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New genotype may be responsible for sharp rise in whooping cough

Australia's prolonged whooping cough epidemic has entered a disturbing new phase, with a study showing a new strain or genotype may be responsible for the sharp rise in the number of cases.

22 Mar 2012

Scientists reveal first-ever glimpse of complete kappa opioid receptor structure

At the molecular level, drugs like salvinorin A (the active ingredient of the hallucinogenic plant Salvia divinorum) work by activating specific proteins, known as receptors, in the brain and body.

22 Mar 2012

WHO convenes lawmakers from Southeast Asia to discuss bolstering of health systems in region

This week the WHO brought together lawmakers from across Southeast Asia in Bangkok "to discuss how to bolster their health systems back home," IRIN reports. Meeting participants were "called on to advocate the boosting of health spending, workforces and access to health care in their home countries in addition to drafting 'healthy public policies,' such as conducting health assessments before large infrastructural projects are undertaken," the news service writes.

22 Mar 2012

Hospitalized older people may have increased risk of memory problems

A new study suggests that older people may have an increased risk of problems with memory and thinking abilities after being in the hospital, according to research published in the March 21, 2012, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

22 Mar 2012

Anxiety, depression and social support can predict early alcohol and illicit drug use in youth

Anxiety, depression, stress and social support can predict early alcohol and illicit drug use in youth, according to a study from Carolyn McCarty, PhD, of Seattle Children's Research Institute, and researchers from the University of Washington and Seattle University.

22 Mar 2012

Two Brandeis researchers receive Canada Gairdner Award

Two distinguished Brandeis researchers, whose long-standing collaboration led to pioneering discoveries about the workings of the biological clock and its role in circadian rhythms, today were awarded the prestigious Canada Gairdner Award, that nation's foremost international scientific honor.

22 Mar 2012

BHR Pharma enrolls first 400 patients for BHR-100 pivotal trial for TBI

As communities in the United States gather in support of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Awareness Day, BHR Pharma, LLC's SyNAPSe- clinical trial reaches an important enrollment milestone.

22 Mar 2012

UTHealth launches CenteringPregnancy program

CenteringPregnancy, a national model of group care for underserved pregnant women, is part of a new study by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

22 Mar 2012

Peripheral nerve stimulation may help manage neuropathic pain in injured soldiers

An peripheral nerve stimulation technique may be a valuable new approach for relief of severe neuropathic (nerve-related) pain in injured soldiers, reports an article in the March issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society.

22 Mar 2012

TGA clears Bioline's illumigene Group B Streptococcus test

Bioline, The PCR Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meridian Bioscience, Inc., today announced that it has received clearance from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for its illumigene Group B Streptococcus (GBS) test, the newest molecular product on the illumigene platform.

22 Mar 2012

Link between autism risk gene and changes in brain structure and connectivity

Healthy individuals who carry a gene variation linked to an increased risk of autism have structural differences in their brains that may help explain how the gene affects brain function and increases vulnerability for autism.

22 Mar 2012

Some praise Rep. Ryan's budget plan as a bold approach; Others worry about 'dangerous' cuts to Medicare, the poor

A look at the initial editorials and opinions on the budget proposal released Tuesday by the House Budget Committee chairman.

22 Mar 2012

Neurosurgeon saves two boys with a parallel brain operation

A neurosurgeon saved the lives of two boys by performing simultaneous brain surgery on them both after they were rushed to hospital with identical injuries.

21 Mar 2012

More colonoscopy procedures under anesthesia than expected: Study

According to researchers more patients underwent general anesthesia during gastroenterological procedures such as colonoscopy between 2003 and 2009.

21 Mar 2012

Nurses too pushed for basic elderly care: Report finds

A new report found that three out of four nurses say they have no time to talk to older hospital patients and many are so rushed they can’t help them to eat. A lack of qualified nurses is jeopardizing safe care for the elderly on wards which are still dominated by age discrimination, according to the Royal College of Nursing.

21 Mar 2012

Patients with tinnitus may soon have a definitive therapy

Clinical trials of the new therapy, called Acoustic Coordinated Reset (ACR), have shown that it reduces the loudness and annoyance caused by tinnitus in seven out of 10 patients.

21 Mar 2012

Aspirin may prevent cancer metastasis and halt its progress: Study

Aspirin has numerous benefits. It is already known that it may prevent cancer. Research shows it may also be an effective treatment for halting the disease once it has started. An analysis of five large trials of people who took a daily low dose aspirin showed that among those who developed cancer it reduced its spread to distant organs by 40 to 50 per cent.

21 Mar 2012

Simple and accurate test for peanut allergy

The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and University of Melbourne researchers discovered a two-pronged blood test will confirm peanut allergies instead of putting children through risky oral food challenge tests.

21 Mar 2012

Whooping cough outbreak despite vaccination

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21 Mar 2012

Study finds higher death rate in calorie-restricted models of IBD

In a surprising result, Michigan State University researchers looking at the effects of diet on bowel disease found that mice on a calorie-restricted diet were more likely to die after being infected with an inflammation-causing bacterial pathogen in the colon.

21 Mar 2012