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Latest in optometry: headache link debunked; iPads open up new vista

The latest research in optometry finds no link between headaches and refractive errors in children under the age of 18 years – and a clinical purpose for iPads.

16 Nov 2012

'Extended-skill' nurses, physiotherapists are as effective as the ER doc

Patients with peripheral soft tissue injuries achieve similar clinical outcomes when treated by emergency nurse practitioners and extended-scope physiotherapists in the emergency department, as when they are treated by doctors, show UK study results.

16 Nov 2012

Vitiligo patients have low risk for skin cancer

Evidence suggests that patients with vitiligo have a reduced risk for both melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer.

16 Nov 2012

Caterpillar fungi may benefit asthma patients

Research shows that cordycepin, extracted from a group of rare parasitic caterpillar fungi of the genus Cordyceps, has unusual anti-inflammatory properties that may make it a good candidate for treating conditions such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.

16 Nov 2012

Obstetric complications linked to NSS in schizophrenia

Patients with schizophrenia whose mothers experienced obstetric complications during pregnancy show more neurologic soft signs than those with mothers who did not experience such complications, researchers report.

16 Nov 2012

Risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes increased in bipolar women

Women with bipolar disorder are at increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, results from a Swedish study show.

16 Nov 2012

Imaging technique could give early aneurysm rupture warning

The speed of ferumoxytol uptake on magnetic resonance imaging may indicate if a cerebral aneurysm is unstable and likely to rupture soon, say US researchers.

16 Nov 2012

Periodicity Index limits variability when measuring restless legs

The Periodicity Index is a more stable measure of leg movements during sleep in restless legs syndrome than the widely used periodic leg movements index, investigators have found.

16 Nov 2012

Experts call for global treaty on drug quality

Professionals from the world of health, including health charities, legal and medical academia, and former or current government health officials, have called for the creation of an internationally binding treaty to tackle illegitimate drugs.

16 Nov 2012

Combined exercise approach may help Parkinson’s patients

A mixture of gait training and strengthening exercises may be beneficial for patients with Parkinson’s disease, suggest findings from a randomized trial.

16 Nov 2012

Potential to reduce preterm births ‘shockingly small’

If developed countries were to successfully implement five preventive interventions, only a 5% relative reduction in the preterm birth rate could be achieved by 2015, shows a study published by The Lancet.

16 Nov 2012

Bradykinesia is ‘context-specific’ in Parkinson’s

Patients with Parkinson’s disease can make rapid responses to avoid adverse stimuli, but cannot speed up their actions to gain a reward, report UK researchers.

16 Nov 2012

Brain imaging distinguishes Parkinson’s subtypes

Patients with nontremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease show changes in brain activity that set them apart from tremor-dominant patients and from healthy controls, a study shows.

16 Nov 2012

Study examines public health impact of tamper resistant extended-release oxycodone

This is the first epidemiological study to examine the public health impact of a tamper resistant extended-release oxycodone (ORF). ER oxycodone was reformulated with physicochemical barriers to crushing and dissolving intended to reduce abuse through non-oral routes of administration.

16 Nov 2012

Depression and suicide intricately intertwined among teens

Untreated depression is one of the leading causes of teen suicide, and signs of depression can also be a warning that a teen is contemplating suicide. In an article published this week in the quarterly journal, The Prevention Researcher, University of Cincinnati researchers are describing how positive connections can help offset these tragedies.

16 Nov 2012

Drinking milk during childhood can lead to lifelong benefits

Starting a milk drinking habit as a child can lead to lifelong benefits, even improving physical ability and balance in older age, according to new research. A new study published in Age & Aging found an increase of about one glass of milk a day as a child was linked to a 5% faster walking time and 25% lesser chance of poor balance in older age.

16 Nov 2012

New pathway appears to play a major role in information processing in the brain

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have identified a new pathway that appears to play a major role in information processing in the brain. Their research also offers insight into how imbalances in this pathway could contribute to cognitive abnormalities in humans.

16 Nov 2012

Peak interest in health issues comes at about age 51 for baby boomers

For baby boomers, the peak interest in health issues comes at about age 51, with a second peak coming near age 65, according to a new study.

16 Nov 2012

Freestyle rapping increases brain activity in the medial prefrontal cortex

Researchers in the voice, speech, and language branch of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study the brain activity of rappers when they are "freestyling" - spontaneously improvising lyrics in real time.

16 Nov 2012