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eGFR ‘powerful’ operative risk gauge

Patients’ estimated glomerular filtration rate is highly predictive of their risk for dying after surgery, shows a systematic review and meta-analysis.

8 Feb 2013

HIV prevention: don’t just target serodiscordant couples

A large proportion of heterosexual HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa occurs among stable couples who have sexual partners outside of their relationship, shows research published in The Lancet.

8 Feb 2013

Higher arm reading ‘overestimates true BP’

Using the higher of left and right arm single blood pressure readings taken sequentially leads to an overestimation of patients’ “true” level as determined by ambulatory monitoring, UK researchers warn.

8 Feb 2013

Oral eosinophilic ulcers ‘a self-limiting, reactive condition’

A review of patients with oral eosinophilic ulcers suggests that the lesions should be considered a reactive, local condition rather than a CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorder.

8 Feb 2013

Tai Chi associated with reduced falls among adult stroke survivors

Tai Chi may reduce falls among adult stroke survivors, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2013.

7 Feb 2013

Study: Hospice use on the rise, but after late-stage aggressive care

A study released Tuesday found that, although the number of elderly people who died in a hospice setting is increasing, it usually came late in the process and after highly aggressive care near the end of life.

7 Feb 2013

New analysis casts doubt on American Heart Association omega-6 PUFA advice

Dietary advice about fats and the risk of heart disease is called into question on bmj.com as a study shows that replacing saturated animal fats with polyunsaturated vegetable fats is linked to an increased risk of death among patients with heart disease.

7 Feb 2013

Occupational exposure to magnetic fields may moderately increase risk of Alzheimer's, ALS

Occupational exposure to magnetic fields (MF) may be associated with "moderately increased risk" of certain neurodegenerative diseases—including Alzheimer's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, reports the February Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

7 Feb 2013

Basis of antidepressant drugs and electroconvulsive therapy found

Through a series of investigations in mice and humans, Johns Hopkins researchers have identified a protein that appears to be the target of both antidepressant drugs and electroconvulsive therapy. Results of their experiments explain how these therapies likely work to relieve depression by stimulating stem cells in the brain to grow and mature.

7 Feb 2013

Liver gene found to regulate cholesterol and fat blood levels

Researchers have identified a microRNA liver gene, miR-27b, which regulates lipid (cholesterol or fat) levels in the blood. This regulator gene controls multiple genes involved in dyslipidemia—abnormal blood cholesterol levels that can contribute to heart disease.

7 Feb 2013

Four-step process delivers specific, reliable clinical rules

Dutch researchers have developed a four-step strategy for formulating clinical decision support systems, which they say could help reduce “alert fatigue.”

7 Feb 2013

Anxiety may contribute to cognitive dysfunction in bipolar disorder

Compromised cognitive and adaptive functioning in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder may be partly explained by related comorbid anxiety, suggest researchers.

7 Feb 2013

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy risk highlighted in children

US researchers call for clinical guidelines for detection of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in children after finding that a significant proportion of young patients are affected.

7 Feb 2013

Antibiotics help severely malnourished children recover

Giving severely malnourished children antibiotics in addition to nutritional therapy significantly improves their chances of making a full recovery compared with nutritional therapy alone, say researchers.

7 Feb 2013

Eletrocardiographic mapping nearing clinical utility

Electocardiographic mapping may offer a noninvasive and accurate alternative to a standard electrophysiologic study, say researchers.

7 Feb 2013

Combination RT offers hope to late-stage esophageal cancer patients

Just over half of patients with advanced-stage esophageal cancer who are unsuitable for standard curative treatment survive for a year after receiving a combination of external beam radiotherapy and high-dose rate brachytherapy, report researchers.

7 Feb 2013

Telephone physiotherapy reduces treatment delays

Providing an initial physiotherapy assessment by telephone for patients with neuromusculoskeletal problems may help reduce waiting times, say UK researchers.

7 Feb 2013

Chlorhexidine bathing protects vulnerable hospital patients

Bathing hospital patients with chlorhexidine-impregnated washcloths reduces the risk for them acquiring multidrug-resistant organisms and developing bloodsteam infections, show study findings.

7 Feb 2013

Glimmer of hope for imatinib-resistant GIST

The monoclonal antibody SR1 can significantly inhibit gastrointestinal stromal tumor cell growth, report researchers in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

7 Feb 2013

First new TB vaccine in century fails initial testing

The first of a series of new vaccines that have been developed to combat tuberculosis failed to show efficacy compared with placebo in South African infants, show results from a phase II trial.

7 Feb 2013