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Disclosure of PEPFAR data would improve program's efficiency, quality, accountability

The U.S. government, and in particular U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby, the head of PEPFAR, "have a unique opportunity to make [the program's] money stretch farther and do more good, at very little cost to U.S. taxpayers: release the reams of data that PEPFAR and its contractors have already collected, at substantial cost -- perhaps as much as $500 million each year," Mead Over, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development (CGD), writes in the Center's "Global Health Policy" blog.

15 Nov 2012

New gene delivery vehicle opens route to the heart of cells in solid tumors

There are plenty of effective anticancer agents around. The problem is that, very often, they cannot gain access to all the cells in solid tumors. A new gene delivery vehicle may provide a way of making tracks to the heart of the target.

15 Nov 2012

Oscillation in brain activity influences listening process

Naturally, our brain activity waxes and wanes. When listening, this oscillation synchronizes to the sounds we are hearing. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences have found that this influences the way we listen. Hearing abilities also oscillate and depend on the exact timing of one's brain rhythms. This discovery that sound, brain, and behaviour are so intimately coupled will help us to learn more about listening abilities in hearing loss.

15 Nov 2012

As health law's fate becomes more clear, insurers, medical device makers try to stem new taxes

Insurers and medical device makers are planning ad campaigns and intense lobbying to try to stop taxes in the health law from cutting at their bottom lines.

15 Nov 2012

Antibody-coated stents carry increased risk of myocardial infarction and re-operation

If narrowed or blocked coronary vessels have to be widened or opened, a vascular support (stent) is usually inserted. Drug-coated stents are preferred for patients at high risk of renewed narrowing of vessels (restenosis). However, the use of antibody-coated stents has been increasing in recent years. Current studies provide indications that these new antibody-coated stents more frequently lead to myocardial infarction and make re-operation necessary.

15 Nov 2012

Ebola, Marburg and Lassa viruses must be designated as emerging diagnoses

The Ebola, Marburg and Lassa viruses are commonly referred to as emerging diseases, but leading scientists say these life-threatening viruses have been around for centuries.

15 Nov 2012

Alliance of Medicare providers urge link between payment changes, quality

The Premier healthcare alliance is urging that, if scheduled 2 percent cuts take effect, they not apply to hospitals that have already reduced costs.

15 Nov 2012

Scientists eliminate metastasis in laboratory experiments

In laboratory experiments, scientists have eliminated metastasis, the spread of cancer from the original tumor to other parts of the body, in melanoma by inhibiting a protein known as melanoma differentiation associated gene-9 (mda-9)/syntenin. More than 1 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S., and melanoma is the deadliest form.

15 Nov 2012

Adrenoreceptor shows potential in overactive bladder treatment

Mirabegron, a β3-adrenoreceptor agonist, has shown 12-month safety, tolerability, and persistence of effect in patients with overactive bladders, show study findings.

14 Nov 2012

Metalloacid surfaces may be answer to hospital-acquired infections

Coating surfaces in metalloacids may help control the spread of hospital-acquired infections, suggest study findings.

14 Nov 2012

Surgeon volume influences patient outcomes following rectal resection

The volume of operations a surgeon performs affects both short- and long-term patient outcomes following resection for rectal carcinoma, show data from a German hospital.

14 Nov 2012

Polio vaccination refusal in Nigeria continues to thwart eradication efforts

The number of reported cases of wild poliovirus infection in northern Nigeria has risen significantly in the last few years, which researchers say is largely due to vaccine refusals and problems with healthcare infrastructure in the country.

14 Nov 2012

Dysphagia is an easier pill to swallow with video technology

Video-assisted swallowing therapy significantly improves swallowing-associated outcomes in cognitively intact Parkinson’s disease patients, research suggests.

14 Nov 2012

Biliary sludge common in dogs

Biliary sludge occurs in around a third of dogs, most often in senior animals, and with no difference in frequency between males and females, shows analysis of ultrasonography data for more than 1000 animals.

14 Nov 2012

Fasting before lipid testing may no longer be necessary

It may no longer be necessary for patients to fast before having their lipid levels tested, show study findings.

14 Nov 2012

Mini-stent shows promising glaucoma control

The implantation of a microstent into the eyes of patients with open-angle glaucoma could remove their need to use eye drops to reduce intraocular pressure, show the 1-year results of a clinical trial.

14 Nov 2012

Minor symptoms a big deal in nasal polyposis

Asthma does not have any significant influence on quality of life among patients with nasal polyposis, but it may increase the intensity of individual minor symptoms such as headache, or fullness in the ears, report researchers.

14 Nov 2012

Anesthetic choice may not be critical in noncardiac surgery

The choice of general anesthetic does not appear to influence the risk for myocardial infarction in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, report researchers.

14 Nov 2012

Aggression a trait in bipolar II disorder

Results from a Taiwanese study suggest that aggression may be a trait marker for bipolar II disorder.

14 Nov 2012

MADIT-RIT: ICD reprogramming leads to fewer inappropriate shocks, deaths

High-rate or delayed implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy is associated with reductions in inappropriate therapy and all-cause mortality, researchers say.

14 Nov 2012