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Heart patches that stimulate regeneration

When human hearts are injured, as during a heart attack, healthy tissue normally can't regrow.

18 Jul 2007

Sedative drugs help Huntington's disease sufferers

Mice carrying the genetic mutation that causes Huntington's Disease (HD) showed marked improvements in alertness and their ability to learn after they were given drugs that put them to sleep.

18 Jul 2007

Continuous support for women during childbirth

When it comes to giving birth, some traditional approaches could result in happier and healthier moms and newborns, according to two research reviews.

18 Jul 2007

Robotic telerounding may get patients home faster

A study conducted at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore found that robotic telerounding may significantly reduce the length of stay of patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery if used to supplement standard postoperative visits, or “rounds,” made by surgeons.

18 Jul 2007

Short course of corticosteroids after asthma attack beneficial

Giving patients a short course of corticosteroids after they have been discharged from hospital for an asthma attack reduces the chances of a relapse, a Cochrane Systematic Review has found. Giving the steroids also reduces their use of inhalers.

18 Jul 2007

Education interventions for adults who attend the emergency room for acute asthma

A new review of studies suggests that people with asthma who receive disease education during, or soon after, a serious emergency-room visit are less likely to be re-admitted to the hospital than patients who receive no instruction.

18 Jul 2007

Eating disorders patients are likely to abuse Alli

Eating disorders patients are likely to abuse Alli, the first over-the-counter diet drug approved by the FDA, predicts a Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute psychologist who specializes in treating these patients.

18 Jul 2007

Coping with empty-nest syndrome

Your high school graduate is off to college to embark on a newly independent life.

18 Jul 2007

Poor information on diet, but exercise seems good for adult type 2 diabetes

There are no high quality data to assess how well dietary treatments for type 2 diabetes work in people who have just been told they have the disease, but there is evidence that taking on exercise seems to be one way of improving blood sugar levels, according to the findings of a Cochrane Systematic Review.

18 Jul 2007

Paracetamol for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth

The commonly used and inexpensive analgesic acetaminophen (Tylenol or paracetamol) is an effective pain reliever after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth, according to a new systematic review of 21 studies.

18 Jul 2007

Correcting birth defects

Traditionally when a baby was born with a malformation of the lung or esophagus, they had to undergo open surgery involving a large chest incision with risk for serious complications.

18 Jul 2007

Organ donation should be a presumption says UK's top medical officer

Britain's chief medical officer says anyone who dies should be presumed to have agreed to donate their organs unless they have specifically said otherwise.

17 Jul 2007

Vitamin C to ward off colds - don't bother!

A survey by Australian and Finnish scientists of 30 different scientific studies from around the world over the last twenty years, has reached the conclusion that taking daily doses of vitamin C to ward off colds is a waste of time.

17 Jul 2007

Special patch improves heart function after heart attacks

Researchers in the U.S. have developed a special patch which regenerates cardiac cells after a heart attack; when the patch is placed on the damaged area of the heart it improves heart function.

17 Jul 2007

Healthy diet does not prevent recurrence of breast cancer

According to new research following a low-fat diet high in vegetables, fruit and fiber does not prevent breast cancer from returning or prolong the survival of patients.

17 Jul 2007

Simple less cumbersome device may be a better solution for sleep apnea

Sufferers from sleep apnea may soon have the option of a simpler treatment for their problems.

17 Jul 2007

Breast cancer drug works better on a full stomach

Experts in the United States say that eating the right food with certain medications could improve the effectiveness of drugs and also reduce the cost of treating patients.

17 Jul 2007

Globe-trotting TB patient has lung surgery

The globe-trotting TB patient who apparently flew to Europe against the advice of the Center for Disease and Control (CDC) has had part of his lung removed.

17 Jul 2007

New technique restores the smile to faces of those with facial paralysis

Surgeons in the United States have used a new procedure to partially restore the muscle movement in the faces of patients with severe long-term facial paralysis.

17 Jul 2007

Obesity and asthma often go together

Scientists in Britain say they have discovered a link between obesity and asthma and they believe the connection may explain why overweight people are up to twice as likely to develop the respiratory condition.

17 Jul 2007