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Advanced care planning improves end-of-life care

Advance care planning for older adults results in improved quality of care at the end of life, with less in-hospital death and the increased use of hospice services, the results of a study indicate.

5 Feb 2013

‘Urgent need’ for primary care pneumonia diagnosis tools

While family doctors can exclude pneumonia with a high level of accuracy, they can only identify around a third of radiographically confirmed cases, research shows.

5 Feb 2013

Exercise in pregnancy reduces adverse effects of gestational diabetes

Regular moderate-intensity exercise during the second half of pregnancy can improve fetal and maternal outcomes for women who develop gestational diabetes mellitus, show study findings, although the team notes that regular exercise did not significantly reduce the risk for developing GDM per se.

4 Feb 2013

Breast cancer genes modify age at menopause

Women with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation begin menopause at a significantly younger median age than noncarriers, US researchers warn.

4 Feb 2013

Triggers linked to migraines with aura remain nebulous

Only a small fraction of patients who suffer from migraine with aura experience an attack when they are exposed to self-reported natural triggers in an experimental setting, research shows.

4 Feb 2013

Latitude and UV-B exposure influence allergy and asthma risk

Individuals living closer to the equator are at an increased risk for hay fever, food allergy, and skin sensitization to house dust mites and molds, research shows.

4 Feb 2013

Delayed hematuria common after prostate brachytherapy

A significant proportion of patients with prostate cancer who are treated with brachytherapy develop gross hematuria years later, report researchers.

4 Feb 2013

Reduced dose of polio vaccine feasible in low-income areas

Vaccinating infants with a single fractional dose of inactivated poliovirus is an effective and more affordable alternative to using multiple full doses, report researchers in the New England Journal of Medicine.

4 Feb 2013

Risk factors identified for renal abnormality in vesicoureteral reflux

Researchers have identified the main risk factors for renal functional abnormalities in children with high-grade vesicoureteral reflux.

4 Feb 2013

Cause of esodeviation differs in children, adults

Children who present with acute-onset esodeviation should be investigated for underlying central nervous system disorders, study findings indicate.

4 Feb 2013

Eating brightly colored fruit and veg may help prevent ALS

Having a high intake of carotenoids, compounds that give certain fruits and vegetables their distinctive coloring, can reduce a person’s risk for developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or motor neurone disease, suggest study findings.

4 Feb 2013

Nicotine metabolism inversely linked to addiction severity in teens

Reduced nicotine metabolism is associated with a greater number of cigarettes smoked per day and increased levels of dependence in adolescent smokers, researchers report.

4 Feb 2013

Cutting down on fried food could lower prostate cancer risk

Men who eat deep-fried food at least once a week may be increasing their risk for developing prostate cancer, show findings from a US study.

4 Feb 2013

Glycemic control low priority in diabetes CVD prevention

Maintaining glycemic control does not reduce the likelihood for cardiovascular disease leading to hospitalization in people with Type 2 diabetes, report US researchers.

4 Feb 2013

Indian medicines ‘promising’ for osteoarthritis care

Ayurvedic medicine may offer osteoarthritis relief, say Indian researchers who found traditional formulations to be equal to conventional drugs for the improvement of pain and knee function.

4 Feb 2013

Ultrasound signs can predict Down’s syndrome

Ultrasound markers that can be detected in the second trimester of pregnancy are strongly predictive for Down’s syndrome, show findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis.

4 Feb 2013

Hypertensive pregnancies need rigorous follow up

Women who have hypertensive complications during pregnancy are at increased risk for developing chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease, shows a study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

31 Jan 2013

Mood disorder clinics improve bipolar disorder outcomes

Early treatment of patients with bipolar disorder in a specialized mood disorder clinic substantially reduces the risk for readmission to a psychiatric hospital, clinical trial findings show.

31 Jan 2013

Strong placebo response key to adolescent migraine trial failures

A strong response to placebo is the main reason drug trials in the treatment of adolescent migraine have so far failed, say researchers.

31 Jan 2013

Dual renin angiotensin system blockade: too many cons

Any benefit of dual blockade of the renin angiotensin system is limited to its effects on surrogate endpoints, and outweighed by an excessive risk for adverse events such as hypotension, hyperkalemia, and renal failure, argue hypertension experts.

31 Jan 2013