Major study: Bioartificial liver reduces mortality by 44 percent in acute liver-failure patients
...1992 to launch the country's first unit devoted to managing massive acute liver failure. The study included 147 patients who suffered from fulminant/subfulminant hepatic failure and 24 patients whose livers had failed after transplantation. Of the 171 total patients, 85 received BAL treatment, while 86 receiv...Data announced at ISHLT: Molecular testing proves effective in monitoring heart transplant rejection
...al outcomes. A major challenge physicians face in managing transplant patients is finding the right balance of drug therapy one that suppresses the patient's immune response enough to prevent rejection of the transplanted organ, but not so much that the immune system no longer competently fights infection a...Alzheimer's drug improves memory, cognition in MS patients
...t MS patients and their doctors focus primarily on managing the physical manifestations that characterize the disease, yet an estimated 50 percent of the patients will also face varying degrees of cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment can include difficulties with problem-solving, attention, learning and...Epilepsy presents unique problems for women
...iately." "Women with epilepsy need special care in managing their disorder," Dr. Yerby stated. "They cannot safely stop taking their medication without risking seizures and injury to themselves and their unborn."...Serious allergic reactions in cancer patients call for expert nursing intervention
...he physician collaborates with the expert nurse in managing the patient's treatment. Clinical nurse specialist Jeanne Held-Warmkessel, MSN, RN, APRN, BC, AOCN, of Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pa., leads an expert panel of oncology nurses as they examine complicated decision making and provides he...The future of nursing; overcoming obstacles today for a better tomorrow
...lenge now is maintaining very high standards while managing the changes created by an aging nursing population coupled with the shortage. All across the county, nurses are growing older and the supply of new nurses is not enough to fill positions left by retirees and the increasing demand for professional n...Insulin pump benefits preschoolers with diabetes
... data, the pump is an effective and safe method of managing diabetes in young kids," says Lisa Opipari-Arrigan, Ph.D., clinical assistant professor of Pediatrics at the U-M Medical School. In addition, parents of children using the pump reported less worry and emotional stress at the end of the study, while p...MRI superior to ultrasound in predicting cerebral palsy in preterm infants
...fluence the choice of imaging technique used. "For managing the acutely ill preterm newborn, especially for intraventricular hemorrhage and posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus, ultrasound is indicated. If there are other or additional concerns (for example, white matter injury), then MRI with diffusion tensor imagi...Exploring why disease affects people differently
... tackle psychosocial and disability issues, and in managing risk assessment and rehabilitation. The centre is ... the positive focus and goal for those involved in managing disability and those affected by unexplained symptoms" explained Professor Peter Halligan who forged...New asthma program in Detroit public schools may improve student grades and decrease absences
...constantly striving to find more effective ways of managing asthma in children," said Paul A. Kvale, MD, FCCP, President-Elect of the American College of Chest Physicians. "With a support network of community and school-based asthma programs combined with physician intervention, children with asthma and thei...Women and heart disease: The role of diabetes and hyperglycemia
...hallenges, therefore, include preventing diabetes; managing diabetes well if it cannot be prevented, including treatment that would be appropriate for persons with known heart disease; diagnosing the complications early; and treating the complications properly if they cannot be avoided."...E-patients are a valuable resource
...ised as a valuable new type of renewable resource managing much of their own care, providing care for others, helping professionals improve the quality of their services, and participating in collaborations between patients and professionals."...Rectal artesunate could be initial treatment option for moderate to severe malaria
...ess of artesunate given by rectal suppositories in managing the initial stages of moderate to severe falciparum malaria. 109 children and 35 adults were randomly assigned to rectal artesunate (single dose of about 10 mg/kg bodyweight) or quinine treatment (standard doses) given by intramuscular injections. 12...Weight loss drug Xenical effective and safe in overweight teenagers
...tly more effective than lifestyle changes alone in managing weight in overweight adolescents, according to new study results presented today at the 13th European Congress on Obesity (ECO), Prague, Czech Republic. 1 "This is good news for physicians, parents and young people struggling with teenage overweigh...Generics slow rising cost of prescription drugs in 2003
...ripts is proving that generic drugs are the key to managing the growing cost of prescription drugs and thus making it possible for plan sponsors to continue providing an attractive prescription benefit," said Barrett Toan, chairman and chief executive officer of Express Scripts. He added that GenericsWork u...Study: Dementia often undiagnosed in clinical settings
...zes the value of their time taken in detecting and managing cognitive impairment in our aging population." Researchers examined 553 patients of 34 primary care physicians affiliated with three Portland-area managed health care plans. Study subjects aged 75 and older were identified through primary care physic...VA beats managed care for diabetes, study finds
...ituted a series of quality improvements focused on managing chronic diseases, including diabetes. Many of the changes reflected recommendations subsequently promoted by the Institute of Medicine and treatment standards already used by some managed care organizations, such as performance monitoring, electronic...Older patients with chronic kidney disease are costly as they transition to dialysis
...future hospitalizations and bring down the cost of managing end-stage renal disease. "Although yet to be proven in a prospective clinical trial, early diagnosis of chronic kidney disease and timely interventions for complications of chronic kidney disease may prevent avoidable morbidity and cost," the author...National Academies news: Communication Awards winners announced
...Science Desk, Atlanta. Peggy Girshman, assistant managing editor, National Public Radio, Washington, D.C. David Perlman, science editor, THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE Henry Petroski, member, National Academy of Engineering; and professor of civil engineering and history, Duke University, Durham, N.C. P...... coasts as a tool for environmental monitoring and managing marine resources, as shown by Europe fostering a major new strategy on Integrated Coastal Zone Management." Laurent Louvart of SHOM agreed: "There is a new appreciation of the need to accurately chart the coastal areas as well as inland territories....