http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. 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 Many women in Texas who are found to have an abnormality on routine mammogram or discover a lump in one of their breasts end up having an old-fashioned surgical biopsy to find out whether the breast abnormality is malignant. Since 2001, national expert panels have recommended that the first course of action for women with breast lumps or masses should be minimally invasive biopsy. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-one-third-texas-women-unnecessary-breast.html Surgery Fri, 17 May 2013 17:10:01 EST news288028519 In 2008 researchers from the University of Southern Denmark showed that the drug thioridazine, which has previously been used to treat schizophrenia, is also a powerful weapon against antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-scizophrenia-medicine-antibiotics-resistant-bacteria.html Medical research Fri, 17 May 2013 17:06:57 EST news288029204 In order to avoid harms associated with alcohol consumption, in 2009 the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism issued guidelines that define low-risk drinking. These guidelines differ for men and women: no more than four drinks per day, and 14 drinks per week for men, and no more than three drinks per day, and seven drinks per week for women. A study of how well college students adhere to these limits has found that female college student drinkers exceed national drinking guidelines for weekly drinking more frequently than their male counterparts. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-college-women-niaaa-guidelines-frequently.html Addiction Fri, 17 May 2013 16:58:21 EST news288028684 (Medical Xpress)—Working with lab mice models of multiple sclerosis (MS), UC Davis scientists have detected a novel molecular target for the design of drugs that could be safer and more effective than current FDA-approved medications against MS. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-approach-treatment-ms-conditions.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Fri, 17 May 2013 16:54:30 EST news288028433 Treatment for alcohol use disorders works best if the patient actively understands and incorporates the interventions provided in the clinic. Multiple factors can influence both the type and degree of neurocognitive abnormalities found during early abstinence, including chronic cigarette smoking and increasing age. A new study is the first to look at the interactive effects of smoking status and age on neurocognition in treatment-seeking alcohol dependent (AD) individuals. Findings show that AD individuals who currently smoke show more problems with memory, ability to think quickly and efficiently, and problem-solving skills than those who don't smoke, effects which seem to become exacerbated with age. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-individuals-heavily-early-aging-brain.html Addiction Fri, 17 May 2013 16:51:13 EST news288028099 (HealthDay)—Concurrent use of two immune checkpoint antibodies—ipilimumab and nivolumab—may be effective for the treatment of advanced melanoma, according to a proof-of-principal study presented in advance of the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held from May 31 to June 4 in Chicago. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-asco-combo-antibody-therapy-effective.html Cancer Fri, 17 May 2013 16:00:01 EST news288020743 (HealthDay)—Few randomized clinical trials have been done to assess clinical prediction rules for patients with lower back pain, and the trials that have been done are of low quality and do not provide sufficient evidence to support their use, according to a review published in the April 20 issue of Spine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-evidence-pain.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Fri, 17 May 2013 15:50:01 EST news288020678 (HealthDay)—The risks of metastasis and death associated with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) are low, but significant, and risk factors for poor outcome include tumor diameter, invasion beyond fat, poor differentiation, and location, according to a study published in the May issue of JAMA Dermatology. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-factors-idd-poor-cutaneous-cell.html Cancer Fri, 17 May 2013 15:30:01 EST news288020638 (HealthDay)—Most Medicare beneficiaries treated in inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPFs) exhibit characteristics associated with hospital readmission, according to a report prepared for the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems (NAPHS). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-readmissions-inpatient-psychiatric-facilities.html Psychology & Psychiatry Fri, 17 May 2013 15:20:01 EST news288020714 (AP)—Medical marijuana use in Illinois is now in Gov. Pat Quinn's hands after the state Senate approved legislation. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-illinois-senate-medical-marijuana-bill.html Other Fri, 17 May 2013 15:10:01 EST news288020435 Skydivers show the same level of physical stress before every jump whether a first-timer or experienced jumper, say Northumbria researchers. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-skydiving-plane.html Psychology & Psychiatry Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:07 EST news288015808 The neural machinery underlying our olfactory sense continues to be an enigma for neuroscience. A recent review in Neuron seeks to expand traditional ideas about how neurons in the olfactory bulb might encode information about odorants. One of the main authors, Terry Sejnowski, had the floor for a brief while at last week's national BRAIN Initiative meeting, where discussion of neural codes was a key issue. The Neuron review was published the day after the meeting, and it supports the previously established idea that the olfactory bulb is in many ways structurally comparable to the retina. The authors note however, that due to the apparent sparsity and lack of topographical organization in the olfactory front end, the particular blend of temporal coding used there should differ significantly from that used in the retina. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-temporal-olfactory.html Neuroscience Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:02 EST news288014780 (HealthDay)—Moderate aerobic exercise prevents fructose-induced hypertriglyceridemia in healthy males, according to a study published online May 14 in Diabetes. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-fructose-induced-hypertriglyceridemia.html Diabetes Fri, 17 May 2013 14:50:01 EST news288020790 New research indicates that women's reproductive function may be tied to their immune status. Previous studies have found this association in human males, but not females. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-women-reproductive-ability-immune-status.html Obstetrics & gynaecology Fri, 17 May 2013 14:34:20 EST news288020043 A Nigerian court on Friday sentenced two officials from a pharmaceutical company to seven years in prison over the sale of an adulterated teething drug which killed 84 babies in 2008. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-nigerian-court-killer-teething-drug.html Other Fri, 17 May 2013 14:31:29 EST news288016302 (Medical Xpress)—What if the quality of your work depends more on your focus on the piano keys or canvas or laptop than your musical or painting or computing skills? If target users can be convinced, they will make generous use of the Melon headband with its three electrodes placed against the forehead to track their mental concentration. This is a Kickstarter project. The Melon makers set a $100,000 goal to effect a full production run. At the time of this writing, they drew in $109,739. What is being offered is a headband and mobile app designed to help the person measure concentration and understand the person's focus highs and lows and try to improve. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-melon-focus-headband-kickstarter-rollout.html Neuroscience Fri, 17 May 2013 14:10:01 EST news288014668 (HealthDay)—Many Americans feel that keeping out-of-pocket health care costs is more important than staying with the same primary care physician. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-patients-doc-health.html Other Fri, 17 May 2013 12:50:01 EST news288009575 Researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) have found that incorporating a peer-referral program for HIV testing into emergency departments can reach new groups of high-risk patients and brings more patients into the hospital for testing. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-peer-referral-hiv-testing-emergency-departments.html HIV & AIDS Fri, 17 May 2013 12:41:10 EST news288013238 (HealthDay)—Liver transplants to treat a common type of liver cancer are a viable option for people infected with HIV, according to new research. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-hiv-barrier-liver-transplant.html HIV & AIDS Fri, 17 May 2013 12:40:01 EST news288009467 (HealthDay)—Blood levels of free fatty acids are associated with insulin resistance during young adulthood and cardiovascular risk factors in later adulthood, according to a study published online May 13 in Diabetes. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-free-fatty-acids-linked-cardiac.html Cardiology Fri, 17 May 2013 12:30:01 EST news288009521 The most common cause of failure after glaucoma surgery is scarring at the surgical site, so researchers are actively looking for ways to minimize or prevent scar formation. Previous work had suggested that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) activates fibrosis, whereas VEGF inhibition results in reduced scar formation and better surgical results. In a series of studies using a rabbit model of glaucoma surgery, investigators have determined that VEGF probably exerts its effects through induction of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, which may open up a new target for therapies to improve glaucoma surgical outcomes. This study is published in the June 2013 issue of The American Journal of Pathology. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-biochemical-mechanism-underlying-fibrosis-glaucoma.html Ophthalmology Fri, 17 May 2013 12:20:02 EST news288009239