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Researchers report new gene delivery method that targets tumor blood vessels

Working in mice, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report developing a gene delivery method long sought in the field of gene therapy: a deactivated virus carrying a gene of interest that can be injected into the bloodstream and make its way to the right cells.

24 Dec 2013

Acupuncture treatments may help alleviate side effects of breast cancer drugs

A new analysis has found that both real and sham acupuncture treatments may help alleviate side effects of drugs commonly used to treat breast cancer. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings may help clinicians improve care for cancer patients. The results also raise the question of whether sham acupuncture is truly inert or may, like real acupuncture, have beneficial effects.

24 Dec 2013

Most frequent reasons for readmission often related to patients' underlying chronic medical conditions

Researchers cite identification and monitoring of known underlying chronic medical conditions as opportunities to reduce readmission rates and improve patient safety.

24 Dec 2013

Hospital-diagnosed maternal bacterial infections during pregnancy increase risk of autism in children

Hospital-diagnosed maternal bacterial infections during pregnancy were associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders in children, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published Dec. 23 in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

24 Dec 2013

Insurers unnerved by rule changes for consumers with canceled policies

The Obama administration's announcement last week that consumers whose policies had been canceled could buy catastrophic health plans and were also exempt from the law's mandate in the first year spurred handwringing in some quarters.

24 Dec 2013

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition beneficial to cardiac regeneration

Cell-based therapies have been shown to enhance cardiac regeneration, but autologous (patient self-donated) cells have produced only "modest results." In an effort to improve myocardial regeneration through cell transplantation, a research team from Germany has taken epithelial cells from placenta (amniotic epithelial cells, or AECs) and converted them into mesenchymal cells. After transplanting the transitioned cells into mice modelling a myocardial infarction, the researchers found that the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition was beneficial to cardiac regeneration by lowering infarct size.

24 Dec 2013

New CANHEART health index measures behaviours, health factors for optimal heart health

Fewer than 1 in 10 adult Canadians is in ideal cardiovascular health, according to the new CANHEART health index developed to measure heart health published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

24 Dec 2013

Meridian Health and Tilton Fitness now join with network of five fitness centers

Meridian Health, the largest provider of hospital and health care services in Monmouth and Ocean counties, has announced an expansion of its partnership with Tilton Fitness Management, a regional leader in health club operations.

24 Dec 2013

Research findings reveal how immune system responds to respiratory viral infections

An antibody that blocks a component of a key signaling pathway in the respiratory airways could help the immune system rid the body of the influenza virus, a new study suggests. The findings, from a team at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, not only offer a new approach to treating the flu, but also add new information about how the immune system responds to respiratory viral infections.

24 Dec 2013

Variation in oxytocin receptor gene influences face recognition skills, study finds

New findings suggest the oxytocin receptor, a gene known to influence mother-infant bonding and pair bonding in monogamous species, also plays a special role in the ability to remember faces. This research has important implications for disorders in which social information processing is disrupted, including autism spectrum disorder. In addition, the finding may lead to new strategies for improving social cognition in several psychiatric disorders.

24 Dec 2013

Research review examines effectiveness of treatments for chronic skin wounds

A systematic review of 66 research papers focused on the treatment of skin ulcers suggests that most are so technically flawed that their results are unreliable. And even of those that pass muster, there is only weak evidence that some treatments work better than standard compression therapy or special stockings.

24 Dec 2013

As consumers enroll in marketplace plans, questions remain for many

Questions remain about insurance pricing, the cost of reform to taxpayers, and who is and isn't covered by the employer mandate.

24 Dec 2013

Eating more peanuts during pregnancy associated with lower risk of peanut allergy in offspring

Women need not fear that eating peanuts during pregnancy could cause their child to develop a peanut allergy, according to a new study from Boston Children's Hospital published online Dec. 23 in JAMA Pediatrics.

24 Dec 2013

Research: Beatboxing may be gentler on injury-prone vocal cords

You might think that beatboxing, with its harsh, high-energy percussive sounds, would be harder on the voice than the sweet song of a soprano. But according to new research by voice expert Dr. H. Steven Sims of the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, beatboxing may actually be gentler on the injury-prone vocal cords. His findings were published Dec. 23 online in the Journal of Voice.

24 Dec 2013

Inosine drug raises blood and cerebrospinal fluid urate levels in Parkinson disease patients

The drug inosine appears to be a safe and effective way to raise blood and cerebrospinal fluid urate levels in patients with early Parkinson disease, suggesting it may be a potential strategy to slow the disability progression of the degenerative neurological disorder, according to a report published by JAMA Neurology, a JAMA Network publication.

23 Dec 2013

Keeping firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill

The New York Times reports on the challenge of keeping firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill, while The Wall Street Journal explores the difficulty finding treatment for many people because of a lack of providers in many places.

23 Dec 2013

Researchers examine link between pregnant mothers eating peanuts, tree nuts and risk of allergies in kids

Children appear to be less at risk for developing peanut or tree nut (P/TN) allergies if their mothers are not allergic and ate more nuts during pregnancy, according to a study published by JAMA Pediatrics, a JAMA Network publication.

23 Dec 2013

Humans with high motor excitability have better working memory

Humans with a high motor excitability have a better working memory than humans with a low excitability. This was shown in a study conducted by scientists from the Transfacultary Research Platform at the University of Basel. By measuring the motor excitability, conclusions can be drawn as to the general cortical excitability - as well as to cognitive performance.

23 Dec 2013

Hazards of dietary supplements, new birth control device explored

Dietary supplements account for nearly 20 percent of drug-related liver injuries reported by hospitals, according to The New York Times, while a surge in adverse event reports about Essure, a device hailed as next generation birth control, is explored by the Chicago Tribune. NPR looks at the increase in newborn screening tests.

23 Dec 2013

Genetic screening identifies genes driving resistance with guide RNA library

Researchers have developed a method to create a comprehensive library of mutations across all genes in the mouse genome. This library can be used to examine the role of every gene in different cell types.

23 Dec 2013

Medical News

Researchers report new gene delivery method that targets tumor blood vessels

Acupuncture treatments may help alleviate side effects of breast cancer drugs

Most frequent reasons for readmission often related to patients' underlying chronic medical conditions

Hospital-diagnosed maternal bacterial infections during pregnancy increase risk of autism in children

Insurers unnerved by rule changes for consumers with canceled policies

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition beneficial to cardiac regeneration

New CANHEART health index measures behaviours, health factors for optimal heart health

Meridian Health and Tilton Fitness now join with network of five fitness centers

Research findings reveal how immune system responds to respiratory viral infections

Variation in oxytocin receptor gene influences face recognition skills, study finds

Research review examines effectiveness of treatments for chronic skin wounds

As consumers enroll in marketplace plans, questions remain for many

Eating more peanuts during pregnancy associated with lower risk of peanut allergy in offspring

Research: Beatboxing may be gentler on injury-prone vocal cords

Inosine drug raises blood and cerebrospinal fluid urate levels in Parkinson disease patients

Keeping firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill

Researchers examine link between pregnant mothers eating peanuts, tree nuts and risk of allergies in kids

Humans with high motor excitability have better working memory

Hazards of dietary supplements, new birth control device explored

Genetic screening identifies genes driving resistance with guide RNA library

Directed enzyme evolution and the Nobel Prize: Making enzymes evolve in the lab

Advancing Motor Neuron Disease Diagnosis with Non-Invasive Ultrasound and AI

How agentic AI is reshaping laboratory workflows

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