Curated News: Medical Meetings

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The bariatric program at Stanford University saw hospital readmission rates drop by 75 percent and surgical-site infections decline by 60 percent after changes in patient education, discharge planning and pre-operative procedures, according to a new study* presented here at the 30th Annual Meeting for the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) during ObesityWeek 2013.

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University of North Carolina (UNC) researchers found patients who were denied or delayed insurance approval for bariatric surgery, despite being cleared by their medical team, had a mortality rate three times higher than patients who received insurance approval without delay.

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Researchers found the biggest determinant of weight loss after bariatric surgery was not how long a patient was on a medically supervised diet program before surgery, but whether or not the patient had private or government-subsidized insurance.

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Bariatric surgery is significantly safer when performed at an accredited center, according to new research* presented here at the 30th Annual Meeting for the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) during ObesityWeek 2013.

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New research from the Cleveland Clinic shows most patients with diabetes and obesity who undergo gastric bypass not only experience remission of their diabetes and lose significant weight, but they also reduce their risk of having a heart attack by 40 percent and their risk for suffering a stroke by 42 percent, over a 10-year time horizon.

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Black men, vastly overrepresented among the prison population, comprise a high proportion of HIV-positive inmates and pose an infection risk to other inmates as well as members of their communities once they’re released. While sex is prohibited in U.S. prisons, sexual encounters are commonplace and few inmates express concern about getting or spreading HIV, according to a study of incarcerated Black men by Tawandra Rowell-Cunsolo, PhD, Assistant Professor of Social Welfare Science at the Columbia University School of Nursing.

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Pregnant women may transmit the damaging effects of stress to their unborn child by way of the bacteria in their vagina and through the placenta, suggest new findings from two animal studies presented by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania at Neuroscience 2013, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.

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A father’s cocaine use may make his sons less sensitive to the drug and thereby more likely to resist addictive behaviors, suggests new findings from an animal study presented by Penn Medicine researchers at Neuroscience 2013, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.

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As little as 20 minutes of moderate exercise three times per week during pregnancy enhances the newborn child’s brain development, according to researchers at the University of Montreal and its affiliated CHU Sainte-Justine children’s hospital. This head-start could have an impact on the child's entire life.

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• Preeclampsia was associated with an increased likelihood of developing kidney failure; however, after adjusting for diabetes and hypertension, the association was attenuated and no longer significant. • Additional studies are needed to confirm the association of preeclampsia and kidney failure.

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• In patients with hypertensive nephropathy, kidney health was preserved in those consuming extra fruits and vegetables, which are highly alkaline. • In patients with chronic kidney disease, those with high dietary acid levels experienced accelerated kidney function decline. • In chronic kidney disease patients with low socioeconomic status, the detrimental effect of high dietary acid levels on progression to kidney failure was greater for blacks than for whites

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Highlights • Consuming at least two soft drinks per day is linked with increased excretion of protein in the urine. • Moderate fructose intake increases salt reabsorption by the kidneys.

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ASN Kidney Week 2013
Annual Meeting Newsroom

View research, multimedia, and additional meeting resources in the ASN Kidney Week 2013 virtual newsroom on Newswise

• In a new study, kidney failure patients who said they had more experiences of discrimination in health care, greater medical mistrust, and lower trust in one's physician also had poorer quality of life.

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Highlight • Among first responders at Ground Zero following the 9/11 tragedy, those exposed to high levels of particulate matter experienced significant kidney damage.

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For the first time, researchers have linked high levels of inhaled particulate matter by first responders at Ground Zero to kidney damage.

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• Combining blood pressure–lowering drugs can cause serious side effects in patients with type 2 diabetes and moderately decreased kidney function. • Among dialysis patients with hypertension and thickened heart muscles, certain antihypertensive medications are better than others for preventing cardiovascular disease and hospitalizations. • Variants in the APOL1 gene are linked with an increased risk of kidney disease progression in African Americans, regardless of diabetes or blood pressure status. • An intervention that reduces the risk of acute kidney injury may not necessarily improve surgery patients’ long-term kidney function.

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New research from Mayo Clinic finds that half of elderly patients who start dialysis after age 75 will die within one year. The findings are being presented this week at the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week 2013 in Atlanta.

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Highlights • Vitamin D levels had an almost linear relationship with annual kidney function decline among kidney transplant recipients • Vitamin D inadequacy and deficiency showed significant dose-dependent associations with higher risks of organ rejection and death.

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Do marshmallows make your tongue swell? Gummy bears make you itchy? If you’ve answered yes and are allergic to gelatin, you will want to take some precautions when getting the flu shot.

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Expecting mothers who suffer from allergies may want to consider another vaccination in addition to the flu shot and Tdap. A study being presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) found pregnant women who receive allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy, during pregnancy may decrease their baby’s chance of developing allergies.

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There are many differences between men and women. And when it comes down to health, one gender seems to be more prone to allergies and asthma, according to a presentation being given at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

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People with asthma traveling to pet friendly homes for the holidays may want to pack allergy medication along with their inhaler. A study being presented this week at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting reveals the number of people with asthma that are also allergic to cats has more than doubled over an 18 year period.

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Oral allergy syndrome sufferers that take high blood pressure medications may experience extreme facial swelling and difficulty breathing the next time they bite into a juicy apple. When patients with oral allergy syndrome take angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for hypertension and congestive heart failure, they are at an increased risk for a life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis, according to new research.

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Asthma is the most common chronic illness and is responsible for 2.1 million emergency room visits annually. But according to a study being presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), these costly visits can be reduced by 55 percent when inhalers contain a simple dose counter.

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If you think your child’s stuffy nose is due to an autumn cold, you might want to consider allergies, especially if you live in the southern region of the United States. A study being presented this week at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) found hay fever is more prevalent in children living in the southeastern and southern states.

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Not only can bone marrow transplants be life-saving for children with acute lymphocytic leukemia, they may also cure peanut allergies. According to research presented during the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting, a 10-year-old boy no longer had a peanut allergy after undergoing a bone marrow transplant.

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Have food allergies? If you answered yes, you know the best way to prevent a severe allergic reaction is to totally avoid the offending food. But according to a presentation at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), you may no longer have to avoid the food entirely.

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According to a study being presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in Baltimore, Nov. 7-11, anaphylaxis due to shrimp is rare in children, under 8 percent.

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According to a study being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in Baltimore, Nov. 7-11, allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy, can improve quality of life for insect sting allergy sufferers.

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• In 74 obese kidney disease patients undergoing weight loss surgery, there were 16 adverse events, including two deaths related to surgical complications.

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• Worldwide, there has been a 165% increase in dialysis treatments for ESRD over the past two decades.

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• Acute kidney injury is the most common in-hospital diagnosis seen by US nephrologists. • Patients with AKI are often critically ill, but survivors of in-hospital AKI are often not seen by kidney specialists after being discharged.

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As scientists develop the next wave of smartwatches and other wearable computing, they might want to continue focusing their attention on the arms and the wrists. According to a recent Georgia Tech study, portable electronic devices placed on the collar, torso, waist or pants may cause awkwardness, embarrassment or strange looks.

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• Viability, necrosis, and death of immune cells are influenced by BPA concentrations in components of dialysis machines. • Alternative polymers for dialysis machine components may reduce cells’ exposure to BPA during dialysis

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• For each 10 gram increase in vegetable protein intake, participants in a study had a 14% lower risk of dying during follow-up.

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From gluten allergy and hypoallergenic pets, to avoiding the flu shot because of an egg allergy, there are a lot of common myths and misconceptions about allergies. Many might be shocking due to a great deal of false information in the media and on the Internet. And some of the misconceptions can be damaging to your health.

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Health and science journalists will have an opportunity to learn about emerging research and new treatments for diabetes, obesity and sleep loss at The Endocrine Society’s 2013 Hormones & Health Science Writers Conference.

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Indiana U. researchers discuss access to cervical cancer screenings, opioid abuse, food deserts, condom-use kits, STIs and other important findings at the APHA annual meeting.

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A new and successful strategy for combating the spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV draws from an old idea: Practice is fundamental to learning, even when it involves using condoms correctly.

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A study presented at the American Public Health Association shows the benefits of an exercise program offered by Hospital for Special Surgery in senior centers in New York City's Chinatown and in Flushing, Queens

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New research finds improvements in access to care and health outcomes across racial and ethnic groups in Massachusetts since implementation of the state’s health reform law in 2007.

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When public health funding increases in a community, its rates of infant mortality and deaths due to preventable diseases decrease over time, with low-income communities experiencing the largest health and economic gains.

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Citizenship, particularly for non-U.S. natives, largely determines a woman’s odds of having a mammogram and being screened for cervical and colorectal cancer.

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Researchers are reporting positive results from a landmark clinical trial of an investigational aortic valve that is deployed with a catheter, without open heart surgery.

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Firearm injuries in the U.S. cost more than $16 billion in hospital resources between 2000 and 2008.

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New research finds that the combination of acetaminophen paired with alcohol — even if consumed moderately or lightly — can increase the risk of kidney dysfunction.

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New policy changes have led to decreased exposure to environmental tobacco smoke at work, yet workers in some occupations still experience a high prevalence of secondhand smoke

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• Kidney disease is a growing public health threat affecting more than 20 million Americans. • Since 1996, the American Society of Nephrology and its foundation have awarded more than $25 million in grants and travel support.

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More than half of chronic hepatitis C patients studied in a new research project led by Henry Ford Hospital were not treated for the potentially fatal disease, either because they couldn’t withstand current therapies or because they, or their doctors, were waiting for new treatments.

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New drug therapies offer promise to some hepatitis C sufferers whose transplanted livers are threatened by a recurrence of the disease, including some patients who have had no treatment options.