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New Approach for Influenza Vaccination Shows Promise in Early Testing

NIH scientists advance development of universal flu vaccine (May 22)

Study: 3D Mammography Reduces Recall Rates

Cancer detection also increased (May 23)

Vitamin C Kills Drug-Resistant TB

Researchers find new way to attack infection (May 21)

iPhone App Helps Diagnose Heart Attacks

System may be faster and more reliable than e-mailed photo images (May 17)

Vitamin D Could Provide New Treatments for Asthma

Researchers see new way to reduce steroid therapy (May 20)

Study Finds Older Whooping Cough Vaccine More Effective Than Newer Version

Whole-cell pertussis vaccines better than acellular vaccines (May 20)

Study: Depression Doubles Stroke Risk in Middle-Aged Women

Researchers call for greater awareness of depression as preventable risk factor for stroke (May 16)

Nanotechnology Could Help Fight Diabetes, Scientists Say

Injectable ‘toothpaste’ releases insulin (May 16)

Physical and Emotional Impairments Often Untreated in Cancer Patients

Review calls rehabilitation critical, cost-effective (May 17)

Researchers Identify U.S. ‘Hotspots’ for Infection and Sepsis-Related Mortality

First map of its kind reveals key areas for targeted interventions (May 15)

AHA Report: Risk of Hospital Readmission Prolonged After Heart Attack, Heart Failure

Risk can extend well beyond 30 days after discharge (May 16)

Scientists Develop ‘Magic Bullet’ for Acute Lung Injury

Discovery could ‘revolutionize’ management of ICU patients (May 15)

Flu in Pregnancy May Quadruple Child's Risk for Bipolar Disorder

More Evidence of Overlap with Schizophrenia (May 13)

Advance Directives Can Reduce End-of-Life Medical Costs, Authors Say

Documents are free and legally binding, but seldom used (May 8)

Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in HIV-Infected Patients

HIV Infection Does Not Adversely Affect Outcomes (May 10)

Cocaine Vaccine Passes Key Hurdle

Human Clinical Trials on the Horizon (May 10)

CDC: Only Half of Americans With Hepatitis C Are Properly Tested

Agency reinforces need for appropriate follow-up tests for current infection (May 7)

New Vaccine Candidate for Deadly H7N9 Flu Virus

Thirty-one deaths reported in China (May 8)

Survey: Prescription Drug Costs Among Top Concerns for Medicare Beneficiaries

More than 20% report skipping doses or postponing refills (May 7)

Simple Blood Test Tracks Tumor Evolution in Cancer Patients

Scientists develop new way to detect drug resistance (May 2)

CDC: Only One in Five Adults Meet Overall Physical Activity Guidelines

Adherence rates are highest in West and Northeast (May 2)

Study: Statins May Reduce Risk of Death From Prostate Cancer

Researchers eye intervention trial (May 1)

Women Smokers May Have Greater Risk for Colon Cancer Than Men

Researchers find 19% vs. 8% increased risk in females and males (Apr. 30)

Study: Psychopaths Not Neurally Equipped to Have Concern for Others

First examination of neural processes related to empathy in psychopathic individuals (Apr. 24)

Report: Use of Psychedelic Drugs Remains Prevalent in U.S.

Things haven’t changed much since the sixties, researchers say (Apr. 23)

Scientists Develop First Vaccine for Autism Symptoms

Gut bacteria targeted (Apr. 24)

AHA Statement: Alternative Therapies May Help Lower Blood Pressure, But Effects Are Modest

Therapies shouldn’t replace standard hypertension treatments (Apr. 22)

1 Million Hours of Psychiatrist Time Wasted Yearly on Phone Approvals for Hospitalization

Harvard researchers find lengthy waits for severely ill psychiatric patients (Apr. 23)

Study: Cardiovascular Drug Captopril May Limit Radiation Damage to Lungs and Heart in Cancer Patients

Mayo Clinic interested in new animal data (Apr. 21)

Hospital Report: Nearly Half of Older Women Diagnosed With UTIs Do Not Have Findings Confirmed in Urine Culture

Patients receive unnecessary antibiotics (Apr. 22)

‘Pocket Doctor’ Helps Detect Skin Cancers

Cell-phone attachment allows patients to monitor suspicious lesions (Apr. 18)

CDC Report: Foodborne Illnesses Still a Problem

More than 19,000 cases reported in 2012 (Apr. 18)

Nearly 30% of Women Fail to Pick Up New Prescriptions for Osteoporosis

Study identifies factors associated with primary nonadherence (Apr. 18)

Despite ‘Superbug’ Crisis, Progress in Antibiotic Development Remains Elusive, Study Finds

Only seven drugs in antibiotic pipeline (Apr. 18)

NIH Report: Treatment for Novel Coronavirus Shows Promise in Early Lab Tests

Ribavirin and interferon inhibit virus replication in cell culture (Apr. 18)

Study Says More Efforts Needed to Regulate Dietary Supplements

FDA marketing approval isn’t required (Apr. 18)

‘Prescription Drug Regulator’ Aimed at Curbing Painkiller Abuse

Device dispenses pills only according to doctors’ orders (Apr. 16)

Report: 'Comparison Shopping' by Doctors Saves Money

Knowing costs of lab tests up front reduces waste, authors find (Apr. 15)

Study Shows 25% of Patients Discharged From Hospitals Return to EDs Within 30 Days

ED visits go unreported in calculating hospital readmissions (Apr. 16)

New Strain of Deadly Bird Flu Seen Adapting to Mammals, Humans

Experts voice concern about possible pandemic (Apr. 12)

Icy Spot-Therapy Kills Metastatic Lung Tumors

New cryoablation technique is 100% effective, researchers say (Apr. 14)

NIH Study: Vitamin D May Reduce Risk of Uterine Fibroids

Uterine leiomyomata are leading cause of hysterectomy in U.S. (Apr. 15)

Survey: One in Four Dissatisfied With Cancer Care in U.S.

Hospital group says change is necessary to improve care experience (Apr. 15)

South Not Fattest Part of U.S. After All, Study Says

Midwest states lead the way (Apr. 11)

Microwave Ablation Shows Promise in Relieving Painful Tumors

Pain relief lasts for up to 15 months (Apr. 11)

‘Smart’ Stem Cells Show Promise in Heart Failure Patients

First-in-humans study introduces next-generation cell therapy (Apr. 10)

Report: One in Five Medicare Seniors Prescribed Risky Meds

Questionable scripts more common in southeastern states (Apr. 10)

High Percentage of Women Don’t Complete Recommended Breast Cancer Treatment

Side effects cited as most common reason for quitting therapy (Apr. 9)

Report: Shingles Vaccine Reduces Infection and Postherpetic Neuralgia, But U.S. Uptake Is Low

Only 4% of Medicare beneficiaries are vaccinated (Apr. 9)

Some Lung Cancers Linked to Common Virus, Experts Say

HPV appears to trigger tumors in nonsmokers (Apr. 10)

Study Finds Docs Not Informed of Harmful Effects of Medicines During Sales Visits

Authors concerned about patient safety (Apr. 10)

Joint Commission Report: ‘Alarm Fatigue’ Can Be Deadly

Hospital group offers safety recommendations (Apr. 8)

Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution During Pregnancy Linked to Pediatric Cancers

Findings presented at AACR annual meeting (Apr. 9)

CDC Statistics Show Many Americans Skip Meds to Save Money

$45 billion spent on prescription drugs in 2011 (Apr. 9)

Bird Flu Mutation Study Offers Vaccine Clue

Small genetic changes could cause outbreak in humans (Apr. 8)

Study: Arrhythmia Drug Amiodarone May Increase Cancer Risk

Drug can accumulate in soft tissues after long-term use (Apr. 8)

NCI Reviews Cancer Immunotherapy in Children and Adults

Little change in cancer survival rates since 2000 (Apr. 8)

Evidence Piles Up for Banning Trans Fats

WHO wants them eliminated from global food supply (Apr. 4)

Beyond Mammography

Researchers say advances in breast cancer screening will need ‘personalized touch’ (Apr. 4)

Study Examines Burden of Cardiovascular Disease From Managed Care Perspective

Costs reduced when PPI used with aspirin (Apr. 5)

Report: On-and-Off Approach to Prostate Cancer Treatment May Compromise Survival

Intermittent androgen deprivation not equivalent to continuous therapy (Apr. 4)

NIH Study: Costs of Dementia Care as High as $215 Billion in 2010

Health expenditures expected to skyrocket as ‘baby boomers’ age (Apr. 4)

National Survey: Access to Mental Health Care Lacking for U.S. Children, Teens

Only 30% of adults feel care is readily available for young people (Mar. 2)

Study: Over-Diagnosis of Reflux in Infants Leads to Needless Medication

Calling infant reflux a disease increases parents’ wish for medication (Apr. 1)

Loop Diuretics Not Equally Effective Against Heart Failure

Yale researchers champion torsemide (Apr. 1)

Study Finds Mental Illness Associated With Heavy Cannabis Use

Mentally ill individuals seven times more likely to use cannabis weekly (Apr. 2)

Scientists Decipher HIV ‘Attack Plan’

Findings could influence vaccine design (Mar. 29)

CDC Report: Vaccines Not Associated With Risk of Autism

Findings support conclusion of 2004 review (Mar. 29)

Study Finds Heart Failure Medications Highly Cost-Effective

Authors see potential savings for health care system (Mar. 28)

New Diagnostic Test Could Help Detect Pancreatic Cancer Early

Metabolite levels measured in patients’ blood (Mar. 29)

Scientists Discover Driving Force Behind Prostate Cancer

Stem cells show cancer-inducing DNA re-alignment (Mar. 27)

Report: Time for Americans to Shake Salt Habit

Studies reiterate link between sodium intake and hypertension (Mar. 28)

First report of precancerous changes in humans (Mar. 26)

Mayo Clinic Finds C. Diff Infection Risk Increases With Antihistamine Use to Treat Stomach Acid

Authors recommend judicious use of histamine 2 receptor antagonists (Mar. 27)

New Approach for Stopping Herpes Infections

Researchers target Akt cell-membrane molecule (Mar. 25)

Breath Test for Heart Failure

Noninvasive analysis detects leading cause of hospital readmissions (Mar. 25)

Study: Effective Medical Obesity Treatment Could Reduce Medicare Spending

Report suggests billions of dollars in potential savings (Mar. 25)

Women Over 40 Still Need Effective Contraception

Benefits outweigh risks, author says (Mar. 25)

Research Shows New Therapies Targeting Parkinson’s Disease May Cause Harm

Findings could change treatment paradigm (Mar. 20)

Adults Worldwide Eat Double the Daily AHA-Recommended Amount of Sodium

Americans average 3,600 mg per day (Mar. 21)

Cancer Drug Shortages Mean Higher Costs and Greater Risk

Experts warn that shortages persist (Mar. 21)

Study: Parents Resist HPV Vaccinations for Teenage Daughters

Many feel vaccine is unnecessary or worry about side effects (Mar. 17)

Anti-Nausea Drug Kills Brain Tumor Cells

Aprepitant reduces tumor growth in lab setting (Mar. 18)

Researchers Find Bias and Selective Reporting in Surgical Clinical Studies

Surgical journals more at fault than medical journals (Mar. 14)

High-Fat Dairy Products Reduce Breast Cancer Survival

Women have 49% greater risk of dying from their disease (Mar. 14)

New Antibody Targets Proteins Inside Cancer Cells

Clinical trials for leukemia could start in a year (Mar. 13)

Vitamin D May Lower Blood Pressure in African-Americans

Researchers report ‘modest but significant’ gains (Mar. 13)

Magnetic Stimulation Improves Memory in Schizophrenia Patients

Noninvasive procedure uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells (Mar. 12)

No Danger From Aspirin and Clot-Busting Drug in Stroke Patients

tPA doesn’t increase brain bleeds (Mar. 13)

NIH Study: Benefits of Quitting Smoking Outpace Risk of Modest Weight Gain

Post-cessation weight gain does not increase cardiovascular risks for former smokers (Mar. 13)

New Hybrid Grapefruit Avoids Drug Interactions

“Grapefruit juice effect” inhibits breakdown of more than 85 drugs (Mar. 11)

New App for Dementia Assessment

Software to be available by June 2013 (Mar. 12)

Ancient Mummies Show Heart Disease a Part of Human Aging

Modern fatty diets not entirely to blame for atherosclerosis (Mar. 10)

Aspirin May Reduce Melanoma Risk in Women

Risk cut by about 20% in users versus non-users (Mar. 11)

Researchers Worm Their Way to New Alzheimer’s Treatments

Novel disease model helps identify potential therapies (Mar. 7)

Nanoparticles Loaded With Bee Venom Kill HIV

Concept can be applied to other viruses, including hepatitis C (Mar. 7)

NIH Study Sheds Light on Role of Climate in Flu Transmission

Findings could help optimize interventions (Mar. 8)

TNF Inhibitors Do Not Increase Risk of Herpes Zoster in RA Patients

Zoster risk the same for anti-TNF therapy and nonbiologic DMARDs (Mar. 6)

Too Much Salt May Trigger Autoimmune Diseases

Researchers find potential link with MS (Mar. 6)

New Hypothesis for Bacterial Resistance to Antibiotics

Non-resistant bugs acquire DNA from resistant ones (Mar. 7)

Old Gout Drug May Help Heart Disease Patients

Allopurinol reduces heart-muscle hypertrophy (Mar. 5)

Breath Test Detects Stomach Cancers

New method could provide alternative to endoscopies (Mar. 6)

Survey: Americans Rate Themselves as Healthy, Despite Research Showing the Opposite

Those who most want community health resources have least access to them (Mar. 6)

Researchers Learn How Bacteria Clog Medical Devices

Findings could help shape prevention strategies (Mar. 1)

Toddler ‘Functionally Cured’ of HIV Infection

Discovery provides clues for potentially eliminating HIV infection in other children (Mar. 3)

Estrogen Patches May Offer New Treatment Option for Prostate Cancer Patients

Risk of side effects reduced compared with hormone injections (Mar. 4)

DNA ‘Cocktail’ Could Change Way Infectious Diseases Are Diagnosed

Single drop of blood or saliva can be tested for multiple diseases (Feb. 28)

New Marine Compound May Improve Treatment of COPD

Researchers target overactive enzyme in lung diseases (Feb. 27)

Study: ‘Superbug’ Can Persist in Patients for More Than a Year After Initial Infection

Carbapenem-resistant organisms on rise in U.S. (Feb. 27)

Mayo Clinic Report: Steroids May Shorten Hospital Stay for Pneumonia Patients

But more study needed to support routine steroid use (Feb. 28)

Study: Long-Term Spironolactone Does Not Improve Heart Failure Symptoms

No significant change in exercise capacity or quality of life versus placebo (Feb. 27)

Medical Researchers Raise Alarm on Over-Diagnosis

U.S. conference scheduled for September (Feb. 27)

Virus Shows Promise as Prostate Cancer Treatment

‘Retargeted’ viruses attack only cancer cells, leave normal cells unaffected (Feb. 25)

Risk of Pancreatitis Doubles for Patients Taking New Class of Diabetes Drugs

Johns Hopkins researchers point finger at sitagliptin and exenatide (Feb. 26)

Report: Tomography Screening Could Avert 12,000 Lung Cancer Deaths Each Year in U.S.

Some health agencies remain skeptical (Feb. 25)

New Flu Drug Stops Virus in Its Tracks

Compound traps virus inside infected cells (Feb. 21)

World Premiere of Muscle- and Nerve-Controlled Arm Prosthesis

Patients may even achieve natural perception through nerve stimulation (Feb. 22)

Dietary Antioxidants May Not Reduce Risk of Stroke or Dementia

Study contradicts previous reports (Feb. 20)

New Technology Allows Researchers to ‘Sniff Out’ Effects of Radiotherapy

Electronic nose identifies chemicals in gut microflora (Feb. 21)

Bracelet-Like Device Controls Chronic Acid Reflux

Mayo Clinic surgeons report 92% success rate (Feb. 21)

American Heart Association: There’s Room for Improvement in Women’s Awareness of Heart Disease

Younger women and minorities still unaware of risks (Feb. 19)

Researchers Link Depression and Heart Disease

Loyola psychiatrist suggests new subspecialty, ‘psychocardiology’ (Feb. 18)

Sitting Time Associated With Increased Risk of Chronic Diseases

Authors recommend more physical activity (Feb. 18)

Researchers Find Potential Target for Treating Tobacco-Associated NSCLC

Oncogene inhibitor looks promising (Feb. 14)

NIH Study Shows Big Improvement in Diabetes Control

Findings indicate need for improved care among youth and minorities (Feb. 15)

RNA Nanoparticles Reduce Ovarian Tumors

Researchers develop new drug delivery system (Feb. 13)

Treatment With Platelet-Rich Plasma Shows Potential for Knee OA

Researchers report improvements in pain, function, and disease progression (Feb. 12)

Lung Cancer Drugs Override Resistance to Melanoma Therapies in Early Tests

Gefitinib and dasatinib help block faulty cell signaling (Feb. 11)

New Technique for Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease

MRI measurement of brain blood flow identifies functional decline (Feb. 11)

Researchers Find New Psychiatric Applications for Scopolamine

Old anticholinergic drug might treat depression and anxiety (Feb. 12)

NIH Scientists Find New Target to Block Staph Infections

Toxin transport system may hold key to bacterial death (Feb. 11)

‘Southern Diet’ Could Increase Stroke Risk

American Stroke Association blames fried, salty foods and sugary drinks (Feb. 7)

Study: Benzodiazepines Frequently Prescribed in Older COPD Patients Despite Harmful Side Effects

Drug class affects breathing ability and oxygen levels (Feb. 6)

Tiny Biodegradable Capsules Kill Cancer Cells

Protein complex signals cells to self-destruct (Feb. 6)

Fighting Fat With Fat

Stem-cell discovery identifies potential obesity treatment (Feb. 5)

Scientists Find Link Between Metabolism and Breast Cancer

Protein associated with obesity and diabetes may play a role (Feb. 5)

New Study Questions Guidance About Fats and Heart Disease

Polyunsaturated fats increase risk of cardiovascular and coronary death (Feb. 5)

Researchers Block HBV Replication

Enzyme shared by HBV and HIV offers new drug target (Feb. 4)

Women Underestimate Seriousness of Heart Disease, Cardiologist Says

Proactive steps suggested to reduce risk (Feb. 1)

Gene Mutations Linked to Relapse of Childhood Leukemia

First time disease recurrence tied to specific genetic abnormalities (Feb. 4)

Researcher Identifies Potential Cause of Autism

Theory points to risk of IGF inhibitors in pregnant women (Jan. 31)

Disulfiram: New Support for Old Addiction Drug

Researchers find potential use in treating cocaine addiction (Jan. 31)

Study: Fibromyalgia Drugs May Do As Much Harm As Good

Authors discourage use of medications alone (Jan. 31)

CDC Identifies Sources of Food-Borne Illnesses Acquired in U.S.

Leafy vegetables are main culprits (Jan. 29)

Dendritic-Cell Vaccine Induces Complete Remission in Neuroblastoma Patient

T-cells are ‘taught’ to kill cancer (Jan. 29)

Islet Transplantation May Slow Progression of Atherosclerosis in Diabetes Patients

Researchers find significant decrease in carotid intima–media thickness (Jan. 28)

New Evidence Linking Obesity and Osteoarthritis

Biomolecules in fat tissue contribute to joint breakdown (Jan. 28)

New Insights Into Conquering Influenza

Protein protects against viral infections, including the flu (Jan. 29)

CDC Report: New Norovirus Strain Causing Most Norovirus Outbreaks in U.S.

Not yet known whether strain will cause more outbreaks than previous years (Jan. 25)

A Safer Way to Vaccinate

MIT scientists say DNA polymer film could offer alternative to traditional vaccines (Jan. 27)

New Antimicrobial Hydrogel Fights ‘Superbugs’

Synthetic polymer gel could be applied to skin infections, wound healing (Jan. 24)

NIH Report: Prenatal Inflammation Linked to Autism Risk

Increased risk found in children of mothers with elevated C-reactive protein (Jan. 24)

Study Explores Whether Sleeping Pills Can Reduce Suicidal Thoughts in Depressed Patients With Insomnia

Suicide risk factors and prevention often overlook sleeplessness, researcher says (Jan. 22)

Vitamin D Identified as Possible Breast Cancer Treatment

Research suggests potential therapy for triple-negative disease (Jan. 22)

Immune Cells Engineered in Lab to Resist HIV Infection

Tailored gene therapy prevents virus from entering cells (Jan. 22)

Study: Viral Reactivation Likely Link Between Stress and Heart Disease

Scientists say stress reactivates EBV, leading to vascular inflammation (Jan. 22)

Link Between Regular Aspirin Use and Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Incidence of AMD more than double in aspirin users vs. nonusers (Jan. 21)

Leukemia Drug Reverses Asthma Symptoms

New compound could be useful in other inflammatory diseases (Jan. 22)

New Way to Kill Lymphoma Without Chemotherapy

Golden nanoparticles starve cancer cells to death (Jan. 22)

Simple Blood Test Can Help Predict Mortality in Trauma Patients

Some patients 58 times more likely to die than others (Jan. 18)

New Handheld Mobile Device Performs HIV Testing

Clinicians get lab-quality results in 15 minutes (Jan. 18)

Viagra (Sildenafil) As a Weight-Loss Drug?

Scientists report conversion of ‘bad’ fat cells to ‘good’ fat cells (Jan. 17)

Oral Vaccine Could Prevent Breast Cancer

Virus initiates two-pronged attack on tumors in early study (Jan. 17)

Study Questions Accuracy of Melanoma Phone Apps

Use of apps may delay diagnosis and harm users, authors warn (Jan. 16)

Grape Seed Extract for Colorectal Cancer

Compounds selectively target advanced disease in lab study (Jan. 16)

Researcher Turns HIV on Itself

Mutated protein stops virus replication, hints at AIDS cure (Jan. 16)

‘Designer Bacteria’ May Lead to Better Vaccines

E. coli adjuvants could transform vaccine design (Jan. 15)

Migraine With Aura May Increase Risk of Heart Attack, Blood Clots in Women

Findings to be presented at AAN meeting in March (Jan. 15)

Scientists Find New Way to Boost Cancer Drugs

Blocking cellular pathway makes it easier for drugs to destroy tumors (Jan. 14)