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Madeline Mann, the world's smallest surviving baby now 15

Medical progress of her 14-year follow up will be released in a letter published in the Aug. 19, 2004 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

18 Aug 2004

Children with mild asthma can lose lung function

About one quarter of children in a long-term study of mild to moderate asthma suffered a significant loss of lung function over the course of four to six years.

3 Aug 2004

More than 75% of children with asthma were unprepared for an exercise-induced asthma attacks

Since exercise can be a trigger for asthma attacks and inhalers are the best treatment, the researchers stressed that it’s critical inhalers be available during physical activity.

10 Jul 2004

Overworking nurses has adverse effects on patient safety

A nationwide study co-authored by a Grand Valley State University nursing professor found that the long hours worked by hospital staff nurses may have adverse effects on patient safety.

9 Jul 2004

MRSA contamination can be reduced by using copper alloys for surfaces in healthcare facilities

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a virulent organism, essentially resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics (for example: penicillins, ampicillins, cephalosporins). It can cause skin, bone and life-threatening blood infections, as well as pneumonia.

7 Jul 2004

Severe sepsis causes around one in ten cancer deaths each year in the USA

Severe sepsis, is a costly complication in hospitalized cancer patients causing around one in ten cancer deaths each year in the USA, according to an article published today in Critical Care.

5 Jul 2004

Rabies infections in organ donor and transplant recipients

On June 30, 2004, CDC confirmed diagnoses of rabies in three recipients of transplanted organs and in their common donor, who was found subsequently to have serologic evidence of rabies infection.

2 Jul 2004

Regular use of beta-agonist drugs for asthma could be endangering their patients

Physicians who prescribe the regular use of beta-agonist drugs for asthma could be endangering their patients, two new studies by researchers at Cornell and Stanford universities find.

17 Jun 2004

World's largest study into intensive care

The University of Sydney has played a part in the world's largest study into intensive care, which contains significant findings for doctors all over the world.

16 Jun 2004

Special Ops medics training at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center

They call themselves quiet professionals -- an elite, highly trained group of military experts known for their strength, stealth and speed. Some of their training is coming from doctors and nurses at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center.

15 Jun 2004

Some smokers may be genetically predisposed to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

In her study, Ohar looked at more than 500 men and women age 40 and older who had smoked 20 years or more. She found that a variation of the macrophage scavenger receptor gene (MSR-1) is related to the development of airways obstruction in some patients who smoke cigarettes.

25 May 2004

Asthma program helps school children improve grades

Detroit public school children living with asthma may have fewer absences and improve their grades with the help of a new comprehensive asthma program.

10 May 2004

Chronic respiratory symptoms are prominent among Alaska Native children

Chronic respiratory symptoms are prominent among Alaska Native children in the Yukon-Kuskokwim delta (YK delta) region of Alaska, with symptoms varying greatly within the geographic location.

10 May 2004

Blueprint for people who are acutely ill

The Royal College of Physicians today launches a blueprint to improve the quality and safety of care of people who are acutely ill.

5 May 2004

Family-based diabetes self-management leads to better health

When kids with diabetes approach the teenage years, their diabetes management tends to become more challenging. It’s even more difficult for economically disadvantaged kids.

1 May 2004

$11 million for lung injury research

Northwestern University has received an $11 million Program Project Grant (PPG) from the National Institutes of Health to define the mechanisms that cause changes in the alveolar epithelium during lung injury.

27 Apr 2004

FDA approval for Cladribine to treat active Hairy Cell Leukemia

American Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. today announced it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Cladribine Injection.

27 Apr 2004

Illinois, hospital beds and other health care services to be monitored

Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced the launch of a $450,000 Web-based system that provides the state with up-to-the-minute information from more than 200 hospitals in Illinois on the availability of beds and other critical health care services necessary to guide the response to an act of terrorism or other public health emergency.

27 Apr 2004

Respiratory syncytial virus, a common cold virus, can act as a 'hit and hide' virus

An international team of researchers has discovered that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common cold virus causing bronchiolitis in children, can act as a 'hit and hide' virus. It was thought that the virus could only survive in the body for a few days, but these new results show that the virus can survive for many months or years, perhaps causing long-term effects on health, such as damage to the lungs.

23 Apr 2004

Surviving pneumonia may only provide a short-term lease on a future healthy life

Researchers have shown that the subsequent 2 to 3 years after discharge from the hospital following treatment for pneumonia may provide only a short-term lease on a future healthy life if the patient has certain significant and independent predictors of mortality.

20 Apr 2004