Articles tagged with Medical Treatments
A study found that treating cirrhotic patients with synbiotics or fermentable fiber can alter the gut flora, lowering ammonia levels and improving clinical signs of brain and liver dysfunction. The treatments were effective in reversing minimal hepatic encephalopathy in 50% of patients, compared to 13% in the placebo group.
Harvard Medical School establishes three endowed chairs in sleep medicine, marking an historic moment for the school and the field. The chairs will enable advanced scientific research and development of new treatments for sleep disorders.
A six-year study by University of Pittsburgh researcher found botox injections to be a safe and effective treatment for bladder dysfunction, reducing incontinence in 67.2% of patients. The therapy works by blocking muscle contractions, restoring normal bladder function and improving quality of life.
A University of Pittsburgh study found that women with overactive bladder experience reduced sexual function and thoughts. Overactive bladder affects half of the 17 million Americans suffering from it, significantly impacting their quality of life.
A study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery found that elastic nails allow children to regain mobility and resume normal daily activities more quickly, reducing treatment time by half. Children treated with elastic nails missed about half the amount of school compared to those in casts.
Wavefront-guided LASIK yields sharper and higher quality vision, as well as improved night driving abilities compared to conventional LASIK. With wavefront-guided LASIK, patients achieve 97% of 20/20 vision and 85% with 20/16 vision, significantly outperforming conventional LASIK.
A recent study found that obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of auto collisions by 28%. Treating the condition with CPAP could prevent 980 fatalities each year, saving $11.1 billion in collision costs.
A study by the American Academy of Neurology found that botulinum toxin injections significantly improved musicians' playing ability and performance, with 69% reporting a positive response. The treatment was particularly effective for highly accomplished performing artists, who often face devastating career-ending symptoms.
A national survey found that 35 percent of respondents used prayer for health concerns. Prayer is most often directed towards wellness and used in conjunction with conventional medical care. People who use prayer report high levels of perceived helpfulness, but rarely discuss their use with physicians.
A new study published in the American Journal of Hypertension demonstrates that 15 minutes of daily RESPeRATE treatment significantly reduces home blood pressure in both medicated and non-medicated patients. The study also shows high patient compliance, with many patients continuing treatment after the trial ended.
A new study found that non-habitual acute resistance and aerobic exercise negatively affected sleep quality and length. Volunteers reported waking up significantly more times at night after exercise compared to before, while objective measures of sleep using an actigraph revealed no significant differences between exercise conditions.
A recent study investigated the effects of Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) treatments on physiological functions predicting athletic performance. The results showed no significant enhancement in endurance-related parameters, contradicting anecdotal reports of improved endurance during exercise.
A new study found that sacral nerve stimulation significantly reduces the number of weekly episodes of incontinence, from 16 to 3-2 per week after one-two years. The technique also shows an improvement in quality-of-life scores and is a safe option for patients with intact or repaired anal sphincters.
Researchers found that ultrasound treatment didn't hasten healing for muscle contusions in rats. In fact, the treated muscles healed at the same rate as non-treated muscles, suggesting no physiological benefit from ultrasound.
AstraZeneca has submitted a regulatory application to the European Union for the use of Atacand in treating heart failure. The CHARM study programme showed that Atacand reduces both cardiovascular deaths and hospital admissions across a broad spectrum of patients with chronic heart failure.
The Osteoarthritis Initiative aims to identify people at risk for OA and monitor disease progression using biological markers. The study will enroll 5,000 adults over five years, collecting data on joint pain, limited movement, and cartilage loss.
A primary care-based intervention reduced suicidal ideation in older adults with depression by over two-thirds, with improved depressive symptoms and risk of suicide. The program, called PROSPECT, used a clinical algorithm and treatment management by trained clinicians to improve treatment quality.
The study found that 88% of patients treated with wavefront-guided LASIK showed improved contrast sensitivity, compared to 40% for standard LASIK. This technology reduces higher-order distortions, leading to sharper vision with greater contrast sensitivity.
A new study published in Archives of General Psychiatry found that earlier diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia significantly improves patient outcomes. Patients treated early tended to be younger, less symptomatic, and more responsive to treatment than those not receiving early detection programs.
Researchers found that patients with multiple sclerosis who experience high levels of fatigue have widespread axonal damage in their brains. The study suggests that the nerve damage may be the underlying cause of fatigue, rather than other factors like conduction block or inflammatory mediators.
Recent studies suggest that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be effective in treating social anxiety in alcohol-dependent individuals, particularly those with severe depression. Additionally, anticonvulsants like sodium valproate and atypical antipsychotics like clozapine show promise in reducing alcohol use among bi...
Botulinum toxin type A treatment significantly reduces sweat production and improves quality of life for hyperhidrosis patients. The Hyperhidrosis Severity Scale is a new tool to identify and assess treatment results.
A study of nearly 200 patients found that company doctor adherence to guideline standards reduced absenteeism but decreased patient satisfaction. Factors such as employee pessimism and anxiety disorders also predicted unfavourable outcomes.
A randomized trial found that high doses of folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 did not lower the risk of recurrent stroke. However, moderate reduction in blood amino acid levels was associated with a lower risk of stroke, heart disease, and death.
A study in four Scandinavian health care sectors found that public awareness programs significantly reduced the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) for first-episode patients. The programs included educational campaigns and a telephone hotline number, resulting in median DUP of 5 weeks compared to 16 weeks.
A recent study found that 72% of adverse events (AEs) among patients after discharge are related to medications. Female sex, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and pneumonia were identified as independent predictors for AEs.
A study found that people with migraines have a higher risk of developing brain infarcts and white matter lesions, especially in the cerebellar region. Women with migraine also had twice the risk for deep WMLs compared to controls.
Postnatal depression is a severe mental illness with long-term effects, responding to treatment and requiring multidisciplinary care. The Lancet article shares a personal account and highlights the importance of recognition, support groups, and medical community response.
Patients undergoing cosmetic surgery showed improved risk recall when informed of potential complications through both verbal and written means. A study found that patients who received a pamphlet outlining their procedure's risks retained more information than those who only discussed it verbally.
A recent study found that CPAP treatment significantly improves insulin sensitivity in patients with OSAS, with less obese patients showing improvements after just 2 days of treatment. The researchers also identified a link between increased insulin resistance and the metabolic effects of OSAS.
A study by Duke University researchers found that beta blocker therapy for heart failure reduces societal costs by $3,959 per patient over five years. The treatment also improves survival rates and reduces hospitalizations. However, the authors suggest that Medicare coverage of medication costs could increase benefits.
MUHC researchers have developed a new method to diagnose and treat sleep apnea in children, significantly reducing wait times. The new approach allows for early detection and treatment of severe cases, enabling timely interventions.
Researchers found that early treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in high-risk infants can prevent severe vision loss. The ETROP study demonstrated that premature infants who receive therapy in the early stage of the disease retain better vision than those who wait until their condition is more advanced.
Researchers found a positive association between high vitamin B12 levels and effective treatment of major depressive disorder. Patients with higher vitamin B12 concentrations responded better to treatment, even when other factors were controlled for.
A new treatment using 15% azelaic acid gel has been shown to be more effective than metronidazole gel in reducing rosacea symptoms. Patients who used the azelaic acid gel experienced a greater reduction in redness and lesion count compared to those who used metronidazole gel.
Researchers found that VR therapy with touch reduces anxiety and increases participants' comfort near real spiders. After three sessions, those who received touch-based therapy came within 6 inches of a live tarantula, compared to 5 feet for the control group.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has established two new research centers to investigate the underlying mechanisms and potential benefits of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The first two Centers of Excellence, funded with $5.9 million and $5.8 million grants, will focus on studying ac...
A Danish study of over 56,000 births found that women trying to conceive for over a year were at increased risk of preterm delivery, term babies with low birthweight, and Caesarean section. The study also found significant associations between infertility and adverse birth outcomes in both treated and untreated infertile women.
Recent studies question the volume-outcome relationship, suggesting that patient characteristics and hospital quality may play a greater role than previously thought. Additionally, topical nerve growth factor shows promise in treating pressure ulcers, with significant healing outcomes reported.
A new Duke study finds that forgiveness, through loving-kindness meditation, reduces back pain and depression in patients with persistent low back pain. The study suggests a strong relationship between forgiveness and pain, including measures of adjustment.
Researchers discovered that a single dose of erythropoietin may provide acute protection after myocardial infarction or cardiac surgery. The treatment also preserves the ischemic and infarcted heart in the long term, showing promise for preventing future heart attacks.
A Dartmouth study analyzing Medicare data from 1998-2000 found that racial disparities in knee replacement surgery exist not only by sex but also by geographic location. Despite similar rates among African-American women and white women, black men were half as likely to undergo the procedure as their white counterparts.
The award recognizes journalists who raise public awareness about allergic diseases, recognize allergists as experts, and provide medically accurate information. Eligible entries must have been published or broadcast between September 1, 2002, and August 31, 2003.
Two studies presented at the Heart Failure Society of America annual conference show that an experimental respiratory-pacing device, inTone TM, significantly improves heart failure patients' ejection fraction, pulmonary artery pressure, and quality of life. The device's non-invasive therapy is delivered through a 15-minute session twic...
A new four-year study aims to explore the effectiveness of advance directives in mental health care, with over 500 patients enrolled. The study seeks to determine whether providing resources and support can encourage patients with serious psychiatric disorders to create legally valid advance instructions for mental health treatment.
A recent study found that anthrax lethal toxin causes liver failure through hypoxia-induced toxicity, rather than septic shock. This discovery challenges current treatment approaches and emphasizes the importance of understanding unique pathophysiology in anthrax patients.
A UCSD team discovered that ethics consultations significantly reduced futile end-of-life treatments, allowing patients to receive comfort care and minimizing unnecessary suffering. The study found a notable reduction in hospital stays, ICU days, and life-sustaining treatments among patients who received counseling.
A study by a UC assistant professor of sociology found that African Americans are twice as likely to prefer African American doctors and nurses if they or a family member experienced unfair treatment. The study analyzed national phone survey data collected by the Kaiser Family Foundation in 1999.
A new study suggests that atropine may be a viable treatment option for children with lazy eye, offering an alternative to traditional patching methods. The research found that atropine was just as effective in improving visual acuity as patching, even in children with poorer eyesight.
A new study by Ohio State University researchers found that eight autistic children who participated in the Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) program showed significant improvements in IQ scores and adaptive behavior. Six of the children achieved average IQ scores, while two improved to mild mental retardation.
A new study aims to reduce juvenile delinquency in rural areas by providing home-based, family-oriented health services and early intervention. The Rural Appalachia Project will work with opinion leaders to change social context and improve mental health treatment for children aged 9-17 with serious conduct problems.
A study by University of Virginia Health System found that drivers with type-1 diabetes are more likely to be involved in car crashes and experience hypoglycemic episodes. The study revealed that only 20% of type-1 diabetic drivers were at increased risk, emphasizing the need for personalized treatment to mitigate this risk.
An international study found that smaller aneurysms (less than seven millimeters) are at low risk for rupture, and patients' age, location of the aneurysm, and history of previous ruptures are key factors to consider. The study also showed that treatment risks increase substantially after age 50 and older.
The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology report shows a trend of increasing availability and efficacy of ART treatments in Europe, with Denmark leading the way in terms of fertility treatment accessibility. The report also highlights declining numbers of embryos transferred per cycle, reducing multiple pregnancies.
Infertility in developing countries is largely due to preventable causes such as sexually transmitted diseases. Accessible preventative treatments can help tackle the issue, reducing stigma and social ostracization.
A study by Elizabeth Asung found that the risk of ectopic pregnancies after IVF-ET decreases with age in women with tubal disease. This is a surprising finding, as the risk typically increases with age in the general population. The study analyzed data from 97,240 women aged 18-50 who underwent IVF between 1991 and 1999.
Researchers found semen volume increases with abstinence, but sperm morphology deteriorates over time. Abstaining for up to two days may be sufficient for some men undergoing fertility treatment.
Researchers found that signals from the basal ganglia may be preventing intact visual areas from functioning properly. Disrupting basal ganglia activity could restore balance and treat visual neglect, a condition where patients perceive only half of their surroundings.
Researchers at Louisiana Tech University are developing handheld computers to gather real-time data on patients' psychological states. This innovative approach aims to provide more accurate diagnoses and better treatment decisions.
A large collection of cases reveals that IVIG treatment can cause strokes in some patients, particularly those with hypertension, diabetes, and a history of cerebrovascular disease. The study found a 0.6% risk of stroke among inpatient IVIG recipients over a four-year period.