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Yale study questions accuracy of relying on patient death rates to compare hospital quality

Hospitals, health insurers and patients often rely on patient death rates in hospitals to compare hospital quality. Now a new study by researchers at Yale School of Medicine questions the accuracy of that widely used approach and supports measuring patient deaths over a period of 30 days from admission even after they have left the hospital.

4 Jan 2012

Bariatric surgery may reduce cardiovascular deaths and events in obese patients

Among obese individuals, having bariatric surgery was associated with a reduced long-term incidence of cardiovascular deaths and events such as heart attack and stroke, according to a study in the January 4 issue of JAMA.

4 Jan 2012

Study: In-hospital mortality rates questioned as measure of quality

Tracking the number of patients who die in the hospital might not be the best way to gauge a hospital's quality, researchers reported on Monday.

4 Jan 2012

Changes in mouth bacteria precede development of pneumonia in hospital patients

New research from the Yale University School of Medicine discovered changes in mouth bacteria preceded the development of pneumonia in hospital patients. After studying 37 participants over the course of a month, Dr. Samit Joshi, leader of the study, concluded changes in oral bacteria play some role in a person's risk for developing pneumonia.

3 Jan 2012

Adiponectin may play a role in development of all-cause dementia and AD in women

A hormone derived from visceral fat called adiponectin may play a role as a risk factor for development of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer disease (AD) in women, according to a study published Online First by the Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

3 Jan 2012

Sex, race and dementia may influence risk of mortality in patients with PD

Demographics and clinical factors appear to be associated with survival in patients with Parkinson disease (PD), and the presence of dementia is associated with a significant increase in mortality, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

2 Jan 2012

Major European medical center includes Critical Diagnostics' Presage ST2 Assay for cardiac care

Critical Diagnostics, a U.S.-based biomarker company focused on cardiovascular diseases, announced today that a major European medical center, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol in Barcelona Spain, is now using the company's Presage ST2 Assay for routine care and management of their heart failure patients.

2 Jan 2012

Increase in human activity threatens natural aquatic ecosystems in Tanzania

An increase in human activity is posing a threat to natural aquatic ecosystems in Tanzania and contributing to environmental damage and ecological changes. Doctoral research carried out by Hezron Emmanuel Nonga shows that agriculture and livestock farming leads to eutrophication in lakes and the proliferation of cyanobacteria which produce microcystins.

29 Dec 2011

Pulse rate may predict risk of death due to heart disease: Study

While cholesterol levels, blood pressure, blood glucose levels and weight have been used to measure the risk of death due to heart diseases till now, a new parameter has emerged – the pulse rate.

27 Dec 2011

Racial disparities in stage-specific colorectal cancer mortality rates

A new study finds that while colorectal cancer mortality rates dropped in the most recent two decades for every stage in both African Americans and whites, the decreases were smaller for African Americans, particularly for distant stage disease.

23 Dec 2011

Researchers present results from 31 major studies of blood-related cancers at ASH 2011 meeting

Researchers from the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, one of the nation's top 50 best hospitals for cancer, presented results from 31 major studies of blood-related cancers - leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma -- during the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, December 10-13, 2011 in San Diego.

23 Dec 2011

Inhibition of necroptosis protects mice from lethal SIRS

Sepsis, a form of systemic inflammation, is the leading cause of death in critically ill patients. Sepsis is linked with massive cell death; however, the specific mechanisms involved in the lethality of sepsis are unclear. Now, a new study published by Cell Press in the December 23rd issue of the journal Immunity finds that inhibition of a specific cell death pathway called "necroptosis" protected mice from lethal inflammation.

23 Dec 2011

Fetal heart rate monitor may improve infant's health

Despite the numerous medical advances that happen every day, the infant mortality rate in the United States is still higher than most European countries. While experts believe this is closely linked to the growing rate of pre-term births, researchers are committed to finding ways to make labor and delivery safer. Northwestern Medicine- researchers are examining a new device that may support improved newborn health at delivery through closer monitoring of infant oxygen use during labor.

22 Dec 2011

Haiti experiencing decline in cholera cases as dry season begins

"Haiti has seen a steady decline in the number of cholera cases, as the Caribbean nation settles into its dry season, humanitarian groups said Tuesday," the Associated Press reports, adding, "The seasonal decline in the number of cholera cases is consistent with the findings of a report released Tuesday by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs."

22 Dec 2011

Scientists discover N-cadherin as promising therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer

Often, and without much warning, pancreatic cancer cells slip through the endothelial cells, head into the blood and out to other parts of the body to metastasize, making it one of the deadliest and hardest to treat cancers today.

22 Dec 2011

Chlorthalidone may reduce risk of death in patients with systolic hypertension

Patients with systolic hypertension who were treated with the diuretic chlorthalidone for 4.5 years as part of a clinical trial had a significantly lower rate of death and a gain in life expectancy free from cardiovascular death about 20 years later compared to patients who received placebo, according to a study in the December 21 issue of JAMA.

21 Dec 2011

IPS profiles maternal shelter in Kenya's North Eastern province

Inter Press Service profiles the Garissa Maternal Shelter in North Eastern Province, Kenya, "the only such facility in an area with the country's highest maternal mortality rate."

21 Dec 2011

Antihypertensive drug therapy associated with longer life expectancy

More than 68 percent of Americans 65 and older - 80 percent age 75 and over - have hypertension (high blood pressure), according to a 2010 report by the Centers for Disease Control. Left untreated, this chronic condition can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or premature death. Researchers at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School have shown in a follow-up to the landmark clinical trial, Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP), that the use of antihypertensive drug therapy is associated with longer life expectancy.

21 Dec 2011

Surgeon volume and in-hospital mortality for open AAA repair

Researchers from Southwestern Texas University's Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and the Veterans Medical Center, both in Dallas, have reported that composite surgeon (overall) volume rather than operation-specific (annual) surgeon volume is a key determinant of in-hospital mortality for elective open abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery.

21 Dec 2011

Study examines changes in RHR with risk of death from ischemic heart disease

In a study that enrolled nearly 30,000 apparently healthy men and women, those who had an increase in their resting heart rate over a 10-year period had an increased risk of death from all causes and from ischemic heart disease, according to a study in the December 21 issue of JAMA.

21 Dec 2011