Check it out: People out and about make cities secure

Pregnant women, doctors and midwives should stop blaming memory lapses on their growing babies, according to researchers from the Australian National University. ... more

A simple blood test could predict which patients with the lung-scarring disease known as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are soon to get far worse, an indicator that could one day influence their treatment, according to researchers. Their findings indicate that the body's immune cells attack healthy lung tissue, suggesting that IPF is in fact an immunologic disease. ... more

Cellular imaging offers a wealth of data about how cells respond to stimuli, but harnessing this technique to study biological systems is a daunting challenge. Researchers have now developed a novel method of interpreting data from single-cell images to identify genetic interactions within biological networks, offering a glimpse into the future of high-throughput cell imaging analysis. ... more

Chemokines are a large group of proteins whose predominant function is to direct cell migration. They regulate many physiological and pathophysiological processes, in particular in the immune system. Researchers have now developed a simple method to efficiently identify all the chemokines produced by a single cell type, something that has not been possible before. ... more

Health authorities should emphasize the positive message that the most successful method used by most ex-smokers is unassisted cessation, despite the promotion of cessation drugs by pharmaceutical companies and many tobacco control advocates, according to a new article. ... more

Colorectal adenocarcinoma accounts for the majority of cases of colorectal cancer. A series of genetic mutations in the cells lining the colon (intestinal epithelial cells) is thought to be the cause of colorectal adenocarcinoma. By studying mouse models of colon cancer and tissue from individuals with colorectal adenocarcinoma, researchers have now identified RAB25 as one gene that might be involved in the formation of colorectal adenocarcinomas. ... more

New research has identified a new type of cellular senescence (i.e., irreversible arrest of cell growth) and determined a way to enhance it to suppress prostate tumor development and growth in mice. These data suggest that enhancing this process might provide a new approach for cancer prevention and therapy. ... more

People with anxiety and depression are most likely to use a shade of gray to represent their mental state. Researchers describe the development of a color chart, the Manchester Color Wheel, which can be used to study people's preferred pigment in relation to their state of mind. ... more

Swelling commonly occurs in the corneas of mountain climbers, but does not appear to affect vision at altitudes of up to 6,300 meters (about 20,670 feet), according to a new study. ... more

Researchers have developed a "smart coating" that helps surgical implants bond more closely with bone and ward off infection. ... more

An early stage clinical trial of the experimental drug dimebon (latrepirdine) in people with Huntington's disease appears to be safe and may improve cognition. ... more

Use of most electronic media is not associated with headaches, at least not in adolescents. A study of 1,025 13- to 17-year-olds found no association between the use of computer games, mobile phones or television and the occurrence of headaches or migraines. However, listening to one or two hours of music every day was associated with a pounding head. ... more

It is already known that blueberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins. New research shows that blueberry fiber is important and can alleviate and protect against intestinal inflammations, such as ulcerative colitis. The protective effect is even better if the blueberries are eaten together with probiotics. ... more

A Mediterranean diet may help people avoid the small areas of brain damage that can lead to problems with thinking and memory, according to a new study. ... more

Two patients with rare lesions to the brain have provided direct of evidence of how we make decisions -- and what makes us dislike the thought of losing money. ... more

For the needle-weary diabetes patient, a daily insulin pill would be a welcome relief. Unfortunately, oral insulin pills face two major obstacles on their path to the market: size and degradation. Insulin is a protein, so it gets digested by stomach acids before it can hit the bloodstream. The market potential is huge, but science hasn #8217;t caught up until recently. Oramed Pharmaceuticals of Jerusalem is developing a product that could potentially revolutionize the way diabetes is treated. ... more

Investment research firm LifeTech Capital has recommended StemCells Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that is developing novel stem cell therapies for a variety of human health problems. In a research report published on the LifeTech Capital website, analyst Stephen M. Dunn called the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company a #8220;strong speculative buy #8221; with a price target of $2.20.  An excerpt from Dunn #8217;s report: We believe StemCells Inc. is the most advanced company in the next generat ... more

Early death risk drops with use, but other factors may contribute, experts say ... more

Eating together, limiting TV and getting enough sleep cut risk of obesity, study finds ... more

A curious thing happened to me today. I had several really wonderful interactions, all due to shoveling snow! How strange.I live in a nice, family oriented community in Baltimore, rowhomes mainly, populated by 30ish and 40ish couples with young children. Having no children myself, I often smile a lot to everyone playing outside, but rarely interact. Other than to grunt as I come home late and can't find a parking spot or laugh when a neighbor's dog jumps the fence into my yard or look curiou ... more

Contact: Julia Anna Glombiewski, Ph.D. julia.glombiewski@staff.uni-marburg.de JAMA and Archives Journals Fewer than half of individuals who have #8220;non-specific #8221; chest pain (not explained by a well-known condition) experience relief from symptoms following standard medical care, according to a report in the February 8 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. In addition, one-tenth of those with persistent chest pain undergo potentially unnecessary diag ... more

Contact: Graeme Baldwin graeme.baldwin@biomedcentral.com 44-203-192-2165 BioMed Central People with anxiety and depression are most likely to use a shade of gray to represent their mental state. Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Medical Research Methodology describe the development of a color chart, The Manchester Color Wheel, which can be used to study people #8217;s preferred pigment in relation to their state of mind. Peter Whorwell, Professor of Medicine and Gastroenterolog ... more

Contact: Kathy Svitil ksvitil@caltech.edu 626-395-8022 California Institute of Technology Finding offers neuroscientists insight into economic behavior PASADENA, Calif.Neuroscientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and their colleagues have tied the human aversion to losing money to a specific structure in the brainthe amygdala. The finding, described in the latest online issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), offers insight into economi ... more

Contact: Karen Honey press_releases@the-jci.org 215-573-1850 Journal of Clinical Investigation Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is a bone tumor of unknown cellular origin that affects children and young adults. The protein CD99 is highly expressed in most cases of EWS, but its function in the disease is unknown. Now, Katia Scotlandi and colleagues, at SSN Emilia Romagna Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli IRCCS, Bologna, Italy, have identified a crucial role for CD99 in the development of EWS and suggest that target ... more

Contact: Karen Honey press_releases@the-jci.org 215-573-1850 Journal of Clinical Investigation A team of researchers, led by Pier Paolo Pandolfi, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, has identified a new type of cellular senescence (i.e., irreversible arrest of cell growth) and determined a way to enhance it to suppress prostate tumor development and growth in mice. Previous work by Pandolfi and colleagues determined that inactivation of the protein Pten leads to a senescence respon ... more

Contact: Mark Michaud mark_michaud@urmc.rochester.edu 585-273-4790 University of Rochester Medical Center An early stage clinical trial of the experimental drug dimebon (latrepirdine) in people with Huntington #8217;s disease appears to be safe and may improve cognition. That is the conclusion of a study published today in the Archives of Neurology. #8220;This is the first clinical trial that has focused on what is perhaps the most disabling aspect of the disease, #8221; said University of Roc ... more

This coming Friday, February 12, Representative Scibak, Anthony Boschetti, DMD, and Guisy Romano-Clarke, MD, will be hosting an informational forum about the importance of fluoride varnish and children ��s oral health. The event will be held in South Hadley at the Criterion-Rise and Shine Academy (30 Old Lyman Road) from 10am-11am. Oral health is [...] ... more

Drinking as little as two soft drinks a week appears to nearly double the risk of getting pancreatic cancer, according to a new study. ... more

Regardless of the father's age, a child's risk of autism rises with the age of the child's mother. Moms 40 and older are 77% more likely to have a child with autism, compared to mothers under age 25. ... more

Tobacco smoke residue, or ��thirdhand �� smoke, mixes with indoor air pollutants to form cancer-causing substances. ... more

Nearly one in three overweight adolescents don't think they have a weight problem. ... more

Simple lifestyle habits at home, such as having more family meals, could reduce obesity in preschoolers, new research suggests. ... more

Following a Mediterranean diet may help lower risk of brain damage related to silent strokes, new research shows. ... more

via yorkpress.co.uk Is this part of an ongoing "parallel exporting" issue? You tell me. Posted via web from Jack's posterous ... more

via yorkpress.co.uk Is this part of an ongoing "parallel exporting" issue? You tell me. Posted via web from Jack's posterous ... more

For women close to term with a singleton fetus with suspected intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), expectant monitoring is as safe as labor induction, according to findings presented February 4 at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Chicago. Reuters Health Information ... more

A phase III trial of enzastaurin for treatment of recurrent glioblastoma was stopped after an interim analysis showed it did not outperform lomustine. Reuters Health Information ... more

Women who have a hysterectomy for non-cancerous conditions seem to fare similarly well in terms of psychological well-being whether they have all or part of the uterus removed, a new study finds. Reuters Health Information ... more

The United Nations food agency said on Friday a lack of funds had forced it to cut back rations for around one million people in Yemen, despite growing chronic hunger. Reuters Health Information ... more

A few minutes a day of midday summer sun can raise most fair-skinned people's vitamin D levels to sufficient, but not optimal, levels, according to new research from the UK. Reuters Health Information ... more

Newer medications for type 2 diabetes may provide greater benefits, but they are very costly for healthcare systems, researchers report in the January 7th online issue of Diabetes. Reuters Health Information ... more

Blood in stool and sigmoid colon involvement are among the features that support a diagnosis of Crohn's disease over intestinal tuberculosis, say researchers in the January 19th online issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology. Weight loss, by contrast, predicts intestinal tuberculosis. Reuters Health Information ... more

Changes in Medicare reimbursement meant to cut costs in bladder cancer appear to have the increased them, at least in one academic practice. Medscape Medical News ... more

Measuring the fetal zone of the adrenal gland with 2D ultrasound to predict preterm birth is as effective as using less available 3D imaging to measure fetal adrenal gland volume. Medscape Medical News ... more

In a randomized study, use of a longer needle resulted in significantly higher titers in response to hepatitis B virus vaccine among obese adolescents. Medscape Medical News ... more

A review suggests that family physicians be familiar with treatment of accidental and intentional medication ingestions and discusses management. Medscape Medical News ... more

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis increases the risk for death vs the general population, and liver disease is the third most common cause of death in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Medscape Medical News ... more

A link between gout and AMI has been previously documented in men: now a new cohort study suggests gout may be even more important as a comorbidity in women. Heartwire ... more

Bill Davenhill asks, #8220;Can your health depend on where you live? #8221; From TEDMED 2009. Posted at KevinMD.com. Stay updated and subscribe, follow me on Twitter, or connect on Facebook. Related posts:KevinMD Live Q #038;A on health care reform, today at 11:30am Eastern A vasectomy, live on Twitter KevinMD Live Q #038;A today at 2:00pm Eastern ... more

by Alex Smith, MD Words have power. Language has power. The words we use may comfort or shock, allay or provoke, sooth or batter. Words often imply layers of meaning that are not explicitly articulated, yet rest beneath the surface: ��I worry that time is short for you �� (You are dying) (I care about you) ��I wish we could have done more �� (Nothing would have changed her death) (I am on your side) ��I hope with you that you ��ll get better, but I think we should prepare in case things don � ... more

HHS Secretary Sebelius seems to be "hailing" the chief in her comments on proposed rate increases by Anthem Blue Cross.The Obama administration is asking why Anthem Blue Cross is raising its health insurance rates by nearly 40 percent for some California customers while making handsome profits -- and is pointing to the rate hike as evidence of why health care reform needs to pass. Seems to me it is evidence that Blue is doing something right. In contrast, the folks in Washington can't balance a ... more

Breitbart has it that Rep. John "Marines killed Iraqis in cold blood" Murtha (D - Penn) has died at 77. While anyone's passing is sad, especially for his family and friends, I'm not going to pretend I ever liked the guy and I admit to looking forward to his seat being filled by a Republican. There is, however, a complication with that being accomplished because, as Ace points out, in order to win the seat a Republican will probably have to express a greater interest in earmarks than we'd gene ... more

Although Dear Leader did get a brief post-SOTUS bounce, Rasmussen's latest Presidential Tracking Poll shows him already hovering between -15 and -17, with today's poll being at -15. Overall, forty-six percent (46%) of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance, with fifty-four percent (54%) now disapprove. Someone recently commented in another post here that Hyscience was a hate site that wanted Barack Obama to fail. What the commenter obviously chose to ignore i ... more

Obama says he wants to sit down with Republicans at his guest house in front of TV cameras and discuss the proposals the GOP has had all along that he pretends he knew nothing about, but as Kavon Nikrad points out, all one needs to know about Obama's invitation can be learned from Return of the Jedi (video). As Erick Erickson notes (H/t -Kavon): If Barack Obama cannot be genuine and interested in Republican ideas when the cameras are turned off, there is absolutely no way he can be genuine and ... more

More get recommended therapies, study finds ... more

Link seen in those with trouble organizing thoughts, but not memory loss ... more

Study finds less damage to brain tissue when the regimen is followed ... more

Using a new method, scientists reprogram adult cells to develop into myriad cell types ... more

Low- and middle-income women might benefit from psychosocial support, researchers say ... more

Scientists from the UK and The Netherlands have identified for the first time a variant of a gene that is linked to biological ageing in humans and suggest the discovery will help us better understand cancer and diseases of ageing. The findings of the study by researchers based at the University of Leicester and King's College London, UK, and also at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, were reported online in Nature Genetics on 7 February. The Wellcome Trust and the British Heart ... more

... more

Report a bad doctor to the authorities, go to jail? It might really happen for Anne Mitchell, RN in Winkler County, Texas : Respectful Insolence. He #8217;s been on this from the beginning.  Good news: one of the nurses was dismissed; bad news, the other is on trial. Atrocious. My grandparents lived in Winkler County (Kermit), and are gone now.  I think they #8217;re spinning in their graves over this. Related posts:Report a bad doctor to the authorities, go to jail? : Respectful Insolence R ... more

If you downed one too many while watching the Super Bowl, here apos;s at least one reason to hold your head high: Drinking beer can be good for your health. But seriously, a new analysis of 100 commercial beers shows the hoppy beverage is a significant source of dietary silicon, a key ingredient for bone health. via Beer May Be Good For Your Bones | LiveScience. Beer.  Wonder and medicine, in a convenient serving size.  (Also, silicon). Related posts:Backpacker Blogs #8211; Hallelujah: Beer ... more

Tokyo, Japan (CNN) #8212; A body was found in the landing gear bay of an airplane that arrived at Tokyo apos;s Narita Airport Sunday, the airport announced. The dead man was not carrying a passport or personal belongings, airport police said. via Body found in plane #8217;s landing gear bay in Japan #8211; CNN.com. JFK to Narita.  Someone was able not just to approach this aricraft without appropriate ID, but was able to climb into the landing gear bay (under the wing structure, next to the f ... more

We hear a lot about the da Vinci robot, but have you ever wondered... What is that thing? What procedures does the system perform? Or, who is a good candidate for robotic surgery? In our new podcast format we spend 3 minutes with Dr. Jim Hu who answers all those questions and tells us about the future of robotic assisted surgery. Dr. Jim C. Hu, MD, MPH will be presenting at the CIMIT Forum on February 23rd, 2010 @4pm. The public is encouraged to attend.   CIMITblog is a publication of ... more

Scientists from the UK and The Netherlands have identified for the first time a variant of a gene that is linked to biological ageing in humans and suggest the discovery will help us better understand cancer and diseases of ageing... ... more

Drinking beer may be good for building more than just beer bellies. A new study suggests drinking beer may help build better bones thanks to its high silicon content. ... more

Pregnant women, doctors and midwives should stop blaming memory lapses on their growing babies, according to researchers from the Australian National University. ... more

Fewer than half of individuals who have "non-specific " chest pain (not explained by a well-known condition) experience relief from symptoms following standard medical care, according to a re ... more

A small but significant proportion of morbidly obese people are missing a section of their DNA, according to research published in Nature. The authors of the study, from Imperial College Lond ... more

I recently received an anti-Obama e-mail with a link to a video that blamed the President for our country #39;s current and future problems. This faulty/irrational way of thinking is a gross distortion of reality because no individual is responsible for our problems, not Obama, not Bush ��no one! Instead, our problems are systemic. They stem from a malfunctioning political-economic system and a misdirected culture. At its very core, our society is built on a foundation of beliefs and values tha ... more

Less than a quarter of one percent of women took tamoxifen in 2000 and 2005 to prevent breast cancer. Further research is recommended to explore explanations for the drug's low use. ... more

Mice with a genetic change that causes progressive hearing loss in children, also have hearing loss because sound waves are not processed properly. The ear's attempts to compensate for hearing loss may, ironically, cause further damage leading to complete hearing loss. These mice will allow detailed research into many forms of deafness, and bring closer the prospects of therapies to slow or halt hearing loss in both children and adults. ... more

Treatment of endometrial cancer has not advanced significantly in 30 years and there are no screening tests to promote early detection. Researchers have developed a new approach to specifically target genetic changes to the endometrial cells in mice. Using this new technique, they show that loss of an emerging tumor suppressor causes abnormal growth and widespread malignancy of cells lining the uterus. ... more

A parent's existing health habits or behaviors, like cigarette smoking, may influence the likelihood that they will have their daughters vaccinated against HPV. ... more

A new national study suggests that preschool-aged children are likely to have a lower risk for obesity if they regularly engage in one or more of three specific household routines: eating dinner as a family, getting adequate sleep and limiting their weekday television viewing time. The study showed that 4-year-olds living in homes with all three routines had an almost 40 percent lower prevalence of obesity than did children living in homes that practiced none of these routines. ... more

Increased Medicare payments to physicians for outpatient surgeries for bladder cancer have led to a dramatic rise in the number of these procedures being performed and an overall increase in cost to the health care system. ... more

Women with medium or low levels of income are more susceptible to anxiety and depression after ductal carcinoma in situ diagnosis. ... more

The benefits of marijuana in tempering or reversing the effects of Alzheimer's disease have been challenged in a new study. ... more

Several distinct mutations found in a subset of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia result in excess production of the same metabolite, according to new research. ... more

A new study suggests that beer is a significant source of dietary silicon, a key ingredient for increasing bone mineral density. Beers containing high levels of malted barley and hops are richest in silicon. ... more

Advanced maternal age is linked to a significantly elevated risk of having a child with autism, regardless of the father's age, according to an exhaustive study of all births in California during the 1990s. ... more

Consuming two or more soft drinks per week increased the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by nearly twofold compared to individuals who did not consume soft drinks, according to a new study. ... more

Hello, everyone. Nice to see you again. Hope your weekend was pleasant and rewarding. Now, though, the routine returns and, of course, that means those deadlines and meetings. So to help you along, we have uncovered a few nuggets of interest. And of course, we also encourage to grab a cup of something stimulating. We are about to do so. Meanwhile, have a good day #8230; Andrew Witty Discusses His Job And Goals (The Telegraph) Sanofi To Decide On Reviving Merck Venture (Dow Jones) CVS Caremark Po ... more

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sacked a senior health official for public criticizing a draft law introducing state regulation of pharmaceutical pricing, according to RIANovosti. The bill, which was passed by the Federal Assembly, has been criticized as running counter to free-market principles and likely to nurture black-market production. Nikolai Yurgel, who headed the Federal Service for Supervision of Healthсare and Social Development, violated civil service law by expressing #8220 ... more

Much of the long-running controversy over the Provenge prostate-cancer vaccine, which could be approved by the FDA on May 1, has centered on the viability of the data or a 2007 FDA advisory panel recommendation for approval that was overturned by FDA higher-ups amid dizzying conflict of interest charges (some background here, here and here, here). The messy episode has prompted patient protests, unusual stock trades, a lawsuit accusing the FDA of illegally withholding info and countercharges fro ... more

A New Jersey appeals court decided last week that a trial court should reconsider whether an expert should be allowed to testify in a lawsuit alleging the Accutane acne drug causes depression. And the move, which comes as part of long-standing litigation over the issue, may cause some controversy. The New Jersey trial court, where hundreds of lawsuits allege Accutane is tied to depression, had ruled that Emory University professor Doug Bremner should not be allowed to offer expert testimony due ... more

An interview with Rick Hughes, President of HealthLink Europe, at the 2010 OneMedForum conference. tton class="url" href="http://www.onemedplace.com/blog/archives/4160" /> ... more

George Carpenter, CEO of CNS Response, discusses his company with William Dawson of LifeTech Capital at the 2010 OneMedForum in San Francisco. tton class="url" href="http://www.onemedplace.com/blog/archives/4162" /> ... more

Monash University-led nationwide study into the health beliefs and behaviours of obese people has found that the more severely obese a person is, the less likely they feel they can reduce their weight. The research, funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery Grant Scheme, is the first of its kind in Australia... ... more

In patients with advanced chronic hepatitis C, long-term low-dose peginterferon does not impair cognition, according to a cognitive substudy from the HALT-C trial. Reuters Health Information ... more

How intermittent pneumatic compression compares to graduated compression stockings for preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is still unclear, according to a systematic review published online January 15th in the Annals of Surgery. Reuters Health Information ... more

For acute gout flare, an hourly low-dose oral colchicine regimen offers comparable efficacy and better tolerability than the more common 6-hour high-dose regimen, results of a controlled study indicate. Reuters Health Information ... more

The adaptive immune system is upregulated before the onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a population-based study in Sweden has shown. Reuters Health Information ... more

Illness during pregnancy and bacterial vaginosis are associated with increased in-utero HIV transmission, US and African researchers report in the February 1st issue of AIDS. Reuters Health Information ... more

A patient's risk of developing Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) depends only on his or her age and severity of illness, researchers from the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville reported online January 28 in the Annals of Surgery. Reuters Health Information ... more

Pregabalin (Lyrica) may be of significant help to certain patients with fibromyalgia, according to an analysis of clinical trial reports. Reuters Health Information ... more

A survey in the United States shows that very few women are taking tamoxifen to prevent breast cancer, even though the drug can cut risk in half. Medscape Medical News ... more

ICUs that participated in an 18-month project to reduce catheter-related bloodstream infections continued to show significantly reduced infection rates 18 months after the initial project ended. Medscape Medical News ... more

Scientists have used an "artificial pancreas" system of pumps and monitors to improve blood sugar control in diabetes patients in the first study to show the new device works better than conventional treatment. Source: Reuters Health Related MedlinePlus Topic: Diabetes Type 1 ... more

But testing of high-risk couples could be viable, researchers say Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Topics: Genetic Testing, Spinal Muscular Atrophy ... more

Why and how it's done Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Topic: Ear Infections ... more

Who may need this type of therapy Source: HealthDay ... more

Some believe H1N1 will persist for years to come, but in what form remains unclear Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Topic: H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) ... more

Infant abdominal hernia rates higher near farms using atrazine, research shows Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Topics: Birth Defects, Hernia, Pesticides ... more

Patients using alternative remedies more likely to misuse prescribed drugs, suffer flareups Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Topics: Asthma, Herbal Medicine ... more

To break unhealthy cycle, some moms-to-be may need special support, researchers say Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Topics: Child Behavior Disorders, Depression, Pregnancy ... more

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Related MedlinePlus Topic: Healthy Living ... more

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Related MedlinePlus Topics: AIDS, African-American Health ... more

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Related MedlinePlus Topic: Osteoarthritis ... more

Laparoscopy responsible for 'pending epidemic,' researchers say Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Topic: Occupational Health for Healthcare Providers ... more

Women who have a hysterectomy for non-cancerous conditions seem to fare similarly well in terms of psychological well-being whether they have all or part of the uterus removed, a new study finds. Source: Reuters Health Related MedlinePlus Topic: Hysterectomy ... more

Men who don't smoke and eat a lot of soy may have a lower risk of lung cancer, according to a new study. Source: Reuters Health Related MedlinePlus Topics: Lung Cancer, Men's Health, Nutrition ... more

FDA adds new warning on Tysabri label, but says benefits still outweigh dangers Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Topics: Degenerative Nerve Diseases, Drug Safety, Multiple Sclerosis ... more

Having more of it linked to greater social support, researchers say Source: HealthDay ... more

Head injuries reduced without harm to neck, researchers find Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Topics: Sports Injuries, Sports Safety ... more

Monitoring fetal growth in women with these tumors advisable, study says Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Topics: Pregnancy, Uterine Fibroids ... more

Some people are programmed to age at a faster rate, study says Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Topics: Genes and Gene Therapy, Seniors' Health ... more

Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Topics: Anxiety, Child Mental Health, Cholesterol, Dietary Supplements, Statins ... more

Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Topics: Breast Cancer, Depression, Exercise and Physical Fitness, Nutrition ... more

The common thought among health reformers is that we spend too much on care, and the additional care patients receive doesn #8217;t necessarily help them. What inevitably follows is a discussion on how to streamline care, yet maintain quality. To that end, most hospitals and emergency rooms are using algorithm-based care based on the best available evidence. Where doctors actually had to hand write admission orders, they are now checked off #8211; like a menu at a restaurant. But sometimes dia ... more

Originally published in MedPage Today by John Gever, MedPage Today Senior Editor A Massachusetts anesthesiologist accused of fabricating data in studies of pain drugs will plead guilty to federal criminal charges under an agreement with prosecutors. Scott Reuben, MD, a well-known pain researcher at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., was charged with one count of healthcare fraud. Early last year, the hospital announced that an internal audit had revealed that Reuben had made up res ... more

Trichloroethylene was widely used industrial solvent ... more

Equipment that could be dangerous ... more

Dad's age didn't matter unless father was older, mom much younger, study found ... more

Autism Osteoarthritis of the Knee Chronic Constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome /div ... more

Things that can stuff up your nose ... more

Beneficial silicon content varies from brew to brew, study finds ... more

Higher blood sugar, insulin levels might cause cells to divide abnormally, researchers say ... more

As grip declines, so does survival, study finds ... more

Medicines Tossed in Trash End Up in Water: Study U.S. Government to Forbid Unhealthy Foods in Schools Obama Invites Republicans to Televised Health Care Mee ... more

Medicaid costs in many states are expanding deficits while lawmakers and the public struggle to keep up with the growth in health costs.NJBIZ reports, New Jersey's budget deficit has grown $170 million to $180 million because of Medicaid costs, according to a legislative budget officer. "Savings in the Medicaid program that were projected for this year have not materialized, according to David J. Rosen, budget and finance officer for the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services. ... ... more

BusinessWeek: "Mississippi will receive $18.5 million from drug maker Eli Lilly and Co. as part of a settlement over claims the company promoted the anti-psychotic Zyprexa for ailments it was not federally approved to treat, Attorney General Jim Hood said Thursday" (Byrd, 2/4). Radio Iowa: "The state currently provides 'family planning services' - like 'the pill' - for low income women between the ages of 13 and 44. (A proposed) bill would allow low income women to remain eligible until they rea ... more

The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a medical malpractice law enacted in 2005 that limited monetary damages to $1 million from hospitals and $500,000 from doctors for pain and suffering, the Chicago Tribune reports. "The much-anticipated ruling deals a blow to doctors and hospital officials who say caps on damages are a way to tame rising health care costs. ... The court said the law violates the state's separation-of-powers clause between the branches of government by allowing la ... more

"Two Republican congressmen who help oversee billions of dollars for people with AIDS are asking the federal government for an accounting of fraud and mismanagement complaints leveled against AIDS programs nationwide," The Washington Post reports. "Reps. Joe L. Barton (Tex.) and Greg Walden (Ore.) sent a letter Thursday to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration that raised questions about the agency's oversight of AIDS programs." A recent Washington Post series was cited in the l ... more

Los Angeles Times: "California's largest for-profit health insurer is moving to dramatically raise rates for customers with individual policies, setting off a furor among policyholders and prompting state insurance regulators to investigate. Anthem Blue Cross is telling many of its approximately 800,000 customers who buy individual coverage -- people not covered by group rates" that the increase will kick in March 1 "and may be adjusted 'more frequently' than its typical yearly increases." About ... more

The New York Times reports that Democrats are trying to address some health coverage considerations in their jobs bill even as they grasp "for ideas to keep alive their health care legislation." Negotiators on the Senate Finance Committee may be close to a jobs agreement. "Democrats were also pushing to include an extension of unemployment benefits and of health care coverage for those out of work." Also under discussion was the possibility of "attaching other initiatives, including a provision ... more

ABC News: "Summoning the message back that once mobilized his grass-roots campaign, the president spoke tonight in front of the same people - Organizing for America and DNC members - whose poll show some are feeling somewhat discouraged by the first year of the Obama administration. ... The president outlined in broad strokes what he'd like to see happen [on health reform]. 'What I'd like to do is have a meeting where I'm sitting with the Republicans, sitting with the Democrats. Sitting with hea ... more

The following summarizes selected women's health-related blog entries. ~ "We Can't Overlook Reproductive Health Needs in Haiti," Sharon Camp, RH Reality Check: Camp, president and CEO of the Guttmacher Institute, writes that the Haitian earthquake has created "displacement" within the culture, where "the health and lives of Haiti's women and girls -- many of whom were already in a precarious situation because of poverty or low social status -- are threatened by severe living conditions, includin ... more

Faced with the loss of a 60-seat supermajority in the Senate, congressional Democrats on Thursday began to discuss using recess appointments to advance some of President Obama's stalled nominees, such as Dawn Johnsen, who has twice been nominated to head the Office of Legal Councel at the Department of Justice, CQ Today reports. The Senate is scheduled to begin its Presidents Day recess at the end of next week. According to CQ Today, the election of Republican Sen. Scott Brown (Mass.) will make ... more

The amount of time children spend in institutional care may affect how their brains develop. That's the conclusion of a new study carried out by researchers at the University of Wisconsin, Harvard Medical School/Children's Hospital Boston, and the University of Minnesota. The study is published in Child Development in the journal's January/February 2010 issue. To learn how the deprivation and neglect that institutionalized children often experience affect brain development, the researchers looke ... more

A new study of young children in orphanages in Bucharest, Romania, has found that children placed in foster care before age 2 were more apt to develop secure attachments to their foster parents than those who entered foster care after age 2. The study is based on data from the Bucharest Early Intervention Project, the first randomized controlled trial of foster care as an alternative to institutional care... ... more

Researchers with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have found that the prevalence of tamoxifen use for the prevention of breast cancer among women without a personal history of breast cancer is very low. Tamoxifen can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in women who are at increased risk for developing the disease. Details of this survey are published in the February issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research... ... more

A parent's existing health habits or behaviors, like cigarette smoking, may influence the likelihood that they will have their daughters vaccinated against HPV. According to survey results on correlates of HPV vaccine use, whether parents would choose to vaccinate their daughters was not associated with one's background or medical history, but was more closely associated with certain behavioral factors of the parents. Results of this survey are published in the February issue of Cancer Epidemi ... more

A new study found that people who consumed two or more soft drinks (defined as sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages) a week, had a nearly two-fold higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer; the researchers suggested regular consumption of sweetened beverages could raise insulin levels and thereby fuel the growth of pancreatic cancer cells. You can read about the study online in a paper published in the February issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers Prevention, a journal of the American ... more

Monash University biochemists have found a critical piece in the evolutionary puzzle that explains how life on Earth evolved millions of centuries ago. The team, from the School of Biomedical Sciences, has described the process by which bacteria developed into more complex cells and found this crucial step happened much earlier in the evolutionary timeline than previously thought... ... more

Monash University-led nationwide study into the health beliefs and behaviours of obese people has found that the more severely obese a person is, the less likely they feel they can reduce their weight. The research, funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery Grant Scheme, is the first of its kind in Australia. 141 obese Australians were extensively interviewed to try to gauge how they perceived their weight and ability to manage it... ... more

Five articles, whose lead or senior authors are nationally known informatics leaders and members of the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA), appear in the Feb. 2010 issue of Health Affairs and provide a glimpse into the future of health care delivery in an increasingly information-driven era of health care in the developing world. These articles explain the critical role that information technology, and the health informatics work force will play in achieving overall health improveme ... more

Although inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) [comprising mainly Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC)] is thought to affect about 150 000 people in the United Kingdom, the prevalence of severe IBD is not known. Mortality following hospitalization for IBD is significant but little has been reported on long-term follow-up. A research article published on January 28, 2010 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology addresses this problem... ... more

Although several studies pertaining to the natural history of subepithelial tumors have been published, they have been limited by small sample size and relatively short follow-up. The natural history of subepithelial lesions has not been clearly elucidated, and the appropriate management strategy for small subepithelial tumors is still controversial. A research article published on January 28, 2010 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology addresses this problem... ... more

Lancet Study Examines Childbirth Practices, Outcomes In Asian Countries A Lancet study examines childbirth practices and the relationship between these practices and maternal and perinatal outcomes in nine Asian countries, as assessed by a WHO global survey. Based on the analysis of over 107,000 deliveries, the authors conclude, "To improve maternal and perinatal outcomes, caesarean section should be done only when there is a medical indication" (Lumbiganon et al., 2/6)... ... more

On Thursday, a food distribution voucher campaign that launched last Sunday, "hit all 16 fixed distribution points around the capital" of Port-au-Prince, CNN reports. "So far, 600,000 people affected by the devastating January 12 earthquake have been able to collect food under this plan, said Marcus Prior, spokesman for the United Nations World Food Programme [WFP]. 'We're encouraged by the way the system is working to get food out into the city to those in need, but still have a long way to go, ... more

Pfizer's Bad Political Bet The Wall Street Journal The sight of ObamaCare on life support has many Democrats disappointed. It could be worse. They could be Pfizer CEO Jeffrey Kindler (Kimberley Strassel, 2/4). The Verizon Wireless Cure The Christian Science Monitor Are health insurance company employees just meaner and more greedy than those who provide cellphone service ...? Certainly not. The difference is that the cellphone, auto, and home insurance industries are highly competitive while the ... more

Health Affairs: Prices Don't Drive Regional Medicare Spending Variations - "Per capita Medicare spending is more than twice as high in New York City and Miami than in places like Salem, Oregon... ... more

Akron General Health System, a hospital system in Ohio, "recently began advertising up-to-the-minute wait times for its emergency rooms on billboards throughout town," the Akron Beacon Journal reports. "Six digital billboards in Akron are automatically updated every 20 minutes to show current average wait times to see a doctor at the main ER in downtown Akron and in satellite ERs in the Montrose area and Stow. The average times are computer generated, based on current patient information from th ... more

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., won a $300-million Medicaid bonus for her state during health overhaul negotiations, spawning a wave of criticism that Democratic leaders needed to make the so-called "Louisiana purchase" to secure her support for their reform bill. On Thursday, she defended the action, saying during a Senate floor speech, "I make no apologies for leading this effort. I do not back up an inch," The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reports. She challenged Republican senators to confront her ... more

The White House on Thursday announced a new health education program that will deliver pregnancy advice to women via text messages, the Los Angeles Times' "Technology" reports (Guynn, "Technology," Los Angeles Times, 2/4). The program -- called "text4baby" -- is sponsored by the federal government, the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, wireless providers and several health industry companies, including Johnson Johnson, Pfizer, WellPoint and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield... ... more

A new study of children in Ukraine has found that for the growing number of HIV-infected children, the quality of care and the relationship between children and their caregivers play an important role in their development. Based on their findings, the researchers highlight the importance of comprehensive but focused intervention efforts to improve these relationships by changing caregivers' working schedules and providing training to enhance the stability and sensitivity of care... ... more

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine believe they may have discovered how the hormone progesterone acts to prevent preterm birth. The findings were presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) in Chicago by Errol Norwitz, M.D., professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology Reproductive Sciences at Yale. Preterm birth - delivery prior to 37 weeks gestation - has become increasingly common over the past 40 years. Currently, one in eight p ... more

BioTime, Inc. (NYSE Amex:BTIM) reported recently-released results from an independent study evaluating the use of Hextend® in hemodynamically unstable trauma patients. Hextend (6% Hetastarch in Lactated Electrolyte Injection) is BioTime's commercially-available blood plasma volume expander used to treat hypovolemia (low blood volume). The study, conducted at the University of Miami Ryder Trauma Center, reported that initial resuscitation with Hextend was associated with no obvious coagulopathy ... more

Regenerx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Amex:RGN) announced today that a research team in Washington, D.C. has found that dystrophin-deficient Mdx mice, treated twice a week for six months with Tβ4, showed a significant increase in skeletal muscle regenerating fibers compared to untreated mice. No effects related to muscle function or fibrosis and no adverse reactions were observed in the mice. Mdx mice are used as models for Duchenne muscular dystrophy to evaluate potential therapeutic compo ... more

Sorin Group (MIL:SRN) (Reuters Code: SORN.MI), a global leader in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, announced U.S. FDA approval and first implant of its next-generation of cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D), Paradym �� CRT Model 8750. Featuring a new, state-of-the-art battery technology, Paradym �� CRT delivers 37 Joules, the highest energy of any implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) currently available... ... more

A viral e-mail currently making the rounds between private accounts and public message boards warning of a danger posed by mixing over-the-counter medications Motrin and Robitussin is unfounded. While no child younger than age four should be given cough and cold medicines, the Food and Drug Administration has approved combination drugs that mix ibuprofen (the active ingredient in Motrin) and dextromethorphan and/or pseudoephedrine (the active ingredients in Robitussin medications) for older ch ... more

Olive Branch, Miss. resident Glenn Lusk has a special perspective on the value of his Medicare Advantage plan. It was a HealthSpring-contracted nurse practitioner who discovered during a home visit in November that Lusk was experiencing serious heart trouble. "Somebody up above was looking out for me," Lusk said. Nurse practitioner Lucretia Daniel was concerned with the symptoms she observed in Lusk. "I said, 'You know, I really think this is your heart. I think we need to send you to the ER ... more

Talecris Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: TLCR) announced that it was granted orphan drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the development of an aerosol formulation of Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor (Human, A1PI) to treat congenital alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency. AAT deficiency is a chronic, hereditary condition that increases the risk of certain diseases, especially emphysema, which typically emerges in the fourth decade of life. Currently, there are no approved, ... more

Consolidated Research of Richmond, Inc. (CRI) announces the awarding of United States Patent 7,654,948 - which is a novel, drug-free system for treating people suffering from the most common sleep complaint: Chronic Insomnia. An estimated 10-20% of the industrialized world's adult population suffers from moderate to severe chronic insomnia, yet, unlike sleep apnea, there is a significant lack of technology addressing this tremendous need. Products based on Consolidated Research's patented techn ... more

Latest figures reveal that last year there were more than 3,300 cases of children in England admitted to accident and emergency departments with DKA. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) occurs when blood glucose levels are high (hyperglycaemia) and causes nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, rapid breathing and, if left untreated, may lead to coma. DKA requires urgent hospital treatment. Rise in hospital admissions Children and young people under 18 accounted for around a quarter of the 13,465 emergency ad ... more

BioMedReports.Com, the news portal which covers Wall Street's biomedical sector and delivers financial and investment intelligence to a community of highly informed investors, is reporting that Keryx Biopharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: KERX) was mentioned in a published article which contained an inaccurate statement regarding the design of a pending Phase III study for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer... ... more

Addex Pharmaceuticals / Addex: ADX71943 Demonstrates Analgesic Effects in Pain Models processed and transmitted by Hugin AS. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Addex Pharmaceuticals (SWISS: ADXN), the allosteric modulation company, announced today that ADX71943 has demonstrated statistically significant analgesic-like effects in three preclinical models of pain... ... more

The American Nurses Association (ANA), the largest nursing organization in the US, continues to recruit nurses who are interested in becoming emergency first responders. Nurses can access the online form for ANA's database at http://www.nursingworld.org/haitirelief. Response efforts are now being coordinated through a multi-national cluster system, ANA has reached out to organizations working with the health cluster to offer support and nursing staff. ANA has started to receive firsthand accoun ... more

As part of a steadfast commitment to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis, BJ's Restaurants, Inc. donated $521,000 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 2009 for research, care and education programs. BJ's has been involved with the Foundation since 1998 and is one of its largest and most loyal corporate supporters. "We are truly grateful to BJ's restaurants, their team members and their customers for their generosity and desire to help support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's mission," said C... ... more

In response to a statement by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is reaffirming its call for a strong, national animal disease traceability program to help maintain and improve the health of U.S. livestock. Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is creating a new strategy for animal disease traceability. This comes in reaction to a public comment period in which the program in place was heavily criticized for being too ... more

Commenting on the Major trauma care in England report, published last week by the National Audit Office, Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said: "It is disappointing that trauma care is still not up to scratch in many areas despite numerous calls for improvement. It is well-known that specialist centres offer the best chance of recovery to trauma patients, however, by simply improving communication and co-operation between hospitals, su ... more

James Gray MP has argued the Risk Sharing Scheme has 'fatal flaws' and is 'hopelessly out of date'. James Gray MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on MS, secured a debate on the Risk Sharing Scheme on Tuesday of this week. The purpose of the debate was to consider whether the Scheme has worked to benefit either people living with MS or the NHS. Representing the government in this debate was Health Minister Mike O'Brien MP. James Gray MP criticised the whole scheme, its methodology, i ... more

Workers exposed to tricholorethylene (TCE), a chemical widely used to clean metal such as auto parts, may be at a significantly higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10 to April 17, 2010... ... more

Siemens Healthcare and Vertec Scientific have announced a distribution partnership that will see Vertec exclusively market the X Class range of ultrasound systems in the markets of emergency medicine, GP practices, rheumatology, orthopaedics, acute medicine, chest medicine and anaesthetics. The agreement, which is effective immediately, will see Vertec sell the systems and Siemens Healthcare's engineers maintain the technology... ... more

Siemens Healthcare will supply state-of-the-art diagnostics imaging equipment to all Ministry of Health hospitals (around 100) across Iraq. The recently signed contract has a value of around $70 million and is the biggest single order contract to be awarded to Siemens Healthcare in the Middle East. The products, which include magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography equipment, mobile x-rays and mammography systems, help to increase diagnostic confidence, allowing for earlier detection ... more

Siemens Healthcare announces a one-stop shop for ultrasound application upgrades and options, now available through Siemens Healthcare's webShop at http://www.usa.siemens.com/webshop. By providing ultrasound users with the opportunity to browse through and sample new applications for their Siemens ultrasound imaging equipment, webShop offers a smart and easy way to discover the clinical benefits of the latest ultrasound applications... ... more

Featuring the new release of its premium ACUSON S2000 �� ultrasound system - Women's Imaging and ACUSON X300 �� ultrasound system, premium edition (PE) - Women's Imaging, Siemens Healthcare (booth #813) will highlight the latest innovations in OB/GYN imaging at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) 30th Annual Meeting in Chicago. Siemens will be showcasing advanced clinical applications that bring a new dimension of diagnosis and workflow enhancements to fetal ultrasound... ... more

Cost-effectiveness research will become more important as EU responsibility for the pharmaceutical sector moves to the Health and Consumer policy directorate, Lynne Taylor and Peter Mansell report. Consumer advocates and industry critics have welcomed the new European Commission's decision to switch responsibility for the pharmaceutical sector from DG Enterprise and Industry to the Health and Consumer policy directorate, DG Sanco. Critics have long claimed that pharmaceutical policy, as an integ ... more

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) released a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius regarding the potentially harmful recommendations of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society (SACGHS) in its Report on Gene Patents and Licensing Practices and Their Impact on Patient Access to Genetic Tests... ... more

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded more than $119 million to states and U.S. territories to support public health efforts to reduce obesity, increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and decrease smoking-the four most important actions for combating chronic diseases and promoting health. This money supports the one of several components in the Department's comprehensive prevention and wellness initiative, Communities Putting Prevention to Work, which is funded un ... more

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq: TEVA) announced that several of its subsidiaries in the United States reached a settlement in principle to resolve claims brought by Ven-A-Care of the Florida Keys, Inc. on behalf of the United States, Texas, Florida, and California under federal and state False Claims Acts. Together with many other pharmaceutical manufacturers, Teva is named in numerous civil lawsuits that relate to drug price reporting by manufacturers in about 15 states... ... more

Just in time for Valentine's Day, HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is publishing an online guide with top tips on how to use condoms and protect your sexual health without killing the romantic mood. A recent study found 43% of men and 38% of women didn't always use a condom when having sex with a new partner¹. Some argue that safer sex and romance just don't mix, with worries that condoms are uncomfortable, ruin the sensation, or even interrupt those tried and teste ... more

SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCLN) and its partner Sigma-Tau S.p.A., announced additional topline results in a clinical study evaluating the potential of ZADAXIN® (thymalfasin) to enhance immune response to the MF59 adjuvanted H1N1 influenza monovalent vaccine, Focetria �� from Novartis. According to investigators, ZADAXIN treatment given with the H1N1 vaccine led to a statistically significant (p value=0.04) increase in the percentage of subjects who seroconverted, also when evaluat ... more

A new study found that people who consumed two or more soft drinks (defined as sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages) a week, had a nearly two-fold higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer; the researchers suggested regular consumption of sweetened beverages could raise insulin levels and thereby fuel the growth of pancreatic cancer cells... ... more

Latest figures reveal that last year there were more than 3,300 cases of children in England admitted to accident and emergency departments with DKA. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) occurs when blood glucose levels are high (hyperglycaemia) and causes nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, rapid breathing and, if left untreated, may lead to coma. DKA requires urgent hospital treatment... ... more

Atul Gawande on NPR: Doctors are human, and that their profession is like any other. "We miss stuff. We are inconsistent and unreliable because of the complexity of care," Gawande says. "I got a chance to visit Boeing and see how they make things work, and over and over again they fall back on checklists. The pilot's checklist is a crucial component, not just for how you handle takeoff and landing in normal circumstances, but even how you handle a crisis emergency when you only have a couple ... more

Health News of the Day is a daily summary made from the selected links I post on Twitter. It is in bullet-point format with links to the original sources which include 350 RSS feeds that produce about 2,500 items per day: Procalcitonin-guided strategy to treat suspected bacterial infections reduced antibiotic exposure in ICU by 2.7 days http://goo.gl/mws0 Both low and high HbA1c associated with increased mortality in diabetes. Guidelines for minimum HbA1c value may be needed. Survival as a ... more

Faces of America premieres nationally Wednesdays, February 10 - March 3, 2010 on PBS: "What made America? What makes us? These two questions are at the heart of the new PBS series Faces of America with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. who turns to the latest tools of genealogy and genetics to explore the family histories of 12 renowned Americans." Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, or follow me on Twitter. ... more

Barrett's epithelium is recognized as a complication of erosive esophagitis and is the pre-malignant condition for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. A research team from Yokohama City University School of Medicine hypothesized that some macroscopic features of Barrett's epithelium might be useful for identifying a subgroup with a high risk for the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma... ... more

Researchers with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have found that the prevalence of tamoxifen use for the prevention of breast cancer among women without a personal history of breast cancer is very low. Tamoxifen can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in women who are at increased risk for developing the disease... ... more

A parent's existing health habits or behaviors, like cigarette smoking, may influence the likelihood that they will have their daughters vaccinated against HPV... ... more

Although several studies pertaining to the natural history of subepithelial tumors have been published, they have been limited by small sample size and relatively short follow-up. The natural history of subepithelial lesions has not been clearly elucidated, and the appropriate management strategy for small subepithelial tumors is still controversial... ... more

BioMedReports... ... more

A new study has found that vitamin D, readily available in supplements or cod liver oil, can counter the effects of Crohn's disease. John White, an endocrinologist at the Research Institute of the McG ... more

Preventing deadly ruptures of the blood vessels in the brain is the aim of a new Mayo Clinic project to help radiologists detect aneurysms with far greater speed and accuracy. The new method uses anal ... more

The links between autoimmune diseases, infections, genetics and the environment are complex and mysterious. Why are people who live near airports more susceptible to autoimmune diseases like rheumatoi ... more

Patients who received the antidepressant escitalopram following a stroke appeared to recover more of their thinking, learning and memory skills than those taking placebo or participating in problem-so ... more

Uncontrolled high blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes (hyperglycaemia) is known to increase mortality, but new research led by the University shows that intensive treatment to control blood ... more