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Microbial composition of induced sputum altered in mild asthma

The microbial composition of sputum in patients with mild asthma differs from that in individuals without the condition, results from a US study show.

8 Feb 2013

Etanercept no better than prednisone for COPD exacerbations

Results from a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial suggest that the tumor necrosis factor α antagonist etanercept is no more effective than standard therapy with prednisone for the treatment of acute exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

8 Feb 2013

Anxiety positively linked to physical activity in COPD patients

Higher levels of anxiety are associated with increased physical activity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, US researchers report.

8 Feb 2013

Familial psychosis risk linked to prefrontal dopamine dysfunction

People at familial risk for psychosis have attenuated dopamine stress modulation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, according to a recent in vivo imaging study.

8 Feb 2013

White matter injury common after aortic arch surgery in infants

Diagnostic category is the strongest predictor for postoperative white matter injury in infants undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease, say researchers.

8 Feb 2013

Melatonin viable alternative for REM sleep behavior disorder treatment

Clonazepam and melatonin appear to be equally effective for the treatment of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder symptoms, although melatonin may be better tolerated, a naturalistic clinical study shows.

8 Feb 2013

Intravitreal ranibizumab shows little benefit after hemorrhage

Ranibizumab given intravitreally offers no clear benefit in the treatment of vitreous hemorrhage due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, a randomized clinical trial indicates.

8 Feb 2013

Tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 involved in renal decline in diabetes

Researchers have found that circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 are independently associated with the development of chronic kidney disease in nonobese Japanese patients with Type 2 diabetes.

8 Feb 2013

Milk thistle constituent shows promising skin protection properties

Silibinin, a key component of milk thistle seeds, can help protect against skin damage caused by ultraviolet B radiation, show study findings published in Molecular Carcinogenesis.

8 Feb 2013

Education and response programs reduce opioid overdose deaths

Results from a US study suggest that a state-supported program of overdose education and nasal naloxone distribution for potential bystanders can help reduce opioid-related overdose deaths.

8 Feb 2013

eGFR ‘powerful’ operative risk gauge

Patients’ estimated glomerular filtration rate is highly predictive of their risk for dying after surgery, shows a systematic review and meta-analysis.

8 Feb 2013

HIV prevention: don’t just target serodiscordant couples

A large proportion of heterosexual HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa occurs among stable couples who have sexual partners outside of their relationship, shows research published in The Lancet.

8 Feb 2013

Higher arm reading ‘overestimates true BP’

Using the higher of left and right arm single blood pressure readings taken sequentially leads to an overestimation of patients’ “true” level as determined by ambulatory monitoring, UK researchers warn.

8 Feb 2013

Oral eosinophilic ulcers ‘a self-limiting, reactive condition’

A review of patients with oral eosinophilic ulcers suggests that the lesions should be considered a reactive, local condition rather than a CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorder.

8 Feb 2013

Tai Chi associated with reduced falls among adult stroke survivors

Tai Chi may reduce falls among adult stroke survivors, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2013.

7 Feb 2013

Study: Hospice use on the rise, but after late-stage aggressive care

A study released Tuesday found that, although the number of elderly people who died in a hospice setting is increasing, it usually came late in the process and after highly aggressive care near the end of life.

7 Feb 2013

New analysis casts doubt on American Heart Association omega-6 PUFA advice

Dietary advice about fats and the risk of heart disease is called into question on bmj.com as a study shows that replacing saturated animal fats with polyunsaturated vegetable fats is linked to an increased risk of death among patients with heart disease.

7 Feb 2013

Occupational exposure to magnetic fields may moderately increase risk of Alzheimer's, ALS

Occupational exposure to magnetic fields (MF) may be associated with "moderately increased risk" of certain neurodegenerative diseases—including Alzheimer's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, reports the February Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

7 Feb 2013

Basis of antidepressant drugs and electroconvulsive therapy found

Through a series of investigations in mice and humans, Johns Hopkins researchers have identified a protein that appears to be the target of both antidepressant drugs and electroconvulsive therapy. Results of their experiments explain how these therapies likely work to relieve depression by stimulating stem cells in the brain to grow and mature.

7 Feb 2013

Liver gene found to regulate cholesterol and fat blood levels

Researchers have identified a microRNA liver gene, miR-27b, which regulates lipid (cholesterol or fat) levels in the blood. This regulator gene controls multiple genes involved in dyslipidemia—abnormal blood cholesterol levels that can contribute to heart disease.

7 Feb 2013