Articles tagged with Medical Facilities
A study by Columbia University researchers found that pre-menopausal Chinese-American women have greater bone strength than Caucasian women due to a higher plate-to-rod ratio in trabecular bone. The study used advanced 3-D imaging analysis technique Individual Trabeculae Segmentation (ITS) to analyze bone microstructure.
A Georgetown University Medical Center study found that tinnitus is caused by the brain's inability to repair itself after hearing loss, resulting in phantom ringing sounds. The researchers also discovered a link between tinnitus and other perceptual disorders, such as chronic pain and altered mood states.
Primary care providers experience stress and guilt when managing chronic pain, often feeling ineffective and frustrated. Strategies to ease these frustrations are crucial for improving pain management from both patient and provider perspectives.
Researchers found that cystatin C is more accurate than creatinine in predicting serious complications of kidney disease, including death and cardiovascular disease. A new test using cystatin C may be used to confirm or stage chronic kidney disease.
The European Science Foundation forecasts the need for powerful new accelerator facilities to tackle fundamental questions in nuclear physics, focusing on energy, health, and environmental problems. This will enhance skills in advanced techniques transferred to industries, ensuring access to expertise in low-carbon energy, medical diag...
Onconova Therapeutics presents updated clinical trial results for Estybon (ON 01910.Na) in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, showing increases in overall survival and bone marrow blast responses. Additionally, ON 013105, a Cyclin D1 inhibitor, demonstrates efficacy in nonclinical models of mantle cell lymphoma.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center discovered neurons in bats' brains that 'shush' irrelevant signals and amplify relevant ones, allowing bats to filter out background noise. This finding may help humans better understand how we process sound in complex environments.
As children develop, brain regions that make up the default-mode network start functioning together, leading to increased introspection and perspective-taking. This development coincides with emerging introspective mental activity during adolescence.
Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center are using mathematical modeling to study potentially deadly flu viruses and develop new vaccines and therapies. The five-year contract aims to enhance human immune responses and identify areas for investigation into treatments for lethal viruses.
A study by the American College of Radiology found that nearly all US community facilities performing breast MRI exams meet ACRIN and EUSOBI technical requirements. The Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium data revealed excellent adherence to equipment recommendations, with 94% of scanners using a dedicated breast coil.
Researchers at U of M Medical School and Minneapolis VA Medical Center discovered a correlation between increased circuit activity in the right side of the brain and involuntary flashbacks triggered by PTSD. The magnetic test, called Magnetoencephalography (MEG), reveals differences in brain activity among those with PTSD compared to h...
Researchers from Imperial College London describe a tabletop instrument that produces synchrotron X-rays with energy and quality comparable to some of the largest X-ray facilities in the world. This development could enable more precise investigations at higher resolutions, benefiting scientific and medical advances.
Researchers found that damaged mitochondria in the brain's neurons can lead to impaired synapses, crucial for normal brain function. Modifying cyclosporin, a drug already approved for organ transplant patients, may help slow down Alzheimer's disease at its earliest stages.
Research published in International Psychogeriatrics found that friends and family members of highly outgoing individuals may miss signs of depression due to inconsistent expectations. Understanding these personality dynamics is crucial for accurate diagnoses and treatment monitoring.
The Disability and Health Journal examines the Americans with Disabilities Act's impact on health care access and outcomes for people with disabilities. Despite progress in acknowledging physical barriers and staff training, ongoing challenges persist, including recurrent health care barriers and discrimination.
Georgetown University School of Medicine family medicine physician Susan Okie provides an overview of changes made by the FDA under Commissioner Margaret Hamburg. The FDA has adopted a more proactive approach to its public health mission, and is working to address growing pains within the agency.
Researchers at Boston Medical Center validated the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale, a tool assessing colon cleanliness during colonoscopies. The scale's accuracy and reliability were demonstrated, making it a potential international standardized tool.
Researchers found that individuals who don't speak English at home are less likely to receive colorectal cancer screenings compared to those who do. The study suggests that patient-provider language barriers and unmeasured differences in patient characteristics contribute to disparities in health care access.
Dr. Casaburi will receive the award on Oct. 8 at the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation's annual meeting in Milwaukee, recognizing his many contributions to the field of respiratory research and pulmonary rehabilitation. He is a leading researcher at LA BioMed, directing the Rehabilitation Clinical Tria...
Lillian Feldshuh, an early transcatheter aortic valve recipient, received the Courageous Patient Award at TCT 2010. She was successfully treated for life-threatening aortic stenosis and remains in good health.
A new study reveals that immune cells directly interact with and damage neurons in multiple sclerosis, leading to inflammation and neuronal injury. The findings suggest a potential therapeutic target for treating the incurable disease, by modulating calcium levels within neurons.
A study found that a widely used simplified heart-risk guideline may over- or underestimate risk for millions of Americans, with 5.7 million people misclassified into different risk groups using the point-based model versus the original Framingham model.
Insite, Vancouver's sanctioned supervised safe injection site, has been at odds with Canada's anti-drug policy since its opening in 2003. The facility's fate is uncertain, with the federal government appealing decisions to keep it open despite opposition from Conservative politicians.
A global shortage of medical isotopes, used in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, poses a threat to patient care and may force doctors to use less accurate tests. The shortage is attributed to the unexpected shutdown of major isotope production facilities, leaving only 10-15% of isotopes produced domestically.
Patients with DVA/DoD insurance are more likely to undergo an arteriovenous fistula, a procedure that improves survival rates. The study highlights the need for improved kidney-related care for patients before they start dialysis.
A recent report from the UK Vascular Society and Royal College of Physicians reveals patients in the UK are waiting too long for vascular surgery after stroke or TIA symptoms. The main causes of delays include delayed referral, scarcity of staff or operating theatres, and patient presentation issues.
A new primary care model called the patient-centered medical home has the potential to reduce diagnostic errors by focusing on teamwork, communication, and patient empowerment. The model emphasizes comprehensive and coordinated care, facilitated by partnerships between patients, their physicians, and other healthcare professionals.
Research suggests that requiring a five-hour rest period for surgical residents after 16 hours of work may not improve outcomes in commonly performed operations. The study compared outcomes in laparoscopic cholecystectomies and appendectomies performed during the day versus at night, finding similar good outcomes.
Topology optimization enables creation of patient-specific, case-by-case designs for tissue-engineered bone replacements in facial reconstruction. The technique accounts for variables like blood flow and chewing forces to optimize structure and function.
Researchers discovered a chemical that promotes brain cell growth, potentially leading to new treatments for Alzheimer's and neurodegenerative diseases. The substance protects newborn neurons from dying off, giving them better odds of becoming functional cells.
A top-down approach to radiography evaluation reduced unnecessary cervical spine X-rays by 83% at a large academic medical center. The policy was implemented through the medical director's office and resulted in significant cost savings and improved efficiency.
A Palestinian perspective on aid critiques the politics behind aid provided to the occupied territory, highlighting how it maintains an unacceptable situation. The authors argue that generous aid subsidizes Israel's expansion and perpetuates donor dependency, with 42% of health expenditure financed by donors.
Researchers from Boston University identified 19 genetic clusters, or 'signatures,' associated with exceptional longevity in centenarians. These signatures correlated with differences in disease prevalence and age-of-onset, potentially helping identify subgroups of healthy aging.
Researchers identified two experimental drugs that harness the fight-or-flight response to restore pumping strength to failing hearts. By targeting a key protein, these compounds slow and halt the progression of heart disease.
Research reveals high rates of STIs among older swingers, particularly those over 45, who have higher infection rates than other groups. Swingers are largely ignored by healthcare services, posing a significant risk to the general population.
Researchers discovered an estrogen-dendrimer conjugate that selectively targets heart-protective pathways in mice, promoting cardiovascular protection without stimulating uterine enlargement or breast cancer growth. The findings pave the way for potential therapeutic interventions targeting non-nuclear estrogen receptors.
Researchers propose a testable model of human tinnitus suggesting that the brain's limbic system, which normally blocks sound sensations sent from non-real sources, is compromised in people with tinnitus. This could lead to new therapeutic approaches by restoring the feedback loop and eliminating phantom sounds.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center found that no new medical strategies exist to prevent or treat fetal alcohol syndrome, a disorder caused by alcohol exposure during pregnancy. Despite ongoing research, sensitive diagnostic tools are lacking, and more investigation is needed into biomarkers and prevention programs.
The Air Force Suicide Prevention Program has reduced suicide rates significantly since its launch in 1996. The program's success is attributed to consistently supported interventions that promote coping skills and reduce stigma associated with mental health care.
A study analyzing 2,575 Dutch transplant candidates found that kidneys from donors after cardiac death provided a 56% higher chance of survival for patients. While the initial failure rate was higher, long-term benefits outweighed the risks, suggesting an expansion of available organs.
Researchers discover a combination of drugs that effectively target stubborn leukemia stem cells, which often escape standard treatment and lead to disease relapse. The study supports clinical trials of HDACi in combination with tyrosine kinase inhibitors to eliminate leukemia stem cells in patients with CML.
Researchers developed a new technique using patterns in immune response to differentiate between active and latent tuberculosis. The test identified specific cytokine patterns that allowed for quick diagnosis, potentially reducing early exposure to the disease.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded $1 billion in grants to construct, repair, and renovate scientific research laboratories across the US. These grants are expected to create or sustain jobs nationwide while fostering scientific advances that may lead to improved human health.
The DOE has approved a conceptual design for the APS upgrade, which will make existing X-ray facilities 10-100 times more powerful. The upgrade is expected to create new high-tech jobs and enable breakthroughs in understanding diseases and developing sustainable energy technologies.
Researchers found vinpocetine reduces inflammation by targeting the activity of IKK, switching off NF-κB and producing pro-inflammatory molecules. The study shows great promise for vinpocetine as a novel anti-inflammatory agent with no severe side effects.
Researchers found that SSRIs slowed platelet clumping in participants taking the medication to treat depression, suggesting a potential beneficial effect on cardiovascular health. The study's findings could indicate a lower risk of cardiovascular disease for people taking SSRIs to treat depression.
A Georgetown University Medical Center research team is developing new smoking cessation drugs based on an unconventional theory about nicotine addiction. The theory suggests that nicotine addiction results from smokers trying to maintain the increased number of brain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in a desensitized state.
Researchers found airway obstructions in young children have a surprisingly high mortality rate of 3.4%, highlighting the need for better education and regulations to prevent such injuries.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center discovered that morphine protects rat neurons against HIV toxicity, a finding that might help design new neuroprotective therapies. Morphine inhibited HIV protein gp120 and induced production of CCL5, which suppresses HIV infection.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center found that female sex chromosomes, not just hormones, help regulate blood pressure. Male mice with female sex chromosomes experience hypertension seen in postmenopausal women.
A new risk score tool developed by researchers at Intermountain Medical Center has been shown to more accurately predict patients' risk for cardiac disease and death. The Intermountain Risk Score, which includes age, sex, and routine blood test results, improved doctors' ability to measure patient risk by up to 57%.
A Texas-based consortium has launched a biotherapeutic manufacturing initiative, Project GreenVax, to produce vaccines for infectious diseases like influenza at a fraction of current time. The project utilizes tobacco plants and could provide vaccine protection to citizens worldwide that cannot currently afford them.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that the brain evaluates faces in two distinct ways: for quality of experience and economic value. The study used fMRI to measure brain activation while participants viewed faces and money, predicting how much they would pay to see a more attractive face.
Researchers highlight the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing in preventing spontaneous preterm birth. A review article highlights family history, infection, stress, and genetics as risk factors for early birth.
A year-long study found that a low-carbohydrate diet was more effective at lowering blood pressure than the weight-loss drug orlistat. Participants in the low-carbohydrate group experienced a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure, with nearly half seeing their medication decreased or discontinued.
A recent study suggests that parks and recreation programs are declining in the US due to budget shortfalls, which may exacerbate the country's growing obesity epidemic. The research highlights the importance of access to recreational opportunities for addressing health issues related to overweight and obese individuals.
Researchers pinpointed prime factors identifying elderly persons at high risk for developing major depression, including low-level depressive symptoms and poor social support. Preventive treatments hold promise for providing the greatest health benefit at the lowest cost.
David W. Russell has received the 2010 Avanti Award in Lipids for his groundbreaking work on cholesterol metabolism and oxysterol function. His laboratory has elucidated the enzymatic pathways responsible for cholesterol breakdown and identified genes involved in related diseases.
The American College of Physicians has awarded the Ralph O. Claypoole Sr. Memorial Award to Dr. Melvin R. Kaplan, one of LA BioMed's founders and a renowned internist. Dr. Kaplan has dedicated his career to patient care for over 60 years.
A new study from the University of Chicago Medical Center found that purchasing prescription drugs in three-month supplies rather than one-month supplies can reduce out-of-pocket costs by an average of 29% for patients. The total savings, including third-party payers, averaged 18%, with estimated annual savings of $148.6 million.