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Taste receptor governs respiratory infection susceptibility

The bitter taste receptor TAS2R38 may play a role in innate defense, say researchers, who have found that variations in the TAS2R38 gene may regulate susceptibility to respiratory infection.

12 Nov 2012

Overcleanliness in childhood may increase risk for peanut allergy

An increased incidence of peanut allergy in children from more wealthy families supports the “hygiene hypothesis” that overcleanliness may promote the onset of childhood allergies, say US researchers.

9 Nov 2012

OSA treatment reduces office blood pressure

Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea can reduce blood pressure in men with hypertension, a clinical practice study has shown.

9 Nov 2012

Close monitoring needed in year after traumatic brain injury

Patients are at particularly high risk for developing epilepsy during the first year after traumatic brain injury, a study shows.

9 Nov 2012

Sprucing up treatment for fungal nail infection

A lacquer containing resin from the Norway spruce shows promise as a treatment for onychomycosis, suggest results from an exploratory study.

9 Nov 2012

Melatonin improves sleep in children with neurodevelopmental disorders

Melatonin increases the length of time spent asleep and reduces the time it takes to get to sleep for children with neurodevelopmental disorders, compared with placebo, show study results published in the British Medical Journal.

9 Nov 2012

Monoclonal antibody boosts cholesterol reduction

Adding a monoclonal antibody that blocks the breakdown of lipid receptors to atorvastatin therapy further reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia, show study findings.

9 Nov 2012

Reminder of values helps African–Americans interact with physicians

Completing a values-affirmation task before a scheduled visit to the primary care physician could improve communications between African–American patients and their providers, show the results of a randomized, controlled study.

9 Nov 2012

Sulfonylureas risk vs metformin points to clear first-line diabetes choice

Using sulfonylureas as a first-line treatment for diabetes is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease events or death compared with the use of metformin, research shows.

8 Nov 2012

Family history of schizophrenia ups risk for nonpsychotic disorders

Individuals with a family history of schizophrenia are at a significantly increased risk for a wide range of nonpsychotic DSM-IV axis I psychiatric disorders, US research shows.

8 Nov 2012

Diabetic foot complication risk highlighted in men

Men should be considered for aggressive treatment for foot complications associated with diabetes, such as ulceration and amputation, say researchers.

8 Nov 2012

Seat laws boost child car safety

US research shows that mandatory booster seat laws for children aged 4 to 7 years play a significant role in reducing fatalities in this age group after car accidents.

8 Nov 2012

Radical sternectomy could be less risky than conservative

Researchers say that radical sternectomy encompassing the costal cartilages leads to a significantly lower rate of complications and reoperation than conservative sternectomy.

8 Nov 2012

Physical activity reduces dementia risk in elderly

Physical activity reduces the risk for cognitive impairment, particularly vascular dementia, in older people who have developed white matter changes, shows research.

8 Nov 2012

Presence of neoehrlichiosis confirmed in Switzerland

Researchers have confirmed the presence of a novel tick-borne disease known as neoehrlichiosis in Switzerland.

8 Nov 2012

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in US wastewater treatment plants

Researchers have found methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a significant number of wastewater samples taken from four US wastewater treatment plants.

8 Nov 2012

Comparing surgical approaches in nephrectomy patients

The retroperitoneal approach to laparoscopic nephrectomy may provide a suitable alternative to the transperitoneal approach for patients, show findings from a literature review.

8 Nov 2012

Ocular sebaceous carcinoma rare, but often misdiagnosed in UK

Ocular sebaceous carcinoma is rare in the UK, say researchers in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

8 Nov 2012

Autism onset age predicts pattern of development in early years

Researchers have found that the pattern of development differs over the first 3 years of life between children with early- and later-onset autism spectrum disorder.

8 Nov 2012

Band counts in infection diagnosis

Even when patients have normal white blood cell counts, elevated band counts may diagnose infection and prompt earlier initiation of antibiotics, report researchers.

8 Nov 2012