Health News

Guilt and shame predict re-offense after committing a crime

Date: Feb-13-2014
Within three years of being released from jail, two out of every three inmates in the US wind up behind bars again - a problem that contributes to the highest incarceration rate of any country in the world. New research suggests that the degree to which inmates' express guilt or shame may provide an indicator of how likely they are to re-offend.The findings show that inmates who feel guilt about specific behaviors are more likely to stay out of jail later on, whereas those that are inclined to feel shame about the self might not.

Doctors are missing chances to diagnose COPD early in up to 85% of cases

Date: Feb-13-2014
A UK-based study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal finds that opportunities are being missed to diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in up to 85% of people.Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive, destructive disease that can cause irreversible damage to the airways and lungs by the time symptoms are detected. The disease has no clear starting point, but the earlier COPD is diagnosed, the better the chances are of reducing damage to the lungs.

New guidelines for type 2 diabetes screening in children less effective and more costly than previous screening methods

Date: Feb-13-2014
New American Diabetes Association (ADA) screening guidelines may lead to the missed diagnoses of type 2 diabetes in children, according to a new study by University of Michigan.The research, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, finds that both pediatric and family medicine providers who care for children are using screening tests for type 2 diabetes that may result in missed diagnoses for children, says lead author Joyce Lee, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor in U-M's Departments of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases and Environmental Health Sciences.

Brain protected from viral infections by long distance signals

Date: Feb-13-2014
The brain contains a defense system that prevents at least two unrelated viruses - and possibly many more - from invading the brain at large. The research is published online ahead of print in the Journal of Virology."Our work points to the remarkable ability of the immune system, even within the brain, to protect us against opportunistic viruses," says Anthony van den Pol of Yale University, an author on the study.The research explains a long-standing mystery.

The perfect time to make health decisions may be when you are exhausted

Date: Feb-13-2014
From keeping up a daily exercise routine to eating healthy foods and avoiding impulse purchases, self-control is hard work. Ironically, when it comes to making decisions about our bodies, a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research finds we make better health care decisions when we're feeling tired and run down."We proposed that people are more motivated to engage in healthful behavior when they are depleted and perceive their safety to be at stake," write authors Monika Lisjak (Erasmus University) and Angela Y. Lee (Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University).

Tobacco industry claims "plain" packs won't work based on weak evidence

Date: Feb-13-2014
Tobacco companies lack strong, relevant evidence to support their claims that standardised (plain) packaging of tobacco products in the UK won't work, finds research published in the online journal BMJ Open.The aim of plain packaging, with no logos, brand imagery, symbols, or promotional text, is to restrict the already limited opportunities that transnational tobacco companies have to market their products, and deter people from starting smoking.

The safest way to stop postmenopausal hormone therapy

Date: Feb-13-2014
When the time comes for postmenopausal women to discontinue hormone therapy (HT), little is known about the best way to do so with minimal symptoms. A new study that explores optimal approaches to manage symptoms such as trouble sleeping, mood swings, and depression on discontinuation of HT is published in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available on the Journal of Women's Health website.

Aging and the pursuit of happiness

Date: Feb-13-2014
As human beings, we expend a great deal of time, money, and energy in the pursuit of happiness. From exotic travel to simply spending time with our grandchildren, the things that make us happy change as we age. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research explores the role of age on the happiness we receive from both the ordinary and the extraordinary experiences in our lives.

The challenge of accurate diagnosis of Rare Cancers

Date: Feb-13-2014
Inaccurate diagnosis is a major obstacle for the proper treatment of patients with rare cancers. A Consensus on Improving the Pathologic Diagnosis of Rare Cancers (1) was presented today by Rare Cancers Europe, together with the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the European Society of Pathology (ESP) in Brussels. The recommendations aim to help rare cancer patients get a timely and accurate diagnosis. The statement is the result of a two-day workshop, where the particular challenges for each type of rare cancer (1) were discussed.

From surgery to laboratory and back again

Date: Feb-13-2014
A University of York scientist's experience in seeing his partner in hospital recovering from a double lung transplant prompted him to design and synthesise new chemical agents that could revolutionise post-operative patient care.Professor Dave Smith, of the University's Department of Chemistry, led an international team which developed the agents that bind and potentially remove the anti-coagulant heparin.Professor Smith says: 'I was sitting at my husband Sam's bedside while he recovered from a double lung transplant when the idea first came to me.