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New inhibitor may help nicotine addicts to resist the urge

A new inhibitor helps previously nicotine-addicted rats stay on the wagon, according to a study published on October 22nd in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.

22 Oct 2012

Short-term secondhand smoke exposure can lead to airway restriction

Heavy concentrations of secondhand smoke, such as those found in smoke-filled bars and cars, can lead to airway restriction for bystanders within minutes of exposure. The study, presented at CHEST 2012, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians, showed that after 20 minutes of exposure to highly concentrated secondhand smoke, participants experienced near immediate physiologic changes, including airway resistance and impedance.

22 Oct 2012

Alcohol consumption, college education may increase risk of COPD

College education and alcohol consumption may be linked to risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Researchers from Kaiser Permanente Medical Group in Oakland, California, followed 126,019 people who supplied baseline data from 1978 - 1985 through 2008 with analyses of hospitalizations attributed to COPD (emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or chronic airway obstruction).

22 Oct 2012

Combination of medication and behavioral therapy improves smoking cessation rates

Smokers who try to quit would be more successful if they combined medication or nicotine-replacement therapy with behavioral counseling, finds a new review in The Cochrane Library. Few lifestyle changes deliver as many positive health benefits as quitting smoking, including improved circulation, lowered blood pressure and a decreased risk of cancer and heart disease.

20 Oct 2012

Gender gap in myocardial infarction mortality

Women are more likely to die from a myocardial infarction than men, according to research presented at the Acute Cardiac Care Congress 2012. The gender gap in mortality was independent of patient characteristics, revascularisation delays and revascularisation modalities.

20 Oct 2012

Study identifies critical contributors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Results of one study indicate that the risk for developing pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia increased the longer a baby was fed formula and the longer solid foods were delayed.

20 Oct 2012

Roundup: Va. health chief quits, citing new abortion clinic regulations; Texas will shutter women's health program if Planned Parenthood participates

Virginia Health Commissioner Karen Remley resigned Thursday over new GOP-backed regulations that could shutter most Virginia abortion providers as reproductive rights take center stage in pivotal Senate and presidential races.

20 Oct 2012

Sleep disturbances trigger autoimmune diabetes in men

Psychosocial factors, including sleep disturbance, increase the risk for autoimmune diabetes in adults, research indicates.

19 Oct 2012

Quality of care drops if doctors dictate

Physicians who predominantly dictate patients’ medical notes have worse quality of care than their peers who use structured electronic health record documentation, show study findings.

19 Oct 2012

Integrative Medicine helps people heal faster

The body has an innate desire to heal itself. Encouraging self-healing is the focus of Greenwich Hospital's Integrative Medicine Program.

19 Oct 2012

Study identifies new risk factors for bladder cancer

Low depressive symptoms and a longer telomere length are compelling factors that contribute to a prolonged life for bladder cancer patients according to researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

19 Oct 2012

Longer period of formula feeding may increase ALL risk

Prolonged formula feeding and older age at introduction of solid foods may increase a child’s risk for developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia, suggests research.

18 Oct 2012

Bariatric surgery linked to increased substance use

Individuals undergoing bariatric weight loss surgery may be at increased risk for substance use and should be screened for this outcome at postoperative follow-up visits with medical professionals, report researchers.

18 Oct 2012

Gingival crevicular fluid predicts periodontal attachment loss

Analysis of gingival crevicular fluid using mass spectrometry could be used to predict sites of periodontal attachment loss in individuals undergoing maintenance therapy for periodontitis, report researchers.

18 Oct 2012

Quitting smoking may improve HRQoL in advanced lung cancer

The health-related quality of life of patients with advanced-stage lung cancer is worsened if they smoke, report UK researchers.

17 Oct 2012

Report finds tobacco use resulted in 6M deaths in 2011; Russia to consider nationwide smoking restrictions

"Tobacco use led to almost six million deaths in 2011, according to new research released ... on Monday, of which nearly 80 percent were in low- and middle-income countries," Inter Press Service reports.

17 Oct 2012

Sustained attention deficits in bipolar patients, relatives

Patients with bipolar disorder and their first-degree relatives exhibit deficits in sustained attention, study results show.

16 Oct 2012

Diabetes predicts severe osteoarthritis independently of BMI

Diabetes is a strong predictor for the development of severe osteoarthritis requiring joint arthroplasty, report researchers.

15 Oct 2012

Empire BlueCross BlueShield introduces Medicare Advantage plans in New York City

Empire BlueCross BlueShield is introducing a number of Medicare Advantage (MA) plans in New York City that include access to the acclaimed CareMore health delivery system, which helps members maintain their health.

15 Oct 2012

Smoking cessation programs must be made available for current active-duty war fighters

In a new study published in Frontiers, Dr Timothy Durazzo and colleagues from the San Francisco VA Medical Center and University of California, San Francisco, expand upon their decade of research showing that smoking while kicking the alcohol habit impairs memory, learning and other cognitive skills--ultimately making it more difficult to weather the long storm of sobriety.

15 Oct 2012