Day August 14, 2014

Concerned about a growth on his face, Mt. Lebanon, Pa., resident, Robert Johnston could have made an appointment with the dermatologist already treating him for other reasons. Instead, he snapped photos of himself and the affected area, uploaded them to…

Robin Williams, the iconic comedic actor who died Monday, was in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease at the time of his death, according to a statement from his wife. Williams, 63, died of suicide at his Tiburon, Calif., home,…

UK researchers have tracked how tobacco industry language has permeated throughout recent EU tobacco control legislation. “Tobacco control measures must not be allowed to be derailed or diluted by the lobbying of an industry whose business relies on recruiting new addicts” –…

Robin Williams’ death earlier this week has unleashed an outpouring of grief. It’s undeniable that Williams brought much joy and laughter to the world, but he also talked openly about his depression and problems with alcohol and cocaine. Depression, alcohol…

Kenyan health officials take the temperatures of passengers arriving at the Nairobi airport on August 14, 2014. Kenya has no reported cases of Ebola; but it’s a transportation hub, so is on the alert. SIMON MAINA/AFP/Getty Images hide caption itoggle…

i i Better than Egyptian cotton: This electrically spun fabric contains anti-HIV drugs and dissolves rapidly when it gets wet. Courtesy of University of Washington hide caption itoggle caption Courtesy of University of Washington Better than Egyptian cotton: This electrically…

By Eleanor McDermid, Senior medwireNews Reporter An intervention based around family psychoeducation reduces symptoms and improves functioning in patients at clinical high risk (CHR) of psychosis or experiencing early first-episode psychosis, say researchers. The intervention, called Family-aided Assertive Community Treatment…

By Joanna Lyford, Senior medwireNews Reporter The course of bipolar II disorder can follow several distinct trajectories, with a major depressive episode (MDE) being the most common presenting feature, a study of Japanese patients suggests. The findings highlight the heterogeneity…

By Laura Cowen, medwireNews Reporter Patients with pulmonary hypertension (PHT) have reduced right ventricular (RV) strain and more dyssynchronous ventricles than healthy individuals, show results of a three-dimensional speckle tracking (3D-ST) study. Area strain (AS), in particular, had strong associations…

By Laura Cowen, medwireNews Reporter Researchers from the Netherlands have identified three baseline variables that may qualify as treatment goals in children with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). “Although predictors of survival may be important when starting treatment for PAH, this…

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is an acquired syndrome of impaired gastrointestinal mucosal barrier function that is thought to play a key role in the pathogenesis of stunting in early life. It has been conceptualized as an adaptive response to excess…

Generalized hyperalgesia, a widespread increased sensitivity to painful stimuli, has been demonstrated in a range of chronic pain conditions including low-back pain. The evidence suggests, that generalized hyperalgesia may be an important factor in the development of chronicity, but it…

Impaired social functioning is a common symptom of individuals with developmental disruptions in callosal connectivity. Among these developmental conditions, agenesis of the corpus callosum provides the most extreme and clearly identifiable example of callosal disconnection. To date, deficits in nonliteral…

British photographer James Ostrer purchased about $8,000 worth of junk food over the past two years — enough to fill up six or seven cars. But all those Mars bars, strawberry shoelaces, donuts and cheese puffs weren’t meant for consumption.…

Hmmm, I wonder how they’re going to handle this one. It’s a messy tale. In November, Focus Features will release a new movie, The Theory of Everything, which describes what happened to the young physicist Stephen Hawking back when he…

Nicky Rigby was discovered unconscious by fiancé Mark Wilson in July 2012 Had given birth to daughter Lily five months earlier and ‘loved being a mum’ In months after had suffered tiredness, weight loss and frequent urination But shop worker…

Maggie Ashe developed necrotising fasciitis (NF) after giving birth 33-year-old first suffered bacterial infection in 2010 after son Lucas was born The bug ate away at her leg and hip after starting as a pea-sized lump She fell into a…

Jacob, eight, has severe form of autism, so he struggles to communicate Until pet dog Minta came along, he had no friends and rarely even smiled Thanks to Minta, Jacob is now confident child who even talks to strangers By…

RBC Life Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: RBCL), a provider of proprietary nutritional supplements, and wound care and pain management products, today reported consolidated net sales of $7.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, an 18% increase over net sales of…

A modified version of the Clostridium novyi (C. novyi-NT) bacterium can produce a strong and precisely targeted anti-tumor response in rats, dogs and now humans, according to a new report from Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers. In its natural…

If you’re anything like us, you probably spend a lot of time trying to lengthen, plump, and curl your eyelashes. It’s easy to forget that they aren’t just an accessory—they actually protect your eyes from irritants like dust, sweat, and even…

Having a similar sex drive as your partner will definitely keep things hot in the bedroom, but having different sexual preferences is actually the key to long-lasting lust, says a new study. The research, published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin,…

You can find dried figs year-round, but fresh ones are only available in the summer—so it’s time to take advantage of them! Try one (or more!) of these seven delicious ways to add them to your morning smoothies. Once you…

Dawn Weston was 24 when she visited GP with back pain in December 2012 But was repeatedly told she was under minimum age of 25 for a smear test After finally having one in February 2013, she was diagnosed with…

Comments by Professor Simon Wessely of Royal College of Psychiatrists Says some youngsters with mental health issues get ‘literally no’ treatment Claims Britain would not tolerate it if these figures related to cancer care By Daily Mail Reporter Published: 19:09…

Surfing the internet can prevent memory loss in the elderly, say scientists It may also already be helping in the fight against dementia in the country Brains of those who regularly go online declining more slowly than others Over eight…

/ o comments Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America

/ o comments National Institutes of Natural Sciences

One of the human body’s first responses to a viral infection is to make and release signaling proteins called interferons, which amplify the immune system response to viruses. Over time, many viruses have evolved to undermine interferon’s immune-boosting signal, and…

Virginia Tech researchers who were using a disinfectant when handling mice have discovered that two active ingredients in it cause declines in mouse reproduction. Although the chemicals responsible for the declines are common in household cleaning products and disinfectants used…

We have observed different clinical responses to botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) in patients who had similar urodynamic parameters before the procedure. Furthermore, some bladders evaluated by cystography and cystoscopy during the procedure had different characteristics that could influence the outcome…

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is as a major cause for childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study was conducted to investigate the adherence and response of the WHO guidelines for treatment of severe pneumonia.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted in the period…

Hong Kong (HKSAR) – The Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York, Mr Steve Barclay, joined Madame Tussauds general manager at an unveiling ceremony for a Bruce Lee figure at the museum in Times Square, New York…

Vanishing bile duct syndrome has been associated with different pathologic conditions (adverse drug reactions, autoimmune diseases, graft versus host disease, and cancer). Though its causes are unknown, an immune-related pathogenesis is the most likely one. Vanishing bile duct syndrome can…

The importance of health policy and systems research (HPSR) and its role in aiding health system reforms has been increasingly recognized in recent years within the World Health Organization (WHO). An assessment of the 71 WHO Country Cooperation Strategies (CCS)…

Whether you love it, hate it, have tried it or have thought about it, anal sex seems to be less taboo these days. But a new British study found that young women aren’t always doing it for the right reasons.…

Your initial thought when you hear the word “mastectomy” is probably breast cancer. But that’s not why Jamie Pressly underwent the procedure to remove most of her breast tissue a few years ago, as she recently revealed on The Talk. …

Dealing with a major forehead zit? Or cracked, dry skin? Before you hit the drugstore for a fix, check your pantry and medicine cabinet—you may already have everything you need for natural antidotes to these all-too-common conditions (and others!). The problem:…

High-dose influenza vaccine is 24 percent more effective than the standard-dose vaccine in protecting persons ages 65 and over against influenza illness and its complications, according to a Vanderbilt-led study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).…

/ o comments Loyola University Health System