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Two faculty members find association between gum disease and obesity

Blood on your toothbrush can be a warning sign of gum disease. And, if you are overweight, it can indicate other serious health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.

13 Mar 2013

ASTRONAUT trial finds no beneficial effects of aliskiren in recently hospitalized heart failure patients

Despite high hopes that a blood pressure-lowering medication called aliskiren would help people following hospitalization for heart failure, no beneficial effects were found, according to research presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 62nd Annual Scientific Session.

13 Mar 2013

MGH investigators identify new disease that causes widespread chronic pain in children

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators have described what may be a newly identified disease that appears to explain some cases of widespread chronic pain and other symptoms in children and young adults.

13 Mar 2013

Studies show protein semaphorin 3A helps detect acute kidney injury

A guidance cue that helps kidneys form may also be a red flag that they are in danger, researchers report.

13 Mar 2013

Dialysis patients face increased risk of antibiotic-resistant infections

Patients who receive hemodialysis are at a significant risk of developing infections, a leading cause of hospitalization and death in this patient population.

13 Mar 2013

Study shows simple blood test may help patients with risks for heart disease

For at-risk patients, a simple screening and management program can be effective in preventing heart failure, according to research presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 62nd Annual Scientific Session.

13 Mar 2013

Trial evaluates ranolazine in patients with diabetes, coronary artery disease and angina

A commonly used anti-anginal drug reduces chest pain in patients with type 2 diabetes and appears to have a more pronounced effect in those with poorer glucose control, according to research presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 62nd Annual Scientific Session.

13 Mar 2013

Burnt-out employees have increased risk of heart disease, researcher finds

Americans work longer hours, take fewer vacation days, and retire later than employees in other industrialized countries around the globe.

13 Mar 2013

RELAX study finds no beneficial effects of erectile dysfunction drug for diastolic heart failure

Despite high expectations for a commonly used erectile dysfunction drug to treat patients with diastolic heart failure, no beneficial effects were found in a study presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 62nd Annual Scientific Session.

13 Mar 2013

Research: Digoxin reduces hospital admission of older, acute heart failure patients

Digoxin significantly reduces the likelihood of hospital admission due to all causes among ambulatory older patients with chronic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, according to research presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 62nd Annual Scientific Session.

13 Mar 2013

Aliskiren and standard therapy not associated with reduced CV death or HF rehospitalization

Among patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; a measure of how well the left ventricle of the heart pumps with each contraction), initiation of the medication aliskiren in addition to standard therapy did not reduce cardiovascular death or HF rehospitalization at 6 or 12 months after discharge, according to a study published online by JAMA.

12 Mar 2013

Patients with neck injuries incur increased health and social costs

Patients with neck injuries incur increased health and social costs-which also affect their spouses and may begin years before the initial injury, reports a study in the March 1 issue of Spine.

12 Mar 2013

Cell phone microscope can detect intestinal worm infections in children

Scientists working in rural Tanzania have used a simple US$8 glass lens, a strip of double-sided tape, and a cheap flashlight to convert an Apple iPhone into a field microscope that can successfully detect intestinal worm infections in children, according to a study published online today by the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

12 Mar 2013

Viewpoints: 5 lies about entitlements; Obama's plans for Medicare still not clear; Generic drug makers need to be accountable

So here's a list with a bit more gravitas: The five biggest lies you're being told about entitlement programs. Never mind that the very word "entitlement" is a lie. Social Security and Medicare got that name because workers became "entitled" to those benefits by paying into the system. In recent years, however, the term has become distorted to signify benefits people are entitled to without earning them. Leaving that whopper aside, here are the top five.

12 Mar 2013

IL-22 plays critical role in normal lung repair following influenza infection

Once the initial episode of influenza has passed, the chronic effects tend to be overlooked. The results of a new study indicate that the cytokine interleukin-22 (IL-22) plays a critical role in normal lung repair following influenza infection. This study is published in the April 2013 issue of the American Journal of Pathology.

11 Mar 2013

Mummies provide important twist in understanding atherosclerotic vascular disease

Like nearly 4.6 million Americans, ancient hunter-gatherers also suffered from clogged arteries, revealing that the plaque build-up causing blood clots, heart attacks and strokes is not just a result of fatty diets or couch potato habits, according to new research in the journal The Lancet.

11 Mar 2013

MiR-198 controls migration of skin cells necessary for wounds to close and heal

Patients with diseases such as diabetes suffer from painful wounds that take a long time to heal making them more susceptible to infections that could even lead to amputations. A*STAR's discovery paves the way for therapeutics to improve healing of such chronic wounds, which are a significant burden to patients.

11 Mar 2013

State highlights: Ga. health bills advance on 'Crossover Day'

A selection of health policy stories from Georgia, New York, Massachusetts, Kentucky and California.

11 Mar 2013

Researchers identify new mechanism in onset of motor neuron diseases

The British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking is likely to be the world's most famous person living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is a progressive disease affecting motor neurons, nerve cells that control muscle function, and nearly always leads to death.

11 Mar 2013

International community urged to disburse pledged funds to help Yemen

"The international community has been urged to follow Saudi Arabia's example by releasing funds pledged to help Yemen address its growing humanitarian crisis and economic, social and security challenges," the Guardian reports.

11 Mar 2013

Chronic News and Research

Two faculty members find association between gum disease and obesity

ASTRONAUT trial finds no beneficial effects of aliskiren in recently hospitalized heart failure patients

MGH investigators identify new disease that causes widespread chronic pain in children

Studies show protein semaphorin 3A helps detect acute kidney injury

Dialysis patients face increased risk of antibiotic-resistant infections

Study shows simple blood test may help patients with risks for heart disease

Trial evaluates ranolazine in patients with diabetes, coronary artery disease and angina

Burnt-out employees have increased risk of heart disease, researcher finds

RELAX study finds no beneficial effects of erectile dysfunction drug for diastolic heart failure

Research: Digoxin reduces hospital admission of older, acute heart failure patients

Aliskiren and standard therapy not associated with reduced CV death or HF rehospitalization

Patients with neck injuries incur increased health and social costs

Cell phone microscope can detect intestinal worm infections in children

Viewpoints: 5 lies about entitlements; Obama's plans for Medicare still not clear; Generic drug makers need to be accountable

IL-22 plays critical role in normal lung repair following influenza infection

Mummies provide important twist in understanding atherosclerotic vascular disease

MiR-198 controls migration of skin cells necessary for wounds to close and heal

State highlights: Ga. health bills advance on 'Crossover Day'

Researchers identify new mechanism in onset of motor neuron diseases

International community urged to disburse pledged funds to help Yemen

Improving healthcare sustainability through carbon data

A New Approach to Preventing Bladder Cancer Recurrence

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

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