http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. (HealthDay)—Life expectancy of people with aggressive brain cancer may be easier to determine with a new method under development at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, researchers say. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-gauging-brain-cancer-survival-easier.html Cancer Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:00:01 EST news284834780 For patients with bone and soft tissue tumours, the study data currently available allow no robust conclusions as to the advantages and disadvantages of using positron emission tomography (PET), alone or in combination with computed tomography (CT). This is because no studies have directly compared the benefit of these imaging techniques with conventional diagnostics. And the few available studies on diagnostic accuracy do not show any relevant differences. This is the conclusion of the final report of the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) published on 15th February 2013. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-benefit-pet-petct-bone-soft.html Cancer Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:45:21 EST news281879108 Health care practitioners now can access patients' data using electronic medical records, which often include information systems that assess individuals' medical histories and clinical research to facilitate doctors' diagnoses. A University of Missouri researcher says the increased use of computerized clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) leads to greater patient dissatisfaction and could increase noncompliance with preventative care and treatment recommendations. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-digital-diagnostic-tools-patient-dissatisfaction.html Health Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:43:36 EST news278264602 For patients in whom a recurrence of bowel cancer is suspected, the study data currently available allow no robust conclusions as to the advantages and disadvantages of using positron emission tomography (PET), alone or in combination with computed tomography (CT). This is because no studies have directly compared the benefits of these imaging techniques in recurrent colorectal carcinoma (bowel cancer) with conventional diagnostic techniques. Although PET or PET/CT show a higher diagnostic accuracy, i.e. in certain cases recurrences can be detected more reliably, it is still unclear how this actually affects patient-relevant outcomes such as quality of life. This is the conclusion of the final report of the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) published on 24th October 2012. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-benefit-pet-petct-recurrent-bowel.html Cancer Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:49:28 EST news274362561 (Medical Xpress)—Heart surgery to repair the mitral valve is safe and leads to a better quality of life for older patients long-suspected to be too high risk for the operation, according to new research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-mitral-valve-safe-effective-elderly.html Cardiology Tue, 04 Dec 2012 07:52:43 EST news273829950 Due to the lack of studies, there is currently no proof that patients with ovarian cancer can benefit from positron emission tomography (PET) alone or in combination with computed tomography (CT). As regards diagnostic accuracy, in certain cases, recurrences can be detected earlier and more accurately with PET or PET/CT than with conventional imaging techniques. This is the conclusion of the final report by the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) in Cologne that was published on 23 May 2012. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-benefit-pet-petct-ovarian-cancer.html Cancer Wed, 08 Aug 2012 10:26:36 EST news263640390 Analysis of a drug regimen approved by the F.D.A. in 2006 for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (bevacizumab added to the standard chemotherapy regimen carboplatin and paclitaxel) finds Medicare insured patients age 65 years and older who received this regimen did not have improved survival compared to patients who received the standard treatment of carboplatin and paclitaxel alone, according to a study in the April 18 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on comparative effectiveness research. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-drug-regimen-treatment-non-small-cell.html Cancer Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:51:03 EST news253878657 Immunizations, including a yearly flu vaccine, are the best way to protect children from life-threatening pneumonia, according to new guidelines from the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-idsapids-guidelines-pneumonia-children.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 31 Aug 2011 06:07:09 EST news233989616