http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. Older patients taking a common cholesterol medication should be cautious of the impact on their kidney health. In a new study by Dr. Amit Garg, Scientist at the Lawson Health Research Institute and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), and colleagues, one in 10 new older fibrate users experienced a 50 per cent increase in their serum creatinine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-common-cholesterol-medication-impact-kidney.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:01:16 EST news253882855 (HealthDay) -- Alcohol or sedative use during chronic opioid therapy (COT) for non-cancer pain puts patients at risk for adverse events such as respiratory depression or sedation, and the risk of concurrent use of central nervous system (CNS) depressants is not limited to patients with a history of substance abuse, according to a study published in the March issue of The Journal of Pain. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-alcohol-opioids-common-abuse.html Addiction Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:25:11 EST news253815902 Drug dispensing robots designed to quickly prepare intravenous medications in a sterile environment can harbor dangerous bacteria, according to a report in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-bacterial-contamination-pharmacy-robots.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:20:23 EST news252757209 Pediatric surgeons can lower health care costs if they remove a young patient's perforated appendix sooner rather than later, according to new study results published in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-surgery-outcomes-children-perforated-appendicitis.html Surgery Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:03:43 EST news252586993 Drugs that are commonly used to prevent osteoporosis may increase the risk of serious inflammatory eye disease in first-time users, found an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-osteoporosis-drugs-eye-disease.html Ophthalmology Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:00:10 EST news252584667 Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have a significantly greater prevalence of early adverse life events , including general trauma as well as physical, emotional and sexual abuse, according to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-childhood-traumatic-adult-ibs-symptoms.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:31:29 EST news252239483 (HealthDay) -- For some patients with advanced melanoma and brain metastases, ipilimumab is active, according to the results of a phase 2 study published online March 27 in The Lancet Oncology. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-ipilimumab-advanced-melanoma-brain-mets.html Cancer Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:20:01 EST news252088534 The under-reporting of the possible side effects of heart damage from cancer drugs puts patients at an increased risk for heart failure, according to two researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-heart-damaging-side-effects-cancer-drugs.html Cancer Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:00:07 EST news251985910 Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and a multicenter team of investigators have found that carotid artery stenting (CAS) is safe and effective in patients age 70 and older. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-carotid-artery-stenting-safe-elderly.html Cardiology Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:43:43 EST news251984615 A monthly injection of an experimental drug made by the US biotech firm Amgen reduced patients' cholesterol by up to 66 percent, according to a small study described at a US cardiology conference. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-monthly-shot-lowers-cholesterol-percent.html Cardiology Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:46:05 EST news251973958 Patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) at experienced medical centers had significant improvement in valve function as well as low mortality and stroke rates at 30 days, according to research presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 61st Annual Scientific Session. The Scientific Session, the premier cardiovascular medical meeting, brings cardiovascular professionals together to further advances in the field. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-tavi-mortality-function-days.html Cardiology Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:09:13 EST news251971746 (HealthDay) -- Administration of REGN727, a monoclonal antibody to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9), significantly reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, according to the results of three phase 1 studies published in the March 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-regn727-monoclonal-antibody-lowers-ldl.html Cardiology Thu, 22 Mar 2012 04:49:03 EST news251610535 (HealthDay) -- For patients with HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (HIV-KS), bevacizumab is tolerated and induces a response in some patients, according to a study published online March 19 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-bevacizumab-hiv-linked-kaposi-sarcoma.html Cancer Tue, 20 Mar 2012 10:19:27 EST news251457546 Cytori Therapeutics announced today the publication of RESTORE-2 trial results in the peer-reviewed European Journal of Surgical Oncology. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-cytori-breast-reconstruction-cell-therapy.html Cancer Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:24:56 EST news251382289 (Medical Xpress) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the smoking cessation medication varenicline (Chantix) as an effective aide in helping people quit smoking, including those with cardiovascular disease, although it cautions that varenicline may also be associated with a small, increased risk of certain cardiovascular adverse events in such patients. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-benefits-varenicline-chantix.html Medications Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:57:27 EST news251369834 (HealthDay) -- An immunologically-enhanced subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) formulation, with an optimized ratio of allergen to adjuvant, induces a significant immunologic response with acceptable safety when injected every three to four days compared with standard weekly injections, according to a study published online March 3 in Allergy. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-fast-updosed-subcutaneous-immunotherapy-effective.html Immunology Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:50:02 EST news251093438 Inadequate training or supervision of clinical staff and the absence of, or failure to follow clinical protocols were more important than a shortage of equipment or staff as causing harm to hospitalised patients in the developing world, claims a study published in the British Medical Journal today. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-health-poses-significant-hospital-patients.html Health Tue, 13 Mar 2012 18:30:02 EST news250875820 Cervical preparation with misoprostol reduces major complications of early surgical abortion by almost a third compared with placebo, according to new research published Online First in The Lancet. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-misoprostol-substantially-complications-early-termination.html Obstetrics & gynaecology Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:30:04 EST news250359494 A software monitoring program that tracks implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) function could detect problems with the devices earlier than current monitoring processes, according to new research in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-software-implantable-cardioverter-defibrillator-malfunctions-sooner.html Cardiology Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:00:06 EST news250263668 Lithium is the most effective long-term therapy for bipolar disorder, protecting against both depression and mania and reducing the risk of suicide and short-term mortality. However, safety concerns have made its use controversial. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-lithium-treatment-weight-gain-hypothyroidism-hyperparathoidism.html Psychology & Psychiatry Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:30:01 EST news246209570 Pain management is a high priority for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, so three researchers in Australia analysed existing study data to see whether two different classes of drugs can help. When looking at muscle relaxants, they discovered that neither the benzodiazepine agents, diazepam and triazolam, nor the non- benzodiazepine agent, zopiclone, reduce pain when taken for one to 14 days. However, even this short use was associated for both agents with drowsiness and dizziness. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-muscle-neuromodulators-ra-pain-options.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:20:01 EST news246081222 The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday intervened for the first time in the roiling global scandal over faulty breast implants, urging women with the devices to seek medical advice if they have any concerns. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-issues-guidelines-contested-breast-implants.html Other Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:00:02 EST news246033414 Pirfenidone inhibits the development of inflammation and scarring (fibrosis) in pulmonary tissue and has been approved for the treatment of mild to moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) since the beginning of 2011. In an early benefit assessment in accordance with the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG), the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has examined the extent of added benefit of pirfenidone. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-pirfenidone-extent-added-benefit.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:04:46 EST news244811066 In a move aimed at bolstering current systems for assessing and monitoring drug safety, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have created a new method that combines multiple forms of widely available data to predict adverse drug reactions. Unlike current approaches, which rely on detecting evidence of drug safety issues as they accumulate over time in clinical databases, this new method may be able to identify issues years in advance. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-12-approach-adverse-drug-reactions.html Medications Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:00:04 EST news243694936 A survey of police officers indicated that about 40 percent have a sleep disorder, which was associated with an increased risk of adverse health, safety and performance outcomes, according to a study in the December 21 issue of JAMA. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-12-disorders-common-police-officers.html Sleep apnea Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:00:01 EST news243619160 (AP) -- Federal health experts said Thursday that drug labeling for Yaz and other widely-used birth control pills should be updated to emphasize recent data suggesting a higher risk of blood clots with the drugs than older contraceptive pills. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-12-fda-panel-yaz-pills.html Medications Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:39:28 EST news242620759 For the first time, a new research methodology recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration has been used to demonstrate that converting patients from one anti-epileptic drug to another - in this case, lamotrigine extended-release (LTG XR) - is well-tolerated, effective and safe. The work by Jacqueline French and her team, from New York University in the US, illustrates how the new methodology addresses ethical issues inherent in more traditional study designs. It is published online in Springer's journal, Neurotherapeutics. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-12-ethical-epilepsy-treatments.html Neuroscience Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:19:48 EST news242313386 Among patients with moderate to severe psoriasis, treatment options that are most compatible with their personal and professional life appear to be most important, and treatment location appears more important than probability and magnitude of treatment outcome, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of Dermatology. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-importance-treatment-outcomes-varies-patients.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:00:08 EST news241102663 Families of hospitalized children can provide valuable information about adverse events relating to their children's care that complements information documented by health care professionals, states a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-families-adverse-events-hospitalized-children.html Other Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:39:33 EST news241101566 Fatigue and poor sleep quality, which affect many emergency medical services (EMS) workers, are linked to higher reported rates of injuries, medical errors and safety-compromising behaviors, according to a study by University of Pittsburgh researchers that is now available online in Prehospital Emergency Care and appearing in the January-March 2012 print edition. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-fatigue-linked-safety-problems-ems.html Health Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:28:48 EST news240748120