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Released: 7-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Center For Reproductive Excellence Using Advanced Technology and Endocrinology Founded
Virginia Tech

The possibility of human cloning and other advancements in assisted reporductive technology have made headlines and introduce new medical ethics issues. In an effort to better organize expertise in this arena, Virginia Tech has established Center for Reproductive Excellence Using Advanced TEchnology and Endocrinology (CREATE).

   
Released: 7-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Cordless Portable Vacuum Keeps Surgical Site Free of Fluid
Northwestern University

Northwestern University students have helped design a handy device to help surgeons keep their surgical sites neat and tidy -- a cordless medical vacuum that runs on batteries and can hold a pint of fluid.

   
Released: 7-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Highlights from AHCPR's Research Activities
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

These are the lead stories included in the latest issue of AHCPR's Research Activities o Medicare and Private Insurers are Likely to Pay More Than Others for Similar Home Health Services o Elderly Patients May Be Safely Discharged Early From The Hospital Following Bypass Surgery o Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy Among Women Without Symptoms Has Doubled, But Remains Low o More Employers Are Offering Health Insurance, But Fewer Workers are Taking It

Released: 7-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Stroke-Preventing Operation Is Safe Even For The Elderly
Johns Hopkins Medicine

A widely used operation to prevent stroke by removing blockages from blood vessels in the neck is safe even for the elderly -- and safest and least expensive when done in hospitals performing the greatest number, a Johns Hopkins study has found.

Released: 7-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
People Who Quit Smoking are Much Less Likely to be Hospitalized than those who Don't
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

A new study funded by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) shows that people who give up smoking are no more likely to be hospitalized than persons who never smoked. The finding is from the largest and most comprehensive study to date on how people's biomedical risk factors influence their likelihood of someday needing costly inpatient care.

Released: 6-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Potential Heart Risk from Shop Security Systems
Spectrum Science Communications

A London conference on Wednesday, 11th March 1998 will hear that the UK's 200,000 heart pacemaker wearers may be at risk from a certain type of anti-theft device used by retailers nation-wide.

Released: 6-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Sinai Hospital Offers New Alternative to Hysterectomy
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore

Sinai Hospital of Baltimore is the first in Maryland to offer a new minimally invasive thermal treatment for women suffering from menorrhagia, excessive menstrual bleeding. In many cases, the treatment, which removes the endometrium, the tissue lining the uterus, can replace a hysterectomy, the most common form of therapy for this problem.

Released: 6-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
An Owl's Early Lessons Leave Their Mark on the Brain
Stanford Medicine

STANFORD-- Lessons learned early in life can, at least in owls, leave a permanent mark in the brain. The mark allows an adult owl to re-learn a task that it learned early in life, though the same task can never be learned by an adult who has not had such training as a juvenile.

Released: 6-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Hypertension Medication May Decrease Risk of Heart Attacks in Diabetics
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

People with Type 2 diabetes and high-blood pressure had a decreased incidence of heart attacks with the use of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor when compared with a calcium channel blocker to control their hypertension, according to a University of Colorado Health Sciences Center study published in the March 5 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

6-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
New Imaging Technique Pinpoints Dead Heart Muscle
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Scientists at Johns Hopkins have developed the first precise, noninvasive means of measuring a chemical in the heart tied to the extent of muscle damage from a heart attack.

6-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Nighttime blood pressure measurement can identify high risk of stroke
American Heart Association (AHA)

High blood pressure is already a primary risk factor for stroke, but Japanese researchers say that hypertensive patients who also exhibit a minimal nighttime dip in blood pressure may be at even higher risk, according to a study published in today's Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Released: 5-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Women, Ethnic Groups Wait Longer for Liver Transplantation
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

A Johns Hopkins School of Public Health study of the factors that influence how long a person who needs a liver transplant has to wait has shown that women, Hispanic-Americans, Asian-Americans, and children waited longer than other groups for transplants.

Released: 5-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Snipping Inflammation in the Bud; New Agents May Provide Relief
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Trying a new approach to controlling the process of inflammation, scientists have forged a new class of synthetic molecules that offer a new strategy for treating pain, swelling and the other hallmarks of injury or illness.

Released: 5-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
At Last, a Reliable Diagnostic for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Research Corporation Technologies

A new immunoassay may help physicians identify rheumatoid arthritis (RA) earlier and begin treatment to prevent or postpone the debilitating and costly consequences of the disease. The test also may remove much of the guesswork from managing patients with severe forms of RA.

Released: 4-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
American Heart Association comment on New England Journal of Medicine report on calcium antagonist nisoldipine (March 5 issue)
American Heart Association (AHA)

A study in the NEJM titled "The effect of nisoldipine as compared with enalapril on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes and hypertension," finds an increased risk of fatal and non-fatal heart attacks among individuals taking the calcium antagonist nisoldipine compared to individuals taking enalapril, which is a member of a class of drugs called ACE-inhibitors.

3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Minimally invasive therapy helps women with chronic pelvic pain
Academy of General Dentistry (AGD)

Women with chronic, heavy pain in the pelvic area are finding relief thanks to a nonoperative treatment for a problem that frequently goes undiagnosed and untreated.

3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Studies show interventional radiology procedures save lives are more cost effective than surgery
Academy of General Dentistry (AGD)

Interventional radiology therapies for some medical problems are less invasive, less expensive and often more successful than the surgical alternative.

Released: 3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Stress Faced by Air Traffic Controllers Not Linked to High Blood Pressure
American Society of Hypertension (ASH)

Despite the stress and tension of their jobs, air traffic controllers do not experience a greater incidence of high blood pressure than people in less stressful work environments, according to a study published in the current issue of the American Journal of Hypertension.

Released: 3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
American Psychiatric Association March 1998 Tipsheet
American Psychiatric Association (APA)

American Psychiatric Association March Tipsheet - 1) For Psychiatry, Practices are Changing; 2) HMOs Can Support More Psychiatric Staff; 3) Researchers Caution Against Inflexible Therapy "Boundaries"; 4) Recognizing warning Signs Can Improve Treatment; 5) VA Medical Centers Provide an Ideal Environment for Studies; 6) Clozapine Effective Treatment for Ueterans with Psychosis; 7) Native American Ueterans at Higher Risk for Homelessness

Released: 3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
AOFAS to hold annual meeting in New Orleans
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS)

Among the highlights will be presentations on the effectiveness of early, non-surgical treatment of heel pain, results of a study on frequency of high ankle sprains, and solutions for reducing recovery time in multiple injury patients with foot trauma.

Released: 3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Study Of Trampoline-Related Injuries Calls For Ban On Devices
Ohio State University

A new study is calling for a ban on backyard trampolines after researchers discovered the number of injuries to children using these devices has doubled during a recent six-year period.

Released: 3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Gift of 3,000 Peak Flow Meters to Under-served Asthma Clinics Marks Continued Commitment by Zeneca to Helping Patients Manage Asthma
AstraZeneca

Zeneca Pharmaceuticals today donated 3,000 state-of-the-art, digital peak flow meters to inner-city hospitals and clinics in six urban asthma hot zones nationwide to mark the success of the company's daily oral asthma treatment ACCOLATE (R) (zafirlukast).

Released: 3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Mayo Clinic Offers Cholesterol Quiz on Internet
Mayo Clinic

Cholesterol can be downright confusing. While itís common knowledge that you should watch your cholesterol, people often are unsure why and what to do about it.

Released: 3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
UNM Health Sciences Center Researchers Develop Method to Stimulate Immune System Response Against Cancer and Infectious Diseases
University of New Mexico

Researchers at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center have developed a one-tep method to create patient-specific vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases. These "customized" vaccines are made by combining heat shock proteins with tumor antigen proteins obtained from tumor masses removed from the body.

Released: 3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Researchers Closing In On Gene For Paralytic Disorder
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Scientists at Johns Hopkins and the University of Pennsylvania have tracked down the gene responsible for a paralyzing disease that has plagued at least eight generations of a Maryland family, the Mattinglys.

Released: 3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Most Smokers Continue to Smoke after Heart Procedures
Mayo Clinic

The people who need to stop smoking the most are the least likely to stop says a new Mayo Clinic study of heart patients. Mayo researchers looked at the smoking patterns of more than 5,400 patients who had angioplasties (heart vessel clearing procedures) at Mayo Clinic over a 16-year period.

Released: 3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
PEBBLEs help U-M scientists open a window on cell chemistry
University of Michigan

Made of polymers, instead of stone, PEBBLEs (Probes Encapsulated By BioListic Embedding) are designed to work inside mammalian cells where they can detect subtle changes in concentrations of ions and small molecules. Research could lead to antidotes for neurotoxins used in biological warfare.

   
Released: 3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
3-D Structure Of Human Tumor-Suppressor Protein Produced
Ohio State University

Researchers at Ohio State University have determined the three- dimensional structure of the protein produced by one of the most important human tumor-suppressor genes.

3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
MRI Scans Following Heart Attack Could Determine Future Health
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the heart after a heart attack may help determine which patients do well and which ones will later suffer complications such as recurrent heart attack, congestive heart failure, stroke or death, according to a study led by Johns Hopkins researchers.

3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Condom Use In Thailand Dramatically Cuts HIV Infection
Johns Hopkins Medicine

A five-year educational campaign to increase condom use in Thailand has led to a fivefold decrease in HIV infection among young army draftees in northern Thailand and a tenfold decrease in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) overall, according to Johns Hopkins researchers.

3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Added benefit found for aspirin use in patients with vessel disease
American Heart Association (AHA)

When blood vessels malfunction because of excessive fatty buildup, aspirin may prove to be beneficial in making them work correctly again, say researchers in a study published in today's Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Risk factor "scorecard" may help determine if some heart attack survivors are at risk for stroke
American Heart Association (AHA)

By adding up "point" totals assigned to certain risk factors, doctors can arrive at a "tragic number" which can help predict which heart attack patients may be at immediate risk of a stroke.

3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Society of Cardiovascular & Interventional Radiology (SCVIR)

People with osteoporosis who suffer from painful compression fractures of the spine may find relief thanks to a new minimally invasive technique developed by interventional radiologists.

3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Problems in Oral Medicine
American Academy of Dermatology

Adverse drug reactions involving the mouth are less common than those affecting the skin, but they can cause extreme discomfort, and perhaps permanent damage to gums and teeth. The most common oral problems experienced are due to the side effects of prescribed medication. The diagnosis of these reactions require, in some instances, a high index of suspicion as they can mimic other diseases.

3-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Estrogens and the Skin: A New Wrinkle
American Academy of Dermatology

In a large epidemiologic study of over 3,000 women, wrinkling and dryness of the skin appeared to be decreased in patients with a history of estrogen use. "The concern with all estrogen therapy is that while it may protect women against cardiovascular disease and help maintain bone density, there are serious side effects that can occur," stated Dr. Phillips.

2-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Harvard Research Shows School Breakfast Program May Improve Children's Behavior and Performance
Harvard Medical School

A series of studies from the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard Medical School document the negative effects of hunger in U.S. children and show a link between participating in the national School Breakfast Program and improved academic performance and psychosocial behavior in children.

2-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Society of Cardiovascular & Interventional Radiology (SCVIR)

Taxol (Tm)-coated stents are showing promise as a possible solution to the stubborn problem of restenosis, the re-clogging of blood vessels, which is the most common cause of failure in angioplasty.

2-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Society of Cardiovascular & Interventional Radiology (SCVIR)

In its infancy a year ago, a non-surgical procedure to treat painful fibroid tumors and potentially prevent hysterectomy is now widely available at hospitals throughout the country.

2-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Society of Cardiovascular & Interventional Radiology (SCVIR)

A new stroke prevention therapy that is less invasive than surgery showed comparable results to surgery in the most extensive international survey ever done on the procedure. In other stent research, interventional radiologists were highly successful in treating men with a common, difficult-to-treat problem that causes difficulty urinating.

2-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Management of Common Nail Disorders
American Academy of Dermatology

For many, nails are an important part of their appearance. Short or long, manicured or bitten, nails protect the fingers and toes from injury.

2-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Dermal Sculpting With Lasers: Laser Peel Perfection
American Academy of Dermatology

The past two decades have witnessed revolutionary advances in laser research and technology, greatly expanding dermatologic laser applications.

Released: 1-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Sunscreens and Skin Cancer
American Academy of Dermatology

Recent controversy over the role of sunscreens in preventing melanoma and skin cancer have raised questions about the use of these agents. Typically, there are about one million new cases of skin cancer a year diagnosed in the United States, including 41,600 new cases of melanoma.

Released: 1-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Genital Herpes: Can Transmission Be Prevented?
American Academy of Dermatology

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported a 30% increase in the prevalence of genital herpes in the U.S. over the last two decades. This indicates that approximately 45 million persons in this country are seropositive for the most common cause of genital herpes, herpes simplex virus HSV-2.

Released: 1-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
Challenges of Urban Dermatology
American Academy of Dermatology

Bellevue Hospital Dermatology Clinic in New York City is the epicenter of current rumblings in urban Dermatology. This public city hospital treats the poor and underinsured regardless of their ability to pay. The dermatology clinic is the busiest outpatient specialty clinic in the hospital, treating over 21,000 outpatients a year.

Released: 1-Mar-1998 12:00 AM EST
New Developments in Laser Assisted Hair Removal
American Academy of Dermatology

Unwanted body hair concerns both men and women. Regardless of the cause, millions of Americans remove unwanted hair daily, by a variety of temporary hair removal strategies that include shaving, waxing, chemical depilatories and tweezing. Electrolysis provides a permanent, but often tedious and slow alternative solution for hair removal

Released: 28-Feb-1998 12:00 AM EST
UCLA Develops New Technique to Regrow Bone
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences

A UCLA orthopedic surgeon has developed a new technique to treat bone death in human hips that early results suggest may prevent the need for a total hip replacement. Called osteoregeneration, the procedure implants a capsule filled with bone-morphogenetic protein (BMP) that induces the body to grow new bone. Only UCLA offers BMP and the attendant procedure.

Released: 28-Feb-1998 12:00 AM EST
New Math, High-Tech Imaging Solving Old Riddle: How Does The Brain Operate When We Think?
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Researchers from Johns Hopkins and Finland are showing that fancy mathematical footwork plus detailed magnetic resonance imaging pictures of the brain may add up to a better understanding of the experience of thinking.

Released: 28-Feb-1998 12:00 AM EST
Mayo Clinic Researchers Discover Genes Associated with Neurological Damage in a Model of Multiple Sclerosis
Mayo Clinic

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have discovered a family of genes linked to neurological damage in a laboratory model of multiple sclerosis (MS). The discovery of these genes represents a significant step forward in understanding the mechanisms by which immune cells cause damage in MS and potential new strategies for treatment.

28-Feb-1998 12:00 AM EST
March 1, 1998 -- Tip Sheet from the American College of Physicians
American College of Physicians (ACP)

1.) Overtreatment of lyme disease is common; lyme disease is not associated with increased heart problems. 2.) Can ethical medicine be practiced under the constraints of managed care? 3.) Iron overload often undiagnosed and more common than previously thought. 4) Treatment for benign thyroid nodules should not include thyroxine treatment.

28-Feb-1998 12:00 AM EST
Ultrasonic Liposuction: Reinventing the Wheel?
American Academy of Dermatology

Tumescent liposuction has been the standard of care for liposuction since 1987. This technique, developed by dermatologists, involves the infiltration of large volumes of diluted local anesthetic and epinephrine prior to the liposuction surgery.



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