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Severe sleep loss jolts the immune system into action

Severe sleep loss jolts the immune system into action, reflecting the same type of immediate response shown during exposure to stress, a new study reports.

30 Jun 2012

Genetic mutation that creates Ewing's sarcoma leads to high levels of protein EYA3

Ewing's sarcoma is a bone cancer commonly diagnosed in about 250 U.S. teenagers per year. If early chemotherapy is effective, improvement can be durable. But for children and teens who respond poorly to a first attempt at chemotherapy or if the disease spreads, long-term survival can be less than 10 percent.

30 Jun 2012

Rapamycin enhances learning and memory in young mice

Cognitive skills such as learning and memory diminish with age in everyone, and the drop-off is steepest in Alzheimer's disease. Texas scientists seeking a way to prevent this decline reported exciting results this week with a drug that has Polynesian roots.

30 Jun 2012

Shorter regimen of radiotherapy safe for noninvasive breast cancer patients

Accelerated whole breast irradiation after lumpectomy is an effective treatment for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a very common early stage and noninvasive form of breast cancer, meaning many more breast cancer patients could see their treatment times reduced by half, according to a study in the June issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology-Biology-Physics, the official scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

30 Jun 2012

Smokers with COPD may find relief with cystic fibrosis drug

A drug developed to treat certain strains of cystic fibrosis may be useful in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, one of the most common lung diseases, which is seen frequently in smokers and has no cure. The findings were published online Friday, June 29, 2012 in the online journal PLoS ONE by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

30 Jun 2012

Blocking bombesin/GRP receptor improves survival in sepsis animal models

Septic shock is the most severe outcome associated with pathogen infection in the bloodstream. It is a life-threatening condition invariably leading to multiple organ dysfunctions. Currently, septic shock is one of the most frequent causes of death in intensive care units worldwide.

30 Jun 2012

Researchers discover new gene mutations associated with megalencephaly

A research team led by Seattle Children's Research Institute has discovered new gene mutations associated with markedly enlarged brain size, or megalencephaly.

30 Jun 2012

Rate of small bowel biopsy is low in the U.S.

Under-performance of small bowel biopsy during endoscopy may be a major reason that celiac disease remains underdiagnosed in the United States, according to a new study published online recently in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

30 Jun 2012

Standing for long time when pregnant carries repercussions

Women who stand for long periods while they are pregnant risk hampering the growth of their developing fetus, researchers say in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

29 Jun 2012

Recurring diabetic foot ulcers ‘predictable’

The risk for recurring diabetic foot ulcers is predicted by clinical characteristics, such as existing ulcer location, bone infection, and diabetes control, demonstrates research published in International Wound Journal.

29 Jun 2012

Liraglutide efficacy in Japanese patients “easy” to predict

Liraglutide therapy is an effective alternative to basal-supported oral therapy for some Japanese patients with diabetes, while it is completely ineffective for others, report researchers.

29 Jun 2012

$Study sheds light on increased risk of fractures and falls among epilepsy patients using AEDs$

Study sheds light on increased risk of fractures and falls among epilepsy patients using AEDs

New research has shed light on the high risk of fractures, falls, and osteoporosis among epilepsy patients using antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) with most patients unaware of the risks associated with taking the drugs.

29 Jun 2012

FOXO1 gene may play an important role in pathological mechanisms of Parkinson's

A recent study led by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) revealed that the FOXO1 gene may play an important role in the pathological mechanisms of Parkinson's disease.

29 Jun 2012

Roundup of recent polls shows health law continues to be polarizing

Polls around the nation have examined opinions on the health care law in advance of the Supreme Court's ruling and the presidential election. One poll finds the same percentage of people are dissatisfied with the health law as are dissatisfied with the health care system.

29 Jun 2012

ACR updates 39 appropriateness criteria topics and adds five new criteria

New and updated evidence-based guidelines to help health care providers choose the most appropriate medical imaging exam or radiation therapy for a patient's clinical condition are now available via the latest version of the American College of Radiology (ACR) Appropriateness Criteria.

29 Jun 2012

Setting the scene: The Supreme Court's health law ruling

With a ruling expected soon after the justices take the bench at 10 a.m., speculation focuses not only on what its various elements will be, but how the various players will spin them.

29 Jun 2012

Stanford Medical School comment on Supreme Court ruling on health-care reform law

Today’s Supreme Court ruling on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 advances the broad effort to extend health-care coverage and control medical costs, though it raises questions about how certain provisions of the policy will be implemented, Stanford University School of Medicine experts said. Here are some initial comments on the court’s landmark decision.

29 Jun 2012

Study explains why memory improves on a high-DHA diet

We've all heard that eating fish is good for our brains and memory. But what is it about DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish, that makes our memory sharper? Medical researchers at the University of Alberta discovered a possible explanation and just published their findings in the peer-reviewed journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.

29 Jun 2012

Researchers identify genes that influence degeneration of the hippocampus

In a genome-wide association (GWA) study, researchers from Boston University Schools of Medicine (BUSM) and Public Health (BUSPH) have identified several genes which influence degeneration of the hippocampus, the part of the brain most associated with Alzheimer disease (AD).

29 Jun 2012

Taser shots to the chest are no more dangerous: Study

Taser shots to the chest are no more dangerous than those delivered to other body locations, according to a new study by one of the country's leading experts on the devices.

29 Jun 2012