Latest science news in Health & Medicine
Rate, rhythm control equally effective in post-operative atrial fibrillation
In the first large randomized trial to directly compare two approaches to preventing a type of abnormal heart rhythm that is the most common complication of heart surgery, the two...
'Key' to recognizing, immunizing herpes/common cold
Prior to this study, it was known that interferon regulatory factor-3 (IRF-3), a protein coding gene, contributed to a first line of defense against viral infection by triggering antiviral activity....
Potential new source for pain inhibition found
A new neurological mechanism has been found that appears to contribute to a reduction in pain. According to the researchers, the discovery of neuroligin-2 as a cause exacerbating chronic pain...
Surgery residency program directors believe flexible duty hours improve continuity of care
Directors of general surgery residency programs believe that flexible work hour schedules for surgeons in training (residents) improve the continuity of patient care as well as resident training without compromising...
Team uses 'Deep Learning' to assist overburdened diagnosticians
Some 2 billion X-rays are performed around the world every year. But the average radiology clinic is understaffed. Radiologists are burdened with a growing workload, allowing little time to comprehensively...
No improvement in clinical outcomes with ischemic postconditioning
A large randomized controlled trial of ischemic postconditioning in patients who had experienced the deadliest form of heart attack -- ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) -- failed to show that...
Navy exercises contract option for another LCS
Richard TomkinsWASHINGTON, April 4 (UPI) -- A Lockheed Martin-led team has been contracted by the U.S. Navy to build the 13th Freedom-class littoral combat ship.
Salmonella-based oral vaccine a promising therapy for preventing type 1 diabetes
A combined vaccine therapy including live Salmonella is a safe and effective way to prevent diabetes in mice and may point to future human therapies, a new study finds.
Early childhood antibiotics may change gut microbes and lead to adolescent prediabetes
Young children who take antibiotics may disrupt their gut’s microbial ecosystem and be more likely to develop prediabetes in adolescence, new research reports.
Aromatase inhibitors plus growth hormone may help short adolescent boys grow taller
Aromatase inhibitors, when used for up to three years in combination with growth hormone, may effectively and safely help very short adolescent boys grow taller, new research suggests.
In some men, taking testosterone while dieting may help lose fat, not muscle
In obese middle-aged men, losing weight while dieting normally depletes both fat and muscle. But adding testosterone treatment may help them lose only fat and retain their muscle, new research...
New procedure could improve success rate of cell transplant to cure type 1 diabetes
New research suggests pretreating cells with a peptide hormone may improve the success rate of pancreatic islet cell transplants, a procedure that holds great promise for curing Type 1 diabetes.
Common flame retardant chemical disrupts a hormone that is essential to life
Brominated fire retardants, used in many consumer products and known to cause hormonal irregularities, overstimulates an adrenal gland hormone in a way that may lead to the development of cardiovascular...
Anabolic steroid abuse is associated with increased systolic hypertension risk
Anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse is associated with severe blood pressure (BP) increase and hypertension, new research reports.
Pituitary insufficiency is prevalent after blast concussion in military veterans
A study in military veterans finds that explosive blast-related concussions frequently result in hormone changes leading to problems such as sleep disturbances, fatigue, depression and poor quality of life. The...
Researchers report successful cardiac transplant outcomes in adult patients with congenital heart disease
While there is little data to inform best practices for treating patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD), a team of researchers have found that heart transplants can be performed...
Nova Scotia home care wait list up 50% over past 2 years
The number of Nova Scotians waiting for home care has risen more than 50 per cent over the past two years, while the wait list in the Western health care...
Prolonged seizures require immediate interventions to prevent permanent damage
A new article provides much-needed guidance for critical care nurses and other clinicians whose patients experience continuous or recurrent seizures.
SSRI antidepressants promote bone loss during lactation
Antidepressant use with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy and breast-feeding causes decreased bone density in mothers that may put them at higher risk of broken bones later in...
Two-year data suggest added health risks of combining mitral-valve repair to bypass surgery with little benefit
Just released two-year follow up data comparing coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) with combined CABG and mitral-value repair in patients with moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) found no significant differences in...
New, cost-effective therapy on the horizon: Magnesium treatment for genetic coagulation disorder
An international team of scientists was able to demonstrate in mouse and patient studies, how magnesium affects the production of blood platelets and that the TRPM7 channel function plays a...
Boosting production of radioisotopes for diagnostics and therapeutics
From imaging blood flow to the heart and other vital organs, to tracking the progression of bone disease, to destroying cancer cells, radioisotopes—radioactive forms of chemical elements—are used in the...
Artisanal cheeses are a link to the history and culture of their place of origin
Artisanal cheesemaking is an important industry in Mexico, but many varieties of artisanal Mexican cheeses are in danger of disappearing because they have not been adequately documented. A team of...
Does Giving Blood Harm Your Immune System?
Health Short answer: No. Many donors believe that giving blood makes them healthier—a sentiment that might be a...
The wrong approach to research impact
Development agencies’ growing focus on impact misses opportunities to truly benefit users and learn what works.
Dentist banned for life after patient death is working again in health care
A former dentist who lost his licence after a patient stopped breathing in the dental chair and couldn't be revived is working again in the health-care field despite attempts to...
Cyber thieves target cities and hospitals with ransomware
In February, a Los Angeles hospital paid hackers about $17,000 worth of bitcoins after a data breach
'Simple' treatments to prevent heart attacks and strokes: McMaster study
Clinical studies of patients given preventative blood-pressure medications and cholesterol-lowering drugs could simplify treatments, researchers from McMaster and Hamilton Health Sciences say.