iPods help docs improve stethoscope skills

Patients rely on their physicians to recognize signs of trouble, yet for common heart murmurs, that ability is only fair at best. Fortunately, the solution is simple: listening repeatedly. In fact, intensive repetition — listening at least 400 times to each heart sound — significantly improved the stethoscope abilities of doctors, according to a study presented today at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting. more  

Heart failure medication provides some symptom relief

A medication used to treat heart failure, tolvaptan, appears to improve some symptoms and signs of heart failure during hospitalization, but does not reduce the risk of re-hospitalization or death, according to two articles in the March 28 issue of JAMA. The study is being released early to coincide with its presentation at the American College of Cardiology's annual conference. more

Blueberries contain chemical that may help prevent colon cancer

A compound found in blueberries shows promise of preventing colon cancer in animals, according to a joint study by scientists at Rutgers University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The compound, pterostilbene, is a potent antioxidant that could be developed into a pill with the potential for fewer side effects than some commercial drugs that are currently used to prevent the disease. Colon cancer is considered the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, the researchers say. more  

'Juiced-up' battery fueled by sugar could power small portable electronics

Juicing up your cell phone or iPod may take on a whole new meaning in the future. Researchers at Saint Louis University in Missouri have developed a fuel cell battery that runs on virtually any sugar source — from soft drinks to tree sap — and has the potential to operate three to four times longer on a single charge than conventional lithium ion batteries, they say. more

Drug-eluting and bare-metal stents equal in risk of blood clots, heart attacks and death  

Although the use of stents to treat coronary artery disease has soared during the past decade thanks to novel equipment and new implant techniques, clinical data has recently raised concerns around the safety of drug-eluting stents (DES) and their risk of post-procedure complications. A study presented today at the American College of Cardiology’s Innovation in Intervention: i2 Summit compared rates of complications in thousands of patients who received bare-metal stents (BMS) or DES. Innovation in Intervention: i2 Summit is an annual meeting for practicing cardiovascular interventionalists sponsored by the American College of Cardiology in partnership with the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. more

Vaccine shows promise in preventing hepatitis E  

An experimental vaccine appears safe and effective in preventing hepatitis E, a sometimes-deadly viral disease prevalent in developing countries. The genetically engineered vaccine was originally created and tested over the past two decades by scientists at NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). more

Study reveals large number of cancer genes

A systematic study of a gene family commonly associated with cancer has implicated a much larger repertoire of cancer genes than researchers had anticipated. more

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