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Psychotic depression now fulfills the criteria for a valid psychiatric syndrome

The number of studies reporting significant and clinically relevant differences between psychotic depression (PD) and non-PD has increased considerably over the past decades. This summary of the current evidence suggests that PD now fulfils the criteria for a valid psychiatric syndrome.

14 Jul 2012

Key risk features predictive for suicide in bipolar disorder identified

Study findings suggest that patients with bipolar disorder who present with mixed-states, melancholic depressive features, or have multiple antidepressant treatment episodes are at increased risk for suicide.

13 Jul 2012

Incident HF an ‘extreme high-risk’ condition

Patients have a markedly increased risk for stroke and death in the month following a new heart failure diagnosis, say researchers.

13 Jul 2012

Opinion pieces address family planning issues on World Population Day

The London Summit on Family Planning took place Wednesday, July 11, also recognized as World Population Day. The goal of the summit was to raise money to improve access to family planning services to prevent maternal and child mortality. The following summaries describe opinion pieces that address these issues.

13 Jul 2012

International community commits to boosting family planning services at London Summit

"Voluntary family planning services will reach an additional 120 million women and girls in the world's poorest countries by 2020 thanks to a new set of commitments announced [at the London Summit on Family Planning on Wednesday] by more than 150 leaders from donor and developing countries, international agencies, civil society, foundations and the private sector," a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation press release reports (7/11).

13 Jul 2012

Preventable hospital deaths: around 12,000 in England each year

Around 12,000 deaths in acute hospitals in England each year could be prevented, suggests a data analysis published online in BMJ Quality and Safety.

13 Jul 2012

Blog posts address London Summit on Family Planning

On World Population Day, observed on Wednesday, July 11, the U.K. Government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation co-hosted the London Summit on Family Planning. The following are summaries of blog posts addressing the summit.

13 Jul 2012

Early surgery best for infective endocarditis

Compared with conventional treatment, early surgery for patients with infective endocarditis and large vegetations significantly reduces the risk for death or embolic events by reducing the risk for systemic embolism, show results from a randomized trial.

12 Jul 2012

Disappointing result for acadesine

The adenosine-regulating agent acadesine does not reduce the occurrence of adverse outcomes in patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery, researchers say.

12 Jul 2012

Eosinophil count predicts mortality risk following heart procedure

Study findings suggest that eosinophil count predicts mortality risk in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

12 Jul 2012

Smokers at risk for recurrent hepatitis post-liver transplantation

Transplant recipients who smoke or have smoked increase their risk of viral hepatitis reinfection following liver transplantation according to new research available in the July issue of Liver Transplantation, a journal published by Wiley on behalf of American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

12 Jul 2012

BioControl Medical receives FDA approval to initiate second phase of CardioFit study for heart failure

BioControl Medical has announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to begin the second phase of INOVATE-HF (INcrease Of VAgal TonE in Heart Failure), a global, multi-center, investigational device exemption (IDE) clinical study of the company's CardioFit system for heart failure.

12 Jul 2012

WHO commits to fast-track assessment of new and existing quality contraceptives

WHO today committed to fast-track its assessment of new and existing quality contraceptives so more women in low- and middle-income countries can obtain and use a broader range of safe and effective contraceptive products.

12 Jul 2012

Effective therapies to reduce perioperative morbidity and mortality remain elusive

Among intermediate- to high-risk patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery, administration of the agent acadesine to regulate adenosine (a naturally occurring chemical that dilates blood flow and can improve coronary blood flow and perfusion) did not reduce all-cause death, nonfatal stroke, or need for mechanical support for ventricular dysfunction, for approximately a month after surgery, according to a study in the July 11 issue of JAMA.

12 Jul 2012

PCR assay ‘superior’ to culture for neonatal sepsis, meningitis

In neonates with probable sepsis or meningitis, a realtime polymerase chain reaction assay specific for a virulence gene in Streptococcus agalactiae is superior to standard bacterial culture identification, results of a pathology study show.

11 Jul 2012

WHO working on consolidated HIV treatment guidelines

The WHO "says comprehensive HIV treatment strategies are needed in developing countries to overcome stigma and discrimination," because "often those in need of HIV treatment and prevention are unable to receive the services because of their social status," VOA News reports.

11 Jul 2012

Giving up smoking associated with weight gain

Giving up smoking is associated with an average weight gain of 4-5 kg after 12 months, most of which occurs within the first three months of quitting, finds a study published on bmj.com today.

11 Jul 2012

Victims of stray-bullet shootings are often children, females

Most people killed or wounded in stray-bullet shootings were unaware of events leading to the gunfire that caused their injuries, and nearly one-third of the victims were children and nearly half were female, according to a new nationwide study examining an often-overlooked form of gun violence.

11 Jul 2012

Lancet series reviewing family planning evidence published on eve of London summit

A Lancet series on family planning, published Tuesday, "reviews the evidence for the effects of population and family planning on people's well-being and the environment," according to the series' executive summary.

11 Jul 2012

Improving access to health care for minority women could reduce racial disparity in infant mortality

Improving access to health care for minority women of childbearing age could improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce racial differences in infant mortality, according to an article in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

11 Jul 2012