Disease diagnosis in just 15 minutes

Testing for diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis could soon be as simple as using a pregnancy testing kit. A team led by scientists at the University of Leeds has developed a biosensor technology that uses antibodies to detect biomarkers - molecules in the human body which are often a marker for disease – much faster than current testing methods. more  

First major study of preschoolers' visual acuity finds fault with a standard eye test

Visual acuity---the ability to see objects in sharp detail---was evaluated in 1,504 children aged 30 to 71 months as part of the Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study, the first large, population-based study of eye disorders in preschool children. Ophthalmologists agree on the importance of finding and treating vision problems early in a child's life to avoid potentially life-long negative impacts. Prior to the Baltimore study, little data was available on vision disorders in very young children in the United States. more

Childhood wheezing with rhinovirus can increase asthma odds 10-fold

Infants who experience viral respiratory illnesses with wheezing are known to be at increased risk for developing asthma later during childhood. It is not known, however, whether every type of respiratory virus that produces wheezing presents similar risk. Using new molecular techniques to identify different viruses, researchers now believe they have pinpointed the biggest culprit: rhinovirus (RV). more  

CT scans change treatment plans in more than a quarter of ER patients with suspected appendicitis

CT scans change the initial treatment plans of emergency physicians in over one quarter of patients with suspected appendicitis, according to a study performed at the University of Washington Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA. more

3D CT scans lead to more successful treatment of varicose veins in the lower extremities  

3D CT scans provide a more comprehensive view of complex varicose veins (one of the most common diseases in the world) in the lower extremities, according to a study performed at the Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, Republic of Korea. This technique aids surgeons to more effectively treat varicose veins. more

Adolescents allowed to smoke at home have higher levels of nicotine dependence 

In a study from the Teen Tobacco Addiction Treatment Research Clinic at NIDA, researchers found that adolescents whose parents allowed them to smoke at home smoked more cigarettes per day and had higher scores on a nicotine dependence test than adolescents who were not allowed to smoke at home. more

Effects of drugs of abuse on the aging brain explored

While substance abuse affects Americans of all ages, particularly youth and young adults, little focus has been given to substance abuse among older adults. However, the aging of the baby boomer generation may lead to a dramatic increase in the abuse of illicit, prescription, and over-the-counter drugs among older adults, due in part to their larger numbers and their lifetime histories of substance abuse. more

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