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Americans die sooner and experience higher rates of disease and injury than others

On average, Americans die sooner and experience higher rates of disease and injury than people in other high-income countries, says a new report from the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. The report finds that this health disadvantage exists at all ages from birth to age 75 and that even advantaged Americans -- those who have health insurance, college educations, higher incomes, and healthy behaviors -- appear to be sicker than their peers in other rich nations.

11 Jan 2013

Glycan released by parasites might help treat metabolic disorders associated with obesity

On the list of undesirable medical conditions, a parasitic worm infection surely ranks fairly high. Although modern pharmaceuticals have made them less of a threat in some areas, these organisms are still a major cause of disease and disability throughout much of the developing world.

9 Jan 2013

Risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity identified

Birthweight and gestational age are risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity and should be considered when screening infants for the condition, a study by Turkish researchers shows.

9 Jan 2013

ADHD symptoms may influence bipolar disorder course

Comorbid attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is common in patients with bipolar disorder (BD), and is associated with more mixed states, more severe psychopathology, and more impaired family functioning, Italian researchers report.

9 Jan 2013

Lack of knowledge key to poor disabled access in primary care

Research suggests that a lack of knowledge about available accessible medical equipment among practice administrators makes primary healthcare difficult to access for patients with disabilities.

8 Jan 2013

Chronic neck pain patients show respiratory weakness

Chronic neck pain appears to be associated with impaired respiratory function due to weakness of the respiratory muscles, study findings indicate.

8 Jan 2013

Depressing hospital outcomes in elderly men

Older men with depression have more frequent and longer hospital stays than those without depressive symptoms, a study shows.

7 Jan 2013

Virtual patient can help future physicians more comfortable and capable assessing suicide risk

A virtual patient named Denise may help future physicians feel more comfortable and capable assessing suicide risk.

7 Jan 2013

Researchers discover new pathway to reduce paradoxical pain

For individuals with agonizing pain, it is a cruel blow when the gold-standard medication actually causes more pain. Adults and children whose pain gets worse when treated with morphine may be closer to a solution, based on research published in the January 6 on-line edition of Nature Neuroscience.

7 Jan 2013

BMI mortality link questioned

Patients classified as overweight according to body mass index have a lower risk for mortality than normal-weight patients, show the results of a systematic review.

4 Jan 2013

Obesity impact on lumbar disc herniation management confirmed

Obese patients with symptomatic lumbar disc herniation are significantly more likely to opt for surgery than their healthy weight counterparts but derive less benefit, SPORT findings suggest.

4 Jan 2013

Experts question proposed mercury preservative ban in vaccines

A ban on the use of a mercury-based preservative in vaccines tabled by the United Nations Environmental Program should be struck from a draft treaty as it may severely affect access to vaccines, experts urge.

4 Jan 2013

Workers with low wages more likely to develop hypertension

Workers earning the lowest wages have a higher risk of hypertension than workers with the highest wages, according to new research from UC Davis.

4 Jan 2013

New rat model simulates traumatic or surgical muscle tissue loss in humans

Penetrating soft tissue injuries that may be caused by bullet wounds or motor vehicle accidents, or exposure to explosive devices in military settings, can cause muscle loss resulting in functional disability and cosmetic deformity. Efforts underway to develop tissue engineering solutions to repair and replace damaged and lost muscle will benefit greatly from the availability of robust animal models to test these innovative therapeutic strategies.

4 Jan 2013

FDA clears Soft Tissue Regeneration’s STR GRAFT

Soft Tissue Regeneration, an early stage orthopedic device company that has developed a breakthrough tissue engineering platform used to regenerate ligaments and tendons, announced today that it has received FDA clearance to market its STR GRAFT, a biodegradable scaffold used for soft tissue augmentation and rotator cuff repair.

3 Jan 2013

Adrenomed creates Adrecizumab to decrease death rates from sepsis

The German corporation Adrenomed AG today announced its intentions to contribute to the reduction of mortality from sepsis and septic shock. Sepsis is an advanced systemic infection that travels via the blood stream to many of the body's vital organs, which can lead to death and disability.

3 Jan 2013

Ulcerative colitis impairs work capacity

Patients with ulcerative colitis have higher rates of sick leave or disability pension than the general population, show findings published in Gastroenterology.

28 Dec 2012

Elevated C-reactive protein linked to psychological distress and depression

Elevated levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammatory disease, appear to be associated with increased risk of psychological distress and depression in the general population of adults in Denmark, according to a report published Online First by Archives of General Psychiatry, a JAMA Network publication.

25 Dec 2012

More children surviving heart attacks in hospital

Approximately three times more children survived in-hospital cardiac arrest in 2009 compared with 2000, indicate data from the Get With The Guidelines–Resuscitation registry.

24 Dec 2012

Study demonstrates safety of using tPA for stroke in community hospital settings

From the moment a stroke occurs, patients must race against the clock to get treatment that can prevent lasting damage. Now, a new study shows the promise – and the challenges – of getting them state-of-the-art treatment safely at their local hospital, saving precious minutes.

21 Dec 2012