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Constipation drug may bring US patients relief

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved linaclotide for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation in adults.

6 Sep 2012

Voice therapy should be offered to more thyroidectomy patients

Voice problems following surgery to remove the thyroid gland are a common problem reported by patients, but only a minority are offered voice therapy, show results from a US study.

5 Sep 2012

Online information lacking for UK patients wishing to choose their surgeon

There is insufficient online information regarding consultant surgeons in the UK, report researchers, who suggest this needs to be addressed to allow patients to make informed choices about their healthcare.

4 Sep 2012

Obesity no barrier to knee replacement surgery

Health policy should not withhold total knee arthroplasty from patients on the basis of obesity, say UK researchers.

3 Sep 2012

Hospitalist-led ED reduces diversion, improves patient flow

Implementing a hospital medicine-led emergency department team could reduce the number of times such departments are forced to divert new patients because of a lack of beds, as well as improve patient flow, show study findings.

3 Sep 2012

Home-based care reduces mortality, institutionalization risk in elderly

Elderly individuals cared for at home under an intermediate care plan that focuses on high levels of support and rehabilitation are less likely to be relocated to an institution or to die than their peers who are treated with usual care, show study results from New Zealand.

3 Sep 2012

Physical, verbal reminders could improve preoperative preparation

Patients may be unable to recall much of the preoperative information they are given by anesthesiologists, suggesting the need for reminders such as printed instructions, and telephone calls the night before their procedure is scheduled, says a US research team.

30 Aug 2012

New York State Department of Health issues license to Veracyte's Afirma Gene Expression Classifier

Veracyte, Inc., a molecular diagnostics company pioneering the emerging field of molecular cytology, and Genzyme, a Sanofi company, today announced that the New York State Department of Health has issued a license enabling Veracyte's Afirma Gene Expression Classifier to be offered to patients in the state.

30 Aug 2012

Physicians’ emotional, institutional barriers prolong medical futility at end of life

The most common reasons that clinicians give to explain medically futile treatment at the end of life are emotional difficulties, such as a fear of talking about death, and institutional barriers, such as hospital departments expecting them to “do everything possible,” report German researchers.

29 Aug 2012

Employee benefits, stable leadership improve nurse retention in homes

Nursing homes wanting to improve their rates of registered nurse retention should offer career-advancement opportunities and reward attendance, employee benefits such as health insurance, and develop long-tenured leaders, show the results of a US study.

24 Aug 2012

Vandetanib shows efficacy in thyroid cancer

The tyrosine kinase inhibitor vandetanib could significantly extend progression-free survival in patients with locally advanced or metastatic differentiated radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer, show results of a small phase II randomized trial.

24 Aug 2012

Calls for more widespread safety information on PGD

The informed consent process for prospective parents considering prenatal genetic diagnosis may be inadequate due to a lack of disclosure by fertility clinics about the risks involved in the procedure, says a US researcher.

20 Aug 2012

Talk smoothes the way to better understanding sick babies

Clinicians must foster improved communication with the mothers of critically ill newborns to improve understanding of their child’s condition, research suggests.

20 Aug 2012

Standardized sign-out improves neurology handoffs

The implementation of a structured sign-out process significantly improves satisfaction that handoffs between neurology staff have been completed fully and accurately, show study results published in Neurology.

20 Aug 2012

US task force unconvinced of case for hearing tests in elderly

A US Preventive Services Task Force review of screening for hearing impairment in older, asymptomatic adults concludes that there is insufficient evidence to assess whether or not the benefits outweigh the harms.

20 Aug 2012

Franchise clinics improve healthcare access for children in developing world

Franchise health clinics could substantially increase access to essential vaccinations and treatments among children living in low-income countries, regardless of their household income status, report researchers.

17 Aug 2012

Religious beliefs may adversely affect care of very sick children

Deeply held religious beliefs of parents can prevent very sick children from receiving appropriate removal of care, say researchers.

14 Aug 2012

Insurance status affects survival after cardiac event

Patients admitted to hospital with an acute cardiac event have higher rates of mortality if they are underinsured compared with those who have private insurance, show US study results.

14 Aug 2012

FDA approves Intelliject's Auvi-Q for anaphylaxis

Intelliject, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Auvi-Q (epinephrine injection, USP) for the emergency treatment of life-threatening allergic reactions in people who are at risk or have a history of anaphylaxis. This is the first-and-only compact auto-injector with audio and visual cues that guide patients and caregivers step-by-step through the injection process.

13 Aug 2012

Endocrine Society revises clinical practice guideline for management of thyroid dysfunction

The Endocrine Society has made revisions to its 2007 Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for management of thyroid disease during pregnancy and postpartum. The CPG provides recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of patients with thyroid-related medical issues just before and during pregnancy and in the postpartum interval.

12 Aug 2012