Health News

What is H7N9 bird flu? What is the pandemic risk?

Date: Feb-23-2014
Infection with the flu virus H7N9 is normally confined to poultry birds - but it was first found to have infected a human in March 2013, going on to cause 132 infections in people during that spring, and leading to 44 deaths.1,2The H7N9 virus is an avian influenza. The bird flu does not usually cross to humans, and when zoonosis does occur, it is a rare event.3Because humans have not developed immunity to these subtypes of flu virus - which are continually evolving - the infections they cause us can be severe and life-threatening.

Greater cancer risks faced by LGBT youth

Date: Feb-23-2014
A new study led by City College of New York psychologist Margaret Rosario found that youths of same-sex orientation are more likely to engage in behaviors associated with cancer risk than heterosexuals. The peer-reviewed findings appear in the February 2014 issue of the "American Journal of Public Health."Titled "Sexual Orientation Disparities in Cancer-Related Risk Behaviors of Tobacco, Alcohol, Sexual Behaviors, and Diet and Physical Activity: Pooled Youth Risk Behavior Surveys," the study pooled YRBS (Youth Risk Behavior Survey) data from 2005 and 2007.

Delusions: faulty 'reality testing' to blame, study suggests

Date: Feb-23-2014
A delusion is defined as a state of irrational belief that holds even when there is strong evidence to the contrary. Now, a researcher from the University of Adelaide in Australia believes he can explain why some individuals are unable to escape their delusions, and it is all down to faulty "reality testing."This is according to a study recently published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.Prof. Phillip Gerrans, a philosopher at the University of Adelaide, explains that both delusions and dreams are linked to faulty reality testing in the cognitive regions of the brain.

Potential solution for feeding, swallowing difficulties in children with DiGeorge syndrome, autism

Date: Feb-23-2014
Collaborative research out of the George Washington University (GW) reveals new information on the pathogenesis of feeding and swallowing difficulties often found in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and intellectual disability. Using an animal model of DiGeorge/22q11 Deletion Syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes autism and intellectual disability, the GW group found clear signs of early feeding and swallowing disruption, and underlying changes in brain development.

Common driver of a childhood brain tumor discovered by gene sequencing project

Date: Feb-23-2014
The St. Jude Children's Research Hospital-Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project has identified the most common genetic alteration ever reported in the brain tumor ependymoma and evidence that the alteration drives tumor development. The research appears as an advanced online publication in the scientific journal Nature.The results provide a foundation for new research to improve diagnosis and treatment of ependymoma, the third most common brain tumor in children. St.

Ways to help manage chronic bone and joint pain

Date: Feb-23-2014
Musculoskeletal pain of the bone, joint and muscles is one of the most common reasons for primary care visits in the United States. According to a literature review appearing in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS), chronic pain, or pain that persists beyond an expected period of healing, is estimated to affect 100 million Americans. The majority of chronic pain complaints concern the musculoskeletal system, but they also include headaches and abdominal pain.

New approach of accelerated treatment for Crohn's disease supported by REACT clinical trial

Date: Feb-23-2014
The final results from an international clinical trial involving nearly 2,000 patients with Crohn's disease support the use of a new management strategy referred to as accelerated step-care as a best practice for the care of active Crohn's disease. The REACT (Randomized Evaluation of an Algorithm for Crohn's Treatment) study, led by Robarts Clinical Trials at Western University (London, Canada) provides valuable new insights for community gastroenterologists which should benefit patients.

As Affordable Care Act is about to launch, many Texans are struggling to pay for health service

Date: Feb-23-2014
Many Texans were struggling to pay for basic health services on the eve of the launch of the Affordable Care Act's Health Insurance Marketplace, according to a report released by Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Episcopal Health Foundation. The report also found that even those with health insurance reported dissatisfaction with the cost and availability of services. Most Texans expect more of the same in 2014.

Molecular aberration signals cancer

Date: Feb-23-2014
Several scientists, including one at Simon Fraser University, have made a discovery that strongly links a little understood molecule, which is similar to DNA, to cancer and cancer survival.EMBO reports, a life sciences journal published by the European Molecular Biology Organization, has just published online the scientists' findings about small non-coding RNAs.While RNA is known to be key to our cells' successful creation of proteins, the role of small non-coding RNAs, a newly discovered cousin of the former, has eluded scientific understanding for the most part.

In vivo endomicroscopy improves detection of Barrett's esophagus-related neoplasia

Date: Feb-23-2014
New research shows that the addition of confocal laser endomicroscopy to high-definition white-light endoscopy enables improved real-time endoscopic diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus dysplasia (neoplastic tissue) by using targeted biopsies of abnormal mucosa to reduce unnecessary mucosal biopsies and potentially reduce costs. It may also positively influence patient care by changing the plan for immediate endoscopic management.