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Jumping genes may play crucial role in generation of cancer

For more than 50 years, scientists have known of the existence of "jumping genes," strands of DNA material that can move from one location in the genome to another.

11 May 2016

New interactive radiation therapy planning system can help improve patient's chances of recovery

Radiation therapy is one of the most essential elements in cancer treatment. But properly planning radiation therapy is a highly complex task. Fraunhofer mathematicians have joined an alliance with medical physicists and physicians to improve the therapy planning process. In doing so they have helped improve patient's chances of recovery.

11 May 2016

Cloud-based data from EHRs can help track influenza in real time

Early detection and prediction of influenza outbreaks is critical to minimizing their impact. Currently, flu-like illnesses are tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but with a time lag of one to two weeks.

11 May 2016

Robotic VATS could be safe alternative to conventional thoracoscopic procedures for lung cancer treatment

A new study shows that robotic video-assisted lung resection to remove a tumor achieves comparable outcomes with no significant differences in complications compared to conventional video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), and robotic VATS (RVATS) may allow for preservation of more healthy lung tissue.

11 May 2016

Repeat, low-dose ketamine infusions may quickly reduce suicidal thoughts in depressed outpatients

Repeat intravenous treatment with low doses of the anesthetic drug ketamine quickly reduced suicidal thoughts in a small group of patients with treatment-resistant depression.

11 May 2016

Genetic variations that increase PKC alpha activity may influence development of Alzheimer's disease

In Alzheimer's disease, plaques of amyloid beta protein accumulate in the brain, damaging connections between neurons.

11 May 2016

Genetic mutations may be key culprit behind ciliopathies, study shows

Scientists have identified genetic mutations that appear to be a key culprit behind a suite of birth defects called ciliopathies, which affect an estimated 1 in 1,000 births.

11 May 2016

Study finds no drop in accuracy of mammogram readers in breast cancer detection rates

A new study has found there is no decline over time in the accuracy of medical staff who analyse mammogram scans for indications of breast cancer.

11 May 2016

MGH researchers develop device to rapidly diagnose health-care-associated infections

A team of Massachusetts General Hospital investigators has developed a device with the potential of shortening the time required to rapidly diagnose pathogens responsible for health-care-associated infections from a couple of days to a matter of hours.

10 May 2016

Caltech researchers discover new potential cause for Crohn's disease

The community of beneficial bacteria that live in our intestines, known as the gut microbiome, are important for the development and function of the immune system. There has been growing evidence that certain probiotics--therapies that introduce beneficial bacteria into the gut--may help alleviate some of the symptoms of intestinal disorders such as Crohn's disease.

10 May 2016

Neuroimaging studies offer new insights into cognitive vulnerability to depression

Neuroimaging studies of interconnected brain networks may provide the "missing links" between behavioral and biological models of cognitive vulnerability to depression, according to a research review in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

10 May 2016

Study reveals important new findings about rare cancer

A study comprised of 39 international institutions revealed significant new findings about adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), a rare cancer with an often poor prognosis.

10 May 2016

Moderate sedation leads to better clinical outcomes than general anesthesia for TAVR patients

A new study finds the use of moderate sedation, in which patients do not need a breathing tube, leads to better clinical outcomes as compared to general anesthesia for patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

9 May 2016

Unique attributes of zebrafish may help study human blood disorders

Genetic regulation of the various types of blood cells in zebrafish and humans is highly similar, making it relatively easy and cost-effective to perform genetic, chemical, imaging and other molecular studies on this invaluable model organism to study normal hematopoetic development in humans as well as blood disorders and malignancies, as described in a Review article in Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

9 May 2016

Novel anticoagulants on ‘as-needed basis’ could be safe alternative to lowering stroke risk

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), a rapid irregular heartbeat caused by pooling blood in the heart which can lead to heart failure and stroke, are often treated with an ablation, a minimally invasive procedure used to remove the tissue which causes the pooled blood.

9 May 2016

Physicians come together for single-payer national health insurance reform

In a dramatic show of physician support for deeper health reform - and for making a decisive break with the private insurance model of financing medical care - 2,231 physicians called today [Thursday, May 5] for the creation of a publicly financed, single-payer national health program that would cover all Americans for all medically necessary care.

6 May 2016

Serum biomarkers can help predict risk of IBD development and complications

Years before inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is diagnosed and symptoms exist, biomarkers are already circulating that can help predict risk not only of disease development but also of complications, according to research published online last week, which will also appear in the June 15th print issue of Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics.

6 May 2016

Expanding gene panel beyond known breast/ovarian cancer genes does not add any clinical benefit

Running large, multi-gene sequencing panels to assess cancer risk is a growing trend in medicine as the price of the technology declines and more precise approaches to cancer care gain steam. The tests are particularly common among breast and ovarian cancer patients. However, questions remain about the growing list of mutations and their suspected, but unproven association with breast and ovarian cancer risk.

6 May 2016

Globin gene transfer to treat beta-thalassemias shows promise in first clinical trial

Promising results from the first clinical trials of globin gene transfer to treat beta-thalassemias-inherited forms of anemia-have eliminated the need for blood transfusions in some individuals.

6 May 2016

Study identifies sex differences in statin therapy among coronary artery disease patients

Statins are equally effective at decreasing risk of coronary events in men and women, and yet women are less likely to be prescribed these cholesterol-lowering drugs than men.

6 May 2016

Medical School News and Research

Jumping genes may play crucial role in generation of cancer

New interactive radiation therapy planning system can help improve patient's chances of recovery

Cloud-based data from EHRs can help track influenza in real time

Robotic VATS could be safe alternative to conventional thoracoscopic procedures for lung cancer treatment

Repeat, low-dose ketamine infusions may quickly reduce suicidal thoughts in depressed outpatients

Genetic variations that increase PKC alpha activity may influence development of Alzheimer's disease

Genetic mutations may be key culprit behind ciliopathies, study shows

Study finds no drop in accuracy of mammogram readers in breast cancer detection rates

MGH researchers develop device to rapidly diagnose health-care-associated infections

Caltech researchers discover new potential cause for Crohn's disease

Neuroimaging studies offer new insights into cognitive vulnerability to depression

Study reveals important new findings about rare cancer

Moderate sedation leads to better clinical outcomes than general anesthesia for TAVR patients

Unique attributes of zebrafish may help study human blood disorders

Novel anticoagulants on ‘as-needed basis’ could be safe alternative to lowering stroke risk

Physicians come together for single-payer national health insurance reform

Serum biomarkers can help predict risk of IBD development and complications

Expanding gene panel beyond known breast/ovarian cancer genes does not add any clinical benefit

Globin gene transfer to treat beta-thalassemias shows promise in first clinical trial

Study identifies sex differences in statin therapy among coronary artery disease patients

Improving healthcare sustainability through carbon data

A New Approach to Preventing Bladder Cancer Recurrence

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

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