New guidance recommends use of primary HPV test for cervical cancer screening

About 80 million U.S. women ages 25 to 65 should be screened periodically by their health care providers for cervical cancer. At present, the standard way to do that is a Pap smear alone, or co-testing using both a Pap smear and a human papillomavirus (HPV) test. Today, the clinicians who care for those women are getting new interim guidance about the health advantages of instead using the HPV test alone as the primary screen

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Findings could accelerate development of prebiotic medicines for bowel problems, autoimmune diseases

Bacteria that have evolved to eat their way through yeast in the human gut could inform the development of new treatments for people suffering from bowel diseases. Led by Newcastle University, UK, and the University of Michigan, the study shows how microbes in our digestive tract have learned to unravel the difficult to break down complex carbohydrates that make up the yeast cell wall. Evolving over the 7,000 years humans have consumed fermented food and

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Are we there yet? A new tool to measure progress in cancer research

From the “War on Cancer” to sponsored walkathons and races, society constantly aims to move cancer research forward. In a new paper published today in ecancermedicalscience, researchers aim to measure progress in cancer research through the use of an innovative first-of-its-kind tool— the PACE Continuous Innovation Indicators. Scientists brought together by Lilly Oncology’s PACE (Patient Access to Cancer care Excellence) initiative developed these novel indicators to become one piece of the dynamic puzzle of assessing

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Kidney disease treatment may be improving, study suggests

(HealthDay)—Despite a rising incidence of kidney disease, rates of kidney failure and related deaths are declining in the United States, according to a new report. Researchers at the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) say that about 14 percent of U.S. adults have chronic kidney disease, which can progress to kidney failure. Risk factors for chronic kidney disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, acute kidney injury, a family history of kidney disease, being 50

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Compound inheritance ID’d in cases of congenital scoliosis

(HealthDay)—In a case series of Han Chinese persons, compound inheritance of a rare null mutation and a hypomorphic allele accounted for a proportion of congenital scoliosis cases. These findings were published online Jan. 7 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Nan Wu, M.D., from the Peking Union Medical College Hospital in China, and colleagues used comparative genomic hybridization, quantitative polymerase-chain-reaction analysis, and DNA sequencing to assess 161 Han Chinese persons with sporadic congenital scoliosis,

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Experts discuss pros and cons of maintenance of certification

(HealthDay)—The pros and cons of the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) are discussed in two articles published in the Jan. 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Mira B. Irons, M.D., and Lois M. Nora, M.D., J.D., from the American Board of Medical Specialties in Chicago, discuss the controversy surrounding the MOC. To address the exponential increases in knowledge and research, the U.S. medical specialty boards adopted the

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Five things to look for as govt writes new dietary advice

You’ve heard it before: Eat fewer calories, more fruits and more vegetables. Those recurring themes as well as some new advice about sugar, salt, meat and caffeine could be part of the government’s upcoming dietary guidelines for healthy eating. Whether individuals listen or not, the dietary guidelines affect nutritional patterns throughout the country—from federally subsidized school lunches to labels on food packages to your doctor’s advice. They also form the basis for the government’s “My

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Smoothies That Taste Like a Tropical Getaway

Not to sound cheesy (okay, maybe a little bit), but we’re pretty passionate about passion fruit. If you’ve never tried it before, it has a tasty flavor combination of sweet and tart. You probably won’t find the fruit in your everyday grocery store, but if you do stumble upon a batch, stock up! You’ll need them to make these terrific smoothies. Doesn’t this passion fruit, pineapple, vanilla, mango, peach, and yogurt smoothie look super-refreshing? This passion

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The Harsh But True Realities of Divorce

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 30.8 percent of all marriages have ended in divorce. But for all of the women who have filed for it or are about to, oddly few actually know what they are getting into when their marriages hit the end of the road, says Kristin Willadsen-Smith, an Indiana attorney who recently remarried after her first marriage ended. “When I got divorced, I had been practicing as a lawyer and sitting

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Watch a Fertilized Egg Become a Baby

You already know that some seriously crazy things go down inside your body while you’re pregnant—like, you know, the growth of an entire human being—and now, you can see it happen. This mesmerizing graphic from designer Eleanor Lutz, A.K.A. the coolest thing you’ll see all day, depicts an embryo from fertilization to birth, detailing all of the fascinating milestones in between.  Check it out below, or click to enjoy it at full size—but be careful, it’ll

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Research findings could lead to new drug design for neurological diseases

A new intermediate step and unexpected enzymatic activity in a metabolic pathway in the body, which could lead to new drug design for psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, has been discovered by researchers at Georgia State University. Their findings are published in the journal Nature Communications this week. The research team has been studying a metabolic pathway called the tryptophan kynurenine pathway, which is linked to psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, including depression, anxiety, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s

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Combination therapy can reduce recurrence of small, HER2-positive breast tumors

In a phase 2 clinical trial, women with small (stage 1), HER2-positive breast tumors who received a combination of lower-intensity chemotherapy and a targeted drug following surgery were highly unlikely to have the cancer recur within three years of treatment, investigators at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and other institutions report in a paper published today by the New England Journal of Medicine. The findings may help establish the therapy – which combines the chemotherapy agent paclitaxel

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Testosterone therapy suppresses some advanced prostate cancers, find Johns Hopkins scientists

In a surprising paradox, the male hormone testosterone, generally thought to be a feeder of prostate cancer, has been found to suppress some advanced prostate cancers and also may reverse resistance to testosterone-blocking drugs used to treat prostate cancer. The finding, by scientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, is reported in the Jan. 7 issue of Science Translational Medicine. Medical oncologist Samuel Denmeade, M.D., who led the small study of 16 patients with

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BIDMC study suggests worsening trends in headache management

BOSTON – Each year more than 12 million Americans visit their doctors complaining of headaches, which result in lost productivity and costs of upward of $31 billion annually. A new study by researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) suggests some of that cost could be offset by physicians ordering fewer tests and an increased focus on counseling about lifestyle changes. A new study of more than 9,000 physician visits for headaches between 1999

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Algae blooms create their own favorable conditions, new study finds

IMAGE: This is a cyanobacterial bloom in China’s Lake Taihu. view more Credit: Cayelan Carey HANOVER, N.H. – Fertilizers are known to promote the growth of toxic cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater and oceans worldwide, but a new multi-institution study shows the aquatic microbes themselves can drive nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in a combined one-two punch in lakes. The findings suggest cyanobacteria — sometimes known as pond scum or blue-green algae — that get a toe-hold in

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Broad immune response may be needed to destroy latent HIV

New Haven, Conn. — A major barrier to finding a cure for HIV/AIDS is the presence of latent HIV in the cells of chronically infected individuals. But a team of Yale and Johns Hopkins researchers may have pinpointed a strategy for eliminating the residual virus. The study is published online on Jan. 7 by the journal Nature. Despite treatment with antiretroviral therapy, HIV persists in patients in a latent reservoir. Yale researchers and their co-authors

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Risks of youth rugby need urgent scrutiny 

The unknown risks of youth rugby need urgent assessment to ensure the safety of junior players, says a senior doctor in The BMJ this week. Michael Carter, a paediatric neurosurgeon at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, argues that “rugby sidesteps many safeguards intended to ensure pupil wellbeing” and calls on schools, clubs, medical facilities, and regulatory bodies to “cooperate now to quantify the risks of junior rugby.” In UK schools where rugby is played, it

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Study: Premium growth slowed after Obamacare

The Affordable Care Act may be helping to slow down the ever-growing costs of health care, according to a new report. Still, the health care law has yet to entirely live up to its name. Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums grew more slowly in 31 states and the District of Columbia between 2010 and 2013 — after the passage of Obamacare — compared with 2003 to 2010, according to the nonpartisan foundation the Commonwealth Fund. The

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Genome-wide mRNA expression profiling in vastus lateralis of COPD patients with low and normal fat free mass index and healthy controls

1 ELEGI Colt Laboratory, Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, Scotland, UK 2 Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK 3 Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain 4 Ciber de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Barcelona, Spain For all author emails, please log on.

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Pretreatment 18?F-FDG uptake heterogeneity can predict survival in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma——a retrospective study

1 Department of Nuclear Medicine, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China 2 Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China 3 Center for Biomedical imaging, Fudan University, Shanghai, China 4 Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, No.270, Dong’an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China For all author emails, please log on.

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Rules of parotid gland dose variations and shift during intensity modulated radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

1 Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Taizhou Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang 317000, China 2 Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Taizhou Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang 317000, China 3 Department of Radiology, Affiliated Taizhou Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang 317000, China 4 Enze Medical Research Center, Affiliated Taizhou Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang 317000, China For all author emails, please log on.

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Explainer: why must some medications be taken with food?

Have you ever been advised to take a medicine with food? How about taking a medicine with cola or avoiding grapefruit? Hundreds of medicines have food-related dosing instructions. With four out of five Australians aged above 50 taking daily medication, most people will encounter instructions about medicines and food at some point in their lives – some of which may seem rather strange. If a medicine isn’t taken as recommended with respect to food, the

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Should You and Your S.O. Get a Room…mate?

The sun rises over the East River, flooding Erin Chung’s cozy two-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn with light. Peering into the refrigerator, Erin, 25, calls out to her boyfriend. “Why do we have so many eggs?” “I bought a carton. I thought we ran out,” Danny Randerson, 35, says as he comes up behind her and wraps his arms around her waist. “Oops…so did I,” says Michelle, 30, entering the kitchen with her husband, Ryan, 31.

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Look Younger in 60 Seconds

Michele Promaulayko is the former editor-in-chief of Women’s Health and author of 20 Pounds Younger, which is published by Rodale, Women’s Health’s parent company. Big goals can sometimes seem overwhelming. I’m a big fan of incremental tweaks, small changes that add up to make a serious difference. A while back, for example, I vowed to eat breakfast at my table rather than at the dishwasher while emptying dishes. Now I choose healthier food, I eat more

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5 Reasons Your Vagina Is Going Dry

If you’ve never had a problem getting wet before but now your privates feel like the Sahara, don’t panic—you’re not going through early menopause. Fact is, there are many reasons why younger women experience vaginal dryness, and the problem is a lot more common than you’d think. Still, it’s not something you want to blow off. It’s important for your hoo-ha to be moist, and not just because lubrication makes sex feel more pleasurable. Vaginal

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Protecting children in advance from head injuries helps reduce brain trauma

An exhaustive analysis of data from more than 40,000 cases of brain trauma in children – published by the authoritative New England Journal of Medicine – provides convincing evidence that protecting children in advance from head injuries is the key to reducing their severity. The new findings, obtained during one of the largest multi-center prospective studies of its kind ever conducted in the United States, show that the most common cause of brain injury among

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Music cuts across cultures: Certain aspects of our reactions to music universal

Whether you are a Pygmy in the Congolese rainforest or a hipster in downtown Montreal, certain aspects of music will touch you in exactly the same ways. A team of researchers from McGill University, Technische Universität Berlin, and l’Université de Montréal arrived at this conclusion after travelling deep into the rainforest to play music to a very isolated group of people, the Mbenzélé Pygmies, who live without access to radio, television or electricity. They then

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Combined inhibition of TNF-alpha, IL-17 effective in RA model

(HealthDay)—Combined inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ? and interleukin (IL)-17 is more effective than single blockade in cultures of human fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), according to an experimental study published in the January issue of Arthritis Rheumatology. Jens A.A. Fischer, Ph.D., from Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development in Penzberg, Germany, and colleagues stimulated cultures of FLS with TNF?, IL-17, or both. They examined in vitro cytokine responses and in vivo development of arthritis and

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Low risk of statin-linked hepatic injury in liver disease

(HealthDay)—For patients with chronic liver disease, statin initiation is associated with low overall incidence of hospitalization due to severe hepatic injury, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Chia-Hsuin Chang, M.D., Ph.D., from the National Taiwan University in Dou-Liou City, and colleagues conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study involving 37,929 subjects with chronic liver disease who started statin therapy. The authors estimated the risk of severe

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Sulfonylurea Rx ups testosterone levels in men with T2DM

(HealthDay)—For middle-aged men with type 2 diabetes, sulfonylurea treatment is associated with improvements in total testosterone levels and testosterone secretion index values, according to a study published online Dec. 15 in the Journal of Diabetes Investigation. Long Wong, from Guangdong General Hospital in Guangzhou, China, and colleagues examined the effect of sulfonylurea-based oral antidiabetic agents on testosterone levels. Data were collected for 15 middle-aged men with type 2 diabetes from the phase IV clinical trial

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Article highlights top technology challenges for 2015

(HealthDay)—The introduction of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) audits, meaningful use 2, and the burdens of technology are the top four technological challenges for physicians in 2015, according to an article published in Medical Economics. Among the challenges that physicians are likely to face in 2015, the authors describe the four issues relating to technology. According to the article, ICD-10 will be implemented in 2015,

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Jessica Simpson Refused To Let The Fat-Shamers Bring Her Down

Jessica Simpson won’t let Hollywood’s unrealistic beauty standards get in the way of her happiness. In an interview with InStyle, the 34-year-old recalled when her weight gain became the focus of tabloids in 2011. But, with the help of her supportive husband, former NFL player Eric Johnson, Simpson handled the haters in the best possible way: I’d been scrutinized about my weight before I got pregnant, so I refused to let anyone steal the joy

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Healthplex & Nutraceutical China 2015 to be held in Shanghai, China

From 24-26 June 2015, Healthplex Nutraceutical China (HNC) will return to Shanghai, China, to serve the Asian health industry. This year, the event will take place on a larger scale, with more exhibitors and business opportunities for those in attendance. HNC 2014 was a big success. However, in 2015, the exhibition will rise to an even higher level of quality. The event’s display area has been increased by 50%, and currently two-thirds of the stands

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Study: Synthetic triglyceride oil may provide hope for people with Huntington’s disease

An early study suggests that a synthetic triglyceride oil called triheptanoin may provide hope for people with Huntington’s disease. The study is published in the January 7, 2015, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Huntington’s disease is inherited and causes nerve cells to break down in the brain, especially areas involved in the control of movements, memory and thinking abilities, and emotions and behavior. A child of a

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Using HIV drugs to treat AMD: an interview with Dr Mark Young

Interview conducted by April Cashin-Garbutt, BA Hons (Cantab) Dr. Mark YoungTHOUGHT LEADERS SERIES…insight from the world’s leading experts Please can you give a brief introduction to Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs) and the different diseases they have been used to treat? NRTIs are compounds which were originally developed in the 1960s as anti-cancer agents. They are similar in structure to the bases which make up DNA, and it was hoped that they would interfere with

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Poor acceptance of illness associated with worse quality of life in chronic heart failure

Failure to accept illness is associated with poorer quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure, according to research published today in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. Patients with lower illness acceptance more often had lower energy levels, more severe pain, negative emotional reactions, sleep disorders and limited mobility, and were socially isolated. Lead author Monika Obieglo, a nurse in the Department of Clinical Nursing at Wroclaw Medical University in Poland, said: “Patients

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Nine measles cases linked to Disney theme parks in California

Seven Californians and two people in Utah have confirmed cases of measles likely contracted on trips last month to Disney theme parks in California, state officials said Wednesday. Three more California residents are suspected of having measles in cases still under investigation. All patients with confirmed or suspected cases of the illness visited Disneyland or Disney California Adventure between Dec. 15 and Dec. 20, according to the state’s Department of Public Health. They likely got

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FDA panel endorses first lower-cost biotech drug

Federal health experts have unanimously endorsed a Novartis drug which is expected to become the first lower-cost copy of a biotech drug to reach the U.S. market. A panel of Food and Drug Administration experts ruled that the company’s version of Neupogen is highly similar to Amgen’s original blockbuster biotech drug, which is used to boost blood cells that help cancer patients fight off infections. The non-binding recommendation likely paves the way for a new

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An avocado a day may help keep bad cholesterol at bay

Eating one avocado a day as part of a heart healthy, cholesterol-lowering moderate-fat diet can help improve bad cholesterol levels in overweight and obese individuals, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers evaluated the effect avocados had on traditional and novel cardiovascular risk factors by replacing saturated fatty acids from an average American diet with unsaturated fatty acids from avocados. Forty-five healthy, overweight or obese patients between the

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Brain Scans May Help Predict Future Problems, And Solutions

i i By measuring activity in different parts of the brain, neuroscientsts can get a sense of how some people will respond to treatments. John Lund/Getty Images hide caption itoggle caption John Lund/Getty Images By measuring activity in different parts of the brain, neuroscientsts can get a sense of how some people will respond to treatments. John Lund/Getty Images Brain scans may soon be able to help predict a person’s future — some aspects of

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9 Total Bummers It’s Finally Time to Get Over (Like, NOW)

“Get over it” isn’t always the most welcome advice—those words are pretty harsh! But when it comes down to it, letting go of toxic things in your life really can be one of the most liberating favors you can do for yourself. If you don’t believe us, try saying goodbye to just one of the 10 things below, and feel the weight lift off your shoulders. Then get over the rest of them, too.  1.

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Why Your Guy Can’t Stand Your Best Friend

As much as your boyfriend may adore you, he might not feel the same about your closest female confidante. If you frequently find yourself channeling your inner Dr. Phil to mediate between the two, it’s time to get to the bottom of the problem. How could the love of your life dislike your best friend so much? Here are the most likely possibilities, according to some of my own personal experiences as a dude who’s

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Strategy might thwart resistance to a common prostate cancer treatment

Conventional wisdom has it that high levels of testosterone help prostate cancers grow. However, a new, small study suggests that a treatment strategy called bipolar androgen therapy—where patients alternate between low and high levels of testosterone—might make prostate tumors more responsive to standard hormonal therapy. As the researchers explained, the primary treatment for advanced prostate cancer is hormonal therapy, which lowers levels of testosterone to prevent the tumor from growing. But there’s a problem: Prostate

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Tobacco companies criticize federal judge

Tobacco companies on Wednesday accused a federal judge of forcing them to inaccurately describe themselves as unscrupulous villains who continue to deceive the public. In an appeals court filing, the industry said statements ordered by the judge in a government lawsuit would only trigger public anger against the companies and should be scrapped. U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler ordered the largest cigarette makers to admit they had lied for decades about the dangers of smoking,

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Nine measles patients visited Disney’s California parks

State health officials say seven Californians and two people in Utah have confirmed cases of measles likely contracted on a trip to Disney theme parks in California in December. The state Department of Public Health said Wednesday that three more California residents were suspected of having measles. Officials say all patients with confirmed or suspected cases of measles visited Disneyland or Disney California Adventure between Dec. 15 and Dec. 20 and that it is likely

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Study finds link between cancer diagnosis, stroke risk

(HealthDay)—Newly diagnosed cancer patients are at increased risk for stroke in the months after they find out they have the disease. And the risk of stroke is higher among those with more aggressive cancer, a new study says. The findings come from an analysis of Medicare claims submitted between 2001 and 2009 by patients aged 66 and older who had been diagnosed with breast, colorectal, lung, prostate and pancreatic cancer. Compared to cancer-free seniors, those

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Combined therapy can reduce chance of recurrence in women with small, HER2-positive breast tumors

In a phase 2 clinical trial, women with small (stage 1), HER2-positive breast tumors who received a combination of lower-intensity chemotherapy and a targeted drug following surgery were highly unlikely to have the cancer recur within three years of treatment, investigators at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and other institutions report in a paper published today by the New England Journal of Medicine. The findings may help establish the therapy – which combines the chemotherapy agent paclitaxel

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Compound From Soil Bacteria May Help Fight Dangerous Germs

i i You don’t want to run into methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria. A potential new antibiotic could help fight this bug. CDC hide caption itoggle caption CDC You don’t want to run into methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria. A potential new antibiotic could help fight this bug. CDC Scientists say they have discovered a natural compound from bacteria that may prove to be a potent new antibiotic. This news comes at a time when many current

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Why Some Chefs Just Can’t Quit Serving Bluefin Tuna

i i Hand-rolled Bluefin tuna sushi with green onions is prepared at the barMASA restaurant booth at Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appetit’s Grand Tasting event at Caesars Palace in May 2014 in Las Vegas, Nev. Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Vegas Uncork’d hide caption itoggle caption Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Vegas Uncork’d Hand-rolled Bluefin tuna sushi with green onions is prepared at the barMASA restaurant booth at Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appetit’s Grand Tasting event at

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Study links TV use and unhealthy eating

The holidays can be a time for binge watching TV shows or movies. According to a University of Houston (UH) researcher, all of those hours in front of the television may lead to increased snacking. A recent UH study conducted by professor Temple Northup suggests people who watch excessive amounts of TV tend to eat more unhealthy foods and might not understand the foundations of a healthy diet. “A number of previous studies found a

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New approach sees breakthrough in antibiotics research

Scientists using a revolutionary approach have devised an antibiotic that may offset the mounting problem of drug resistance for decades, they said on Wednesday. Tested on lab mice—it could take five or six years to be authorised for humans—the drug could open a new front in the war on bacterial disease, the team reported in the journal Nature. Called teixobactin, it hails from a new tool to screen for soil bacteria that exude natural antibiotic

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Team develops prognostic test for E2F4 in breast cancer

By looking at the expression levels of downstream genes of the regulators in breast cancer, investigators at Dartmouth Hitchcock’s Norris Cotton Cancer Center (NCCC), led by Chao Cheng, PhD, have identified a gene signature in E2F4 that is predictive of estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer. The findings, published in Breast Cancer Research, define a new opportunity for personalizing medicine for women whose Oncotype DX assay results classify them as of “intermediate-risk for recurrence.” Until

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Campus debit cards let students buy cigarettes with parents’ money

A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published in the British Medical Journal: Tobacco Control shows that of the top 100 universities as ranked by U.S. News and World Report, 11 allow tobacco sales and 13 allow e-cigarette sales on “campus cash” debit cards that are commonly prepaid by parents. “Parents put money on these debit cards and kids spend the money. What parents don’t realize is that tobacco may be purchased with some of

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Scientists identify first nutrient sensor in key growth-regulating metabolic pathway

Known as much for its complexity as its vital role in regulating cellular and organismal growth, the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway has seemingly been acting in mysterious ways. Through a variety of mechanistic interactions, mTORC1 interprets cues in the cellular environment, including the availability of nutrients, and signals the organism to act accordingly. mTORC1 is apt to trigger growth during times of abundance and dial back metabolism when food is scarce.

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Longitudinal course of schizophrenia negative symptoms revealed

By Lynda Williams, Senior medwireNews Reporter Schizophrenia negative symptoms are relatively stable in the first year for most patients after they begin antipsychotic medication but research suggests around a quarter will experience exacerbation or relapse. Furthermore, the initial severity of negative symptoms predicts the long-term pattern and their impact on patient functioning, say Joseph Ventura, from University of California Los Angeles in the USA, and team. “These findings suggest that negative symptoms may be an

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Comorbid OCD not uncommon in bipolar disorder

By Shreeya Nanda, Senior medwireNews Reporter Co-occurrence of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in patients with bipolar disorder type I (BD-I) is not uncommon and is associated with increased functional disability, research findings indicate. The study included 396 patients with BD-I consecutively admitted to the inpatient services of an Indian mental health institute over a 1-year period. Of these, 30 (7.6%) had comorbid OCD, scoring higher than 15 on the Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and fulfilling

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