Birth control pills pose small but significant stroke risk Birth control pills cause a small but significant increase in the risk of the most common type of stroke, according to a comprehensive report. Worldwide, more than 100 million women currently use oral contraceptives or have used them in the past.
Pregnancy complications may signal later risk of heart disease death Women who experience pregnancy complications, especially those with multiple complications, are at greater risk of dying from heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases later in life. Researchers suggest women who experience complicated pregnancies should be targeted for early, aggressive preventive cardiovascular disease intervention.
New data on risks of labor anesthesia in women with low platelet counts Can women with low platelet counts safely undergo epidural/spinal anesthesia during labor? Available evidence suggests a low rate of complications related to abnormal blood clotting for this large group of patients.
Paving the way to ever-safer anesthesia Researchers have made a breakthrough that could help prevent patients suffering stress to the body and from feeling pain or becoming aware during anesthesia.
Study points to a possible new pathway toward a vaccine against MRSA New research has uncovered why a particular strain of Staphylococcus aureus -- known as HA-MRSA -- becomes more deadly than other variations. These new findings open up possible new pathways to vaccine development against this bacterium, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says accounts for over 10,000 deaths annually, mostly among hospital patients in the United States.
Tree resin may provide medicine against epilepsy Sticky resin from conifers contains substances that could relieve or cure epilepsy. Researchers have synthesized and tested 71 substances known as resin acids, of which twelve are prime candidates for new drugs.
Damage in retinal periphery closely matches loss of blood flow in people with diabetes A follow-up study has shown that these peripheral lesions, which are not detected by traditional eye imaging, correlate very closely with the loss of retinal blood flow called retinal 'non-perfusion' caused by loss of small blood vessels or capillaries.
Novel genes found in inflammatory bowel disease under age five Researchers analyzing the complicated genetic influences in inflammatory bowel disease have discovered new gene variants associated with an often-severe type of the disease that affects children under age five. The genes play important roles in immune function, and that knowledge helps guide more precise, individualized treatments for very young patients.
Pulses for better posture In an effort to find a better treatment for spinal curvature in children and young people, the EU’s “StimulAIS” project is focused on electrostimulation of muscles. Scientists worked with partners from industry and research to develop a prototype implant that would do the job.
Data scientists find connections between birth month and health Scientists have developed a computational method to investigate the relationship between birth month and disease risk. The researchers used this algorithm to examine New York City medical databases and found 55 diseases that correlated with the season of birth. Overall, the study indicated people born in May had the lowest disease risk, and those born in October the highest.
Ultrasound, algorithms to diagnose bacterial meningitis in babies Currently the only test to diagnose bacterial meningitis in babies is through a lumbar puncture, a painful and difficult procedure to perform. For this reason, a group of biomedical engineers decided to search for an alternative and developed a portable device that can detect this illness with a simple ultrasound scan of the fontanelle. The high-resolution image obtained is then analyzed with algorithms and within seconds indicates if there is cellularity in the cerebrospinal fluid that is sign of infection.
Surgical anesthesia in young children linked to effects on IQ, brain structure Children who received general anesthesia for surgery before age 4 had diminished language comprehension, lower IQ and decreased gray matter density in posterior regions of their brain. The authors of the study recommend additional studies to determine anesthesia precise molecular effects on the brain and contribution to diminished brain function and compositio
McDonald’s Plan To Phage Out Chicken Fed Medically Important Antibiotics McDonald’s announced Wednesday that, within two years, all of the chicken served at its 14,000 U.S. restaurants will come from farms which raised the birds without medically important antibiotics.Continue Reading
Marijuana: The allergen you never knew existed As marijuana’s legal status throughout the country continues to change, people should know it can cause allergic reactions.Continue Reading
Outcomes of lung transplantations since implementation of need-based allocation system Since implementation of a medical need-based allocation system of donor lungs in 2005, double-lung transplantation has been associated with better graft survival than single-lung transplantation in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.Continue Reading
Administering sedatives for patients receiving general anesthesia questioned Although sedatives are often administered before surgery, a randomized trial finds that among patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia, receiving the sedative lorazepam before surgery did not improve the self-reported patient experience the day after surgery, but was associated with longer time till removal off a breathing tube. Continue Reading
Stress markers in unemployed linked to poor health It appears that stress markers in unemployed people can be found, independent of smoking, alcohol consumption and overweight/obesity. Results from a study suggest that long-term unemployment may be especially damaging to health. Authors also note that older job seekers appear more affected. Continue Reading
