http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. (AP)—Former Navy Secretary Richard J. Danzig, who has served as a bio-warfare adviser to the president, the Pentagon, and the Department of Homeland Security, urged the government to stockpile an anti-anthrax drug while serving as a director for the company that supplied it, according to a report published Sunday. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-board-firm-sold-anthrax-drug.html Medications Mon, 20 May 2013 04:56:44 EST news288244596 (AP)—Sunbathers this summer will find new sunscreen labels that are designed to make the products more effective and easier to use. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-consumer-group-flags-high-spf.html Health Mon, 20 May 2013 04:53:39 EST news288244351 Emergency physicians are key decisionmakers for nearly half of all hospital admissions, highlighting a critical role they can play in reducing health care costs, according to a new report from the RAND Corporation. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-er-docs-key-health.html Health Mon, 20 May 2013 03:20:01 EST news288237272 A new measure of the heterogeneity – the variety of genetic mutations – of cells within a tumor appears to predict treatment outcomes of patients with the most common type of head and neck cancer. In the May 20 issue of the journal Cancer, investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary describe how their measure was a better predictor of survival than most traditional risk factors in a small group of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-genetic-diversity-tumors-outcome-neck.html Cancer Mon, 20 May 2013 03:10:04 EST news288237167 Optimal treatment of sleep apnea in patients with prediabetes improves blood sugar (glucose) levels and thus can reduce cardiometabolic risk, according to a study to be presented at the ATS 2013 International Conference in Philadelphia. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-treatment-apnea-glucose-prediabetes.html Sleep apnea Mon, 20 May 2013 03:10:01 EST news288237426 Whole-cell pertussis vaccines were more effective at protecting against pertussis than acellular pertussis vaccines during a large recent outbreak, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study published in Pediatrics. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-whole-cell-vaccine-effective-acellular-ca.html Pediatrics Mon, 20 May 2013 02:55:50 EST news288237336 Researchers at Mayo Clinic have developed a promising method to distinguish between pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis—two disorders that are difficult to tell apart. A molecular marker obtained from pancreatic "juices" can identify almost all cases of pancreatic cancer, their study shows. The findings were being presented at Digestive Disease Week 2013 in Orlando, Fla. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-molecular-marker-pancreatic-juices-cancer.html Cancer Mon, 20 May 2013 02:50:02 EST news288236219 A novel study reports that white men and women of European descent inherit common foot disorders, such as bunions (hallux valgus) and lesser toe deformities, including hammer or claw toe. Findings from the Framingham Foot Study—the first to estimate the heritability of foot disorders in humans—appear in Arthritis Care & Research, a journal published by Wiley on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-blame-parents-bunion-woes.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Mon, 20 May 2013 02:42:46 EST news288236552 Touted for safety, ease and patient convenience, peripherally inserted central catheters have become many clinicians' go-to for IV delivery of antibiotics, nutrition, chemotherapy, and other medications. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-commonly-catheters-blood-clots-icu.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 20 May 2013 02:34:16 EST news288236044 Gourmands and foodies everywhere have long recognized ginger as a great way to add a little peppery zing to both sweet and savory dishes; now, a study from researchers at Columbia University shows purified components of the spicy root also may have properties that help asthma patients breathe more easily. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-ginger-compounds-effective-asthma-symptoms.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Sun, 19 May 2013 14:10:05 EST news288172619 Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have identified a potential new risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea: asthma. Using data from the National Institutes of Health (Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)-funded Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study, which has been following approximately 1,500 people since 1988, researchers found that patients who had asthma were 1.70 times (95% CI=1.15-2.51) more likely to develop sleep apnea after eight years. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-potential-apnea-asthma.html Sleep apnea Sun, 19 May 2013 14:10:01 EST news288172668 A new study looking at sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and markers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and neuroimaging adds to the growing body of research linking the two. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-apnea-alzheimer-linked.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Sun, 19 May 2013 14:00:05 EST news288172741 Scientists at Johns Hopkins have turned their view of osteoarthritis (OA) inside out. Literally. Instead of seeing the painful degenerative disease as a problem primarily of the cartilage that cushions joints, they now have evidence that the bone underneath the cartilage is also a key player and exacerbates the damage. In a proof-of-concept experiment, they found that blocking the action of a critical bone regulation protein in mice halts progression of the disease. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-theory-genesis-osteoarthritis-successful-therapy.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Sun, 19 May 2013 13:10:10 EST news288172115 In their quest to learn more about the variability of cells between and within tissues, biomedical scientists have devised tools capable of simultaneously measuring dozens of characteristics of individual cells. These technologies have led to new challenges, however, as scientists now struggle with how to make sense of the resulting trove of data. Now a solution may be at hand. Researchers at Columbia University and Stanford University have developed a computational method that enables scientists to visualize and interpret "high-dimensional" data produced by single-cell measurement technologies such as mass cytometry. The method, published in the online edition of Nature Biotechnology, has particular relevance to cancer research and therapeutics. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-tool-complex-dimensional-images.html Medical research Sun, 19 May 2013 13:10:01 EST news288172425 The devastating effect of Alzheimer's disease on bilingual people has been thrown into focus in Canada, where the sudden loss of a second language can leave sufferers feeling like strangers in their own country. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-alzheimer-bilingual-victims-stranded-canada.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Sun, 19 May 2013 11:10:01 EST news288173217 The hunt for an HIV vaccine has gobbled up $8 billion in the past decade, and the failure of the most recent efficacy trial has delivered yet another setback to 26 years of efforts. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-gap-hiv-vaccine-efforts-latest.html HIV & AIDS Sun, 19 May 2013 09:20:01 EST news288173183 The use of a smartphone application significantly improves patients' preparation for a colonoscopy, according to new research presented today at Digestive Disease Week (DDW). The preparation process, which begins days in advance of the procedure, includes dietary restrictions and requires specific bowel preparation medication to be taken at strict intervals. The better the preparation, the easier it is for doctors to see cancer and precancerous polyps in the colon. The study, which was conducted by the gastroenterologists of Arizona Digestive Health in Phoenix, featured the first doctor-designed app of its kind. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-smartphone-application-colonoscopy.html Cancer Sun, 19 May 2013 02:10:01 EST news288146396 There are significant cost and risk factors associated with two procedures commonly used to diagnose or treat gastrointestinal problems, according to research presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-quality-gi-procedures.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Sun, 19 May 2013 02:00:02 EST news288146356 Research presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) explores new methods for managing digestive health through diet and lifestyle. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-methods-digestive-health.html Cancer Sun, 19 May 2013 01:50:01 EST news288146269 Patients with treatment-resistant major depression saw dramatic improvement in their illness after treatment with ketamine, an anesthetic, according to the largest ketamine clinical trial to-date led by researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The antidepressant benefits of ketamine were seen within 24 hours, whereas traditional antidepressants can take days or weeks to demonstrate a reduction in depression. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-ketamine-significant-therapeutic-benefit-people.html Psychology & Psychiatry Sun, 19 May 2013 01:38:46 EST news288146314 Regular consumption of coffee is associated with a reduced risk of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), an autoimmune liver disease, Mayo Clinic research shows. The findings were being presented at the Digestive Disease Week 2013 conference in Orlando, Fla. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-consuming-coffee-linked-detrimental-liver.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Sun, 19 May 2013 01:37:30 EST news288146235 The latest makeover to a massive psychiatric tome honored by some, reviled by others and even called the "Bible" of mental disorders is being released Saturday with a host of new changes. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-psychiatry-makeover-manual.html Psychology & Psychiatry Sat, 18 May 2013 13:30:01 EST news288101054 A new case of the deadly coronavirus has been detected in Saudi Arabia where 15 people have already died after contracting it, the health ministry announced on Saturday on its Internet website. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-case-sars-like-virus-saudi-ministry.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Sat, 18 May 2013 13:10:01 EST news288100975 A ground-breaking advance in colonoscopy technology signals the future of colorectal care, according to research presented today at Digestive Disease Week(DDW). Additional research focuses on optimizing the minimal withdrawal time for colonoscopies and exploring safer methods for removing polyps. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-colonoscope-ground-breaking-view-colon.html Cancer Sat, 18 May 2013 11:07:15 EST news288094025 An increasing number of U.S. children are experiencing gastrointestinal issues that require interventions to resolve, according to research presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-interventions-children-gi-health.html Health Sat, 18 May 2013 11:05:09 EST news288093882 Big names in medicine are set to give an upbeat assessment of the war on AIDS on Tuesday, 30 years after French researchers identified the virus that causes the disease. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-aids-science-lexicon.html HIV & AIDS Sat, 18 May 2013 02:50:01 EST news288061166 (AP)—A woman who lost both hands, her left leg and right foot after contracting a flesh-eating disease has been fitted with prosthetic hands. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-flesh-eating-disease-victim-prosthetic.html Other Sat, 18 May 2013 01:54:25 EST news288060837 Chronic trauma can inflict lasting damage to brain regions associated with fear and anxiety. Previous imaging studies of people with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, have shown that these brain regions can over-or under-react in response to stressful tasks, such as recalling a traumatic event or reacting to a photo of a threatening face. Now, researchers at NYU School of Medicine have explored for the first time what happens in the brains of combat veterans with PTSD in the absence of external triggers. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-combat-veterans-post-traumatic-stress-disorder.html Neuroscience Sat, 18 May 2013 01:49:34 EST news288060554 Research shows that the earlier the age at which youth take their first alcoholic drink, the greater the risk of developing alcohol problems. Thus, age at first drink (AFD) is generally considered a powerful predictor of progression to alcohol-related harm. A new study shows that individuals who have their first drink during puberty subsequently have higher drinking levels than do individuals with a post-pubertal drinking onset. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-youth-puberty-higher.html Health Fri, 17 May 2013 17:30:01 EST news288028730 In order to avoid exposing vulnerable groups such as children and young adults to alcohol advertising, industry groups have developed their own self-regulation guidelines. However, these guidelines have been criticized for possible conflict of interest, lack of objectivity, and unresponsiveness to complaints about violations. A study of violations of the U.S. Beer Institute code has identified a relatively inexpensive method of assessing whether alcohol-advertising content is in compliance with the industry's voluntary standards. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-beer-industry-advertising-guidelines-panels-industry.html Addiction Fri, 17 May 2013 17:20:01 EST news288028647