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New findings could help develop treatments for inherited disorders

Fresh insights into the protective seal that surrounds the DNA of our cells could help develop treatments for inherited muscle, brain, bone and skin disorders.

27 Feb 2013

Study shows slow-growing babies reach normal weights by early teens

New parents are pleased when their baby gains weight as expected, but if the rate of weight gain is slow parents can become worried and concerned about their child's future size.

27 Feb 2013

Protective services workers more likely to develop psychiatric disorder after traumatic events

Police, firefighters and other protective services workers who are repeatedly exposed to traumatic events and are new to their profession are at greater risk of developing a psychiatric disorder, according to a new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

26 Feb 2013

Surgeons told to pull the plug on robotically assisted hysterectomy

US researchers are calling for curbs on the rapidly increasing use of robotically assisted hysterectomy after an extensive study of the technique showed that it fails to improve outcomes over laparoscopy.

26 Feb 2013

Reduced income lessens chances of at-home death

Terminally ill patients with a low median annual household income are less likely to die at home than their wealthier counterparts, according to US study results published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

26 Feb 2013

COPD benzodiazepine warning

Canadian researchers have found that benzodiazepines are frequently prescribed for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), despite their known association with adverse respiratory outcomes.

26 Feb 2013

Direct approach speeds ventilator weaning

Moving straight to unassisted breathing through a tracheostomy collar results in faster weaning than does a gradual reduction in pressure support among patients needing prolonged mechanical ventilation, shows a randomized trial in JAMA.

26 Feb 2013

Cognitive impairments in bipolar disorder 'stable'

Impaired cognitive function among bipolar disorder patients seems to be stable over time, suggesting it is an enduring feature of the condition, show the results of a longitudinal study.

26 Feb 2013

Depression links PTSD to life quality in bipolar disorder

The association between post-traumatic stress disorder and mental health-related quality of life among individuals with bipolar disorder may be mediated by depressive symptoms, the results of a US study indicate.

26 Feb 2013

Radial forearm free flap shows worth in mandibular reconstruction

The osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap should be used for mandibular reconstruction because of the low rate of long-term donor and recipient site complications, particularly with prophylactic plating of the donor radius, say US scientists.

26 Feb 2013

Natalizumab may be second-line option for pediatric MS patients

Natalizumab may be an effective and well tolerated second-line treatment for pediatric patients with highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, say researchers.

26 Feb 2013

Loss of Dickopf-1 restores neurogenesis and memory in animal model

Loss of the molecule Dickopf-1 in the hippocampus in older animals increases neurogenesis, research shows.

26 Feb 2013

Cardiometabolic risk prevention opportunity in early schizophrenia

esearchers have found that cardiometabolic risk in patients with schizophrenia is heightened in those with established disease, suggesting a need for early intervention in those presenting with their first episode.

26 Feb 2013

Learned helplessness role in inflammatory polyarthritis revealed

Learned helplessness is a modifiable risk factor that can significantly influence disease outcome in patients with inflammatory polyarthritis, UK clinicians believe.

26 Feb 2013

‘Traffic light’ guide for pediatric bacterial infection needs refining

Study results suggest that a “traffic light” system for categorizing the severity of infections in children fails to detect a substantial number of serious bacterial infections, particularly urinary tract infections.

26 Feb 2013

Intense acupuncture shows promise for Bell’s palsy rehabilitation

Intense or “de qi” acupuncture produces significantly better results when added to prednisone treatment than low-intensity acupuncture for patients with Bell’s palsy, show findings from a randomized controlled trial.

26 Feb 2013

Ill health more likely to be responsible for retirement in regional areas than in cities

Men and women of working age, living in regional areas are more likely to be fully retired because of ill health than their city counterparts, University of Sydney research shows.

26 Feb 2013

Two discriminating biological markers found to predict a favorable response to treatment in triple-negative breast cancer

Quinten, a strategic and operational consulting company specializing in the evaluation of biomedical data in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and cosmetic industries, today announces the identification of two discriminating biological marker candidates which are indicative of a favorable response to treatment in women suffering from triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

26 Feb 2013

4SC Discovery enters exclusive research and license agreement with LEO Pharma

LEO Pharma A/S, a global pharmaceutical company specialising in dermatology, has entered into an exclusive research and license agreement with the German biotech company 4SC Discovery GmbH with the primary aim of jointly researching, developing and commercialising an oral treatment for inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis.

26 Feb 2013

Editorial explores caffeine-related toxicity and deaths

Caffeine-related toxicity, deaths, and near-deaths are an undeniable fact. In Sweden, for example, four people died as a result of confirmed caffeine-related causes in one year. Yet caffeine use continues to grow, including among young people, as it is increasingly added to a variety of drinks, foods, and weight-loss and other commonly used products.

26 Feb 2013