental Mycobacterium ulcerans predicts prevalence of Buruli ulcer, a necrotizing skin disease common in subtropical countries.

Depression symptoms common in schizophrenia patients

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Clinically relevant symptoms of depression are common in schizophrenia patients who have not been diagnosed with the mood disorder, results from a Spanish study suggest.

Psychotherapy benefits youth with first-episode psychotic mania

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

The addition of psychotherapy to treatment as usual may help reduce symptoms of depression and overall symptom severity in young people who have experienced a first episode of psychotic mania, say researchers.

Black tea lowers BP

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Regular consumption of black tea significantly lowers systolic blood pressure and diastolic BP, researchers have found.

Oral HPV infection linked with sexual behavior

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Detailed information on the epidemiology of oral human papillomavirus infection in the United States has been published, showing that the prevalence is around 7% in the general population, but as high as 45% in certain high-risk subgroups.

Cognitive insight increased in depressed schizophrenia patients

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from a Turkish study show that schizophrenia patients with depression have greater cognitive insight, particularly regarding self-reflectiveness, than those without depression.

Psychosocial functioning reduced in multiple-episode BD patients

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with bipolar disorder who have experienced multiple mood episodes show poorer psychosocial functioning over time than first-episode patients, Spanish study results show.

UDCA could improve endothelial function in heart failure

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

European researchers have unveiled a completely novel approach for improving endothelial function in heart failure.

Heart failure linked to cognitive decline

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Heart failure is associated with a decline in mental processes and a loss of gray matter in the brain, Australian researchers have found.

Manuka honey shows promise for preventing wound infections

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Manuka honey has the potential to treat or even prevent persistent wound infections such as those caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, report researchers.

Family-assisted training improves QoL in schizophrenia patients

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Family-assisted Social Cognition and Interaction Training significantly improves quality of life, social functioning, and social cognition in patients with schizophrenia, research shows.

Nonepisodic factors may help differentiate BD subtypes

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

A number of significant differences, other than manic/mixed and hypomanic episodes, may help distinguish patients with bipolar I disorder from those with bipolar II disorder, say Canadian researchers.

Reduced language-related asymmetry in IFG may be neural marker of schizophrenia

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from an imaging study show disturbed functional brain organization during language processing in patients with schizophrenia, as indicated by diminished language-related asymmetry in the inferior frontal gyrus.

Medical News

2012-02-03T19:18:00.001-08:00

Medical News

Ethnicity modifies link between HbA1c and FPG in Asian populations
Over 10% of lower extremity DVT cases isolated to calf
Diastolic function linked to mortality in patients with normal LVEF

Ethnicity modifies link between HbA1c and FPG in Asian populations

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

The use of glycated hemoglobin in place of fasting plasma glucose as an indicator for glycemic status will reclassify Asian individuals' diabetes status differently depending on their ethnicity, show study findings.

Over 10% of lower extremity DVT cases isolated to calf

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

More than one in 10 cases of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis are isolated to the distal calf, results of a community-based study show.

Diastolic function linked to mortality in patients with normal LVEF

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Worse diastolic function is an independent predictor for increased mortality in patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction, say researchers in Circulation.

Medical News

2012-02-02T19:35:00.001-08:00

Medical News

Number of AHA cardiovascular metrics linked to mortality
‘Reassess patients’ before replacing ICDs
Statin therapy ‘equally effective’ in men and women
Head and neck cancer carries substantial comorbidity burden
Vismodegib approved by US FDA for treatment of basal cell carcinoma
Psoriasis patients have increased VTE risk
Chinese version of MDQ effective for BD screening
Depression symptoms common in schizophrenia patients
Countywide acute stroke system delivers ‘substantial’ thrombolysis rate
Lumber drainage may improve subarachnoid hemorrhage outcomes
Physical activity beneficial to cancer survivors
Pitavastatin beats pravastatin at improving albuminuria in diabetes
Variability found for rate of additional surgery after partial mastectomy
Prostatectomy modifications improve return of continence after surgery
Prostatectomy modifications improve return of continence after surgery
Dutasteride effective adjunct to active surveillance in prostate cancer

Number of AHA cardiovascular metrics linked to mortality

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

The number of cardiovascular health metrics is a strong predictor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, an American Heart Association study suggests.

‘Reassess patients’ before replacing ICDs

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Statin therapy ‘equally effective’ in men and women

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results of a meta-analysis show that statin therapy is associated with significant decreases in cardiovascular events in both women and men, suggesting that statin therapy should be used without regard to gender.

Head and neck cancer carries substantial comorbidity burden

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

People with head and neck cancer experience a high burden of both acute and chronic comorbidity, shows an analysis of a large Dutch population-based cohort.

Vismodegib approved by US FDA for treatment of basal cell carcinoma

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved vismodegib for treatment of metastatic basal cell carcinoma.

Psoriasis patients have increased VTE risk

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from a large study carried out in US women suggest that people with psoriasis have increased risk for venous thromboembolism.

Chinese version of MDQ effective for BD screening

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

The Chinese version of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire is an effective screening tool for bipolar disorder among patients who have experienced a major depressive episode, say researchers.

Depression symptoms common in schizophrenia patients

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Clinically relevant symptoms of depression are common in schizophrenia patients who have not been diagnosed with the mood disorder, results from a Spanish study suggest.

Countywide acute stroke system delivers ‘substantial’ thrombolysis rate

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Implementation of a spoke-and-hub system for treating patients with acute stroke in Orange County, California, has been successful, delivering "substantial" rates of acute reperfusion therapy, say researchers.

Lumber drainage may improve subarachnoid hemorrhage outcomes

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Lumber drainage of cerebrospinal fluid in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage improves early but not late outcomes relative to standard care, show study results.

Physical activity beneficial to cancer survivors

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Physical activity is associated with clinically important positive effects on physical function and quality of life in patients who have completed their treatment for cancer, results of a systematic review and meta-analysis show.

Pitavastatin beats pravastatin at improving albuminuria in diabetes

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Pitavastatin is more effective than pravastatin at reducing albuminuria in Type 2 diabetes patients with early-stage diabetic nephropathy, show study findings.

Variability found for rate of additional surgery after partial mastectomy

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

The number of women needing additional surgery after partial mastectomy varies substantially by surgeon and institution, say researchers.

Prostatectomy modifications improve return of continence after surgery

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Anterior suspension combined with posterior reconstruction during robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy significantly improves the early return of continence in patients after surgery, report researchers.

Prostatectomy modifications improve return of continence after surgery

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Dutasteride effective adjunct to active surveillance in prostate cancer

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

The 5α-reductase inhibitor dutasteride is a beneficial adjunct to active surveillance for men with low-risk prostate cancer, show study findings.

Medical News

2012-02-01T19:30:00.001-08:00

Medical News

Automatic electroencephalography monitor offers tight anesthesia control
Black tea lowers BP
Diastolic function linked to mortality[0] in patients with normal LVEF
Liraglutide benefits overall CV risk profile in diabetes
Revascularization guidelines updated
Frequent diet soft drink consumption may increase cardiovascular event risk
Liraglutide benefits overall CV risk profile in diabetes
Smoking cessation recommended for BE patients
Physician BMI impacts obesity care
Overweight mothers who smoke while pregnant put children at risk for heart defects
Smoking cessation recommended for BE patients
Oral HPV infection linked with sexual behavior
Physical activity beneficial to cancer survivors
Cognitive insight increased in depressed schizophrenia patients
Psychotherapy benefits youth with first-episode psychotic mania
Frequent diet soft drink consumption may increase cardiovascular event risk
Leptin levels rise after cardiopulmonary bypass in diabetes patients
Leptin levels rise after cardiopulmonary bypass in diabetes patients
Chemotherapy alone improves long-term survival in Hodgkin's lymphoma

Automatic electroencephalography monitor offers tight anesthesia control

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

An automatic system that monitors patients' needs for anesthesia and analgesia during surgery outperforms manual control of anesthesia on some indices, research shows.

Black tea lowers BP

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Regular consumption of black tea significantly lowers systolic blood pressure and diastolic BP, researchers have found.

Diastolic function linked to mortality[0] in patients with normal LVEF

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Worse diastolic function is an independent predictor for increased mortality in patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction, say researchers in Circulation.

Liraglutide benefits overall CV risk profile in diabetes

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

In patients with diabetes that is well controlled with metformin monotherapy, the addition of liraglutide improves several cardiovascular risk factors beyond glycemic control, suggest study findings.

Revascularization guidelines updated

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Updated appropriate-use criteria for coronary revascularization have been released, following the publication of new clinical data and identification of gaps in data collection.

Frequent diet soft drink consumption may increase cardiovascular event risk

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

People who consume diet soft drinks on a daily basis have an increased risk for cardiovascular events such as stroke and myocardial infarction compared with nonconsumers, say US researchers.

Liraglutide benefits overall CV risk profile in diabetes

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

In patients with diabetes that is well controlled with metformin monotherapy, the addition of liraglutide improves several cardiovascular risk factors beyond glycemic control, suggest study findings.

Smoking cessation recommended for BE patients

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with Barrett's esophagus should be encouraged to give up smoking, say researchers who found the habit doubles the risk for progression to esophageal cancer.

Physician BMI impacts obesity care

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Physicians with a normal body mass index are more likely to provide obesity care to their patients, and feel confident doing so, than their overweight or obese counterparts, report researchers.

Overweight mothers who smoke while pregnant put children at risk for heart defects

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Women who are both overweight and smoke during pregnancy are at an increased risk for having a child with a heart defect, suggest results of a study published in Heart.

Smoking cessation recommended for BE patients

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with Barrett's esophagus should be encouraged to give up smoking, say researchers who found the habit doubles the risk for progression to esophageal cancer.

Oral HPV infection linked with sexual behavior

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Physical activity beneficial to cancer survivors

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Cognitive insight increased in depressed schizophrenia patients

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from a Turkish study show that schizophrenia patients with depression have greater cognitive insight, particularly regarding self-reflectiveness, than those without depression.

Psychotherapy benefits youth with first-episode psychotic mania

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

Frequent diet soft drink consumption may increase cardiovascular event risk

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST

People who consume diet soft drinks on a daily basis have an increased risk for cardiovascular events such as stroke and myocardial infarction compared with nonconsumers, say US researchers.

Leptin levels rise after cardiopulmonary bypass in diabetes patients

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

The acute stress response in leptin appears to be higher in patients with diabetes compared with those without, show study findings.

Leptin levels rise after cardiopulmonary bypass in diabetes patients

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

The acute stress response in leptin appears to be higher in patients with diabetes compared with those without, show study findings.

Chemotherapy alone improves long-term survival in Hodgkin's lymphoma

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Chemotherapy alone improves long-term survival in patients with stage IA or IIA nonbulky Hodgkin's lymphoma compared with treatment that includes both chemotherapy and subtotal nodal radiation therapy, research shows.

Medical News

2012-01-31T19:12:00.001-08:00

Medical News

UDCA could improve endothelial function in heart failure
Heart failure linked to cognitive decline
Anal sphincter training benefits colorectal cancer surgery patients
Hip and waist circumference ‘should be included in CVD risk prediction models’
Anal sphincter training benefits colorectal cancer surgery patients
Variability found for rate of additional surgery after partial mastectomy
Prostatectomy modifications improve return of continence after surgery
Psychosocial functioning reduced in multiple-episode BD patients
Family-assisted training improves QoL in schizophrenia patients
Proximal balloon occlusion protects brain during CAS
VTE risk elevated in people with psoriasis

UDCA could improve endothelial function in heart failure

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

European researchers have unveiled a completely novel approach for improving endothelial function in heart failure.

Heart failure linked to cognitive decline

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Heart failure is associated with a decline in mental processes and a loss of gray matter in the brain, Australian researchers have found.

Anal sphincter training benefits colorectal cancer surgery patients

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

French researchers have demonstrated the benefits of anal sphincter rehabilitation for patients who undergo extensive rectal surgery for cancer.

Hip and waist circumference ‘should be included in CVD risk prediction models’

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

The effect of central obesity on mortality risk may be significantly underestimated without adjustment for hip circumference, suggest study results.

Anal sphincter training benefits colorectal cancer surgery patients

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

French researchers have demonstrated the benefits of anal sphincter rehabilitation for patients who undergo extensive rectal surgery for cancer.

Variability found for rate of additional surgery after partial mastectomy

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

The number of women needing additional surgery after partial mastectomy varies substantially by surgeon and institution, say researchers.

Prostatectomy modifications improve return of continence after surgery

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Psychosocial functioning reduced in multiple-episode BD patients

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with bipolar disorder who have experienced multiple mood episodes show poorer psychosocial functioning over time than first-episode patients, Spanish study results show.

Family-assisted training improves QoL in schizophrenia patients

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Family-assisted Social Cognition and Interaction Training significantly improves quality of life, social functioning, and social cognition in patients with schizophrenia, research shows.

Proximal balloon occlusion protects brain during CAS

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Proximal balloon occlusion provides greater cerebral protection than use of a distal filter during carotid artery stenting, in what the researchers say is the first randomized comparison of the two techniques.

VTE risk elevated in people with psoriasis

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

People with psoriasis may have an increased risk for venous thromboembolism, results from a large study among US women suggest.

Medical News

2012-01-30T19:19:00.001-08:00

Medical News

Black tea lowers BP
Noninvasive testing has only ‘modest’ impact
HbA1c target more achievable with earlier insulin initiation in Type 2 diabetes
Exenatide or sitagliptin not linked to acute renal failure in diabetes
n-3 PUFAs may protect against AF
Free fatty acid levels not associated with sudden cardiac death
Nonepisodic factors may help differentiate BD subtypes
Reduced language-related asymmetry in IFG may be neural marker of schizophrenia
Mixed approach encourages physical activity in asthma patients
POAF linked to increased risk for death following CABG
POAF linked to increased risk for death following CABG
Dutasteride effective adjunct to active surveillance in prostate cancer
DKK1 levels elevated in psychosis patients with comorbid drug abuse
Benchmark residual VTE risks for contemporary prophylaxis proposed

Black tea lowers BP

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Regular consumption of black tea significantly lowers systolic blood pressure and diastolic BP, researchers have found.

Noninvasive testing has only ‘modest’ impact

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Noninvasive cardiac imaging has only a modest impact on the clinical management of patients, report US researchers.

HbA1c target more achievable with earlier insulin initiation in Type 2 diabetes

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Starting patients on insulin therapy at lower levels of glycated hemoglobin improves achievement of glycemic control and increases glycemic response in Type 2 diabetes patients, report US researchers.

Exenatide or sitagliptin not linked to acute renal failure in diabetes

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Use of exenatide or sitagliptin in treating diabetes does not appear to be associated with an increased risk for acute renal failure relative to use of metformin, sulfonylureas, or thiazolidinediones, show study findings.

n-3 PUFAs may protect against AF

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Dietary long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids could be beneficial for the prevention of atrial fibrillation onset in older adults, suggest study findings.

Free fatty acid levels not associated with sudden cardiac death

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Plasma levels of non-esterified fatty acids are not associated with risk for sudden cardiac death in older adults, US researchers report.

Nonepisodic factors may help differentiate BD subtypes

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Reduced language-related asymmetry in IFG may be neural marker of schizophrenia

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Mixed approach encourages physical activity in asthma patients

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

A multicomponent protocol can lead to clinically significant increases in physical activity among patients with asthma, US researchers report.

POAF linked to increased risk for death following CABG

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients who undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery have an increased risk for death if they experience postoperative atrial fibrillation, suggest study findings that also showstatin therapy improved survival in this group of patients.

POAF linked to increased risk for death following CABG

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Dutasteride effective adjunct to active surveillance in prostate cancer

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

The 5α-reductase inhibitor dutasteride is a beneficial adjunct to active surveillance for men with low-risk prostate cancer, show study findings.

DKK1 levels elevated in psychosis patients with comorbid drug abuse

Posted: 19 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from an Italian study show that drug abuse is associated with increased serum levels of the protein Dickkopf-1 in patients with psychosis.

Benchmark residual VTE risks for contemporary prophylaxis proposed

Posted: 19 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Approximately one in every 100 patients undergoing knee replacement and one in every 200 undergoing hip replacement will develop symptomatic venous thromboembolism prior to discharge, even though they receive thromboprophylaxis, researchers report in JAMA.

Medical News

2012-01-29T19:24:00.001-08:00

Medical News

Hypertension major risk factor for mortality in Japan
Pretest heart disease probability ‘should be considered’ before using CTA
CCL significantly decreases door-to-balloon times
Coronary artery calcium testing predicts mortality in diabetes patients
Coronary artery calcium testing predicts mortality in diabetes patients
Hypertension major risk factor for mortality in Japan
CCL significantly decreases door-to-balloon times
Labor induction after first cesarean not linked to uterine rupture
Molecular assay predicts early-stage lung cancer prognosis
Molecular assay predicts early-stage lung cancer prognosis
Asymptomatic hemorrhagic transformation doubles odds for worse outcome
Urinalysis should be routine in patients with VTE
Seizure risk increased before and after psychiatric hospitalization
Lifetime CVD risk affected by risk factor burden
Deficit schizophrenia patients show reduced FA in the left uncinate fasciculus
Reasons for substance use vary among mental health patients
Improvement in mental health literacy among general public
Reasons for substance use vary among mental health patients
Seasonal variation in hospital admission rates for mood disorders
Endurance training improves diastolic function in heart failure patients
Pulmonary TB linked to EGFR mutations in lung cancer
Elderly people at high infection risk after visiting emergency department
Seasonal variation in hospital admission rates for mood disorders
Persistent NSS linked to widespread gray matter reductions in FEP
Early PCE exposure linked to increased bipolar disorder risk
PASP predictor for mortality in heart failure patients
Schizophrenia patients show regional alterations in βI-tubulin expression

Hypertension major risk factor for mortality in Japan

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

High blood pressure and tobacco smoking are the two major risk factors for adult mortality from noncommunicable diseases and injuries in Japan, researchers say.

Pretest heart disease probability ‘should be considered’ before using CTA

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Pretest probability for coronary artery disease and coronary calcium scoring should be considered before using computed tomography angiography for excluding obstructive CAD, researchers say.

CCL significantly decreases door-to-balloon times

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Creation of a coronary catheterization laboratory at a public hospital can significantly decrease door-to-balloon times, an analysis shows.

Coronary artery calcium testing predicts mortality in diabetes patients

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Coronary artery calcium scoring can help risk stratify individuals with diabetes, and identify patients who may benefit from therapies such as low-dose aspirin, a study shows.

Coronary artery calcium testing predicts mortality in diabetes patients

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Coronary artery calcium scoring can help risk stratify individuals with diabetes, and identify patients who may benefit from therapies such as low-dose aspirin, a study shows.

Hypertension major risk factor for mortality in Japan

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

High blood pressure and tobacco smoking are the two major risk factors for adult mortality from noncommunicable diseases and injuries in Japan, researchers say.

CCL significantly decreases door-to-balloon times

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Creation of a coronary catheterization laboratory at a public hospital can significantly decrease door-to-balloon times, an analysis shows.

Labor induction after first cesarean not linked to uterine rupture

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Labor induction is not associated with an increased risk for uterine rupture in women attempting trial of labor after cesarean section, US researchers say.

Molecular assay predicts early-stage lung cancer prognosis

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

A novel molecular assay developed by US researchers predicts the likelihood for death from early-stage lung cancer more accurately than conventional methods, show results from two independent validation cohorts.

Molecular assay predicts early-stage lung cancer prognosis

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Asymptomatic hemorrhagic transformation doubles odds for worse outcome

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Asymptomatic hemorrhagic transformation is not an innocuous finding, say researchers who report that it doubles patients risk for worse outcomes after stroke.

Urinalysis should be routine in patients with VTE

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

US research shows that a "surprisingly high" proportion of patients with venous thromboembolism have proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome.

Seizure risk increased before and after psychiatric hospitalization

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from a Swedish study suggest the risk for unprovoked epileptic seizures is significantly increased before and after hospitalization for psychiatric disorders.

Lifetime CVD risk affected by risk factor burden

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

An individual's lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease is significantly affected by their risk factor burden, a meta-analysis shows.

Deficit schizophrenia patients show reduced FA in the left uncinate fasciculus

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients with schizophrenia who have primarily negative symptoms show reduced fractional anisotropy values in the left uncinate fasciculus, indicating disrupted communication between frontal and temporal areas of the brain, say Turkish researchers.

Reasons for substance use vary among mental health patients

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

The reasons for tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use vary among patients with different mental health disorders, research shows.

Improvement in mental health literacy among general public

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies suggest that mental health literacy has improved significantly among the general public in recent decades, but attitudes toward people with mental illnesses have not.

Reasons for substance use vary among mental health patients

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

The reasons for tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use vary among patients with different mental health disorders, research shows.

Seasonal variation in hospital admission rates for mood disorders

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from a study conducted in Egypt show significant seasonal variation in hospital admissions for mood disorders, but not for schizophrenia.

Endurance training improves diastolic function in heart failure patients

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Endurance training significantly improves left ventricular diastolic function in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, research suggests.

Pulmonary TB linked to EGFR mutations in lung cancer

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

A history of pulmonary tuberculosis is associated with a higher incidence of mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor gene in patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung, researchers report in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.

Elderly people at high infection risk after visiting emergency department

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Visiting a hospital emergency department more than doubles the risk for new respiratory and gastrointestinal infections in elderly people living in residential care facilities, say researchers.

Seasonal variation in hospital admission rates for mood disorders

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from a study conducted in Egypt show significant seasonal variation in hospital admissions for mood disorders, but not for schizophrenia.

Persistent NSS linked to widespread gray matter reductions in FEP

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Persistent neurological soft signs are associated with pronounced gray matter volume reductions in several brain regions among patients with first-episode schizophrenia, research shows.

Early PCE exposure linked to increased bipolar disorder risk

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Prenatal and early childhood exposure to drinking water contaminated with tetrachloroethylene is associated with an increased risk for bipolar disorder in later life, results from a US study suggest.

PASP predictor for mortality in heart failure patients

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Pulmonary artery systolic pressure is a strong predictor for mortality in patients with heart failure, a study suggests.

Schizophrenia patients show regional alterations in βI-tubulin expression

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from a US study show that patients with schizophrenia have regional alterations in the expression of an isoform of the cytoskeleton protein β-tubulin, which is a major component of axons, dendrites, and dendritic spines.

Medical News

2012-01-27T19:34:00.001-08:00

Medical News

Quality of life reduced in diabetes patients who fear hypoglycemic events

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Hypoglycemic symptoms are associated with reduced quality of life and increased fear of hypoglycemia in patients with Type 2 diabetes treated with antihyperglycemic agents, show study findings.

Triglyceride levels modulate CAD vascular event risk independent of diabetes, lipids

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Researchers have found that patients with coronary artery disease and high plasma triglyceride levels may be at risk for recurrent vascular events, independent of the presence of Type 2 diabetes, use of lipid-lowering medications, or other lipid levels.

Medical News

2012-01-26T19:13:00.001-08:00

Medical News

Lifetime CVD risk affected by risk factor burden
Heart disease risk inversely linked to height in childhood
Laser cordectomy offers good outcomes in elderly glottic carcinoma patients
ADAM33 gene variants associated with psoriasis
Estrogen influences bone metabolism in men
Deficit schizophrenia patients show reduced FA in the left uncinate fasciculus
Seizure risk increased before and after psychiatric hospitalization
MRA suitable for monitoring most cerebral aneurysms
Anesthesia choices could contribute to endovascular stroke therapy outcomes
Length of compression stocking does not affect efficacy
AMI mortality fell by half over last decade
Positive thoughts improve medication adherence in hypertensive patients
HbA1c beats FPG at predicting impaired fasting glucose in children
Monthly lifestyle counseling aids HbA1c, BP, lipid control in diabetes
Chromosome gain linked to CRC hepatic metastases development
Eating tomatoes improves coronary biomarkers in women
Long-chain omega-3 PUFA protective against stroke in women
Chromosome gain linked to CRC hepatic metastases development
Long-chain omega-3 PUFA protective against stroke in women
Listening to music during prostate biopsy minimizes pain and anxiety
Collaborative efforts needed to reduce cancer burden in Africa
Collaborative efforts needed to reduce cancer burden in Africa

Lifetime CVD risk affected by risk factor burden

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

An individual's lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease is significantly affected by their risk factor burden, a meta-analysis shows.

Heart disease risk inversely linked to height in childhood

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

The risk for adult coronary heart disease is inversely related to height between the ages of 7 and 13 years, say European researchers.

Laser cordectomy offers good outcomes in elderly glottic carcinoma patients

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Endoscopic laser surgery is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for glottic carcinoma in elderly patients, study findings show.

ADAM33 gene variants associated with psoriasis

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Variants in a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 33 gene are associated with psoriasis in Han Chinese people, suggest study results.

Estrogen influences bone metabolism in men

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Estrogen levels play an important role in modulating bone metabolism in men, Japanese researchers believe.

Deficit schizophrenia patients show reduced FA in the left uncinate fasciculus

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Seizure risk increased before and after psychiatric hospitalization

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from a Swedish study suggest the risk for unprovoked epileptic seizures is significantly increased before and after hospitalization for psychiatric disorders.

MRA suitable for monitoring most cerebral aneurysms

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Magnetic resonance angiography can be used for routine follow up of all but the smallest cerebral aneurysms after coiling, say researchers.

Anesthesia choices could contribute to endovascular stroke therapy outcomes

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients undergoing endovascular therapy for stroke caused by large vessel occlusions may have better outcomes if given general rather than local anesthesia, research suggests.

Length of compression stocking does not affect efficacy

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

US researchers report that thigh-length compression stockings offer no increased protection against deep vein thrombosis over knee-length compression stockings.

AMI mortality fell by half over last decade

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

The rate of mortality after acute myocardial infarction in the UK has halved over the last decade, say researchers in the British Medical Journal.

Positive thoughts improve medication adherence in hypertensive patients

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

A positive-affect induction and self-affirmation intervention significantly increases medication adherence in hypertensive African–American patients, an analysis shows.

HbA1c beats FPG at predicting impaired fasting glucose in children

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Glycated hemoglobin is better than fasting plasma glucose for predicting impaired glucose tolerance in obese children and adolescents, suggest study findings.

Monthly lifestyle counseling aids HbA1c, BP, lipid control in diabetes

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Lifestyle counseling is associated with faster achievement of target glycated hemoglobin, blood pressure, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in routine diabetes care, report US researchers.

Chromosome gain linked to CRC hepatic metastases development

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Dutch scientists have discovered a chromosomal marker linked to the development of liver metastases in patients with colorectal cancer, and identified a candidate gene at this site.

Eating tomatoes improves coronary biomarkers in women

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Women who consume 10 or more tomato-based food products per week are less likely to have elevated total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and hemoglobin A1c levels than those who consume less than 1.5 servings per week, shows research.

Long-chain omega-3 PUFA protective against stroke in women

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Study findings show that middle-aged and elderly women who regularly consume food sources of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may lower their risk for stroke, whereas intake of dietary cholesterol increases this risk.

Chromosome gain linked to CRC hepatic metastases development

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Dutch scientists have discovered a chromosomal marker linked to the development of liver metastases in patients with colorectal cancer, and identified a candidate gene at this site.

Long-chain omega-3 PUFA protective against stroke in women

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Listening to music during prostate biopsy minimizes pain and anxiety

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Listening to music through noise-canceling headphones may reduce postprocedural pain and anxiety levels following prostate biopsy, suggest findings from a US study.

Collaborative efforts needed to reduce cancer burden in Africa

Posted: 22 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Collaborative efforts among private and government health agencies, and the health industries are required to reduce the growing burden of cancer in Africa, say researchers.

Collaborative efforts needed to reduce cancer burden in Africa

Posted: 22 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Collaborative efforts among private and government health agencies, and the health industries are required to reduce the growing burden of cancer in Africa, say researchers.

Health Informatics News

2012-01-26T11:13:00.001-08:00

Health Informatics News

How Pinterest helps users catalog their passions

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 08:05 AM PST

For Heather Neroy, it used to be a tedious process: Whenever she came across an interesting arts-and-crafts project or recipe on the Internet, she would save it for later by copying the link, pasting it into an e-mail and sending it to herself.

Medical News

2012-01-25T19:25:00.001-08:00

Medical News

‘Significant minority’ of patients continue smoking after cancer diagnosis
Lack of sleep may increase obesity risk
Genetic cause of esophageal cancer identified
‘Significant minority’ of patients continue smoking after cancer diagnosis
Improvement in mental health literacy among general public
Reasons for substance use vary among mental health patients
‘Significant minority’ of patients continue smoking after cancer diagnosis
Fried foods not linked to coronary outcomes and death in Spain
Family history of CHD, stroke alters health beliefs in at-risk diabetics
Fried foods not linked to coronary outcomes and death in Spain
Anesthesia choice could contribute to endovascular stroke therapy outcomes
Vitamin D supplementation does not reduce COPD exacerbations

‘Significant minority’ of patients continue smoking after cancer diagnosis

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

US researchers report that a "significant minority" of patients diagnosed with lung or colorectal cancer are still smoking 5 months after they received their diagnosis.

Lack of sleep may increase obesity risk

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Acute sleep deprivation stimulates areas of the brain involved in triggering the hunger response and may therefore increase a person's risk for becoming obese, say researchers.

Genetic cause of esophageal cancer identified

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

UK researchers have pinpointed a single genetic defect that underlies "tylosis with esophageal cancer," an inherited syndrome that confers a high risk for esophageal cancer.

‘Significant minority’ of patients continue smoking after cancer diagnosis

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

US researchers report that a "significant minority" of patients diagnosed with lung or colorectal cancer are still smoking 5 months after they received their diagnosis.

Improvement in mental health literacy among general public

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Reasons for substance use vary among mental health patients

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

The reasons for tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use vary among patients with different mental health disorders, research shows.

‘Significant minority’ of patients continue smoking after cancer diagnosis

Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

US researchers report that a "significant minority" of patients diagnosed with lung or colorectal cancer are still smoking 5 months after they received their diagnosis.

Fried foods not linked to coronary outcomes and death in Spain

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Fried food consumption is not associated with coronary heart disease or all-cause mortality in Spain, say researchers, although they note Spanish eating habits may differ from those in other countries.

Family history of CHD, stroke alters health beliefs in at-risk diabetics

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Having a family member affected with coronary heart disease and/or stroke significantly influences perceived risk and worry about diabetes, CHD, and stroke in individuals with a family history of diabetes, suggest study findings.

Fried foods not linked to coronary outcomes and death in Spain

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Anesthesia choice could contribute to endovascular stroke therapy outcomes

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients undergoing endovascular therapy for stroke caused by large vessel occlusion may have better outcomes if given local rather than general anesthesia, research suggests.

Vitamin D supplementation does not reduce COPD exacerbations

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

High-dose vitamin D supplementation does not reduce the incidence of exacerbations in patients with moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Belgian researchers report.

iPhone Medical News

2012-01-24T21:23:00.001-08:00

iPhone Medical News

Kaiser Permanente Makes Electronic Medical Records Accessible to Patients Through Android App and Mobile Website

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 11:47 AM PST

Kaiser Permanente, the largest managed care organization in the United States, has unveiled an Android app and mobile-optimized website through which its 9 million patients can access their own medical information anywhere in the world on their mobile devices. The app and mobile website contain the same information and possibilities that were already available through kp.org, i.e. lab results, diagnostic information, secure email access to doctors, ordering of prescription refills, scheduling appointments and locating of healthcare facilities. It is also possible for family members to get access on behalf of a patient and accomplish the same tasks.

The Android app is available for free from the Android market. An iPhone app will be released in the coming months, but for now iPhone users will have to do with the mobile website.

Medical News

2012-01-24T19:28:00.001-08:00

Medical News

Endurance training improves diastolic function in heart failure patients
Positive thoughts boost physical activity after PCI
Anorectal function tests poor predictors for fecal incontinence
Pulmonary TB linked to EGFR mutations in lung cancer
Listening to music during prostate biopsy minimizes pain and anxiety
Seasonal variation in hospital admission rates for mood disorders
Persistent NSS linked to widespread gray matter reductions in FEP
Pulmonary TB linked to EGFR mutations in lung cancer
Delirium affects up to a third of stroke patients
Improving vital signs should not lower clinical suspicion of PE
Flavonoid consumption associated with reduced CHD risk in diabetic women
Saxagliptin plus metformin beats uptitrated metformin in glycemic control
Parents considered as ‘agents of change’ in childhood obesity
Low awareness of NCEP-ATP-III non-HDL cholesterol guidelines among physicians
Novel HOXB13 variant linked to hereditary prostate cancer risk

Endurance training improves diastolic function in heart failure patients

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Endurance training significantly improves left ventricular diastolic function in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, research suggests.

Positive thoughts boost physical activity after PCI

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Patients who receive positive affect/self-affirmation intervention after undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention achieve a significant increase in physical activity, a study suggests.

Anorectal function tests poor predictors for fecal incontinence

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Anal manometry and endosonography do not accurately differentiate between patients with and without fecal incontinence, study findings show.

Pulmonary TB linked to EGFR mutations in lung cancer

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Listening to music during prostate biopsy minimizes pain and anxiety

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Listening to music through noise-canceling headphones may reduce postprocedural pain and anxiety levels following prostate biopsy, suggest findings from a US study.

Seasonal variation in hospital admission rates for mood disorders

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Results from a study conducted in Egypt show significant seasonal variation in hospital admissions for mood disorders, but not for schizophrenia.

Persistent NSS linked to widespread gray matter reductions in FEP

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Persistent neurological soft signs are associated with pronounced gray matter volume reductions in several brain regions among patients with first-episode schizophrenia, research shows.

Pulmonary TB linked to EGFR mutations in lung cancer

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Delirium affects up to a third of stroke patients

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Delirium may occur in up to three in 10 patients with acute stroke, say the authors of a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Improving vital signs should not lower clinical suspicion of PE

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

The return to normal of vital signs in emergency department patients does not mean that their risk for having pulmonary embolism has also subsided, warn US researchers.

Flavonoid consumption associated with reduced CHD risk in diabetic women

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Long-term intake of flavonoids improves the lipid profile and insulin sensitivity of women with Type 2 diabetes and reduces their risk for coronary heart disease, findings from a UK study suggest.

Saxagliptin plus metformin beats uptitrated metformin in glycemic control

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Saxagliptin added to metformin extended-release is superior to uptitrated metformin XR in improving glycemic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes, show US researchers.

Parents considered as ‘agents of change’ in childhood obesity

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

Parents and adult caregivers of obese children should be considered as "agents of change," according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.

Low awareness of NCEP-ATP-III non-HDL cholesterol guidelines among physicians

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

A large number of physicians in training are not familiar with the National Cholesterol Education Adult Treatment Panel-III guidelines for non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, show study findings.

Novel HOXB13 variant linked to hereditary prostate cancer risk

Posted: 22 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

A novel variant in the homeobox B13 gene is associated with a significantly increased risk for hereditary prostate cancer, shows a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.