Medical News

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A deficiency of vitamin C may play a role in a complex disorder called porphyria cutanea tarda, or PCT, according to a new report.

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One of the major questions for people diagnosed with cancer is whether the cancer has spread. A new test is now available for men with prostate cancer to more accurately find cancerous cells that have spread to lymph nodes anywhere in the body. Doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center are among the first in the U.S. to use the test, which helps patients receive the best treatment and avoid unnecessary surgery.

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The American Academy of Dermatology joins the FDA and the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) in cautioning the public about using the psoriasis treatment, Skin-Cap.

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The first study with fluvastatin sodium (LESCOL) to demonstrate that patients with coronary heart disease and mild-to-moderate elevations of cholesterol can significantly benefit from cholesterol-lowering treatment was published today in the American Journal of Cardiology.

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Chronic high blood pressure can be linked to sleep apnea, researchers at the University of Wisconsin Medical School have reported in the current Archives of Internal Medicine.

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Dartmouth researchers have found a way to dramatically restore the effectiveness of chemotherapy in cancerous cells that have become resistant to its effects.

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The American Academy of Neurology has issued guidelines for neurologists on the ethical considerations that arise in the managed care environment. The guidelines are published in the August issue of the AAN's scientfic journal, Neurology. EMBARGOED UNTIL AUGUST 20, 1997.

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Physicians at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore are part of a national study to test the effectiveness of a new vaccine to prevent recurrences of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

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The very strategies that real people have used to detect and escape from con artists -- particularly "the human ability to identify patterns of suspicious behavior" -- are seldom mentioned in widely distributed materials designed to help consumers avoid getting conned, according to a psychologist from Eastern Michigan University. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 17, 1997

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Stay-at-home dads are equal parts traditional mom and traditional dad, according to two studies presented by psychologists from Loyola University and DePaul University at the American Psychological Association's (APA) 105th Annual Convention in Chicago. EMBARGO: UNTIL 11:30 AM (CDT), AUGUST 16, 1997

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If told the story of a child who was kicked, bitten, hit with a fist or choked, the words that would come into most people's mind are "child abuse." But when the victims (and perpetrators) of such aggressive acts are siblings, they tend to be perceived differently. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 18, 1997

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A paper released today by the American Psychological Association at its 105th Annual Convention in Chicago, "Can -- or Should -- America Be Color-Blind?", states that a color-blind approach to equal opportunity for all Americans will fail. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 14, 1997

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Three studies examining the shortcomings of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.), school- based sex education programs and the Children's Television Act (CTA) will be presented at the American Psychological Association's (APA) 105th Annual Convention. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 15, 1997

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New research examining the literature on what works in changing driving behavior found that educating youths about good driving behavior and traffic safety is not enough to change bad driving. The threat of severe penalties is also needed to keep teenagers safe behind the wheel, according to a review of over 54 studies. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 17, 1997

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Parents who work in creative professions seem to create the most happy home environments, according to a study presented at the American Psychological Association's (APA) 105th Annual Convention in Chicago. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 14, 1997

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Two studies examining the important ingredients of a satisfying marriage and why others are better at predicting the outcomes of relationships will be presented at the American Psychological Association's (APA) 105th Annual Convention in Chicago. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 17, 1997

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Male cartoon characters still outnumber female cartoon characters almost four to one, and male characters are also still portrayed as dominate, powerful and aggressive. Female characters don't have any "character" at all, according to research presented at the American Psychological Association's (APA) 105th Annual Convention in Chicago. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 17, 1997

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Keeping teenagers out of trouble may be as simple as eating meals together as a family more often, according to a study presented at the American Psychological Association's (APA) 105th Annual Convention. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 15, 1997

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When it comes to successful job performance a high level of practical intelligence may be even more important than an abundance of academic intelligence. That's the conclusion of a study of 200 high-level managers presented at the 105th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association (APA) in Chicago. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 16, 1997

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New research presented at the American Psychological Association's (APA) 105th Annual Convention in Chicago shows that bringing along a child's security blanket, (or other "security item") may actually make routine medical exams go smoother when mom is unable to accompany the child. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 17, 1997

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For those whose Internet use has crossed the line from "avid" to "compulsive," information gathering is not the main attraction for pathological Internet users. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 14, 1997

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Violent behavior in young men appears to be linked to an imbalance in body chemistry, specifically the relationship of copper and zinc, according to a study published today in the journal Physiology & Behavior.

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More studies show that hard core smokers may be using nicotine to manage depression, ADHD, anxiety or bulimia. People with these conditions or co-factors often use nicotine to help manage their symptoms. Treat the disorders first or simultaneously, says U-M study.

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New epidemiological data presented at the FIGO 97 Congress has shown that the risk of venous thromboembolism among users of oral contraceptives (OCs) with 3rd generation progestagens as compared with users of OCs with 2nd generation progestagens, may be less than initially reported.

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In adult women, androgens are important for maintaining bone density, well-being and libido. Clinical investigation of oral estrogen-androgen therapy is increasing in response to growing awareness that residual hormonal imbalance persists in some women receiving estrogen-only therapy. The following "At-A-Glance" information provides a snapshot of the research findings about androgen-estrogen therapy presented at a symposium sponsored by the University of California at San Diego.

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A collaboration between researchers at the University of Michigan Medical Center and the University of Kiel, Germany, has shed new light on the complex genetic roots of psoriasis---information which researchers believe will point the way to more effective treatments for the skin disease which afflicts 6 million Americans.

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Nearly 20 years ago, Columbia University researchers observed brain cell changes in Huntington's disease patients. Today, the significance of those changes has finally been explained--and the new findings may lead to a treatment or cure for the progressive, degenerative brain disease.

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A combination of a blood test and ultrasound could give physicians a better picture of who is at risk of a fatal or disabling stroke, researchers in Denmark reported today (Aug. 16).

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A content analysis of 518 televised music videos from four major cable networks showed 25.7 percent of MTV videos portrayed use of tobacco, most often by the lead singer, according to a study conducted by faculty from three medical centers.

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In a finding that could have implications for millions of Americans, particularly those who are diabetic, medical researchers reported today that whites and Hispanics who are insulin resistant are at a higher risk of developing atherosclerosis that can lead to stroke and heart attack.

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A Korean neurologist has found a way to use ultrasound to monitor how well migraine medicine is working and help in preventing the vicious headaches.

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To understand more about back pain, researchers are using sonography to study healthy people who are pain-free, and confirming that ultrasound can be used to map the major landmarks of the spine.

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Ultrasound is a valuable imaging technique for evaluating patients with whiplash and low back pain, investigators at Ultrasound Diagnostic Services Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio, report.

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Low-frequency ultrasound speeds the clot-busting power of thrombolytic drugs and may allow physicians to dissolve blood clots deep within the brain with lower doses of medication -- reducing the risk of bleeding and other complications, Japanese scientists report.

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Transcranial sonography revealed tumor regrowth 6 weeks before MRI and 2 weeks before CT, German doctors report.

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Patients suffering from bacterial endocarditis, a heart infection, remain at risk for stroke and other cerebral complications far longer than previously known, a German doctor reported. He said 80 percent of the patients he studied continued to have microembolisms in their brains up to four weeks after having been treated with antibiotics.

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Abnormalities measured on 3D reconstructions of ultrasound images are more reliable and easier to reproduce than on two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound, researchers from Germany reported today.

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Transcranial Doppler ultrasound is giving doctors a new tool for monitoring the brain during open-heart surgery in children.

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Researchers from throughout the world will be coming to Winston-Salem next week to report dramatic and newsworthy findings from a broad spectrum of investigations at International Neurosonology '97 -- only the second time the meeting has been held in the United States.

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Researchers from Brazil and Canada reported today (Aug. 14) that a combination of transcranial Doppler ultrasound and duplex carotid ultrasound can accurately measure the degree of blockage in the carotid arteries that serve the brain, averting the need for cerebral angiography, a risky technique that can provoke a stroke.

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Ultrasound contrast agent reflects the signal from transcranial ultrasound probe, illuminating blocked portion of the middle cerebral artery causing an ischemic stroke, German doctors report. Doctors dissolve the stroke-causing clot with 100 milligrams of the thrombolytic rTPA, preventing stroke damage.

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Ultrasound is more than 90 percent effective in distinguishing between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke under emergency treatment conditions, a group of German neurologists report.

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A Catawba College psychologist is using one of the latest forms of ultrasound to actually "see" when people are thinking, and when they are not.

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The American College of Physicians and the American Society of Internal Medicine announced negotiations to merge into a single organization in the latter half of 1998.

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The first six hours after a motor skill is learned are a critical time when memory for the task is created in the brain. Once formed, the memory is moved to other parts of the brain for permanent storage and automatic recall, researchers report in the journal Science this week.

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Adding small amounts of androgen to estrogen replacement therapy can restore failing libido, resolve persistent hot flashes and restore decreased bone density, all consequences of menopause that can affect the quality of life and health of postmenopausal women.

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The Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMS) announced a new initiative to focus the medical community on end-of-life care. It is estimated between 65-80 percent of all deaths occur in a hospital setting and that health care providers are the primary care-givers leading up to death. AMS will form a committee in a statewide collaborative effort to strengthen the training of future physicians on the issue of death and dying.

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Harvard Medical School News Tips provides brief summaries on developments in the areas of basic science, research innovation, bench-to-bedside science, education, community outreach, and HMS people of note.

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A toxic chemical that lurks in the environment for years causes a vaginal defect in unborn rats, reproductive biologists from the University of Maryland School of Medicine have found.