Articles tagged with Systems Biology
H. Steven Wiley and colleagues use systems biology to analyze the EGFR receptor network, revealing surprising complexities. They predict that lower-affinity ligands can bind longer, allowing for more effective cancer treatments.
A recent study found that efalizumab, a new biologic drug, significantly improves psoriasis symptoms and quality of life for adult patients. The treatment reduced the frequency and severity of itching and scaling, offering a potential breakthrough for those suffering from this chronic skin condition.
CPOE reduces medical errors by improving communication and order tracking, but its use is hindered by implementation difficulties. Silent errors occur due to system design disconnects, including data entry and retrieval issues, and loss of face-to-face interactions.
Research by Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center reveals that hearing can significantly improve the ability of individuals with mildly impaired eyesight to locate objects in space. The study found that when sound was added, participants with nearsightedness were able to perform as well as those with normal vision.
Leaders at Duke University Medical Center propose a new approach to healthcare that emphasizes personalized health planning and prevention. The plan aims to reduce disease risk by analyzing individual genetic backgrounds, lifestyles, and environments, and providing patients with customized health plans.
Summa Health System's ACE model of care enhances stroke care by focusing on comprehensive assessment, function-oriented patient-centered care, and interdisciplinary team management. The system's dedicated 34-bed stroke unit discharges nearly 1,000 patients annually, making it the largest provider of stroke care in Northeast Ohio.
The ACCP's new Patient-Focused Care Pledge emphasizes the provider's role as a patient advocate, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary care and lifelong learning. The pledge aims to improve patient outcomes by prioritizing patient needs in all medical specialties and practice types.
Researchers studied 342,300 chronically ill veterans to track health care and survival between 1994-1998. Patient survival rates remained largely unchanged, while hospital stays fell by 50% and outpatient care increased moderately.
Georgetown University Medical Center has received a $6.5 million NIH grant to develop an innovative medical surveillance system that connects DC emergency rooms during crises. The system, known as Project Sentinel Collaboratory, will utilize the InSight real-time data repository and analyze de-identified medical information, weather, t...
A new approach to healthcare emphasizes patient-centered care, allowing patients to access medical assistance when and where needed. Implementing this approach requires embracing principles of expertise alignment, need-based care, and timely service.
This tip sheet explores the impact of continuity of care on patient outcomes and healthcare costs. Research suggests that provider continuity is associated with lower total healthcare costs, but not necessarily improved quality of care for patients with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Virginia Tech researchers are developing a brain impact monitoring system using the HITS sensor system, which measures impacts in football helmets. The system aims to identify the level at which impacts begin to result in injury and inform the design of better sports headgear.
Two new centers will explore modular biology and biological circuits in human cells, aiming to unravel complex patterns of biological interactions. Researchers from diverse fields will work together to solve today's most challenging problems in biomedicine.
A 2002 survey of US physicians found that while most are willing to help in emergency situations, few feel adequately prepared to handle bioterrorism. The study revealed a significant gap between willingness and readiness, with many doctors unsure of their role in disaster response systems.
The Lancet calls for increased investment in nanomedicine research, citing its potential to revolutionize disease diagnosis and treatment. The field's benefits include novel means of imaging and delivery systems for drugs and gene therapies.
A recent JAMA article highlights that less than half of patients with atrial fibrillation are receiving warfarin therapy to reduce their risk of ischemic stroke. The scoring system developed by Thomas J. Wang and colleagues can easily stratify patients at high or low risk for stroke, enabling targeted treatment and counseling.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified phosphatidylinositol 4 phosphate (PI4P) as the main regulator of membrane trafficking in the Golgi. This finding debunks a decade-old theory and provides insight into the vital process of cell survival.
A study of very low birth weight infants found that female babies grew more quickly than males, leading to higher obesity rates and increased risk of metabolic disorders. By age 20, 21% of females were overweight and 15% obese.
Researchers exposed eight healthy participants to hypoxia and normal air conditions to investigate potential link between air travel and venous thrombosis (DVT). The study found no significant changes in clotting activity during hypoxic exposure, but a larger study is required to confirm these findings.
The June issue of Plant Physiology features UCR's Center for Plant Cell Biology, which addresses fundamental questions in plant biology through interdisciplinary approaches. The center's work has significant implications for understanding plant cell function and responses to environmental changes.
The US healthcare system faces a high-performance goal with increasing efficiency and effectiveness. Key steps outlined include public reporting of data on providers, health plans, and demonstrations of new approaches to insurance coverage, technology, and quality standards.
A study found that physicians prioritize profits over patient benefits when considering cost savings. More than half of responding physicians believed money saved would go to insurance executives rather than patients or improved services. The study highlights the disconnect between doctor perceptions and long-term societal benefits.
The VA health system saw significant improvement in quality-of-care indicators after implementing reforms, including electronic medical records and accountability measures. The system outperformed Medicare on many measures, making it an excellent model for healthcare organizations to adopt.
A study found that over half of illicitly distilled moonshine samples contained high levels of lead, a toxic substance that can harm those who abuse it. The researcher hopes to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking moonshine.
A new study found that mecamylamine, a central nicotinic receptor antagonist, reduces the self-reported stimulant and euphoric effects of alcohol in humans. The study also decreased desire to drink more, providing evidence for its potential as an anti-alcohol reinforcement treatment.
A Vanderbilt University study found that mental health carveouts can lead to disruptions in care for the most fragile patients. The study, which analyzed 8,000 patients with schizophrenia, showed that those who received carved-out services missed more days of antipsychotic therapy and saw fewer doctors.
The study found that voice recognition technology has reduced report time turnaround from 133 hours to 66 hours, with preliminary reports available within 14 hours. However, technical issues such as freezing and interfacing problems with RIS systems have led to decreased productivity and satisfaction among radiologists.
The Office of Naval Research has developed a chest-mounted air-conditioning system that can cool an aviator's body by up to 10 degrees Centigrade. The system uses zeolite to absorb heat and is designed to be lightweight, compact, and independent of aircraft power.
A new study documents domestic violence by race and income in Rhode Island, finding that black women are overrepresented among victims reported to police. The researchers suggest that socioeconomic factors and racial positioning contribute to this disparity, emphasizing the need for comprehensive support systems.
Researchers discovered a corollary discharge inhibition mechanism that enables crickets to hear external sounds during song production, preventing desensitization. This allows males to defend their territory and respond to noisy predators.
Researchers at Georgia Tech and Emory University have developed improved molecular beacons for detecting viruses and cancer cells in living cells. The beacons use fluorescent dyes and oligonucleotides to target specific genetic sequences, producing a distinct optical signal when excited by light.
A study found that VA facilities in the US offer limited on-site specialty care for women veterans, with most services provided off-site through contracts. Facilities with more specialist physicians and separate women's health budgets offered more specialized services on-site.
Employers and insurers are exploring new hospital-tier insurance plans to increase enrollees' sensitivity to price variations between hospitals. This trend aims to moderate hospital prices by providing incentives for cost-conscious consumers to choose lower-cost facilities.
Researchers found that skills learned with the dominant arm generalize to the non-dominant arm, but only in extrinsic coordinates, and do not rely on inter-hemispheric communication via the corpus callosum. This challenges current models of brain learning and motor control.
A study found that 26% of jurors sanctioned deception by doctors to obtain care, while 70% favored appealing denied requests. The public's lack of trust in the healthcare system has led to support for 'physician gaming' to gain access to needed care.
A Pacific Northwest chemist has developed increasingly selective methods to separate and analyze biological mixtures using capillary liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The techniques enable researchers to predict the effect of complex perturbations on biological systems, such as drug side effects and virus exposure.
The article highlights the need for experience and evaluation of syndromic surveillance to detect bioterrorism. Emergency physicians are urged to be vigilant about reporting outbreaks to public health authorities until effective systems are in place.
A survey of physicians, adults, and health policymakers reveals widespread concern about chronic condition treatment. Over 90% agree that chronic conditions affect everyone, with most stating the current healthcare system is not meeting needs.
A study published in the Journal of Medical Systems found that internet use empowers patients and improves the physician-patient relationship. Patients who access health information online can arrive with background knowledge and ask informed questions, saving time for doctors.
A study by Shortt and Shaw found no correlation between socioeconomic status and waiting times for elective surgical procedures. The authors suggest that health reforms should track trends in service delivery to vulnerable groups, highlighting the need for equity in healthcare.
The article highlights the critical state of primary care in the United States, citing organizational and financial pressures that threaten its viability. The UCSF-led report proposes seven principles for reconstructing primary care, focusing on patient-centered care, adequate reimbursement, and improved education.
A study of over 12,000 physicians found significant variation in career satisfaction across 12 local markets, with Phoenix having the highest dissatisfaction rate and Syracuse seeing a notable increase. The study suggests that market-level changes, such as capitated contracting and regulatory changes, contribute to these variations.
The study found that physician groups use only 32% of recommended care management processes, leaving many patients without optimal care. External incentives from health plans and large purchasers can encourage the adoption of these processes.
Scientists are developing an encyclopedia of innate immune system activity using systems biology approaches. This could lead to a better understanding of inflammation and its control, potentially revealing targets for new drugs. The study also explores the use of bioinformatics resources to support research on immune-mediated diseases.
The research aims to identify key players in the innate immune system and study gene expression patterns triggered by microbial invasion. The grant will support a systems biology approach to understand how the system behaves as a whole, ultimately informing novel hypotheses.
A study found that 42% of emergency patients waited more than 60 minutes for care, with longer waits in poorer neighborhoods. Emergency departments with better staffing ratios had shorter waiting times, suggesting physician and nurse staffing as a solution to reduce wait times.
Sydney Brenner's groundbreaking research on Caenorhabditis elegans revealed genes controlling human processes, while his contributions to molecular biology and systems biology paved the way for major discoveries. His work at the Molecular Sciences Institute continues to advance our understanding of biological systems.
A new healthcare model is being launched at Duke University Medical Center, focusing on personalized health planning, coaching, and disease prevention. The initiative aims to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes by empowering patients to make lifestyle changes.
A new system integrating wireless technology reduces clinical errors by providing real-time access to patient data, allowing medical staff to spend more time with patients. The system has been shown to decrease the time required to see each patient by 30% in post-operative acute pain management wards.
A recent study found that the federal government's E/M coding system for Medicare has poor agreement among coding specialists, resulting in overbilling. The system's complexity and lack of precision lead to inconsistent coding practices.
A review of medical savings accounts (MSAs) suggests they are unlikely to reduce healthcare spending while maintaining access to services for all Canadians. MSAs were assessed using data from Manitoba residents, and the results showed an increase in government spending on healthcare if the threshold was used as MSA entitlement.
A study found that participants receiving automated, computer-based telephone intervention increased their level of physical activity after three months. However, the effectiveness dropped off by six months. The researchers suggest continued refinement of automated telephone interventions.
A new assessment method using a patient questionnaire and computer-generated risk score has been developed to identify people at high risk of colorectal cancer. The system was tested on 2268 patients with adverse colorectal symptoms, detecting nearly all cancers (99%) by investigating just over half (57%) of the patients referred.
Dartmouth Medical School (DMS) has developed innovative ambulatory teaching models that improve preceptor productivity while maintaining or increasing learner competence. The school also established a centralized office for community-based education and research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
A new laser-imaging system could detect tumors not visible on mammograms and predict benign or malignant growths, reducing unnecessary biopsies. The technology uses light to produce a 3D image of the breast's interior, promising to be a valuable diagnostic tool.
Researchers are using adaptive optics to study microscopic structures in human eyes, improving diagnosis of retinal diseases like macular degeneration and glaucoma. AO-based devices also enable precise measurement of optical aberrations, leading to customized contact lenses and guided laser surgery.
A pioneering neurosurgeon has successfully implanted an artificial vision system in eight blind patients, enabling them to drive cars and navigate their surroundings. The device, developed by the Dobelle Institute, stimulates the brain's visual cortex to create a semblance of sight.
A new series of articles explores the causes of medical errors, highlighting the limitations of relying solely on patient charts. Increasing the number of reviewers and requiring confidence in negligence can reduce rates of negligent events.
A new journal series aims to educate physicians about individual and systems factors contributing to medical errors. The series analyzes real-life cases, including a study of 17 errors that allowed one patient to receive an invasive procedure intended for another.
A large randomized controlled study of e-mail communication between physicians and patients found that messages from patients were appropriate and needed by doctors. Patients sent an average of 49 messages per 100 scheduled visits, but the sharp increase didn't lead to a corresponding drop in calls or no-shows.