http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. (Medical Xpress)—UK scientists have made a breakthrough in a new method of brain tumour diagnosis, offering hope to tens of thousands of people. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-fingerprinting-breakthrough-brain-tumour-diagnosis.html Medical research Fri, 21 Sep 2012 09:34:21 EST news267438833 A new study of the genetic makeup, or genome, of Ewing sarcoma, a rare cancer that strikes children, teenagers, and young adults, has produced multiple discoveries: a previously unknown sarcoma subtype, genetic factors related to long-term survival, and identification of a genetic change between the primary and metastatic stages of the disease that could lead to better, more targeted treatment. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-genomic-rare-children-cancer-yields.html Cancer Thu, 09 Aug 2012 09:26:20 EST news263723174 Whitehead Institute researchers have found that increased expression of a specific set of genes is strongly associated with metastasis and death in patients with breast, colon, and lung cancers. Not only could this finding help scientists identify a gene profile predictive of patient outcomes and response to treatment, it could also guide the development of therapeutics to target multiple cancer types. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-heat-shock-factor-reveals-unique-role.html Cancer Thu, 02 Aug 2012 12:00:02 EST news263127408 In one of the first studies to look at transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in real-world clinical practice settings, researchers at Butler Hospital, along with colleagues across the U.S., confirmed that TMS is an effective treatment for patients with depression who are unable to find symptom relief through antidepressant medications. The study findings are published online in the June 11, 2012 edition of Depression and Anxiety in the Wiley Online Library. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-efficacy-transcranial-magnetic-depression.html Psychology & Psychiatry Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:14:39 EST news262537986 The development of novel medical imaging techniques to revolutionise cancer detection and treatment will be the result of a new partnership announced today between Queen's University Belfast and Cirdan Imaging Ltd. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-queen-spin-in-company-revolutionize-cancer.html Cancer Mon, 23 Jul 2012 10:53:29 EST news262259603 A new way of mapping how physicians share patients provides opportunities for improving the quality of medical care and organizing the nature of care delivery, according to researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-physicians-valuable-network-science-tool.html Health Tue, 17 Jul 2012 16:00:02 EST news261750509 (HealthDay) -- Claims data can be used to accurately identify rates and risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) following spinal surgery, according to a study published in the July 1 issue of Spine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-reveals-patients-post-op-infection.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Fri, 13 Jul 2012 18:40:01 EST news261419494 Researchers from the Netherlands Cancer Institute wanted to understand if patients undergoing lung cancer resections would benefit from having their procedures performed in a high-volume specialized center. The study, published in the July 2012 issue of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's Journal of Thoracic Oncology, concluded that hospital volume and surgeon specialty are important factors in patient outcomes. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-hospital-volume-surgeon-specialty-patient.html Cancer Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:15:38 EST news258984930 In one of the most comprehensive analyses to date of the cost of robotic-assisted, laparoscopic surgery for prostate cancer, researchers at UPMC found that this now-dominant surgical approach is significantly more costly than standard open surgery, despite little scientific evidence of long-term improved patient outcomes. The results of the study are available online and will appear in the July issue of the journal Urology. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-robotic-assisted-prostate-cancer-surgery.html Cancer Wed, 23 May 2012 11:52:00 EST news256992713 Nighttime intensivist physician staffing in intensive care units (ICUs) with a low-intensity daytime staffing model is associated with reduced mortality, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference in San Francisco. The same study showed that nighttime intensivists were not associated with reduced mortality among ICUs that used a high-intensity daytime staffing model. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-nighttime-intensivist-staffing-mortality-icu.html Other Mon, 21 May 2012 08:48:26 EST news256808899 Patients with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can be successfully managed in a primary care setting by appropriately trained primary care physicians (PCPs) and community-based nurses, according to Australian researchers. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-obstructive-apnea-successfully-primary.html Sleep apnea Sun, 20 May 2012 18:51:18 EST news256758575 Reducing the non-FDA-approved use of antipsychotic drugs may be a way to save money while having little effect on patient care, according to a Penn State College of Medicine study. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-off-label-antipsychotic-medications-money.html Medications Tue, 15 May 2012 10:21:14 EST news256296062 Following a stroke, factors as varied as blood sugar, body temperature and position in bed can affect patient outcomes, Loyola University Medical Center researchers report. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-minimize.html Neuroscience Mon, 14 May 2012 16:56:07 EST news256233357 U.S. Army researcher Maj. Gary H. Wynn, M.D., shared new analysis on why some Soldiers suffering from combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) never seek care or drop out of treatment early during a presentation today at the American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting. His presentation, "Epidemiology of Combat-Related PTSD in U.S. Service Members: Lessons Learned," also described the approaches the Army is using to address this issue and improve overall patient outcomes. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-army-soldiers-ptsd-strategies-treatment.html Psychology & Psychiatry Mon, 07 May 2012 10:15:54 EST news255604548 Identifying diseases at an early, presymptomatic stage may offer the best chance for establishing proper treatment and improving patient outcomes. A new technique known as immunosignaturing harnesses the human immune system as an early warning sentry—one acutely sensitive to changes in the body that may be harbingers of illness. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-immunosignaturing-accurate-stable-diagnostic.html Immunology Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:17:19 EST news254420233 A pre-procedure bleeding risk score can accurately identify high-risk, high-cost patients and may provide an opportunity to employ bleeding avoidance strategies to improve patient outcomes and reduce total costs related to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures, according to a retrospective study being presented March 26 at the 61st annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific session. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-pre-pci-score-greater-higher.html Cardiology Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:10:01 EST news251977754 Patients who are underweight or small in stature are twice as likely to experience complications or die during insertion of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) compared to obese and normal-weight patients, 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-underweight-patients-defibrillator-implantation.html Cardiology Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:50:02 EST news251975669 The cost to place an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) increased by $844 per case after a new requirement from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) went into effect in February 2010, 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-medicaremedicaid-patient-outcomes-defibrillator-implants.html Cardiology Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:14:13 EST news251975647 Testing a breast cancer tumour for its genomic signature can help identify which patients will need adjuvant systemic therapy (additional chemotherapy) after surgery, and spare its use in those for whom it is not necessary, according to the results of a study to be presented to the 8th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-8) today. Dr. Sabine Linn, an Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, will say that this is the first study where such a test has been incorporated in decision-making about adjuvant systemic therapy, and that the results are promising. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-genomic-patients-chemotherapy-adverse-effect.html Cancer Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:01:09 EST news251625569 New research published in the March 15 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine identifies gene mutations associated with improved overall survival with higher doses of chemotherapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-genes-survival-higher-chemo-doses.html Cancer Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:07:57 EST news250967269 Among hospitals in Ontario, Canada, those with higher levels of spending, which included higher intensity nursing and greater use of specialists and procedures, had an associated lower rate of deaths, hospital readmissions, and better quality of care for severely ill hospitalized patients, according to a study in the March 14 issue of JAMA. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-outcomes-patients-universal-health.html Health Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:00:03 EST news250869296 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) estimates that about one in every 20 patients develops an infection each year related to their hospital care. The key to preventing an outbreak of potentially deadly healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) -- such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or C. difficile -- is identifying them before affected individuals can pose a transmission risk. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-collaboration-rapid-response-health-care-associated-infections.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:47:26 EST news250426040 Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have demonstrated that aggressive treatment of severe traumatic brain injury, which includes invasive monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP) and decompressive craniectomy, produces better patient outcomes than less aggressive measures and is cost-effective in patients no matter their age––even in patients 80 years of age. These important findings can be found in the article "Is aggressive treatment of traumatic brain injury cost-effective? Clinical article," by Robert Whitmore and colleagues, published online March 6 in the Journal of Neurosurgery. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-aggressive-treatment-severe-traumatic-brain.html Neuroscience Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:47:17 EST news250253226 (Medical Xpress) -- Hospitals are currently under pressure to control the cost of medical care, while at the same time improving patient health and reducing medical errors through appropriate nurse staffing levels. A study into the effects of a law requiring increased nurse-to-patient ratios on patient mortality finds that mandating such changes do not reduce adverse patient outcomes. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-reveals-nurse-to-patient-ratios-patient-safety.html Health Mon, 27 Feb 2012 09:00:01 EST news249554268 Nearly 1 in 10 children have asthma, according to government statistics, and in low-income parts of Boston, nearly 16 percent of children are affected. A program called the Community Asthma Initiative (CAI), developed and implemented in 2005 by clinicians at Children's Hospital Boston, demonstrates the potential to dramatically reduce hospitalization and emergency department visits for asthma -- improving patient outcomes and saving $1.46 per dollar spent through reduced hospital utilization. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-home-asthma-patients-payers.html Health Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:00:01 EST news248934830 A gene that influences the inflammatory response to infection may also predict the effectiveness of drug treatment for a deadly form of tuberculosis. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-treatment-tuberculosis-patients-genetics.html Genetics Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:15:31 EST news247850117 Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC, have successfully created and implemented an emergency general surgery registry (EGSR) that will advance the science of acute surgical care by allowing surgeons to track and improve surgical patient outcomes, create performance metrics, conduct valid research and ensure quality care for all emergency general surgery (EGS) patients. The registry, featured in a study published in the February 2012 issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, was modeled after the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) and components of the ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP). It is the first registry of its kind to establish ICD-9 codes (International Classification of Diseases) that help to define and evaluate EGS patients. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-database-aims-emergency-surgery-outcomes.html Other Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:40:01 EST news247749992 When cancers become aggressive and spread they are the most deadly. Unfortunately, little is known about how to stop this development. A new imaging platform developed by Lawson Health Research Institute's Drs. Ann Chambers and John Lewis is providing insight into just that - the exact moment when cancer cells turn deadly. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-aggressive-cancers.html Cancer Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:32:45 EST news246216751 Hospitals, health insurers and patients often rely on patient death rates in hospitals to compare hospital quality. Now a new study by researchers at Yale School of Medicine questions the accuracy of that widely used approach and supports measuring patient deaths over a period of 30 days from admission even after they have left the hospital. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-death-hospital-quality.html Health Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:53:03 EST news244821177 Major depressive disorder is a major public health problem that affects 7% of the population during any 12-month period and affects around 1 in 6 people throughout their lifetime. A Seminar published Online First by the Lancet reviews recent developments relating to this seriously disabling condition, and concludes that most patients need several sequential treatment steps for remission of their major depression. The Seminar also explains why deep brain stimulation is a treatment that holds promise for the future. It is written by Professors David J Kupfer, Ellen Frank, and Mary L Phillips, all of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA, USA. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-12-patients-sequential-treatment-remission-major.html Psychology & Psychiatry Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:30:01 EST news243520712