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Caution over monoclonal antibody treatment for MS

Alemtuzumab, an anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody, provides a more effective treatment for individuals with relapsing‑remitting multiple sclerosis than the immunomodulating drug interferon beta 1a, but has significant side effects, show findings from a phase III trial.

12 Nov 2012

TRILOGY-ACS platelet function substudy results revealed

The platelet function substudy of the TRILOGY-ACS trial shows that there is no significant difference between prasugrel and clopidogrel in cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, or stroke outcomes.

12 Nov 2012

Gout diagnosis possible for rheumatoid arthritis patients

Rheumatoid arthritis patients can develop gout, say researchers who believe changes in treatment and obesity may explain why the comorbidity is now occurring.

12 Nov 2012

Postural control the best predictor of stroke rehabilitation outcome

Having good postural control at admission to a skilled nursing facility after a stroke significantly increases elderly patients' chances of achieving a successful discharge to independent living and having good functional status at discharge, study results show.

12 Nov 2012

Calcium-related hormone could help identify pneumonia

Serum procalcitonin measurements could improve the accuracy of pneumonia diagnoses when chest radiographs give indeterminate results, indicate US study findings.

12 Nov 2012

Tolvaptan improves kidney health in polycystic kidney disease

A vasopressin V2-receptor blocker slows the increase in total kidney volume and decline in kidney function in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, report US researchers.

12 Nov 2012

Taste receptor governs respiratory infection susceptibility

The bitter taste receptor TAS2R38 may play a role in innate defense, say researchers, who have found that variations in the TAS2R38 gene may regulate susceptibility to respiratory infection.

12 Nov 2012

Weight-based ribavirin undertreats African–American HCV patients

African–Americans with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infections have lower ribavirin plasma exposures than Caucasian Americans when treated with weight-based ribavirin plus peginterferon.

12 Nov 2012

Ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration complication rate ‘reassuring’

Multisite findings support the use of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration for mediastinal lymph node sampling.

12 Nov 2012

Mastoscopic axillary lymph node dissection ‘preferred choice’

Long-term study findings support the use of mastoscopic axillary lymph node dissection for women with operable breast cancer.

12 Nov 2012

White kidney cancer patients have a survival advantage over blacks

Among patients with the most common form of kidney cancer, whites consistently have a survival advantage over blacks, regardless of patient and tumor characteristics or surgical treatment.

12 Nov 2012

Radiotherapy protocol deviations: an interview with Dr Nitin Ohri

Radiotherapy is a key component of cancer therapy. A majority of cancer patients get radiotherapy in some form at some point in their disease course. It can be used in a curative setting or in a palliative setting.

12 Nov 2012

Bleed size key to prognosis after childhood hemorrhagic stroke

Hemorrhage volume is an important predictor of long-term outcomes in children who survive hemorrhagic stroke, a study shows.

9 Nov 2012

Multivitamin disappoints in first long-term CV trial

Taking a daily multivitamin does not reduce the risk for major cardiovascular events or mortality in men, research suggests.

9 Nov 2012

Overcleanliness in childhood may increase risk for peanut allergy

An increased incidence of peanut allergy in children from more wealthy families supports the “hygiene hypothesis” that overcleanliness may promote the onset of childhood allergies, say US researchers.

9 Nov 2012

Whole genome sequencing could become prenatal standard of care

Whole genome sequencing of the DNA code of prenatal samples accurately and quickly identifies the location of chromosomal abnormalities, and could become a prenatal standard of care, researchers propose.

9 Nov 2012

OSA treatment reduces office blood pressure

Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea can reduce blood pressure in men with hypertension, a clinical practice study has shown.

9 Nov 2012

Close contact at school led to mumps outbreak in Orthodox Jewish communities

A 2009 outbreak of mumps in the USA that primarily affected Orthodox Jewish teenage boys may have been perpetuated by close schooling conditions, say the authors of a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

9 Nov 2012

Thrombin sponge speeds cervical spine surgery discharge

Application of a thrombin-soaked sponge after posterior cervical spine surgery allows patients to leave hospital earlier than normally expected, suggests research.

9 Nov 2012

Automated eye tests best for toddlers

Children under the age of 4 years benefit from instrument-based vision screening rather than visual acuity tests since the former is quick, requires minimal cooperation of the child, and is not dependent on their behavioral responses, says a policy statement released by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

9 Nov 2012