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Delay in hypothermia, ROSC linked with poor post cardiac arrest neurologic outcomes

Delay in initiation of therapeutic hypothermia and delay in return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), evidenced by a palpable pulse or a measurable blood pressure, were both associated with poor neurologic outcomes in post cardiac arrest patients, according to a study being presented Nov. 14 at the at the American Heart Association (AHA) scientific sessions in Orlando, Fla.

15 Nov 2011

Head hits appear to cause brain injury among high school players

The brain scans of high school football and hockey players showed subtle injury -- even if they did not suffer a concussion - after taking routine hits to the head during the normal course of play, according to a University of Rochester Medical Center study.

15 Nov 2011

Eliminating drug co-pays improves medication adherence in heart attack patients

The use of specific medications following a heart attack has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events and mortality, however; while highly effective, the rate of adherence to these medications is poor. Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) evaluated whether eliminating co-payments for these medications would increase adherence and improve outcomes in patients who have had a heart attack.

15 Nov 2011

Clear link between erectile dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy

Spanish researchers have uncovered clear links between erectile dysfunction (ED) and peripheral neuropathy, according to a paper in the December issue of the urology journal BJUI.

15 Nov 2011

Supreme Court could announce today its plans for the health law

After a year and a half of legal skirmishing, President Obama's embattled health care law has arrived at the Supreme Court riding a surprising winning streak and carrying a constitutional stamp of approval from prominent conservative judges. … The Supreme Court is expected to announce as soon as Monday that it will hear the Florida case, the largest and broadest challenge to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

15 Nov 2011

Encouraging results from KAEL-GemVax GV1001 Phase II trial on NSCLC

KAEL-GemVax, a leading oncology biopharmaceutical company, today announced that results from a Phase II trial (CTN-2006) in Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients vaccinated with the telomerase peptide GV1001 after chemoradiotherapy and an 8-year update from a phase I/II trial have been published in the November issue of Clinical Cancer, the journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

15 Nov 2011

Obama adminisration unveils plan to expand health care work force

The initiative, which is part of the White House's "We Can't Wait" agenda, will release funds to hire and train health workers as part of its effort to give the U.S. economy a boost.

15 Nov 2011

Whole-body-vibration does not effectively boost bone density

Whole-body-vibration, a popular exercise which uses a vibrating platform, is sometimes advertised as being able to boost bone density. However, a one-year-study on healthy postmenopausal women has shown that it has no such effect.

15 Nov 2011

Survey of health opinion leaders finds 'unflagging' health overhaul support

In this survey, conducted by the Commonwealth Fund and Modern Healthcare, 89 percent of respondents supported moving forward with the measure's implementation. In related news, the National Committee for Quality Assurance plans this month to begin accrediting accountable care organizations. Meanwhile, in local coverage, North Carolina's health exchange grant remains unspent and a rural California county has its own health reform calculus.

15 Nov 2011

HIV and syphilis on the rise among MSM

Rates of HIV and syphilis are very high and rising among men who have sex with men (MSM) in New York City, reports a study in the November issue of JAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

15 Nov 2011

Fact-checking Romney's debate performance

CNN examines comments made by GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney regarding the possible dollar savings that could result by repealing the health law, while the AP revisits his positions regarding the Massachusetts health law he signed while that state's governor. Also in the news, more on Rick Perry's Texas and where the candidates state on health research.

15 Nov 2011

CAS after prior revascularization safe, effective for carotid artery stenosis patients

A new study shows that carotid artery stenting (CAS) following prior same-side carotid artery revascularization is safe, effective and results in lower incidences of in-hospital death, stroke and heart attack compared to first-time CAS for carotid artery stenosis.

15 Nov 2011

GE Capitol healthcare flexes muscle, reaps benefits

The full breadth of health care reform has yet to be felt, but GE Capital Healthcare Financial Services is reaping the benefits. The Bethesda-based specialty finance firm is witnessing an upturn in business that has it on track to surpass its 2010 lending activity by roughly 15 percent. … Through the first nine months of the year, the company, which provides financing to some 40 sectors of the health care industry, deployed more than $5 billion in loans.

15 Nov 2011

World citizen number 7 billion more likely to contract diabetes or other NCDs

World citizen number 7 billion is less likely to die from infectious diseases like measles or even AIDS, and more likely to contract diabetes or other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), as they are now the leading causes of deaths globally.

15 Nov 2011

Study identifies five areas of global health on which Canada can focus

A "year-long assessment done by the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences concluded there is a strong rationale for Canada to play a more strategic role in global health, while recognizing the scale of humanitarian needs," and to "focus on five areas where its research is strongest, including indigenous health," the Globe and Mail reports.

15 Nov 2011

Study compares safety of procedures at hospitals with and without cardiac surgery backup

Hospitals that do not have cardiac surgery capability can perform nonemergency angioplasty and stent implantation as safely as hospitals that do offer cardiac surgery. That is the finding of the nation's first large, randomized study to assess whether patients do just as well having nonemergency angioplasty performed at smaller, community hospitals that do not offer cardiac surgery.

15 Nov 2011

VOA News examines Foundation's efforts to treat MDR-TB patients in North Korea

VOA News examines the Eugene Bell Foundation's work in North Korea to detect and treat patients with multiple-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The foundation is treating about 600 patients in North Korea, where "conditions ... are ideal for the spread of TB. The climate is cold. Most citizens live and work in small spaces, and lack proper nutrition to maintain a strong immune system," VOA writes.

15 Nov 2011

Positive data from MDxHealth's prostate cancer test study

MDxHealth SA, a leading molecular diagnostics company in the field of personalized cancer treatment, today announced data showing that a prototype of its Prostate ConfirmMDx test can help urologists distinguish patients who have a true negative biopsy from those who may have occult cancer undetected by prostate biopsy and histopathological review.

15 Nov 2011

NPR: VA is creating medical data 'gold mine'

"Not only do we have all their clinical records - laboratory, vital signs, pharmacy database - we have annual assessments that we will do that we can track people, assessments of depression, PTSD, suicide screening, alcohol and substances, traumatic brain injury," says Dr. Jennifer Hoblyn, who specializes in mental illness at the VA of Palo Alto. The VA will remove the names, so the data are anonymous.

15 Nov 2011

Mtb produces specific protein that allows it to defuse and bypass body's security system

Tuberculosis, which kills over 2 million people each year, is caused primarily by infectious bacteria known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis - or Mtb. Mtb targets human immune cells as part of its strategy to avoid detection, effectively neutralizing the body's immune response.

15 Nov 2011