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Cancer: Exercise reduces tiredness

Aerobic exercise can help relieve fatigue associated with cancer and treatment, balancing rest with physical activity may reduce fatigue. The new review adds 28 studies, including those in breast cancer patients, showing that aerobic exercise benefits those with solid tumours during and after treatment.

SourceWiley·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·DateNov 13, 2012

Prostate cancer prognosis hope

Researchers have identified a new molecular marker, β2-syntrophin, which can help differentiate between low-risk and high-risk types of prostate cancer. This breakthrough discovery could lead to more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatment plans, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateOct 29, 2012

Hot flashes can come back after SSRI

A recent study published in Menopause found that about one-third of women who stopped taking the SSRI antidepressant escitalopram experienced a relapse of hot flashes and night sweats. Women with insomnia and those who responded less well to the medication were more likely to experience a relapse.

SourceThe Menopause Society·JournalMenopause·DateOct 24, 2012

Endoscopic mucosal resection before radiofrequency ablation is equally effective compared with RFA alone for advanced Barrett's esophagus

A new study found that EMR before RFA is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with nodular Barrett's esophagus and advanced neoplasia. The performance of EMR before RFA was not associated with a diminished likelihood of success or increased stricture rate compared to RFA alone.

SourceAmerican Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy·JournalGastrointestinal Endoscopy·DateOct 16, 2012

Common birth control device may be cost-effective treatment for early endometrial cancer

A common birth control device has been shown to be effective in treating early-stage endometrial cancer, particularly in morbidly obese and high-risk patients. The intrauterine device releases progestin levonorgestrel, successfully used as a contraceptive for the past decade, and successfully reversed abnormal cell growth in all patients.

Study shows fit elderly patients should be considered for therapy

A study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology found that fit elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer can benefit from salvage targeted therapy without increased toxicity. The study analyzed data from 255 patients and showed no difference in response rates or progression-free survival between age groups.

SourceInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer·JournalJournal of Thoracic Oncology·DateOct 15, 2012

Breathe in, breathe out: New way of imaging lungs could improve COPD diagnosis and treatment

A new approach to lung scanning, called parametric response mapping, allows for better distinction between early-stage small airway disease and emphysema in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The technique enables precise diagnosis and treatment planning, as well as tracking COPD progression over time.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalNature Medicine·DateOct 7, 2012

Evidence-based guidelines enable optimal treatment of common low-back pain

A set of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines has been established to guide the diagnosis and treatment of low-back pain in the US. The guidelines recommend careful observation, over-the-counter pain medication, and targeted physical activity for most patients, while reserving imaging and surgery for specific cases with red flags.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·JournalJournal of the American College of Radiology·DateOct 1, 2012

Breakthrough for new diabetes treatment

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have made a major breakthrough in type II diabetes treatment by inhibiting VEGF-B. The study shows that VEGF-B inhibition can prevent and treat insulin resistance, which is related to the storage of fat in muscles, blood vessels, and heart.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNature·DateSep 27, 2012

Like prostate cancer, bladder cancer patients may benefit from anti-androgen therapy

A University of Colorado study shows that bladder cancer patients with high CD24 expression have worse prognoses and may benefit from anti-androgen therapies. CD24 expression depends on androgens, and blocking these hormones may diminish the proliferative and metastatic power of bladder cancer cells.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 24, 2012

Substance-use disorders linked to increased risk of death for veterans with PTSD

A new study by the University of Michigan Health System and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System found a significant link between substance-use disorders and mortality in veterans with PTSD. Younger veterans, including those from Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, showed a stronger association between substance-use disorders and death.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalDrug and Alcohol Dependence·DateSep 18, 2012

UGA chemistry discovery could have major medical implications

Researchers at UGA have made a major medical breakthrough by discovering how an oxygen-sensing bacterial protein senses oxygen through reversible structural changes in an iron-sulfur cluster. This mechanism could ultimately lead to a better understanding of the aging process and new treatments for human diseases.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 10, 2012

Targeting inflammation to treat depression

Researchers found that a medication inhibiting inflammation showed promise in treating major depression, especially in individuals with high levels of inflammation. The study employed infliximab, an antibody blocking tumor necrosis factor, and demonstrated improved symptoms in subjects with elevated C-reactive protein levels.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalArchives of General Psychiatry·DateSep 3, 2012

Cleveland Clinic researchers investigating potential drug for treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute and Anesthesiology Institute have discovered a potential new treatment for Alzheimer's disease. The compound MDA7 has been shown to induce beneficial immune responses that limit the development of the disease, restoring cognition, memory, and synaptic plasticity in animal models.

SourceCleveland Clinic·JournalNeurobiology of Aging·DateAug 31, 2012