http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. Oral bacteria that escape into the bloodstream are able to cause blood clots and trigger life-threatening endocarditis. Further research could lead to new drugs to tackle infective heart disease, say scientists presenting their work at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Dublin this week. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-dental-plaque-bacteria-trigger-blood.html Cardiology Mon, 26 Mar 2012 04:54:30 EST news251956461 (Medical Xpress) -- Whether you are an elite athlete trying to gain a competitive edge, or a regular bike commuter, consuming caffeine one hour prior to exercise has the potential to improve your performance. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-scientists-effects-caffeine.html Health Wed, 21 Mar 2012 07:21:25 EST news251533274 (HealthDay) -- Most California hospitals implement some policies to improve infection control for multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO), primarily methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), but few policies are associated with lower MDRO rates, according to a study published in the March issue of the American Journal of Infection Control. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-california-hospitals-infection.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Sat, 17 Mar 2012 06:10:14 EST news251183404 One of the trickiest parts of treating brain conditions is the blood brain barrier, a blockade of cells that prevent both harmful toxins and helpful pharmaceuticals from getting to the body's control center. But, a technique published in JoVE, uses an MRI machine to guide the use of microbubbles and focused ultrasound to help drugs enter the brain, which may open new treatment avenues for devastating conditions like Alzheimer's and brain cancers. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-brain-treatments.html Medical research Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:04:51 EST news250855480 (Medical Xpress) -- Caffeinated drinks such as coffee and soda are the pick-me-ups of choice for many people, but too much caffeine can cause nervousness and sleep problems. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-coffee-app.html Health Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:37:14 EST news248434619 In a study to the genetic variance of human metabolism, researchers have identified thirty one regions of the genome that were associated with levels of circulating metabolites, i.e., small molecules that take part in various chemical reactions of human body. Many of the studied metabolites are biomarkers for cardiovascular disease or related disorders, thus the loci uncovered may provide valuable insight into the biological processes leading to common diseases. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-genetic-metabolomic-biomarkers-paths.html Diabetes Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:00:14 EST news247034984 Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center have identified two novel markers that, when elevated in the blood stream, can predict accurately the risk of renal (kidney) failure in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The findings have immediate diagnostic implications and can be used for the development of new therapies to prevent or postpone the progression of renal disease in diabetes. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-markers-key-indicators-future-renal.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:28:44 EST news246216514 Infectious diseases specialists from Austin Health are working closely with Microbiologists from the University of Melbourne to understand how Staph is becoming resistant to all antibiotic therapies. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-closer-super-bug-puzzle.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:53:36 EST news240238390 A human monoclonal antibody developed by MassBiologics of the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) given to patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection undergoing liver transplantation significantly suppressed the virus for at least a week after transplant and delayed the time to viral rebound. Results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 study were presented this week at The Liver Meeting, the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, in San Francisco. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-experimental-drug-suppresses-rebound-hepatitis.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:02:35 EST news239904145 New research from Neurologist Dr. David Spence of The University of Western Ontario has shown that using 3-D ultrasound to identify ulcers in the carotid arteries is an effective way to pinpoint the small number of high-risk patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) who would benefit from surgery to prevent stroke. ACS is a blocking or narrowing of the carotid artery in the neck from which there have been no symptoms such as transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). The research is published in the August 17th online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-diagnostics-risky-surgery-asymptomatic-carotid.html Neuroscience Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:16:06 EST news232820132 According to a study published in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), researchers have reported that administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), a drug that releases stem cells from the bone marrow into the blood, is unlikely to put healthy stem cell donors at risk for later development of abnormalities involving loss or gains of chromosomes that have been linked to hematologic disorders such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-stem-cell-mobilization-therapy-safe.html Medical research Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:40:07 EST news232283023 A study from scientists at Queen Mary, University of London, sheds new light on why people who experience serious trauma or go through major surgery, can suffer organ damage in parts of the body which are seemingly unconnected to the injury. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-rogue-blood-cells-contribute-post-surgery.html Medical research Sun, 26 Jun 2011 16:22:04 EST news228324063 (Medical Xpress) -- University of Edinburgh scientists have discovered a previously unknown way in which white blood cells cope with injury and infection. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-05-reveals-inflammation.html Medical research Mon, 16 May 2011 08:54:47 EST news224754847 Folic acid, an essential vitamin formulated to be part of a multivitamin + DHA liquid softgel capsule, is absorbed and available within the body in amounts similar to folic acid formulated for solid tablets, according to a study presented in a late breaking session at the Experimental Biology (EB) 2011 annual meeting. Different formulations, fillers and coatings of vitamin products may affect the degree or rate at which the product dissolves and releases its contents, which can alter the vitamin's absorption into the body and its bioavailability, a calculation of how much of a given dose of a compound reaches the blood stream to circulate within the body and have a potential effect. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-04-folic-acid-absorption-softgel-capsule.html Medications Tue, 26 Apr 2011 09:39:38 EST news223029561 Increased levels of a protein that helps regulate the body's blood pressure may also predict a major cardiovascular event in high-risk patients, according to a study led by St. Michael's Hospital's cardiovascular surgeon Subodh Verma. Measuring the amount of the protein, known as plasma renin activity (PRA), in the blood stream may give doctors another tool to assess a patient's risk and help prevent a heart attack or stroke. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-04-blood-protein-cardiovascular-event.html Medical research Fri, 08 Apr 2011 12:33:37 EST news221484808