Medical news & information, drug approvals & FDA & NIH medical research news. Information on prescribing drugs, patient education, infectious diseases, the pharmaceutical industry & biomedical news http://www.vidyya.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:58:24 -0500 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:55:47 -0500 FeedForAll v2.0 (2.0.2.9) http://www.feedforall.com Thirty-two years ago today, the world's first baby was born after in vitro fertilisation. However, the work that led to the birth of Louise Brown on 25 July 1978 had to be privately funded after the UK's Medical Research Council decided in 1971 against providing the Cambridge physiologist Robert Edwards and the Oldham gynaecologist Patrick Steptoe with long-term financial support. Today, an intriguing paper published in Europe's leading reproductive medicine journal Human Reproduction [1] reveals for the first time the reasoning behind the MRC's much-criticised decision. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i193_1.htm 96368183-406B-407B-9863-456BE988B0F3 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 08:56:41 -0500 A shared decision-making process would assist doctors and parents who are facing the extraordinarily complex, challenging and controversial choices presented when infants are born with genetic or anatomical anomalies in sexual development and are being considered for elective corrective surgery, a new research paper suggests. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i193_2.htm 0B981746-7379-4B47-A2CB-941088C7A760 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 08:56:03 -0500 Formation of new blood vessels, also known as angiogenesis, is crucial for sustained tumor growth and cancer metastasis. Recently, clinically available therapies to suppress the growth of these vessels have been available to improve patient survival in some cancer types. Accurate detection and quantification of blood vessel growth using nonsurgical methods would greatly complement current therapies and allow physicians to quickly assess treatment regimens and adjust them as necessary. In the work published in the August issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Kessinger and coworkers have incorporated nanotechnology, material science, and the clinical imaging modality MRI, to create a nanosized probe capable of noninvasively visualizing and quantifying the blood vessel growth in tumors in a preclinical model. The work was carried out by Chase Kessinger, as part of his PhD thesis in cancer molecular imaging, working together with Jinming Gao and other colleagues, at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i193_3.htm 15963C6D-B781-4114-B3AF-DA2D83CA6555 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:55:47 -0500 Average length of stay in the nation's emergency departments increased to four hours and seven minutes, and the nation's emergency physicians are very concerned about patient safety being jeopardized by long wait times. Press Ganey's Pulse Report 2010, released yesterday, confirms what the American College of Emergency Physicians has reported previously: The recession, high unemployment and insurance losses are increasing pressure on emergency departments and their patients. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i193_4.htm F8B93ED8-BDA2-4F02-9A51-EBDE24A28548 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 07:55:31 -0500 Will doing crossword puzzles prevent memory loss as we age? Does exercise delay or prevent Alzheimer’s disease? Will adding fish oil to a diet help keep our brains healthy as we age? NIH recently convened a conference to answer these and other questions. The conclusion? Research so far has offered good leads about preventing Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline. Still, more research is needed before we can be sure what’s effective. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i193_5.htm A122B5DB-057C-4C57-8C82-2CEFB5218E38 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 07:55:19 -0500 Most patients who’ve received a kidney transplant have to take special drugs—called immunosuppressants—for the rest of their lives. Otherwise, their body’s own immune system will attack and destroy the transplanted organ. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i193_6.htm 97296D57-6599-4DEF-B0F2-42E60B2BC3F4 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 07:54:57 -0500 The National Cancer Institute has awarded Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University $4.1 million to test the microbicide Carraguard® against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer. The research will evaluate the efficacy of Carraguard®, – a clear gel made from the seaweed derivative carrageenan – in preventing new HPV infections in women. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i193_7.htm 7E24F9A8-8200-4726-9589-802C1326D239 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 07:54:36 -0500 The physical characteristics of something you’re touching can influence your feelings about unrelated events, situations and objects, according to new research. Among the findings, heavy objects made job candidates appear more important, rough objects made social interactions seem more difficult, and hard objects increased rigidity in negotiations. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i192_7.htm 4A332D49-4D7E-44CF-8BF3-2C6FA8AAF975 Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:54:17 -0500 Child abuse is a serious problem that affects nearly one million children a year in the United States alone. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Department of Health and Human Services classify child abuse into four categories including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. None of these categories, however, clearly includes the abusive use of drugs on children. A study soon to be published in the Journal of Pediatrics investigates the malicious use of pharmaceuticals and attempts to shed light on this under-recognized problem. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i192_6.htm 3BCCEA4F-FDA9-40F9-AC34-92E6C630E280 Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:53:57 -0500 Slavishly following long-held guidelines for diagnosing the cause of arthritis-related back pain is resulting in excessive tests, delays in pain relief and wasteful spending of as much as $10,000 per patient, new Johns Hopkins-led research suggests. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i192_5.htm 971429BB-A07D-48D4-BBC7-6CF26B70E9CE Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:53:41 -0500 The spread of cancer cells in the tongue may be reduced if a gene that regulates cancer cell migration can be controlled, according to new research at the University of Illinois at Chicago. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i192_4.htm 3D1C7C50-045C-48A2-80C0-40B1DFEB6FA7 Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:53:26 -0500 The treatment of diabetes was revolutionized in 1922 when insulin was isolated from dogs. Since then, significant advances in human medicine have made diabetes more manageable for patients. Now, human medicine has returned the favor and used these advances to help dogs with diabetes. A University of Missouri researcher is using a continuous glucose monitoring device – commonly used in humans with diabetes – to help treat dogs and other animals. The device, which provides a detailed glucose picture of an animal over several days, will help pet owners manage their pets’ diabetes. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i192_3.htm 2D50A153-4321-4A08-8766-A08194637A4E Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:52:57 -0500 The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) is concerned that interpretations of a paper about cholesterol, published in the Lancet (1), could act to deter ongoing research efforts into developing new therapeutic strategies to increase high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Caution, the ESC experts advise, should be displayed in the interpretation of the results. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i192_2.htm C531C9F9-BC82-443A-929F-5CBFCE698660 Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:52:41 -0500 Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found a way to significantly reduce atherosclerosis in mice that does not involve lowering cholesterol levels or eliminating other obesity-related problems. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i192_1.htm 741D959A-B83D-4C7F-9E2A-AA3E506D6A64 Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:52:15 -0500 About 1 in 6 Americans (16.2 percent) between the ages of 14 and 49 is infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), according to a national health survey released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HSV-2 is a lifelong and incurable infection that can cause recurrent and painful genital sores. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i190a_6.htm D609BE09-BA0A-4F8E-9D49-91B8755418BC Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:38:39 -0500 Meditation is a mind-body practice in complementary and alternative medicineA group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. (CAM). There are many types of meditation, most of which originated in ancient religious and spiritual traditions. Generally, a person who is meditating uses certain techniques, such as a specific posture, focused attention, and an open attitude toward distractions. Meditation may be practiced for many reasons, such as to increase calmness and physical relaxation, to improve psychological balance, to cope with illness, or to enhance overall health and well-being. This Backgrounder provides a general introduction to meditation and suggests some resources for more information. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i190a_7.htm D8F7E8AA-01D9-4876-8590-0AFE599C8D69 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:38:10 -0500 In humans, throwing a ball, typing on a keyboard, or engaging in most other physical activities involves the coordination of numerous discrete movements that are organized as action sequences. Scientists at the National Institutes of Health and the Gulbenkian Institute in Portugal have identified brain activity in mice that can signal the initiation and termination of newly learned action sequences. The findings appear online today in the current issue of Nature. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i191_7.htm 3F3646CE-F1D6-4119-AA02-A2748B634BCE Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:37:44 -0500 Our bones have much greater influence on the rest of our bodies than they are often given credit for, according to two new studies in the July 23 issue of Cell, a Cell Press publication. Both studies offer new insights into the interplay between bone and blood sugar, based on signals sent via insulin and a bone-derived hormone known as osteocalcin. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i191_5.htm 1D4D40D4-1286-4625-85ED-928C53C547FF Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:36:39 -0500 This table highlights key pediatric information from the studies submitted in response to pediatric legislative initiatives. Biologics have a solid dot (œ) by the proper name. The table presents the most recent information first and it is searchable (e.g., Trade Name, Generic Name). http://www.vidyya/com/12pdfs/UCM163159.pdf 14816072-E401-4108-82B9-3E7CC5242254 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:34:21 -0500 MIT biologists report that they have discovered the first link between the amyloid plaques that form in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and a gene previously implicated in the aging process, SIRT1. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i191_3.htm F4E915FB-F550-44AF-8E55-0005E63B06C1 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:34:03 -0500 Blood tests have been extremely important tools aiding doctors in making medical diagnoses and in guiding the treatment of many diseases. However, psychiatry is one area of medicine where there are few diagnostic blood tests. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i191_2.htm 5EC2F604-9817-4DD4-AB06-3F944C6CDD40 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:33:43 -0500 A new study from American Cancer Society researchers finds it's not just how much physical activity you get, but how much time you spend sitting that can affect your risk of death. Researchers say time spent sitting was independently associated with total mortality, regardless of physical activity level. They conclude that public health messages should promote both being physically active and reducing time spent sitting. The study appears early online in the American Journal of Epidemiology. http://www.vidyya.com/vol12/v12i191_1.htm 49AD9479-FD6F-495E-A22B-7811311BE50A Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:34:07 -0500