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Research reveals why older adults who undergo general anesthesia experience postoperative delirium

Newly published research from the Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology at the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine explains why up to half of older adults who undergo general anesthesia develop postoperative delirium - the sudden onset of confusion, aggression or agitated behavior that could progress to dementia. The findings indicate that older patients who are undergoing surgery may benefit from a less-potent, slower-acting anesthetic.

26 Aug 2015

New research could potentially yield novel platform for cancer vaccines

New research led by Wyss Core Faculty member David Mooney, Ph.D., in collaboration with researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute could potentially yield a new platform for cancer vaccines. Leveraging a biologically inspired sponge-like gel called "cryogel" as an injectable biomaterial, the vaccine delivers patient-specific tumor cells together with immune-stimulating biomolecules to enhance the body's attack againstcancer.

26 Aug 2015

TUHS, GE Healthcare collaborate to provide high-quality radiologic imaging services

Academic medical centers across the U.S. are experiencing increasing pressure to enhance value - deliver higher quality at lower cost - as they continue to face challenges related to outcomes, cost control, market competition, and other dynamics. Initiatives to promote value typically involve reimbursement arrangements between health insurers and providers that align financial, efficiency and quality incentives.

26 Aug 2015

CONRAD announces new funding agreement to increase HIV prevention products for high risk women in Africa

CONRAD is pleased to announce a new funding agreement, in collaboration with the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the U.S. Agency for International Development, in support of a human centered design (HCD) strategy to increase demand, use and adherence of HIV prevention products for high risk women in Africa.

25 Aug 2015

Electronic triggers can help identify, reduce follow-up delays in evaluation for cancer diagnosis

Electronic triggers designed to search for key data, developed by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, were able to identify and reduce follow-up delays for patients being evaluated for a diagnosis of colon or prostate cancer.

25 Aug 2015

Gerard E. Francisco to be honored with AAPM&R Distinguished Member Award

Gerard E. Francisco, M.D., chairman of physical medicine and rehabilitation at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School and chief medical officer at TIRR Memorial Hermann, will be recognized at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Oct. 1 - 4 in Boston.

25 Aug 2015

Researchers reveal new electrical mechanism that can control molecular switches regulating cancer cell growth

The molecular switches regulating human cell growth do a great job of replacing cells that die during the course of a lifetime. But when they misfire, life-threatening cancers can occur. Research led by scientists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) has revealed a new electrical mechanism that can control these switches.

25 Aug 2015

Researchers evaluate use of pharmacy-based naloxone education and distribution to fight opioid overdoses

In response to the growing opioid crisis, several states, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island, have granted pharmacists the authority to provide naloxone rescue kits without a prescription to at-risk patients. This model of pharmacy-based naloxone (PBN) education and distribution is one of the public health strategies currently being evaluated at hundreds of pharmacies in both states to determine the impact on opioid overdose death rates.

25 Aug 2015

New study affirms value of influenza vaccination among older people

A new study of the records of millions of nursing home residents affirms the value of influenza vaccination among the elderly. The Brown University analysis found that between 2000 and 2009, the better matched the vaccine was for the influenza strain going around, the fewer nursing home residents died or were hospitalized.

25 Aug 2015

Veritas Genetics obtains CE mark approval for myBRCA genetic screening test

Boston-based Veritas Genetics, a pioneer in accessible genetic screening for disease prevention and early detection, received its first European CE mark approval for the company's hereditary breast and ovarian cancer genetic screening test, myBRCA. Veritas introduced myBRCA, which sequences BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes using proprietary gene-targeting technology and Next Generation Sequencing, in North America in May 2015.

25 Aug 2015

Variation in genetic mechanism increases fat storage and drives obesity

A specific gene region has long been suspected of contributing to obesity in humans but the precise mechanisms behind this were previously unclear. Now, researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard Medical School and other partners have been able to show that a single genetic alteration in this region reduces thermogenesis (fat burning), instead increasing lipid storage.

24 Aug 2015

Cognitive factors associated with activity, participation in everyday life among people with MS

Kessler Foundation researchers found that processing speed is the primary limiting factor associated with activity and participation in everyday life among people with multiple sclerosis (MS). "Factors that moderate activity limitation and participation restriction in people with multiple sclerosis" was published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy.

24 Aug 2015

Study demonstrates that high sugar intake linked to poor family functioning

The quality of general family functioning is a major determinant of healthy dietary habits - according to new research published in the Journal of Caries Research and led by Queen Mary University of London.

24 Aug 2015

Researchers develop two simple tools to assess dehydration severity in children

Dehydration from diarrhea, either from viral infection or cholera, accounts for 10 percent of all child deaths worldwide. Though it's a pervasive problem, there are no clinical guidelines that perform better than chance for assessing dehydration severity. In a new study, a team of researchers report that they statistically derived two simple diagnostic tools with high sensitivity and specificity from the cases of 771 children aged 0 to 5 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

23 Aug 2015

Millions of people die every year from using smokeless tobacco

More than a quarter of a million people die each year from using smokeless tobacco, researchers at the University of York have concluded.

21 Aug 2015

Few U.S. hospitals comply with CDC infection prevention guidelines for arterial catheter insertions

According to a survey conducted by Rhode Island Hospital researchers, there is significant variability regarding how clinicians manage catheters placed in the arteries of patients in intensive care units. Some practices may increase risk of infection associated with these catheters. Fewer than half of those surveyed complied with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) infection prevention guidelines for arterial catheter insertions.

21 Aug 2015

Novel synthetic DNA vaccine induces protective immunity against MERS virus in animal study

A novel synthetic DNA vaccine can, for the first time, induce protective immunity against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus in animal species, reported researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

21 Aug 2015

Study: Women warriors at no greater risk than men for developing PTSD

While past research on the question has been mixed, a new study by Defense and Veterans Affairs researchers suggests that women in the military are at no greater risk than men for developing posttraumatic stress disorder, given similar experiences--including combat.

21 Aug 2015

Medicaid could save billions as patents for several blockbuster antipsychotic medications expire

Medicaid is expected to save billions of dollars a year as patents for several blockbuster antipsychotic medications expire and use of generic versions of these drugs increases, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. These savings may provide relief from the high costs of these medications and allow policymakers to lift restrictions on patients' access, the researchers argue.

21 Aug 2015

Researchers establish structure of important tumor-suppressing protein

An international group of researchers led by Carnegie Mellon University physicists Mathias Lösche and Frank Heinrich have established the structure of an important tumor suppressing protein, PTEN. Their findings provide new insights into how the protein regulates cell growth and how mutations in the gene that encodes the protein can lead to cancer.

21 Aug 2015

Medical School News and Research

Research reveals why older adults who undergo general anesthesia experience postoperative delirium

New research could potentially yield novel platform for cancer vaccines

TUHS, GE Healthcare collaborate to provide high-quality radiologic imaging services

CONRAD announces new funding agreement to increase HIV prevention products for high risk women in Africa

Electronic triggers can help identify, reduce follow-up delays in evaluation for cancer diagnosis

Gerard E. Francisco to be honored with AAPM&R Distinguished Member Award

Researchers reveal new electrical mechanism that can control molecular switches regulating cancer cell growth

Researchers evaluate use of pharmacy-based naloxone education and distribution to fight opioid overdoses

New study affirms value of influenza vaccination among older people

Veritas Genetics obtains CE mark approval for myBRCA genetic screening test

Variation in genetic mechanism increases fat storage and drives obesity

Cognitive factors associated with activity, participation in everyday life among people with MS

Study demonstrates that high sugar intake linked to poor family functioning

Researchers develop two simple tools to assess dehydration severity in children

Millions of people die every year from using smokeless tobacco

Few U.S. hospitals comply with CDC infection prevention guidelines for arterial catheter insertions

Novel synthetic DNA vaccine induces protective immunity against MERS virus in animal study

Study: Women warriors at no greater risk than men for developing PTSD

Medicaid could save billions as patents for several blockbuster antipsychotic medications expire

Researchers establish structure of important tumor-suppressing protein

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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