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US and Dutch views differ on sedation at end of life

Physicians from the USA and the Netherlands differ in their views on sedation at the end of life, with the Dutch justifying it by stating that it does not hasten death, and the Americans indicating that although it might hasten death, this is justifiable if it is not the primary intention, show study findings.

18 Sep 2012

Daily use of inhaled steroid may not be essential in mild asthma patients

Individuals with mild-to-moderate asthma who use inhaled corticosteroids only when symptomatic can achieve the same level of symptom control as those who use the drug daily, study results show.

18 Sep 2012

Exercise may help prevent infection for paraplegic individuals

Results from a pilot study suggest that a moderate amount of exercise may result in enhanced immunity in paraplegic athletes.

18 Sep 2012

Frontline teamwork, safety practices slice hospital infection rate by 40%

Implementation of the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program has reduced the rate of central line-associated bloodstream infections by 40% in more than 1100 US intensive care units, reports the agency that funded the program.

18 Sep 2012

Pfizer announces that 14 abstracts for tofacitinib to be presented at ACR/ARHP annual meeting

Pfizer Inc. announced today that 14 abstracts for tofacitinib, an investigational oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), will be presented at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) / Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ARHP) 2012 Annual Meeting, which is being held November 9-14 in Washington, D.C.

18 Sep 2012

Thalidomide effective in treating disabling cough among people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

In the first clinical trial to demonstrate an effective treatment for constant, disabling cough among people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that taking thalidomide significantly reduced the cough and improved quality of life.

18 Sep 2012

Fall prediction and prevention technology: an interview with Rob Goudswaard and Heribert Baldus from Philips

Falls in the elderly are a major health problem. It is has emerged from data in the US that roughly 1 in 3 people over 65 fall at least once a year. Half of them experience the same again the next year.

18 Sep 2012

Important data from Pfizer’s lung cancer and RCC portfolios to be presented at ESMO Congress

Pfizer Oncology today announced that important data from its lung cancer and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) portfolios will be presented at the upcoming European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Vienna, Austria, September 28 - October 2, 2012.

18 Sep 2012

Compelling data from two ITS Flunisyn Phase I clinical trials against multiple strains of influenza A

Immune Targeting Systems Limited, an emerging leader in the development of vaccines that promote T-cell responses against viruses and cancers, today announces compelling data from two Phase I clinical trials of FlunisynTM, the Company's lead vaccine programme which elicits potent immune responses against multiple strains of influenza-A virus.

18 Sep 2012

FDA clears Meridian Bioscience’s new illumigene Group A Strep test

Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio today announced that it has received FDA clearance for a new molecular diagnostic test for Group A Streptococcus on the illumigene platform.

18 Sep 2012

UCSF-led research team targets physiological factors that lead to asthma attack

A new study that identifies ways to reduce the factors that lead to an asthma attack gives hope to asthma sufferers. A UCSF researcher and his colleagues believe they have found a way to help asthma sufferers by impeding the two most significant biological responses that lead to an asthma attack.

18 Sep 2012

Mitochondrial variations unlikely cause of osteoarthritis

Researchers have been unable to confirm a link between the development of osteoarthritis and maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA variants.

17 Sep 2012

Novel classification system could improve management of facial trauma

A novel scoring system based on the “best” elements of four existing systems can successfully differentiate injuries of patients with complex facial fractures, improving discrimination between severe injuries, report UK researchers.

17 Sep 2012

Antimuscarinics only moderately effective for overactive bladder

A comprehensive review of oral antimuscarinics for the treatment of overactive bladder concludes that the efficacy of treatment is, at best, moderate.

17 Sep 2012

Results from largest ever health and lifestyle survey of cities and conurbations across Europe

Researchers have announced the results of the largest ever health and lifestyle survey of cities and conurbations across Europe - including five British urban centres.

From The University of Manchester 17 Sep 2012

Walgreens to introduce comprehensive customer loyalty program

Walgreens today announced the official launch of a comprehensive customer loyalty program on Sunday, Sept. 16, offering customers ways to save, earn points and get rewarded for purchases, services and healthy behaviors.

15 Sep 2012

Severe egg allergy treatment shows promise

Specific oral tolerance induction with raw hen’s egg can reduce the severity of egg allergy in affected children, show study findings.

14 Sep 2012

Clinician responsibility is confused during maternity handovers

There is a lack of consensus around the transfer of responsibility and accountability during handovers between clinicians working in maternity care, show findings from an Australian study.

14 Sep 2012

Study examines link between SES and access to lung transplantation in adult CF patients

Adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients of low socioeconomic status (SES) have a greater chance of not being accepted for lung transplant after undergoing initial evaluation, according to a new study.

14 Sep 2012

Optimal approach for esophageal cancer surgery varies

Accurate preoperative staging of junctional adenocarcinoma of the esophagus can impact the surgical approach used, and postoperative outcomes vary according to the patients’ stage of disease, report German researchers.

13 Sep 2012