Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

People with chronic periodontitis have higher risk for dementia

Gum disease that goes untreated can become periodontitis. When this happens, the infection that affected your gums causes loss in the bone that supports your teeth.

15 Mar 2019

EU-funded project is developing new tools for diagnosing cancer

Proteins are the basis of cellular and physiological functioning in living organisms. The physical and chemical properties of proteins determine how they act and work within cells.

15 Mar 2019

US opioid prescriptions drop by a half but it’s not all good news

The number of opioid prescriptions issued each month in the US dropped to less than a half. However, experts remain concerned about the number of high-risk prescriptions.

15 Mar 2019

BMA: Government cuts to stop smoking services have detrimental impact on public health

Responding to a new report from Action on Smoking and Health and Cancer Research UK, which found that cuts to public health budgets mean that only half of local authorities offer all smokers the support they need to quit, BMA public health medicine committee chair Dr Peter English, said: With smoking remaining one of the leading causes of preventable ill health, it is concerning that we are seeing such a significant reduction in funding for stop smoking services.

15 Mar 2019

Broker websites expand health plan shopping options while glossing over details

Some websites consumers use to buy their own health insurance don't provide full information on plan choices or Medicaid eligibility, and appear to encourage selection of less comprehensive coverage that provides higher commissions to brokers, according to a report released Friday by the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

15 Mar 2019

Nursing home fines drop as Trump administration heeds industry complaints

The Trump administration's decision to alter the way it punishes nursing homes has resulted in lower fines against many facilities found to have endangered or injured residents.

15 Mar 2019

Surgery to remove degenerated discs in the neck can be performed safely in outpatient setting

Surgery to remove multiple herniated or degenerated discs in the neck, a procedure known as anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, can be safely performed in an outpatient setting in select patients, according to a study at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

15 Mar 2019

No increased risk of complications for ambulatory total joint replacements

The typical length of stay in hospital after hip replacement and knee replacement procedures has decreased over the last decade from about four days to under two days.

15 Mar 2019

Experts release new action steps to provide best care for older adults with multiple chronic conditions

Caring for older adults with multiple chronic conditions can create challenging situations. For example, some treatments may be harmful to older adults who live with and manage several chronic conditions. In some cases, several treatments might be available but healthcare providers may not know which are best for a particular individual.

14 Mar 2019

Shorter treatment for Chagas disease found to be effective and safer than standard treatment

A two-week treatment course for adult patients with chronic Chagas disease showed, when compared to placebo, similar efficacy and significantly fewer side effects than the standard treatment duration of eight weeks, according to the results of a clinical trial in Bolivia led by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative.

14 Mar 2019

Study examines value of telehealth in primary care

In today's fast-paced digital society, virtual doctor visits are on the rise and offer patients a more convenient way to receive medical care from anywhere.

14 Mar 2019

Oral bacteria in pancreas associated with tumor severity

The presence of oral bacteria in so-called cystic pancreatic tumours is associated with the severity of the tumour, a study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden published in the journal Gut reports. It is hoped that the results can help to improve diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.

14 Mar 2019

Study shows ability of non-invasive imaging technique to identify small airway damage in COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an inflammatory disease of the small airways in the lungs, affects 16 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

14 Mar 2019

Antibody-drug conjugate effectively targets surface protein in childhood neuroblastomas

Physician-scientists in the Cancer Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have developed a preclinical, potent therapy attached to an antibody that targets a surface protein expressed in most childhood neuroblastomas, effectively killing cancer cells.

14 Mar 2019

Drug that prevents respiratory ailments in preemies reduces healthcare costs

A new study from researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons shows that a drug given to some pregnant women to prevent severe respiratory ailments in preterm newborns reduces healthcare costs.

14 Mar 2019

Interdisciplinary medication education improves patient outcomes, reduces hospital readmissions

Patients understanding their medications and taking them as instructed are important parts of improving the care and outcomes of heart attack patients, as well as potentially reducing avoidable readmissions, according to research presented at the ACC Quality Summit in New Orleans.

14 Mar 2019

Blunting emotional component associated with pain

Chronic pain involves more than just hurting. People suffering from pain often experience sadness, depression and lethargy. That's one reason opioids can be so addictive -- they not only dampen the pain but also make people feel euphoric.

13 Mar 2019

Stanford researchers detail how hits to the side of the head cause concussion

Concussion researchers have long suggested that damage to the corpus callosum, a thick bundle of nerves that connects the brain's two halves, could result in some common side effects of concussion, like dizziness or vision problems.

13 Mar 2019

Proteins linked with diabetic complications and heart disease in diabetic patients identified

Protein pathways that are closely linked to changes in both triglyceride and hemoglobin A1c levels in diabetic patients have been identified in new research by the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Salt Lake City.

13 Mar 2019

Access to real-time genotype data influences prescriber behavior after PCI

Today, in a late-breaking featured clinical research session at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions 2018, researchers from Penn Medicine present first-of-its-kind data on the impact of real-time CYP2C19 genotype results when prescribing antiplatelet drugs in the clinic.

13 Mar 2019