System That Regulates Blood Pressure May Also Affect Aging
The same system that regulates blood pressure may also play a role in aging, according to new research from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. (Embargo expired on 22-Nov-2004 at 08:30 ET)
Gerontological Society of America
—Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center

Study Finds Farm Children Have Lower Asthma Rates
Researchers have recently completed the largest and most comprehensive study of asthma among rural children in the US. In one of the first studies of its kind, the researchers found that farm children had significantly lower rates of asthma or wheezing than other rural children.
J. of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Nov-2004
—Medical College of Wisconsin

‘Sit-Down’ Rounds Improve Outcomes for Kidney Dialysis Patients
“Sit-down” medical rounds, during which a health care team meets to review a patient’s medical record and discuss short- and long-term needs, are associated with better outcomes for kidney dialysis patients, a Johns Hopkins-directed study has found. (Embargo expired on 19-Nov-2004 at 16:00 ET)
J. of the Am. Society of Nephrology, Dec-2004
—Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions

Fibroid Treatment May Offer Hope for Women Who Want to Conceive
National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice today underwent embolization -- a non-surgical treatment to kill uterine fibroid tumors. While embolization is a good option for some patients, a less invasive option is on the horizon.
Am. J. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 15-Nov-2004
—University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

FDA’s Response to Vioxx Reveals Political Flaws in System
Dr. Bryan A. Liang, a patients' rights scholar at California Western School of Law, has been following the FDA/Vioxx controversy. With greater resources and less politics, he argues, the FDA would be better positioned to do its job protecting the public health in the U.S.
—Academy Communications

US Sees Steep Rise in 'No Indicated Risk' Caesareans
The United States has seen a steep rise in caesareans to women with no reported medical risk, according to research. (Embargo expired on 18-Nov-2004 at 18:10 ET)
BMJ, 20-Nov-2004
—British Medical Journal

NHS Patients 'Not Fully Engaged' with Their Own Healthcare
NHS patients lag behind other western countries in actively involving patients and communities in healthcare. (Embargo expired on 18-Nov-2004 at 18:10 ET)
BMJ, 20-Nov-2004
—British Medical Journal

Acupuncture Better than Drugs Alone for Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Acupuncture, as a complementary therapy to drug treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee, is more effective than drug treatment alone, find researchers from Spain. (Embargo expired on 18-Nov-2004 at 18:10 ET)
BMJ, 20-Nov-2004
—British Medical Journal

Smacking Legislation Is Unworkable for Doctors
The recent Commons' decision not to outlaw the physical punishment of children means that the law will offer its most vulnerable citizens (children) less protection from assault than is offered to adults. (Embargo expired on 18-Nov-2004 at 18:10 ET)
BMJ, 20-Nov-2004
—British Medical Journal

Hospitals Face Financial Upheaval Under NHS Payment System
Some hospitals will face sizeable changes to their incomes under a new NHS payment system, say researchers. (Embargo expired on 18-Nov-2004 at 18:10 ET)
BMJ, 20-Nov-2004
—British Medical Journal

Time to Develop New Antidotes for Chemical Attacks
New antidotes for organophosphates are needed to prepare for chemical attacks in the West and to tackle pesticide poisoning in developing countries, argue researchers. (Embargo expired on 18-Nov-2004 at 18:10 ET)
BMJ, 20-Nov-2004
—British Medical Journal

African Children with HIV Would Benefit from Daily Doses of Cheap Antibiotic
Results of a randomised trial highlight how the low-cost antibiotic co-trimoxazole should be given to all children with HIV in developing countries to help reduce illness and death from opportunistic infections such as pneumonia. (Embargo expired on 18-Nov-2004 at 18:30 ET)
Lancet, 20-Nov-2004
—Lancet

Spina Bifida: 70% of Cases Preventable by Folic-Acid Supplementation
A seminar discusses the causes, symptoms, and treatments relating to spina bifida, and reinforces an important public-health message for women about to become pregnant: 70% of cases of spina bifida are preventable by folic-acid supplementation around the time of conception and during early pregnancy. (Embargo expired on 18-Nov-2004 at 18:30 ET)
Lancet, 20-Nov-2004
—Lancet

Skeletal Muscle Cells as Source for Regenerating Nerve Tissue
Cells from skeletal muscle could be an important source of stem cells for repairing damaged muscle or nerve tissue, suggest authors of a research article. (Embargo expired on 18-Nov-2004 at 18:30 ET)
Lancet, 20-Nov-2004
—Lancet

Stem Cells Can Preserve Vision
For the first time researchers have shown that transplanted stem cells can preserve and improve vision in eyes damaged by retinal disease.
Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Nov-2004
—Schepens Eye Research Institute

Proposed Addiction Treatment Successful, Safe in Second Small Trial
A second, small clinical trial of a proposed addiction treatment has produced favorable results in the treatment of long-term addiction to methamphetamine and/or cocaine, with no visual side effects in any of the 30 patients enrolled.
Synapse, Feb-2005
—New York University Medical Center

Ovarian Cancer Does Have Early Warning Signs
Results from a study analyzing symptoms recorded in the medical records of ovarian cancer patients suggest ovarian cancer, long considered asymptomatic until late-stage cancer develops, does in fact have early symptoms, including urinary incontinence and abdominal pain.
Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Oct-2004
—Mayo Clinic

Gene Expression Profiling Helps In Ovarian Cancer Prognosis
The identification of a gene expression profile using microarray technology may help clinicians better determine the prognosis of patients with advanced stage ovarian cancer and may eventually help provide targeted therapies for this hard-to-treat disease.
J. of Clinical Oncology, Dec-2004
—Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

70 Percent Of Spina Bifida Cases Preventable By Folic-Acid Supplementation
A faculty member at The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center’s Institute of Biosciences and Technology, and colleagues highlight how up to 70 percent of spina bifida cases can be prevented by maternal folic acid supplementation around the time of conception.
—Texas A&M University System Health Science Center

Condoleezza Rice Will Undergo Uterine Fibroid Embolization
A Saint Louis University interventional radiologist can explain the minimally invasive procedure used to treat common non-cancerous tumors.
—Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center

First-Ever Cs-131 Brachytherapy Seeds to Treat Prostate Cancer Implanted
In the first significant advancement in brachytherapy in more than 15 years, physicians at UW Medical Center have implanted for the first time in the world a new type of radioactive seeds in a prostate cancer patient.
—University of Washington Health Sciences and UW Medicine

USF Designated Center of Excellence by Huntington's Disease Society of America
The University of South Florida has been designated a regional Center of Excellence by the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. USF was one of four universities competitively awarded the designation this year, and is the only HDSA Center of Excellence in Florida.
—University of South Florida

$44 Million Gift Will Accelerate Search for Type I Diabetes Cure
A private donation of $44 million will allow the University of Michigan to launch a new and comprehensive initiative aimed at accelerating the search for a cure for Type 1 diabetes. The donors, Bill and Dee Brehm of McLean, VA, have a motivation that’s both personal and philanthropic.
—University of Michigan Health System

Judith L. Swain First Director of College of Integrated Life Sciences
Judith L. Swain, M.D., a distinguished molecular cardiologist and chair of the department of medicine at the Stanford University School of Medicine, has been named the first Director of the College of Integrated Life Sciences (COILS) at UCSD.
—University of California, San Diego

Condoleezza Rice to Undergo Nonsurgical Interventional Radiology Treatment
Condoleezza Rice to undergo nonsurgical interventional radiology treatment for uterine fibroids. Interventional radiologists available for interviews throughout the country on uterine fibroid embolization.
—Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR)