Articles tagged with Medical Treatments
Researchers have identified distinct brain patterns that respond differently to learning danger and safety in individuals with varying levels of PTSD symptom severity. The study found that more severely symptomatic veterans exhibited greater corrections in physiological arousal and brain activity when faced with unexpected stimuli.
A computer-based decision aid did not alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress for family caregivers making end-of-life decisions. The tool's recommendations were often disregarded in favor of more aggressive treatment options.
Researchers explore how AI can analyze words and phrases, turn-taking patterns, and tone to improve medical communications. The technology has potential to revolutionize patient care by providing clinicians with assessments of their communication skills at lower costs.
A recent study published in The BMJ found that wearing a cast for three weeks is just as successful as the conventional six-week treatment period for treating Weber B-type ankle fractures. This discovery could lead to shorter and more convenient treatment strategies, reducing patient discomfort and costs.
A new study finds that offspring whose mothers had complicated pregnancies may be at greater risk of heart disease later in life. The research suggests that the prenatal environment can directly influence long-term cardiovascular health. Antioxidant therapy during pregnancy could potentially protect against heart disease in offspring.
A University of Adelaide study found that orthodontic treatment has no long-term impact on dental health. The research followed 448 participants from age 13 to 30 and found that those with straight teeth still required regular brushing and check-ups to prevent decay.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have made significant findings on how the brain processes visual information from both eyes. Contrary to previous Nobel Prize-winning research, they discovered that the brain combines dual signals in milliseconds, not later stages of processing.
International study finds MS treatments can delay secondary progressive stage of the disease by five years or more, improving quality of life. Early treatment is essential to prevent worsening disability and irreversible loss of function.
A study found that over two-thirds of patient organizations involved in assessing NHS treatments received funding from the manufacturer or a competitor, yet decision-makers were aware of less than a quarter of these interests. The researchers advocate for stronger policy on disclosure and greater transparency to reassure the public abo...
A new study published in The Lancet found that medically assisted reproduction does not increase the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. Couples can now consider fertility treatment without worrying about harming their baby.
Among American Indians and Alaska Natives, 41% have lifetime alcohol use disorder; 34% seek alcohol-related treatment. Men aged 35-64 are most likely to receive treatment, with 20.5% of non-Hispanic Whites also seeking help.
The study reviewed comprehensive AIDS prevention programs in prisons, which have been shown to increase prisoners' awareness of AIDS and reduce HIV transmission. These programs also promote the use of condoms, improve healthcare access, and decrease the risk of disease transmission.
A comprehensive meta-analysis of adults with autism found significant impairments in four key domains: theory of mind, emotion perception and knowledge, processing speed, and verbal learning and memory. The study highlights the importance of a broader approach to treating autism in adults, including non-social cognitive domains.
A new neurostimulator, WAND, can stimulate and record electric current in the brain simultaneously, potentially delivering fine-tuned treatments to patients with diseases like epilepsy and Parkinson's. This closed-loop system allows for real-time adjustments, enabling improved outcomes and accessibility.
A new study found that reducing alcohol use can lower nicotine metabolite ratio in heavy drinkers trying to quit smoking. This biomarker is linked to nicotine metabolism and quitting difficulties.
Researchers at Osaka University have developed a method to make industrial polymers adhesive without the need for adhesives or corrosive chemical treatments. This breakthrough enables vulcanized rubber and plastic PTFE to adhere strongly to each other, or to glass and copper, using surface chemistry.
The MONARCH study investigates if home eye tests can detect wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in patients, potentially reducing unnecessary hospital appointments and costs. Patients will complete three home eye tests weekly for one to two years, with results compared to hospital check-ups.
A new study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior found a strong link between unfair treatment by police and telomere length, a biological indicator of psychological stress, among black men. Telomeres were shorter for those reporting unfair treatment, and the link was more pronounced in black men.
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine reveals six high-quality instruments to measure delirium severity, enabling accurate assessment and improving clinical care. The findings have the potential to stratify risk, target treatment, and monitor outcomes for persons with delirium.
Researchers found that activating the locus coeruleus (LC) improves sensory information transmission and perceptual performance. The study provides insights into new treatments for neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease and depression.
Researchers found that relationship impairment interferes with treatment seeking among post-9/11 military veterans, particularly men, while facilitating treatment seeking among women. The study suggests a sex difference in the role of relationships on treatment use.
Researchers found that maintaining systolic blood pressure at around 140 mmHg experienced fewer negative health outcomes, such as second strokes, death or cardiovascular disease. The findings provide some clarity for physicians, but more research is needed to confirm the optimal level of blood pressure.
Ning Jiang, a UT Austin researcher, will investigate immune cell behavior in neurodegenerative diseases with a $2.5 million grant. This funding supports a collaborative project aiming to improve understanding of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
A Finnish study of 68,800 patients found that hip fracture surgery is associated with a significant risk of surgical complications. Patients with osteoarthritis, Parkinson's disease, and rheumatic diseases are particularly at risk, with 4.6% experiencing complications within three months of surgery.
Research finds that socio-economic conditions in regions affect T1 diabetes treatment, with disadvantaged areas having higher blood glucose levels, lower use of pump therapy and CGMS, and better outcomes for severe hypoglycemia. Frequent use of pump therapy and CGMS could improve treatment outcomes in these regions.
Scientists have identified a previously unknown structural change within cells that triggers the activation of the inflammasome, a multiprotein complex involved in inflammation. This finding provides a new avenue for developing therapeutics to target the NLRP3 pathway for inflammatory diseases.
Annual telemedicine visits increased from 0.02 to 6.57 per 1,000 members between 2005-2017, with growth accelerating after 2015. Most users resided in urban areas, a trend contrasting with the emphasis on expanding telemedicine access in rural regions.
Researchers from the University of Eastern Finland used postal code area data to assess treatment outcomes in type 2 diabetes patients. The study found that lower educational attainment levels in postal code areas were associated with higher long-term blood glucose values, indicating a need for targeted health care services.
A new animal model of age-related macular degeneration has been developed, allowing researchers to study the environmental risk factors that promote the condition. The model replicates aspects of human AMD, including lipid accumulation and inflammation, which can lead to vision loss.
Researchers developed a new AI method to evaluate treatment effectiveness in individual patients. The method uses causal Bayesian networks and was applied to obstructive sleep apnea treatment, showing reduced mortality rates by 5%.
The new guidelines provide an update to the previously published consensus on definition and diagnosis of sarcopenia. They include an easier way to screen for sarcopenia risk using a simple questionnaire, a systematic way to make the sarcopenia diagnosis, and suggestions for practical tools and tests at each step.
A new study has found that footballers' health screens, including echocardiography and electrocardiography, do not always detect potentially critical heart problems. In fact, six players out of 595 tested negative for serious cardiovascular issues, highlighting the need for further screening and timely symptom reporting.
The 5-year project will investigate diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in former NFL players. Researchers will track up to 2,500 players with annual follow-up health assessments to examine associations between clinical outcomes and abnormal tau buildup.
A study published in Optometry and Vision Science found that dry eye syndrome can slow a person's reading speed by up to 10% and make it difficult to read for more than 30 minutes. The condition affects millions of adults in the US, causing ocular discomfort and visual problems.
A Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health campaign targeting youth aged 14-24 showed impressive results in changing public attitudes toward mental health. The 'WhyWeRise' campaign increased support for people with mental illness and empowered youth to mobilize around mental health activism.
A new 15-minute brain scan predicts damage with 98% accuracy, helping doctors assess the extent of newborn brain damage and plan for long-term development. The scan may also aid in developing new treatments for brain injury in babies.
A survey found that 16% of adults in England used complementary and alternative medicine, with unequal access to these treatments. CAM use was more common among women and those in higher socioeconomic groups, particularly in the south of England.
The study found that performance coaching significantly increased rates of tobacco dependence treatment delivery among primary care clinicians. Clinicians who received coaching had higher rates of providing key elements of the 5As model and arranging follow-up support.
A new study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found that traditional glaucoma tests often underestimate the severity of central vision loss. Researchers developed a finer visual field test to assess macular damage and found it can improve diagnosis at no extra cost.
Dr. M. Brandon Westover has been awarded a two-year, $300,000 BIG Award to develop methods to track brain aging by monitoring brain rhythms during sleep. The goal is to create a low-cost marker of brain age that may help identify individuals at risk of age-related cognitive impairment.
Researchers at University of Copenhagen create technique to observe and measure fetal heart rhythms without direct electrode placement. The method uses a cloud of caesium atoms to detect small magnetic fields, mimicking the effect of placing an instrument on a pregnant woman's belly.
New reviews on symptom stability over time for bipolar disorder and psychotic disorders highlight the importance of diagnostic accuracy for prognosis and treatment. Diagnostic instability is associated with factors such as extreme age, female sex, and substance abuse, emphasizing the need for enhanced tools to quantify risk.
A new study found that exposing people with phobias to their fear at the exact time of their heartbeats significantly reduces phobia severity. Researchers combined computerized therapy with online heart rhythm measurements to treat patients with spider phobia, showing improved anxiety levels and reduced physiological responses.
A University of California San Diego School of Medicine team will investigate a novel treatment model called Regulation of Cues (ROC) to tackle binge eating disorder and obesity in military personnel. ROC targets underlying mechanisms associated with binge eating, aiming to reduce weight and obesity.
A new study published in Frontiers in Neurology found that robotic arm rehabilitation can promote speech and language function recovery in chronic stroke patients with aphasia. The research team observed small but consistent improvement on measures assessing speech articulation and overall language processing.
The Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology presents the latest clinical trials and breakthrough technology related to vacuum aspiration for removing blood clots in stroke patients. The results aim to improve the lives of stroke patients worldwide.
A panel of international experts recommends stopping oxygen therapy in patients with normal oxygen levels above 96% and not starting it for certain conditions. The guidelines aim to minimize harm from excessive oxygen use, which increases mortality.
A recent study found a significant increase in mental health diagnoses and treatment among US university students between 2009 and 2015. Anxiety, depression, and panic attacks saw the biggest increases, with anxiety now affecting almost 15% of students nationally.
Low-income obese patients lost a clinically meaningful amount of weight using a free phone app and coaching calls in a primary care clinic. The study found that 43% of participants lost more than 5% of their body weight, while 56% reached a healthy weight loss threshold.
A randomized, placebo-controlled study has shown that cannabis oil can produce clinical remission in up to 65% of individuals with moderately severe Crohn's disease after 8 weeks of treatment. However, the improvement does not appear to result from a dampening down of the underlying inflammatory process.
The 11th World Stroke Congress highlights the high impact of stroke in low- and middle-income countries, with over 80% of global stroke burden concentrated in these regions. Experts discuss prevention and treatment strategies to reduce premature mortality from stroke by one-third by 2030.
A nationwide study found large regional differences in endoscopic sinus surgery rates due to chronic rhinosinusitis in Finland. The highest rates were observed in public hospitals, suggesting a correlation between the availability of medical services and ESS rates.
A new study published in Pediatric Research found that children with asthma growing up in polluted NYC neighborhoods need emergency medical treatment more often. The study suggests that these areas may have other environmental factors affecting urgent asthma treatment.
Research reveals abnormal vision in childhood can impact attention and brain development. Studies show that patients with lazy eye have difficulty directing attention to the weaker eye when both eyes are open.
A study published in Human Reproduction found that accounting for cellular variability in endometrial gene expression profiles improves the accuracy of biomarker discovery. This approach can increase IVF success rates for couples who have experienced repeated IVF failure.
The partnership aims to provide a voice-based user interface for an existing Epilepsy Patient Portal, allowing patients to co-author their electronic patient record. This enhanced system will facilitate real-time reporting of health information using the patients' voice, making it easier for clinicians and more useful for patients.
Researchers found that patients taking full-dose allopurinol for gout flares had a lower risk of developing Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) compared to non-users. The use of allopurinol may be beneficial in reducing kidney disease risk, contrary to previous concerns.
The InforMing the PAthway of COPD Treatment (IMPACT) study found that triple dual therapies significantly reduced annual rates and moderate-to-severe exacerbations, improved lung function, and enhanced quality of life in patients with COPD. This benefit was observed regardless of baseline reversibility.
A recent analysis suggests that improving health care in Canada requires expanding public funding for cost-effective treatments, investing in primary care, and embracing technology. The authors propose engaging patients to determine services and standardizing quality-improvement tools to improve healthcare quality.
A user-friendly software tool models neural circuits in outer brain layers, enabling EEG-guided treatment for patients based on new knowledge of underlying neural circuits. The Human Neocortical Neurosolver is a free, open-source tool that can help bridge the gap between genetic and molecular changes to neural circuit level signals.