Researchers discover novel pathway of inflammation that contributes to lung damage in CF patients
...T-cells are depleted, the mice are able to protect themselves against infections when given an experimental therapy that takes certain proteins secreted by T-cells the growth factor, IL-17, for example and reconstitutes them into the system. Such an approach might someday treat infections which do not respond...Johns Hopkins scientists uncover clues to 'disappearing' precancers
...e of the lesions about 28 percent -- regressed by themselves before surgery within a time period considered within the bounds of care standards. But among patients whose pre-cancers lingered, Trimble discovered that women were three times less likely to resolve their lesions if they carried a certain immune s...... weak vibrations to the soles of people's feet. By themselves the vibrations were undetectable, or below-threshold, to the participants. But when the researchers added random vibrations -- noise, that is -- people were able to detect the frequency of the weak, original vibrations. However, the noise had to be "...Bad cholesterol: Genes make the difference
...ir of twins responded -- even though the responses themselves among different pairs of twins differed considerably. "If one of the twins could eat a high-fat diet without increasing his bad cholesterol, then so could his brother," says Williams. "But if one of the twins' LDL cholesterol shot up when they went ...Northwestern Memorial named among '100 Most Wired Hospitals' for sixth consecutive year
...y larger percentage of physicians who enter orders themselves and they conduct a larger percentage of clinical activities via information technology." Northwestern Memorial was recognized by Hospitals & Health Networks for its comprehensive clinical information system to improve quality and patient safety thro...Hepatitis A in US drops substantially after implementation of vaccination program
...large effect of herd immunity. These features lent themselves to a geographically focused strategy using a vaccine that could not be readily integrated into the routine vaccination schedule, and maximized the impact of limited vaccination. The changes we describe represent a transformation in hepatitis A epidem...SCAI news: Drug-eluting stents prove mettle in heart attack patients
...specially reassuring, given that heart attacks are themselves often caused by a blood clot, or thrombus, that blocks the artery following rupture of an inflamed plaque. "When you have a group of patients who already have a thrombotic milieu, you want to make sure that you're not risking further thrombosis with ...Despite conflicting studies on obesity, most Americans think the problem remains serious
...cludes more than half (54%) of people who consider themselves to be overweight. Obesity and Mortality A number of issues were raised by recent studies about obesity including whether more Americans die each year from the effects of obesity than from the effects of smoking and tobacco, and whether people who a...U of T study shows barriers to HIV vaccine acceptance
...Many viewed it as empowering to be able to protect themselves against HIV infection and others were eager to ensure their children were also protected. Both women and providers suggested that the vaccine be delivered as part of routine care so women would be able to take advantage of its protection without havi...Hepatitis C responds best to combo of ribavirin and interferon, study concludes
...iting the ability of viruses to make new copies of themselves andproliferate. Ribavirin belongs to a class of drugs called nucleoside analogues, whichincludes some anti-HIV drugs such as AZT (zidovudine). Ribavirin usedalone does not have any effect on HCV but in combination with interferonit appears to boost t...Doctors should stop prescribing antibiotics for the common cold, review advises
...sues." Dr. Arroll says that patients are not doing themselves any favors looking for a "quick fix" in pressuring their providers to prescribe antibiotics for colds. "Patients will get a quicker fix if they take decongestants such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)," he says....'Hospital-at-home' concept does not save money or improve outcomes, study finds
...nditions that can be well-managed at home and lend themselves to early discharge. Diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be two good candidates, she says. Shepperd says she suspects that when hospital administrators sit down to do cost-benefit analyses and patient volume projections, they overes...Inhaling large amounts of salt can cause hypertension
...ries such as the ones studied could easily protect themselves from the negative effects of exposure to salt particles by wearing face masks and plastic glasses....New study reports the risk perceptions of natural vs 'medicalized' childbirth
...al of Consumer Research . When consumers perceive themselves as being at risk, they will more likely go with the norm. This especially holds true with regard to health-related choices. But, consumers are growingly uncertain when it comes to making decisions based on heath risks, such as those related to childb...Arts program provides services, guidance to HIV/AIDS patients
...I use what I know to encourage students to express themselves in whatever way they need. It's about making meani...n exploring the wordless, most profound aspects of themselves in images; the close relationships that grow from such intimacy; and the transformation and redefini...Opiates better than sedatives for treating newborns in withdrawal
...rawal. However, new research suggests that opiates themselves are superior to sedatives for treating infants born to women who used heroin or methadone while pregnant. Opiates appear to better "ameliorate the withdrawal, facilitate feeding and potentially reduce the likelihood of seizures," according to two new...Cancer quest boosted by renewal
... other worn out or faulty blood cells must destroy themselves on cue. If this healthy process of programmed cell death goes awry and not enough cells die, then a leukaemia or lymphoma may develop. Our Centre is investigating how this inbuilt cell death process or 'apoptosis' normally regulates blood cell numb...Cognitive therapy effective in preventing repeat suicide attempts
...lence. "Identifying persons at risk of violence to themselves or others and offering or compelling them to receive mental health treatment services is warranted. Barriers to delivery of these services may be financial, such as lack of access to health care; structural, such as the lack of mental heath programs ...Cognitive therapy reduces repeat suicide attempts by 50 percent
...therapy were 50 percent less likely to try to kill themselves again within 18 months than those who did not rece... and other ethnicities. Most had attempted to kill themselves by drug overdosing (58 percent), with 17 percent by stabbing, 7 percent by jumping and 4 percent by ...Tsunami raises questions about disaster mental health, Science reports
...between NGOs that has happened this time. The NGOs themselves should perhaps give more consideration to how the services they have to offer can best be adapted to the local culture and to how their presence will benefit the local people in the long run. #...