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State board-disciplined physicians more likely to have shown unprofessional behavior in med school

A study by UCSF researchers found that medical students with early warning signs of unprofessional behavior were nearly nine times more likely to be disciplined as practicing physicians. The study recommends reviewing medical school admissions and graduation standards to include explicit language about professional behavior.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateDec 21, 2005

Monumental measurement of mortality

A novel partnership between Indian institutions and the government aims to document the causes of death in rural and urban areas. The Verbal Autopsy method has already demonstrated reliable measurement of deaths in young and middle-aged individuals, and will be expanded to collect physical measurements and blood samples.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateDec 19, 2005

Gene linked with precursor to visual loss

A gene variant in Complement Factor H is associated with an increased risk of soft drusen, a precursor to advanced age-related macular degeneration. The study found that the CFH variant contributes to the development of soft drusen but does not determine who will progress to advanced AMD.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateNov 28, 2005

Preventing another Vioxx

A recent study suggests that current medical research methods are flawed and may miss signs of harm or benefit in subgroups of patients. Risk-stratified analysis, which considers multiple factors, can help detect these issues and provide more accurate information for doctors to discuss with patients.

Urban Britain is a recipe for heart disease

A three-year study by the University of Manchester found that people migrating from India to Britain are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease due to higher body mass, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. The research highlights the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and regular exercise.

Malaria risk – it's not all in the genes

Researchers found that household-related factors account for a similar level of variation in susceptibility to malaria as host genetic factors. Children living in high-risk households had twice as many infections per year as those in low-risk households.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateNov 7, 2005

Anxiety disorders increase risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts

A recent study found that anxiety disorders more than doubled the risk of suicidal thoughts and tripled the risk of suicide attempts in individuals with mood disorders. The presence of any anxiety disorder in combination with a mood disorder was also associated with a higher likelihood of suicide attempts.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of General Psychiatry·DateNov 7, 2005

Causes of primary biliary cirrhosis

Researchers found associations between PBC and family history of Sjogren's syndrome, urinary tract infection, smoking, nail polish use, and hormone replacement therapy. Never having been pregnant also showed protection from developing the disease.

SourceWiley·JournalHepatology·DateNov 1, 2005

Genetic prediction of Type 2 diabetes

Scientists have identified genetic variants in PPARG and CAPN10 genes that increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, particularly in individuals with other risk factors. A large-scale study found that these variants can predict diabetes in high-risk individuals from families with T2D.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateOct 31, 2005

Most published research findings may be false

Research studies with smaller sample sizes are more prone to false results. Additionally, scientific fields with smaller postulated effects tend to have higher rates of false positive claims. Financial interests and prejudices can also influence the accuracy of research findings.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateAug 29, 2005

Waist size is associated with the metabolic syndrome in children

A new study has established a significant correlation between waist circumference and components of the metabolic syndrome, including elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, in children. The research found that abdominal obesity, as measured by waist circumference, is an independent...

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine·DateAug 1, 2005

Older footballers more likely to 'do a hamstring'

Researchers found that senior players aged over 27 were more likely to suffer further hamstring injuries. The study also discovered that flexibility had no impact on the risk of such injuries in elite footballers, who account for 13% of all AFL player injuries.

SourceResearch Australia·JournalScandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports·DateJul 7, 2005