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Dramatic rise in total knee arthroplasty, associated infection rates over past 20 years

Study findings document a steep rise in total knee arthroplasty procedures over the past 20 years, being driven by both an increase in the number of patients enrolled in Medicare and greater per capita utilization.

1 Oct 2012

Level of vision, not gain in letters seen, marks success of AMD treatment

The number of patients with a particular level of vision may be a better mark of the success of treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration than the gain or loss of letters able to be seen in logMAR chart testing, suggest researchers.

1 Oct 2012

Clinical need, effectiveness, fairness should drive drugs allocation

A policy that is transparent, fair to patients and healthcare providers, and is based on clinical need is an ethically justifiable approach to rationing drugs that are in critically short supply, report researchers.

1 Oct 2012

Novel target identified for fragile X-linked autism

Researchers have elucidated a novel mechanism through which fragile X syndrome may contribute to behavioural symptoms of autism and identified a potential therapeutic target.

1 Oct 2012

Cannabis abuse in FEP patients predicts poor symptom control

Patients with first-episode psychosis and comorbid cannabis abuse are at high risk for poor symptom control even when on medication, suggest findings published in Schizophrenia Research.

1 Oct 2012

Stenting advised for basilar tip aneurysm intervention

Stent-assisted coiling may be the best treatment option for basilar tip aneurysms, say US researchers.

1 Oct 2012

Regional, seasonal variation in US antibiotic use highlights persisting issue

US study results reveal “substantial” quarterly and regional variation in outpatient antibiotic use among older adults, indicating the possible need for targeted programs to reduce unnecessary prescriptions.

1 Oct 2012

Cholesterol has repercussions for recovering heroin addicts

Cholesterol levels may be negatively associated with heroin craving in patients on methadone maintenance therapy, researchers suggest.

1 Oct 2012

BD family history risk factor for recurrent episodes in MDD

A family history of bipolar disorder increases the likelihood of recurrent episodes of hypomania or mania in individuals with prior major depressive disorder, suggest findings published in Bipolar Disorders.

1 Oct 2012

Kisspeptin reverses hyperprolactinemia-induced ovarian acyclicity

Kisspeptin neurons appear to play a role in hypogonadotropic anovulation caused by excessive levels of prolactin, research shows.

1 Oct 2012

Most people completely unaware of aphasia

Most people are completely unaware of one of stroke's most common, debilitating but invisible impairments, according to the first awareness survey of its kind in Canada released today at the Canadian Stroke Congress.

1 Oct 2012

Cafeteria diet increases risk of stroke or death at a younger age

The fat- and sugar-rich Western diet leads to a lifetime of health problems, dramatically increasing the risk of stroke or death at a younger age, according to a study presented today at the Canadian Stroke Congress.

1 Oct 2012

Death rates after surgery: an interview with Dr Rupert Pearse

There are very few published estimates describing the number of deaths following surgery at a national level and none at an international level.

1 Oct 2012

Heavy drinkers and smokers may develop pancreatic cancer earlier in life

Those who smoke and drink heavily may develop pancreatic cancer at an earlier age than those who don't, according to a study led by a University of Michigan Health System gastroenterologist.

1 Oct 2012

Extending sleep duration may help reduce risk of diabetes in youth

A new study suggests that increasing the amount of sleep that teenagers get could improve their insulin resistance and prevent the future onset of diabetes.

29 Sep 2012

New, precise definition of boredom based on mental processes

This gives new meaning to the complaint "I'm bored" - literally. Canadian researchers - including a professor from the University of Guelph - have come up with a new, precise definition of boredom based on the mental processes that underlie the condition.

29 Sep 2012

New research on addiction mutual-support groups

Mutual-help groups for addiction have proliferated, diversified, and adapted to emerging substance-related trends over the past 75 years. A new special, triple issue of the Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery - Broadening the Base of Addiction Mutual Support: Bringing Theory and Science to Contemporary Trends - reviews the history of mutual-support groups for addiction that have arisen as adjuncts or alternatives to Twelve Step Programs.

29 Sep 2012

Wage disparities could limit success of health-care reform

A national study has found that earnings over the course of the careers of primary-care physicians averaged as much as $2.8 million less than the earnings of their specialist colleagues, potentially making primary care a less attractive choice for medical school graduates and exacerbating the already significant shortage of medical generalists.

29 Sep 2012

Collaborative Spine completes research agenda-setting process for spine care

The Collaborative Spine Research Foundation (Collaborative Spine) today announced it has completed the process of setting a research agenda for spine care. The agenda articulates the most critical clinical research issues that need to be addressed in order to deliver on the Foundation's commitment to advance the science and practice of the highest-quality spine care.

29 Sep 2012

Autism Speaks announces new round of research grants

Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, today announced the awarding of new research grants totaling nearly $5 million. "Autism Speaks is committed to continuing our research which has tremendous potential to increase our understanding of autism and addressing the needs of individuals with autism," said Autism Speaks Co-founder Bob Wright, "and we are grateful to the donors who make this research possible."

29 Sep 2012