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Patients who have low to moderate blood alcohol levels may be less likely to die after arriving at the hospital with a traumatic brain injury than those with no alcohol in their bloodstream, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. However, those with the highest alcohol levels appear to have an increased risk of dying in the hospital.

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HIV-infected patients undergoing surgical procedures may be more likely to develop pneumonia after surgery and to die within 12 months than those without HIV. In addition, HIV patients with a preoperative viral load (number of copies of the virus in the blood) greater than 30,000 per milliliter appear to have increased risk of surgical complications.

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Children who received light therapy (phototherapy) for jaundice as infants appear to have an increased risk of developing skin moles in childhood, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Some types of moles are risk factors for developing the skin cancer melanoma.

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Melanomas (skin cancers) are more likely to grow rapidly if they are thicker, symmetrical, elevated, have regular borders or have symptoms. In addition, rapidly progressing melanoma is more likely to occur in elderly men and individuals with fewer moles and freckles, and its cells tend to divide more quickly and have fewer pigments than those of slower-growing cancers.

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Clinical characteristics of tinnitus such as duration, consistency and other factors influence the way individuals perceive loudness and annoyance associated with the condition, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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New findings from an observational study suggest that elderly men who received treatment for localized prostate cancer survived significantly longer than men who did not receive treatment, according to a study in the December 13 issue of JAMA; however, the investigators emphasize the importance of validating these results in randomized trials.

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A comparison of hospitals with high and low Medicare performance measures found little difference in the rate of death for three common conditions at the hospitals, indicating that the measures may not accurately reflect patient outcomes, according to a study in the December 13 issue of JAMA.

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An estimated 50 million people younger than 65 years in the U.S. live in families that spend more than 10 percent of their family income on health care, an increase of more than 10 million people in the past decade, according to a study in the December 13 issue of JAMA.

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An analysis of previous studies suggests that for people with a history of vascular disease, folic acid supplementation does not decrease the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke, as has been suggested in some research, according to a review article in the December 13 issue of JAMA.

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Women with higher levels of physical activity may have a reduced risk of breast cancer after menopause, according to a report in the December 11/25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The association appears to be stronger for estrogen receptor positive/progesterone receptor negative tumors (which are typically more aggressive) than for other types of breast cancer tumors.

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Men and women who lose weight by cutting calories also may be losing bone density, but weight loss through exercise does not seem to produce the same effect, according to a report in the December 11/25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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Men who lose 3 centimeters or more of height as they age have an increased risk of death and of coronary heart diseases events, according to a report in the December 11/25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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Asymptomatic brain lesions that recur on brain scans within three months of a patient's initial stroke may predict subsequent stroke, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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New mothers are at an increased risk for mental disorders such as schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder in the 3 months following the birth of their first child, according to a study in the December 6 issue of JAMA. The study also found that first-time fathers do not have an increased risk for mental disorders.

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Preliminary research suggests that whole-body PET and CT scans could provide a suitable method for diagnosing the stage of colorectal cancer, according to a study in the December 6 issue of JAMA.

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Suicidal individuals taking antidepressant medications appear to have an increased risk of additional suicide attempts, but a reduced risk of dying from suicide or any other cause, according to a large Finnish study reported in the December issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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Offering additional depression screening and care may save employers about $3,000 per 1,000 workers over five years, according to a cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis reported in the December issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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A higher body mass index (BMI), especially in early adulthood, may be associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer before menopause, according to an article in the November 27 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. This association does not appear to be related to ovulation problems that overweight women may develop.

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Among individuals without cardiovascular disease, taking statins regularly may reduce the risk of major heart and cerebrovascular events such as heart attack and stroke but not coronary heart disease or overall death, according to a meta-analysis of previously published studies, reported in the November 27 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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Intentionally losing weight and then regaining it may increase men's risk for gallstones later in life, according to a report in the November 27 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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Patients with lumbar disk herniation who had surgery or nonoperative treatments showed similar levels of improvement in the reduction of pain over a 2-year period, according to a randomized trial in the November 22/29 issue of JAMA. In all cases patients who had surgery did slightly better.

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About two-thirds of physicians surveyed reported being actively involved in activities such as community participation, political involvement and collective advocacy, according to a study in the November 22/29 issue of JAMA.

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An examination of 4 cases of botulism following cosmetic injections to the face indicates that the adults received a highly concentrated, unlicensed preparation that resulted in toxin levels up to 40 times the estimated human lethal dose, according to a report in the November 22/29 issue of JAMA.

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Men with overactive bladder and lower urinary tract symptoms who received a combination therapy were more likely to report improvement in symptoms than men who received only one medication, according to a study in the November 15 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on men's health.

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Treating advanced prostate cancer with radiation therapy after removal of the prostate gland reduces the risk of disease recurrence, but does not appear to significantly improve the length of survival.

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Avoiding health risk factors in midlife such as smoking, being overweight, excessive drinking and hypertension is associated with a longer and healthier life in men.

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Preliminary research suggests that testosterone replacement therapy for men with low testosterone levels appears to have little effect on the prostate gland, contrary to some reports that this therapy may be harmful.

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Eating more red meat may be associated with a higher risk for hormone receptor"“positive breast cancers in premenopausal women, according to a report in the November 13 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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Influenza vaccine is associated with a small but increased risk for hospitalization with the potentially debilitating neurological disorder known as Guillain-Barré syndrome, although the absolute risk associated with the vaccine is very low, according to a report in the November 13 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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The rate of colorectal cancer screening appears to be increasing among Veterans Affairs patients, although use of colonoscopy is less common than other screening procedures, according to a report in the November 13 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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Stroke survivors less than 65 years old report having more difficulty accessing physicians and affording medications than stroke survivors older than 65.

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Individuals who have higher levels of a fatty acid known as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in their blood may have a significantly lower risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

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A medication given to diabetics to improve their body's sensitivity to insulin also appears to slow the thickening of their artery walls, according to a study posted online today by JAMA. The study is being released early to coincide with its presentation at the American Heart Association Scientific Session.

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A pharmacy care program for elderly patients increases medication adherence, which results in improved health outcomes, according to a study posted online today by JAMA. The study is being released early to coincide with its presentation at the American Heart Association Scientific Session.

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Patients with heart failure and low systolic blood pressure at hospital admission are more likely to have poor outcomes including higher mortality rates and increased rates of rehospitalization, despite medical treatment, according to a study in the November 8 issue of JAMA.

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Several factors related to heart function and that play a role in heart failure are more prevalent than previously thought, according to a study in the November 8 issue of JAMA.

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Prevention of malaria for persons who travel for more than 6 months is complex and should be individualized, with advice from travel medicine specialists, according to a review article in the November 8 issue of JAMA.

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Traumatic events in childhood and stress or emotional instability at any period in life may be associated with the development of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), according to two articles in the November issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The findings suggest that CFS and similar illnesses may result from the brain's inability to cope with challenging experiences.

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Children who are more intelligent at age 6 may be less likely to experience trauma by age 17 and if they do, may be less likely to PTSD, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. In contrast, children who have anxiety disorders and conduct problems at age 6 appear more likely to develop PTSD following exposure to traumatic events.

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The use of anabolic androgenic steroids may be associated with an antisocial lifestyle involving several types of crime, including weapons offenses and fraud, but did not appear to be associated with violent crimes or crimes against property, according to an article in the November issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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Therapy that includes restraining the less-impaired arm or hand of a stroke patient appears effective in improving movement and functional use of the paralyzed arm or hand, according to a study in the November 1 issue of JAMA.

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New research indicates that blacks in the U.S. have a lifetime prevalence of attempted suicide of about 4 percent, a rate comparable with the general population, but higher than previous estimates, according to a study in the November 1 issue of JAMA.

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Patients with heart failure who used statins for the first time had a reduced risk of death of nearly 25 percent, compared to non-users, and also a lower risk for hospitalization, according to a study in the November 1 issue of JAMA.

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Preliminary research suggests that brainstem abnormalities involving certain serotonin pathways in the brain may play a more important role in SIDS than previously thought, according to an article in the November 1 issue of JAMA.

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Compared to white patients, black, Asian and Hispanic patients and those who are uninsured are less likely to undergo complex surgery at high-volume hospitals, which have been associated with better outcomes, according to a study in the October 25 issue of JAMA.

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Children and adolescents with developmental disabilities often have emotional and behavioral problems, and these problems can persist as the person grows older, according to a study in the October 25 issue of JAMA.

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Use of the influenza vaccine in children 6 to 23 months is not associated with an increased risk for a medical visit for any serious conditions, according to a study in the October 25 issue of JAMA.

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Black patients in Medicare managed care health plans often have poorer outcomes for treatment of common and important conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol, compared to white patients, according to a study in the October 25 issue of JAMA.

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For men with healthy lifestyle habits, drinking moderate amounts of alcohol may be associated with a lower risk of heart attack than drinking heavily or not drinking at all, according to a report in the October 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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Low testosterone levels may be associated with a higher risk of falling in older men, according to a report in the October 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.