UCLA brain scientists crack mystery of how alcohol causes intoxication
... naturally occurring gene mutation in rats' brains lowers the animals' tolerance to alcohol, leading to rapid and acute intoxication after the equivalent of one drink. The UCLA study is the first to identify how the gene variation alters GABA receptors -- specific sites targeted by chemicals from the brain...New stroke-prevention drug unlikely to be cost-effective except in patients at high risk of bleeding
.... Gage, M.D., associate professor of medicine. "It lowers the risk of stroke by 65 percent. Unfortunately, patients have different sensitivities to warfarin, so it's difficult to adjust the dose, especially when initiating the drug. While they're on warfarin, patients' blood clotting has to be monitored oft...Herb used to treat diabetes works like modern-day prescription drugs, study suggests
...and insulin levels. "Lowering blood glucose levels lowers the risk of disease-related complications in people with diabetes," Hertzler said. "Also, poor compliance with diabetes medications often hinders the effectiveness of these drugs. It may be easier to get someone to take an herb with food or in a beve...New test improves detection of bladder cancer
...ter they have become invasive or metastatic, which lowers 5-year survival to approximately 48 percent and 10 percent, respectively. As a result, 13,000 Americans will die of bladder cancer this year. A combination of methods is used for diagnosis of bladder cancer because no single procedure detects all mal...Community-based care beats standard clinic in lowering heart
...r to a regular care system has the same impact and lowers costs. I suspect it will." Becker said that the results should encourage others to consider alternative systems, or at least more flexible systems to help reduce heart disease risk among African Americans. Co-authors include Lisa R. Yanek, M.P.H.; W...Cardiac deaths peak in sleep hours for patients with sleep apnea
..., as many as 60 times per hour. This significantly lowers oxygen levels in the bloodstream, elevates nighttime blood pressure and causes heart rhythm disturbances. Dr. Gami pointed out that about a fifth of North American adults have sleep apnea; most remain undiagnosed. Snoring is often a symptom, as is i...Geodon effective in psychiatric emergencies; Sharply reduces time in restraints
...antial benefits. "Reducing the time in restraints lowers the chance for complications. This new medication really does represent a significant new option in emergency treatment of severely agitated patients, particularly because it's effective in treating agitation, whatever the apparent cause," he said. ...