In general, dengue infection in late pregnancy does not affect pregnancy outcome, according to results of a study appearing in the May issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Reuters Health Information ... more

Stem cells obtained from human umbilical cord blood may make an effective alternative to adult bone marrow and embryonic stem cells for regeneration and repair of injured airway epithelium, according to findings by US and Italian researchers. Reuters Health Information ... more

A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of cathepsin D is associated with an increased risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), according to a report in the April 21st issue of BMC Medical Genetics. Reuters Health Information ... more

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Thursday he plans to vote against a reduction in the country's 24-week time limit on abortion when parliament considers the hotly-contested issue next week. Reuters Health Information ... more

23andMe, a privately-held personal genetics company, and The Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center ("Parkinson's Institute") announced a research initiative under which Parkinson's Institute patients, with financial support from The Michael J. ... more

Researchers at the OU Health Sciences Center have found a new use for an old drug. Their findings appear online in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.The drug, Fluvastatin, has been approved since 1993 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of elevated cholesterol in adults. Millions of patients have taken Fluvastatin for cholesterol without difficulty. ... more

Oncolin Therapeutics, Inc., (OTCBB:OCOL) announces that its new Super Cell Blocker, ONC-127, has been effective in treating animals that have been implanted with human tumors in their brains. This technology has extended the life of animals in a preclinical environment. ... more

The genetic profile of two large Georgia families with high rates of late-onset Alzheimer's disease points to a gene that may cause the disease, researchers say.Genetic variations called single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, are common in DNA, but this pattern of SNPs shows up in nine out of 10 affected family members, says Dr. Shirley E. ... more

About 130,000 teens and young adults that reside in the Dallas Fort-Worth area carry a debilitating, deforming disease with them every day - and in many cases don't know it. A simple, free screening can quickly determine whether children and teens are suffering from scoliosis, thanks to the Scoliosis Center of Excellence at Medical Center of Plano. A dejected slouch. An awkward gait. ... more

GPs should lend a hand to beat the 'sick note culture' that sees millions of working days lost every year, according to a survey of smaller business owners.The UK Business Barometer, an internet survey run by The University of Nottingham Institute for Enterprise and Innovation (UNIEI) found there was strong support for a change to the way employees are signed off sick by doctors. ... more

Pfizer China announced it is providing up to RMB 10 million (approximately $1.4 million U.S.D) in medicines and financial assistance to relief organizations operating in the region worst affected by the massive earthquake. "We were devastated to hear about the rising death tolls and escalating number of injuries in Sichuan Province," said Ahmet Esen, country manager of Pfizer China. ... more

A variety of middle-class people are making a conscious but careful choice to use marijuana to enhance their leisure activities, a University of Alberta study shows. ... more

It's a paradox that has confounded evolutionary biologists since Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859: Since parasites depend on their hosts for survival, why do they harm them?A new University of Georgia and Emory University study of monarch butterflies and the microscopic ... more

Applied NeuroSolutions, Inc. (OTC BB:APNS)( http://www.AppliedNeuroSolutions.com), a company focused on the development of products for the early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease ("AD"), today announced an initiative to provide its P-Tau 231 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) test to companies undertaking AD clinical trials. ... more

A bacteria commonly found in soil and water triggered autoimmune symptoms in mice similar to those found in an incurable liver disease called Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC). ... more

Covidien (NYSE: COV, BSX: COV), a leading global provider of healthcare products, announced the European introduction of the AbsorbaTack „¢ 5mm absorbable mesh fixation device for hernia repair, one of the most performed surgical procedures worldwide. ... more

Compact, wireless and power efficient body sensors that allow doctors to monitor illnesses and injuries remotely are a step closer thanks to new research.The use of biosensors attached to the body for health monitoring is not new. ... more

New research conducted at Moores Cancer Center at University of California, San Diego shows that the SAVI „¢ breast brachytherapy applicator, a new approach for delivering accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), may provide better protection of healthy tissue than other partial breast irradiation methods. The research team, led by Catheryn Yashar, M.D. ... more

Researchers from the Howard Florey Institute in Melbourne have identified a factor that may contribute towards the development of heroin addiction by manipulating the adenosine A2A receptor, which plays a major role in the brain's 'reward pathway'. ... more

A multicenter study led by Johns Hopkins doctors has fine-tuned the dosage and timing for administering clot-busting tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) to patients with strokes caused by bleeding within the brain. ... more

An antibiotic commonly used to treat acne can prevent tissue damage caused by lung diseases such as emphysema, researchers have found. ... more

In a discovery that could one day lead to an understanding of how to regenerate damaged heart tissue, researchers at the University of California, San Diego have found that parent cells involved in embryonic development of the epicardium - the cell layer surrounding the outside of the heart - give rise to three important types of cells with potential for cardiac repair. ... more

Does playing violent video games make players aggressive? It is a question that has taxed researchers, sociologists, and regulators ever since the first console was plugged into a TV and the first shots fired in a shoot 'em up game. ... more

Aprotinin is associated with a 50 per cent increase in the relative risk of death, according to a major Canadian clinical trial comparing three drugs routinely used to prevent blood loss during heart surgery. ... more

AstraZeneca announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved SEROQUEL® (quetiapine fumarate) for the maintenance treatment of patients with bipolar I disorder, as adjunct to lithium or divalproex. ... more

Oncolin Therapeutics, Inc., (OTCBB:OCOL) announces that its new Super Cell Blocker, ONC-127, has been effective in treating animals that have been implanted with human tumors in their brains. This technology has extended the life of animals in a preclinical environment. The Super Cell Blocker, ONC-127, drug candidate is a major breakthrough in inhibiting a process known as glycolysis which "starves the tumor" by blocking its ability to provide energy for the cell to live. ... more

New research conducted at Moores Cancer Center at University of California, San Diego shows that the SAVI „¢ breast brachytherapy applicator, a new approach for delivering accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), may provide better protection of healthy tissue than other partial breast irradiation methods. The research team, led by Catheryn Yashar, M.D. ... more

The global market for cancer drugs will grow twice as fast as that for all other pharmaceuticals as the developing world spends more on health care, a new report says.China, Brazil, Russia and other emerging countries are becoming bigger customers for pharmaceuticals as they invest more in treating and diagnosing cancer, according to a report issued Thursday by IMS Health.The health care research firm expects pharmaceutical spending in countries such as India, Mexico and Turkey to grow by 12 to ... more

The Australian Medical Association has attacked the Rudd Government over its lack of action on rural health. AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said she was bitterly disappointed that the Federal Government did not put in any significant extra funding to address medical workforce shortages in regional and rural Australia. ... more

Musculoskeletal Ultrasound of the Extremities by Dr. Randy E. Moore is a straight-forward, easy-to-follow guide which stresses recognition of normal anatomy as a prerequisite to identifying pathology. In the last 20 years, diagnostic ultrasonography has made tremendous strides. There has been an increase in the use of this process to image musculoskeletal structures and extremities. ... more

As unlikely as it sounds, scientists at the Garvan Institute for Medical Research have shown that there is a link between prostate cancer and a higher risk of bone fracture. Analysis of data from Garvan's Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study suggests that men with prostate cancer face a 50% higher risk of fracture, which increases to nearly doubled risk if they are receiving treatment. ... more

Many articles have been written on the importance of designing space for a medical Group Practice. Other articles spotlight how to spatially plan the Nurses Work Stations, Front Office, and the "Check-In and Check-Out" areas to increase staff productivity, and there has been a flood of information about the latest advances in ergonomic furniture. ... more

A new study released in the online edition of Physiological Genomics finds that individuals with a specific genetic variation consistently consume more sugary foods. The study offers the first evidence of the role that a variation in the GLUT2 gene - a gene that controls sugar entry into the cells - has on sugar intake, and may help explain individual preferences for foods high in sugar. ... more

A large genetic study in mice has identified hundreds of genes involved in the development of cancer by examining the DNA of more than 500 lymphomas to find the cancer causing mutations. The study found just over 10,000 mutations in total, which together implicate almost 350 regions in the mouse genome in cancer formation. ... more

Conference Archives, Inc. ... more

An anesthetic injection into a collection of nerves in the neck of breast cancer survivors may reduce the severity and frequency of debilitating hot flashes and night awakenings associated with breast cancer treatment, according to a new study published online by The Lancet Oncology and appearing in its June issue. ... more

Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, have discovered the first conclusive evidence of Alzheimer's-like neurofibrillary brain tangles in an aged nonhuman primate. ... more

In a national online survey conducted by the American Society of Registered Nurses (ASRN.org), 56% of the 761 Registered Nurses surveyed on March 26 that worked under nurse-to-patient ratios said that due to the implementation of the ratios, they had more time for breaks. In a separate survey, 69% said they had more time for personal care of their patients. ... more

National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre has welcomed an additional $31 million funding over five years from the Australian Government to allow all Australian women who have had a mastectomy as a result of breast cancer to access external prostheses. This Federal budget measure will allow for the replacement of a woman's prostheses every two to five years. ... more

Bio-Synergy, market leaders in sports nutrition and functional waters unveils startling survey results which demonstrate that British women are confident in how they look. ... more

Infants and toddlers whose mothers are severely depressed are almost three times more likely to suffer accidental injuries than other children in the same age group, according to a new study. ... more

Researchers at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute have discovered how tuberculosis (TB) bacteria hide and multiply in the human body and are working toward a treatment to block this mechanism of infection. ... more

New multinational data show that black patients treated with Exforge® experienced a significantly higher reduction in systolic blood pressure than those on amlodipine alone (33 mmHg vs. ... more

Stem Cells Might Contribute to Vascular Disease - Stem Cells Might Cause More Damage After Vascular SurgeryPhysician-scientists believe that stem cells might play a harmful role in the body's reaction to trauma following common vascular surgery, like angioplasty. A team of scientists - led by Dr. K. ... more

Unlike most scientific and technological advances, which tend to take their place silently in society, biotechnology often finds itself the center of public debate and regulatory attention, due partly to the moral issues posed by many of its applications. ... more

A large genetic study in mice has identified hundreds of genes involved in the development of cancer by examining the DNA of more than 500 lymphomas to find the cancer causing mutations. The study found just over 10,000 mutations in total, which together implicate almost 350 regions in the mouse genome in cancer formation. ... more

An anesthetic injection into a collection of nerves in the neck of breast cancer survivors may reduce the severity and frequency of debilitating hot flashes and night awakenings associated with breast cancer treatment, according to a new study published online by The Lancet Oncology and appearing in its June issue. Hot flashes and sleep dysfunctions often plague breast cancer survivors, especially those who take anti-estrogen medications. ... more

New data revealed show that the pharmacy profession is increasingly recognising the potential to be involved in weight management, in a bid to stop the rising number of obese and overweight people.1 Results show 98 per cent of pharmacists in the UK believe that, with support and training, they are well placed to help people with their weight loss efforts. ... more

Fertility researchers have used DNA fingerprinting for the first time to identify which embryos have implanted after in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and developed successfully to result in the births of healthy babies. ... more

Adding a screening ultrasound examination to routine mammography revealed 28 percent more cancers than mammography alone. ... more

Nursing home decisions issued by the Department of Health and Human Services' Departmental Appeals Board (DAB) in 2007 highlight serious failures in care that cause residents to suffer unnecessary pain, injury, trauma, and death. "Despite the serious deficiencies reflected by these cases, the federal enforcement response is usually modest, at best," said Toby S. ... more

Wen-Xing's assessment of the quality of ambient air in Beijing has just been published online in Springer's journal, Air Quality, Atmosphere Health. Since the 1980s, the rapid industrial development, urbanization and increase in traffic have resulted in severe air pollution in Beijing. ... more

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H. Res. 1134 today, a resolution introduced by Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-Norwalk) recognizing May as Mental Health Month. "An estimated 57 million Americans suffer from diagnosable, treatable mental illnesses," noted Rep. Napolitano. "This number is growing because of the epidemic of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among veterans returning from Iraq. ... more

A dentist's injection typically causes numbness for several hours. This experience could soon be history. Now, Clifford Woolf, professor at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA, and his colleagues have developed a combination of two agents which is able to specifically block pain without producing numbness or motor paralysis. ... more

U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Herb Kohl (D-WI) held a hearing on Alzheimer's, a disease that currently affects over five million Americans and their families. ... more

Heart disease is the world's most common birth defect, affecting one in every 100 children. Without treatment, one third of these children die before their first birthday. In developed countries, children are typically diagnosed and treated at birth. ... more

Eyeforpharma has announced 9 of their 30 speakers for Europe's biggest and most influential marketing strategy conference for pharma on 20-21st October in Zurich. The conference, now in its 8th year, is yet to be officially launched. ... more

There are currently 10 Pharma VPs and over 85% pharma meeting at eyeforpharma's Sales Force Effectiveness USA Summit. eyeforpharma have announced that the summit will sell out. The two day event taking place June 23-24 in Philadelphia, USA, comprises presentation sessions, roundtables, workshops, a networking evening and an exhibition. ... more

HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization, announced the launch of a prescription drug rating and comparison tool for patients on http://www.HealthGrades.com. ... more

New data revealed show that the pharmacy profession is increasingly recognising the potential to be involved in weight management, in a bid to stop the rising number of obese and overweight people.1 Results show 98 per cent of pharmacists in the UK believe that, with support and training, they are well placed to help people with their weight loss efforts. ... more

While 30 to 50 percent of people with Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome are also affected with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), both illnesses have a distinct neurocognitive profile, according to a new study published in the print edition of the journal Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology Biologi ... more

BSI British Standards has published a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) which defines the terms commonly used in the field of regenerative medicine. PAS 84, Regenerative Medicine - Glossary, provides clear guidance on the meaning of terminology currently used in the UK by industry, regulators, government and academia. ... more

Office staff who took part in an eight-month workplace initiative reported that headaches and neck and shoulder pain fell by more than 40 per cent and their use of painkillers halved, according to research published in the May issue of Cephalalgia. They also reported that pain levels were less severe at the end of the study than at the start. ... more

Data presented at the 26th annual meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) in Graz, Austria, provide additional evidence of the public health impact of the routine use of Prevenar* (Pneumococcal Saccharide Conjugated Vaccine, Adsorbed), which helps protect against the seven pneumococcal serotypes causing the majority of diseaseworldwide. ... more

Women who commit sexual offences are just as likely to have mental problems or drug addictions as other violent female criminals. This according to the largest study ever conducted of women convicted of sexual offences in Sweden. Between 1988 and 2000, 93 women and 8,500 men were convicted of sexual offences in Sweden. ... more

Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) neuroscientists at The University of Queensland have discovered a fundamental component of the process that regulates memory formation. ... more

In the Clinic - Dr. John Louie, MD, discusses radioembolization.ca/">Insidermedicine for their continuing sponsorship at Kevin, M.D. Insidermedicine (www.insidermedicine.com) is a physician-led news organization that brings daily evidence-based updates to patients, doctors and medical students. Also available in Chinese and Spanish. ... more

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ... more

Some not clear on risks of problems, two surveys find ... more

In the largest study of its kind to evaluate commonly used HIV drugs, researchers confirmed that one of the most frequently prescribed triple drug combinations for initial HIV infection is indeed the most effective at suppressing HIV. The study also found that a two-drug regimen performed comparably to the triple-drug regimens. ... more

Celecoxib, the anti-inflammatory medication also known by the trade name Celebrex, has proven to be safe and reduces a specific proliferation measurement of precancerous lesions in the lung, according to a new study. This finding demonstrates the significance of COX-2 inhibition toward preventing lung cancer in individuals at higher risk of developing the disease. ... more

Excess amounts of a protein called IGF-1R in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors could indicate that the patient would be less responsive to Gleevec. Preliminary studies have shown that GIST cells, especially Gleevec-resistant cells, might respond well to agents in development for treatment-resistant breast cancer, which is also marked by excessive IGF-1R production. IGF-1R could also serve as a marker to identify Gleevec-resistant patients before therapy begins, when alternative treat ... more

Chemotherapy given in conjunction with cancer vaccines may boost the immune system's response, potentially improving the effectiveness of this promising type of cancer therapy. ... more

Computational biologists have for the first time tackled the dilemma of how to study the ancestry of multidomain genes, which encode an important class of proteins called multidomain proteins that are crucial to human health. They found that standard methods for analyzing gene evolution, are critically flawed when applied to multidomain genes, mutations of which often are associated with cancers. ... more

Novartis AG's MenB vaccine showed potential to give broad protection to infants against meningococcal B infections in a mid-stage study, the Swiss drugmaker said on Wednesday. Reuters Health Information ... more

A shortage of nurses in U.S. hospitals is not about to ease any time soon because of shortcomings in the educational system, the chief executive of the largest U.S. health-care staffing company said in an interview. Reuters Health Information ... more

Roughly one in four children and adolescents diagnosed with diabetes in the US present with ketoacidosis and these patients are more likely to be hospitalized than others, according to a report in the May issue of Pediatrics. Reuters Health Information ... more

Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement intended to prevent thromboembolic events seems safe during pregnancy for mother and fetus and "may be tentatively supported," clinicians from the UK report in the May issue of BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Reuters Health Information ... more

Pills, supplements have potentially dangerous ingredients, lack warning labels, study finds ... more

A Correspondence letter published in The Lancetcalls attention to the relationship between transportation and food.Dr. Phil Edwards and Dr. Ian Roberts (London School of Hygiene andTropical Medicine, UK) claim that promoting healthy urban transportpolicies - walking and cycling, for example - would contribute to adecline in both the demand for world oil and the current insecurity ofthe global food chain. ... more

Therapy does not appear to help quality of life for lung cancer linked to asbestos ... more

Research published in two articles in this week's The Lancethas demonstrated that moderate-to-severe psoriasis can be effectivelytreated with the drug ustekinumab. In these PHOENIX trials, the authorshave also shown that treatment every 12 weeks maintains efficacy inmost people.As the most common immune-mediated adult skin disease, psoriasisaffects nearly 2 to 3% of the population. ... more

In order to succeed in medicine, top scores in preparative classes arenot always necessary, according the authors of a paper released on May16, 2008 in BMJ. ... more

For mesothelioma patients, the addition of chemotherapy to the usualactive symptom control (ASC) does not appear to improve survival orquality of life, according to an article released on May 16, 2008 in TheLancet. Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is cancer of the mesothelium, theprotective layer that covers the lungs. ... more

For mesothelioma patients, the addition of chemotherapy to the usualactive symptom control (ASC) does not appear to improve survival orquality of life, according to an article released on May 16, 2008 in TheLancet. Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is cancer of the mesothelium, theprotective layer that covers the lungs. Generally associated withexposure to asbestos, it is almost always fatal. Worldwide, this cancer has been rising. ... more

Get Vaccinated to Protect Yourself ~ Almost one out of three people in America will develop shingles during their lifetime. The disease poses a greater risk to people over age 60. The only way to reduce the risk of developing shingles and the long-term pain that can follow shingles is to get vaccinated. ... more

On the 25th anniversary of the first scientific article linking a retrovirus to AIDS, Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases reflects in an essay in Nature on his experience treating and studying HIV/AIDS for the past quarter century. ... more

Researchers have developed a simple artificial cell with which to investigate the organization and function of two of the most basic cell components: the cell membrane and the cytoplasm -- the gelatinous fluid that surrounds the structures in living cells. The work could lead to the creation of new drugs that take advantage of properties of cell organization to prevent the development of diseases. ... more

In an effort to better define and ultimately address fatigue more effectively, a qualitative study has identified three primary themes-- loss of strength or energy, major effects of fatigue and associated sensations -- among patients being treated with standard radiation therapy. ... more

Stroke patients have a high risk of falling after leaving the hospital. Researchers suggest prevention programs such as exercise, home hazard assessment, appropriate lighting, removing obstacles and installing transfer rails can reduce falls. Increased awareness of fall prevention is needed among family members of stroke patients. ... more

In the industrialized world, most diseases that cause vision loss do so by altering the permeability of the blood vessels in the retina of the eye. One recently developed treatment for many of these diseases requires the repeated injection of the drug into the eye. But a new study in mice and rabbits indicates that there might be a more painless and simple approach to reduce blood vessel permeability in the eye. ... more

Using newly available data on worldwide cancer incidence, researchers have shown a clear association between deficiency in exposure to sunlight, specifically ultraviolet B, and breast cancer. ... more

Microbiologists have found a way to trigger a protein combination called 9-1-1 that sends an SOS signal for cells to fight cancer-causing agents such as industrial toxins, ultraviolet radiation, and X-rays. The finding may be a breakthrough in cancer research that could lead to better cancer diagnosis through targeting defective genes. It may also pave the way for a drug that activates the SOS response in cells. ... more

Contrary to long-held assumptions, high-salt diets may not increase the risk of death. Researchers reached their conclusion after examining dietary intake among a nationally representative sample of adults in the U.S. They actually observed a significantly increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease associated with lower sodium diets. They report their findings in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. ... more

They also warn that new trials studying the well-known pain reliever in high doses would be unethical. Medscape Medical News ... more

Patients given efavirenz plus 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors were less likely to have virologic failure than those given lopinavir-ritonavir. Medscape Medical News ... more

Exercise has been consistently associated with a decrease in the risk for postmenopausal breast cancer, but a new study shows that it also protects against premenopausal breast cancer. Medscape Medical News ... more

A new study suggests that long-term exposure to particulate air pollution may be associated with altered coagulation function and increased risk for deep vein thrombosis. Medscape Medical News ... more

Publication of the landmark POISE trial has triggered another heated debate about the pros and cons of using beta blockers perioperatively in noncardiac surgery. Medscape Medical News ... more

A large genetic study in mice has identified hundreds of genes involved in the development of cancer by examining the DNA of more than 500 lymphomas to find the cancer causing mutations. The study found just over 10,000 mutations in total, which together implicate almost 350 regions in the mouse genome in cancer formation. Fifty of these regions correspond to genes known to be involved in human cancers. ... more

Cells that undergo an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition show properties of stem cells, including the ability to self-renew. In addition, stem cells exhibit properties of cells that undergo EMT. Strikingly, both normal and cancer stem cells can be generated from differentiated cells by EMT. Understanding the role of EMT in adult stem cell creation may lead toward the development of healthy stem cells for regenerative medicine and provide drug targets for cancer. ... more

Genes known to cause spinal mutations in chick and mouse model systems also play an important role in human patients with congenital vertebral abnormalities. Working with samples from 31 patients at Boston Children's Hospital with various congenital vertebral defects, the team sequenced five genes thought to be involved in the malformations. ... more

A number of environmental exposures, including trauma, are associated with the onset of inflammatory arthritis in patients with psoriasis, findings published in the May issue of the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases indicate. Reuters Health Information ... more

Birth intervals of less than 18 months are associated with high risk of stillbirth and neonatal deaths, according to the results of a study from India. Reuters Health Information ... more

Whether or not patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) use wrist working splints is largely dependent on the seriousness of the perceived symptoms, according to study findings published in the April 15th issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism. Reuters Health Information ... more

Aspirin taken daily for about 5 years reduces the incidence of colorectal cancer, but the findings are not sufficient to recommend its use for this purpose in the general population, say experts. Medscape Medical News ... more

The North American Menopause Society present clinical guidelines for the treatment of vaginal atrophy with local vaginal estrogen; therapy should be guided by clinician and patient preference. Medscape Medical News ... more

For women at high risk for breast cancer, adding ultrasound screening to mammography finds more cases of cancer, but increases the false-positive rate. Medscape Medical News ... more

Treatment of intraventricular hemorrhage with catheter-based clot lysis using low-dose tissue plasminogen activator is safe and dramatically reduces death and disability in individuals with this usually lethal condition. Medscape Medical News ... more

Prevention is as important as intervention, specialists say ... more

After hospital, they're twice as likely to be injured, so prevention strategies are key ... more

Despite daily use of doctor-recommended proton pump inhibitors to control gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms, nearly 40 percent of patients who take them continue to experience breakthrough, which is a return of GERD symptoms, such as acid regurgitation and heartburn. These breakthrough symptoms lead more than half of GERD sufferers to use over-the-counter remedies, according to a recent survey. ... more

Catching a football. Maneuvering through a room full of people. Jumping out of the way when a golfer yells "fore." Most would agree these seemingly simple actions require us to perceive and quickly respond to a situation. An assistant professor of cognitive science argues they require something more -- our ability to foresee the future. ... more

Said through gritted teeth:"We are proud to have sponsored the PRoFESS study," said Dr. Thor Voigt, Senior Vice President, Medicine and Drug Regulatory Affairs, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc."We set out to advance the understanding of strategies for recurrent stroke prevention and will continue to evaluate the PRoFESS data to help physicians make more informed treatment decisions."The Trial:PRoFESS (Prevention Regimen For Effectively avoiding Second Strokes) was designed to examine t ... more

1) After the resident work-hour restrictions were implemented in 2002, there has been more supervision during night float.My take: Good for patient safety, bad for training. Being independent on the overnight cross-coverage team provided one of the best learning opportunities during residency.2) The Cleveland Clinic's medical school is going tuition free.My take: Brilliant. These students will have substantially less debt burden than the average medical student. Hopefully their choice of spec ... more

Whenever in the past the question as to how much Obama's Muslim heritage and upbringing have influenced him, and ought to be weighed in consideration of how it will affect his actions as president, and its ominous consequences, and as to what his true inner allegiances are, no matter how much he may protest his "Patriotism" and "supposed" support for Israel, the question has duly been averted as "taboo" by the fawning, shamelessly pro-Obama, liberal mainstream media that so desperately wishes t ... more

The New York Times on Wednesday examined how as "medical advances have allowed patients who might have died as children to survive into adulthood, the patients are falling into a void in a health care system that has yet to develop institutions for the young and 'medically fragile. ... more

London's Guardian on Tuesday profiled HIV/AIDS advocate and author Elizabeth Pisani. Pisani, an epidemiologist and medical demographer, spent 10 years working on HIV/AIDS issues for UNAIDS and a nongovernmental organization in Indonesia before leaving the field to write her new book, called "The Wisdom of Whores. ... more

The CDC recommends that people aged 60 and older get a single dose of the shingles vaccine Zostavax. ... more

Colon cancer screening is recommended at age 50. But a new study suggests that people get as many colon polyps in their 40s as in their 50s. ... more

5/13/2008 - 5/20/2008Next revision: 5/20/2008(Key: Rank, Blog name, Last week's rank, Post of note)1) Health Beat (3), Health Care Reform Via Focus Group2) WSJ Health Blog (2), Doctor Shortage is €˜Coming On Like A Freight Train €™3) The Happy Hospitalist (1), Doctoring From The Back Seat4) Musings of a Dinosaur (7), Managing Risk5) DB's Medical Rants (4), Reasons to become a doctor6) Dr. Wes (5), MacGyver Moments in Medicine7) Buckeye Surgeon (-), Surgeon Tryouts8) Not Totally Rad (-), The R ... more

People sometimes forget to realize that medicine is an inexact science. ... more

ZOSTAVAX could prevent two thirds of shingles cases, expert says ... more

Whites at higher risk than Hispanics, but genetics determines who gets it ... more

The Washington Post as part of a four-day series, titled "Careless Detention," examined access to health care for immigrants to the U.S. who are in immigration detention centers. ... more

The Jamaica Gleaner on Monday profiled a program in the western part of the country aimed at improving the treatment outcomes of HIV-positive children. ... more

Roche announced today that its majority-owned subsidiary Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd received approval from the Japanese Health Authority for the use of Herceptin in the early treatment for women with HER2-positive breast cancer. The approval was based on the impressive HERA (HERceptin Adjuvant) study results demonstrating that Herceptin significantly reduced the risk of death and recurrence by more than one third(34% and 36% respectively), in women with HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer ... more

Roche announced today that it will acquire Piramed Limited, a privately-owned UK company focusing on therapeutics targeting PI3-kinase (PI3-K). The PI3-K pathway is known to play an important role in disease progression and in resistance to chemotherapeutics in cancer cells. Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated the activity of PI3-K inhibitors in a broad range of tumours such as breast and lung cancer, as well as their potential importance in treating inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid a ... more

Roche announced today that their alliance partner company Chugai has received approval in Japan for the use of its innovative treatment, Actemra (tocilizumab), in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ... more

Roche announced today that Actemra (tocilizumab) can significantly inhibit structural damage to joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a critical measure of effectiveness of an RA treatment. Actemra also improved the patients` physical function after one year of therapy, leading to a better quality of life. ... more

The latest data from the Western Denmark registry, broken down by stent type, suggests that Taxus-treated patients face a nearly fivefold higher risk of stent thrombosis and a 50% higher risk of death between 12 and 24 months; no such increases were seen in Cypher-treated patients. Heartwire ... more

Practicing laughte