Hospital News and Research

RSS

Canada's mental health crisis

No one is safe from mental illness; it strikes without regard for age, gender, or social status. And even though one in four Canadians suffer from a mental illness, it remains a stigma, shrouded in misconceptions.

24 Jun 2008

Australia's first Chief Nursing Officer will give nurses a political voice

The appointment of Australia's first national Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer has been met with the approval of the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF).

24 Jun 2008

HealthGrades releases Fifth Annual HealthGrades Women's Health in American Hospitals study

Large variations among hospitals persist in the quality of maternity and cardiac care for women, according to a new study released today by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization.

24 Jun 2008

Nearly one in five patients experiences chest pain one year after having a heart attack

One of the main goals of in-hospital treatment and outpatient care after heart attack is to relieve angina (or episodic chest pain), according to background information in the article. The prevalence and treatment of chest pain one year after heart attack are largely unknown.

24 Jun 2008

Severe retinal hemorrhaging in young children linked to severe motor vehicle crashes

The severity of retinal hemorrhaging for young children in motor vehicle crashes is closely correlated to the severity of the crash, according to a new study by researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Retinal hemorrhages occur when the blood vessels lining the retina rupture, resulting in bleeding onto the surface of the retina.

24 Jun 2008

Simple ultrasound exam may predict osteoporosis risk

An ultrasound exam of the heel may be able to predict if a woman is at heightened risk for fractures due to osteoporosis, according to a new multicenter study being published in the July issue of the journal Radiology.

24 Jun 2008

Genetic mutation and cat exposure at birth may increase a child's risk of developing eczema

A gene mutation and cat exposure at birth may increase a child's risk of developing eczema during their first year according to a study published in PLoS Medicine. Researchers led by Professor Hans Bisgaard (University Hospital Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark) studied the association between mutations in the filaggrin gene (FLG) and exposure to environmental factors with the development of eczema.

24 Jun 2008

Study: Outreach and internal navigation program on breast cancer diagnosis in an urban cancer center with a large African-American population

A new study indicates that community education outreach and internal navigation programs lead to a significant shift in stage at diagnosis of breast cancer among African American women, with a doubling in the proportion of cases caught at the earliest stage and a nearly reciprocal drop in the proportion of cancers at most advanced stage.

23 Jun 2008

New, previously unrecognized source of heart stem cells discovered

Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston are continuing to document the heart's earliest origins. Now, they have pinpointed a new, previously unrecognized group of stem cells that give rise to cardiomyocytes, or heart muscle cells. These stem cells, located in the surface of the heart, or epicardium, advance the hope of being able to regenerate injured heart tissue.

23 Jun 2008

Could Gleevec help stroke victims?

For over a decade, the drug called tPA has proven its worth as the most effective emergency treatment for the most common kind of stroke. But its promise is blemished by two facts: tPA can cause dangerous bleeding in the brain, and its brain-saving power fades fast after the third hour of a stroke.

23 Jun 2008

Clostridium difficile closes hospital ward

An outbreak of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) in a Scottish hospital is causing concern despite claims from health authorities that the outbreak is under control.

23 Jun 2008

Big breakfast the way to lose weight

New research claims that breakfast could be the most important meal of the day when it comes to losing weight.

23 Jun 2008

Australia sitting on a "fat bomb"

The revelation that Australia is apparently now the fattest nation in the world, has been a cause for alarm.

23 Jun 2008

Hormone could hold the key to staying slim

Researchers in the United states are suggesting that the key to maintaining a healthy weight may be related to a hormone produced by the body.

23 Jun 2008

New findings show obesity-related complications improve six months following gastric banding procedure

Teenagers' obesity-related medical complications improve just six months after laparoscopic gastric banding surgery, according to outcomes data presented this week.

19 Jun 2008

Audit to be done on nursing home where elderly were given poison pancakes

An incident at an aged care facility where four residents consumed food tainted with diluted caustic soda has prompted calls from the Federal Government for a full audit to be carried out at the home.

19 Jun 2008

Experts paint a depressing future for Australian diabetics

New research presented at an international conference has predicted that almost a third of Australians with diabetes will die from the disease in the next decade.

18 Jun 2008

Gastroenteritis outbreak in South Australia claims another life

An outbreak of gastroenteritis at an aged care facility in Adelaide is of concern as it has claimed the life of a third victim.

17 Jun 2008

Employer health care costs projected to rise by nearly 10% in 2008 and 2009

Employer health care costs are expected to increase by 9.9% in 2008 -- more than double annual inflation rates -- and 9.6% in 2009, according to a study released Tuesday by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the AP/Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

17 Jun 2008

High-carb and protein big breakfast diet shown as a good method to reduce weight

Researchers have found a possible way to overcome the common problem of dieters eventually abandoning their diet and regaining the weight they lost. Eat a big breakfast packed with carbohydrates ("carbs") and protein, then follow a low-carb, low-calorie diet the rest of the day, the authors of a new study recommend. Results were presented Tuesday, June 17, at The Endocrine Society's 90th Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

17 Jun 2008