http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. Two daily doses of a probiotic lowered key cholesterol-bearing molecules in the blood as well as "bad" and total cholesterol, in a study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2012. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-daily-doses-probiotic-bad-total.html Cardiology Mon, 05 Nov 2012 11:42:01 EST news271338112 (HealthDay)—Use of intraoperative blood salvage (cell saver) is not cost-effective for adult patients undergoing single-level posterior lumbar decompression and fusion (PLDF) surgery, according to research published online Oct. 5 in Spine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-cell-saver-cost-effective-single-level-lumbar.html Surgery Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:00:01 EST news269541674 (Medical Xpress)—A new study is shedding light on the use of sedative drugs in hospitals and has proven certain clinically used drug combinations to be faster and more effective in sedating highly aggressive patients in the emergency department (ED). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-antipsychotics-patient-sedation.html Psychology & Psychiatry Tue, 09 Oct 2012 07:26:49 EST news268986398 (HealthDay)—Adults undergoing cardiac surgery who have moderate-to-severe preoperative anemia have significantly increased morbidity and mortality compared with non-severely anemic patients, according to research published in the October issue of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-severe-anemia-linked-poorer-heart.html Surgery Wed, 03 Oct 2012 17:40:02 EST news268502622 While more men than women develop kidney stones and other obstructions in the urinary tract, women are more than twice as likely to suffer infections related to the condition, according to a new study led by Henry Ford Hospital researchers. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-women-infection-kidney-stones-urinary.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:19:03 EST news267884326 Although the standard approach to acute appendicitis is to remove the appendix, a study at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, reveals that treatment with antibiotics can be just as effective in many cases. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-antibiotics-surgery-appendicitis.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 26 Sep 2012 11:35:19 EST news267878108 (HealthDay)—Local allergic rhinitis (LAR) is prevalent among patients with rhinitis, affecting about one in four, and is often associated with childhood onset and persistent, severe conjunctivitis and/or asthma, according to a study published in the October issue of Allergy. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-prevalence-local-allergic-rhinitis.html Immunology Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:40:01 EST news267799955 Treatment with denosumab, a drug targeted against a protein that helps promote bone destruction, decreased the number of tumor giant cells in patients with giant-cell tumor of the bone, and increased new bone formation, according to the results of a phase II study published in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-denosumab-burden-giant-cell-tumor-bone.html Cancer Fri, 21 Sep 2012 11:41:14 EST news267446466 New research published in the third Article in The Lancet surgery-themed issue suggests that the millions of intravenous catheters used each year can be safely changed only when clinically necessary, overturning 40 years of accepted practice involving routine replacement every 3 days. Introducing such a policy would not only prevent unnecessary painful procedures in one fifth of patients but also dramatically reduce equipment and staff costs. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-intravenous-catheters-clinically-safe.html Surgery Thu, 20 Sep 2012 18:30:03 EST news267383142 National estimates of death following general surgery have been too optimistic, suggests the first large-scale study to explore surgical outcomes across Europe published in the first Article in a special Lancet theme issue on surgery. New estimates generated using a snap-shot of death after surgery in over 46 000 patients from 500 hospitals in 28 European countries indicate that overall crude mortality (death from all causes) is 4%, which is more than double previous estimates. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-europe-wide-death-surgery.html Surgery Thu, 20 Sep 2012 18:30:01 EST news267383207 The clot-inhibiting drug apixaban (trade name: Eliquis) was approved in May 2011 for the prevention of thrombosis (blood clots) after operations to replace a hip or knee joint. In an early benefit assessment pursuant to the "Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products" (AMNOG), the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined the added benefit of apixaban. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-proof-added-benefit-apixaban-hip.html Medications Mon, 17 Sep 2012 10:53:40 EST news267098004 Tafamidis meglumine (trade name: Vyndaqel) was approved in November 2011 for the treatment of transthyretin amyloidosis in adults. This rare disorder ("orphan disease") is caused by a defective gene and is associated with progressive nerve damage (neurological degeneration) that tafamidis is supposed to delay. According to § 35a SGB (Social Code Book) V, an added benefit is regarded as proven if a drug for a rare disease - known as an orphan drug - has been approved. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has assessed tafamidis at the request of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-tafamidis-denotes-proven-added-benefit.html Medications Mon, 17 Sep 2012 10:34:43 EST news267096867 Adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients of low socioeconomic status (SES) have a greater chance of not being accepted for lung transplant after undergoing initial evaluation, according to a new study. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-cystic-fibrosis-patients-ses-lung.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:20:01 EST news266778914 Belimumab (trade name Benlysta) has been approved since July 2011 as an add-on therapy for adult patients with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This monoclonal antibody is only considered as treatment when the disease is still active in spite of standard therapy. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has now examined the added benefit of this drug pursuant to the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-belimumab-lupus-erythematosus-added-benefit.html Cancer Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:34:37 EST news265462459 Fampridine (trade name Fampyra) has been approved in Germany since July 2011 for adult patients suffering from a higher grade walking disability (grades 4 to 7 on the EDSS disability status scale), as a result of multiple sclerosis (MS). The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has assessed the added benefit of the drug pursuant to the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG). According to the findings, there is no proof of added benefit, as the manufacturer's dossier contains no evaluable study data for the comparison between fampridine and the appropriate comparator therapy. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-added-benefit-fampridine-proven.html Medications Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:21:27 EST news265458075 (HealthDay) -- For adult patients with acute or chronic low back pain (LBP), assessing the baseline score for catastrophizing does not help clinicians in routine clinical practice predict the evolution of LBP or the patient's disability at three months, according to a study published online July 23 in The Spine Journal. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-catastrophizing-doesnt-pain-evolution.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 16 Aug 2012 17:36:42 EST news264357378 (Medical Xpress) -- Scientists at Newcastle University have discovered three key genetic errors which can dictate how adult patients develop leukaemia and respond to treatment and could help doctors adapt future treatments. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-scientists-genetic-drivers-leukaemia.html Cancer Thu, 02 Aug 2012 10:32:46 EST news263122206 Included in the 2012 International Antiviral Society-USA panel recommendations for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patient care is that all adult patients, regardless of CD4 cell count, should be offered antiretroviral therapy (ART), according to an article in the July 25 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on HIV/AIDS. Other new recommendations include changes in therapeutic options and modifications in the timing and choice of ART for patients with an opportunistic illness such as tuberculosis. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-hiv-treatment-adult-patients-antiretroviral.html HIV & AIDS Sun, 22 Jul 2012 15:14:44 EST news262188877 The latest vaccine indications are available for doctors and other clinicians through the ACP Immunization Advisor app currently available for iPhone and iPad at http://immunization.acponline.org/app. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-acp-immunization-advisor-app-easier.html Immunology Mon, 02 Jul 2012 12:07:42 EST news260449656 (HealthDay) -- Pediatric patients diagnosed with an invasive cutaneous melanoma have nearly double the relative risk of developing a subsequent primary melanoma, compared with adults, according to a study published online June 20 in the British Journal of Dermatology. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-primary-melanoma-pediatric-patients.html Cancer Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:10:01 EST news260125524 A six-food elimination diet significantly improves symptoms in adult patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association. In EoE, eosinophils and other inflammatory cells cause inflammation of the esophagus in response to an allergic stimulus. Previously thought to be a rare disease, EoE has become one of the most common causes for dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), heartburn and the sensation of "food stuck in the throat" in adults. Similar to children, this study has now shown that food allergens have a causative role in the majority of adults with EoE. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-food-diet-difficulty-swallowing-throat.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 20 Jun 2012 11:40:47 EST news259411242 Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), usually found in pediatric patients, is far more rare and deadly in adolescent and adult patients. According to the National Marrow Donor Program, child ALL patients have a higher than 80 percent remission rate, while the recovery rate for adults stands at only 40 percent. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-pediatric-regime-chemotherapy-effective-young.html Cancer Mon, 18 Jun 2012 12:35:36 EST news259241725 Among patients with moderate to advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), homeless people experience higher rates of premature death and kidney failure, and they use emergency services much more often than impoverished peers with stable housing, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). The findings indicate that greater efforts are needed to address the unmet needs of homeless patients with CKD and other chronic conditions to improve their health and reduce public costs. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-homelessness-linked-poor-health-kidney.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:00:43 EST news258912032 (HealthDay) -- Many Americans with type 1 diabetes fail to meet their treatment targets, according to researchers who analyzed data from a newly created registry that includes more than 25,000 patients at 67 clinics nationwide. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-people-diabetes-treatment-goals.html Diabetes Sun, 10 Jun 2012 08:10:01 EST news258527004 A simple blood test can help identify people who are at high risk of dying within the month after non-cardiac surgery, a study by McMaster University researchers has found. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-blood-death-surgery.html Surgery Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:00:03 EST news258113586 (HealthDay) -- Teenagers and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, are more likely to relapse and less likely to survive than younger children with the disease, according to a new study. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-leukemia-deadlier-teens-young-adults.html Cancer Sat, 02 Jun 2012 15:10:01 EST news257862687 A significant number of adults are at risk of unintentionally overdosing on over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication, according to a new study in the US by Dr. Michael Wolf, from Northwestern University in Chicago, and his colleagues. Their work, looking at the prevalence and potential misuse of pain medication containing the active ingredient acetaminophen as well as the likelihood of overdosing, appears online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-misuse-over-the-counter-pain-medication-potential.html Medications Wed, 30 May 2012 10:09:36 EST news257591301 A review of data from seven clinical trials suggests that intensive glucose control is associated with reduced risk of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria (conditions characterized by excessive levels of protein in the urine usually resulting from damage to the filtering units of the kidneys), according to a report published in the May 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-aggressively-glucose-kidney-failure-diabetes.html Diabetes Mon, 28 May 2012 16:00:29 EST news257416064 Simply ejecting your rear from the couch means your hand will spend less time digging into a bag of chocolate chip cookies. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-couch-equals-cookies-simple-health.html Health Mon, 28 May 2012 16:00:17 EST news257416458 Cardiomyocytes, the workhorse cells that make up the beating heart, can now be made cheaply and abundantly in the laboratory. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-stem-cell-technique-abundance-key.html Medical research Mon, 28 May 2012 15:00:11 EST news257415820